Chapter 5: Junk-Punk Trouble
Max parked the V8 Interceptor near the river, and he, Nausicaa, and Ace got out. They readied their weapons, and ran into the village, hearing the screams of the villagers, along with the raucous laughter and shouting of the Junk-Punks. The buildings were on fire, and there were personal belongings scattered and broken, but fortunately, there were no bodies… yet.
The three hid climbed up a ledge and then hid behind a building. They began slowly sneaking around it, with their backs to the wall. Max was in the lead, looking to the side and watching where they were going. Nausicaa was in the middle, and Ace was behind her.
"Remember, no mercy." said Max, as they inched around the building. "They're not people, they're animals. And no guns, only swords; they'll hear us if we shoot."
"No mercy, and no guns." Ace repeated.
Nausicaa nodded, but the look on her face was hesitant; she hated killing, even enemies. The only time she ever attacked with an intent to kill, was when her father was killed by invading soldiers; that made her angry, and anger was a powerful weapon.
Max peeked out from behind the building, and saw two Junk-Punks dragging a young woman by the hair. Max didn't want to know what they were planning on doing with her, so he stealthily moved up behind them.
Drawing his sword, he came up from behind and stabbed the first one! The other Junk-Punk turned, and Max punched him, sending him flailing! With two quick moves, he pulled his sword from the dead Junk-Punk and stabbed the other one; he had killed before, so it wasn't anything different to him.
Max then looked at the young woman, who was crouched on the ground in fear, and said in an authoritative tone, "Go, get to safety! Now!"
The woman looked up in fear for a brief few seconds, and then obeyed, running off into a non-burning house to hide. Max motioned for Nausicaa and Ace to follow him, which they did, stepping over the dead bodies of the Junk-Punks.
The three continued heading into the village, moving stealthily, as to avoid any confrontation. Occasionally, they would encounter Junk-Punks every now and then, to which Max and Ace would dispatch them stealthily. Nausicaa, however, shied away from killing; it was in her nature to look for a peaceful solution, only using violence as a last resort.
As they were nearing the town square, they saw that the villagers were gathered into one spot. It reminded Nausicaa a lot of what happened to her people over a year ago, when invading soldiers came into the Valley of the Wind. There were over fifteen Junk-Punks towering over them, scaring them and harassing them, while their leader, King Meatus, was standing on the hood of an old, beat-up war jeep. He was talking, making an announcement to the frightened villagers.
"Villagers of the Valley of the Wind." said King Meatus, his tone harsh. "As of now, you are under the command of the Junk-Punks. You will serve us, and all your resources: your water, your people, your blood, your crops. All of them, will go to us."
Standing beside King Meatus, watching him make his speech, was-
When he, Ace, and Nausicaa peeked over the wall, Max's blood ran cold upon seeing the person. Actually, the person in question could hardly be called a 'person'. He was tall, large-bodied, and had white long hair, pale skin that was covered with white powder, and a gas mask that looked like a skull, which had two large tubes connected to an air tank on his back. His clothing consisted of body armor that was colored silver and had several medals pinned on it, torn tan cargo pants, and heavy, iron boots. It was Immortan Joe…
"It can't be." Max spoke, his tone in disbelief. "I thought he was dead."
"Who?" asked Ace.
"Him." Max replied, pointing at Immortan Joe.
Ace's eyes widened as well, and he asked, "Is that-"
"It is."
"Who, or what, is that?" Nausicaa asked, her tone worried.
"That, princess, is Immortan Joe." Max replied. "Ruler of the V8 Triumvirate, and leader of the Cult of the V8. I thought he was dead; that mask, along with his throat, jaw, and nose was ripped from his face last time I saw him."
"I guess there's no reasoning with him, huh?" Ace asked.
"None whatsoever." said Max. "He's a beast, a creature of the wasteland, a cunning monster who's only intent is to absorb and control everything he comes across."
"His eyes are filled with hate and rage." Nausicaa spoke. "How can such people be created?"
"In the world we live in, outside in the desert, it's like that." Max replied. "Humanity and innocence are no longer qualities that people have."
"Hands up!" A gravelly voice spoke.
Max felt a gun barrel being pressed against the back of his head, and both Nausicaa and Ace slowly turned to see who was behind them; it was a Junk-Punk, carrying a hunting rifle. He was wearing a copper colored gas mask, he had several painful looking piercings in his ears and bare chest, and he was wearing leather pants and heavy boots.
"On your feet, slowly." said the Junk-Punk. "All three of you."
Max started to slowly get up, followed by Nausicaa and Ace. Then, with one quick movement, Max spun around, swatting the rifle barrel away, drew his shotgun, and fire a close-ranged shot at the Junk-Punk, sending him flying!
Unfortunately, the shot drew the attention of the other Junk-Punks, King Meatus, and Immortan Joe. The trio turned to face them, and saw that they, along with the villagers, were all looking at them.
"No guns, huh?" Ace asked, his tone darkly comedic.
"As a last resort." Max replied, before yelling out, "Everybody down!"
Max then aimed and fired at Immortan Joe, who's body armor absorbed the shot! This sent the villager into a panic, as the Junk-Punks began firing their own guns at Max, Ace, and Nausicaa! Max and Ace fired back, while Nausicaa aimed her flare rifle at King Meatus; she wasn't going to shoot at him directly, but close enough that the blast would blind him for a few seconds! As for Immortan Joe, he took cover, hiding behind the war jeep.
As Max reloaded his gun and Ace fired several pistol shots at the Junk-Punks, Nausicaa took aim and fired! The flare went flying past King Meatus, causing him to fall off of his jeep! Max fired another shotgun blast, this time killing two Junk-Punks, while Ace shot and killed three of them! With an angered look on his face, he pointed towards the trio and barked an order!
"Bring them to me, alive!" King Meatus roared.
With a maddening fury, several Junk-Punks, all armed with knives, rushed towards the trio! Max, Nausicaa, and Ace drop their guns and drew their swords to defend themselves, and the next few seconds of battle they were in were a frantic melee! Fortunately, Max and Ace could handle themselves, with or without their swords, and Nausicaa's skills and agility helped to non-lethally take down the Junk-Punks! This mostly involved her using her sword to cut their arms, legs, and other various non-lethal parts to put them out of commission. The unfortunate part was, despite their best efforts, the Junk-Punks were slowly gaining ground against them.
And, just when you think things couldn't get any worse, King Meatus came into the battle! From out of nowhere, he jumped down, carrying his large hammer, which had several nails and barbed-wire wrapped around it! Max quickly picked his shotgun up and shot at King Meatus, who blocked the shotgun blast with his hammer, and then proceeded to swing the hammer wildly at Max! Max dodged and attempted to stab him, but King Meatus swatted him away! Ace also came from behind to attack, but King Meatus was quick, despite his size, and he ended up catching Ace and holding him by the neck!
King Meatus would've crushed his neck, but Nausicaa, using her sword, cut his arm and made him drop Ace! With a look of anger, King Meatus turned to face Nausicaa, and a sickening grin appeared over his lips; Immortan Joe may take her as one of his wives, but he was going to have her first! He began heading towards her, and that's when Max stuck his sword right through his back!
However, much to Max's horror, King Meatus didn't die! Instead, he whipped around, throwing Max off of himself! Max turned and rolled along the ground, while Ace came up to attack! King Meatus raised his leg and kicked Ace, sending him flying! Ace landed on his back, and King Meatus stepped on Ace, pressing him into the ground! He then raised his hammer above his head, and looked over at Max and Nausicaa, who were regrouping.
"Lay down your weapons, or I'll crush his skull!" King Meatus snarled.
Max looked at Ace, who's wore a frightened expression, and then at King Meatus. With an annoyed huff, he dropped his shotgun and sword, while Nausicaa dropped her own sword. Upon seeing this, King Meatus sneered, and then stepped off of Ace; a quick and easy death would've been too easy, as King Meatus was planning all kinds of tortures for this prisoner.
Ace got up to his feet and tried to attack again, but Finger and Neck-Bone came up from behind and grabbed him. Four Junk-Punks also came up from behind Max and Nausicaa and grabbed them, forcing their arms behind their backs. The Junk-Punk lieutenant, Bleeder, was one of the two that was holding Nausicaa.
"So, you're the little pilot." said Bleeder, sniffing Nausicaa's hair. "You smell fresh… untainted… unpolluted… young…"
Nausicaa was throughly disgusted by this act of vulgarity, while Ace just got angered by this. He began thrashing around, trying to break free so he could punch Bleeder!
"Leave her alone!" Ace snarled, trying to break free.
Max, who often stayed calm under pressure, asked, "What do you plan on doing with us, King Meatus? Is it going to be tortured to death, and then brought back to life, just so we can be tortured again?"
"No, you thief." King Meatus replied, his tone wickedly gleeful. "I'm turning you, and your friends here, over to Immortan Joe; he'll decide what is to be your fate."
The Junk-Punks began dragging the trio away, with Ace struggling to break free, and Max and Nausicaa staying calm. They were dragged into the town square, where the other Junk-Punks were rounding up the fleeing townsfolk. Those whom they captured were shocked that their princess was captured, and she was being brought to the horrible monster that stood before them.
"Immortan Joe, I present you, the princess of the Valley of the Wind." said King Meatus. "And, I give you the thieves, who stole the V8 Interceptor from us."
The trio were forced on their knees before Immortan Joe, and then forced to look up at him. Nausicaa caught Immortan Joe's eye, and he leaned down to get a closer look at her. Nausicaa recoiled a little in disgust, as Immortan Joe began gently stroking her hair.
"Such a treasure…" said Immortan Joe, his voice deep and menacing. "Daddy's going to have a new wife…"
Ace let out a low growl at the sight of this, and Immortan Joe turned to face Max and Ace. Upon seeing Max, there was look of recognition in his eyes, like he had just seen a ghost.
"You… from the fury road." Immortan Joe snarled. "The one who helped to take my wives from me, the one who brought down my entire empire."
"And you, the one who I thought was dead." Max replied, his tone of voice both angered and repulsed. "I take it under that mask you don't have your mouth, Immortan?"
"You cannot kill me, thief." said Immortan Joe, coming over to face Max. "I am immortal, and will not die until I decide it's time. As for you, I have a place for your head back at my citadel, but that won't be your fate… not yet. When I'm done with you, you'll only be begging for the sweet release of death. And as for the girl, I've begun a new collection of treasures, and she will be added to it… I'm going to enjoy her company."
"You sicko." Ace muttered under his breath.
Immortan Joe didn't hear that, and he stood up straight after leaning down to face Max. He then went over to King Meatus to speak with him.
"Meatus, the Valley of the Wind will belong to you." said Immortan Joe. "But, in exchange for my help, there are a few conditions: You and your men will take care of this land, half of its resources go to my people and I back at the citadel, and I will take the thief and the princess back with me."
"No problem, Immortan." King Meatus replied, knowing full well not to mess with Immortan Joe.
Immortan Joe then turned to face the captive people, put his arms behind his back, and said, "I am Immortan Joe, your new king! As of now, you serve them, and myself! Prepare yourselves for this new era, in which we will rule, in a great and glorious future!"
The people of the Valley of the Wind were worried by this, especially since their princess was now being held by the two of these horrid men! All they could do now was hope and pray that this was a bad dream, and that they would all wake up to things going back to normal!
Sadly, it was no dream… it was all real.
Author's Notes: I apologize for the long wait for the new chapter. Due to only having a few reviews for this story, I thought it wasn't really taking off, so I was putting it on hold. But, after one guest reviewer asked me for the new chapter (and mentioning that its been FIVE months since I updated this), I realized there was people who were wondering about the story, and I decided to get back to it. More chapters will be coming soon!
R&R,
Heroboy005