The Doctor, Batman, and Robin got William to a relatively safer part of Ivy’s base. They then checked him over. “I’m all right, guys!” protested William. “The pod was still closed by the time Ivy lost control of the vines.” “That’s good to know,” replied the Doctor. “Though I can’t say I enjoyed that scream.” “You don’t think-?” asked Robin. “The pod found a new Krynoid host,” growled Batman. “I certainly hope not,” muttered the Doctor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ophelia was going into convulsions as her skin looked like it was covered in green hives! “M-My whole body-!” she said as she shook. “L-Look at my arm!” “Incredible!” said Ivy as she examined the arm. “The rate of growth is astounding!” “G-Get me a doctor!” pleaded Ophelia. “What doctor can undo this?” asked Ivy. “Don’t worry, my sweet. We’ll care for you here.” “Pamela, for pity’s sake!” begged Ophelia. “Help me!” “Charlotte, help me get Ophelia to the observation ward,” directed Ivy. Charlotte obeyed, growing tendrils to help Ivy support Ophelia as they walked out of the room. “Harley, take care of anyone of Batman’s group trying to get in. No need for high security now.” “You got it, Red!” replied Harley. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Batman, you come with me,” directed the Doctor. “Robin, get William to safety.” “And where, pray tell, is safe?” asked William. “Out of the Botanical Gardens, I presume,” remarked Robin. “Get him more than a mile away,” said the Doctor. “Because if that pod DID find a host, the Krynoid will be able to control plants within a mile of here.” “Got it. Selina’s apartment should be safe,” said Robin. “What about you and Batman?” asked William. “We’re going to see if the Doctor’s fears are right,” replied Batman. “Doctor, please be wrong!” urged Robin. “Believe me, I hope I’m wrong too. Now GO!” urged the Doctor. Robin took William by the hand and they both ran. The Doctor grabbed an axe lying nearby. “Doctor, what do you intend to do with that thing?” asked Batman. “You’re not a natural killer. I’ve seen your martial arts.” “You’re right, I’m not a natural killer,” replied the Doctor, “but they don’t know that.” They returned to the lab. Batman counted down from three, then they burst into the room. “NOBODY MOVE!” shouted the Doctor. …It looked empty. Batman and the Doctor glanced around the room…then Batman spotted something. “Doctor!” he said as he pointed out the open seed pod. “Oh no,” shuddered the Doctor. “Looks like Ives got a new recruit!” came Harley Quinn’s voice. She jumped from the ceiling. “…Who?” asked the Doctor. “Dr. Ophelia Henderson,” replied Harley. “Looked like the plant likes a leggy blonde!” “Harley, that plant is consuming her as we speak!” urged the Doctor. “We must find a cure for her!” “See, Red and I put a lot of effort into getting that pod and we want to see the results!” said Harley. “So be a good little girl, Doc, and beat it! And take your bat and birds with you!” “Harley, you don’t know the kind of monster Ophelia is becoming!” argued Batman. “We can’t leave until she’s cured!” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Robin and William made their way to the gate, they heard footsteps. “Quick! Over here!” hissed Robin as he dragged William to a corner. They then poked their heads out to see Ivy and Charlotte bringing Ophelia to a room. Robin saw the color of her skin and shut his eyes as he remembered what happened with the first pod. “…The pod opened,” he said. “…That’s what Ezar looked like when the pod grabbed him?” asked William. “Yes,” confirmed Robin. “Then the Doctor’s worst fears are confirmed,” sighed William. “We can’t leave her and Batman.” “I can’t, but YOU can!” hissed Robin. “Not a chance, kiddo,” replied William. “If I can escape a Norse god and an Eastern-European dictator, I can help the Doctor find a cure for that poor woman. We both have to stay.” “…I’ll ask about the details for the Norse god later,” remarked Robin. “Much as I hate to admit it, you’re right. We need to help Father and the Doctor.” “Now, where would they be?” mused William. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the observation room, Ophelia’s transformation had progressed to having foliage growing all over her body like Ezar. She was tied to a table by ropes. “Wh-What’s happening?!” asked Ophelia. “Don’t panic, my dear,” soothed Ivy. “I was just as scared when I was shedding my original animal form.” “…No! No, you can’t keep me here!” begged Ophelia. “I need a hospital!” “Don’t be absurd. We’ll look after you here. Now, there’s recording equipment to monitor the transformation and food will be given to you.” “Charlotte!” Ophelia begged the giant talking rose. “Charlotte, this is murder and you know it! Get me to a hospital! Please!” “Mistress Ivy knows what’s best in this situation,” replied Charlotte. “It’s for your own good.” The giant mobile rose and her creator then departed. “Ivy! POISON IVY!” wailed Ophelia uselessly. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robin and William were about to abandon their hiding place when Ivy and Charlotte left the room. They went back under cover and listened to the conversation. “What if Ophelia’s right, Mistress?” asked Charlotte. “About how dangerous this all is?” “Don’t worry, Sweet Charlotte,” soothed Ivy as she stroked the rose. “I’ve taken all the proper precautions.” At that moment, Harley arrived. “Ah! Harleen!” said Ivy as she pulled the clown girl into a hug. “I take it you have prisoners?” “Bat-brain and the Doc are in the composting room right now,” replied Harley. “They’re watching the composting plants before I put them in. Want me to start the…recycling experiment?” “Not just yet,” replied Ivy. “We need Robin and Dr. Davies in the same room as them. For now, let’s go see if they understand their current situation.” She followed Harley to the composting room as Charlotte headed off to do other business. “…We gotta get in there,” muttered William. “…Why?” asked Robin. “Shouldn’t we find Father and the Doctor?” “So where’s the composting room?” asked William. “That’s where Harley said they are, yes?” “…Ah, ask Ophelia so we can quickly bring the Doctor to her and try and cure her.” “Exactly. Let’s see if we need a key.” The two then approached the room’s door and tested it. …It opened easily. “…I think Ivy would want anyone getting too close to the door to be killed by that horror she’s cultivating,” remarked Robin. “Let’s hope it’s still human, mentally,” replied William. The two entered the room and heard a groan. They saw Ophelia fastened to her table with meat nearby. Ophelia slowly opened her eyes and saw them. “…You should be glad,” she mumbled. “This could have been you.” “…Ophelia, was it?” asked William. “I’m Dr. William Davies. Robin and I know of someone who can try and cure you, but she’s a prisoner in an area known as the composting room. If you can tell us where it is, we can bring this woman to you.” “…You promise?” asked Ophelia. “On my very soul,” replied William. “…It’s in the southern area of the gardens,” revealed Ophelia. “Go straight out this room through that door behind me, then take a left. It’s the third door from the right of the southern gate. Hurry! I can feel this stuff eating me alive!” “Keep fighting!” urged Robin. “We’ll cure you in time!” He and William went through the door. “…So tired,” sighed Ophelia. “I’m so…so tired.” She then shut her eyes. …Her last, fatal mistake. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- William and Robin followed Ophelia’s directions and heard a grinding noise. “That’s gotta be the room!” said William. Robin kicked it open and saw Batman and the Doctor restrained as various plants chopped up the food waste and…fresh bodies, turning it into fresh soil. “Father!” said Robin. Batman and the Doctor turned to see the two. “We told you to get out of here!” hissed the Doctor as Robin and William undid the bonds. “We can’t, Doctor,” replied William. “Not when Ophelia needs us!” “We know where she is!” urged Robin. “We have to hurry!” “…Right, lead on,” directed the Doctor, knowing that time was of the essence. Robin and William led the way. The group soon arrived, only to find Elizabeth blocking the way. “Well, well, well,” purred the talking giant rose. “So the criminals return to the scene of the crime.” “Elizabeth, get out of the way!” urged Batman. “Ivy’s letting Ophelia turn into a monster!” “A monster that will need fresh nitrogen,” replied Elizabeth. “Did you know your bodies are the richest source of the stuff? She’ll need it to be further nurtured.” “Nurtured?” asked the Doctor fearfully. “You don’t mean to say you’ve been feeding her?!” Elizabeth was about to reply…then her petal-made mouth slowly dropped its smile, looking like someone in a trance. The lips then curled into an animalistic snarl. “Oh no! We’re too late!” whispered the Doctor fearfully. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “He’s so nasty, treating her rough!” sang Harley when she came by with the next meal. “Smacking her round and acting real-!” Harley stopped when a vaguely humanoid limb grabbed her by the throat and hoisted her up! The Doctor was right, they were too late! Ophelia was now a Krynoid in its vaguely humanoid state!