Chapter Text
It was supposed to be a routine supply run. Something they’d done a thousand fucking times. Kobra said he had seen a metallic shine in the desert and Jet mentioned something about a medicinal plant so they pulled over and took a look around. Nobody noticed how they got separated but by the time they heard the bikes approaching they turned around and Gracie was too far away to grab in time.
“Gracie, get down!” Kobra called to her. She immediately dove behind the nearest rock to protect herself. Ghoul started running toward her but shots from the Drac’s ray guns blew past the front of xem, singeing xyr jacket, and forcing them to stop in xyr path.
“Nobody move! Gracie, you stay right there kiddo.” Party ordered. Korse stalked up with three Dracs flanked on either side of him. The bastard’s gun wasn’t even drawn.
“Smart thinking, Party Poison,” Korse began mockingly. “Move an inch and they’re ordered to shoot.” Each of the Four had their hands on their ray guns but didn’t dare try to raise them yet. Not with Gracie so close, and with no cover.
“The hell do you want this time asshole?” Party snarled at him. Jet’s eyes kept bouncing between the Dracs and the girl, ready to shoot at a moment's notice if they took even a step toward her.
“Just collecting BLI/ind property, desert rats. Return it to us, and we’ll call it a day.” Korse sneered at the Four.
“What the hell are you talking about you bald prick?” Ghoul jumped in, taking a half step forward before stopping as the Dracs directed their guns at xem. Ghoul let out a huff and stayed where xe was standing. Kobra was fucking shaking with anger but remained silent, unable to form words in the moment.
“The Girl. We’ll be taking her with us.” Korse began. “I’m giving you an out. I’d advise you to take it, but I’m not opposed to the alternative.” He smiled as he slowly raised his gun, pointing it at the sky.
“Not gonna happen.” Jet snapped back, ready to run to her. Party looked to Ghoul, xyr hand readied on the handle of xyr ray gun. Jet and Ghoul could hold their own in a firefight, and Party themself was a near-perfect shot. But while Kobra was great in hand-to-hand, he was a shit shot due to his hand tremors. With four v four, it’d be a hard fight. But one look back to Gracie and there was no question. As if in slow motion the Four all reached for their guns. In a split second, all hell broke loose. Blasts fired from both sides. Some missed, some landed, bodies fell.
They’d all go down here and now to protect her.
Anything for her.
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The room is a blur of swirling bodies, and the sounds are crashing down on them like ocean waves against a blunt cliffside. Harsh and eroding. For the past Witch-knows how long Dr. Death and Cherri have been trying to talk the Four into taking the time to rally more ‘joys and come up with a better plan. Show Pony’s head has been darting between the two groups like they’re watching a tennis match. Party stopped comprehending what was being said a long time ago. Everything got So Fucking Loud and now the words are just sharp, piercing sounds of everybody talking at once and they can’t breathe. Party slams down the leg that had been shaking for the last twenty minutes and yells.
“Fuck, we’re not waiting anymore!” The sound completely drops out around them and all gazes turn to Party. Party’s breath was shaky and they were struggling to breathe deeply to keep their cool. Their voice lowers to accommodate the new silence but it’s still biting as they declare, “It’s been weeks …we are not waiting a day longer.” Dr. D is the first to respond and he does so in a calm but firm voice.
“A few weeks ago when Pony found you, you rats were almost dead. You need more time to recover from that clap, not to mention time to plan whatever batshit rescue mission you’re thinking about doing.”
“Yeah, weeks of them doing who fuckin knows what to her while we sit around here doing nothing.” Ghoul chimes in from the table where xe’s been sitting, angrily gripping the ledge. Xe'd been so quiet Party though xe had switched off xyr hearing aids. Xe jumps off and looks around the room at xyr companions. “I mean are you seriously fucking telling me you’re okay just letting her sit there in their fucking hands?” Xe shouts around the room.
“That’s not what we’re saying at all Ghoul!” Cherri steps forward. “But Jet’s eye got shot to shit, not to mention your face, plus the hits Party and Kobes took.” Cola looks around at the rest of the Four. “I wouldn’t throw you into a fight with a dozen killjoys backing you up as you are. I mean you guys are talking about storming fucking BLI headquarters. Are you even ready for an everyday zones firefight right now?”
“We’re ready to do what’s necessary.” An assured voice says from the corner. Now Jet is the grounded, realistic, logical one…but he for one can’t fucking stand sitting around here another day while Gracie is out there alone. Surrounded by BLI creeps. He knew it was wise to stay and gather forces. To come up with a plan they could follow to the letter that left the least chance of failure. But he found himself nodding along with Ghoul. He’d do anything for his girl. He looked to his side and saw Kobra staring with determination behind their sunglasses, shaky hands clasped tightly at his sides. He got nonverbal when he got really upset but he managed to relax his hands for a moment to sign. Sometimes it was difficult to interpret their signs through the tremors but his words were clear as they brought his index finger to his head and bring it forward before moving a Y-shaped hand between them and Ghoul.
“I agree with Ghoul”. Kobra signs.
“Would you all slow down for a sec and listen?” Cherri cuts in. “Look, defending yourself in the desert is one thing, but you’re talking about killing a bunch of people on their turf. You’re fine with just ghosting whoever gets in your way? Because I for one am not.”
“Oh don’t give the holier than thou speech to us. It’s not about marching on their turf and killing as many as we can, it’s about protecting our own.” Party cuts him off. “We’re not a bunch of stupid homicidal teens staging a revolt, we’re just trying to get our family back.”
“I’m not saying we leave her there! I’m saying give it time so we can come up with a plan that has the least loss of life.” Cherri tries to clarify but is cut off by Kobra.
They hurriedly point at their right shoulder, bringing the shape to his left, then drags a thumb with a closed fist out from beneath his chin before bringing both hands out to their left, palms up and fingers wiggling, then drags his right index up his left arm, starting at the wrist.
“We’re not waiting any longer.” They sign with furrowed brows.
“Well I won’t be there with you.” Cherri snaps back. It earns him glares from all sides. He takes a moment to calm himself before continuing. “Look I’ll help with what I can from here, but I refuse to be responsible for anyone’s death.” Ghoul looks ready to tear into him but a hand across xyr chest stops xem.
“Fine. Do what you want.” Ghoul spits back instead. Party lets xem go and takes a breath before addressing the room.
“We’re decided. What we’re gonna do is make sure we’re all gassed and charged up then we’re headed to Batt City. No holding back, we’re gonna let them face the full power of some pissed-off Killjoys.” They turn towards Dr. Death and Cola specifically now. “Cherri, round up as many ‘joys as you can and send them after us. We’ll blow the way in.” They start, dipping their head towards Ghoul at that last bit, earning a newly scarred grin from xem. “ D, do your best to monitor the waves and give us and the other ‘joys a heads up on BLI activity if you can.” Dr. D huffs and looks frustrated at the Four’s impatience but he understands. That girl has touched the heart of every Killjoy she’s met and he knows they’d all do anything to save her.
“Fine Pois, I don’t like it but we’ll do what we can.” Party gives an appreciative nod to Doc and lets out a long breath.
“Alright guys, let’s hit some dirt.”