"Well. Great." Kate sighed. The local heroine had been tied up tightly enough that her power of posthumanity wasn't doing much. ("Basically, think that one super soldier guy. Stronger than human peak, quicker than human peak, I'm more flexible than him though, intellect enhanced, The Works, nothing to absurd degrees though.")

 

As the superheroine, Moonlight, she'd been trying to investigate the disappearance of her ally, Lunar River of the Endless Mare ("River" for short - which was a problem because that was also her real name), and traced some clues to the Suspicious Warehouses District, you know the place.

 

Well, she'd found River! Dressed in a high-leg leotard, newsboy cap, and wearing fingerless gloves with hard knuckles. Also, River'd managed to get the drop on her and knock her out. Oh, and the top of the leotard has a blinking collar.

 

"Oh, hey Moonlight!", River responded with a smile. "You were trying to rescue me, weren't you? Sorry about that."

 

"... Damn it. You're brainwashed, huh."

 

"Yuuuuuup! And no, taking the collar off won't help much. Mistress thought of that! She's so cool."

 

"So, you're about to put one on me, right?"

 

"Well, I meaaaan, mistress asked me to try the cruel interrogation thing to break you down emotionally first, but I did tell her three times you're made of sterner stuff and the only way I'd get you crying was either cutting your hair or cutting you and she didn't want that, sooooo~" - She picked up a leather collar, twirling it on her finger a bit.

 

Kate needed to think. Quickly. "I mean, shouldn't you try anyways if that's what she said?"

 

"I mean, I could, except, I don't really have a proper monologue going, and I'm pretty sure she screwed up binding your right arm, and she did agree that getting you under her thumb was more important-"

 

Kate was already looking and trying to struggle with that arm. River didn't have any particular power, but was quick enough to step in and slap the collar around Kate's neck, a glowing circle along her throat. It clipped shut, then was tightened until it was around her neck.

 

Kate winced. "Damn it..."

 

"Oh, sorry. It was the left leg she messed up on. Which I know you could probably escape like that, if it weren't for the collar's electrostimulus working on you."

 

"River, you have to snap out of it!"

 

"You should snap into it, Kate! It's already too late, honestly."

 

Kate winced. The words were already in her head. Obey Mistress. Mistress is Cool. Mistress is Important. Obey Mistress. And a bewildering array of variations thereof. 

 

She just had to... Twist a bit... And...

 

River pushed the chair over, sending Kate toppling and breaking her concentration.

 

The chorus of words became louder in her mind. River's boots were in front of her.

 

Kate kept trying to struggle. The floor was between her and the rope, she could manage to fray it if she could keep moving and keep focused, even one rope fraying might stop her from becoming a servant of her Intelligent Mistress, bound to commit crimes on behalf of The Coolest Person, from... 

 

She stopped moving. "I obey."

 

River giggled. "Are you trying to outwit more, I wonder?", she said, even as she knelt down and undid a knot or two -

 

Freeing Kate's hand, which darted for River's collar and yanked it loose - then her own!

 

"... Kate, I just told you..." River blinked. "... I mean, the voice is growing quieter, but-" she was already moving to try and grab the collar out of Kate's hand, as if on automatic.

 

Kate grinned. "Like you said, it's growing quieter, isn't it? You're a servant of justice, River. And there's justice to be done."

 

River sighed. "I mean, sure, I guess, except for one teeeeensy tiny detail."

 

"What?"

 

River tapped the collar, which was back on Kate's neck. "Your hand put it back on without your noticing." 

 

Kate paused. "Wait, what-"

 

River just took her own collar and slipped it back on. "The voice isn't the only thing going on, that's what. Now, let's hurry up and get you changed into the henchgirl uniform."