Chapter 3

2nd LT. ARADIA MEGIDO

1988-2012

Sollux stood over the grave, reading the unbelievable words written on the grave stone over and over again. Even though he had stood the whole day through her funeral, he stood at the grave all night crying his heart out until his eyes hurt. A boquette of flowers lay on top of the dug up earth; the only thing that made him slightly happy.

A sliver of light peaked over the horizen. The sun had finally began to come up after a long, sorrowful night.

"Captian." Terezi spoke lightly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Sollux turned around. His different colored glasses were in his hands, and the edges of his eyes were red.

"It's morning, sir." Terezi told him, slightly tugging on his shoulder. "Almost time to go back to work."

He nodded slowly. Terezi lead Sollux back to the parked police car in front of the cemetery. Sitting at the front of the wheel, Karkat watched both of them get into the car; Sollux in the back and Terezi sitting up front.

"Hey, listen." Karkat said, turning to look at Sollux. "Sollux, I know its hard, what you're going though and all. But, you can't really dwell on it forever."

"Ugh!" Terezi moaned. "Karkles just drive, you're terrible at this!"

Karkat gave a stern look to Terezi before turning back around and starting the car.

"Excuse Karkles, Sollux." Terezi calmed, placing a hand on Sollux's knee.

"It'th jutht," Sollux whimpered while cleaning his glasses with the bottom of his shirt. "Thhe wathn't... Thhe didnt't..." Tears began to pour out of his eyes again. He shut his lids to try and stop his crying.

Terezi grabbed his hand and squeazed. The car began to roll forward away from the empty cemetary. Sollux looked out the window with foggy eyes for the last time.

The van pulled into the driveway of the two-story black building. There were no window but one, which was bullet-proof and boarded up, and the door had no nob on the outside, and could only be opened from the inside.

"Ah, man." Gamzee sighed, almost falling out the car door. "Finally made it back."

Eridan pulled the van's side door open and hopped out. Feferi jumped out behind him, carrying both bags of money. Equius pulled the key out of the van and got out himself.

The group walked up to the unnobbed door. Eridan knocked twice, an echo rang through the door.

"Who dares try and enter?" A voice grumbled from the other side of the door.

"Nep, it's just us." Eridan groaned.

"How can I be so sure? What if you are IMPOSTERS?"

"Nepeta, please." Equius answered. "Stop with these childish games."

"Equius? Meow! It is you!"

The door swung open, revieling the dreadful interior and a small, brown haired girl.

"YAY!" Nepeta purred. "You came back alright!" She jumped into Equius' arms.

"Nepeta!" Equius blushed.

"Wwould you twwo lovve birds please get out of the doorwway?" Eridan snapped.

Equius shuffled out of the way of the door with Nepeta in his arms. The rest of the group walked inside. Equius followed behind and shut the door behind him.

"I'm glad we made it back alright." Feferi sighed, slumping down on the long, raggidy couch. She dropped the bags of money on the ground in front of her.

"I'm supurr glad everyone made it back!" Nepeta cheered.

Eridan walked over to the small fridge sitting in the room next to the main one.

"I'm starvvin though." He moaned.

"Quit your moaning, Eridan!" Feferi snapped at him.

"Wwhatevver. Do you wwant anythin, Gam?"

"Nah, bro." Gamzee said, sitting down on the couch next to Feferi. "It's cool."

"Alright." Eridan swung the fridge door open. An empty jar of pickles lay on the middle shelf, along with soiled milk and one egg.

He slammed the door shut in fuery.

"What now?" Feferi groaned, looking over at him.

"Of course there's no food in there." Eridan grumbled.

"Oh!" Nepeta jumped.

"What is it, Nepeta?" Equius asked, setting her down on the ground.

"I furgot to tell you! We ran out of food almost an hour ago!"

"Wwhat?" Eridan yelled.

"Yeah, me and Vrisak ate the rest fur dinner. She went up to take a nap and that though completely slipped my mind!"

"Well," The sound of footsteps came from the staircase. "Atleast you told them. They would have never figured it out!"

"Oh, come on, Vriska!" Feferi argued. "All of us need to eat sometime! You can't just go eating everything in the house!"

"No, that is not eatin." Eridan insulted as Vriska reached the bottom of the steps. "I'vve seen eatin. Wwhat you do, Vvri, is pure chaos."

"Hey, if you don't like the way I eat then you can just buy your own food." Vriska taunted.

"I do buy my owwn food! You eat it all wwhen wwe're not in the house!"

"Eridan!" Feferi yelled. He clamped his mouth shut.

"You guys just need to relax." Gamzee sighed.

"Yes," Equius agreed. "It would be wise if one of us went to get some more food."

"Eridan. You go." Vriska jabbed a finger at Eridan.

"Wwhy me?" He crossed his arms.

"Because you made Equius drive all across town because of your stupid idea to have a 'fun' chase. So I'm making you go."

"How did you...?" Feferi began to ask.

"It was all over the news. I just figured the robbery went well and Eridan over there wanted something else to do."

"Alright." Eridan sighed. "I'll go. Eq, toss me the keys."

Equius reached into his pocket and pulled out the van key attached to a key chain. He tossed it at Eridan, who caught it, and stormed out the door.

"And hopefully," Vriska moaned, sitting down on the opposite side of Feferi. "He will get enough food to atleast last the week."

"Sollux, Terezi." Karkat said, stopping the car in the parking lot of the convinience store. "I'm going to pick up some food. Would you guys like anything?"

Sollux shook his head.

"I'm fine, Karkles." Terezi responded. Karkat swung the car door open and hopped out.

There was a long silence as Karkat strolled into the convinience store, glass doors sliding open.

"Sollux..."

He looked up. Terezi got out from the seat she was in and felt her way to the back. She took the seat next to Sollux.

"Hey, don't be upset anymore. You can't morn about anything in the past, but only look to the future."

She placed an arm around him for more comfert. He rested his head on her shoulder.

"Shoosh. It's gonna be alright."

Damn it! Karkat thought to himself, standing in the line at the check-out. This is taking too long! I have to get back to work!

He gripped the box of donuts a little tighter. He stared at the tons of food the troll in front of him was carrrying.

Jegus, that's alot of food. Fuck, he'll take forever!

Karkat was only the fourth one in line, but the three people in front of him had bagfulls of food. The guy in front of him had to had the most of all of them.

I know! Karkat almost jumped in his spot. I'll ask if i could get in front of him! I've only got one item anyway!

Karkat reached and tapped the trolls shoulder. His shoulder was covered up by a stripped scarf, and his horns were lightning-bolt shape. When he half turned to look at Karkat, he stared almost as if he were pissed at Karkat through huge glasses.

"Excuse me, sir." Karkat said. "I've only got one item and I have somewhere to be. Would you mind if i got infront of you?"

The troll in front of him froze. His pupils shrunk.