California 2019

Zone 4

Poison was the first to wake up. For a moment, she forgot where she was. Then she shook her head. Keep it together, Poison. You're in the desert. Zone 4. Go check on your sisters. It was the same thing she told herself every morning, with the only exception being the change in Zones. She rolled off the mattress, pulled on her dusty purple skinny jeans, grabbed her jacket and holster, and padded down the hallway. At Valentine and Static's rooms, she peered in, only to be met with the same sight in each. Both her sisters were fast asleep. Big surprise. She walked into the kitchen and started going through the cupboards for any remnants of what could be made into coffee.

"Hi there, sweetie!" A voice called from behind her. Poison spun around, jumped, and hit her head on the cupboard door all at once. Her hand went to her holster, but she noticed that the man – or boy, whatever – was a killjoy. He was wearing a half-top that had 'NOISE' printed in large letters, and he was wearing leggings under a thong. He wasn't wearing shoes either – instead he had roller skates.

"Do you want to die?" She growled

"Not particularly. I'm here to bring you something, tell you something, and give you an assignment. Or two." He smiled at her

"Last time I checked, I didn't know you. Why would I do what you told me to do?" Poison sneered.

"Well, we need to help each other out, don't we? Anyway, this is for you." He handed her a small device that looked like a radio – with a screen.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" Poison asked the boy. "And what's your name?"

"It's a transmitter. Let's you get in touch with other killjoys. And it'll be a radio in a few days – which leads me to my first question – any requests?"

Poison stared. "You mean, songs?"

"Yup. I've been going through the desert finding records – it's my job." He looked at her.

"Umm, yeah, sure – any punk rock is good." Poison stuttered.

"Anything more specific?" He asked

"Well, My Chemical Romance, Green Day, umm... I'm sorry, those are the only bands I can think of." She blushed. 8 years ago she could have listed anything at all. Now she could only remember 2 bands.

"No problem. And now, my next question – you might want to get your sisters, they'll need to decide on this too.

"How do you know I'm not alone?" Poison tried to cover herself, but she blushed. She was a terrible liar.

"Only because I know you're Poison Heart, and your sisters are Static Symphony and Graffiti Valentine. You guys are pretty popular, with your story about coming from Toronto. That's pretty far away, and you were what? 16?" He sat down in a chair and leaned back. He knew he had won, and so did Poison. She sighed.

"What's your name?" She asked him.

"Show Pony."

"Alright then." She turned and walked down the hallway. She got to Val's room first. "LOOK ALIVE, SUNSHINE!" she yelled, and she jumped on her sister.

"AAAAAHHHH!" Val screamed. "The fuck are you doing?"

"Time to get up. We have company." Poison answered, and she ran out the door laughing. She did the exact same thing to Static, who had slept through the entire episode next door. Static's reaction was similar, only she attempted to throw a shoe at her sister, missing only because Poison was able to dart around the door frame before the shoe made contact. Pony listened from the kitchen, and couldn't help but smile. He had heard they were tough, and very close. That's why he had chosen them.

The girls walked into the kitchen, two looking extremely pissed off. Show Pony spoke.

"Alright, how would you feel about going into Battery City and rescuing a little girl?" He asked

"What? Wait – WHAT?" Poison spluttered.

"Yup. She's almost at the age where they'll feed her the meds, and the Killjoys we have stationed at BL/ind think she's special."

"What? I don't get it – there are Killjoys at BL/ind?" Valentine asked

"And they help move kids out?" Static questioned Pony

"Yes and yes. Look, you guys are skilled, and we need her out of there."

Static looked warily at the boy. "You mean that no one else can get her? Why not someone who has done this before?"

"Because they're planning for something...else." He looked away.

"Do we get to know what it is?" Poison asked, already knowing the answer.

"Nope." He said with a finality that no one would question, despite his girlish appearance and soft voice. "So, are you willing to do it?"

Poison looked at her sisters. She thought of the little girl, and knew what her answer was. "I'm in." She said. "But if you two don't want to – " Valentine cut her off.

"You think we're gonna skip out on helping a kid? No way in hell, I'm in too."

Static looked shocked when they both glanced warily at her.

"You think I'm gonna stay here? Hell no, I'm the best driver! I'm coming too!"

Pony smiled. "Alright then, here's the deal. You go to Zone 1 today, and at 10:30 tonight drive to the border of Battery City. Take the exit at Route Guano, and you'll be taken to the S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W unit. Ashton will meet you there. And he'll have the girl with him. When you get her, don't stop and talk. Tell Ashton this: 'Transmissions sent. Show Pony knows we'll see you in the desert again one day.' Valentine nodded. She knew that she would be the only one to remember that. Pony nodded.

"Alright then, I'll see you around – and keep those transmitters close. Dr. D's radio cast will be sent out soon." He stood up.

"Wait – what do we do with the girl when we get her out?" Poison asked. Pony shrugged.

"Keep running." And with that, he turned on his skates and sped out the door.