Shantae groaned as she tossed and turned in bed, eventually getting up to greet the day since she couldn't quite get back to sleep.  The sun was out but Shantae wasn't so interested in getting out to meet it after her last job at the Ammo Baron's camp.  She still didn't understand how he even heard about her part time gig but after the long trip there and back, not to mention the exercise in between, she felt it was owed to her to be a little bit lazy today.  Yawning loudly and getting up Shantae opened her door to see the little red flag pointed upward on her mailbox.  "Huh... didn't think I'd get any mail today."  Trudging out the door Shantae opened the mailbox to find a single letter inside, this one looking hand written.  "Did I really get another job offer?"  

Taking the letter inside and grabbing some fruit for breakfast out of her pantry Shantae read the letter over.  Despite the envelope being hand written the inside was typed as if someone had used a typewriter.  It simply read that she was requested to come to the factory by the Sequin Swamps.  No signature or anything else to indicate what for or who the client might be.  Shantae flipped the letter over but didn't find any more information on the back.  Taking a bite of her apple she pondered it over.  

"I am tired from yesterday... buuuut I did get paid pretty well for the last job."  Shantae looked at the vase she'd been storing her gems in to buy her coveted personal bath tub.  Filled with her recent earnings but no where near to the top where she needed it.  "Guess I could do another one without much problem.  Maybe the factory owner wants to entertain his workers for a party or something?"  Finishing off her breakfast Shantae got dressed and put herself together for another performance.  Soon she was heading out of Scuttle Town again looking to collect more gems.  It was just unfortunate that she had no idea where this factory in the swamps was. 

Usually while adventuring to stop evil-doers Shantae didn't have to think much about her appearance.  She didn't want to be dirty or sweaty but it was part of the job when you're fighting evil.  Since this side gig required her to look her best it made traversing through territory like a swamp all the more difficult.  Instead of charging through she was taking careful steps everywhere she went to be sure not to get mud on any part of her body or clothing.  This meant a lot of skipping across rocks, logs and even swinging from vines in some cases just to avoid the local dirt and wildlife around her.  After wandering around the swamp for what felt like a good portion of her morning she finally came upon a building that looked at least close to a factory.  

Taking a minute to catch her breath Shantae walked up to a button at the side of the large factory doors and pushed it.  There was a buzzing noise and a garbled voice came over a speaker near by.  "Who's there!?  We don't accept solicitors, girl scout cookies and I ain't giving to any charity!"

"Um... hi, I'm the entertainer you asked for in your letter?"  Shantae replied, not sure if this person was the one that wrote the letter itself but was just trying to get her foot in the door.  She didn't want to make this whole trip for nothing.  

"Oh, you're here!  Finally.  Just a moment."  The intercom cut out as Shantae patiently waited by the door.  Eventually it swung open and the familiar face of a squat lizard man in fine clothing and an oversized metal helmet that hid everything about him except his teeth.  "I've been expecting you for a while, now we can get started."  

"Techno Baron!?"  Shantae shouted in shock.  "You're the one that hired me!?"  

"Well I didn't ask you here to stand on my door step all day.  This way this way."  The lizard baron instructed as he walked into his factory, Shantae following after him and looking around the building.  It was full of odd machinery that she didn't doubt was built by her old enemy but all of it seemed offline.  As if the building had almost no power despite what was keeping the lights on.  

"First Ammo Baron and now this.  How do I have such rotten luck?"  

"Luck is just a concept that people with no drive believe in, hoping they'll one day be successful without trying."  The Techno Baron replied to her despite it being a rhetorical question.

"Well... I guess.  That's a pretty pessimistic way to look at it."  Shantae said, feeling even more glum than before.  

"Science doesn't wait for luck or moods, now hurry up and get dressed so we can get started."  

"Get... dressed?  But I'm already dressed to dance."  Shantae said looking at her outfit.  "Where's my audience anyway?"  

"Your audience is my equipment and your outfit is over there."  The Techno Baron pointed across the room as he was adjusting something on a control panel towards the back of the factory.  "You charge by the hour right?  Well don't go wasting my gems on your pointless conversation."  

"Jeez, fine already."  Shantae complained and walked over to where he'd directed her, eventually finding the "outfit" he wanted her to where.  It wasn't exactly what Shantae would have liked to dance in but a job was a job and at least it was just one person in the room besides a whole group of them.  Changing her outfit Shantae stood behind some of his strewed about equipment to protect her modesty.

"Okay... everything is looking operational on this end.  Genie girl, are you ready yet!?"  

"I'm suited up!"  Shantae said as she came back out from behind the machines.  "I gotta say this thing is pretty flimsy looking but once I got it strapped on I think it's tight enough that it won't fall off."  The outfit was basically just belts.  Large ones that had buckles on them to keep them strapped to her body.  She managed to get the large one around her hips to cover herself and the other one tied around her chest to keep her "girls" from shaking loose while dancing.  Two more were applied to her arms and each one had some sort of battery thing attached to them.  She didn't get it but thought maybe this was what a machinery nerd like the Techno Baron was into.  

"Uh... you know..."  The Techno Baron started seeing her improvised outfit.  "You didn't have to take your clothes off to put those belts on."

"...oh."  Shantae said, hoping she didn't look as dumb as she felt.  "I uh... guess I didn't realize.  I'll go change then..."  

"No time, we need to get started!  Also you better remove those metal bits if you don't want to get electrocuted."  

"Electrocuted?"  Shantae asked in confusion and shrieked in surprise after the Techno Baron flipped a lever that lit up a panel in the middle of the room.  It crackled with electricity and looked dangerous to touch.  "What in the world!?"  

"Well, we don't have all day."  The Techno Baron said and Shantae grumbled as she took off the last bits of her own clothes, setting the metal jewelry aside and stepping onto the platform carefully.  Thankfully it didn't shock her on contact but she could feel the ends of her hair stand up.  "Alright then, let's begin."  

"Uh... okay.  Guess there's no music so I'll just-"  Shantae began by shaking her hips about as she started to decide on what dance she'd do.  Certainly something that didn't require a lot of bending in this situation.  Though she was surprised to hear a whirring sound as the metal pieces on her belts lit up with electricity.  "Whoa, hey!  These things are doing something!"  

"Exactly, they're supposed to.  You're going to be my generator for the day.  Just keep doing that shaking thing you always do with those on and it will supply my factory with all the energy it needs."  

"It's called dancing, I know you know what it is."  Shantae grumbled as she kept her movements up.  

"I'm not paying you to talk."  The Techno Baron snapped and Shantae decided having a conversation wouldn't be the best so she just kept on dancing in silence.  It was actually harder than she had expected it to be, having no beat to go off of and no direction.  In fact she didn't even have to change up her form, simply shaking her hips about was enough to give him the energy he was after for his machinery.  Though the factory was enclosed and not well ventilated so the room got warm quickly.  Shantae managed to talk him into giving her breaks for water which had her doing about a total of four half hour sets with short rests in between.  When it was finally all over Shantae was a sweaty mess and her hair was frazzled from standing on that electric pad the whole time.  

"I'm beat."  Shantae said as she sat on a folding chair and drank the last of her water.  

"Well done!  Seems you're good for something after all.  My factory has enough energy from all your gyrating to keep going through the week."  

"Good for you.  Can I get out of this now?"  Shantae asked referring to the belt outfit she'd made for herself.  

"Yes yes, and out of my sight while you're at it.  Here."  The Techno Baron gave her a bag and Shantae looked inside to see he had been true to his word and paid her like promised.  "Now get changed, I'm sure you can show yourself to the door."

"Don't have to ask me twice."  Shantae grumbled and went behind the machines to change into her normal clothing.  After slipping back into her attire and leaving the Baron to his own devices Shantae walked out of the factory and greeted the outdoor air happily.  A swamp was usually a humid place but compared to that building it felt refreshing.  Deciding she didn't want to be here another minute Shantae made her way back home to get someplace where she could relax for the rest of the day.  Swinging, skipping and balancing her way through the dark and dirty terrain once more.  As she was skipping across some rocks to keep herself out of the swamp water Shantae felt her feet land upon a very weird rock.

"Ow!"  The rock complained and Shantae gulped.  

"Wait... rocks don't talk!  I don't think."  Lifting one of her feet up and looking down Shantae saw half of a face staring back up at her.  Her shoe covering the other half that was standing on it.

"Boo!"  The "rock" said to her and Shantae shrieked in surprise, falling backwards into the muddy swamp water.  It laughed at her and Shantae was able to see a familiar green head looking her way.  

"Rottytops!"  Shantae shouted.  "What do you think you're doing!?" 

"Heh heh!  Did I spook you?"  Rotty asked as her green zombie body came out from behind a tree to pick her head up out of the mud and put it back on her shoulders.  "I saw you coming this way and wanted to surprise you."  

"Argh, look at me!  I'm covered in mud now, after I went to all that trouble to avoid it."  Shantae complained and stood up, her pants soaked from the swamp water.  "Now what am I going to do?  I don't want to walk back into town looking like this."  

"Awww, I'm sorry Shantae.  I didn't mean to make you mad."  Rottytops said looking sad her joke resulted in her friend being upset.  "I just wanted to say hi since I saw you here."  

"It's... it's okay Rotty.  You didn't try to do this."  Shantae sighed looking herself over.  "Not really any places I can go to get clean between here and Scuttle Town though."  

"Oh wait!  There is!"  Rottytops said happily.  "I parked my wagon not far from here, I can get your clothes clean and let you take a bath if you like."  

"You have your own bath!?"  Shantae asked, her eyes lighting up.  

"Wow, I didn't expect you to get so excited.  But yeah, I do!  If you want you can use it."  

"Sure, lead the way!"  Shantae said in delight, letting Rottytops take her through the swamp to her little camp site.  Rottytops had a habit of being a mischief maker but she'd proven in the past Shantae could trust her as a friend even if things didn't always go perfect between them.  A short while later Shantae was standing in Rotty's private camping area wrapped up in a towel and looking at her bath tub.  "Um... this wasn't what I was expecting."  She said in disappointment.

"Why not?  It's perfect for getting you warmed up and clean."  Rotty said as she added some bath salts to the large black metal cauldron that was suspended over a fire.  The pot was big enough to fit two people, which explained why Rotty herself was also wearing a towel as she got the water ready.  

"You're uh... not planning to cook me and eat me are you?"  Shantae asked with a nervous smile.  

"Oh no, boiled brains lose all of their flavor anyway."  Rottytops explained, Shantae not really eager to find out how she knew that.  Once she was sure the water was ready Rottytops grabbed a step stool and dropped her towel, jumping into the water.  "Ahhh, that's the stuff.  C'mon in."  She invited and even though she was nervous Shantae also left her towel behind and got in the water as well.  

"Oh, wow!  This is actually more comfortable than I thought it would be."  Shantae said pleasantly surprised.  

"Took me a while to figure out just the right amount of fire wood to use for the pot."  Rottytops explained.  "Your clothes are hanging up on the side of my wagon to dry while we're cleaning up."

"Thanks Rotty, you're the best thing that's happened to me all day today."  Shantae said and leaned back against the cauldron's lip.  Not seeming to notice the look of joy on Rottytops face hearing those words.  

"So why were you in the swamp anyway?"  Rotty asked and Shantae realized she hadn't really given any explanation.  Rottytops traveled, usually with her brothers Abner and Poe.  But it looked like she was on her own for now.  It wasn't unusual for her to be out someplace like this away from a town as she was a zombie but for Shantae that was a different story.  

"Well you see it's like this."  So Shantae went through the explanation of how she started her little side business to get her own bathtub.  How she decided after the private bath she needed to get her own and that despite being hired by her old enemies so far she was getting paid.  After going through how she got out to here for the Techno Baron, Rottytops pondered it for a while.  

"So you're a dancer for hire now, huh?  I guess the next time I have a party I should pay to have you entertain!"  

"C'mon now, I'd come to one of your parties for free."  Shantae said with a soft smile.  

"Really?"  Rotty asked, sliding closer to her in the cauldron.  

"Well I'd hope to be a guest instead of the entertainment, but I could do a few dances."  Shantae explained and Rotty smiled brightly.  

"Of course I'd love to have you over some time to just hang out too.  Sky's lucky she gets to see you every day.  Even got to take a private bath with you."  Rotty said sounding a little jealous.  Shantae knew Rottytops and Sky rarely saw eye to eye on a lot of things but she hoped their relationship was better now after all the time they'd known each other.   

"Well I was recently told luck is just a concept of... people who drive?"  Shantae said trying to remember what Techno Baron had told her earlier but she'd done a lot to push his words out of her mind.  "I dunno, but I guess the point was you can make your own luck if you try hard enough."  Shantae concluded.  

"My own luck huh?  Well I guess we are hanging out right now."  Rottytops said joyfully.  "And I guess it's just a bath together, not like anything else happened I didn't get to be part of."  

"Er... right.  Right.  Nothing else at all."  Shantae said and glanced away from Rottytops who was giving her a suspicious look.  "What!?  Why are you staring at me like that?"  Rotty leaned in closer and Shantae shuddered when she felt her tongue lick the side of her cheek.  

"This taste... is the taste of a liar, Shantae!"  Rotty suddenly proclaimed.  "You're keeping something secret from me aren't you?"  Pulling back Rottytops began pouting in a complete reversal of attitude she had before.  "It's not nice to keep secrets from your friends."  Using some of the bath water to wash off her cheek where she got licked Shantae sighed and relented.  

"Okay look... we uh... me and Sky were talking and eventually one thing lead to another and we sort of... kissed."  Shantae confessed while looking away.  

"Wait, you kissed Sky?"  Shantae nodded.  "Like... like on the mouth?"  Shantae nodded again.  Rottytops stood up in the bath and looked down at her in shock.  "Like 'kissing' kissing!?"  

"Do you have to yell it!?"  Shantae asked and Rotty sat back down in the water.  

"Well... jeez!  I didn't know you liked girls too."  

"I don't!  I mean... I don't dislike girls but I don't only like girls."  Shantae said trying to explain herself away.  "It was just supposed to be practice..."  Something suddenly occurred to her.  "Wait, you said 'like girls too'.  What did you mean by that?"  

"Well you know... when you're a zombie you get a little taste of everyone after a while."  Rotty said with a giggle.  "Hey Shantae... kiss me."  

"What!?  No!"  

"Aww, why not?  You kissed Sky."  

"Look that was a one time thing.  Besides it was just practice, you know."  Even that excuse felt flimsier the more she said it.  

"Well then can't ours be practice too?  I haven't been on a date since I became a zombie you know."  

"But it's just... that's a big step, you know?  Even if it's practice."  Shantae said blushing, wondering how she got into a situation like this again by bathing with another girl.  

"C'mon, let's just try it one time.  You might like it."  Rottytops suggested leaning forward eagerly.  Shantae thought that if Rotty now knew her little secret with Sky she might at some point say it out loud from frustration.  She didn't need everyone to know about what they'd done so it was probably best to give her what she wanted.  

"Fine."  Shantae said.  

"Yes!"  Rotty said eagerly and moved closer to her in the water.  

"No more asking for this afterwards though, okay?"  Shantae explained and Rotty nodded her head.  Letting out a sigh she got into position, guiding Rotty how to sit properly.  Leaning in she gave the zombie girl a kiss on the lips.  

It was actually nicer than she expected.  Rotty's lips were soft like a normal person's and her lips had a taste on them that reminded her of coffee.  Hesitantly Rottytops hand reached out and touched Shantae's which the genie girl laced her fingers together with the green ones in her hand.  She let out a little breath of surprise at the hand hold and the kiss continued for a while longer before finally separating.

"Wow..."  Rottytops said through glimmering eyes.  "I've never felt like that before."  

"It was pretty nice."  Shantae said, letting her hand stay held in Rottytops'.  The zombie girl was looking at her nervously and held her hand just a little tighter leaning forward again with her eyes closed and her lips puckered.  She knew that she told Rotty she shouldn't ask for any more after the first time but decided since they were already here she could give her some more and leaned in again.  Their lips meeting and the kiss deepening further as they got closer to each other.  Her other hand reached over Shantae's back and held her, Shantae's own hand slipping around to hold Rotty as they kissed longer and tasted each other.  When the kiss finally broke Rotty was panting and leaned against Shantae.  

"Oh wow."  She said and nuzzled against her shoulder.  "You're so good at this."  

"I don't know about that."  Shantae said with some amusement.  "I never thought a zombie could have her breath taken away."  

"If anyone could do it to one it's you."  Rottytops admitted and held her tighter, kissing along Shantae's shoulder and neck.  

"Hey now..."  Shantae warned but did little to fight her off, not realizing she was walking into another situation yet again she'd been trying to avoid.  

"I'm sorry."  Rotty said between her kisses.  "I get jealous, I can't help it.  You're not mine to get jealous over but Sky's your best friend and I'm like... you're second friend.  Maybe third.  I just love being close to you."  

"It's okay."  Shantae said and petted Rotty's hair.  

"Then just... just for now?"  Rotty asked and felt Shantae's hand continue to pet her hair, no resistance to her advances.  Finding the kisses had a stronger reaction as she went Rotty began kissing up her neck and to her ear.  Eventually licking her tongue against her skin.  

"Rotty... you're..."  Shantae said finding her breathing picking up.  Her hand reaching out to brush over Rotty's hip and thigh.  The touch was electric for the zombie girl and made her want more.  Moving her head around she kissed Shantae's lips again and let her hand move down between her legs.  "Nngh!"  It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling anymore by this point but Shantae didn't want to be the only one that was touched.  Her own hand moving over Rotty's thigh and rubbing between her own legs.  

"O-oh!"  Rotty shuddered, breaking the kiss and focusing on what her hand was doing and what she was feeling.  "I've never felt like this before."  She said with lust in her eyes as she looked at the genie girl in front of her.  "I've got to taste you!"  

"Whoa, stop!  Stop, safe word!  'Coffee' or whatever the safe word is.  Stopping now."  Shantae said and pulled both of her hands up out of the water to form a barrier between them.  "No chewing or biting on me!"  Rotty looked at her surprised and then giggled.  

"Oh no, I didn't mean like that."  Rottytops said and leaned forward to kiss Shantae's forehead.  "I wasn't going to be here while I was eating."  Reaching up Rottytops took hold of her own hair and pulled up until her head popped off.  Normally a pretty terrifying sight but funny enough Shantae was used to it by now.  She gave Shantae a wink before sinking her own head under the water.  

"Rotty I don't really get what you meaaaant!"  Shantae said in surprise as she felt her friend's tongue press against her pussy as Rotty's head was pushed between her legs.  She was holding the sides of the cauldron now as she kept herself braced up and endured the pleasure her friend was giving her.  Realizing the last time this happened she had been pretty much powerless to do anything back, but with their unique situation that wasn't the case this time.  Reaching out one of her hands she took Rotty's and pulled her closer, guiding her headless body towards her own face.  "This is so weird."  Shantae said between pants but decided she wanted to try this anyway and held Rotty's wrist as she leaned forward to lick her friend's pussy in return.

Funny enough she could see her body react when she began, the green figure holding onto Shantae's head for support as she continued to lick between the folds of Rottytops' intimate area.  It was odd to look up and see a woman without a head over her but her body was shivering even harder than her own at the treatment she was giving.  Remembering how much it affected her last time Shantae laced her fingers with Rottytops' and moved her mouth closer to lick deeper inside, the Zombie girl's body rubbing her own breast now as she was shaking from the excitement.  Finding this was more fun that she thought it would be Shantae moved her head in circles and licked her tongue flat against Rotty's pussy.  Her body suddenly gripped onto Shantae's head tightly as her legs shook with her orgasm, Shantae able to hear the faint sound of moaning from under the water.  

The green body sat down next to Shantae but it didn't let her hand go.  Nor did Rottytops' head stop in her mission as she continued to lick between Shantae's thighs.  No longer distracted her tongue began to move faster inside of her and Shantae's legs were squeezing around her head as she felt herself coming closer to her own climax.  Rotty's body held Shantae's hand in both of hers now against her chest as she sat nearby eagerly awaiting the moment.  Breathing harder and harder Shantae winced as she leaned her head back and moaned out, cumming under the water and giving in to her friend's dedication.  When it was all over and Shantae had caught her breath she released Rotty's head from the grip her thighs had on her and handed it back to her body.  

"Wow, your legs are amazing!"  Rottytops said as she stuck her head back on.  "All that dancing really pays off, I knew you were strong but they squeeze like you're trying to crush a watermelon."

"Well... you kinda... made me feel that way..." Shantae said and Rottytops cuddled up to her.  

"That was the best thing ever."  Rottytops said.  "We really need to hang out again soon."  

"Okay."  Shantae agreed.  "But not for this every time, alright?  I don't know if my heart can take it."  

"I can give you one that will never stop if you like."  Rottytops said while licking her lips.  

"And that's my cue to get out of the cooking pot."  Shantae said, climbing out of the water.  Rottytops giggled at her joke (at least Shantae hoped it was a joke) and followed after her.  Once they were dried off and dressed again Rottytops and Shantae shared a warm hug and parted on happy terms.  The zombie girl overjoyed at her friend's visit today.  Now she just had to talk to her other friend.  

"Okay, you can come out now."  Rottytops called out and Bolo appeared from behind some nearby trees.  "You know I didn't think you were right about her coming through the swamp today but you were dead on.  Never figured you for the master planner type."  

"Well guess I just got lucky."  Bolo said with red cheeks after everything he witnessed. 

"I did too!"  Rottytops said with a giggle.  "But you knew all about that.  So you got my payment ready?" 

"Yep, loaded that bag of coffee into your wagon already."  Bolo nodded.  "Should be enough to last you for a while."  

"Well a master planner and a gentleman.  You're looking pretty scrumptious yourself, Bolo."  Rotty said and got closer to him, taking his hand in hers.  "You know the water's still warm if you want to jump in the pot with me.  I could go for another bath."  She said giving him a look that Bolo couldn't tell if it suggested lust or hunger.  Possibly both and he knew he wasn't as high on the list as Shantae to avoid getting chomped on by her.

"As good as that sounds... I think I might pass this time."  Bolo said with an awkward smile but didn't pulling his hand away from her. 

"Hmph.  Suit yourself."  Rottytops said looking a little offended he'd turn her down and let his hand go to cross her arms.  "Just you wait though.  I finally got to taste Shantae and I'll get you too."  

"Heh heh, just so long as it doesn't have teeth involved."  

"I don't bite... very hard anyway."  Rottytops said with another suggestive licking of her lips.  Bolo still couldn't tell what that signal meant so he excused himself before he either got very lucky or very unlucky, not wanting to test his odds today.