Project Jamboree

Chapter Eleven

I backed away in shock.

I wasn't angry or upset that he was dead- other than the fact that I wanted to have killed him myself- I was simply startled to see him here.

"Oh, come on, he deserved it," Vida pointed out, "He tried to kill Jude and would've killed Nico after that other green he got killed. I heard Ruby's speech on the radio from your mission. It was awesome."

Only a few days ago, maybe a week. Yesterday felt like a year ago.

I sighed and checked the back of the car, dragging out Ruby's shaking form.

"Roo," Jude walked over, "You're okay. You're safe."

"Rob," she whispered, "He's turning me in- you can't trust him- whatever he said to you-"

I shook my head and nodded to the front seat, where she saw Rob dead, a faint trickle of blood falling from his mouth.

Then, I carried Ruby to the back of the car, where I gently placed her next to Chubs and Liam.

Then, we reached an issue. A five seat car with six kids, none of whom had drivers licenses. We had bigger problems than that.

Vida decided she was driving from here on, and we were apparently going to a place where Cate set up a meeting on the phone.

It wasn't actually Cate, though. We all knew. The test message we sent said Later, gator.

The response should have been in an hour, sunflower, not in a while, crocodile.

I wondered who or what awaited us there. I didn't want to find out, but in the end, it was inevitable. I wanted to know who hacked the Chatters.

So while Vida was driving, Chubs took the passenger seat. I sat between a dazed Ruby and an unconscious Liam. Jude shifted from his place in the footwell to on my lap.

"Who are you?" Liam asked as he woke up.

I looked down at him silently, then leaned forwards and tapped Chubs on the shoulder. He was in too much of an argument with Vida to notice.

"Use your words," Liam hissed at me. Nothing like his brother.

I glared at him before punching Chubs in the shoulder. He yelled in pain and surprise before turning back to Liam, "Oh, he's awake. Okay, sorry Nat."

"She could've just said something," Liam commented, "Chubs, where are we, who are these people, and what happened?"

"We were with a tribe of blues," Ruby replied, "You nearly died. We got you medicine, and now we're getting you to a rendezvous point."

Chubs glared at Ruby.

"Who are you?"

"The blue haired delight is Vida," Chubs introduced everyone, "Little lightning boy there is Jude. Silent one is Natasha, mute by choice. And that's Ruby."

Liam looked around, then stared at Ruby, "I know you."

"Umm, you were talking to me while you were unconscious?" Ruby suggested nervously.

"No, I've seen you before," Liam frowned.

Ruby sighed, "When the League picked you up from the car accident? I was there."

"You're League?" Liam growled, "Who else here is League? Chubs-"

"Not him," Ruby said, "The rest of us are."

Liam hissed, "Even the two kids? What are you, thirteen? Fourteen?"

"I'm fourteen," Jude informed him quite proudly, "I turned fourteen last week."