The Dynamite Duo were alone in the office until, finally, the door opened and Superintendent Watson walked in, followed by a very pretty, blue-eyed, red-headed woman.IF ALL WENT ACCORDING TO SIRENA’S PLAN, THE SKYLIGHT WOULD SHATTER AND RAIN JAGGED PIECES OF GLASS DOWN ON GOTHAM'S GOGGLED GUARDIAN!
FOR AN UPDATED WINDOW INTO FLAMEBIRD'S FATE, READ ON.
Flamebird certainly wasn't resigned to dying like this . . . but there wasn't really much she could do about it.
As hard as she tried, there seemed to be no room to maneuver herself where she could create even a little bit of slack between the restraints and her body. The fact that her arms were pinned uncomfortably above her head didn't help, either.
From the CD players, she could hear Sirena warming up her voice before she began the progression through the scales that eventually would take her to the note two octaves above High C, the one Sirena hoped would indirectly prove fatal to Flamebird.
Although she obviously had greater concerns at the moment, Flamebird still wasn't impressed with the young chanteuse's voice.
‘She's a decent singer, but she's not really THAT good,’ Flamebird thought.
She knew, though, that this wasn't the time for a CD review. The headstrong heroine kept trying to wriggle free, but was having no luck at all.
‘I know Robin is strong, but this is ridiculous! I can't believe he tied me down this tightly,’ she sighed.
‘Too bad both of us weren't even aware he was doing it,’ she thought wistfully.
As Sirena's voice began getting higher and higher, climbing in octaves, Flamebird quickly was jolted back to reality. She kept squirming uselessly, with no choice but to look up at the quite ordinary skylight, which was taking on a sinister quality in her mind.
The thought she had been avoiding finally hit her — ‘There's no escape! I have no chance at getting out of the way when the glass shatters and falls!’
She could feel the sweat forming on her body, especially her palms and her brow . . . but it wasn't nearly enough to loosen the bonds restraining her hands.
Still, she wasn't giving up. She wouldn't do that. From the age of eight, she had been a competitive tennis player, and a phenom at that. Quitting was foreign to her, even in a situation that seemed as hopeless as this.
‘But what can I possibly do to avoid the shards of crashing glass?’
She kept searching vainly for an answer, as Sirena's singing voice filled the whole room, the notes increasing in intensity.
Finally, she heard it — the same note that had turned her friend Robin against her, and transformed him into Sirena's sycophant. Flamebird closed her eyes and braced herself as best as she could for the pain to come.
‘This is the end. I hope it’s quick.’
Nothing happened.
There was no sound of breaking glass. In fact, there was no other sound whatsoever.
The Goggled Guardian considered opening her eyes, wondering if maybe she had somehow blocked out the sound. ‘Maybe I’ll see the glass raining down towards me . . . or maybe I’m already dead!’
Behind the goggles, her eyes opened. A quick look around confirmed that nothing had happened.
Sirena's voice, however, again began singing on the CD player. ‘Perhaps,’ Flamebird thought, ‘she’s looped the recording over again as a failsafe.’
That's exactly what Sirena had done. Again, her melodious voice climbed the scales, until she ascended to the highest note in her electronically-enhanced repertoire.
Flamebird could feel her heart pounding. ‘Maybe the first note has weakened the skylight enough so that the second time a note two octaves above High C is played, the skylight will finally shatter!’
Suddenly, there was the sound of breaking glass!
‘This is it!’ Flamebird thought, horror-struck while closing her eyes again. ‘I’m finished!’
Seconds passed. The young heroine felt no sensation of being slashed, no agony of being stabbed.
Once again, Flamebird dared to open her eyes.
‘There’s the explanation! Some of the windows closest to the CD players have broken! The skylight is still intact!’
Flamebird allowed herself to breathe a sigh of relief, and then listened for several minutes to see if Sirena's taped voice reappeared.
The CD player remained silent.
It occurred to Flamebird that her inexperienced adversary may have committed a rookie mistake. While Sirena could indeed shatter glass with her voice, Batwoman’s partner concluded the skylight was too far away from Sirena’s note for the sound, especially a recorded version, to be effective!
The alluring avian smiled when she thought about the unforced error on Sirena's part.
‘Advantage, Flamebird!’
It was just then she realized something:
‘I'm still trapped.’
Her staunch pride wouldn't allow her to cry out in the time-honored way, so she borrowed a line from her early days in her favorite sport, when a ball would roll away onto an adjacent court. "Hey!" she shouted as loudly as she could, "a little help over here, please? Please!?!"
None was forthcoming, as there was no answer. ‘Uh oh,’ she thought. ‘It's too early. There might not be anybody around here for a while.’
A dark thought occurred to Flamebird. ‘This warehouse is mostly empty. Maybe nobody will come before the Siren and Sirena return!’
Flamebird had never felt so helpless. Then, an even worse notion struck the young adventuress. ‘What if they’re captured or leave the country? I might not be found until . . .’
She struggled wildly, but it was no use. All of a sudden, the fate of being impaled by falling glass didn’t seem quite so bad.
MEANWHILE, THE EAGER ENCHANTRESS SIRENA IS BLISSFULLY UNAWARE THAT HER FIRST DEATHTRAP HAS FAILED
Sirena, sitting in the passenger seat of Siren's van, put her hand on Robin's right thigh.
"Do you like that, Robin?" she asked.
"Of course," he replied. "You can do whatever you want with me."
"Well, maybe I'll think of something else . . . soon," she said with a sly smile. "For now, we have to lay low until Saturday morning. I don’t know what Siren has planned, but it must be extra special for her to wait so long. You know, she’s not very patient.”
As Sirena expected, Robin offered no comment. She looked appreciatively at her driver.
“By the way, thanks for driving. I’d get all mixed up, driving on the left side of the road."
"Whatever you desire, Sirena."
The apprentice villainess closed her eyes and smiled. She couldn't believe how good it felt to have a man, especially such a good-looking young one, say those words to her.
Now, all she had to do was to find a low-profile place for Robin and her to stay. As long as a man was on duty at the front desk, that wouldn’t be too difficult . . .
LATE THE FOLLOWING DAY, BACK AT THE WAREHOUSE
Flamebird could tell it once again was getting dark outside.
For the first twenty-four hours, her biggest concern had been boredom. Every once in awhile, Flamebird would hear a car door slam, sometimes two of them almost simultaneously. ‘Maybe,’ she would think, ‘it's Robin and the police. He's snapped out of his trance and has told them where to find me!’
Each time, though, no matter how loud she yelled, nobody came.
The pinioned heroine had passed the time by thinking about some of her past adventures, as well as her most memorable tennis matches. The young woman also occupied herself, more than she would care to admit, daydreaming about Robin. In addition, Flamebird was able to take a few short naps.
Now, however, her position was becoming more and more uncomfortable. Not that it ever had been pleasant, but at least it had been somewhat tolerable in the beginning.
Having her arms above her head for this long was unnatural, and she was beginning to feel some numbness in her fingers. She was losing feeling in her toes. The Goggled Gal had a splitting headache.
Although it had been another warm, early July day and she was in full costume, she began experiencing chills. She also noticed she wasn't sweating anymore. In fact, her mouth, lips and eyes were all quite dry.
‘How long can I hold out?’
The blue eyes behind the gold-tinted goggles opened wide as Flamebird considered the question. This was the first time she had allowed herself to seriously contemplate what might happen to her.
‘What if this IS it? What if nobody finds me until it's too late?’
The one positive about most deathtrap predicaments, she decided, was that everything happened so fast. Usually, decisions had to be made quickly. There was little time to let oneself worry about what could happen.
This was different. Minutes seemed like hours as Flamebird coped without food or water. She knew she hadn't had anything to eat or drink since 8 p.m. Wednesday night, now some 48 hours ago.
‘How long can I last without water?’ she wondered. Betty had read that death from dehydration usually occurred in three to 14 days. In this case, she wondered if her years of training would prove to be an advantage.
Flamebird worried that long before death, though, her finely-toned athlete's body might suffer permanent damage. Being unable to move added to the deleterious effect.
‘At what point will I no longer be able to play tennis, much less be Flamebird?
'At least, I know the lack of food isn't a major problem.’ She had endured training days where her only sustenance had been a couple of those awful-tasting energy bars. ‘Oh, what I wouldn't give for one of those now!’ she thought, as the gnawing feeling in her stomach only added to her discomfort.
There was nothing to do but wait.
EARLY THE FOLLOWING MORNING, SIRENA AND ROBIN ARE ON THE ROAD AGAIN
With her fingers interlaced and her hands behind her head, Sirena leaned back in the van’s passenger seat, looked over at Robin and sighed.
‘These have been the best two days of my life!’
Sirena hadn’t slept much during that time, partly because of sheer excitement, and partly because she was wary of Robin suddenly regaining his free will. Any time he appeared to be coming out of his trance, she again zapped him with a note two octaves above High C, ensuring his continued loyalty and her continued enjoyment.
Her reverie was interrupted by the ring tone of her cell phone.
Siren had instructed Sirena to call her at 830 hours, but wasn't surprised that she hadn't done so, and chose not to scold her. Siren figured that her alluring accomplice had been a little preoccupied the past two days. Meanwhile, Siren had spent the time studying the floorplan and layout of her next target.
"Yes, Siren," Sirena said, "we're almost there. Your directions to the palace were great. You certainly know your way around this city. I've let Robin do the driving. He's been quite" — she looked at him admiringly once again — "cooperative. Now, what exactly are we going to do next?"
"With the Queen away," Siren explained, "I plan to infiltrate Chuckingham Palace and install myself as Queen. I'm sure none of the guards will object, once they've met me."
"Wow!" If Sirena had thought ahead, she probably could have guessed that was Siren's plan. She, though, still was caught up in the moment, enjoying every new rush of her transformed life. "Wait a minute. What does that mean for me?"
"Don't you worry. Every queen needs a princess, Sirena. What about that, whatever-her-name-was? I trust you've taken care of her by now."
"Yes, Siren. I'm sure that she's, uh, she's, uh . . ."
"Dead," Siren said.
"Yes," Sirena said in a low voice. The magnitude of what she had done now was beginning to hit home.
Putting a costumed heroine into a deathtrap had seemed like a game, a fantasy come to life. ‘But to have actually killed someone!’
Had Sirena known her first deathtrap as designed had been a dismal flop, but was now on the verge of succeeding in a most unexpected way, her emotions would have been even more confused.
"Superb," Siren replied. "You haven’t been making the scene of the crime, have you? Remember, I told you not to do so."
"Of course not," Sirena said without enthusiasm.
"Good. I'm sure I can find a suitable cleanup crew to send over there later, to take care of the remains of the day. I'm in a taxi right now with a most accomodating driver, and the palace is just a block away."
"Wait a minute, Siren. Where should we park?"
"Park right in front of the palace, of course. Once I am Queen, I think I will be able to fix a mere parking ticket, Sirena."
"OK. So we'll park right outside. Then what?"
"Once I get to the palace, I will neutralize the guards who are outside. Once I've made my entrance, I'll ring your phone once, and that will be the cue for you and Robin to join me. Got it?"
"I sure do, Siren.” Sirena’s momentary regret over becoming a murderer had passed. Her enthusiasm had returned full force. “I can't wait! Bye."
MEANWHILE, AT BARBARA GORDON'S HOTEL
Babs had spent the previous couple of days at the Londinium Library, attempting to decipher what Siren's latest plot was. She had, however, been unable to find any special events going on this week at Chuckingham Palace. Barbara had continued to study until the early morning hours, both on the internet through her laptop, and in several books she had borrowed from the library, a special privilege given to other accredited librarians.
She woke up Saturday morning, finally feeling fully recovered. Barbara “Wilson” then went down to the hotel lobby to buy a copy of the Londinium Times.
All at once, it became clear.
As she leafed quickly through the different sections, she saw on the front page of sports a story previewing the women's tennis final at Wimbledon.
‘Of course,’ she thought. ‘That's it!
‘THAT'S what Siren meant about being a "royal nuisance." Siren's criminal objectives have steadily increased in magnitude since her first caper, and this is her most ambitious yet!’
Barbara had correctly deduced Siren had cleverly timed her arrival at Chuckingham Palace to coincide with the women's final at Wimbledon, which the Queen always attended. Most of the Queen's security forces would be with her at the tennis match, leaving a much smaller detail at the palace, easy prey for the sonic spells of Siren and Sirena!
Barbara cringed at the mental image of the Siren in Chuckingham Palace, with easy access to both Parliament and the Prime Minister. Barbara's jaw nearly dropped.
‘Why, Siren could take over the whole country!’ Babs thought.
She hurried back to her room, grabbed the special briefcase with her costume, and quickly went down the stairs to the street to hail a cab.
SOON, AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR IS IN FRONT OF CHUCKINGHAM PALACE
Siren approached the eight guards in front of the building. She knew what to expect, but still, she was surprised when she noticed their blank faces and glassy stares up close.
‘Strange,’ she thought. ‘That's usually how they look after I leave, not before I arrive.’
True to form, the guards acted as if they didn't notice her. Because the Siren cleverly had stayed in the background while Sirena performed the crimes, everyone had been put on alert to watch for a young blonde, not an older brunette.
The sonic seductress could have immediately unleashed her stunning note on the unsuspecting guards . . . but the Siren couldn't resist a challenge as great as this.
Siren removed her coat, revealing her usual silver mini-dress, the one with the strap over the right shoulder. There was no reaction from any guard. She began swaying slowly in front of them, as her dangling silver earrings moved almost in rhythm with her body.
Still no reaction.
She then blew each one, all eight, a kiss. Still, nothing. She then kissed each one on the lips. Again, nothing.
‘They are either poofs, daft or inhuman,’ she thought.
"Enough," she exclaimed. "You have wasted too much of my time."
She belted out her hypnotic note and quickly issued a command to the now-spellbound guards. "I am the Siren and I would like some emotion from all of you," she said. "Show me how ferocious you can be in protecting me."
The guards all gritted their teeth and snarled like wild dogs.
"That's much better," Siren said, patting one on the head. "That's what I call a changing of the guards. Now, remember, you don't protect the Queen anymore. Whom do you protect?"
"You, Siren," they said in unison.
"Actually, though, there's not much difference. Because pretty soon, I will be your Queen. Let's go into the palace now."
The guards followed their new mistress.
Just then, Sirena and Robin pulled up in Siren's van. Seeing all the mesmerized guards filing wordlessly into the palace behind her criminal colleague, Sirena quickly grabbed Robin.
"Let's go, Robin. I think your muscular presence is about to be needed."
"Whatever you want, Sirena. I'm here for you."
They hurried toward the front door of the palace.
Once she was inside a vast hall just beyond the door, Siren took the cell phone out of her silver handbag. All she needed to do now was neutralize the bobbies in the police station on the ground floor of the palace, and then she would have access to the Queen's chambers on the second floor. First, though, she needed to find her alluring accomplice.
As she pulled out her cell phone, she saw Sirena entering the palace, with Robin in tow. Siren quickly put the phone back.
"Nice work, Sirena," Siren complimented.
"Thank you, Siren," the precocious protégée replied. "This is fun."
"Well, now we've got some work ahead of us. Tell Robin to—"
Siren once again was interrupted by the sight of Batgirl, who had followed the criminal procession into the now-unguarded palace. The terrible temptress rolled her eyes in disgust.
"You again!" Siren yelled.
"Yes, me again," Batgirl said with a smile, pleased with herself that she had deduced Siren's latest scheme. "Go ahead. Unleash your latest group of hypnotized henchmen on me. For someone who considers herself to be so smart, Siren, isn't it about time you realized you can't defeat me? Your mesmerized men are always sub-par fighters."
"Ah, but this time, Batgirl, as you can see, I – well, we – have one that is an excellent fighter. Sirena," Siren commanded her colleague as if she, too, were under her spell, "turn Robin loose on Batgirl."
Sirena smiled at Siren and turned to Robin. "Please dispose of Batgirl," she said sweetly, grasping Robin's hand. "I would really appreciate it."
The hypnotic Hispanic-American then glanced at Siren, looking for approval. Her mentor responded with a slight affirmative nod.
Robin quickly advanced on Batgirl, a blank look in his eyes, but a sneer creasing his mouth.
‘I really don't want to do this,’ Batgirl thought as she prepared to punch Robin in the stomach. She then noticed, however, that he was wobbling a bit. He blinked his eyes several times and looked around, disoriented.
"Robin?" Batgirl asked tentatively.
"Batgirl?" he responded, still unsure of his surroundings.
"Sirena! I thought I told you to give Robin a post-hypnotic suggestion!" Siren's nostrils flared.
"Damn. I’ve been having so much fun, I forgot!" Sirena said, putting her hands to her face and covering her eyes in shame.
"You dumb blonde!" Siren exclaimed. "Evidently, if I want something done right, I have to do it myself.
"I'll get Robin back on our side, Sirena."
As Siren took a deep breath, Batgirl pulled several pellets from a container in her utility belt.
Siren saw the heroine’s move out of the corner of her left eye.
"What's that?" she asked.
"Only something that is going to make it very difficult for either of you songbirds to perform for awhile," Batgirl said as she hurled some pellets in the direction of the two sonic sorceresses.
As the pollen-filled pellets hit the floor, both Siren and Sirena began sneezing uncontrollably. The guards who were closest to both of them started sneezing as well.
"That's---ah-choo---n-not---ahhh-chooo---playing---ahh-choo---fair, Batgirl," Siren said as she and her protégée both desperately tried to catch their breath.
"Oh, and you always do, Siren?" Batgirl smiled at the havoc her little gambit had wreaked on the two sultry singers.
"You---haven't---won---yet," Siren said, as her sneezing began to lessen. She still couldn't sing, but she was able to give an order.
"Guards," she said with much effort, her usually seductive voice barely above a whisper. "Dispose---of---the—Dynamite—Duo."
All the guards, even the ones who were still sneezing, rushed toward Batgirl and Robin, who had taken defensive positions next to each other.
"I'm glad you're back, Robin," the Caped Cutie said. "I could use some help. Do you think you're up to it?"
Although he really didn't know exactly where he was, Robin winked at Batgirl and reacted instinctively. Years of training as a crimefighter had prepared him for situations such as these, even though he still had no idea how he had wound up in this huge hall.
"No problem, Batgirl," he said.
The mesmerized guards rushed at the Dynamite Duo. The nimble Batgirl had no problem adroitly avoiding their charge, and even a still-somewhat confused Robin was able to maneuver around them and hit the guards as they went by. In fact, he was able to grab the bearskin off one of them, and he and Batgirl used the one and a half pound hat as a small battering ram, knocking several guards over at one time.
Siren's ability to breach security without being noticed usually was an advantage . . . but not this time.
Because no warnings had been sounded, the Chuckingham Palace police station hadn't been notified, so nobody had responded. To indoctrinate the police officers, Siren would have to race almost to the other side of the building, and get there before Batgirl did. In her current state, still sniffling and wheezing, that was far from a sure thing.
By this time, only two of the hypnotized guards were upright. Siren made her decision.
"Discretion sometimes is the better part of valor, Sirena," she said in a scratchy voice. "It's time for us to make our exit."
Sirena answered in an equally scratchy voice, "The van is right outside, Siren."
"Good. Let's go."
As the diabolical divas made their way toward the door, Batgirl disposed of the last of their hypnotized henchmen. She turned to Robin.
"Come ON," she said. "They're getting away."
Robin started toward Batgirl, but just as suddenly, dropped to his knees.
‘Now what?’ Batgirl thought.
"What's wrong, Robin?" she asked. "Let's go."
Robin looked about as frantic and panicked as Batgirl had seen him. Considering all the situations they had been through together, that was saying something.
"What's the matter?" Batgirl asked again.
"Have you seen Flamebird?"
"No, I haven't. In fact, I didn't even know she was in this country."
"My memory’s starting to come back, Batgirl. It's hazy, but I seem to remember that I was with Flamebird before we infiltrated Siren's hideout . . . and I have no clue what happened to her!"
Robin's eyes widened as he continued to search his memory, but came up blank. "I have this awful feeling, Batgirl, that she's in trouble."
Batgirl was torn. She desperately wanted to go after the Siren, but if Flamebird was in danger, a second could mean the difference between life and death.
"What can we do?" Robin asked.
Batgirl suddenly remembered her father telling her the Gotham City Police Department sometimes used hypnosis on witnesses to help them remember details buried in their subconscious. She wasn't looking forward to suggesting this, however, especially because Robin had just regained his faculties after being under Sirena's spell.
"Robin, I have an idea," she said. "You may not like it, but—"
"I don't care, Batgirl. I'll do whatever it takes to find Flamebird. Alive or . .. or . . . or . . ."
He couldn't finish the thought. It was too awful even to contemplate. He looked at Batgirl, helplessly.
"I'll call Superintendent Watson," she said.
Moments before, outside the palace gates, a uniformed officer had been standing in front of Siren's van, writing a ticket.
‘Oh, great,’ the sinister super-soprano thought. ‘This day gets better and better.’ Her seven-octave voice, which she had used to subdue the guards before her attempted takeover of the palace, still wasn't ready to be pushed to the limit. So she sent a nasty glance Sirena's way. It was similar to the one she had given her at the Cashmere Club, but this time, there also was the implied message of ‘You got us into this mess, so . . .’
Sirena did feel quite guilty about her "rookie mistake," and desperately wanted to get back into Siren's good graces. So she summoned up whatever strength she could find in her scratchy vocal cords, and let loose with a stunning note.
It didn't sound quite right, but it was good enough, as she could see the officer's eyes glaze over. "Stop writing that ticket! Do you understand me?" Sirena said.
"Of course, madam," the officer said, as his pen suddenly halted.
"Give the ticket to me," Sirena demanded. She wanted any evidence of her and Siren's presence near the palace eliminated.
"Your wish is my command," he said as he handed it over.
"Very good.” Thinking quickly, Sirena added, "Now, tell me, Officer, are you able to access the Ireland Yard criminal database?”
“Of course, madam.”
“That’s great. Much later tonight, I want you to access that database and remove the names Kristina Agua and Lorelei Circe from the records. Those names are spelled A-G-U-A and C-I-R-C-E. Is that understood?”
“Yes, madam,” the bobby nodded. “I will expunge those names from our records.”
“Excellent, but first, I want you to go back to your squad car and sit there for an hour. You will not alert anyone else to what you have seen. Is that clear?"
"Quite clear, madam." The officer did as he was instructed. The two terrible temptresses climbed into the van, with the Siren getting behind the wheel.
"Very nicely done," Siren said, grudgingly. She still was angry at Sirena for the faux pas, but was quite impressed with the presence of mind her protégée had shown after her mistake. Siren realized she would have to put up with such inconsistencies from somebody as inexperienced as her apprentice.
"Where are we going?" Sirena asked.
"You'll know soon enough," Siren replied.
MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE WAREHOUSE
‘Is it still Saturday?’ Flamebird wondered.
She was getting light-headed. The room seemed to be getting larger. Then, just as suddenly, it appeared to be shrinking.
The pounding in her chest seemed magnified, especially as there was little or no noise around her.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP.
Flamebird was in such good shape, her pulse rate was usually slower than normal, except, of course, when she was exercising. Now, she knew her heart was beating faster than usual.
‘How fast is too fast?’ she worried.
THAT EVENING, AT IRELAND YARD HEADQUARTERS
Robin sat in Superintendent Watson’s office, his head in his hands. He looked up and said, "How long is this going to take? Who knows if Flamebird is hurt or bleeding or what? We've got to find her!"
"I know it's tough, Robin," Batgirl said as she patted him on the shoulder, "but just try to be patient. It's Saturday, after all. The police had to call in their psychologist. Apparently, she was at Wimbledon when they reached her."
Robin looked at Batgirl's reassuring face. "I know, Batgirl, I know. I just feel so guilty right now."
"We've all been through this at one time or another," Batgirl said, while she thought, ‘some of us more than others.’ She certainly wasn't about to say that, not with the current emotional state of the other member of the Dynamite Duo.
Batgirl continued, "You weren't yourself when this happened. Somebody else was controlling you."
"Yeah, but I never should have let myself get put in that position in the first place." Through the haze of the previous two days, Robin remembered how his miscalculation of not accounting for the difference in frequency between the voices of Siren and Sirena when he programmed the Bat-Synchronizer had made him vulnerable to Sirena's sonic spell.
Batgirl again tried to act like an older sister.
"It's difficult when you're facing a new villain. You never know exactly what to expect. These things happen. I'm sure this idea will work, and we'll find Flamebird. I'm sure she's all right."
Batgirl wasn't really certain, but she didn't want Robin to know that.
"Stop worrying and just try to relax until the doctor gets here," she added.
The Dynamite Duo were alone in the office until, finally, the door opened and Superintendent Watson walked in, followed by a very pretty, blue-eyed, red-headed woman.
She regarded the costumed pair sternly, arms folded, as if she was trying to decide what to make of them.
Robin got up. "Hello, ma'am, I'm Robin."
"I figured as much," she said. Her expression softened into a smile. "My name is Doctor Meridian. Doctor Chase Meridian. It's nice to meet you."
As she shook Robin's green-gloved hand, she turned and looked at Batgirl.
"I've heard a lot about you, too, Batgirl," she said. "I'm pleased to meet you as well."
"Now that we've got the introductions out of the way," Robin said, impatiently, "can we get on with this?" Still, he was too much of a detective not to notice the lack of a British accent for the alluring analyst. "You're not from here, are you?"
"Actually, I used to live in Gotham City, which is why I'm quite familiar with you both. I moved here because I had some personal issues back home, and prescribed a change of scenery for myself."
"What kind of issues?" the always-inquisitive Batgirl wanted to know.
"I'm sure you can guess how it is," she replied. "Relationship issues. That's neither here nor there right now. What matters is finding your crimefighting counterpart."
"You're confident this will work?" Robin asked.
"Well, while I can't make any promises, I can tell you the Superintendent has thoroughly briefed me on these two very unusual hypnotists. Earlier this week, I was able to have a breakthrough of sorts questioning one of their former accomplices."
"Lady Peasoup!" Robin exclaimed.
"Quite so," Watson confirmed.
"Well, if she gave you information," Robin inquired, somewhat accusatorial, "how come you were unaware of Siren's latest plan?"
"That's just it,” the Superintendent explained, “she didn't really give us any information, per se, as this Siren person had not confided in her.”
Dr. Meridian elaborated. “But I was able to break through the post-hypnotic suggestion she had been given, to not remember either of those two women. It may not sound like much, but that's a definite success. I'm fairly certain I'll be able to achieve some positive result with you, too, Robin."
Batgirl remembered something. As always, when the subject was Siren – and now Sirena – some of the details probably strained credulity to those in the outside world. Batgirl volunteered the information anyway.
"Doctor Meridian, when Robin came out of his trance at Chuckingham Palace, I distinctly remember that the woman who had controlled him specifically stated she had forgotten to give him a post-hypnotic suggestion."
"That's even better," Dr. Meridian said. "Then there's absolutely no reason this shouldn't work, so let's get started. Superintendent, if you don’t mind?”
“Of course not, Doctor.” Watson took his leave.
“Is it okay if Batgirl remains in the room?” Robin asked.
“If it’s all right with you,” the psychologist answered, “it’s fine with me.” Robin nodded his assent and Meridian continued, “Have you ever been hypnotized before, Robin?"
The former Boy Wonder thought of the times he had been under the influence of Siren, the Queen of Diamonds, Sandman and Catwoman, not to mention his recent introduction to Sirena. A sheepish grin formed on his face. "Yes," he replied, "but not quite like this."
Dr. Meridian didn't completely understand what he meant, but said, "Well, don't worry, because there's nothing to be afraid of, I promise. I am not going to make you do anything against your will. In fact, under normal hypnosis, that’s completely impossible.
“Until recently, I wouldn’t have believed there was any other type of hypnosis, but now . . .” she let her thought trail off. “Normal hypnosis just helps the subject relax and do something the person wants to do anyway. I will help you focus and concentrate, so you can recall your repressed memories. That should enable us to find your friend.”
"What do you want me to do?" Robin asked.
"Just relax and look on the wall, at that dart board."
When Dr. Meridian first came to Ireland Yard, she had noticed the dart board in Superintendent Watson's office, which gave her an idea. The circular object would give subjects something on which to focus while they relaxed. Plus, it was something non-threatening at which to look, putting people further at ease.
Batgirl watched Robin carefully. Batgirl was naturally curious as to Robin and Batman’s secret identities, but respected the Dynamic Duo’s privacy, as they had hers. Based upon Superintendent Watson’s recommendation, she trusted Dr. Meridian to a point, but was glad the psychologist did not object to her remaining in the room.
Batgirl was wary of Robin revealing any clues to his civilian identity. She made sure to observe as closely as possible. Of course, there really wasn't much she could do if he did blurt out something. She honestly hoped, for his sake, he didn't.
After all she and the Caped Crusaders had been through, though, it was kind of hard to trust a beautiful female hypnotist, even one who had a PhD.
The session began.
"Robin, continue looking at the dart board. Feel your mind and your body drifting. It's a pleasant sensation, isn't it?"
"Yes," Robin nodded.
"You can feel yourself becoming drowsy, can't you?"
"That's right," Robin said.
"But it's a good feeling, right?"
Robin nodded wordlessly, his eyes half-open.
"Keep listening to my voice, Robin. I want you to count from one to ten, OK? Begin now."
"One, two, three . . ."
Dr. Meridian spoke over Robin's counting. "When you reach ten, you will close your eyes."
". . . eight, nine, ten." Robin closed his eyes.
"Good. You can still hear me, can't you?"
"I sure can, doctor."
"You may raise your head, and open your eyes slowly."
Robin did as he was instructed. Batgirl was taken aback by the faraway look in his eyes, which she had seen before. As recently as earlier that day, in fact. Again she reminded herself that this was for the best.
"Now, Robin," the psychologist prompted.
"Yes, doctor."
"I want you to go back in time, to early Thursday morning, when you were pursuing a criminal. Now understand that these are just memories, and that they can't hurt you."
Robin nodded.
"Now, what do you see, Robin?"
"I pull up to a building," Robin said in a monotone, "and I see Flamebird. I didn't know she would be here, but I'm happy to see her. We really enjoy working together."
Dr. Meridian could guess what Robin meant by that. She continued on with her questioning. "So, you two arrived at the building separately?"
"That's right."
"You met at the building unexpectedly?” Robin again nodded. “Did you look up at the building before you went in?"
"Of course, I always do that. That's something Batman taught me, to orient yourself with your surroundings because it might be important later."
Dr. Meridian took a deep breath when Robin mentioned his mentor, but tried her best to hide her reaction before continuing.
"So, Robin, right now, you are looking up at the building?"
"Yes."
"Can you make out a name on the building?"
"Yes, uh." Robin's voice suddenly became halting. "Uh, uh. . ."
"Is something wrong, Robin? Are you unable to see a name on the building?"
"No, I can see it," Robin began sweating and his eyes started shifting around. "It's just . . . that . . ."
"What's wrong, Robin?"
Fear shone in Robin's eyes. His voice became agitated and he talked rapidly. "Sirena said before we left the hideout that I’m not supposed to tell anyone where Flamebird is. I can't displease her!"
Tears began to well in the crimefighter's eyes as irrational, sub-conscious fear overrode his better judgment.
Batgirl was shocked, and a bit afraid herself. It was obvious this new enchantress could inspire the same loyalty and fear the Siren did.
Batgirl cringed. ‘What if Siren makes good on her threat? What if the transformation of Sirena is just the beginning and soon there will be an army of sirens with which to contend?!’
The thought was too horrible to contemplate. Batgirl returned her thoughts to the immediate problem.
She whispered to Dr. Meridian, "Is there anything you can do?"
"I'll try something else," she replied. "I'm reluctant to do this, but it appears I have no choice."
"Robin," Dr. Meridian said, as her voice took on a slightly harsher quality, "I have spoken with—“ she stopped and whispered to Batgirl, "How do you pronounce that name?"
"She calls herself Sirena. Sigh-renna."
"I've spoken with Sirena, Robin."
"Really?" Robin dropped his head slightly, as if cowering. "Is she here? Is she angry with me?"
"No, Robin, she's not here and she's not angry with you. In fact, she told me she wants you to reveal the name on the building in which Flamebird is being held. That is what she said to me."
"You're sure it's okay with her?"
"Yes, she wants you to tell it to me."
Robin relaxed, and his eyes brightened a little. "Well, in that case, it's Dynasty Asian Importers."
"Are you sure, Robin?"
"Of course I'm sure. I can see it right now. The 'I' on the word 'importers' looks like it's a little faded, but other than that, I can see it very clearly."
"That's wonderful, Robin. Now just remain relaxed and count backward from ten to one."
As Robin began counting, Batgirl went out in the hall and located Superintendent Watson. In seconds, one of his officers found the address for Dynasty Asian Importers. Their office/warehouse was located at the corner of Lozelle Avenue and Keeler Street.
When Robin awoke, he immediately asked, "Did it work?"
"I believe it did, Robin," Dr. Meridian said with a smile. "You gave us the name of a business that checks out. Batgirl and Superintendent Watson are waiting for you outside."
"Thank you so much, Doctor Meridian. Thank you so very much!"
Robin shook hands with the psychologist and sprinted out of the Superintendent’s office.
Robin wasn't talking as he and Batgirl rode in the back of the squad car to the hideout. The only conversation, if you could call it that, was when he would say, "Can't you go any faster?" to the officer doing the driving.
Batgirl wanted to say something reassuring, but thought better of it. She didn't want to again say "I'm sure Flamebird is all right," when she really wasn't sure at all. Perhaps this would be the time when Flamebird's headstrong, sometimes overzealous, attitude had tragic results.
That's not to say Batgirl disliked Flamebird. In fact, she saw in Batwoman’s partner a little of what Batgirl herself had been like when she first became a crimefighter — someone who, while serious about her work, was more interested in the adrenaline rush of actually facing off against criminals, rather than in doing all the little things, all the preparation that led to surviving and prevailing in such confrontations.
Batgirl had no way of knowing, because she was unaware of Flamebird's secret identity, about the family tragedy that had led Betty and Kathy Kane to devise their alter-egos. All Batgirl could see was Flamebird's obvious crush on Robin, similar in some respects to Batgirl's original feelings about Batman, which had long since matured.
Finally, they arrived at the three-story building, which looked quite unassuming from the outside. Robin practically leaped out of the car and bolted into the warehouse.
He ran up the stairs, not thinking about the many lectures Batman had given him about proceeding with caution. Much like when he had left that same building some two and a half days ago, all his thoughts were on a beautiful blonde. Only today, he was fixated on Flamebird, not Sirena.
Robin burst into the room. There, still spread-eagled on the table, was Flamebird, right where he had left her.
“Flamebird!!”
Robin rushed to her. Her eyes were shut and she didn’t move. He pulled a pocket knife from his utility belt, and began cutting the bonds he unwittingly had tied.
“Flamebird, Flamebird, wake up! Wake up!!” Tears formed in the young man’s eyes. Because he was so distraught, he didn’t think to check her pulse.
“Robin?” a quiet voice said. Her eyes didn’t open. She was sure she was dreaming.
“Flamebird!” The joy was evident in Robin’s voice.
The young heroine opened her eyes. She saw the knife in her hero’s hand. "Be careful," she said weakly. "I think my arms are kind of numb."
He slowly brought her arms back from above her head to her sides as the police, paramedics and Batgirl entered the large room. The Twentysomething Titan desperately wanted to proclaim the depth of his feelings for her on the spot, but knew this was neither the time nor the place.
So instead, he said, "I'm so sorry, Flamebird, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault."
"It's not your fault, Robin," Flamebird said as the EMTs removed her from the table and put her on a stretcher. "You didn't know what you were doing. That girl had you under some sort of spell."
"But it’s still my fault!" Robin exclaimed. "If something had happened to you" — he couldn't bring himself to say if she had died — "I couldn't live with myself. I – I'd give up crimefighting."
As the EMTs were attaching an IV drip to her, Flamebird drew on whatever strength she had, and lifted her head. "Robin, I know you mean well, but don't ever say that. Promise me you'll never stop doing what you do on account of me. Is that understood?"
Robin was fully conscious, but didn't mind taking this particular order.
"Your wish is my command," he said with a smile as he grasped her left hand before she was wheeled away.
"I think she'll be fine," one of the medics said to Robin. "All we need is to get some fluids in her.”
Robin took a deep breath and readied himself for the ride to the hospital. Batgirl also smiled and sighed. The moment of relief, however, was short-lived. ‘I wonder where Siren will turn up next?’
GLAD YOU ASKED, CURVED CRUSADER. BECAUSE LATER THAT NIGHT, AT THE PORT OF LONDINIUM, AN OMINOUS DEVELOPMENT IS TAKING PLACE
Captain McCoy, in charge of the cargo ship HMS Emerald, bound from Londinium to Gotham City, was checking the latest satellite weather updates when he noticed a flash to his right. He turned around and was shocked to see two women, a brunette and a younger blonde, both clad in silver outfits.
"You're not authorized to be here," he said to the two women.
Siren put her right index finger on her lip and pointed at her mouth.
"My authorization is right here," she said, just before unleashing her super-sonic note, two octaves above High C.
"Now, Commodore," she said, "you are ready to do my bidding."
"I am only a Captain, madam," he replied in a monotone.
"Well, just for this voyage, I'm giving you a promotion," Siren said, giggling. "Commodore sounds so much more British."
"Whatever you wish, madam."
"Now that we've reached an understanding, my colleague and I are looking for safe passage to Gotham City. Do you have quarters in which we can stay?"
"Of course," he replied with a smile. "You may stay in my quarters."
"And what about my associate?" Siren asked, pointing at Sirena.
"She can stay in the first officer's quarters," the captain said.
"Smashing. Who said chivalry was dead?” Siren and Sirena both laughed before the senior stunning seductress fixed her green eyes once again on her latest dupe.
"Now, Commodore, I want you to get on that intercom or squawk box or whatever you sailors call it, and assemble a meeting in the galley of all the men on board. I would like to meet my maritime minions and lay down the ground rules for this voyage, MY voyage. Is that understood?"
"Your wish is my command."
As the captain made the announcement, Sirena pulled Siren aside.
"Wow. This is a great idea, Siren."
"Of course, my dear. The authorities, I'm sure, are searching feverishly for us all over town, and most likely have zeroed in on the airports. They never will guess we're taking the slow way back to Gotham City."
Both sonic sorceresses laughed.
"Hold on tight, Sirena," Siren said. "I promise you, this is only the beginning of our next journey."