Spider-Priestess Demands a Terrible Price

Torchlight and the polished floor of the storm sewer in which Spider-Priestess had left Batgirl to die enabled the Curved Crusader to observe the dozen monstrous spiders’ inexorable progress as the light filtering through the street-level grates above her slowly waned and vanished altogether. Trapped in the enormous web, only her eyes moved as she scanned the chamber, watching the demonic diners slowly approaching the stone walls and the superheroine upon whom they would feast all too soon.

There was little Batgirl could do about her perilous predicament as her monstrous killers’ search for food slowly proceeded. Her jaw transformed into a determined line as she considered Spider Priestess’ trap’s psychological aspects.

The long wait would afford the Curved Crusader ample opportunity to watch her doom inexorably approach. Closer and closer the monsters would come, until their search finally concluded. Then, Batgirl would become their human repast, flinching and twitching in intense, unrelenting agony as they attacked and slowly devoured her.

The spiders’ meal would involve three steps. The venom their fangs would inject into her would induce paralysis; silk would envelope portions of her body and maintain her helplessness; and finally the spiders would drink her blood until her body became a motionless, lifeless husk.

The Dominoed Daredoll recalled the sight of Patience Phillips’ corpse and the pain that had remained etched on her face after similar spiders had finished with the crime-fighting catwoman. The heroine knew an identical and equally agonizing fate awaited her.

‘None of the spiders have reached the walls yet,’ Batgirl thought, ‘but they’re all very close.’

She tried unsuccessfully to shake her head, which was stuck to the web, and focus on how she might employ her available assets to escape. This line of thought had the potential of being vastly more productive than dwelling on her impending fate.

Batgirl’s primary resource was her golden utility belt, of which her enemies frequently deprived her. Spider-Priestess, however, on this occasion, had not done so, leaving numerous, miraculous wonders closely wound around her waist. Reaching her gadget-laden girdle with her head; limbs; and body stuck to the enormous, evil web would, however, be problematic.

Another factor in Batgirl’s favor was the torchlight. Not only did the eerily-flickering flames illuminate the chamber and the hungry horrors it contained, the flames were capable of burning and destroying either the web restraining Batgirl or the spiders coming to consume her. Unfortunately, the torches and their useful flames were all further away from Batgirl than her utility belt.

Most importantly, Batgirl’s mind was working to devise a viable escape plan with the speed of a supercomputer.

‘The first of the spiders have arrived at the walls!’

Both the spiders and the web were vulnerable to attack. Batgirl knew she would somehow need to be able to move in order to escape.

Her cape might enable the required activity. While her limbs and head were stuck against the web, her shoulders; back; and buttocks were not. Her cape was stuck to the web behind these body parts, which were, in turn, pressed closely against the material.

“I’m literally dead meat in this web,” Batgirl muttered.

The spiders were enormous; monstrous; and numerous, yet at the same time they were living creatures. Any escape plan focused on neutralizing them would require her to successfully attack twelve living, moving targets.

Batgirl frowned, thinking, ‘The spiders are getting closer every second. They’re all scaling the walls now.’

The web, alternatively, was a single, inanimate target, and was much closer. This proximity would enable her to attack it immediately, as soon as she determined a means.

Additionally, the Curved Crusader had another hope. Her friend, Lieutenant Diana Mooney, had certainly been informed of Batgirl’s decision to interrogate Archie Arcane. Eventually, the policewoman would personally come or send someone to check on the interview. Batgirl and the prisoner’s disappearance would then be discovered and reported, thus prompting a search. Batgirl had left the manhole she had descended uncovered and Spider-Priestess might have been in too great a hurry to replace it when she led her crew of killers away. Obviously, Police Headquarters was not part of the crooks’ escape route. The villainess may not have even thought to check on the manhole cover. ‘There is a very real chance I’ll be found,’ she thought. ‘The question is whether I’ll still be alive when I’m discovered!’

Searching for the spiders, she did not see them on the walls. After a moment, she shuddered as the truth dawned upon her. ‘The spiders’ ascent is complete and they’re approaching —closer and closer to me—scuttling slowly across the ceiling!’

In the past, Batgirl had slipped a hand from a glove when her body had been pressed against a seemingly inescapable, sticky surface resembling a spider web. She began to vigorously and repeatedly draw her arms downward, toward her chest. Pulling one arm free of the web might allow her to reach her utility belt, which she thought might offer her a slim chance to escape.

One item which could definitely bring aid was Batgirl’s tracer, a device tied into a communication system Bruce Wayne had donated to the Gotham City Police Department years ago. It was capable of sending emergency distress signals Batgirl had successfully employed in the past.

Her personal trouble alert had summoned Chief O’Hara to free her from the second villainous variation of Catwoman’s deadly Cat’s Whiskers, which had constricted in response to movement. More recently, the police had fished her out of Gotham Harbor following her escape from a hot air balloon both Catwoman and Penguin had launched over the ocean during a thunderstorm in order to induce the Curved Crusader’s lethal electrocution.

Batgirl had reason to believe the police would find her - eventually - without the aid of her tracer signal. The potential value of the distress signal could be incalculable, though, if it hastened help’s arrival.

Another tool in her crimefighting arsenal was ammunition from Mister Freeze’s quick-freeze gun she had carefully siphoned into capsules. Batgirl’s limited budget for crimefighting equipment would never have allowed her to develop the dangerous formula herself, but acquiring items secondhand had long ago become a practical habit.

These carefully captured capsules had saved her life before. They had rendered a bomb Minerva had set to blow the Curved Crusader to bits useless and reduced the tremendously strong robot Clock King had commanded Doctor Liz Shaw to build to scrap metal when it attacked and nearly defeated Batgirl.

Freezing the entire web might not work. Waiting, though, until the spiders reached it was a possibility, which, if she could pull it off, might assure her safety, at least temporarily.

Batgirl thought of another alternative. She carried canisters of compressed oxygen which was very cold when expelled and could be directed.

Batgirl smiled. ‘The compressed air canister might offer my best chance of escape, if I can somehow reach it,’ she thought.

She could feel a hand slide from the fingers and into the wrist of her elbow-length glove. She could almost hear her heartbeat as her excitement and anticipation fueled one another. Then, just as suddenly, her blood ran cold as the hope her developing escape plan had given her transformed.

In the center of the enormous, evil web, Batgirl took on the role of a spider, feeling the web’s strands tremble as something outside it encountered the artificial, sticky surface. Unfortunately, only Spider-Priestess’ monsters would encounter the simulated trap.

When she had first realized the spiders’ climb had concluded, Batgirl had taken comfort from the shadowy corners of the chamber, in which the creatures might have remained hidden from her sight. Now, as she felt the web above her tremble at the hungry creatures’ approach, she knew all of her arachnid assassins were coming for her . . . and getting very close as her final moments on Earth crawled past.

Batgirl realized the web in which she was trapped was working for her as the spiders traversed it. The tremors conveyed along the strands of the web would become more intense as the creatures grew closer. On the other hand, when the monsters arrived at their prey and attacked, one of Batgirl’s greatest assets, her costume, would work against her.

The material closely enveloping her entire body was stretched tightly enough to act like a second skin. It created a cunningly clever contrast by covering every comely curve of her attractive, athletic figure without concealing any of its contours. Batgirl’s decision to be a living distraction had repeatedly enabled her to take down her enemies. Yet, she knew her stratagem involved a trade off. The lurex which showed off her fantastic, feminine form also conveyed almost any tactile sensation, however slight. At times, her enemies had used that particular property of her outfit against her.

Her costume, as well as her perilous position in the center of the wicked web, would enable Batgirl to feel every movement of the spiders as they approached. The sensations would only intensify when the creatures reached her.

‘How long before their meal begins?’ she wondered.

She felt her chest expand as her lungs filled. Slowly, Batgirl released her breath and tried to avoid panic. Having faced death countless times, she could never remember it coming so close before she gained her freedom.

Trapped in the web, the Curved Crusader knew her role as the spider would literally be short lived. ‘The real spiders have begun to traverse the web. They’ll soon discover their helplessly trapped prey!’ Having developed her escape plan, Batgirl now had to hurry to execute it, before the spiders executed her.

‘Something touched me!’

Her hand inched along the interior of her glove as her eyes stared into those of one of her approaching killers.

Batgirl's eyes darted down, enabling her to look through the cleft between her breasts at the monsters approaching her splayed legs. Glancing to either side across her shoulders enabled her to see the spiders approaching her sides and waist. Looking above her head, more spiders approached to attack her head and arms.

She could feel spider legs moving against her body. She looked down at the creature with wide eyes.

‘Do I dare breathe?’

She could feel her hand move lower inside her glove.

Suddenly, Batgirl winced, exhaling as she felt her outfit and flesh simultaneously impaled. As her lungs filled, she could feel fluid begin to enter the parallel wounds. ‘How debilitating will just one of the enormous creature’s venom be?’ she wondered. As more of the monsters found their prey, her question would become moot. The venom from a dozen monstrous spiders would certainly paralyze her.

Batgirl moaned as another set of fangs penetrated her costume and sank into her flesh.

Bat-Diorama by Falseface

Because her back, from her shoulders to her buttocks, was pressed against her cape, which was in turn stuck to the web, she was able to lower her arm and pull open the pouch on her utility belt holding a canister of compressed oxygen. She had unconsciously decided the time to make use of her tracer had passed. Gripping the canister, she directed it at the web behind her other arm before releasing a stream of frigid oxygen.

Soon, the portions of the web behind her arm had frozen. The weight of her trapped limb pulled it downward and away from the sticky strand that had held it fast.

“Yes!” Batgirl cried delightedly. It seemed to the Curved Crusader her voice sounded weaker than it should have, but she easily rationalized this deficiency, recalling the venom coursing through her bloodstream and the fact her lungs had not fully inflated before her exclamation.

Focusing her mind on her escape plan, Batgirl aimed the canister of oxygen at the back of her head and released a frigid cloud. Soon, her entire upper body was free from the web, falling away from the cape she detached from her shoulders with her empty, gloved hand.

Reaching for the glove stuck to the web with her free hand, Batgirl realized she faced the choice of whether to free herself from the web or fight off the spiders already attacking her.

Deciding escape would simplify her survival, she directed her frigid cone of compressed air at one leg. Her limb fell away from the web as she clamped her mouth on her glove and reached for the cape. Her weight was pulling at the leg still attached to the web and a blast of cold oxygen freed it within a second.

She was upside down when her hands hit the polished floor. Instinctively she tucked her head against her chest and somersaulted to her feet. Her glove and cape remained beside her as she quickly aimed a frigid jet at each of the spiders clinging to her body. The creatures released her and retreated rapidly.

“Thank Heaven!” Batgirl said fervently, retreating a step. Then, she collapsed.

‘The venom!’ she thought. ‘It’s effect must be localized.’ Her hand flew to another pouch of her utility belt and withdrew the tin of Batgirl Antidote Pills. She grabbed a capsule, which she quickly swallowed before reaching for her fallen glove, her cape, and the tiny light she had lost in the course of her capture.

‘Where are the spiders?’ she wondered, slipping on her glove and draping her cape over her shoulders as she darted glances in all directions.

The closest creatures, the ones which had sunk their fangs into her, were repelled with more quick blasts from Batgirl’s canister. Looking up as she returned to her feet, she could see the others exploring the otherwise deserted web.

‘I wonder how long I can incapacitate them, now that they’ve been deprived of their meal?’ the Curved Crusader silently inquired, retreating. She grinned and opened another of the many compartments of her utility belt, letting several capsules drop into her gloved hand. ‘Luckily, in this enclosed chamber, my Bat-Gas should attend to them effectively and very quickly.’

A moment later, white gas rose behind the Caped Crimefightress, completely filling her intended death chamber as she moved along the niche connecting it to the storm sewer. She leaned against the wall for support as she encountered a fine black mesh covering the far end of the passage. She easily moved it aside and made her way to the foot of the ladder which had conveyed her into Spider-Priestess’ clutches.

“All right, Undine,” Spider-Priestess began, shortly thereafter, as she and her followers made themselves comfortable in the well-appointed, backstage lounge at an abandoned nightclub called Fiddlebacks. “I understand you got your start with the Joker. Let’s hear your story.”

“Sure,” Undine replied, pouring herself a drink from the decanter being passed around. “My . . . relationship . . . with Joker continued on and off for several years. It was open on many levels, but primarily professional. Working for Joker was often profitable and frequently a lot of fun, for many reasons.” She paused and smiled.

“If you made good money and enjoyed working for Joker, how is it you left his employ?” the redheaded rogue asked, sipping at her drink and nodding her approval.

“I left Joker when he . . . um . . . abandoned me. I took a hostage, but Batgirl caught me and turned me over to the police.”

“You were arrested?”

“Oh,” Undine replied, her voice growing a little louder, “I was arrested all right! My arrest wasn’t really my fault, and I don’t blame the cops or even Batgirl either! That pasty-faced creep discarded me like a piece of garbage!”

“You’ve discussed the matter with Joker?”

“We haven’t had what you’d call a ‘conversation’ about our separation, but people who know me and have any regard for him do their best to keep us from . . . um . . . speaking. At first, I might have forgiven him if he’d busted me out of jail and apologized. Joker has never even bothered to try!”

“You obviously have differences with Joker over the matter,” Spider-Priestess said. “Do you intend to patch things up with your old boss?”

“Let us say he will need to be ‘patched up’ when I get finished with him, to say the least—should such a ‘discussion’ ever chance to take place!” the scantily-clad blonde replied. “Of course, medical attention afterward would probably be quite superfluous! Please understand, I’d try to control my temper, but I told you Batgirl arrested me, and the entire incident is all Joker’s fault!”

“Not to worry, my dear. Batgirl should be screaming in exquisite agony as we speak,” Spider-Priestess dreamily said, closing her eyes momentarily and exhaling. “Within a few hours, she will cease to trouble anyone—ever again!” The redheaded rogue sighed contentedly.

Undine looked away, thinking, ‘Girl, you are one twisted puppy.’ To cover an expression which might have been inappropriate, she took a long pull of her drink. ‘There is no telling what this Spider-Priestess will have done to me if this interview doesn’t go well.’

The blonde bombshell decided to avoid dwelling on any of the unpleasant possibilities which sprang to mind.

She suddenly remembered Batgirl had made a similar observation about Spider-Priestess. ‘I don’t ever recall agreeing with Batgirl before. Yesterday, I would never have objected to any measures employed to eliminate her,’ Undine reflected. ‘Today, things might be different . . . Maybe . . . .’

Spider-Priestess began speaking again as Undine refilled her glass. “I’m sorry if talking about the Joker makes you uncomfortable, Undine. I’m really more interested in your more recent experiences as a henchwoman. How did you come to work for the Penguin?”

“I happened to be in court at the same time as Pengy, but neither of us had the slightest idea. My mouthpiece was telling the story about how Joker . . . discarded me . . . and I persuaded the judge to let me demonstrate what distracted the cops so effectively while he got away.” Undine grinned, standing and rotating slowly.

“I’m certain you made your point more than adequately,” Archie Arcane said, drinking in the curvaceous vision.

“To visual aids,” Wipe Out seconded, toasting Undine.

“Hear hear!” Riptide agreed enthusiastically, gesturing with his own glass.

“Thanks, guys,” Undine replied. She bowed and settled back into her comfortable chair before crossing her long, bare legs and continuing her story. “My demonstration enabled me to arm myself, cut my potential pursuers’ lines of communication, and lock everyone in the courtroom. In the hall, Pengy and I found one another and he got me to the roof where he literally carried me off using one of his trick umbrellas.”

“You make it sound so romantic,” Silk said.

“I’m not sure,” Charlotte hesitantly said. “Aside from referring to him as Pengy, you make Penguin sound like a typical caveman. He schlepped you over his shoulder and hauled you off to your fate.”

“I didn’t mean to make it sound quite so awful,” Undine explained, grinning. “It isn’t as if I wasn’t grateful. Do any of you have any idea how boring listening to lawyers endlessly arguing about minutia can be?”

The men all exchanged glances and Spider-Priestess shrugged.

“So,” the young villainess continued, moving the discussion along, “is your relationship with Penguin now similar to your relationship with Joker, once upon a time?”

“Well, Joker was not always a one-woman guy. In my brief experience with Pengy, he tends to deal with his lady friends on a more exclusive basis,” Undine explained. “Professionally, things are similar.”

“Besides Joker and Penguin, for whom have you worked?”

“Madame DeBase; Ma Parker, or rather her daughter; Siren; Vixen – perhaps I should say the late Vixen – and you,” Undine answered. “I’ve done some freelance work, too, but you’re interested in my employment history in the local underworld. Oh, I guess I worked for Catwoman, too. She found me when I was working on one of Warden Crichton’s public work projects and brought me along because she was after Penguin at the time and knew we worked well together.”

Suddenly, Undine had a terrible thought. ‘Pengy might be mad at me! When he was preparing to direct that ceremony at the Bessarovian Embassy, I goofed and videotaped everything! Of course, his lawyer blew that so called ‘evidence’ out of the proverbial water at his last trial. So maybe he isn’t mad at me.’ Mentally, the blonde bombshell shrugged as her thoughts turned to the present. ‘Focus, girl. Spider-Priestess is changing the subject.’

“Okay, Undine. Your work for me has been exemplary. I can use a talented woman like you. What can I tell you about myself?”

“Well, I guess I’m curious about your interest in spiders and how it developed,” Undine said. Silently, she told herself, ‘My own interest is more like morbid fascination.’

“I suppose it comes from knowing Black Widow while growing up. I met her through a guy I went out with for a long time, the late Webmaster,” Spider-Priestess replied. She smiled at her recently-rescued henchman and continued, “Archie was interesting, too, especially after he became rich. So, hormones led me to kind of hang around the old-school super-villainess. Eventually, she brought me into the gang and kept me around when she teamed up with the original Ma Parker. Legs Parker, her daughter, is a friend of mine, too. After we got caught, her brothers had their uses as well.”

“Excuse me,” Undine said, holding up a hand. “Are you telling me your interest in spiders developed because you were with several of Black Widow’s henchmen at various times over the years?”

“It started that way,” Spider-Priestess admitted.

“So, the reason you went into crime was originally hormonal?” Undine inquired, summarizing her understanding of the villainess’ statement. “I’d imagine your lofty station now enables you to hook up with just about any guy you want.”

“I said my interest in spiders started because of Black Widow’s henchmen!” Spider-Priestess tartly said. She calmed as she continued, “The story is longer and becomes much more interesting. The last time I was in jail, I indulged my interest in ancient cults. Webmaster helped me cultivate it while we were together. Anyway, the amount of accurate information available about such things on the Internet would surprise most people. I learned enough to search out and resurrect an ancient cult called the Bluestone Spider Society, once my debt to our modern society had been paid.”

“How did our late colleague, Vixen, come into the story?” Undine asked.

“An aspiring crimefighter named Patience Phillips, who dressed like a catwoman, discovered my efforts to make the spiders who hunt, typically the females, much more impressive.”

“I’m surprised the real Catwoman permitted an impersonator to operate.”

“My guess is Ms. Phillips’ short-lived career began when the real Catwoman was believed dead.”

“You killed the fake Catwoman?”

“I interrogated her while my babies made her suffer. Regrettably, she did not survive her . . . treatment.” Spider-Priestess dismissively explained.

“When you say your ‘babies,’ you mean a bunch of giant spiders like the ones . . . consuming . . . Batgirl now?” Undine sipped her drink to conceal her expression, afraid it might inadvertently reveal her reservations about the Curved Crusader’s fate.

“Absolutely,” the young villainess said, shrugging. “I learned Ms. Phillips had arranged for someone to come after her if she didn’t return from her confrontation with me. So, the girls and I cleared out and left the spiders to deal with the coming opposition.”

“So, Vixen showed up and somehow survived the trap you’d set?” Undine reasoned, making the statement a question.

“Well, Vixen brought Batgirl and together they burned my old hideout to the ground—killing every spider inside! I swore immediately I’d make them both pay!”

“You set another trap and they escaped, right?”

Spider-Priestess inhaled as the building tension in her body knotted her muscles. She let out the air from her lungs slowly and relaxed visibly. “The blood oath has been fulfilled now, but saying so skips quite a bit of the story,” she said quietly. “Where was I?”

“Batgirl and Vixen burned the house down and killed all the spiders,” Undine calmly said. Silently, she decided exterminating Spider-Priestess’ monsters had been a public service, but saying so might easily prove fatal.

“Well, the story has a fascinating plot twist,” Spider-Priestess said, leaning forward. “Vixen incapacitated Batgirl and gave her to me on a proverbial silver platter. Nevertheless, my arrangements to dispose of her somehow failed.”

“So, Vixen, joined your . . . Society, and you gave her the spider tattoo?”

“Precisely,” Spider-Priestess replied. “As soon as I discovered Batgirl was alive, Vixen betrayed me and tried to feed me to the spiders dining on Batgirl now. I ordered the betrayer’s death. I understand you carried out my wishes with professional detachment.”

“She blew Vixen away without batting an eye,” Charlotte confirmed.

“It was a brilliant performance,” Silk agreed. “Watching you work was a real pleasure.”

“Watching you do anything is a pleasure, Undine,” Riptide said.

“Always has been,” Wipe Out agreed.

“I can’t disagree,” Archie Arcane said, regarding the statuesque and scantily-clad blonde with an engaging smile.

“You guys are the greatest,” Undine said, smiling at the irony of her next observation. “So, Spider-Priestess, it seems you condemned Batgirl to the same fate to which Vixen condemned you.”

“Indeed,” the young villainess confirmed.

“I don’t get how you could have survived.”

“I have an advantage Batgirl does not,” Spider-Priestess explained. “The spiders consider her mere food and will prey upon her without mercy. They, however, know me.”

“What do you mean, they know you?” Undine asked.

“Instead of eating me, they carried me away from the venue, which was set to blow up, and placed me inside the sapphire from which you released me. There, I communed with the spiders again, and this time I communed with all of them.”

“What spiders?” Undine inquired.

“Extraterrestrial spiders with impressive mental powers, and the ones at the center of the Earth, around whom the planet was originally constructed.”

“The only reason I’m buying this is I saw you inside the sapphire,” Undine said. “Now, you said you communed with these spiders ‘again,’ right?”

Spider-Priestess nodded.

“How had you communed with them previously?”

“Through meditation,” the redhead replied. “I can say no more about the spiders to you before you’ve been inducted into the Society.” She cast a glance at her audience which included Wipe Out and Riptide. “I’m looking forward to welcoming all of you.”

“You mean I need to get a spider tattoo like Vixen had?”

“Yes. Female inductees always get red blood spiders while my new men are given blue spiders. The tattoos all bisect the spine and give everyone who possesses one a special connection. The link might be described as mystical and it provides other benefits as well. Now, Undine, if you have no more questions for me to answer at the moment, I’ll leave you in Archie’s capable hands. The other boys and I need to talk before we all set out to transform Gotham City. After my plans have been carried out, I’ll control the entire region and all of its wonderful wealth will belong to us!”

“I’ll bet you plan to unleash your . . . um . . . pets . . . after they’ve finished with Batgirl . . . to occupy the authorities while we pick the city clean,” Undine predicted.

“I’ll have to grow several more spiders to execute that scenario. Someday . . . somewhere,” Spider-Priestess dreamily said.

“There might be some bat trouble with any scenario now that Batgirl has . . . disappeared,” the blonde bombshell warned.

“Anyone who interferes with my plans will follow Batgirl to the grave!” Spider-Priestess stopped as though a thought had just occurred to her and focused clear, judgmental eyes on Undine. “Speaking of dead enemies, you were the last person to see Vixen’s body. What exactly was Batgirl implying before we left her when she asked if you’d seen Vixen after removing the corpse?”

Undine felt muscles in her back and limbs tightening. “How should I know?” she demanded, anger flaring and coloring her pretty face. “In my experience, heroes facing death often try to maintain their dignity as long as they can before the end. Facing a particularly nasty fate, Batgirl was probably trying to sabotage your trust in me. Obviously the question was Batgirl’s last, desperate gambit!”

“I see,” Spider-Priestess evenly said.

“Listen,” Undine said, rising and striding toward her employer, “Vixen was my friend, but I deserve credit for her death. Nobody is going to deprive me of that particular notch in my proverbial gun, especially not Batgirl!”

“I’m sorry, Undine,” Spider-Priestess apologized, favoring the statuesque blonde with a smile. “You passed the loyalty test with flying colors and you deserve all the credit in the world for taking care of Vixen. By now, I’m certain Batgirl has paid dearly for maligning you, as well as numerous other sins.” The redhead laughed.

“I guess she did,” Undine agreed, grinning despite herself. “Good! Let’s forget about it, and you can tell me about your plans for of Gotham City’s future. Things will be very different, and much better, with Batgirl dead and your expanding Society back on the scene.”

“I’m going to defer the answer to that excellent question, Undine. Suffice to say, I have big plans for Gotham City, following our ‘recruiting drive,’” Spider-Priestess dreamily said. “I expect all of you boys will be up late tonight. Now, we’ll return to Undine’s question after your initiations, when I can say more.”

“Is there nothing you can tell us, Spider-Priestess?” Archie Arcane asked.

“Well,” the young villainess coyly replied, “before you go, Archie, be assured, Gotham City will never be the same, and once this town has been transformed, I’ll move my plans, as well as my experiments, along . . . and ultimately rule over an empire—as a queen!”

“You have a big night ahead of you, Undine,” Archie Arcane said, nodding and offering the girl his arm. “Come on. I’ll take good care of you.”

“I’m all yours,” Undine said, accepting his arm with a smile.

“Now,” Spider-Priestess began, as the pair departed, “before I ask Silk and Charlotte to give you boys your tattoos, and welcome you properly into our Society, I want to hear more about your work with Undine. Do you consider her your supervisor or your colleague?” The voices from the lounge faded before either of them could hear whether Wipe Out or Riptide responded first.

“Batgirl?” Lieutenant Diana Mooney asked, starring down through the manhole from which the Curved Crusader emerged.

The heroine raised a hand against the heavy-duty flashlight her friend turned off as she retreated a few steps. “I’m glad to see you, Diana,” Batgirl said, sitting on the edge of the manhole and dangling her legs below the floor.

“What happened to you? My people and I have been searching this sewer since we realized you were down here. We’ve also been trying not to get lost.”

“I came down to the cell block to talk to Archie Arcane, but Spider Priestess sent Undine and the goons who captured you to free him. Spider-Priestess, in turn, had a nasty reception prepared to deal with any interference her agents might encounter . . . and with me in particular.”

“I’m sorry. We should have found any deathtrap Spider-Priestess set for you down here.”

“Don’t beat yourself up or blame your people,” the Curved Crusader advised as the friends retreated. “Spider-Priestess is bright and clever. She had the entrance to my intended death chamber camouflaged with black netting. Overlooking it in the dark can easily be forgiven.”

“Okay,” the Lieutenant said, handing a cup of coffee across the desk in her office and sitting down before reaching for her own cup. “Now that I’ve called off our pointless search of the sewers, take your time and tell me all about your encounter with Spider-Priestess. The only clues we found were empty guns, spent bullet casings, bullet holes, and not enough bullets.”

“Thanks,” Batgirl replied, leaning back in a comfortable chair and sipping her drink. “As you know, I found Undine, Wipe Out, and Riptide trying to break Archie Arcane out of jail. The trio dressed up in police uniforms and tried to shoot me when I first confronted them. My Bat-Magnet saved my skin.” Batgirl set the device on her friend’s desk and spilled the spent bullets she had not released from it.

“Originally, Archie Arcane’s rescuers worked for Joker, and yesterday Vixen seemed to be calling the shots when they caught me, so to speak. Vixen is, of course, dead now.”

“Maybe,” Batgirl said, “or maybe not. In any event, Spider-Priestess seems to have taken charge of that criminal trio. They, Spider-Priestess, her henchwomen, and Archie Arcane all tried to feed me to a dozen really big spiders, but I persuaded those creepy critters to take a nap.”

“Having survived their trap, you can now surprise the bad guys,” Lieutenant Mooney said. “Do you have any idea what Spider-Priestess is planning?”

“Not specifically, but before leaving me to die, she gave away the fact her target would be all of Gotham City,” Batgirl said. “The question is, what she plans to do to or with it.”

“What indeed,” Lieutenant Mooney mused. “I’d say she’s planning something big if her target is the entire city. Could she be planning to take it over?”

“You may be right,” Batgirl replied. “Once upon a time, two supervillains would have joined forces to attempt such a bold caper. Since Egghead bullied the Mayor into appointing him city manager, there is no telling what a single supervillain might attempt.”

“You’re right, Batgirl,” her friend agreed. “Shandra, the late Queen of the Jungle, proposed to transform Gotham City into a utopian, jungle paradise.”

“She was only the most recent rogue to unleash a scheme to transform the entire city. Hey! It might be worth seeing if any large insurance policies have been taken out on Gotham City or any part of it.”

“Good thinking. Nora Clavicle took out a policy on the city before she planned to destroy it with robotic mice. Could Spider-Priestess do something similar with her giant spiders?”

“I don’t know, Diana, but I intend to find out,” Batgirl said. She stood and pulled a filter mask from her utility belt. “I think I just thought of a way to get a clue about what Spider-Priestess is planning. I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“To tag some gigantic spiders, so we can follow them wherever they go.”

“Tracking those spiders is a fantastic idea,” the Lieutenant praised. “Do you have any plans before the spiders get moving?”

“I wish I had something more constructive to do than pick up the Batgirlcycle,” Batgirl admitted.

“It’s parked out front,” Lieutenant Mooney replied. “We found it a few hours ago abandoned at Tyler Stadium, where the Gotham City Eagles play baseball during the season.”

“Thanks,” Batgirl said. “Well, it’s Spider-Priestess move. All we can do until she makes it is sit on our tuffets and wait.”

“Undine, you’re trembling,” Archie Arcane said, as he followed the girl into a private elevator which would carry them to his penthouse apartment.

“I’m sorry," she replied, favoring him with her most dazzling smile. “It must be because I’m having such a big night.”

“You’re certain it isn’t because you’re cold?”

The blonde stepped toward him and leaned her head close to his. “I hope you don’t find me cold,” she said huskily.

“Not at all, personally,” he answered. “I thought perhaps the combination of your . . . um . . . outfit . . . and the chilly weather. It is November. You know—”

“Don’t you like my outfit?” Archie Arcane could feel her breath sear his cheek as she spoke and closed his eyes. She had moved even closer to him and prompted him to recall how the thin fabric of her white bikini clung closely against her body, molding invitingly to all her luscious curves.

“What’s not to like?” he murmured. “I love it. It suits you magnificently.”

Undine giggled at his small joke and pressed herself firmly against him. “Hold me and prove it,” she commanded.

He could feel her arms wind slowly around him as he obeyed, drawing her body more closely against him. She rewarded him, sliding her hands along his back as his strong arms eagerly enveloped her. Her lips locked against his and yielded as the couple’s heads turned. Her eyes closed and both instinctively began breathing through their noses.

Archie Arcane realized the elevator had long ago reached its palatial destination when she leaned her head back and smiled happily at him. He continued holding her and they were both unconcerned about how they had gotten carried away. They kissed again as their hands moved slowly over one another.

Archie Arcane was prepared to hold her forever, but grinned as she directed him into the apartment with a smile and a look. Her mouth pressed against his again after he literally swept her off her feet.

Later, Undine found herself lying alone on her back with her legs outstretched and her arms extending above her head. She felt warm, despite what little she wore as the breeze stirred her hair slightly. She moaned with pleasure and tried to shift, basking in luxurious heat.

Suddenly, she expelled all the breath from her lungs as the warmth enveloping her body transformed into a cold sweat!

The beautiful beach bunny was suddenly unable to move!

She opened her mouth again, but remained speechless as the thing responsible for her helpless motionlessness moved closer. It continued approaching inexorably and there was nothing she could do to get out of its way!

An enormous spider was slowly scuttling toward her!

She managed to inhale and realized there was more behind her helplessness than the single monster. The creature pulled a sheet of sheer silk upon which several tiny shapes were moving in all directions.

As the sheer cover was drawn closer to her, Undine realized what the shapes moving over the cover were. ‘More spiders,’ she whispered.

These two words had cost Undine all the breath in her lungs.

The word repeated softly over and over in her mind, ‘Spiders, spiders, spiders.’

Somehow she saw the large spider pulling the spider-laden, silk sheet to her feet and slowly drawing it over them. She could feel tiny feet beginning to walk on her flesh as the sheet covered her ankles and was drawn along her calves.

‘Spiders, spiders, spiders,’ her whispering, inner voice went on repeating.

She was writhing in breathless terror as tiny, arachnid feet moved rapidly over her lower body. The sheet continued to be drawn along her thighs, over her hips, and to the level of her waist.

‘Spiders, spiders, spiders,’ the voice continued to whisper in her mind. She tried to scream, but could not as the sheet covered her abdomen.

‘Spiders, spiders, spiders!’ The tireless, maddening voice had to stop!

The sheet now covered her breasts and was drawing toward her bare shoulders. Undine's only chance was to try to will herself to roll over and crush the spiders crawling over her body.

‘Spiders, spiders, spiders!’

Conscious of the tiny creatures crawling randomly all over her, Undine closed her eyes as the silken sheet covered her head. ‘Soon, tiny spiders will be moving through my hair, and I still can’t move!’

The urge to scream became uncontrollable.

‘Spiders, spiders, spiders!’

Suddenly, she could somehow see the sweat from her body had soaked through the spider-laden shroud which now completely covered her.

‘Even if I can roll over and kill some of the spiders, there are so many,’ Undine thought, ‘I’ll only get more tightly wrapped in the shroud!’

She opened her mouth, but was able to say nothing. Her entire body went tense with unspeakable horror as, despite the silken, spider-laden shroud covering her face, she watched a large spider crawl from her mouth!

Gotham City was cloaked in darkness when the blonde bombshell sat up suddenly in bed. Her chest was heaving as she realized her entire body was thoroughly drenched in sweat. She peeled the damp sheet away from her skin and tried to control her breathing.

Slowly, Undine began to recognize her surroundings and recall the events that had brought her into Archie Arcane’s richly furnished retreat. She relaxed as she recalled her host’s ‘hospitality’ and glanced down at where his supine body stirred beside her.

A startled squeal escaped her lips as his hand brushed her bare thigh. “Oh, Archie, I’m sorry,” she said softly, resting a trembling hand on top of his. “Did I wake you?”

Archie reached up and slid his free hand along her leg as he looked up at her. “You’re even hotter than you were when we arrived,” he joked, grinning.

Undine relaxed further as a smile lit up her pretty face. “I must have had a bad dream,” she said seriously.

“It wasn’t about me, I hope.”

“No,” the girl said, permitting herself to giggle. “It was about spiders.”

“Spiders?” Archie Arcane frowned as the playfulness left his voice. He propped himself up on an elbow where he could examine her heaving chest more closely as it thrust toward him with her every inhalation.

Her smile vanished as he regarded her, watching her eyes narrow as she responded. “Creepy, hungry spiders!” she replied, practically spitting out the words. “Before Spider-Priestess killed Batgirl, I had no idea how much I really hated them!”

“Does this mean you don’t want me to give you your tattoo?”

“Shall I tell you what I’d like?” she asked, stretching out beside him once again and impishly grinning.

A phone rang before Archie Arcane could respond. “That isn’t mine,” he said.

Undine rolled over and reached for her cellphone while verifying her rate of breathing had normalized. “Hello,” she said.

“This is Sage, Undine. I thought you’d want to know Vixen pulled through. She’s weak and I’m keeping one of us with her around the clock, but I thought you should know.”

“Thank you, Sage,” Undine said. “You’ve done good work and earned your money.”

“Thank you. I hate to sound like a mercenary, but the girls and I are poor college students.”

“I’ll take care of all of you very soon,” Undine said. “Will it be possible to see her?”

“If she is resting when you come, I won’t wake her, but we’ll see.”

“Fair enough,” Undine responded. “I know she will need rest and plenty of it.”

“Exactly,” Sage said. “So, when can I tell the girls to expect you?”

“I said I’d be there . . . soon,” the beach bunny replied, blunting the sharpness with which her flaring anger imbued her voice.

“Okay . . . That’s . . . great,” Sage said. “We’re all looking forward to seeing you. Bye.”

“Goodbye.”

“Undine,” Archie Arcane said after the girl put her phone away, “I apologize for listening in to your conversation, but it’s not hard to guess you were talking about Vixen.”

“That’s right,” Undine replied, sitting up again and swinging her feet to the floor.

“So, you lied to Spider-Priestess about the question Batgirl asked you?”

“Shut up!”

Archie Arcane hesitated. “I forgot about your nightmare,” he said. “I’m sorry.”

“Forget it.” Undine stood and moved away from him.

Archie Arcane sat up and put a hand on hers as she began to retreat. He held her gently and she let him. “Am I right in thinking you arranged for Vixen to recover from her gunshot?”

The blonde looked over her shoulder at him with flashing eyes. “That’s right. We worked out a little scheme ahead of time to cover a contingency like the one that arose. I never lied about Vixen being my friend. If you have a problem with what you now know happened, you can–”

Archie Arcane retreated with defensively upraised hands. “Please. I’m thrilled Vixen survived. I like her, too.”

Undine’s features softened as she walked to the bathroom. “I’ll just bet you do.” She grinned over her shoulder.

“Listen. You can’t imagine–”

“Don’t be an idiot! You’re a big boy and I’m a big girl. We’ll talk some more after I get cleaned up, if you want.”

“Okay.” Archie Arcane said, literally rolling out of bed.

Undine vanished and Archie Arcane dressed as he listened to the shower.

Later, as the girl put on her bikini, he picked up their conversation. “If you’re going to see Vixen, I’d like to come. Maybe one of you will tell me how she survived.”

“Since you’re so fond of both of us, I’ll tell you. The heart is located in the center of the left side of the chest. I shot Vixen in the right shoulder and might easily have punctured her lung in the process. The wound bled spectacularly and my performance, as well as Vixen’s, was apparently adequately convincing.”

“Can I ask whom you would have killed if you’d been given the machine gun you wanted?”

Undine smiled thinly. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t have had to arrange Vixen’s medical care and none of you would have been permitted to threaten either of us.”

“I guess it worked out all right for everyone, then,” Archie said, reaching for his coat. “Let’s go see the patient.”

“I have no objection,” the girl said, kissing his cheek. “I’ll drive.”

“You’re going to have one problem,” Archie Arcane said a few minutes later as Undine pulled the car she had been using since she shot Vixen into traffic.

Undine glanced sharply at him.

“Remember what Spider-Priestess said about her followers having a mystical connection?”

“It had to do with spider tattoos her followers have at the base of their spines, right?”

“Yes,” Archie Arcane said. “The tattoos make Spider-Priestess aware of everyone who has a spider tattoo. That means, she can effectively monitor Silk, Charlotte, me, Vixen, and, by now, probably the men you worked with. She’d be able to keep a mystical eye on you, too–”

“It’s a good thing we became . . . occupied . . . before you gave me my tattoo,” Undine smiled at him again and added, “for many reasons.”

“I can’t disagree.” He reached over and slid a hand gently upward along her bare thigh.

“Hey!” she pretended to complain. “You’re not playing fair.”

“I know,” her companion replied, grinning at her.

“Wait a minute!” Undine exclaimed, stiffening. “If the spider tattoos let Spider-Priestess keep mystical tabs on her followers, why does she think Vixen is dead?”

“It might have to do with Vixen being attacked before Spider-Priestess was free from the jewel.”

“So, since the mystical landscape hasn’t changed since Spider-Priestess’ return, she is oblivious to Vixen’s survival?”

“I don’t fully understand the mystical side of the Society’s power and I’d imagine Spider-Priestess is still learning about it, too,” Archie Arcane admitted. “Since Vixen was at war with the Society before you shot her, Spider-Priestess doesn’t have nearly the power to which she had access at one time.”

“Before Vixen’s campaign?” Undine asked.

“Right.”

“Of course, your Bluestone Spider Society would have been much larger before Vixen started picking them off, one by one.”

“Exactly. Theoretically, the spiders could lend Spider-Priestess power, but I don’t know what all she is capable of doing with it, or what she will be able to do once she harnesses her power.”

Undine frowned. “So, if you’d have given me a tattoo, Spider-Priestess would have become more powerful?”

“Yes.”

“Would her power somehow let Spider-Priestess punish her followers?”

“Maybe,” Archie Arcane thoughtfully said. “I think she is still learning to use her powers, but I’d hate to predict what all they might eventually enable her to do . . . . ”

“Well, Wipe Out and Riptide probably joined up,” Undine thoughtfully said. “So, her power has grown. Do you know if Vixen can use this mystical power against Spider-Priestess?”

“I think the power comes from or is amplified by the spiders and Spider-Priestess is definitely closer to them,” Archie Arcane said as Undine pulled the car to a stop.

“I see,” Undine said, wrinkling her nose and reaching for the car door handle. “Well, we’re here. Let’s go. We both want to see Vixen.” Before leading the way into the labyrinthine tunnel system beneath Gotham State University, Undine took a gym bag from the trunk.

Soon, the blonde henchwoman was knocking softly on a wooden door.

Sage peered through a slot in the door. “Who is that with you?” Vixen’s head nurse demanded.

“His name is Archie Arcane,” Undine said. “He’s a friend.”

Sage nodded after a moment. “Did you bring our money?”

“Of course,” Undine replied, lifting the bag she carried.

“Then come in,” Sage said, opening the door wide and stepping back. “Ginger is with Vixen in the other room,” the girl explained, gesturing toward a door recessed within an arch.

Undine handed over the gym bag and led Archie Arcane to the door and knocked softly. Ginger opened the second door and put a finger to her lips. “She’s sleeping now.”

Undine nodded and led Archie Arcane inside. They emerged a few minutes later and found Sage and Ginger beaming at the open gym bag full of greenbacks between them.

“Well done, ladies,” Undine said.

“You are to be congratulated,” Archie Arcane agreed.

“It wasn’t easy,” Ginger said, “but it was worth it.” Her hands greedily stroked a pack of twenty dollar bills she lifted from one of the four stacks Sage was busily dividing.

“We needed the information you gave us about her injuries,” Sage added. “You didn’t mention any of the puncture wounds on her neck.”

“I didn’t know about them,” Undine replied.

“Two of them were parallel and on the left side of her neck,” Ginger said. “Something seems to have bitten her recently, but I have no idea what it was. The other wounds were from needles.”

“That doesn’t make sense,” Undine argued. “Vixen was not addicted to anything and she has been working constantly for months.”

“She was bitten by a huge spider and the other puncture wounds kept her alive,” Archie Arcane explained.

“How do you know?” Undine demanded.

“I was there.”

“You stood and watched a giant spider bite her?!” Undine’s muscles tightened as she glared at her male companion.

“I saved her life!” Archie Arcane said, raising his hands defensively. “You shot her!”

“That wasn’t my idea!” Undine retorted. She inhaled and let the air out of her lungs slowly. “Forget it, Archie. It’s all over now.” She seemed to relax as she leaned against the chamber’s main door and folded her arms as her eyes narrowed. “Girls, how would each of you like to earn your own gym bag, just like that one?” The scantily-clad blonde indicated Vixen’s medics’ payment.

“What do you want us to do?” Sage asked.

“You might have noticed Vixen has a red spider tattooed on the small of her back which her spine bisects.”

“Just like my blue one,” Archie Arcane said.

“Precisely,” Undine said. “I want both of those tattoos removed, from Vixen and him.” Undine pointed at Archie Arcane.

“Sure,” Ginger said.

“No problem,” Sage eagerly agreed.

“Wait a minute!” Archie Arcane exclaimed. “I don’t want my tattoo removed. You don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“I don’t care,” Undine declared. “If you girls want the additional money I’m offering, seize him!”

Sage and Ginger flanked Archie Arcane and closed in on him. They gripped his arms, drawing him toward the wall as he began to vainly struggle. “Let go of me! Stop it!” He began to swear vociferously.

“Be quiet!” Sage sharply ordered.

“You’ll wake up Vixen,” Ginger admonished.

“Watch your language, Archie,” Undine commanded. “Do you girls have a sedative handy?”

“Of course,” Sage replied, directing the scantily-clad blonde, who quickly prepared an injection.

“Don’t I have any say in this?!” Archie asked angrily, as his companion swabbed his arm with alcohol.

“No,” Undine answered, stepping close to him and pressing her lips gently against his. He could not keep himself from responding. “You’ll thank me after the war.” Before Archie Arcane could respond, she stepped back slightly and jabbed him with the needle, depressing the plunger to complete the injection.

Archie Arcane’s body went limp in the other women’s arms as Undine cleaned the puncture wound.

“Let’s get to it,” Ginger urged.

“So, how long will the removal take?” Undine asked.

“We can probably be finished with both of them by the time you get back with our money,” Sage said.

“Great!” Undine enthused. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, as long as you pay,” Ginger said. “Come on! Hurry! Let’s strap him down and get to work.”

Sage eagerly nodded. “Once we begin the work,” she said seriously, “we will proceed at an appropriate pace.”

The criminal caregivers’ preparations were well underway when Undine reached the car.

Morning saw Barbara Gordon rising early and sinking into a steamy bubble bath where she planned to soak for awhile before work. Batgirl’s cell phone prompted her to reach across to where she had set it before preparing her bath. “Good Morning, Diana,” she said. “What’s up?”

“I wanted to touch base before I went off duty,” the Lieutenant said. “None of the crooks have returned to retrieve those spiders and the creatures have started crawling through the storm sewers.”

“You aren’t having any trouble tracking them, are you?” Barbara asked.

“No. Your equipment is working perfectly. Do you really think the spiders will lead us to Spider-Priestess?”

“Even if my theory about a connection between Spider-Priestess and the giant spiders to which she tried to feed me is wrong, we’ll still want to know where those monsters go.”

“You’re sure the creatures are contained in the sewers and only dangerous to rats . . . and maybe alligators?”

“You’ve made sure no sewer workers will confront them?”

“Of course.”

“Then I think the risk is small, as long is we keep track of the spiders’ location.”

“If your theory is right, they might lead us to the bad guys, who wrongly imagine you’re dead?”

“Exactly,” Barbara said, grinning. “When we catch them, I’ll have a little surprise waiting.”

“I’ve left orders to have you informed of any significant developments. That means you will be contacted before we roll on anything related to those spiders.”

“They haven’t done anything significant yet?”

“It looks like they’re randomly hunting rats.” After a pause, the Lieutenant chuckled and added, “Maybe the alligators are in danger, too.”

“Thanks for keeping me in the loop. Sleep tight.”

“. . . and don’t let the spiders bite, right?” Diana uncharacteristically giggled. “It’s been a long night,” she explained. “Okay, I’ll talk to you this evening.” The friends hung up their respective phones.

Meanwhile, screams echoed through the abandoned Fiddlebacks nightclub. Riptide and Wipe Out raced to where Silk and Charlotte were crouched over Spider-Priestess, who had fallen to the richly-carpeted floor and remained still.

“What happened?” Riptide demanded.

“Does she have a pulse?” Wipe Out worriedly inquired.

“Is she breathing?” the other man asked, stepping around his partner.

“Sorry to be so dramatic,” Charlotte apologized. “We never expected to find her like this.”

“She’s alive,” Silk, who had begun to minister to the villainess, reported. “Let’s get her up off the floor.”

Moments later, the redhead’s eyes fluttered open as she reclined in a comfortable chair. “Welcome to the Bluestone Spider Society, boys. I could feel you both as you received your tattoos.”

The men glanced at one another and shrugged.

Their new employer continued. “I trust my inner circle made you both welcome afterwards?”

Silk and Charlotte smiled at the men, who both nodded vigorously, grinning.

“Excellent,” Spider-Priestess enthused. “We have much about which to talk.”

“Let’s start talking about you,” Silk suggested, concern etched on her pretty face. “What happened?”

“Following our gains last night, I was diminished,” Spider-Priestess said.

“What do you mean you were ‘diminished?’” Charlotte asked. “I don’t understand.”

Riptide concurred, shaking his head, and Wipe Out spread his hands.

“You boys don’t know the gory details of the war the Society has just been through and you girls may not be fully aware of its potential implications.”

“You were at war with Vixen before Undine killed her,” Riptide said.

“So, you won.” Wipe Out happily added, “Nice going!”

“We suffered horrendous losses,” Silk said.

“Archie and the two of us were practically the only Society members left,” Charlotte added.

“You’re all correct,” Spider-Priestess said. “If I had not been communing with the spiders at the time, Vixen would have dramatically weakened me instead of solving every potential political problem I could possibly have within my organization.” Spider-Priestess grinned wickedly.

“Are you saying Archie died last night?” Charlotte thoughtfully asked.

“If he isn’t dead, he no longer possesses his tattoo,” Spider-Priestess replied. “He should not have allowed anything to happen to it. None of you must ever allow anything to happen to your tattoos which might desecrate them!”

“Archie was going to give Undine a tattoo,” Charlotte said. “She might know what happened.”

“I didn’t feel a new blood spider,’ Spider-Priestess replied, concentrating. “Yet one I could feel before is gone.”

“That’s impossible!” Silk exclaimed.

Charlotte shook her head and said, “The three of us are the only women in the Society . . . unless Undine got a tattoo last night--”

“She did not,” Spider-Priestess declared.

“Archie failed in his responsibility?” Silk asked. “He should know better—”

“Let’s keep focused on the question,” Charlotte suggested. “What woman lost a tattoo last night? There isn’t anyone else . . . at least—not any more!”

“Well,” Silk began. “Lydia Weaver died early in the war and the ceremony that returned Spider-Priestess to us took place in her mansion.”

“Vixen had a tattoo,” Charlotte doubtfully declared, “but we saw her die!”

“That’s right,” Silk agreed. “Undine shot her.”

“We ordered Vixen’s death,” Charlotte thoughtfully elaborated. Her eyes narrowed as her brow furrowed. “Before perishing, Batgirl asked Undine if she had seen Vixen following the shooting.”

Spider-Priestess henchwomen glanced at one another for a beat before simultaneously exclaiming, “Ohmygod!”

“Could Vixen have survived?” Silk asked.

“Undine is a very good shot,” Wipe Out said.

“She and Vixen were friends, though,” Riptide pointed out.

“Vixen’s blood summoned me from communion with the spiders,” Spider-Priestess said. “She was powerful and the feeling her blood gave me was quite invigorating.”

“What if Undine didn’t kill Vixen?” Charlotte asked.

“We have to find out,” Silk replied. “If you’re right, her disobedience cannot be tolerated.”

“Wait!” Spider-Priestess commanded, standing and raising a restraining hand. “Our vengeance, should it prove to be required, will attend to itself as my plans for Gotham City unfold.”

“We’re not going to figure out what just happened to you?” Silk asked.

“If Vixen remains alive and Archie has failed to tattoo Undine, he will warn the women to be ready for us.” Spider-Priestess explained. “At the same time, however, he will be unable to avoid sewing terror among our enemies, which will shortly bear sweet, delicious fruit. If they survive my immediate plans for Gotham City, once their guard is relaxed, dealing with them will be both dramatically simpler, and a prolonged pleasure!” Spider-Priestess favored her minions with a wicked grin. Seconds later, the entire gang was laughing.

“You haven’t told us much about your plans for Gotham City,” Charlotte observed.

“Not to worry,” Spider-Priestess said, laughing. “Within hours, the citizens will have no choice but to evacuate. Anyone who fails to flee will perish, unless they have a spider tattoo.”

“So, we might kill Archie, as well as Vixen and Undine, as your plan unfolds?” Silk asked.

“Unfortunately, there are no guarantees,” Charlotte lamented.

“Unless they have their tattoos, they’re doomed if they stay.” Spider-Priestess confirmed. “Besides, who cares? Delaying our revenge will make it so much more satisfying, and we have much bigger concerns!”

“Okay,” Wipe Out said, “let me get this straight. We think Undine betrayed us, and Vixen – whom we want dead – somehow survived the attempt we saw Undine make to kill her. Also, you imagine these women persuaded Archie to help them betray you?”

“You just summarized our working theory for the moment well enough,” Charlotte said.

“We suspect none of them now have tattoos, while two of the three did previously.” Wipe Out asked, “Assuming we’re right, what are we going to do about it?”

“It’s quite simple,” Spider-Priestess explained, grinning wickedly. “We’ll annihilate Gotham City. Our potentially disloyal members who retain their tattoos will survive. Former members, whose tattoos are no longer present, will perish with everyone who fails to evacuate.”

“We’re going to determine our theory’s accuracy by destroying Gotham City?” Wipe Out demanded.

“If he survives, Archie Arcane will tell us everything,” Spider-Priestess predicted.

“How do you know?” Wipe Out asked.

“I’ll question him,” she matter-of-factly replied, “personally!”

“You said we had more pressing concerns than Archie Arcane, Vixen, and Undine,” Silk said.

“Correct,” Spider-Priestess agreed.

“So, what exactly are we after?” Charlotte asked.

“Power!”

The villainess’ minions glanced at one another uncertainly before returning their focus to her.

Spider-Priestess continued, “Girls, do we still have some large spider eggs and all the chemicals we’ll need to make them grow bigger?”

“Sure,” Silk said. “The supplies are all quite secure and will be available as soon as the vault where we put them opens. This vault is at a commercial establishment no one would ever suspect us of using.”

“We could hatch several dozen enormous spider eggs, if we could expose them to enough radiation,” Charlotte said. “You want to unleash enough spiders to cause a citywide panic, right?”

“Correct,” Spider-Priestess said, laughing delightedly. “The chaos will enable us to pick the entire city clean – but there’s much more to my plan than looting and plundering this vast metropolis. I want you each to pay strict attention to what I’m about to say, because tonight we’ll have an even more lucrative use for my pets. When our work is finished, I will control Gotham City itself!”

“I don’t understand,” Silk complained.

“What do you mean, you’ll control Gotham City?” Charlotte demanded.

“I mean Gotham City will be mine when my plan is concluded,” Spider-Priestess explained. “I’ll rule it like a queen!”

Later, Vixen blinked several times before her eyes focused uncertainly on her friend. “Undine?” the call girl drowsily asked.

“I’m here,” the blonde bombshell softly replied.

“I’m glad,” Vixen said, smiling. “So, the little scheme we developed worked?”

“You’re alive,” Undine confirmed. “I had the girls remove your tattoo after they patched you up, too. How do you feel?”

“I’m tired,” Vixen admitted, “but I feel pretty good considering you shot me. Are the girls here? I’d like to thank them for their good work.”

“They took off after I paid them and promised to supervise your recovery. They did take very good care of you. I see not even your good dress sense has suffered,” Undine remarked.

The brunette wore flip flops and a short, red dress that left her injured, heavily bandaged shoulder bare so her arm could be easily tended while the limb healed in a sling. The scarlet choker from which a black pearl hung encircled her throat once again, covering her older wounds. “Thanks,” she said smiling. “What’s been happening?”

“Well, Spider-Priestess emerged from that jewel after your blood made it burst. She hasn’t had time to do much except feed Batgirl to twelve gigantic spiders. Oh, and Archie Arcane knows you’re alive, too. He’s recovering from a sedative I gave him so his tattoo could also be removed.”

Vixen paled, frowning. “You had both Archie Arcane’s and my spider tattoos removed?”

“That’s right.”

“Did Archie agree to this?”

“I didn’t really give him a choice.”

“Sooner or later, it’s going to get very unhealthy for all of us in Gotham City unless somebody stops Spider-Priestess,” Vixen warned. “Did you say Batgirl is dead?”

“W e l l,” Undine hesitated. “I didn’t see her corpse, but it seemed to me she was destined to become pet food. Despite its torturous nature, from Batgirl’s perspective, the spiders’ meal should have concluded hours ago.

Vixen looked unconvinced. “As you well know, Batgirl has an annoying habit of surviving. In a way, it’s unfortunate if she is dead. Alive, she would make a magnificent diversion.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Never mind,” Vixen ordered. “Now, tell me. What did Spider-Priestess’ people demand you do to me?”

“I shot you for them.”

“With the lady herself running the show, she will not permit any of us to die so quickly. If she catches us again, she will see to it we suffer a long and particularly agonizing demise.”

“You aren’t afraid of her, are you?”

Vixen smiled. “She has access to certain powers beyond those of mortal women. Let’s just say I’m concerned about you and Archie. Until I’ve recovered, I won’t be able to properly protect you—or myself, for that matter.”

“What do you think we should do?”

“I think we should get out of town as soon as possible.”

“Fine!” Undine said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll be honest with you. I realize why you tried to warn me off after we arranged to trap Batgirl. I told you Spider-Priestess caught Batgirl and had her killed. Ever since the murder, I’ve really been creeped out. I used to think I wouldn’t care what anyone did to any of the Caped Creeps. Now, I’m not so sure."

Vixen nodded. “I understand,” she said. “Go on.”

“Anyway, before we left the Bat-Snack, Spider-Priestess said she had plans for Gotham City. I don’t know what they are, but they probably involve lots of really big spiders and I don’t want to be here when whatever she plans to do happens.”

Vixen put her feet on the floor and stood, waiting briefly while her sense of balance returned. Then, she reached with her uninjured arm for Undine’s hand and squeezed it. “Come on. We should wake up Archie and get out of here.”

Undine reached out and touched her friend’s uninjured shoulder as Vixen stepped past her. “Before we do,” the blonde began, “I’d like to ask you a serious question and I want an honest answer.”

Vixen stopped and glanced over her shoulder at her friend. “Go ahead,” the call girl invited.

“Okay,” Undine replied, taking a deep breath. “Did I go too far in having your and Archie’s tattoos removed?”

Vixen smiled and turned to face the other woman. “In my opinion, you did great!”

“Thanks,” Undine responded, relaxing. “Let’s get Archie.”

Vixen nodded and turned back toward the door.

“Undine, I can’t believe you had my tattoo removed!” Archie Arcane exclaimed, as the blonde undid the straps holding his bare torso down on an operating table. “I can hardly believe I’m finally free of Spider-Priestess. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Undine said, bending and pecking him on the cheek.

Archie Arcane smiled up at the blonde as she retreated, but his face transformed as he turned his head to regard both women. “Of course, she’s going to have all of us killed now. We’ve got to get out of Gotham City as quickly and quietly as we can!”

“My thoughts exactly,” Vixen concurred. “What’s the fastest way?”

“Taking the Acela would be the fastest, but there’s a better, long-term, solution. I have enough cash to buy a luxury yacht on which we can sail away,” Archie Arcane said, sitting up. “We’ll head south and keep an eye on the news to determine when it’s safe to come back. With Spider-Priestess in Gotham City, I think things will be very unhealthy here for a long time, especially for the three of us.”

“I think I’d prefer a boat ride to a trip on a fast train,” Vixen said, leaning decoratively against the door jamb. “An aquatic escape would be considerably more private.”

“I guess my tan could use some work,” Undine said, pretending to ponder the proposal. After a beat she smiled and enthused, “Let’s go!”

“There’s one problem,” Archie Arcane said, reaching for his shirt. “Making a large withdrawal from my private funds might tend to alert someone hunting us to our plans.”

Undine’s eyebrows arched behind Archie Arcane.

“We can count on Spider-Priestess to come after us,” Vixen said. “Of course, she’ll expect us to be ready for an attack.”

“I agree,” Archie Arcane said, nodding.

“It sounds like we need a plan,” Undine said.

“We can escape in a slightly less grandiose boat without touching Archie's money,” Vixen declared. “In dismantling the Bluestone Spider Society, I’ve profited handsomely.” She grinned hungrily at her companions. “As my crew, I’m sure I’ll find some chores for both of you to perform during our voyage.”

“We should plan to pick up supplies after we’re underway,” Archie advised. “Stopping now to pick up anything, including weapons, could be a fatal mistake.”

“In that case, why are we still hanging around here?” Undine demanded.

Together, the three criminals emerged from tunnels into the light of day.

Vixen and her companions were long gone by the time Barbara Gordon was brought into a conference call with her father and Chief O’Hara.

“We think something is happening,” Commissioner Gordon told her.

“Begorra!” Chief O’Hara added. “Sure an’ the spiders we’re keeping an eye on are all headed toward Gotham Power’s newest facility, a nuclear power plant!”

“I read about it in the paper,” Barbara said, using the confident voice she employed as Batgirl. “I understand the facility is engaged in the final tests before being declared ready to be brought online. Once the tests are passed, dignitaries from the federal, state, and local government will be invited to take part in a ceremony the press will cover wall to wall.”

“Sure an’ it’s all true,” Chief O’Hara said.

“I’ll be on my way out there directly,” the incognito superheroine promised. “There is no telling what Spider-Priestess might do with a nuclear power plant at her command!”

She had taken the call as she parked her car in her apartment building’s underground garage. She would soon take the elevator to her eighth floor apartment, where the spinning, bedroom wall would give access to Batgirl’s small, but functional, headquarters. Following her tantalizing transformation, she would mount the Batgirlcycle and race at the top legal speed to rescue Gotham City from Spider-Priestess’ villainous plot.

“Godspeed, Batgirl,” the Commissioner said. “Please, be careful.”

“I will,” the Caped Crimefightress assured her father.

Meanwhile, Spider-Priestess and her minions listened happily to terrified screams as the twelve enormous spiders they had released to devour Batgirl scuttled through the nuclear power plant. Mercilessly, the frightened staff was herded into the main control room. Once there, they barricaded themselves.

“Make sure we have them all,” the villainess ordered.

Her followers obediently searched the facility and reported everyone had been trapped. “Splendid,” Spider-Priestess said, before issuing further orders. “Boys, open that door and do what is necessary to secure the staff. Girls, bring the spider eggs, while I take our spiders to the reactor.”

As Spider-Priestess and her minions worked, a metal bat at the end of a rope landed on the facility’s roof; slid backward a few feet; and held fast. A purple boot pressed against the wall, holding the shapely figure of Batgirl perpendicular to it as she began Batclimbing.

Moments later, Batgirl gained the roof and crouched, coiling her Batrope as she surveyed the area, wondering how quickly she might discover Spider-Priestess intentions.

Hurrying across the roof, the Dark Knight Damsel prepared to penetrate the power plant.

“Well done, boys,” Spider-Priestess complimented, as she, Silk, and Charlotte joined Riptide and Wipe Out in the nuclear facility’s control room. Their leader’s gaze swept the bound captives her men had subdued, before she nodded and turned her attention to the consoles and their associated displays. “Now, let’s get started.”

The henchwomen began to examine the settings of instruments before manipulating controls and taking seats where they could monitor the entire nuclear facility.

“The reactor is warming up,” Silk reported.

“We’ve successfully bypassed the safety measures,” Charlotte added, shortly thereafter, grinning. “It will still be possible to shut it down if Gotham City cooperates, but if they delay their decision too long, the results will probably be disastrous.” The henchwoman laughed and Silk soon joined in her merriment.

"Good work, girls." Spider-Priestess laced her fingers behind her head and sat in a comfortable, swivel chair in the center of the room. “Soon,” she said, beaming with anticipation, “our efforts will trigger alarms that will tell Gotham City’s leaders they have a serious situation on their hands. Then, it will be time to emerge from obscurity.”

“You people are mad!” a man with a goatee and mustache wearing a white lab coat exclaimed. “You don’t understand the forces you could unleash!”

“Boys, seize him!” Spider-Priestess ordered.

“Wait!” the excited fellow protested as Riptide and Wipe Out grabbed his arms and literally carried him to their young mistress. “Let go of me!” The men forced him to his knees, from which he regarded Spider-Priestess while remaining firmly restrained in the henchmen’s grip.

“Who are you, little man?” Spider-Priestess demanded.

“My name is Alan Stone! I hold a Doctorate degree in nuclear physics, and I happen to be the director of this facility!” he excitedly explained. “I must tell you, ma’am, with all of whatever respect may be due, your actions can only be described as insane or perhaps suicidal!”

“Believe me, Doctor, I know precisely what I’m doing--”

“I beg to differ!” the scientist replied. “You and I are in the control room of a nuclear power facility, and the reactor is not a toy! If ham-fisted idiots are to be allowed to operate this equipment—”

A telephone beside Spider-Priestess rang, interrupting the building tirade. “Excuse me,” the villainess said. “Bind; gag; and put him with the others, boys.”

“Why didn’t we tie this guy up before?” Riptide asked, as he and Wipe Out dragged the scientist away.

“He looked pretty harmless when we came in here,” Wipe Out replied, chuckling. “You remember the guy curled up under the table with his hands over his head?”

“I remember.” Riptide laughed. “That was this guy?”

“Listen to me, both of you,” Doctor Stone urgently said, lowering his voice and speaking excitedly. “The madwoman giving your orders must be stopped!”

“Shut up!” Wipe Out directed, hitting Doctor Stone in the gut. He glanced at Riptide. “Let’s get busy.”

Spider-Priestess picked up the telephone. “Hello.”

“This is Police Commissioner James Gordon,” a male voice on the telephone said. “I’d like to speak to Doctor Stone, please.”

“I’m afraid Doctor Stone is unavailable.” Spider-Priestess glanced over her shoulder, smiling at her henchmen as they continued carrying out her command. “Would you be calling about the unscheduled powering up of the reactor?”

“Yes.”

“Splendid. This is Spider-Priestess. We spoke yesterday.”

“Yesterday you tried to use Batgirl’s life as a bargaining chip!”

“That is true, Commissioner,” the young villainess agreed. “Today, I have all of Gotham City’s fate for you to consider.”

“What do you mean?” Commissioner Gordon demanded.

Spider-Priestess laughed. “Unless my demands are met before the nuclear reactor goes critical, what remains of Gotham City afterward will be so-much radioactive debris. That is all!” Spider-Priestess imbued her voice with delight. “It’s time to say goodbye, Commissioner.”

“Wait, Spider-Priestess!” Commissioner Gordon cried. “You haven’t told me what you want.”

“Oh, I am sorry, Commissioner. You should know what I require of you before I leave you to your work.” Spider-Priestess laughed again. “Gotham City will transfer the equivalent of one year’s tax revenue into a numbered, foreign bank account I will provide after my demands are accepted. I assure you, complete and utter capitulation is the only way to avoid Armageddon.”

“Gathering that amount of money would be practically impossible, even if I could persuade the mayor and City Council to pay. I’m also unsure exactly for how much money you are asking.”

“The alternative to payment is a nuclear accident of unprecedented proportion!” the villainess sternly replied. “Imagine Chernobyl as . . . a campfire.”

“You’ve given us quite a deadline,” the Commissioner said.

“The clock is ticking, Commissioner!” Spider-Priestess said, making no attempt to hide her amusement. “You should be quite busy raising my money, and if you can’t, you’ll be even busier evacuating Gotham City.”

“I don’t understand what you hope to gain. Meeting your demand will take time.”

“Tell me, Commissioner,” Spider-Priestess said, adopting the tone of a lecturer, “hypothetically speaking, do you know what creature will return to its former habitat first following a nuclear disaster?”

“I would guess some kind of insect,” the Commissioner said, after a moment’s thought.

“Excellent!” the villainess happily replied. “Now, consider spiders’ place in the food chain, just above insects. Assuming you fail to avert disaster, insects will return to the habitat and attract the hunters who will inevitably prey upon them.”

“Spiders?” the Commissioner asked.

“Precisely,” the villainess answered. “Think of spiders and their prowess as hunters and you will realize the females of the more dangerous species are far deadlier than the males.” Spider-Priestess chuckled. “You asked what I want.” Her voice had become very soft and grew steadily louder as she went on speaking. “I want power. Gotham City belongs to me, as of now! Soon, it will be the seat of an empire I will rule–as a queen!”

“You’re insane!” Commissioner Gordon said.

“Perhaps, Commissioner, but you have much bigger concerns than my state of mind. Now, run along and do my bidding!” Spider-Priestess suddenly broke the connection, setting the receiver into its cradle with another delighted laugh.

“Chief O’Hara,” Commissioner Gordon said, slowly returning his telephone to its cradle. “Spider-Priestess is going to destroy that nuclear reactor and leave Gotham City a nuclear wasteland. I might never be able to raise the amount of money that . . . woman . . . is demanding, even if I’d been given ample time to raise it.”

“What does she want?” Chief O’Hara asked.

“She wants all the tax revenue for Gotham City in one year as a lump sum!”

“Bruce Wayne and Katherine Kane have both helped us with money in dire situations in the past, sir.”

“That’s true, Chief,” the Commissioner said, staring at the Batphone momentarily. He had tried to contact the Dynamic Duo earlier in the day, but the mysterious voice had told him both Batman and Robin were unavailable. “To raise the required amount, we’ll need Bruce Wayne; Katherine Kane; John E. Carson; Pete Savage; Tim Tyler, Junior; and several banks.” His head fell into his hands.

“We have to try, sir.”

“Of course, we do, Chief,” the Commissioner said, gazing steadily at his top commander. “I’m just afraid Spider-Priestess would rather have Gotham City become a nuclear disaster area than get paid!”

Chief O’Hara stared. “Faith and begorra!”

“Mobilize your people to begin evacuating the population while I contact the mayor. If we’re to get through this crisis, constant communication will be absolutely essential!”

“Batgirl is still in the picture and I suppose she will be an unpleasant surprise for that madwoman!” Chief O’Hara pointed out, hoping his observation would inspire his superior.

“I pray you’re right, Chief O’Hara,” the Commissioner said. “I know we’ve thought we needed Batgirl’s help before, but there can be no question whatsoever about our need for her help now!”

“Batgirl has always come through for us before, sir! Bless the lass.” Chief O’Hara said, pausing in the door as he went to attend to his critical duties.

“You’re right, Chief,” the Commissioner said to the closed door. His voice became very quiet as he reached for his phone. “Bless Barbara indeed!”

As Commissioner Gordon prepared his response to Spider-Priestess’ threat, the villainess was basking in the moment. “Have we dismantled the override controls?” she asked.

“Yes, Spider-Priestess,” her followers responded in unison.

“Excellent,” Spider-Priestess said, lacing her fingers behind her head once again and leaning back. “Soon the police will mount a pathetic attempt to prevent the disaster we’ve set in motion. Start looking at every available camera view of this place. The Dynamic and Distaff Duos are both theoretically available to the police if they foolishly try to fight us. When our enemies move, I want to know!”

“Yes, Spider-Priestess,” her followers simultaneously said.

Soon, Charlotte was staring incredulously at a monitor and pointing. “I . . . don’t . . . believe . . . my . . . eyes,” she said. “It’s . . . impossible!”

“What?” Spider-Priestess sharply asked, bolting from her chair and looking intently over Charlottes’ shoulder.

“You aren’t going to believe what I’m about to tell you,” Charlotte continued. “The one person in the world who has consistently opposed us is back from the grave!”

“Vixen?” Wipe Out asked.

“I don’t think so,” Riptide replied.

“That must mean . . . Batgirl,” Silk uncertainly reasoned.

“You’re right,” Charlotte confirmed. “I don’t believe it either . . . and I’m watching her.”

“Now, that is impossible!” The pale-haired henchwoman moved to look at the monitor over her Charlotte’s other shoulder.

The female trio silently watched on the security monitor as a pair of purple boots appeared, descending a ladder into view. Above them lovely, long legs were sheathed in a darker, purple lurex, which stretched to accommodate the flare of a woman’s hips. A golden belt adorned with a golden bat on the buckle was closely wrapped around her narrow waist. Her concave abdomen rose from the belt to the impressive swell of her breasts, across which a golden bat spread its wings. The hands which gripped the sides of the ladder were covered in gloves which matched her boots. More of the dark, purple material encased her arms and enveloped her shoulders behind which a purple and gold cape spread, fluttering. Lush, red hair cascaded over the back of the cape, flowing from beneath her purple cowl, which featured pointed, faux bat ears and enormous eye holes in her black mask. Batgirl reached the bottom of the ladder and moved along a catwalk. The villains remained transfixed as the heroine descended another ladder and traversed another catwalk.

“Batgirl! I don’t believe it!” Spider-Priestess incredulously said, staring and standing stock-still as the heroine descended yet another ladder to arrive on a third catwalk. “She should be dead! We left her trapped in the web with the spiders hunting her. Yet . . . there she is . . . alive. . . and well. I . . .I see it . . . but I don’t believe it!”

“She’s survived our other attempts to kill her, too,” Silk pointed out.

“Other crooks have been trying to kill her for years,” Riptide chimed in.

“They all failed, though,” Wipe Out lamented.

“Batgirl’s earlier survival made no more sense than her being alive right now!” Charlotte protested, shaking her head.

“Indeed,” Spider-Priestess agreed. “Charlotte; Silk; Riptide; and Wipe Out, I want you to go and see to Batgirl. She must not trouble us again—ever!”

“Yes, Spider-Priestess,” the villainess’ followers obediently replied, repeating what was becoming a familiar refrain.

“Disposing of her for you will be a pleasure,” Silk added, before following her colleagues to the overhead catwalks.

Spider-Priestess watched the monitors in front of her as Batgirl continued descending toward the nuclear reactor and her followers approached the heroine. The red-headed rogue grinned, anticipating.

Batgirl, however, was unaware of her enemies’ approach. The Dominoed Daredoll had descended halfway down a ladder to the next catwalk when Silk and Charlotte appeared on either side of its base.

“That’s far enough, Batgirl!” Silk declared.

“In order to continue, you’ll have to go through us,” Charlotte agreed.

Batgirl knew her position was vulnerable and glanced up to where Wipe Out and Riptide began descending toward her.

Mentally, the Curved Crusader shrugged. “Give it up!” she authoritatively commanded. “I’m putting an end to Spider-Priestess’ plans here and now.”

“We don’t think so, Batgirl!” Riptide announced.

“We’ll be putting an end to you instead!” Wipe Out added.

Batgirl moved her feet to the outside of the ladder and rapidly descended, bending her knees as she arrived on the catwalk between Silk and Charlotte. Before either of the henchwomen could react, the heroine slammed a battle-honed elbow into each of their faces with stunning force. The men above the fight began their own rapid descent as Batgirl shoved Silk along the catwalk and spun to slam a heel into Charlotte’s neck.

“I have you now,” Silk crowed. She had recovered and prepared to attack Batgirl more quickly than the crimefightress expected. The Curved Crusader dodged instinctively as the pale-haired henchwoman reached to grip the near side of the ladder and swing forward.

The Shapely Sentinel encountered something soft and wrenched it backward as her fingers closed around it. Silk’s heels slammed into Charlotte, sending the dark-haired henchwoman’s body tumbling over the catwalk rail. Silk swore before the terrified shriek echoing around the battle drowned out the words. Charlotte’s fall ended with an abrupt smack and Batgirl glanced down at a catwalk a few levels below her, where Charlotte’s body remained motionless.

There was no time for Batgirl to either gloat or show concern. Spider-Priestess’ henchmen had reached the catwalk and Wipe Out was bull-rushing toward her. When the henchman reached her, Batgirl pressed the palms of her hands into his shoulder blades, leapfrogging him and spinning before her feet returned to the catwalk.

Silk had been behind Batgirl and did not react as quickly. Wipe Out did a fair impression of his name as he and the henchwoman collided. Batgirl grinned, permitting herself a short laugh.

Her delight, however, was short lived. Hands suddenly shoved the Curved Crusader forward. She spread her arms and gripped the catwalk rails before tripping over Silk and Wipe Out, who had both nearly regained their feet. Exchanging a delighted, wicked glance, the criminals stepped simultaneously forward and raised a knee each into Batgirl’s vulnerable abdomen. The voluptuous vigilante collapsed, sagging as her outstretched arms restrained her, leaving the breathless beauty exposed as her enemies surrounded her.

“This is going to be fun,” Silk said, grinning with anticipation. “Let’s dismantle her, guys. Grab her arms!”

Riptide and Wipe Out flanked Batgirl, seizing her arms and twisting them behind her back, making her wince, and lifting her so she was utterly helpless. Silk sank into a crouch and curled fingers into fists, going to work on Batgirl’s muscular abdomen with a delighted smile. Again and again, the girl’s fists slammed into the lower portion of Batgirl’s upper body, bruising the tissue and eventually inducing a moan.

Soon, Silk was sweating and her hand speed increased as her fists sank deeper and deeper into the softening tissue of Batgirl’s abdomen. Batgirl’s torturer paused to catch her breath and brush a stray strand of hair from her face. “I think she’s been softened up adequately. Why don’t you guys toss her over the rail?”

“Good idea,” Wipe Out agreed, lifting the heroine higher and making her wince.

“Why not?” Riptide asked. Grinning wickedly, he lifted the heroine’s legs over the catwalk railing. “All we have to do now is push.” He laughed and continued, “Happy landings, Batgirl!”

As Batgirl inhaled, she felt herself heaved from the catwalk and fall into space. Her shoulders ached as she pulled a Batrope from her belt and flung a Batarang away from her. The weighted rope wrapped around a catwalk railing several levels below the villains and held Batgirl suspended. She yelped as her fall came to a stop, seemingly almost pulling her arms from her shoulder sockets. Swinging, she arrived at a catwalk and hurried to a ladder she began to slowly climb.

“Oh, you are mine,” Silk enthused, rushing to beat Batgirl to the top of the ladder. The henchwoman reached her goal and kicked hard at Batgirl’s face.

Batgirl turned her head to enable her enemy’s foot to whip past her before reaching forward, gripping Silk’s heel, and upending the pale-haired woman.

Gaining the catwalk, Batgirl reached down and gathered Silk’s top in one fist, twisting and lifting the woman until her chin was perfectly positioned to receive a shot to the jaw delivered with the force of a driven piston. “You’re lucky I’m not keeping score,” Batgirl said as the unconscious henchwoman crumpled.

Footsteps told Batgirl Wipe Out and Riptide had reached the catwalk. The Purple Paragon moved toward them and realized they were about to hit her simultaneously high and low. Batgirl dropped to the catwalk and sprang at Riptide’s shins. The thug toppled onto her back as she straightened and grunted twice as her elbows slammed into his gut before he slide from the catwalk, landing a few levels down on his chest. Wipe Out, meanwhile, tripped over Silk’s fallen form and sprawled along the catwalk.

The Dark Angel of Gotham strode toward him inexorably, as she watched him focus on the natural sway of her body as she approached. She smiled at him, because his widened eyes told her his focus was not motivated by lascivious lust, but palpable fear. “Now, it’s my turn and you’re the only one left.” She grinned.

"No!” the thug screamed as she mercilessly leaped on top of Wipe Out, slamming his head into the metal floor repeatedly until he went unconscious.

Moments later, all of Batgirl’s attackers had been Bat-cuffed to the catwalks.

Looking quickly around, Batgirl found a camera and microphone she addressed with her hands on her hips and her legs spread to shoulder width. “I’ve dealt with your helpers, Spider-Priestess. Now, I’m coming to deal with you!”

Spider-Priestess flipped a switch and spoke into a microphone of her own. “You’re too late, Batgirl,” the red-headed rogue replied over the speaker. The villainess’ thin smile never reached her eyes. “As we speak, the reactor is coming online. Within minutes the eggs inside will be relentlessly bombarded with radiation and hatch. A single egg should produce an impressively enormous, radiation-resistant spider. I’ve set my pets to guard my impressive incubator until my new babies arrive. My spiders will help me control my empire, which you now know as Gotham City. I assure you, Batgirl, nothing in the world can stop me!”

“We’ll see about that prediction, Spider-Priestess!” Batgirl declared, vanishing from the camera’s view and heading for the nuclear reactor’s control room.

Minutes later, when the Curved Crusader reached her destination, she found no sign of Spider-Priestess. The staff was, however, struggling in their bonds where the villainess had left them.

“We have to shut down the reactor!” Batgirl urged, slashing rapidly at their bonds with a well-honed blade.

“I’m afraid shutting down the reactor from here will be impossible!” Doctor Alan Stone gravely said. “Spider-Priestess disabled the relevant controls. Just after talking to you, she said she was going to be on hand for her babies’ birth. Do you know what she’s talking about?”

“Spider-Priestess means it when she calls gigantic, monstrous spiders, ‘her babies,’” Batgirl explained. “She put some spider eggs in the reactor and will probably want to personally handle the bombardment that will hatch them.”

“Then, she’s crazy!” Doctor Stone exclaimed. “Wait a minute. I knew she was insane. So, she’s even crazier than I thought. Anyway, the emergency controls are located near the reactor core. Operators of those controls need to wear radiation suits to avoid being bombard with lethal radiation.”

“What will it take for you to shut the reactor down from here?” Batgirl asked.

“We’d have to repair the controls. I can’t imagine we’ll have enough time!”

“I’ll try to stall Spider-Priestess while you work,” Batgirl offered.

“You’ll be bombarded with intense radiation!”

“Trust me,” Batgirl urged. “I think I’ll be okay, but believe me, I’m certainly open to better ideas, Doctor.”

“Okay,” Doctor Stone hesitantly said. After a moment’s thought, his shoulders sagged. “I wish I could come up with a better plan.” He paused for a beat before his voice became more authoritative. “Folks, you heard the lady! Let’s get busy! Good luck, Batgirl.”

“Thank you,” Batgirl said, hurrying away.

Alarms began to sound and lights flashed, illuminating the corridors Batgirl passed through on her way to the reactor.

“What’s happening?” Batgirl asked, as she located a security camera with a microphone.

“Spider-Priestess has lowered the radiation shield,” Doctor Stone explained. “Turn off the warning system and let’s get those controls repaired,” he urged his staff.

Silence impacted Batgirl with the force of a blow. After continuing on her way, she was soon staring at a monitor upon which she could see the mostly naked figure of Spider-Priestess working to open the reactor.

‘I’ll never break through the radiation shield and fight my way through a dozen monstrous spiders in time!’ Batgirl thought.

Turning to another security camera/microphone, Batgirl asked, “Can you put me in touch with Spider-Priestess?”

“Just a second,” Doctor Stone replied.

“Will Spider-Priestess survive the burst of radiation if she opens the reactor?”

“No way! You can talk to her now.”

“Spider-Priestess,” Batgirl said, “You can’t open that door!”

“You don’t understand, Batgirl. This reactor will be the center of my empire, and my babies need me.”

“Your spiders might survive the radiation, but you won’t!”

“You underestimate me, Batgirl. I can withstand much more radiation and other hardships than you would ever imagine. My followers and I will survive the destruction of Gotham City. Shortly thereafter, I’ll rule like a queen. My victory today is only the beginning!”

“What about your demands?” Batgirl asked. “Didn’t you ask for money?”

“I demanded more money than anyone could possibly raise in a couple of hours,” Spider-Priestess said, laughing. “Face it, Batgirl! I’ve won! Gotham City is doomed and in relatively few minutes you’ll be nuked until well after you glow!” The villainess leaned helplessly against the reactor door, momentarily unable to control her maniacal mirth.

‘She always intended to create a nuclear disaster!’ Batgirl thought. ‘Nevertheless, I have to save her!’

Once she had recovered her composure, the redheaded rogue pulled open the reactor door and the twelve monsters she had brought as guards began to enter. Batgirl could only stare, horror-stricken.

“How many lives is your empire worth, Spider-Priestess?” Batgirl demanded.

“My empire is my destiny and its value is incalculable!”

‘She’s insane and Gotham City is depending on me to stop her!’ Batgirl thought.

“Doctor Stone, I need to get past this radiation shield – right now!” Batgirl said.

“You’ll be killed, Batgirl!”

“I’ll be fine, but Spider-Priestess will be killed if I don’t get beyond the shield!”

“She’s as good as dead already and I can’t allow that shield to be raised.”

“The spiders are almost in the reactor. Unless I get beyond the shield, I won’t be able to prevent Spider-Priestess from following them.”

“I’m sorry, Batgirl. You must understand the awesome responsibility--”

“I’m sorry, too,” Batgirl said, ignoring the Doctor’s spontaneous lecture. She took her electronic Batgirl compact out of her utility belt; aimed its laser beam at the radiation shield; and activated it. Within seconds, a portion of the shield began to melt away.

“Batgirl, what’s happening?” Doctor Stone asked, suspending his explanation of the importance of his post.

“I’m breaching your shield,” Batgirl said. “You need to shut that reactor down as soon as you can!”

“What about you?”

“Trust me. I’ll be fine!”

“Batgirl!” Doctor Stone shouted.

‘No time to argue,’ Batgirl thought, shutting off the communications channel as a portion of the radiation shield large enough to crawl through gave way.

Spider-Priestess was following her spiders into the reactor.

“Wait!” Batgirl shouted as she stood beyond the radiation shield.

“I’m coming, babies!” the villainess cried, ignoring her potential rescuer and beginning to pull the door closed.

“You’re not going in there, Spider-Priestess!” Batgirl predicted, rushing forward and using her hands to hold the door open.

“On the contrary, Batgirl,” Spider Priestess replied. The redheaded rogue spun and kicked Batgirl’s exposed chest, sending the Curved Crusader sprawling.

Batgirl could only watch with wide, horrified eyes as Spider-Priestess pulled the reactor door shut between them.

Batgirl rushed forward and found she could not pull the door open. All she could do was pound her fists uselessly against the door’s exterior and shout at the villainess inside.

“What can I do?” Batgirl asked, spinning around in response to footsteps behind her.

“Spider-Priestess is gone, Batgirl,” a man wearing a radiation suit said. “You need to go through decontamination, now. Please come with me.”

“She’ll die in there!” the Curved Crusader protested.

“I’m afraid she already did. If her spiders survived, we’ll all be safer with them inside there.”

“I suppose I did my best,” Batgirl said, slamming her gloved fist into her hand and leaning back against the door, “but it wasn’t good enough!”

“Batgirl,” the man said more firmly, “It’s time for you to come to decontamination. Doctor Stone asked me to show you the way.”

At last, the Curved Crusader shunted her frustration and disappointment aside and smiled at the man who had come for her. He smiled back and she stepped toward him.

“I don’t understand,” Batgirl’s guide said, shortly thereafter as he stared incredulously at the readings after waving a Geiger counter wand close to her body. “These readings are normal.”

“I’m delighted to hear it,” Batgirl said.

“You were bombarded with intense radiation less than half an hour ago. These readings are impossible!”

“On the contrary, gentlemen,” Batgirl said. “You may have heard the old story about how the Mad Hatter once trapped the Dynamic Duo in a giant X-Ray Accelerator Tube and Flouroscopic Cabinet, in which he tried unsuccessfully to irradiate them to death?”

The men nodded.

“Well, Batman and Robin escaped because Batman protected them using his Bat-X-Ray Deflector.” Batgirl grinned and produced something from her utility belt. “That story is over a decade old and Batman has expanded the deflector’s capabilities and made a few for his allies. I was in no danger whatsoever as I went down to that reactor. I’m only sorry we didn’t have time to discuss the safety measures I had employed to keep from being harmed by radiation.”

“That is great news, Batgirl,” Doctor Stone said. “I have some more, too. I’ve just alerted the authorities the threat Spider-Priestess represented is over. The reactor is now in shutdown mode and in a few hours we’ll be able to go in and get what’s left of Spider-Priestess and her enormous spiders.”

“That is good news,” Batgirl agreed. “Congratulations, Doctor. You and your people have performed magnificently. All of Gotham City can be proud of you. Meanwhile, we can package Spider-Priestess’ people for the paddy wagon. I expect the police presence when we open that reactor to be extremely impressive.”

Batgirl, despite her amazing gadget, was persuaded to wear a radiation suit over her costume as she accompanied Doctor Stone, Commissioner Gordon, and Chief O’Hara into the reactor. She and the men moved quickly inside and rapidly searched the reactor’s interior.

The reactor wasn’t large. In less than a minute, the four were back outside the hastily-repaired radiation shield.

“Tell us what happened again,” Commissioner Gordon said.

“I fought my way through Spider-Priestess helpers and determined she was going to arrange for the rector to go critical. She had intended all along to demand so much it was virtually certain her demands would never be met.”

“Begorra!” Chief O’Hara said.

“The dozen giant spiders to which Spider-Priestess tried to feed me were acting as her bodyguards while she made her preparations behind the radiation shield. My attempt to reason with her failed and she let the spiders in there. Then, she followed them. I was too slow to stop her.”

“There’s no sign of either Spider-Priestess or her spiders in there now,” Commissioner Gordon said.

“So, can we assume she’s gone?” Chief O’Hara asked. “What I mean . . . that is . . . I’m asking whether . . . Spider-Priestess . . . is dead.”

“She may not be dead, and I don’t know if she’s gone, but she is certainly not here,” Batgirl said. “Something similar happened when I first encountered her.”

“Do we know whether she was fatally irradiated?” the Commissioner asked.

“I don’t understand this at all,” Doctor Stone complained. “There was absolutely nothing out of place. There was nothing to suggest anyone or anything was fatally irradiated in that reactor today.”

“Do you mean, there’s no sign of Spider-Priestess or her giant spiders whatsoever?” Batgirl asked.

“She can’t have just disappeared,” Chief O’Hara said. “It’s humanly impossible to vanish without a trace from the inside of a nuclear reactor, isn’t it?”

“I would think so,” Commissioner Gordon said.

“Agreed,” Doctor Stone concurred. “I hate to be melodramatic, but I didn’t see any sign Spider-Priestess or her spiders were ever in there . . . and . . . of course . . . many of us saw them go in!”

Batgirl gave up trying to explain the villainess’ disappearance. She had seen evidence of Spider-Priestess accomplishing similarly impossible feats in the past. She had nearly completed the transition to other things in her mind when an image of the red-headed rogue somehow appeared before her mind’s eye.

Batgirl inexplicably seemed to hear the mysterious, mystic malefactor speak.

“The world will hear from Spider-Priestess again! For now, I congratulate you on your victory, Batgirl!” the imagined vision said, bowing slightly. “My time will soon be at hand!”

The Curved Crusader shook her head and the image melted away. The heroine could not be sure she had ever really seen or heard it.

Back to Batgirl Bat-Trap stories

Back to the Batgirl Bat-Trap Homepage!