Left In The Dust

[Toxic Panda]

* I wake up with a start and hit my head on the roof of my car.* Damn it....everytime i sleep in this thing..*I rub my head as I get out of my car. AE had taken off the day before and had left the boys and I alone at Bunny's safe house. I hadn't bothered with trying to get in so i stayed outside. I look around and notice the kid from the BL tower is talking with Grizzly in the shade of the building. I walk over to them and smile* Hey guys. *I glance at the newbie* Seems like your feeling better. The name's Toxic Panda.

*Smiles* I know who you are and thank you. If you and your friends hadn't saved me I would have been dead by now. I'm Agent Crow. I use to be a double agent for the killjoys. That is until I got caught.

*I smile* Nice to meet you Crow. So I take it Grizzly filled you in on everything then I take it? *I glance at Grizzly who is already standing up* Sorry to rush you but we have to keep moving. The raid was decent so the Dracs will be out and about looking for us. We gotta head back to our place in Zone 6 anyway to get a new windshield. You can come if you like.

*Gets up* Yeah I'd love to tag along. Got nothing else to do anyway. *Heads toward the car and gets into the back with the sleeping Acid*

*I smile and start toward the car with one of my closest friends beside me. He nods in agreement, as if he approves of Agent Crow. He gets into the front and I get into the drivers seat and start the car. I take off down the abandoned highway toward Zone 6, leaving a trail of dust as I go.

[Toxic Panda]

*The sun is bright as I pull up to the old 1970's diner/gas station that Acid, Grizzly and I call home. I get out and pull my shades on to shield my eyes from the sun's radiation.* Ah home sweet home! *I turn to Crow* Well this is our place. Your more than welcome to stay if you like. *I then turn to Acid and Grizzly who are getting out of the car.* You two. Go see if theres a replacement for the windshield in the garage. I'm gonna show Crow the place.

*I laugh and bow* As you wish your Majesty!

*I copy Acid and smile* We will do as you please *I snicker and nudge Acid as I head to the old beat up garage around back*

*Smiles and follows Panda into the diner.* Nice friends you have, and this place is pretty epic if you ask me! *I look around at the old red booths, checkered floors and bar area*

*Laughs* Ha ha yeah they do tend to get on my nerves a lot though. *I throw my bag onto one of the small tables* As for this place, well it is pretty decent compared to others in the area. Any who there's an old office down the hall over there where you can stay. *Crow nods his head and goes down the hall. I go behind the bar and grab an unopened bottle of Jack and sit down at one of the window booths. I take a drink then stop as I notice a dust cloud in the distance*

[Toxic Panda]

SHIT! *I scramble up, dropping the Jack as I do, and run to the back of the hall and nearly run into Crow as he rounds the corner.*

*I look confused* Is everything okay? I heard glass shatter..Hey! What are you doing? *Panda starts to drag me out the front door and toward the back where Acid and Grizzly are rummaging through the open garage. They look up as we approach them*

Whats the matter? Not doing our job right your highness? *I laugh then notice the concern look on Panda's face as she drags Crow into the garage* What's wrong?

*I hull Crow behind a beat up Oldsmobile and throw piles of junk out of the way and lift up an old filthy rug. I reveal a trap door and open it, pushing Crow in as I glance around desperately* Dracs are whats up. Get in quick they'll be here soon. *I look around as Acid disappears into the dark.* GRIZZLY! GET YO ASS IN HERE NOW!

*I run in after I see the vans in the distance* How the hell did they find us? They didn't get a tracker on any of us. *Before I can finish Panda rushes me into the awaiting empty cellar*

I Have no idea Grizzle but we have some trouble. Just stay quite and lets hope they don't find us down here okay?! *I shut the door above me and look up through the cracks in the floor boards as I hear the screeching of van tires and the slamming of van doors*

[Toxic Panda]

*I hear voices as I glance at the others around me. Though it was dark I could see the expressions of fear on there faces. Back in the day my boys and I only had a few encounters with Dracs at our place which all ended well for us. I see the shadow upstairs and stiffen as it stops and looks through all the junk.*

What the hell are you doing? We're suppose to be finding the damn Killjoys and not looking through there stuff!

Uh sorry boss *puts box down* I was just looking for clues...

*Shakes head in anger* IDIOT! Look for useful stuff! Not boxes of junk. Here *throws a bag I found inside at the new kid* This was left inside. The car is still parked out front so that means they are still here somewhere. *Turns to notice three more of my unit approach* Anything?

*Nods* Just a shattered bottle of Jack. Also some packed bags in the back offices. They must have just got back sir.

*I look up as three new shadows come into view. I hear Acid hold his breath and feel Grizzly stiffen next to me. We knew the Dracs voice all to well. Our spy on the inside, our ex-team member, Nuclear Bullet, had been assigned to this unit. I whisper through gritted teeth* Damn it! Why did it have to be Bullet. *I look up through the cracks in the floor boards. Bullet knew we were hiding underneath the Dracs noses, he knew we where right beneath them. As I looked up I caught his gaze. He could see me, I could see him and I held my breath as he took out his ray gun*

[Toxic Panda]

*I held Panda's gaze through the floor boards as I took out my gun. I saw her eyes go big as I did and snickered a bit. My finger was on the trigger ready to shoot. But before I got the chance I glanced over as I heard the arrival of another van and felt the warmth of a laser nearly miss my face as I jumped back*

What the hell! *looks over at the others and notices Crow holding his gun and making his way out of the newly made hole in the floor. I pull out my gun and follow him. Better to be out in the open then cramped in a tight space trying to shoot Dracs.* CROW YOU IDIOT! YOU BLEW OUR COVER! *I take a few shots at the nearest Drac and make a dash for the diner with Acid and Grizzly at my heels*

WHAT THE!?! *falls from the weight of the patrol member that got shot topples over me. I draw my gun and shoot at the retreating killjoys. The others follow in pursuit but one stays behind* GET THEM YOU IDIOT!

*I smile as I walk toward the patrol leader. I point my gun at his head and and take my mask off. He gasps as he notices my expression, i pull the trigger and he lays limp under the Drac on top of him* Nobody shoots at my team and gets away with it asshole.

*I reach the diner door and fling it open allowing Acid and Grizzly inside before me. Crow comes limping as I yell for him* CROW GET INSIDE NOW! *I shut the door as he tumbles in and falls to the floor breathing hard. I duck under a table as lasers fly past us* Damn it Crow! What the hell were you thinking!? *I peak up and fire a few rounds watching as a Drac falls. I look over at Acid and Grizzly who have Crow on the ground.* Crow? Don't be playing games with me. *I pause and glance over at his body on the floor* Crow? *He's not moving and I see a large gash in his chest. One only a laser could have made. I look away and shoot at a Drac that got to close to the door tears begin to fall down my face* Every fucking time. He didn't deserve this God damn it!

*I glance at Grizzly and tell him to leave Crow's body and head to the back windows to cover us. I head to the opposite side of the room and find three Dracs approaching. I take out two and before I take out the third he just falls. Confused I see Bullet smiling from behind the Dracs as he falls. Gun raised I smile as Bullet turns and takes out another Drac. Lasers barley missing him as he does* Ha ha good old Bullet is back baby!

[Toxic Panda]

*I look back at Crow's motionless body and as I do I hear the sound of shattering glass from the back rooms. I look over at Acid as he gets up and dashes to the back rooms. I quickly follow with my gun raised. I run down the white hall to only be stopped by Acid holding me back.* Acid what the- *I'm cut off as I notice the three remaining Dracs standing in front of us. One has Grizzly in a head lock while another has two guns pointed at his head.* Let him go you bastards! *I start forward only to stop when Grizzly speaks*

*I struggle in the Dracs grip* Panda....don't. You'll end up....*I gasp* You'll end up getting yourself killed.

Best to listen to your friend killjoy. *smiles from behind my mask* Give up or he's gonna end up dusted like your other friend.

*I glare at the Drac talking and look around for anyway to save Grizzly. Before I can do anything I hear a gun drop. I look over at Acid who has a look of hatred on his face and his hands raised. Shocked I still grip my gun and watch as Acid gets to his knees in surrender* Acid! You can't give up! Stand up! * The Drac moves toward us but stops as I lift my gun and point it at him* One more move and your buzzard food. *I hear another gasp of pain from Grizzly as the Drac tightens his grip. Only then do I give in. I holster my gun and just stand in dismay as the Drac comes forward and forces me to the ground.*

Now thats a good panda bear. *I smirk and get out two pairs of hand cuffs, but before I can get them on the killjoys something hot and painful hits me in the chest and I fall. Everything goes black*

Bullseye! *I keep my gun raised outside as the two remaining Dracs look confused. I fire rapidly but my shoots miss. I don't want to harm Panda, Grizzly or Acid. Distracted by my thoughts I don't notice the laser that flys at me and hits me in the stomach. I fall and hope my team makes it out alive.*

*I look outside and see Bullet fall and jump up. UN holstering my gun I fire at the Drac who has Grizzly in a headlock. He falls dead from the hole between his eyes. I look around for the second Drac and spin around as I hear gun fire behind me. I notice the last Drac fall only inches from me. I see Crow's raised gun from down the hall fall. Wide eyed I run to him in the main dinning room and kneel by his side as Acid helps Grizzly down the hall after me.* Crow!? Crow wake up! *I pause and check for a heart beat. Nothing. I lower my head and whisper half to myself and half to the fallen killjoy* Thank you. *I pause and look up at Acid and Grizzly as the enter only to realize that Bullet had fallen outside the diner during the battle. My worst fears gripped my chest as I ran outside and sprinted to my fallen comrade hoping he was still alive.*

[Toxic Panda]

*I skid to a halt beside Bullet and kneel down beside him. Tears are already forming in my eyes as I do* Bullet!? Bullet wake up! *I start to shack him and frantically search for a pulse. He's barley breathing and I take the yellow bandanna tied around my leg and hold it on his wound.* Bullet you can't do this to me, you can't leave me like this. *I start to choke up and shake him harder.* Nixon please! Wake up, please!

*I slowly open my eyes when I hear my old name. My body has gone numb as I take in a shaky breath and cough* How many times....*cough* do I have to tell you.....not to say that name? *I weakly smile but stop as I notice the blood soaked bandanna at my stomach.* Shit....that ain't good

*I smile as tears still stream down my face. Acid and Grizzly had come out as Bullet woke up and are sitting beside me silently* Sorry I forgot. Listen Bullet you're going to make it okay?! I won't let you die on me. I just won't. *I pause and look at his wound. Deep down I know there's little hope, we don't have the kind of supplies to help him out.* Just hang on okay.

*I smile but start to cough again, I taste blood in my mouth and spit it out. I take a deep breath and start to see black dots across my vision* Just stay with me.....I don't want to go out alone. *My vision starts to fade as I grasp Panda's hand then everything goes black.*

I'll stay, don't worry. *I take his hand* Just hang in there Bullet. *I notice that his eyes are closed and his breathing becomes slower and into rasps* Bullet! Bullet no! *I start to cry more, uncontrollable now* don't go! Please! *Acid and Grizzly's heads are down in disbelievement. The sun is setting over the death filled dessert*

[Toxic Panda]

*I wake up and find my back is killing me. The previous day Crow had been shot and killed and halfway through the night Bullet had finally left us. Grizzly had dug Crow's grave and Statix and I dug Bullet's. It's a sad thing to dig a good friends grave. I had to radio Statix to let him know his partner was dusted and he immediately drove out saying he was going to sweep the zones. I see Panda standing up on the hill outside, under the tree where we buried our friends. I walk outside and approach her.* Panda? I think you should get some rest. You haven't slept.

*I still stand at the grave the marks my team mates final resting place. The tears have long since dried up leaving my eyes sore and tired. I hadn't slept since Bullet died and hadn't spoken since my brother arrived. I hear Acid but still stare at the graves.* What's the point in sleeping? It's just a wast of time anyway......

*I sigh* Panda don't be like that. Bullet would want you to rest. You need it if you want to keep fighting. *I pause*

What's the point? So I can just end up ghosted like Bullet and Crow?

*I stand beside her and look at her* Don't act like that Panda! You can't give up, your the one who even told me not to give up. The Panda I know never stopped fighting, never. You can't just stop. *I pause* Statix is worried about you. He says you didn't even notice him when he came. You didn't speak to him at all.

*I turn to him in furry* That's because I have nothing to say to him Acid! And why is it now that he's worried about me? Hmm? He never gave a shit about me when I left, when he gave up on me, when he stopped fighting for what he believed in and went to BL! Why did you even radio him?! *I look away* And I never said I was giving up..I just can't handle what BL has done...what I've done because of them.

Venom wasn't your fault Panda, neither was Crow or Bullet. There was nothing you could do to save them. As for Statix...well he needed to know that his partner was dead. *I touch her shoulder but she recoils*

Don't touch me. *I look away my eyes starting to water* I'm sorry...I just...I just want to be left alone Acid. *I then sit down in front of Bullet's grave and stare at the ground while I hear Acid go* I'm so sorry Bullet....I'm sorry. *I take a gun out of my vest and lay it on his grave. It use to be his old ray gun before he had to switch to a plain white BLI one.*

*I leave Panda alone at the graves and walk toward to diner where I find Statix standing in the door way with a blank look on his face.* You heard then I take it? *walks inside*

*Smiles* Yeah I heard. *follows Acid and sits in the red booth by the window with him* But thats Panda for you. She doesn't forgive easily *I pause and look out at my little sister* She'll com around though.......eventually

[Toxic Panda]

*I glance up and notice the sun is beginning to set. I had no idea I had spent the whole day outside. Dazed I get up and look at Bullet and Crow's grave for a long time. Anger begins to bubble up and I stalk back to the diner with my fists clenched. I slam the door open and glare at Statix as I approach him. I don't notice Grizzly or Acid until they get up and hold me back.* Who the fuck found us!?! I know you know Statix so don't lie! *I resist Acid and Grizzly* TELL ME!

*I get up startled at what had caused Panda to lash out like that* Calm down Maika! *I hold my hands up.* It was probably the head of the department that you lot blew to pieces.

*I back up and stare at my brother in anger* Don't you EVER say that name again! You hear me!? The Maika you knew is long gone....*I pause* She disappeared when you turned your back on me. *I grab my bag off the floor and dust it off. I head outside toward the garage.*

Panda wait! *I go out after her and grab hold of her arm but she retaliates and breaks away* Look I'm sorry for what I did, truly I am. I was only looking out for you, sis. Please just come inside before you do anything reckless.

*I laugh* What family? Mom and Dad are dead and as far as I know I have NO family. A real brother would have stayed and not join the company that destroyed his life. *I pause then laugh again* And telling ME to be reckless...well you obviously don't know me then. *I unlock my repaired car and attempt to get in*

*I get in front of her* Your not going anywhere. If it's the city you want to go to then your going to need me to get in. *she looks at me hard and motions me to get in. I do.*

Acid, Grizzly. You two stay here, keep a look out on this place and radio if anything comes up. *I glance at them as they disappear inside and get into the car. I don't look at Statix but start the car. I back up speed out toward Battery City. Hoping to avenge my friends death.*