Chapter 9

It was only a short walk to the catch a ride station. Mordecai had informed the group that they only needed to make it back to the Nexus, where they would be airlifted by Buzzard to the flying town of Sanctuary.

"I've got a few more things I need to see to, so I will meet you all back at the Crimson Raiders HQ" Mordecai handed a folded piece of paper to Irish. "Give this to the Buzzard pilot. It will grant you safe passage to Sanctuary"

Irish looked at the dirty piece of paper in his hand as the Hunter turned and left.

"What does it say?" LiveFree pushed past Kitty to snatch the note from Irishs' hand. Irish groaned in annoyance as LiveFree unfolded the note. "Huh" LiveFrees eyebrows raised as he read the note.

"Well..." Kitty prompted "are you gonna tell us what it says?"

"It just says 'Hey Slab. Don't kill the new slabs. Don't let anyone else kill the new Slabs either. We need them. Signed, The Slab King'" LiveFrees features were riddled with confusion.

"It's Brick" Irish explained, snatching the note back. "Brick becomes the leader of a Bandit gang in the second game, and they refer to him as 'Slab King'. He calls all his comrades slabs. It's not an insult." He walked forward to the keypad at the Catch-a-Ride station, and poked at the keys. His customary yellow Runner digi-structed on the concrete pad in front of them.

"I guess we're gonna need two cars this time" Kitty looked around at their group. "I don't mind Monty sitting on my lap, but LiveFrees another story"

"Well, you girls got to pair up on watch last night, so I think it's only fair that we rotate partners around" Irish suggested, and both the girls glanced at each other before giving Irish a look that said 'in your dreams.'

"Wait, I'm sensing that none of you wanna get stuck with me" LiveFree sulked like a 5 year old.

"I wonder why that is?" Monty asked the older man "you're acting like you don't think any of this is real. We don't know if we will respawn if we die, and I don't wanna be the one to test it either. Im sure these guys feel the same. Not to mention, Joel, last time we all spoke with you, you didn't exactly leave things on the best of terms" They knew Monty was referring to LiveFrees outburst on the forums, claiming the three of them to be 'fake' friends.

"Fine. Fine! I get it!" LiveFree began to rant. "None of you wanna put up with me because I'm a lonely old man"

"No, that's not it man" Irish cut in "we don't want you to get us killed with your carelessness." LiveFree sighed, then slowly began shaking his head as his hysterical laughter filled the air.

"Ok then," he began pacing back and forth in front of the other three, his assault rifle raised "the big question at the forefront of everyone's mind..." He glanced at each of them, to see if they were following his train of thought. "Rrrrrre-spawn!" He mimicked the automated voice which was heard in game as a player respawned.

"Dude, whatever your thinking..." Irish began, but was cut off by LiveFree.

"No no! I got this one Irish, no need to step up and be the hero. So lets find out shall we? See if we do respawn? I mean, who better to test this theory..." He raised his weapon again, the barrel pointing at each of the other three players in turn, before lifting the guns muzzle to beneath his own chin "than the grumpy old man who doesn't even believe any of this is even real"

"Wait! Joel! You're being ridiculous" Kitty tried to pursued him. But his mind was already set.

"See you losers on the other side" He saluted, and Irish lunged forward.

But he was too slow. There was a sickening splatter as a short burst of bullets emitted from the rifle. As LiveFrees lifeless body fell backwards, Irish stumbled atop of him, blood spraying his face and chest.

"Fuck!" Irish cried "oh my fucking God!" He gulped back the putrid taste of bile that rose in his throat, as he eyed the headless body beneath him. He clambered to his feet, wiping his bloodied hands on his jeans. Kitty and Monty stepped forward to stand beside Irish and witness what would happen.

But nothing happened. The spurting vein in LiveFrees neck slowed until it was dripping intermittently, but still his lifeless body remained.

"So..." Kitty gasped, still in shock "no respawn?"