Chapter 9: Brainwashing Jacob

Jacob was currently in his Lemur attire battling some more of Maroni's thugs who were in Maroni's pizza restaurant. Jacob was really determined to take down Maroni and had been for a while now. Once all the guys were knocked out, Jacob looked over the room and saw about a dozen unconscious on the floor. "This oughta send a message to Maroni that The Lemur is on his tail. Better get out of her before the cops come.", he said to himself as he jumped up to where he came in. He then climbed back down to the ground in an alley once he got out of there. He turned off and took off his goggles once he got out of the alley and was back on the street. He was walking forward when out of nowhere, a guy came around a corner and stopped right in front of him. "Can I help you?", Jacob asked looking confused as to the man who was standing right in front of him. "My mistress wants to talk to you. You must come with me.", the guy said. Jacob was even more confused and sort of freaked out now. "And who is your mistress? What does she want with me?", he asked. "You'll see when we get there. Now, let's go!", the guy impatiently said. "Sorry, pal. I know better to go with a person I don't know.", Jacob said about to walk away. But the guy then clubbed him on the head, knocking him out cold. Later on, Jacob woke up to see that he was tied to a chair, but he wasn't tied down by rope, instead he was being held down by vines. He tried to break free, but the vines held him in place and pulled him back into the chair as if they were alive. "What the hell's going on? Where am I?", he asked in a panicked tone. "You're in my home.", a seductive female voice said as the voice's owner showed herself. Jacob became slightly worried as he saw who it was. "Poison Ivy!", Jacob said. "That's my name, don't wear it out, hun.", she said with a sinister smirk on her face. "Why did you kidnap me? Why am I here?", Jacob asked. "I brought you here because I want to send a message to the people of this concrete-infested city that really soon Mother Nature will take this city back.", she said. "That didn't exactly answer the question to why I'm here.", he said. "Why I specifically brought you here is because I need your help, Jacob.", she slightly cooed as she strutted closer to him. "Hey, hey! Don't try any of your mind control crap on me! I know what you do to guys.", he said. "I am aware that you have a decent knowledge of Gotham's rogues. The Bat has taught you well.", she said as she was now right in front of him. "Yeah, and he also taught me not to help people like you. I care about the environment too and I like Nature, but I won't do what you do to help it.", he said. "I'm so glad to hear that, and with what you see over there, the environment will be greatly helped.", she said as she pointed towards the large crates in the corner. Jacob looked confused and asked, "And what's exactly in those crates?". "The TITAN formula that Dr. Young made from Bane's Venom. I plan to use it on my plants once more in order to make Gotham much more greener.", she said. "That name rings a bell. That's what ended up killing The Joker.", he said. "Yes, and good riddance to him.", Ivy said. "Well, whatever your plan is, Batman won't let you go through with it.", Jacob said. "Soon, my children will become strong enough and they will be able to crush him like the little bug he is. But not you, I want you to join me in my quest to make Gotham a garden of Eden.", she said. "I told you, I am not helping you. And don't use your voodoo stuff on me. I have a girlfriend.", he said. "Ah, yes, that frosty tramp that all of Gotham is in awe of.", she said. "Hey! Don't talk about Elsa like that! She's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I won't let someone as crazy and manipulative as you get in the way of our relationship!", he said sternly. "Well, soon you'll forget about her and only think about me.", she said as she moved her face closer to his. She had a handful of pink dust in her hand right in front of his face. Jacob then looked scared and whimpered, "Please, don't.". Ivy then slowly blew the dust in his face. He breathed it in and then felt slightly different. He looked at Ivy now in a whole different light as he was more drawn to her now. "Now, Jacob, darling. Will you listen to me now?", she asked. "Yes. Definitely.", he said obediently. "Will you help me and do anything I say?", she asked moving her face slightly closer. "Anything you say, Mistress.", he said in an in-love tone. "Do you love me?", she asked as she moved in close enough that their noses lightly touched. "Yes. More than anything.", he said in a completely brainwashed tone. It was almost if he forgot who he really loved. "Good.", she said as she backed away. "You can let him go now, my loves.", Ivy said to the vines that were holding him down. The vines then let him go and he stood up. "How may I help you, Mistress Ivy?", Jacob asked. "Right now, just go back home. I'll summon you when I need you. Soon, Gotham will be given back to flora and you and I will rule over my paradise.", Ivy cooed at him. "Me and you?", he asked. "Yes. Now go. I'll see you soon.", she said as she blew a kiss at him. He obediently walked away in a silent zombified manner and left her lair.