"I've been trying to contact you for hours!" Airi screeched at him. She got up from his desk and stalked over. "Where have you been?"
"...Choosing the Draculoids I want to take with me on the mission tomorrow. Is that such a problem?" Gerard was impressed. Korse was a quick thinker and a good liar. Airi raised her eyebrow.
"Mmmhmm. Well, if you could at least answer your cell phone in future. You can see Bandit if you like. Or not. I mean, she does hate you." Airi smirked cruelly. Gerard was confused. Korse had never mentioned Bandit hating him.
"Thank you," Korse muttered.
"Very well. Good day, Korse." She left.
"Bandit hates you?" Gerard asked, wrenching off his mask that was making his face sweat profusely. Korse sat at his desk and sighed.
"I...was the one that initiated the hypnotism that forced her to tell us where Grace was..."
"WHAT?" Gerard roared.
"I thought I was doing the right thing! I didn't know what the penalty for her would be! I would never wish harm on her, she's like a daughter to me!" Korse cried, standing. Gerard slammed his fist on the desk.
"But she's not your daughter! She's mine!" he snapped. "And you! YOU'RE to blame for her being sentenced to death! My little girl oh my god..." He dropped to his knees and held his face in his hands. Korse knew Gerard was right. He WAS to blame.
"If I could take it back, I would. But...if we pull the plan off, not only will Bandit be saved, but the entire human race as well!" Gerard shrugged and stayed silent. He got to his feet and crossed the room to a couch where he lay down, his back to Korse. However much Korse believed Bandit was his, he could not deny that this man deserved her far more than he did. She was HIS daughter after all. "I'm so sorry for taking her from you," he choked before retreating to his room at the back of the office. He needed his rest. They both did.

*THE DINER*

Poison stood outside the Diner, drawing in a lungful of smoke from his recently lit cigarette. He blew the smoke into the air and watched as tumbleweed rolled across the ground a distance away. There was a roar of an engine starting and the Trans-Am pulled out of the garage with Cherri in the front seat.
"Where are you going?" he asked as she leaned out of the open window.
"Ghost Town. Need to stock up on Batteries for the guns, and also some Power Pup for the journey after the fight." She blinked. "...Do you wanna come?" He nodded eagerly and bounded in beside her. "HEY DOC!" she yelled at the Diner. Dr. D wheeled out.
"What?"
"I'm taking Poison with me to Ghost Town for supplies, okay? We'll be back in about an hour." Dr. D nodded and waved them off. Pressing her foot hard against the accelerator, the two Killjoys shot into the desert. Poison hadn't really taken in the surroundings up until now. These parts had once been a place probably full of houses. Now it was basically a flat desert wasteland, with some once well-structured malls and taller buildings still - by barely - standing. It hit him just how bad those bombs must of been. How many people must have been killed. How many families lost...
"Tragic, isn't it?" Cherri sighed, slowing down a little.
"What...what was the death toll...after he bombs..?" he gulped. She sniffed and her hands clenched the wheel so tight her knuckles were White.
"Three quarters of the population of earth died. There's barely anyone left. I don't think even The Boss planned such a devastation. Well...I hope he didn't. But...so many people... The continents have been reduced to almost nothing. There are hardly any humans left. We're unbelievably lucky to be alive." Tears welled up in her eyes. "It makes me sick to my very soul. The world is broken, and no amount of pills and drugs will ever change that." Poison couldn't even comprehend the extent of the horror that Cherri was describing. The car stayed silent for a long while. Poison didn't know what to say. Suddenly a span of ramshackle buildings arose in the distance.
"Ghost Town?" he asked.
"The very one." They stopped outside an old motel with its windows smashed - it really did look like a bomb had hit it. Cherri got out and Poison presumed that that was his cue to get out too.
"Keep hold of your gun," she whispered, holding hers up to her face and doing a 360 of the surrounding area. Poison got nervous. This place was obviously dangerous. "All clear for now. Stay close beside me. Make no sudden noises." They walked around the corner and onto the main street that was lined with different, broken stores. It was silent.
"This is so creepy," Poison whispered shakily.
"Oh grow a pair, you big coward," she chuckled, rolling her eyes. He glared at her but then turned his attention sharply to a noise from inside a store nearby. "Lock and load," Cherri hissed and he followed her orders. They crouched behind some large overflowing trash cans for a while, waiting whatever was inside out. A flash of colour burst out and a shower of laser shots followed after it from deep within the store.
"Killjoy under attack!" Cherri gasped, throwing herself out from behind the trash cans and firing into the store. Poison hopped out, sweat beading on his forehead. The other Killjoy was probably long gone, and Cherri was taking the Drac's on, on her own. He scooted round to the side of the store and peered in, seeing Cherri kicking a dead Drac as she walked out. She looked up at Poison and glared.
"AND WHERE WERE YOU?" she shout-whispered. He flinched.
"I don't know I just freaked out and-"
"You are a KILLJOY now. You cannot AFFORD to be a coward! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?" Rage filled her face as she aimed her gun at Poison. He whimpered and she clicked it.
"You wouldn't!" he breathed, beginning to shake harder.
"Toughen up you idiot! This is the danger days, where you could be shot AT ANY MOMENT. So stop shaking, stop moaning and start BEING A KILLJOY!" There was an episode of silence. She sighed and lowered her gun. "Sorry. I just...it's not time to be a coward. We were all cowards once. Missile Kid is ten and she's one of the bravest Killjoys I know. You don't deserve to die. So don't let it happen." She turned away and scanned the street. Poison was frozen. He hadn't been yelled at in...well...since whenever it was he last got yelled at.
"Sorry Cherri..." he mumbled sadly, staring at his feet. She span back to face him and her face broke out into a small smile.
"Oh Poison, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone off on you like that." She patted his shoulder. "Now where'd that Killjoy get to?"