A Chained Memory

"Run...?"

You will never flee in the face of danger. You will never be a coward.

More voices from her past returned to haunt her. She could fight...couldn't she?

"I... understand." she said meekly. This was not the time to be caught up in memories.

---

It returned to the hunting ground, not intent on giving up just yet. This feast would surely give it enough energy to bypass its current limits. Much to their surprise, the creature was ignored by the masses yet again. This part of the world and its inhabitants appeared to be very much used to slimes like itself.

Though restored to full strength, Theta would not risk attacking someone at the heart of the city, instead it opted for a more isolated place, like a small, peaceful neighborhood. Of all the places it could choose from, the slime went straight where there was noise; the hammering sound made by a lonely blacksmith.

Richard set a smouldering iron object into water, a burst of steam sizzling up and leaving the house through an open window. With the tongs in hand, he set a small iron makeshift turtle off to the side. "That's one..."

Vantage point compromised.

Theta circled the house, making sure no one was around, sliding under the door afterwards. He was alone, distracted... it was the perfect time to strike.

The man was too absorbed in his work to notice the slime slowly sneaking up behind him. By the time he acknowledged the strange feeling around his ankles, it was already too late. The slime had caught him by the legs and arms, pulling him inside itself. It was time to feast.

"What the--?!" He couldn't fight back, not one bit.
///
"That reminds me, you've never met my dad, have you?" Rachel asked as they arrived at the door. The lack of any of the telling signs of his work was weird but maybe he just finished one of the items requested.

Tracy smiled.
"Not yet. What's he like? Anything like you? Is he seeing anyone?" Tracy teased, following after Rachel.

"Down girl, I might have to take you in if you keep up the villainy," she laughed, opening the door and heading for the forge. "He's a nice guy, kinda hard sometimes, but I'm sure he'll love ya." As they heard the room, she noticed there was still no noise coming out of it. Her dad should be working his butt off to get his order done on time, right? "Dad...?" She opened the door and found a blob of black slime where she expected to find her father. "What the hell--!?"

Another interference. It had finished the meal already, there was no reason to stay...

No... This time it was not kin alone that stumbled upon it. This time... it would strike first.

Conflict: Rachel vs Theta-04

The slime threw her father away like leftovers, before lashing out at Rachel with its tentacle. The girl jumped back on reflex, completely avoiding the surprise attack.

(Latch - 67)

Rachel: 30 stamina/willpower
T-04: 40 stamina
Richard: 0 stamina

"DAD!!" Rachel glared at this disgusting blob as she managed to avoid one of its tendrils. She thrust her hand in its direction, flames flaring up intensely. "What the hell did you do to him!?"

-Eruption-

Tracy dashed in after Rachel, seeing that she was distraught by whatever was going on inside... only to follow after her and discover why.
"Ohoho... you picked the wrooooong family to mess with. This place is off limits! I'm the one who's in charge of villainy in these parts! Leave now, before we make you!" Tracy commented, with no small amount of menace in her voice.

(Free Action: Intimidate)

Theta dashed towards the heroine in order to close the gap and get a clear shot at her. But Rachel was waiting for it; with hands aflame, she would strike the creature with a devastating eruption once it got into range.

It stopped. It stopped just within her reach, turning its head towards Tracy, whose taunts appeared to have attracted the slime's attention. Theta knew not to underestimate the violent intent of beings like Tracy and backed off for caution, barely dodging Rachel's attack.

(Intimidate - T-04's next attack will be made at a disadvantage) (Eruption - 25) (Black Stream[dis] - 9)

Rachel: 30 stamina/willpower + Stunned
T-04: 40 stamina
Richard: 0 stamina
Tracy: 30 stamina/willpower

"Damn it!!" Rachel fell weakly to her knees, needing a moment to get herself back at full. What was she thinking using that so soon!?

Tracy was almost surprised it had listened. Was it stopping, or just taking a tactical retreat. Either way, Tracy figured she couldn't let up.
"This is MY territory! Back off!" Tracy stated, with more confidence in her tone, thinking maybe she could scare it off. Or, at least, make it think twice about screwing around here.

(Free Action: Intimidate)

More shouting! More noise! The kin was irritating. It almost considered retreating again, but seeing the enemy so vulnerable quickly changed that thought.

"Silence..."

Theta turned into a woman with horns, resembling that particular oni's essence. At such power, it could maintain a full form for a longer period of time. With a mighty leap, Theta landed on top of Rachel, pinning her to the ground in black goo.

(Intimidate became less effective- 77) (Reckless Leap - auto-hit, auto-hit)

Rachel: 25 stamina, 30 willpower + Bound
T-04: 40 stamina
Richard: 0 stamina
Tracy: 30 stamina/willpower

"Nnn, Damn it, get off of me, you disgusting trash!!" she growled defiantly, trying to wrestle out of its hold.

-Struggle-

Tracy's eyes blazed with fury as the slime jumped on Rachel.
"Get your damn hands... goop... whatever... off her! Now!" Tracy screamed, dashing towards the pair to help Rachel escape the bind.

(Free Action: Assist Struggle)

So fiery, so full of energy. Theta could already feel this one's power flowing through its body... were it not for the intervention of the loud kin. And a distraction was all she needed. Rachel's hands burst into flames, boiling the slime from the inside. The sudden turn of events made it jump back to a safe distance.

"Enemy..."

Two enemies, Theta could not afford to eat them one by one. It was time to spread... With a terrible screech, the creature launched parts of itself all across the room, painting it black.

(Assist Struggle - Gives Advantage to the struggling target) (Struggle[adv] - 93) (Losing Mass - 16)

Rachel: 25 stamina, 30 willpower + Seeded (3 turns)
Tracy: 30 stamina/willpower + Seeded (3 turns)
Richard: 0 stamina + Seeded (3 turns)
T-04: 38 stamina

(To clear up on confusion: Seeded = Dazed as a status effect, it just needed a name to not be confused with the actual Dazed)

Rachel growled furiously as she was freed from this blob. "Tracy, can you get my dad out of here? I can hold out until you get back!"
Fire roared in her hands as she thrust a right hook at the slime.
-Red Hot Right-

"Fine, I'll get him out. But don't you dare lose to this... thing. You're only allowed to lose to me!" Tracy commented, but added a wink to the end of it, before rushing over to Rachel's father, head spinning a little from that horrible screech, and the weird explosion that came with it.

(Free Action: Help Richard)

Tracy tried rushing past the slime, only to stop in her tracks at the sight of the creature expanding to twice its size, violently vibrating with power. The villainess was not easily scared, but a real monster was not something she would see every day. Rachel ran past her, delivering a flaming right hook to the mass of darkness.

The impact blew it up, scattering three of its pieces across the floor. Was this the end? No, it couldn't have been. The three pieces each assumed a form. One was the female from before while the others remained as blobs gathering around the main body. With a unified scream, they signaled the turn of the tide.

(Help Richard[dis] - 77) (Red Hot Right[dis] - 64) (Split[Version 2] - auto-hit)

Rachel: 25 stamina, 30 willpower + Seeded (2 turns)
Tracy: 30 stamina/willpower + Seeded (2 turns)
Richard: 0 stamina + Seeded (2 turns)
Clone[V2]1: 3 stamina
Clone[V2]2: 3 stamina
T-04: 30 stamina

Tracy cursed as the wall of black stopped her in her tracks, only for it to be blown apart by Rachel's punch. Not paying attention to the two new forms, Tracy tried to use the sudden disturbance to dive through and get to Richard.

(Free Action: Help Richard)

"Get out of my house, you god-awful monster!!" she screamed as she moved in to nail the main slime in the head.

-Hammer Down-

She tried again to reach Rachel's father only to have her leg stuck in a puddle of black goo on the ground. This time she was not given leeway as a clone used the current situation to attach itself to her breasts. Rachel was torn between helping Tracy and attacking the slime woman, ultimately choosing the latter.

Her momentary distraction however, did not go unpunished as the other clone jumped on her ankles, tripping her up. Now vulnerable on the ground, the clone slowly slithered between her legs, sending a wave of pleasure throughout her body, as well as a growing numbness that started to form at the tip of her fingers.

Meanwhile, the main body further restricted the heroine's movement, wrapping her wrists in its dark tendril.

(Help Richard[dis] - 77 is a lucky number) (Hammer Down[dis] - 15!) (Bodyhug - 2) (Bodyhug - 88! + Attach Drain) (Latch - auto-hit)

Rachel: 28 stamina, 24 willpower + Seeded (1 turn) + Tethered
Tracy: 29 stamina, 28 willpower + Seeded (1 turn)
Richard: 0 stamina + Seeded (1 turn)
Clone[V2]1: 5 stamina + Attached(Tracy)
Clone[V2]2: 7 stamina + Attached(Rachel)
T-04: 32 stamina

"Ahh, what the hell!? Get off me right now!!" Rachel rushed to her feet, against the hold of the clone and rushed Theta head-on, leaping up and swinging her foot out into a flaming roundhouse aimed straight at her head.

-Red Heel-

Tracy, meanwhile, was determined to get through the goo and make it to Rachel's father, even if she had to drag all of this slime with her. Rachel clearly needed help, but she'd be distracted if her father was in danger. She needed to deal with him first before she could assist her.

(Free Action: Help Richard)

Vulcan's hands were bound and that thing was playing with her... No, she would not stand for this. Decisively, she rose to her feet, kicking the clone away in the same motion. With her wrists still held, she resorted to kick the main body straight in the face...

Tracy held back her moans as the clone massaged her breasts. She was getting weaker... The villainess could not afford to think of herself right now - she would endure, to save the father of the one she...

"Enough..."

Theta spoke between gurgled noise, sending a wave of power throughout the blacksmith's house. The women were stopped in their tracks as the slime covering them began to grow using their energy. Little blobs appearing as incomplete women were sprouting on the surface of their bodies: one from Tracy's back and another from Rachel's shoulder.

Her kick had missed its mark and the clone exploited this opportunity soundly, winding up tightly around her belly. Theta began pulling her by the black chain that was its tendril... ready to begin the feast.

(Detach[dis] - 9 + Help Richard[dis] - 93) (Detach[dis] - 8 + Red Heel[dis] - 25) (Attach Drain) (Bodyhug 2 - auto-hit) (Germination)

Rachel: 27 stamina 22 willpower + Tethered
Tracy: 28 stamina, 26 willpower
Richard: 0 stamina
Clone[V2]1: 7 stamina + Attached(Tracy)
Clone[V2]2: 9 stamina + Attached(Rachel)
P. Clone[Rachel]: 3 stamina
P. Clone[Tracy]: 3 stamina
P. Clone[Richard]: 3 stamina + Reproduction (1 turn)
T-04: 32 stamina