Jack Slash 2004 exact date unknown, location unknown.
"Win some, lose some."
A third of us had died, Siberian had been popped like a ballon, and my left leg under the knee was gone. The brats had survived and the woman was more or less untouched, and we were driving aimlessly into the future in our bus.
"A Tinker, we should pick up a Tinker."
There were nods, I could pour on the charm and get us one, a healer would be nice too. I think I will let my instincts guide me to one. Well, you need planning, you need to gather information but there's a lot of improvisation in there too. It's a shame Sphere doesn't live on Earth, I could have done so much with him.
The bus was silent, we took backroads, side streets, we had changed our outfits and hairs. We changed the way we walked and talked, change your presence and people don't even think to ask if you're, well you. I looked at a sign, now leaving Washington, I don't know what direction we went in. North, South, East, we kind of moved with the flow. I looked at some cash we had grabbed and we looked for a camp site.
Hotels seem like an obvious idea, but going to some low end hotel isn't. Thing is people in those small hotels like to gossip and that travels. You want to stay under the radar, either go big, or stick to parks. The smaller parks tend to ask fewer questions, the bigger ones don't have the resources to ask those questions in the first place.
"Reason for coming?"
"Spiritual retreat."
We had our crosses, and vestments on, the ranger looked at us.
"Really?"
"We're praying for victory over the Endbringers."
The man nodded and smiled.
"Yeah, can't disagree with that, thank god we won in Mexico City."
I widened my eyes.
"Really I didn't hear about that."
"Oh yeah, fourth Endbringer is now down, I mean there are still 16 more of the bastards, but that's what, a 5th of 'em?"
He shook his head.
"Shame what happened in Seattle, quite a scare there."
"Really? I'm sorry we've just been dealing with spiritual matters for so long."
"Right, well the Nine attacked Seattle, tried to kill Ironwood's wife and kids, um you know the good one."
He shrugged.
"Sure he's a monster but by god he's our monster, fortunately Icy had them running with their tails between their legs."
"Interesting, but spiritual matters await."
"Sure Padre, there are showers up ahead."
We drove on and Shatterbird looked out the back.
"Say the word and he's a dead man, just say the word."
"Nah, there wouldn't be any point, any artistry in it, the next time we do something I want it to be with our full numbers, I want it to be special."
She rolled her eyes and we made a stop, I sat down and looked at my stump. That was going to need to be fixed. I looked at the setting sun and smiled at the growing encroaching darkness. We would come back from this stronger then ever.