Red goes Green
Chapter 3 - Poison Ivy Strikes!
Barry was in the cortex of STAR Labs when suddenly an alert went off from one of the computers.
"What's that?"
Cisco looked at the monitor. "An alert from Mercury Labs. There's a break-in in progress. Oh and guess what? Mercury has been doing botanical research lately."
Barry suited up in his Flash suit. He connected the comm and as he pulled the mask over his face he glanced briefly at Cisco and Catlin before running out of the facility.
"Be careful Barry. We still don't yet know how powerful Poison Ivy is."
However by the time that sentence was finished Barry was already at Mercury Labs. It wasn't hard to find where the break out was from the general noise and chaos. Fortunately – to Barry's relief - it seemed as if most people had already managed to run away from the sight of Ivy's attack.
He ran into the building.
It was easy to find where Poison Ivy was. Barry just needed to follow the trail of vines between the entrance and the botanical research lab. He arrive and at last saw Poison Ivy face to face. She had her back turned to the speedster, seemingly not yet noticing him. It looked like she was taking something. At one side of the lab there was a guard who Ivy had entwined in her vines.
Barry ran over to the guard. He vibrated his hands against the vine to loosen its hold against the guard. However he was aware that every moment spent on freeing the guard meant that he was more and more likely to attract the attention of Poison Ivy. Finally the vine had loosened enough for Barry to be able to free the guard. He ran the guard to safety and in seconds was back to face off against Poison Ivy.
By this point she'd noticed him.
"I heard you've been looking for me, Flash." Ivy lashed a vine out.
Barry – anticipating a move from Ivy like that - had already ran out of the vines trajectory.
"How'd you know that I'd been looking for you?"
"There's always seeds and plants waiting to see the light. I can use them. I have eyes and ears throughout this city."
Barry hadn't noticed that behind him another vine was advancing. However he glanced down and saw it was starting to coil around his leg. Fortunately it was only starting to and he was able to run out of its grip. However a glance round the room revealed an increased amount of vegetation. If he wasn't careful Poison Ivy would have him cornered.
"Don't suppose you could tell me why you're killing people?"
She lashed out two vines at Barry. He managed to just dodge one but he wasn't as lucky with the other as it started to coil up and around his arm. Poison Ivy sent forth one of the other vines that was behind him and wrapped his other arm up in it. Barry struggled against the rope like vines but they only tightened. He needed to figure out the frequency that if he vibrated at he would be able to phase out of the vines. However that was going to take a few moments and as Ivy pulled him towards her Barry wondered if he was going to even have a few moments.
In front of her and bound in vines Poison Ivy leaned forwards.
"Let me tell you why I started killing people. Because people don't deserve this planet. It belongs to the plants and I intend to restore it to the plants."
Ivy was so close to Barry he almost wondered if she was going to close the distance and kiss him. He suspected she was purposefully this close to him in order to distract him however it was having the reverse effect as Barry felt like he now knew exactly how he should vibrate to escape the vines. He could have ran away right then but part of him waited to see if Poison Ivy was going to reveal anymore of her plans to him.
"And what better way to kill those that are killing nature than to use nature to kill them."
Ivy lifted her hand up her mouth and blew a kiss.
Barry's suspicion had been correct, Ivy had been distracting him as when she blew the kiss a powdered substance that had been concealed in the palm of her hand was released and inhaled by Barry.
Barry had moments to phase out of the vines – which he was only just able to – before he could feel the substance starting to take effect on his system. He could feel it burning through his body but his increased immune system was keeping whatever it was at bay. For now.
Barry ran from Mercury Labs over to STAR Labs. He knew he had to get to Caitlin before it took a full hold over him.
As he ran through Central City his mind was becoming increasingly clouded.
All that kept him running forwards was a single minded – almost primal – survival instinct that was telling him to get to STAR Labs.
Barry thought he was in the cortex as he collapsed and passed out.