They strode through the hallway of the Super-Justice Command Center in that slow-motion stride that tells the whole world, "We Mean Business." First, clad in blue tights, a white cape and a gold eye-mask, was MegaStar, All-American busty blonde bombshell and the team's leader. Next to her was an ebony beauty in a jet-black catsuit, cape and catmask--Crusader Cat, gorgeous creature of the night. Alongside her was a steel-tough brunette in a camouflage headband, sports bra and fatigue pants--the Combatress, toughest fighter on the team. And last, but definitely not the least, wearing bright-red tights that matched her hair and her lipstick, was the supremely alluring Scarlet Siren, consistently ranked in the top five of the Top Ten Most Beautiful Superheroines. Any one of them was more than a match for the Forces Of Evil--but together, they were the invincible, indomitable, irresistible--Superfemmes!
They paused at the end of the hallway, just before a door marked OFFICE. "I thought we'd never get here," said Crusader Cat.
"Well, that's what we get for walking in slow-motion everywhere we go," said Combatress.
"We're here now," said the Scarlet Siren. "Shall we go in?"
MegaStar opened the door. As they entered the office they were regarded by a staggeringly handsome man in a silver costume with gold trim and cape. This was Captain Majestic, and he was currently the chairman of the Legion Of Super-Justice. "I'm so very glad you could come on such short notice," he said.
"Glad to be able to help, Captain," said MegaStar.
"Anything for you, Captain," said the Scarlet Siren.
"I thought you were leading a secret training mission on the moons of Jupiter," said the Combatress.
"So--what's up with that?" said Crusader Cat.
"Dire circumstances necessitated my return," said the Captain. "I have learned the most horrific news--Professor Freek has escaped from prison."
The Superfemmes gasped in shock. "It can't be!" said MegaStar.
"That's not at all good," said Crusader Cat.
"How unfortunate," said the Scarlet Siren.
"I knew we should have let his own killer robots eat him!" snarled the Combatress.
"The news is even worse," said Captain Majestic. "We have learned that he has constructed a terrible new weapon--the Hypno-Tronic-Psycho-Programminator!"
That brought another collective gasp of shock from the Superfemmes. "We believe," continued the Captain, "it is his intention to use it upon each of you, to transform you into his willing, obedient slaves. Obviously, this cannot, and will not be allowed to happen."
"But what can we do?" said MegaStar.
"There is only one defense against hypnosis," said Captain Majestic, "and that is being hypnotized to resist hypnotism. With your permission, I shall induce a deep hypnotic trance in each of you, and give you all the necessary suggestions to resist the Hypno-Tronic-Psycho-Programminator. May I proceed?"
"Absolutely!" said MegaStar.
"If it has to be done, let's do it," said Crusader Cat.
"Anything for you, Captain," said the Scarlet Siren.
That's when they noticed that the Combatress hadn't said anything. They looked over to see her glowering at the Captain. "I don't need to be hypnotized!" she snarled. "I can resist hypnosis just fine on my own willpower!"
"But it's for the good of the team," said MegaStar, "not to mention the city and country we all swore to protect. For their sake--and ours--won't you join us?"
The other Superfemmes said nothing--they only looked at Combatress with deep, insistent eyes. In the confines of the office, it was difficult to ignore their silent pleas, let alone resist them--until finally, she could hold out no longer.
"Oh. . .all right," she said with a mixture of resignation and mild disgust. "What do we have to do?"
"Just have a seat on the sofa," said the Captain, "and I'll take care of the rest."
As the Superfemmes sat down on the roomy, comfortable sofa, Captain Majestic went behind his desk and brought up what appeared to be a circular flatscreen monitor about fourteen inches in diameter. A thin but sturdy pedestal connected the screen to its base, a circular disc the same diameter as the screen. Two cylindrical casings were joined to the base and set behind the screen; each had a number of thin horizontal slits for ventilation set near the top. The Captain set the device upon his desk, and pressed the activation switch.
Immediately the screen came to life with a multi-colored swirl of lights, and as the display spiraled around and around, a soft electronic warbling noise could be heard from unseen speakers on the machine. The Superfemmes were deeply and completely drawn into the spiraling colors, and lost themselves in the electronic warbling. Their breathing slowed, and their faces and minds went completely blank as the device took hold and refused to let go. In only a matter of moments, MegaStar's eyes closed and her head nodded off to one side. Then the Scarlet Siren, with a deep sigh like she was settling down for her beauty sleep, closed her eyes as well. Crusader Cat was next, her eyes closing as her head tilted slowly forward. Finally the Combatress, once again proving her reputation as the most stubborn member of the team, held out for as long as she could--but even she eventually let her eyes close as she succumbed to the device's hypnotic power.
Captain Majestic shut off the machine and admired the results of his work. Four of the world's most beautiful superheroines were hypnotized and awaiting his next word. He grinned from ear to ear, and rubbed his hands together slowly--almost caressing them, actually. If he could have smiled more broadly, he would have.
"Listen to me, Superfemmes, and listen carefully," said the Captain. "You are all deeply completely hypnotized."
"We are deeply and completely hypnotized," said the Superfemmes in unison.
"You will obey my every command."
"We will obey your every command."
"It gives you the greatest and most exquisite pleasure to obey my every command."
