The chamber filled with the sound of boots and radio chatter as police poured in through the underground service entrance. Tactical teams fanned out, weapons raised, while medical staff rushed to the pinned seedlings. Red-and-blue lights pulsed faintly from the stairwell beyond, mixing with the sickly glow of the incubation tanks.
Batman stepped aside, silent as always, as Commissioner James Gordon entered with a small group of officers at his back. His eyes swept the scene, lingering on his daughter.
Batman's voice was low and steady. "Your daughter and her friend arrived just as I defeated the professor."
Relief washed over Gordon's face. "Thank God you found her, Batman."
Behind them, officers worked quickly to extract the restrained seedlings, securing them in containment pods while medics took notes on whether the victims could still be saved.
Batman's cape whispered across the floor as he approached Barbara. He stopped a few feet away, his presence heavy. "Barbara Gordon. This is the third time this week you've been kidnapped. I hope I won't be rescuing you again anytime soon. My Barbara Gordon rescue quota is full."
Barbara gave a dry laugh despite herself, and Pamela chuckled beside her. Pamela cast Batman a sidelong glance, already starting to see how stiff and humorless he is.
"Don't worry, Batman," Pamela said lightly. "I think she's finally gaining the means to defend herself."
Batman gave a faint nod. "Good. Keep training in your martial arts. One day you'll be able to kick ass like me."
Pamela rolled her eyes subtly at Barbara, who tried not to laugh again.
Batman's gaze shifted. His eyes lingered on Pamela, scrutinizing her with suspicion. "Who's this?"
Barbara kept her voice calm. "This is Pamela Isley. She's the one who helped me escape. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have made it."
Batman held Pamela's gaze a moment longer. The silence stretched, heavy, before he finally turned without a word and melted back into the shadows to check on the seedlings.
Commissioner Gordon moved quickly to his daughter, pulling her into a brief, relieved embrace. "Barbara, are you alright? How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, Dad. Don't worry. I was rescued thanks to my new friend… Pamela Isley."
Gordon turned to Pamela, gratitude clear in his features. "Thank you, Pamela. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to Barbara."
Pamela's voice was gentle, touched with something sly. "Don't thank me sir. Thank you… for raising such a beautiful and brave daughter."
The commissioner blinked, momentarily caught off guard by this complement, before recovering with an awkward smile.
He nodded briskly to his officers. "You two should leave now. I'll be escorting Professor Woodrue to Arkham Asylum personally."
Pamela and Barbara exchanged a glance before moving toward the elevator. As they stepped inside, Pamela cast one last look back. Officers were lifting Woodrue's unconscious body, securing him for transport.
Her voice dropped to a whisper, meant for no one but herself. "You didn't really think you could escape punishment after all you did to me, did you? My Midnight Rose is in your body now. It will deliver my vengeance … soon enough."
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