Batman proceeded to what was left of the Gotham Chemical Plant to check on the poor mayor. He landed on some large pipes in the basement after jumping down a deep dark hole.

He heard his communicator and took it out to answer. "Batman, I'm getting seismic activity from around the chemical factory. What is going on?"

"It's the plants." Batman answered. "Poison Ivy's vines are rebuilding Gotham Chemical underground. Any news from Harley?"

"Nothing. I'll let you know what I find."

"Any news on the plant you found inside the apple?" Batman asked.

"Yes, it's dying. It doesn't want to eat anything except the hand that's feeding it and its starving to death." Batgirl replied, ending the call.

Batman ended the call and jumped down. He followed the path, careful now as there were two of Poison Ivy's minions which he easily knocked down with Electric Batarangs. He entered the opening going straight ahead as there were poison-spewing plants on both sides of the entrance. He turned left to flame another pant thug then turned right to see a massive hole with plant tendrils reaching up, trying to grasp anything for them to grab and eat.

Batman grappled to the other side and followed the path. However, he found he could not just go running ahead as there are vines that will strangle him. First, he paralyzed Poison Ivy's poisonous plant pet with a dose of Batarangs. Hugging the wall Batman proceeded while careful not to let the vines touch him.

Upon reaching the fungus room, he grappled, making sure to step away from the yellow slime oozing on the floor. He then quickly glided onto the next couple of mushrooms before they tilted back to the ground. On the third toadstool, glide towards the ledge and grappled to reach the top of the blocked steel staircase. He climbed a few more steps and entered the door, stopping to see Trench-Coat from the train sneaking away.

Batman stopped and brought out his communicator for an update from Batgirl. "Batgirl?"

"Still no word on Harley's involvement but get this. The mayor and several others have been making large charitable donations. Ivy must have her claws in deep. You need to find the mayor and fast before that plant in his stomach starts to get hungry."

"I found your friend from the train." Batman said.

"Trench-Coat? He can lead us straight to Ivy." Batgirl commented.

"That's what I am hoping for." Batman said before ending the call.

He started by hurling a Batarang on that single deadly vine below and then down to the bottom floor and climbed up the ladder on the upper left corner. He opened the door and turned in the direction Trench-Coat went, sliding down a steel gate. He opened it and continued sliding, avoiding the first gap and the second cavity. Once he was at the bottom he proceeded to the tunnel.

The end of the tunnel led to a room full of chemical vats, with some vines living in the vats. He proceeded his way around the room, taking out any vines and guards before making his way into a second chemical room.

And on the other side of the room was Mayor Hill.

The mayor was heading to the door when he spotted Batman and stopped, allowing the Dark Knight to reach him. While the mayor of Gotham never actually trusted Batman he must know that the caped crusader was his only hope.

Batman crossed the bridge and came face to face with Mayor Hill. "Tell me about Poison Ivy."

"She put these things in our stomachs. If we don't feed them her special plant foot they get hungry and start looking for something else to eat." The mayor began, his voice on edge either from speaking with the vigilante he did not trust or the fact that he was in danger from the plant inside his stomach.

"That's what you were buying?" Batman asked.

"Plant food. Just plant food. But if we don't do what she says we don't get it. And if we don't get her plant food, we become it." Hill answered.

"Who's we?" The Dark Knight noticed.

"Politicians. Business men. She's blackmailing us for money and power." Mayor Hill clarified before his eyes widened. "I need to make my payment!"

Batman spun around, hearing something land behind him. It was Trench-Coat. The two faced off as the mayor opened the door and closed it behind him. The trench coat 'man' removed his bandages and clothes and upon seeing what was underneath, even Batman was surprised despite everything he had already seen.

It was a hulking plant made 'man' that Batman had seen before.

The creature charged at him with an inhuman growl and Batman braced himself. Sliding back a few feet the Dark Knight engaged the creature in a one on one fight. The creature was all brawn and no brain but its strength more than made up for that shortcoming. Batman blocked and dodged, before punching the creature in the face several times.

The creature grabbed him and then threw him to the edge, just above a vat of acid. Batman faced the creature as it charged at him…

And seemingly fell down.

The creature had no time to stop as it literally ran over the edge and fell into the vat below. As Batman climbed back up the creature let out a painful shriek as it was dissolved in the acid. Once he was back up, Batman heard his communicator beep and immediately answered it.

"Batman, I talked to Harley." Batgirl said as soon as he answered.

"What did she have to say?" Batman asked.

"You were right. She was using her transmitter to lead us to Ivy." Batgirl began.

"Why?"

"She says she's scared. She knows too much about Ivy and doesn't want to end up on the pushing end of a daisy."

"Why would Ivy want to hurt her?"

As far as Batman knew, Ivy and Harley were best friends as far as criminals would go. When Harley wasn't with the Joker she was usually with Ivy who hated the Joker and more than once tried to get Harley to leave him for good.

"Because Ivy came to Harley for help with Gotham Chemical and Harley refused. So now Harley knows a few things she shouldn't."

"For example" Batman inquired.

"Electricity. It's Ivy weakness. The schematics show Ivy's plants are completely intertwined with the electrical system. If you get to the main power breaker you can flatten the whole garden in one blow." Batgirl answered.

"Where's the breaker?"

"In the back of the sub-basement."

"Alright…Keep an eye on Harley." Batman instructed.

"Are you gonna trust her?" Batgirl asked skeptically.

"Not at all but she's the closest thing we have to a lead." Batman said before ending the call and turning to the door Mayor Hill went through.

Xxx

Even though his appearance was brief this chapter is dedicated to the memory of late Canadian actor Lloyd Bochner who voiced Mayor Hamilton Hill in Batman: The Animated Series.