TIS THE SEASON

Part 2

CHAPTER 7

Lois Lane,Diana Prince and Catwoman were taken by Poison Ivy to an old abandoned warehouse on the harbour front. They could hardly know this,being enclosed within the oval shaped flower,and preoccupied with an unsteady,rocking motion that had them leaning back and clutching onto the thick walls lest they tumble head over heels.

Lois looked at Miss Prince's anxious expression. No doubt it was the teacher's first time being kidnapped by a villain or villainess. To Lois Lane it was exasperating but the reporter in her was stronger than anything and she also had faith in Clark and his League allies to come looking for them.

"Don't worry,Miss Prince. Superman and Batman will find us."

Diana looked at her uneasily."I wish I had your confidence,Miss Lane."

"When one is a reporter one is often in the line of fire. I guess I'm use to it."

"You aren't afraid?"

"Well,I won't say that I'm entirely not put out but the League won't be far behind. And I know a thing or two of self defense."

Diana gulped."How will that even help against this mad woman? I wonder what she wants with us?"

Lois looked around the flower. It had it's own natural lighting,like phosphorescence,generating a strange green glow. Lois muttered, "I'd be more worried about the radiation levels given off by these mutations."She looked at Catwoman who was still unconscious. "She's been out for a while. She's a strange one. I don't get her. The last time she made the news she was hobnobbing with Penguin. And if I'm remember clearly,she and Ivy did have some dealings way back."

Diana said,"People can change,you know."

Lois looked cynical;but she had another idea."Why don't we see who is under that mask?"

Diana protested,"You shouldn't. It's not right to do that to someone who can't defend themselves. One ought to respect their right."

The reporter waved the notion away."Not for a street thief. Now,who do we have here?" Lois' fingers reached towards the unconscious woman's mask.

Taloned fingers slapped Lois' fingers away and Selina sat up with a growl,"Just try it,Lane,and see if you'll be able to write a paragraph again."

Lois raised her hands and moved back."Can't blame a girl from trying. Tell me if you were in my place and could take a peep at the Batman,you wouldn't?"

Catwoman glared."Oh very droll,Lane. Where are we?And who are you?" She looked at the cowering woman in spectacles.

Diana said shrinkingly,"I'm Miss Prince...a teacher...I support Mr Wayne's African water project."

"Oh yeah?Good for you."She tried to use her talons to shear away a wall of petal. It was useless. The substance of the flower was almost impenetrable.

Lois observed,"Only explosives or heat vision can breach that."

"Yeah,thanks for informing me. I'd never figure it out for myself."She slid down to the ground."I wonder where the eco-psycho is taking us?"

It was a rhetorical question. No one had a clue.

Diana watched then both and sighed. It was impossible to turn into Wonder Woman with these two alert and razor-sharp women here with her. Sure,she could clobber them both unconscious and transform and most likely burst out of this prison. It was a tempting option,especially the clobbering part, to quieten the opinionated Lois Lane. But she had to be patient and calm and remember she was above such petty thoughts. She would wait for an opportune moment. Both women would surely find it very suspicious to wake up to find that Wonder Woman had rescued them and Diana Prince had vanished.

So Diana Prince waited.

Ivy had the three women locked up in three medieval type cages, that were suspended over a plant that looked like a giant venus fly-trap. She then went to sit upon what looked like a raised platform of interlocking vines to count her takings for the night, which were quite substantial. There were strings of pearls; earrings, necklaces ,bracelets all studded with diamonds, sapphires,rubies and every conceivable precious stone;several tiaras;expensive swiss watches,jeweled tie pins and cuff links;and what Ivy appreciated the most,wallets and purses full of cash. She had even robbed the Santa and elves in the foyer of their pot of money.

Catwoman called."Ivy,what do you want with us?"

Ivy tried on a tiara."Oh,Kitty,you're insurance. I'm sure the League will be on the trail and I must have some bargaining chip. Everyone knows that Superman's P.R. is Lois Lane. And it's common knowledge that you are not to be trusted within criminal circles. This changing of sides every Monday morning is very tedious. "

Diana ventured timidly,"You don't need me..."

Ivy looked at her coldly."No. I don't." She reached out picked up a remote control and the floor to Miss Prince's cage opened and Diana felt herself fall into the awaiting jaws of the giant plant. The spiky edged lobes snapped shut.

Lois Lane let out a cry of dismay. Catwoman gritted,"You psychopath!She was no harm to you. Why did you have to do that to her?"

"It's gotten you two cheesed off...that alone is reason enough. Not do be quiet,Kitty,and let me concentrate."

Diana felt the jaws clamp around her and herself slide down the long tuber. She punched downwards and ended up bursting out of the giant plant and falling headlong into what was a dank and mouldy looking basement. She was covered in the digestive enzymes of the plant and it felt like glue on her skin. Without even transforming she flew out of a window and dived headlong into the harbour to sluice the substance off her body.

Diana emerged and alighted onto the dock .The water had been freezing cold and she was drenched to her skin. She twirled and change into Wonder Woman but knew she couldn't burst in on Ivy;she ran the risk of Lois or Selina getting hurt. She pressed her JLA communicator.

At once Batman's voice answered."Diana,where are you?"

She gave him her co-ordinates. She could hear Superman's voice in the background say,"I'm on it."

Batman asked,"Is everyone alright?"

"I am. Lois and Selina are captives."

"And Ivy?"

"Inside. We've got to be careful she has control over those plants of hers and can harm Lois and Selina."

"Don't move in yet..."

"I have the element of surprise,I can go in and..."

She felt a wind behind her and saw Superman landing;he had Batman with him. She said impressed."That was fast."

Catwoman watched Ivy as she admired her arm which was covered,from wrist to forearm,in bracelets and bangles of myriad designs and jewels. Lois was sitting on the floor of the cage and looking warily at the Venus fly trap and the remote control at Ivy's elbow.

Selina wanted to kick and screech at Ivy and demand to be let free,but she knew it was a foolish hope. Riling the plant-loving villainess was not a good idea. She did not even have her whip. It had been left behind in the Ritz ballroom. The lock to the cage was electronic and only the remote could open it. She asked abruptly,"How long do you plan to keep us here?"

"I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll get you two gals to join me in my mission,unless you'd like to be ingested for Christmas,that can be arranged." She waved the remote at her menacingly.

Catwoman made a face and sat upon the floor. She looked around the cage. There was no way of breaking out. She suddenly saw a movement at the high window. She looked at Ivy warily and got up. The height of the cage allowed her to see a dark shadow go pass. The League was near!

She began scathingly,"You know something?You are a pathetic woman,aren't you?"

Ivy's head snapped up."What did I tell you,Kitty?"

"I mean, look at you. You have plants for company. You have to drug people even to get noticed. You think these stupid weeds can over take the world?One dose of napalm will deal with them like that."She snapped her fingers.

Ivy stood up,looking very angry."How dare you speak those words?"

Lois hissed,"What are you trying to do?Get us killed?''

Catwoman continued,"If I had my way,I'd get the League to invest in a good dose of mealybug or a swarm of locusts to deal with you. That'd save them a hell of a lot of time and effort."

Ivy screeched,"That's it,you alley cat!"

And Catwoman felt her cage open and herself falling. Lois gasped.

The glass of the high window suddenly shattered and in swooped Batman. He caught the falling Catwoman as they swung to the other side of the room.

He commented, as she held onto him, "I was wondering where you were going with it. A bit risky, don't you think?"

She said,"Oh, I knew you would follow my lead and do what you had to..." There was the sound of Superman flying in and ripping the metal bars of Lois' cage and placing her on a high rafter before Ivy could drop her..."just as I knew what he would do." They landed lightly onto the ground.

Ivy gestured for her plants to unravel and take up her loot;she was taken up by a tendril and placed onto a bulb. Her vines began to attack the heroes. Superman had to use his heat vision, Batman his batarangs and Catwoman,her talons. Lois simply had to watch and hope for the best.

Ivy and her entourage made for the doors;she warned darkly,"If any one of you come near me,I will enslave your minds...even you Superman...no one,man,woman,or child can resist me..."

The roof to the warehouse was torn open and Wonder Woman flew in."Do princesses made of clay count?"

The Amazon smacked the astonished Ivy off her perch and wrapped the girdle of Gaea around her."Now, try to enslave me."

Ivy was taken away by Wonder Woman to Arkham. The two heroes, Catwoman and Lois stood on the dock,watching the rest of the officers tag and bag the stolen property,and clean up crew clean out the shreds of what was left of the villainess' "children".Superman had obligingly used his heat vision to slice through all of them. It was much easier for him to deal with them on masse, with no civilians in the way;it gave him the chance to "cut loose" and destroy them in seconds.

The ladies had at first been fearful of finding a dead body in the venus fly-trap,but when Superman first flew down into the gut of the creature,to their relief and surprise,he flew out with a half dazed,and half drenched Diana Prince. She had no recollection of what happened,and was disorientated and weak. The ambulance, that had come with the police,took her away to the hospital to get checked over.

Superman,who had assisted her onto the gurney, murmured, "Perhaps you should remain overnight for observation?"

Miss Prince had understood perfectly.

Superman looked at Batman."I think I need to get Miss Lane back to the Ritz to check on her boyfriend. J'onn has reported that the effects of the pollen has subsided. There are a lot of sore heads and jaws but no casualties."

Batman nodded."Go ahead. I'll stick around here for a while."

Superman took Lois and they vanished into the night.

Selina Kyle looked up. There were fine white specks swirling in the air."Oh great,it's begun to snow again."

"You don't have to stay. I can handle this." the Dark Knight said coolly.

"Ah, that's your way of telling me to go away. Your manners have not improved much."She moved to go

"Selina."

She did not even turn around."What?"

"Here."

She turned. He held out her whip. The tail was wrapped tightly about the handle. It appeared he had it hitched to his utility-belt all this time.

She looked at him grudgingly and took it. Their fingers touched."Thanks."And for once she made no comment and slipped away into the night.

Clark Kent came to Gotham general hospital to see Miss Diana Prince. He needed to follow through with the charade for Lois' sake as well as every other person that had come into contact with Miss Prince in Gotham. Lois had been understanding. She saw nothing odd in Clark checking up on the woman. In fact,she felt some pity for the dowdy woman and the trauma she must have gone through, having been kidnapped and nearly devoured by a giant plant. It was the right thing to do.

Clark had plucked a perfect purple lotus flower on a quick detour south of the equator from his Metropolis to Gotham route. He held it carefully,as he made his way to his friend's room.

He stopped before 210 and knocked.

"Come."

He entered. Diana Prince was in a hospital gown,sitting in a chair,a blanket over her knees, beside the window,watching the snow fall with such an exasperated expression,he nearly laughed.

Her face lit up at once."Clark." The surprise in it indicated that she had not expected to see him.

"Hello,Diana. How are you?'

She frowned at him."Waiting impatiently to be discharged!Of all the mean things to do to me is to make me act the invalid when I'm not."

"We can't be too careful,you know. Here,this is for you."

He held out the lotus flower. She took it with a confused,"A lotus!But they don't sell this in the hospital shop here, do they?"

"No,I got it elsewhere. I picked it from a pond...the dewdrops are fresh."

"But it's snowing !How can you even...?" Diana stopped and looked at him in dawning understanding. "You didn't fly out for it?"

He tried to look casual,but ended up looking very self conscious."It took me no more than a few minutes. And the pond in India was littered with them."

He neglected to mention he had scoured dozens of ponds,looking for a purple flower. Diana was touched,but she had enough sense to realize that now was not the time nor place to read anything into a friend going across the world to search for the perfect water lily for her. As she got up to put it into a small glass with water,she said jokingly,"Hmm,you know what the Greeks say about the lotus?"

"What?"

"It is purported to cause indolence and dreamy contentment." She sat back down,encouraging him to do likewise."The indolence I can relate to...the dreamy contentment...no."

He smiled."Enjoy it,Diana,Soon enough you'll be running after those kids and fighting madmen."

"I know. How's Bruce?"

"I don't know. We haven't spoken since last night. Diana,I can I ask you something?"

"Yes?'"

"Why is your name down for Monitor Duty for Christmas holiday?"

She tried to look matter of fact."Well, isn't it obvious?"

"It's a holiday and a time to be with family."

She said dryly,"As you may be aware,the Amazons don't exactly celebrate the yuletide season,so nothing will be going on at the Embassy. If I'm not certain,they'll be going to Themyscira for your holiday period. It makes perfect sense that I do Monitor Duty...a lot of the others want the time to be with their loved ones...and school is out,so it would be no task for me."

He said gravely,"While I respect that,your ,er, generosity has made life very hard for me."

Diana looked bemused."What?"

"Yes,you see,my mother has ordered me, on pain of being nagged to death,(which is torture to any man by the way),to invite you to Smallville for those two days."

She looked totally stunned and awkward."I..well..that is kind of Mrs Kent,but you see,I promised J'onn that I would do it..."

He interrupted,"Now that's where you are wrong,because J'onn actually said he could find replacements for you in Dr Fate and Blue Devil. You'll find there's a revised version of the Christmas roster."

Diana looked at him crossly,"That was wrong of you,Clark,for making changes on my behalf. You are not considering maybe I don't want to celebrate Christmas."

He replied innocently,"Oh,you won't be doing it for you but to save me. Pa can be awful too. As Ma will prattle non-stop,he'll give me the silent treatment. It'll be very awkward for Lois and J'onn."

Diana looked startled."J'onn?"

"Oh yeah,he's coming too. You have got to help me,Diana. All year Superman rescues,can no one save him?"

She looked half amused,half annoyed,"You are totally without shame,the very idea of needing to be rescued is so absurd!And let me tell you this tactic is tantamount to emotional blackmail,very sneaky and underhanded."

He said unruffled and hopeful."So,you'll come?"

She found herself wanting to laugh. She tried to look unamused."Oh stop looking as if butter wouldn't melt in your mouth!"

He looked satisfied. He got up and clapped his hands. "Excellent. We'll talk details later. The folks will be pleased. You know, they've been wanting to see you ever since they found out you were back."

"Oh."

"Okay,then,I've got to get back. I'm on a tight schedule. You take care now ?" He waved good-bye and was gone. Diana looked at the door with rueful shake of the head. How did he manage to get the better of her?He had not even argued with her but somehow he had managed to get his own way!