(With the deepest of gratitude to Flibinite, whose wonderful story 'If At First You Do Succeed' inspired this.)
WildRose moved with the grace of a panther through the darkened corridors of the museum. Even when she spoke, it was in a sotto voce tone that carried none of the sibilant hisses of a whisper. She knew how to be stealthy when needed...even if she preferred to cause a little mayhem now and again. "I've got a visual on our would-be thief," she said, crouching down behind a display of Egyptian burial rituals. "African-American, 6'0", can't see the eye color but she's got black hair in a tight bun, and she's wearing a black leather outfit. She's got the guard kneeling down in front of the case, and she's whispering something in his ear...and..." She let out a tiny laugh, as much from embarassment as amusement. "He's got his fly unzipped, and he's jerking off."
"Well," said the computer-disguised voice in her ear, "at least now we know why the police haven't been forthcoming with details on the crimes."
WildRose shrugged. "The police never tell me anything, Sharpe."
"That's because you totaled a police car your first week on the job."
WildRose struggled to keep her voice low, despite the obvious indignation in her tone. "I 'totaled' the police car ramming it into the side of an armored juggernaut that was crushing half the city. I didn't hear anyone complaining when I took it."
"That's because you put the cop in a sleeper hold before you took his keys. Which brings us neatly back to my initial point: Cops don't like you. They like me, and they never mentioned any of this. They must be worried it'll make them look bad. Three burglaries, no clues, cops at the scene can't remember anything...and now we know why." WildRose heard the sound of keys rattling, and knew her ace information gatherer was on the prowl. "Hold on, I'm rooting through some of the Department of Justice files. Ooh, that's a new firewall!"
"Careful," WildRose said. She sometimes wished she knew more about Sharpe, and just how much risk she put herself through in helping WildRose get the information she needed to fight crime. She'd let slip enough to help WildRose figure out that she was female--WildRose preferred the direct approach to vigilantism, but she had an agile mind when she needed it. But who she was, where she lived, why she'd decided to contact WildRose instead of Adventure Girl or one of the more famous super-heroes out there, it had always been a mystery to WildRose. Maybe it always would be.
"Careful is my middle name. I had hippie parents." There was another sound of speedy typing. "Bingo. Beryl Wanderly, alias Beryl Woods, alias Bonnie McQueen, aka Mistressmind. Pretty thin file, to be honest. She's under suspicion for a lot, but she hasn't been nailed for anything. The file notes something about 'possible hypnotic abilities', but it doesn't go into detail. Listen, I'm not sure it's a good idea to--"
"You're never sure it's a good idea to. Don't worry. I'll make sure she eats floor before she has a chance to turn my mind into cream cheese, OK?"
"Rose, don't. This is a situation where back-up is--"
"--going to take twenty minutes to get here, by which time she'll have gotten away with the goods. Besides, if I have to crouch here and watch Mister Three-Inch there whack it for another minute more, I'm going to go nuts. I'm in the mood for quality violence, and Mistressmind just volunteered. Over and out." Knowing that Sharpe would just continue to yammer 'caution, caution, caution', WildRose broke the connection before moving into a long, loping sprint.
Time to go to work.
*****
Mistressmind had her back to the hallway as she delicately disconnected the alarm sensors in the case containing Akhmeton's death mask, but that was the advantage of turning the guard into a hypnotized sex slave instead of knocking him out. She'd given him instructions to warn her if anyone approached. Sure enough, he shouted, "Mistress, watch out!" She turned, and her swift reactions just barely managed to give her the time to dodge the flying kick aimed at her head. She rolled out of the way, tumbling clear as her opponent practically demolished the alarm system she'd been trying to disarm, and pulled herself up into a fighting stance.
Her opponent was a lithe, athletic woman in a dark green catsuit with a utility belt around the waist, with a single red rose stenciled directly over her heart. The red in the rose matched the red of her hair, cut in a short pageboy style so as not to give opponents anything to grab. She wore a scarf over her mouth to conceal her identity, but it only served to emphasize her radiant blue eyes. Mistressmind took one look at her and thought,
Mine.
"So, you must be this 'WildRose' I've heard about, Samson City's defender and paragon of virtue. It's a pleasure to meet you, my dear. I am Mistressmind. I think I'll enjoy you."
WildRose launched herself forward in a flurry of kicks. "I've heard of you already. I have to say, I wasn't--" She launched a spinning kick, only to see Mistressmind step sinuously back out of the way. "Expecting someone--" Another kick missed its target by inches. "Who could fight!" She feinted with the left fist, then swung in with the right, but Mistressmind again managed to dodge.
"Few people do." That much was fact. Mistressmind had trained in Serpent Style Kung Fu for many years as part of her studies, and just the surprise factor had enabled her to hold her own with many opponents whose skill outmatched hers. Such as WildRose herself, she realized. In any prolonged battle, this girl would gain the upper hand. But, Mistressmind thought, she had no intention of turning this into a prolonged battle. "You probably heard more about my hypnotic powers."
WildRose launched another flurry of attacks, but Mistressmind had plenty of open ground to retreat through. "Actually, they were kind of vague on that. I'm sure they'll have plenty of time to update your file once you're in jail, though."
Mistressmind grinned. The girl didn't realize it, but she'd already begun the process that would leave her begging to obey. Simple social interaction was how it always started; she was engaging with Mistressmind, listening to her words and processing them. Mistressmind was an expert at taking any social dynamic and turning it to her advantage, and she'd already seen how she would mold this young crime-fighter to her will. "Yes, I imagine that's already making you a little nervous. Not knowing exactly how I could enslave your mind, not being entirely sure of what to avoid. Do you dare to look into my eyes?" She saw WildRose look away from her, just a little at that. Just flinching ever so slightly. "Oh, but that would be too easy, my wild girl. Any hypnotist can capture you with her eyes, can ensnare your will and leave you dizzy, and dazed, and aroused, and deep in an obedient trance. No, Mistressmind works her will upon you in far more...interesting ways."
And by the time you've guessed what those are,
she thought,
you'll already be mine.
*****
WildRose was already beginning to get a little frustrated. The museum's 'Treasures of the Middle Kingdom' exhibit was designed to accommodate large numbers of guests, but when it was just two people, that gave one of them a lot of room to retreat. Mistressmind was keeping one step out of reach, constantly shifting her stance to avoid giving her an opening. Which wouldn't be that bad, since the cops were probably on their way, Sharpe had probably alerted the entire Liberty Squad, and given enough time, WildRose was going to find a weak spot in this bitch's fighting style and make her eat her teeth, but WildRose didn't like all this talk about hypnosis. Whatever this girl's mojo was, WildRose had to be ready for it, or by the time the cops got there, she'd be on her knees right next to the security guard.
She launched another series of attacks against Mistressmind, but the other woman just dodged and blocked them again. "Getting tired, WildRose?" Mistressmind said tauntingly. "Perhaps you're inhaling my perfume while you exert yourself with these fruitless attempts to break through my defenses. Smell that subtle scent, WildRose, that delicate fragrance on the air. Almost imperceptible, but just perhaps..." She laughed. "Wouldn't that be amusing--a rose, captured by a scent?"
WildRose couldn't smell anything, but that only worried her more. She began to slow her breathing down, a meditative technique taught to her by a Tibetan priest. It was supposed to center her mind and allow her to release her negative emotions without the need for violence, but WildRose had never been very good at that part. Still, it should help to keep toxins out of her bloodstream. "Lady," she said, "you better know that I plan on putting you in jail just for that smug little laugh alone."
Mistressmind laughed again. "You find it smug now, my fiery little girl, but I think that as time goes by, you'll find it...entrancing. Perhaps even arousing. Perhaps..." She laughed again. WildRose gritted her teeth, trying to block out the sound. "Oh, but this is so much fun! A young, helpless superheroine, soon to be mine. You'll never see it coming, my dear. I have so many ways to take you, so many ways to make you mine. And when I do...oh, such things I'll make you feel."
WildRose continued to advance, watching her enemy's stance, waiting for the chance to strike. But Mistressmind's guard was just a little too good, her footwork and hand position moving fluidly to block any potential attack. "What, like that guard back there? Gee, like I've never masturbated before." OK, that was probably a little more information than she'd intended to give the sinister supervillainess, but she was starting to get seriously annoyed with this whole bargain-basement dominatrix schtick.
"Yes, I imagine you have masturbated before. You've pictured a tall, sexy, athletic woman, and it's gotten you aroused..." WildRose was suddenly very glad of her mask, because she was sure her cheeks were bright red. She was glad Sharpe couldn't hear any of what was going on, either, because Mistressmind had gaydar beyond any girl's wildest dreams, and she wasn't sure she wanted her disembodied partner to know she was a lesbian. It was the one thing WildRose could reasonably expect wasn't on a database somewhere for her to find.
