Siren’s Net Gains

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NORTHERN SUBURBS OF GOTHAM CITY . . . AND SPEAKING OF BEAUTIFUL, TWO GORGEOUS CHANTEUSES ARE STRIKING POSES FOR THE CAMERA

Sirena entered the huge room and saw the Siren. The supervillainess was dressed in a belted pair of beige men's slacks and a white mesh blouse, posing by the wall as a photographer snapped away.

"Exquisite, just exquisite," he said. "You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."

Siren cooed a, "thank you," almost as an afterthought, as she smiled at the compliment. She, of course, already knew she was the most gorgeous woman in the world.

Suddenly another melodious voice called from the other side of the room.

"Hey, what about me?"

The photographer shot a confused look at his subject and Siren quickly nodded. "It's quite all right, Hal," she said. "Go over there."

He walked briskly to the other side of the room. There was Sirena, standing next to the wall, posing seductively in a black tank top, strategically unbuttoned to a certain point to show off her cleavage, and skintight pink pants.

"You are equally beautiful, my dear," he said as he snapped away at the blonde beauty, who provided a pensive look for the camera, choosing not to show off her dazzling smile. Sirena posed a few more times over the next several minutes as the photographer continued to shoot.

"Have you had enough, young lady?" Siren called to Sirena.

"I suppose so," the blonde beauty replied laconically.

"Hal, come outside with me," Siren commanded.

The photographer abruptly stopped taking pictures of Sirena and immediately followed Siren outside into the spacious backyard, which was drenched in sunlight. The Diabolical Diva rested her head on top of a faux stone pillar while flashing a seductive smile, as Hal took pictures from almost as many angles as he could.

Siren finally put up her right hand and said, "That's enough, my good man."

"Please, please," the photographer said in a halting voice. "Just one more picture. As I said, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever photographed!"

"That's very kind of you, but my associate and I must talk. Alone," Siren said as she approached the man and patted him on the head. "You've been a good boy. You will come back tomorrow at 1100 hours for another session. Is that understood?"

Hal nodded and then said, "Would you--would you like me to develop the photos from this session before I come back?"

"That's a splendid idea," Siren said, grinning. "Now run along."

The man exited excitedly with a wide smile.

Sirena pointed at her melodious mentor's pants.

"Where did you get those, Siren?"

"These pants, young lady?" Siren said, gesturing at her slacks. "They were a gift, of course, from that wonderful Mr. Dozier last week. I had to have them taken in just a tad, however, so they would fit me. Fortunately, I found a seamstress willing to do the work pro bono."

Siren chuckled as she flashed back to her meeting with the then-wealthy Howard Dozier the week before. Thanks to her ability to find information not necessarily available to others, Siren had learned Dozier had just gone through a divorce, yet had retained his mansion as part of the settlement.

Although Dozier had once read something in the newspaper about a beautiful woman with strange hypnotic powers, that memory didn't come to mind when he saw a gorgeous brunette with a huge bouffant, wearing a white evening gown, on his doorstep.

"Won't you come in?" he asked as he opened the door.

The Diabolical Diva smiled briefly at her soon-to-be-dupe, and then began quickly surveying the huge house.

'This will do quite nicely,' she thought.

"Can I help you?" he asked, a bit surprised by her behavior, but not wanting to ask her to leave.

"Yes, you can," she replied, just before unleashing her stunning, supersonic note.

Dozier's face immediately went blank.

"Now, Mr. Dozier, allow me to introduce myself formally," the Diabolical Diva said as she sidled up to him and stroked his face. "I am the Siren, and you are under my spell. You will obey my every command."

"Yes, Siren," he said. "I exist only to serve you."

"Splendid," she said as she pulled numerous sheets of paper out of her silver handbag. Siren then guided Dozier to a seat at the dining-room table, where he signed several sheets of paper thrust in front of him by the seductive sorceress.

"Smashing," she said as he signed away most of his assets. "I have drained almost your entire bank account, leaving you just enough to cobble together a meager existence for the time being. This house now belongs to me, although because I am a nice person, I will consider giving it back to you once it no longer suits my purpose."

"Thank you, Siren," he said, a small grin forming on his face as he stared at the beautiful Brit. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" he pleaded. "I'll give you the shirt off my back."

"Actually, sir, I would prefer your slacks."

"They're yours," he said as he took them off and put them on the table.

"Would you fold them for me, please?" Siren asked.

"If you desire," he said, quickly folding them and then presenting them to the evil Englishwoman.

"You, of course, will remember none of this," Siren commanded. "When I return here in two days, you will vacate MY house immediately. Is that understood?"

Dozier nodded.

"Well, then, cheerio," Siren said, blowing him a kiss as she left him sitting at the table in his undershorts.

Back in the present, Sirena complimented her criminal co-conspirator's taste in clothing. "Those slacks are very chic."

"Thank you, Sirena. As I've always said, I can look good in anything."

"You know, I've noticed, Siren, you aren't wearing silver all the time anymore. Just maybe, are you being influenced just a little by my fashion sense?"

Siren disliked admitting it, but the comment was true. Just as she had shaped and changed Kristina into Sirena, the Diabolical Diva herself had a different viewpoint after being exposed to the younger siren's ways for so long.

"I suppose so, young lady, I suppose so," Siren offered. "There are indeed many different ways to wrap a package as beautiful as this one. I must also admit I am paying more attention to that confounded internet you so often frequent."

"Oh, really? Why?"

"Remember, young lady, how a stroke of misfortune curtailed our plans last New Year's Eve?"

"Oh, yeah, you were going to broadcast your note all over the country at the stroke of midnight," Sirena said, "but Batgirl and that cop kind of threw you a curveball."

"Yes," Siren said ruefully, still recalling how Batgirl and Lieutenant (Left-tenant, as Siren called her) Diana Mooney short-circuited her plans by turning on the sirens of several police cruisers, drowning out the British beauty's stunning, hypnotic note. "Thank you so much for reminding me about their non-fortuitous actions."

Sirena rolled her eyes, bit her lower lip and looked away, not wanting to further incur Siren's wrath.

"I now have figured out a different way to achieve the same result," Siren continued. "Sirena, what happens when you access your Networld account after someone has sent you an electronic missive?"

Sirena couldn't help grinning at her mentor's erudite vocabulary, and then answered, "You mean an e-mail? Well, a disembodied male voice says, 'You have mail.' So?"

"Sirena, what if that disembodied voice were replaced with my voice, in all its glory? Every male who received an e-mail through Networld would be in my power immediately!" Siren paused and added, "They would be in OUR power, of course."

"And . . . then what?"

"Use your imagination, young lady! Once we have control over millions of men, the sky will be the limit!"

The Diabolical Diva let loose with her trademark evil giggle, and her protégée couldn't help but join in.

IN GOTHAM CITY THE NEXT MORNING, TWO OTHER BEAUTIFUL WOMEN ALSO ARE MAKING PLANS.

Betty Kane, the vivacious young tennis star whose alter ego is the costumed crimefighter Flamebird, was doing some stretching exercises in the living room of her upscale apartment, when her Aunt Katherine knocked on the door. Katherine Kane was the CEO of the mega-successful internet provider Networld . . . and also the costumed crimefighter known as Batwoman!

“Betty, it’s me!” Kathy called through the door.

“Come on in!” Betty replied.

Katherine let herself in and looked at her niece on the floor and the tennis equipment by the door. "I didn't know you were practicing today," Kathy said. “I thought the U.S. Open was the end of the season.”

"Hardly. I'm playing in a tournament in Zurich starting October fifteenth."

"My, you do get around.” Kathy looked apologetically at her brother’s only child. “I wish I could get to more of your matches, but there's just so much going on at the office lately."

"Like what?" Betty stopped and looked up at her aunt. As with most good crimefighters, Betty's curiosity was piqued easily.

"Well, for one thing, I have a very important business meeting coming up this afternoon."

"Oh, really? With whom?" Betty asked.

"A female entrepreneur who has some very interesting ideas about a potential joint venture with Networld,” Kathy said as she checked herself in the mirror. “I know how difficult it can be as a decision-making female in the business world, so I want to give her the chance to make her presentation to me personally."

Katherine Kane didn't want to needlessly worry her niece, so she didn't mention the name of the entrepreneur with whom she was meeting. The name was Lorelei Harper. At least that was the name on the e-mail sent to Katherine Kane.

Kathy's alter ego, Batwoman, was quite familiar with the English enchantress known as the Siren. She also knew before Siren's transformation into the Diabolical Diva, Siren had been known as Lorelei Circe, famed opera singer of Londinium. In addition, Circe was well-known for playing the harp during her performances.

Thus, it was quite possible the Siren was trying to infiltrate Networld. Katherine felt, however, it best to go along with the ruse, even though she knew the meeting was almost certainly a trap, so she could flush out the villainess and learn the Siren’s evil plans.

Kathy had taken precautions. Not only would she bring her sunglasses to protect her from the Siren's hypnotic gaze, but she planned to meet her at a neutral site, a restaurant Kathy patronized frequently. That way, she would be familiar with all the potential entrances and exits.

The tennis star returned to her stretching. “Well, good luck with your meeting,” Betty said. “Will you be home later?”

“I hope so. I plan to go back to the office, but I want to get to the mansion before dark. You want to come over for dinner?”

“Sure. About seven?”

“That’s fine. See you then.” Kathy turned and walked out the door.

AROUND NOON AT THE FIVE SEASONS RESTAURANT . . .

After Kathy walked into the restaurant, she was directed to a semi-private room with a group of tables, away from the main dining room. That was where the Networld CEO usually held her business lunches. She greeted the hostess, Grace, and quickly was directed to her usual table.

Kathy quickly scanned the nearby tables and noted all the patrons were women. ‘That's good,’ she thought, realizing Siren couldn't hypnotize females en masse as she could men.

Kathy's plan was simple. If Lorelei Harper was the Siren, she would attempt to glean as many potential clues as possible from their conversation, hoping the villainess would become overconfident and inadvertently disclose some information. Kathy then intended to tail Siren as discreetly to discover the location of her hideout. She had Batwoman's costume in a briefcase in her car.

Kathy was sitting at the table when she saw Siren saunter into the room. 'She's certainly not trying to hide her identity!' Kathy thought as she looked at the evil Englishwoman's outfit.

While it was true the Siren was wearing a skirt, suit and blouse, her ensemble was quite different than the usual attire for a business meeting. Her entire outfit, down to her open-toed shoes, consisted of her trademark silver. It was nearly blinding in the harsh, midday light of the restaurant.

Kathy stood up to shake hands with Siren. The executive noticed that the five foot, six beauty was in excellent shape and not at all frail. The firmly-toned Kathy, however, was three inches taller and knew she would have a solid advantage in any physical confrontation.

Katherine was careful to keep any sign of recognition out of her expression and voice. "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Harper.”

"Call me Lori, please," Siren responded. "The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Kane."

"Now it's my turn. Please call me Kathy."

Siren nodded as the two women sat down. "Of course. Thank you so much for taking the time to hear my proposal," Siren said, trying to pour on the sincerity as best she could.

"Well, I feel very strongly about helping other female businesspersons," Kathy responded. "We women need to stick together."

"That's soooo true," Siren cooed. "In fact, I have a feeling you and I will be working together sooner than you think."

Katherine smiled, her eyes betraying nothing. "So, what exactly is your proposal?"

"You're very blunt. I like that," Siren said, smiling. "I can see that's how you've gotten ahead. My idea is this – an internet service run by a woman shouldn't have its signature voice, the one on your e-mail service, provided by a man."

Kathy wanted to reference the fact she was talking to a singer, but chose not to for fear she would then give away her knowledge of Siren's identity.

"That's an interesting idea. Tell me more."

"Well, Kathy, I am suggesting you use my voice instead. You may not believe this, but my voice has some – how shall I say? – unique properties that would make it particularly advantageous for your e-mail service."

Kathy was taken aback, but maintained her composure as best she could.

The Siren fixed Katherine with a steady, earnest gaze. "I will be level with you. You may have heard of me. I am the Siren, and I have the ability to hypnotize men with the highest note of my voice."

Kathy didn't have to feign surprise, even though the CEO knew Siren's identity. Katherine was shocked Siren was so blatant in admitting who she was.

Siren leaned forward in her chair and said, "We – you and I, Kathy – can control men. They will be at our mercy totally. Think of the money there is to be made, once many of the men of this country, and of the world, are under our thumbs. We can share in the profits.

"I am sure it must have been hard for you to build such a company in an industry dominated by chauvinistic, uncaring men. This is your chance for revenge!"

A surprised Kathy searched for the right words, as quickly as possible. "While I certainly am a champion of women's rights, Lori," Katherine said calmly, using Siren's alias even though she had revealed her identity, "I know that enslaving men will not solve the problem of inequality. It merely will mean a different group is being exploited. I hope you understand my position.”

Siren shook her head sadly and affected her most matronly voice. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. I was afraid you would not see it my way. That is MOST unfortunate.”

Before Kathy could respond, the Siren said, “Oh, waitress, would you come over here, please?"

The waitress, who still had her back to Kathy's table, said, "Why, certainly."

She then removed a clip from her hair, allowing her blonde mane to spill out as she turned to face Siren and Kathy.

It was Sirena!

"What can I do for you, ma'am?" the eager enchantress said to Siren with a smile.

Siren responded with a knowing grin. "I want you to stand guard outside this room. If any man tries to come in here, you know what to do."

"But what if a woman shows up?"

Siren resisted the temptation to roll her eyes, but her impatience seeped into her tone of voice. "Obviously," the Diabolical Diva said, "you would find some man to subdue her."

"Got it," Sirena said and left the room.

Kathy didn't panic. Instead, she turned to the hostess, whom she had known for all of the three years Kathy had frequented The Five Seasons.

“Grace,” Kathy called out. There was no answer.

"Grace!" she said, her voice rising noticeably. The petite brunette still did not answer.

"She can't hear you," Siren said. She breathed deeply and smiled. "Grace, would you please lock the door to this room?"

"Of course, Siren." The hostess walked away.

Before Katherine could react to this turn of events, she suddenly felt four sets of hands grab her from behind and hold her in her chair!

The hands belonged to a buxom brunette, an even bustier redhead and two blondes, who appeared to be twins. All were wearing business ensembles.

"Undine," Siren said, facing the blondes on Kathy’s left. "Would you please remove your blazer and skirt so I can distinguish you from your sister? I think Doe, Rae and Mimi can restrain Ms. Kane long enough by themselves for you to do so."

The gorgeous blonde complied, shedding her conservative outfit to reveal a white and silver bikini.

"That's better," Siren said with a smile. "Now, all of you keep a firm grip on Ms. Kane. I need to speak to her, eye-to-eye."

Doe, the tall, curvy henchwoman who used to work for Chandell and his evil twin brother Harry, replied, “You got it, boss.”

Katherine had not expected the Siren to have so many willing, female accomplices. People under the Siren’s spell fought stiffly – robot-like – but these women were under no such handicap. Even though she struggled valiantly, seated Kathy had no leverage. In a fair fight, Katherine could have taken them all, but now she was virtually helpless, pinned to her chair.

As the four women held her down, Kathy was no longer able to mask her trepidation. This only added to Siren's constant sense of superiority.

"My dear Ms. Kane," the British beauty said, "I sincerely hope you have learned never to underestimate the Siren. I always am prepared for any eventuality."

"But . . . I only decided on having our meeting here yesterday!" Kathy replied as she twisted and turned desperately, trying not to show any outward signs of panic.

Siren rolled her eyes and sighed. "I have studied you in detail, Ms. Kane. My minions have been tracking you for months, and they discovered there were only three restaurants you usually use for business luncheons. With that knowledge, I was able to take precautions at all three establishments."

Siren laughed. "I concentrated most of my attention, however, on this one. If you were, by chance, perceptive enough to deduce my true identity, I assumed you would choose this one because the host is a woman, figuring that would make my job more difficult. If I am not giving you more credit than you deserve, I want you to know that it did. It wasn't difficult enough, however, as you can see."

Kathy became still. She attempted to steel herself for what was about to come. The executive wasn’t sure she could resist Siren’s hypnotic gaze.

"Now, my dear," Siren said as she positioned herself directly in front of her upcoming victim, "look at me.”

Undine grabbed Kathy’s head, while Mimi worked to keep the Networld founder’s eyes open. Doe and Rae kept Kathy pinned to the chair, with hands on her shoulders and arms.

Siren stared at Kathy. Katherine tried her best to shut her eyes or look away, but the four women were preventing her from doing so.

"There is no reason to be afraid," Siren said slowly, as she turned her mesmerizing gaze onto her prey.

Kathy summoned all her vast willpower to resist. She did well at first, even managing a small smile.

Now it was Siren taking a deep breath. The villainess was surprised the initial blast of her hypnotic vision had not had an effect on Kathy.

'She's giving me as much trouble as Batgirl!' Siren thought. 'I wonder if it has to do with the fact all three of us have green eyes. I wonder if that makes a difference?'

Siren resolved to ponder the possibility another time. She decided instead to concentrate even harder, focusing more intently on Kathy.

“There is no reason to be afraid, my dear,” Siren repeated in her most soothing voice, “no reason whatsoever.”

Kathy could feel herself getting sleepy as she looked at the Evil Englishwoman, whose eyes were glowing a deep, forest green. "No reason to be afraid," Kathy found herself saying in a low-voiced monotone.

"That is correct, my dear. You no longer even want to look away. Feel the power of the Siren, liberating you from all your cares and responsibilities."

"Yes, I feel your power," Kathy said groggily. Undine and Mimi tentatively let go of her. She continued to stare into the Siren's eyes.

“You are ready to do my bidding, Kathy.”

“I will do your bidding.”

'She belongs to me,' a triumphant Siren thought, and gradually stopped concentrating so hard. “You may now close your eyes.”

As Kathy did so, the Siren turned away, hiding her face from her minions. Siren, too, closed her eyes for a minute, as she tried to cope with the throbbing of her temples. She also felt a trickle of blood flow from her nose, which she discreetly dabbed with her handkerchief.

The Siren regained her composure. She once again fixed her gaze on Kathy.

"Kathy, can you hear me?"

Kathy nodded. "Yes, Siren."

"Very good, Kathy. You may open your eyes."

Kathy did as she was instructed. Her beautiful face was blank, her eyes lifeless.

"Now, my dear, we will leave this restaurant through the front door. You will act as if nothing is amiss whatsoever. Then you will accompany me to my current place of residence. Once we are there, we will take care of some business transactions. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Siren, I understand."

"Excellent. Get on your feet now. You will act perfectly normal as we leave this table," Siren said soothingly. "Is that understood?”

"I understand," Kathy said, staring straight ahead as she rose from her seat.

"The rest of you ladies will remain here," Siren said, pointing at the four henchwomen. They all nodded.

"And Undine . . ." Siren said.

"Yes, Siren?"

"Put on some clothes."

Siren and her latest dupe then walked into the main room, where they quickly were joined by Sirena.

“I know it may be difficult for you, young lady, but try to act casually as we leave.”

Sirena rolled her eyes. “All right,” she said, squelching the temptation to say something. Siren, Sirena and the mesmerized Kathy walked out of The Five Seasons without incident.

"Katherine Kane's office. Can I help you?"

"Oh, hello, Jeffery. Is my aunt there?"

"No, Betty, she didn't return from her lunch meeting, but she called about an hour ago and said everything was fine. She asked me if I could work a little late today, just in case. She said something about closing some sort of deal, but nothing specific."

'That's strange,' Betty thought. 'Aunt Kathy always calls me if we have plans and she has to work through dinner. Hmmmm.'

Betty's instincts told her something might be wrong, but she didn't want to needlessly worry the easily upset Jeffery.

"Is everything all right?" Jeffery asked anxiously, noticing Betty's long pause.

"Oh, everything's OK," Betty quickly responded. "Just please have my aunt call me if she comes in."

"You got it."

Betty quickly pondered her next move. Her course of action was obvious, yet she was reluctant.

She had once looked over her aunt's shoulder while Kathy was logging onto her Networld business account. Although Kathy, of course, didn't pay for it, she liked having an account similar to the ones Networld's customers had, so if it was particularly slow one day or there were some glitches, she would be able to let technical support know as quickly as possible.

Betty was sure Kathy's electronic calendar would list today's luncheon meeting. Whether as Kathy or Batwoman, her aunt was a stickler for being prepared. Perhaps the identity of the person with whom Kathy had a lunch appointment might allay Betty's fears. She realized it might also increase her trepidation.

Using Kathy's password, Betty quickly found her way to the calendar. For today, it read,

Betty considered for a moment. The name sounded kind of familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. 'Hmmm. Lorelei Harper.'

"Oh, no," she said audibly.

'Could it be her?' Betty thought.

She decided to call Batgirl, but to call her as Flamebird. She hoped her intimate knowledge of the Kanes wouldn't give away her identity.

'That's not the most important thing right now,' she thought. 'Finding Aunt Kathy is.

'I'll tell Batgirl I got my information from Betty Kane. That's certainly true! I just hope she doesn't put two and two together and decipher that Betty Kane and Flamebird are one and the same!'

Barbara was a bit surprised to get a call from Flamebird on Batgirl's cellphone, even though Batgirl and the young heroine had exchanged numbers after their adventure last spring in the Arizona desert. She wondered how the Goggled Gal had so much information about Kathy Kane, but Babs quickly shifted mentally into her crimefighter mode as she heard the full story.

"I can't believe even the Siren would be so brazen as to call herself Lorelei Harper," Barbara said.

She thought for a moment about Circe's penchant for calling attention to herself. Barbara decided Flamebird must be right.

"I assume she wants to take over Networld," Betty said, trying very hard not to become frantic. "Why else would she want to meet with Ms. Kane?"

"Yes, that sounds like what she must have in mind. Has anybody heard from Ms. Kane since the meeting?"

"Well, her niece told me she checked in with Ms. Kane's personal assistant, and was told Ms. Kane might be returning to the office at some point this evening." Betty paused. "Is there anything you can think of we might do?" Betty knew it sounded like a plea, but she couldn't help herself.

"Let me do some quick investigative work," Barbara said. "I'll try to figure out where we might look for them. I'll call you as soon as I come up with a lead."

"Thanks, Batgirl." The self-assuredness in Barbara's voice made Betty feel a little better. She knew that Batgirl was more experienced than anyone in dealing with the Diabolical Diva.

Barbara wished she felt so confident herself.

She began searching for the name, 'Lorelei Harper,' online. As a librarian, Barbara had become familiar with some specialized ways to search, methods not available to most people, that went way beyond the normal search engines.

It was on one of those searches Barbara discovered something interesting in the official records of Landrock County, an affluent suburb just north of Gotham City. A man named Howard Dozier had transferred his house two weeks ago to someone named Lorelei Harper.

The purchase price on the deed:

'That's not unusual,' Barbara thought. She knew many deeds listed only nominal sums on their face for privacy reasons.

She also knew, however, Gotham State taxed real estate transfers at the rate of one dollar and fifty cents for every thousand dollars of actual consideration. The amount of "Tax Transfer Stamps" was required to be on every recorded deed.

Barbara dug further. Instead of any tax stamps, the following appeared on the document in question:

The librarian quickly located the applicable Gotham Compiled Statute:

200/31-45
      § 31-45. Exemptions. The following deeds or trust documents shall be exempt from the provisions of this Article except as provided in this Section:

       (e) Deeds or trust documents where the actual consideration is less than $ 100.

'That's not a coincidence,' Babs thought.

'Lorelei Harper HAS to be Lorelei Circe!' Her excitement at the discovery was tempered when she realized, 'Maybe it's a trap. It seems as if Siren wants me to find her.'

Trap or not, it didn't seem Batgirl would have much of a choice. A civilian's life could be at stake.

At that point, Batgirl's cellphone rang again.

“Have you found anything?” Flamebird asked.

Within minutes, the two heroines made plans to meet in one hour at the house in Landrock County.

MEANWHILE, IN LANDROCK COUNTY

A seated Siren, in her full regalia of silver Greek gown and horizontal bouffant, plucked a harp in a darkened room on the second floor of the mansion. The room had been re-designed to resemble the grotto hideout the Diabolical Diva had used when she first had come to the States as a criminal.

She sang as she plucked:

Soon I shall spread my sinister spell
Across the U.S. and other countries as well
Millions of men surfing the internet
Will be transformed into my obedient pets!

She punctuated the last line with a somewhat high-pitched note, although not nearly as high as her stunning one, and one of her trademark giggles. She was still strumming the harp when her protégée walked into the room.

“Why did we have to come back here, Siren?” Sirena asked. “We're wasting valuable time."

"Why do you impertinent colonists always seek to disrupt my reverie? I might add, since when, young lady, did you become a model of practicality? I merely am calling a brief timeout, as you Americans would say, to celebrate our impending victory. Soon Networld will be under our control, as will millions of its male users.”

“So, let’s get started.”

“In due time, Sirena, in due time. I soon shall awaken Ms. Kane, and she will accompany us to her headquarters, where she shall cede complete control of her multi-billion dollar empire.”

Sirena smiled. At that moment, however, both seductive sorceresses turned their attention to the somewhat muffled sound of an alarm.

“What’s happening, Siren?”

"Fear not, Sirena," the experienced enchantress answered. “I had the security system reconfigured so that it only is audible in this room. The intruders, most likely that snotnosed Batgirl and her equally odious ally Left-enant Mooney, have no idea they have tripped the alarm. Excuse me.”

Siren pressed a button on an intercom system connected to another room, and picked up a small microphone.

“Doe, Rae, Mimi, Undine,” Siren said. “We may have an intruder or intruders downstairs. Please take care of them immediately.”

The four henchwomen immediately went down the staircase. Despite Undine's objections, the luscious lovelies were all dressed in sleeveless leotard bodysuits made of pink lurex. The quartet quickly found Batgirl and Flamebird in the spacious living room.

“Come, Sirena, let’s watch,” the evil Englishwoman said as she motioned her young charge toward the top step of the staircase.

The Siren was surprised when she got there to see that it wasn’t Lieutenant Diana Mooney, but Flamebird who had accompanied Batgirl. Siren’s memories of the Goggled Gal were dim, but Sirena scowled upon seeing her, remembering her as a rival for Robin’s affections back in Londinium. Sirena also ruefully recalled how her faulty deathrap, her first attempt at one, had failed to do the job on Flamebird.

For awhile, the four henchwomen held their own against the two beautiful and athletic heroines, answering their karate chops and body blows in kind, even prompting a smile at one point from Siren as she stood, hands on hips.

In the past, the Diabolical Diva had noticed that her mesmerized minions often were stiff, robotic and unsuccessful fighters, so she had taken a different tack this time. She had not removed their free will, but merely gave the henchwomen a post-hypnotic suggestion to disregard all fear, but left their minds and memory otherwise intact. She realized this meant they would have their gorgeous hands out for a small cut of Siren’s criminal profits, but she believed it a small price to pay.

That is, until the tide began to turn. Slowly but surely, Batgirl’s and Flamebird’s fighting experience and superior conditioning took a toll on Doe, Rae and twin sisters Mimi and Undine.

A disgusted Siren watched as her henchwomen began falling to the floor, and not rising. The final symbolic blow occurred when Batgirl deftly avoided both Mimi and Undine, charging at her from opposite sides. The twins collided and fell in a heap, apparently unconscious.

Batgirl noticed Siren and Sirena at the top of the stairs. “Your criminal game is over!” she said, raising her voice. “Now it’s time for some answers.”

“Yes,” Flamebird chimed in. “We know you’re responsible for the disappearance of wealthy businesswoman Katherine Kane! Where is she?”

“I assure you two that Ms. Kane is quite all right,” Siren said as she sashayed down the stairs, followed closely by her protégée. “You two look a little tired.”

Siren had reached the bottom of the staircase.

“Don’t come any closer, Siren,” Batgirl warned as she motioned Flamebird to move away. “You can’t hypnotize both of us simultaneously, so don’t even think about it.”

“That’s not my intention,” Siren said with a wicked smile. “It’s obvious to me, however, that the two of you could use a soothing musical interlude. What do you think, Sirena?”

“Sounds like a plan to me,” the blonde beauty said as she began clearing her throat.

“On my count,” Siren said, “one, two, THREE.”

The combined force of the two sirens’ highest notes created an incredibly high-pitched whine. Flamebird hadn’t heard anything like this in her life. Within seconds, her knees buckled and she sank to the floor, unconscious.

Batgirl had been subjected to it once before, yet still wasn’t quite ready. She tried to focus on anything else, but the ear-splitting noise made her head throb. The heroine had taken the precaution of inserting a pair of earplugs underneath her cowl, but since no one had ever had the opportunity to analyze Sirena's note - and then calibrate a counter-measure - much less study Sirena's note in tandem with the Siren's, the earplugs offered no protection. Batgirl, too, fell unconscious to the floor.

Siren and Sirena finally ended their notes.

Sirena smiled widely at the havoc they had wrought, but Siren merely shook her head. ‘Why does everything have to be so difficult?’ she thought.

AND SHORTLY, IN A NEWLY-ABANDONED WAREHOUSE IN GOTHAM CITY . . .

Batgirl woke up first. She quickly tried to orient herself. She looked down at the floor, which seemed to be a couple of feet below her. She couldn't move her legs and could only move her arms and neck slightly. Out of the corner of her peripheral vision to the left, she could see a wall behind her.

'I think I'm STUCK on this wall!' she thought as she noticed Flamebird in a similar position on her right. Before she could say something to awaken her crimefighting counterpart, the Siren glided into the room.

"Tennis, anyone?" Siren said with a smirk. The Diabolical Diva carried a tennis racket and was clad in an off-white, short-sleeved blouse and shorts, with a stars-and-stripes visor, a nod to her adopted country. Her voice awakened Flamebird.

"Do you like my visor?" she asked sweetly. "I procured it in honor of the birthday celebration you colonists have every July fourth."

Flamebird could feel herself sweating when she saw Siren's get-up.’Is this her devious way of telling me she's figured out my secret identity?’ the beautiful blonde heroine thought.

It was Batgirl's turn to worry when she noticed the brand of tennis racket. ‘Wilson! Is this the Siren's not-so-subtle way of telling me she knew about my alias? I used it when I pursued her in Italy!’

"I'd let you both take turns borrowing this," Siren said, gesturing at her racket, "but I'm afraid you're in no position to use it. It would be helpful, though, considering what is about to happen to you."

At that point two men with blank expressions wheeled in an automatic tennis machine, the kind used by players when they practiced on their own. The tube from which the balls shot pointed directly at Flamebird’s face!

As Betty Kane, Flamebird had seen – and used – many such machines in her life. ‘This one is different!’ she noted with horror. The back end was so huge, it appeared it could hold an almost endless supply of tennis balls!

"Thank you, boys," Siren said. "Now leave."

They exited wordlessly as Siren began her favorite part of her unique "job" – explaining how a deathtrap was to work.

"This machine has been re-calibrated – souped up, as you Americans say – so it will fire every tennis ball at the speed of two hundred, forty-one point four kilometers per hour. Excuse me, I should say one hundred, fifty miles per hour. The balls will hit every part of your body, and the cumulative effect eventually will take its toll on both of you."

"We'll figure a way out of this," Batgirl said, "and end your criminal game forever."

"Exactly," Flamebird said, although she wasn't as sure in her own mind. She knew from first-hand experience even the serves of the Williams sisters were only in the one hundred, twenties in terms of miles per hour. 'If only I had brought my racket!' she thought. 'Too bad it won't fit in my belt.'

Meanwhile, Siren rolled her eyes as she looked at her captives.

"How silly of me," the sinister chanteuse said. "I sent off my newest employees, so now I have nobody to push the button that will start this machine. I SO detest physical labor.”

The Siren looked around pensively, then suddenly brightened. “Oh! I have an idea."

She pulled a cellphone out of her silver purse and punched in a number.

"Sirena, would you be so kind as to bring in our newest associate?"

Within one minute, the blonde sorceress strolled in, accompanied by none other than the CEO of Networld, the beautiful Katherine Kane, who seemed to be in a trance.

"Ahh---," Flamebird said before catching herself, "Uh, Ms. Kane! What's wrong with you?"

"Don't waste your breath, my doomed heroine," the British beauty said.

Kathy didn't answer, and instead kept walking toward Siren.

"Katherine," Siren commanded.

"Yes, Siren," Kathy said, staring at her mistress.

"You also will obey commands from my associate, Sirena."

"Of course."

"Here, though, is one from me. Would you be so kind as to press the button on top of this machine?"

"Why, certainly. It would be a pleasure, Siren."

Kathy, smiling vacantly, pressed the button and a tennis ball sailed at Flamebird, hitting her in the chin.

"Ouch!"

“Oh, that will leave a bruise,” said Sirena. Her resentment for Flamebird still was quite obvious.

The tube swung towards Batgirl. The next ball hit the Dominoed Daredoll above the right eye. Her black felt mask provided precious little padding.

"Ow!"

"Katherine, would you please press that button again?"

"Your wish is my command, Siren." Kathy turned off the machine.

"The interval between ‘shots’ will decrease," Siren said. "In no time at all, the effects will be devastating. You will soon suffer massive internal injuries, that eventually will result in your deaths."

"You won't get away with this, Siren!" Batgirl declared. "You do know that, don't you?"

Siren didn’t answer Batgirl and instead merely chuckled. "Re-activate the machine, Katherine."

"Yes, Siren."

"Come, Katherine. We have much to do at Networld," Siren said.

"Yes, mistress," the hypnotized businesswoman replied. "I exist only to serve you."

Flamebird wanted to cry out to her aunt, “Don't you know who I am?” before Kathy walked away. She suppressed the urge, however, knowing she couldn't reveal her secret identity.

Besides, it wasn't easy to speak with tennis balls crashing into her.

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