DOAXTT - Episode 4 - Helena's Bad Day
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Yes, my next offering. Enjoy!
Helena's Bad Day
By Gloob2K
(BTW - Pics and bios of characters posted on website, if needed)
"Good evening! Welcome to the fourth episode of the DOAXTT!" Zack said, standing in front of what appeared to be a cave wall.
"As you may have noticed, there have been a few changes. DOAXTT has changed from a fighting tournament into a whole new entity. We've already explained the rules. We're all set to go. We'll start by introducing the arena. I like to call it the Labyrinth."
"We'll start by starting the contestants off in different areas, alone. They can try by themselves or band together, their choice. But eventually they'll have to turn on each other."
"Y'know Zack, this sounds like Survivor..."
"Heh. Does survivor have tickling?"
"I wish"
"Anyways... the contestants don't know this yet, but they're not alone. No, the inhabitants of the Labyrinth are out for the laughter of our contestants. You're going to see more of them later. Now, without further ado, let’s start."
***
Kasumi was still a bit riled that she had to stop torturing Tina, but she was OK. Still a bit groggy... but OK. She looked around. She was in the middle of a small, torch-lit passageway. She shakily stood up, regaining her strength. She shivered a bit. It was cold. Maybe she should've worn something more than her bikini, but it was too late to change it. For now, she would find company. She went off to her right, her bare feet hardly making a sound against the stone floor.
***
Tina found herself in a similar passageway. She slowly got up to her feet and assessed the situation. Everything rushed back to her head. She had to find her friends. She ran off to her left, hoping to find someone she knew.
***
The robots began to wake up. One by one, DOATEC's newest inventions began to powerup. The small ones powered up the quickest. Little spiders scuttled into cracks in the walls. Other various small robots scuttled away. Then the larger robots began to powerup. A rather large spider began to walk, its eight metal legs making creepy clicking sounds against the stone floor. Metal scorpions scuttled away in various directions. The largest of them all lied in wait...
***
Leifang was exploring. Left... right... straight... hadn't she been here before? She sighed. It was impossible to get her bearings. Come to think of it, it was impossible to think, especially because of those clicking noises. Wait. Clicking noises. Noises were bad. Leifang nervously scanned the corridors. Nothing. The sounds were getting closer... and closer... it was nearly here...
Suddenly a giant metal leg came into view. It was two feet tall and had a very sinister, metallic appearance. Then the body appeared. It was a giant mechanical spider. Its body was circular, six feet in diameter, and very grungy and metallic looking. It turned towards Leifang. Leifang ran.
The spider jumped, and came down in front of the running Leifang. Before she cold reverse, she crashed right into it. The spider grabbed her left wrist with one of its eight legs. Leifang yanked with all her might. The spider gave a little, but didn't move much. Four of its legs were pointed at the end, and dug into the floor. The other four were circular, hollow, and flexible, designed to be used for restraining the spider's prey. At the moment, the four pointed legs were doing their work. The three other legs shot towards Leifang. There was very little she cold do to dodge. She was caught, and the legs contracted. Soon she was dangling precariously, face up, and inches from the spider's underside. The spider made a satisfied clicking sound, and started to do its job.
***
"Tina!!!!"
Tina spun around. "Kasumi!"
Kasumi stopped ten feet short of Tina. "I suppose... you want to team up?"
"I suppose."
"Listen... I'm sorry -"
"Hey, it’s all in the game. Don't take anything personally."
"Thank you. I've figured out that there are probably three levels to this complex. We are on the bottom, as are our friends. There are six others on the top level. I don't know who or what they are. It would make sense to team up.
"For now..." Tina said under her breath.
***
The spider was a robot, essentially. It had no feelings. It did what it was programmed to do. It was programmed to tickle. This it did, with much efficiency. First stage: Assess the victim. Discover weak points, and use this information later. Most of all, tickle the victim.
A small panel slid back on the underside of the spider. Out popped a small feather duster connected to a mechanical hand. The hand moved with near-humanlike agility, sweeping back and forth and slowly coming down. When the feathers made gentle contact with Leifang's tummy, she started to giggle very slightly, and pull a little harder on her bonds. As the feathers made more steady contact, Leifang began giggling more loudly, pleading to the robot to stop. The spider knew no mercy. It was programmed to tickle.
***
Four members were found. Tina, Kasumi, Hitomi, and Christie. They set up temporary camp at a major junction where eight tunnels met. They discussed their current situation.
"So, what kind of place are we in?" asked Christie.
"Cave-like passageways, as you can see, some rooms, torture chambers mostly, some supply rooms." Hitomi said. She was the last to be discovered so farm and had covered the most ground.
"Supply rooms?" asked Tina. "What kind of supplies?"
"One had food and water. Another was huge, and it had the most tickling tools I have ever seen. Hundreds of different kinds of feathers. Oils that line whole shelves. Miles of rope. Brushes, dusters, you name it, its there. If you ask me, we should raid it. "
"Agreed. Now, has anyone seen little monsters around here or have I just been hallucinating?" asked Kasumi.
""I think I saw one too," said Christie. "Cunning little bugger, but I got away from him. He was chasing me, I swear."
"Great. This cave has inhabitants. I wonder how they're treating the others?"
***
"No - please - sthahahahahahap!!!! ahhahahahahahaa!!!"
Leifang thrashed around as the feather duster concentrated on her bellybutton. After ten seconds, the feather duster withdrew, leaving Leifang to catch her breath. "Not bad," the spider thought. Average ticklishness. Give it a 60. This information was recorded. Next were Leifang’s underarms. Two hands slid out of hidden compartments and immediately began to wiggle in her underarms. Leifang first was able to wiggle away but in response, the spider tightened her bonds, and started again. Leifang bucked up and down, but couldn't escape, "No - not there!! heeheeheeheeheeheheheheehehe!!"
The fingers then started pressing a little harder, using more fingers. Leifang went ballistic, "eeeehehehehehehee!!! STHAHAHAP!!!! AAHHAHAHAHAHAA!!!"
The spider immediately withdrew. More sensitive there, he thought. 80. Time to move to the feet, the spider thought.
His thoughts were cut short by a swift and brutal karate shop. The spider's legs buckled and failed, and Leifang rolled away from the falling wreckage. When the dust settled, Leifang saw Tina, standing there with her hands on her hips. "You OK?" Tina asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Leifang responded. "How many people have you found?"
"You're the fifth. I think Ayane is the last one. We need to find her. First, we’ll take you to home base. "
***
Kasumi stared in disbelief. "You've gotta be joking..."
Zack stared back. "I'm dead serious. The entire other side has fallen to the Ticklezilla 2000. And it’s coming this way. Oh yeah, it has eaten Ayane, but she's hanging in there..."
"Eaten?!"
"Oh don't worry..." Zack said, "No damage done, just tickling. Anyways, prepare yourselves."
***
The metal monstrosity stopped in its tracks. The last meal was yummy. Time for more. The others were nearby. He could sense it. Five of them... wait. Something wasn't right. Six... no, seven. Oh well. The more food, the better. Ticklezilla stomped off, intending to feast on ticklish flesh.
***
"Helena!" Leifang exclaimed, "You're back!"
"Hello, Leifang," Helena said, "And everyone else, Hello."
"I thought you were -" Hitomi started.
"Disqualified? Yeah, until DOATEC came along. They gave me a pill or something like that." Helena said, "I do think I'm as ticklish as you now, Leifang," Helena said with a wink.
"And you, Lisa?" Leifang asked, blushing.
"Oh. I decided to drop by... nothing more."
"Great!" Hitomi said, smiling.
Suddenly, a loud metallic banging could be heard through the corridors.
"Wh-what was that?" asked Kasumi, her hands springing in front of her in her normal combat stance.
"It sounds huge..." Christie whispered.
And it was. Ticklezilla burst in through the door, shattering it. His supper lay before him. In one massive bite, he swallowed them all whole.
***
There was falling... and more falling... and they came to a rest. All of them, including Ayane. Before anyone could say anything, a booming voice could be heard.
"Welcome to the real tournament, contestants. Last one to survive is the winner. The real tournament starts now."
As if pulled by some invisible force, the girls were pulled into separate rooms. Some struggled a bit, but it was a futile exercise. Soon enough, they were paired up in fair-sized rooms.
Leifang looked to Helena. They were together. "What’s happening?"
Before Helena could answer, the voice spoke again.
"This is the first event. It will be a tickle fight-type event. Three rounds. Best out of three wins. Losers will be appropriately punished."
Helena smiled. "Well, that about sums it up."
Then, as if summoned from thin air, a few lengths of rope appeared. Then Helena and Leifang were grabbed by the invisible hands again. After a few minutes, they were tied up to each other. They were basically sitting on the floor with their legs tied in front of them, within easy reach of their opponent. Their toes were bound by some invisible force, and couldn't move. Their hands were unbound.
"Well..." Leifang started, smiling, "It seems like I have you at a disadvantage. You have no experience with these things."
"Oh, you'd be surprised. I think I've seen you reduced to a giggling mess enough times to know how to do things around here," Helena teased.
Leifang gave a short scowl to Helena before smiling even wider, "But you've never been tickled before, have you? You don't know what it feels like, do you?"
"I suppose I will know very shortly."
"Attention contestants... begin!" the speaker said.
Quick as a bullet, Helena was off. Her hands expertly danced around Leifang's soles, as if she was an expert at tickling. Before the tickling sensations could reach her head, Leifang started too. Her dexterous fingers danced around Helena's arch. Almost in unison, both women started to giggle.
"eeheeheehee!!" Leifang giggled, "Not bad! heeheeheeee!"
"ahahahhahaa! " Helena laughed, but still keeping herself under control, tickled harder. Leifang jumped a little and made the mistake of trying to get away more than trying to tickle Helena. As Helena gained control, she tickled Leifang with more precision. Helena's laughs became quieter, until she was merely giggling at Leifang's futile attempts to tickle her.
"Let’s see how ticklish those toes are now, shall we?" Helena asked, teasing.
"No!!! eeheeheeheehehehehehahahaha!! plheheehese!!"
"Was that a yes? I think it was!" Helena went on, quickly moving her fingernails to tickle the undersides of Leifang's vulnerable toes. Leifang screamed with laughter, "NoHAHAT THERE!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!! PlHEEHEHEEsE!!! GGYYYAAHAHAHAHAAA!!!"
"Tough luck, pal. The only way out is for you to give this point to moi."
Leifang nodded her head vigorously.
Helena stopped.
"Match 1 to nothing in favour of Helena!" the loudspeaker announced.
"Not so bad, eh?" Helena asked.
"You keep talking," Leifang said, her eyes burning with defiance. "I'll get you this time!"
"You keep thinking that," Helena said.
"Round two begins now!" the voice said. Leifang and Helena were again lifted by the invisible force until they were standing, facing each other. Their left arms were pulled up but their right arms were free.
"Start!"
Leifang was the quicker this time. She went straight for Helena's ribs. Her thumb, index and middle fingers formed a claw that she used to gently squeeze Helena's ribs. Helena was too slow to actually touch Leifang before Leifang reached her. Helena giggled and twisted her body away. Leifang smiled and kept tickling, "Now who's laughing?"
Helena twisted away, gaining a second's reprieve. She tried to get her free hand to somehow tickle Leifang, but Leifang was too fast, this time digging into Helena's tummy. Helena bucked and giggled, "Ahahahahaahaa!!! nohohohohohhahahahaha!!!"
"Say you're sorry!!" Leifang taunted.
"Ahahaahahaha!!! I'm sohohory!!!"
"Bzzt! Match tied, 1-1"
"How's that for a change?" Leifang asked happily.
"Heh. Just like you said, first time being tickled for me. I'll get you next time..."
"Tiebreaker round, begin! This is a no-restraint contest! Holds only! Begin!"
"Holds only, eh? Sounds fun!" Leifang said, getting into battle position.
Helena couldn't think of anything unique to say, so she just rattled off her usual start-of-battle saying, "Flow like water... nothing beats water but it can wear down the hardest rock..."
"Contestants, begin!"
Helena started circling her opponent, trying to disorient her. Leifang circled as well, keeping the distance.
"I see you've kept your martial arts up to specs," Helena remarked.
"Oh, more than up to specs." Leifang replied shrewdly.
The pacing continued. Finally, Leifang decided to break the silence. She pulled off a three kick combo: A straight kick to the head, followed by a spinning kick to the temple, finished by a jump kick to the chest. Helena did the textbook move: Parry. However, this fight was not textbookable. Leifang gained ground on Helena as she parried, and soon was close enough to grab one of Helena's arms. Leifang reeled Helena in and soon had her in a hold, with both of Helena's arms being held over her head in an arm lock. Without hesitation, Leifang started tickling Helena's tummy. That was her weak spot, and Leifang was sure of it. Helena first struggled, but quickly dissolved into laughter, "AHAHahAHAhA!!!!!NOHAhAT AGAIN!!! GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!"
You fell right into that one, Helena's brain told her. You're not allowed to do anything but holds! Helena gritted her teeth to stop from laughing for a moment and pushed upwards with all her might. Unfortunately, Leifang was stronger than she looked. "Nice try!" Leifang remarked pleasantly, and she kept tickling.
Helena shook herself like a wet dog, momentarily stalling Leifang. Be like water, she remembered. Wait. Be like water! That was it! "Water can wear down even the hardest rock..." Helena muttered, as she slid right out of Leifang's arm lock, and rolled away.
"Y'know what your martial art's problem is? It relies on the mistakes of others."
"Fortunately for me, no one is perfect," Leifang said, stepping forward and putting Helena into a headlock.
Helena stopped being like water and turned into stone, figuratively. She stood upright, throwing Leifang onto her back. Quick as a bullet, Helena jumped on the stunned Leifang who was lying facedown of the floor. Helena then dug all ten fingers into Leifang's ribs. The younger woman arched her back and shook with all her might, but Helena hung on and kept tickling. Her fury spent, Leifang dissolved into peals of laughter, "eehheheheheheheheeheeheehehehehe!!! sthahahahahapp!! ahhahahahaheeheheehehehehee!!"
"Not a chance. More tickles for you!"
Helena kept digging into Leifang's ribs. That’s where she made her fatal mistake. She became predictable. Leifang quickly smacked Helena's wrists away with one hand and threw Helena with the other. Helena landed on the floor face up, unharmed but a little dazed. Leifang took a few seconds to catch her breath, then straddled Helena's thighs and started tickling Helena's tummy again with short pokes and light scratches. Helena tried to protect her belly by covering it with her hands, but Leifang was quicker than that. She switched to Helena's ribs. Helena finally gave up and just laughed,"Aahahahahahaha!! You'll pay!! hahahahahahahaahaaa!!!"
"You're in no position to make threats" Leifang said. Then she quickly sprang up and grabbed Helena's ankle. "Hmm, I wonder if you have ticklish feet?"
"Leifang, if you want to stay healthy, you'll -" Helena was cut off when Leifang started dragging her index finger along her heel, slowly going up. Helena gritted her teeth and relaxed. I am not ticklish, Helena told herself. Be like the water. No one - "Eep!"
Leifang looked up, a very satisfied smile on her face. "Gotcha!"
"Why you little -"
"Little? You're a lot smaller than me at the time being..." Leifang said happily. She then proceeded to tickle Helena's foot with all her nails quickly dragging up and down the tender skin. Helena let a few giggles out, "you're ahahahaa pathetic... ahhahahahahaa!!’
"Really now? Hmm... I wonder how ticklish your toes are?"
Helena froze. "You wouldn't..."
Leifang giggled. "I would! The only thing that will stop me now is your surrender."
Helena sighed. "So be it. You win."
"Match ended. Winner: Leifang, by a margin of 2-1!"
Helena sighed and turned to Leifang. "Tell me something... you're more ticklish than I am, but you won anyways... how?"
Leifang pondered for a moment, "Well... I guess you just have to get used to it... I had brothers, you see. They would tie me up, and... you know..." she blushed, "Its all up here. Just give it a little time. Think of it as fun, you know... you're laughing and all... don't for a minute think that being ticklish is a weakness. "
Helena nodded. "It seems like - hey! What’s going on?"
Helena, as if grabbed by invisible hands, started to levitate. She was carried through a wall and disappeared, leaving Leifang to ponder how she actually floated through a solid wall.
***
Christie was jubilant. The cold-hearted woman had just powered down Lisa ruthlessly for a 2-0 match. As if by some invisible force, she was pushed through a wall, into a room. Through a wall? Where was she? Before she could ponder, a voice came up inside her head. "Congratulations. To the victor go the spoils. Have fun."
Christie smiled. She could see all the losers of the matches all tied up in various positions. Tina, Lisa, Ayane... Ooohh... Helena...
"Hello, Helena," Christie said, stepping into the room. Her white hair glistened.
"Well hello Christie. I trust you are well?" Helena said. She had a less than cordial relationship with Christie, due to the fact that Christie tried to assassinate her during the last DOA tournament.
"Just perfectly, thank you. I see you have developed a new... weakness lately."
"You go ahead and think that, Christie," Helena said, remembering Leifang's advice.
"Well I currently do. Enough talk. Let’s see if you really have developed a weakness..." Christie said with a sarcastic smirk. "Let the torture begin..."
(Authors Note: I thought I would be mean and end the story here, but I'm too nice to do that
)
Christie debated for a bit as to where to tickle Helena... she didn't know about Helena's weakness yet... "Hmm... how bout... here?" Christie started ever so gently scratching around Helena's underarms. Helena's eyes burned. "I keep telling you, I haven't developed any weakness..."
"Call it what you wish. I know you're ticklish. " Christie said, digging slightly harder. Helena began to squirm around a bit. Although her underarms weren't as sensitive as her tummy or feet, it still tickled a fair bit. Helena struggled to maintain her composure as Christie started stroking faster... and faster... and stop...
"You know what? I'm impressed. I really am. But that will only get you so far." Christie pulled out two medium-width paintbrushes and a bottle of her famous oil. "Let’s see if you can impress me now..."
Christie dipped each of the brushes in the oil, then gently started stroking one brush in Helena's left underarm, very gently. Helena started giggling and pulling at her invisible bonds. "mmph... heheehehee!! fineheehee!!! I admit it!!!"
"Well, that’s a start..." Christie said, adding the other brush to the mix. Helena couldn't hold it in any longer. "Ahahahhahaa!! Okokoksthahahap!!!!! aahaahahahahaaha!!!!"
"Not so tough anymore, eh?" Christie asked as she started to brush quicker. And quicker. Helena was going ballistic. "AHHAHAHAHAhahaHHAHAHAHAHA!!!! NONONPLHEHEHESE!!!!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!"
"Oh I'm having too much fun to stop! Tickle tickle!" Christie started drawing small circles in Helena's armpits. Helena redoubled her laughter, "GGYAHAHAHAAHAAhAAHAAAhAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHA!!! PLHEHEHESeE!!! STHAHAHAHPPPP!!!!!"
"Oh fine. Enough of the underarms. I wonder how ticklish your feet are."
Helena thinked to herself... if Helena could convince Christie that her feet were the worst, then maybe she could keep her off her tummy...
"Oh my god, no... please..." Helena said with a touch of melodramicity.
Christie laughed, "Oh yes... its going to happen." Christie looked at Helena's oh-so vulnerable soles, "My my, what cute and dainty feet you have... size 5?"
"5 and a half," Helena muttered. "Not that it matters..."
"Indeed. Down to business? I like that. Accepting the inevitable is the first step. Now... where to start..." Christie started slowly drawing circles on Helena's arches (after dipping the brushes in oil again), watching Helena's face closely. Helena turned her head and giggled madly, "ahahahahahahaahahahahahaa!!!"
"Hmm... let’s try... here!" Christie moved the brushes to the undersides of Helena's toes. Helena's giggles became full-fledged laughter. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!!! NOHOHOHT THERE!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHHAAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
"My my my... I expected more resistance you, my dear Helena. Oh well. I won't look my gift horse in the face," Christie said, continuing the treatment to Helena's toes. Helena bucked and laughed some more, "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! PPLLLHEEHEHESEE!!!! STHAHAHAHAPPP!!!! NOOOOHAHAHAHAHAha!!!!"
"Oh dear... you really ARE ticklish. Then again, you would have to be to get beaten by that excuse of a fighter Leifang."
"You watch it. Leifang is a more than competent fighter."
"Oh, I can make you take that back. In fact, you'll be begging to give your firstborn to me when I'm through with you..." Christie moved away from Helena's feet. She then strode to her upperbody, brandishing her brushes. "Now, let’s see how ticklish your tummy is..."