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Crash and Burn, We're Young and Loaded

Chapter Three

“Jay still in her room?

I looked up as Dr Death wheeled himself out of the studio. GoGo, Kitty and the others had been gone since the day before. I nodded and put down my book.

“She came out during the broadcast but ran back in when Pony tried to talk to her.” I sighed. “To be honest I feel like doing the same Doc.”

“I know you do. It’s the hardest thing, seeing someone you love dying in front of you. Jay was here screaming over Noise when he stopped breathing. You said it yourself, you were the same, watching those Dracs. I heard what you said to Pony after you left the studio. Stop BLI by all means. It’s what we’re all here for. But don’t give your life needlessly. Do not kill yourself blindly for revenge. I nearly did and it’s not worth it when you can do it the clever way and live.” Dr D gave my shoulder an affectionate squeeze and turned back to the studio.

”Oh, and Angel?” I turned to see him grinning at me from the studio door.
“Yeah?”
“Boys are home,” he said, just as a car pulled to a screeching halt outside.

Jumping out of my seat, I ran to the door of the old diner and yanked it open to see the four Killjoys getting out of the dust-caked Trans Am.

Fun Ghoul was the youngest and the shortest of the group. He was a munitions expert and a pyromaniac. Before the end of the world they’d been in a band, and he’d lost his family in the fires in 2012 while they’d been on tour. He was the group joker and my wingman when it came to fights.

Jet Star was the mechanic of the group and was the only one who could keep that rolling wreck of a Pontiac going. When they’d all been imprisoned by BLI, Jet had actually lost a leg at some point. BLI had replaced it with a mechanical one, which he said was better than his original leg because it was indestructible. He was also one of the best guitar players I’d ever heard.

Kobra Kidd was the second in command. His ex-wife, along with Jet Star’s, was a drugged up zombie who lived in Zone 2 and was married to a Drac for the last four years. He was a quiet man who rarely spoke but was a fantastic strategist.

Finally, there was Party Poison. He was the leader, and Kobra's big brother. He’d lost a wife and young child in the fires in 2012, the fires which been started by BLI as a cover for their coup. He’d also been a prisoner of BLI’s for about two years after the others had escaped. I knew no one who hated them more.

Then there also was…

“ANGEL!!!!” I was nearly bowled over as a tiny curly haired figure threw herself at me. “Oh my god, Bandit!” I shrieked, picking the little girl up and hugging her tightly.

That was Baby Bandit. The nine year old orphan we had rescued two years ago in the desert from three Dracs. She was the sweetest person I knew, with a cute smile, cheeky disposition, and the marksmanship of a military sniper.

“Oh Angel we thought you were dead!” she sobbed. “When we heard about Noise. . .”
“Shush baby, it’s okay, everything’s okay.” I held her tight as she cried and smiled weakly over her shoulder at my four friends. “Hi guys.”

Fun Ghoul walked over to me and Baby Bandit and wrapped his arms around both of us. “We’re so sorry we weren’t there to help,” he whispered, as the rest of the guys followed his lead and engulfed us in a group hug. I clung to them all tightly, squeezing my eyes to keep in the tears. “Thank you for coming back.”
“What kind of friends would we be if we hadn’t?” asked Kobra, as they let me go and we walked back to the base. I was still carrying Bandit, who had her arms and legs wrapped around me, and Fun and Kobra both still had an arm around my shoulders as we made our way through the door.

* * *

“You better get that little motorbaby to bed,” Poison told me. It was several hours later, and Bandit had fallen asleep on my lap. We all were sitting around the bar in the old diner, drinking, talking, laughing, crying and generally mourning for Noise. Well, most of us were; Show Pony was on air and Jet Star was with Jay, trying to comfort her and get her to eat something.
I sighed and pushed Bandit’s hair out of her eyes. She looked very young when she was asleep.
“Want me to take her? You’re still not the strongest after that beating.”
“Nah I’m good Poison, she’s only a skinny little thing.” Trying not to disturb her, I stood up carefully. “Boys I’m gonna put this one to bed and then head off myself”, I announced. There was a general chorus of good nights and I carried Bandit down the hall, followed by Poison.

“Get the door will you?” I whispered, pausing outside Bandit’s room. Poison stepped past me and pushed it open, stepping in to turn on the lamp as well. Bandit, being so small, had been given the smallest bedroom, but between the two of us we’d turned it into a cosy little den for her. The walls were plastered with photographs, drawings and posters, and the ceiling had been painted deep blue with all the constellations on it. There was just enough room to squeeze a bed in, and her clothes hung from hooks on the walls. Poison and I barely fitted in there ourselves but we managed to get Bandit into her pyjamas and into bed without her waking.

Shutting the door quietly, I leaned my head against the wall, suddenly overcome with exhaustion. The tiredness and emotion of the last few days caught up with me, and I found myself crying silently as I slid to the floor.
Strong arms gripped me, and Poison held me tight on the floor as I howled into his shoulder. “Let it all out Angel, let it out.” He gently guided me to my feet and down the hall to my room, holding me up the whole way.
“Oh God Poison, I can’t do this anymore” I blubbered, as he sat me down on the bed. “I can’t . . . just seeing Bandit’s face there, she’s so young and she’s already fighting . . . what if she’s next? Or Kobra, or Jay, or you or Pony? I can’t lose anyone else Poison, not after . . . not after Anthony. He’s dead now, I don’t have to call him Noise anymore . . . oh God, how are we ever going to win this?” I threw myself onto my pillow and sobbed.
“Angel, you can’t give up.” Poison’s voice was firm. “You’re too good. Why did you start fighting in the first place? ‘Cause you know, and your brother knew, that BLI are wrong, they have to be stopped before they burn the world down. Bandit knows, and that’s why she’s fighting. That’s why we’re all here, in this shithole of a desert, fighting and killing and dying ‘cause we are fighting a real evil. Believe me, I know just how you feel,” and his voice cracked on that last word. Looking up, I saw that his eyes were damp. “So don’t you dare give up Angel. What would you do anyway? Sit on your ass and play with yourself ‘til it’s over?” I laughed and sat up, slinging an arm around his shoulders. “I couldn’t sit this out Poison, ‘cause I’d be jumping in trying to save your sorry asses the whole time.”
He grinned at me, wiping his eyes. “You’re like an angry momma-bear Angel, y’know that? You’re gonna get yourself killed jumping in front of a goddamn bullet for one of us.” He squeezed me tight and we sat there for a while, holding onto each other just for the sheer comfort of having someone there to hold on to. “I’m sorry we couldn’t save Noise,” he whispered.
“You were looking for Cherri, how could I blame you for not being there?” I answered, pulling away slightly. “By the way, did you find anything?”
“Nothing Angel.” He heaved a sigh of frustration and threw himself back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. I lay beside him, slipping my hand into his and squeezing it.
“It’s like he fucking disappeared. We found a trail in Zone 3, he stayed in a motel there for two nights, had a few companion drodes around the first night, then went out the second night at around two in the morning and never came back. Couple of Dracs showed up a week later and tore the room apart, so all his stuff was gone, if he’d left any behind. He’s either done a runner south, down to Costa Rico where it’s still free, or he’s. . .”
“Dead or captured” I said flatly.
“Yeah, but which is worse?”
“Dead. Hopefully from a sniper. Something quick is always best with them, so they don’t have time to torture you.” We lay there for a while, being comforted by each other’s presence. After a while I vaguely heard the others go to bed as Show Pony wound down WLIK for the night.
“Poison?”
“Yeah Angel?” He sounded half asleep answering me.
“Do you mind sleeping in here tonight? I just . . . every time I close my eyes I’m there again, watching them beating my brother to death. I was just thinking, that if someone was with me, it might keep the nightmares away.”
He nodded. “It does help, and yes I will.”
“Thank you.” I hopped off the bed and pulled off my shirt and my boots before getting under the covers. Poison soon joined me, having also kicked off his boots. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me towards him, my back against his chest. “G’night Angel.”
“Night Poison, and thank you,” I whispered, before closing my eyes.

Comments

I really love this :) Awesome story!
falloutlies falloutlies
4/25/13
XD that was awesome I love this story!!! Can't wait till more! :D
Lucyriverstone Lucyriverstone
3/20/13