California 2019

Zone 6 – The Diner

Kobra gaped at the small girl, who was studying him with huge, hazel eyes.

My eyes, Kobra thought. He took a small step towards her and knelt down in front of Angel. After studying her for a moment, he noticed that she had Alicia's face. Almost exactly, the only exception being his own eyes – and hair colour, he noted.

Party, Jet, and Ghoul hadn't moved. All three were looking back and forth between Kobra and Angel. After what seemed like forever, Angel's eyes welled up. She reached out her hand and patted his cheek softly.

"You are. You're daddy!" She squealed, and started crying. Kobra couldn't help from pulling the small girl into his arms. He patted her hair and held her while she cried, and when she had finished, she flashed him a shy smile.

"I missed you, daddy." She said. Kobra smiled back at her, and spoke for the first time.

"You're so pretty. You look just like Alicia." He said in awe.

"Not my eyes though daddy. You and me have the same eyes!" Angel said.

Kobra seemed to have lost all ability to talk, and at that moment the black haired woman – Malice – stepped forward and asked to speak to him privately. She led him around the side of the diner and began asking him questions.

"Who are you married to?"

"Alicia."

"What's her maiden name?"

"Simmons."

"The date of your wedding?"

"March 8, 2007."

She studied him for a moment, before nodding slowly.

"Sorry about all that. It's just...I've known Angel and Alicia since – well, since you were drafted a Drac." She paused for a moment, and slapped her forhead.

"God dammit! You're a Drac – well, not you you, but the Mikey from this time." She groaned and paced for a moment, before looking at Kobra. He had leaned against the side of the diner and sunk to the ground.

"Malice – how is she? Alicia? Does she remember me, or is she on the...the drugs?" His last words were a whisper.

"She's fine. Not on the drugs, she's been working in the headquarters. They needed her to think properly, so she couldn't take them."

Kobra became angry. "You mean she's working with them? Why? She must know what they're really-" Malice cut him off.

"She knows what's happening. So did Ash and I. That's why we've were working with Dr. D out of Battery City." Kobra looked up intently.

"You were what?" He asked. Malice looked in the direction of the other killjoys, who they could hear were talking excitedly.

"We should go back. You need to know everything. So do the others..." She looked at him, and offered her hand. Kobra took it and stood up. Malice put a hand on his shoulder and spoke,

"Before we left – Angel and I – Alicia told me to look out for you. She wanted me to tell you that she misses you and loves you." Kobra smiled, and Malice removed her hand. She began walking back, but Kobra called after her.

"Malice...what's her name? I mean, not her Killjoy name, but..." He looked hopefully at her, and she smiled.

"Jacqueline. We all called her Jackie, though, for short." Malice turned again, and began walking towards the rest of the group. Kobra smiled to himself.

Jackie, he thought. If I had a daughter, that's – he paused. Of course that's what he would name his daughter. He already had. Well, the other version of himself had, at least.

He turned back towards the front of the diner and headed out to see his daughter again.