Hell Hath no Fury
a
Trust Machines story
by
clancy688
Attention: This story contains extremely brutal violence. You have been warned!
Irritated, Natasha scurried towards the source of the commotion. This was her final day as a Scorpion Girl waitress and she didn't want to end the evening with cleaning up the debris of a catfight.
Today there was a special event at Monster Wars. There had been only half the number of fights which were normally scheduled for the evening, instead, the large scaffold and the accompanying rest area had been neatly decorated, even a live band was playing next to the Scorpion Bar. All of this had been another brainstorm of Salvatore's. He'd realized that many of Monster Wars' spectators and fighters had their bored girlfriends with them while they were watching the fights. In order to not lose those women (and their boyfriends) as customers, he'd had the idea to use this evening to stage some kind of girl's only Monster Wars cocktail party, where the girls could befriend each other, chat about the weather, the newest Venn fashion, the average number of limbs their boyfriends lost during a fight, such things. And, over the evening, discover that Monster Wars wasn't that boring.
Well, it had been working... until now. Natasha reflected as she pushed her way through the growing crowd towards the two blazing women.
"...I tell you what, you wouldn't even be able to pull piss out of booth when the instructions were written on the heel, so why would you know anything about proper make-up application?" a blonde with a sparkling green dress barked now at her opponent, a glowering red-head dressed in a strapless blue gown.
"Yeah?" the red-head sneered. "As far as I see it, I wouldn't even trust you to paint an easter egg, much less your face!"
The blonde reared up to retort something as Natasha wriggled herself between the two girls, using one pincer each to keep them from turning on each other. "Ladies!" she said conciliating, putting as much tranquility in her voice as possible, "Please, you're disturbing the other customers. I'm sure you'll be able to sort out your-"
"The hell we can!" the red-head interrupted heatedly. "I can! She can't! She has the emotional intelligence of a five-year old, can only bark and scream when someone is confronting her with the truth!"
The blonde's head seemed to transform into a red balloon, becoming puffy and taking a dangerous shade of red.
"The 'truth' you're calling this bullshit you're sprouting? Emotional intelligence of a five-year old? Look at yourself, bitch! Who of us is only capable of throwing insults around?"
And again, both furies were screaming at each other, nearly deafening poor Natasha who was caught in the hurricane's eye. At least she was now somehow getting a picture of the situation. Apparently, the red-head had pointed out a tiny flaw in the blonde's make-up and the woman hadn't taken this well. And now it looked like the harmless quarrel had escalated worse than the First World War.
Finally, Natasha had enough.
"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" she bellowed with all of her mobster's experience, and surprised by the tiny waitress' organ, both woman obeyed and looked at her startled. Satisfied, Natasha glowered at them. Then she took a deep breath, donned a false smile and continued in a pleasant voice.
"Ladies, I fear that both of you are disturbing our other guests. I'd therefore ask you to either reconcile or leave this establishment to continue your duel at another place."
Immediately Natasha realized that she'd done a big mistake with this wording, because the blonde's face lightened up with an idea.
"That's it! That's a good idea. Thank you...!"
"This was merely a phrase of-" Natasha desperately tried to correct her mistake, but it was already too late. The blonde wasn't listening anymore, instead she eyed the crowd, finally discovering what she was looking for.
Swiftly she bounced towards a group of women. "Excuse me, I'll borrow this for a moment." the blonde said and, without waiting for an answer, grabbed one onlooker's satin glove and removed it from her hand.
"Hey, that's my sis-" the robbed woman sputtered, but the blonde wasn't listening anymore. Instead she walked towards the waiting red-head and smacked her the glove right into the face.
"I challenge you to a duel of honor!" she barked, pointing towards the arena. "To the death. Down there. Bring your second, I've already mine. You accept, bitch?"
The red-headed's pupils went large as the blonde's challenge registered, but then her face became hard. Neither she nor the blonde shed any glance to the outraged onlooker who was crawling on the floor, looking for her glove.
"I will, and I have also a second at body, hag." the challenged sneered. "And I'll splatter the arena with your guts, just wait!" furiously she turned towards Natasha who was still trying to cope with the radically changed situation.
"You belong to the staff, don't you? So, can you make the arena ready for us? I'd think any monster's visage this bitch chooses to turn into will be an improvement to her current face!"
Inwardly, Natasha felt close to weeping. What had she done in her previous life to deserve this? Had she been Pol Pot, perhaps? She composed herself for the futile attempt to tell those two why she couldn't allow them do duel... wait a moment!
Natasha's thoughts slid to a screeching halt. Why couldn't she allow them to duel? It would... solve her problems, wouldn't it? Indeed, the two nutcases would be gone from her waiting area, everything would be calm again and nobody would be bothered while they cheerfully hacked each other apart in the arena. Was this really a bad solution? Hardly. Truth to tell, the clean-up crews would have to tidy up the arena afterwards, but that wouldn't affect the waitresses, now would it...?
Slowly, Natasha began to smile.
This idea might be not so bad after all... she reflected.
"Okay, ladies." she said. "If you would please follow me...?"
********************************************
Disoriented, Nick stumbled out of the Venn Machine. There were several peculiarities which registered. First, the fact that he was coming out of a Venn Machine. Normally, when he was clothing, Susan was wearing him to bed so that he'd change back somewhere during the night. Second, this specific Venn Machine's location. This was the Monster Wars Venn Machine, so what the hell...? Third, there was Susan standing in front of him, only in her underwear but with an aura that furious that he'd have liked to crawl back into the booth on the spot. Fourth, there was an equally nude, equally furious read-head present as well. Fifth, there was the cute new Scorpion Girl waitress wedged in between them, her face looking as if she was caught in some kind of natural disaster. And sixth...
"What the hell? Zoe? Nick?" the familiar man who came out of the opposing booth asked confused.
"Hi, Darren." Nick responded. "Please don't ask. I have no idea what the hell's going either."
"You know each other?" Susan spat now, and it sounded like a curse.
"Yeah, why do you know her second, Darren?" the red-head demanded and both women locked their eyes in a scary stare.
"Um... we have fought against each other a couple of times... and we have similar fighting styles, so we decided to keep in touch... could anyone tell me what's going on here, please?" desperately, Darren looked at the Scorpion Girl for any hints.
The waitress sighed. "Gentlemen,-" she said then. "Susan challenged Zoe to a fight to the death over a matter of honor. Susan named her boyfriend Nick her second, and Zoe chose Darren. The arena has already been prepared, so all you have to do is to choose forms. Susan, as the challenger, will begin."
Darren and Nick could only gape at the revelation. But their girlfriends left them no time to stomach the information.
Purposefully, Susan stepped forward. Darren gulped as the raging fury went eye to eye with him, and somehow, despite her spectacular body, he didn't dare to look at her bra- and panties-clad figure.
Against better knowledge, Nick started to voice an objection. "Are you sure you're not rushing-"
"The bitch insulted me." Susan interjected, her eyes flashing invisible daggers. "I want her to suffer. Let's go."
"Yes, Ma'am..." Nick obeyed meekly. At least he'd tried. In this state, Susan was an avalanche. You either tried going with the flow or getting out of the way, but you absolutely didn't try to stop it with bare hands.
"What the hell? Zoe? Nick?" the familiar man who came out of the opposing booth asked confused.
"Hi, Darren." Nick responded. "Please don't ask. I have no idea what the hell's going either."
"You know each other?" Susan spat now, and it sounded like a curse.
"Yeah, why do you know her second, Darren?" the red-head demanded and both women locked their eyes in a scary stare.
"Um... we have fought against each other a couple of times... and we have similar fighting styles, so we decided to keep in touch... could anyone tell me what's going on here, please?" desperately, Darren looked at the Scorpion Girl for any hints.
The waitress sighed. "Gentlemen,-" she said then. "Susan challenged Zoe to a fight to the death over a matter of honor. Susan named her boyfriend Nick her second, and Zoe chose Darren. The arena has already been prepared, so all you have to do is to choose forms. Susan, as the challenger, will begin."
Darren and Nick could only gape at the revelation. But their girlfriends left them no time to stomach the information.
Purposefully, Susan stepped forward. Darren gulped as the raging fury went eye to eye with him, and somehow, despite her spectacular body, he didn't dare to look at her bra- and panties-clad figure.
Against better knowledge, Nick started to voice an objection. "Are you sure you're not rushing-"
"The bitch insulted me." Susan interjected, her eyes flashing invisible daggers. "I want her to suffer. Let's go."
"Yes, Ma'am..." Nick obeyed meekly. At least he'd tried. In this state, Susan was an avalanche. You either tried going with the flow or getting out of the way, but you absolutely didn't try to stop it with bare hands.
********************************************
There was a tiny little doubt nagging in the back of Susan's mind, asking if this was really a good idea. But her fury squashed it effortlessly. No. The bitch should pay. Hard.
"Um..." Nick's voice came over the interface. "I will design you a body which can fight and is easy to understand for a beginner. I'll start with a Siberian Tiger and add stronger claws as well as-"
"No." Susan said in a hard voice.
"Excuse me?" Nick sounded perplexed.
"No, I said. I want that bitch to fear me during the fight. A glorified kitty-cat with manicured nails isn't doing the job. I want you to transform me into something dreadful. Something which makes everyone quiver with fear..."
"Are you sure that you want to..." Nick asked doubtful, but Susan wasn't listening.
"I know! Make me a spider. A giant, hideous spider!"
Nick was choking on the other side. "A spider? Aren't you afraid of spiders?"
"That's the reason. Every woman is afraid of spiders. I bet she's as well. So make me a spider!"
"Are you really-"
"DO IT!"
Realizing a lost case, Nick sighed. "All right... if you insist. He was mumbling commands and then pressed the button.
"Um..." Nick's voice came over the interface. "I will design you a body which can fight and is easy to understand for a beginner. I'll start with a Siberian Tiger and add stronger claws as well as-"
"No." Susan said in a hard voice.
"Excuse me?" Nick sounded perplexed.
"No, I said. I want that bitch to fear me during the fight. A glorified kitty-cat with manicured nails isn't doing the job. I want you to transform me into something dreadful. Something which makes everyone quiver with fear..."
"Are you sure that you want to..." Nick asked doubtful, but Susan wasn't listening.
"I know! Make me a spider. A giant, hideous spider!"
Nick was choking on the other side. "A spider? Aren't you afraid of spiders?"
"That's the reason. Every woman is afraid of spiders. I bet she's as well. So make me a spider!"
"Are you really-"
"DO IT!"
Realizing a lost case, Nick sighed. "All right... if you insist. He was mumbling commands and then pressed the button.
As the Venn Machine's doors reappeared again, Susan moved her strange new body cautiously in the open. The many legs and the gigantic claws in her face felt weird, but not uncomfortable. She turned towards the mirror section which had been installed the previous week to give the fighters a glimpse of their changed body.
There she was standing, a giant spider, black and hideous, with a bulbous body, eight hairy legs and an beastly maw, the multitude of eyes above it looking dead and unfocused.
A part of her flinched as she confronted herself with her new shape, but mainly, she was pleased. She ground her giant face-fangs together, satisfied watching the monster in the mirror doing the same.
Then she turned towards the bitch and her gaping boyfriend. Swiftly, she strode over, her eight legs drumming on the floor, registering how her opponents' eyes were getting larger as she took in her nightmarish form.
Good. she thought. The bitch should be afraid of me.
She stopped in front of her, her fangs inches away from the red-head's face, opening her maw and starting salivating. Actually, she hadn't planned on the saliva part, it simply did happen somehow. But Susan had to admit that it probably made one hell of an impression. Although the bitch didn't retreat. So she had guts. Well, wouldn't help her in the end.
The red-head stared at her for a couple of moments and then opened her mouth.
"You know, that's really an improvement to your previous face." she sneered.
Would Susan still have possessed a chin, it would have hit the ground now. Instead, she simply ogled at the smiling woman and felt her fangs twitch in cold fury. Only slowly she managed to get her quivering body under control.
No, I can't attack her now. I don't want to really kill her after all. But I swear that in the arena, I'll finish her off... slowly.
Therefore she simply snarled contemptuously and stalked off towards her holding pen.
There she was standing, a giant spider, black and hideous, with a bulbous body, eight hairy legs and an beastly maw, the multitude of eyes above it looking dead and unfocused.
A part of her flinched as she confronted herself with her new shape, but mainly, she was pleased. She ground her giant face-fangs together, satisfied watching the monster in the mirror doing the same.
Then she turned towards the bitch and her gaping boyfriend. Swiftly, she strode over, her eight legs drumming on the floor, registering how her opponents' eyes were getting larger as she took in her nightmarish form.
Good. she thought. The bitch should be afraid of me.
She stopped in front of her, her fangs inches away from the red-head's face, opening her maw and starting salivating. Actually, she hadn't planned on the saliva part, it simply did happen somehow. But Susan had to admit that it probably made one hell of an impression. Although the bitch didn't retreat. So she had guts. Well, wouldn't help her in the end.
The red-head stared at her for a couple of moments and then opened her mouth.
"You know, that's really an improvement to your previous face." she sneered.
Would Susan still have possessed a chin, it would have hit the ground now. Instead, she simply ogled at the smiling woman and felt her fangs twitch in cold fury. Only slowly she managed to get her quivering body under control.
No, I can't attack her now. I don't want to really kill her after all. But I swear that in the arena, I'll finish her off... slowly.
Therefore she simply snarled contemptuously and stalked off towards her holding pen.
********************************************
Zoe watched the black-furred spider go. For a moment she'd thought that Susan would take her head off with those fangs, but thankfully she had stopped herself in time.
Well, that nearly went horribly wrong... Zoe thought. Still it hit bullseye and that was worth it.
"You changing me now?" she snapped at Darren who was still gawking at the leaving eight-legged shape of Nick's girlfriend. Taken aback by Zoe's rage, he followed her silently into the Machine.
Nervously, Darren licked his lips as he stared at the interface. "So your opponent has become a spider. As far as I've seen she's employing a thick exoskeleton, but she's not that well armed and probably quite a bit sluggish. So I'd say a swift shape with strong jaws and long canines to penetrate her armor, an enhanced saber-tooth tiger perhaps-"
"Fuck this." she snarled and Darren blinked.
"Um... what?"
"I bet the hag has transformed into a spider simply to scare me. But not with me! I'll return the favor to her."
Precariously, Darren looked at her. "Yes, that's what I'm saying, a saber-tooth tiger will-"
"You don't understand." she choked him off brusquely. "I want you to transform me into something which's making even her spider's ass shivering! Something even more hideous... yes, I know. A giant scorpion!"
Darren's resistance to his girlfriend's hare-brained schemed did neither take much longer than Nick's before, nor was it more successful.
So approximately one minute later, the door appeared again and Zoe crawled out on eight legs as well, pincers and tail raised threateningly.
Satisfied, she studied her body in the mirror, a large, brown scorpion with giant pincers and a hideous maw. Her whole body was so strange, with the ten limbs and the tail. Testing, Zoe shuffled her eight legs with disturbing ease, the hideous scorpion in the mirror doing the same. She had always wondered how the fighters managed to control their many limbs, claws and tentacles that well, after all, they weren't used to more than four limbs. No she knew the answer - when you changed, you simply felt at ease in your new body. Regardless of how that new body may look.
However mind-boggling that my sound... she contemplated. Me, at ease with being a scorpion! Still, it was true, and she clapped her pincers open and shut, followed by a few mock stings of her tail, movements which came natural.
Despite her body's incredible otherness suddenly being a scorpion felt totally normal, which made the whole thing even more crazy to her. Nevertheless, she'd aimed for this and the result was all she'd hoped for. The monster, she, looked absolutely terrifying. Just like Susan she had emerged with two giant fangs in her face, albeit not nearly as big, and just like Susan she rubbed them together in anticipation now.
So... she thought smugly while a vicious snarl broke free from her maw. Let's just see what you're now saying, hag.
Well, that nearly went horribly wrong... Zoe thought. Still it hit bullseye and that was worth it.
"You changing me now?" she snapped at Darren who was still gawking at the leaving eight-legged shape of Nick's girlfriend. Taken aback by Zoe's rage, he followed her silently into the Machine.
Nervously, Darren licked his lips as he stared at the interface. "So your opponent has become a spider. As far as I've seen she's employing a thick exoskeleton, but she's not that well armed and probably quite a bit sluggish. So I'd say a swift shape with strong jaws and long canines to penetrate her armor, an enhanced saber-tooth tiger perhaps-"
"Fuck this." she snarled and Darren blinked.
"Um... what?"
"I bet the hag has transformed into a spider simply to scare me. But not with me! I'll return the favor to her."
Precariously, Darren looked at her. "Yes, that's what I'm saying, a saber-tooth tiger will-"
"You don't understand." she choked him off brusquely. "I want you to transform me into something which's making even her spider's ass shivering! Something even more hideous... yes, I know. A giant scorpion!"
Darren's resistance to his girlfriend's hare-brained schemed did neither take much longer than Nick's before, nor was it more successful.
So approximately one minute later, the door appeared again and Zoe crawled out on eight legs as well, pincers and tail raised threateningly.
Satisfied, she studied her body in the mirror, a large, brown scorpion with giant pincers and a hideous maw. Her whole body was so strange, with the ten limbs and the tail. Testing, Zoe shuffled her eight legs with disturbing ease, the hideous scorpion in the mirror doing the same. She had always wondered how the fighters managed to control their many limbs, claws and tentacles that well, after all, they weren't used to more than four limbs. No she knew the answer - when you changed, you simply felt at ease in your new body. Regardless of how that new body may look.
However mind-boggling that my sound... she contemplated. Me, at ease with being a scorpion! Still, it was true, and she clapped her pincers open and shut, followed by a few mock stings of her tail, movements which came natural.
Despite her body's incredible otherness suddenly being a scorpion felt totally normal, which made the whole thing even more crazy to her. Nevertheless, she'd aimed for this and the result was all she'd hoped for. The monster, she, looked absolutely terrifying. Just like Susan she had emerged with two giant fangs in her face, albeit not nearly as big, and just like Susan she rubbed them together in anticipation now.
So... she thought smugly while a vicious snarl broke free from her maw. Let's just see what you're now saying, hag.
********************************************
Stunned, Darren watched his arachnid girlfriend scurry away while Nick approached from behind.
"What the hell?" his friend asked accusingly. "You've changed your girlfriend into a scorpion? You mad?"
Darren whirled around. "She made me do it! And what's with you? If you wouldn't have changed your girlfriend into a goddamn spider, my girlfriend probably wouldn't have chosen to be a scorpion now!"
Nick winced. "She made me do it as well... oh Jesus, I just hope it's over swiftly. Susan is a great girl, but sometimes she's just a mite stubborn."
"I know what you mean..." Darren sighed. "Zoe is the sweetest girl on the planet except when you make her mad... then she's like... like..." he was searching for words.
"Hell hath no fury?" Nick put in helpfully and Darren nodded.
"Yeah, exactly that. Would give a tsunami a run for its money. May I guess that your girlfriend is similar in this regard?"
Darren voiced a strained laugh. "Yeah, indeed. So I guess our girlfriends have quite a little bit in common. Shall we tell them before they start hacking at each other...?"
"What the hell?" his friend asked accusingly. "You've changed your girlfriend into a scorpion? You mad?"
Darren whirled around. "She made me do it! And what's with you? If you wouldn't have changed your girlfriend into a goddamn spider, my girlfriend probably wouldn't have chosen to be a scorpion now!"
Nick winced. "She made me do it as well... oh Jesus, I just hope it's over swiftly. Susan is a great girl, but sometimes she's just a mite stubborn."
"I know what you mean..." Darren sighed. "Zoe is the sweetest girl on the planet except when you make her mad... then she's like... like..." he was searching for words.
"Hell hath no fury?" Nick put in helpfully and Darren nodded.
"Yeah, exactly that. Would give a tsunami a run for its money. May I guess that your girlfriend is similar in this regard?"
Darren voiced a strained laugh. "Yeah, indeed. So I guess our girlfriends have quite a little bit in common. Shall we tell them before they start hacking at each other...?"
"Wouldn't take the risk, you know." a sweet voice put in and Darren and Nick turned to look at the cute Scorpion Girl Waitress who was still standing behind them.
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." she said now in a stern voice which absolutely didn't fit to her young face. "And out there are two scorned women, both of them currently inhabiting the bodies of giant beasts. I'd rather take my chances with trying to strangle a Great White Shark barehanded."
"Um... yeah." somehow, neither Darren nor Nick could argue with her statement.
"What are they quarreling about anyway?" Nick inquired then and the Scorpion Girl looked thoughtful.
"I'm not that sure..." she said, "...but I think it's got something to do with Zoe not liking Susan's make-up."
Nick waited, but the Scorpion Girl was apparently finished.
"And...?" he asked, making a spinning move with his hand.
"What, 'and'?"
"How's the rest of the story 'and'". Nick cried out frustrated. "Surely our girlfriends didn't go for each others throat and opted for a fight to the death because of that?"
The girl looked at him dead-pan. "I'm sorry to tell you, but that's the whole story."
Nick's jaw hit the bottom of the floor and Darren wasn't any less shell shocked.
"You're telling me-" he asked in a strained voice "-that our girlfriends will start tearing each other apart in those shapes because of goddamn make-up?" Darren was nearly shouting now.
The Scorpion Girl shrugged.
"Bitches be crazy." she explained with a mature serenity totally at odds with her youthful, cute face. "That's why I don't have any girlfriends. Too much of a hassle, really."
The two men ogled her and she furrowed her brows.
"What?" she asked defensively. "That's not my real body, you know? I'm only working part time at the bar."
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." she said now in a stern voice which absolutely didn't fit to her young face. "And out there are two scorned women, both of them currently inhabiting the bodies of giant beasts. I'd rather take my chances with trying to strangle a Great White Shark barehanded."
"Um... yeah." somehow, neither Darren nor Nick could argue with her statement.
"What are they quarreling about anyway?" Nick inquired then and the Scorpion Girl looked thoughtful.
"I'm not that sure..." she said, "...but I think it's got something to do with Zoe not liking Susan's make-up."
Nick waited, but the Scorpion Girl was apparently finished.
"And...?" he asked, making a spinning move with his hand.
"What, 'and'?"
"How's the rest of the story 'and'". Nick cried out frustrated. "Surely our girlfriends didn't go for each others throat and opted for a fight to the death because of that?"
The girl looked at him dead-pan. "I'm sorry to tell you, but that's the whole story."
Nick's jaw hit the bottom of the floor and Darren wasn't any less shell shocked.
"You're telling me-" he asked in a strained voice "-that our girlfriends will start tearing each other apart in those shapes because of goddamn make-up?" Darren was nearly shouting now.
The Scorpion Girl shrugged.
"Bitches be crazy." she explained with a mature serenity totally at odds with her youthful, cute face. "That's why I don't have any girlfriends. Too much of a hassle, really."
The two men ogled her and she furrowed her brows.
"What?" she asked defensively. "That's not my real body, you know? I'm only working part time at the bar."
********************************************
"Did you make Susan as armored as I made Zoe?" Darren asked five minutes later while standing in the designer's viewing area slightly above the arena, looking down at the Scorpion and the Spider squatting in their respective halves of the arena, both creatures snarling menacingly at their respective opponent.
Glumly, Nick nodded. "Yes, I did. At that moment I only thought of protecting her, but now I realize that it might have been a shitty idea. How long do you think will the fight last?"
Darren sighed. "With this much armor? And those insufficient weapons to break it? It'll go on for ages..."
Glumly, Nick nodded. "Yes, I did. At that moment I only thought of protecting her, but now I realize that it might have been a shitty idea. How long do you think will the fight last?"
Darren sighed. "With this much armor? And those insufficient weapons to break it? It'll go on for ages..."
********************************************
As Natasha entered the gallery again, most of the Scorpion Bar's patrons were already lined at the handrail, staring down through the plexiglass windows into the arena where soon the fight would begin. There were two familiar shapes as well, and Natasha strode towards Fiona and Lucia, her fellow Scorpion Girl waitresses.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Who's going to wait the tables?"
Fiona rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Natasha. Look at the bar. There's nobody. All are watching the fight! So I thought we can look, too. After all, one of the fighters-" she looked down in the arena appreciatively, "-is such a hot gal."
Lucia giggled and Natasha blinked.
"Excuse me? What are you talking about?"
"Oh, come on!" Fiona grinned and pointed down into the arena where Zoe in her scorpion body was clapping her pincers. "The scorpion, dummy! She's got great legs, doesn't she? And then her muscular tail."
"And look at the cute face." Lucia put in dreamily. "Really, I'd love to dance with her once."
To emphasize this, she raised her own pincers, doing twirls on her eight legs in a short replica of a waltz.
"Ummm... okay..." Natasha responded, not sure what else she could say. Especially since deep down inside, she did agree with Fiona's and Lucia's assessment... Susan and Zoe in their semi-nude state before the change hadn't stirred one molecule in her body, but Zoe's scorpion legs on the other hand... those were definitely spectacular.
She was still pondering her radically changed attraction towards the same sex (or species?), her two friends next to her warbling cat-calls at the scorpion, as the deep rumble sounded three times, marking the begin of the fight.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Who's going to wait the tables?"
Fiona rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Natasha. Look at the bar. There's nobody. All are watching the fight! So I thought we can look, too. After all, one of the fighters-" she looked down in the arena appreciatively, "-is such a hot gal."
Lucia giggled and Natasha blinked.
"Excuse me? What are you talking about?"
"Oh, come on!" Fiona grinned and pointed down into the arena where Zoe in her scorpion body was clapping her pincers. "The scorpion, dummy! She's got great legs, doesn't she? And then her muscular tail."
"And look at the cute face." Lucia put in dreamily. "Really, I'd love to dance with her once."
To emphasize this, she raised her own pincers, doing twirls on her eight legs in a short replica of a waltz.
"Ummm... okay..." Natasha responded, not sure what else she could say. Especially since deep down inside, she did agree with Fiona's and Lucia's assessment... Susan and Zoe in their semi-nude state before the change hadn't stirred one molecule in her body, but Zoe's scorpion legs on the other hand... those were definitely spectacular.
She was still pondering her radically changed attraction towards the same sex (or species?), her two friends next to her warbling cat-calls at the scorpion, as the deep rumble sounded three times, marking the begin of the fight.
********************************************
With a furious screech, Susan propelled her bulbous body forward on eight legs, mouth-claws ready to tear into her enemy. The damn bitch was mocking her! Instead of cowering in fear because her nightmarish shape and begging for a quick death, she'd opted to change into a scorpion? Did she think that she was scaring her this way? Hardly!
Snarling, Susan launched herself in the air, fangs ready to strike at the scorpion. The bitch's stinger came down on her back but simply bounced off from her armored exoskeleton. Then it was Susan's turn and she punched her fangs into the scorpion's back. But just like its stinger, the fangs scratched harmlessly over the thick, chitinous armor.
Well... Susan thought as she contemplated the ineffectiveness of her attack after she'd skidded to a stop at the end of the arena. Undoubtedly, the bitch was doing the same, for she was sitting in the other corner, pincers clicking threateningly. You and me are both well armored... but I'm sure there are some spots which are not so good protected. All I have to do is to find them...
And almost simultaneously, she and her opponent started their charge anew.
Nick winced as with a loud 'THUD' one of Susan's legs crashed against the window, leaving a dirty sear of red while it slowly slid out of his view, settling itself next to one of Zoe's former appendages.
"For how long have they been going at it?" he asked Darren and his friend looked on his watch wearily.
"12 minutes now... and there's still nothing decided. Jesus."
Gloomily he looked down into the arena where the two girls were still hacking and slashing at each other. Both had sustained horrific looking injuries by now, but none of those were fatal. Susan had lost three of her legs, and her head section with the (former) eyes was a bloody crater, courtesy of one of Zoe's stinger thrusts. Zoe, on the other hand, had lost only two of her legs, but one entire pincer was gone, gnawed off by Susan's maw, and her tail was hanging down limply on a few strings of flesh only, the supporting exoskeleton broken like a toothpick. Just like Susan, she had eye-damage as well, for Susan had managed to scrape her fangs over Zoe's head once, taking most of her eyes with her.
With a furious screech, Susan propelled her bulbous body forward on eight legs, mouth-claws ready to tear into her enemy. The damn bitch was mocking her! Instead of cowering in fear because her nightmarish shape and begging for a quick death, she'd opted to change into a scorpion? Did she think that she was scaring her this way? Hardly!
Snarling, Susan launched herself in the air, fangs ready to strike at the scorpion. The bitch's stinger came down on her back but simply bounced off from her armored exoskeleton. Then it was Susan's turn and she punched her fangs into the scorpion's back. But just like its stinger, the fangs scratched harmlessly over the thick, chitinous armor.
Well... Susan thought as she contemplated the ineffectiveness of her attack after she'd skidded to a stop at the end of the arena. Undoubtedly, the bitch was doing the same, for she was sitting in the other corner, pincers clicking threateningly. You and me are both well armored... but I'm sure there are some spots which are not so good protected. All I have to do is to find them...
And almost simultaneously, she and her opponent started their charge anew.
********************************************
Nick winced as with a loud 'THUD' one of Susan's legs crashed against the window, leaving a dirty sear of red while it slowly slid out of his view, settling itself next to one of Zoe's former appendages.
"For how long have they been going at it?" he asked Darren and his friend looked on his watch wearily.
"12 minutes now... and there's still nothing decided. Jesus."
Gloomily he looked down into the arena where the two girls were still hacking and slashing at each other. Both had sustained horrific looking injuries by now, but none of those were fatal. Susan had lost three of her legs, and her head section with the (former) eyes was a bloody crater, courtesy of one of Zoe's stinger thrusts. Zoe, on the other hand, had lost only two of her legs, but one entire pincer was gone, gnawed off by Susan's maw, and her tail was hanging down limply on a few strings of flesh only, the supporting exoskeleton broken like a toothpick. Just like Susan, she had eye-damage as well, for Susan had managed to scrape her fangs over Zoe's head once, taking most of her eyes with her.
Yet the blinded creatures still circled each other, hacking and biting aimlessly and showing no signs of stopping. And apart from several cracks, the chitinous armor protecting their vitals was still unbroken.
"You know, whoever loses this madness will be pissed." Nick observed with a pained voice. "And her boyfriend, that's one of us two, will be in the center of the storm for the rest of the week."
Darren nodded. "If it comes that far I still have a small condo in the city. I think in case that Zoe loses, I'll take cover there, weathering the storm. And if she doesn't lose, you can have it for a couple of days."
"Thanks, I appreciate that." Nick responded honestly.
"Don't worry, it's what friends do..."
"You know, whoever loses this madness will be pissed." Nick observed with a pained voice. "And her boyfriend, that's one of us two, will be in the center of the storm for the rest of the week."
Darren nodded. "If it comes that far I still have a small condo in the city. I think in case that Zoe loses, I'll take cover there, weathering the storm. And if she doesn't lose, you can have it for a couple of days."
"Thanks, I appreciate that." Nick responded honestly.
"Don't worry, it's what friends do..."
********************************************
Zoe wanted to snarl in fury. Only that she couldn't. Her mouth, or maw, or whatever, was practically gone, just a giant, bleeding wound now. One of the mighty fangs it had housed was lying somewhere in the arena, the other one was dangling harmlessly on a final strand of sinew like her tail had done before the strain of the fight had finally ripped off the useless limb. Her whole body was hurting, but it was bearable and she was silently thanking Darren for dialing down her pain receptors.
The hag was still not dead! She'd pounded on her, she'd ripped off half her legs and still she was defying her! She could still see her moving, a blotched spot in her cloudy vision, that was all what her damn fangs had left of her eyesight, but she'd hurt the bitch! That she knew because the shape was moving sluggishly and her thrusts were unaimed, so she must have lost her eyesight as well.
This will go on for hours! Zoe thought. So let's see if this brainstorm works...
She skidded a little bit forward, her one surviving pincer raised for the attack, and then her legs slipped and she toppled over. At least that was what it must look like to the spider. Because suddenly, in hope of an opening, the blurry shape scurried forwards, jumping towards her stricken enemy to deal the final strike.
Would Zoe still have possessed a human face, she would've grinned.
Got you, spider! she thought and closed her pincer, putting it into the attacking spider's trajectory like a giant pike. The spider slammed onto her pincer belly first, and for the first time in the fight, her tormented armor gave way, carving in like an egg shell. Zoe felt how her limb went through the spider's body, tearing and ripping vital organs apart.
But the spider wasn't defeated yet. The wound was utterly fatal, but she had put all the strength she had left into this one charge, and so her own force impaled her on the Scorpion's pincer, carrying towards the beast, until her fangs were in range. And in a final strike, the weapons flashed down, finding a chink in her armor as well.
I got her! Zoe thought jubilant, but then she felt something penetrating deep into her body, doing grave damage. I got the bitch! she thought again and again, even as darkness started to encompass her.
This will go on for hours! Zoe thought. So let's see if this brainstorm works...
She skidded a little bit forward, her one surviving pincer raised for the attack, and then her legs slipped and she toppled over. At least that was what it must look like to the spider. Because suddenly, in hope of an opening, the blurry shape scurried forwards, jumping towards her stricken enemy to deal the final strike.
Would Zoe still have possessed a human face, she would've grinned.
Got you, spider! she thought and closed her pincer, putting it into the attacking spider's trajectory like a giant pike. The spider slammed onto her pincer belly first, and for the first time in the fight, her tormented armor gave way, carving in like an egg shell. Zoe felt how her limb went through the spider's body, tearing and ripping vital organs apart.
But the spider wasn't defeated yet. The wound was utterly fatal, but she had put all the strength she had left into this one charge, and so her own force impaled her on the Scorpion's pincer, carrying towards the beast, until her fangs were in range. And in a final strike, the weapons flashed down, finding a chink in her armor as well.
I got her! Zoe thought jubilant, but then she felt something penetrating deep into her body, doing grave damage. I got the bitch! she thought again and again, even as darkness started to encompass her.
********************************************
Wide-eyed, Darren looked down into the arena. The scorpion was lying on the floor, motionless. Above him, the spider twitched a last time, fangs deeply embedded into the hole in its opponent's armor. It was impaled on the scorpion's pincer, the tip of it looking out of the spider's back.
"Uh... oh." he said, looking over to his friend nervously. "It's a draw. What does this mean now for our situation?"
Nick shook his head. "It means that both of us are well and truly fucked."
He stared down into the arena again.
"Say, is your condo big enough for two people?"
"Uh... oh." he said, looking over to his friend nervously. "It's a draw. What does this mean now for our situation?"
Nick shook his head. "It means that both of us are well and truly fucked."
He stared down into the arena again.
"Say, is your condo big enough for two people?"
********************************************
"Crazy evening, I guess?" Natasha asked Nick and Darren while she was collecting their empty beverages. "You wanna more?"
"Whiskey, please. With ice. Nothing else." Nick groaned and Darren nodded. "Me, too. But a double one."
"You look like wrecks, you know?" she remarked after she'd returned with their order. "One could think that you had been fighting down there, and not your girlfriends."
"Yeah?" Darren glowered at the diminutive waitress angrily. "Well, for them the 'fun' is over now. But Nick and me know our girlfriends. They are great girls, but when they are pissed you absolutely don't wanna be anywhere near them. And I guess this time, they'll stay pissed for days!"
Gloomily, he took a large gulp of his Whiskey.
"You could have forbidden them the duel!" Nick accused her, but Natasha only shrugged her shoulders.
"Why? Your girlfriends had been disturbing the other customers. I wanted them gone and the duel gave me the possibility to do so. But I think there's another question you should ask right now."
Discontented, Darren looked at her. "And that would be?"
"Why you're not down there at the Venn Machine with your girlfriends. You had been their dresses, so they can't go until you, um, supply them with new clothes. Don't you want to fetch them?"
Nick huffed. "Pah! The battle-axes can wait an hour or two until we come down to collect them! And if they shiver in the cold, so what?! They deserve it for all the grey hairs we two have gotten tonight because of them."
"Hm... are you really sure?" Natasha inquired and her grin was becoming mischievous.
"Um... yeah... why do I have the impression that there's one thing I haven't taken into account?"
"Well..." Natasha said juicily. "The cleaners have taken back your girlfriends' carcasses to the Venn Machine by now. And changed them back."
"And...?" Darren asked carefully.
"And that means that both of them are currently at the Venn Machine."
Nick and Darren stared at her.
"Both of them. In the same room. After their duel just became a draw."
Horrified, the guys gaped at Natasha and she decided to give them the final blow.
"Do you think they're still in one piece?" she asked sweetly.
"Whiskey, please. With ice. Nothing else." Nick groaned and Darren nodded. "Me, too. But a double one."
"You look like wrecks, you know?" she remarked after she'd returned with their order. "One could think that you had been fighting down there, and not your girlfriends."
"Yeah?" Darren glowered at the diminutive waitress angrily. "Well, for them the 'fun' is over now. But Nick and me know our girlfriends. They are great girls, but when they are pissed you absolutely don't wanna be anywhere near them. And I guess this time, they'll stay pissed for days!"
Gloomily, he took a large gulp of his Whiskey.
"You could have forbidden them the duel!" Nick accused her, but Natasha only shrugged her shoulders.
"Why? Your girlfriends had been disturbing the other customers. I wanted them gone and the duel gave me the possibility to do so. But I think there's another question you should ask right now."
Discontented, Darren looked at her. "And that would be?"
"Why you're not down there at the Venn Machine with your girlfriends. You had been their dresses, so they can't go until you, um, supply them with new clothes. Don't you want to fetch them?"
Nick huffed. "Pah! The battle-axes can wait an hour or two until we come down to collect them! And if they shiver in the cold, so what?! They deserve it for all the grey hairs we two have gotten tonight because of them."
"Hm... are you really sure?" Natasha inquired and her grin was becoming mischievous.
"Um... yeah... why do I have the impression that there's one thing I haven't taken into account?"
"Well..." Natasha said juicily. "The cleaners have taken back your girlfriends' carcasses to the Venn Machine by now. And changed them back."
"And...?" Darren asked carefully.
"And that means that both of them are currently at the Venn Machine."
Nick and Darren stared at her.
"Both of them. In the same room. After their duel just became a draw."
Horrified, the guys gaped at Natasha and she decided to give them the final blow.
"Do you think they're still in one piece?" she asked sweetly.
********************************************
Nick was practically flying through the staircase, Darren close at his heels. Both Susan and Zoe in one room? After they'd just tried tearing each other apart? Jesus! Why hadn't they realized this sooner? It was probably safer to mix hydrogen and oxygen in the smoking compartment!
There was the door, behind it was the Venn Machine. Nick braced himself for the scene of utter carnage he'd encounter and slid through the door. There they were, Zoe and Susan, still in their underwear and missing their dresses (boyfriends). But wait, something was wrong.
Susan was... chatting with Zoe? And both were smiling? Even looking like the best of friends?
What... the... FUCK?
Blankly, Nick stared at the women. 'The fucking hell was going on?
"Oh, finally!" Susan beamed as she saw him. "You're not gonna believe this! Zoe here uses the same make-up I do! That's incredible!"
Zoe giggled. "Yeah, and when we started talking after the fight we found out how much we have in common! The little squabble before was really silly, but now everything's good again. Isn't it, Susan?"
"You bet, Zoe!"
Nick was gaping now. Behind him, he heard a gurgle.
"So... you two went into a duel to a death because of make-up?" Darren inquired incredulously. "And you made up because of make-up as well?"
Zoe furrowed her brows. "Well, yeah. It was actually a silly thing, really. As I said. Now that we had a chance to talk about it, though..."
You had all chances of the world to talk about this before you started to hack each other apart! Nick thought numbly while he felt a throbbing headache develop in his head.
"Yeah, now we've made up." Susan chimed in happily. "I think, we could even become great friends. That's why we women are superior to you men, anyway. You'd probably have created a generation-long feud out of this!"
Now Darren was whimpering, then started going forwards to the Venn Machine.
"You know what, Zoe?" he asked his girlfriend weakly. "For tonight, simply make me your dress again. Life is so much easier when I don't have to think..."
That... Nick thought, Is an excellent idea.
Susan was... chatting with Zoe? And both were smiling? Even looking like the best of friends?
What... the... FUCK?
Blankly, Nick stared at the women. 'The fucking hell was going on?
"Oh, finally!" Susan beamed as she saw him. "You're not gonna believe this! Zoe here uses the same make-up I do! That's incredible!"
Zoe giggled. "Yeah, and when we started talking after the fight we found out how much we have in common! The little squabble before was really silly, but now everything's good again. Isn't it, Susan?"
"You bet, Zoe!"
Nick was gaping now. Behind him, he heard a gurgle.
"So... you two went into a duel to a death because of make-up?" Darren inquired incredulously. "And you made up because of make-up as well?"
Zoe furrowed her brows. "Well, yeah. It was actually a silly thing, really. As I said. Now that we had a chance to talk about it, though..."
You had all chances of the world to talk about this before you started to hack each other apart! Nick thought numbly while he felt a throbbing headache develop in his head.
"Yeah, now we've made up." Susan chimed in happily. "I think, we could even become great friends. That's why we women are superior to you men, anyway. You'd probably have created a generation-long feud out of this!"
Now Darren was whimpering, then started going forwards to the Venn Machine.
"You know what, Zoe?" he asked his girlfriend weakly. "For tonight, simply make me your dress again. Life is so much easier when I don't have to think..."
That... Nick thought, Is an excellent idea.
********************************************
Fiona laughed while she was looking on the CCTV screen, observing the two happily chatting women who were wearing their dresses again.
"Sometimes you can be quite evil, Natasha."
"Why?" asked the solicited Scorpion Girl innocently.
"Don't play clueless, lady!" Fiona chided her mockingly. "You knew exactly what I mean. You had access to the security cams and you knew perfectly well that those two had made up. So why did you have to put the fear of God into their poor boyfriends?"
"Hm..." Natasha reflected. "Don't know. Seemed like fun, somehow. And seeing their faces when they arrived at the Venn Machine was worth it."
To Natasha's surprise, Fiona didn't scold her.
"Because it seemed fun?" the other waitress mused, then started to smile. "That's great, you know. When you started your first shift a week ago, you were... no fun. At all. Much too serious. But I'm happy for you that this has changed. So when you're resuming your normal life again next week, at least you'll have learned how to have fun. Isn't that something which has made your working week here worthwhile?"
For a moment, Natasha was speechless. But then a smile began to appear on her face as well. Because deep down inside, she knew that Fiona was right again.
"Sometimes you can be quite evil, Natasha."
"Why?" asked the solicited Scorpion Girl innocently.
"Don't play clueless, lady!" Fiona chided her mockingly. "You knew exactly what I mean. You had access to the security cams and you knew perfectly well that those two had made up. So why did you have to put the fear of God into their poor boyfriends?"
"Hm..." Natasha reflected. "Don't know. Seemed like fun, somehow. And seeing their faces when they arrived at the Venn Machine was worth it."
To Natasha's surprise, Fiona didn't scold her.
"Because it seemed fun?" the other waitress mused, then started to smile. "That's great, you know. When you started your first shift a week ago, you were... no fun. At all. Much too serious. But I'm happy for you that this has changed. So when you're resuming your normal life again next week, at least you'll have learned how to have fun. Isn't that something which has made your working week here worthwhile?"
For a moment, Natasha was speechless. But then a smile began to appear on her face as well. Because deep down inside, she knew that Fiona was right again.