Rocket touched her Inertia Belt, feeling a wave of reassurance as her fingers slid over the buckle. Having it back was such a relief, after losing it in Mad Mod's personal gym. The bruises inflicted by the cricket balls he kept launching at her would last for weeks. Still, she thought. Better than what happened to Zatanna. The magician had been held in the houses indoor swimming pool, her head partially submerged in water so she couldn't speak.
"Hey Kaldur," she asked. "Seeing as you're the leader and all, do you have a plan to get out of here? The interior decorating's giving me a headache."
The Atlantean replied, "Our first priority is to find the others. Considering that we were all exposed to hypnotic technology, each of them is at risk of losing their free will."
Zatanna said, "I might be able to find them, but there is a possibility that we could spring some more traps or something."
"We'll have to risk it." said Aqualad.
Zatanna stretched out her hands. "Wohs su eht yaw ot eht srehto!"
Along the dichromatic floor a glowing white line appeared. The trio followed it, taking each step in a slow, cautious movement. They needed to find their teammates, but they couldn't take any chances. The halls seemed to stretch on forever. Rocket couldn't tell if the walls were tilting because she was exhausted and dizzy or if Mad Mod had actually designed them that way. When the reached a corner, the line came to a stop. They carefully peaked around the wall to see who or what was on the other side. A sound of footsteps free closer and closer.
Suddenly, Wally burst around the corner. He leaned back in an attempt to break, but nevertheless careened into Kaldur, bouncing off the Atlantean's chest. "Owww... Oh hey, there you are, we've been looking all over for you."
Artemis said, "At least, we think it was all over. With this place, we could have been going in circles."
Robin looked at the new arrivals, taking in their torn clothing, scars, bruises, and scorch marks. "Let's compare notes." he said.
####
"Well, aren't you two just perfect little students, my duckies."
Mad Mod grinned as he saw the bodies of his captives grow stiff and rigid. He didn't have full control over their minds yet, but he would very shortly.
"I wish more of the brats were like you. Children are actually the reason I'm in this whole mess."
He looked at the two teenagers as if he expected some sort of response. They remained motionless, of course, but he went on with his story anyway.
"I was once one of the most prestigious fashion designers in England, and England was one of the great leaders of culture in the world. Between the Beatles, Dalekmania, and mod style, the sun never set on our empire. The whole world was being dominated by a youthful, counterculture movement. I was more than happy to give them what they wanted, but it only lasted so long."
Mad Mod was now glaring at M'gann and Superboy. They both continued to stare at the screens, no longer aware that he was there. Mad Mod removed his fez in a mournful gesture.
"The British Invasion came to an end. All of the youth became more interested in bloody current culture, MTV and heavy metal." He shuddered at the mention of the latter. "They had no respect for the classics! Just because something is new, doesn't mean it's better! Why wouldn't they understand what's best for them? Why did they have to be fickle little cretins?"
He sighed and shook his head. "Take your teammates, for example. They think they're the blasted Spice Girls or something just because they stopped Savage's little plan. He's got tons of them! That's all he ever goes on about!"
With a tap of his cane the restraints holding the two heroes snapped off. They stood up simultaneously, their bodies completely rigid. "Alright, my duckies! Let's show them how we do things across the pond. We will fight them on the beaches, etc. but first you two need some accessories."
####
Zatanna said, "Alright, now that we're back together, it shouldn't take us long to find Connor and M'gann. I'll cast my spell again to find them."
As they followed the glowing line, Artemis said, "I can't wait to get out of this place. When I get home, the first thing I'm gonna do is read Interior Decorating for Dummies and burn the images of this place out of my head."
Rocket asked, "So what's this guy's deal anyway? Why would a fashion designer be working with super villains? And why does his house have more traps and tricks than a Saw movie?"
Robin answered, "Apparently his business went sour about 15 years ago, but Scotland Yard has had trouble with him before. He apparently suffered abuse from his classmates at a boarding school and was involved in some violence there. He's intensely patriotic, border lining on terroristic. I don't think they ever thought he was very dangerous, though."
They reached the end of the line and came into an open, spacious room. Superboy and M'gann were standing inside. Their bodies were perfectly still, and their blank eyes were staring at nothing in particular.
"Are they okay?" asked Wally.
Mad Mod stepped in, wearing an old fashioned English policeman's uniform. "They've never been better. Product of good old British education. Top of their class, licensed to kill. You could learn from them, duckies."
He gave a hearty laugh as he switched on a nearby record player. A scratchy version of Revolution by the Beatles filled the air. "You probably won't, though, seeing as they're gonna beat the snot out of you."
He gestured at the young heroes with his cane. Connor let out a vicious growl as he and M'gann charged. Superboy ran straight into Aqualad and Wally, hurling their bodies in opposite directions. Rocket surrounded him in a mauve force field, trapping him as he pounded on the walls fruitlessly. M'gann picked up Rocket with telekinesis and slammed her I to the wall.
With Rocket's concentration broken, Superboy was free to rampage across the room. Artemis and Robin unleashed their full arsenal on him, but the blade discs and arrows only bounced off his hard skin. The room was filled with fire, electricity, ice, and foam from the projectiles. The whole time Mad Mod was joyfully singing out of tune with the music. He danced through the battlefield, untouched by the maelstrom of violence.
M'gann followed Rocket through the air and grabbed her throat. Rocket elbowed her in the jaw, loosening her grip. The two exchanged punches, but M'gann quickly overpowered her by sprouting several arms. Before she could deliver a killing blow, a yellow blur zoomed past her, knocking to the ground.
"Come on, snap out of it! You don't have to follow his orders."
Wally built up speed and charged M'gann again. She reached out her hand and stopped the speedster in his tracks.
"I'm afraid she does, actually" said Mad Mod. "Maybe you don't understand how the whole hypnosis thing works."
Wally looked into M'gann's glowing eyes. Behind her auburn hair, Aqualad jumped into view. He propelled a stream of water at her back, glowing with electric sparks. The martian's body shook and convulsed before become still.
"What happened?" she asked as she rubbed her head.
"Long story" said Wally. "Short version is :mind control. He still has Supey hypnotized."
M'gann peered into her boyfriend's mind. It had been changed. A fog floated through his psyche and reduced it to only the most mechanical functions. She thought, Was that why my mind was like a few moments ago? The idea made her shudder.
"Electricity seemed to awaken Miss Martian. Maybe it will work on Superboy as well." announced Kaldur.
"Easier said than done" panted Robin as Superboy kicked him into a table. Wood splinters scratched the coin on his face and arms.
"Do you think he still has a weakness to magic?" asked Zatanna.
"Couldn't hurt" groaned Robin.
Zatanna chanted "Revoc mih ni latem sniahc!"
Metal chains appeared and tied him tightly. Connor rolled on the carpet, angry but unable to break free. Robin quickly fired his taser into the back of his neck. Although previously ineffective against the kryptonian, the magic weakened him enough for it to be effective.
"What just happened?" he asked groggily as the chains faded away.
Wally said, "We'll tell you on the way back. Hurry, he's running away!"
Mad Mod sprinted down the hallway, skipping g as he turned around a corner, Wally blazed after him. He turned the corner but rammed his head into a wall meant to look like the end of the hallway. "Oldest trick in the book..." he groaned under his breath.
"Great. Now how are we supposed to find him?" asked Robin to nobody in particular.
"Simple" Suberboy grinned. "We just head up."
He jumped up right through the ceiling and crawled onto the floor above.
A mechanical arm popped out from behind a painting of Margaret Thatcher and punched him in the jaw, pushing him back into the hole he had just made. Over the intercom came the words "Now that's what I call an Iron Lady!" followed by cackling laughter.
"He's just a skinny guy with a cane. Why can't we beat him?" moaned Wally.
To Be Continued...