Blackout

[Blackout]

The name's Blackout, my real name is just a part of a memory of the life I had before the Wars, and I'm alone in this world. Until recently, I've been hiding out in an abandoned building in Battery City for the past few months, only emerging to grab some supplies that I'd need later on, a ray gun, spare batteries, a medicine kit, etc. I've taught myself how to survive and how to fight. Food was becoming scarce, so I left my hidey hole behind and headed towards one of the exits of Battery City. I hadn't been walking for 5 minutes and the dracs had spotted me. The shooting started immediatly and I found myself surrounded. The battery drained almost too quickly for my liking and I made a run for it. I only just made it out of the city. My side was burning from where a n energy bolt had grazed it, but still I ran into the zones. I only stopped when exhaustion forced me to lay down and give my legs a rest before they gave out. I patched up my side and let myself drift off into deep sleep. I woke up to the sun's harsh light and nearby voices. I looked around and was able to make out four figures. I must have made some noise because they all suddenly looked at where I was hiding. One of them came over, he had bright red hair and a kind smile. he beckoned to the others to come over and they brought me to an abandoned diner where they gave me some much needed food and water. They had me tell the same story I am telling you now. They asked me for my name and I said "The name's Blackout, my real name is just a part of a memory of the life I had before the Wars, but now I'm not alone.

[Arson Anthem]

Welcome to the Zones, Blackout. Life'll be tougher than in the city, but you've got plenty of killjoys to share it with. If you need anything just radio, and if you're looking for a place to stay I'm currently crashing in a safehouse in western Zone 6 with some friends. Stay shiny!
Arson out

[Blackout]

Thanks Arson Anthem, right now i'm in Zone 4, but i might need to take you up on that offer. I'm pretty low on supplies and have been on the run from some dracs. Would it be all right if i met up with you? ~Blackout

[Arson Anthem]

Absolutely - if you take the main highway east, then exit 16, go for about ten miles. There's a driveway on the left, behind a patch of creosote. Follow the driveway until you see the house - it's a ways away, but it's a huge one-story rambler. Can't miss it!

[Blackout]

Thanks a lot! See you there!

[Blackout]

For those who end up reading this, this is the beginning of the extended version of Blackout's story

*I wake up to the sun streaming in from the boarded up windows. The beginning of another "better" day in Battery City. The name's Riley Bauman, you're average, every-day 17 year old girl, sister, and runaway whos currently hiding out in the less populated area of Battery City. the building i live in isn't in the best shape, but it's been my home for the past several months now, so it'll do. Ever since i ran away several months ago with Connor, the abandoned building has kept us safe from BLI. I think it used to be an old apartment complex. It is three stories high and the main entrance is boarded up as well. Connor and I usually use the side entrance that leads into an alley way right next to the building. I look around and see the dark mass that is my brother sleeping on the old bed on the other side of the room. He's a few years younger than me, and even though we always deny it, people have told us that we look just like each other. We both have brown hair that is usually a little messy, grey eyes, and the kind of demeanor that can go from shy or scared, to angry and deadly in an instant. I go over to him and shake him awake*
Connor, time to get up. I'll make us some breakfast
*I head into our kitchen, or at least we tried to make it a kitchen. All it is is a table for the two of us, two crates to use as chairs, some cabinets, and a sink that only lets out a little water at a time. I walk over to one of the cabinets and check the food supply*
damn, just Power Pup left. Looks like it's a scavenging day
*I take out two of the six remaining cans of Power Pup and opens them when Connor walks in*
morning Riley. *looks at the cans she's holding and groans* Power Pup again?
I know what you're thinking, but it's all we have right now unless you'd prefer to starve. we'll need to get some more food today
*brightens up* i'll do it. I know where all the usual places are and I'll take my gun. Besides, you look like you could use some rest after the other day
*I look at my little brother's hopeful face. Even though he's a few years younger than me, he has the brains of someone twice his age and can use a gun pretty damn well. And he's right, I could use some more rest. The other day I had to fight for the other four cans of Power Pup and it left me battered, bruised, and exhausted. As much as I hate having to do it, it's the only way we can get food if our usual sources turn up nothing*
Alright, go ahead. But if you're not back in half an hour I'm coming after you, got it? And if you see even a sign that a drac has been near you, come back that second.
got it sis. *quickly eats my can of Power Pup then runs back to the room and grabs my bag and gun* i'll be back soon
*I watch him race out the door and cant help but smile. In another way that we're similar is that we both rarely let anything bring us down. Comnor was strong during the worst years of the wars. He was strong when our family moved to Battery City a couple years ago for a relative's funeral and decided to stay here. And he's been strong ever since we ran away from our parents when they started taking the drugs. it was fine at first, but when they tried to get us on them we packed up our stuff and ran away to this abandoned building. Well, technically I was going to be the one who was going to run away, but Connor made me take him as well. As I sit down to start eating I feel a chill go up the back of my neck. Something's not right, and when i get those kind of feelings, they're usually right. I look through the cracks in the boarded-up window and I see a BLI van parked outside the alley next to the building*
oh no. Connor!

[Blackout]

*all my exhaustion immediately vanishes replaced with fear for my brother. I race down the stairs to the entrance to the alley and I hear a commotion outside*
Hey! Put me down! Ri-
*I hear Connor's voice suddenly get cut off and I hear another voice speak*
shut up kid, unless you want me to shut you up for good
*I feel my anger flare up and barge outside with my gun ready. A drac is holding onto Connor and has his hand over his mouth. I notice that one of his arms looks crooked, like it had been broken and not set properly. Another drac is helping him try to get Connor in to the van*
Get your hands off of him!
*both dracs turn and look at me and the one with the bad arm speaks*
you must be the troublemaker that tried to infect this poor boy's mind. we'll just be taking him to place where he can be safe from your poisoned words. *my partner takes the boy* just get him in the van *I face the girl and i put my hand on my gun*
I said to let go of him!
*without thinking I run at the drac, only Focused on getting Connor away from them and not thinking of what they might do*
*I yell as soon as the drac takes his hand off my mouth* Sis, no!
*smirks behind my mask* you think you can go up against a drac like me? Trying to be the big hero? Well tough luck girlie, this is the real world *shoots her in the shoulder* and it's a dangerous place
*the bolt catches me right below my collar bone and I see stars for a moment before I collapse to the ground. I try to push myself up and I feel the drac's boot press down on my chest and pin me to the ground*
*tries to get out of the other drac's grip* Riley! Let go of me you bastard! *struggles even harder*
*i turn my gun in my hand so I'm holding onto the barrel and I hit the kid over the head* finally something to shut you up.*starts to carry the boy to the van*
*to the girl on the ground, almost taunting her* this won't be the last time you'll see me, but until then, *smirks under my mask* have a better day killjoy*I take my boot off of her and kick her in the shoulder before walking to the van*

[Blackout]

*I black out for a second and I wake up to see the dracs loading Connor into the van*
No, NO! Give him back! Connor!
*I manage to prop myself up on my good arm and I try to shoot at the dracs. They all miss and hit the van, which the first drac calmly dumps my brother in and climbs in. The other one turns around and I can tell he's smiling evilly under his vampire mask*
start running girlie, and maybe you'll give me a good fight before I kill you
* He gives me one last gloating look from the window and The van drives away and I'm left alone in the alley. I roll over and push myself up onto my knees and I just cry. The only family I had left is gone, ripped out of my life and leaving a hole in my heart. I cry until the pain in my shoulder forces me to go back inside, every step jostles my arm and sends a stab of pain through me. when I finally reach the room I pull my shirt back and look at the wound. Bloody and blackened around the edges, just the smell of my own blood makes me feel nauseous. I walk over to another cabinet that has some basic medical supplies and a glass vial filled with a clear liquid. One of Connors creations, it was a special disinfectant and painkiller that helps promote and speed up healing. I pour some on my wound and the sting from it is so great I almost black out. I muscle through the pain and wrap my arm up before walking over to my bed and collapsing in it*

*I don't know what time it is when I wake up, but it looks like it might have been the next morning. I get up to wake Connor and yesterday's events flood back into my mind and I start crying again. After the tears slow, I feel for the familiar weight of my necklace and take it out. It's a simple locket, nothing special on the outside, but inside it has a picture of Connor and I before the Wars. It was a gift from him for my birthday, and remembering it threatens the tears to start flowing again, but I channel all the emotion into anger and pick myself up*
I will find you brother, I will bring you back to me and I'll kill that drac. I'll kill anyone who gets in my way!
*I walk over to the old closet and take out a set of black clothes and a plain black mask that i haven't painted yet. Connor and I had bounced the idea of possibly becoming killjoys back and forth. And seeing as the one drac already referred to me as being a killjoy, then I guess I am one. I put the mask on, change into the clothes, and walk into the kitchen. As I walk in i accidentally hit my shoulder against the door and cry out in pain*
god dammit! Focus Riley, you're not going to help Connor if you keep making yourself black out!
*I stop and think for a moment. Blackout has a nice ring to it. Seeing as we had never fully settled on the idea of being killjoys, we never thought of names*
Blackout it is then.

[Blackout]

*feeling slightly better knowing that I have a name to go by, I grab my bag and put in the last cans of Power Pup. I also take the medicine and few herbs I have, along with a few of Connor's other inventions. I gather up the few remaining batteries that were left before looking around at the place that had been my home for the past several months*
so long, old friend
* I head down to the alley and pick up my gun where I had dropped it. It too was plain black, with no design yet. I quickly replaced the battery and started walking towards one of the city exits, trying to stay in the shadows as much as I can. The only bad thing about the building was that it wasn't located near any of the city exits, so it was a long walk to get to one of them, and let me just say that trying to escape from a place like Battery City undetected, and with a serious injury is practically impossible, as I found out when a small patrol of dracs saw me. I knew it was a death sentence to go up against dracs by yourself, but I wanted to leave Battery City and BLI with something to remember me by, and because i was just mad as hell. The dracs easily surrounded me and I had to keep moving to avoid getting shot again. The battery in my gun died way too quickly, a lot faster than I thought it would, and the extra batteries only lasted so long until they died as well. I had only hit a few of the dracs but I knew more would be coming, So what else could I do but run for it? I made it to the tunnel and ran past the toll booth with bolts flying past me. I feel one graze my side, but I don't stop to check it, that would be suicide. Bursting out of the other end of the tunnel, I continue to run into Zone 1, not caring if the dracs are still behind me or not. I just wanted to get away from that god forsaken place. I didn't stop running until the radioactive sun went down and the moon came up. I curled up in a ball near the side of the road and fell asleep. The next day was back to running, aside from brief moments of rest, I only stopped to eat one of the cans of Power Pup. A few times a car drove past the road and i ducked behind a dead tree or bush until it was gone. By nightfall, I had just made it into Zone 2. This went on for the next few days. Wake up, run, eat, and hide whenever a car or truck came down the road. By the fifth day, I had run out of food. I was hungry, exhausted and the pain in my shoulder and side didnt let up, but I still ran. I think I made it almost to Zone 5 before hunger and exhaustion got the better of me and I passed out next to the road. I wake up the next morning to the sound of a car engine, and I try to shrink behind the bush that I had slept next to. I hear voices and I nervously poke my head up and see four figures standing by a car, from a distance I can't tell whether they are killjoys or not. I think I made a branch snap or something because all four suddenly turn and look at where I was hiding. I see one of them start to walk over and I try to hide myself behind the dead bush. I hear footsteps get closer and then stop near me, and I open my eyes to see a pair of boots a few feet away. I look up and I see a gun holster with a yellow ray gun in it, then a blue jacket with red and white patches and a logo for Dead Pegasus. Then I look at the persons face. I see a warm smile, a bright yellow mask surrounding kind eyes, and bright red hair. He takes a step towards me and I flinch away on impulse*
its ok, I won't hurt you. I just want to help
*hearing him say that makes me think of BLI wanting to "help" people, but it's obvious now that he's not BLI, he's too colorful and isn't faking his kindness, so he has to be a killjoy which makes the others killjoys as well. So maybe I can trust them and get some help. I nervously edge myself away from the bush. He kneels down and smiles at me, making me feel more comfortable near him, almost safe. He holds out a hand and I reach for it, but stop and yank my arm back when the pain comes back, shooting down my arm and painfully out my fingers. The man shows some concern for me, giving him an almost fatherly look*
you're wounded? Must have gotten caught in a firefight. Here, let me help
*before i can say anything he gently picks me up and walks over to the other people standing near the car. I see that two of them are wearing some types of helmets and the other has a rubber mask. I can't distinguish any other features due to the fatigue and hunger messing with my vision*
what's this? Where'd she come from?
not sure, she hasn't said anything yet but she's badly wounded and she looks like she just ran here all the way from the city
if shes hurt thenwe'd better take her to the doc. He can patch her up and we needed to stop and check in with him anyway
*nods* right. Then you drive and I'll hold onto the girl. let's hurry though, she needs medical attention. *I'm worried about the girl, I can tell she hasn't eaten anything for at least a day maybe two by how light she feels, and any wounds she has causes worry for infection*
*I feel myself get carried into the car and I pass out when the car starts to move*

[Blackout]

*I wake up some time later On a table to people talking*
she is wearing a mask and has no trace of any BLI issued clothes or pills. Plus she looks like she went through several kinds of hell, probably at the city
but that doesn't mean she's a killjoy. She could be a spy from BLI. I'm not saying she is, but there is a possibility that she is
do you two mind? Youre argueing is going to disturb her. If you're going to argue about this then go into the other room
*for a moment I forget where I am and I sit up panicked*
Connor! Where is he? I need to find him.
*I try to sit up but I'm gently pushed back down by a man wearing a bandana, and I notice he's in some sort of wheel chair*
calm down, you've been through a lot it seems like. Just relax. Now how about you tell us your name
*i feel both a little strange and proud that I get to use my new killjoy name*
my name? Blackout.
*one of the two killjoys at the door walks over. He's wearing a red jacket and has blond hair. I notice that he kind of looks like the other killjoy, the one with the red hair*
ok Blackout. seeing as its obvious that you didnt just appear out there in the desert, how did you end up out in the Zones in the condition you were in? What's your story?
*I think for a moment, trying to decide how to sum up the past week without droning on and on about it*
well, it's a bit of a long story but...
*I go on to tell them about what happened with Connor and the drac with the maimed arm, and then up to when I was chased out of the city by the dracs. I try to not choke up when I mention Connor being taken, but I can tell it probably showed. As I finish the other two killjoys walk in. One has a large Afro and is dressed in all red and black, save for the blue raygun in his holster. The other has black hair and a few tattoos on his neck. I look down and I see more on his hands and arms*
looks like our guest is finally awake, has she said anything yet?
she just finished telling her story. Oh, Where are our manners? Welcome to Zone 6 Blackout. Or more specifically Dr. Death Defying's place. We are known by a lot of the other killjoys as the Fabulous Four. I'm Party Poison, this guy here who looks like he's never smiled before in his life is Kobra Kid, the one with big hair is Jet-Star and Fun Ghoul is right next to him. And of course this man in the wheel chair is Dr. Death Defying himself
*I barely listen to what he's saying, as I'm a bit star struck at the moment. Back in the city, Connor and I had an old radio that we used to track drac patrols so we knew when it would be safe to go outside and get food. we also used it, although rarely, to brighten the mood a bit with some music and I remember hearing about the Fab Four on Dr. d's radio station. When I do finally speak, it's in a nervous stutter and I feel like I'm completely all over the place*
it's a pleasure, no I mean its an honor, an honor to meet you all
*smiles* and it's a pleasure to meet you
alright, all of you out, she needs her rest and I need to tend to her wounds. Oh and Party, send Show Pony to get more medicine.
yes sir.
*turns to Blackout* alright, now where did you get hit?
graze on my side and then a shot to my shoulder. And thank you so much for this, I probably would've died if you didn't find me
don't thank me, thank the boys. They're the ones that found you. Now then, this might sting a bit

[Blackout]

*after about half an hour of a "bit" of pain, Dr. D finishes cleaning and bandaging my wounds*
I have to say im curious, what made you want to run all the way from the city to Zone 5? I understand it was to escape the dracs, but it seems like something else made you want to leave as well
*i think for a moment before responding*
i think it was from something the one drac told me before he drove away with my brother. he told me to start running, and i guess when i made it out into the Zones, i just kept on running
*nods in understanding* I see. I am truly sorry about your brother, if there was something That i could do to help i'd do it, but currently both myself and the boys are tied up with protecting another young girl from Korse
*Korse. Just hearing his name sends chills up my back. I remember seeing him a few times from the boarded-up window of the house. Of course the days we saw him, we didnt go out to get food, but whenever i looked at him, id get the feeling that he was looking right back at me, even though we were hidden. I wouldnt be suprised if i found out that he was somehow responisble for Connor's abduction. I look up when another person walks into the room. or rather skates in. I can see the old fashioned roller skates tied to his feet, and I also see the white tights and white "NOISE" shirt he's wearing. He's carrying a white helmet under one arm and a bundle in the other. He looks to be maybe a few years older than me*
*i skate into the room and hold up a wrapped package* Here's the medicine you wanted Doc. *looks at the girl on the table* who's she?
Thank you. *takes the bundle* And Pony this is Blackout, Blackout meet my assistant Show Pony. Party and the boys found her in Four the other day half dead
nice to meet you Blackout. *looks at her bandaged side and shoulder* no offense, but it looks like you just came out of hell or something
*manages a small laugh*
technically I did, it's called Battery City
*laughs* that is true, and I always figured that Korse was the devil in disguise. Well, gotta run. Anything else you need Doc?
Not right now, but thank you Pony
Anytime. Stay shiny!*skates out of the room*
*turns back to Blackout* you should get some rest. If you're up for it tomorrow i'll have the boys teach you a few tricks for living out here in the desert
rest sounds nice...
*I realize how tired i am from running for the past several days and i fall asleep the second i let my body relax*
*looks at Blackout for a minute before exiting the room* poor girl, she's been through so much and in such a short amount of time, but she's a fighter. I think she'll be a good student for the boys

[Blackout]

*what I had hoped would be a sound sleep, quickly turned into a plague of nightmares, all involving Comnor being torn away from me while I was unable to move and couldn't do anything to help him. I'm finally awakened from the terror by someone gently shaking my good shoulder*
look alive, sunshine. You've got quite a day ahead of you
whats going on?
*I sit up and rub the sleep out of my eyes. I look up to see Fun Ghoul standing next to me*
we're taking you to the diner. It's our base and it has a lot more room than Dr. D's here and it's where we'll start your training
training? For what?
*I slide off of the table and quickly stretch my tight muscles*
to get you prepared for life in the Zones. Unless you'd rather go back to the city?
no way! I'm never going back there unless I'm leaving with my brother
*smiles* you certainly have a lot of fire in you don't ya? Follow me, i believe Jet has your bag and the gear you brought
*I follow Fun Ghoul outside to where the others are waiting by the car, which is an older style Trans Am with their signature widow spider painted on the hood and the American flag around one of the wheels*
*notices Blackout looking at the car* she's a beaut isn't she? Painted her ourselves. *hops into the driver's seat*
*opens the back door* ladies first
oh, thank you.
*climbs into the back and sits in the middle. Fun Ghoul and Jet-Star sit next to me and Kobra Kid sits in the passenger seat*
*rolls outside in my wheel chair* so long boys! Keep her safe and stay shiny!
and to you too Doc! *starts the car and drives towards the diner*
*leans back against the seat* why don't you get some more rest Blackout. We won't be at the diner for at least an hour, and that's if we don't run into any dracs on the way.
um, ok. But if we do run into dracs could you please wake me? I wouldnt want to miss being able to get some revenge on the bastards that chased me out of the city
*over hears Blackout's comment and makes a small smile* don't worry, we'll wake you if we do. Now go to sleep
*I fall asleep against the seat of the car, hoping I don't fall into Jet-Star's or Fun Ghoul's lap when I'm sleeping*

[Blackout]

*some time later, im woken up by Jet-Star gently shaking me. I look out of the car window and i dont see anything but desert*
whats going on?
*pulls my mask on and grabs my gun out of the holster* try looking out the other window
*I see Jet-Star and Kobra Kid put on helmets and Fun Ghoul puts on an old monster mask, and i take that as a sign that its nothing good. I risk a glance out of the other window and the blood drains from my face. There's a patrol of dracs not too far away from where we are,those brainwashed, vampire mask wearing thugs. But it's not just the dracs that have me on edge, it's who's with them. The force behind BLI and perhaps the devil himself. Korse.*
so that's why
*i can feel my voice shaking and i cant remember the last time i was ever this scared. I normally done get scared easily, but if someone isn't afraid of Korse, then they are either certifiably insane or they're the Fabulous Four, both of which I am not so its safe to say that I am very scared right now*
*reaches under the car seat and tosses Blackout her bag* your gun and mask are in there, better put them to good use
*i awkwardly catch my bag and put on my mask. I take out my gun and find it fully charged. I look at Jet-Star to thank him but he dismisses me with a wave of his hand*
thank us later. For now, make yourself look like a killing machine and not look scared. Never let an enemy see you scared or they'll walk all over you
*i try to calm myself down while Party Poison continues to drive towards the diner, and the dracs. As we near the dracs, I see Korse's black car drive around and cut us off. Party stops the car and they all get out. I follow, hoping that i dont look like a scared little girl and stand next to them as Korse exits his car and the dracs go to stand by him*
well, well, well. If it isnt my four favorite people in the world
*i notice that he doesnt try to hide the sarcasm in his voice at all. I look at korse and realize that this is the first time i've seen him up close. The first thing i notice is that he's dressed in what looks like old victorian style clothing with a grey trench coat. I can tell by the way he holds himself that he thinks highly of himself and expects everyone to do the same, which most do seeing as he is BL/ind personified, and has been known to make those who defy him disappear. The second thing I notice is his face. the bags around his eyes make it look like he hasnt slept in a week, but I had heard rumors that he was ill with some sort of sickness caused from the radiation in the Zones. he has an evil smile that looked more like a sneer than anything else, like he didnt know how to smile. Then his eyes, two souless black wells that are always cold and hard, and they make a chill go up my back when they look at me*
*notices the young girl standing with the four most wanted killjoys in the Zones* and who is this? another poor soul who's been blinded by your rebellious ways?
None of your business Korse. We found her after your dracs tried to kill her
She must have been the one that was seen leaving the city a week ago, Miss Bauman I believe? My dear, why would you want to leave Battery City? You would be safe there with us, and You'd be with your brother.
*I stiffen when he says my name and I feel like I was just punched in the stomach. i want to just run at Korse and make him tell me where Connor is. But as if sensing my thoughts, Kobra Kid puts his hand on my shoulder to stop me and whispers something in my ear*
Easy Blackout, he's trying to get you worked up, he plays this game with all new killjoys. Just stay strong and remember to stay shiny. You're a killjoy now, so don't let him try to push you around*
*his words help me calm down and I look back at Korse with what I hope is an unfazed glare*

[Blackout]

*looks at the one killjoy known as Kobra Kid* and what poison are you whispering in her ears now? *turns back to the girl* My dear, wouldnt you much rather come back to the city where you can get a good meal and a soft bed, then have to live out in this wasteland with these lying and murderous outlaws?
im never going back to the city. What you may call a good meal and a soft bed, I call cyanide and a jail cell. And I won't go back to that
not even to see your brother again?
*it's like a slap in the face to hear him mention the one person that meant more to me than anything in this whole damn world, and then to try to use him against me? I long to just throttle Korse right now but again Kobra stops me*
*squeezes her shoulder and whispers to her again* stay strong blackout. You're a killjoy now, don't let him push you around
*his words give me strength and i take a deep breath and look Korse in the eye*
the next time i'll see my brother will be when we're bringing down that tower of yours and running out of Battery City together and into these Zones where we should have run away to in the first place
*smirks* drive on back to your prison of a city Korse, she's not going anywhere
*I cross my arms at Korse and I crack a sly smile*
you could try to talk me into it all you want Korse, but you'll have to drag me back kicking and screaming to get me to go anywhere near the city
*narrows my eyes* that can be arranged, my dear. *i signal to the dracs* get her
*i see the dracs surge forward and I feel Kobra push me out of the way*
Get to the car Blackout. Now! *i take out my gun and start shooting at the closest dracs*
*i feel torn. Half of me wants to run to safety but the other half wants to stay and fight. A bolt flies right past me, almost hitting my leg and it helps me make up my mind, but when i turn to run I see another group of dracs had arrived and were standing between us and the car*
*looks at Blackout and sees the line of dracs behind us* shit! Should've known that BLI wouldn't play fair *runs over to help her* Blackout if you can shoot a gun, then do it. First lesson of living in the Zones, know how to use a weapon and use it well!
*I grab my gun and I fire at the dracs as they start towards us. By some great chance, I manage to hit a drac in the stomach and he goes down, but i dont think i killed him. I look around and I see Party and Kobra standing back to back and shooting at the dracs. Jet-Star was squaring off with a few dracs and had taken out a knife and was using it with deadly accuracy. Fun Ghoul had been forced away from me and had also taken out two knives. but instead of using them for hand-to-hand he was throwing them and striking dracs in the head and chest. I lose track of Korse in the chaos, which makes me worry about where he might be. I then forget about Korse as two arms grab me from behind and start to drag me towards Korse's car*
hey! Let go of me!
*i struggle against the drac and start trying to kick at him*
Put. Me. Down!
*the drac finally drops me when my boot connects solidly with his knee and I hear the bone crack. I turn around and shoot the drac in the head before he can draw his gun. I watch him fall and I'm in shock at what I just did, and for a moment I just stare at the lifeless corpse. I had actually killed someone. Im snapped back into reality when I hear someone yell in pain*
Kobra!
*I spin around and I see Party trying to carry Kobra back to the car. Kobra is clutching his leg and I can see the blood seeping up between his fingers. A drac comes up near them and raises his gun, but then he falls to the ground with a bolt to the neck. Party looks at me with a look of disbelief. I didn't even know that I had raised my gun and shot the drac. But I did know that someone had just grabbed me around my neck and put a gun to my head*
I must say, you are quite the fighter Miss Bauman. We could use people like you at BLI.
*he signals to the dracs and they stop firing, but keep their guns trained on the Fab Four. I see that Party and Kobra had made it to the car but Kobra was in a lot of pain, his face had gone white and his leg was still bleeding heavily. Jet and Ghoul have several dracs standing around them and I see that Ghoul got hit in the arm and he had a bloody lip and the beginning of a black eye. Jet had lost his helmet and had cuts on his arms and a few on his face, but they were both close to the car. I feel the chill go up my back when Korse talks into my ear, his words dripping with venom*
I'll make you a deal, girl. Come with me to the city with no trouble and i'll let these four live to run another day. But If you try to fight me or run away, i'll let my dracs kill them. Choose wisely
Dont worry about us Blackout. Just run!
*Korse doesnt move the gun from my head but he signals to a drac who punches Ghoul in the jaw and I wince at the sound of it. Ghoul staggers back a few steps and calmly wipes the blood from his lip before attacking the drac,Jet fighting right alongside him. I see several dracs overpower Jet and Ghoul is soon held back by a few more, another punch to the head and he stops struggling. I try to get out of Korse's grip but I can't move and he just presses the gun harder into the side of my head*
try anything like that again killjoy and Ms. Bauman dies. Make your decision girl, the longer you wait the more likely I am to just kill these four right now and bring you back to the city.
*I didnt know what to do, if I went with Korse then I'd end up back in the city. If i didnt go with him then he'd kill Party, Kobra, Jet and Ghoul and then he would take me to the city. For a moment i think i should just go with Korse so he wont hurt the Fab Four anymore, but I then remember the flashbangs in my pocket and try to get a few in my hand. I make a side glance over at Ghoul and Jet and i try to secretly show them the flash bangs. I then try to signal to them to shut their eyes. I see the slightest of nods from them and ready the flash bangs*
Alright Korse. I choose... This!
*i throw the flashbangs at the ground and shut my eyes as they explode in a blinding light. korse's grip on me loosens as he tries to regain his sight and I run for the car. I see Jet and Ghoul had already made it and were getting in. I make it to the car as the dracs regain some of their sight and start firing. a bolt hits my back but i keep running and jump into the car. the second Im in, Party floors the car and we take off down the desert. We keep driving until we reach an old diner somewhere in Zone 6. Party hops out of the car and I notice he's limping, but that doesnt stop him from carrying Kobra inside, who has passed out. The rest of us follow him inside and I cant help but stop and look at the outside of the diner before entering. There's a vending machine out front that's probably empty at this point, several exterminate posters of the Fab Four are plastered on the walls and windows, and I notice that the diner sign on top of the roof has lost a few letters so it now spelled "die." By the time we reach him, Party has already started treating Kobra's wound*
Korse got him, took both of us by surprise. *looks up at Blackout* he had been trying to get to you when he saw the drac trying to get you in the car. He's already lost a lot of blood and I need something to help fight any infection.

[Blackout]

I might have something that could help
*i reach into my bag and take out my vial of medicine, ignoring the pain that is shooting down my spine. I hand the vial to Party*
its a special remedy my brother and I made. Works as a disinfectant, pain killer and helps speed up healing. it also doesnt contain any BLI meds
*i add the last bit as a side note, i didnt want them to think that I could be a spy or anything*
*takes the vial and tastes a bit of it* yea its clean. *I take the vial and start to pour the contents over Kobra's wound*
*i see Kobra's leg twitch when the remedy touches his leg. its a good thing he's passed out, or he would have been in a lot more pain. While Party continues to wrap Kobra's leg, i help treat Ghoul's and Jet's wounds. I cant help but feel a little guilty when I tend to Ghoul's bruised jaw*
Im really sorry, all of this is my fault, I should've just gone with Korse and none of this would've happened
Dont apologize for this, none of it was your fault
even if you had gone with Korse, we would have followed to try and get you back. We wouldn't have left you in the hands of BLI
that's kind of you to say
*i finish bandaging jet's cuts and look over at Party*
Party was injured also, wasn't he?
*nods* graze to the ankle I think and probably a few other wounds, but I doubt that you'll be able to get him away from his brother right now
Party and Kobra are brothers?
*smiles* they dont look like they would be but they are
just give them both the same hair color and you would be able to see the similarities more clearly
*a groan from the table makes us all look over*
ow... my leg... Bloody bastards... where are they? *tries to sit up*
*helps him into a sitting position* easy bro. dont move around to much. we're back at the diner, you took a shot straight in the leg
oh really Sherlock? i haven't noticed
Well judging from the layers of sarcasm that were on that sentence, i'd say that getting shot in the leg hasn't changed you at all Kobra
Unless you count being madder than hell right now and wanting to rip a drac's head off, then you're right Ghoul
yea he hasnt changed at all. Now on a different note, you should let Blackout check your wounds Party
Blackout's ok? Korse didnt get her?
yes im fine. and i think Korse is still trying to get his vision back