Chapter VII: Shopping and Shenanigans

AN:


Hey there, Fan-fic-folks!

So, first of all, sorry for the month since the last update. Uni work was kicking my ass and I had to knuckle down to get everything done. Kinda used to it now though, so hopefully next term should be better. ?ᅡᅠPlus, this story is just the hardest of the bunch to write. No idea why, it just takes freaking ages to get whats in my head out onto Evernote (My word processor of choice.). Probably my whole non-superhero thing coming into play, I guess. Harder to get a handle on the tropes and whatnot. Anyways. Whatever reason, it's harder, so it takes longer.

This particular chapter bit came from watching Wild Child. Which is actually a half-decent movie, surprisingly. Some of the scenes just fit in with these three perfectly, so I went with it and it seemed to turn out ok. Your mileage may vary, so let me know.

Also yes, Mr Dunn is the 'math' teacher in this universe too. I'm using the same Blackwell Staff in each story featuring class time. I also have no idea what the fuck a logarithm actually is. I know you use it to calculate PH (Acid/Alkali scale), but that's about it. The joke attached is an old one my GCSE Chem teacher told us back in Secondary School. Anyone got hilarious teacher-jokes/anecdotes? I'd love to hear 'em if you got 'em.

Finally, anyone played/seen Walking Dead Season 3 Ep 1 Pt. 1 yet? Just finished it and it's freaking awesome. A real return to the Greatness of Season 1, IMO. ?ᅡᅠNo spoilers for any of you who haven't, but it is awesome and you really should get on that soon.

Thanks for reading and, as always, please review.

FanFicsNFood:

Thank you. And I definitely will. I'm having a lot of fun writing this.

Momijifan Low-Ki Ch.V Comment:

Yeah. Writing this one was fun. Dana is such a mother-hen in the game, so it really fit that she'd take this Max under her wing too and I could just picture Victoria and Taylor's faces when Max returned the paper ball and it was all just adorably hilarious.

Momijifan Low-Ki Comment:

Aww, thank you! Yep, I loved writing this one. I've always wanted a proper motorbike like that. Not one of the fancy new-fangled ones they've got now, but a proper old classic, maybe a touring bike. And yep, she sure is. Pretty sure this story is gonna head into Amberpricefield territory, or whatever the Ot3 name is for that ship.

Jesterfield:

I certainly have. Read everything that guy has ever written. He's one of my top ten favourite authors. Entreri, Regis and Catti-brie are some of my favourite characters ever. See if you can't see a little Entreri in today's chapter, hmm? :) And thank you, doin' my best. :)

lycan13:

Yep. Although the terrorists and supersoldiers might come later. And they certainly should because she certainly won't. It'll be fun to write when it happens though. :)

GrumpyCat42

Yeah. It's easy to underestimate the tiny. As Blackwell Job Max says, Expectations are like Camouflage. They're gonna be quite surprised when she finally lets them see through it. I'm looking forward to writing the WTF-edness of that situation when it gets here. :)

Guest:

Thank you. Glad to hear it. ?ᅡᅠAnd here it is, I hope you like it.

Aaron Leach:

Thank you! I hope you like this one too. :)

MaxNeverMaxine:

Yep, it's all from other places. The main Hunter idea is from a Dungeons and Dragons book series by R.A Salvatore called The Dark Elf trilogy. The little grey dudes, the myconids and the monster from the beginning (A Basilisk) are all from there. The more anthropomorphic animal-people are from a few different places, really. Lots of older video games from like, late 90s and early 2000s and a dash of some of my homebrew D&D worlds that I've made over the years.

And thank you. I was really unsure about her. She's so difficult to write. I think I said this in the last AN, but I literally went through every fic with Rachel in the character list on Ao3 and a lot from too. Really glad to hear people like my version.

tylerbamafan34:

Thank you. I'm quite happy with the flashbacks, so it's good to hear it from other people too. And The Hunter is definitely going to feature a lot. Flashbacks were big on the show, right? I figured I needed a few of my own.

Alfred Pennyworth..? Wow. Perfect butler name right there. Sounds a lot more like a toff than Bruce Wayne.

Yeah, it is going to be fun, isn't it? Watching Victoria get taken down a peg or two is always fun.

Time Dragon:

Now, now... Spoilers. ?ᅡᅠAnd yeah, Vortex Parties have never lead to anything good, have they?


"Wait. What's a logarithm?"

"Kenny Loggins' first album?"

Oh goddamn... Seriously? I turned and glared at my most annoying table-partner. "Hayden..."

He shrugged, throwing me a cocky, self-satisfied grin. "What? It probably was."

I rolled my eyes. Wowzers... "Fine. Then how do we get out of The Danger Zone and solve the assignment?" That was the only Kenny Loggins song I knew. What? He was never my thing before the island, and it was hard to keep up with the charts there.

He snorted. "Heh. We're gonna need Lady Luck to solve some of this stuff, Max."

I turned and glared at Brooke, who was writing furiously on her own assignment. Unlike us, Brooke could actually math. I think Mr Dunn put us with her in some vague hope talent would osmose from her to us. No such luck. "Brooke."

Nothing.

"Brooke!"

Nothing.

"BROOKE!"

"Aaaa!" She screamed and flung her hands up, dropping her stuff everywhere. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. These people are so nervous. Being that jumpy on the Island would get you killed. Patience was vital. She blinked at me, eyes wide. "What? What?"

Hayden chuckled. I smiled, trying to be... calming? I never really got much practice, before or after the island. "Could you help us with these, please? We're... well..." I paused. "Stuck."

She cocked her head. "Seriously?" I rolled my eyes. Yes, Brooke. Not everyone is as good at this as you. If only we were working on Vectors or Geometry. I knew how to use those. They actually had a practical use, unlike Kenny Loggins. "Ok, I guess. Dana? Are you stuck too?"

Dana just hmmed, still looking down under the table.

Brooke's eyes narrowed. "Dana!"

Dana's face shot up, eyes flashing in panic. "Yes, what? Huh?"

Hayden chuckled. "Brooke's gonna help us out with getting out of The Danger Zone."

"The what?" Dana frowned, looking between us all. "What Danger Zone? Is something wrong?"

I rolled my eyes. This was gonna be a long lesson...


I was back in my room picking up some books for my next class when Chloe wandered in. She grinned, neon bright smile. "Heya Maxie. Me and Rach are skipping today. You up for some hella fun shenanigans?"

I smiled and one eyebrow shot up. Oh dog... "Shenanigans?" I asked, my voice tentative.

Rachel sauntered into the room. "Absolutely. So get that cute butt of yours in gear. We're not taking no for an answer."

I looked between the two of them, both grinning like happy idiots, and sighed. "Yay, shenanigans?"

"That's the spirit, Maxie. This is gonna be hella fun!" Chloe grabbed my hand and dragged me out, barely giving me time to grab my stuff as Rachel followed us out, laughing and closing the door behind her.


I was a little concerned by the matching grins the other two girls sitting in the truck wore, but I figured I should go with it. Make an effort to reintegrate or whatever. The song Chloe is blasting echoes uncomfortably in the small cabin. They seem unfazed, dancing and singing along gleefully.

I decide to risk indulging my curiosity. It might've killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. "So... where are we going?"

Rachel threw her arm over my shoulder and it took everything in me to keep the Hunter inside. It did scream and rattle at the bars of the cage I kept it in in the back of my mind though. "Well, first we're going to American Rust for a little R'n'R. After that..." She shrugs. "We'll see where we end up." She flashes another brilliant grin down at me.

Chloe takes a corner far too fast and I slide further into the curve of Rachel's shoulder. She grins down at me and winks. I shuffle away, avoiding her eyes as she smirks. She folds her arms and leans to the window, watching the scenery go by.

I watched her out of the corner of my eye. Rachel was... curious. She was free and breezy, all grace and curves and easy smiles. I think I get why Chloe likes her.

Chloe pulls up outside the junkyard with a screech of brakes and a slight burning smell that I'm pretty sure is coming from the engine. I follow Rachel out of the truck and we all walk towards this shitty cinder-block shack. I look up at the boat as we pass and share a grin with Chloe, remembering the swordfight. We didn't think about how it ended. "I still want a rematch y'know, Nerd."

Rachel rolls her eyes and keeps walking as Chloe and I stop to trash-talk.

I smile over at her, then clench my fist. "You'll get your ass kicked again, Price."

She laughs and swaggers over to the open shack door. "Nah, bro. You're going down."

We walk into the shack to see Rachel has already started the party. She's staring out one of the.. well, I hesitate to call them windows, because there's no glass in them, they're just window-shaped holes in the walls really. Whatever they are, she's staring out of them, blunt in hand.

Chloe clatters over and plonks down next to her, putting out a hand for the joint. Rachel hands it over. Then, she focuses on me.

"So, Maxie, how are you enjoying Blackhell so far?"

I shrugged. "Fine, I guess."

"You guess?" Chloe asks, tilting her head at me.

"Well, I've only really had a day there. You did interrupt my second day." I smirk at Rachel, who has the grace to look slightly embarrassed. "Not enough time to really love it or hate it."

Chloe thought for a second, then nodded. "Hella good point. What about...?" Her mouth curled like she'd eaten something sour. "Shit. Uh..." She clicked her fingers and pointed at Rachel. "Creepy beard photo-guy."

Rachel snorted. "Mr Jefferson."

"Yeah!" She grinned. "That dude. Mr Jefferson. How's he?" She smirks at Rachel, then looks at me.

I shrug again. "I don't know. There's just something... odd about him."

Chloe elbows Rachel, cocky grin plastered on her face. "See? I told you he was creepy."

Rachel rolled her eyes. "He's not creepy, he's just... dedicated to his work."

"Yeah, sure. So was Ted fucking Bundy." Chloe hops to her feet. "Back in a minute. I need to race like a piss-horse."

Rachel snorts. "Piss-horse... That sounds like the worst metal-band name."

Chloe laughs as she leaves. Just me and Rachel now. She passes over the joint.

I take a deep breath in, feeling the warmth of the smoke spread down my throat. "I see why she likes you."

I suddenly choke on the smoke. Uh, what? I try to talk, but just end up spluttering. Rachel laughs. "Come on Max, if you choke and die in here, how am I going to explain it to Chlo?" I snort and she grins back.

She reaches over and takes the joint. She takes a drag and leans back against the wall. "You're not at all what I was expecting, Max."

I stare. What? What's she talking about?

She laughs and takes a drag. She takes the joint from her lips. "I..." She starts.

"Max! Rach!" We hear Chloe yelling.

Rachel cocks her head. "What the..?" She frowns. "Chloe?!"

We rush out to find out what the fuck she's yelling about, and find her lying on the tracks running alongside the junkyard, frantically pulling at her ankle. "Help! I'm fucking stuck!"

Rachel's eyes bulged. "Shit!" We run down there. I kneel down next to Chloe, whos still trying to get free. Something in her clothes had caught on the track. Fuckfuckfuck.

"Rach, come on. We've gotta pull her off!" Rachel looked alarmed, but she nodded and took hold of Chloe's right. I took her left and braced myself. "Pull!"

We yanked as hard as we could until Chloe started whimpering. "Shitshitshit-stop!" We let go. "Ow, fuck. I think my leg got caught in it too."

I leant back and looked down at Chloe. Fuck. I looked to Rachel. "What the fuck do we do now?"

That's when we heard the train.


Oh... fuuuuuck. I bent my head back to stare at the train coming at us hella fucking quickly. I looked back at Rachel, who was yanking at my arm hella hard. "Oh god, Max! Please get me out, please!"

Max stood up suddenly, and started running.

"Max! Where the fuck are you going? Need a little fucking help here!" I yelled after her as she scurried off to who fucking knows where. I yanked my leg a few times and grimaced at the pain. Like, I'm a badass and all, but that shit hurt.

Rachel was still yanking hella hard at my shoulder, which was starting to go kinda numb...

Max never stopped, just called back "Just be ready to move when I say!"

What the fuck is she doing?

She went over to this box-thing next to the track. She stopped and swore, grabbing at something on it. She ran a hand through her hair, then looked back at us. She turned back to it.

I blinked and the box was suddenly open. Max was digging around inside it for something.

Then, I suddenly flew backwards.


Rachel yanked Chloe backwards just moments before the train roared past. Their hair flapped about like crazy in the jetstream created by the train.

I ran back over once it had passed. They were both just sitting by the tracks, looking at where Chloe had been. They looked up at me when I stopped next to them. We all looked at each other, then at the tracks, then back at each other again.

Then we just laughed. "Holy fucking shit I cannot believe we survived that."

I stood and watched as Chloe just threw her arms around Rachel. "Holy shit. You two just saved my life."

Rachel laughed and hugged Chloe back. "Nah. If anything, we saved the train from being smashed by your rock-hard skull."

Chloe snorted. "My rock-hard abs, you mean." She pauses, runs a hand through her hair. "Still. Seriously guys... thanks."

Rachel took a deep intake of breath, then let it all out slowly. "Well, that's more than enough excitement for me. How about we head into town?"


As someone who'd lived apart from the world of capitalist materialism for the better part of five years, the next few hours were utterly bizarre to me. I could describe them in detail, but weirdly, they all came together as a music video montage to an Avril Lavigne song.

We were in an indie clothing shop, stocking entirely vintage 'threads' as the sign above the door proudly proclaimed. Rachel was laughing and selecting clothes for me. When I asked, she laughed and told me I was her new "Pet Project."

I came out of the fitting room to a frown and a cocked head from her. "Hmm. It's good, but there's something..." She clicked her fingers and her eyes flashed. "Got it! Back in a minute!" She disappeared off into the store.

I wasn't sure whether to be offended or thankful for her attention. Currently, I had a red and black plaid shirt over a white tank top with a band logo I didn't recognise paired with black cords. I was checking the fit in a mirror when Rachel crept up behind me (I'd heard her coming a mile away, despite the loud rock music blaring the shop.) and put a necklace over me. It was a feather, kind of like her earring.

She bopped me on the nose and grinned. "Now you're perfect."

I looked back in the mirror. This outfit would get you killed on the Island. Nothing blended with the surroundings. But when Rachel leaned over my shoulder and grinned at me in the mirror, I couldn't help grinning back. "It's not bad..." I admitted.

She laughed, all low and pleased. She leaned in again. "Not bad? Darling, it's smoking."

I flushed and she laughed again. Fucking tease. "Ok, Maxie, lets find you another one." She sauntered off into the racks. "Oooh, how about this?"

I rolled my eyes and went back to change back.

*Flashback Begins*

The Hunter cocked her head, listening to the echoing sounds of the caves around her.

Footsteps...

Something new had entered her domain.

Her head tilted curiously. The Hunter had perceived no new threats in the tunnels during her last sweep. What could this new threat be? She turned to the cat, curled up against one wall of their cave. "Holly! You hear it?" Her voice sounded rough, almost alien, even to her.

The cat raised its head to look at her silently for a moment, then cocked it and listened. She nodded and moved to her feet, quietly grumbling.

They exited the cave, careful to replace the camouflaging rocks, then she and the Panther crept out into the dark realm they called home. Whatever it was, if it was a threat, it would fall to her blade, as all other intruders had.

She followed the sounds easily. Whatever it was, it was not subtle. The footsteps, like all loud sounds here, echoed for miles in the silent corridors.

The Hunter finally found the source in a tunnel right at the edge of her claimed territory. She'd prawled down it, stopping when the sound of muted footsteps and voices alerted her to immediate danger. With a gesture, she told The Panther to hide, then climbed up to the roof of the tunnel. The Hunter was pushed back as her mind ran with possibilities. Could it be the Miners, out on another expedition?

Lights came around the corner, not from torches or fire, but from goggles, strapped to the faces of a half dozen armoured individuals. As they closed, she recognised the armour, with the familiar logo plastered across the breast and shoulder plates. Prescott agents.

One of them was talking.

Loudly.

Idiot.

"What I wouldn't give ta have a gun down here." The man jumped as something skittered past them. "These things" He waved his sword. "are fucking useless at range."

With a wave from the guy in front, the group stopped and the lead soldier strode up to the talking man. "You're new, aren't you, Private?"

The man nodded. "Yes, sir. Just transferred in last week."

The leader leaned back, one hand dropping to the pommel of his own sword. "Yes, I thought so. Well, Private, did you get the briefing about the gas in these tunnels?"

The private nodded again. "Yes sir."

The leader leaned in, clearly enjoying lording his position over the other man. "Well then, do you particularly enjoy being burnt alive? Or do you just dislike your comrades enough to want them burnt alive? Or are you just a suicidal fucking idiot!" He hissed in the other man's face.

The Private flushed. "No sir. Sorry sir."

The leader nodded. "Good. Now, shut up and get back to position, Private."

The patrol reformed and continued down the corridor. The Hunter watched them until they were just below her. The Hunter had a faint feeling of amazement. These patrols had been feared for their swiftness and silence. Others had talked of them, claiming they never made a whisper until they caught you. But The Hunter had spotted them easily.

She dropped into the middle of the patrol.

The light from the two torches carried by members at each end of the group created impressive shadows as she landed, she noted. The Hunter's mouth curled in a prideful smile as the two soldiers closest to her whirled on her and drew their swords, shock evident on their faces.

They closed in seconds, both swinging at her. She ducked under one man's blade and her own slid home between the plates of his chest armour. With a growl, she pulled the blade out and swung at the second. Her blade bit viciously into his neck, followed by a gout of blood as she pulled it free.

The other three stopped out of her range, drawing their own blades. Definitely soldiers. None of them even spared a glance for their fallen comrades. They circled her warily, one of them probing her guard every so often with an extended blade she slapped back with a twist of her wrist.

She kept her eyes on all she could, watching for any opening. She found one in the form of a wobbling blade. She grinned. Excellent. She feinted forward, snarling and howling to emphasise the attack. The soldier, more of a child really, panicked and almost dropped his blade. The Hunter ran him through without a thought and spun around, ready to face the other two.

Sharing a quick look, the other two closed on her, trying to get under her guard before striking. She swung at the last soldier, trying to rattle him, but he blocked and pushed his blade against hers, both trying to wrestle the other into submission as the edges scratched and screeched together like nails on a blackboard. Sparks flew as the blades scraped back and forth, each vying for a foothold that would find victory.

Though it took longer than expected, she found her foothold soon enough, leaving just The Hunter and a single enemy left. She knocked him off balance, then grabbed him from the ground, pulled him up to her face. Looking into the visor, she saw a pale face and terrified eyes looking back at her. The talkative private.

The Hunter howled. "Victory!"

She growled and threw him across the tunnel. He slammed into a wall and slid down it, body falling to the ground. The Hunter turned to slink away when she heard the patter of feet. She spun just in time to see a soldier running off down the corridor. The Hunter made to pursue, but she stopped. No point. They'd find out about the lost patrol sooner or later and no creature out here but her used a sword.

They were coming.

*Flashback Ends*

I stepped out to Chloe and Rachel both coming back with two armfuls of clothes. Rachel thrust a few items at me and put the rest down on a nearby table. "Try these next, Maxie." She quirked a smile. "You'll look so cute. Like a pocket punk."

I rolled my eyes as Chloe laughed gleefully. "Yeah, Max. Hop to it! I hella wanna see that."

Chloe and Rachel both pick out a few things themselves and head into the booths to either side of me. I shrug and head back in. I hang the clothes up and take a look. Wow. This outfit feels very Chloe. Skull tee and ripped jeans under a patched plaid button-up. I can see Rachel's influences though, with the silvery feather earrings and a silk scarf.

I sigh and start changing.

I come out just before the others. Another skill I'd picked up on the Island. You had to be ready to move at all times. I could go from sleeping to leaving in three minutes. It'd saved my life many times.

Rachel and Chloe both came out at the same time. From Chloe's inquisitive look, I think she might've been waiting for Rachel. Cute.

Rachel strikes a pose, every bit the aspiring model. She poses like she's on a magazine cover, all perfect and untouchable. Chloe, on the other hand, is... somewhat less poised. She looks like she's leaning on an alley wall, trying to light a joint. Without the wall.

They look at each other and laugh, then over to me, expectantly.

What the hell. I go for it.

I look off into the middle distance, dropping a hand to one of my hips, which have a slight gunslinger tilt to them. The other hand goes up, like I'm doing the 'little teapot' dance thing. "Ready for the mosh pit, shaka-brah."

Immediately, Rachel and Chloe both bend over laughing.

What? Did I say it wrong?

They laugh harder.

Yep. I definitely said it wrong.

When I asked, Chloe just wafted at me, still laughing. "Nah, Maxie. That was fucking hilarious."

Rachel starts selecting a new outfit for me. I catch a vague glance of pink feathers and shudder. You have no idea how glad I was when the store girl came over. She was a typical disinterested teen, long brown hair with a streak of blue and a vacant stare. "We're closin' in five. Ya gotta pay or go."

Rachel slumped slightly. "Aww." She sounded disappointed. Surprisingly, I was too. This was... fun. One of the normal growing up things I never really got to do before. They started sorting their purchases, putting aside what they didn't want.

I looked over to them. "Uh, guys? I'll meet you outside. I need to use the bathroom." Rachel nodded. "Sure thing, Maxie." She looped her arm around Chloe's. "Come on, Chlo. Let's go pay for your punk shit." Chloe held up her selection, a couple of band tees I didn't recognise the logos of and a skull beanie. The last thing I hear as they saunter off is Chloe saying "Shit? Pfft. This stuff is hella quality, Rach. Look at that little skull."

I headed to the bathroom.

*Flashback Begins*

The Hunter was wary once more. It'd been so long since she arrived in this place, fleeing from them. Now, they'd found her again. Or rather, she'd found them.

Regardless, they knew she was out here and it was only a matter of time until they came for her.

The Hunter would have to fight harder than she ever had before to survive. She ignored the mental image of the city, a possible retreat, remaining dedicated to her isolation.

She stepped up patrols for the next few days, setting traps and checking routes, preparing for what she inevitably knew to be coming.

They finally came, along the same path as before. The Hunter found them checking over the bodies of their comrades. These soldiers talked lower, quieter. So, they were the elite, not those who came before. These were the fast, silent hand of Prescott. She waited patiently for them to move again, continuing down the corridor.

They advanced closer and closer, every one of them checking everything with bright lights. But The Hunter knew these corridors far better than they did. She knew how to hide. A natural predator.

She watched as the lead soldier walked under a towering natural archway. That's when he hit the trap. He screamed and clawed at his face and armour, trying desperately to scrape off the Cloaker venom that now covered him.

The others panicked immediately, rushing forward to help their comrade. All except two, who hung back. The minute the patrol stood by their comrade, the second layer of traps set off and thick, black smoke billowed into the corridor, blocking them all from view.

The Hunter smiled, closed her eyes and dropped into the middle of the patrol.

She felt a surge of pride at the shocked expressions on the two closest members as they whirled on her, their own blades drawn.

All of The Hunter's instincts screamed as the five uniformed men closed in on her. They paused, just out of reach and she smiled. Then, she moved.

Within seconds, the five men were dead by their own blades. The Hunter's own was still securely in its sheath. The man splattered by venom was dead, face covered in burns. Even his armour had been eaten away.

The two remaining members of the patrol stared at her, with almost bored expressions that even the Hunter recognised. The Hound and his Mistress. They were a duo always assigned to collecting errant subjects, like The Hunter. Others that had been 'recovered' had claimed it was impossible to lose them once they'd gotten your scent.

The Mistress leaned back, crossing her arms as she surveyed her dead men. The Hunter dropped back, one hand going to her sword. "What... what are you doing here?"

She smiled. "We are here to ensure your return to The Compound." She waved to her companion. "And be aware that if you do not, Mr Palmer here will be forced to hurt you."

The tall, cruel man beside her glared at her with an air of professional pride. "I don't hurt people, I kill them. You know that!" To The Hunter, he sounded like a petulant child, complaining to a parent of some perceived sibling insult. The Hound always did have his pride...

The woman rolled her eyes. "Well, then it's time to expand your resume."

The Hunter snarled, hand dropping to her still-sheathed sword. A warning of what was to come.

The Matron's voice took on a cool, calming tone. "You don't want to fight us, Max. We're here to help, to take you home... You must be tired of these dark corridors."

The Hunter... I... I could feel my resolve weakening. I was tired. So... so tired. The Matron continued, her mouth curling into a smile. "The Doctor will be glad to have you back. Ratigan has so missed his favourite daughter."

The Hunter's instincts screamed. Her eyes snapped up to meet The Matron's. The Matron had made a mistake, and she knew it. The point of The Hunter's blade rose and she spoke. "I..." Her voice was rough, unnatural. The Hunter was unused to talking, her voice now rasping through old, no longer familiar sounds. "I am not going back!"

The Matron sighed and raised her blade. Beside her, The Hound's blade rose too. "Such a shame. Dr Moreau will be so disappointed. Very well."

They both lashed out, one for each flank. The Hunter ducked under one blade and barely parried the other. This was going to be a hard fight. She was one person, against two working in concert.

The Matron, despite her name, was young and strong. Far stronger than The Hunter. But she couldn't match the blinding speed of The Hunter's weapon as it danced around hers, searching for any opening it could find.

The Hound was pressing hard on her right, strikes slowly building up in speed. They'd talked about this, back inside. He was patient, always patient. His blade started off slow, testing, then used its own momentum and flowing grace to build up in speed. The Hunter found herself being pressed back. Neither blade had struck her, yet, but she was finding it increasingly difficult to keep blocking.

The Matron's blade sliced across her ribs, cutting a thin red line across her skin along with what remained of her jacket. The Hunters blade flicked out, poking into The Matron's wrist. She slunk back, grinning wickedly at her small victory. The Hound was still accelerating, blade becoming a near-invisible whirl as he cut and slashed at The Hunter.

He hadn't cut her, but the few strikes he had made would leave deep, wicked bruises. No matter what The Hunter tried, she couldn't hit him. Every time she thought her blade would draw blood, a simple twist from The Hound diverted her strike.

In the time she'd been here, The Hunter had never lost a fight. But she knew to run when it was truly hopeless. So, she threw a knife in the face of the Hound and fled.

Taking care to avoid pursuit, The Hunter made her way home.

"We can't stay here anymore, Holly." The Panther mrowled, cocking her head in confusion.

"They came back." The Panther's head straightened, her dark eyes reflected what The Hunter herself felt. Resignation.

This oasis, this haven they'd found for themselves was no longer safe. They had to go.

The Hunter packed what little she had and opened up the cave. With the Panther at her side, she never looked back, heading straight for The City.

*Flashback Ends*


We were waiting out by my truck for Max to come out when the assholes popped out of fucking nowhere. I was gonna beat their fucking asses until I saw one of them had a knife.

What? I'm tough, not stupid. No way I'm getting stabbed again. They demanded we "Hand over the cash, bitch." and waved the knife. One of the others had a bat. They backed me and Rach up against the truck.

I glared, but even I gotta admit, it was hella shitty. "Back off."

They laughed. "Back off, she said."

"Yeah, I heard her. You think we should?"

The knife guy grinned. "Nah. Her, maybe." He waves at me. "Have you seen her truck? She ain't got shit." Asshole. "But this one..." He points the knife at Rachel, who's just standing there, watching him like a fucking cat watches passing people. "She's a fucking rich kid. One of those fancy Vortexers..." He waves the knife. "Give us your stuff, girlie."

Then, Max just appeared out of fucking nowhere. "Leave them alone."

One of the guys laughed. "Well lookee here, boys. Looks like our lost lambs got themselves a fucking bodyguard. You gonna stop us, girlie?" He lashed out at Max with his knife.

The minute he stepped up close, Max's hands flashed out, grabbing the guy and spinning him around and throwing him back into one of the other guys.

We all just stood there for a sec, blinking as Max stared at the guys. She smiled, just a little. That's when it hit me. Max really had changed.

Now, she was dangerous.

She grins. "Come and have a go, if you think you're hard enough."

The douchebag with the bat takes a vaguely experimental swing at Max. Her hand flashes up and grabs the bat, pulling the guy forward. He stumbles, and Max knees the fucker in the balls.

When he falls to the floor, the knife guy takes a huge arcing swipe at Max. She blocks his arm, avoiding the knife hella carefully. Her hands fucking slam into his chest, pushing him back a few inches. She follows him forward, throwing a punch to his gut. He buckles, but tries to swing again. Max just grabs his arm, pulling the knife towards the other guy, who hella barely dodges it. It scrapes along his arm instead of going into his stomach.

The bat guy's gotten back up and comes at Max from behind. Fucking cheater! But Max doesn't bat an eyelid.

Heh. You see what I did there?

Anyway.

He swings down at her head, like he's trying to hammer a nail into the top of it, but she just pushes back into him. He fucking wheezes like a popped balloon when her elbow sticks into his stomach. She ends up right in the little triangle gap between his arms and the bat ends up colliding with knife guys hand, knocking him enough he drops it.

Max grabs bat guys hands and swings them. Holy shit, she must be hella strong to do that. He's like, a foot taller than her. The bat collides with knife guy's head, knocking him to the floor. Then, Max headbutts Bat Guy with the back of her face.

Is that still a headbutt? Or is it like... a back-headbutt? I dunno. Whatever.

He swears, something about his nose. When Max rolls away from him, there's blood pouring down his face.

I grin.

Max twists back onto her feet and does that weird hand curl thing Morpheus does to Neo in the Matrix. She smiles, baring her teeth. "You're gonna have to try harder than that."

The three assholes look at each other, then run off. Max runs over to Rach's side, helping her up. I just lay there, blinking in fucking shock. Max offered me her hand. I looked up at her. "How..?"

She shrugged. "I know how to fight. They didn't."

"But there were three of them!" I point off at where they ran off. "Three! And they were fucking bigger than you!"

I took her hand and she pulled me up. "Three idiots."

Rachel hugged her. "Thanks, Max." She pulled back, focused on her, hella intent. "That was amazing."

Max flushed, looked down at her feet, shuffling one of 'em. "It wasn't..."

I interrupted. "Max, you probably saved our fucking lives. It was hella awesome." It really fucking was.

I walked forward, wrapping one arm around Rach's shoulder and the other over Max's. "Now, I need noms. We gotta celebrate Maxie saving us, right Rach?"

Rachel nodded, smiling at Max. "Definitely. Come on Max, we insist."

Max shrugged, still looking at the ground. It was so weird. She'd been completely confident fighting those assholes, but talking to us and she was as shy as fucking ever.


Chloe grinned. "You should've seen her, Mom! She just" Chloe demonstrated with a weird 'ker-pow' punch thing, probably from some movie I'd missed. "and wham, they were on the ground!"

Joyce eyed Chloe over the counter as she slid the waffles over to us all. This was an expression I'd recognised. It was something Joyce had perfected years back. Chloe and I called it her "Are you shitting me?" look. Very Samuel L. Jackson.

Apparently, Rachel knew it too and she shrugged, offering an explanation. "It's true, Mrs P. Maxie probably saved our lives, right babes?"

I blushed. Damn it. "It's nothing."

Joyce looked over at Max. "Don't sound like nothin', Max."

Chloe raises her milkshake. "Yeah, Max. You did hella good. And you hella helped pull me off the fucking track, too."

Joyce's eyebrow raises. "Tracks? Chloe, I thought David told you to stay away from the Junkyard."

Chloe rolls her eyes and scoffs. "Yeah, and I always listen to step-douche."

Joyce snorts and looks over at me. "Well, even if it was nothin', thanks for keeping Chloe here out of trouble." She eyes Rachel. "Lord knows this one ain't so good at that."

Rachel grins. "You know me so well, Mrs P." She laughs. "Besides. The trouble is half the fun."

Joyce rolls her eyes and wanders off to serve another customer.

Rachel turns to me, huge shit-eating grin on her face. "It is true though, Maxie. You're our little freckled hero today." She stretches out and ruffles my hair. "Muggers, trains..." She grins and whirls on Chloe. Their eyes meet and they both chant. "Faster than a speeding bullet, can leap buildings in a single bound, it's... SUPERMAX!"

I flush again. Damn it.