Unfortunately Victory didn't have a chance to come up with a distraction or anything else resembling an escape plan. Even as her head was clearing, the heroine had been so involved in getting dressed (thereby restoring her confidence) that she was nearly oblivious to anything else. As such she allowed one of her captors to sneak up behind her.
"That's quite enough!" Said a masculine voice. "Turn around, slowly."
Victory almost screamed instantly recognizing the voice of Dr. Argon. She complied reluctantly, brushing back her long brunette hair as she turned. The doctor was holding a small pistol and grinning. Victory allowed herself a moment to reflect on the fact that she would normally laugh at such a weapon but without her bracelets or powerbelt...
"I must say, even without your powers your recovery time is impressive," he added.
"I make sure to get plenty of antioxidants in my diet," Victory said taking a step forward. "Makes it easier for my system to flush toxins."
Argon raised his gun pointedly. "Hand's up!"
Her green eyes narrowed but Victory slowly raised her hands. "If you shoot me you'll never learn how to make my powerbelt work for Mrs. Eldridge."
"So it can be done?"
"Put the gun down and I'll tell you how."
"Ha!" the doctor scoffed. "We'll be at quite the impasse if that's your condition."
"I assumed as much," Victory replied.
"Come around the table, slowly," the doctor instructed.
Despite her predicament Victory was glad to notice the only compulsion she felt to obey him now stemmed from the weapon in his hand. Still she stepped around the table separating them keeping her hands up. She did however take a quick inventory of the table's contents but saw nothing that could help her current predicament. As she squared up to the doctor, his eyes swept over her statuesque figure and a smirk touched his lips.
All men, she thought with a sigh. Even the brilliant ones...
"I'll tell you what," Victory said. "Let me go and run as far away from Capital City as you can...and maybe I'll forget about your involvement here."
"Still think you can win this, eh?"
"Actually I'm sure of it," the young heroine forced a confident tone.
"We'll just see about that," Argon chuckled. "Turn and face that table, arms behind your back."
Out of options at this point, Victory turned slowly. Moving her hands behind her back with a begrudging groan, crossing the wrists.
"How can you be so Certain?" the doctor asked stepping toward her. "You've been outsmarted, captured and forced into submission at every turn," Victory could tell he was moving closer. "You've been stripped of your powers, your dignity and you're currently trapped in the palatial lair of your enemies." Dr. Argon loomed behind her, pressing his pistol's cool metal barrel against the bare skin on the small of her back. "What even is the point of continuing to resist? You're clearly defeated, why risk total destruction?"
"My good doctor," Victory swallowed the lump in her throat. "Continuing to resist IS the poimmMMPH!"
Before she could finish a damp rag was clamped over her nose and mouth! The doctor's gun arm snaked quickly around her narrow waist, while the hand holding the rag pressed ever more firmly into place. Paniced, Victory grabbed at his wrist with both hands but with only the strength a skinny young girl, even the weasely doctor was strong enough to hold her captive. The heroine squirmed helplessly, smelling the strong fumes of whatever chemical soaked the rag. Instantly her head was spinning, and what little strength she possessed began to drain away.
This can't be happening, the superheroine thought miserably. How could I... How have I... "Nnnngh..."
Victory felt her knees buckle, her lithe frame sagging into Argon's grasp, as her arms dropped limply to her sides. Her head was spinning, her vision already blurred, her muffled protests quickly faded into a feeble sigh as the hapless heroine sank into unconsciousness.
CONSCIOUSNESS returned slowly, to the young heroine it felt like swimming up from the bottom of a very deep pool.
"VICTORY," said a strong, familiar voice. "Are you okay?"
Still feeling light headed, the superheroine lifted her head in disbelief. A pair of big hands gripped her slender arms and lifted her from the ground where she lay. She felt dizzy but her vision cleared enough to recognize the owner of those hands. A thrill ran through her; it was the Mayor of Capital City! Had he come to rescue her? How did he know how to find her?
"Nnnnhh...dizzy..." she mumbled. "Mr. Mayor...izzat you?"
"You look alright to me," he said lifting her to her feet.
"I'm...uh...Yes..." Victory stammered, feeling groggy and unsteady on her feet. "Argon..."
"Don't worry, I took care of him," the Mayor said firmly. "Did they hurt you?"
Victory leaned against him, letting his strong frame support her. She had a deep admiration for this man and here he was rescuing her, the supposed superheroine.
"A trap..." she said, trying unsuccessfully to clear her head. "...walked right in..."
"Of course you did," he replied. "You're just a girl after all."
Victory was too foggy to really hear the comment. He began to lead her out of the room. Glad to be leaving this room she stumbled along, her knees feeling weak still.
"Did they hurt you?" he asked.
"Yes..." Victory sighed. "But I'll live."