Ashley, Nicole, Jeanne and Ella had always loved dressing up in different costumes. They all shared a background related to the arts in some way or another, one with theatre, other with photography… and they had managed to get by as cosplayers. They worked hard and it wasn’t always smooth sailing, but the bills got paid at the end of the day. As autonomous workers, they were hired to dress as some character plenty of times, and this last order was nothing new to them, but the sum the customer offered certainly was. Not only it was exorbitantly large, having them read the offer several times to make sure they were not imagining it nor had they read it wrong, but she offered to pay half of it beforehand. Of course, their first reaction was one of scepticism and mistrust, as scammers and those that would take advantage abounded. So better play it safe than to let the payment blind them. They had gotten in touch with their would-be client, to make sure it was fair business and not a scam, and they decided to go ahead with it. Sure, the woman was quirky and a bit odd, leaning into the eccentric side of things, but she seemed alright, and the payment always hovered above their heads and in the back of their minds, chipping away and making a place for itself. She provided them a mountain of information and details about the idea she had; outfit designs, colour palettes, hair tones and eye colours… she really was into it, and as they slowly warmed up to the idea, they accepted.

The beforehand payment was almost immediate, which allowed them to bring out their best game. They carefully put the outfits together, following the instructions and explanations given to the letter, taking care of even the tiniest details. Even when they were given plenty of information, they searched up and down for referential material to make sure they absolutely nailed the result, as they took pride in it. They bought the necessary materials to put together the outfits, as well as some contact lenses to make sure the colours of their eyes were exactly as requested. Through rehearsals, the tried and tested method of trial and error, they worked their way through, and their client was more than eager to lend a helping hand wherever she could, whether it was with the nitty-gritty of the excruciating detail or giving more general explanations and direction. It was time consuming, but it was already worth it. At least, that was the general idea shared between the four of them.

And finally, the big day. There was excitement in the air, mostly due to the rest of the generous payment, as the four of them drove to the meeting point, a warehouse that was slightly apart where the client would have set up everything for the photoshoot. Ashley drove the car down the road with expertise while keeping her excitement in check, making sure the four of them made it safely and on time. Stopping the car in the warehouse’s parking lot, they saw what they guessed was their client’s vehicle, a SUV that didn’t stand out but was no slouch or relic either.

- Alright, here we are. Everyone out and grab the gear.

- Aye.

Ashley couldn’t help but let out a small smile at Sarah’s antics, as she was already getting into character it seemed. She stepped out too, Nicole and Ella waiting for them with the four bags, the four of them walking towards the building’s entrance. It wasn’t anything special, and in time it would most likely take a more run-down appearance, but for now it held on. Besides, they had taken photos before in worse looking locals and rooms. As they approached, their client came out to meet them, waving at them and waiting for them to approach. She was as eccentric as the other times they had met her, her short hair having an ever so slight touch of purple with a long lock to her right side of her face. And had it not been for the slight purple colour it could almost blend with her pale skin, her very pale skin. None of them knew how she had achieved it, but it most certainly wasn’t natural. And it only made contrast even more visible with the black lipstick she used, as well as the dark dress she wore. It was a single piece outfit that she wore along two independent sleeves and high boots, and it was also as revealing as it could be, with a long opening that left plenty of her cleavage visible, only narrowing as it went down.

- Is everything ready?

- It is. – Answered Ashley. – Where can we change?

- Right this way, follow me.

Walking behind the woman, they entered the warehouse. It was ample, spacious and well illuminated; not what they had imagined at first glance. Maybe because of the location, slightly apart from the urban centre, maybe due to its exterior appearance, Ashley expected a more… run-down interior that, despite being ample enough, had definitely seen better days. And the glances her three partners threw around gave away their thoughts were not far from her own. It was surprisingly suiting for their patroness; whose exterior gave away a rather different image and concealed the passion she had in her interior. After a couple of minutes of navigating the interior, she opened a door that led to an ample room where they could suit up and dress up. Well lit, with mirrors in the wall and even a couch for them to sit. They entered the room as she motioned them to do so.

- I’ll prepare the final touches. You get ready and I’ll come back to you.

- You got it.

This time it had been Nicole who had answered, but she took it nonetheless. Closing the door behind her and leaving them to dress up. Had that been a laugh? They looked at each other for a moment. It had sounded a bit like an evil cackle, but maybe she was just too excited. Whatever, they had a job to do, and opening the bags they started dressing up. They disrobed and they put on the outfits, these being rather comfortable despite their very revealing nature, but their tight fit leaving little to imagination despite covering their most intimate areas. They put on the stockings and the gloves, rather unique looking high-heeled shoes and they faced the mirrors for the final adjustments. They put their eye contacts on, leaving them with unique eye colours and even more unique pupil shapes. With their hair perfectly concealed under the bright and colourful wigs, they were ready, standing before the mirror to make sure none had made any mistakes.

Ashley wore a single piece outfit that combined black and lilac, one that covered her torso while leaving a very generous opening on her well-endowed bust and stretching into her arms. Her legs were covered by long stockings that reached her thighs, each foot with a pointy high-heeled shoe. Her wig followed this palette, a long lilac mane tied in two long pigtails that fell behind her while two locks framed her face and her blue eyes.

Next to her stood Nicole, similar both in height and build. Her outfit was just as sexy, a single piece that covered her torso with a considerable window on her cleavage, but instead of stretching to her arms it surrounded her neck instead, with a choker of sorts. After her bare shoulders two long gloves covered her arms entirely, the legs also covered to her knees by the stockings. Her high-heels were similar to Ashley’s, her colour palette being black and white, her long white hair fitting right in with two bangs of her own framing her face. Similar to those of her partner, but slightly longer.

Next was Sarah, one that broke the pattern in more than one sense. Slightly shorter than the rest, her outfit wasn’t that different, a one piece that covered her torso and arms leaving her armpits revealed, high-heeled shoes and stockings that reached well to her thighs. But where her partners had black, she had white, combined with a light blue also present in her wig, a short hair with two long locks around her face. And her red eyes weren’t the only contrast, as her bust was smaller than the rest but she made up with a very shapely rear.

Finally, and following the trend established by Jeanne’s outfit, but taking it in a completely different direction, was Ella. Her outfit had more in common with a bikini, leaving the underside of her breasts exposed. Although it would be easier to list what it covered, doing so with the upper side of her breasts and neck while her hips were only covered the bare minimum. She was not missing her own set of leggings and gloves, as well as high-heeled shoes. She had a palette of white and green, her wig consisting of a long pale green hair tied in a long ponytail, her purple eyes vividly contrasting with her overall lighter colours. And worth noting was that she was also the tallest and curviest of them all, not that the rest weren’t attractive nor curvy, but she definitely stood out. This was the reason she had been assigned the design from the get go by pretty much everyone.

- Looking good Ella.

- Shut it Sarah.

- She hasn’t said any lies. -Pitched in Nicole.

- Yeah, that makes three of us.

- I don’t mind but… -Said Ella, a clear blush in her face. – Thank you, I guess.

- You’re welcome. – Answered Sarah with a grin that widened by the second. – Thundertits.

Ella’s anger was about to come out, maybe blurt something in return, but she had no chance, as the door opened slightly and something was thrown in. A small canister, that with a short and high-pitched noise started filling the room with a purplish gas. They tried to get out immediately, but the substance was both highly effective and quick to take effect. Among coughing and wheezing, their legs failed them, having them either slump to the ground or back into the couch. Their throats itched, making them cough and wheeze, but they were not being asphyxiated. Of course, none of them were able to rationalize this as something else, some sort of powerful narcotic, as their vision faded to black and their bodies became inert and unresponsive. Powerless to stop it, their consciousness faded into a black void.

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None were able to tell what was what awoke them. Each had something, but for Ashley it was a wave of sudden heat that brought her back to life. And she wished not to have done so, as it was impossibly clear that she was definitely not in the warehouse anymore. Nor were the other three women that were with her for that matter. It was a dimly lit place, a factory of some sort, as the whole structure was made of metal that barely reflected what little light allowed visibility. Whether it came from outside through some opening, or from the inside due to a source they were not able to see, it was not looking good. At all. The factory had pipes everywhere, going back and forth in every direction imaginable, while valves hissed and let out occasional bursts of steam. There was a humming sound that never went away, not being loud enough to be noticeable at first but persistent enough to make sure one eventually noticed it, whether it was willing or not.

Groans and grunts gave away that the rest were either coming around or fully realizing the situation, Ashley finally paying attention to their situation. They were trapped inside some cell of sorts, an energy cell that glowed with an ominous purple light, and one that held them firmly in place one next to the other. She could still turn her head a bit, seeing Nicole next to her and Ella and Sarah being to the right most likely.

- The hell is this?!

- Oh, you are awake. Good, I was starting to get bored.

The voice that answered Sarah’s outburst was eerily familiar, and their morale sank as who was most likely their captor emerged from the shadows. Very pale skin, equally pale hair with a slight tint of purple, black lipstick that complemented her dark witch-like outfit. It was her, no doubt about it.

- What did you do?!

- Nothing. Yet.

- I wouldn’t say you did nothing; this is obviously not the warehouse. -Said Ella, venom in her voice.

- Very observant, I see you do not have tits for a brain too.

The woman walked before them, pacing slowly back and forth and ignoring the murderous glares the women shot her, as well as the never-ending list of profanities that Sarah threw at her. She went from one console to another without paying any attention to them, and if she was, she put up a very convincing façade. Then again, they were bound to the energy prison with metallic cables that held their arms and legs in place, effortlessly bypassing the cell. No wonder she kept minding her business, they had enough on their plate already. The purple energy rectangle held the four of them in, immobile and helpless, but as the commands the woman entered were processed, the hissing of the factory intensified, as a low metallic groaning became louder and louder. It did not take long until four metallic pipes came into scene, groaning and screeching as they descended from the previously hidden spots on the ceiling. Or maybe they weren’t hidden at all, but blended in perfectly, none of them noticing until it was too late. The rusty and old pipes groaned as they approached them slowly, like monstrous and stiff worms that hung over their prey, the woman watching in delight. Ashley felt her heart pound like a hammer on her chest, and given the panting that came from the other women, they were just as nervous and terrified. However, with a metallic clank, the pipes stopped dead on their tracks at their captor’s command.

- You four will do. Any last words before we proceed?

She only got silence and venomous stares, if one ignored the never-ending list of profanities that came from Sarah. She had stopped as the pipes crept closer and closer, but she was back swearing in full swing. The other three simply wished the worst upon the woman that held them prisoner. But Ashley took the offer regardless, if this was it, why not ask the reason?

- Why?

- I’m glad you asked. You see, there is a certain… group that I wish to free this world from. I’ve tried, time and again, but with no avail. No wonder, given these are goddesses I’m up against.

“Oh, for f… kill me now.”

- I have fought them again and again, through different worlds and plenty of possible methods. Then it dawned on me, if they could find help in other dimensions, why wouldn’t I? What was preventing dear old me from… acquiring some new minions? More so when I have the means to give them power.

- If you want to rule the world, why not use that power on yourself? -Asked Nicole.

- Fair question. But I don’t seek to rule the world. If someone else comes along and dethrones me, then I’ll gladly step down.

- Dethrone you? When you claim to have so much power? – Barked Ella.

- Things hardly are fair, darling. Now, enough chit-chat.

She entered a new command on the console next to her, the pipes coming back to life once more. Their approach was uninterrupted by the energy cell, simply going through it and stopping before their respective chests. They didn’t know what to expect from them, maybe being stabbed? Or some sort of gas? They had seen plenty of creative uses in fiction, and possibilities were aplenty.

Regardless, having them start vomiting a thick and viscous silvery liquid wasn’t among them. It splashed down their bodies, droplets of it trickling downwards and eventually re-joining the puddle that was forming under them. It was icy cold, the sensation only ramping up the intensity as it steadily engulfed them. Pooling under them, it started to fill their glowing and see-through prison, swallowing them, while they could do nothing but wait. It was slow, almost insultingly so, but it kept filling and going upward, never stopping. And as the silver crept up, a numbing feeling spread through their bodies, which only spread further the more they were exposed to it.

It was an odd feeling, as there was no pain, just the chilly caress of the silver, and the numbness it followed. It reached their knees, going past them and trying to reach for their crotches. And as it did, they found themselves not caring at all. They were simply waiting in silence, not flinching nor protesting as the silver finally reached their hips and invaded their most intimate areas. It flooded their insides, making its way around their body, engulfing them from the outside and the inside. But they had nothing but cold, uncaring apathy.

Their eyes would occasionally move and focus here or there, but they didn’t offer any resistance at all. The silver crept up their bodies, inside and outside, approaching their chests, and they remained silent. Not a single insult, not a protest, just silence. And yet, the moment their captor opened up a chest, revealing four glowing crystal fragments, their eyes were drawn to them. Four simple shards of crystal that glowed with a crimson colour. Their form was, however, rather elaborate. A circle with a vertical line that cut through the top of it, a symbol that plenty of electronics had.

The silver had engulfed their bodies completely, now swirling around the neck as if it was a living pool of alloy; a metallic monster that swallowed them whole, consuming them from the inside and the outside. But they never complained about it, the numbness having reduced them to little more than ragdolls. Four apathetic dolls that waited in silence, being engulfed completely by the metal. There was not an insult, begging, resistance or a tiny whimper as it did so. They had simply stood in silence. And now she was all alone, keeping it company.

The metal rippled and contracted, fully adopting the form of the luminous prison that held the four women, now the space completely taken by the silvery metal. But that was good enough, as their captor approached the cell and reached for the crystals with her hand. She knew roughly where each of the women’s chest was, and with four swift moves, she placed a crystal on four different parts of the metal. She had no trouble doing so, but she didn’t want to tempt fate, so four swift moves were enough. She watched how the crystal shard remained on the surface, although not for long. The silver, ever hungry, devoured them immediately, drowning them inside it. The reaction was instantaneous.

- Jackpot.

It started to ripple and move, to contract and expand what little could in the cell. It started as spasms, happening at random and without reason, but as she watched in silence, things changed. The contractions became uniform, almost rhythmical, and the ripples originated from four clear spots in the metal mass. It was almost mesmerizing, watching the ripples move across the metal as if it was water, all while the main body contracted only to return to its original form. But she didn’t have to wait long, as four cocoon-like bodies started to emerge.

It was a slow process, but the more they tried to separate from the main metallic body, the smaller this one became. The cocoons contracted, time and again, absorbing the metal around them until all that remained was them. Once the metal was concentrated in those four bodies, their forms started to change. For her it was an absolutely marvellous sight, her lips curling in a satisfied and vicious smile.

The cocoons became slender and stylized, adopting a humanoid form. Long and slender bodies, forming two upper and two lower limbs, which soon developed into five fingered hands and toeless feet respectively. Their bodies became lean and sensual, displaying curves and making her feel a tinge of jealousy. Their legs became defined and solid, shedding their amorphous and blob-like form and becoming long and slender silver columns. Two wide hips followed, along a lean and toned body that only added fuel to the fire that was her envy. Each of the silver women developed a generous bust, their previously flat chests inflating and becoming big and round each blessed with a bust much bigger than hers. Their arms were fully defined, long and graceful limbs that ended in delicate shoulders and giving way to a lean neck. Arfoire could feel her smile become tense and forced.

Their heads were identical, with not the tiniest difference between them. Statuesque faces with small noses and full, seductive lips. Their transformation was complete as each of them formed a long and flowing mane that fell behind them, like a cascade of silver. Although, they were not quite finished, as on top of their generous breasts their cores came to the surface. The red crystals having seemingly lost their glow, reignited immediately with the crimson light, and applied on the quartet of silver women the one change that made them different, as a wave of colour overtook their hair. The silver of one became a purple colour while another took a pale grey, a third an icy blue and the fourth and last became a green.

Their eyes opened as one, all pupils glowing with the same crimson and looking at her for orders. She immediately deactivated the prison to allow them to come out, which they did, standing silently before her. Arfoire couldn’t quite believe it, but she had done it. Four minions with the power of the CPUs at her command, silent and waiting for orders.

- Alright… your names shall be…

- We already possess callings. – Informed the purple one, much to the surprise of their creator.

- Excuse me?

- Core 01, reporting. - Said the purple one.

- Core 02, reporting. – Repeated the grey one.

- Core 03, reporting. – Echoed the blue one.

- Core 04, reporting. – Finished the green one.

- That’s… good…

- Current objective: Secure our dominance over this world by eliminating anyone that could pose a threat. Should we be defeated, we will serve that who has managed to do so. – Recited the purple one in a monotone voice. - Is this correct?

- Uh, yes! Of course!

- Understood.

It was a single word, but one that oozed a terrifying coldness. She was caught completely by surprise, the cores of her minions flashing as a battle rigging formed around their arms. Solid weapons of black metal that brought her down in the blink of an eye. The green one held her legs, the grey and the blue one an arm each, and the purple one held her throat. She could easily feel that the oxygen was running out, and before she could even try and say a single word, the purple minion made her move.

Opening the palm of her hand, the silver flowed from her arm, forming a small blob that floated. The metal moved freely and fluidly, joining the blob that levitated in the palm, making it larger as it spun over itself gently and slowly. It was a mesmerizing sight, or it would have been, if it wasn’t violently thrusted down her throat. Only then was she freed, left to struggle and wriggle as the metal made its way down. As it did so, the colder she felt, and a numbing feeling followed, spreading from the inside out as the metal consumed her body and her mind. She was rendered as apathetic and inert as her victims before, and soon, her world faded to grey.

And yet, in that monochrome fog, images flashed by at a blinding speed. Forms, silhouettes and shapes; blurry enough not to recognize them while feeling strangely familiar. But all was for naught, as a crimson glow overtook all of it, spreading from a small point and bathing everything in its light. It spread further, getting brighter and brighter, until everything else faded, and only the crimson light remained. And then her eyes opened.

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The four silver women had watched their would-be captor and leader transform before their eyes, but their expressions remained as emotionless as cold as when they had first emerged. They watched the silver devour her from the inside out, deforming her body and reshaping it into a leaner form. From her solid and toeless feet to her long and wavy silver mane, all the way through her long and lean legs, wide hips and generous breasts, she was an exact copy of them. With the exception that she did not possess a core of her own, the two crimson eyes looking empty and lost.

But, as the silver reshaped them, they had seen what the vision she previously possessed was. They were to rid the world of its goddesses, an incompetent, impetuous and petty group that was prone to multiple and repeated failures in management. Once they had achieved that, they were to act as the ultimate trial. Should anyone defeat them, it would be worthy to rule, and they were to defend it by any and all means. But that also meant they had to rid the world of their captor, for she was in the same position as the goddesses, even if she lacked much of their power. And there were also other notions, images of four women that were oddly familiar and awoke in them something that they were not able to rationalize.

- Core 01, inquiry.

- Go ahead 02.

- How are we to proceed to achieve the main goal?

- Currently unknown. Additional input from other cores is welcome.

- Suggestion.

- Go ahead 04.

- Swarm the targets individually. Deliver a striking blow before any reinforcements can arrive.

- Suggestion.

- Go ahead 03.

- Use the newly acquired subordinate to lure them into an ambush. Eliminate the targets in a single decisive fight.

Their monotone and mechanical voices fell silent, as the suggestions were processed and compared.

- Both suggestions are valid. – Said 01. – Suggestion: explore the surrounding area to secure useful resources before formulating a final plan.

- Understood.

The other three cores answered as one, and the four of them brought out their rigging to explore the surroundings as swiftly and efficiently as possible. Hovering and flying was an easy task for them, their rigging allowing not only to do so but to analyse possible useful objects in a quick and effective manner. And yet, for all their abilities, none of them detected a shadow running off, a silent observer that none had noticed.