Chapter 2: Back Home

QuickShot:

I step down on a hidden panel in the ground and push a hidden button on the sewer wall. The sewer wall beside me slowly move at first but quickly split apart a few seconds later. With the wall fully open, we quickly walk in. Once in, I pull the lever, and the door shut behind us.

In the dark for only a few seconds, I flip the switch and watch as hundreds and hundreds of little lightbulbs, all sting up and along the wall light up, revealing both the hideout and our home; the OutPost.

“Home sweet home,” JumpStart yells, smiling and turning around while spreading out his arms. Stopping, he then runs over to his room and jumps into his hammock.

Letting out a sigh as he swings in his hammock, he closes his eyes and places his hands behind his head. “No one please wake me until dinnertime.”

“Slight problem with that,” Ms. Justice replies, heading over to her room, which is right next to JumpStart. “According to the calendar, it’s your turn to cook dinner. For the record, I’m in the mood for some meatball sandwiches. Anyone else?”

“Yes, please,” I say all the way from my room. “I too would really enjoy some meatballs sandwiches.”

Hearing JumpStart moans, I stop before entering my room to look at JumpStart as he drags himself out of his hammock and to our small kitchen.

“Hey SpeedBlade,” JumpStart shouts, “Are you in the mood for some meatballs sandwiches too? Or would you prefer something simpler? I don’t know, like a bowl of, uh, what is that again? Cereal? You would prefer a bowl of cereal over some sandwiches? Please say yes.”

“I’m not hungry,” SpeedBlade replies, walking over to his room, which is next to Ms. Justice. As he enters his room, we can hear him throw down his sword, the sounds of metal hitting the stone wall echoing throughout the OutPoast. All of us hear this, we immediately know something is wrong. SpeedBlade would never throw his sword like that. Not unless something is bothering him.

Justice, JumpStart, and I all eye each other.

“I’m cooking dinner,” JumpStart says, signing with his eyes. “One of you two needs to talk with him.”

Entering our small makeshift kitchen, JumpStart grabs the apron and put it on. Turning around, he starts to play with the oven.

“Hey,” JumpStart asks, looking back at us. “How does this thing work again?”

“Oh come on,” I say with my eyes. “Why me? Why not you?”

“Because you are our fearless leader,” Justice shouts with her eyes. “And because I’m busy.”

“Busy,” I repeat. “With what?”

“With making sure JumpStart doesn’t burn down our kitchen. Best of luck.”

Justice leaves her room, she runs over to JumpStart just as he turns on the oven and starts a fire. However, JumpStar begins too close to the fire, his apron catches on fire. Justice doesn't waste a second. She tackles both JumpStart and his flaming apron to our floor.

“Aw man,” I say as I place down my bow and walk over to SpeedBlade’s room. “Why me? I’m a soldier, not a therapist. And it’s not like I volunteer to be the leader of the OutCast. You guys choose me.”

I stop before entering SpeedBlade's room. Taking in a deep breath, I enter. As I enter, I see SpeedBlade pacing. He's walking or running back and forth very fast. SpeedBlade’s room is small. Then again, all our rooms are small. They’re also mostly filled with stuff we found in the garages. Despite that, we still enjoy living in the OutPost.

“Hello QuickShot,” SpeedBlade says as he speeds past me, the wind from his pacing messing up my long blonde hair. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“No there isn’t,” I reply. “I just came in here to see if you are alright.”

SpeedBlade stops and turns to look at me. I can’t tell what SpeedBlade is feeling considering he is always wearing his bright-red, knight helmet.

“What do you mean by that,” SpeedBlade asks. “I am fine.”

“Are you sure,” I ask, looking at his sword. “For one, you threw your sword. You very rarely do that. Especially considering how valuable your sword is. Second, you’re pacing at super speed. You only pace at super speed when you are thinking of something. By the way, you’re kicking up dust again.”

I look around the room. SpeedBlade looks around himself and sees himself in a dust cloud, dust setting on everything from his bed to the anvil in his little blacksmith area.

“I am fine,” SpeedBlade declares, walking over to pick up his sword. “I was just tired and my sword felt a little heavier because of it. As for the pacing, I just wanted to do a little exercise before we eat.”

Immediately, I know that SpeedBlade is laying, but I decided it would be best to just leave.

“If SpeedBlade doesn’t want to talk about it,” I think to myself,” Then I won’t ask.”

“I’ll see you at dinner,” I say to SpeedBlade, waving at him as I head out and go back to my room.

As soon as I enter my room, I sit down and start to craft some more arrows. Packing some explosives into the tip of my arrow, I stop when I hear screaming coming from the kitchen. Getting up, I run out to see what is going on.

“Why did you do that,” Ms. Justice yells, hitting JumpStart in his arm. “I told you not to do that.”

“I thought you were referring to the oven,” JumpStart replies. “Don’t turn it back on yet.”

“Don’t do that either,” Ms. Justice says, “But also don’t use your stun batons to open the cans.”

“I thought it would cook the meats faster,” JumpStart screams, squeezing his head in between his hands. “Why did you put my name on the list? I told you over and over again. Don’t put my name on the list. I can’t cook.”

Silent:

“What news do you bring me,” I ask, my servant-bot slowly hovering at the base of my staircases.

“Unstoppable had been beaten,” my servant-bot starts,” The OutCasts had defeated him and now, he is begin held in a maximum-security prison cell at IronWall Prison.”

“I guess Unstoppable wasn’t so unstoppable after all,” I say, my eyes still focus on the hundreds and hundreds of screens in front of me. As I keep on watching, I see so many people walking around, doing whatever it is want. I see them speeding through the streets. I see them throw their trash everywhere. I see them act like uncaged animals.

“So now I have two reasons to break into IronWall.”

“What would you have me do next,” my servant-bot asks.

I think it over, weighing my options.

“Send in Lightning Storm,” I say after a few minutes. “Have him break out Unstoppable and the other prisoner.”

“Understood,” my servant-bot says, hovering away and slowly disappearing into the shadow.

I bring up the control on my wrist and start to type in some commands. As I do, the screens in front of me switch from views of the city to a single view of IronWall Prison.

“I will have it,” I say, clenching my fist. “I will have the power.”