Before people start throwing things at me, yes, I know it has been too damn long for this update. I am sorry it has taken this long. I went back to school after some time away and, to put it simply, it has kicked my ass. However, due to a certain "pandemic" as it is being called, I have a little time on my hands and I am going to TRY and have at least the first part of the next chapter done this week coming. As always, if you guys have any suggests for future chapters, leave them in the comments. Thank you!
Sometime later…
Look at her face, a failure of her skill…A peacekeeper should never be so wounded…You are a disgrace to us, Valeria…I should have never pulled you from that gutter.
Valeria's eyes burst open, wet and dripping with tears. It is just a dream, it is just a dream, she repeats to herself till her heart finally stops pounding. It is only then that she begins to take in her surroundings: a dimly lit stone room, the only source of light being a bronze object that is set in the far wall of the room, a glowing white gem producing the light. She is laying on a bed, covered with a thick blanket, becoming aware of the bandages that cover her from head to toe as well. She tries to sit up, attempting to prop herself up with her right arm. When she tries, she is reminded of what happened: the shinobi's attack, his sickles biting into her flesh, severing her arm at the elbow. Valeria throws the covers back to see what is left of her arm: a heavily bandaged stump, a dull ache pulsing from it. She stares at it for several minutes, her despair growing heavier by the minute.
A metal scraping sound echoes into the room, causing her to jump in her bed. A figure steps into the room, one that completely baffles Valeria. It is a woman, at least that is what the ample chest and slender frame suggest, but the rest of her body confuses Valeria to a new level. Her arms, legs, and head are decorated in what looks to be bronze armor; or, that is what she believes until the creature approaches and she sees that the metal is apart of her. Her torso appears to be flesh, her breasts and pelvis covered in some form of bronze underwear, her hair is straight and black, cut just above her shoulders; what's more is her eyes: devoid of feeling with no pupil, only a solid, glowing blue surrounded by white.
"The guest is awake, approximately 0500 hours, vitals seem stable, further tests necessary for certainty. Does the guest require anything?" Valeria cannot help but stare at the strange creature in front of her for several moments, her appearance and monotoned voice creating a heavy feeling of unease.
"Where am I?" The metal creature does not react to Valeria's question physically, her expression staying even and unaffected.
"The guest was brought in approximately eight hours ago by the mistress. The mistress and I provided necessary medical aid to stabilize your vitals. The mistress collapsed shortly after. She is now resting in her chambers. Does the guest require anything else?" Valeria's brow arches even higher.
"Who is your 'mistress'?"
"Pandora Syphortech." Valeria's eyes widen at the mention of the gremlin.
"Is she okay?" The creature nods.
"Yes. The mistress sustained no physical wounds, but she suffered from exhaustion and needed immediate rest. A mild sedative was administered to assist. She should wake soon." Valeria nods, grateful. The gremlin had risked her own life to save Valeria, a complete stranger. Pandora is either a very brave person, or very foolish. Foolish gremlin, she should have just left me there. "Does the guest require anything else?" Valeria shakes her head.
"No. Just tell her to come see me when she wakes up." The creature nods before turning to leave. Valeria lays back down in the bed, wishing to sleep.
Later…
"Valeria," the peacekeeper wakes as she feels a soft nudging on her back. She rolls, her eyes still full of sleep when she eyes the familiar, blonde-headed gremlin kneeling at her bedside. The gremlin smiles at her, happy to see Valeria awake and well. "Glad to see you're alive." Valeria pushes herself up from the bed, her wounded arm moving to push her matted hair back from her face, only for it to stop midair before falling to her side again.
"I'm so sor-"
"Don't," Valeria says, cutting Pandora's apology off, "this is my failure." Pandora's gives the peacekeeper a painful expression at her tone.
"Valeria this isn't a failure. You protected me-"
"I protected no one," Valeria cuts her off again. "I bought us some time while those two attacked. Had you not helped after I lost my arm, I would be dead, and you'd be back in Alexia. Now I'm nothing more than dead weight. You should have just left me to die, I'm useless in this state." Pandora's eyes start to tear up at the hopelessness in Valeria voice.
"Valeria I can fix this," Pandora says, her tears finally rolling down her cheeks. Her shaken words finally cause Valeria's despair to ignite into anger.
"How?!" Valeria holds her bandaged stump up so that Pandora can see it. "How can you fix this?! I'm crippled. It would take a master of magic to regrow my arm and even then, it could take years. You said it yourself that your magic isn't like others'. So, by the Gods, tell me how you can fix anyth-"
"Halt." Valeria is cut off by an inhuman voice, not demonic or bestial, but a metallic, echoing and foreboding monotone. She looks to the door where the strange creature from before now stands, one of her arms raised towards Valeria, but it is different. Instead of her former, bronze covered forearm, a large, tubular device sits upon it, a glowing crystal encased in glass at the back end of it. After a moment, she realizes that it must be some form of weapon given the tone she just spoke in, as well as the look in her eyes. They are still emotionless, but there is a threat deep within them. "Hostile levels of adrenaline detected. Protective procedures will be conducted otherwise, termination if necessary. The guest will refrain from speaking to the mistress in such a tone."
"Silvia," the creature turns to Pandora. "There is no need for hostility. Valeria was just upset. I was trying to calm her down. Everyone is safe." To Valeria's surprise, the creature, Silvia, lowers the strange weapon. It is then that Valeria sees something she's never seen before: after Silvia lowers her arm, the weapon begins to take itself apart and readjust itself, metal parts moving and compacting themselves on their own. When the strange orchestration of metal is complete, the creature's arm is as it appeared the first time Valeria and Silvia met.
"As you say, mistress." Silvia then leaves the doorway without a word, Valeria staring after her.
"What in the name of the Gods did I just see," Valeria asks, her eyes turned back to Pandora. The gremlin wipes the tears from her eyes.
"Silvia is an automaton." Pandora's words are answered with a raised brow from Valeria. "She's an artificial lifeform created by the Dwarves long before the Cataclysm. She's a machine with her own mind. While she was made to serve a master and a purpose, she is able to make decisions based on situations and her environment." Valeria's eyes widen at the explanation.
"An artificial being," the peacekeeper whispers as her thoughts start to swarm. The ability to make something like Silvia can only be described as godly. To breathe life into a lifeless construction of metal, the possibilities could be endless.
"Yes, and she is how I'm going to help you," Pandora's words bring Valeria back to reality.
"How?" Pandora then explains where they are. Years ago, Pandora discovered this ancient Dwarven ruin that she believed to once been a workshop for building automatons. She found many strange tools and contraptions, but many of the pieces she found seemed to be parts of different automatons. She also found many ancient schematics for them, some being similar to Silvia while others were far less human. She could not decipher any writings she found, but over time she discovered how to piece different parts together. Most of her attempts were fruitless, ending with two hunks of metal now connected to each other. However, she found the motherload after digging through another section of the ruin. She found three complete automatons, humanoid in shape. Two of them were badly damaged and nonoperational, the third, however, was still mostly intact. It was then she discovered their power source. The other automatons were missing some component that supplied them power, but the third still had one: a crystal of solid Demonic Energy. It was disconnected at the time, but Pandora managed to reconnect it.
Upon repairing the power source, the automaton returned to life; or, in a sense. Pandora explains that Silvia had to undergo a 'rebooting system', a process to reevaluate her internal systems. Once that was complete, the automaton regained functionality. Her memory had been badly degraded over the centuries, much of her past life being lost; however, her knowledge of her own mechanics and circuitry proved useful in being able to repair the mechanical body to working order.
"So, how does that help me?" Pandora thinks to herself for a moment.
"It's only a theory, but from what I learned from Silvia, her own nervous system is made up of artificial nerve fibers that are very similar to living tissue. I learned how to connect them while making my initial repairs on her. It should be possible to take an arm from one of the other three automatons I found and attach it to you." Valeria did not understand how such a thing could be possible.
"So, it would be a prosthetic?"
"Yes," Pandora begins, "but, it would function just like the real thing. You would still have your sense of touch. Well, in your hand at least. Like Silvia, only certain parts of her body are made of the synthetic flesh that was created by the Dwarves. For this, it would only be your hand." Valeria stares at Pandora for a long moment, her eyes slowly starting to water. Earlier she was ready to give up, but now this tiny slip of woman is offering her a chance to continue her life before it has truly ended.
"Please…If you can do this, then do it."
Two days later…
Valeria sits on a set of stone steps as she watches Pandora work on one of the lifeless, humanesque automatons, picking at the lifeless husk of metal with strange tools. For the last two days she has been working hard, making sure she can connect the nerves of the automaton so that it will be simpler, hopefully, for her to do it with Valeria. In that time, Valeria has explored the ruins that Pandora has called home. It is a structure much like a building you would see anywhere else, only completely made of stone and metal, located deep inside a system of caverns. How Pandora managed to find the ruins, Valeria still could not fathom. Much of the ruins are still sealed off by rubble, but Pandora managed to clear out a workshop area, multiple sleeping quarters, a kitchen and dining area, a bath, and several other rooms.
She has also learned much about Pandora's apparent protector, Silvia. From what Pandora explained, all the automatons were created with specific purposes in mind. From what Pandora could learn, Silvia had been built to serve as a bodyguard, being that her body is armored for combat and that her limbs can transform into weaponry Valeria could never imagine; one example being the transformation her arm took when Pandora offered to fix her arm. The contraption is a form of cannon that can fire beams of focused Demonic Energy.
At first, Valeria thought it would be dangerous for this knowledge to fall into the Demon Lord's forces as a Demonic Energy beam sounded as if it could monsterize people instantly, but Pandora assured her this was no issue. Silvia's power source, her core, is comprised of Demonic Energy from the former Demon Lord. Because of the newer Demon Lord's spell, Demonic Energy can no longer take a crystalized form. Gaseous or plasmons Demonic Energy is too unstable to power an automaton; thus, it is highly unlikely that automatons will ever be powered by Demonic Energy again.
From what Valeria has learned, the mechanical woman is the perfect servant and protector. She cleans and serves Pandora on perfect schedule without complaint or rest, she cares for Pandora's needs without instruction, seeming to be every nobility or royalty's dream. However, she is not as emotionless as Valeria first thought. Her face and eyes never seem to portray any from of emotion, but her voice is different. While it never shifts from the same monotone, there is a certain change depending on the discussion or situation. Her voice will take on a caring or worrisome tone, whether it be real or imaginary Valeria is not sure, but whenever the automaton suggests that Pandora rest or take a break from her work it seems to change in a certain octave.
"Phew," Valeria's thoughts are brought back to reality as Pandora lays her tools down, the petite Monster girl slouching into the wooden bench behind her. Valeria gets up from the steps and approaches her.
"Don't over do it," Valeria says, placing her only hand on the gremlin's shoulder. The gremlin's head bobs twice, Valeria unsure whether in reply or exhaustion. One of Pandora's better qualities is her dedication and hard-working attitude, but Valeria has noticed how it can push the gremlin past her limits to the point she falls asleep at her work table or collapse all together.
"Here, let's take a bath. It'll help you to relax. Then you're going to bed." Pandora frowns at her.
"But I'm almost ready to fix your arm. I just need a little mo-hmph!" Valeria cuts her off by placing a finger over her lips, causing the gremlin's tired eyes to widen.
"You working yourself to exhaustion won't help anyone. A rested mind is the sharpest mind," Valeria says, reciting an old proverb her old trainer used to say. "Come on," Valeria takes Pandora's hand and helps her to her feet. The gremlin gives a groan but does not resist as Valeria leads her towards the bathing room. The bath consist of a stone pool in the center of the room, heated water pouring in through metal pipes set into the floor of the pool. It also has other pipes coming from walls that serve as showers, which Valeria has come to love.
Once inside, the girls start to strip and go towards the bath, the water exciting groans from both girls as the heat soaks into them. Over the past two days, both girls have become accustomed to seeing each other naked. Pandora had to because of Valeria's injuries needing treatment; though, she was rather embarrassed in the beginning. Valeria had no issues with the gremlin's nudity from the beginning, thus it was no issue when they started bathing together.
Pandora lets out a long moan as she sinks into the water up to her neck. Valeria follows suit, the water coming to just above her chest as she leans against the warm stone. She does not know what will become of her life from this moment forward, but if possible, she wants to find another dwarven ruin with a working bath. "I do not know how I've survived without one of these baths," Valeria says. Pandora gives a concurrent hum.
"It is nice." Pandora looks over to Valeria, her auburn hair hanging past her shoulders, the ends dipping into the water. The gremlin cannot help but look at the scars that cover her shoulders and neck, as well as the long gash that starts at her right cheekbone, over her lips and down to her chin. She has also seen the other scars that mark her body: her abdomen, her legs, everywhere. The life of a peacekeeper seems so dangerous, but given what she's seen Valeria do, she has no doubt that it has been hard. Valeria is sitting with her head leaning back, her eyes closed, arms up and resting on the edge of the pool; Pandora's eyes go to her right arm, the stump ending in an angry, purple scar where she had to mend the wound. The memory makes her chest clench. "How's your…arm?"
"It's fine. Doesn't hurt anymore." It's not a complete lie. The wound itself does not hurt, but she has learned the meaning of phantom pains. She's come to accept it, for now at least. She does not know what to expect with this new arm Pandora plans to give her, but she is hopeful.
"Um…Valeria, can I ask you something?" Valeria opens her eyes and looks Pandora, the gremlin now standing so that the water comes to her collar bones. Valeria gives a nod, not sure what the Monster girl plans to ask, but by her expression it seems serious. "How did you…get that scar…on your lips?" Valeria's chest tightens at the mention of it, memories she would rather have stayed buried coming back to her. Pandora notices the sudden change in the atmosphere and regrets the question. "Y-you don't have to answer. I was just curious is all. No need to talk about something uncomfortable if you don't want to." Valeria does not say anything for a long moment.
"I got it during a battle with some of the Empire's forces several years ago," Valeria begins. She then goes into the story of how she was stationed at one of the forts between the Iron and the Imperial Legions' borders. A group of Imperial knights tried to take control of a village near the fort, Valeria and her own unit moved in to drive them back. It was a vicious fight, she had found herself facing a lawbringer who proved more agile than she had assumed him to be. He managed lay his halberd across her helm, cutting into it and scarring her face. However, she managed to get the upper hand and killed him. They won the fight, but the scar serves as a reminder every time she looks in the mirror.
"You must be proud of it, then." Pandora did not expect Valeria's expression to darken the way it does. Even Valeria did not intend to do so, but her reaction is automatic. "Did I say something wrong?"
"Peacekeepers are not like knights or other warriors," Valeria begins. "Peacekeepers are meant to end a fight before it even begins. Should we find ourselves in open combat, we are to end the fight quickly without over exertion. To peacekeepers, scars are not a symbol of pride, but reminders our failures. Small scars, on the limbs or the body are one thing, that is the nature of war and battle, but scars like this one," Valeria rubs at her lips, "they are considered blemishes on our skills."
This a long silence, neither knowing what to say. "I'm sorry Valeria, but that is the dumbest thing I ever heard." Valeria's eyes burst wide as she looks at the gremlin, who is now crossing her arms. "Your scars show that you are alive. They show that you have survived tragedy after tragedy. Yes, they are not pretty, that is the nature of your work. But you are a survivor, Valeria. That is nothing to be ashamed of." Valeria shakes her head at the gremlin's words. Her sentiment is appreciated, but the gremlin does not understand. Peacekeepers are the shadows of the Legions. They are meant to be swift and precise, a scar is evidence of a misstep, a mistake, that which peacekeepers are meant to avoid.
"I do not expect you to understand," Valeria says, turning to leave the bath.
"I don't think so," Valeria is caught off guard as she feels a small hand grip the bicep of her injured arm, pulling her to a stop. She turns to see Pandora, her eyes glowing like a pair of burning emeralds. "You do not get to just brush me off like that. Yes, I don't know anything about the Legions or your peacekeepers, but what I do know is that you are not a failure. You've saved my life three times now, losing your arm in the process. You have done more for me than any living person has done for me in years. I don't care what standards you peacekeepers have, but I can tell you that they are bogus if you cannot consider yourself a hero after everything you've done." Valeria stares at Pandora for a long moment. She never would have imagined the calm and naturally sweet gremlin to act like this, much less scold her. And a hero, Valeria would never have thought herself as such. Peacekeepers are not valiant by trade, their tactics often described as cowardly by the more boisterous members of the Legion. Does she really think I'm a hero? "Well, are you going to say something?"
What happens next is even more mind blowing for Valeria, even as she does so, she cannot fathom what is driving her actions. Instead of pulling away, Valeria leans towards Pandora and places a kiss on the gremlin's lips. It is slightly awkward, neither girls actually reacting so much as being frozen out of shock. Valeria's mind is not only paralyzed by the fact that she is kissing Pandora, but also the feel of her lips against her own. She also cannot help but to enjoy the smell of her skin, an image of her burying her fingers in the gremlin's hair and deepening the kiss flashes through her mind, but she refrains. When she finally pulls back, both their faces are flushed, neither knowing what to say as they stare at each other.
"I-…" Valeria starts. "I'm sorry." Valeria has been in many situations where fear would drive most people to run for their life. Now, after just kissing a girl, she finally gives in to that urge as she bolts from the bath, grabs a towel, and runs to her room before slamming the door behind her.
Stupid stupid stupid, Valeria yells at herself mentally as she sits on her bed, debating whether to start bashing the wall with her skull or not. It would not solve anything, sure, but it might succeed in making the peacekeeper feel less like a mindless imbecile. Most likely not, but it seemed worth a try. Before Valeria can talk herself into the option further, a light nock echoes into the room from the door. Judging by the fact that Silvia has not stormed into the room already there is no other possibility than for it be Pandora. Cursing herself even further, she sighs heavily. "Come in."
The door screeches open to prove her right, Pandora quietly walking into the room and closing it behind her. "Valeria," Pandora begins but Valeria cannot meet her eyes. She's both too embarrassed from kissing her so suddenly and too ashamed for running away from it.
"Pandora, I'm sorry." The peacekeeper wraps her arm around her stomach, feeling a knot has started to tie itself in her gullet.
"Why are you sorry?"
"I should not have kissed you. Or…I should have not run away at least." Valeria feels the bedding shift, causing her to turn and see Pandora now. She is wearing a simple nightgown, which reminds Valeria that she is still naked under her blanket, causing the peacekeeper to blush heavily.
"Valeria, you don't have to be sorry for that." Pandora places a hand on Valeria's knee, giving it a comforting squeeze. "You are going through a difficult time. We've been through a lot in a short amount of time. You reacted without thinking. It happens." Valeria nods, thankful that she understands. "Although," Pandora's voice trails as her hand moves upwards to Valeria's thigh, causing her to blush as she looks at Pandora directly. The gremlin is staring at her, her eyes half open. Her expression is cautious and shy, but there is lust in gaze. "I would not mind if you kissed me again." Valeria's eyes widen even further at the suggestive tone in her voice.
"P-Pandora, I-" Pandora lays a finger over her lips, her eyes growing darker with lust.
"Valeria, it's been two days since I was sated," her words are heavily suggestive. "And I could really use some help. I had it under control, but when you kissed me it…sort of…broke me…" Pandora slowly leans towards Valeria, replacing her finger with her lips. The kiss is soft, no pressure, simple contact between their lips. Valeria pulls back just slightly before deepening the kiss, just increasing the pressure. The next kiss is much deeper, their tongues slowly slipping together. Shortly after that, their kissing is far more passionate, both trying to dominate the other.
Valeria cannot think straight as Pandora's taste intoxicates her. She reaches for the hem of her gown, only to stop, remembering her right arm. She breaks the kiss, grimacing from the memory. "Valeria," she looks up at Pandora who immediately removes the gown herself. Her breasts are supple and pretty, her body voluptuous and soft. Valeria cannot help letting her eyes drift down to the V between her thighs. "Don't be ashamed for what happened," Pandora says as she takes Valeria's left hand and places it on her chest. Valeria lets the feeling of Pandora's body sooth her, anchoring her in the moment.
Pandora moans as Valeria squeezes her breast. Her palms are rough, calloused, her palms scraping against her hardened nipples, sending shivers through her body. She gasps when Valeria leans forward, capturing her other nipple between her lips. She holds Valeria against her, to keep her steady and to hold her close.
Valeria lets her hand move to cup Pandora's buttocks, her fingers sinking into the flesh of her cheeks. She succeeds in raising a squeal from Pandora as she leans her weight against the gremlin and forces her onto her back. Valeria awkwardly pushes herself up to look down at Pandora, her hair fanned around her as she smiles up at her. Valeria gives her a grin as she leans down, placing a kiss between her breasts. She hums lightly as Valeria's kisses trail down her stomach and reaching her pubic mound. Once Pandora is taken into her mouth, the gremlin gasps loudly, her eyes rolling backwards as the peacekeeper's tongue strokes her.
Valeria moans at the taste of Pandora: sweet and heady. She cannot help but enjoy the reactions from Pandora as her tongue strokes her nether lips. "Valeria!... Please don't…don't sto-ah!" She moans into Pandora's center, savoring the sounds of her moans. When Pandora's pleasure begins to mount her back begins to arch, Valeria quickens her strokes as well as capturing her cleft with her lips. Her climax is strong, her body shuddering as she practically screams from the orgasm. However, the moment comes to a crashing halt as Silvia kicks open the door and barges in, her Energy cannon drawn at the ready.
The automaton stops in her tracks as she sees the naked couple, Valeria looking scared while Pandora is still shaking from her climax. "Screams of pleasure mistaken for alarm. Intrusion unwanted, situation now awkward." Valeria presses her face into Pandora's thigh, both out of irritation and embarrassment.
"Silvia, I am fine. Thank you for your concern." The automaton collapses her cannon and drops her arm.
"Yes mistress. Shall I begin protocol five?" Pandora's face blushes slightly, the gremlin taking a pause before answering.
"Um…n-not right now. Perhaps another time."
"Understood, mistress," Silvia states before she leaves the room, closing the door behind her.
"Well…that was…interesting." Valeria looks up at Pandora, a brow raised.
"That's a word for it." Valeria says and Pandora giggles at Valeria's chide. "What is 'protocol five'?" Pandora's face blushes deeply at her question.
"Um…that's…private." Valeria arches her brow even more.
"Even more 'private' than what we just did?" Pandora bops Valeria on the head, giggling despite her best efforts not to.
"Perhaps not, but I'm not telling you right now," Pandora punctuates her statement by blowing Valeria a raspberry. Valeria laughs as she climbs back up Pandora's body, Pandora squealing in protest.
"I can think of better uses for that tongue," she purrs, and Pandora's expression turns sultry.
"I'm sure."
The following day…
Valeria breathes deeply, doing her best to calm her nerves to no avail. She is laying a stone table, her upper body naked with metal wires and devices strapped to her chest and forehead. Pandora is in the room, too, rummaging about with tools and other equipment, that only makes her nerves more on edge. Silvia, her drone-like eyes staring blankly stands above the table, the wires running up to a device that she is holding which is connected to her by another wire that connects to the back of her neck somehow. The device shows multiple lines and numbers that Valeria is not familiar with, but she says nothing.
Pandora drops a few more leaves into the chamber of the device she is fiddling with. It works by filtering the smoke from burning plants so that chemical vapors come out purely, giving better effects of their properties. Pandora lights a match, drops it into the chamber, and then closes the lid quickly. She waits a moment before flipping the switch that causes the air bladder to start collapsing and inflating on its own.
She won't admit it, but she is nervous. She's never done this before, and she is terrified. She has worked on the artificial nerves enough, but there are several differences between them and living tissue: blood vessels, muscles, a patient that can feel pain. Her device and herbs will take care of the pain but if she screws this up…No, Pandora commands herself to breathe. She will succeed in this. Valeria will receive the prosthetic and be good as new. She brings the device over, carrying the brass box component along with the tubing hanging down while holding the other end in her free hand. She sits it down beside Valeria who is staring up at the wall, her face emotionless in appearance.
"Are you ready?" Pandora asks. Valeria turns to her and nods. Her brow is creased with worry and Pandora can see that she is trembling despite her best attempts to suppress it.
"I am," she lies, Valeria is terrified. She is not worried about any pain she may feel. She's not afraid of any medical issues that may arise. She is afraid of what will happen if this does not work. All her life she has been a peacekeeper. She was an orphan, no family to speak of. She was rescued by a peacekeeper of the Iron Legion and adopted by them. Valeria had spent her entire childhood training until she reached her goal. When her face was scarred, she thought her life and career would end. Now, she knows for sure that if this fails, she will have no place as a peacekeeper. She will be useless.
Pandora nods, and before Valeria can respond or react, the gremlin places the quickest and sweetest kiss on her lips. When it is over, she places her forehead against Valeria's, their eyes locking together. "This will work." Valeria cannot think straight enough to answer in words, finally settling for a nod. Pandora nods in agreement before raising the opposite end of the tubing, ending in a brass cup for Valeria's mouth and nose. "Take deep breaths," Pandora instructs as she places the cup over Valeria's face and then flips the release switch on the device. Pandora inhales, her nose filled with a sweet, earthy scent. She starts to giggle lightly, not sure what she is laughing about. Her vision starts to swim before everything fades to black.
Two days later…
Another bolt sails through the air and buries itself into the training dummy that Silvia had prepared for Valeria. It is off from where she had been aiming but much closer than earlier. Valeria flexes her thumb, the underside of her prosthetic arm sliding open so that she can remove the cylinder that housed her bolts. She closes the compartment, the opening for the built crossbow clipping down, becoming flush with the top surface of her prosthetic.
When Valeria had awoken, she had found an exhausted Pandora who only managed to smile weakly. She then looked down to find where her arm ended in a metallic receptacle rather than an actual arm. The prosthetic was added later, after Pandora had rested. Pandora had taken one of the arms from the other automatons, the overall appearance being sleeker with ornamentation, the bronze surface engraved with swirling patterns inlayed with obsidian. Originally the arm had housed a hidden spike, but Pandora had managed to replace the mechanism with an automatic crossbow.
Once attached, Valeria found that she could manipulate the prosthetic easily and what ever mechanism allowed for her sense of touch was working, though the actual weight would take some getting used to.
Valeria opts to end her training, flexing her shoulder from the strain. "How's it going?" Valeria turns at the sound of Pandora's voice, the gremlin watching her with a soft smile.
"Well," Valeria states, flexing the synthetic-flesh fingers of her prosthetic, rolling the wrist and flexing the elbow. "It is still a little heavy, but I think I will get used to it." Pandora steps closer to Valeria, placing her hand on the prosthetic, running her fingers along the metal until she reaches the hand. Without thinking, Valeria laces her hand with Pandora's.
The two had not spoken of their night together since the operation. Valeria does not know where to begin on the subject. It was obvious that Pandora had feelings for Valeria, but Valeria does not know how to respond. It is not forbidden for peacekeepers to take husbands, or wives, but it is very uncommon where many peacekeepers do not live long enough to retire. The grandmaster of the Peacekeeper Corps had long since retired from field work, but even she has not taken a spouse. Valeria has had lovers in the past, but for no longer than a night. No love or even real romance, a mutual itch that needed to be scratched before moving on with her life. But the night with Pandora had been different. Just the thought of it is enough to make her blush and her body to stir. But would it be possible with her line of work? Would Pandora want that sort of life?
"Hey," Valeria snaps out of her thoughts at the sound of Pandora's voice.
"What?" Pandora smiles as she shakes her head at Valeria.
"I asked if you have been feeling in pain from the prosthetic." Pandora places a hand on Valeria's hip, the gremlin's eyes searching her face. "Is something on your mind?" Valeria debates for a moment but decides against bringing up the issue.
"It's nothing," Valeria lies, "A lot has happened in the last few days, it's given me whiplash. And no, no pain. It works just fine." Pandora stares at the peacekeeper for another long moment, but she doesn't press the issue.
"Okay. I'm going to go outside in a minute. I need some nectar from a friend of mine. Shouldn't be gone too long." Valeria's face pales at her words.
"What? I can't let you go alone." Pandora waves Valeria's worries away.
"It's fine. She lives a short walk into the forest. And, she's an Aluraune; if there are any threats in her territory, she will let me know." Valeria wants to argue with Pandora, but she relents. In her current state, Valeria has no chance of protecting Pandora, let alone herself. She's practiced a little with a sword and dagger that Pandora had provided from the ancient stock pile, but her body is still dealing with the addition of the prosthetic. It will take some time before she is back in fighting shape.
"Fine," Valeria sighs and Pandora pats her arm.
"I'll be back soon," she says as she steps away.
"Damn it all," Valeria hisses as she examines the fresh footprints leading towards the river. Three hours ago, Pandora had gone into the forest and not returned. Silvia had reported that Pandora had been gone to long, which Valeria had thought as well. Together they left the underground workshop to search. It did not take long before they found the multiple sets of footprints made by centurion boots. "I should have gone with her. I should hav-"
"Negative. The guest's physical condition is not optimal for combat. More recovery time is needed." Silvia's cold blue eyes stare at her, her face as expressionless as her words. Valeria glares at the automaton.
"And what, you don't feel anything for her? You aren't worried? Do you even care!" Silvia gives no bodily reaction to Valeria's outburst.
"Mistress has been taken. This is confirmed. Recovery protocol shall be initialized." Silvia turns to leave Valeria as she makes her way back to the workshop.
"Wait!" Valeria takes off after the metal woman, following her down into the depths of the hideout. Inside, Silvia goes into a room Valeria hadn't seen yet. It is tall room with racks holding strange metal objects. Silvia stands in the center of the room, raising her arms out to her sides. Suddenly, a wave of energy seems to pulse out from Silvia, making the hair on Valeria's neck stand on end. In the next moment, Valeria watches in awe as Silvia's body opens several compartments on her limbs and torso as an unseen force lifts some of the metal objects from the racks and carries to them to the automaton. The objects twist and contort into new shapes as they connect to Silvia, hooking into specific compartments. When she lowers her arms, Silvia is dressed in a suit of armor similar to that of a lawbringer's. She raises one of her hands again, another metal object flying to metal grasp as he contorts to look similar to the weapon that is concealed within her arm under the armor.
Valeria has no idea how to react to the now armored Silvia. "Requesting the guest's assistance in recovery protocol," Silvia says under her helm. Valeria stares at the strange metal creature in front of her. In truth, she does not know how to process what she just saw, but she shoves her awe down, remembering Pandora.
"Granted," Valeria says as she goes back to her room for her own weapons.
It takes them four hours to return to Alexia. Following the trail left by the kidnappers, Valeria and Silvia made their way to the forests just outside the city limits. While in heavy armor, the automaton did not seem to be weighed down and kept pace with Valeria easily. After the city was within sight, the two waited for nightfall and then made their way to the beach, looking to infiltrate the mansion from the side.
Valeria hesitates as they climb the hill leading to the mansion's perimeter. She is not sure what to expect. Trollope could have doubled security, thinking that Valeria would return to rescue Pandora, or he could underestimate her since she is crippled. She still considers herself crippled as she still has not gotten fully used to the prosthetic. However, Silvia does not waste time as she reaches the top of the hill and rounds the perimeter to the front gate, Valeria whispering in protest. The automaton gives no reply until she is standing only a few feet from the wall.
"Commencing recovery protocol," she says simply as she raises the strange weapon to her shoulder, pointing it at the front gate. A faint purple glow appears at the opposite end of the weapon and quickly becomes brighter. Not knowing what to expect, Valeria gets behind the armored automaton. A second later, there is a bright flash and an explosion sounds, sending debris and smoke through the air. When Valeria looks past Silvia, the gate of the mansion is gone, bits of charred wood hanging from iron hinges. She can hear cries of panic and outrage sound as Silvia steps forward, the weapon still at the ready.
As Silvia steps forward, the front guarden of Trollope's is in chaos as Silvia charges her weapon again, sending another explosive bolt of energy at a gathering group of centurions who do not react fast enough. A few manage to get close enough to Silvia to attack, but their weapons do not leave marks on her armor and she finishes them off with a quick stroke of her fist, leaving bloody, caved in helms in her wake. A few attack Valeria as she follows behind the automaton, but she is ready, finishing them off with multiple stabs to the openings in their armor and leaving them to bleed out. Soon, the entire garden is littered with bodies and debris. Before Valeria can give Silvia further direction, the sound of a deep, masculine laughter fills the air.
"Well done, peacekeeper!" Silvia looks towards the mansion, seeing an older man wearing silk robes and carrying a staff stands, flanked by a familiar shaman and shinobi. Valeria also recognizes the staff he is carrying from one of the schematics from the night she met Pandora. "I'm so glad you could join us. I am Remus Trollope, master of this home you have so rudely intruded upon."
Valeria gives no answer to his introduction. "Return Pandora, now!" she demands, pointing her short sword towards him. His bearded face contorts in a grin.
"Pandora? Oh! You mean the Gremlin? I'm afraid she is occupied at the moment. But she should be joining us in ju-" Trollope stops as the sound a metallic clanging sounds from the side of the mansion. From the shadows a monstrosity of metal steps forward, four metal legs carrying a crab-like body with a protrusion rising from its top. When the machine steps into the light, Valeria's eyes widen.
"Pandora!" Valeria cries as she sees the gremlin anchored into the mechanical monster. Her legs disappear into a metallic, crab-like body with multiple legs while her upper body is encased in a metal suit that covers her back, arms, and head. She also does not miss the large crystal set into the frame on her forehead. Pandora looks to be uninjured, but her eyes are hollow, devoid of thought or even life. As the machine lumbers forward, it raises a set of large, mechanical arms, one sporting a large, grisly looking circular saw blade while the other ends with a spiked mace. Valeria turns back to Trollope, her eyes glowing with rage. "Give her back, you bastard!" Trollope laughs at her demand.
"I am afraid not. Your friend was working on some extraordinary ideas when I found her. She was trying to find a way to control the Demonic Energy within Monsters. No idea why, but it sparked an amazing idea. I thought, why should we continue to fight the Monsters when we could control them! It was genius. Of course, the gremlin is owed her due for her part, which is why I have decided to let her be the forbearer for the Emperor's new campaign. It is a shame you will not live to see it." Trollope raises the staff towards Pandora, pulling the trigger along the shaft, causing the crystal at its tip to glow. Pandora gasps as the crystal on her forehead glows, too, her body stiffening like she is receiving a shock. "Kill them!" Trollope commands. The shinobi, shaman, and the machine holding pandora lumber forward.
Valeria turns to Silvia. "Take that machine down. I'll take care of the other two." Silvia gives no response as she turns towards the approaching machine. The shaman sneers at Valeria as the shinobi hangs back, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Your arm is back," the shaman says through her scarred mouth. "Will your head come back, too." Valeria glares as she takes up her fighting stance. Within the blink of an eye, the shaman launches herself forward, her hatchet raised. Valeria side steps, bring her dagger around but the shaman anticipates it, spinning to so that her own dagger lunges for Valeria's throat. Valeria brings her sword up to parry before engaging again with her dagger. The two go back and forth, daggers striking towards vital marks as they launch and parry attacks. Valeria takes two, deep stabs to her side and leg while the Shaman takes one to her hatchet arm. The shaman leaps back to avoid a swing from Valeria's sword before leaping forwards again, her hatchet arcing over her head. Valeria side steps the attack, unprepared as the shaman rolls on her shoulder into a predatory crouch and then launching herself back at Valeria again. The shaman slams into her like a ram, shoving her off her feet onto her back.
Valeria raises her sword, but the shaman pins her arm to the ground with a bony fist, driving the pressure causing her hand to go limp. She does the same to her prosthetic arm, but she retains her grip on her dagger. She shaman's eyes stare down at Valeria as she struggles to free herself from under the savage, her scarred lips pulled back in a sinister smile.
"The spirits call for you," the shaman hisses. Valeria jerks her arms, attempting to free herself from the shaman's hold. "They crave your spirit." The peacekeeper tries to kick her legs as the shaman drives her knees into the flesh of her thighs, immobilizing her. She shaman raises her head in a slow, trance-like motion, her eyes rolling backwards. "The crave your blood!" The shaman drops her head, her mouth wide open as her teeth go for Valeria's throat. In a last jerk, Valeria releases her sword and manages to slip her prosthetic arm from under the shaman's fist. She quickly brings her hand up so that the shaman bites into the synthetic flesh, her eyes wide with surprise. Before she can let go, Valeria wills the arm to open so that the installed crossbow immerges. With a quick flex of her thumb, she fires a bolt directly into the shaman's face. She rears back in pain, releasing Valeria's hand as she screams, moving to clutch at the bolt. Valeria moves her prosthetic arm and fires a second bolt into the bottom of the Shaman's jaw. Her screaming ceases instantly as she falls sideways.
Valeria pushes herself up, reaching for her sword and dagger. She looks over to where Silvia is battling the machine monster, its saw blade buzzing as it swipes clumsily back and forth. Despite her heavily armored body, Silvia manages to dodge the attacks as she fires her own weapon at the legs. Valeria starts to go and help her, but just as she takes a step, the shinobi steps into her path. She glares at him, dropping into her fighting stance. Without a word, he takes his own position.
"You fought well," he says simply. She says nothing as she steps forward, her stance low and her movements methodical. The Shinobi approaches her in a similar manor, each step calculated and purposeful.
"I owe you for my arm," Valeria says, her voice calm despite the anger and anxiety as she remembers the last time she fought him.
"I suppose you do. Though it seems you have found a worthy replacement." Valeria does not reply as she comes to a stop. The two are a short ways from each other. The sounds of fighting seeming to fade into the background as Valeria and the shinobi stare each other down. Then, as if at the flip of a switch, Valeria lunges forward with her dagger leading. The shinobi side steps, his sickles moving in swiftly. Valeria manages to block both blades before countering with her own, managing a deep cut on the shinobi's forearm. Ignoring it, the shinobi drops a round, black object that explodes into a cloud of smoke. Acting on impulse, Valeria ducks and leaps out of the smoke, regaining her footing quickly. She searches the cloud for any form of movement just as one of the sickles flies from the smoke in her direction. She ducks the spinning blade as it is then jerked back towards the dispersing cloud on a chain, the shinobi reappearing as he catches it. He charges Valeria and she follows suit. Just before the two of them would collide with each other, the shinobi drops to the ground, sliding forward along with the grass with one of his sickles trailing behind him. Valeria jumps out of instinct, the shinobi sliding underneath her. She lands solidly and twists so that she is still facing the shinobi again just in time to see him throw one his sickles at her again. She spins, letting the blade twirl past her before being pulled back to the shinobi. As he catches the first, he spins into a crouch, letting the other sickle fly towards Valeria's feet.
Anticipating the attack, Valeria hops just enough to dodge the blade and come down to stand on the chain. Thrusting her sword arm down and flexing her middle finger, Valeria fires another bolt to pin the chain to the ground. She looks up to see the shinobi release the pined chain before charging at her again. She drops into her fighting stance, waiting for him to draw closer just as he removes another smoke bomb and tosses it a few feet in front Valeria. She does not move as the shinobi disappears behind a cloud of smoke, waiting for his attack and ready to counter. Just as she thought, the remaining sickle flies from the cloud and she knocks it away with the blade of her sword. When she turns to look at the cloud again, she is surprised to see the shinobi having closed the distance as he leaps into the air and delivers a straight kick to her face. The force sends her reeling, her dagger slipping from her hand. She recovers just long enough to see the shinobi raise his sickle. She brings her sword up to block, the shinobi delivering a swift kick in response. She blocks with her empty hand and sings her sword, the shinobi back-flipping out of her range.
"You fight well," he says, his breathing heavy behind his face cover. Valeria does not respond as he reaches behind him and draws a short, curved sword from his back. "What is your name, peacekeeper?" She does not respond for a moment, eyeing him wirily.
"Valeria Anita," she says without blinking. She shinobi nods before pulling his face cover down to reveal the scarred face of one from the Mire.
"I am Hachiro Okuma. You have earned my respect, and I would-" Valeria ducks as a bolt of lighting darts through air and strikes Okuma, sending him flying backwards. She looks to where Okuma is now laying, her eyes wide in shock.
"Shinobi," a familiar voice chides. "They say the shinobi are nothing like the Samurai, yet they still have their codes of honor. What utter nonsence." Remus Trollope flicks his fingers as the remaining sparks of electricity spark. Rage builds in Valeria's chest as she watches the nonchalant Remus. The sight of him looking so unaffected causing her eyes to tear up at the bile building up in her throat.
"You bastard!" Valeria cries, taking a step towards him. Remus smiles, shaking his head.
"I never understood you Iron Legion knights. Nor any others with these so-called codes of honor. What good does it do? In the end, you are all pawns for the powers that be. Progress halts for no man or woman, honorable or not." Valeria takes another step forward, intending to drive her sword into Remus' heart, but her thoughts are torn when she hears a loud clang of metal. She looks to where Silvia had been fighting metal machine just in time to see it send Silvia flying with a well-placed hit from its mace hand. The automaton tumbles through the air and into one of the perimeter walls, the structure crumbling down on top of her. Valeria's heart sinks as Remus begins to laugh at the sight. "It seems you are out of luck!" Remus raises the staff once again and pulls the trigger. "Kill the peacekeeper!" The machine turns towards Valeria instantly and begins to lumber towards her.
Acting on instinct, Valeria turns to Remus and charges, her sword at her side. Before she can make it up the stone steps to him, he whispers an incantation and sends her flying with a sonic boom. She spins through the air, her ears ringing as she collides with the ground. Her vision is blurry, her body aching everywhere. Her senses return only long enough for her to see Pandora's emotionless face stare down at her as she raises the saw blade. Valeria's eyes widen as the blade drops and she rolls, avoiding the blade by a hair's breathe. The machine follows, trying to stomp her with one of its fat, metallic legs before following with its arms. Valeria manages to regain her footing and retrieve her sword, searching for a way to stop the machine and free Pandora.
"Pandora its me!" Valeria's words are answered by another swing from the machine. She ducks and retreats, the machine following her. "I'm your friend!" The saw blade swings forward, Valeria dodges. "We helped each other!" Another swing, she dodges. "Pandora!" The machine brings the mace hand down but Valeria spins just enough to avoid the spikes.
Valeria realizes that she cannot get through to Pandora with words. She has to free her somehow. The only way she can think of to do so would be to take the staff from Remus, but his magic makes him practically impossible to defeat on her own. Other than that, the only other way would be to get her out of the machine, but she has no idea how to even begin with that plan. That is, till she looks back to Pandora again and notices the jewel set into the helmet. She recognizes it as the same kind of crystal that is set into the staff Remus is holding. If she can remove it, or even damage it, it may be enough to set her free. But that is only a guess. For all she knows it could very well kill Pandora. Valeria looks to the machine again, to a set of emotionless eyes that made her heart beat like a drum not long ago. I won't leave you like this. Drawing her resolve, she charges towards the machine.
The mace sings forward and she ducks, then twisting sideways as the saw blade thrusts forward. She jumps and latches onto the large, metallic appendage as the machine lifts its arm into the air. The machine beings to shake and thrash, trying to throw her. She uses the momentum to throw herself onto the rounded base of the machine, the arms still thrashing about. She manages to duck as the machine tries to throw its arms back, allowing her to come to face Pandora. She reaches for the jewel just as the machine jerks again, Pandora's head drawing back and trying to headbutt Valeria. She sways and dodges the attack as the machine continues to throw her, the thrashing preventing her from reaching the jewel. Pandora's head draws back again, and Valeria hatches an idea. Just when Pandora's head thrusts forward, Pandora allows herself to fall backwards. As she falls, Valeria raises her prosthetic arm and summons her crossbow. She is scared, terrified, actually, as she aims her crossbow-arm at Pandora. Please work. She flexes her ring finger and the bolt flies.
Pandora hits the ground and machine lurches backwards. She crawls away as the machine seems to lose control, its arms flying at random as it stumbles back and forth on its legs. After a moment of clumsy trampling, the machine tips sideways and collapses. Valeria looks to the lifeless machine and her heart seems to stop. "Pandora!" Valeria pushes herself to her feet and makes her way to the machine. When she comes close, her legs are whipped out from under her. A small tornado has materialized under her, spinning her like a platter on a stick. It lifts into the air and slams her down.
"You bitch!" A hand smashes into the side of Valeria's head. "All that work!" Remus shouts as he draws his hand back and hits her again. "All that planning! Ruined!" He hits her again. He grabs her by the throat and pulls her up so that she is kneeling in front of him, her face now bruised and swollen. His face twisted in rage, he raises his other hand and summons a ball of fire, his eyes glowing in its light. He raises the ball up, intent of using it and Pandora closes her eyes, waiting for the end. Just when she is sure it is her time, a bright, purple light flashes past her face and Remus begins to scream. When she opens her eyes, she is looking at the severed hand of Remus as it lays on the ground in front of her. She looks up to see Remus clutching at what is left of his arm, smoking curling up from between his fingers. She looks to her right to see Silvia, her armor dented and bent in multiple places, but overly unharmed. Taking her chance, Valeria raises her prosthetic and deploys the crossbow. Remus notices this and looks up just in time for Valeria to flex her pinkie finger.
Three weeks later…
Valeria reported the entire incident to the Iron Legion, as is her duty. Remus Trollope is dead; the news has been the talk of the city and has made the city a dangerous place for her. Luckily, she has a nice hideout just outside the city walls, with her gremlin partner and her mechanical assistant as well. After the battle, Valeria learned that Pandora was, in fact, alive but unconscious. After prying her from the machine monster, Silvia managed to carry both Pandora and Valeria back to the cavern. Pandora awoke the next day in a panic but was relieved to find out that they were all safe. She was heartbroken to see the damage she had caused them both but was happy to make up for it by nursing them back to health.
Valeria finally asked Pandora what her project was that caught Trollope's attention and she told her, believing that Valeria had earned the right to know. Pandora's original project had been to build a device that would slow down the effects of Demonic Energy, staving off the effects of monsterfication as well as giving Monster Girls more time to find a mate before going rabid. Trollope had twisted her idea by using the magic crystals as a medium to manipulate the Demonic Energy within Monster Girls so that he could control them. Luckily, Valeria had also retrieved the staff Remus had created, preventing anyone from using it or recreating it.
Valeria fires the last bolt from her arm, the bolt sinking into the small, red circle of the bullseye along with the other four. She has finally gotten used to the weight of the prosthetic and using the crossbow. She collapses the crossbow, satisfied with her training for the day.
"Done for the day?" a cheerful, sweet voice asks. Valeria turns to see Pandora standing by the doorway, wearing a sheer, white nightgown. She smiles at the gremlin as she approaches her, putting an arm around her and placing a light kiss on Pandora's lips. Shortly after returning to the cavern, Valeria confessed her feelings to Pandora. Pandora had been surprised, not expecting Valeria's confession, which Valeria explained how she realized her own feelings for Pandora after almost losing her. She never wanted to lose Pandora again, not without telling the gremlin how she feels, at least. Pandora had returned her feelings and the two have started a life together as both lovers and partners. Valeria assists in acquiring materials for Pandora's projects and Pandora provides gadgets and equipment for Valeria to use during missions in the city. I an even partnership.
"Mistresses," Silvia's voice chimes as she steps into the doorway. "I detect increasing levels in arousal. Shall I initiate Protocol Five?" Pandora look at each other and smile before turning back to Silvia.
"I think so, Silvia," says Pandora. The automaton does not replay as her normal, metal armor begins to collapse and fold in on itself, sliding it into specified compartments on her body. Underneath, her body is made up of mostly synthetic flesh connected with metal joints. Her body is soft and curvy, her breasts are large yet perky, her hips and thighs thick and soft. Then, her bald pubic mound sinks in on itself before opening to reveal another hidden compartment. From it, a eight inch cock of synthetic flesh slides from the compartment and becomes flush with the rest of her body, the phallic appendage becoming stiff instantly.
Pandora had finally introduced Valeria to Protocol Five a week after they had returned to the cavern, much to Valeria's surprise. Now, however, she looks forward to enjoying her and Pandora's time with Silvia. Pandora lets her nightgown fall to the floor as she takes Valeria by the hand, rocking her hips as she steps forward to lead her to their bedroom. Valeria cannot wait to see how long this session will last.