LEGACY OF THE BLAZERS - CHAPTER FIVE (Patreon)

CHAPTER FIVE

After being plagued by visions of Blowhole’s snarling grin for too long, Lux awoke.

She hadn’t the slightest idea where she was. The walls around her were bland and gray, only notable features being the cracks in the walls big enough for a mouse to wriggle its butt through. A mirror sat across from her, reflecting a face she scarcely recognized. Heavy bags hung under her eyes, and two thick cuts had scarred her cheek—she wasn’t sure how she’d gotten them. The chaos of the past had blurred her mind, made a lot of things muddy.

Except her hatred of that bastard Blowhole.

If only you knew.

During her slumber, a fury had simmered in her belly. Her mind, being a cruel bastard, had subjected her to watching him rip Jess to shreds again, and again, and again while she sat there helpless. That fury had reached a roaring boil now, and she let it bubble over when she stood, slamming her fist into the wall and imagining it was his ugly mug.

Her body retaliated as her legs gave out, causing her to stumble back onto the bed.

“Damn jello legs,” she groaned.

“You’re awake…!”

She lifted her head. Cy stood in the doorway, mouth dumbly agape.

“Cy…?”

Before letting out another word he hurried forward, took her into his arms, pressing her face against his chest and squeezing her tight, finishing the hug she’d so desperately tried giving him in the sewers. This place wasn’t much more romantic, but she still sunk her nails deep into his back, letting the world around her melt, focusing on him and how much she friggin’ loved him. Tegan might crack jokes, but she meant that—she loved him.

“How long’s it been, Cy?”

“A whole stinkin’ month.”

She pulled back, chuckling. “No, not since we last hugged. How long was I out?”

“A month,” he repeated.

“Wait…” She lifted her shirt to check her wound and saw only a gnarly scar from where Cheese’s tail had pierced her skin. “You’re shitting me.”

“We were worried,” he said, hopping up onto the dresser. “I was worried.”

The news had shocked Lux’s body to life—she couldn’t stop pacing. Jess wouldn’t have dreamed of staying out of commission so long. She would’ve died before she let someone embarrass her like that. And, well, she did. “A month.”

“Don’t beat yourself up,” Cy said, waving his hand at her. “You living to fight another battle is more important than you dying ‘heroically.’ I know you, so I know you might not believe that. But a lot’s changed while you’ve been out, and we’ve got a plan for striking back at Blowhole. If you’d died back there, that plan wouldn’t be possible, and everything would go to shit.”

“Panty’s Landing already is shit.”

“I know, but imagine it worse.”

She cocked a brow at him. “What’s going on?”

He jumped off the dresser. “C’mon.”

She started to follow him out the room, but he stopped in the doorway and turned to face her, absentmindedly smacking his fist into his palm—a classic nervous habit of his. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“It’s just…” He gnawed his lip, trying to find the right words. “I want you to remember that you’re not alone anymore, all right? More than ever you’ve got people depending on you, so you can’t go crazy and risk your life at every chance. Surviving against Blowhole, trying to save you friend instead of fighting him again…that was the right choice. You’re gonna beat yourself up about it, I know you are—but it was the right choice.”

Reaching down, he grabbed her hand and squeezed it tight. “If you die, I’ll never forgive you, dammit. You hear me? Never.”

Lux didn’t know what to say, so she just nodded. 

And with that they left the room.

***

Lux wished Cy had told her they were in Greasers’ territory before she walked into a room jam-packed with ‘em because their glares were uncomfortable, full of resentment from a war that lasted too damn long for too many damn reasons. But, despite the fact that she’d pummeled a few of those dudes to a bloody pulp, nobody said a word as they waded through the crowd—if there was one way to make bygones be bygones, it was a mutual enemy. Everyone wanted to see Blowhole’s head on a spike.

They were in Cy’s bar, his pride and friggin’ joy. His brother had bought it for him after a particularly healthy “score”—the Greasers, surprise surprise, made a killing stealing cars—and he’d poured his life into making the place accessible. He’d scrubbed it ‘til it sparkled, tightly bound every bolt on every door, and ripped up all the unsightly weeds cluttering the sidewalk outside. You wouldn’t know any of this now, though. Panty’s Landing never changes, and within a week it had been reduced to its original state.

She’d only been here a few times, the first being after a nasty ambush by a group of Greasers where her and Jess had gotten split up. Beaten to high hell, she’d fled into the bar thinking it abandoned—luckily nobody was there except Cy, who offered her a drink and told her the fastest, and safest, way home. A week later she returned his kindness, sneaking back and leaving him a stash of pot. A week after that he did the same. The rest is not-so-ancient history.

She was sucked out the past by a gruff voice: “She awake, huh?”

An imposing man who’s head almost scraped the ceiling appeared in front of them. Cy nodded, stepped away from her, and put his hand on the man’s arm. “Lux, this is my brother, Ty. Ty, this is my girlfriend, Lux.”

Everyone except Ty shuddered. She guessed they viewed him a traitor, and she had a hard time imagining this behemoth to be his brother. Unlike Cy, who was slim and kept his hair neatly tied in a ponytail, Ty had muscles which bulged obscenely and unkempt hair which he’d lazily gelled into a mohawk. She wanted to tug the big ol’ bullring in his nose to see if it were fake or not, but figured that would start a brawl.

“That’s me,” she said, trying to stay cordial.

“That’s you,” his brother hissed, pacing around her. He was sizing her up, but not attempting to intimidate her. No, he was likely the Greasers’ new leader, and despite their working relationship, he still needed to asset his dominance. “You, like your friends, can stay here. But once that fat bastard’s done, you get the hell out and we never see each other again, got it?”

Cy flashed her a look that said don’t worry, we’ll still see each other, and so Lux nodded, wanting to respect that she was in Ty’s territory. She didn’t know if he’d do the same, didn’t care. Jess always told her to respect everyone, even if they didn’t respect you—advice she never followed well herself, always quick to slam her foot into someone’s nuts. Cy stepped between them, snagging her hand and smiling at his brother. 

“Gather everyone, Ty. Once I get her caught up, things are a go.”

“Who are you to order me around?”

“I’m not ordering you around,” he said, smirking. “Just telling you we’re almost ready.”

The tension straining the two brothers was obvious—Ty hadn’t forgiven their relationship, probably never would. That look Cy had given her, was it because after all was said and done he planned to leave with her? She hoped so. He was born a Greaser, but he didn’t share in their coldhearted idiocy.

“Sorry,” Cy said as his brother began rallying the Greasers. “He’s an ass.”

“Everyone’s an ass.”

He pulled her out the crowd, leading her down a corridor and into a dark room in which Tegan’s presence was immediately felt. Computers had been hastily wired to the walls with a stack of pizza boxes sat in front of it like a throne. These screens had live camera feeds, but Lux hadn’t a damn idea what they were showing.

“Where are Tegan and Sam?”

“They’re safe. Probably.” He hunched over, clacking his fingers against the keyboard. One of the screens changed, going from a dingy alleyway to a dingy rooftop where Tegan sat, computer in her lap, typing away. Sam snoozed in the background, sniper in his lap. “Tegan? It’s me, Cy. How things looking?”

“Well on the street below there’s a dude boutta dump a cat in acid and two people boning in a dumpster—so y’know, pretty normal.” She yawned, stretching her arms in the air. “Oh, you mean about the mission? Yeah, everything’s set up and ready to go. Cheese ain’t gonna know what hit him.”

“Cheese?” Lux said.

“Lux?”

“Oh. Yeah. She’s awake.”

“Good to see your lazy butt’s finally up,” Tegan said. “And you’re a bastard, Cy.” 

Lux, no longer in the mood for reunions, turned to Cy. “Why are we targeting Cheese? Shouldn’t we be going straight after Blowhole?”

“Get her all caught up,” Tegan said. “Me and Sam will be expecting you soon.”

The camera shut off, leaving her and Cy alone. He leaned against the pizza boxes, scratching his head. “Pardon the pun, but I’m just gonna be blunt about this—Blowhole’s turned on the Panty Mafia and is waging war against them.”

“What a cocky bastard,” Lux said. “Does he really think he can beat Bon?”

“With Jess’ blunt, and the panties, he can do anything he goddamned wants. He’s winning so far, Lux. He’s destroyed two of Panty Mafia’s bases completely and utterly, leaving no survivors. It won’t be long before he’s going after Bon himself. He’s just too damned dangerous to target right now. But Cheese…?”

Cy uttered a short laugh as he pressed a button. Once again one of the screens changed, this time revealing a desolate-looking lair where rotten food was stacked high in several piles, Cheese sat atop the largest of the bunch, flies swarming around his head like a king’s crown as he casually toked her blunt, letting her wolves pace around him.

The poor things, their faces were twisted in anguish.

“Bastard,” she yelled, slamming her fist against the keyboard. “Blowhole mocked him practically the entire time we battled. How could he entrust something so powerful to him?”

“He proved himself worthy,” Cy said. “When Blowhole first attacked the Panty Mafia, Cheese sneaked through and defeated every guard watching the place, allowing their crew to enter unnoticed and catch everyone off guard. But don’t worry, this is a good thing for us—aside from sneaking, he’s utterly incompetent. If you were to battle him, you’d wipe the floor with him easily.”

“You’ve got something else to show me,” she said. “You’re smirking.”

“We may have gotten our hands on…something.”

She cocked a brow as he stood up and typed a code into the computer. A slot on the wall opened up, revealing a small black briefcase which had been bound by another lock. He pulled the key out his pocket, opened it, then looked at her. “Blowhole made sure this wasn’t easy to get. He had his men collect every pair off every corpse they’d left behind. But we got lucky, found a tattered pair that had just enough left for Tegan to fix it.”

“You’re not saying…”

He flicked open the box, and in the middle, sat softly atop a velvet cushion, was a pair of polka dot panties. Aside from the soft glow radiating off them, they appeared normal. But Lux knew their power well—had lost to it once already. Touching her hand to it brought back memories of her battle with Blowhole.

But with these…

And if she could get her blunt back…

“So that’s why you were smirking,” she said. “Damn, you guys are bold.”

“Wait ‘til you hear our plan.”

END OF CHAPTER FIVE