The Lounge is back in business.. sort of

[agentafter]

*since agents return to his home at the lounge things had been back to business as usual..... except for a few things here and there.. shark bait and scarlet scream had busied themselves by taking work in a guncage/weapons hold, and repair shop.. the safe borders had expanded about a mile around the lounge, people who joined the group helped by making sure it stayed that way.. the illuminati lounge was more than just a safe house now, or a shelter for wanderers and outcasts... it was a base and a beacon of hope for all killjoy and thoes deemed "unfit for society"...... and we also make some profit by selling some of our stores and with out bar and kitchen....the lounge had gone through some renovations, the basement now expanded out to the land a ways. A bother story was added to the top of the building.. the road was still the same as always. Stretching out to the hazy desert distance.. and on the horizon was a flash of reflected light, one of the perimeter scouts noticed and ran from his post on the dune nearest to the road, grabbing the handle hidden in the sand and lifting. Large, makeshift spikes rose from the asphalt. Pointing out toward the outlands, and the vehicle coming this way... the scout was a young boy, he had begged to be a pert of the lounge, in the years that Agent had been a pert of the killjoys, boys and girls like him had come out of the schools that were built by some friends of Agents.. it was like they wanted a summer job.. this Ritalin rat had been vying for a position in the scouts for a long time... and now he was a road guard, and he was hoping for any chance to prove himself to the killjoys.... the vehicle had gotten closer, so the boy lifted his scope to his eye..* "oh shit" *He breathed the words as he recognized the cycle. He ran back to the road and kicked the lever, it didn't go down so he kicked it again, this time the clanged hard back into the road and dissappeared, as the bike came closer it slowed.*

"Hay Rat.. good job on the road spikes"

*the boy was standing at attention but broke the rigid form when he was called 'Rat'..* "man I told you, my name is 'battery bullet'... *then realizing his demeanor had faultered, he snapped back into attention.*

*the man laughed, stopped his bike and smiled.* "and I told you... your still 'rad rat' to me kid" *He slapped Rat's sholders hard* "and I also told you that we're not military or anything... we don't stand like solders.. that kinda stature will get you shot out here" *He could see the boy blushing from embarrassment* "no worries kid.. your doing great.. wouldn't want anyone els for the job" *He kicked his bike into a roar* "I'll send out 'long range' to take your place for the rest of the day, you deserve it.. see you later, 'battery Rat'". *he grinned and shot off in the direction of the lounge*

"THANKS AGENT!!!" *Rat couldn't help but smile.. he went back to his dune and sat, waiting for 'lory long range' to show up.. he had made it, he was soon to be a real killjoy....* "Battery Rat.. hmm, I like it*.

[adrenalinebomb]

Adrenaline was in his "lab" (It was a small shack a few yards away from the bar because Agent wouldn't let him make new toys in the bar anymore) tinkering on his new Spork launcher mk.V attatchment for his arm,it was the first one but MK.V sounded more scientific in his mind. Suddenly he heard the roar of that familiar engine and rushed to jam the new attachment onto his arm. He had gotten lost in tinkering and forgot to do anything else with the day. He slammed the door open and ran past his truck, normally it would be parked under the bar but he had been suddenly struck with inspiration and needed the engines power to run some tests. He got up to the front of the main building and looked toward the front gate ,slid down his magnifying glass over his artificial eye and grinned. Agent was back. The fun could begin.

[agentafter]

*Agent stepped off his bike, removing his jacket and his weapons vest. A girl about 19 ran up and took agents things.* "thanks Lori, Hay when your done with that could you take the buggy out and switch with Rat?. He's been out their for 18 hours."

*the girl gave a nod.* "is it alright if i take some food out with me?"

*Agent chuckled* "as long as you share some with Rat" *He ruffled her hair and she gave him a smirk*, "now off with you little one". *agent turned to see A-Bombs truck and the man himself coming this way* "bomb, I swear if you start the building on fire again I'm gonna make you build a shack to work in out on the other end of the fields!" *Agent smiled and clapped the mad looking man on the sholder*

[Blackout]

*In the distance, a lone figure slowly trekked across the cracked rock, a loose cloak tied around her in an attempt to keep the hash sun off her. Looking up, she saw a structure in the distance, smiling slightly as she remembered once stopping by so many years ago. Seemed they had made some upgrades to the place, and she wondered if she'd see and familiar faces. She changed direction to follow the road that led up towards the lounge, if anything she could get out of the sun for a bit and maybe resupply.*

[adrenalinebomb]

Adrenaline's smile grew larger and slightly more insane as his old friend walked up to him and patted him on the shoulder. "You know as well as I that the fire was an accidemt, a very inlightening accident..." He trailed off and started mumbling to himself for a few moments before he realized agent was giving him the stink eye. "No worries though! I swear! No accidents in the last...uhhh...where did that board go..?" He trailed off again suddenly the sensor in his arm directed his artificial eyes attention out to the desert where he saw another figure heading in the lounge's direction. "Hmmmmmmm... I need my fork."

[Blackout]

*As she drew closer to the lounge, she could see two figures near the gate, they were too far away for her to determine if they were friends from the past or not, but hopefully they were at least friendlies. Running her fingers through her spiky red hair and brushing off the hood of the cloak, she stopped a short ways from the two gentlemen with a slight smile." 'Sup?

[agentafter]

"The last accident was 28 hours ago... that's where the board went" *Agent knew that alarm, his eyes flicked to bombs artificial eye.. following its gaze and raising his spare gun, a miniature ray gun that still had a kick like a rad bomb* "and who mig..... OH SHIT" *agent put his gun away and went to the familiar face* "more old family for the land eh? What are you doing here?"

[Blackout]

*She grinned when she recognized Agent and walked up to him, it had been a while but she was glad to see an old friend.* Good to see you too Agent. And just trying to survive out here like everyone else. Been low on batteries and food lately, and I happened to get lucky in that I was in the area. Any chance I could get an old-friend discount for some supplies?

[agentafter]

"Discount my ass, your part of the original tribe.. you grab whatever you need.. hell stay awhile, this place is safe.. we could use someone like you." *Agent gave her a hopefull look, and a grin pulling out a cig and lighting up*

[adrenalinebomb]

Adrenaline smiled hearing the two jabber back and forth after they finished adrenaline piped in.

"And if you need anything fixed...or upgraded it's on the house...figuratively of course, agent won't let me work up there anymore"

He smiled and looked up at the sun, the artificial eye still focused on the other two while he pulled out his pipe and started packing it.

[Blackout]

I really appreciate it, thanks guys. And I suppose I could stick around. Not like I have any place to be out here anyway, the boys are off on their own, heading their own safe house in Zone 2, and I haven't seen any of our other friends in some time. So it looks like you'll be stuck with me for a while. *She said with a grin.*

[agentafter]

"That's because that's the re expansion up there.. the first one wasn't reinforced." *Agent opened up a flask and offered her a drink*. "We got a perfect full sized room.. if I remember right, in the perfect place for you down in the tunnels."

[Blackout]

Thanks. *she took the flask and took a drink before passing back the flask* Mind if we continue catching up inside? I've been out in the sun for good several hours now and could use a break from the heat. Amazed I haven't gotten cooked yet from the radiation.

[adrenalinebomb]

Adrenaline's eyes both refocused as he lit the pipe and took a few puff's.

"Ah yes! That reminds me! That's what I was supposed to do today! I got distracted while cleaning and repairing your rifle agent!"

Adrenaline rushed past the two of them tossing his pipe to the lady he believed he remembered but the insanity made it hard to remember people he didn't see everyday, and through the doors of the lounge, heading towards the upstairs to get back to work on the reinforcements for the upper level.

[Blackout]

*She fumbled slightly as he through the pipe at her but she managed to catch it as she watched him hurry inside.* I see Adrenaline still has as many screws loose as the last time I saw him. Nice to know that hasn't changed.