"Harvest Time"
Part Two


	"How the heck could those two escape?" Terry exclaimed. "In fact, 
how could they still be alive?" He was staring at the images of Farmer 
Brown and his daughter, Amy Lou. Terry knew who they were. About 40 
years earlier, Brown had been a world-renowned microbiologist. He had 
developed growth hormones that would increase the size of foods, thereby 
ending world hunger.  However, one of his experiments went nuts at an 
agricultural convention, and a judge gave Brown a restraining order. 
Since he had put his entire fortune into his experiments, Brown became 
the most unusual villain the original Batman had ever faced in order to 
get money to fund his new experiments: creating mutant farm animals to 
terrorize Gotham City. However, after several battles with Batman, Brown 
and Amy Lou were sentenced to life in Gotham City Prison in 2012. Terry 
also knew that Amy Lou had superhuman strength and endurance as a result 
of a long addiction to beef steroids. 
	"To answer your first question, the upper limits of Amy Lou's 
strength were never measured, so it's possible that she merely punched a 
hole their cell's wall and they escaped. And Brown was a microbiologist, 
remember? Most likely, he altered his and Amy Lou's DNA so that they 
would live much, much longer than the average human being, which answers 
your second question," Bruce said. "Which leaves one more question: 
Where did they go after they escaped?"

	In a darkened laboratory somewhere in Gotham City, Farmer Brown 
was setting up equipment for his latest experiment. 
	"Put that generator over there, Amy Lou," he called. 
	"Sure thing, Daddy," Amy Lou replied. Easily hoisting the two-ton 
generator over her head, she moved to the spot Brown had indicated. 
"What're you gonna do with all this stuff, Daddy?" 
	"I'm gonna give the Batman the whuppin' he's been deservin' for so 
long," Brown grinned.  "Yep, when we're done with him, there won't be 
enough left to fill a bag o' chicken feed." 
	With that, he pulled a switch. The huge machine in front of him 
crackled with electricity. Strange substances flowed through tubes and 
into a large beaker at the machine's center. When the beaker was filled, 
a beam of energy hit it, combining the substances into one mysterious 
liquid. 
	"Yee-haw!" Brown cried excitedly. "The Batman is as good as hog 
slop!" 
	"But Daddy," Amy Lou said. "what's that stuff for?" "You'll see, 
honey," 
	Brown replied "You'll see..."

	Meanwhile, Batman was searching the city for Brown and Amy Lou. 
Suddenly..."Terry, I'm picking up a power surge east of your location; 
at the abandoned Daggett Industries laboratory. It might be Brown, so 
you better check it out," Bruce said. 
	"On my way, Wayne," Batman replied, chuckling at his joke. 
	"This is serious business, McGinnis!" Bruce yelled. "Now get over 
there!" 
	"Okay, okay, I'm going. Sheesh," Batman said. By now, the 
laboratory was in his sights. 
	"Turn on your video unit," Bruce said. "I want to see everything 
that happens in there."

	Once inside the laboratory, Batman found Brown in a room marked 
"Genetics." He was alone. "Ah, I was hopin' you'd show up, Batman," 
Brown said, smiling evilly. "You'll be the perfect subject to test the 
strength of my newest creation." 
	"Why doesn't that frighten me?" Batman said sarcastically. "As 
soon as I find that daughter of yours, you're both going back to prison, 
Brown." 
	"I don't think so," Brown said, still smiling.  "Y'see, Bats, the 
reason I chose to escape now is because technology has advanced far 
enough for me to create the pinnacle of genetic superiority.  Using the 
chemicals in this here lab, I've been able to create more powerful 
versions of my growth hormones. Combined with a heap o' those slapper 
things, they make the serum for genetic perfection." 
	"Slappers?! Are you insane?" Batman yelled. "The Venom would kill 
any of your test subjects!" 
	"Not this subject," Brown said slyly. "She's built up an immunity 
to the harmful side effects of strength-enhancing drugs." 
	“She?" Batman said weakly. "You mean--" 
	"Yup," Brown said. "Come on out, Amy Lou." Suddenly, the air 
filled with the sound of huge, heavy footsteps. The floor shook with 
each one. The giant door behind Brown was destroyed in a cloud of 
dust--and through the gaping hole in the wall stepped Amy Lou. 
	"Oh my god," Bruce muttered. 
	You can say that again, Batman thought. Out loud he said, 
"Uh-oh..." He could only stare in shock and horror at how Brown's serum 
had transformed Amy Lou. She was about seven feet tall, with bulging, 
gigantic muscles that had increased her weight by about 350 pounds, 
which meant she now weighed 495 pounds. (Being the narrator of this 
story, I know these things.) Despite this growth, her "farm-girl" 
clothes remained intact...sort of. In place of her usual cutoffs, she 
was wearing denim cutoff overalls. 
	"Sugar, make your daddy proud and turn the Batman into hamburger 
meat," Brown said. 
	"Sure thing, Daddy," Amy Lou replied, launching herself at Batman.

	Several hours later, Batman woke up. He was still in the lab, but 
Farmer Brown and Amy Lou were gone. 
	"Terry, are you all right?" Bruce asked. 
	"Aside from the fact that my entire body hurts, I'm just peachy. 
What happened?" Batman replied. 
	"That's what I'd like to know," Bruce said. "The video 
transmission was cut off when Amy Lou leapt at you. But the audio came 
through loud and clear. My guess is Amy Lou pounded you, then she and 
Brown left. Did you see where they went?" 
	"Sorry, I was too busy being unconscious," Batman said. "You might 
as well go home and get some sleep.  You're in no shape to go searching 
for them again," Bruce said. 
	Batman groaned and said, "No argument here."

	The next day, after ten hours of sleep and a hot bath, Batman 
resumed searching for Brown and Amy Lou. He decided to start at the lab, 
figuring that Amy Lou may have left footprints. He was right. Deep 
footprints led from the lab over to Gotham Cryogenics. 
	"Oh no," Bruce muttered. "Some of Brown's mutants were stored at 
Gotham Cryogenics for studying after he was captured. If he thaws them 
out and gives them his new serum..." 
	Bruce was cut off by a loud crash. The wall before Batman seemed 
to disintegrate, and out of the building stomped giant, mutant farm 
animals. Riding atop a ten-foot bull was Farmer Brown, with Amy Lou 
running alongside him. 
	"Whoa," Batman said. "That is a big chicken. That is a chicken, 
right?" 
	"Yup," Farmer Brown said. "Stampede over him, Bessie!" The giant 
cow next to Brown's bull charged at Batman. He leaped out of the way 
just in time. The cow crashed into the lab and knocked over some 
chemicals, which exploded, destroying the lab and the cow. 
	"Not too shabby, Batman," Brown said. "It seems you're fast enough 
to beat my animals. But let's see how you fare against a human. Amy 
Lou's been achin' for a rematch on account of she's gotten even stronger 
since your last fight." 
	"Okay, then, bring her on," Batman said calmly. 
	"This's gonna be more fun than wrestlin' a greased alligator in a 
pit of melted butter," Amy Lou grinned. She leaped at Batman, but this 
time he was ready for her. With all his strength, he slammed Amy Lou as 
hard as he could. She flew back about twenty feet, landed hard, and lay 
there, stunned. 
	"Terry, I have an idea," Bruce said. "Can you get into the 
building?" 
	"Yeah, I can," Batman answered. "I think I know what you're 
planning." He raced toward the building, dodging animals left and right. 
Farmer Brown, still riding on the bull, blocked his path. Jumping with 
all his might, Batman leaped over the bull's horns and kicked Brown off 
the bull's back. He then continued inside. He immediately saw what he 
was looking for: a hose used for freezing people and animals. Batman 
grabbed the hose and ran outside.

	By this time, Amy Lou was beginning to wake up. She barely had 
enough time to utter "Huh?" before Batman froze her in place. He 
continued to freeze all the mutant animals. As Batman finished the last 
one, Brown cut through the hose with his pitchfork, then charged towrds 
Batman. Batman flung a Batarang towards Brown. Brown dodged the 
Batarang, but his pitchfork was sliced in two. "Okay, Brown, it's just 
you and me," Batman said. 
	"Indeedy-do," Brown replied. "I should warn ya, Batman. I may look 
like a feeble old farmer, but I'm as strong as the next feller." And so 
the battle began. Brown proved to be a formidable opponent, much more 
agile than a normal man his age. Finally, his head throbbing from a kick 
to the head, Batman knocked out Brown with an uppercut. Minutes later, 
the police arrived. 
	"Better store the girl and the animals inside before they thaw," 
Batman told Police Commissioner Gordon. 
	"It just had to be Brown," Commissioner Gordon said to no one in 
particular. Turning to Batman, she said, "You know, he almost looks like 
my great-grandfather, Art. He was a distinguished member of the Secret 
Service back in the late 1860s. One of the first members, in fact.  He 
said that my father was named after a friend of his." 
	"Interesting," Batman said. He walked over to the ice block 
containing Amy Lou to get a good look at her. He thought something was 
different about her, and now was his chance to make sure. Again, he was 
right. Amy Lou's eyes were glowing red! 
	"How in the--?" Batman gasped. "Most likely a side effect of 
Brown's serum," Bruce said. 
	"Yeah, maybe," Batman said. "That explanation makes more sense 
than the possibility that Brown created her in one of his labs." Without 
another word, he activated his jet boots and flew off.

The End....unless I come up with a sequel