A Harem's Harem?

Back at the lair, I walk in on Mark and Dr. Mind in the thick of an animated conversation. From the outside looking in, they're the spitting image of two supervillains concocting a diabolical scheme—and in a way, they are, which sends a ripple of amusement through me.

"What's brewing, boys?" I ask, cocking a hip and smirking at their secretive air. "Has Dr. Mind cracked the code to fix Mystique Mirage?"

Before they can answer, Mark's command slices through the tension. "Kat, get naked," he says, and it's not a request. A moment of surprise flickers through me, but it's swiftly extinguished by the eagerness to please that now comes as naturally as breathing. With a thought, my clothes vanish into the ether, leaving me gloriously naked before them.

Mark's eyes roam over my exposed skin, a predator's appreciation in his gaze—and I note Dr. Mind is similarly entranced. "Make your tits bigger," Mark commands next, and I comply without hesitation. My breasts swell, growing heavy and more voluptuous with each second, pushing the boundaries of what's natural. If I were free from his influence, I'd be disgusted, but instead, there's a twisted pride in fulfilling his desires.

Once they've had their fill of the show, I ask with a wry tilt of my head, "Satisfied?" Mark nods, and so I let my body revert to its usual form. My tone is light, almost playful as I observe, "You're really enjoying your power over me, now, aren't you?"

Mark's grin is unrepentant as he responds, "I am. I'm done letting my outdated sense of morality stop me from enjoying myself."

I can't help but wonder if Dr. Mind has something to do with that and if he is a bad influence, but then again, does it change anything for me? Much like Sienna when she was under my command, or when I was under Dr. Mind's thrall, who in turn was under Mark's, my only concern is fulfilling his desires, no matter where they are coming from. I realize this could be a problem—or an opportunity. Each member of Mark's loyal club could, in theory, nudge him toward wanting things that give us some semblance of control. Our loyalty to him may be uniform, but our definitions of what's good for him are not. Perhaps my own vision of keeping Mark safe includes ensuring my brainwashed colleagues don't manipulate him too far astray.

I'm about to pull Mark aside for a private chat when it hits – Dr. Mind, for all his villainy, is a damn genius, and he's got the same hardwired drive to protect and serve Mark that I do. If we're going to hash out the messy web of influence we've found ourselves in, having him in on the conversation is a no-brainer. He'll see the angles we don't.

"Mark, Dr. Mind," I start, leaning against the cool metal of the lab table, "I think we've got a bit of a situation brewing. Everyone's loyalty to you, thanks to the ray… it's shaping up to be a double-edged sword."

Mark's brows furrow, and I continue, "We're all wired to please you, right? But what 'pleasing you' means can be twisted six ways to Sunday depending on who's doing the twisting. We could end up pulling you in a dozen different directions without even realizing it."

Dr. Mind strokes his chin, the picture of contemplation. "Katrina raised an interesting problem," he concedes. "Indeed, our own desire to delight you could inadvertently steer your decisions."

I watch Mark groan in frustration, the weight of leadership heavy on his shoulders. "This is just like what Mystique Mirage did, isn't it?" he says, running a hand through his hair. "Without meaning to, or maybe she did… Doesn't make much difference…"

Dr. Mind interjects with a calming tone. "Mark, at the end of the day, you are not under the effects of any mind control. You are free to make your own decisions. If you find yourself influenced by one of the girls, or by me, it will be the old-fashioned way – because you would have allowed it."

Mark pauses, his eyes flicking between Dr. Mind and me. "Still, we should be careful," he finally says. "From now on, I want everyone to refrain from projecting their personal visions of right and wrong on me. I'll take some time with each of you, alone, to understand what your own vision of loyalty sounds like."

I smile, a little reassured. "That's wise," I say, and I mean it. Anything that keeps him safe and keeps us on the right track is good by me.

Mark looks relieved by our support but is quick to add, "Don't hold back on telling me the hard truths, though. If you think I need to hear it, say it. But if you're going to try to sway me, I want it out in the open, with everyone present. That way, I can hear different points of view."

Mark seems to shake off the earlier discussion as if it were water from a duck's back and turns his attention to me. "Kat, what Dr. Mind and I were just discussing is his… 'needs'," he explains, the word 'needs' hanging in the air with a weight that implies something more intimate.

A frown creases my brow as I turn to face the old gentleman supervillain. I give Dr. Mind a silent, piercing stare. The idea of him asking for rewards when we should all be focused on pleasing Mark doesn't sit well with me. I remember him assuring me he wouldn't broach such subjects with Mark unless it was certain to please him. This feels like a contradiction, a deviation from the path the ray's effects should have ingrained in him.

Mark, noticing the tension, is quick to clarify. "Kat, relax. Dr. Mind hasn't asked for anything. We got onto the topic while talking about the sex I've been having, and I was the one who asked him about his own desires."

I relax slightly, my gaze softening as I listen to Mark. He chuckles, a hint of mischief in his eyes as he ogles me. "I want everyone to be happy here. And I know that sex can be an important part of that happiness," he says with a grin that has the heat rising to my cheeks. "I'm speaking from experience, after all."

Mark leans back against a console, his casual demeanor never wavering. "Thanks to Dr. Mind's ray, I could provide everyone with partners for their own personal use, as long as those partners are loyal to me first. And as long as the current members of our league," he adds with a smirk, his eyes locked onto mine, "remain available for my own relief."

Understanding the direction of the conversation, I nod in agreement. It's surprising to find myself not only accepting but also grateful for the ways Mark is considering our well being. The thought of having other women at my beck and call sends a thrill down my spine, as I imagine the possibilities, the taste of power, and the taste of them.

The old me, the one who wore the mantle of Volt Vixen with a fierce sense of justice, would have been appalled at the thought of using mind control for personal, sexual gratification. But that version of me is long gone, replaced by one who has reconciled with the reality of our new world order. I've made peace with what we've become. Besides, if these hot chicks feel half as good about pleasing me for Mark as I feel about pleasing him, it isn't such a bad fate after all.

Mark catches my eye with a knowing smirk. "So, Kat, you think Dr. Mind deserves a little… personal attention based on his work for me so far? How would you suggest we provide that?"

I pause, considering the implications pragmatically. "Based on his performance under your command, he's put in the effort. Mystique Mirage's meltdown was unpredictable so we can't really blame him for that," I say, my voice steady and sure. "It seems fair that he'd be rewarded with sexual relief since he does seem to have a penchant for that kind of thing."

The words hang in the air, and I cant help but think about how Dr. Mind has always had a leering eye for me. The thought of submitting to him for Mark's pleasure churns my stomach, but if it pleases Mark… "If it would please you, It'd make sense for me to take care of it," I admit, a hint of disgust buried beneath layers of loyalty.

Dr. Mind's eyes light up with arousal at the prospect, but Mark is quick to douse the flames. "No, I don't plan on sharing you with anyone else, not right now," he says with a wink, and I can feel the relief flood through me.

Mark turns to Dr. Mind, his tone serious. "Is there anyone else you have in mind who could… satisfy you?"

Dr. Mind's gaze drifts for a moment, lost in thought, before snapping back to the present. "There is a name that comes to mind, yes," he responds, a shadow of a smile playing on his lips. "Someone who may also prove useful to you."