Irresistible Bliss
Chapter One: Four out of Five
by D.X. Machina



Jessica Parker was never popular.

This fact weighed on her heavily. All she had ever wanted was to be the center of attention, the girl who was asked to prom by seven guys, the captain of the cheerleading squad.

But Jessica Parker had been cursed with a brilliant mind. And though she was far from uncomely, her perspicacity frightened off the popular boys, and engendered the wrath of the popular girls.

Perhaps in a different setting, Jessica could have thrived. In a big school in the suburbs, she might have found her niche. With a wealthy family, she might have been able to afford college. With support from those around her, she may have found the requisite aid to go to school even without wealth.

But Jessica grew up in Jawbone, Oklahoma (pop. 371), daughter of an alcoholic ex-journeyman laborer and a mother who was dead seventeen years now.

She never had a chance.

So now, at 19, she worked at the diner in the middle of town, and watched as the town decayed. And her great mind ran of its own accord, writing plans for her revenge against the gods and people who had forsaken her.

* * *

Jeff Fletcher rose at noon. It was a habit with him, even though it brought some scorn upon him from right-thinking people in this small dust bowl community.

Of course, if Jeff had been worried about scorn, he would never have been here in the first place. Jawbone was one of dozens of small hamlets he'd been to in the last three years. It was pleasant enough, he thought, though he was beginning to hear the call of the wild goose again. Well, he'd been here two months already; it was almost time to move on.

Jeff left the University of Wisconsin--Madison after his Junior year, and never looked back. What he was searching for wasn't taught in school. So he closed out his bank account, took the $432.21 that was in there, and boarded a Greyhound to Minneapolis. He stayed in the Twin Cities three months, living in a boarding house in Dinkytown, working the door at the 400 bar, recording his thoughts on a beat-up 386 laptop, until he saved up enough to buy a rusted out '79 Corolla.

Then he set out to look for America.

He took odd jobs when the cash got low, slept wherever he could afford to. He was sure back home they thought he'd lost his mind; he didn't care. He was free.

Freedom today meant grabbing breakfast, then coming back to the General Store, where he'd work 'til closing. He was grateful that Mr. Whitherspoon had allowed him to rent the old apartment upstairs--$85 per month, plus utilities. It was small, old, and dirty, but it beat sleeping in the car.

Jeff ordered the blue plate special, and smiled at the young waitress. She returned his smile. She was pretty. Not stunning, but pretty. A nice way to start the day. He thought about asking her out (she was no more than three years his junior), but decided against it.

Somewhat reluctantly, he turned to the morning paper, and hummed. Things were quiet here in Jawbone. It was time to move on.

* * *

Andrea Stevens was Jessica three years ago. Jessica had met her when Andrea was a bright Freshman who was discovering that brightness wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

She wasn't saddled with all of Jessica's burdens, however. Her mom was still alive. Her dad wasn't the complete jerk that Jessica's was. And she had a fighting chance at going on to college--because Jessica pushed her. She was Jessica's protege, and she was grateful.

Still, though her future looked reasonably bright, her present was dim. She was unpopular--too bright for a girl, everyone said. She was marking time until she graduated from High School, and then she'd shake the dust from her boots and head off to the bright lights of Lawrence, Kansas.

* * *

Manuella de la Paz was an outcast for another reason. She was pretty, and smart, but not so smart that she scared people away. No, that was not Manuella's problem.

Manuella's problem was that her father was Jose de la Paz, and her mother was Elizabeth Anderson. And the good people of Jawbone, in all her twenty years on earth, had never reconciled that fact.

Not that this was all the set her apart, mind you--but the other thing was buried so far inside that not even she was fully aware of it.

Now she worked nights at the diner, hoping to save up enough money to escape, and hopefully, to take Jessica with her. Perhaps soon. She prayed.

* * *

The change came at one A.M. that evening, and all five principal characters were aware of the moment, though not all five were aware of it at the time.

Jessica slumped on the couch, watching a rerun of an old Lou Costello movie showing on the late late late show on the only channel anyone could pick up without a satellite, when the idea struck her. At first she laughed, then sighed. If only it could happen, she thought.

Marta had the show on as she made herself a glass of milk and pulled out a worn copy of Stranger in a Strange Land. She couldn't sleep, so she turned the set off, and began to read the overwrought Heinlinian prose.

Andrea watched with half her mind, while the other half pondered whether or not she should try out for cheerleading next fall. Maybe, just maybe, it'd help her be popular.

Jeff watched in bemusement. He always had liked the premise of this movie, and the effects weren't half bad. He took a slug of MGD, and wrote an ode to the movie, then erased it. Not saleable, he thought, as he turned instead to maunderings on leaving a small town.

* * *

Jessica's dreams were always of that moment. She saw his ugly face, smelled his ugly breath.

She tried to hit back, but he was enormous, and she was too small to do anything.

Come on Jessie, it's okay, your mommy would do it fer me, you can do it do Jessie, come on honey, quiet down, dammit, don't make me hit you, your mommy made me hit her, remember? so just quiet down Jessie, come on, it's okay....

If only it could happen.

It was impossible though. He forced himself upon her. She had been bad, she would have to be punished.

When you're naughty you make me do things Jessie, it's your fault, if you would just be nicer, but you aren't, so I have to do this to you, don't make me make it worse....

She tried to push him away, but he was too big.

If only it could happen.

It was impossible....

And then she heard it, in the background.

....with a few modifications to a broadcast signal, there could be a modification of matter, resulting in a change in size relationships....

And suddenly, she was knocking him off her, like he was a dust mite. She stared down at him, and smiled. He would never do that to her again. She would be safe forever. She raised her foot, and stomped down....

Jessica sat bolt upright. It was 3:23 AM. She grabbed a pen and started to write as fast as she could, sketching, doodling, coming up with a mathematical proof, and then, abruptly, falling back to sleep.

Her dreams were peaceful after that.

* * *

The next morning, Jessica looked over her notes. She didn't know where the knowledge had come from. Perhaps it had always been in her head. Perhaps it was her mom come back to help her. Who knows? All Jessica knew was that it would work--by God, it would!

She had to get in touch with Marta and Andrea.

* * *

Jessica told them of her theories, her tests, and her proofs. She made a stunning proposal to her two friends; they accepted readily. Their revenge would be sweet.

They began assembling the machines. They would be made out of junk, uncomely, unsightly things. But they would work.

They would place them at strategic points around the town, and wire them together. They spared the old Leamington place; it would be their home now.

They would show the trifling town of Jawbone a thing or two. Or three.

* * *

Eleven days passed.

Jeff Fletcher was probably the only person in Jawbone awake at Journal, to which he had given a working title of "If I Run." Most was lousy, certainly, but there was enough interesting stuff in it that he was considering sending it to a publisher.

He had given notice ten days ago; it wasn't requisite, he knew, but he believed in being honest in work. He had $600 saved, enough to last him a month or so in Dallas; the big city sounded good for a change. Then, who knew? He had heard that Prague was nice, and that bartending jobs were available to expats.

He kept at the journal. Maybe he could be a new bohemian writer.

He had just thrown in a gratuitous semicolon when he felt suddenly strange. He couldn't put his finger on it; it was like nothing he'd felt before.

As abruptly as it came on, the feeling stopped. He shook his head--he hadn't been drinking, and it wasn't late. Maybe he was coming down with something.

It was then he heard it, distant and soft, but clear as a bell, women laughing.

Something strange, though--it sounded different somehow. Odd.

He walked down the back stairs. He needed to get out, and this little mystery might be solved by a walk in the night air. Jeff stepped out, and gazed up at the stars. They were beautiful, he thought, as he scanned for Orion.

There he was, obscured by clouds. They were moving fast, he thought, across. and back. . . .

And back?

He squinted into the darkness at the edge of town--in the direction of the laughter. And then he saw what was blocking the stars.

His jaw dropped.

He had now officially seen it all.


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Irresistable Bliss
Chapter Two: Blue Eyed Devil
by D.X. Machina



Manuella looked down on the town spread out before her, and smiled, a broad grin which would've lit up a room.

"We did it!" she half-shouted, half-whispered. "I don't believe it!"

"This is incredible, Jessica. Incredible." Andrea looked out over the town with glee in her deep blue eyes. "I always had faith in you, but...."

"You didn't know if it would work? Yeah," said Jessica. "I guess I wondered about that, too. But it did. My God, what have we done?"

Manuella turned to Jessica and smiled radiantly. "We've done what we always wanted to. We've finally put ourselves first in this town. And I'm looking forward to the reaction of the good people of Jawbone tomorrow morning when they get a load of us."

Jessica smiled back. "Yeah, it--hey, what was that?"

* * *

Jeff had been creeping closer and closer to the disant figures, trying to remain in shadow. He had always dreamed of exactly this sort of thing--but now that it was actually happening, he was a little bit daunted.

Still, he had to take a look. To do otherwise was not an option.

So he moved ever closer to the disturbance, until he was a bare thirty feet away. He thought he was safe, until he slipped, banging hard into a mailbox.

They had heard him.

He considered his options, and he decided that immediate surrender was the only option. With luck, they'd be lenient, and let him live. With a lot of luck, they'd do more than that.

So he stepped into the light.

He stared up at the women, amazed at their beauty and stature.

He hoped he was doing the right thing.

* * *

"I surrender," called the tiny figure of a man.

Andrea giggled. Jessica stepped forward, and the little man jumped backwards. "Don't worry," she said, softly. "You've done the right thing."

She knelt down to get a good look. He was six inches tall, if that, and he was trembling. She reached for him, and lifted him up to her face.

"I know you," she said. "You're the writer, right?"

"Um...yes, milady," he answered, careful to show respect.

At that, Jessica brightened. "You know, Mister Writer, I've had a crush on you since the day you hit town."

"I didn't, um...."

"Oh, come now, you flirted with me all the time down at the coffee shop."

"That was you? Wait...of course it was! But how...."

"Don't strain yourself trying to figure out the hows and whys. Hmm...let me tell you what. I'll accept your surrender if you promise to be my personal servant, do do anything--and I do mean anything--I ask you to."

"Wait a minute," said Andrea. "Why do you get a servant?"

"We all can have servants, Dre," replied Manuella, softly. "I think it's a sensible policy. Start thinking of who you want."

"So, Mister Writer, what is your answer?"

Jeff didn't have to think. He wasn't sure, but he had always sort of figured that Heaven involved being the personal servant of a sixty-five foot tall woman; he wasn't about to question serendipity.

"I accept, um...."

"I am Jessica Parker. You may refer to me as Miss Parker or Mistress. This is Manuella de la Paz, and this is Andrea Stevens. You should refer to them as Misses de la Paz and Stevens or Mistresses."

"Yes, Mistresses. I am Jeffrey Karl Fletcher, at your service."

Miss Parker beamed. "Very well, Jeffrey. Your first duty will be to accompany us to our dwelling, to assist us in selecting the outfits we should wear to address our new subjects. Does that suit you, Jeffrey?"

"Very much so, Mistress."

"I think we're going to get along swimmingly."

* * *

Jeff couldn't believe it. He was in a giant house at the edge of the city--the Giantesses' dwelling/palace, it dominated the skyline of the town.

He was still in shock. He was manservant to three beautiful women, who by his best estimate ranged from high school to college age, all of them sixty feet tall if they were an inch.

Andrea was the first to emerge, wearing an old hand-me-down green dress. It was perhaps a bit formal, but it set off her red hair and accentuated her green eyes, hidden though they were behind glasses.

He reflected that she didn't look classically beautiful--but that didn't matter. Imposing as she was, she was incredible.

Manuella emerged next, wearing a small black dress which showed off every curve of her body--and Manuella had curves. It was all he could do not to whistle.

Finally, Andrea entered, wearing a short little skirt and a green mini-t. She looked young, but pretty, and Jeff was amazed.

The women made up the most imposing show of femininity he had ever been privy to. If he could have excused himself, he would have--but they had a request.

"So, Jeffrey, you approve of our outfits?"

"Yes, Miss Parker."

"Excellent. There is one more duty we need you to attend to before we make our presentation."

"I am at your disposal, Mistress."

"Very good. Step into my hand."

Jeff advanced slowly towards the enormous palm outstretched in front of him. He stepped in carefully, feeling the soft, yielding skin of his Mistress beneath him.

Then, suddenly he was lifted, then dropped to the floor in a matter of seconds. He was staring up at the three women, an awe-inspiring sight.

"Jeffrey, we need you to inspect our toenails, and ensure that they are presentable. We wouldn't want our subjects to think us careless."

"Yes Mistress. What shall I do if one of your toenails is not absolutely perfect?"

Andrea smiled. "Fix it, little man."

Jeff sighed. Perhaps this was heaven after all.

He started with Jessica's nails. Each was already polished to a mirror sheen, save for her big toenail. He touched it gently where the fault line lay in the finish, then requested a cotton ball with nail polish remover.

Manuella handed the basketball-sized wad of cotton to him, but he handled it deftly. He then took the polish and brushed it on carefully--it was almost as tall as he. When he was done, the nail shone brightly.

Exhausting work--but rewarding.

After repeating the treatment with Manuella and Andrea, he pronounced all the ladies' feet in excellent condition.

"Well done, Jeffrey. I am very impressed," smiled Jessica.

"Thank you, Mistress."

"Would you care to accompany me on the day of our coronation?"

"It would be an honor."

* * *

Five-thirty A.M. The town of Jawbone was waking up.

Clyde Parker stumbled out of the front door, and looked north--and cursed.

Mayor Bobby Earl Johnson wandered over to his hardware store, then saw the monstrosity--and shouted.

Soon, the whole town was looking northwards, towards the old Leamington place, now home to that half-Mexican girl. It was enormous.

At precisely 5:35, the door to the old Leamington place opened, and three figures emerged.

And panic ensued.

* * *

Jeff watched it all from the pleasant setting of the right shoulder of Jessica Parker. He watched her smile, slightly, as she looked out over the mob of people. They were pouring out into the streets, trying to go somewhere, anywhere.

Jeff laughed, and Jessica turned to him. "It is funny, isn't it, Jeff?"

"Yes, Miss Parker. It is."

"Oh, knock it off. Around other people, I'm 'Miss Parker.' Call me Jessica."

Jeff smiled. "Yes, Jessica."

"You're still my manservant, Jeff. That hasn't changed."

"Of course not, Mistress."

They moved out into the town, traveling a block at a time, until they reached the football field. Then, in a voice as loud as God's, Jessica boomed, "PEOPLE OF JAWBONE. DO NOT BE AFRIAD. COME TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD, AND ALL WILL BE EXPLAINED. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE THE TOWN. ESCAPE WILL RESULT IN DEATH."

It took the citizens of Jawbone all of two seconds to decide that they should, indeed, head down to the football stadium.

When the town had assembled, nervously, along the sideline, Jessica addressed them.

"People of Jawbone, today is the beginning of a new existance for you. For years, you have ignored the three of us. We were never the type of people you looked for as friends or equals. You denied us opportunities, and made us feel inferior. Well, we are inferior no more.

"Today, we announce that the three of us have taken over. We rule this town. If you are good, then we will be good to you. If you are disobedient, well, we will not be good to you. If you attempt to harm us in any way, or to escape, or to contact the outside world, you will be punished.

"Let me demonstrate, with one who has been harmful to me. Clyde Parker, come forward."

The croud mumbled its shock. Nobody came forward.

"Let me rephrase that; If Clyde Parker does not come forward in the next ten seconds, I will demonstrate with someone else."

The crowd let up a roar, and in eight seconds, Clyde Parker was shoved onto the field.

"Well, well, Daddy," said Jessica with a steely glare. "You've been bad. And when you're bad, you make me do things."

"Now, now Jessie, I'm sorry, I...."

"You killed Mom--beat her to death, right? And you raped me, more than once. You are sentenced to death. Right now."

"But Jessie....."

Clyde saw his daughter's foot raise, felt her high-heeled shoe come down upon him and drive him into the turf. He struggled to push the foot away, but he couldn't. She was crushing him. His ribs collapsed. He opened his mouth to scream. His head exploded.

Jessica stepped backwards, and looked down. Then she spat on the body of her father.

"This fate awaits any who would cross us. Understood?"

Jeff looked down, half-sickened, half-aroused. But he felt no pity for the man his Mistress had killed. If he was guilty of rape and murder, he was not human.

"Very well. Andrea and Manuella each have announcements to make."

Andrea stood forward. "Brad Stevens, come forward."

Brad Stevens stepped forward. He was a senior, Captain of the football team, and the most handsome boy in school. Andrea looked down at him, cowering by her right foot, and felt a wave of lust. She had wanted him for two years. Now was her chance.

"Brad, you are my possession, forfeit to me. You will do as I say, whatever I say. Do you understand?"

"But Andrea, um...."

She flashed an ugly smile. "You will address me as Mistress, Brad. You can accept this, or you can meet the same fate as Clyde Parker. Understood?"

With that, she reached down and lifted Brad to her face. "You're cute, Brad. You'll make a good servant." She beamed. She had done better that Jessica--although she'd never tell Jess that. And Jeff was kind of cute.

Manuella stepped forward next, scanned the crowd, and saw her servant. Her request suprised even her. "Elizabeth Schuller, stand forth."

Elizabeth Schuller came forward nervously. She had been teaching at the school for only two years, and she was a pretty twenty-six. Manuella smiled to her. "Elizabeth, you are going to be my servant, the same as Brad is to Jessica. Can you live with that?"

Elizabeth smiled and nodded dumbly. Manuella lifted her up and inspected the little blond-haired woman. Manuella felt something within her she had long denied, but it seemed silly now.

She looked over at Andrea and Jessica. Andrea's mouth was hanging open, but Jessica just looked at Manuella with an eyebrow cocked and a little half-grin. Okay, a big half-grin. At least she understood. Manuella hoped she understood.

Jessica turned back to the assembled town. "Very well. Go about your business. We will return with a set of rules for conduct at noon today. We will see you then."

"Wait a minute! You mean to tell me that you're just taking over?" The mayor burned with fury. This was his town, damn it!

"Mayor, don't make us stomp on you too," said Manuella. "I have cause, you know."

"You fucking Spic Dyke, how dare...."

Bobby Earl Johnson never spoke another word. He was smashed beneath Manuella's left sandal.

Nobody else argued.

The three women went back to their dwelling, each considering something.

But each happier than they'd ever been.



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