I wake up the next day to the sound of banging on the door. It's just gone sunrise, so normally i would be awake, but i'm not sure to sleeping here and the angle of the bed means that the sun doesn't hit me straight on whilst i sleep. Normally, back at my place, the first few rays will catch on the old light and shine right in my face, waking me up, but here that isn't the case. 

"Spark?" Kobra calls through the door. "You awake?" 

"I am now" I call back, ruffling my blue mess of hair. The bed has been comfortable, and part of me wants to just stay there curled up and sleep away the day. But that's just what remains of the childhood me, the normal version has me swinging my feet over the bed and jumping to my feet with a cat-like stretch. 

"Okay, well the others want to get going soon, so if you want to go and get some breakfast then help yourself" he says, voice bouncing through the small crack in the door.

"Thanks" i yell after his already retreating footsteps. It's then that i fish around in my jacket pocket, pulling out the small compact hairbrush i carry around with me. After a few tugs through the knots my hair is once again presentable, so all i need to do is pull on my jacket and boots. Once i've done that i'm all ready, so i head down the corridor. 

In the daylight i can see that there's a mural on one wall of the corridor. It's done all in spray paint, i think, with bright explosions of colour and graceful swirls. I stand still for a moment and study it, seeing that it's meant to be an explosion of colour, infecting the otherwise grey wall. In the centre of the explosion is a ground of figures who i assume are meant to be the killjoys, turning Korse's grey world back into colour. 

"Do you like it?" 

I jump, spinning around with my hand automatically reaching towards my boot, where my ray gun sits, before i realise that it's only Party, and stop my hand, using it to cross my arms instead. He's leaning against the wall with one eyebrow arched, and although i hate to admit it, i can't help but think he looks attractive. 

Annoying as fuck, but attractive. 

"Wait, you did this?" I motion to the art in front of me. 

"You sound surprised" he chuckles "but yeah, it was me. I did it a while back when we first discovered this place. It needed a splash of colour, and we still had some leftover paint from spraying the trans am. Do you like it?" 

"Yes" I admit, tracing one of the red splatters with my index finger "it's amazing. Not that you really need the ego boost, but you're very talented." 

"Did you just compliment me?" He teases, stepping closer. 

"Alright, don't get too big headed about it or i'll take it back" I go to smack his arm but he catches my hand before it can make contact with his bicep. We stand still for a moment, me having to hold back what i could've almost sworn was a blush when i realise how close we are to one another. After a moment he let's go of my hand, and i let out a breath. 

"Come on then, we need to go see Dr D and debrief. And he wants to meet you too whilst we're there. You've escaped him for too long apparently" He gestures to the door, and as we walk outside i wonder what the infamous Dr D will be like. 

"He does know that just because i'm meeting him doesn't mean i want to join the killjoys, right?" I frown as me and Party walk out into the rising morning heat. It's not too bad yet as the day is only just beginning. 

"Yeah, but he'll probably try and convince you otherwise" As he speaks i notice that we've walking away from the diner and towards the main road. 

"Hey, if the car needs repairing then how are we getting there, and where are the others?" I look back at the diner, hoping Party hasn't forgotten. The last thing i need is a mess up that results in these errands taking even longer than needed. 

"The others are staying here to fix the car. I volunteered to go see Dr Death and debrief him on yesterday" he shrugs, still walking towards the road. 

"Then why do i have to come?" 

"Because he wants to meet you. You were part of the mission and he needs your debrief aswell. And as for the transport, he's sending a killjoy to come and pick us up so that we don't have to wait around all day. They should be here soon." His eyes scan the road now that we've arrived beside it before turning back to me. "Any other questions?" 

"Yeah. Can we got get my bike back tomorrow?" 

"We'll get your bike back as soon as possible" he says with an eye roll "but we can't just drop everything to go all the way back to Battery City when we went just yesterday. We have to plan these things, you know." 

"You don't even need to come with me. I just need someone to get me there. I can get my own way back" as i'm speaking i spot an old beaten up van coming from the distance, it's blue and green wish-wash colours with a few splatters on the bonnet tell me it's a killjoy's van, so i don't go for my gun just yet. 

"I'm not going to drive you to the city and just leave you there to get abducted or killed by a bunch of dracs. I'm not heartless, you know. I would want to help you. But i can't do that until we've talked to Dr D. Here's our ride now" he gestures to the approaching van. I can see a female killjoy behind the wheel, one i recognise but can't name. 

"Hey Cyanide" Party smiles as he opens the back door to the van, answering my unasked question about her name. He holds out his hand to help me inside but i jump in without help, taking a seat in the back as he shuts the door. 

"Hey Party, who's the friend?" She calls back, popping a piece of bubblegum as she talks. From what i can see of her i know she's pretty. Her mousey brown hair has a few green streaks running through it, and it's tied up in a high ponytail. Her lips a bright pink, a smilier colour to her gum, and around her neck is a purple bandana. She's wearing aviators so i can't see her eyes, but she pulls them down for a moment to get a good look at me and when she does i see a flash of green similar to her hair. 

"This is Spark, she works at The Battery sometimes" he calls back over the engine. 

"Sweet. I thought i recognised you from somewhere" she calls back to me. "Although we've never talked before. Ghoul mentioned something the other day about you saving their butts, but he never really explained in detail." 

"Yeah well, there isn't much to explain" Party rushes, probably not wanting to have to go into detail about how he messed up and nearly got ghosted. "We just need to see Dr Death about yesterday." 

"Oh yeah, i heard you guys did some serious carnage. Blew up a warehouse, right?" 

"Something like that" i grumble sarcastically, making her laugh. 

"Not your idea then? Let me guess, a last minute plan from Ghoul?" She raises an eyebrow, whilst me and Party both nod in union. "Though so, he has a bit of an unhealthy love for those explosives, one of these days i'll have to confiscate his lighter." 

"I'd like to see you try" Party laughs, then the two of them start to talk about the different times Ghoul had nearly blown everyone up. I zone out, staring at the passing scenery. After about ten minutes we reach what appears to be an old abandoned factory. From the dusted sign it looks like it once made engines or boilers, but now it's just void of any signs of life. 

"This is his base?" I frown as we drive up to the double-doored entrance. 

"It's better on the inside" Party smirks just as Cyanide parks the van and jumps out in one swift motion, her hair bouncing up and down as she does so. "Come on, let's go get this over with." 

We both jump down out of the van as Cyanide types a code into the lock on the doors, which instantly opens them. 

"There you go. I have to go on a supply run, but i'll catch you guys later" She grins at the two of us. 

"Bye" I smile as she jumps back into the van, adjusting her aviators as she does so. "She seemed nice" I add once she's started to drive away. 

"Yeah she's great. Her and Ghoul have an on-off thing, in case you were wondering" he explains as we walk towards the now open doors. "Although these days they're more on than off, which keeps Ghoul in a better mood." 

"I can imagine" we step inside then, and i see that although it looks abandoned on the outside, it's anything but. There's quite a few killjoys walking around inside, some fixing up cars, others pouring over various maps whilst some are even walking around with test tubes of chemicals in their hands. It's bursting with life, but i only get a few moment to take it all in before Party's pulling me down a corridor to the side, his hand gripping mine. 

I try not to think about the way our hands fit together so comfortably, and instead focus on the door at the end of the corridor. Party knocks twice before entering, revealing a brightly painted room with a desk in the middle. 

Dr Death defying sits in his wheelchair, sunglasses on despite the fact he's indoors, his long hair falling down over his faded jacket. Despite the fact that he's in a wheelchair i still feel incredibly threatened. He's the big boss, the one with the power. He's even above Party, and i know that he could bring the full force of the killjoys crashing down on me if he wanted to. 

"Party" he smiles, making me relax more and loosen my grip on Party's hand. "Sit down, sit down. And you too Spark."  We both take a seat in the chairs across from him. 

"Sorry we didn't come yesterday, but the windows are smashed in the car" Party leans back in his chair, obviously on good terms with Dr Death, as he seems very relaxed here in his office, almost like he co-owns the place. 

"No worries, you're here now. And you brought Spark with you too!" He turns to me. "I've been wanting to meet you for a while. I've heard stuff, but apparently you were never interested in coming to see me or in joining our ranks. Most unusual." 

"Well it's nice to meet you" i don't comment on his last statement. "I've heard a lot about you too." 

"I'm sure you have. A lot more than i have about you, that's for sure. Tell me, why are you so set on being a lone killjoy? We could really use someone like you within our ranks. You obviously have great skill..." 

"I don't want to be rude, but i prefer to operate alone. I'm more than happy to help contribute to the killjoy's community, but i wouldn't want to work or socialise with anyone" I keep my statement sweeping, hoping he'll get the message early on. 

"Well that really is a shame" He sighs "I know that this war effects us all differently, and sometimes our need to protect our emotions can be bigger than our need to protect our physical being. So please know that the minute you change your mind you will be accepted with us." 

When i say nothing more he decides to move on. 

"Anyway. Party, tell me the details of yesterday." Party starts to re-tell his story, talking about how the four were going on their mission as instructed, but didn't count on me being there too. Party skips over our conversation and focuses on the tanks being knocked over and Ghoul using his initiative to blow up the place. 

"Any injuries?" 

"Spark here burned her hand" Party nods towards the gauze still wrapped around my palm. "But apart from that everyone was fine. Nothing to worry about. Although we do need to go back for Spark's bike at some point." 

"Well be careful, if they know you're coming back they'll probably be patrolling the area. Is the bike in a noticeable place?" 

"No" i pipe up. "It's well hidden behind a wall where nobody would think to look, especially as the four came and left from the opposite direction. They won't be expecting us back so soon either, so it would be good to go within the next day before they have time to fully recover." 

"I agree" Party says from beside me. "And i'd be more than happy to help her get it back. So would the others." 

"In that case go for it, but be careful. I don't want any more injuries to have to deal with" He turns back to me then. "It was a pleasure to meet you Spark, i hope to be seeing you again someday, discussing your own missions perhaps?" 

"I doubt that, but thank you" I smile and stand, Party doing the same next to me. 

"I'll see you soon Party" Dr Death nods at him before we leave, shutting his door again behind us. I'm glad that it went as well as it did. I was worried he'd question be about my past or reasons for being alone, but he seemed to realise that it would just make me uncomfortable. 

I'm glad Party doesn't comment on it either on the way out. He just reaches over and silently grips my hand, pulling me back in the direction of the entrance. I know he'll probably try and press the issue later on, but for now i'm just grateful for the silence. 

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Please vote/comment/fan if you enjoyed. This was more of a filler chapter, introducing Dr D and Cyanide, but stay tuned for more :P

~ Headfirst for Helena