Challenge #3 Aftermath: Part One

Before the various groups could make their way out of the dinning room Nimue clapped her hands once more. "Oh, I almost forgot, silly me, You will now find on a wall in the pub is a list of bounties for bonus point rewards. You can only take one bounty at a time, and if you don't fill it within twenty four hours it goes back on the board. Enjoy."

Carla and Kim were already headed to the pub but that just gave them another reason. Carla really hoped an upgrade might make the rings less of a nightmare than she expected them to turn into, though so far Kim was right on her heels like usual so maybe it would be okay.

Tracy was taking her new toy to the workshop Anna had told her about after she grabbed her laptop with Misty hot on her heels. She couldn't let the cat girl corrupt poor innocent Penny.

Gabriella shook her head as she watched Misty go. She decided to check on the bounties instead.

Anna, with a tiny Candy back on her shoulder, made their way to continue their hunt for clothing. "Maybe the other bedrooms?" Candy said.

Nodding, Anna replied. "Yeah, that would be a sneaky trick to pull."

Susan watched Tracy run off and shook her head before turning to the twin still sitting next to her. "While everyone is busy maybe you could milk me before I forget?"

Stacy smiled at the big woman to take the sting out of her words. "No, we should wait for Tracy to do it later and see how much extra Squad Goals is worth with the three of us. Lets go see what this bounty board is all about." Susan nodded and they made their way out as well.

That left Evelyn sitting at the table and Laura who had walked up to Nimue. "I'd like to see Shar if you don't mind. I'm not saying I don't believe you but I'd like to hear things from her and see how she's doing."

"Of course dear, but be warned it won't a pleasant sight."

Evelyn had snapped her watch shut and joined them, obviously coming with. Nimue nodded and both women then set out for the Moongate.

.

This was Laura's first time in the short hall but she followed the other women who knew where they were going to a black oak door. Entering the room she realized Shar must be on the big bed that dominated the space. She gasped seeing the ragged burns along the arms of a woman she thought nearly invulnerable.

burns also scored lines down her face like acidic tears Laura noted as she got close. Also there was another woman lying in the bed, a blonde who looked like sex personified. No wait, a doll. Why did Shar have a life sized sex doll?

Her thoughts were swiftly driven from her head as other thoughts intruded. Hello Laura. What can I do for you?

"Shar? Are you in my head?"

Laura felt a hand on her shoulder and looked over to see a concerned looking Nimue. "She also very severely burned her throat. It is easier for her to speak to you telepathically for now."

Indeed. Fear not though, I will recover in time. You'll be making jump scares again before you know it.

Laura laughed in relief, a touch hysterically. "You know I hate it when you do that." She looked back at the raw burns and shuddered. "How long will it take?"

"I will be working as best I can dear, but she has internal injuries that have first priority over more superficial wounds."

Evelyn half choked back a surprised laugh. "I'd hardly call having her eyes burned out as superficial."

Worry not Laura. All will be fine. All is fine again now that Nimue is here at last.

The woman in question smiled down at the burnt redhead then herded the others back towards the door. "Okay dear, you've met and talked and now I'll do what I can for her. If these were normal burns I'd have her on her feet already, but Sharron never could do things by half measures. Evelyn here will see you back downstairs, won't you dear?"

"Yes, of course." The elven woman opened the door for Laura and closed it again behind them with a sigh.

They were near the Moongate when Laura stopped her. "What happened? How did Shar get burned like that and where did Nimue come from?"

Evelyn sighed. "They haven't exactly explained a lot to me. Shar's was working on some secret project this past week. Apparently Nimue was dead, or something like dead, and Shar managed to bring her back. In doing so she ravaged herself with the power she used.

This might sound odd and I probably shouldn't be saying anything but to hell with it. Think of the power used to run the show like electricity. Some of us have to use tools run by that power, I had a very special pocket watch that they took from me when I lost my show. A few others like Shar and Nimue can grab that power directly to use it but only so much.

If a tool draws too much power it shorts out, no harm to you. If you grab too much power directly, and worse channel it to do something, what shorts out is you."

"Shar brought the Lady of the Lake back to life?!"

Evelyn shrugged. "Apparently. They're lovers or something, I don't really know. I think I may be out of my depth here." The green haired woman looked deflated. "I wanted to ask you when I had the chance. Would you be opposed to someone else in your harem?"

Laura was pulled out of thoughts of Shar and Nimue by the last. Was Evelyn serious? "I just got someone new in my harem, Penny apparently, but at least you're asking." She smiled ruefully. "I don't know Evelyn, aren't you a host now? Isn't that a pretty big deal? Wouldn't you be giving that up?"

"It's happened before, and to full hosts too, not just assistants which is all I am now. And I don't know. But I see what you and the others have and part of me wants some of that. I've, um, been spending a lot of time with Carla and Kim and they're encouraging me to join as well."

Laura hugged the poor woman who didn't seem to know what she wanted. "If you join my harem I promise you won't be treated badly by us. That's maybe more than can be said about your current bosses. I'll gladly have you, but if you really want to pursue your current career you do that." She gave the other woman a smile and Evelyn smiled back. "Now lets go to the pub, I think most of the girls were headed there."

"Yes, of course. And thank you Laura. You're a very good master."

.

"Tracy you can't do this!" Misty was more than a little upset.

The cat girl looked up from her bed, where she was sitting cross legged, holding her laptop while Penny stood watching both women. "I'm not doing anything so far. I just established a link so I can check her systems. What's the big deal anyways? You keep acting like I'm cooking your pet poodle."

Misty continued to glare. "Tracy, I know you! Penny is innocent and sweet and kind and you're going to corrupt her!" Penny nodded along until that last.

"You wouldn't corrupt me, would you Tracy?"

Tracy threw up her hands. "I'm not corrupting anyone! I like Penny as she is, and besides she's a person. I'm not going to reach inside her head and fuck around anymore than I would you."

"Oh really?" Misty said doubtfully.

"Sure. For the most part. Anyways being mission ready is really important to Penny, right?"

"Right!"

"And she wants to be a full part of the mission, right?"

"Right!"

"And according to this she's fully sexually compatible."

"I'm mission ready! What?"

Misty pointed at the confused orange haired girl. "There you see! She doesn't even know what the 'mission' is."

Tracy rolled her eyes. "Sure she does. I told her we were in a competition."

"Like the Vytal festival! We're going to defeat you all hand to hand." Penny said with a smile.

"Sex, Penny! The competition is about sex!" Misty yelled in frustration. "Do you even know what that means?"

"I am fully functional! But no, not really..." She finished in a small voice. Then hiccuped.

Tracy gave Misty a raised brow at that, they both knew what that meant.

"You do know what sex is." Misty said disbelievingly.

Penny started to twiddle her fingers, looking down. "Well yes. I have the information, but no experience. I haven't had the opportunity."

"See! She's not ignorant, just a virgin. And as her engineer it is my duty to help train her so she will be mission ready."

Penny looked excited. "You'd do that for me Tracy?" She asked hopefully.

"It would be my pleasure. Want in on this Red?"

"I am not Ruby and my hair isn't even red."

Tracy grinned. "Well you could always put in red highlights, that would look super rad, but come on. You telling me you don't want in on the opportunity to show Penny here how great sex can be?"

Ignoring Tracy, Misty turned to Penny. "You really want this?"

"I'm a real girl, I want to do real girl things. Will you help me too Misty?"

Those earnest emerald eyes melted Misty. "Okay. I'll help too, I suppose."

"Fantastic!" Tracy shouted. "Cause I just found a system in here to adjust her figure."

"No, Tracy wait!"