After turning Shao over to some Sleepwalkers to be brought to the chateau, I was told to keep up the crime fighting for a while by Hypnoman. I was supposed to be chasing down bad guys and helping civvies, but most importantly, this was a way for me to do some recruiting under the radar. Girls I helped out? I put the whammy on em. Female criminals? Them too.

I was kinda liking making women in gangs into Sleepwalkers. Get one of them alone, and they’d lead me to the rest? I nab them all at once, that’s maybe seven or even ten girls all in one catch! A full squad! I can either brainwash em at their hideout or bring them to a safehouse for processing.

Which was where I and a few other Sleepwalkers were indoctrinating the members of the soon to be assimilated Aztec Amazons. They were an all girl gang based in a warehouse near the Bowery district. I came in with a few Sleepwalkers as backup, knocked them out and brought them to one of our safehouses. All twelve of them were strapped to chairs in front of a large screen showing a shimmering green swirl. They had similar swirls in their eyes. I stood next to two technicians.

“OK girls,” I said with a beaming smile. “Repeat what I just told ya.”

“We serve Hypnoman," they replied. "We fight for him. We steal for him. The Aztec Amazons belong to him."

“It’s gonna be a while before that gets old.” I said. My phone started to ring and I answered it.

“Hello?”

“Hypnoman requests your presence at the chateau,” said a terse, businesslike woman on the other end. “He has something to show you. Where are you?”

“Safe house five. We’ve just finished processing a whole gang’s worth of girls.

“Put me on speaker.” I tapped a button and gestured to some of the guards to come forward.

“Transport Miss Might to the chateau immediately.”

“We obey,” said two of the guards. They took me to a garage with a van that I got into after putting my costume away. When I got to the chateau’s entrance, I was greeted by a maid who brought me over to the garden overlooking the lake. I almost jumped when I saw Shao standing near one of the statues. She was smiling at me as she put her fists together and bowed.

“Miss Might, it is a pleasure to see you again.”

“Shao. Ya seem ta be doing well.”

“I’m doing way better than that,” she said as she walked over to me. I put my fists up and she just chuckled.

“Oh please, we serve the same lord and master. Unless you really feel like having a tussle, in which case, I’d be happy to oblige you.” She put her mouth right next to my ear.

“We didn’t have a real fight the last time we crossed paths.”

“That’s cause ah got the drop on ya.”

“Still, I want to see how well I do against a girl with super strength. Our master might enjoy the spectacle. Some of the Sleepwalkers might even place bets.” Shao laughed.

“Do you think we should take over a casino? I’ve been to a few before coming to Engine City, very lucrative.”

“That could be a possibility,” I replied. “I’m sure some of our recruits might have the connections we need.” Shao rolled her eyes.

“Come on, where’s that daring girl who opened my eyes? Where’s that sense of adventure?” I sighed.

“Look, it’s gonna be a while before we’re all buddy-buddy. You’re my sister now, spiritually speakin’ and I accept that, but we’re gonna need ta spend a lotta time together.”

“And Master intends just that. We’re going to be partners during your little jaunts into town. Actually, more than that.” I looked at the maid.

“What’s she talkin’ about?”

“You and Shao will be moving into an apartment in Pearl Heights.” I blanched. Pearl Heights wasn’t the ritziest neighborhood in Engine City but it was at a somewhat higher income level than where I lived. Shan was gonna be my roommate too?

“The landlady is a Sleepwalker.” the maid said. “All the arrangements have been made. You move in a week from now.” She smiled and turned away from us.

“I’ll leave you two to discuss decor.”