Short fic writing trip

A Bullets Embrace

(i know So Little about the killjoy universe outside of the album and the three (3) fics I've read so if anything comes up that not accurate to any of the comics (there were comics right?) consider it canon adjacent lol)

The desert sun beamed overhead, the ball of radiation scorching the zones as the day grew hot. Sand and stone alike baked under the cloudless blue expanse. And me? Well, I had some dracs that needed dusting.

I'd just made it to Zone 3 for a quick supply restock when I spotted the bright white cars with BL/ind. symbols hurdling towards the horizon. The nearest base wasn't for another couple miles, so I was quite curious as to why they were here of all places. Dracs dont often search the barren parts of the zones, the prolonged heat could damage their programming, so to see so many this far out was intriguing to say the least.

I followed some distance behind, making sure they didnt catch on to me, and watched as they stopped in the middle of nowhere. There was no base nearby, Route Guano was several miles east from them, and there wasn't even any old bodies or interesting rock formations to look at. They did however manage to find something in the sand, circling around it and scrambling to collect it. I didn't check to see what, as by that point I was already taking shots. I let one loose, striking one that had been crouched down right in the head. The other dracs swerved around, firing at nothing, unable to determine where the shot came from. I fire another, a bullet piercing right between the eyes of one. All of them were disoriented and fired at random, wasting all their carbon with worse aim than a storm trooper. But to be fair, how can you aim at something that doesn't exist?

I finished making quick work of the hoard and walked to what they were crowded around. I looked at the evidence bag they'd brought with them only to see about 3 strands of vibrant red hair. Confusion swept over me, but I kept it nonetheless. If it was important enough to come out to the barrens of Zone 3 for, then this was definitely something that needed to be kept away from BL/ind.

The sun still shone overhead in all its relentless heated glory, so I made my way back to Route Guano to find a supply shop.

*****

I'd manage to rummage the place for some decent loot, including a flask, some extra rounds of carbon, and some duck tape. I swiped a few cans of Power Pup and water too while I was at it. One can never be too prepared, right?

You might be asking, why would I steal this stuff? Aren't Killjoys able to go in for a restock without any hassle? They wouldn't raid a friend or possible ally? And you'd be right.

But I'm not a Killjoy.

Sure I listen in to Dr. Death Defying and went out on missions that sounded interesting, but I wasn't in the ranks. I wasn't one for being a team player anyway, made hiding from BL/ind. all the easier.

I stuffed the loot into my bag and snuck away from the store, heading back to my base. The day had turned to night by the time I made it to the border of zone 6. I sighed, it was gonna be a long night. I still had a couple dozen miles to go, but my body wanted nothing more than to go to sleep, so I made camp for the night. I'd head back in the morning and recoup properly for a few days, adventuring out this far was draining to say the least. With my lazer gun next to my head and my balled up jacket acting as a pillow, I drifted off into a light sleep.

*****

Dawn came, the faintest rays of the sun just barely peaking over the hills, and with it I rose to make the final stretch home. I broke camp and headed west, trekking deeper into zone 6. Out this far, there was hardly anything but a few bases and one abandoned gas station. Any killjoy in their right minds wouldnt dare go any farther than out here, too far away from both help and the cause, but that made it all the more enticing to me.