After a short drive on the winding back roads of California the crew passed into Nevada. They were on NV-160 E and planned to take it for around four hours. The longer they could stay on the road, the better. Ripley had the most experience driving out of any of them. Marina was used to the steering wheel being on the right side of the vehicle; which was customary in the United Kingdom, South Africa, Japan, and several other countries. Around 65% of the world's countries drive on the right side of the road with their steering wheel on the left. In some countries they even have different systems depending on the region. For example: Okinawa Japan switched to driving on the right side after World War II. This was due to the occupation of United States troops in the area. The city changed back in 1978 when it was returned to Japanese control. The reason so many countries drive the "UK way" is mostly due to British Colonialism, but that's not always the case.

Japan drove on the left side before automobiles even existed on the roads. This was due to Samurai ruling the country. They preferred having their dominant hand free for potential confrontations. Despite never being ruled by Britain, it's possible that they were still influenced by their culture. This is because England helped Japan build their first railroad system in the 1870's.

Canada used to have a very odd system. The country has always been influenced by two different European cultures. Much of it is influenced by British tradition. Though many areas like Montreal and Quebec drove on the right side of the road like France. This obviously resulted in countless accidents. It also complicated border-crossings from the United States. Depending on the part of the country you were entering, it was possible that you'd need to quickly pivot to another method of driving altogether. Due to this, Canada adopted the American style nationwide in the 1900's.

Marina leaned her head against the passenger side window. Beyoncé's Single Ladies was playing on the radio as they drove down the long barren road. Nevada was incredibly flat. Not only that, but there didn't really seem to be anything for miles. The state had many cities with large populations, but there were also enormous spans of desert with little to speak of.

"Does anyone actually like this song?" Marina groaned.

"I know you're not about to diss Beyoncé." Ripley warned.

"I don't really understand it either." Shizuka mumbled. "It's like… They're really proud of being single ladies, right? And they have solidarity too. So why do they want you to put a ring on it? They wouldn't be single ladies anymore if you did."

"That's a good point." Marina pointed to the back seat.

"No, it's not. The lyrics are 'then you shoulda put a ring on it.' She's saying that he didn't, and now she's over him. She's embracing the status of a single lady." Ripley argued.

"Well why're we so proud of being single ladies? It's fine if that's your choice, but don't talk about it so much. If you're single and always talk about how it's a choice, I start to wonder if you just can't get a man." Marina shrugged.

"Both of you take a nap." Ripley ordered.

"Wha? I'm not tired." Marina scoffed.

"Be good and take a nap. If you can't enjoy the music, keep your trap shut. Driver picks the tunes."

"We live in a democracy." Shizuka countered.

"Liking Beyoncé isn't a democracy. I'm an authoritarian when it comes to her. Either you agree with me, or you'll be destroyed."

"Ripley 2012…" Marina chuckled. "I like the tagline. Agree with me or be destroyed."

"My first executive order will change the national anthem to Single Ladies. The pledge will be replaced with Halo." Ripley smirked.

"The pledge? What's the pledge?" Marina raised a brow.

"Y'know… The pledge of allegiance?" Shizuka sat up a bit.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Shizuka and Ripley recited in perfect harmony. Their pauses and inflection were absolutely identical.

"Dude, that's spooky. Why do you do that?" Marina seemed shocked.

"We do it every day at school." Shizuka explained.

"Every day?"

"Yeah, Princess. You put your hand on your heart, stand up, and recite it with everyone before class starts." Ripley said like it was perfectly normal.

"You don't have that in England?" Shizuka asked.

"No, we don't have anything like that. You guys swear allegiance in a monotone drone every single day? You never thought that was weird?"

"It's just the pledge." Shizuka said.

"No need to be such a crumpet-munching tea-lover." Ripley snickered.

"We're not mindless automatons where I come from."

"So, you don't have anything like the pledge?" The agent questioned.

"I suppose we have an oath to the Queen. But we don't say it in unison every morning. I can't even remember how it goes." Marina laughed.

"Oh, to the Queen." Shizuka drew the word out sarcastically.

"For the Queen." Ripley joined in.

"God save the Queen."

"I say, this tea would go much better if I could sip it with the Queen."

"Why're you guys saying it like that?" Marina frowned.

"Saying what? The Queen?" Shizuka teased.

"God save the Queen, Marina. God save her." Ripley held in a laugh.

"We don't say the Queen like that. We say it like normal people."

"No, you don't. You find the word in the back of your throat, and it comes out the roof of your mouth. You say the Queen."

"You'd better stop saying it like that." Marina warned.

"We're just saying the Queen."

"Yeah, Marina, what's wrong with the Queen?"

"I'm going to crash this car and kill us all. Fucking try me." Marina growled.

"Good Madame, I implore you to cease these preposterous threats. It's positively uncivil. Think of the Queen." Ripley giggled mid-sentence.

"Queen doesn't even sound like a word anymore." Marina groaned.

"Well that's because you're not saying it right. It's Queen." Shizuka interjected.

"I AM GOING TO SCREAM." Marina threatened while also screaming, kind of ruining the threat in question.

"Hey Marina… Who's your favorite band?" Shizuka asked quietly.

"Don't."

"I'm not doing a bit. I'm just really curious about your favorite band. Why don't you tell me who your favorite band is? I really wanna know." She giggled from the back seat.

"Shizuka, I will seal your mouth shut with my Stand. Don't test me. I'll jump back there and beat your ass." The blonde huffed, crossing her arms.

"It's Queen, isn't it?"

Marina screamed at the top of her lungs, kicking her feet and flailing her arms incoherently. "I can't kick your ass, we're in a car!"

"Take a nap." Ripley gave Marina's head a little pat.

"Want my apple juice?" Shizuka offered, holding it over the center console.

"Shizuka, you had a six pack of those when we left, and I only see three in there now. Have you had three apple juices?" Marina raised a brow.

"I just don't see what the problem is."

"You're tiny. We're gonna have to stop every five minutes for you to pee."

"Then have one of my apple juices and take a nap." She threw it at Marina.

"Hey! No throwing in the car!" Ripley scolded.

"This is going well." Marina rolled her eyes, stabbing the straw into her juice and sipping it aggressively.

"Why can't you two be like the twins? They haven't said anything for over an hour." Ripley said.

"Shirlie's asleep, and Pepsi could be dead for all we know." Shizuka shrugged.

"Not dead. Just have nothing to add." Pepsi spoke abruptly.

"Oh wow. Pepsi's been listening the whole time!" Shizuka called up to the front.

"God save the Queen." They mumbled.

"When we're done saving the world, I'm never talking to any of you ever again." Marina announced.

State Highway Trooper McKinley sat idly in his cruiser on the side of the empty desert road. His only real job was to catch oblivious dunces speeding down the road without enough common sense to slow down before he could book them. If someone was paying that little attention, they deserved to pay a ticket. There was nothing obstructing his car. He was perfectly visible to all oncoming traffic. This particular road wasn't very busy in the morning. He reclined his chair back a bit, crossing his arms and yawning. Overweight and underworked, McKinley adored his job. He pulled a lot of strings to get such an uneventful road. Let the young spry men chase bad guys, that's what he believed.

Long, slender legs walked across the dirt surrounding the cruiser. It took a moment for McKinley to notice the footsteps. That just couldn't be right. He had to turn the radio down and double check. The officer lowered his window and peeked outside. No one was out there. He chuckled, shaking his head and closing the window. It was hotter than Satan's taint outside. Even letting the window lower for a few seconds filled the car with humidity and heat. He turned the AC up to full blast, reclining his seat even further. On the way down, he felt a bit of resistance. Something was pushing against the back of his seat. He glanced up at the rear-view mirror to see what it was.

A woman sat in the back of the cruiser. Her arms were crossed, and she was looking directly at the mirror. Their eyes met. It seemed like her foot was pressing against the seat and preventing it from reclining any further. Her eyes were piercing. They shook the officer to his core. The woman had short brunette hair, long legs, and a curvaceous form. Her full lips curled into a smile. That's when McKinley screamed.

"What the!? HOW? When did you get in here? Who are you?"

"Easy, easy. This is a simple 406 in progress. Nothing to worry about." She shrugged, relaxing back in the leather seat.

"A what?" He reached for his gun, pulling it from the holster.

Her eyes got even more crazed after that. McKinley couldn't grab his gun. He thought he'd already done it, but looked down to find it secured in his holster. The flustered officer reached for it again, but to no avail. It took him a minute to process exactly why…

"A-A...A-AHHHH! MY ARM! WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO MY ARM!?" He screamed, staring in horror at his right sleeve. It hung uselessly from his torso. There was no arm to speak of. Somehow, the officer's right arm had completely vanished.

She just licked her lips, clapping her hands to get his attention. "You're typical, inconsequential. Normally I'd take my time and reduce you to atoms, but there are much bigger fish to fry. This is your one chance to get out of the car, take your clothes off, and give me your keys." She warned.

"Y-You think I'm going to give you my car? I could die of heat stroke out there! It's almost noon!" He tried desperately to get his gun with his left hand, fumbling with the holster and keeping his eyes on the mirror.

"What's the speed limit for this road?" She asked, glancing out the window.

"What!? What the hell are you talking about?"

"Tick tock…" She clicked her tongue before humming an impatient tune. It resembled the jingle that would play while a game show contestant considered his answer.

"Shut your mouth! You're under arrest. You have the right to remain silent-" His recital of the Miranda rights was cut short by the woman laughing.

"You really don't get it, do you? I'm a king cobra, and you're the adorable little koala being coiled by my muscular, deadly form." She snapped her fingers.

McKinley tried to escape. He reached for the door handle to no avail. A feeling of overwhelming dread crushed him moments later. Why couldn't he grab the latch? He looked down, letting out a shrill cry when he found no left arm either. The woman opened her door and exited the vehicle. Then, she yanked the driver door open and pulled McKinley from the car. She held him by the collar of his uniform, glaring into his eyes.

"Ignorant people really piss me off. Did any of you self-righteous pricks pay attention in school? If someone doesn't know something that they really should, I just lose my cool. That's not the only thing that's lost, though…" She gave his newly acquired shoulder stumps a little pat. "A 406 is the code for burglary, you worthless cumstain. And the speed limit for this road is 55! You sit there in your donut wagon and piss away taxpayer money every single day on this fucking road. How can you enforce a law that you're not even certain of? Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

He just started to sob. McKinley wasn't even able to wipe his face as tears and snot trailed down his patchy reddened complexion. "I don't wanna die! Please don't kill me! I'm just a few months from retirement! I don't even give anyone tickets! I let them drive however they want! I just want to retire and spend time with my wife!"

The woman rolled her eyes, letting go of McKinley's shirt. "Strip, right now. And I mean down to your underwear.

"Y-You're letting me go?" He sniffled, feeling a tinge of hope.

"No. I just don't want bloody clothes." She spoke without a hint of empathy.

McKinley's eyes widened. He didn't even have time to think. Before he knew what was happening, he found himself sprinting down the desert road. It was useless, though. A gut-wrenching scream echoed through the empty highway. It was truly an upsetting cry. Not only that, but it would be Officer McKinley's last. An empty uniform fell down against the boiling asphalt. The woman walked up to it, lifting the clothes up and inspecting them. She licked her lips, strutting back to the cruiser with a sway in her step.

Now dressed for the part, she got into the driver's seat and turned the keys in the ignition. She grabbed the police radio, throwing it out the window before peeling out of the speed trap and barreling down the highway. It was going to be such a good day…

The group's Accord cruised down the road at around 55mph. The kids in the back were all asleep. Ripley and Marina were speaking quietly to stay occupied. Honestly, they were hardly even talking. Their conversation mostly consisted of superficial facts they couldn't even remember learning. It was a little awkward, but they just wanted to stay alert on the road. Ripley cleared her throat, sitting up and clutching the wheel a little harder.

"Did you know that every cell in your body is completely replaced over the course of seven years?" She asked.

"Yeah, pretty wild." Marina yawned, crossing her arms and putting her feet up on the dashboard.

"Careful, Princess. If the airbag deploys your legs will end up in your lungs." Ripley warned.

"Pretty sure I'm flat out immune to blunt force trauma nowadays. It's really liberating." The blonde admitted.

"Must be nice." Ripley flicked the turn signal, moving into the passing lane.

"I mean, every Stand has its use. You could jump start the car, right?" She tried to be optimistic.

"Hardly compares to invincibility, extreme strength, and the ability to stick things together." The agent shrugged.

"Hey, hey, hey. Don't be all doom and gloom. You're one hell of a badass. I wouldn't tango with you."

"Really? Do you remember when we fought in Paris? You wiped the floor with me. I've trained in combat for years, and you decimated me with a few days of Stand experience. Really makes it hard to stay motivated."

"Nonsense. You've just got a bad matchup against me. I conduct all of your electric attacks, and your physical blows have no effect. That's all strength is, really. It's all about the matchup. You're way smarter than I am. Not only that, but you've got experience being scrappy. If I ever fought a water-based Stand, I'd be toast. Liquid weakens Bubblegum Bitch's effect. Vinegar totally nullifies it."

"I guess few people have Stands that match up well against everyone." Ripley admitted.

"Exactly. You've got crazy strong lightning powers. Don't sell yourself short."

"Electric Lady isn't a lightning Stand, goofball. It's more than that."

"Have you ever tried catching lightning with your Stand?" Marina countered.

"Wha- Huh!? Of course not! I mean… It'd maybe work? Probably? Why the hell would I test that?"

"Yaaaaaaawn. It'd be the first thing I tested." Marina leaned her seat back.

"If I ever see a bolt of lightning, I'll definitely try to grab it." The agent rolled her eyes, moving back into the right lane.

Once again, the conversation slowed. Neither woman said anything for about five minutes. Marina was close to dozing off. She kept catching herself right as her eyelids felt their heaviest. It was difficult, but she didn't want to leave Ripley completely unattended. None of them slept particularly well. Ripley kept her eyes focused dead ahead. She'd driven long distances before, so it wasn't that big a deal. Still, she wished at least one of her passengers had their license too. It was going to be one hell of a week.

Her eyes drifted to a large billboard on the right side of the road. It didn't have any fancy designs, or even a brand. No, instead it harbored a very simple question. Big red letters spelled it out against an all-white background. She raised her brow, mouthing the words as she read them.

How much does a loaf of bread cost?

"What?" She mumbled.

"Huh?" Marina sat up with a bit of drool on her chin.

"Nothing, nothing. Just a weird billboard."

Marina turned around, trying to find whatever Ripley was talking about. She gave up after about five seconds; settling back in her seat with a sigh.

"I swear, this country is just too damn big. Why don't you have trains?" She groaned.

"It'd certainly help. We have planes, but that's a little too risky right now. We need to keep a low-" She trained off, eyes widening as she saw yet another billboard. It was similar to the last, containing nothing but red text and a white background.

Last chance, Ripley. How much does a loaf of bread cost?

Her jaw dropped. "What in the actual fuck is going on?" She tensed up.

"What? Something wrong?" Marina looked out the window once more.

"That billboard just had my name on it!" She looked into the rearview mirror. Unfortunately, it was only one-sided.

"No kidding? Ripley isn't a very common name. That's a weird advertising decision." Marina leaned back in her chair.

"Something's wrong." Ripley felt sweat trailing down her back. "I don't know how, but I think we might be under attack."

"Wait, seriously? How could a few billboards do that? We picked a random road; it's not even the best route. How could they have bought ad space on this particular highway when we picked it randomly?" Marina looked around cautiously.

"I don't know, I don't know!" Ripley gripped the wheel even harder, clenching her teeth. "Just think for a minute! Could the billboards be a part of some Stand? They had questions on them…"

"What were the questions?"

"What does a loaf of bread cost?"

"And?"

"I don't know! Around two dollars? Does it really matter?" Ripley shouted.

At that moment the car veered out of control into the left lane. Both Ripley and Marina were screaming at that point. Neither of them understood what was happening. Ripley tried to hold the wheel, but she noticed something… The wheel pulled to the left so drastically because only her left hand was pressing against it. Her eyes widened.

"Your arm! Ripley, your fucking arm!" Marina pointed in horror.

The agent tried to move it, but she couldn't. Somehow, her right arm was completely gone. She still felt a bit of a phantom limb there, but it was likely just because her mind hadn't completely caught up.

"Calm down! Just calm the hell down and give me a second to think." Ripley ordered, keeping her remaining hand on the wheel as she tried to straighten out the car.

At this point everyone in the backseat was wide awake. Shizuka unbuckled her seatbelt, leaning onto the center console and looking at Ripley's missing limb. She stared in fascination, lifting the sleeve up and witnessing just how clean the removal seemed to be. She mouthed the word "beautiful" to herself before snapping to attention. She rested her elbows on the center console, glancing out the windshield.

"What's going on? Short version, go!" She barked.

Mere moments ago, Ripley was the one making orders. However, Shizuka's tone was so natural, so absolute. It was hard to resist, so the agent quickly responded.

"Billboards appeared with a vague question. When I didn't answer, my arm disappeared."

The child rubbed her chin for a moment. "Okay… See any other billboards? Did Marina see them too?"

"No, and no." Ripley responded.

"So, we're under attack. It has to be an automatic Stand. We're going sixty miles per hour. Where would the user even be?" Shizuka mumbled.

"Power just checked the trunk. There's definitely nobody in the car." Shirlie called from the back seat.

"Check the bottom of the car. They might be pulling a Cape Fear." Ripley ordered.

"Yeah, I don't get that reference." Shizuka shrugged.

Power's head poked out of the tacky carpet. He shook it with a frown.

"Nobody's clinging to the bottom, or clawing on the top. This has to be automatic." Shirlie concluded.

"That means it had predetermined rules. It probably can't think for itself. Just keep your eyes peeled for another billboard. If you see a question, answer it." Shizuka instructed.

"Okay, okay. Everyone just be quiet for a second. And buckle your goddamn seatbelt, Shizuka. The last thing we need is for you to go through the windshield." Ripley ordered, taking command once more.

Shizuka leaned back in her seat, clicking her buckle into place and staring out the windshield. She focused on the side of the road in anticipation for another billboard. Ripley was dead silent, gritting her teeth as she clenched the wheel with her remaining hand. The next minute was unbelievably tense. Everyone just sat there in utter silence, too terrified to distract Ripley from the challenge at hand. The agent didn't even blink, focusing on the scenery more than the road itself. Sure enough, about a mile later, a billboard appeared.

"There! I can see it!" She shouted.

Everyone sat up and looked out the window.

"I don't see anything." Marina mumbled.

"Me either." Shizuka clenched her fists.

"Then whatever's causing this is targeting me, and me alone." Ripley took a deep breath. "The last one took my arm the minute I accepted that I didn't know the answer. There's no lying to this force. I need to answer the next question, or else we could crash."

"Then focus! What does it say?" Marina was gripping the overhead handle located above the passenger-side window.

"Getting closer… I'll know in a second." She gritted her teeth.

The yellow guidelines of the road flew by faster and faster. Without even thinking, Ripley was putting the gas pedal all the way to the floor. It was easy to lose focus of a car's speed when distracted. Maybe this was even intentional; a way of reading the sign faster? Within seconds, the words took form. She could read the billboard.

What is your mother's middle name?

"Elizabeth!" She shouted, startling everyone else in the car.

The billboard left the car's line of sight, left behind in the dust. They were forced to wait with pounding hearts as Ripley continued down the road. After another mile, her arm was still present. Everyone exhaled for the first time in over a minute. However, it was far from over. Marina opened her window and leaned out of the car. She looked behind them in search of any suspicious vehicles. This Stand just seemed too complex to be automated. The User needed to be close. Even so, its range was impressive. They were in serious trouble. Where was Ripley's arm? Was it in some limbo? Or was it absolutely destroyed? Would she be an amputee forever? Or would she completely disappear. Marina panted heavily as the gravity truly set in.

They were in so much trouble.

Within a minute the next billboard was visible. Ripley squinted closely to see it as fast as possible. She gripped the wheel, grinding her teeth together. It was another question that she should have known the answer to. It was right on the tip of her tongue. Those words stood out against the white backdrop tauntingly… They mocked her ignorance.

Who was Ronald Reagan's Vice President?

She was well versed in politics. She wanted to be the president, for Christ's sake! How could she not know such a crucial detail about one of the most influential presidents in modern times? Regan shifted the scene so drastically that democrats had to lean right on economic issues for decades to come just so they could compete with the popularity of his agenda. She knew everything about his policies… She'd gotten into countless arguments about him at the bar. How on Earth could she possibly blank on his Vice President?

"I don't know." She whispered.

Ripley hitched her breath. She couldn't feel the pedal underneath her shoe anymore. The car began to slow down. Her right leg was gone! She didn't have much time to mourn, though. Her eyes darted to the rear-view mirror just in time to see a car barreling right for them. Time seemed to slow down, and she just shook her head in disbelief. They'd slowed so quickly that the car behind them didn't have time to react. They were about to be rear-ended!

"Hang on!" Was all she could say before the car slammed into them.

They were lucky that Shizuka buckled in, because all five of them were thrust forward by the sudden impact. Ripley shifted her left foot over to the gas pedal and slammed it against the floor with all her might. Things worked out perfectly enough to push the car forward and away from the other vehicle. She looked into the mirror once more and saw the other car veering off of the road. She was panting heavily at that point as adrenaline pumped through her veins. They swerved and bobbed for a moment before finally settling within the lines once more.

"This is ridiculous! Pull over, Ripley! We're going to get people killed!" Marina shouted, gripping the aptly named 'oh shit' handle firmly.

"R-Right!" The agent stammered.

Ripley lifted her foot from the gas pedal once more. She used her remaining hand to steer them toward the shoulder of the highway. Shizuka's eyes were fixed on the speedometer. She watched the needle slide counterclockwise as Ripley attempted to stop the car. However, right as it hit 45mph the car was filled with another cry of shock. The child flinched, torn from her focus as her eyes darted to the source.

"My leg! My last leg! It's gone! I didn't even do anything! I didn't see any questions!" Ripley struggled to maintain her balance without her legs.

Shizuka's heart was pounding. She knew what was happening, but it was too late. She unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned between the front seats once more.

"It happened when you went under forty-five! We need to keep the car going! Hit the gas!" She screamed.

"How am I supposed to hit the gas when I don't have any legs!?" Ripley screamed right back.

"Oh, fuck this!" Marina leaned halfway out of her seat, slamming her foot against the gas with all her might.

The agent tried to get the car back on course. She was fumbling the wheel, nearly losing it as she attempted to drastically turn it with a single hand. As she battled with her new limitations, something caught the corner of her eye. It felt like the final nail in her coffin. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt more dread than the moment before they were rear-ended. She looked over her shoulder to confirm her fears. Then she saw it.

A billboard was slowly disappearing behind them.

She'd missed it. She had missed the question. It was gone, vanishing behind her and over the horizon. She clenched the steering wheel. It was clear what came next. Ripley let her head fall back against the cushion on her seat, letting out a heavy sigh. She got them stable in the right lane once again. Within a mile, her right arm would disappear. She had less than a minute.

"I just missed the question." She spoke with a chilling calm.

"W-What!?" Marina turned to face her. "You missed it?"

"Be ready to jump into the driver's seat, Marina." Ripley spoke over the blonde, her voice commanding and firm. "I have to assume whoever's driving will be the next target. You'll need to give the questions your undivided attention. Don't let them slip by. Shizuka, Pepsi, Shirlie, you three need to figure out how to disable the Stand. If we can't even slow down, there needs to be some way to win."

Shizuka felt her stomach drop. The way Ripley was talking… "Wait." She reached forward.

"Be good." Ripley smiled.

Right before the child's hand made contact with Ripley, the agent burst into a bright light. Her body was lifted about a foot off the seat, and her back arched dramatically. She closed her eyes, and was gone a moment later. Ripley was gone. There was a moment of silence, but it was cut dramatically short. The car lost control without a driver. Marina's eyes widened. She didn't even have time to process. She grabbed the wheel with Bubblegum Bitch, using her Stand to keep the vehicle steady as she climbed over the center console and into the driver's seat. She plopped into place, gritting her teeth. After a moment, she repeatedly slammed her fist against the wheel. This triggered the horn several times. The roaring horn was matched by her screams of anger.

Shizuka rolled over the center console and into the passenger seat. She looked at Marina and saw the potent grief on her face. All the girl could do was pat Marina's arm. The blonde started to bounce a bit in her seat, hyping herself up. She let the adrenaline take over.

"Okay! Let's do this. Gimme some fucking questions. You may not know it, Jojo, but I won the quiz crown at my high school's trivia bowl two years in a row." She pushed the gas down and waited to see a billboard.

Before she could answer a single question, flashing blue lights caught her eye in the mirror. There was a highway patrol car tailing them! Marina groaned, kicking her free foot in anger.

"It's the fuzz." Pepsi stared through the rear window.

"Makes sense. We've been driving like blind monkeys." Marina scoffed.

"Regretting the day drinking yet?" Shirlie mumbled.

"Everyone be quiet! We can't pull over, so he's going to have to get the hell over it." The blonde shouted.

This was getting worse by the minute. If they didn't pull over, the trooper could always call for backup. Helicopters, road spikes, blockades… If they were stopped, Marina would vanish. Things were becoming unmanageable. She just needed to focus on questions. She was in the driver's seat, after all. They all had roles to play.

"The three of you need to think of something. I'll keep us steady and focus on the questions."

"Aye aye." Shirlie gave a salute before looking out the rear window with her twin. She whistled a moment later. "That's not a highway patrol man. She's a highway lady."

"I could try casting Mist's shroud over the entire car, but that would make other cars plow right into us in seconds." Pepsi bit their lip, mind racing for a solution.

Shizuka rolled over the center console and plopped into the back seat once more. She got onto her knees and glanced out the rear window. The child narrowed her eyes in consideration. Gears turned in her mind as she considered every variable. Of course, she could use a bit of light manipulation to temporarily blind the trooper. Ultra Violet's range was only two meters, but any light bent or changed by its ability had the same properties as naturally occurring rays. She could cause a targeted flash using the rear window of their car. With any luck, it'd blind the highway lady and send her off the road. Of course, the only caveat to her otherwise brilliant plan was the untimely death of a perfectly innocent policewoman. Definitely not ideal. She'd have to keep that one in her back pocket for an emergency.

"How're the questions going?" She called to the front row.

"Answered one just fine! Got a plan yet?"

"Define a plan." Shizuka responded anxiously. "We don't wanna cause a pileup, do we?"

"No, Jojo. I can't say that's on the agenda." Marina shook her head incredulously.

"Then I don't have a plan."

"I think I've got something!" Shirlie interrupted.

"Love to hear it. What're the details?" Marina kept her eyes on the side of the road.

"Pa-Pa-Power's ability has a range of fifty meters. He can't reach her car with his fists, but he can affect the driver!" She explained.

"You're gonna make her too depressed to pursue us?" Shizuka raised a brow.

"Crippling hopelessness." Shirlie corrected.

"Don't do it, Sis." Pepsi shook their head, narrowing their eyes and looking for another way. "That could make her suicidal. She might try to crash the car."

Something occurred to Shizuka. She clapped her hands, startling the twins. "I've got it! Marina, I need you to speed up. Put us in front of that semi-truck."

The driver raised a brow. "You think we can lose her like that?"

"No, I'm going to do something to the car."

"I already thought of that, Shizuka. We don't want to be invisible. It could cause a crash." Pepsi insisted.

"I'm not doing that either. Hit the gas, Marina! Now!" She ordered.

There wasn't any sense in arguing. Shizuka clearly had a plan. Marina was just trying to focus on the questions. She'd leave the arguing to everyone else. Her foot pressed down against the gas hard enough for the engine to roar a bit. She merged into the left lane, zooming past the semi-truck and totaling around 85mph. Then, she violently swerved back into the right lane. There was another billboard, so she focused on answering the question.

The sirens kept whining, and they could all see the lights reflecting off of passing cars. Shizuka wasn't worried, though. Ultra Violet appeared, casting her ability onto the entire vehicle. The car flickered for a moment as Shizuka modified the way the sun struck its paint. This changed the exterior from a neutral grey to a vibrant, garish orange. It looked nothing like the car that was being pursued. The trooper would assume that they somehow raced even further ahead and out of sight.

Marina noticed the change and raised a brow. "Jesus, kid. I always forget how handy that Stand is."

"We shouldn't have to worry about the cops anymore. Just focus on the questions!" Shizuka called to the front.

"Right, you got it." Marina clutched the wheel a little tighter and hyped herself up once more.

Her eyes were laser focused on the side of the road. She was anticipating the next question within ten seconds. The past two were complete soft balls. Once they made it through this, she'd have to tease Ripley for failing so hard. She stiffened her jaw a bit at the thought of Ripley. The agent was okay… She had to have been teleported somewhere. She'd be fine. Marina needed to tell herself that. Flashing lights tugged at the corner of the driver's eyes. The trooper must have been passing them. Marina didn't have time to glance over, the next question would be there any second. Finally, it appeared.

How many feet are in a mile?

Marina knew the answer. Even though she used the correct system of measurement, she remembered a quirky way to keep track of the US customary system's units. She was a little distracted, though. The police lights were still flashing out of the corner of her eye. Why hadn't it passed them yet? Against her better judgement, she turned her head to the left. She didn't answer the question… She was too busy investigating the trooper. As she glanced out the window, her eyes widened. She gripped the wheel so hard that it started to crack in a few spots. It didn't make sense… She didn't understand.

Why was the trooper aiming a gun at her?

Their cars were parallel to each other. The highway lady had her standard issue glock extended with her right hand as she steered with the left. The trooper's window was lowered, Marina's was not. She stared into the barrel of the gun. It felt like a million years passed, but she knew it was less than a second. The lady's lips curled into a curt grin as she pulled the trigger.

"S-Shit.." Marina managed to mutter before the bullet burst from its chamber and soared out of the car. It traveled much faster than either vehicle and had no problem hitting its target. "Bubblegum Bitch!" She shouted, turning her head to rubber at the last possible moment. It all happened so fast. A roaring boom erupted from their left. Then their window shattered a fraction of a second later. The bullet slammed into her cheek, sending a powerful surge through her entire body. It culminated around the scorching ball of lead, bouncing it back to where it came from. This caused a high-pitched whizzing sound to fill the car. The bullet was flung back toward the highway lady. Unfortunately, the travel time put it slightly behind her body. It still pierced the car and gave her quite a scare, though. Marina was worse off. Her body rocked back from the sudden force, and her head was sent flying to the right. She fell out of the driver's seat, slamming her head against the passenger window. She hit her head so hard that she couldn't see straight. Her foot stayed on the pedal out of instinct, but that bred a rather dangerous situation in itself.

"Ultra Violet!' Shizuka shouted, grabbing the steering wheel with her Stand and correcting the car's course.

The moment Shizuka's Stand touched the wheel, Marina's left arm vanished. It was the same as refusing to answer the question. Switching drivers mid-question was unacceptable. She noticed it was gone while attempting to pull herself up.

"Oh, bloody hell." She used Bubblegum Bitch to launch herself upright. "My arm's gone! Why the hell is she shooting at us? Are you trying to prove a point about how shitty this country is?"

"Focus on the next question, Marina! That woman's a Stand User. She has to be." Shizuka reasoned. "It's not a remote-controlled Stand. Our enemy is right there."

"Fat lot of good that does us! She's shooting a gun at us! I can't answer questions with some crazy bitch firing bullets into my face!"

Shizuka groaned, dragging her hands down her face in frustration. Things just kept getting worse. How much more could the ante be raised? Were they due for a meteor strike? Shirlie felt better than ever, though. She slapped her hand on the center console with a big grin.

"So, the pig's our enemy after all? Then let's crash that car." She growled.

Pa-Pa-Power sent a wave of unbelievable grief into the highway lady's car. At that moment, Shirlie fell limp onto the center console. She was using all of her power to incapacitate the enemy. Since it was at a range, she had to experience twice as much anguish for it to be effective. Shizuka bit her lip, wondering if it would be enough. She could barely see the lady due to their angle. They didn't have to wonder about her mental state for long, though. Within seconds the trooper's car slammed right into their own. Marina screamed as they were pressed against the guard rail. The rumble strips underneath their left wheels caused the car to shake violently. All the while the other vehicle pressed them firmly against the rail. Awful metal-on-metal whining filled their ears. Marina gritted her teeth, seeing a curve to the left approaching on the road. She had to take a gamble. Right before the bend, she slammed on her brakes. The highway lady's car kept going, but began to spin when it was no longer pressing against the dented Honda. Marina pushed the pedal down again, trying to maintain as much speed as possible. She managed to swerve around the trooper car and merge to the left.

"Fucking hell!" She screamed, heaving like a diver who emerged after ten minutes without oxygen.

Her eyes darted to the mirror. She saw the lady's car rebound off the rail, spin for a moment and book it down the road in pursuit.

"Are you kidding me? When did life become a Fast and Furious movie?" Marina punched the wheel in anger.

"Yeah, I don't get that reference." Shizuka muttered.

"Highway Lady's coming in fast." Pepsi warned, still looking out the rear window.

"Shirlie, snap out of it. She's still coming at us. You're better off helping another way." Shizuka shook the teen a bit.

The tall ginger shot up, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Did we crash?" She asked, looking around in confusion.

Before the question could be answered, the trooper car slammed into theirs once again. This time it came from the right side. Marina struggled to keep control, but the highway lady had momentum on her side. They were pushed further to the left. Marina bit her lip so hard that blood began to trickle down her chin.

"Brace yourselves! Things are about to get even worse!" She spun the wheel.

Their car veered to the left and went off the road. After spending a moment in the space between highways, they ended up bounding into the other road. The problem, of course, was all of the oncoming traffic. Luckily, the road wasn't too busy this time of day. Still, Marina had to swerve out of the way multiple times to prevent a head on collision at 55mph.

"We're on the wrong side of the road!" Shizuka screamed, gripping the seat in fear.

"Astute observation, Holmes!" Marina dodged another oncoming semi-truck.

"How're you gonna answer questions now!?" Shirlie questioned.

Marina didn't really have an answer for that. She was steering with one arm. Things weren't exactly stellar. Shizuka looked out the right window to get a look at their enemy. Her eyes widened, and she lowered her head.

"Get down!"

Another bullet came through the car. It shattered the right rear window and scattered glass all over the interior. Shizuka cut her hand open trying to pull herself up. She peaked out the window and saw the highway lady aiming her gun across the highways and at their Honda. This was a mistake, because three more quick shots came flying their way. She barely dodged them.

"How're you answering questions during all of this!?" Shirlie questioned, taking cover on the floor.

Marina let out a troubling laugh, shaking her head. "I'm not. Just lost my left leg."

"This is really, really bad." Pepsi's voice wavered a bit.

Everyone took cover in painful silence for a good thirty seconds. The three in the back were just panting with anxiety while Marina dodged oncoming cars. Eventually, Shirlie had enough. She sat upright, clenching her fists.

"Marina, get us as close as you can to the lady's car." She growled.

Pa-Pa-Power's ability filled the car with anger and motivation. Shirlie's morale was proving to be the most important of the group's, because she could hype everybody else up along with her. The driver raised a brow, not having many other options left.

"You got it…" She went off road once again. This time, she ended up back on the proper side of the highway.

They slammed into the trooper car once again. Shirlie slammed her fists together, pointing at Highway Lady. "Power, get her."

Pa-Pa-Power emerged from the roof of the car, intangibly phasing through it as he glared down at the enemy vehicle. He cast away his boxing gloves, throwing both arms back and putting out his chest in rage. Then, the Stand unleashed a flurry of attacks on the lady's car. Both of the windows on the driver's side shattered. The lady covered her eyes, feeling bits of glass pricking her skin. Power didn't let up, going faster and faster. He dented both doors, attempting to rip the driver's door off.

The Lady tried to fight back, aiming her gun out the window and at Shirlie. Power swung at her hand, nearly knocking the gun onto the road. She changed course last minute, firing two rounds into Pa-Pa-Power. This did nothing, of course. He merely flickered for a moment before growing even more furious than before.

Shizuka wanted to participate, but she wasn't a brawler. Ultra Violet could do serious damage in close-quarters combat due to its incredible speed. However, she didn't have a clear shot at the enemy, and her Stand wasn't the type to tear cars apart. Power had much more raw strength than any of the other Stands present. This was his time to shine. He kicked out the back-right door of the Honda, using it as a melee weapon to bash the trooper car even harder. The other passengers backed away from the door as high speed winds suddenly poured in. Falling out would mean certain death at such high speeds. Pa-Pa-Power threw the door in anger, reaching for the lady's car once again. She hit the gas, driving slightly ahead of the Honda. Because of this, he grabbed onto the back-left door of the trooper car. Shirlie was pulled toward the outside as Power tried to pull the car back. Shizuka had to wrap her legs around the girl's stomach, holding onto the car's support handle with Ultra Violet. Both cards were connected by human chains. They bounced against one another multiple times. Eventually, Power managed to rip the back-left door off the trooper car. He slammed it through the driver's window, trying to get the Highway Lady right in the head. She swerved out of the way at the last possible second, taking her gun and aiming it at the Honda.

The Highway Lady fired twice, instantly blowing the front-right tire of the car. They slowed almost immediately, and she zoomed ahead. Shirlie screamed in rage as Power pounded his chest. They were losing her! Not only that, but the car was slowing down. The gun peeked out of the driver's window, firing three more times at the Honda as it grew further and further away.

"Shit, shit, shit!" Marina shouted, pounding the wheel.

Her last leg vanished. She used Bubblegum Bitch's bat to prop the pedal down. The car chugged along, swaying haphazardly around the road. They were well into the 40's by that point, and only getting slower. Shizuka saw the speedometer and hitched her breath. She crawled into the front row, sitting in the passenger seat.

"I-I'll drive! Let go!" She begged Marina.

"No! If I let you take the wheel it's another forfeit! We're going too slow anyway! We can't catch up…" She bit her lip, clenching the wheel with her last remaining limb.

"But if we go too slow, you'll-" Shizuka noticed Marina's body beginning to glow.

The blonde's arm vanished, leaving her as nothing more than a torso. Her head fell back, and she stared at the ceiling. Marina's eyes were wide, and she felt a great deal of energy building in her core. She tilted her head to see Shizuka, failure in her eyes.

"Jojo, give them hell." She managed to smile.

Shizuka watched as Marina burst into light, vanishing from the car and leaving them yet again without a driver. Tears welled in her eyes, but she stumbled into the vacant seat. She couldn't even reach the gas, so Ultra Violet's leg had to extend from her own to push it down. Marina was right, though. They couldn't speed up. Shizuka wracked her mind for something, anything to fix this. There wasn't even some spiritual intervention that could save her… She didn't know about cars, she didn't have any tools, and she couldn't change a wheel while driving. How would they catch up…?

Her left arm vanished.

"This isn't looking good." She glanced into the mirror, looking at Shirlie. "I don't know what to do."

"It's okay." Shirlie grinned, wiping a bit of glass from her face. "We've already won."

Veronica, the Highway Lady herself, blazed down the road and away from the battered Honda. She couldn't help but laugh. Sure, things looked dicey for a minute, but she came through as always. Her ride was a little bruised, but she could always steal another one. It was definitely fun being a cop though. She gave three speeding tickets before attacking the Joestars. Also, she appreciated being able to wear a gun on her hip without people asking questions. Her Stand wasn't capable of offense in the typical sense. That's why she needed traditional weapons when clashing with her enemies. Still, her ability was going to finish the Joestar party off within a minute or two. Yes, there were only two remaining in the car. A child, and a tall girl. The others were already within her grasp. How many people could take on four Stand Users at once? Veronica was truly something else.

"You're probably thinking you got away with it, huh?" A monotone voice murmured from the back seat.

It was almost impossible to hear with the roaring wind. The trooper car's door had been torn off, after all. Still, Veronica was sure she heard a voice.

"You're probably thinking, 'Oh thank god. I really did it. I took care of those punks. How many people can take our four Stand Users?'" The voice asked again, still devoid of emotion.

The Highway Lady's eyes frantically darted around. She heard it loud and clear that time.

"The problem is… You might have been able to deal with four."

Veronica grabbed her gun, pointing it behind her as she drove. "Who the hell's back there! Show yourself! Are you the kid!?"

"You see… I really get pissed off when people miss something so obvious… You think Power ripped your door off for shits and giggles? No. He was paving the way for me."

"I'll shoot! I'll do it!" She screamed.

A foot snaked around the seat, kicking at the recliner switch. Then, another foot kicked against the back of the chair. Veronica was shoved forward, her body being pressed against the steering wheel. She pulled the trigger reflexively as she fell, firing a bullet through the window. Now she was pinned, unable to angle the gun anywhere useful.

"Yes, I think your Stand could've beaten four people. It's terrifying… But there weren't four of us in the car. There were five." Pepsi finally appeared in the back seat. Their arms were crossed, and they pressed against the driver's seat with a lanky leg.

Veronica could barely see the enemy through a mirror. Her face was smeared against the wheel. The gears in her head struggled to turn right. How could this be happening? She beat them… She won. She attacked the car! Her Stand was invincible! When used in the right circumstances, it was the ultimate power! She couldn't lose! She didn't lose.

"You're probably thinking… 'How could I lose to such a little punk? Is that a boy? A girl? I can't even tell… They're so inconsequential.'" Pepsi grinned, shoving the seat even harder.

"Agh!" Veronica grunted, fighting against the chair with all her might.

"You see, my Stand is weak… Unbelievably so. Can barely lift a piece of paper. Its ability is all I've got." They explained. "But even that is stronger than you… Because your Stand can't even manifest in a physical form. It only appears as questions to its victims." Pepsi's eyes narrowed, showing real emotion for the first time since entering the car. "But I've got a question for you, Lady. And I think it's much more important than anything you'd find at trivia night."

"Ngh, you… You little…" Veronica growled. "I'll kill you!"

Pepsi snapped their fingers, pointing right at the mirror and making eye contact with the lady. "Not before I ask my question. I think it's only fair. You stole my friends…. By now, the car's probably empty. Luckily, I slipped right into yours after Pa-Pa-Power ripped the door off. It's always the little things that get you, huh?"

"Then what's your question, you shithead!?"

"Easy, easy. Desperation isn't a good look on you. Besides, you've got bigger problems right now." Pepsi snickered.

"W-What?" Veronica raised a brow.

Pepsi lifted up a wad of cables. They were important bits of the car's interior. The teen helped themself before being noticed. Stealing cars was kind of their thing. They knew what made vehicles tick, and what made them blow. Before Veronica could finish her sentence, the dashboard started to emit sparks. Then, the engine burst. Smoke erupted from under the hood. The Lady tried desperately to turn the wheel, but to no avail! It had completely locked up. She couldn't steer! The car began to wave left and right. Veronica struggled, but could only do so much with her face shoved against the steering wheel. She managed to slip her arm free though. The standard issue glock she stole from the real trooper was aimed right at the back seat. She let out a battle cry, firing it.

The bullet didn't hit its target. Pepsi had let go of the chair and climbed into the passenger's seat completely unnoticed.

"You're not very perceptive, are you?"

Veronica slammed the barrel of the gun directly into Pepsi's temple. "Lights out, dipshit."

Pepsi just smiled.

"Bye bye!" She pulled the trigger….

Nothing.

Veronica's eyes widened. She stared at the gun in disbelief. Pepsi just wrapped their fingers around the barrel, yanking it out of the woman's hand.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. No, no no no no no. Not quite." They frowned, resting a hand against their lips in condescending surprise. "You really are bad at counting, aren't you? I knew you were using a forty-cal, but I didn't know the model until I got a closer look. That's the G22 RTF2. Just came out. Beautiful gun. It's got fifteen rounds in the magazine, and you just fired your fifteenth into the back seat. Your Stand punishes people when they don't know something, right? Well, I think I found your weak suit. Basic arithmetic."

The Lady didn't know what to do. "H-How dare you talk to me like that!? I-I'll have you know that I'm-"

"Blah, blah, blah. On and on with you, huh? How can someone talk so much without saying anything at all? Take it from someone who'd know, you're bland. Get a new thing. You're not good enough at knowing things to base your entire identity around it."

"I.. I.." Veronica was heaving at this point. Sweat poured down her back, and she felt like everything was slipping away. "W-What's your question? You said you had a question."

"Oh… that." Pepsi scowled.

"Yes, that! What is it? What's so goddamn important!?"

The teen gave a toothy grin. "Are you buckled in?"

"I'll kill you!" She screamed.

Pepsi gave the Highway Lady a quick headbutt before buckling their seat belt. Veronica fell back against the door, reeling in pain. What came next had to be obvious. A bend arrived in the road, and the driver couldn't steer. She also wasn't wearing her seat belt. The trooper car slammed into the guardrail at full speed, immediately flipping and rolling into the grass. Pepsi held on tight, rolling around in the passenger seat. Veronica flew out of the missing door-hole in the middle of a roll, her body flailing through the air until it landed brutally on the hard ground.

The cruiser finally stopped rolling, settling upside down about twenty feet away from the highway. Pepsi unbuckled their seat belt and fell onto the ceiling. The door fell right off when kicked. Then, the teen stumbled out of the car and onto their feet. Blood trailed down their forehead. They were a little stiff. The seat belt definitely bruised them, but it kept them from flying out of the car like a moron. Pepsi limped over to Veronica's twitching body. The woman managed to roll onto her back, heaving for air. She tried to speak, but nothing came out. Her body began to shine, and energy evaporated into the air. Pepsi knew what was happening. This was the death of a Stand User. Veronica's essence was seeping away.

They watched grimly as the woman died. The light faded from her eyes, and she was finished. For a moment, the teen feared that their worst fear came true. Could their friends be gone forever? They looked around, falling to one knee in exhaustion. That wreck really did a number on them. Their vision was beginning to blur. Police sirens could be heard wailing in the distance. A concerned onlooker must've called the real police during all of the commotion. Pepsi coughed hard, falling onto their hands and knees.

Right when they were about to accept reality's cruelty, something changed. They felt a familiar presence. That wonderful, obnoxious, emotional presence. Seconds later it was confirmed by sound.

"Pepsiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" Shirlie screamed, running over and collapsing onto them. Pa-Pa-Power lifted both twins into the air, spinning them around joyously.

"Agh! Power! My chest hurts! I was just in a car crash, buddy!" Pepsi groaned, but they wore an enormous smile.

Power didn't listen. He threw them both into the air repeatedly, catching them and spinning before tossing them once again. They both laughed uncontrollably with some tears in the mix for good measure.

Officer McKinley reappeared as well. Everyone Veronica captured that day seemed to return good as new. He didn't stick around, though. He saw the strange teens and sprinted toward the highway for help. No one stopped him. They hadn't the slightest idea who he was.

Marina and Ripley were standing next to the wrecked cruiser. The agent ran her hand along it, shaking her head.

"Seems like taking our own car isn't a very good idea. They'll track us down." She frowned.

Marina crossed her arms, glancing over to the highway. "We can't exactly walk. What're you suggesting."

"We'll travel like the pioneers!" Shizuka proclaimed eagerly. She was standing on top of the cruiser with a foot propped on a wheel. She rested her elbow on her knee, looking out onto the vast frontier. "Hitch hiking!"

"I dunno, sounds dangerous." Ripley said with a straight face.

Both Shizuka and Marina stared at her in disbelief for a moment. However, the agent's facade quickly faded. She couldn't help but crack a smile. From there, it was a short trip to all-out laughter. They all laughed for a good while. They laughed so hard that tears tugged at their eyes. They laughed until their chests hurt. Marina was hugging herself, hunching over in an attempt to breathe. All the while the smoking car acted as a beacon for the real highway patrol. They'd need to bail sooner rather than later. But for a brief moment, they just laughed.

To be Continued...