Taking Back Fun Day

Fun Ghoul opened his eyes half way. His vision was blurred and hazy, but even through the fog covering his eyes, he could see someone kneeling next to him.

“Who’s there?” He slurred.

The man kneeling at his side looked down nervously. He knew the Killjoy had said something, but the sounds had emerged unintelligible and barely loud enough to hear. Taking comfort in the idea that if Ghoul could barely speak, he was unlikely to be able to attack him.

Far from being able to attack, Ghoul found himself barely able to move. Even opening his eyelids seemed an effort, and moving his head or any limb seemed impossible. His mind began an automatic body check. Testing he had feeling in all areas, and estimating the position and situation of each of his limbs. It seemed an agonisingly slow process as his mind stumbled through with an astonishing lack of coordination.

As he acquainted himself with his aching and pain-racked body, another sensation drew his attention. Something was stinging in the area of his right elbow. Casting his eyes in the general direction of the sharp pain, Ghoul’s eyes finally focused as the syringe was withdrawn. Frowning and confused, he looked up, managing even to roll his head back to take in the figure kneeling next to him.

“Harrison?” His voice croaked out, audible this time.

The doctor who had previously escaped BLI but was soon captured by Korse and forced to work on a questionable and almost certainly highly illegal project for the chief exterminator, removed the vial filled with Ghoul’s blood. Only now did Ghoul realise that it was the last of three vials, lined up in a chilled container next to Harrison’s knees.

“What are you doing?” The Killjoy asked, his voice still weak.

Gritting his teeth as the doctor ignored him, Ghoul surprised them both with energy he didn’t realise he had as he snatched at Harrison’s lab coat. His grip was weak, but it was enough to startle the doctor.

“What are you doing?” He asked again.

Pulling at Ghoul’s hand and lowering it to the floor, Harrison closed the chilled box next to him and disposed of the syringe.

“We’re checking your DNA,” he replied coldly. “We’re targeting some of the proteins with a modified and highly potent version of Kanslokal. Once attached, it stays attached. Slowly it alters your DNA to incorporate the drug and any offspring will be born with an addiction. When their offspring are born, the DNA will be altered completely and it will no longer be necessary for anyone to take it, they will be automatically and irretrievably loyal to BLI. If it works.”
“You’re testing it on me?” He asked, now barely conscious once more, the words were barely a whisper.
“Yeah, when you’re weak enough, anyway.”

Harrison pushed himself to his feet, taking the chilled box with him. As he rose, he thought he heard an almost silent sob from Ghoul. Looking down, he saw that his eyelashes hung heavy with unshed tears and he heaved a sigh. Ghoul had almost certainly realised that his ordeal was far from over and that his sadistic tormentor, Gustav Yu, had more in store for him. Worse still, he knew they wanted him alive. It wasn’t even an interrogation, merely torture for its own sake.

As the doctor looked down, he noticed Ghoul close the fingers of the hand he had held Harrison’s lab coat with. Satisfied, Harrison headed towards the cell door.

Frowning with confusion, Ghoul felt the sharp edged object nestled in his hand and carefully and discreetly examined the contents of his palm. A small neatly folded piece of paper lay clutched within his grasp. Unable to see where the security cameras where, Ghoul pulled his hand closer to his body and pushed the small square of paper into a small tear in the lining of the inside of his jacket. He desperately hoped that it was something that might help him escape and that it would not be seen or found by the BLI drones guarding him.

The exertion of merely hiding the paper exhausted him utterly and it was taking all of his energy to remain conscious. Without even realising it, he passed out once more.

*

Entering the pristine and well-equipped laboratory, Harrison took a deep breath as he saw Professor Lindstrom injecting another rat with a newly modified version of the drug. Almost immediately, the rat began to race uncontrollably around the small cage in ever decreasing circles. Finally, it launch itself at the bars at such speed as to split its fur and skin. Not deterred, the animal continued to crash into the bars until it died from crushing its own skull. The sight was terrifying and he considered the effect the drug might have on humans, and specifically on Fun Ghoul. It was enough to make him shudder.

“Ah!” Lindstrom turned, pulling the rat from the cage and casting it into a chute leading to a furnace. “At last!”

Harrison took a deep breath as he stepped further into the laboratory and presented the blood samples to the scientist.

“The new formula didn’t work then?” He asked, casting a glance at the blood-covered bars of the small cage.
“Not quite,” she shrugged, “but we are getting closer. I think that maybe the testing on rats is a waste of time. We have no idea if the effect of the drug will be the same on humans.”
“We can’t risk it yet,” Harrison frowned deeply. “Exterminator Korse wants Fun Ghoul alive.”

Lindstrom turned a sharp and deeply ill-tempered expression toward the other doctor. Somehow her eyes remained unfocused and cold yet they burned through him like lasers. Harrison almost choked as her glacial stare bore through him.

“I am aware of that,” she replied icily. “I have asked for a number of volunteers and Exterminator Korse has obliged me with the use of other BLI prisoners.”
“You’ll kill them!” Harrison gasped.

Lindstrom stared back, her brow furrowed, almost as if she was confused by Harrison’s comment.

“And?” She asked, pausing for a moment and waiting for a reply. “What’s your point?” She pressed on receiving no answer.
“You’ll kill them,” he repeated his statement slowly as if in disbelief that she had misunderstood.
“Yes, I expect I will,” she replied bluntly and with more than a hint of irritation in her tone. “Now is not the time for squeamishness, Dr Harrison. Take the blood samples and place them in the centrifuge. We have a lot to do.”

*

Stepping out of the diner after briefly checking that it was in fact Kobra and Larry arriving, Jet frowned with surprise as he saw a woman climb down from the passenger seat of Larry’s van. As Kobra jumped down from Dr Death Defying’s van, Jet caught his eye and he nodded discreetly towards the woman.

“Jet,” Larry called, noticing Jet’s concern. “This is Tina, my niece.”
“Your niece?” Jet walked over to join them, still curious.
“She’s good with engines,” Larry explained.

Stepping forward and offering Jet a flirtatious smile.

“I’m great with engines, but he’s to grumpy to admit it.”

As she reached the Killjoy, she greeted him unexpectedly with a kiss on the lips, pulling back almost immediately.


“Well, I don’t know who she is, but she’s got you wrapped around her finger hasn’t she?” She announced with raised eyebrows.
“I’m sorry, Jet,” Larry sighed as he saw the surprise and indignation in Jet’s eyes. “She’s a little too direct for anyone’s good, sometimes.”

Silently relieved to see Tina moving on to greet Jet as inappropriately as she had with him, possibly more so, Kobra wandered over to join the small group, whilst behind him Red stood in the diner’s doorway.

“I speak as I find,” Tina replied, winking at Kobra as she spoke.
“If by that you mean do I care about someone enough not to cheat on her? Then yeah,” Jet growled, irritated by the apparent suggestion that it somehow implied weakness. “I’m not seeing what’s wrong with that,” he added with obvious distaste.
“Not at all,” Tina smiled broadly. “It’s sweet. Really. I’m sorry, Jet, I shouldn’t have phrased it like that.”
“Or maybe,” Larry interrupted with an exasperated tone, “just maybe, you shouldn’t just walk up to complete strangers and kiss them full on the lips!”
“Well,” she smirked. Stepping closer to Kobra and grabbing a handful of his hair to prevent him pulling back, she leaned in quickly to place a lingering kiss on his lips. “You don’t have any objections, do you baby?”

By the time she pulled back, Red was at Kobra’s side and glaring angrily at Tina. Glancing down, Kobra saw her tightly set jaw, clenched fists and how her mouth was drawn into a thin line - she was furious.

“Oh,” Tina laughed. “Who’s the kid?”
“Kid?” Red forced out, struggling to maintain her composure. “Kobra, who is this?” She asked icily.
“Oh, you’re such a little gem!” Tina smirked.
“This is Tina,” Kobra coughed awkwardly. “Larry’s niece. She’s going to help fix the car.”
“A mechanic?” Red smiled sweetly. “I imagine you spend a lot of time on your back then?”

Larry chuckled lightly to himself as he began to unload the van with items he knew he would need, whatever was wrong.

“Kid, I spend a lot of time in a lot of positions!” Tina smirked in reply.
“Well, I’m really glad you’re helping to fix the car, but just so you know, the only position you’ll be taking with Kobra is at least ten feet away from him.”
“Is that so...?” Tina began, her tone changing quickly to one of defensive anger.
“Kobra won’t tell you this,” Red interrupted, “because he’s just too nice. But you’ll get on a lot better here if you keep your eyes on the engine and your legs shut! And if you call me kid once more, I’ll take your face off!”
“You?” Tina laughed as she looked down at the shorter and petite woman. “I’d be impressed if you could take the skin off a custard!”

Without another word, Red spun and displayed a graceful and accurate high kick which stopped suddenly and was held for a few seconds so close to Tina’s eyes that she stiffened in shock and all she could see was Red’s boot tread. Lowering her foot once more with equal grace, Red raised an eyebrow at the now pale and shaken woman.

“My name’s Red and I don’t expect to hear you call me anything else, okay?”
“Okay,” Tina replied quietly.
“Oh and don’t think I don’t know that ‘gem’ is Zone slang for ‘green-eyed monster’, so can it with the sly insults and attitude.”
“Y-yeah... I’m sorry... I didn’t know about you two,” Tina explained
“Now you do,” Red calmed her voice. “I’ll put some coffee on. You want some?”
“Uh... yeah, thanks,” Tina replied, thrown by the sudden change in tone.

Tina watched silently as Red walked away. Kobra offered a brief smile as Larry called him away to discuss the engine, leaving Tina with Jet.

“Crazy, much?” She muttered, glancing at Jet for, she hoped, approval.
“She’s my sister,” Jet replied bluntly.

Tina pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.

“I don’t know when to shut up do I?” She sighed.
“Now would be a good time,” Jet nodded. “Look, it’s done, Red means what she says but she won’t hold onto it. We have a bit of a different dynamic here, but you’re Larry’s family, so that makes you okay by default. You don’t need to prove anything, just start again like nothing happened.”
“Thanks, Jet,” She replied sounding genuinely contrite.
“It’s fine, how do you take your coffee?”
“Strong and black, thanks. Same for Larry.”
“Thanks,” Jet smiled and nodded over her shoulder. “I think you’re needed.”

Nodding, Tina offered her thanks before running over to the damaged trans am to join Larry and Kobra. Jet turned and, stifling a laugh, headed back to the interior of the Diner.

*

“Doc,” Red called as she entered the diner, “you got a minute?”
“Sure,” he replied with a nod. “What d’ya need?”

Red glanced briefly at Coffin Dancer and frowned.

“In private?” She asked looking back to the doctor.
“Oh, yeah, sure, because I can’t be trusted, can I?” Coffin grumbled. “Never let you down or anything, always been there…”
“Shut up, Coffin!” Red complained. “This has got nothing to do with you!”
“Now’s not the time, Coffin, trust me,” Jet added, closing the diner entrance behind him.

Coffin looked up; everyone was on edge, even Jet. That was never a good sign. He nodded silently and went back to sitting back in the booth and reading a copy of Murder Magazine that was lying on the table, occasionally grumbling quietly to himself.

“Sure,” Death replied. “Let’s go to my office.”
“Oh!” Red rolled her eyes. “I forgot, I’m supposed to be making coffee.”

At the words, Coffin looked up; he really wanted some coffee. Things were finally looking up.

“No worries,” Jet smiled. “I’ll make it, you do what you need to do.”
“Do you want a hand, Jet?” He asked looking up hopefully.

Jet shrugged; it was good to see Coffin trying to be useful.

“Sure, come on,” he nodded towards the kitchen.

*

Entering the small, cluttered and messy room that doubled as a medicine store and a radio shack, Death Defying wheeled over to his desk and maneuvered himself so his back was to it. Indicating to a second chair to his right, Death watched as she moved a stack of discs and placing them carefully to the side, took a seat.

“What’s up?” he asked.
“Party…” she frowned. “He said something really strange before.”
“I imagine he did,” he chuckled. “They were pretty strong painkillers I gave him.”
“He’s in pain?” Red asked surprised. “I didn’t realise.”
“Of course not,” Death shrugged. “He really struggles to admit stuff like that.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s not really his fault though,” he added cryptically.

Red frowned; Death Defying and at least Party seemed to have a history that he wasn’t explaining, but perhaps that was for another time?

“What did he say?” Death pressed.
“He said that he used to be the face of BLI and that Korse made him be a rebel.”

Death curled his lips into a thoughtful frown.

“And, what? You’re worried?”
“Well, it did sound… I guess I…” Red was lost for words.

Dr Death Defying didn’t seem concerned by this revelation, but surely Party wasn’t faking being a rebel?

“He’s telling the truth, but maybe it’s not what you think?” Death tipped his head and waited for a response.
“He’s… he’s not…” Red was at a loss to know how to phrase her questions.
“If you’re asking if he’s part of BLI, the answer’s no. I guess there’s no harm in telling you what happened. Make yourself comfortable, this could take a while.”

Red took a deep breath; what revelations was she about to hear?

Notes

Hello lovely readers

I hope you're still enjoying this and apologies for the delay in updating. Hopefully in a couple of months, uni stuff will ease up.

Take care and thanks for reading.
Sas xx