The door meets an obstruction a mere three inches deep into the apartment. "The shades must be drawn." he thinks to himself as he peers into the darkness. Even at midnight, street lighting would normally provide some illumination. He determines that a couch has been propped up against the doorway thus blocking entry. The man lowers his shoulder several times and forces his way into the room. He gropes for a light switch only to be felled by a nasty and unexpected blow to the jaw.

Oliver Queen is momentarily blinded as the lights flash on. Sprawled on the carpeted floor, his chin throbbing, Ollie stares up at his attacker, the Black Canary. He can't believe what he's seeing. "Dinah, what the hell are you doing!?" Ollie snarls as he struggles to his feet. The super heroine does not apologize for striking her beau; furthermore she insists he leave at once.

"Pretty Bird, I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers!" Queen insists as he closes the door behind them to ensure privacy. "You've barricaded yourself inside your civilian apartment. This place is darker than the Batcave. You're decked out in full Canary garb and are trying to kick this concerned, off-duty archer out on his posterior!"

"I'm sorry Ollie, but after what happened today with Diana, I don't know who to trust." a jittery Black Canary explains. "He fooled her completely. This guy conned us all. He's captured Wonder Woman and Supergirl. What can I do against him?" she frets. Queen affectionately rubs Dinah's tense shoulders as she continues. "Look ... I'm not going into hiding, because I take his threat to the public seriously. I'm staying put in Star City except for JLA business. I won't cower from Phranyx, but I'm exhausted. I haven't slept in three days. I just need to lay low, try to get some sleep and come back at this tomorrow with a clear head."

"Kiddo, Phranyx ambushed Supes early this morning and held him at bay long enough to impersonate Big Blue and waylay Wonder Woman. If he can do all that, then with all due respect, this creep doesn't need to disguise himself as me to get to you." Oliver reasons. "I'm the genuine article. And remember this ... just because Phranyx has captured Diana, doesn't mean he's defeated her. That gal can take care of herself." Dinah manages a small grin as Ollie's presence relaxes her. "Get some rest Pretty Bird. I'll stay here all night to watch your back."

*****

"Yes Mr. Hood, I am aware of the party's stance on this issue, but you also know mine. It played prominently in my re-election last fall. Voters believe in me. I take their faith very seriously and will not be bullied or guilt-tripped into dishonoring that trust!" Nasty words emanate from the opposite end of the phone line, but Congresswoman Barbara Gordon remains undeterred. "Good day to you too sir." she respectfully responds as her cold conversation partner rudely hangs up on her.

In her third term in Congress and approaching her 32nd birthday, Babs Gordon is both respected and feared in Washington. She is a rising political star. Her wits, conviction and integrity make her a consensus favorite to launch a successful Senate campaign in the next election.

To her colleagues and staff, this is another typical day for Ms. Gordon fighting for what she believes in. No one guesses that beneath her business-as-usual exterior, the Congresswoman's mind is preoccupied. Like most of the country, Babs watched Phranyx' confrontation with Wonder Woman on the evening news. She is justifiably concerned and uncertain as to how Batgirl should proceed with this threat conceivably lurking behind every corner.

Barbara focuses upon a stack of field reports in preparation for upcoming House voting sessions. Her thoughts are interrupted by an internal call from her secretary in the outer office. Richard Grayson has dropped by to speak with the Congresswoman. Babs smiles. Given her added stress, she graciously welcomes an early lunch with a friend who understands her secret life. "Send him in please Carol." she responds.

Babs remains seated at her desk, leafing through briefings as her guest is shown in. While she plans to discuss her concerns at length, she does not wish to worry Dick by appearing rattled. Gordon casually rises to greet him, but is stunned to see that her visitor is not Dick Grayson; rather it is Phranyx himself! Barbara's jaw drops and her eyes widen in shock at his unexpected arrival. There is no point in attempting to safeguard her dual identities. It is obvious that Phranyx has uncovered her secret.

The two stare at one another momentarily. All is calm outside the Congresswoman's closed door, while inside her office a fight seems inevitable. "Looks like you made sure you have every advantage this time." Gordon observes. Although her anger is evident, she keeps her tone down and remains composed. "No cycle. No utility belt. No mask. Just the easy mark a devious creep like you would crave!"

"You so misunderstand me Congresswoman Gordon." Phranyx smugly begins. Babs abruptly cuts him off. "Enough with the patronizing!" she snaps at a level nearly loud enough to be heard by others. You want to add Batgirl to your sick little 'collection', you've got her. What you won't get is a fight. This office will not become a battle zone. Just take me and be done with it!"

"Oh, we'll have ourselves a fight! I will avenge my humbling defeat at your hands." Phranyx vows. "You do deserve some concession, however, for having won our previous encounter. As such, your secret identity and your friends will remain safe. We will relocate to an isolated locale where Batgirl will fall in obscurity." With that, the villain morphs his appearance to expertly impersonate Dick Grayson and beckons Babs towards the door.

"Before I go anywhere with you, answer me one question." Gordon demands. "Why are you doing all of this?" Phranyx chuckles and shakes his head negatively. The villain smirks and changes his mind. "OK babe, I'll level with you ... during the fight. How many answers you get depends upon how long you last against me!"

*****

The black limousine pulls up outside a deserted warehouse on the outskirts of Washington DC. No one is there to witness the odd scene as Phranyx emerges first. Dressed in black, the tall muscular menace is prepared for battle. Batgirl exits the luxury automobile and follows her nemesis into the building. The heroine is unrestrained physically. The potential threat to her colleagues and her own civilian identity is more binding than the tightest, strongest chains. She must play his game.

Babs has covertly attempted to contact the JLA, but her calls have gone unanswered. She has no doubt that Phranyx, given his many diverse talents, is fully prepared for such an action. "He must be jamming my emergency signal." she theorizes as she scans her new surroundings. Gordon will be unable to try further, for her opponent orders her to leave her utility belt in the limousine.

The site is deserted and empty, save for a small twenty-by-ten foot freezer in a far corner. The pair converges upon the walk-in freezer. "The ground rules here are simple Batgirl." Phranyx proclaims as they reach the doorway. "We battle within these closed confines until such time as we have a winner. In my case, that will be when you are rendered unconscious and become my latest prize. For you, the standard is somewhat less violent. You must simply escape from within this cage. The only way out is with the key, which I of course possess. If you do escape, I will not only let you go, but I will also release Wonder Woman and Supergirl. Now who said I wasn't a fair sport?"

Batgirl scoffs at her opponent's claim of righteousness. She declines his chivalry and insists that he enter the room first. Amused by her understandable distrust and edginess, Phranyx obliges. He quickly locks the door behind them after she follows him inside. Babs is surprised to discover that the freezing unit is not running. The lights illuminate the chamber, but the environment is not chilled. It is room temperature and thus ideal for both combatants.

Barbara can't help but consider the apparent hopelessness of her situation. While it is true that she prevailed in their initial meeting, she knows not how legitimate the match was. Was he toying with her the entire time? After all, Phranyx proved powerful enough to mimic Superman's might and defeat Wonder Woman. That kind of power will be impossible to cope with, but she does reap the small benefit of knowing she needn't worry about pulling her punches. What are his true weaknesses and motivations? She hopes to have some answers shortly.

"So I'm here." Batgirl challenges. The heroine begins to insist that her foe explain himself, but her demand is viciously ended by a sucker punch to her chest. The caped female collapses to the hard metal floor, squirming in pain. Showing no mercy, Phranyx pounces on top of her. He jams his left knee into her back, driving her face and chest into the ground. The force of the impact breaks the heroine's nose and dislodges her two front teeth. She bleeds profusely from both her mouth and nose. With the callous villain continuing to pin her to the floor, Babs faces the very real prospect of drowning in her own blood!

Instinctively, Batgirl finds the inner strength to flip her brutal attacker over her shoulder. Given the tight confines, Phranyx's body slams into the back wall. Ignoring her pain, the super heroine springs to her feet. She lands a solid left cross followed by a savage right-footed kick to the head. Phranyx recovers quickly. Batgirl is still a bit groggy, but her crime fighting experience allows her to hide that fact extremely well. She looks completely sharp and bitterly stares down her vile adversary.

"Start talking mister! Why am I here and what's the point in capturing three of us?" Batgirl's words are slurred due to her missing and loosened front teeth, but her stern tone is unmistakable. Phranyx laughs at the heroine's question until her gloved fist connects with his jaw and momentarily staggers him. "You won't remember any of it!" he snarls defiantly. "Oh, well isn't that convenient!" Babs retorts. "I think I'm willing to take my chances on that!"

"I have come from a parallel universe to capture three so-called 'super' heroines." he reluctantly begins. Batgirl deftly sidesteps his charge, giving him no excuse not to continue. "Everything works in trios where I come from; therefore we need three of you Earth women. Wonder Woman and Supergirl were easy choices. The third female was not. The decision came down to you and Black Canary. Ultimately, I determined that you suit my needs better than she."

Barbara listens intently while making every effort to keep her distance from her foe. She eludes the villain's wild roundhouse punches and connects with a pair of solid righthands to the chin. Unfortunately, the small enclosure proves detrimental. Phranyx seizes her left arm and yanks her directly into a potent knee to the midsection. The blow momentarily knocks the breath out of her, leaving the heroine wide open for further attack. He clobbers her behind the neck and she slumps to the floor.

Despite her ever increasing pain, Batgirl is only stunned for several seconds. This however proves to be ample time for the super villain to take complete control. In a maneuver reminiscent of his triumph against Wonder Woman, Phranyx deftly binds Batgirl with her own cape. Both arms and both legs are tightly secured behind her back, all while the garment remains fastened about her neckline. The end result is that the super heroine finds herself in a terribly uncomfortable and prone position.

Phranyx briefly relaxes to observe his handiwork. He is convinced he has won and it is merely a matter of pummeling the heroine into unconsciousness. Reveling in his obscene advantage, he slaps Batgirl twice in the face with an open palm. The blows would be painful under normal circumstances. Given her broken nose and sensitive mouth, they bring her to tears despite her every effort to suppress them.

In desperation, Batgirl rolls along the floor in a seemingly hopeless attempt to delay the inevitable. Phranyx playfully, yet forcefully, kicks the super heroine to convince her to stop this latest foolishness. In his arrogance, he fails to notice Gordon's true strategy. With her face hidden from view, she gnaws at her cape underneath her chin. Although it is tightly fastened at the neckline, Babs perseveres. Her two front most lower teeth rip loose from her gum line, but she succeeds in unhooking her cape.

With the severe torque on her back and legs alleviated, she swiftly extricates herself from her loose garment, much to Phranyx' surprise and chagrin. A violent kick to the head sends the villain reeling into the back wall. Batgirl refuses to let up. She lands a barrage of punches to the face. Traces of blood emerge from beneath his lips as the blows mount. Eight shots connect before he is finally able to kick her away from him.

"More!" she yells at Phranyx as the two weary foes struggle to stay on their feet. Barbara's diction is now virtually unrecognizable, yet her dual meanings are very clear. She has more fight left in her and she darn well expects her opponent to provide additional details of his clandestine motives.

"You've been recruited for a perilous mission, one which will take you far beyond your customary realm." he explains while slowly cornering the heroine. "Great power and courage are an absolute must." Applying a forearm to her throat, Phranyx pins Batgirl to the wall. "Most likely, you and your comrades will perish, but your lives mean very little compared to our potential gain." Batgirl is outraged by her attacker's implications. She interprets his statement to mean that she and her fellow heroines are to be sold into slavery on an inter-dimensional black market. Babs would prefer death to such a fate.

Phranyx ruthlessly batters the weakening super heroine. She suffers blows to her jaw, chest and stomach. Fighting off oblivion, Batgirl summons one last burst of energy. She head-butts the arrogant villain, thus releasing his stranglehold upon her. She deftly plucks a small object hidden within her flowing red locks and trains it upon her opponent's unsuspecting face. Phranyx screams in pain as the Chemical Mace burns his eyes and hinders his breathing.

"I hate using this stuff," Gordon declares, "but with a maniac like you I'll make an exception!" Batgirl counters the villain's cruelty with a bit of her own. She would like to try coercing more information from him, but she knows her limitations. She is hurting and exhausted and must end this skirmish now. Allowing him no time to recover, the crime fighter attacks her temporarily defenseless adversary. A violent array of kicks and precision punches prove too much for the devious criminal, who succumbs to unconsciousness. Barbara knows from Black Canary's report and her own experiences that Phranyx has faked helplessness before. In a fitting case of turnabout, Batgirl uses her cape to bind his wrists.

Phranyx slowly begins to stir as the wearied female reaches the exit door. Key in hand, she is on the threshold of escape. Babs has understandable doubts as to whether her enemy will honor his agreement, but for all his evil, he has not yet reneged on a single condition he has set. This nightmare may very well be over.

As Batgirl turns the key, her body is suddenly bombarded by a surge of energy emanating through the keyhole. Light blue in color, it cascades up and down her spine. Her hair literally stands up on end. A bewildered and frightened Barbara loses motor function in her extremities as she drops to the floor. On the verge of passing out, her last sight is that of a grinning Phranyx standing over her. "You've outdone yourself, my dear." he gloats. "You will be perfect!"