Cyberpunk Returns in B.A.B.E. : A Beatrix Belladonna Tale

Dropped off back in the capital, Beatrix and Oona were escorted into President Spike's tower. Only this time, they had B.A.B.E in tow as well. The five women rode up the elevator, back in their usual attire. The leading diva was constantly touching up her hair and adjusting her outfit.

“Will you cut that already? You’re fine!” Wispy hissed, brows furrowed in annoyance.

“Whaaaat? I want to make a good impression,” Eclipsed Heart playfully whined, shuffling around on her booted feet. “We might be famous pop stars, but this is the first time we’re meeting our employer! The President is a man of utmost importance!”

“Bah! If you ask me, he’s a filthy, greedy scumbag, just like any higher authority,” the abyssinian tigress scoffed, folding her striped arms across her studded scarlet catsuit.

“Do not forget the damage he’s caused,” reminded Kitsune.

“I-I know. But I'd prefer a peaceful resolution, if that's still possible...” Eclipsed hung her head. “Sixth Measure already got enough people backing them to storm the place and confront President Spike in person. That’s why we’re going to him first. So please, don’t cause any unnecessary conflicts, okay?”

The golden vixen nodded, patting her shoulder. “We won't.” She turned at the ‘ding’ sound once the sliding elevator doors opened.

Beatrix took the lead into the spacious office. “We're back! And we've brought company!” A theatrical flourish of her arms helped introduce the band when she scooted aside to let them approach. “Sorta strange you never arranged a meeting with artists under your label.”

“Been busy,” Spike stated, turning around in his chair and offering a smile. “But I’ve got eyes everywhere, so I don’t lose track of things happening underneath me.”

“That’s… not a reassurin’ thing,” Oona said, her snout scrunched up. “Surely, ye know th’ boy band, Sixth Measure, is on th’ uprisin’ wit their economic protests.”

“Yes, I’m well aware,” the president nodded, failing to hide his look of disgruntlement.

“Well, we've come tae share their grievances. An’, from what we've seen, a large swath ov th’ populace share them. Suffice tae say, e’eryone feels yer efforts are too little, too late.”

“Look, Oona. These things take time-”

Wispy growled, clutching her fist before slamming it into his desk. “See?! More excuses!! You haven’t done jack shit!”

“Imoto!” The kunoichi said sternly, pulling her away to restrain her.

Oona shook her head before continuing, “Clearly, ye dae not have much time on yer hands.” The dream shaman pointed towards one of the monitors, which showed the streets stirring with activity. Swarmed around the throngs of masked, shielded, and armed police, were cordoned off areas alive with activity. “If ye don’t act now, all it would take is a single spark to ignite. An’ we know fur a fact that Sixth Measure will start that fire!”

“Look, your presidency,” Eclipsed joined in, leaning over the desk. “We just want to keep the people happy. But you need to do more for them, sir! Maybe some sizable donations into charities? We'd even be willing to hold a concert for it!” She looked to her bandmates, who nodded.

President Spike sighed, scratching his chin. “You’re right. The public needs more progress. And that charity concert makes for an intriguing idea. I'll look into setting that up.” He pressed a few buttons on his notepad to send messages to his secretaries, who were currently away. Then his eyes wandered back to the ongoing conflict with the Redcaps. A campaign from the former members of B.A.B.S., teamed up with his own men, had driven the cyborgs into a corner.

“Looks like you're winning…for now,” observed Wispy, who swayed her tail and plopped her plush backside onto his desk. She leaned in, and for a moment, the two stared each other down. Scarlet eyes turned to slits that refused to blink.

Spike turned his seat aside, rubbing his brows. “I'm afraid it will be a while before I can make any big moves. Not sure what else you expect from me. In the meantime, could I interest you in some coffee, at least?” He forced a thin smile.

“No thanks,” Wispy said, sticking out her tongue at him before bouncing off the desk. “We've already made plans! Come on, girls!” She looped her arms in Beatrix's and Oona's, then pulled the pair back into the elevator. Kitsune bowed her head before she followed close behind.

Eclipsed got behind the doors before turning around to wave and say, “Nice to meet you, sir! We'll be in touch~!” The moment the doors closed, the pop princess glared at her feline friend. “What was all that about!? I thought I told you not to cause any problems!”

Wispy shrugged her shoulders. “I didn’t promise anything, princess butterbuns…”

“Wispy!” Eclipsed groaned. “Look, I know you don't like politicians much, but-”

“Dislike doesn't even cover it, princess,” hissed the abyssinian tigress. “People like him make my blood boil!”

“No, there’s something else,” countered Kitsune, looking hard at her little sister with narrowed eyes. “You’re a lot more riled up today. What’s the matter? Perhaps… you are in season?”

Wispy’s cheeks brightened before she snarled, “What!? No!! I’m not in heat, damn it! I’m just… ugh, I don’t know! Maybe I woke up on the wrong side of the bed or something…”

In a rare moment of vulnerability, the fox woman pulled her sibling into a hug, which she returned while purring. “We will figure out what ails you. But, more importantly, we have a surprise prepared for our friends tonight.”

“Oh yeah~!” Eclipsed smiled warmly at Beatrix and Oona. “I can’t wait to see the looks on your faces.”

“Well, if it's anything like your concert, more than excited!” Chimed in the witch. Her lover nodded with a smile, quietly curious as to what could possibly await them.

Still, the pop princess refused to elaborate further while they rode the elevator back down and met back up with the other Spike, whereupon the cabbie spirited them towards their destination. This time the channel tuned to Sixth Measure's music, which Eclipsed happily swayed to, while Wispy made a sour face.

*****

The cab arrived downtown, where it was directed towards a private section that housed several vehicles. As the group walked out of the car, Spike poked his head out and warned, “Be careful out there. A lot of gang wars tend to happen in these parts. As a former Werewolf, I'd know!”

“Don’t you worry! We’ll keep ‘em safe,” Wispy assured with a wink. Spike waved them away before heading back into traffic, after which Eclipsed took the lead and stepped into a hidden entrance. The holographic wall momentarily vanished to allow her in, and the rest of them followed her into the dark corridor ahead.

“Erm, what sort ov ‘gang wars’ was he talkin’ about?” Asked Oona, a tad nervous.

“He mostly meant between the Halloween Party and the Komodos,” replied Wispy who rolled her eyes at the thought of them. “One is a group of thugs painted up like ghouls, ghosts, and goblins, hijacking transport ships and raiding public events. The other is a biker gang full of reptoids who run around the streets as if they own it.”

“They tend to become very hostile towards each other,” Kitsune added.

“Well, surely, the police would end up involved, right?” Questioned Beatrix.

Wispy said, “Pft. Those that have are rewarded with blunt force trauma or broken limbs. I heard one time, an officer got his head bitten off!”

That statement made the dream shaman shudder, instinctively holding her throat.

“But don’t worry. Like I said, we’ll keep you girls safe,” Wispy reassured, rubbing Oona’s shoulder.

“We’re currently in Komodo territory,” Kitsune noted, eying the spray paint markings that decorated the tunnel. “Halloween Party would be foolish to try and attack during this event.”

“Shhh! We’re almost there,” whispered Eclipsed, who sucked in a breath and guided them towards the faint light looming ahead. Within moments, they appeared in a dressing room, albeit this one decorated with skulls, weapons, masks, and similar various morbid props on display.

Carrion Hellfire was the one to spot them, flashing her razor teeth. “Heh. Always on time.”

“Of course we are,” Eclipsed quipped, playfully wiggling her hips. “Gotta keep with the beat if you wanna top the charts~!”

“Uh-huh, sure. You gal’s ready for a real show?”

“Always~!” Beatrix chirped, hands placed on her curvy hips.

“One moment, mate. Just need to make sure the equipment’s all fine-tuned,” came the voice of Riptide Ruth, who checked their instruments.

“Well, don’t take too long,” Obrya Slithervane insisted, raising her arms and weaving her naked, tattooed flesh and scaly tail before a full body mirror. She smirked and hissed with a flicker of her tongue, her heavy breasts shaken to entice any onlookers. “My adoring public awaits~!”

“Ten credits on who the poster girl is,” Beatrix whispered to Oona, who tittered at the S.L.U.T flier adorned by Obrya’s likeness on the wall.

“Eh, it’s not surprising,” Carrion snickered. “Out of the three of us, our snaky seductress is the most conventionally beautiful. But don’t be fooled; she got venom in those fangs. Not to mention a tail that can crush bones in seconds! I pity any horny punk stupid enough to try and lay hands on her!”

“I mean, technically, one did,” the shark woman reminded.

“Okay, true. But underneath all that leathery and muscle, Dillon’s a total softy. That’s what really got Obrya’s tail rattling for him~!”

“Keep it down, you two bitches,” the lamia hissed, folding her arms. “A dumb fan could be easedropping on us! I don’t want anyone knowing I’m not a total lesbian! It’ll ruin our image!”

Ruth chuckled, waving her worries off. “If some poor sucker dared to sneak backstage, I’d know… because they’d be in my belly~!”

The trio let out a wicked laugh while the witch and shaman gulped. Wispy grinned at them before saying, “Aww, don’t worry. Trust me, they’re more bark than bite anyway~.”

Oona nodded, listening to the staccato of grungy metal music amongst the gathering crowd outside. Politely, she confessed to the band, “Not… mah favorite style ov music, but Ah am curious tae see yer performance!”

“A shame we can't hit the stage alongside you,” said Eclipsed. “But I'm not sure it's time to drop our act yet! Then again, after that fight that broke out, maybe we should come clean soon! I...I guess I'll decide after the show's gone on for a while!”

“You're in luck then.” Carrion's smirk widened. “We'll be performing until dawn hits! We're on in a few!” She adjusted her spikey, metal bikini.

Wispy explained, “We’ll be able to watch from back here! Pretty cool, huh?”

“Another hologram,” elaborated Kitsune when they started to make their way out onto a stage hidden by the curtains. The crowd was deafening even from here, the stadium packed to the brim. “So long as we don't draw any attention to ourselves, we'll be invisible to the audience.”

Ruth quickly set up their equipment and shot their band leader a thumbs up. Then, together, she and Obrya took their positions behind Carrion, who hovered into the air, buffeted by her anti-gravity metallic wings that gleamed and caught faint lights that glowed in the darkness.

The curtains rose. There was an explosion of cheers and howls as S.L.U.T. made their entrance.

Carrion flew over to the mic and seized it. She yelled, “Are you slags ready for some blood and metal?!”

The crowd's answer sounded like a war cry. Lights and instruments stirred to life all at once, the stage transformed into what appeared to be a bloodied torture dungeon mixed with catacombs. She started to croon with all the force she could muster, screaming out obscene lyrics.

At the same time, Ruth started to hammer on the drums; the area shook around her each time she pounded on the lit-up surfaces. Obrya swiveled to the stage's edge, writhing and shaking her bare assets in a wild sway to cheers and whistles.

“A-ahh! So loud,” Lady Ewe meeped, ears covered as she trembled under the force of the concert.

“It's certainly unique,” replied a barely audible Beatrix, who nonetheless tapped her foot to the rhythm. She watched as Obrya's tail shot out to wrap around a pair of crazed groupies, who had abandoned every stitch of clothing. The serpentine woman pulled the naked ladies close, feeling them wriggle in her grasp. Sticking out her forked tongue, she made out with everyone in her coils, the onlookers no doubt filled with envy.

“Well… guess that's the ‘lesbian’ part,” quipped Wispy, sweeping her tail about.

“And there’s the sadism!” Eclipsed grumbled, frowning at the grotesque props on display, including skulls that formed a throne and an iron maiden, its manifold spikes adorned in dried blood and rust. “I’m not trying to be judgemental, but I prefer to spread a positive message!”

“Even so, it was nice of them to invite us,” Kitsune offered, smiling slightly as she leaned on a wall.

One song bled into the next over the hour. Fake blood rained from the ceiling, and Obrya closed her eyes, her head cast back and arms unfurled to bathed in the substance with another duo of supple groupies she picked from the mob. They continued to dance on her while she felt them up.

Carrion had taken to the air and flew over the masses when she belted out her latest piece, her talons dipped to meet many fists raised below.

The exit doors burst open. Those closest turned when a group of interlopers stampeded in. Glowing neon costumes adorned most of them, some dressed like skeletons, others with jack o' lanterns for heads. They pushed aside the crowd.

Beatrix exclaimed, “What the-!?”

“Yo, cut the crap or we’ll cut you down!!” One bellowed with a microphone, face hidden behind a hockey mask and chainsaw. His arms were muscular, decorated in glowing tattoos. The rest of the audience backed away once more ghoulishly painted thugs pushed them around.

“The fuck you doing here, Halloween Party?!” Carrion yelled back. “This is a private show! And last I checked, we banned you bunch of jokers!”

“Get real! S.L.U.T. is nothing but a bunch of posers!” He accused, pointing his chainsaw towards the stag. “Not only is snake tits not a true lesbo, but their whole ‘feud’ with B.A.B.E is also a damned sham! Y'all are prasin’ frauds!!”

This got the crowd stirring while Obrya nervously backed away, the ladies draped on her released.

“You see that? Lyin’ bitch knows she’s been caught. Now, unless you wanna see some real carnage…” The speaker revved up his weapon, crazed eyes set on the crowd who realized this wasn’t staged. “I suggest everyone hands over their wallets and belongings right now!”

The other members of the Halloween Party got grabby, attempting to pull at the audience’s clothes and jewels.

“We've gotta do something!” Beatrix proclaimed, her magic flaring from her hands and transparent unicorn horn. Oona nodded. If what Wipsy said was true, the authorities would not intervene. Therefore, it was up to them to stop the violence. But before the couple could act, the sound of motorized vehicles resonated through the area.

“Tawagoto!” Kitsune growled. “It’s the Komodos!”

And, sure enough, customized motorcycles zoomed through the entrance, flames shooting from the tailpipes. The crowd was further forced back as the bikers circled the intruders.

Spotlights shined over the mosh pit, the vehicles coming to a stop as the leaders unmounted. One was a crimson raptor, with a hot pink salamander girl hooked in his arm. Another was a massive alligator, who briefly glanced at Obrya before following his entourage to approach the Halloween Party who stared their rivals down.

Stranglers hissed and swiped at each other, a brawl threatening to break out in the packed arena. Then, spitting out his toothpick, the raptor said, “You lookin’ a little lost, boys. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to be on our turf?”

“We don’t take orders from a bunch of lap lizards,” retorted the hockey-masked thug. “Especially those that simp for ugly pretenders!”

Yet he couldn’t help but tremble in the shadow of the gator man, his jaws slightly parted into a sneer. “I’d mine my manners if I were you,” the salamander chick threatened.

“Yeah, you’re cruisin’ for a bruisin’, chump!” A frilled lizard snickered. But the raptor man held out his hand, holding his gang back from unleashing hell.

“Easy there, Cress. No one has to get hurt. People came here to have a good time, y’know! And it’d be terrible to cut this show short because of a few unfortunate ‘accidents.’”

“You think I’m afraid of you, Raff?”

The crimson reptile chuckled before grabbing him by the neck, his pupils dilating into slits as he watched him struggle. “Oh ho, you should be! Don’t wanna end up like the last guy who dared to cross me, do you? So why don’t you and your goons make like incels and go back to your mama’s basement! Where you belong…”

But the moment he dropped him, the crazed party leader replied, “Lick my taint, you overgrown gecko!”

The first punch was fired, clocking the raptor in the jaw, causing his mate to stumble down. Unflinching, he rubbed his cheek and spat out a bit of blood. Smirking, Raff turned towards the members of the tensed up S.L.U.Ts and shrugged his shoulders, saying, “Sorry, Carrion. I tried playin’ nice! But clearly, these dumb motherfuckers need to be taught some respect!”

Almost immediately, he jumped the masked hooligan with a shriek, biting into his chainsaw-wielding arm while he hollered and smacked the reptoid’s head. Whatever restraint was broken as the two gangs duked it out. Panic erupted in the venue as the crowd tried to escape into the exit.

“Aw shit, not again!” Ruth growled, hooking both Carrion and Obrya in her arms protectively.

Then, without thinking, Eclipsed took to the stage and grabbed the microphone. “Please...stop this!” She pleaded, her soulful pink eyes wide open. “There's no need for senseless bloodshed!”

Yet no one listened. If anything, it made things worse as one gang member pointed out, “There, ya see!? B.A.B.E and S.L.U.T have been lying to us this whole time! They’re nothing but whores! Pretty harlots that parade around like-”

Yet his rant was cut short when Kitsune intercepted the outcrier and knocked him unconscious with the hilt of her beam saber.

“Whelp, looks like the jig is up,” Wispy sighed uneasily once she rushed to her sister’s side, plasma orbs summoned above each palm.

Eclipsed growled in frustration, stomping her foot. “This isn’t how it’s supposed to be! We weren’t ready to–”

“Ready to do what?” Beatrix cut in, lips pursed and a fresh spell readied.

Oona asked gently, “Ye haven’t been completely honest wit us, have ye…”

Teary-eyed, the pop diva turned to her friends. And, with a sad sigh, she confessed, “No, we haven’t.” Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Eclipsed readied her own knife, which transformed into a crystalline blade that shimmered brightly. “B.A.B.E is also a vigilante group. Each night, we three head out undercover to stop crimes before they happen. But, obviously, we’re not always successful…”

The trio turned towards the mob of gang members, beating one another senseless. “It wasn’t meant to be a secret for long,” the pop princess assured them. “We didn’t want to scare you off with our secondary job. I’m really sorry, Beatrix, Oona. Will you… please help us?”

“Ov course,” Oona assured with a nod, her magic faintly glimmering. “All ye had tae dae was ask.”

“We're kinda at a disadvantage in this world, but we'll do our best,” agreed Beatrix as her transparent unicorn horn fully manifested.

Smiling graciously, Eclipsed turned to her ‘rivals.’ “Go and get everyone out of here safely!”

Nodding, the team of S.L.U.T. rushed into action, knocking Halloween Party members away from bystanders. Ruth bowled through the attackers, her thick flesh easily able to tank most hits from weapons thrown at her. Carrion dive-bombed into the fray, slashing through the clubs and bats, while members of the Komodos backed her up.

Obrya slipped between the invaders and whipped her tail to send them into the wall, bones crunching within their bodies. But while she swiped one Halloween Party member, wearing a pumpkin head, managed to sneak up behind her and pulled a serrated knife to her throat.

“Don’t move, or I slit that pretty throat!” He threatened, the steel pressing against her jugular before he was suddenly hoisted up. Forcefully turned around, he came face to face with the alligator man, letting out a scream when his tooth-filled maw chomped down over his neck, crushing his head to pulp within the mask.

Spitting out the remains, he lowered his snout to Obrya’s face and asked, “Are you okay?”

“Y-yeah, babe, I’m fine. Thanks,” she said through heavy breaths before sensually whispering, “I’ll make it up to you later tonight, Dill~”

Grinning, the giant reptoid got back into the fight, clobbering assailants while the snake woman slithered back to help out her bandmates.

“Really wish they wouldn’t kill them!” Eclipsed Heart grumbled, skating through the madness.

Wispy rolled her eyes before spotting one of the thugs taking aim on Kitsune, who was currently engaged with several Halloween Party members that swarmed her. “Sister, watch out!”

The tigress started to summon up more plasma spheres from her tail...only to have that tail suddenly split in two from a mutation, matching the raw power she called up from her core.

The bright light caught the vixen’s attention, who stared at her sister’s forked tail with widened eyes. "So that’s why she's so agitated,” whispered Kitsune, whose beam blade sliced the leader’s chainsaw like butter. “She's become a Nekomata!”

“Neko-what?” Beatrix's hand shined with the latest spell called to incapacitate the closest punk.

“Nekomata,” Oona began explaining while summoning sleep bubbles to knock out the Halloween Party members. “Feline creatures from eastern folktales that are said tae bring karmic fortune. They also possess immense fire powers, which could explain Wispy’s plasma orbs!”

The two-tailed tigress spotted Halloween Party members trying to shove their way through the exits. “Oh, no you don’t!” Wispy growled, launching a sphere at their path, the impact casting several of the gang members about.

“Wispy, careful! You could have hurt the fans!” Eclipsed called when her skates skid to a stop.

“I-I know! Sorry, I’m just really pissed off!” Wispy dashed out onto the neon-lit darkness of the streets after them, followed closely by her friends. They gazed at the monitors, showing that the brawl was bleeding into the streets. Many onlookers, some of whom were here to protest President Spike, joined the growing riot.

“This is really bad…” The fox woman observed, unsure whether they should intervene, or if their presence would simply make it worse.

“Ah can try an’ put them tae sleep,” offered Lady Ewe. “But there are so many!”

Wispy built up several orbs, a couple situated by her twin tails. “Or I could scare 'em away-”

“No! That’ll make it worse,” said Eclipsed, whose ponytail tossed behind her when her skates pulled to a stop in front of the feline. Wild blows were traded, as S.L.U.T. had already careened ahead to try and direct their fans to safety. Even the Komodos, blood covering the scaly skin, looked more fatigued while the battle raged on.

“This may be out of our league,” admitted Kitsune, whose breast huffed. “But we have to try! So what’s our move, leader? Move in or retreat?”

Eclipsed pursed her lips when she watched the violence continue to spread. “M-Maybe we–”

A horn boomed above the venue. The fighting finally came to a halt once everyone’s attention turned to the hovercraft above. “Look, boys! We’ve got ourselves another mess to clean up,'' a voice echoed through the speakers.

“Typical that our ‘beloved’ president left these poor people to suffer in the slums,” another mockingly stated. “But fear not, good citizens! For we hear your outcry! And we will be your voice~!”

A hatch opened from the ship’s underbelly. The pop diva’s soulful, neon pink eyes shot open, her smile full of joy as the trio of debonair singers came soaring through the sky on hoverboards.

“SIXTH MEASURE!!” A fan yelled out, causing a few other female participants to applaud and bounce with joy. Bass, Tenor, and Alto all waved at the public, camera and spotlights once more on them as they performed tricks with their equipment.

“Oh, come on,” Wipsy muttered. “What do those overrated showboats want now?!”

Oona and Beatrix shared her concern as the boy band prepared to sing in unison to ease the riot that continued to erupt, aware this outbreak would not bode well for President Spike.