Cloud Association: Pretty Boy Psycho

Sanctuary

At home Sunshine stands blinking at the front door holding my rucksack in his beak. I sit on the porch glad to see my griffon's okay, but my mind is numb. Danny sits with me. He's gone silent. He does that when something goes terribly wrong. He hasn't said a word since we pulled him off his patrol and Charlie explained in rational terms what we think has happened to Geordie. I can't stand waiting for Charlie to finish his conference with Courtney. My hands have gotten the shakes.

Sunshine drops the rucksack on my knee. He carried my rucksack all the way home. I don't get it. It's just some dumb rucksack. I stare into dark grey clouds. This is it. I'm looking hard but can't see past the grey.

Sunshine nudges my shoulder with his beak.

The whooshing of griffon wings. Charlie and Hotaru are home already. Too soon.

"It's a flat out no." Charlie slumps next to me on the porch. "Courtney said she wouldn't risk sending her best agents out to rescue a liability. I don't know what to do."

This is bad bad bad.

My panic rises. I lost Jess. Can't breathe. Not Geordie too. When Jess caught the affliction, I hid in my room. General Midnight's a bully who's out to get my friend. Geordie got rid of Max for me. I slide my switchblades into my hands. Take some regular breaths; breathe away the shakes.

"I know what to do." I place my arms round Charlie and Danny's backs, in traditional Al style. "We're going to free Geordie from those nasty mean Thunders ourselves."

"It's suicide," murmurs Charlie in frustration.

"Not if we plan properly. We'll sneak onto The Plaza somehow. Find out where they're holding Geordie and bring him home. To do those things we need a plan. You'll help me out with that 'kay?"

"I can but they'll be..." Charlie trails off.

"Experimenting," musters Danny.

"Which means he won't be dead yet. We have time. Geordie's rock solid so can tough it out. He'll be counting on us to help so: kitchen, paper, pencils, plans. Plan tonight. Make a move tomorrow."

Danny nods.

"Alright we'll make a plan," agrees Charlie.

"Super. Sunshine keep an eye on Chunk. We wouldn't want him leaving without us."

Right I've got us sat round a table ready to make a plan which is a far cry away from taking action. The three of us need to be a hundred percent positive to get through the next few days.

I tap at Danny's shoulder. "You're good at fetching things aren't you? Like when you got my nail polish. We're going to need grey cloaks and shirts, trousers too, and boots. Do you think you could get us those items?"

"I... yeah. Yeah I could."

"Can we start at the beginning? Best to be chronological about what is going to happen," says Charlie.

"Sorry I just thought whatever happens we'll need to blend in."

"Are you suggesting we pose as Thunders?" Charlie jots down that idea.

"How else will we get onto The Plaza silly?"

"Plan A: break onto The Plaza as Thunders." Charlie starts sketching out a diagram of The Plaza. On noticing me staring at him work he says. "I memorised it from a map Clover showed us in class." He adds a bridge and circular building. "Before we go in I want to know exactly where Geordie is being kept captive.

Which means our plans cannot develop properly until we know Geordie's exact location. So in the morning: Danny you get us those grey clothes while me and Al hang out close to The Plaza where we'll try to over-hear information on Geordie. Going tonight is too dangerous. Midnight will be expecting retaliation. I'd rather face danger with some light. We'll meet you back here at noon Danny. Are we in agreement?"