Disclaimer: The show Victorious, its characters and other associated copyrights are property of someone else and not me.
Start from scratch.
Chapter 30 – Fight the Good Fight.
No One's POV.
Over dinner they finalized plans for Cat's liberation, but Barbie was quick to note the increasing tension between Tori and Jade. Jade kept resenting being blackmailed into Tori's plan and eventually Tori started to resent Jade for resenting her. Outside of talking about details of the plan, the pair seemed to just avoid even looking at each other.
Not in the mood to play referee, Barbie let it go and hoped by Sunday, the day they planned to strike, the tension would have dissipated. Barbie did see Tori the next few nights at The Playpen, but the Latina seemed to want to discuss anything but Jade or the plan.
At 11 Am on Sunday morning, The S-Mart delivery van, driven by Barbie, pulled up in front of Tori's apartment building. She could see the Latina and The Goth, both dressed in plain jeans and t-shirts standing several feet away from each other on the sidewalk, each carrying a bag. Their body language told Barbie that they were only barely tolerant of each other's presence. She knew then, it was going to be a very long ride to Boston.
Barbie groaned. "I passed up Kate the stockbroker with the long red hair and the cute ass for this. Note to self, next time don't be a fucking idiot."
Though they each greeted Barbie pleasantly, Jade and Tori barely spoke to each other, giving each other the silent treatment. Barbie drove the van, Tori sat in the middle and Jade sat on the other side in the front of the van.
Sometimes the girl's would ignore each other, sometimes they'd just give the other, the evil eye. The only times they did talk, were arguments over where to eat and what to listen to on the radio. It was a horrible trip and with each passing mile, Barbie mentally cursed herself more for passing up the stockbroker
Some 4 hours later when the Boston city limits sign came into view, Barbie remarked rather cynically. "When I was 8, my parents took me, my 3 sisters and my brother all the way to Daytona for a Nascar race. It was a blistering hot August and we spent 11 hours in a minivan that had a barely functioning air conditioner. My siblings and I fought every step of the way, our parents yelled at us about every other mile to stop fighting and at one point, my sister Carrie threw up on me when she got car sick. Congratulations, you two silently glaring at or fighting with each other for the last 4 hours have managed to make me nostalgic for that particular trip from hell."
Barbie then reached over to Tori, who was next to her, and flicked her ear.
"Owww…. That hurt." Whined the Latina.
Seeing that Barbie had only flicked her and not Jade, Tori whined even louder. "How come I get flicked and Jade doesn't."
Barbie deadpanned. "To quote my father, because you're the one I can reach."
Jade was about to laugh, but an nasty glare out of the corner of Barbie's eye, causing her to simply say. "Sorry."
"Sorry Barbie" Said Tori looking ashamed.
Though they had apologized, the glare that Barbie saw them give each other said this issue had not been solved one bit.
"Ok, we'll arrive at the college in 20 minutes, let's play nice like good little children and get this done. You know if we had time, I'd drive straight to a hotel, handcuff you both to a bed and leave you there until you've both fucked it out of your systems."
Both Tori and Jade opened their mouths to speak, but quickly closed them again seeing how annoyed Barbie seemed to be getting.
Their destination was a small art's college on the North side of Boston called, Corman School of the Arts. They arrived on campus just after 3 in the afternoon and parked the truck in the back of an abandoned supermarket, that happened to be right next to the park.
Their next stop was the student bookstore where all three purchased Corman college sweatshirts and put them on, in order to blend in better. While Barbie noted Tori and Jade started to talk, they stuck to discussing the plan.
Once they blended in they walked the campus a bit and even saw Reverend Mike's church; the building itself, used to be a small tool and die factory. Looking at the place, Barbie couldn't help but feel, that the buildings brick walls and few windows made the structure look quite unwelcoming.
They had one bit of luck though. It was October and the New England Patriots were playing the Green Bay Packers today and thus, most students were indoors watching the game. Jade noted that there were very few people were on the streets as a result. Even better was the fact that the game had started at 3:30, which meant that the game would still be going at least 6:30 pm. They all agreed the timing of the game would certainly help them.
They then checked out the campus, the park and the vicinity of Cat and Annie's apartment building. Once they had their locations scouted, the trio finalized their plan of attack.
Once they had things finalized they parked themselves in a local campus sports bar to wait. Even the live, jovial atmosphere did little to dampen the tension between Tori and Jade.
At 5:15, the trio left the bar and headed to their starting position. As they emerged from the bar, Tori pulled out a blonde wig and headed along with Barbie towards Cat's apartment building. Jade headed towards the park.
Cat's apartment building was a 4 story brick structure that sat on a corner near several bars and stores that catered to students.
At 5:30 Tori, in a blonde wig, was sitting on the stoop of another apartment building two doors down, seemingly involved in something on her phone. Barbie was sitting in an outdoor café, right near the entrance to the park drinking coffee.
Nervously the girls waited, hoping this was not one of the rare days the girls showed up to the church social late.
At exactly 5:53, Tori looked up to see two girls emerging from Cat's apartment building. The first was a mousy looking girl with long brown hair, in a long conservative blue dress. The other girl, also in long conservative yellow dress was Cat. Tori was quick to note that Cat no longer had red hair, she had let it go back to her natural brown. Tori couldn't help but feel sad, for the Cat she knew was gone.
Knowing it was time, Tori gave a nod to Barbie across the street and pulled out a two-way radio.
Trying to keep her voice down, Tori said into the radio. "Broadsword calling Danny Boy, Broadsword calling Danny Boy"
"I will not use the code names, they're stupid!" Snapped Jade, on the other end.
"Fine! The mice are on their way."
"Understood! The cheese is ready!" Came the reply.
As Cat and Annie crossed the street and headed towards the entrance of the park, Barbie got up and measured her pace so she would enter the park, just a little behind Cat and Annie. She was wearing headphones and pretending to listen to music.
Cat and Annie, both engrossed in conversation entered the park, not even bothering to pay attention to the slightly older looking blonde woman about 10 feet behind them. Tori followed along about 30 yards behind Barbie.
It was Tori's job to distract anyone else who happened to be coming up behind them. She would pretend to trip and twist her ankle.
The path of the park that Annie and Cat were walking on was surrounded by lots of trees and shrubbery. The spot where the ambush was planned was right at a sharp bend in the path. No one coming from the other direction would be able to see anything.
Closer and closer Annie and Cat got until finally Cat looked down and right in the path was a small unopened bag of Bibble.
"Ooooooh….Praise God and Reverend Mike, I found Bibble. Truly a sign from God he is pleased with me." Cat squealed.
Then Cat spotted another one, near the edge of the path. "Another one!"
Annie halted and shook her head. "Cat, I'm not sure if you should. We need to get to the church."
But by then, Cat had spotted the pile of bags of Bibble in a small clearing, a few feet off the path.
Unable to resist, Cat made a beeline for the pile o Bibble.
Barbie quickly checked behind her and only could see Tori some distance back. Then she came up behind Annie, who looked dismayed. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, my roommate, ran into…."
Annie never got to finish her sentence as Barbie quickly shoved a stun gun into her side. Annie quickly collapsed into Barbie's arms.
"Sorry Sugar."
Meanwhile, Cat had run through the bushes and happily started to pick up her bounty of Bibble Bags. A moment later she sensed someone behind her and turned around!
"Annie, this is great….Jade!" Said Cat, with a frown upon seeing it was not the person she expected.
With a serious look, Jade said. "I'm sorry Cat."
Cat, now very puzzled, scratched her head. "For what?"
With lighting speed, Jade shoved her stun gun into Cat's side. Like Annie, Cat quickly crumpled to the ground.
"For that?"
Seconds later, Barbie came through the bushes dragging the unconscious Annie.
"All go well Barbie? No one see you?"
Barbie carefully placed Annie down. "No problem. No one saw, me. I heard some distant odd crunching sound, but otherwise, the park seems to be deserted."
About 15 seconds later, Tori burst into the clearing to see Annie and Cat carefully laid out on the ground.
"No problems?"
Barbie shook her head. "No. All is perfect so far."
Tori looked to Jade who had pulled from her bag a small bottle of whisky, which she then proceeded to pour some of it on Annie's clothes.
"Jade you ready to Take Annie back to her apartment. Can you manage it?"
"She's a small thing, I can handle it."
Everything was going perfectly, but Tori was still worried that some detail would be missed. "You have your cover story ready if someone see's you dragging a unconscious girl?"
With a roll of her eyes, Jade nodded as she picked up Annie. "We were both watching the Patriot's game at Murphy's sports bar across the park. My friend had too much to drink, passed out and needed to be taken home. I poured some whisky on her so she smells of alcohol."
"Good, I just looked, if anyone asks, the current score is Green bay 17, Patriots 10. I'll get Cat to the truck."
"What about me?" Inquired Barbie.
"Just wait here, for Jade."
Jade made her way out of the bushes and back on the path, where she headed back to Cat's apartment. In a few minutes she had made it back to the entrance of the park and felt good about how everything was going smoothly.
At least until she heard the approaching police siren
"FUCK!"
In the bushes, Barbie heard the police siren as well, plus several others. All of them seemed to be coming this way.
Feeling a sudden surge of panic, Barbie once again cursed herself for passing up a chance to be with that really hot stockbroker, Kate.
It was about a minute later when an out of breath Jade, burst into bushes and was still carrying Annie.
"Jade what in the hell is going on? They cops know, we need to get out of here."
Jade quickly shook her head and put Annie down. "No their not after us! That crunching sound you heard. Some asshole ran a red light right in front of Cat and Annie's building and got into an bad accident. Looks like half the cops and firemen in Boston are showing up. I couldn't risk any of those cops seeing me carrying Annie and getting nosy."
"Great, we can't leave her here, she'll wake up soon, realize something's wrong and tell one of those cops she was attacked. Then we're screwed."
Jade cursed loudly. "Fuck. We can't take her with. We don't have permission. We need to get her home and she's starting to wake up."
Suddenly Barbie had an idea. "Maybe just maybe we still can. Reach into her purse and give me her phone."
Some 12 minutes later, Tori was on the verge of freaking out. She had gotten the unconscious Cat to the van and carefully placed her inside. But soon after, she began to hear the sounds of many police sirens, which sent her fear levels through the roof.
Looking down at the keys in her hand, Tori felt the overwhelming urge to just start the van and go. Instead she slammed her foot on the ground. "I will not abandon Jade, never. Nor will I abandon Barbie."
Some 5 tense minutes later Jade and Barbie came out of the park. She also noticed that Jade was carrying the unconscious Annie.
Tori was now in a near panic. "Jade what the hell happened! Why isn't Annie in her apartment and why do I hear sirens."
"Vega, some jackass got into an accident right in front of Cat's building and the place is crawling with cops. Carrying around an unconscious girl will almost certainly attract the attention of one of them so we have to go with plan B."
Now looking somewhat incensed, Tori put her hands on her hips. "What's plan B. I didn't approve of a plan B. I'm in charge here."
Jade loaded Annie in the van and promptly put a finger in Tori's face. "Stuff it Vega, we need to go to the bus station, now!"
Barbie then put a hand on Tori's shoulder. "Relax sugar. I remember what Jade told me about the cult, they get the kids to cut off contact with their parents. I guessed that Annie's parents might just be worried about her so I called them. After some quick explaining, I found out I was right. They are horribly worried about her, since she cut contact with them. "
"But what's this about the bus station?"
"Thankfully her parents live in Portland, Maine which is only a 2 hour drive north of here. There happens to a bus leaving for Portland in exactly 25 minutes. We're going to put Annie on it and her parents will meet the bus in Portland. She started to wake up a few minutes ago, but Jade slipped a bit of rohypnol that I had procured, in the water we gave her. She'll be out for a few hours. Annie's parents, friends, family and their priest are going to stage an intervention when she wakes up. But we can't miss that Bus. I'll stay in the back with Cat and you get us to the bus station."
So the girls raced to the bus station and got her loaded on a mostly empty bus to Portland Maine with only minutes to spare. Jade slipped the driver an extra 20 to make sure Annie wouldn't be disturbed during the trip. They told him she had passed out during a going away party.
Once Annie was safely on her way home, the girls went in the back of the van to check on Cat. She was tied up in the back of the van, with a gag in mouth and didn't look happy. She was angry at all three but seemed to save her most hateful glare for Tori.
"I knew she'd wake soon, so I tied her up until we could get on the highway." Said Barbie.
"Cat I'm sorry we have to do this, but you're just not yourself. For the record, we have the blessing your parents." Jade said sadly, as she pulled Cat's gag free.
Instead of yelling at Jade, Cat immediately ripped into Tori. "You fucking dirty diseased dyke. I knew you'd be responsible. You're worthless….."
And so it continued that the once innocent Cat kept going for almost 2 straight minutes, blasting Tori with nearly every insult she could for sinning against god by choosing to be Gay.
Finally Cat finished with. "As soon as I get out of here Tori, I'm going slit your throat. I'm going to do God's work and send you to hell. Where you will burn for eternity. Sometimes God needs a hand to do his bidding and I shall be the vessel of his wrath!"
Seeing Cat insult and call her names was one thing, but seeing the once innocent Cat threaten to kill her pushed Tori over the edge.
"I'm doing this to help you…why don't you understand….I want my friend back!" Screamed Tori as she burst into tears.
Suddenly exploding in rage, Jade pulled a scissors from her pocket and held it tightly to her throat.
"If you ever threaten Tori again, I'll gut you…." Jade said in a particularly poisonous tone of voice.
To all present, Jade's words sounded chillingly, like a very real threat, especially Cat who was too shocked to speak.
Realizing things were spinning out of control, Barbie stepped forward, looking at Jade and Tori. "Jade, Tori, this isn't helping. Both of you; get in the front of the van, drive and actually talk to each other. According to my phone it's 7:03 which means we have exactly 57 minutes before Annie and Cat are missed, not to mention a 4 hour drive ahead of us. So let's get the hell out of dodge. NOW MOVE!"
Jade gave Cat a contemptuous glare, before backing away. Turning to Tori, she lead the still crying Latina out of the back of furniture van and closed the door behind them.
Not wasting any time, they hopped in the front of the van and headed out.
The chapter title is from the Triumph song of the same Name.