Chapter 7
"Why are you doing this you milfilicious bitch?"
Pamela stepped down from her floral throne.
"Well because it is Kisho's wish...And partly mine considering your treacheries..."
Joshua Linton looked up, suspended in the air by the many vines coiled around him.
"Without these so-called treacheries...Gotham's economy would be bust!"
"I do not care!" Pamela hissed.
The plants around them reiterated Pamela's displeasure in a form of violent rustling. Pamela pointed at Joshua with a finger.
"You...Lecherous fool...Who have caused the destruction of so many forests for your own selfish gains...Hmph! Sex...Well...I will make you suffer..."
A sinister-looking vine rose beside Joshua and started to twine itself around Joshua's head. The vine had ternate almond-shaped leaflets sprouting all over and clusters of white flowers blooming.
"Wh-What is this?" Joshua asked with trepidation.
"Leaves of three...Let them be...Flowers white...Poisonous sight...Touch-them-not...Or trouble's sought...For you see...Poison Ivy..." Pamela chanted slowly.
"Get it away from me!" Joshua yelled.
"Itch my dear...You know...Poison Ivy's toxic agent urushiol...So clever...It turns the body's immune system against itself...It infiltrates...And then causes the chaos...Nevertheless...The itch is rather unbearable..."
Joshua's shouts were muffled by the vine as it continued twining around Joshua's entire body.
"Tata! I've got more visits to make!" Pamela said laughing with derision.
*
"Hello? Dr. Light?" Guo Xin asked.
"Yes speaking. And you are?"
"Guo Xin. As in high school Guo Xin. I need to meet you urgently."
"Oh Guo Xin! How long has it been? Five years? Wow...And yeah, what's the matter?"
"Can't risk talking on the phone. You're still at your lab?"
"Yeah why?"
"Good. I'll send someone to bring you to my place."
Guo Xin hung up. He wondered if anyone had been listening to the conversation. That was why he did not go into specifics.
Haruko appeared in the doorway of the room.
"So? You contacted him?"
Guo Xin nodded.
"Yes. He's coming. But...I don't know if he'll be safe..."
Haruko walked to Guo Xin's side and held his head, turning his face to face hers.
"He will be." Haruko said as she kissed Guo Xin gently on the lips.
*
Kisho's brow creased with worry as he surveyed the feed his supercomputer received.
So...Guo Xin's enlisting the help of Howl...Now this is a problem...
"Phone. Dial Isley."
"Dialing Pamela Isley...Connection established." said the cold, mechanic voice of the computer.
Three floors below, Pamela's cellular phone rang.
"Hello? Kisho...I was just getting dressed!"
"Sorry Pamela. But there seems to be a problem."
"What problem?" Pamela asked as she wielded the miniature crossbow and loaded it.
"Haruko and Guo Xin."
"Yes? What about them?"
Pamela put on her dark green boots with stiletto heels and sprayed herself with some Atlas.
"Apparently, they've invited Dr. Howl Light over for tea."
"And?"
"Well Dr. Light is an old classmate of mine. Just that he's not on the list because we haven't...crossed paths. But that doesn't mean he can interfere with our plans. Check your compact. I've just sent you information him. He can be dangerous so be prepared."
Pamela picked up her handheld compact and pressed a fingerprint-sensitive button in a special compartment below the rouge as she applied some on her face. The mirror seemed to come alive as it flashed once before displaying details of Dr. Light.
"You received the data?"
"Yes yes Kisho...Photonics? He's an expert on photonics?"
"That's why he's dangerous. Recently he's been working on some laser project on teleportation. But apparently it hasn't been much of a success. But still-"
"I get the picture. Lasers aren't exactly beneficial to my plants. But maybe they will in time...Things will still go as planned then. Send me the blueprints of Guo Xin's residence. I'll be there shortly...After my preparations."
*
Howl Light sipped his tea once more. He could hardly believe what he was hearing.
"And so we believe Kisho is working with Poison Ivy now." Guo Xin concluded.
Howl sipped even more tea.
"Wow...This is simply too much for me to digest...I mean...Kisho? He's clever but working with this...this Poison Ivy?"
"Pamela Isley. That's Poison's Ivy real name." Haruko added.
"Pamela Isley...That sounds familiar...Oh! That graduate from Yale! I saw her at the "Brilliant Minds" convention. That was years ago...She specialised in...Cellular Biology I think...Biochemistry...She was working for some pharmaceutical company..." Howl said as he tried to recall more about Pamela Isley.
"Goodness...Don't you even know who's Poison Ivy? That prominent eco-terrorist? You must really stop being so nerdy...She uses poisons to commit her crimes. And quite dangerous...She was the one who murdered Batman with a fatal kiss." Guo Xin said.
Haruko filled her cup with more tea.
"Tea for you?" Haruko offered.
"Er...No thanks." Howl answered.
"Anyway, back to the focus. Haruko thinks nothing good will come out of a partnership between her brother and Poison Ivy-"
"Half-brother!" Haruko shrieked.
"Yes and that's because?" Howl asked.
"Well...My dear half-brother specialises in plant genetics and toxicology. He's also well-versed in a few forms of martial arts...Plus the added fact the he has an abundance of technological and financial resources..."
"As for Poison Ivy, she probably knows more about plants than anyone in the world. And like you mentioned, cellular biology and biochemistry. A deadly duo if you ask me." Guo Xin said.
"So?"
"Well we suspect that my half-brother, Kisho, somehow acquired Pamela Isley's cell implant technology and helped her escape from Arkham Asylum. I've checked with Arkham. They found that the items belonging to Poison Ivy in the 'Confiscated highly dangerous items' section missing. This means that Poison Ivy's back on track with her toxins and they're probably up to no good now..."
"Kisho? Kisho from high school?" Howl asked.
"Yes, that's him." Guo Xin said in a sullen tone.
"But how does all this concern me?" Howl asked.
"What's the main reason of Kisho's vindictiveness in school? Can you remember?" Guo Xin asked, a scowl marring his handsome face.
Howl paused for a moment and poured himself another cup of tea.
"Joshua I suppose...And there was Shawn...Si Heng? I'm not sure about Lester..." Howl said, ticking names off his fingers.
"Exactly. So if he's with Poison Ivy...Who knows what he will do to all of us?"
Haruko stood up.
"I'll go take a bath." Haruko said.
"But...It's been so long...I don't really remember much...We were young...We didn't think..." Howl said slowly.
"And Kisho was younger. He was the youngest."
"And so now he's back for revenge?"
"That's Haruko's presumption."
The phone rang, the shrill ringing puncturing the stillness of the conversation. Guo Xin answered the phone, expression grave as he continued listening. He nodded a few times before ending the call.
"Joshua Linton's missing." Guo Xin said.
"What?"
"Joshua Linton. Affectionately known as Josh in high school."
"Josh? I'd never forget him! He was the only one that made our lessons alive!" Howl exclaimed with recognition, a smile forming slowly as he remembered how Joshua Linton used to make teachers' lives hell.
"And he's gone." Guo Xin cut in.
Howl looked at Guo Xin, expression a blend of seriousness and curiosity.
"The authorities only found two dead prostitutes and a gun with Josh's fingerprints. Josh and his bodyguards were nowhere to to be found." Guo Xin said.
"Is Josh the only one? What about the others? Si Heng? Shawn? Lester?" Howl asked anxiously.
Haruko entered the room, donning a traditional kimono with her hair in a coiffured style and decorated with kanzashi, hair ornaments that accompanied a kimono.
Guo Xin seem dazzled by Haruko for a moment before he returned his gaze to Howl.
"Josh's the only one so far thankfully...But anyone of us could be next. So I propose we unite for the time being until Poison Ivy and Kisho is apprehended. You know...Safety in numbers."
"I hope we're all prepared." Haruko said suddenly.
"I'll need to go back to the lab then. I can't abandon my research." Howl said.
"I can set up a lab here in my house. Would you mind moving in?" Guo Xin asked.
There was a soft thunk behind them.
"I'd love to." said a female voice.
Haruko recognised the voice instantly.
"Did I spoil your little tea-party?" Pamela asked in a babyish voice.
By that time, Guo Xin and Howl had also turned to face Pamela.
"Ivy." Guo Xin muttered.
"Isley." Howl said with fear.
"Pamela." Haruko said with determination.
Pamela moved closer towards the trio, predatory stare never leaving them.
"Don't come any closer." Haruko said coldly.
Pamela gave her a mock sympathetic look.
"Awww...Afraid of your previous mentor?" Pamela asked as she took another step towards them.
Haruko's eyes lit up as she inhaled sharply.
"I told you. Stop." Haruko said warningly.
Pamela's laughter resounded across the room before she smirked at Haruko.
"And what're you going to do? Run away like the last time? The only reason I never hunted you down was because I didn't have the time. I had to complete my research before Mother Nature completely faded away." Pamela answered hatefully.
Pamela took a step forward.
And with one swift, fluid and well-practised move, Haruko removed both of her kogai from her hair, holding each in one hand and threw them at Pamela.
Pamela's eyes widened with surprise but reacted almost instantly. She bended backwards, executing a bridge as the lethally-sharp ornamental hairpins flew over her, missing her narrowly. She then swung her legs upwards and over her body before they landed behind her, raising her body then as she assumed normal standing posture once more.
"Shuriken-jutsu?" Pamela asked.
"Gymnastics?" Haruko asked too.
"I never knew." Pamela said.
"Neither did I." Haruko said as well.
Haruko then ripped off the outer covering of her obi, the sash worn with her kimono, to reveal a set of several shining star-shaped metal plates with a hole in the center and sharpened edges, the four point hira-shuriken.
"More? It doesn't matter. I have literally, razor leaves..." Pamela said.
As if they heard Pamela, several leafy plants with pods burst into the room, shattering the glass windows. A shoot punctured the carpet floor below Pamela and lifted her up whilst growing taller and taller.
Haruko's hand moved to the deadly star-shaped blades as she unsheathed a katana that was also concealed in the obi with her other hand.
"Take cover. Someone's about to get hurt." Haruko said to Guo Xin and Howl.
"So it's just you my dear Haruko against the explosive action of my plants?" Pamela asked as Guo Xin and Howl got behind the sofa.
Haruko did not reply but just continued glaring at Pamela.
"So be it then. Fire away my dears!" Pamela instructed as the plants under her grew a protective layer of leaves and branches around Pamela.
The other plants with pods shuddered for a moment before the topmost pods exploded. Hundreds of seeds with razor-sharp wing-like structures made of wood flew in every direction. Some got stuck in the walls while most were standing rigid in the carpet floor. The chandelier crashed to the ground as a few seeds sliced its supporting cables and the crystal shattered into smithereens. Guo Xin and Howl were safe behind the sofa but the sofa had been impaled with many seeds. Haruko was still standing, breathing heavily as her body rose and fell in succession. She wielded the katana in front of her and appeared to be fine apart from some minor cuts.
Pamela eyes burned with rage. She had witnessed Haruko's prowess. Haruko had single-handedly deflected the deadly seeds with the impressive display of swordplay using her katana. Pamela looked at the protective layer of plants in front of her. Seven flat, thin plates had impaled the layer. Haruko had even managed to throw the hira-shuriken at her. The protective layer parted as pink petals took its place. Pamela stood atop the engorged blossom.
"You dare throw those cold, grey creations of Man at my plants?" Pamela asked agitatedly.
Haruko smiled as a drop of sweat trickled down her brow.
"Not so tough now huh?" Haruko said in between heavy breaths.
Pamela gave a contumelious snort.
"Who's not so tough? Take this!" Pamela screamed.
Pamela raised an arm and swung it at Haruko. In sync, several vines burst out of the ground and lashed out at Haruko. Haruko held her katana with both hands, ready to combat the fiendish vines.
There was a loud beep and the vines fell to the ground, severed from the main plant. Pamela stared at the fallen vines whose ends were still smoking.
"What?" Pamela exclaimed with surprise.
The severed ends of the main plant were still smoking as Pamela looked at them. She soon made the connection.
"Dr. Howl Light. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...I should have known..." Pamela said.
Howl stood behind the sofa, holding a small black cylindrical device of some sort with his outstretched hand. He aimed it threatening at Pamela.
"Class 4 lasers Dr. Isley. You're no fool. I don't need to explain them to you." Howl said breathlessly.
Pamela fluffed a hand through her hair.
"Incidentally Dr. Light...Do you know about 'blooming'?" Pamela asked.
"Why...Why yes. It's an effect...That causes the laser to defocus. Thus losing energy to the atmosphere..."
"Good. Fumes."
"Fumes? If there's the presence of fumes...The 'blooming' will more severe..."
"Good to know that as well! Toodles!" Pamela said, flashing a smile.
The remaining pods on the plants exploded, releasing opaque amber fumes. At the same time, the flower Pamela was in closed up, swallowing Pamela as the entire plant shrank back into the floor and then the soil, moving back to Kisho's headquarters.
Haruko coughed slightly but was unaffected by the thick fumes of Kolokol-1, a fast-acting incapacitating agent, due to the cell implants in her body. Haruko then dragged the now-unconscious Guo Xin and Howl Light out of the room and shut the doors so as to give them fresh air. She walked over to the wall and pressed a button for ventilation on a control panel.
Haruko removed the cumbersome kimono, now clad in a black ninja outfit. She looked at the unconscious men on the ground and wondered what the outcome would be if Pamela had used a lethal agent such as chlorine gas instead of Kolokol-1. She knew that Pamela had not forgiven her for running away and helping her enemies. She also knew that although Pamela was defeated this time, she would be back, and stronger.
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