The Collector

It was dusk and the dusty air was starting to cool at last. The acid-rain storms had raged for three days this time and the temperature outside had soared to 122 degrees; almost a record, even for Zone 6. In the last few hours the rain had begun to slow and finally stopped. The storm was over and the heat and humidity, while still high, were abating and approaching the temperatures they were used to.

Fun Ghoul was working on Doctor Death Defying’s van and in the failing light was making the last of the engine tune ups he had promised. Satisfied, Ghoul wiped his hands on a rag hanging from his belt. A job well done, even if he said so himself. He glanced over at the diner; the doctor had been in there easily half an hour tending to the man he loved, stricken by a virus. He had purposely remained outside, taking his time with the tune-up despite the darkness falling. Kobra Kid had entered the diner with him and although Ghoul was worried himself, he wanted to give Party’s brother some time with him first. The wait was killing him. Getting the last of the oil off his fingers as best he could without water, Ghoul tossed the rag into his toolbox and headed in the direction of the diner entrance.

Inside the diner, Party Poison lay on his back on the makeshift gurney with a cold damp cloth folded neatly and draped over his forehead in an attempt to address his fever. Tiredly, he drew one of his legs up, giving the impression that he was about to try to stand but he knew that right now it was beyond him. Doctor Death Defying was at his side injecting him with a colourless liquid. Normally, Party would be dreading it, trying desperately to ignore it; imagine himself somewhere else. He hated needles! This one was necessary, however. The infection had sunk deep to his chest and had laid him low. Thank goodness their last raid had secured some Genezen – a particularly strong anti-viral medication. Already exhausted from the fever, it was likely to knock him out but he knew that because it was so strong, he would almost certainly be better by the morning. His exhaustion wasn’t the only reason he was able to blank out the sensation of the syringe piercing his pale skin. No, his ears were being assaulted by his younger brother.

“Oh, come on, Party,” Kobra complained at his side. “You never let me do anything! Even Ghoul gets to run raids on his own and he’s younger than I am!”
“He’s not my brother, though is he?” Party Poison croaked a reply.
“No, he’s…” Kobra paused – neither Party nor Ghoul had ever officially acknowledged their relationship and Kobra didn’t want to be the one to tell him that they all knew. Hell, even Korse probably knew! “He’s not,” he finally conceded.
“Look, Kiddo,” Party looked at him with heavy lidded eyes. “We can’t risk it, okay? I’ll be okay tomorrow. You can come with me, it’ll be fun, just you and me. Maybe next time?”
“Yeah, next time,” Kobra grumbled rising to his feet. “Isn’t that what you always say?”

Party frowned; his brother seemed really upset but he wasn’t about to change his mind. Not only would it be his first alone, but it was dark now, adding to the danger. Didn’t he understand? Didn’t he realise that he was just looking out for him? Like any big brother would.

“Kobra, I… don’t want to… argue…,” Party’s voice was starting to falter and with it his thought processes; the Genezen now coursing through his veins was making sure of that. He frowned as he lost his train of thought.
“This isn’t even a raid, it’s just a delivery!” Kobra lowered his head, embarrassed to be dismissed by his brother in front of Doctor Death Defying. “And it’s only to Dust Bowl! Zone three! There is no risk!” He added, trying to justify his insistence.
“Kobra,” Party pleaded weakly as the anti-viral took full effect. “We’ll…” he sighed, losing track of his thoughts again. “Hmm, tomorrow,” he whispered before slipping into unconsciousness.

Kobra Kid nodded to himself. He was, in his brother’s eyes, just a kid and he probably always would be. He needed Party to see that he was more than just his kid brother; to show him that he was more than he was getting credit for. He desperately wanted to prove his worth; to make him see that he was more than capable of handling any situation either on his own, or with the guys. But Party Poison seemed unwilling to give him that chance – it was always ‘Next time’. Did he really think him so incompetent? So useless? Was he a burden to them? Were they carrying him just because he was Party’s brother? No! He shook his head even though the question wasn’t even asked out loud.

“I’m not useless, Party!” Kobra muttered under his breath.
“Sorry, Kid,” the doctor spoke softly as he wheeled back away from the gurney. “He’s out for the count. Maybe later?”
“I’m not a kid!” Kobra yelled, turning on his heels and exiting the diner almost pushing Ghoul over on his way in. “It’s all right for you!” he complained to the shorter man as they passed each other. “Apparently, you’re not useless!”

Ghoul turned astonished eyes to the angry Killjoy as he strode angrily past the van.

“Kid?” he called after him.
“I’m not a kid! I’m older than you and I’m just as capable!” he yelled back as he continued to walk away, frustrated and angry.
“What?” Ghoul turned back to Doctor Death Defying. “What did I do?”
“Nothing,” the doctor responded with a reassuring smile, nodding to Party Poison. “It’s a wrong place, wrong time kind of thing.”
“They had words?” Ghoul asked.
“Big brother, baby brother stuff,” he replied, packing his medical equipment back into its case and closing it. “He’s trying to protect him, that’s all.”

Ghoul nodded; he didn’t know how many times he’d had the same conversation with Party. He was reluctant to put his brother in any danger whatsoever. What he wasn’t seeing was the effect it was having on him.

“I’ll speak to him about it when he wakes up – again!” Ghoul sighed. “Is he okay?”
“He will be,” the older man confirmed. “He just needs to rest. The Genezen will do its thing by tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Doc,” Ghoul smiled. “We need to get those supplies to Dust Bowl as soon as possible.”
“Ghoul,” the doctor began. “Try and keep him out of the acid rain.”
“Is that what did it?” Ghoul frowned. “But we were both caught in that during the last drac attack. Do I need to be worried too?”
“No, he already had the infection, but inhaling the airborne acid took it down to his chest. He’s lucky we had some meds and we caught it in time.”
“Are you saying his chest will be weak, even after he recovers?” Ghoul asked with deep concern, looking at his still deathly pale lover.
“A few days maybe?” Death nodded, glancing at his patient. “I’ll hold some meds back from the shipment just in case.”
“It’s all packed in the trunk of the car. I’ll go get it; is it more of the Genezen?”
“No,” Death shook his head. “He won’t need any more of that provided we have the other. It’s called Ademen. Just one strip of pills should do.”
“Okay,” Ghoul nodded. “Anything else while I’m out there?”
“Got any water?” Death raised an eyebrow. “I mean bottled, not the treated rain water.”
“For you, Doc? Anything!” Ghoul beamed. “Be right back.”

It was almost all good news; Party would be recovering by the morning with just a few tablets needed to get him back to full health. Death’s van was ready to roll and the supplies were going to be delivered tomorrow. The only problem was Kobra and Party’s argument. He sighed heavily; what on earth was he going to say to Party that would actually make him listen?

Ghoul broke into a wide smile at the sight of a cheerfully grinning Jet Star as he strolled over, heading to the diner himself.

“What’s got you so happy?” Ghoul asked. “You look like you just blew up a whole nest of dracs!”
“A nest?” Jet laughed trying to picture it. “No, I just saw Kobra. I can’t believe he finally listened to you!”
“Kobra?” Ghoul looked confused. “Why what have I said?”
“Not you,” he shook his head, “Party.”
“Party?” Ghoul was half way between confused and concerned and had a growing horrible feeling he knew where the conversation was heading.
“Yeah, letting him do the delivery himself,” Jet jerked a thumb behind him. “He’s just left.”
“What!” Ghoul's eyes widened at the news. "He told him not to go!"

Turning his eyes out to the desert, Ghoul looked frantically for any sign of the Trans Am but there was nothing to be seen. Nothing but miles of sand.

Notes

What do you think? I have a plan for this (amazingly) but I'd really like to hear what you think. S xo