Slipping through the Cracks

[Shadow Gash]

He thought about it for a moment. "We split up, faster that way, and I think Cotton would need more than one half awake person and two injured. Plus two sleeping" sigh "I wouldn't want to leave it to that" In all honesty, he didn't want to run into anything anyways. The usual drac patrol was suppose to come in a few minutes. Say, ten...give or take. He wasn't taking any chances with them together. Assuming Skeets is good at hiding, then there's no way that they can get caught. Full proof plan. He nodded and went to the right. "We meet up here" he said before he disappeared.

[Toxic Panda]

*Surprisingly I do everything that Cotton tells me, I never really was good with taking orders. Given the circumstances though I do the best I can to help out. Seeing AE like this was bad the best I could do for her was to try and help her out. Her pulse was faint but steady as I watch Cotton deal with her injured leg.*

[skeets]

*I run the opposite direction, gun in hand. Those wounds didn't look like they came from dracs. there was no singed skin from what I could see. I continue down the street. I look back but Gash is gone. I round the first corner*

*We work for several minutes cleaning some grazes and wounds before putting the fresh, civilian clothes on* At least if we are raided we can claim we're civilians and give anyone who wants a chance to run, a head start *My hands are still shaking, I pick up the bullet and put it on the table. I finally sit down. I use a spare bandage to wash the blood from my hands*

[Adrenaline Earthquake]

*I can't seem to open my eyes or even move at all. It feels kinda nice though, like I'm floating.... Is this what death feels like? Have I been sedated? Did BLi get me - Is this the effect of the pills? No, I'm not dead, my ear is still ringing.
I can hear people talking. Killjoys.
I don't immediately know where I am, or how I got here. But I start to remember when whatever drug they gave me starts to wear off - I'm in a factory, and my leg hurts like a bitch. I open my eyes now but the red dots are still there, so I can't see much. Then whisper* Ouch...

[Toxic Panda]

*As soon as i sat down next to Cotton my eyes look up at AE as she says something. I get up and go over to her.* AE? Can you hear me? It's Panda. *I turn to Cotton* Is she going to be alright?

[skeets]

I can't be sure. If those wounds stay clean she'll be fine. She needs to rest now *I walk over to boots to change his bandages*

*I lay there semi conscious for a while, not knowing if I'm alive or dead before the pain shocks me awake* GAH! That hurts

Well you're getting better *He glares at me* Yeah see *I poke him and he flinches* You don't even cry anymore

*Suddenly aware of other people in the room, I lower my voice to a mumble* ...never cried *There is movement in the bed next to me. I recognise her from the one time she came into the house* Is she gonna be ok?

[Adrenaline Earthquake]

*I mumble incoherently for a minute about dirt and colours before i'm fully awake. Well, more awake than I was before* Panda...?
*I open my eyes and see her standing next me, talking to someone close by.* Ummm.... Where am I, again? *I sit up and look around the room, and spot Boots in the bed next to mine. Well, at least two familiar faces can't be bad... Though I still don't remember how I got here*

[skeets]

OK OK! *I rush back to the side of the new injured* Calm down, I'm not used to loosing *I reassure Boots* Panda, I'm worried about those two being out there for so long. Would you be a dear and see where they're gone? *I check the new killjoys eyes for sign of concussion* Its ok, you're safe. We're in zone 2 and you were shot and not with a laser gun. Sorry if it stings but the bullet was in a tender position in you leg *I pat her arm* Now, do you know your name? or what happened to you?

[Adrenaline Earthquake]

Zone two...? But I was... I was... *It feels like my stomach does a triple somersault as the memories flood back to me, and I suddenly feel the urge to throw up. I don't remember the last time I ate anything though, so I think i'm safe* Of course I remember my name, I'm Adrenaline Earthquake. And i wish i could forget what happened to me.

[skeets]

Ok just calm down, lie back. That's it *I inject her with a painkiller* This is just gonna take the edge off. Don't worry about all that now, just rest *I catch the spare tins of unopened power pup* Ok you need to trust me here for a minute. You're dehydrated and half starved *I stop as I say this as its sadly the usual condition for most killjoys* You need to eat this slowly so that it isn't too heavy on your stomach. I'll just get you something to wash it down with

*I sit up in the bed, watching cotton as she darts around then leaves* Y-you'll be ok... Cotton is great, she'll take care of you

[Adrenaline Earthquake]

*I weakly try to protest when i'm given the pain killer but give up because it kicks in almost immediately* No... No food. *I turn to Boots* So, what happened to you? Last time I saw you was.... Well, I don't even remember

[skeets]

*I scratch my head* I'm surprised you even remember me. You came with *I lower my voice to a whisper* Bunny *I nod, turning away from her* It was so long ago. Must be about a year, maybe even two. You came to the house... but you didn't stay long. She gave all of us instructions then. I can't talk about any of that, shouldn't talk about it. People get upset *I pause again and look back at her* You should eat. Those painkillers don't last too long and hunger pains are worse than being shot

[Adrenaline Earthquake]

*I slowly start to eat the powerpup whilst listening to Boots speak. It tastes like blood... Why is it that all I can taste is blood now?* I can honestly say I'd rather take the hunger pains... *After about four and a half mouthfuls I have to stop eating because I'm already full* I don't remember the house much... Just that I met you and someone else there... Vespa? I think that was her name

[skeets]

She was my sister, you know? *I walk back in the door after overhearing the last part of the conversation* Vespa... Something I wasn't meant to know til we were both "safe" *I go to the window* But we all know that is never going to happen.

But what about the house? It was safe, right

Yeah, its safe enough... for now. I'll be bringing you there as soon as you're recovered.

But-But.... I wanna fight! You can't just send me back there... She wouldn't

She would and she did. She told me once before that being eager to fight wasn't really a good thing. It only when you have to that you are really ready and never before then. Besides you have your orders and I have mine. We've had this discussion before so lets not annoy AE with it anymore when both of you need to rest

*I stare at him, even open my mouth to speak as I fight back the tears. I've never heard him speak like this before... so old, so tired, so defeated. I resign myself to not upset anyone any more than they are. I sigh before begrudgingly muttering* This isn't over...

[Shadow Gash]

His eyes started to close a little. When was it? the last time he actually really slept, half asleep didn't count, sleeping with one eye open doesn't count either. He hated to be on watch, to always be on the lookout. He rounded a corner, looked both ways like a kid....a kid? as quickly as that thought passed a memory flashed. A teddy bear it seems, a small one, he was holding it. A toy gun, a little boy, why do they seem so familiar....a noise snapped him back to reality and he realized he was crying. "What...?" he whispered and wiped his face. How odd....he took stalk of his surroundings and just saw a small bird close by. He shook his head and wiped his face one more time and continued checking the perimeters. It took him probably a few more minutes 'til he came to the conclusion that there's no patrol, so he headed back to where he and Skeets agreed to meet up; when he got there, no one was there so he waited in the shadows attempting to grasp at that recent memory.