Driving in an automobile as emerald green as her pantsuit, Ashley headed downtown to the shadier side of Business Park.

Mina sat in the passenger seat, now wearing some of Star's extra clothes. Emphasis on extra, she thought.

Due to the size and fashion sense of the oversized space glamazon, Mina now looked like she was ready to join an intergalactic armada for Galaxy Wars. Wearing a neon green foily crop top, and matching alien colored yellow pants, she was just happy she didn't have to wear the other intergalactic accessories like earrings the size of planets or holsters containing genuine laser blasters.

Ashley would have been even more smarmy and smug about Mina's getup, but she didn't laugh considering who was in the backseat. Star reclined with her broad arms outstretched across the car. She was wearing the full space outfit, even with her secret interest in pirates.

"Can you tell me why she's coming?" Ashley asked.

Mina scrunched up her button nose and smiled. "I thought you two were gal pals at your top secret lesbian club!"

Ashley grimaced and nearly spat as she spoke. "I thought we weren't going to talk about that…ever…again!"

Mina giggled. "My my. Now the heels on the other foot! Besides, I feel I need a bodyguard considering we're going to the part of town where the Gamefather once resided!"

Indeed, it has been a whole year since they went to the part of town where they were nearly beaten to a pulp by a bunch of disgruntled plumbers. It wasn't exactly the best of times, but at least Mina was with her besties and not…Ashley.

Star banged her fists together with a grin. "I can't wait to rough up some ruffians!"

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Ashley growled like the lioness she was. "Need I remind you this isn't a game of Road Warriors, Star. We're just here to see the hypnotist…and well it looks like we're here!"

Mina peered outside the car. "Are you kidding me?!"

"I'm not kitten you!" Ashley said smugly. "I'm not lying either. Ok may I am a lion."

The sight that awaited them was even shadier than the Used Gaming Mafia building. For some reason, it resembled a derelict shoe store at a strip mall from a decade ago.

The windows were blurry, and the only thing visible aside from some abandoned shoe racks was a makeshift sign on the window that said, "Psy Co. Hypnotherapy!"

"Ashley…" Mina said, glaring at the lioness. "Are you sure you aren't just taking me here so my body won't be found?!"

Star grinned from ear to ear. "Maybe I will get to beat up some thugs after all!"

***

After making sure to lock the car three times, Ashley, Mina and Star entered the strange derelict building. It was oddly humid inside, so at least there was central heating during the winter. Nobody sat behind the cash register by the door. Mina could have easily imagined this being a CheapMore show store where teenagers once worked but it had long been abandoned during the late stages of capitalism.

The walls were plastered with a bunch of strange trophies. Gold records and other music awards from the Hammy's. What kind of weird musical freak resided here? Mina hoped deeply it wasn't an audiophile. (The second most scary person with a 'phile' in their name.)

There was a bell on the desk. It said, "Ding me for a good time!"

Mina carefully looked around. "I really, really hope this won't be a jump scare if I do."

She crept over and dinged the bell. The bell rose up from behind the desk. She wobbled backwards and nearly tripped as she realized the bell was on a man's head. And what a strange man he was.

It was a middle aged Korean man in a leisure suit and an exposed chest. He wore a medallion with a swirl that jingled on his slightly flabby pecs. The glasses he wore had lollypop-esque swirls on them too and with a flamboyant pose, he raised a finger skyward. It ran parallel to his slightly receded pompadour.

He loudly yelled "Gung-Ho Style!" in the faces of the girls.

Mina, Ashley, and Star all looked a mixture of horrified and bemused. "Well…" Mina said. "2013 has truly jumped out and scared me."