Resurrection

“I can’t believe she took him out in the Zones in THAT CAR!”
Ghoul paced, nervously watched by Ray and with rather more amusement by Kobra. He didn’t think Ghoul wanted to wake Rainbow and tell her that Crimson had had a typical Crimson moment and gone out to do something insane.
“Calm down. Six is quiet these days and she’s not stupid.”
Ray glanced over his shoulder, wondering if he could get back to the radio set up as Toxic stuck his head around the door. The bunker had been in uproar when Ray had discovered Gerard missing and Frank had put two and two together. They had been gone almost four hours now and all of them were starting to get a little concerned.
“Crim doesn’t exactly practise common sense.”
“She is with Gerard, you seriously think she would put him in harms way?”
Kobra knew he’d won as Ghoul nodded slowly and they both turned to where Toxic was now grinning. Rainbow was at his shoulder and it was pretty clear by her expression that she had heard the tale send of the conversation.
“You let them out?”
A number of heads dropped like naughty school boys.
“Relax, the car just pulled in.”
Toxic was nearly buried under the rush out the door and wrapped his arm around Ray’s shoulder, forcing the tall man to follow the others back up the various sets of stairs and into the main room at the top. The bank of television screens showed the Trans Am and it seemed to be empty. They heard voices in the tunnel and Gerard appeared, tailed by what appeared to be a wounded Crimson. Ghoul glared at her.
“I knew it. You could have been killed and…”
His words were cut off as Gerard grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled Ghoul into a kiss. Kobra raised his eyebrow at Crim who simply grinned and nodded. All of them felt the shiver of excitement as Ghoul stared at his friend in shock who simply winked.
“Hi honey, I’m home.”
“P-Party?”
Ghoul stared as Party leaned in and kissed him gently before reaching for something behind him. Rainbow grabbed Crim and started inspecting the bloodstained bandage. Everyone was talking at once, Kobra grinning the widest of them all as his brother grabbed him in a bearhug before turning to Ray.
“Ray, I know I said I would get the car….”
Ray’s face fell, the others gasping and then getting a little concerned as a bottle had appeared in Party’s right hand. Crimson put a hand on Rainbow’s shoulder and shook her head, Party had explained this and she trusted him. Ghoul and Kobra tensed as Party advanced on a very pale Ray.
“You’re not gonna turn us in Ray, no way. You don’t wanna lose that other eye now do you?”
“Gerard! C’mon!”
Ray found his back against the wall, his mind racing to the incident before the last fight, the drac that had cost him an eye. He flinched back from the advancing man, everything in him wanting to run as the pain behind his eye grew bigger and bigger. Party could see it was working and smiled nastily.
“Last chance.”
“FUCK YOU PARTY!”
Ray’s head came up and he kicked Party soundly in the nuts. Their leader went over with a pained laugh and Crimson shook her head as Jet realised that he had broken through. He looked around Party’s head in Crimson’s lap as Ghoul shrugged and slung his arm around Rainbow. Kobra remained poker-faced and glanced down at his brother.
“Gonna explain that?”
Party got back up and hugged Ray before turning back to the others.
“The conditioning works on what you’re most afraid of. For me it was losing someone in a fight like I lost all of you. When Crim got shot it was enough to help me break through. I knew the bottle incident would do the same for Jet.”
Rainbow nodded, it made sense but Mikey looked confused.
“So why didn’t it work on me and Ghoul?”
“You’re the most stubborn person I know and Ghoul has more balls than brains.”
Crimson collapsed in giggles, combined with the blood loss she immediately passed out as Rainbow hugged Jet and Ghoul promised that Party could check that fact later. Kobra picked Crimson up and carried her downstairs to dress her arm properly as Toxic was filled in and more coffee was made.
“So what now?”
“Contact the council and call them in. Just them while we plan a strategy.”
Party sipped his coffee and Ghoul rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. He didn’t know quite how to tell his friend that the council was not as they had left it. The numbers were less than they had ever been and true victory seemed a long way off.
“It’s not like it was. They fight amongst themselves.”
Party smiled at Rainbow, his hand stroking hers across the table.
“They’re young and dumb like we used to be.”
“Can’t deny the dumb part.”
Kobra smirked and poured a coffee as he sat down.
“You ain’t getting your leg over tonight bro, had to sedate her to get it stitched.”
There was a pout that caused some amusement as Rainbow got Party up to speed with all that had happened. He had the same reaction as Kobra and Ghoul to the fight that had caused the scars and Jet threatened to drown both of them if they tried it again. Rainbow assured them that the past was just that.
“You’re back, that’s all that matters.”
Party shook his head.
“No. What matters is that we get the killjoys back out there. The new guard have a lot to learn and not much time to do it. Once all four of us appear in the Zones you know Korse will send out the cavalry.”
Ghoul tapped his fingers on the counter.
“There is another option.”
“What?”
“One of us goes back into the city. They think the conditioning has failed on one of us, it might draw them out.”
Toxic and Rainbow immediately protested. Going back into the city was too risky now that the programming had been broken. Kobra was more interested, he knew that Party would immediately volunteer but that was something he wouldn’t allow and he leant forward.
“I’ll do it. Out of all of us they thought I was under the most.”
Party looked aghast.
“No.”
“He’s right, no.”
“Absolutely not.”
Kobra sat back, his easy smile now amused as his three brothers shook their heads in unison. He would let it slide for now but his mind was already working overtime as the conversation continued around him. The night hours came and still they talked, more coffee being added and an agreement finally reached.
They would go back to the Crater Club and meet the council.

Notes