Russel (c) Damon and Jamie

Chapter 34: Radioactive Drummer

He had lost track of how long he had been swimming and noticed the more he swam the bigger he got which also meant that his energy increased. He was currently on his back letting the waves of the Pacific Ocean carry him to his destination, which was a pink island in the South Pacific. The man was bigger than fishing boats and would surpass the size of oil tankers if he kept eating the way he did.

Russel Hobbs still remembered what caused him to jump into the deep blue sea.

Flashback

Russel left Kong a week after the El Manana incident. He, just like 2D and Araiya, didn't know it was staged so he honestly thought his baby girl was dead and gone forever. At first he stayed in London for a year and then moved to California. The man got a job working in a record shop by the ocean, and was able to rent out a bedsit to live in until he found something bigger.

Naturally the man was depressed and still having demons up in his mind didn't help either so he basically became a recluse and only went out for his job or if he needed to shop for food. Some days were good, some days were bad.

The demons would mock him and play upon the tragedy he witnessed those four years earlier. Russel tried to shut them out with his Xanax and other pills, but sometimes it made things worse and Russ thought he'd go mad so he would just try his best to ignore them.

One day he was in the shop he worked in when the delivery man for the place rolled in a couple of boxes that contained new CD's from different artists.

"Only two boxes today Gene?"

"Yeah, only two boxes." The man took out his electronic notepad so the big man could sign it. "Just need your signature." he handed the object to Russel.

He took it and signed his name on the dotted line. "There ya go. See ya next week man."

"See ya." Gene left the store.

The drummer took the boxes to the counter and sat them on there. He took the box cutter from the drawer and opened one. From it, Lady Gaga's face stared up at him. Shrugging his shoulders, he opened the other box and another popular artist's face stared at him. Sighing, he carried the boxes over to the shelves and began putting them into the correct places.

Once he got to the 'G' section, he put away a few Good Charlotte CDs and that's when he came to the new Gorillaz album.

Russel couldn't believe it. At first he thought he was seeing things, but the piece of decorated cardboard in his hands was too real. He turned it over and quickly scanned the list of sixteen songs. He had to listen to it and would do that when he got home.

Surely Murdoc wouldn't make another album without him would he? Did the man replace Noodle or is Araiya filling in for her. What about 2D? Did the singer forget about him?

After work, Russel hurried home with the CD and put it into his radio's player and randomly chose a song. There enough was Murdoc's bass playing a melody and then a few seconds later, 2D's voice came pouring our of the speakers.

Shaking his head the big man turned to another song and Mos Def's voice sounded, then Bobby Womack's, then Snoop Dogg's and Bashy and Kano's. He even recognized Yukimi Nagano's voice since he had recently began to listen to Little Dragon.

Then in the song Sweepstakes, he knew that was his drum machine. Murdoc didn't even bother to ask him to take part in the new album. Scowling he shut off the radio and sat down in a chair, which creaked a bit from his weight. Russ couldn't believe that this was happening. That green bastard didn't even try to contact him.

All this anger made him hungry so he got up and began to make himself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Yanking open the fridge door, he grabbed the strawberry jelly shutting the door then grabbed the chocolate peanut butter and bread from the cabinet above the sink. Taking out two pieces of bread, the took a knife, and spread the contents onto them not even paying attention to how much he was putting on there.

He sat back down, angry thoughts running through his head. That's when the demons began to mock him.

'Aww, you got left out.'

'You see, not even Murdoc has no use for you anymore. Why would he? After all you're just a messed up man.'

'You're worthless.'

'I don't think any of them even liked you to begin with. You were just a means to an end.'

'That drum machine is way better than you...'

"ARGH! SHUT UP!" Russel shouted and then stood up. His half eaten sandwich in his hand. He got up and took out a piece of paper and pen and began to write a note. He was so furious, he could only get some of it down. Some of the peanut butter and jelly fell onto the paper.

'This is it-

The demons have chased me down and now forced my heavyweight hip-hop hand. I need to get there. The expanse, the calm of the eternal briny deep. The Ocean...

The...Ocean...b-bacon...

So this is it...

Throw myself into the sea... X '

Russel Hobbs

The drummer finished his food and left his place for good, then stomped all the way to the pier.

There were two men sitting at the end of it fishing when the the jetty began to shake. They looked at each other then looked over their shoulders to see a very angry Russel coming down it. The two watched in shock as the man got to the end and leaped into the calm water. The men dropped their fishing rods and went to go and get help.

Russel felt himself sinking, but after a few minuets he began to swim in the direction that he believed Point Nemo was in.

End Flashback

White eyes stared up at the stars and frowned. Maybe this was how it was supposed to go down, who knows. Whatever the case may be, he'd go there and set things right with the bassist then leave. Maybe even kill himself for real next time around since there was nothing to really live for any longer. His world had come crashing down when Noodle died. There was surely a bullet or a rope with his name on it.

Only how things would play out once he got there would give him the answer on what to do.

Our beloved drummer is on his way.