A/N:Just a reminder - Samantha Clark was created by JasonToddLover. The character cannot be used by anyone else without permission.
Part 19 Choking Off The Weeds
Batman and his three remaining birds were watching the greenhouse for any activity. They watched as two men left the greenhouse to do Ivy's bidding. Batman signaled for one of his sons to follow the men and intercept them before the police got wind of the situation. Robin nodded and did as Batman instructed. There were still others about.
"I can't see where Tim is," Nightwing stated as he looked through a pair of small binoculars. "The greenhouse is going to burst out its seams if Ivy grows any more plants."
"We need a diversion," Batman stated.
"I'll take care of that," Red Hood said.
"I'll get up on the roof and hopefully find where she's holding Tim," Nightwing replied.
"And I will confront Ivy," Batman added.
Red Hood headed for the far corner of the greenhouse to keep Ivy's remaining men distracted. He set a few smoke bombs to give the impression that a fire broke out. He couldn't risk a real one that might spread faster than they might be able to contain it. Then he proceeded to take them out one by one, sending them into dreamland.
Meanwhile, Nightwing headed to the rooftop of the greenhouse. It took a few minutes to spot Tim. He was hanging right above one of Ivy's giant Venus fly traps. He had a faraway dazed look on his face, oblivious of the danger he was in.
'How does she create these monstrosities,' Nightwing thought. 'Doesn't she know playing with mother nature's creatures, even plant life, she'll get burned?'
Nightwing made short work of the trap, causing the plant to close its jaw-like pedals by tossing in a smoke pellet. Its floral feelers didn't know the difference between a large object or a small one, a fly or a human-sized meal. It still gave him the willies to think about how the plant digested its food and how it would have digested Tim if given the chance. It reminded him of a time as Robin he would rather forget. Nightwing pulled Tim up through one of the greenhouse skylights.
Once outside, Nightwing took a close look at Tim. He could see there was something wrong. 'He's dazed. He must be under Ivy's influence. He'll need an antidote.' Nightwing pressed his com. "Batman, I have Tim." There wasn't an answer. "Batman."
Batman's plan must have worked. Now all they had to do was wait.
Batman took the frontal assault. He cut through some of Ivy's vines. It was the most expedient thing. He knew he would get an immediate response.
"Murderer!" Ivy screamed out. "Who cut my children! I'll make them pay for that. Vine's grab him!"
It wasn't long until Batman was tangled in Poison Ivy's vines. He heard Nighting's voice through his communications device in his cowl. Batman couldn't answer Nightwing. His silence was their que that their plan was working. Ivy's vines parted, bringing Batman into her sacred abode.
"Well, well, look what my vines drug in," Ivy said with a warm sultry voice. "It's no use struggling, Batman. You're my prisoner now."
"You think you have the upper hand Ivy, you are sadly mistaken."
Ivy waved a hand and the vines brought Batman close to her face. "I always believed you and I could do wonders for the city, turning it into our personal paradise."
"Your personal paradise would kill a lot of people."
"Plant haters, Batman. They don't deserve paradise," Ivy scoffed. "After all, Adam and Eve were thrown out for eating an apple."
"It was from eating from the tree of knowledge. You'll have plenty of time to read the bible when you're taken back to Arkham."
"Very funny," Ivy chided. "Give us a kiss, Batman."
Ivy brought Batman closer unaware of her own danger. At that moment, Batman brought up a loosened hand with the bottle and sprayed the substance in Ivy's face.
"Ahhh! What did you do?" Ivy suddenly felt strange. Her body started shutting down, going into sleep mode. She couldn't keep her eyes open. She was losing her tenuous control, not only on the men under her spell, but on the plants as well.
"I just triggered a hormonal response that all plants go through, even in the tropics. It's called dormancy."
"No . . . You can't stop me . . . " Ivy slowly fell into a deep sleep.
"I just did," Batman stated as the vine released its hold on him. He then contacted Commissioner Gordon and they moved in to take Ivy into custody, and to get the dazed men who had been under her control to the hospital.
"We'll see that these carnivorous plants are destroyed so they don't do any harm," Commissioner Gordon stated. "What was Ivy planning?"
"To convince Mr. Wayne if he didn't give her what she wanted, he'd be missing one of his sons."
"You mean she was going to feed one of his son's to those things? That's monstrous."
"We'll make sure Timothy Drake-Wayne is returned to his family."
"Commissioner, we found the remains of some girl among the plants," a police officer stated. "She's covered in . . . Well, you'll have to see it for yourself."
Batman scowled beneath his cowl. In trying to save Tim he forgot about Elizabeth Goodfellw. She had played a part in kidnapping Tim.
"Do you know who she is?" Commissioner Gordon questioned the officer as they examined the remains.
"Her ID says she's Elizabeth Goodfellow. There's also two briefcases full of money."
"You will need to inform Mr. Goodfellow on the loss of his daughter."
"We'll do that, Batman."
Batman left Commissioner Gordon's side and headed to the bat-mobile. Nightwing was sitting in the passenger seat with Tim resting in his arms.
"I didn't want to leave him alone," Nightwing stated. "I gave him an antidote. He asked about Samantha and then he fell asleep."
"We'll tell him when he wakes up. Let's get him home."
Batman started the engine and they headed out of Gotham Park and back through the streets of Gotham City to return to the cave. Batman informed Robin and Red Hood the all clear. Even so, their troubles were only just beginning. An old nemesis would soon be knocking on their door once more, and Neptune's Daughter would be forced to choose between the red bird of her heart and her royal duty.
End
A/N: This story continued with "The Devil's Sister"