Authors note -
Hey peeps, just an upfront warning on this one because I'm all about that transparency.
This is the first chapter is the series that features a LEVEL BLACK sex scene which is reserved for outright weird fetishes and potentially offensive content. In this instance, we're going weird. Its fully warning'd up and has the details as you approach. Feel free to skip if you hate the sound of it but otherwise, I'd advise giving it a look, I've had surprisingly good feedback. I don't want to be spoilery but I also don't want to ambush readers with stuff they might find repulsive. Gotta find the balance. Anyway, enjoy!
*
"Twenty minutes ago, every Node and Slave on the station seized up and collapsed. Every single one of them experienced the exact same phenomenon." Moltezz was pacing back and forth within the softly dimmed meeting room, with a stern expression to match her stern, strong voice. Her shoulders were unusually tense. Sat around the heavy, round table, Leech, Ink, Cherry, Plum and Bubblegum all watched her closely. Every face held a different expression; some were wearing their thoughts clearly, others, not quite so much.
"Plasia screamed inside their heads." Moltezz continued. "She begged for help. While I have an increasing number of questions regarding this... interaction, the only one that really matters is this; do we respond?"
Currently situated on the uppermost deck of Barru X, the Controllers had ordered every Mark and Node off the floor, leaving the six of them alone. Surrounded by comfy, if undersized chairs, they had a clear view of the surrounding stars through the thick pains of glass surrounding them, all of which felt like just a hand's reach away to Moltezz.
"I.. think we should help her." Plum spoke up softly, rubbing her hands against her thighs. "I know that most of us here have never even met her but... more Controllers are better than less. And it'd be nice to have more of us about."
"Pfft! Leave her!" Ink's lip curled into a snarl as she instantly snapped back. "She was given our gift, and she squandered it. She should be strong enough to look after herself. If she can't, she's already a liability." The monstrous Controller's vision was glued to Moltezz, although she seemed unfazed by Ink's intense glare and was staring thoughtfully out at the stars. Upon hearing her words however, Moltezz's stare instantly snapped to Ink, the fury captured perfectly in her twisting face.
As quickly as her temper rose, it fell, and with a brief flicker of visible confusion, her anger was quenched. She cleared her throat gently.
"...Harsh, Ink. But understandable. What about the rest of you?"
"Never thought I'd agree with the big-ass tentacle creep, but I kinda do." Cherry said. Immediately, she felt both Bubblegum and Plum smack her back in protest. "What? I do! Plasia should be fending for herself!"
Bubblegum's usually happy-go-lucky demeanour had slipped dramatically off of her face, and she shook her head in disgust at Cherry's comment.
"Cherry! Asshole! If we don't look after our own, who will?! Controllers should stick together!"
"I'm surprised you didn't respond to the 'creep' comment, Ink." Moltezz mused, listening as the Trio bickered amongst themselves.
"Why would I care what a second-hand weakling thinks of me?" Ink smirked, flicking her dreadlocks dismissively.
"EXCUSE ME?!" Cherry stood from her chair, furious. "Who the fuck you calling a weakling?!"
"Enough." Moltezz snapped her fingers, and the two settled down immediately without protest, however Cherry continued to shoot daggers at Ink from across the table.
"So, Plum and Bubblegum both vote to assist her..." Her gaze rested on Leech, who was deep in thought, gently biting on her fingernails and staring off into space. "You're being unusually quiet, Leech. Share your thoughts."
"I know where she is. Down to the sector."
"You do...?"
"She's in DA territory. I KNEW those fuckers had a hand in it." Leech growled, her hands curling into fists.
"The DA?" Plum repeated in surprise. "Haven't we spent the last few weeks working out how to avoid DA territory?"
"Indeed, we have." Moltezz murmured thoughtfully, her eyes focused on the teal-green alien, trying to read her every moment, every blink, every shift of her feet and flick of her wrists. "Continue, Leech."
"Well... I'm not sure exactly how she did it, but it looks like Plasia was able to break through the restrictions and physical limits, into the hierclasty. We shouldn't have ever been able to hear her, or reach her; the Nodes certainly can't now, she's too far away. When Plasia sent her message, it had pin-point accurate direction encoded within it but not distance. So, every Node, in their own unique placement, felt a pull towards the same point, but from minutely different directions. I just... trawled through the sensory data of enough Nodes until each line intersected at a certain point; that's where Plasia is. I'm still figuring out this sensory sharing and decoding stuff, but it is bloody accurate."
"That is... impressive. But you still have not answered what I asked you." Moltezz frowned. "Although, I suppose it does answer for you, if you're thinking about where she is."
Leech clicked her tongue and stood sharply from her seat, pushing it back with a screech.
"I... think we should go get her."
A smirk graced Moltezz's face as she watched Leech walk slowly to the window. She stared out through the thick glass panes, past her reflection, past the stars, to the point where the lines intersect.
"Do go on. I'm sure there's an incredibly complex and compelling reason just bubbling away in that brain of yours."
"Controller numbers are small, and even if you count our Slaves, Nodes and Marks, our place and impact on the universe is a small one. We're not even a faction yet, we're just not numerous enough. Two Controllers have already deserted us, and one of them is captured. That's not a good look for someone currently trying to put themselves on the map." Leech spoke carefully, slowly, feeling the words roll off her tongue. "I'm concerned about us looking weak in the face of our enemies. We are the strongest part of the Rewritten; the Controllers. We should be feared and respected. If something is happening to Plasia, it could reflect badly on us, reveal a potential weakness, even. Do you want Plasia to be the face of the Rewritten, Moltezz?"
Moltezz's smirk intensified into a mocking grin. A tense silence fell over the room as the remaining Controllers observed with a cautious interest.
Slowly, Moltezz approached Leech, with heavy, thudding footsteps, and slapped a hand onto her shoulder.
"I'm not worried about looking weak, my dear. Anyone who has the audacity to think that will quickly find the heat too hot to bear. Rumours can be quickly dispatched by a scolding brand. Moreover, you really shouldn't lie to me, Leech. It's unbecoming of you." She whispered teasingly, leaning in close, her breath wickedly hot on Leech's skin.
Leech went to respond, but Moltezz pressed a single finger against her lips.
"To lie to yourself however... Unfit behaviour." She pulled her finger away slowly, caressing Leech's cheek as she did so. "I can tell you care about Plasia, Leech. You needn't hide that. I would imagine you feel somewhat responsible for her, after all."
Leech took a sharp breath in, but held her tongue. A few more tense seconds ached by until, eventually, the molten mistress turned away, and addressed the room again.
"Nevertheless, I think I agree with you. It's time for a show of force. United we stand a better chance, we're about to brush shoulders with some heavier players. Recovering her alive would bolster us again, providing Leech can keep her under control. Would be good to have my concubine back, too." Moltezz nodded firmly and relaxed her shoulders a little. "I will leave the station in the capable hands of the Trio. Ink, you're coming with me and Leech. Gear up, we're leaving in the morning. And for goodness sake, do something about that before then." Moltezz cast an almost disgusted look down at Leech's crotch, where a bulging semi had been pressing against her tight trousers ever since she and Ink had entered the room, and hadn't shown any signs of going away any time soon. "I know the two of you are just desperate for some alone time, some, ugh... milking." Moltezz grimaced as she mimicked Leech's dialect. "I am astounded that you're happy to be treated like cattle, Ink - a girl of your calibre!"
"It's not all bad!" Bubblegum cheeped in the background. "Leech runs a tight ship in her lab! Plenty of fun to be had!"
She tried to hide it, but a proud grin etched its way onto Leech's face at Bubblegum's testimony, and she winked at the girl cheekily, who poked her tongue out in response, showing off her bright silver stud for just a second. To their side, Ink's tentacles flicked in annoyance as she watched the pair's interaction, but her glare at Bubblegum was intercepted by Cherry, who slid in between the two and pointed her fingers at her eyes, and then at Ink, a clear message of 'I'm watching you' conveyed by her fierce scowl.
"UGH! Whatever!" Moltezz snapped. "I don't want to know. If your deal is glass, tubes and machines then so let it be, but I will burn that place to the ground before you attach anything to my body. My passion cannot be farmed. If Leech knows where Plasia is, we'll take the Radon and leave in the morning. Any objections?"