Hi all, we're revisiting this story from March: https://www.patreon.com/posts/and-then-i-1-101396407
If you haven't read it, go take a look; there's also a little extra chapter in between that I've just now unlocked for everyone, not just higher tier subscribers, right here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/and-then-i-extra-101396797
I hope you enjoy, there are plans for a comic this month too so stay tuned for something devilish! (◣_◢)ψ
Stay Beautiful, Smooth.
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Back here... Back at work... God I hate it here!
The same menial, meaningless crap day after day and just to make matters worse, here comes my ass hat of a boss!
I can't be dealing with this right now: I'm too stressed, too strung out, too fed up of all of this!
I hate this job, I hate this life, I hate everything!
'I expect you have an explanation for yourself?!' Idiot... Doesn't even say my name before going in on me!
'An explanation...?' What am I explaining? What does he think I did wrong this time?
'No. Don't even bother!' I hate you! Hate you!
'I should have known you'd mess this up, can't believe we have someone like you working here!' I'm done. It's over. There's that solution, the thing I've been saving, the thing I've prepared...
Wait... What did I prepare? I don't remember, but I reach for it anyway.
'Alright...' I say, but is it really me saying it? That voice sounds familiar, but it's not my own.
'Here's your explanation!' With my hand tightly wrapped around it, I turn the violent end of a technologically improbable ray gun at my boss' face.
Wait... a RAY GUN?! Where did I get a ray gun?!
'I quit!' Without even thinking, I pull the trigger.
Wait, no... I don't pull the trigger, she pulls the trigger!
The one with that voice, the voice I recognise. Not because it's my own, but because I've become intimately familiar with it from the closest possible quarters.
Searing hot plasma cuts through my boss' meat like a power washer through paper; green light and crackling noise fills the air as the oxygen atoms around the high-energy ejection are torn apart on a molecular level!
I watch my boss' flesh melt from his bones, a human body reduced in the batting of an eye to a dessicated, glowing green skeleton!
Over it all rises a laugh; a wicked, sadistic, villainous laugh! I know the voice now, I know who it belongs to and in an instant I'm on the outside looking in.
I watch as Lady Cladis (clad as she is in my own living black latex body,) lifts the smoking fictional weapon up to her face and licks the still humming tip, beaming ear to ear at what she's done!
'Think I'll inform the board, too!' She states with brutal and murderous confidence!
Visions fill my mind of the big bosses falling victim to Lucretia one by one.
Melting...
Disintegrating...
She's laughing, hips swaying as she murders... again... and again... and again!
That's enough!
That's too much!
Stop!
STOP!
STOOOOP!
Suddenly... just as jarringly as it began... it stops.
Not because my feelings reach Lady Cladis, not because I curb her villainous intent; no, it stops because I wake from my nightmare.
A dream... It was all a dream...
I can feel my body bubbling and churning like boiling soup, doing things no human has ever done before.
Relax... Just relax... It was only a dream... The audible popping and burbling slows and finally stops.
I'm back here, in this new world I was summoned to. I'm in the bed chamber of Lady Cladis, contained within a glass tank monitored by every sensor I can imagine.
Apparently I can still sleep at least, dream too. What was that dream though?! I've heard of “Corporate Manslaughter”, but “Corporate Mass Murder”?! Not that I'd be too put out if that actually happened mind you...
Dreams have meanings, right? I know the meaning; I know where this reaction came from...
Death is a wild thing, something that impacts you how you never quite expect. To see a person die is one thing, but to actually be involved in it...?
Clearly what happened has impacted me more than I thought it would, but it still feels so vivid.
The fear in the eyes of those henchmen when they entered Lady Cladis' chamber... The whimpers as she offed them... One... then two...
The way the last one begged and dropped to his knees pleading for his life, pledging himself to her eternal service... How must he be feeling right now, having been spared?
This is what it means to be an evil genius I suppose, head of an organization where you set the rules.
The thing about it all is that... I kind of... respect her even more now.
At the same time, though... I feel used!
After all, she used me and my strength to do it, killing two lackeys with her not-so-bare hands!
The squeezing, the choking, the crushing and the laughter... I'm not sure I'll easily forget any of it!
I didn't want to do it, I tried not to be involved. It felt wrong, it felt like everything I shouldn't do, but I did it anyway!
Everything I know in life told me that I'd be punished, that I'd be found out... But I wasn't!
We... weren't. Instead Lucretia ended up even more adored and worshipped than ever!
Nothing makes sense here... But in a way I think I kinda like that.
I kinda like the freedom... Maybe I like the power too.
Lady Cladis makes it all seem so effortless... Her control, her power, her sheer ruthlessness!
As someone so powerless in my former life, locked into the laws and constraints of a world that didn't care about me, this all feels so very alien!
Alien... But still nice!
No matter how much I often wanted to, I would never have been able to do what I did in my dream, but Lady Cladis would... She would do that! Should I really respect that, though?
Anyway, enough moping about, guess I'm awake now and I don't think I'll be nodding off again any time soon.
I look out from my fish tank-like sleeping arrangement; Lady Cladis is slumbering soundly in her bed, I can just see her around a full-height screen designed to give her privacy.
Not privacy from me, privacy from the other person in the room: one of her lackeys.
That lackey, a young, tawny haired young woman is looking back and forth anxiously between me and a very old and rudimentary monitor to the side of my tank.
Right... It's her job to monitor me while Her Ladyship rests; naturally she'd be on edge right now.
Sorry, girl, you seem like a good egg, but I might have to put you a little more on edge yet.
This tank feels a little too much like a prison, too claustrophobic for my liking. I don't want to say I need to “stretch my legs” since apparently that's not something I have now, but I'd like to see what I can do anyway.
There's more to it, too. There's a part of me I can barely control, that I first felt when I emerged into this world and beheld the beautiful people surrounding and ogling me.
I should see a person in front of me, just an anxious young woman who I try to soothe... but instead I see a body! I see a wearer, an empty canvas in need of my dark, glistening paint!
My mercurial form wobbles and bulges and I push myself up against the front of the glass cage to let her know that I see her.
'Huh?' Her vision darts to me, eyes wide as fear sweeps over her face; she tilts her head.
I'm not going to hurt her, good henchwomen are hard to come by I'd imagine; but I want out! I also want on, but I have to control myself!
I slide up the front of the glass and push my force against the heavy glass lid, it's not sealed but I'm not sure Lucretia had it in mind that I'd go for a wander on only my first night here.
'Wait... What are you doing?!' The henchwoman whispers in agitation, clearly trying her best to sound forceful while not waking the boss.
Does she know I can understand her? I pry open the lid and instinctively she backs off, rolling back on her chair's casters.
Using my own surprising elastic strength, I slide the heavy glass pane to the side so that I can slither out.
Have I mentioned how weird it is so be made of latex goop? It's indescribable, it really is!
Nothing in my old life could prepare me for this, but it's becoming more natural all the time.
That's as good a reason as any to try my new body out, see what I can really do!
I reach out one thick, slick tentacle as I climb into a semi-comfortable perch over the edge of the class box and I feel the tension in my body immediately.
This desire I seem to have to stay in one piece, to congeal into a single central mass pulls against my new extension, but like elastic I know I have some leeway here.
It takes some concentration and effort, but I split my feeler into ten distinct, thinner feelers while reaching down towards a keyboard sat in front of the lackey's monitor.
Technically I'm upside down in relation to the keyboard, but this odd ability I have to see out of every part of me also seems to let me see whichever way up I desire as well!
URGH! Hitting the first key with one of my new finger-fibrils is one of the weirdest things I've ever done!
It's like typing with my eyeball and the back of my kneecap all at once! I've no idea which part of me is which, but as I shift my gaze further back up my body it strikes me that I get to decide what I am and where.
Trippy! Woah, OK, I can do this! I start tapping away; with a little focus and the right mindset, this is just like touch-typing!
Let's see here...
“I... Wan...t... To... Ex...plore.” There! That just about sums it up!
The curious brunette seems to realise that I'm not a threat and stealthily slides back towards the monitor. Closer... Closer... That warm, lovely shape I want...
She's eyeing up my tentacles warily, but I guess that's understandable. I am sentient fetish-wear and I am, technically, a killer now too!
'E-Explore? Nonono, Lady Cladis will kill me if she finds out!' True enough, I don't doubt that for a second.
“I want... to see... what I can... do.” Getting better at this typing as goo business...
Strange how I manage to have held on to some elements of my old body's muscle-memory, but at the same time I'm adding new things all the time.
'Huh? Her Ladyship didn't give me permission for that! I'm supposed to monitor you!' Wow, talk about commitment to the job!
Old me might have felt a little kinship with that kind of approach, a dedication to the job... but new me? Let's just say her commitment is getting in new me's way right now!
Let's think about this... Earlier on I couldn't shake the feeling that this world all felt like something out of some crazy spy flick.
From everyone talking like they were reading dialogue from a script to the absolute cinema of a super spy showing up right on cue and escaping from the “death trap” exactly how I expected...
Everything seems to happen just how my fiction-overloaded mind imagines it will!
That means that this girl is basically “Unnamed Henchwoman #1”... Played by an extra with scarcely a speaking part in the script.
If this were a movie I would knock her out, escape and build up some villain points with the audience all while helping the narrative... But the villains always lose!
Alternatively, because she's Unnamed Henchwoman #1, that means she's probably a very dull lightbulb indeed... Hmm...
“I shouldn't tell... you this... because it's a secret plan...” Teehee!
“Lady... Cladis... told me to... investigate the base... and find any spies!” Surely she won't buy that...
'Oh!' She perks up, panic draining from her face and body language. Don't tell me that actually worked?
'Well if Her Ladyship says so, then it must be fine!' With mooks like these, who needs enemies?!
But what now? Take to the vents, spy on the lackeys and try to figure everything out myself? No, there's a better way!
I watch her attention turn to the side as she grabs some mysterious device about the size and shape of a small pocket watch.
'This will keep track of where you are in-' As she offers it to me, I surge forwards with a thick glob of myself that smothers and smooths over her hand. She's shocked, frightened and perhaps rightfully so.
'Wha-what are you going...?!' She's still sweating, whispering her question as loudly and aggressively as she dares. I really am just going for a quick jaunt... but why go it alone when I've got a guide right here?
“Accom...pany me?” I type, sure to let her still see the screen behind my wavering, morphing form.
'Wha?! ME?!' She slaps her other hand over her mouth as she realises she's raised her voice just a little too much.
Lady Cladis would maybe force the point here, she strikes me as that type, but I'm more of a collaborative type...
“A test... of what I am. Lady Cladis... will appreciate it!” That's a huge leap and I know it; Lucretia will probably hate it, maybe off this poor henchwoman just for collaborating with me.
The one thing I have is my intellect, though! I am smarter than this mook, probably smarter than all of the lackeys and it seems like I can predict how they think too!
'Well...' She shrugs, this is almost too easy honestly!
She reaches her free hand up to the zipper of her top and just like that begins undressing!
“What's your name...?” I type, that's the least I should know. God, this girl was willing to hand over everything without even telling me her name, the fuck?!
Mid-action, the lackey stops and reads, tilting her head as if confused.
Wait... Don't tell me that she really is “Unnamed Henchwoman #1”?! Why else would she pause and look so confused?
'Val... Valeria Rannk.' That's a surname?! Nah, surely just for show, still... It's got a nice ring to it for a villainous accomplice: Val the Rank! I kinda like it, maybe she does have potential.
Right now I can't take my eyes off her “potential.” At this moment I'd smother anyone, anything! It's like a thirst, bordering on pain as my gloopy body cries out for a shape!
With a surge of my increasingly accurate bodily control I thrust myself onto Valeria's arm; half of me gorges on her uniform's sleeve while the rest slithers beneath it. No... I don't like this, it has to be skin-on-skin!
I curl my slime back around to surge inside her fairly loose, yet stylish black outfit and coat all the way up her arm with gusto; god it feels so good!
It's just like it was with Lady Cladis: just as fulfilling and just as moreish! This time I'm quicker though, like I'm on a mission.
What's not like the last time is my new wearer's reaction; this girl has neither the composure nor the demeanour of Lucretia.
I pour out of the top of her sleeve like a can of gloss paint being emptied inside Valeria's uniform down her chest; the combination of her warmth and resistance makes my whole form vibrate with an energetic vigour!
More! I need more! With surging, impassioned thrusts I cover up more and more, sliding beneath every layer to get us closer than close.
Val's almost a gibbering mess already, her now coated hand over her mouth to silence herself; I don't think she realises that I can feel her breath and it's only driving me to go faster!
This is who I am now, I guess... No longer a person like the one I'm so feverishly attaching to; I am now a thing but I'm anything other than inanimate!
I am the costume, I am the clothes that make the woman and I wouldn't have it any other way!
This will do nicely! It's not too flamboyant, even if it's guaranteed to arouse some suspicion, but a simple catsuit somewhat mimicking the uniform should do the trick.
I'm still shivering even as I encourage my young wearer to step out of Her Ladyship's private quarters. She does so, but she's every bit as unstable as I am, like a newborn fawn quivering at the knees.
I'd steady Valeria's pose, but I'm just drinking it all in. Will I ever get used to the feeling of being worn?! ~Mmm~ I hope not!
This is quite unlike my interactions with the Boss Lady I have to say... This time I'm clinging to an easily manipulated stooge doing basically what I tell her to...
It feels kinda wrong to be using someone like this, but someone doesn't join an evil organization without any gumption, surely! Seems “Val” isn't the helpless wallflower I thought she might be anyway.
A little nudge and she stops in the hallway, smartly locking the door behind us.
I can see both ways, the henchmen coming and going about their business on the night shift; my wearer similarly glances left and right while pondering.
'You're supposed to be investigating for enemies, right?' She asks quite naively, I did say that so best to at least put on some appearances.
It strikes me right now that I have a new problem, though. After all the effort I went to in developing a new language with Lady Cladis, I'm right back at square one... How's about this...?
Ahuuuh! It seems that I can move my wearer by consciously tensing my body in the right places.
Against her will, Val raises a hand, curls her fingers and extends her thumb. Surely a “thumbs up” is universal, even in another universe...
'Woah, Ok... But where?' Another good question, I don't even know where I am or what this place is!
Are we underground? In a skyscraper? Aboard a villainous space-station?! Heh, my imagination's running away with me now.
Only one thing for it: Given the surprise it must be, the way I shrug her shoulders sends Val's arms flailing for a moment. Should that be... our shoulders, I wonder?
'Oh...' She reaches down to a notepad she insisted on bringing and I read what she reads: No orientation. Ah, that helps! 'Let's look around then.'
Not bad, for whatever reason I expected worse, but it looks like I can take it a little easier and just enjoy the ride.
~Woooah...~ Did she forget so easily? All it took was a quarter turn and a stride for Valeria to become that shaking mess all over again, I'm definitely not the only one finding my new form overwhelming at least!
She braces a wall and I hold onto it for us with crazy strength; it comes naturally but what I'm actually doing is truly wild...
It's like I'm grabbing onto it how anyone would except my new form subconsciously seeps into the wall's pores and holds it unimaginable tightly! My liquid feelers are like roots snaking between the atoms of the solid surface and the effect is that secure.
Is this what it feels like to have super powers? I feel like the whole wall would crumble before my grip failed, but let's not wreck the hideout just yet...
This won't do though... Val the Rank is a flashy title, but right now she must look anything other than intimidating. What can I do about this? Maybe if I'm even tighter and stand up straight...
It's worth a try and wouldn't you know it, like birds of a feather her body does just like my own! We push our shoulders back and force out our chest; the wearer's surprise swaps for a thankful nod when she realises.
'Right... Let's go!' With a new commitment to the cause, she takes another step; thanks to my outrageously close fit I feel everything!
The sharp intake of breath says she does too, but with me handling our poise, my wearer handles our rather audacious swagger down the hallway.
Oh yeah! Now we're talking! This is how a supervillain's supposed to strut their stuff!
Valeria's feeling it, I'm feeling it... Now let's see what surprises this place holds!
'Here...' Approaching the first opening in the corridor, Val steps inside a very large and familiar looking room.
It should be familiar, this is where I entered this world. Now that I get a proper look at it, the portal that brought me here is really rather incredible!
It's wired up to what I can only assume are computer banks, but next to the almost alien looking portal device itself, the computers look absolutely archaic!
Come to think of it everything looks archaic... sort of.
The architecture is a kind of malevolently brutalist style, the uniforms are so... seventies and then there's the machinery which all seems to run on those tape things from old movies; I don't even know what they do, but they must be important.
On the other hand there's something very new about it all; it's like there's something clean and futuristic about everything that I can't quite put my finger on.
I don't get it, but despite the very harsh lines and brooding atmosphere it somehow feels... cosy. Homely almost!
'This is the command centre adapted into a purpose-built laboratory for Operation Outreach.' Operation...?
'Lady Cladis has spent months building and refining the technology required to harness the Arch Stone and bring you here.' The Arch Stone, of course.
That sparkly gem that meddling spy came to steal. Wait... meddling? I've no grounds for judgement, but that word just kind of... came out.
Oh shit! I really am one of the baddies, aren't I?! Oh well.
Up above, hanging like a pendulum is a large symbol carved into hardened steel, the same emblem as the cronies wear on their uniforms; guess I'd better learn to recreate it...
There!
It's probably not perfect, but with a little effort I manage to pool up enough of my matter to make a small version of the insignia on Valeria's “uniform”. Hehe, something about this whole being a disguise in a spy movie idea really gets my goo pumping!
'Oh, good idea!' She's speaking softly, trying not to arouse suspicion as we step just off to the side to look over the various stations each with a dutiful henchman going about their business.
'Hmm?' The nearest workstation operator notices us and gives a look of shock and confusion. OK... be cool!
With a surge of my fluid mass through her hair, I snag the back of Val's head and pull her head up so she has to look down her nose at him. That's it... just a slight sneer, enough to frighten him...
Atta girl! Seems she read my school of thought because the poor guy quickly shifts his gaze back towards the monitor with a slight yelp.
I hear and feel her softly hum as if scouting for anything out of the ordinary. I'm glad she knows, because I don't have the foggiest idea what I'm doing!
I might know clichés and tropes, the kinds of things you'd expect in some campy spy thriller, but as for how an evil organization might actually work? I seriously have no clue.
'Seems fine to me?' Don't ask like you're talking to someone, girl! You'll give us away! With a yank I usher her to turn and walk away, that'll have to pass for an answer.
We step out into the hallway and I feel Val's chest heave; she didn't heave, I did! A sigh of relief, because I feel like a god damned fugitive right now!
I'm not even sure why I'm doing this. Investigating? Exploring? On patrol? Sure, I can call it whatever, but I-
Wait! What was that?!
I heard something...
'Huh?' My wearer seems to have noticed, maybe it's the suddenly apprehensive pose she's in thanks to my own concern.
It sounded like an “oof!” but it was so quiet I doubt anyone else could have heard it.
With a nudge I encourage Valeria to investigate, something's happening and without thinking I've spurred us into action!
Val breaks into a half run and I react squeakily to every subtle element of her movements; I sound amaaazing, every bit as good as I look! But that's not important... for now.
We round the corner, gripping fast to the floor with my liquid soles but thanks to my self-control I ease off on the stickiness just enough to let my wearer adopt a low, combat-ready pose.
Why? Because that's a pair of legs belonging to someone being dragged into a room!
Should I be worried? I'm starting to feel worried!
The “Rank” one wearing me doesn't feel worried in the slightest, her eyes are trained on that doorway and her face is a picture of professional intensity.
Damn! I'd seen this wearer as nothing more than a slightly ungainly lackey, but right now she looks damned cool! Maybe she's the type who really thrives under pressure? A go-getter like a dog excited by a tennis ball.
Our patience pays off moments later when a suspicious looking man steps out of the door only to freeze the moment he spots us!
It only takes a moment to realise he's not wearing the uniform. Unless a tailored suit with sunglasses is the new uniform...
'Hey, you!' She's... pointing at him?! Now let's not be too hasty here, Val! He looks like trouble...
Just as I thought, the man behind the shades reacts after he's had a moment to think! My vision really is something else because I pick out the distinctive shape and shine of a pistol as he whips it out of his pocket.
He's got a gun! What do I do?! Do I- maybe I should-
While I'm all at sea my wearer takes the lead. The first thing I know about her swinging our fist at the alarm button is when I feel the button under my shiny matter.
Lights flash, sirens blare and it's enough to make the intruder pause for a moment.
Now we can wait for backup, surround the intruder and make him drop the-
Nope...
I find myself running straight at him.
What else would I be doing?
I'm being worn by a disposable henchwoman with zero self-preservation instinct!
For fuck's sake, woman! He's got a gun! G!U!N!
~GYAH!~ Holy shit that thing's loud! Surprise-surprise this is my first time being shot at and I really don't like it!
Why couldn't I pick one with a little common sense? ~Hhh...~
Nothing for it then, guess I'll lean into it and try to keep this maniac alive...
With all my strength-enhancing capabilities, Valeria must feels so light all of a sudden; she'd have stumbled had I let her; instead I yank her violently to her right as another bullet flies.
Yeaaaah, there's no way I'm dodging one of those if it's on target, but a little bit of trigonometry and some general guess-work can at least help me line up where I think the bullets are going!
'Don't move, spy!' Val hisses with an air of absolute hatred in her voice, sounding seriously badass in my humble opinion.
With a well-timed hop, I help her dodge to the right again and after planting a foot on the wall we're in range!
We pounce and whether though my wearer's skill or my own improvisation, we kick the gun clean out of his hand!
HA! I... I just kicked the gun out of a secret agent's hand! How cool is this shit?!
Val's not hanging around to think about it though, because a moment later we're in hand-to-hand combat. She spins and blocks his reactive strike faster than I can register!
Guess that answers the question of who was responsible for the cool disarming move... I was here in spirit at least.
No time to feel sorry for myself, though; this is a life or death battle and I have no desire to die!
Either my wearer is an incredible fighter or this super spy isn't very... super.
Three strikes. That's all it takes... three strikes!
One to break his block and grab his arm; a second to break that arm with a well-aimed arm thrust and a third to... well...
It sounded like it must have hurt. It certainly felt like it must have hurt, but there's not enough left of the intruder's face to ask him.
~BWEK!~
I'll just have to pretend I can still vomit, because ewwww! I don't even wanna look, this power of mine is just... scary!
For a few moments we stand there, heaving as the intruder's lifeless body flops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. I think Val's heaving, but that might just be laughter!
I'm a little preoccupied, anyway. With a flick and a hurried shake of my hand I try to be rid of all the blood and bits of... I don't even wanna know.
I'm not sure I have a strong enough constitution for what I just saw... and felt on the inside of that man's head... Yep, that memory's got trauma written all over it!
'Stay down you piece of-' Another lackey appears out of nowhere, armed with a threatening looking assault rifle and shouting at the very neutralized threat.
That's it, yeah! He was a threat... He shot at us first and we had to make sure nobody else died!
'You got him, huh?' The other guard looks at us, loosening up only to be taken aback by the (obviously stunning) sight in front of him.
'Huh...' Valeria doesn't even look at him, instead she's looking down at the hand she just put through a grown man's face!
'Yeah...' She curls up a fist and I see all the signs of satisfaction etched deep into her expression; apparently she enjoyed that about as much as I... well I wouldn't necessarily say hated it; but as cool as it was, eww!
'What's going on here?!' Come on, just let me decide how I feel before more happens?
Oh wait... that's a forceful presence!
My attention spins to a new, clearly more senior figure entering the scene and boy does this evil organization seem to have a thing for scary femme fatales!
Elegant but muscular and wearing a black and red gown of clearly Eastern design. She looks like the exact kind of enchantress who might break your heart for fun then break your neck while it's still sinking in.
'Specialist Rannk?' The stoic-faced woman queries as if that level of mild confusion is as close as she's even gotten to expressing surprise.
'Yes, Miss Crimson.' Miss Crimson? Maybe she's just being formal...
The possibly Asiatic woman looks us up and down, tilts her head just a little and gives the faintest of smiles.
'Good work.' She turns to the other man, 'You! Silence the alarm and incinerate the body.'
'Yes, Ma'am!' The assault rifle wielding lackey snaps to attention before dragging the body off; clearly this woman inspires either respect or fear in those around her... Maybe both!
I can see it; she's not the tallest but she has a kind of aura about her, everything about her screams danger.
Wait, we're an evil organization, right? Of course there's a deadly femme-fatale on our side; she better not fall for the handsome hero and betray us, though... I can see that one coming a mile away!
'Is this...?' The woman in command ponders as she looks us up and down; uh-oh, we're really busted now. '-a new uniform I've yet to hear about?'
Valeria looks left and right, checking the corners. Seems like a weird reaction, but what's weirder is how she follows that up by biting her lip.
'Orders from Her Ladyship... it's hers!' She excitedly gushes over me; that's sweet I guess, but I don't think this Miss Crimson's likely to be-
'~Oh...?~' I take it back because that is a hand on our undercarriage! '-so she finally managed to get it?' She's suddenly up against us, whispering into Val's ear.
What... What's going on here?! Is this normally in the despicable villain's play-book!
Oh wait, I get it, I can read the room...
Either the tawny haired girl lives or the scary lady she's in a clandestine relationship kills everyone in a fit of sudden, out of character rage.
That's just as believable as the double agent route, I guess. It's also probably better for us all... provided Val doesn't kick the bucket.
'It can...' The young henchwoman in question is whispering, but my hearing's incredible; too incredible for a private moment like this, methinks. '-understand us.'
'~Mhmm?~' This “Crimson” humms as if wondering why that's a problem. 'That means it probably likes this, too?' I feel her fingers dance between my hips: forceful yet delicate, trained to caress or to kill with ease.
God I do love it... Weird as it sounds, this pair make such a cute couple.
'~Mhmm!~' Oh please, don't moan for me too! I'm having a hard enough time with all this wearer hopscotch already!
'And did Lady Cladis tell you to take her beloved new friend for a walk?' Uh oh, uhhh...
'The suit told me; said Her Ladyship wanted it to check for intruders.' Yep, well that's me busted... The specially dressed henchmen are never as dumb as the unnamed mooks!
Sure enough, she leans away with a slightly raised lip of disbelief.
I watch her raise a hand and one forceful finger flicks Val square in the forehead.
'Shǎ dàn!' I wonder how much trouble I'm in on a scale of one to completely fucked?
'We had best return to Her Ladyship's quarters.' The clearly brighter henchwoman sighs in frustration, turning to lead the way.
'I swear, one of these days even I won't be able to protect you from yourself!' Ooh the intrigue runs deeper than I imagined, but seriously, this is all on me. Oopsie!
With sneaky intent we re-enter the darkened chamber of Lady Cladis, hoping beyond hope not to awaken the often fiery rage of our great leader.
Our hushed creep isn't helped by every last inch of me creaking and squeaking as my wearer moves; I wonder if I can do anything about that? Not exactly stealth attire, am I?
Just when I'm getting set to start pondering to myself how the idea of catsuits as spy getups came about, the jump scare happens!
With a sudden swipe, the screen between Val's station and Lady Cladis' private area is thrust away leaving us face-to-face with the boss. Well shit!
Safe to say she's not happy; even in this low light setting I can see the anger etched across her face.
'L-Lady Cladis, I-' Without a thought for her own stark naked situation, Lucretia thrusts a hand around Valeria's throat. I could protect her by staying here, sure, but besides the drama why should I?
I know who's in charge and it's much better to stay on Lady Cladis' good side.
Coward? Who, Me?
Sure, why not.
I've seen what the boss is capable of; first hand and in very graphic detail. I'm no fool!
'Lady Cladis, please...' I surge away from Val's form across Lucretia's tight grip and down her arm while Val's splendidly dressed “colleague” tries to argue the point.
Guess I'd better do something then... The sudden redress, despite the clear enjoyment we both take in it, isn't enough to calm Lady Cladis; I am back in a position where I can communicate at least.
“Stop. Wait.” I say with forcefully delivered sensations to the palm like an outstretched hand. “It was... My fault.”
'It was your fault...?' I feel Lucretia's hand loosen slightly, Val able to take a breath as my new wearer looks down at me.
I'm glad she remembers the codes we worked on, but I'm not sure I should be putting myself on the line like this.
“I wanted to explore...” Lady Cladis releases her henchwoman and I coat that hand too, completing her outfit. “-I told her you said to do it.”
'You...' I can't quite tell from her face how she's taking this even as the lights turn on. 'Heh.' A... laugh?
'Lady Cladis, Specialist Rannk used your suit to stop an intruder just now. I know this must look bad-' Is Miss Crimson panicking? Wow, there must be real feeling there; she doesn't strike me as the type.
'Relax, Crimson Fūren...' Lucretia turns away, I'm all hers again and am instantly reminded of her grace and dignity even with such a simple motion.
'-I'm not about to kill your girlfriend!' Behind us the gasps are audible, oh this is getting juicyyy!!!
'What?' We half turn, cool and calm as Lucretia looks back, 'You thought I didn't know?' She's smirking, smirking as she toys with her lackeys! 'You should know better!'
'However.. Consider me impressed, Rannk!' Impressed?! 'All it took was mention of my name for you to follow orders to the letter.' Oh... But, isn't she a bit simple for having done that?
'Pull up a chair at the meeting later, I might find better uses for you than the menial tasks you've been assigned so far.' Oh the mind of an evil genius, what is she cooking?
'Oh and Crimson? This isn't a “suit”...' She raises our hand and balls up a fist, 'This is our new and deadliest ally!' Who, me?!
And with a wave of her hand, Lady Cladis dismisses the pair.
I wouldn't even dream of dismissing this “Crimson” in such a way, she's legitimately scary, but my wearer? I'm fairly sure the boss fears nothing at this point.
'As for you...' Lucretia turns her attention back to me as the door closes behind us, now's when I find out how much trouble I'm really in!
'Using my name to control the hired help? Manipulating minds lesser to your own? Utilising them to protect yourself?' Uh... I did do that, I guess?
'I didn't know you had it in you!' She chuckles, 'Seems to me you're exactly the kind of person we like around here.'
“Thinking...” We don't have a word/sensation for uhh, we should work on that; “Thankyou?” I make Lady Cladis shrug a little to make the point that I'm not sure if that's a compliment coming from a super villain.
'You're welcome. Now-' Without giving it any more thought, she leaps in a single bound onto the bed and the soft linen welcomes us into its still warm embrace.
'I'm wide awake and craving servitude!' Oh... Ohhhh...
So that hand sliding down to our... I see... ~oooh!~ “Servitude” coming right up!
Part of me wonders why I'm so keen to do exactly what Lucretia wants at the drop of a hat, but maybe it's all just part of what I am now? Just a part of this insatiable desire to be clothing.
'Tell me...' My buxom, single-minded wearer purrs as her hands slide all over me and excite me into action.
'When you had the girl in your thrall... How did it feel?!' In my thrall? That's as villainous a way to think about it as possible! What are you, some kind of vampire?!
'To have her completely at your mercy, able to take her wherever you wanted, do whatever you wanted to her?'
“It... wasn't like that.” I try to tell her, but Lady Cladis seems delighted by the idea of my having done it.
'D'aww, come now...' She moans as she takes a handful of me stretched across her bosom, stretching me until she snatches away a whole handful.
It feels incredible! Even more so when she opens her hand to let me drool back over her exposed cleavage.
'You felt it the moment she took you out of your box and did exactly what you told her to do... didn't you?' She's perverting my actions! I'm not like that... Honestly!
'I know you did!' No! No, I just... told a little white lie to... get my way. Crap... I did.
“Maybe... A little bit.” I admit it; maybe I did take a small amount of satisfaction in fooling Valeria... “But it's not how you think!”
'Oh yes it is!' She's writhing and I'm squeaking, pulled and stretched however she desires while doing my best to keep my wits about me.
It's not easy, not when my whole body is a tight, near-helpless plaything that wants nothing more than to make every inch of her body sing.
'I'm asking because you want to explore...' Huh? 'You want to know all about us, don't you?'
“That would... be helpful.” I'm still a stranger in this world after all!
'It would be, wouldn't it? And since you're going to be so helpful to our plans, here's the truth...' Finally, some kind of an explanation about why I'm here!
'My goal and this whole organization's entire point for existing...' She's giving it the big buildup...
Let me guess: “World Domination?” It's always World Domination, whatever that actually means in practise.
'-is World Domination!' She almost shouts the words while tensing up every fibre of her being. It's not a surprise, but she says it like she's the first person ever to think of it; like it's the most shocking thing ever uttered.
Then there's silence, just the creaks and the panting; it's an awkward silence like she's waiting for an answer. What do I even say to that?!
“Oh...” That's a start, umm... “Good for you!”
'Why? Because I can! Wait...' She stops, looking down to the dark mass stretched across her whole form and lifts both hands.
OK, so that was the wrong answer apparently...
It's only been a few hours, but this is the first time I've seen Lady Cladis blush. She really did expect me to be surprised.
“I've seen this movie” as they say, so a madcap desire for power is basically expected at this point!
'Maybe you don't understand... I want to RULE THE WORLD!' She says it even more loudly this time, really trying to drive it home, huh?
“OK, cool.” I mean, I'm not sure I'm totally onboard with that, but the alternative was that she wanted to destroy the world, so this is at least better for my survival odds.
'Hhh...' Her hands and head slump back onto the bad as she lets out a deep sigh like frustration.
Did I just... crush her dreams or something? I mean, this whole thing just sounds silly to me, straight up cliché! It never works and only serves to give the heroes reason to exist, right?
'It strikes me that your world must be a very different place to this one.' Finally seeing some sense! Maybe I can get through to her.
'Either that... Or you've already conquered your own world and this is just history repeating itself.'
“No. No no no no no!” I can't stress no enough. We are not going down the whole mistaken for an evil genius route, not on your life!
'Oh?' She asks me, her hand, and in a surprising turn of events she brings her index finger up to her ear; I feel the skin of her face for the first time, perhaps a sign of trust?
'Then tell me why you're not surprised by that!'
This is it, this is my chance to tell her everything! That this place is all like a story to me, like it's a world built on television clichés I've seen a hundred times and more... Would that even make sense?
I put all my effort into that fingertip, into making it vibrate just how I want to make the words come out.
'In... my... world...' OK, going well! 'World... Domination... is only... in stories.' It's working! It's actually working!
'Stories?!' She asks in genuine shock, pulling her hand away to look at it as if her fingertip is my face. 'What the hell is a “stories”?!'
Ah.
Ah...
Uhh...
I got nothing for this one.
I tense up to move that finger back to her ear.
'Pretend...? Make believe? Not real!' How the hell does this world not have a concept of fiction?!
'Eheh...' That's a nervous laugh, not a mocking laugh or a laugh-laugh; that's a laugh that says nothing I just said made the slightest bit of sense!
'Well, there'll be plenty of time to explain all that...' And just like that she drops the subject; oh to be so carefree!
We sit up to glance at a rather large and somehow evil-looking clock.
“Wait, wait. This is important!” I can't stress this enough, this is life or death important!
'I'm sure it is, but we have a meeting to attend, it's time you met your new allies!'
Did I just blow my big moment? Maybe I just have to prove all this to her; show Lady Cladis that I know things I shouldn't!
Sheesh... this is all too crazy!
'Ladies!' Lucretia proudly announces as we stride into a room I've yet to see. Holy hell, now this is textbook evil organisation!
'-and gentleman.' She adds like an afterthought; oh yeah... not a lot of testosterone in here: the charming muscleman, Colt, and that's about it.
As for where “in here” is, it's exactly what I'd picture when asked to think of the conference room of a supervillain...
There's an audacious, oval-shaped table with chairs that look likely to drop into traps at the push of a button. It comes complete with a New World Order style clear globe in the middle.
There's menacing architecture and broody lighting to set the mood for all the wicked intentions you could ever hope to explore.
I'm not disappointed, nah I'm quite impressed honestly!
It's the kind of room that says “The important people meet here” while also saying “we mean business!”
As Lady Cladis makes her entrance, the gathered big wigs of her organization stand to greet her; feels good. A real surge of power I can feel tingling all across my wearer as much as myself.
The only one to move from there is my temporary previous bearer, Val the not-so rank and file.
She approaches us with a splendid looking silk robe, almost sashaying in excitement; there's delight etched across her face and exuded in her movements.
'Be seated.' Cladis urges like a priest holding mass as she raises a hand towards a rather strange pipe-like opening in the edge of the table. Am I supposed to do something with that?
'Go ahead...' I feel her breath on my other hand as she whispers just to me, 'It's for you.' OK... Is this some kind of trap?
I don't get it; there seem to be pipes in front of every chair and now that I look at it, that “globe” in the middle of the table might be a tank of some kind connected to the pipes...
Clearly it's part of the plan and as much as it pains me to leave my lovely, comfortable wearer, I slip off her fingertips into the dark abyss.
Oh this is weird! Like being flushed down the drain, but there's nothing stopping me from turning around; the pipes wind and curve like a water slide, but I'm quite interested to figure this out this little maze of mine.
For just a few moments I figure that this must be how cats or ferrets feel when offered an enclosed space; the drive to explore and fill out the space with my mass is so strangely compelling that I can't help but surge on!
I come to a junction, but it's not just one, there are many, one for each chair I'd wager. Oh wait... WAIT!
Am I the trap on this table?!
Like... someone displeases Lady Cladis and I'm supposed to jump out and do them in?!
That would be so on brand, but I'm not sure I like being used this way!
There's another option... a route upwards; I move that way as I hear the movements and words outside echoing through the pipes towards me, Lady Cladis is apparently giving me a big build-up.
'-I'd like to formally introduce...' That's my cue to burst out of the central pipe like a hosepipe being opened to dispense my thick, oozing black matter before the eyes of the gathered admirers.
I gush into the large, clear spherical tank jutting up from the table, nearly but not fully filling it with my dark, gleaming mass!
Just like I hope there are gasps of amazement, awe and amazement etched across beautiful faces as I swirl and show myself off in my own little under-table world of adventure.
'The culmination of our efforts in Operation Outreach!' Talk about making an entrance!
I'd be happy with only that, but suddenly there's clapping, standing, laughing! Seriously?!
I guess Val did say they were working on this for months and I'm the result of those months of effort, so it does make some sense.
Probably shouldn't think about it this way, but... It's the first time I've been so appreciated as the result of months of work since... well the day I was born I guess?
'This is an extra-dimensional entity brought here by our hard work and technical superiority! I don't want to call you a weapon...' Lady Cladis says leaning on the desk towards me.
'-but this is the definitive edge that will make our dreams of Global Conquest a reality!' Even louder applause? Wow, this whole world domination thing really is a popular idea around here.
Everyone needs a hobby, I suppose...
'~Hehehe~' I giggle and suddenly the eyes seem even more fixated on me than before; no way! They can hear me now?!
'Go ahead. Say a few words...' Lady Cladis all but confirms it!
Only problem is that now there's expectancy! There are eyes trained on me: some curious, some awed and others with apparently far less savoury intentions.
What do I say in a situation like this? Hi? Thanks for having me?
I'm no good at speaking in front of crowds, but suddenly I'm the alien in a close encounters kinda situation! This is first contact and I'm the weirdo from elsewhere!
'I look forward to working with you.' Oh man that was so lame! That was supposed to sound professional, like I'm here on business or some shit... instead I sounded like a nervous candidate who's feeling constipated at a job interview.
Fuck my life... Help?
'~Eheheh~' Lady Cladis breaks the awkward silence as everyone else waits for more with baited breath.
'Worry not my lovely, liquid lapdog. We can't all be great orators!' Lapdog...? Sure, I could get on board with that.
'What you see before you is the instrument of power we have been searching for!' I'm an instrument now?!
'Superhuman powers in liquid form! This can make you faster, stronger, better!' Guess it's nice to mean something at least. Sure beats the helpless, sorry individual I was in my old world!
Hmm, now that I think about it, why am I so reluctant to really embrace this new me?
Lady Cladis and her lackeys have a plan and a purpose; while that might require the kind of bloodshed I'm not exactly cut out for... they do need me!
I'm wanted here, even if that means being a weapon, a mere thing! I was basically just a thing in my old world, too! I existed just to work for someone else's benefit, to be a tool in a system I had no control over...
Honestly, given enough time I think I'd come around to this whole being a super-weapon thing.
'Thankyou, Lady Cladis.' I speak, interrupting our mighty leader before she can gush over my power any more. 'I understand that you want World Domination...' Go ahead, say it!
'I'll be happy to make that happen!' Ooh, I get it! The applause, the appreciation... They loved that! I can actually make that happen, can't I?
World Domination... I brushed it off, thought it might be silly... But the rules of this world seem very different to my own and a big part of me wants to see how far those rules can bend!
'Sssublime!' Lady Cladis hisses with pure evil genius aura; it's enough to make me bubble and squirm inside my little goldfish bowl at the centre of this new world.
'One question, Your Ladyship?' A new figure pipes up, an insanely tall blonde woman dressed as what I can only liken to the mythical Amazons. 'What do we call it?'
'Hmm, a pertinent question...' She's looking at me, didn't really think about this one.
Do I just go on being me...? My old name wouldn't really work, I think I need something special! Something that oozes evil, something edgey and “Hollywood” if I want to fit in with this weird world.
That's the kinda thing that would fly in a world like this, right? Is that even a good idea? I'm supposed to be a weapon, right? A secret weapon?
'I have no name.' OK that's maybe edgier than anything else I could have said... 'My existence is a secret, the truth of my power restricted to this room.'
It makes sense, honestly it does! If I become some named character, suddenly they know I'm not just a liquid suit able to leap from wearer to wearer providing incredible power at a moment's notice.
If we're actually going to be successful and make my presence count then surely our enemies can't know I exist, right? I think it makes sense...
Nobody else seems to agree with me though. There are dumbfounded expressions, glances back and forth; god dammit I've broken protocol again, haven't I?
'As you can all tell, our new friend has a very unique way of thinking!' Thankyou, Your Ladyship! Glad to know that the mastermind at least listens and understands.
It's a little bit degrading to be brushed off like that, but I'll take her understanding as a bonus.
It'll make things an awful lot easier; can't imagine how frustrating it'd be to know what's gonna happen and not be listened to... like yesterday with that meddling spy!
If she'd have just shot her then she'd not come back to haunt us later... I just know that's gonna happen, too!
It always does and up to now (almost) everytime I've said “it always does”, it comes true!
'So it worked...' Another new voice pipes up, this one belonging to a redhead who looks like yet another cliché at a fancy dress party.
Like seriously, we're talking the absolute image of the “Southern Belle” stereotype. We're just ticking off boxes at this point, but there is comfort in familiarity.
'-whadda we do with it, suga'?' Maybe I don't have to worry about sounding cringe after all...
'Why not try it and see, Madam Pope?' Oh that's my cue... I surge back into the pipes as I hear Lady Cladis turn to an intercom device; I emerge onto the outstretched, gloved hand of this Southern Beauty who gasps in shock.
'Mercy me!' She exclaims exactly how I imagined she would, but what do I do about all these frills and lacey bits? Hmm, no reason I ought to limit myself to a single style...
Madam Pope seems like the kind of woman who's simply fastidious in maintaining her appearance, so I'll try to adapt!
It's a struggle to separate myself into individual pieces of an outfit, but I merge with her gloves first, then leap onto her audacious dress, smothering all of it in my latexy black as I go.
Seeping down to the lowest layers, I finally meet the comforting embrace of a new wearer's skin and tightly cover every inch that she keeps out of sight.
It's clear to me now that this upper crust socialite's presentation is hiding a true weapon of a body underneath: she's genuinely ripped and by all indications probably a trained killing machine!
'~Oh myyyy!~' Not easy to keep up that “chaste” persona when you have living rubber slime making your body sing, is it, M'lady?
'Fascinating...' I hear Lady Cladis say over the shocked hubbub while I settle myself into a hardened, latex imitation of a proud socialite's attire. '-do you still feel its power, Madam Pope?'
She enquires as my new wearer raises her new, polished lace glove and wriggles her fingers around inside me.
'Oh, ahh feel somethin' alright!' She says with an expression that warps from shock to some kind of wicked hunger. There's the real villainess beneath the disguise!
'Why not give it a go?' The great one offers as a figure suddenly tumbles in through the door, landing face down on the floor with a grunt.
The door slides shut behind him and the whole room turns its attention to the battered and bruised man on the floor.
We stand and turn with a poise and elegance only rivalled by Lucretia herself. Without another world, the Southern Belle whips out a folding hand fan; a weapon of choice I imagine?
What am I saying? Of course it's a weapon, there are dagger blades hidden in every joint that she can extend at the push of a button; talk about self-defence!
Naturally I'm all over it already and clearly Madam Pope realises her new power the moment she fans herself with it for the first time. Were her hair not so carefully tied up it would have unfurled like she'd been hit by gale-force wind!
'Wha- What are you people up to in here?!' The battered man asks as he struggles to his feet, his modesty barely covered by the tightest pair of y-fronts I've ever seen.
Contrast that with my own wearer's new, fetish ball friendly layers of creaking, living rubber and it's clear who is the better person here...
I don't know if I should think that way, but I really do think that way! The life of a living costume perhaps?
'Suga'-' As if it's second nature, my wearer surges forwards, almost gliding across the floor. I help in that regards, turning my soles to sludge and sliding across the floor to suit her style.
In a split second we're up in his face with two fingers under his chin, tilting his head up to meet my wearer's own in our bolt-upright stance.
'-are ya sure ya should be asking such questions?' Oh now that's intimidating!
'Ahh think you should just relax...' She purrs with sultry, intoxicating suaveness and I watch the man's eyes almost gloss over.
What is this, some kind of intoxicant on her breath? Pure seductive power? Whatever it is, it's obvious to me that my current wearer is a natural at using her charms to get her way.
She's a natural at assassination, too. I know because she's lowered her fan and extended the blades without her victim even noticing.
'-and quietly die.' Her hand suddenly flips over to snag his throat in a cast-iron grip; barely an instant later she scythes through his centre mass with the fan!
It's all one, violent and rehearsed routine, but it seems this new power even catches Madam Pope off-guard because she's suddenly holding the top half of a man up above her head.
The bottom half? Well, that's gonna take some cleaning up, holy hell!
I gave her all my power, moved with her as she did it - more out of curiosity than anything - and yet even I'm surprised by the results!
In two... clean in two! Like... how much force does that even take with all the bone and other mushier, squishier... stuff?
There must be a limit to my strength, but right now I'm feeling pretty fucking powerful!
'~Mhmhmhmhmmmm!~' Apparently not as powerful as my wearer's feeling. 'Oh ahh see!' She purrs in sadistic delight as she looks into the shocked eyes of the cleanly bisected victim.
'Ahh do declare that we may be onto a winner here, girls!' She enthuses as I feel her fingers squeeze tighter and tighter around the neck we're effortlessly holding aloft. Sure, why not... He's already dead I guess?
I put my all into it, contracting my fingers along with my wearer and the soft, wet crunches tell the tale!
Like an empty soda can it just... crumples!
'Any other questions?' I head Lady Cladis smugly ask behind us; Madam Pope half turns to look at her, smirking.
'Naww suga', ahh think we're good!' She smirks then turns back to toss away what she's holding in disgust with a dainty flick of her wrist; '-Eyuchk!' She exclaims and we serenely glide back to her seat.
When I say glide, I mean glide! I take care of everything, sliding my wearer across the floor like a living travelator then I aid Madam Pope in gracefully retaking her seat.
A moment later I'm surging back down her arm into the pipe I emerged from to retake my own “seat” in the centre of the table.
That's four, then... Four people I've killed now if we include the two mooks Lady Cladis killed while wearing me. This one felt a little more... gratifying, I think? Weird when I think about it.
The one with Val was in self-defence, but this...? This was just a straight-up public execution! A display of my power... Sure, let's call it that! I had to show what I can do, prove my worth to the organisation...
Can I even make myself believe that? More and more I'm coming to one very clear conclusion about all this.
What's my conclusion? Well, simply that I seem to be all but helpless to resist whatever my wearer wants me to do!
'Well then, onto our main order of business...!' The boss announces, beaming from ear-to-ear.
If my wearer wants me to kill, then I guess people are going to die...
'Namely: How we're going to take over the world!'
And if my wearer wants World Domination... ~Eh-heh...~ Then she's going to get World Domination! ~Eh-heh-heheh-ha-ha-HA!!~