Susan gave the interdimensional visitor a small smile, "Look at me going on, and I don't even know your name."

 

Jervis could lose himself in that smile, "Yes, I'm Jervis Tetch."

 

Susan nodded, "Its a pleasure to meet you Mr. Tetch, I want you to know that my husband's first priority will be helping you return home. We would start up the machine and do so right away but pardon my candor, it is one of my husband's inventions so while I believe it can open portals to different dimensions, we aren't entirely sure that turning it back on would connect to the same dimension that you came from. My husband is a genius, so I hope it won't take too long until he figures some things out."

 

Jervis nodded, "You mentioned that you were part of a superhero team, that must mean that you have a superpower. Would you mind showing me?"

 

Susan gave a little giggle, "Well, I suppose a little demonstration wouldn't hurt. It's the opposite of showing really but here's a little of what I can do."

 

Susan than vanished from sight, Jervis was surprised and couldn't help himself, "Alice, where did you go?"

 

Susan put an invisible hand on his shoulder, and he reached up to grab hold of her. His grip was tight, but not overpowering, no superstrength that threatened to crush the bones in her hands or would have her create invisible forcefields to break free, she whispered into his ear, "I told you I'm Susan."

 

She dropped her invisibility and Jervis let go of her, now that he could see her again, Jervis had a relaxed grin on his face, his mind awhirl at what he'd just seen at the potential of having a woman like that under his spell. He would take her in an instant, but alas he had abandoned the majority of his tools when fleeing from the Bat. "Got a little cheshire cat in you I see."

 

Susan sat down next to him, "Your manner of dress and fixation on Alice, do you have superpowers yourself?"

 

There were two things however that Jervis Tetch had that he could never lose, his mind and his voice. He was a master of hypnosis, but this method had its limits. He could not make Susan into his Alice this way and the strange place he was in meant that he couldn't even know what challenges he faced from this dimension, let alone from the Fantastic Four in the heart of their home. "No, I don't have a superpower, in my home I'm considered an eccentric individual. I sometimes like to tinker with devices but there really isn't anything that I can do that any ordinary man with the right drive couldn't duplicate."

 

Humble words, galling for Tetch to speak but he didn't want Susan to be on her guard. Susan got to her feet, "Well perhaps you can show me and my husband your work sometime, we're always interested in learning new things and if we have experience in it, perhaps Reed can share some of his insights with you. Now before I leave is there anything I can get for you?"

 

There was the opening Tetch was looking for, his words taking an odd cadence and tone for them, that captured Susan's attention. "I would love a glass of water. All the way full if you could. You know, a glass of water, is very much like the mind. When its full, so much action, ripples on the surface, so much thought and consideration of everything. But as I drink from that glass, the water will go down, the thoughts are just drained away, until there's nothing left but the glass, just the body waiting to be filled again. Filled with whatever I want to put in that glass."

 

Susan was falling under his spell as Jervis spoke, but there were so many limits to what he could do with this technique that it was really of a last resort. He couldn't command her to do anything that she didn't want to do, couldn't make her what she didn't want to become. With time Jervis might be able to slowly convince Susan that she was Alice but with her teammates, it would be as strenuous and fraught with peril as trying to shape a block of marble into a sculpture with his fingernails. Jervis was an artist, willing to shape others lives into his creations but he would need the right tools. Still he could make things easier in the future.

 

Jervis asked, "Susan, how do you feel?"

 

Susan was staring forward, "Peaceful."

 

Jervis smiled now to test how strong of a hold he had on her, "That's very good Susan, in the future when I say, 'through the looking glass' I want you to return to this state of peacefullness and when you wake up, you will have no memory of what I've said to you or things I've had you do. Tonight after the rest of your team has gone to bed, I would like you to fetch me a glass of water. When you go to get that glass of water, you will only fill it half full. You will also bring me a picture of your husband. Can you do this for me Susan?"

 

"My husband?" Susan frowned, "Why would you want that?"

 

Jervis wanted to curse, Susan must have a powerful resistance, a strong will. That he'd even been able to put her in a state of trance was only possible because he had done so well at convincing her that he was harmless to her and her team. "It was just a test Susan, and you passed."

 

Susan nodded, her suspicion and resistance fading away, "Of course, that makes perfect sense." 

 

"That's right Susan, when your in this peaceful state, is it alright if I call you Alice?" Jervis tried to press.

 

Susan just stared forward, "Alice? Why? That's not my name."

 

Resistance, but much less, enough that Jervis thought he could convince her, "The Invisible Woman isn't your name either but I'm sure plenty of people call you that. You remind me of a character from the book Alice in Wonderland, you remember you said it was your favorite?"

 

"It was one of my favorites when I was a little girl." Susan acknowledged.

 

"Perfect, so can I call you Alice when you're feeling peaceful like this." Jervis pressed on. 

 

Susan nodded.

 

"Now for the final test, Alice, when I say 'Happy Unbirthday' you will leave this peaceful state, and wake up with no memory of what I had you do in this state. Do you understand."

 

"Yes Jervis."

 

"Happy Unbirthday, Alice."

 

Susan shook her head, "I'm sorry I think I must have drifted off there for a moment. I'll go and get your water."

 

Jervis waited, the hours as they passed by were almost an eternity, filled with dread that any moment her other team mates would burst into the room and pummel him for what he was attempting until all was dark. It was with great relief when Susan re-entered the room with the glass of water to see that it was half full as he had commanded. The Mad Hatter almost cackled in his bed, he had her, he had his Alice. It was only a matter of time until she knew that too. "Thank you Susan, though it looks like I can see through the looking glass."

 

Susan became calm again and stared forward.

 

"Thank you for following my command Alice. You passed my test."

 

"Your welcome Jervis." Susan replied passively. She was all wrong, she wasn't his Alice, not yet but Jervis would make her right with time and his tools. 

 

"Are there any video cameras or listening devices in this room?"

 

Susan shook her head, "No. While I was out I told Reed you have no superpowers, and he confirmed it with the monitors we had on you, so we agreed to give you a measure of privacy."

 

Jervis grinned, "Thank you for sharing that with me Alice. I look forward to working on you."

 

Susan just stared forward, as the Mad Hatter cackled in his bed and plotted his next move.