Sirena Is the Prize

IT'S A GORGEOUS FALL DAY IN GOTHAM CITY . . .
A PERFECT TIME FOR THAT BEAUTIFUL YOUNG ENCHANTRESS KNOWN AS SIRENA . . .
TO HAVE HER HAIR DONE YET AGAIN!

‘I haven't changed my hairstyle in almost three weeks,’ Sirena thought as her luxurious blonde hair was being thoroughly washed.

"What do you call this treatment again?" Sirena asked the salon owner.

"It's my Eggplant Vitamin Jelly Scalp Massage," answered the older and zaftig blonde woman, who had a pretty face and a noticeable accent. "All of my clients svear by it. I'm sure you vill like it, too."

"It does feel good," Sirena said, letting out a deep sigh.

"I assure you, no vun has ever complained about it," the Hungarian-born woman said with a broad smile, "and now it's time to dry off, dahling."

Sirena was just getting comfortable under the dryer when the malicious Minerva pressed a button on the control panel, activating her patented Deepest Secrets Extractor. (During her last stay in Gotham State Prison, the foreign villainess had discovered she could modify her evil machine to make subjects divulge more than one secret at a time.) Unlike before, the sinister salon owner didn't have to listen to the subject's voice speaking from her subconscious, as Sirena's melodious voice was perfectly audible.

"My name is Kristina Agua," she said somewhat methodically, as her personality was subdued a bit, "but my alias is Sirena. My voice was electronically altered so that I am able to hypnotize any man with my highest note."

Minerva smiled and her eyes widened. She had heard through the Gotham City criminal grapevine Siren had taken on a criminal apprentice, yet had no idea of the person’s true identity . . . until now.

"Relax, my dear," Minerva said soothingly. Then she asked the question to which she already knew the answer. "Tell me, dahling, who altered your voice?"

"Siren did it," came the answer from Sirena, whose beautiful eyes were closed. "She's my mentor. We work together."

"Really, dahling? Do you use your power to steal?"

Sirena shook her head. "Not too often. Siren frowns on that. She prefers for me to use my power for her schemes. She says that if we use our vocal powers too much, it will cause too much suspicion."

The Hungarian native colored her voice with disappointment. "That's too bad, my dear. Vhat's the use of having such a gift if you cannot use it vhen you vant?"

Sirena nodded as her usually bubbly persona began to surface. "Right! But Siren and I have been sharing everything fifty-fifty, so I can't complain."

'You vill now be taking on a silent partner,' Minerva thought as she flipped another switch to activate the brainwashing portion of her malevolent machine. She grabbed a nearby microphone.

"This is Minerva speaking. You may open your eyes, Sirena, my dear."

The sonic seductress did as she was instructed. Her blue eyes weren't quite blank, but she was groggy. "Yes, Minerva," she said.

"Listen to me carefully, dahling," Minerva said slowly. "I vant you to commit a crime for me and you tonight. Can you do that?"

"For you AND me?" A smile formed on Sirena's lips. "Sure, Minerva."

"Tonight at midnight, you vill go to Spiffany's Jewelry Store. You vill use your high-pitched voice to break the front vindow. Vonce you are inside, you vill steal exactly six diamond rings and six diamond necklaces. If any policemen try to arrest you, you vill subdue them vith your voice. Ven you are done, you vill bring the baubles to the back door of this building and ve vill share them equally. Vhat do you think of that?"

"I like it, Minerva."

"Good. Vhen I turn this machine off, you vill remember none of this conversation. You vill, however, feel an uncontrollable desire later tonight to go out and rob Spiffany's Jewelry Store and vill act accordingly. Is that clear?"

Sirena nodded. "Of course, Minerva."

"Very good, my dear," Minerva said as she turned off the machine. Sirena closed her blank eyes and opened them again, now avake and alert. She blinked a few times as Minerva lifted the dryer.

The blonde beauty ran her fingers through her hair. It seemed lighter, fluffier than ever.

"Wow," she said. "This feels great. How does it look?"

Minerva produced a hand mirror. The twenty-something siren smiled at her reflection.

"This is awesome. How much will it cost?"

"For you, my dear, as a first-time customer, nothing at all. I alvays give a break to new customers, because I know they vill be coming back." Minerva smiled knowingly.

Sirena, quite accustomed to getting something for nothing, also smiled. "Thanks," she said as she walked to the door. She stopped and turned, tilting her head. “What was your name again?”

Minerva smiled expansively. “You may call me Eva.”

"Okay, Eva, I'm sure I'll see you again soon."

‘Much sooner than you think,' Minerva thought as she gave a quick wave to the young enchantress.

A gorgeous, well-toned brunette walked into the room. A low-cut silver and gray leotard showed off her perfect figure.

"Minerva," she said with a smile, "the $50,000 emerald necklace was in the pantry of socialite Lisa Douglas, just as you said it would be!"

"Of course it vas," Minerva said. "Did you leave it in my office?"

"I did, boss. I still wonder why she would hide it in the pantry."

"Because, dahling, everyone knows she's never seen the inside of it!"

The two women laughed.

"By the way, who was that?" Athena asked Minerva.

"Only the newest member of our criminal enterprise, Athena," Minerva said.

"Oh. I didn't know," the attractive henchwoman responded.

"That's all right," Minerva said. "Neither does she!"

Minerva and Athena both laughed wickedly.

LATER THAT NIGHT . . .

It was 11:30 p.m. when Sirena put on a black leather jacket over a tight white turtleneck sweater and short white skirt and decided to leave the latest abandoned warehouse she and Siren were using as a hideout. The blonde enchantress wasn't sure why she was going out and only had a vague idea of where she was headed. All she knew was it seemed like a good idea.

She quickly hailed a cab and asked the driver to take her to the fashionable part of Fifth Avenue. When the cabbie reached her destination, she was about to stun him with her hypnotic note before she thought better of it and reluctantly reached into her handbag to pay him.

'I should save my voice, just in case,' she thought as she got out of the cab. She glanced around. The street appeared deserted, as she had hoped.

Sirena zipped up her jacket as she felt the chilly night air. She walked past a few buildings, not really knowing for what she was searching until she found her destination – Spiffany's Jewelry Store.

The sonic sorceress took a deep breath, thinking, 'I have to do this as fast as possible.'

She unleashed her note two octaves above High C and held it, staring at the storefront window. She kept the note going until the glass finally shattered. As it did, she was reminded of the exhilarating feeling she had when she had first used her electronically-enhanced vocal cords to shatter the window of an appliance store in Londinium.

There was no time, however, to bask in her triumph. She instinctively knew every moment was important, so she gathered up six diamond rings and six diamond necklaces, dropped them in a small black satchel and exited the store through the back door into an alley. She noticed herself sweating a little, so she unzipped the jacket. She was pondering her next move when a van pulled up.

Before the young sonic sorceress could think, the driver, a thirty-something man, stuck his face out the window and asked,
"Are you Sirena?"

Sirena nodded, smiled and said, "Yes, I am."

"Nice to meet you, Sirena.
Get in," the man said, making it sound like an order.
"I'm from the spa."

Sirena ignored her natural misgivings about getting into a car driven by a stranger and immediately acquiesced.

"OK," she said.

Had the car been driven by a woman, she might not have entered. Unlike other women, Sirena felt more comfortable with a male stranger, for obvious reasons. She didn't feel at all unsafe, even though Apollo, one of Minerva's henchmen, obviously was eyeing her chest. Sirena could tell he wasn't wearing earplugs and she knew she could subdue him with one note, if necessary.

Once they reached the spa, Sirena was taken to Minerva's office.

The young chanteuse had to briefly shield her eyes when she entered the room, as the garish décor was quite a contrast from the darkness outside. Minerva sat behind a large black oak desk, reclining in a silver velour swivel chair. A couch to the spa owner's left matched the chair and the walls were painted metallic silver. Minerva's shimmering silver dress blended in quite well.

"You like silver, don't you?" Sirena said with a smile. "Siren likes it, too."

Minerva grinned. "May I see your bag, my dear?"

"Oh, yeah," Sirena said, suddenly remembering why she was there. She handed the satchel to the older villainess.

Minerva gently emptied the contents onto the table. Sirena had followed her instructions well. Six diamond necklaces and six diamond rings came out of the bag. Minerva produced a jeweler's eyepiece and began examining them extremely closely.

"Yes," she said, her voice becoming louder and her eyes becoming wider. "These are quite exquisite. Very impressive, my dear. You certainly deserve these."

Minerva pushed three necklaces and three rings toward Sirena, who smiled as she put them in her purse.

The Hungarian-born villainess then pointed at the blonde chanteuse's hair, saying, "Dahling, your hair seems to be a little stringy. Vhy don't ve use my dryer? It vill only take a few minutes."

"OK," Sirena replied nonchalantly.

There was no need for the Deepest Secrets Extractor this time. So once Sirena was under the dryer, Minerva immediately flipped the switch to the brainwashing mechanism and spoke methodically into the microphone, thus reinforcing her influence over the young enchantress.

"Vonce again, let me say that you have done vell, Sirena," she began.

"Thanks," Sirena said, her bubbly personality a little more evident than it had been the previous time she had been under Minerva's hair dryer. "It was fun. I love getting new jewelry!"

"Vell, how about some new clothes to go vith our new baubles?"

"That sounds great."

"Excellent. You vill go to Hobbes & Klein tomorrow at midnight. You vill take ten dresses, five for each of us. I vill provide you with my size. Can you handle that assignment?"

Sirena nodded.

"Excellent," Minerva said, "and this is very important. You must not vear any of these jewels around Siren."

"She's such a killjoy," Sirena said, nodding.

"That's right, Sirena. Vhy should you let her run your life? You're an adult, and it's time to start acting like one."

Sirena nodded.

"Ve're getting along so vell, I no longer see any need for you to forget our little conversations." Minerva switched off the machine. Within minutes, Sirena was being driven back to Siren's current hideout by Adonis, one of Minerva's henchmen.

After they left, Athena confronted Minerva.

"Why are you wasting so much time with these penny-ante crimes, Minerva? You used to think much bigger, didn't you?”

"Dahling, I have my reasons."

"Such as?"

"Such as the fact that I am building up to much larger and more lucrative crimes vhich Sirena vill perform quite happily. Crimes that vill benefit all of us vhile sending the criminal justice system on a vild-goose chase."

"I get it," Athena said. "The police won't suspect us, they'll suspect Siren. Plus, Sirena takes all of the risk, yet only gets half the profits . . . but isn't that why Siren transformed her in the first place?"

"Exactly, my dear, but that emaciated Englishwoman has been too reluctant to cash in on her protégée's abilities. I know that because I probed Sirena's unconscious mind and discovered a slight rift between them. Little by little, I am planting suggestions that vill enlarge that divide and svitch her allegiance from Siren to me. In fact, that process already has begun."

"You know, that's absolutely brilliant!"

"Of course it's brilliant, Athena. All my schemes are."

“But what if Siren finds out, and tries to perform an intervention?”

“If she gets too close, dahling, the so-called Diabolical Diva might be silenced--forever--at the hands of her own apprentice.”

Minerva laughed uproariously.

THE NEXT MORNING, AT SIREN'S HIDEOUT . . .

Siren wanted to throw something - anything - but her British reserve kept her from doing so. Still, her anger was obvious. The Diabolical Diva had planned to relieve, at least temporarily, a local male millionaire of his fortune in order to fund her latest criminal endeavor. She even had a backup plan. Both potential victims, however, were out of town.

"Blast it all," Siren said, slamming down the phone after learning the second one wasn't in Gotham City. The evil Englishwoman wanted to vent her frustration. Unfortunately, there was no one there to listen.

She suddenly realized her apprentice in sonic sorcery, the gorgeous Sirena, had been strangely quiet. Investigating further, she noticed the blonde beauty asleep in her room.

"Hmmmm," Siren said as she looked at the clock. 'It's eleven hundred and thirty hours and she's still sleeping,' the former opera star thought. 'She has been keeping some VERY late hours recently.

'Ah, well, I guess the telly can keep me company.'

Siren turned on the local news channel.

"Millionaire Gotham City philanthropist Bruce Wayne continued his mercy mission to assist flood-stricken residents of upstate Gotham," the newscaster said, voicing over footage of Bruce Wayne at a relief shelter.

'That incurable do-gooder,' Siren thought, shaking her head. 'So THAT'S where he is.'

The announcer continued, "His Wayne Foundation has pledged to match every dollar of state and federal relief aid.

“Now, from the police blotter, a late-night robbery at Spiffany's Jewelry Store is being investigated. The entire front window was shattered and several thousand dollars worth of merchandise was stolen."

Video was shown of yellow crime tape around a shattered window.

"Police haven't released any official word about a suspect, but a source close to the investigation told KGC Action News it could be the work of the Siren, the criminal chanteuse who can both shatter glass and hypnotize men with her highest note."

The screen showed a still close-up of Siren, in concert, while the genuine article managed a wan smile. 'At least they got my good side,' she thought. 'Who's kidding whom? Every side is my good side!'

"And now, our meteorologist, Tony Howard has our forecast."

"Hey, just looking at that picture, Bob, she can hypnotize me anytime she wants."

Siren sneered. "I just might, you stupid twit," she said, "the next time you call for sunshine and I'm stuck in the rain without my brolly. Maybe you would foretell the weather correctly for a change under my control."

Siren realized she had been talking to herself. She looked again at the still-sleeping Sirena.

'Hmmm. Maybe it's time,' she thought, 'as the colonists say, to put two and two together.'

Later that night, despite her suspicions, Siren chose not to follow her protégée. She instead bided her time, hoping her suspicions were unfounded. Thus, she missed another daring robbery. This time, Sirena, as per Minerva's instructions, stole ten dresses from Hobbes & Klein.

Once Sirena got to the spa, Minerva followed nearly the same procedure as the older woman had the previous night, splitting the ill-gotten gains with Sirena and then giving her more psychological reinforcement under the dryer, as well as instructions for her next nocturnal maneuver. Again, Sirena was driven back to the hideout. She wasn't quite prepared for what she found.

The Siren wore a multicolored print blouse, an expensive jade necklace and white slacks, plus a very baleful expression as she waited for the recalcitrant enchantress.

The scowl was the first thing Sirena noticed after strolling into the hideout just before 1 a.m.. Sirena knew well her mentor's trademark look of disapproval, but pretended not to see it.

"Where have you been, Sirena?" Siren asked, her arms folded.

"Out," was the blonde enchantress' answer, which didn't improve Siren's mood.

The lethal lovely from Londinium said nothing, instead continuing to stare at Sirena.

"I'm allowed to go out, aren't I?" Sirena asked.

Siren unfolded her arms and placed her hands on her hips.

"Yes, you are allowed to do that," the evil Englishwoman said calmly, but with an angry edge to her melodious voice. "What you are NOT allowed to do is compromise our plans by taking unnecessary risks."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I would prefer very much you do not use your vocal gift to steal when it is not related to our ultimate goals."

Sirena shrugged. "I still don't know what you're talking about," she said.

"You know full well, young lady," her mentor answered. "I have seen the news on the telly. There was a robbery last night in which the store windows were completely shattered by sound waves. I suspect another one has taken place tonight as well."

Sirena looked at the floor.

Siren continued, "It isn't hard to figure out whom the police and that infernal colonist Batgirl will suspect."

Buoyed by her growing confidence after her successful robberies, Sirena dropped her act, believing it finally was the right time to do so. "I don't see what the problem is. Minerva thought it was a good idea."

"Minerva thought so?" Siren asked incredulously, emphasizing each word. "When did that faux goddess become a dispenser of advice?"

"We met a few days ago," Sirena answered, choosing her words very carefully. "She does a nice job with my hair."

"That's obviously not all, Sirena."

"OK, so we've pulled off a couple of robberies. I don't see why that's such a big deal."

"I already have explained to you why it is, young lady," Siren said, staring at her charge. "I trust you won't do it again. Is that understood?"

Sirena disliked very much being treated as if she were one of the Diabolical Diva's hypnotized, mindless minions. She looked the Siren in the eye and said, "You don't own me!" before stalking to her room and closing the door, but not slamming it, behind her.

Siren took a deep breath. The evil English enchantress could feel the rage swimming within her, but chose not to act on it.

'In due time,' she thought. 'In due time.'

THE NEXT MORNING, IN COMMISSIONER GORDON'S OFFICE . . .

The Commissioner, Lieutenant Diana Mooney, Batgirl and Chief O'Hara were discussing the similar crimes of the past two nights.

"Two shop windows shattered, with no witnesses. Sure an’ this must be the work of that hypnotic hussy, the Siren," Chief O'Hara said.

"I'm not so sure," Lieutenant Mooney interjected.

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Batgirl asked.

"I think so," the lieutenant answered with a half-smile. "Siren usually thinks a lot bigger than simple robberies. While she could be leading up to something bigger, this just doesn't seem like her M.O.."

"So you women suspect this isn't the work of the Siren at all, but of her apprentice, correct?" Commissioner Gordon guessed.

Both women nodded, with Batgirl saying, "Sirena isn't as experienced as Siren. She wants everything yesterday."

Batgirl knew the feeling, because that's how she was - only on the opposite side of the law - when she first began fighting crime. Sometimes she felt as if she needed to out-do Batman and Robin and the entire GCPD, instead of working within the system.

"Siren and Sirena have had disagreements before," Lieutenant Mooney noted, recalling the time when the two sonic sorceresses had parted ways, only to have Sirena later help Siren escape from police custody. "Although this also could be a front."

"You've successfully predicted the Siren’s targets in the past, Lieutenant," the Commissioner said. "Why not try it with Sirena?"

Mooney nodded. "I know. This would seem to be as good a time as any."

"But where might she strike next?" O'Hara asked.

Mooney and Batgirl smiled at one another.

"Chief, if a woman has the outfit and the accessories," Batgirl said, "she still needs one more thing to complete her ensemble."

Chief O'Hara blushed. "I don't really know if I should say. Do you mean, uh, her, uh, unmentionables?"

The women laughed. "Yes, that's a valid answer," Lieutenant Mooney said with a smile, "but considering there's only one high-end lingerie store downtown, that would be too obvious, even for Sirena. So that leaves us with . . ."

"A ladies' shoe store!" Commissioner Gordon concluded.

"Precisely," Batgirl confirmed. "As I see it, the two likeliest targets would be Pravda and Imelda’s."

"Agreed," Lieutenant Mooney said. "I'll make the arrangements to stake out both stores, Commissioner. I assume you'll want to be in on it, Batgirl?"

"I wouldn't miss it for anything."

LATER THAT NIGHT . . .

Sirena left the hideout at the exact time she had departed the two previous nights. Her mentor feigned being asleep, then got out of bed as soon as Sirena was gone.

Siren hated taking risks, especially because with her powers, she usually didn't need to do so. She knew, however, Sirena could be in danger. She had to follow her protégée. She did so in a completely black ensemble of blouse and hip-hugging pants, the better for the stealthy nature of her mission.

In Siren's estimation, Minerva certainly didn't care if Sirena were apprehended. Obviously, if that happened, Sirena would give up Minerva to the authorities, but the Hungarian villainess probably figured she would have ample time to escape before she was located by the police.

‘Worse yet,’ Siren pondered, ‘what if the headstrong young siren is injured while being captured?

'Maybe these are my long-dormant maternal instincts coming to the fore,' Siren thought, smiling, as she headed to her silver van, parked in an alley behind the warehouse.

For a moment she pictured herself as a content, yet still gorgeous, mother, reading to her children, a daughter and a son, as they perched on their beautiful Mummie's lap.

'Who knows,' she thought. 'Maybe my daughter also would be a siren.' The Diabolical Diva broke into a wide smile at the possibility of passing on her incredible gift to a second generation.

Another thought hit her.

'Could I have been happy with that kind of life?' Siren pondered. She shook her head wistfully, realizing deep down there was another, not-so-altruistic reason she wanted to put a halt to this criminal collaboration.

‘After all, I am the one who transformed Sirena from a wannabee singer to a hypnotic songstress. Therefore, I am the one who should reap the benefits, not some Hungarian harlot,' Siren thought as the started the custom-made van, which was equipped with the latest satellite GPS system.

The Siren had used a tactic similar to one she ruefully recalled being used on her by Robin during her first criminal caper in the States. The British beauty had placed a small homing device in Sirena's handbag hours earlier.

She was surprised to find Sirena was not stopping at a boutique or jewelry store. Instead, the young woman headed directly to a spa - a spa which Siren had no doubt belonged to Minerva.

SHORTLY, AT THE BACK DOOR OF THE SPA . . .

As Siren approached the door, she was pleased to see there were glass windows surrounding it. All it would take was one of her high notes and she would be inside the building.

She also knew it would take at least another of her notes - and perhaps more - to subdue Minerva's henchmen. They could be there quickly, Siren reasoned, because the shattering of the window almost certainly would activate the security alarms.

Realizing she had to conserve as much energy as possible, the Diabolical Diva took a deep breath, then let loose with a short, but powerful, note. She was careful not to stand too close to the window.

Naturally, it worked. Siren smiled at the destruction wrought by her voice and stepped inside.

As she expected, Minerva's minions sprang into action. The lights came on and there were Adonis, Atlas and Apollo, ready to apprehend the intruder.

"I am the Siren. How very sporting of you boys," Siren said, flashing her most dazzling smile. "Assembling in one vicinity makes my task that much easier."

The Siren sang her note two octaves above High C. The henchmen were immediately immobilized, and stood transfixed in front of her.

The Siren read the names emblazoned across the front of the henchmen’s shirts. "I like your names," she said before stroking each one on the cheek. "They are quite apropos considering that henceforth, you will be serving me instead of that faux Roman goddess."

All three nodded.

"Splendid. Please take me to that Hungarian hippopotamus you previously served. I need to speak with her about a certain young lady she is attempting to lead astray."

"Yes, Siren," they said in unison.

The mesmerized henchmen began leading Siren toward Minerva's office, when another female voice called out to them. It was one Siren recognized immediately.

"Atlas, Adonis, Apollo, those orders are canceled," said the woman. The men instantly stopped in their tracks.

'How can this be?' Siren thought, her eyes widening. 'NOBODY has superseded my control, not ever!'

"Sirena," the disbelieving diva said, "what is the meaning of this?"

The blonde beauty smiled, but didn't answer her mentor. "Come to me, you muscular men," she said, staring at the hypnotized hunks who rushed to her side. She then stroked their cheeks, just as Siren had done moments earlier.

The truth then dawned on the Siren. ‘The men were never under my spell at all, but merely had been pretending while under orders from Sirena! She must have subdued them with her own hypnotic voice previously.’

'How could I have been duped?' Siren thought, shaking her head. The evil Englishwoman closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Seize her," Sirena ordered, clearly enjoying the chance to have the upper hand. Adonis grabbed Siren's left arm and Apollo did the same with her right as Sirena pulled out a tiny spray bottle.

"I've wanted to do this for a long time," Siren said as she approached her mentor.

Instead of cowering as Sirena approached, knockout spray in the blonde knockout's right hand, Siren stood her ground. 'The Siren does not show fear,' she thought as she stared at her shorter protégée, whose heels elevated the hypnotic Hispanic-American's height closer to Siren's.

"How do you like it when the shoe is on the other foot?" Sirena asked, holding the container inches away from the Diabolical Diva's face.

The Siren sighed.

"Your use of such a hoary cliché demonstrates you have not been influenced by my vocabulary. If you wish to betray me, go ahead and do so," Siren said with a steely gaze from her green eyes. "I shall not give you the pleasure of cowering before you. Dignity is one thing the Siren will not surrender."

Sirena sighed.

"You would take all the fun out of this," she said before spraying Siren.

The Siren closed her eyes as her head jerked forward. The British villainess slumped in the arms of Minerva's henchmen.

"You two take our guest to her new quarters," Sirena ordered with a wave of her hand. Apollo and Adonis walked away, carrying the unconscious Siren.

"Atlas, tell Minerva what we've – I've – done," Sirena said.

"Yes, Sirena," he replied, hurrying to Minerva's office.

Sirena pumped her fist and smiled.

ELSEWHERE IN DOWNTOWN GOTHAM CITY . . .

Lieutenant Diana Mooney sighed as she sank back in the seat of an unmarked police car.

Her cell phone vibrated and she looked at the readout for the number. It was Batgirl.

"Anything happening there, Diana?"

"Nope. How about you?"

Batgirl took yet another look around the front of Imelda’s, Gotham City's purveyor of the largest selection of women's shoes. "Not a thing."

"I guess they outsmarted us," Lieutenant Mooney said.

"They, huh," Batgirl said knowingly. "Yes, this pretty much shows it can't be just Sirena. She's too impetuous to cut short her crime spree this quickly."

"Exactly, Batgirl. It looks like maybe Siren is involved."

"Wonderful," Batgirl said with a sigh.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER . . .

When Siren awoke, she found herself standing in a cylindrical booth, her arms bound behind her. Through the open door, she could see her protégée, Sirena, who stared angrily at Siren.

"Sirena, what has she done to you?!" Siren yelled. The evil Englishwoman's critical eyes then examined Sirena's outfit, which consisted of a multicolored tank top with spaghetti straps, blue jeans cut to micro-mini shorts and topped with gold lame, accessorized by two gaudy neon blue bracelets that clashed slightly with what little blue remained in the shorts.

"More to the point, Sirena, what have you done to yourself?" Siren asked, horror in her voice. "That ensemble is hideous! You've dressed like a slag before, young lady, but at least you were colour-coordinated."

Sirena fired right back, her clear blue eyes riveted on Siren. "Minerva hasn't done anything to me, Siren, other than make me realize what an idiot I've been to let you run my life!"

Minerva, wearing her dazzling silver blazer, smiled approvingly. "You see, Lorelei, dahling, my newly-revised methods are much better than yours," the Hungarian villainess said as she advanced toward her bound criminal rival, a pair of sunglasses hiding her eyes in case Siren tried to use her hypnotic gaze. Minerva lowered her voice as she neared Siren.

"Instead of the mindless automatons you alvays have at your disposal, I have fully-functioning, avare, goal-oriented people on board vith my program," Minerva said quietly. She then raised her voice again. "For instance, vith Sirena here, I have merely tapped into her deep-seated resentment of you, making her fully avare of how you have unfairly repressed her vants and desires. Right, Sirena?"

"Right, Minerva," the blonde enchantress said, nodding. "If I see a dress or a bracelet I want, Minerva doesn't mind letting me go after it. She's not a stick-in-the-mud like you. She lets me have my freedom."

The English enchantress fixed a stare on the younger woman and said, "That is exactly what it is about, young lady - your freedom. Take too many unnecessary chances and that purple pain in the arse Batgirl, and/or that contemptible constable Leftenant Mooney will see to it your freedom is taken away. In case you have forgotten, what we do is quite illegal."

"I know that," Sirena said, rolling her eyes, "but it doesn't mean we always have to be looking over our shoulders. You need to have more fun - like Minerva!"

The older blonde villainess turned to Sirena and smiled.

"You see, Siren, you are yesterday's news. You can't relate to the younger generation like I can."

Now it was Siren's turn to roll her eyes.

"You Hungarian hippo," she sneered. "You cannot hold a proverbial candle to me in anything, so don't try to compare the two of us."

"Oh, really, dahling?" Minerva countered. "You need your note to enthrall men. In my case, my beauty alone is enough to do the trick. I have legions of men eating out of the palm of my hand."

"That is my point, Minerva," the Diabolical Diva said. "With our similar abilities, we could do SO much more in a partnership."

"I know how your partnerships usually end, Siren. I've spoken vith the Riddler and Lady Peasoup and even the Minstrel, who you foolishly tried to double-cross after he restored your voice."

"That would be whom, Minerva, not who," Siren corrected.

"So you admit it?"

"I admit nothing of the sort," Siren shot back.

"It's unimportant," Minerva responded, "considering you von't be around much longer anyvay.

"You see, Lorelei," Minerva began, but stopped short when she saw Siren grimace.

"Oh, that's right, dahling, being called by your given name ‘burns you up,’ as the Americans vould say, doesn't it?"

Siren didn't reply.

"Well, get used to that burning sensation, because the tanning booth you are in is a very special one indeed. Most tanning booths use 160-vatt bulbs. This one uses 600-vatt bulbs."

The Siren tried to appear bored. "This booth is illegal by its very existence, is it not?"

Minerva smiled. "Of course it is, but I conveniently vas able to delay the Gotham State Board of Health inspection of the facilities of my satellite spa for a few veeks, thanks to an appeal I made. I had intended to use this on at least one member of the Terrific Trio, but you'll do just as nicely. Dying while tanning vill be a fitting end for someone as vain as you, dahling."

Siren scowled again as Minerva continued.

"Vithin minutes after the power in the tanning booth is turned on, the light and the heat from the bulbs vill do their vork, cooking you from the inside. Sort of like a very lean cut of Londinium broil, if you vill." Minerva laughed wickedly.

"Let us be reasonable, Minerva. We're all fighting a common enemy. Why should one supervillainess do away with another supervillainess?" Siren didn't like crediting Minerva with the same status, but swallowed some of her enormous pride considering her life was at stake.

Minerva approached Siren and whispered. "It's very simple, Lorelei. I now have something – someone – who you vould like to control," she said, pointing at Sirena. "You're very persuasive, and although I have turned this young lady against you for the time being, the only vay to make sure her opinion remains the same is to eliminate you."

"I WILL figure a way out of this," Siren said defiantly.

"Now you sound like Batgirl," Minerva laughed, "and speaking of sound, I am about to remove your only veapon. Apollo!"

"Yes, Minerva?"

"Take this towel and tie it as tightly as you can around our guest's mouth."

"Yes, Minerva."

Siren could tell by the henchman's blank expression Sirena's spell was still in effect, so trying to stun him or any other of Minerva's, and now Sirena's, minions with her eyes or her voice would be fruitless. Siren glanced at her protégée, who still wore an angry stare.

"Sirena, dahling," Minerva called out.

"Yes, Minerva?"

"Vould you like to activate the tanning booth, Sirena, so your friend here can feel the burn - literally?"

"With pleasure, Minerva." Sirena flicked a switch and the bulbs glared to life. Siren already could feel the heat on her brow, as sweat began to form. She took as deep a breath as she could, considering the thick towel covered not only her mouth, but part of her nose as well.

"Let's go, dahlings," Minerva said. "Ve have much to do."

Sirena waved to Siren and said, "Cheerio," in a faux English accent before turning her back on her former mentor.

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