Eight year old Pam comes home from school. Her home is in the third floor of a dingy five-story apartment building in one of Gotham's seedy neighborhoods. She is crying because she's been teased by her classmates again. They shouted that she has the cooties and avoided her like the plague. She had a crush on one of the boys and she was dared by the other girls to kiss him. She took the dare and the boy acted in complete revulsion. She was absolutely humiliated.
She got into the apartment she lives in. But Mommy isn't home. She's still at work and she won't be home till another couple of hours or so. And Daddy doesn't live here anymore. He's left Mommy a long time ago. Pam is completely alone as she cries in her bedroom. There is no one to comfort her.
About a half-hour later, she gets up. She looks at the clock and realizes she has to prepare dinner before Mommy gets home. She doesn't feel like cooking but was there any other choice? She looks into the refrigerator. There isn't much. They haven't done their grocery shopping. Mommy had to go to work and she had to go to school. She doesn't want to go to the grocery store. What if one of her classmates saw her?
She wonders if the old lady upstairs has some eggplants. Perhaps she could spare some for them. She has never visited her before and decided it too creepy to go up. Besides, she doesn't really know her at all.
Fifteen minutes pass before Pam finally mustered the courage to go up and ask. The lighting for the stairs going up was broken. The rooftop door was open and what little daylight left was the only thing illuminating the stairway. Because of this, there is a spooky effect to the atmosphere but at least she can see her way around.
She checks the room number. 503. This is it. She gets ready to knock on the door.
A few minutes pass and she is still thinking whether she should ask. She finally swallowed and knocked. There was no reply. She waited a minute and knocked again. Still no reply. One last try yielded no result and Pam dropped to the floor sobbing. She took too long and there's no more time to go to the grocery. She blames herself for being a coward. Now, it is getting dark and they won't have anything to eat tonight.
As she tried to get up, a waft of air from the rooftop breezed its way down. It smelled like flowers. She looks up to the stairs leading to the rooftop. There has to be a lot of flowers if she can smell them down here. She wonders if there's actually a garden of sorts up there. Funny that in her few years of staying there, she had never once gone up to the roof. She stands up and goes up the stairs.
She comes out the door and sees there is a garden on top of their building. There were flowers of every sort. Roses, carnation, dandelions, orchids, you name it. Still, there was a spooky element to all this. It seemed as if all the flowers were staring in her direction.
It sure is creepy up here, she said to herself.
Now why would a garden be so creepy? a voice behind her spoke.
Pam screamed.
Calm down, child, it's just me.
It was an old woman. Maybe sixty or seventy, a bit stout and looks every bit the part of a grandmother. She was wearing a straw hat and gardener's gloves. She smiles at Pam.
Not many people visit me up here. What's your name? she asks her.
M-m-my name is Pamela, Pam stuttered a bit.
Well, I think I've seen you around before. My name is Maybelle Donner. What brought you up here? the old lady asks her.
I was wondering if you had some eggplants. We ran out, Pam replied.
Call me Grandma Belle. I've always liked the sound of that, she goes about looking for some eggplants, I pretty much grow my own food up here. No need of those horrible synthetic stuff they sell at the supermarket.
Grandma Belle gets a basket and goes about picking some eggplants, tomatoes and a couple of other vegetables. She gave the basket to Pam who became wide-eyed that this old woman would give all this to her. She thought that she should get to know her neighbors more.
Anytime you need anything, you just come up here, you hear? Grandma Belle tells her.
Th-thank you. Thank you, Pam said gratefully, I'll bring back the basket when we're done.
She goes back down to her apartment downstairs. This time, she felt like a great heavy load has been taken off her back. She never knew any of her grandparents, paternal or maternal. She decided that she would visit Grandma Belle again tomorrow.
***
Poison Ivy stands among the lattice-like wood structures now surrounding the giant plant pod. The pod grows ever bigger everyday. Trees that appear to have fused their branches with each other continue to sprout around the pod. Even their roots and trunks have intersected as well.
She makes sure she is hidden among the leaves and branches should anyone try to spot her out and shoot her with a sniper rifle. She uses her binoculars to check out what the Brazilian Army are planning now. They don't seem to be making any progress. They have stopped sending reconnaissance teams after the last six or so have disappeared.
From the distance, she can make out engine exhausts blowing up. She guesses that they might be trying to chop down trees and bulldoze their way here. It doesn't matter she thought. It will still take them days to get through. By then, the pod will have matured and her plan will reach fruition.
***
Mary McGinnis is not an easy woman to convince in cases where any of her two sons would go to some place dangerous. Somehow, Bruce managed to convince her to let Terry go with him to Brazil. He must have told her that the other night he walked the streets alone, he was attacked by hoodlums and Terry saved his life. In the scuffle, Terry got hit in the face, thus, explaining why he has a nasty bruise on his face. Now, Bruce wouldn't want to go some place far without someone he could trust come with him.
At least, that was the story Terry was told. He wonders if there weren't any money involved. Nah, she can't be that kind of mom.
Terry could only look out the window of the plane they are riding in. His thoughts are only of Dana. Despite his pleas for another chance, she had made up her mind. No more Dana. He never thought it that hard but the future seems more uncertain than ever.
Bruce looks at Terry and knows very well how distracted the young man is. He had suspected of a falling out between the young man and his girlfriend and he used it as leverage to convince Mary McGinnis to let him come with him. The boy is in a confusing time in his life, he told her and that he may need to go some place for a while to sort things out. The need to check into his affairs in Brazil was the perfect opportunity. That and the assurance that they won't be going anywhere near the giant plant pod that was in the news.
Bruce speaks up, Terry, you have to concentrate at the task at hand. We are not in Gotham anymore. This is a literal jungle and you will be out of your element.
I'm sorry Bruce, Terry replied, I'll pay more attention.
US Special Forces will be involved whether the Brazilian government wants it or not. Most, if not all, will NOT tolerate your presence. You will have to be extra careful even with the additional bulletproof coating in your suit, Bruce continued.
Geez, nothing surprises you anymore, are there?
If you have come as far as I did, you'll know.
***
The WayneTech jet landed at Manaus's airport and the country manager of Wayne Tech's Brazil office, Yolanda Covarrubias, personally went to pick them up. She is worried about how much the plant pod crisis could cost her her job. It's not really her fault, she knows that and nobody could blame her but this is the big boss. The slightest displeasure and who knows what could happen? Oh, how hard she fought to get to her position.
She sees them get off the plane and prepares herself. The raven-haired, fair-skinned beauty checks herself with the mirror in her compact. She quickly puts away the compact in her pocket and comes closer to greet her employer.
Here goes nothing!
Mr. Wayne! I-it's a pleasure to meet you! she stuttered slightly, I've already prepared everything you have requested, including locating Mr. Diez.
Thank you, Ms. Covarrubias, isn't it? he said back to her. He noted her slight stutter and tells her, There's no need to be nervous. Wasn't your fault. Who would have guessed a madman would want to take over the Amazon?
You're too kind. Thank you, she blushed. She tries to look grateful without seemingly like a bootlicker.
Terry could only look at his mentor smooth talk at the woman. He wonders how Bruce could find the right words at even the worse moments. He thought smooth talk was something he could use with Dana right now.
No! Concentrate on the task at hand!
Terry! Hurry up, we have a busy day ahead of us! Bruce called him. He was already at the limo. Terry hurried to catch up.
***
In the hover limo, Yolanda looks at her employer, Bruce Wayne. The man was kind and didn't seem demanding at first. But he is an old man and one thing she knows about old people is that they are hard to please. While he was nice, she felt it was only an act. His demeanor seems to suggest so. She has met too many people to know the different kinds of mannerisms and she didn't get to the top by ignoring these little details. His companion didn't even help him get onboard. He wouldn't let anyone get near him. She's going to have to figure out what makes him tick. Anyway, she didn't get to where she is now by being scared, she did it by knowing how to deal with difficult people.
They finally reach the military camp. There was a huge group of people putting up a rally condemning the government's action to destroy the giant plant pod. The military had to chop down and bulldoze some of the trees to get some more space for the camp. Greenpeace would not take this lightly. There was a lot of smoke and dust.
The hover limo stopped by a bunker. Bruce, Terry and Yolanda got off. Bruce had to get a handkerchief as the dust was irritating him. He noted the presence of a couple of US transport choppers. He wonders how much involvement the US was in on this. They see a Brazilian army officer and an American army general arguing. Bruce could swear he knew the American general from somewhere. They headed in their direction.
I'm having enough flak with the environmentalist groups as it is. Now you tell me that our president approved the entry of your special forces?! the Brazilian officer was bewildered.
I know that this could look bad for you people and while we may seem to be out of our jurisdiction here, the person responsible for this crisis is an American criminal and terrorist, the American general tried to explain, We have our interest in this, yes. But both our leaders have agreed that this situation must be contained as soon as possible.
Excuse me both military officers asked.
Oh, I was just reading your name tag, General, Bruce said to the American, I'm Bruce Wayne, head and owner of WayneTech.
Err, yes, I think I've read about you in my youth. I'm Brigadier General Francis Pebblewyrm the general introduced himself. He was tall and about fifteen years younger than Bruce and certainly more physically fit. If Bruce didn't have to stoop with a cane, he certainly would have s stood eye to eye with the general.
And I'm Col. Ferdinand Paez, the Brazilian took his turn for self introduction. Unlike his American counterpart, he was shorter and had a somewhat unkempt look, probably because he had been out all day and exposed to the heat and dust.
Bruce began, So gentlemen, what have you planned to rescue the hostages?
I have a squad of highly trained men ready to go in. They're the finest soldiers I have and they're trained to expect the unexpected, Pebblewyrm beams proudly as he showed off the team he is sending in.
Paez retorted, I keep telling him that he's just wasting manpower. I've already sent several squads and they all disappeared!
I assume that they had to work their way through the jungle? What about helicopter drop offs?
Every time one goes near within five kilometers from that thing it gets shot down by some kind of spore attack, Paez replied.
And there are no demands?
Paez is perplexed, When this thing started, we didn't even know there was somebody behind this. How much do you know about this Poison Ivy?
Really? If the Brazilians didn't know, how come the rest of the world was the first to know about this Poison Ivy?
I'm sorry but the Gotham News Network was the first to know about this, Pebblewyrm said, It appears they have been given the scoop by the perpetrator. We tried to plug it off in case it was false information feeding public paranoia. Their source turns out to be genuine, of course.
As Bruce, Paez and Pebblewyrm argued on the course of action, Terry milled about the camp. He went in the direction of the US Special Forces squad to size up his would-be opponents. There were six of them. Big, mean and gung-ho about their mission. One of them, a brawny, six-foot five African-American with a shaved head sneered at him.
What're you lookin' at?
Oh, I was just admiring your good looks, Terry tells him sarcastically.
He gave Terry a mean look. His squad commander reprimands him, At ease Sergeant! You hold your temper for the mission!
Yes sir!
Terry takes one last look at the supposed elite squad Pebblewyrm wants to send. He looks around the camp a little more then rejoins Bruce and Yolanda.
***
As was instructed prior to Wayne's coming, Yolanda had prepared all his requests. A warehouse lot about five miles from the military encampment was reserved. The contents of the crates Wayne brought with him turned out to be radio communications equipment and computers and some unrecognizable machine parts. WayneTech Brazil could have easily provided him with the same equipment but he was insistent on bringing his own. Yolanda did not argue. Old people can be like that, she thought. Just give them what they want.
As the computer technicians scurry about to complete the setup of the array of computers, Yolanda checks her watch. It is four o'clock in the afternoon. The technicians were quite fast she thought. With these many units and the job of networking them, they did the job in less than one hour. She hopes that this has impressed Mr. Wayne.
If they're finished, they may go.
The voice surprised her. It almost made her jump. It was Wayne. She wonders how in the world he was able to sneak standing beside her. Creepy, she thought.
Of course, sir, she managed to say.
The technicians have started packing when a hovercar had arrived. It opened its door and out comes a fifty-ish looking man. African-Brazilian descent. He had a somewhat rotund figure, and was wearing a loud red shirt with a white floral pattern and a cap. Bruce, Terry and Yolanda come nearer to meet him.
Hey! This place is a warehouse! You mean to tell me this is where I'm going to work? the man voiced out his arrival.
Hello Raffy, Bruce says to him.
The man gives him a quizzical look, Do I know you? I don't believe we've met before.
I have come in to call in that special favor you promised me long ago, Bruce says as he takes some steps back into a shaded portion of the warehouse. The sun was still blazing bright, hitting the warehouse's sliding door. He goes behind the door and faces the man. The shadow cast by the door and the expression on Bruce's face seemed to have generated something to remind the man.
Hey, you- you're I do know you! the man he called Raffy managed to say. He continues, I owe you so much. My family, my life, everything! He was about to kneel down and bow but Bruce wouldn't let him.
I've only come to collect.
Both Terry and Yolanda were surprised at what happened. Yolanda wonders what else there is to this old man she doesn't know. First, he strikes her as a demanding type. Then, when they were at the base camp, he appears to have a pretty good knowledge of military tactics. Plus, he walks around without many noticing. And now, he's got people even this far and whose background would seem so remote, one wonders how they are connected to him.
She was still deep in thought when Bruce calls her, Thank you for welcoming me, Miss Covarrubias. You may go ahead. I will go to the hotel a while later. I will call you or your staff if I need anything else.
Yes, certainly, was all she could say. She curses herself for being jumpy like this. Was Bruce Wayne making her feel more uncomfortable than she thought?
***
Bruce, Terry and Reffy waited for all the people to leave the warehouse. When all have left, they started to get busy. Bruce directs Raffy to be seated by the computers and wait for further instructions. Terry gets ready for his part.
As Terry changes into the Batsuit, he looks out a window and looks into the distance. He breathes with great anticipation for the mission ahead of him. It's a different environment. He has never been in anything like this before. It will be cold, dark and unforgiving. The slightest mistake could cost him his life.
Hmm, maybe it's not so different from Gotham after all.