“Rise and shine, little sister!” I was awake in an instant when someone kicked my mattress. As I blinked in the morning light and let my brain process, I knew who it was immediately.
“Fuck off, Speedy. I said from under the covers, my voice muffled as I pulled the blanket back over my head.
“Uh uh uh, sister, you’ve got a mission to attend to.” I could hear the mocking grin in Speedy's voice.
“The mission can wait, I was out all last night on their Goddamned missions...” I tried to ignore Speedy until he ripped my threadbare quilts off of me, exposing me to the light.
“Look alive, Princess.” He grinned at me mockingly as I glowered up at him, the sun burning my eyes.
“Call me Princess one more time. I dare you.” I growled.
“Well isn’t someone touchy this morning.” He snickered. I narrowed my eyes and waited for him to realize he was in trouble. His eyes widened once he felt the waves of anger rolling off me and tried to bolt, but I was too fast for him. I flew at him, tackling him to the ground and wrestling with him, eventually gaining the upper hand even though he had a taller reach. I perched on his back, putting his arm into a kimura hold, about to force him to tap out, when a voice rang out across the warehouse.
"Tear Gas Terror, git off him right now!" I was ripped backwards by my collar and dropped on the floor, leaving me to stare up at the large black lady who was glowering down at me furiously. "An' don't you even THINK about sneaking off, Mr. Suicidal Speed Demon." I looked over and winced as Speedy stopped in his tracks and turned back slowly to face the towering wall of formidable flesh that was Ma.
She didn’t have a fun Killjoy name; she didn’t need one. Everyone in the Zones, including me, Speedy, and even the Big 4 themselves knew (and feared) Ma. She ran the largest Killjoy outpost in all of the Zones besides Dr. Death-Defying’s in Zone 6. Enough Killjoys went in and out of her place a day to number in the hundreds, staying long enough to refuel and get a decent meal and then jet off to save the world some more.
“Just what in the Good Lord’s name do you think you two were doin’?” Ma’s hands went to her hips. I cringed. We were in for it now.
“I would whoop you myself, Tear Gas, but right now, there’s four Fabulous Killjoys in my kitchen waitin’ for you, so I suggest you git downstairs and quit makin’ them wait.” Ma glared at me, but allowed me to grab my shoes and jacket before sneaking past her and heading for the makeshift kitchen on the first floor. Our outpost was an old abandoned air force storage unit, far enough out of Battery City for the Dracs to disregard it and close enough for me to get into the City regularly. I slept on the second floor ovehang, along with Speedy and any other Killjoys passing through. We had about 50 mattresses up there, allowing the place to accommodate plenty of Killjoys. I flew over and around the mattresses, everyone except a few already downstairs. I hurried down the fire escape that connected the first and second floors and walked briskly past the rows of picnic tables containing a bunch of Killjoys. I waved to those I knew but kept walking, moving past them hurriedly. I was lucky I’d slept in my clothes, or else I’d be sunk. The Big 4 did not like to be kept waiting, and if they were here in person, this must be a huge assignment. Meaning I was in for it from them too.
“Where the Hell is she?” I heard Party Poison’s voice just before I hung a right and skidded into the kitchen. I slowed down and waited a moment to catch my breath, partially because I wanted to seem somewhat less of a doofus to the Big 4 than I currently seemed and partially because I wanted to hear what they had to say. Hey, I’m a perpetual sneak, it doesn’t just go away!
“Leave the kid alone, Party, she was up all night getting shot at on a mission you sent her on. She’s 15, she needs sleep even more than we do.” I grinned at Jet Star’s defense of me and skidded into the kitchen like I’d just ran in.
“Sorry, I had to-”I was cut off by a huge hug from Fun Ghoul.He’d shaved his long, nearly-black, chin-length locks off, leaving him with a fuzzy head. His face was dirt-smudged and slightly older, but still generally the same.
“Nice of you to join us." He ruffled my hair as I batted his hand away.
“Come on now Ghoul, leave her alone.” Jet Star engulfed me in a hug. “How ya been, kiddo?”
"Y'know, just getting shot at outside various BLI outposts, the usual.” I smiled back as he released me. “I’m sure y’all don’t remember such a thing, considering you have me doing all your dirty work. And Ghoul's just jealous because I'm taller than him now." I grinned triumphantly at Ghoul’s offended expression
“Hey, Terror.” Kobra Kid hugged me awkwardly at first, as if I was suddenly a foreign creature to him, being almost two years older than when they all saw me last. Eventually he hugged me tightly, however, remembering the old days just as I was.
“Yes, Kobra, it's still me, I'm just taller." I grinned cheekily at his discomfort. Kobra was usually somewhat quiet and awkward, so I was used to it.
“Hi.” Party Poison stood and smiled wearily at me. Being leader of the Killjoys had obviously worn him down significantly. His red hair was grown out, calling to be redyed, and lines were worn into his face, making him seem older than his 35 years.
“Hi, Party.” I hugged him, breathing the mixed scent of BO, gasoline and a faint bit of explosives. We pulled back as I looked at him. “What were you blowing up around two days ago? BLI outpost or destroying evidence?”
The whole group chuckled. Party ran a hand through his bright, dyed-red hair. "Terror, I've never figured out how you could do that. I’ve missed you, kiddo.” He grinned at me as we all sat around the kitchen table.
“Then let me come with you again, like the old days. We all loved it, and it would make my missions so much easier.” I pleaded with them, chewing my lip. “I’ve been stuck here ‘fighting the good fight’ for two whole fucking years, I think it’s about time you let me ride with y’all again!” I was slipping back into my old accent, the one that made me so easily identified and the one I worked so hard to hide.
“You know we can’t do that, sunshine.” Party looked at me seriously. I jumped out of my seat, knocking the mismatched chair backwards with a loud smack.
“Why the fuck not, huh? It’s not like I'm baggage anymore!" Party stood up angrily. "I'm the best fighter you have, the best spy, the best shot with any raygun you got, the best hacker this side of the BC, the best lockpick! I'm not a little kid anymore, Party, and I'm getting awfully sick of you using me for your stupid missions and then ignoring me for the next two years. I'm not your fucking robot, and I will not work for someone just as bad as BLI." With that parting shot, I banged open the side door and stormed out of the kitchen, into the harsh desert sunlight. I paced back and forth a few steps before whirling around and throwing my fist into the steel exterior of the warehouse. My knuckles radiated pain as I screamed obscenities and sunk to the hard-packed, sunbaked sand, my head rolling back to lean against the warehouse my back was pressed up to. I was awfully good at royally fucking up.
"Are you done?" My head whipped towards the sound of the voice. Ghoul stood in front of the door, an old first-aid kit in one hand and an ice pack in the other. Both things were exceedingly rare, leaving us to be one of the only outposts that had some. I glared at Ghoul as he walked towards me, gingerly taking my injured hand and cleaning it with a wet washcloth he produced from somewhere.
"Do you remember, back when you were 10 years old, that time you got so mad at Party for making you stay in the car you hotwired the Trans Am and drove off?" Ghoul chuckled, cleaning the thick dirt from my hand. "We ran back to the car after blowing up some headquarters or something with 20 Dracs on our ass and went, 'Fuck, they jacked the Trans and took Terror!' We were all so fucking freaked until you just drove up casually, the car doors locked, cracked the window and said, 'Can I come with you next time?' You made Party pinkie swear before you let us in."
I chuckled in spite of myself. I remembered pieces of that day vaguely, like having to stretch to reach the pedals and being afraid they were gonna leave me, like everyone else had. That, and the absolute fury on Party’s face. Hilarious.
"This is gonna hurt." Ghoul cautioned as he soaked the rag with antiseptic and pressed it gently to me battered knuckles. I inhaled sharply as he dabbed gently at the wounds, tears coming to my eyes. I was tougher than that, though, and kept myself from crying out through sheer willpower.
"Okay, let's wrap you up." He took the rag off my now-clean hand and pulled out an often-washed bandage, tightly wrapping my hand. “You know he loves you, Terror, we all do. Hell, I'm the one that found you, for Pete's sake. But you don't get how bad it is out there. We have targets painted on our backs, and to risk you out there, our best spy, but more importantly, our little sister, well, we just couldn't."
"That's bullshit, Ghoul, and you know it." I turned angrily. "I'm better trained than most of your Clan leaders, and know twice as much. You've been trying to get rid of me since you first laid eyes on me, and that I can get over, but when you claim to be doing it for my protection, just to make it easier a pill for all of you to swallow, well, that's fucking two-faced. At least be honest with me, dammit!" I turned started to stand but flexed my injured knuckles in the process, causing me to scream in pain and flop back onto my butt. I turned away, my eyes welling up. I'd got my name partially because of my wild temper, but partially because of my body's need to cry whenever I get angry. My eyes well up and I can't control it to save my life.
"Terror, what the fuck is wrong with you? For such a smart girl you're being fucking stupid. Of course we love you! Me especially!" Ghoul tried to convince me.
"Then why has it been two whole years since I've seen you last, huh?" I whirled around to face him, my eyes swelling. "And don't you dare say the Rebellion's keeping you away, because I keep hearing about all the trips you've made up here." I glared menacingly.
Ghoul was silent. His face went from confusion shock to realization as he realized just how this looked to me. Running a hand over his now-short hair, he stared at the ground.
"Jeez, Terror. I never realized..." He looked up at me mournfully.
“Yeah, well... You guys are still my family. Ma’s nice, and Speedy’s my best friend, but... it’s not the same. You wouldn’t believe the whispers and stares I get all the time from those who don’t know me, purely from running with you. And the worst part is, I know I don’t belong here. They’re not my family.” I exhaled, looking away. “My family dumped me here to be someone else’s problem.”
“You’re not a problem, Terror. You’re never been a problem. We do still love you.”
“Funny way to show it.”
“You’re making me feel like a terrible person, Olivia.” He said, his voice full of pain. Once he real-names me, I always give in and he knew it. I scooted over to him, allowing him to wrap his arms around me, just like he had when I was little. I snuggled into the familiar scent of my childhood; motor oil, explosives, and BO.
“You need to take a shower, Ghoul.” I wrinkled my nose.
“You need to forgive us, go back in there and get your assignment.” He rested his chin on top of my head. I knew before the war that Ghoul had had twin daughters and a wife. They’d died in the early bombings while he’d been out working, maybe a month before he’d formed the Fabulous Killjoys with the rest of the guys, his good friends from before, and maybe 2 years before he’d found me. I knew I was the closest thing to a kid he’d had since the bombings, and he was the closest thing I’d ever had to a father. They all shared the role, but Ghoul had found me, named me and saved my ass numerous times. I’d done the same for him, but hey, who’s counting?
After a few minutes, Ghoul released me. We both stood, facing each other. “Look, this mission’s huge. It could change this whole crazy war in our favor. This isn’t just about us anymore, Terror. We need you.” He looked at me seriously. “Hey, if this goes well, I’ll talk to Party, and who knows, maybe he’ll let you come with us.” My face lit up, causing him to chuckle. “I know they’ve missed you just as much as I have. You just need to do this one from here, okay?”
I sighed. “Okay.” I hugged him, realizing just how much taller I was than him.
“What did you do to your hair, knucklehead?” He picked out my lime-green streaks.
“How about you, huh? Yours is just a bit more drastic, don’t ‘cha think?” I rubbed his head.
“The second that Drac called me ‘Miss’ we all knew it was all coming off.” He rubbed his head and grinned at me as we walked back into the warehouse kitchen.
“Well, you always were the feminine one.” I teased as he held he door for me.
“No, that’s that redheaded dude over there.” Ghoul pointed across the room to Party.
“What about me?” Party looked up.
“Terror, you came back!” Kobra hugged me again.
“Of course she came back, moron, we’re her family.” Jet Star hugged me.
“Moron, huh?” Kobra crossed his arms.
“We need to talk, man.” I looked over to see Ghoul and Party talking in hushed tones. Party looked up at me and, seeing me watching, moved to the table to sit down. We all did the same, Jet Star and Kobra still bickering.
“Okay, come here.” I stood and walked to the other end of the table, the rest of the guys pulling their chairs in closer, trying to see the papers Party was unrolling.
“We have new information on this project they keep advertising all over the city.” Party’s voice dropped to a whisper. While we trusted most Killjoys, we still couldn’t be too careful. "From what we can tell, they're planning some sort of ray."
"Ray? Why's that a big deal?" I looked down at the papers to see a tall structure like the skeletons of old cell phone towers we'd seen in abandoned suburbs. "We've dealt with those before."
"Not like this." Party pointed to the core of the structure. "The electron reactor in the middle transmits a signal that modifies the wavelength of certain brainwaves in humans, causing free will, independence and creativity to become undesirable."
"Just like the pill." I said quietly.
"Worse." Party took out a stack of papers and placed them on the table next to the map. "This can be broadcast over all the Zones. It has a 98% success rate on citizens, 99% on Dracs, and 95% on Killjoys."
"They've already tested it on Killjoys, not to mention other people?!" I inhaled sharply. "These bastards make me sick."
"It would make the Pills obsolete." Jet Star shuffled through the studies. "They could even bend Killjoys to their will."
"This is like nothing we've ever dealt with before." Ghoul studied the schematics before looking up at Party. "We need to stop this thing."
"How in the Holy Hannah are we supposed to do that?" I looked at Party.
"Seek and destroy. Simple as that." Party leaned over the schematics. "Show her, Kobra."
"The electron reactor right here," Kobra pointed to the tower's center, "is connected to the super computer in BLI headquarters in the middle of the city. From there, you can program the whole thing, if you can get into the system. The hard part, of course," He pushed his glasses back up on his nose, shuffling the schematics around to find a diagram of the headquarters, "is getting into this thing. It's fortified like a castle with more Dracs than a Pill party with lots of reason to take you out." Kobra pointed to a room on the top floor in the very center. "The computer's up here. You'd have about an hour to get up there and fry this sucker while we divert the attention of all the other Dracs." Kobra and the others grinned at each other.
"We want to send someone with you, too." Party said, grabbing a file out of his backpack.
"Not a chance." I shook my head. "This is a solo job, Party, and someone else will just slow me down."
"Well there's no way in Hell I'm sending you into the middle of the top BLI headquarters in Battery City by yourself!" Party glared at me.
"There's no way I'm taking some moron in with me!" I put my hands on my hips, glaring indignantly. "Especially someone I don't know and haven't trained with. This needs to be done right, Party, and I'm not risking someone else."
"But-" Party started.
"No."
"Come on, Terror-" Ghoul tried to reason with me
"Not a chance. I'm good by myself, guys, really. If you don't believe me, then, well, I just won't do it." I crossed my arms over my chest, looking firm.
"Damn you and your independence." Party looked from me to Ghoul. "I think she's got us beat. Fine. You'll go in by yourself." I cheered as Ghoul sputtered, outraged. "But," Party held up one hand, "if there's even the slightest bit of trouble, we'll send this guy in after you, got it?" Party smacked the folder on the table.
"Got it, chief." I grinned. "I can do this."
"Great. We'll discuss details later." Party nodded to me.
"Awesome. Now, about this car I... ahem... found yesterday..."
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