The Fabulous KillJoys and Vexing Angel

Chapter 1

I'm not exactly sure how I got here. The sun was reflecting off the sand dunes making it nearly impossible to see anything. I'm not normally someone who's easy to sneak up on, but I guess I was just having an off day. I hear the sound of a ray gun fire and exclaim in pain as a blast grazes my shoulder. I whip around drawing my ray gun. Dracs.

They look completely ridiculous with their white suits and rubber vampire masks. Still, the sight of one is enough to get your heart pounding. I manage to get off a couple of shots, taking care of two of them before the third draws his ray gun and begins firing. I don't know how they manage to see through those masks, but their aim was nothing to sneeze at.

I've known a couple of good people who got ghosted by dracs. With the fast pace of life in the zones, there's hardly any time to grieve the dead, much less make connections.

I manage to duck behind a sand pillar and catch my breath. Either I was getting slower, or these Dracs were getting faster. I peek around the corner of my shelter and fire off a couple blasts. They miss. I had gotten lucky earlier, the dracs had managed to wound the arm I tend to use for shooting. However, generally speaking, my aim isn't the best to begin with. I tend to rely on my sword and running. Ray guns aren't much use at close quarters and my blade has gotten me out of several sticky situations.

The lone Drac continues to approach, almost shambling like a zombie. Back in the old days, people were so terrified of fictional creatures, and the apocalypse that when Better Living Industries came along, it was almost too easy.

I place one hand on my sword's hilt and keep my ray gun drawn in the other. I take a couple of quick breaths to steel my nerves and whip around the corner ready to take down the last drac. What I didn't expect was him to be so close. I panicked for a second and that second gave the Drac enough time to shoot my leg.

I double over for a second, then slash upwards with my sword. Apparently, I was gaining a reputation for myself, because the drac seemed to be expecting it and stepped to the side then hit my wrist in just the right place to cause me to drop my sword. He flings my sword and ray gun away and with one swift movement he knocks me flat on my back and begins to drag me by my leg across the burning sand.

I immediately began to thrash in his grasp. I strike out with my free leg and manage to connect a kick with his thigh and then his arm that was holding my leg. He drops my leg and I begin to scramble away on all fours. He catches up with little effort and brings his foot down on my left thigh. I let out a bloodcurdling scream as he continues to bring his boot down. I hear a sickening snap and my thigh seems to shriek in pain. Bile comes up in my throat as the drac finally stops.I try my best to avert my eyes from my leg as I flail my arms somewhat pathetically as he grabs my unharmed leg and resumes dragging me. A flash of light draws my attention. Apparently, this drac hadn't thrown my sword as far as I had previously thought. I throw myself as hard as I can in the direction of my sword and just barely manage to grasp the pommel. Knowing that I don't have much time before the drac notices the extra weight, I throw my whole weight into the swing and slice off the gnarled hand grasping my leg. The force of the movement sends me tumbling down the dune.

When I come to a stop, I spit the sand from my mouth and lay gasping for breath. I sit up with a start as I realize that I no longer have a hold of my sword. I begin to panic as I frantically look around, sending sand flying everywhere. I cry out in pain as another laser hits my other shoulder. I look up towards the drac, but another flash of light catches my attention. About a third of the way up the slope and half buried in sand is my sword. I rush forwards but almost collapse as I attempt to put weight on my left leg. I mutter curses under my breath and crawl forwards again on my hands and knees.

The drac continues to fire as the sand on the left and right of me periodically explode as I zigzag my way up the slope.

I'm about halfway to my sword when the drac realizes what I'm going for and starts down the dune. I'm lucky that these things aren't all that intelligent because it's the movement of sand cascading down the hill that gives away it's approach. I begin to scurry forwards ignoring the pain in my leg and praying that I can get to my sword in time.

I scramble the last couple of feet, grab ahold of the hilt of my sword, just as a tall dark form blocks out the sun. I look up to see the barrel of the drac's gun, but before it can fire, I unsheathe my sword and jam it into it's stomach. I knock away it's ray gun and remove my sword.Eerily, the drac seems unaffected by the wound and raises up it's arms to attempt to strangle me. I raise my sword again, this time however, I aim for the drac's neck. It drops forwards, it's life force spilling from the wound and dyeing the sand crimson.

I sheathe my sword and lean heavily on it for a few minutes while I catch my breath. Before making my way to the top, I look around in the sand for the drac's ray gun. Luckily, it lies only a couple feet away in the sand. I turn around and slowly, but surely, hobble to the top of the dune and look for my ray gun. I follow the drag marks back to where I started only to find my ray gun in pieces, smashed against one of the sand pillars. I look at the ray gun in my left hand and shrug before I place it in my holster.

I turn to head to my hideaway when I catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of my left eye. I turn to find a dirty, curly haired, female child crawling out from a small gap beneath a rock. I take a half step back in surprise as I realize I recognize this kid. This is The Girl, she's the fifth member of the Fabulous KillJoys and it's strange to see her without the others. I try to take a step towards her, but my leg finally decides to give out. I collapse to my knees, and she rushes to my side. She places herself under my left arm and helps me to my feet. Her eyes are full of sympathy as she looks at me and points to the north-west. I nod, and we slowly begin to shuffle in that direction.

After what seems like hours, we reach a road. This time The Girl points to our left. Again I nod and we start down the road. We trudge along making slow progress, but progress nonetheless. The further we go the more my leg protests.

Suddenly, a car comes over a hill in front of us. Instinctively, I attempt to push The Girl behind me, but she stays firm. As the car approaches it slows to a halt and out climbs the Fabulous KillJoys.My breath catches in my throat as Kobra Kid approaches, but as The Girl rushes forwards, I collapse to the pavement my leg finally deciding to give out. My head smacks against the pavement and my ears begin to ring. My vision blurs as a pair of boots approach. I attempt to look up but my head spins and I pass out.