Scarecrow and the Rainbow Solution

Party stared at the glass in front of him and then poured another drink.
“That’s half a bottle.”
“Yeah.”
“Time to stop.”
“No.”
Kobra grimaced and watched Party down the shot in one. They had been in the bar for no more than an hour and already Party was well on the way to the abusive drunk stage. He had refused to talk to Dr D, leaving Jet to explain the situation to the dj in his small recording studio near the to of the Crater Club. Ghoul had immediately taken Rainbow to the doctor who had also taken up residence now that the club was providing shelter for more and more people. It was getting more dangerous to stay outside than many wanted to risk.
Kobra had taken Mayhem to lock up down on the bottom floor, the man now catatonic at the thought of what his failure would mean to the people he cared about. It wasn’t that Kobra didn’t sympathise but this was war and selling out your comrades was pretty much a death sentence. If Crimson hadn’t made it out of that bunker then Party would probably do the deed himself. Kobra had instead found his brother getting wasted under the watchful eye of Midnight Ride.
“She could have found another exit. You know how resourceful Crim can be.”
Party poured another shot, the vodka spilling over the side and onto the table.”
“Or she could be dead. Never fall in love Mikey, its fucks with your head.”
“If she’s dead then we deal with it. We put that damn virus in a bot and blow up the city.”
Party looked up in surprise. There was a certain finality in Kobra’s voice as if the decision had already been made in his head. It seemed like all of them had been privately thinking it through and coming to the same conclusions. Even more so as the sample and all of the medical research that had been done had been left behind. Either they stopped Korse and found a way to get rid of the weapon or they used it themselves.
“Right now I don’t care.”
Kobra removed the bottle from the table and walked over to the bar to hand it to Midnight. He barely got to turn around before Party’s fist connected solidly with his jaw and both men went down in a tumble of limbs and punches. The other patrons turned, not quite believing who was solidly brawling on the floor of the bar as Midnight and Neon tried to separate them. Kobra had the advantage but Party was lost in his own anger and didn’t care who was on the receiving end of it.
“What in the flying fuck is going on here ?”
Ghoul flew into the bar, his face twisted into an expression of disgust, both at the state of Party and the gawping bystanders. They all shrank back, the short man had a fearsome reputation and even the warring siblings looked up. To everyone’s surprise they were followed by Dr D, the radio host wasn’t often seen in such a public arena and he seemed even less impressed by the brawl. Jet followed behind, the only one of them to actually help both the brothers to their feet. Seeing that the drama was over, people started drifting back to their own drinks.
“Really fucking sensible. Nicely done.”
“Alright, we get it.”
Party looked down, blood dripping from his nose as Ghoul continued to stare at him until he finally mumbled an apology to Kobra who nodded and patted his back. Dr D could see that Party in this state was unlikely to be able to focus and looked to Jet.
“News I’m getting in says that BLI is all over the bunker. No word of Crim, dead or alive.”
“Then we assume alive. Korse ?”
“On the move again and changing route a lot so it’s going to be hard to find a place for an ambush.”
Ghoul put coffee in front of Party and passed the rest a round of beers. He had been assured that Rainbow would sleep off the rest of the drug and had been intending to suggest that they left her in safety and went back to look for Crimson. The fact that their leader had chosen his own way to deal with the situation annoyed him beyond reason. Jet had pulled out a map and they spent another half hour checking out the likely routes that could be used to transport something so highly dangerous back through the zones to the city. Party had calmed somewhat and began to regain some focus as they put together the beginnings of a plan.
“Uhhhh……Party ?”
Neon shuffled from foot to foot, nervous at even approaching after the brawl.
“Yeah ?”
“The sentries say your car just pulled up outside.”
There was a frozen moment before Party was on his feet, his hands finding Neon’s collar and shaking him. There was a painful desperation on his face that made the young man almost squeak with fear.
“Who’s in my car ?”
“T-t-that’s just it, there’s nobody in the car !”
Party frowned before a dawning look of realisation crossed his face in a radiant smile. He patted Neon on the cheek before grinning at his friends and taking off across the bar. Puzzled, his friends and half the bar started to follow. Ghoul felt hope start to rise and it was jet who finally worked it out just as they reached the top floor and went through the large double doors.
“The fucking stealth suit.”
Kobra started to laugh, seeing the Trans Am parked at a crazy angle and nobody near it apart from a gathering crowd. One of the sentries was declaring it had just driven itself down the ramp and hairpinned the turn. People muttered and milled around, somehow amazed and yet wary that is was a BLI trap.
“You drove my car you fucking bitch ?”
“Well hello darling, glad to see you too.”
There was a glimmer of light that seemed to bend before a black clad figure seemed to step out of thin air. Several people screamed and all of the crowd stepped back, only the boys stepping toward her as Crim pulled the mask off and shook out her hair. Her face was swollen badly on one side and she had clearly taken a beating but had made it back home. Party felt the sweetest relief and could do nothing but pull her into his arms. His lips found her ear, a gentle kiss telling of his delight in seeing her.
“I thought…I thought you were dead.”
“Nah, never gonna happen.”
He kissed her lips before allowing Kobra, Jet and Ghoul to get a hug and a look at the damage. Crimson tossed the bag she carried to Jet and looked at the crowd before shrugging and unzipping the suit. Unabashed, she reached into the back of the car and pulled out a battered red t-shirt and jeans, addressing them over her shoulder.
“You didn’t think I was doing the heroic sacrifice thing did you ? Where’s Rainbow ?”
“You just want the attention. She’s fine, sleeping off whatever the doc gave her.”
“Can I kill him then ?”
Party smirked and walked over to inspect his car as Ghoul filled Crimson in on their escape and the subsequent formulation of a plan. He wasn’t going to give specifics with so many people around but it pleased her that the cure thing had been given up. She had always considered it a long shot and wanted to do this her own way. That they now seemed to be onside would make it all the easier.
“We kill him later. Once we have the weapon.”
“YOU FUCKING WIRED MY CAR ??”
Crimson flinched and started to back away at the incredulous look on Party’s face. Ghoul started to laugh, aware by the time that she had been chased twice around the car that tears were streaming down his face. Kobra just shook his head with a rueful smile as Jet looked inside the bag. While Crimson might not be enamoured with the idea she had still grabbed as much of the research as she could and a few of the weapons that had been left behind.
“Party, calm down. I had to drive it to get away.”
“You had the Camaro.”
Crimson dodged Party again as he tried to latch onto her collar. Rainbow took the sight in from the door having been roused by the commotion. She had somehow never doubted that Crimson would get away but saw the damage and wondered again just how many risks one woman could take before one would end in death or capture. Party had caught her now, anger soon moving into kisses and holding each other like they would never let go. A cold wind seemed to blow over Rainbow and she shivered.
“Party, you’re needed.”
Show Pony beckoned, this could only mean that Dr D had information and they all trooped back inside. Rainbow and Crimson shared their own hug and Rainbow lifted her friends chin, taking in the nasty purple bruises and cut skin. For her part, Crimson could see the exhaustion lagging at her friend and gave her a half smile.
“We look like shit.”
“But we made it out alive. Again.”
There was a distant explosion, echoing across the landscape as the last of the stragglers pushed past the women and they hurried in too, glad of the protection and the thought that it would be so much worse to be out in the zones while this war continued to rage. No escape but the desert or death.

Notes