When the Angels Came Down To Battery City (6)

CHAPTER SIX

ESCAPE FROM TEENAGE BOOT CAMP, FEATURING: THE LOVELY BLOODSHOT

"You alright, Jet Star?" Fun Ghoul asked hesitantly as he assessed a rip in his jacket. "Christ," He muttered to himself, "This is my favourite jacket too…"

"Yeah, I'm alright," Jet Star muttered, staring down at the recently deceased OZ doctor who lay at his feet; a laser burn hole in his chest. "I just…" he trailed off. Grace went to him and hugged him tightly, whimpering a little into Jet Star's jeans.

"You hesitated there," Party Poison said, flinching a little as he sat upright on the ground, a hand on his shoulder.

"I know what I did," Jet Star snapped, "I just… It's been a hard road," He sighed, "I'm just getting tired I guess- I'm sorry," He said.

Party Poison nodded, gazing down at the ground for a moment. "I know man, it's okay." This was public knowledge; it had been a long and hard road for all of them… and as they ran together through the trenches of a sometimes not so silent war, all of them came up bruised and cut. But now, as he looked at Jet Star; a broken man who was now showing telling signs of fatigue, he realized that while they all came with baggage, Jet Star's wounds were a whole lot fresher. He didn't have the luxury of nearly a decade to get over it like Poison did… in fact, it was barely two years. Plus, it couldn't have been easy carrying around a reminder with him wherever he went. Party Poison ran a hand through his red hair and looked up at Grace who was clinging to her father like she was never letting go. He saw vulnerability in Grace that he remembered feeling; that horrible feeling of losing everything- all control vanishing in the pull of a trigger. But he knew he couldn't pretend for a second that he knew what Jet Star was feeling…

Must be tough holding the world together when you're falling apart…

With a sigh, the Killjoy leader sighed and looked around to survey the carnage. OZ doctors lay sprawled out everywhere around the makeshift laboratory. It was silent now, except for a few stray beeps from the heart monitors strapped to still sleeping teenagers in pretty prom dresses and tuxedos. "How's your shoulder?" Fun Ghoul asked, holding out a hand towards him. Party Poison took it and let his friend pull him up.

"I'll live," Party Poison said. "I'd like to find out what's coursing through my veins though," He huffed, "Better just be some B12 or something…"

Fun Ghoul smirked, "Probably," He said, "We'll get you to a doctor when we leave here- a real one…" He scoffed, making Poison laugh.

"We did good, Killjoys," Poison said, finally standing upright without Fun Ghoul's help. "Now let's set these chickens free and get out of here before the authorities turn up,"

"Sounds good," Jet Star nodded, smiling weakly. "Think they'll make it?" He asked, looking around the room at the unconscious teenage kids.

"Some of them will," Party Poison said.

"The ones without gaping holes in their head… and you know, missing brain parts…" Fun Ghoul said in his usual tasteless way. Party Poison smirked and patted him on the shoulder, resisting the obvious urge to smack him upside the head.

"Let's get moving Killjoys…" Poison said. "And someone please try and buzz Kobra Kid again…"

Even if Kobra Kid's cell phone walkie talkie device was still in working action, he wouldn't have heard them buzzing in. Unfortunately for all the Killjoys concerned- especially Kobra Kid, he was currently very unconscious, and being dragged by the feet along the school hallway. He mumbled something in his sleep, and Bloodshot stopped for a moment to make sure he was still out cold. "Kobra Kid?" She said softly and waited for a reply.

Kobra Kid continued to barrel roll through a litany of strange venom-induced dreams and so Bloodshot shrugged it off and continued to drag him. She stared down at her hostage; a poor innocent looking soul with far too many bright colours on, and wondered for a moment how something so sickeningly childlike could end up on the Better Living exterminate list. Still, she was intrigued as to how his body was coping with the impact of her venomous bite.

"Hey!" A voice broke her train of thought and she turned around swiftly, dropping Kobra Kid's feet and reaching for her laser pistols. She drew both of them and pointed them straight for her would-be assailants who had their lesser (but equally deadly) laser guns pointed at her. She recognized Party Poison's trademark yellow half mask and crimson hair immediately. "Step away from the Killjoy!" He snarled.

"Oh my god, is he bleeding? Why is he bleeding!" Fun Ghoul blurted, catching a glimpse of Kobra Kid's blood stained neck. "He better not be dead, you little bitch," He snarled.

"He's fine!" Bloodshot said, "He's still breathing!" At that point, Kobra Kid muttered something that sounded like 'mommy I want that snakey'. Jet Star raised an eyebrow at Fun Ghoul. "I don't mean any harm…" Bloodshot said; side glancing to make sure an escape route was nearby just in case things went pear shaped.

"Yeah you're definitely displaying peaceful intentions right now," Jet Star scoffed.

"Sorry lady, but from where we come from, friends don't point pistol- holy crap are those AK99 Automatic Laser Pistols?" Fun Ghoul blurted.

"Ghoul!" Party Poison spat.

"Right- um… wait…" Fun Ghoul struggled to regain his composure. "Wait…" He began, gulping down, "You're a V.A.M.P soldier aren't you?"

"A what?" Jet Star said.

"Yes, I am," Bloodshot replied. "Look, I'll get rid of my guns, see…" She very slowly lowered them to the ground, placing them in front of her feet before kicking them towards Party Poison, Fun Ghoul, Jet Star and Grace- the little 7 year old watching her in bewildered awe. "They're yours if you want them," She said, "I know who you are, and I know you need to get out of here before Scarecrow arrives,"

"What's your point, sugar?" Party Poison said, "Because if you have one you should be getting to it pretty quickly," He cocked his laser gun.

"I know these guys, I used to work for them- and I know how they operate… I can get you out of here and on the road safely…" Bloodshot reasoned, hoping to catch a break in what was turning out to be a really bad day.

"Did you just say 'used to'?" Fun Ghoul said.

"So you're just wearing that Better Living logo and X-brand for fun?" Jet Star smirked, tightening his grip on his blue laser gun. "Think up a better story, darlin',"

"I'm telling you the truth!" Bloodshot spat. She glanced at the X-brand on her shoulder; a black X in a box- a symbol of a life she used to live and a symbol she hated. Being reminded of it left a bitter taste in her mouth and she snarled, flashing her pearly white fangs. Grace cowered behind Jet Star. "Trust me, if those came off easy, I would've burned them awhile ago…" She said, "Here…" She put a hand to her neck, making Fun Ghoul and Jet Star straighten their aim. "Easy…" She muttered, and pulled out a wire that was plugged into the side of her neck. She pushed a couple of buttons on the touch screen panel of her belt and a few electronic beeps sounded. The pain of the ordeal showed in her expression as she pulled at the wire, snapping it. It made an electrical buzz and she looked up at Fun Ghoul to throw it at him. "Here," She huffed.

A robotic voice chimed in for effect; "Warning! Support systems 1: Cardio- disengaged…"

Bloodshot locked eyes with Fun Ghoul and his expression dropped. "I can tell you know enough about electronics to know I'm telling the truth… that little piece of metal and electrical tape is my life support… I have one hour to survive without it until mortality starts setting in and I power down forever," She said. "It's yours to keep until I get you out of here safely."

Party Poison and Jet Star looked over at Fun Ghoul who inspected the item in his hand. He looked up at them, "She- she's telling the truth," He said, unable to find the words to speak for once in his life. "I'm going to have to re-solder these wires if they're going to work again," He said, mesmerized by the tiny piece he held in his hand and the power it had over this mysterious woman's life.

"Then I guess we're going to have to hurry," Bloodshot said, gritting her teeth.

"Fine," Party Poison said, just as the sounds of sirens filled the air. He stuffed his laser gun back into his holster and bent down to pick up Bloodshot's pistols. He shoved one into the back of his pants and tossed the other at her. "You lead the way, sunshine,"

"Hmm," Kobra Kid smirked in his sleep, "Irony…"

Jet Star leapt forward and picked Kobra Kid up, Fun Ghoul helping him haul the incapacitated Killjoy towards the nearest exit. Party Poison fell into step behind Bloodshot who glanced back at the boys every so often as she led them towards the exit. Grace jogged up beside Party Poison, gasping to keep up.

"P-P-Poison," She stammered. The Killjoy turned and quickly scooped him up into his arms.

"Shh, kiddo, you're alright," He cooed, cradling Grace close as they picked up the pace. The wail of the sirens grew closer, swelling through the hollow corridors of the school. Their footsteps rang a little louder.

A voice boomed through a loud hailer; "Empty the building now, empty the building now! We have this place surrounded!"

"Come on!" Bloodshot shouted as she skidded down the end of the hallway towards a fire escape. She kicked open the door that flew open with a loud bang. An alarm rang; so high pitched it made the boys flinch. "Quick!" Bloodshot called out over the piercing noise.

Before they knew it, the Killjoys plus one android abomination were running through the vacant football field, trying hard to keep their panic under control. Party Poison caught up with Bloodshot and they ran alongside each other, panting. "Do you have a flare?" She asked him, looking straight ahead.

"Flare? Yeah!" He replied and pulled out a red stick from his jacket.

"We need a decoy," She said, taking the flare, "Where'd you park?"

"Out front," He replied.

"Good, bet they wouldn't expect that," She plugged the flare into the barrel of her one remaining pistol and fired it into the air. A bright red light shot out of the pistol and ended in a firework type explosion a clear thirty feet in the air. "Fuck it!" She breathed, seeing that the pistol didn't survive the ordeal. The barrel crumbled and a black smoke flowed out of it. She tossed it to the ground.

"Plan?" Party Poison said.

"The others keep going- and get them to wait in the back alley behind the café up ahead… we'll circuit back for the car and pick them up," She said.

"Alright," Party poison replied, "Good plan- you come programmed with it?"

Bloodshot smirked. "I wish, it's just practise," She said, "You won't believe how expensive software is these days,"

Party Poison laughed.

Scarecrow officers stormed through St. Christopher's High School. "Go, go, go!" A chant of deep voices filled the air as they filed in. They were in riot gear armour; extra thick bulletproof vests, glass shields and laser rifles in tow. A few android German Shepherds barked, their voices echoing through the hallway. Their robotic eyes worked like red laser pointers that scanned the hall for any sign of the escaped anarchists.

"Move up! Move up!" The team's leader called out as he ran in from the back of the group. "Where are they?" He murmured to himself, "Fuck, where are they…"

"Sir!" An officer called out suddenly. The leader ran up and saw that the officer was standing by the locker door entrance to the OZ lab.

"Christ…" The leader huffed, looking despondent. He lowered his rifle.

"Looks like they're long gone sir," The officer said, standing way too straight to be completely human. "I sent a canine operative in sir, it's a mess…"

An officer walked out of the hole in the wall, holding a blonde kid in a tuxedo who gaped at the infirmary before him. "There's a few more of them in there," The second officer said, shaking the boy who rattled around like a rag doll. "What do we do with them?"

"Leave them outside- let them go home… shit," The leader said, "Can't have this- Christ!" He groaned, "We have to shut it down before those punk anti-Better Living media whores get a hold of this!" He said. "You have any idea? Any God damned idea how long it took to keep all this under hush hush and key?" He shouted, grabbing a hold of the first officer's face and shaking him angrily.

"Um…" The officer stammered when he stopped, though his cheeks were still being squished by a very strong hand, "A long time sir?"

"A fucking long time!" The leader said and let the officer go. He stumbled backwards and wiped his lips on the back of his hand. "Get this pile of shit out of my face," He ordered the second officer who hurriedly left with the boy. "The rest of you- make sure the kids are out of here and that the whole lab is covered up- not a fucking trace!" He ordered. His face was red now, and a vein pulsed on his forehead. "Who the hell did this…"

"I-I have a theory sir…" The officer mumbled. The leader looked around at his snivelling soldier.

"Well then?" He demanded.

The officer quickly went to the locker door and slammed it shut. The leader's expression dropped and finally, the red drained out of his face. The Better Living logo had been artfully disfigured with a yellow mask painted over top.

"God damn it…" he said quietly.

"It's the Killjoys sir," The officer said, straightening his helmet. "They were here…"

Party Poison followed Bloodshot out to the car quietly, glancing behind him at the entrance to the school that was blocked up by empty Scarecrow vehicles. "Shh…" Bloodshot hushed.

"Did I say anything?" Party Poison snapped in a hushed voice, exasperated.

"Shh," She said again and he cleared his throat in irritation. When he saw the Trans-Am, he lit up and suddenly felt a sense of hope surge back into his system. He reached a gloved hand out to the driver side car door and opened it as slowly and silently as he could.

Above them, a VTV Vulture sat on a street lamp, staring down at them as it squawked idly. Its chameleon like robotic eye zeroed in on the pair under it as they looked around again, edging closer and closer to the car. Party Poison reached a gloved hand out to the driver side car door and opened it as slowly and silently as he could. "Squawk!"

In an office far, far, away- all the way at Better Living Headquarters in the heart of Battery City; miles and miles, and miles away, a hand stroked a static filled monitor that screened exactly what the VTV Vulture was spying on. The monitor was just one of twenty that sat stacked amidst some radio transmission equipment, all surveying other places in synchrony; brought live to the viewer through the eyes of many a robotic desert creature.

Party Poison made one last glance back at the school as he slipped into the driver's seat and started up the car. The circuit boards across the set up came alive suddenly; flashing LED lights like a God awful Christmas tree.

"Sir! Come in, Come in! This is Chief Dallas Smart of the Scarecrow patrol team! Do you copy? Over!" A voice belted through the radio device next to the screen. The hand picked it up.

"I copy you, Chief Dallas Smart of the Scarecrow Patrol Team," A low, smarmy voice replied into the radio. "Over…" It was Korse. He was all head- not a single follicle of hair marked the top of his head, giving him an otherworldly alien presence. He sat staring at the screen that lit up his garishly pale face with a blue hue, a truly psychotic smile growing on his thin lips. Hs black eyes bored a hole through the monitor before him.

"Korse sir, we have reason to believe that the Killjoys were behind the… problems… we had here at the OZ lab at St. Christopher's High School in Section B5… I thought you'd like to know," The radio buzzed; Ksch… "Over!"

"Good to know, Chief Dallas Smart of the Scarecrow Patrol Team…" Korse replied, sounding oddly calm given the circumstance. The tone in his voice was as eerie as Hannibal Lecter in a ski mask. "Thank you for your delightful information," He said. "Over…"

"Uh… that's alright sir, we'll clean up here and give you a proper report when we get back to Battery City," Chief Dallas said. "Is there anything else we can do for you? Over."

Korse scoffed to himself, blinking his tired eyes that were framed by red circles from far too many sleepless weeks. He smoothed down the ruffles on his ruffled collar and lifted the radio to his lips again, "Nothing at all, Chief Dallas Smart of the Scarecrow Patrol Team," He said, watching closely as Party Poison looked right up at the VTV Vulture for a moment's glance. "Nothing at all… over,"

"If you say so sir, see you soon," Chief Dallas said. "Over and out," Ksch…

Korse sat the radio back down and ran his bony fingers over his lips in pensive thought. "My, my, my Poison… haven't you been a busy little bee, shaking up hives and doing your little dance," He spoke lyrically, "Don't you know, little bee, that you can't keep stinging if you want to fly free…" He laughed a little to himself, the LED lights now casting a green glow on his face. Korse looked positively homicidal in the light of his surveillance equipment; and it suited him all too well. "I see you have a new friend too… but the others didn't know…" He said, watching as Bloodshot took one last survey of the area. "My pretty little princess… the lovely Bloodshot," He sighed. "Very well, Poison…" He said quietly, his smooth voice dripping with malicious intent so thick it could've grabbed the old fashioned laser pistol right out of his holster.

He watched as Poison pulled the Trans-Am out onto the open road and sped away. Korse grinned to himself then, and sat back in his leather chair that creaked under his shifting weight. With a slow intake of breath, he uttered two words that would've sounded plain as day coming from anyone else… but for some reason, it felt like a death threat when he fell from his lips;

"Keep… running…"