Scarecrow and the Rainbow Solution

“Anyone home ?”
Ghoul’s face broke into a huge smile as he recognised Party’s voice over the intercom. It had taken Jet less than a day to reconfigure the bunkers security system so that they could lock it from inside and know that no drac was going to get in there even if they knew where it was. Both men had seen the benefit of having a secure base to store all the new equipment and to retreat back to if things got bad. With all the medical kit that their friends were shipping in it could also be turned into a functioning hospital to help their cause further.
“Hi honey, your dinner got cold but there is still beer.”
He grinned at the laughter as he flipped the door switch and disabled the bots and guns that guarded the upper levels. No matter that they nearly died every day, the relief at knowing that everyone had made it was still a strong emotion. Ghoul took the steps three at a time, yelling to Jet and Rainbow as he passed before hitting the antechamber to see his friends dumping boxes of equipment and supplies.
“Did you find the medical supplies ?”
Party nodded with a grin, pulling Ghoul into an embrace and planting a soft kiss on his lips.
“We got what we went for and a few other things. How’s it going here ?”
“Good, Rainbow’s fine and the doc seems happy that he can do something with a cure given time.”
They all knew time was the one thing that none of them had but any progress was better than none. Ghoul could see his friends had been in a fight, they were covered in dust and scrapes. Kobra sported a new bruise along his cheekbone and Rainbow immediately spotted the blood stained bandage around Crim’s arm as she entered the room.
“You found trouble then ?”
Party’s smile faltered at how pale and sick Rainbow looked, whatever tests this doc had been doing were clearly taking a toll. He made a mental note to discuss this with the good doctor and helped Kobra heft the final crate inside. Jet closed the door with a heavy metallic thud and started taking inventory. Crimson left the boys to start moving things downstairs and took a closer look at her friend.
“Trouble finds us, you know that. You look like shit, you want me to break Mayhem’s arms ?”
Rainbow laughed and hugged her before pointing to the bandage.
“Not until he checks that out.”
“It’s a scratch, Kobra can’t resist detonating things near my head.”
“He’s getting in before you try it.”
Crimson smirked and flexed the fingers on the injured side. It stung but nothing alcohol wouldn’t deaden. Like Party she was much more concerned that whatever tricks the doctor was attempting to find a cure where taking too much of a toll on her best friend. In truth she respected Mayhem and still felt a debt to him but there had to be another way.
“I still say we take the weapon from Korse and use it. Screw this cure bullshit.”
“I don’t want to argue.”
The look Rainbow gave Crim ended the conversation and both followed Ghoul as he and Party carried the last of the boxes down the stairs. All of the equipment had been laid out on tables in the old mess hall and now the doctor was going through the various piles, his face alight with curiosity. Party watched him, something in his head was ringing alarm bells and he couldn’t figure out what. It made his voice tight and sharp.
“So, the cure ?”
“It can be done I’m sure of it. I just need to isolate the enzymes and…”
The doctors enthusiasm died away at the cool look on Party’s face. Mayhem loved good looking men, it was a failing that had led to his medical status being revoked and his exile from Battery City. Normally a man as beautiful as Party Poison would have been hard to resist but there was something in the hazel eyes that seemed to look right through him. He reddened and glanced at Rainbow.
“I swear I haven’t done anything that wasn’t necessary. I have plenty of mice but only one source of immune blood and this thing mutates so fast.”
“But it can be done.”
Jet glanced at Kobra, puzzled as to what was making their leader so hostile. He had found the doctor intelligent company and had enjoyed working with him in the laboratory. Jet understood that there was no intention of harm to Rainbow and now spoke calmly.
“It can Party but we have to let the doctor work and keep trouble away from here.”
Crimson grinned and waved from the wall.
“Already on that. We’re gonna go kick a hornets nest.”
“After you get that arm stitched up and we all get some sleep.”
Party grinned at the offended look on her face and the immediate glance from the doctor at the bandage on her arm. His opinion of the medic softened a little at the way he bustled a protesting Crimson out of the room and down to the medical lab. Normally it was as much as they could do to get a dressing on her before the violent temper got in the way. Rainbow smiled at him.
“What’s the target ?”
“St Margarets, the old hospital where the Dracs are holding court and some of our people. With the new weapons we should be able to blast a hole in it and cause some waves.”
Ghoul nodded, reading Party’s intention before he continued.
“But you’re staying here. We can’t risk your safety.”
“No fucking way am I staying here.”
“Rain, be reasonable. Without you this won’t work.”
Rainbow was beyond pissed at the idea of being left in the bunker, she wanted to be outside in the fresh air where the nightmares abated more and she wasn’t left with so many unpleasant memories. She knew his concern was genuine as well as being the sensible course of action but she wasn’t going to make it easy on him.
“Crim has hardly any use in that arm but you’ll let her go.”
“Not the same thing.”
Party knew he would win the battle, Ghoul’s arm was already around her waist and he had never loved the man more than when he was in sensual persuasion mode. It made him impossible to resist, the quiet voice and the way his hands would caress and…..Party snapped back to the present as Ghoul spoke.
“I’m staying with you, right Party ?”
“Yes. You two stay and carry on the research. Jet can back us up and we will be back within twelve hours. We can swing by the radio station and get an update from Dr D at the same time.”
Rainbow glared but knew that he wouldn’t back down.
“Fine but for fuck’s sake be careful.”
Party flicked her the grin that always spelt the worst trouble and then listened to the sound of his brother yelling back up the stairs. He hadn’t noticed Kobra leave, surprised as always by his ability to move with such silent grace.
“Dr D’s on the radio. He needs to talk to you.”
Party followed Kobra down another flight of metal stairs and into the control room of the bunker. It was working surprisingly well considering nobody had used it in such a long time and he was impressed by the banks of CCTV monitors showing the outside of the bunker and its surrounds. The radio signal was scratchy but he recognised the voice well enough.
“Hey D, it’s Party. What’s up ?”
“You got trouble coming right at you. Two divisions have headed into three since your hit this afternoon. You sure about this?”
“It’s doing what we wanted it to do. How are the rest of the Zones ?”
“More units causing trouble in two and four like you asked. Korse is delayed, there’s a huge acid storm out in the wastes.”
Party felt his spirits rise, the more time they had the better.
“Good news for us. We’re doing good work here and that might help.”
“Not if you have News coming at you.”
Party froze. He hated that fucking bitch with a vengeance and if she was nearby that meant the elite units of Scarecrow were too. He now badly wanted to brandish his newfound firepower in that direction.
“Even better.”
Dr D sounded weary over the radio. It had been the Japanese girl who headed the unit that had tortured both Crimson and Rainbow in an effort to find out where Party was and he had never gotten over it. If Party had one failing it was that he held a grudge far longer than was wise and they quickly became personal vendettas.
“Forget her and don’t forget the purpose of this. A sideshow is fine as long as you don’t forget the big picture. We can’t fuck this up or everyone dies.”
“I know. We have another target to hit and by then we may have some news on the cure.”
“Good. Be careful out there.”
“Sure. We’ll stop by in a couple of days.”
Static swallowed up the doctors reply and Kobra could see that is was best to leave Party to brood over what was to come. He knew that having the entire force of Scarecrow coming their way was not what Party had wanted and it made the hit on the hospital a lot more dangerous but there was no way that they would call it off. He had almost made it to the door when his brother spoke again.
“Don’t tell Crimson. I don’t want her to know.”
“Why not ?”
Party grinned, his face almost skull like in the half light.
“Because I want to see her rip that bitch to pieces.”

Notes