The Vespidian

Arc 11 Blood Moon

Chapter 14

I will admit, I was a little skeptical that a snap could fix everybody, so I had to see for myself. I mean, I just sold my child for whatever the hell the Puppeteer just did, it better damn well be worth the cost. Her words seemed to resonate a bit in my mind.

"Yes, a single child. You already have hundreds gestating, what is one to the thousands you will soon produce?"

I think we got a raw deal.

Well hold on Vesper, we don't know just yet.

But it is our babies we are talking about.

I don't like it either, but it was either that or let GK and the others stay crazy.

… well if you say so Sub, you are the one who is more attached to the eggs than I am.

You will get there. Give it a little time.

We will see, at the moment it is just the pheromones talking. If I am far away from them, then I don't feel particularly bad about it. Maybe once they hatch, I will be more emotionally invested?

Of course, you will. All those soft little grubbies squirming around and squeaking. It is going to melt your hearts.

If you say so, not sure if I am ready for it yet, but not much we can do about at this point. I am still a little worried about if they are going to eat their hosts or not.

Xava has a head start on the others, so if worst comes to worst, we can extract the eggs from the others.

I pondered as I walked, fair enough.

Speaking of children, "Xava."

"Yes, Vesper?" she asked from my side.

"Did we recover all of Glitter Kitten's kids?"

Her eyes lit up as her pupil moved from side to side as though scrolling through text, "I believe so. We recovered sixty-two children from what is left of the Sparkle Kat. However, I am unsure of which are Glitter Kitten's."

I nodded, "Well, that is a start. I am sure there are a few hiding out somewhere in the Slums. How are the Mad Dogs?"

"The Mad Dogs appear to be returning to normal."

I pat her approvingly, "Good, then we can release them, and they can pick up the pieces."

We had arrived at the holding area. The varied Mad Dogs who were captured remained in the containment tubes. With but a glance I could tell something had changed, they seemed a lot calmer. The scents had shifted from that rotting pungent stench that ferals produced back to the usual needy animals that I had grown accustomed to. It was strange though; I had thought it to be some sort of parasite or their brains infected with something like rabies that was the cause of the feral state.

Since things had changed, it was clear that it might not be the case. Either that or the Puppeteer was so powerful that she could fix mental illnesses and diseases. A shiver went down my spine. If she was strong enough to fix them, then she was likely strong enough to inflict them as well. Definitely never going to get on her bad side.

I stood in front of Glitter Kitten; my arms crossed as I watched her for a long moment. She appeared sedated, but her eyes opened once my presence loomed over her.

"Nya? Vesper? Is, is that you?" she asked, looking about her prison.

"Feeling better now?"

She rubbed her head, "I… eh, don't really get what happened. Where the hell are we? Why am I in here?"

I glanced at my robotic lover, "Xava let her out; she appears to be fine."

The Neon Nurse standing to the side nodded, and the transparent tube lifted spilling the wobbly-legged cat onto the floor, "Her vitals seem to have returned to normal parameters."

I returned her nod while rubbing my chin, "Is that so? Excellent. How are you feeling Glitter Kitten?"

The catgirl managed to stand properly, "Tired. What the hell have I been doing? I don't remember much of it little snippets here and there, but it feels like I had a train run on me for like a week straight. My legs are numb."

"I see," I said, leaning over and inspecting her, my antennae slathering her in affection as I took in her scents… she smelled healthy again, which was a relief, "Well, you and the rest of the Mad Dogs got mind controlled by Nightmare. Last night was the Blood Moon, and you guys went feral. You were a wild pussycat, let me tell you."

She squirmed a little to my liberal feelers slithering over her fur, "Nyaa, I, hmmm I remember a little bit of that. It is all fuzzy, though. When, when did you get so big?"

I gave her a reassuring pat, "Been like this for about a week or so. My regen is Rank 7 now."

"Mroow that is great! Look at you, my little Meowsy got all strong when I wasn't looking," She grinned laughing a little as she smacked my leg.

"Little Meowsy, huh? I guess you wouldn't remember what we did last night then would you?"

Her ear flicked as she stretched, "Last night? I don't remember nothing."

"Hmm, I wonder if your body remembers?" I asked as my vents crept open, letting a wave of heated mist wash over her.

"Mrrrowww! What is with this, this oh fuck me, this smell though! It feels like just smelling it is going to get me knocked up. We… we didn't fuck last night, did we?" She said shivering.

Her fur glistened a little, and it wasn't just sweating. I gave her a reassuring smile, "We certainly had fun last night. I think I plundered just about every furburger in the Mad Dogs."

She gawked at me, "EEhh! We, we had an orgy, and I don't remember a damned thing?! Mrrow, it is not fair."

I leaned in, letting my tentacles tease her, "Oh, don't worry pet, I will be sure to pamper you regularly."

Glitter Kitten went red, "I, I Nyaa I nyeever asked for that, you, you furburglar!"

I chuckled pulling away from her, "Oh right, you don't remember anything, do you? Ah, I have something that I am sure you will enjoy seeing."

She tilted her head slightly. "What are you on about?"

I just smiled, "Oh, don't worry. Come along little kitty."

"What about the others?" Glitter Kitten asked, looking at the other capsules that held the rest of her gang.

"We will let them out in a bit."

"They are all alright, right?" she asked, concerned.

I glanced at Xava, who responded, "Minor injuries, only a few major wounds. Most can be released immediately."

"Well, that is good. Oh, by the way, the Sparkle Kat got wrecked last night. I am not sure how bad, though." I said.

"Nyyaan!? What? Fucking, shit," She rubbed her temple, "Say that sooner will you?"

"Ah, sorry kinda slipped my mind. Things have been a bit hectic."

She glanced around, noticing something, "Where are my kittens?"

"They are in my room."

"They are not hurt, are they? Can, can I see them?"

"Of course," I replied, smiling.

I led the way down the corridors and into my room. The doors opened, and Glitter Kitten impatiently darted inside. She tackled her kittens with a hug, rolling about on the floor, happily purring and meowing to them. I watched it, letting them enjoy their reunion undisturbed for a little while longer. My hearts felt slightly warm. Ah, they were certainly cute.

I wonder if that is how I will be with my children?

Glitter Kitten sniffed, pausing her playful behavior, smelling the air as she looked around the room with narrowed eyes. Her long tail twitching and tall ears were rotating like radar dishes. In a moment she became protective, eyes darting over the place like a lioness protecting her cubs. I knew exactly what it was that had set her off, the smooth sound of scales shifting.

She growled puffing up, "I smell you, you damned dirty snake! Show yourself Slither!"

"No need to be ssso aggresssssive. I know better than to upssset my Queen." Replied a disembodied voice.

"Now, now," I said, raising my hands, "Calm down Glitter Kitten. You don't remember it, but we destroyed the Scalies. Come here, Slither."

My pet snake woman materialized to our side, her scales glimmering iridescent as she obediently came to my outstretched hand, her face rubbed against it, and I began to pet her. Slither's long snake body was bloated and plump; I could smell my brood gestating within her. My scent having claimed her long ago now.

Glitter Kitten didn't attack. However, she kept herself in between the snake and the varied animal children that had gathered. It was evident that she didn't trust Slither. I didn't particularly blame her since Slither had eaten some of her children before. Her face was scowling.

"What is that doing here?! You can't trust a filthy fucking snake!"

"As I said, the Scalies are no more. Slither is now my Incubator and is currently being a good snake, isn't that right?"

She lowered her body onto the floor, "Yesss, Sssslither knowsss her place."

I pet her on the head, scratching lightly at her hooded neck. She seemed to like that as the scales shifted shuddering, "Good snek. Who is my good little Incubator?"

She wiggled happily, "I, Sssslither isss."

I gave her a final scritch under her chin and stood back up, "See? I tamed her."

Glitter Kitten looked between us, more baffled than anything else, "It is strange seeing her like this. What the hell did you do to her."

I thought on it, tapping my claw to my chin, "Hmm, well Xava and I tortured her a bit, and then we bred her for hours on end. She still needs to be trained properly, but it is a good start."

"So that is what happened. Sorry, I still don't like her, I can't forgive her."

I nodded, "That is fine. She ate your kittens, so I understand. She knows better than to try anything now, and if she needs another lesson, well Xava and I will give it to her."

The stench of submission and fear poured out of the giant snake woman as she shivered at my feet. She stuttered, "I, I would never, never upssset Queen Vesssper."

"I know," I replied, idly petting her.

Glitter Kitten watched and smelled the snake for a little, "I just can't believe this. You broke her. I have been fighting that slippery, slithery bitch for years, never thought I would see the day she would be like this. How the hell did you even beat her anyway?"

"You helped out quite a bit with that. She was thinking about eating me when you hoped in, but then you got hit with her venom. While she was distracted with you, I ended up stinging her."

The cat looked at my abdomen, tilting her head, "I guess you are a wasp, huh? What does the venom do?"

"Paralyzes. Ah speaking of which I stung you last night too."

"I was wondering why my legs were numb," She thought on it looking at the abdomen and then my face, "You know, it is a good thing you are you. I would be scared shitless of whatever you are if it wasn't you in there."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

She scowled a little, "Think about it, I mean your species is a bit fucked up."

"The pot calling the kettle black a bit here don't you think? I mean you were eating people last night."

She scratched the back of her neck, "Nyaa, well it happens. Still, I think you are scarier."

To this, I tilted my head, "How so?"

"You lay eggs in people, and your sting paralyzes. If you were not so nice, there would be nothing stopping you from stinging people and egging them while they are helpless to resist."

I thought on it, "Hmm that is true. Ah come to think of it, that is more or less what I did to Slither."

"See, that is what I am talking about." She said, eyeing me a little.

"Hey now, if I didn't take her, you were going to kill her. Besides, even with her, I waited until she was begging for my eggs."

This time it was Glitter Kitten who tilted her head, "Is that so?"

Slither was the one to speak up, "Yessss, I wanted her eggss."

Finally, the cat shrugged, "Nyaa, guess it doesn't matter too much. I think I am just getting too worked up. It is better than Slither deserves, so not going to complain since you are keeping her out of trouble."

"Mooom, don't be mean to the big fat bug." Scowled Rocket, "She saved us from Nightmare."

"I am not being mean. It is just… never mind. Vesper… I eh, thank you. You saved my Kittens and me," said Glitter Kitten a little shy and embarrassed, "I don't even want to think about what might have happened if you had not saved us."

Daww~ I pet her, snuggling up as I shifted into a sitting position and lifted her into my lap. "We are friends, of course, I would help you out."

"Vesper, I owe you a, a lot." She said, looking down, quivering a little bit.

"I see," I smiled rubbing against her, "And what will you do to make it up to me?"

"Nyaa I, I don't know. I don't know what could make up for this. If you want, I could be your number two, and you be the leader of the Mad Dogs?" She replied hesitantly.

"Leader of the Mad Dogs? Hmm though that does sound interesting, I am fine here. You can still be the leader of the Mad Dogs; however, there is something that I have had on my mind."

"Nyes?"

"I want you to be my pet."

"Pet?! I umm… Vesper, what do you mean by that?"

I stroked her head, "Simple. You will live here with Xava and me. You will be my pet, and I will play with you and feed you and fuck that kitten pussy whenever I want."

She blushed, looking away, "Not, not in front of my Kittens."

I replied, scratching her between the ears, "You raised them in a whore house, I am sure they have heard much worse."

She seemed a little wary, "Why would you want me to be your pet?"

I leaned in, letting my tentacles coil around her, "Because I like you. I thought you were cute from the first time I saw you. Besides, I have always wanted a pet catgirl to dress up, and as I hear a proper Super Villain needs a pet cat. If you become my pet, then I won't make you fight ever again, unless things get bad. You can lounge around all day playing with your kittens when I am not playing with you."

Glitter Kitten looked like she was about to cry, "Vesper, why would you do that for me? Like this, it is like you are doing me a favor."

I kissed her, "Because my pretty kitty, you will be doing something essential for me. You will be gestating my eggs. The pet play stuff is just a bonus, dear sweet kitty. Ah, ask the other Mad Dogs if they are interested as well, think of it as a sort of job? Not so much pet with them, I am just looking to expands my supply of hosts."

She looked at Slither, "So we will end up like her?"

I thought on it, "Hmm, well she is also a pet. It is more up to you, and how you are to be treated, unlike her I won't particularly be controlling with you and the Mad Dogs."

"Can I think this over?" She asked.

"Sure, it is life-altering after all, so take your time," I replied, releasing her.

She stood, walking away to the door. As expected, after all, it was a big decision not to be taken lightly. However, she stopped and looked back at me. "Thank you, Vesper."

I smiled, "You are welcome."

"Can I leave the Kittens here until things are sorted out?"

"Of course, you are welcome here anytime. We will take good care of them. Ah, speaking of which, Xava have they eaten recently?" I asked, looking over to one of the Neon Nurses.

"Ah speaking of which, we haven't had lunch have we? They are most likely hungry again. I will prepare some highly nutritious protein paste."

I perked up realizing that I, myself was hungry, "Oh, what flavor?"

"Which would you like?" she asked.

I thought for a moment, "Banana."

"Understood."

"I have to go check on everything. From the sounds of it, things are bad. Be good and behave, ok?" said Glitter Kitten.

A chorus of meowing voices rose, "We will!"

Satisfied, she left, and I lay back down, snuggling up with Xava. The kittens cuddled around as well. I shooed Slither away since I wasn't in the mood and that wasn't something to do in front of children. She left to play with Bubbles.

I wasn't entirely expecting her to accept it. I mean Glitter Kitten did have her pride, and becoming someone's pet was something of a degrading thing. It meant submitting to them completely after all. It was like a step above a slave. Not that I would treat her poorly. Well, regardless, she would be my friend even if she rejected this. I was understanding after all.

*******

After a long while, I sat up. I had gotten distracted there. Being buried under a blanket of warm furry bodies would do that. Skillfully, I escaped the sleepy kitties and left my room without too much of a hassle. There were still things to check on and a certain someone who was in for a world of hurt. It didn't take long at all to get where I was going.

I had arrived at Nightmare's cell. The door opened, allowing me entry. The slightly mangled woman lay moored, naked, on the floor. A whole arm was missing and two fingers from her right hand. She was not the only one in here. Molotov turned when I entered. In her hands was that electrified whip, crackling with energy.

"Ah, so good of you to join us, Vesper. She is a little uncooperative. Care to help?" smiled that evil little girl.

"Oh? How should we do this? I never really tortured anybody before. At least not for information." I said gazing down at the quivering woman.

Several Xavas followed behind me, and the door closed. Nightmare's eyes opened wide seeing three Neon Nurses, "What is going on here, three Neon Nurses?!"

"Now, now," I replied, letting my clawed foot press her into the floor, "We are the ones asking questions here."

"Nightmare, we know you called for help. Now tell us who is coming."

She kept her mouth shut.

"Oh? Playing hard to get?" Molotov asked, raising the whip and the room filled with a flash of light, the crack of electricity, and Nightmare's screams.

Dark welts puffed up along her back, crisscrossing where the whip had touched. Oddly enough, the skin had not broken at all despite how loud it had sounded. There was something about that whip; I had experienced it first hand a few times, so I knew that it did not damage the outside. Still, I didn't understand how it worked in the least. All I know is that it hurts like a bitch.

Despite all this, Nightmare had clammed up. I leaned down and let my fingers slowly stab the floor beside her as they made their way over.

"You better talk or…" I trailed off as my claw tapped at her remaining hand, "It would be a real shame if you lost some more fingers."

She recoiled, worming about the floor in an attempt to escape. Nightmare knew full well from experience that I was not bluffing and had no qualms with disfiguring her. She didn't get far. My clawed talon stabbed through her ankle, harpooning her to the floor.

"I don't know! I swear, I swear I don't know. Omega never told me who was sent, they, they should have been here by now, but no one came…"

I tilted in over her, "Daww, it sounds like they abandoned you. So sad, even your own side doesn't like you. I guess you really are a disgusting person if even Chimera doesn't give a damn about your well being."

"You, You will pay for-" she stated before I tugged and her pinky finger separated.

"This little piggy went to the market and this little piggy," I said my fingers pinching her ring finger, "Cried all the way home."

"NOOO!" she screamed as I tore it off. I placed it as I had before right in front of her face so that she could look at what occurred, taunting her with her dismembered fingers.

"So fragile you humans are," I said, amused over her crying and squealing noises. "Now, now, now, if you hurry up and answer our questions… I might have Xava reattach your fingers."

I gave Neon Nurse a sideward glance, and she nodded. I could see it, the glimmer of hope in Nightmare's eyes. She was desperate, after all if the assessment of her power was correct; she needed her hands to use it. Already down an arm, well it was no wonder her attitude was shifting into survival mode. With a little more of a push, she would likely spill the beans on Chimera to spare herself.

I bit into my tongue to keep from grinning, after all, she wasn't going to get off so easy even if she did tell us everything we wanted to know.

Molotov spoke up, "Where is Arachnaon?"

Nightmare paused her eyes swimming as she thought it over, "She, she is on the International Research Station."

Molotov nodded, "Oh, so she is in space. I assume she is communicating with the Spore then?"

"She is feeding on it."

"She eats Spore? I am sure Dr. Arbor would love to hear about that." I said to Xava.

"Dr. Arbor already knows that." Replied Xava.

Molotov wore a scowl, "Is that all the information you have? Tell me where the main Chimera bases are."

Nightmare paled, "I, I can't tell you that. They, they will kill me."

Molotov wrung her whip, "I will kill you right now. Vesper proceed."

I pressed watching as her thumb snapped, bending back. Red spilled out across the floor. She shivered as I poked her in the face with her detached thumb, "Come on now, I will start with the toes next if you keep this up."

"The Pentagon! There are many, one in every major country!" She screamed, crying as her blood began to pool.

"We already know that. Tell us the launch codes for the Hammer satellites."

"I don't know!"

"Lies, you launched a strike just the other week." Said Molotov, nodding in my direction.

I left her stumpy hand and shifted my attention to her feet. My tentacles started wiggling as they tickled the soles of her feet. She heaved, erupting into uncontrollable giggles and laughter. Now, this might not seem that bad; however, I knew full well the horror of tickle torture. I kept squirming and writhing against her soft feet, her hysterical fits of laughter, drawing out into minutes as she heaved for breath. Panting and crying, begging me to stop, I didn't.

This was torture, after all. I figured it would be a good switch of pace, forcing her to laugh until her lungs couldn't keep the air in them. Her breath short, like this she was not correctly getting oxygen, and soon, I felt the sudden, sharp twist of her body. Her diaphragm arching as she felt the knife like stabbing pain of her muscles convulsing.

I slowed, easing up enough to not break her, just yet.

She gasped for air, even if her chest likely felt piercing stabs of pain, "I can't! I really can't! They changed the codes."

Molotov had a very amused look across her face, "What a shame, I guess you have nothing more to give us. Vesper, she is all yours."

"NO! Not her, please not that, that thing! Don't leave me with her!" Cried Nightmare, her stump trying to drag her to Molotov.

"But you don't have any information. You are useless to me."

"I- I am useful!" she meekly croaked out.

"Oh? Well then, you had better get talking." Molotov replied darkly.

"I will talk, what do you want to know?"

"Who was dispatched to rescue you?"

"Mantia and Centi!"

"Just them?" Molotov asked.

"Yes," Nightmare answered without hesitation.

"You know," said Molotov, her voice deep and brooding, "I don't like being lied to. Do you take me for a fool?"

"What? It is the truth, I swear!" Hysterically blubbered Nightmare.

"What about the Hero League then?" I asked.

"What about those idiots?"

She looked genuinely confused, and then it struck me, she didn't know. My face creased into a wide smirk, "You don't know. Molotov, it appears that we are better informed than she is."

The little girl turned with a disgusted expression, "So it seems I wasted my time. I have no more use for this trash. Think of it as your reward. This despicable thing is yours now. Break her, eat her, rape her, torture her… do what ever you wish. This is no longer my concern."

"Thank you," I replied, looking down on the ever-whitening woman as her face twisted in abject horror.

"I am useful! Don't leave me with this monster!" She cried, but the door closed, leaving her, Xava and I alone in the room.

I pressed my face against her own, letting my tentacles roam her exposed body, "Yes, you will be useful after some… modifications."

"What are-" she started before my fingers pried open her mouth, slowly I tapped a claw to her teeth listening to the clink, "Shhh, you won't be needing these for what I have in store."

"Shall we begin?" asked Xava raising a syringe gun.

I lifted from her smirking, "We will take our time with her. Xava reattach her fingers."

The nurses tilted their heads in unison, "Are you sure."

"Yes, after all, hope is the best spice for despair." I replied my fingers tracing her face, "Don't you worry, I have such wonderfully depraved plans for you. You are going to wish you were dead before we are through with you."

I left her sniveling form to Xava, humming as I walked back to my room. Lightly, I tilted my head in my hand, thinking of all the twisted things I wanted to do to her. This was something to relish, to enjoy like a fine wine. It would be a real shame if she broke immediately. As such, I was going to take my time with it. Slowly, insidiously breaking her, twisting her until there was nothing left.

Her red juice dribbled and smeared from my fingers dripping down the side of my face. Gradually my tongue extended, licking it up. My lips pursed, tasting the blood on my fingers… it was sweet.