Pre-Menstrual Vengeance
At the door of the room, Vengeance Terminal
paused, steeling himself for the coming ordeal. He flexed his fingers nervously,
fighting back the impulse to nanoforge a weapon before entering, knowing that
for this mission, he was on his own. Taking a deep breath, VT pushed open
the door with his foot, and stepped inside.
The room was dark, but VT instinctively knew he was not alone. He stood, silent,
just inside the doorway, sweeping the room with his thermal imaging, nanoenhanced
senses straining to catch any sign of movement. Behind him, the door swung
closed.
VT froze, panic rising in his chest. He felt, rather than heard a movement
behind him and tensed in readiness, but did not turn around. Keeping his voice
steady with an effort he said ‘I’ve brought you a nice cup of
tea love…’ The woman behind him moved closer and the cup was removed
from his hand. VT clenched his fist to stop his fingers trembling and tried
to steady his pounding heart. There was a soft slurping sound, then silence.
VT started to relax, then from behind him came a snarling voice ‘Did
you put sugar in this?’ Immediately VT snapped back to full alert, golden
fire rippling involuntarily up his ankles. In a voice that he hardly recognised
as his own, he stuttered ‘No dear’ praying to any god who would
listen that this was the correct answer.
The presence behind him became a little less baleful and he could hear it
finishing the rest of the tea. The cup was returned to his hand then the voice
spoke again, this time a little softer; ‘Did you get the stuff?’
‘Yes love,’ replied VT with a confidence that he did not feel,
‘tampons, aspirin, evening primrose oil, ch…’ Fuck, he had
forgotten the chocolate. The feeling of panic rose again, now the golden fire
flickered all over his body, as the adrenaline forced his heart to pump nanites
around his body at an ever increasing rate. He looked around frantically for
a way of escape, but the only door was blocked by the malevolent shape behind
him, which had started to growl softly. ‘You forgot the chocolate didn’t
you’ the voice rasped, in a tone that made in clear that nanoenhanced
human flesh would do just as well. VT gulped, realising that he would have
to think quickly if he was to leave the room alive. Something behind him had
started to hum, something that sounded ominously like the vibrations of nanites
forming the monomolecular edge of a whip blade. Knowing that he was closer
to death than he had ever been, VT whirled around to confront the angel of
death which now stood behind him, hovering a few inches above the carpet.
VT looked up at the pitiless mask of his lover, and unleashed his secret weapon;
the ‘puppy dog eyes’ ‘I’m really sorry darling I promise
it won’t happen again please don’t kill me’. The armoured
figure considered this request, but said nothing, the tip of the whip blade
flicking to and fro like the tail of an angry cat. VT watched it warily, and
surreptitiously tried to cover his crotch with the empty tea cup. Keeping
his vice calm, he added ‘I’ll just run out and get some shall
I?’ the figure was silent, but the blade’s lashing became more
pronounced. VT moved back a couple of inches. ‘And a bottle of vodka?’
the lashing subsided, but VE still did not move away from the door. Feeling
more confident, VT sidled nearer ‘what else do you want dear? Something
to read, a bunch of flowers, more ammunition?’ VE muttered something
and glared at the floor. ‘What was that dear? I didn’t quiet catch
it,’ cooed VT, still making sure he was out of range of the blade. ‘I
said’ spat VE venomously, ‘that I need a hug.’ VT considered
for a second whether this might be a ploy to bring his genitalia into range
then moved closer, putting out a hand to touch his partner. ‘Come on
love, put the weapon down.’ Reluctantly, VE returned to the floor, armour
melting away to reveal a dressing gown and a pair of fluffy slippers. Shuffling
closer, she rested her head on VT’s chest and he folded his arms around
her.
All images and text copyright Nathan Davis 2005
