The North District Bandits - The Battle at Big Rhapsody

"Oh. My. God." Sarah covered her mouth and gasped. "The four greats legends were all together in one place? Wow oh wow. This is the stuff of... well... legends! I find it hard to believe they all got along."1

"The didn't," answered the old man, flatly. "Not so good, it was Bonnie that kept things from exploding as the night progressed. They all had a contrasting style, they all had their own plans and ideas. Bonnie and Dillinger wanted them all to pull one, last massive heist then skip The Districts, maybe move to the city across the inlet. Handsome Boy had grown tired of life on the run and wanted to slip back into a quieter game with Ruth. And Baby Brains?" He chuckled. "Oh, he WANTED to go out in a blaze of glory. As you can see, the union was doomed from the start."2

"I see," she said, thinking. "Throw in some ego as well. What you say can only make sense."3

"Ego indeed, there was plenty to go around." He smiled. "But fault them not; one must have one to pursue a high profile lifestyle."4

"Indeed," she agreed. "But in a couple hours ego became irrelevant, yes? Alvin and Eddy were on their way with the T-Kids. In a couple hours The Battle at Big Rhapsody would start."5

"They were on their way, yes. Though The Bandits themselves stayed out of sight, the caretaker found it curious that Ruth paid for the room from a rather large wad of cash. Stranger that the first thing she did was drive off down the mountain. So he kept a lookout." He chuckled. "Imagine his shock when he spotted not one, but all four superstars walking into that room. So he called the DWA..."6

**7

Alvin and the T-Kids turned off their lights then drove onto the Big Rhapsody parking lot. A slippery bunch, he knew, charging in would be a mistake. Mistakes... he's made too many already, Superintendent Edgar kept his butt in a sling all week. 8

He counted four cars, just like the caretaker said. The lights were on. Juice, he snorted, they were probably drinking themselves into a sugar rush induced stupor. It's bad for their bodies and it rots the teeth. This is why the stuff is evil, why the stuff has to be banned.9

They all quietly exited their Model A's.10

"Alvin," whispered Eddy. "We could only gather six T-Kids. This isn't enough, there's too much ground to cover, we know they're armed to the teeth. We should set up a perrimiter and wait, backup is coming. They'll be here in an hour."11

"We don't have an hour," Alister whispered back. He watched the lodge. "You don't know these guys like I do, Eddy. I had three of them in custody. Three, Eddy, and they escaped right out from under my nose. You blink and these son-of-a-guns are good and gone. We can't wait, we have to move in now."12

"But Alvin-"13

"This is our only chance. Think of it. Taking down all four at once? Think of the press coverage. Huge promotions all around."14

"The Press is already here," mumbled Eddy, pointing to a car parked at the edge of the parking lot. "They got here at the same time we did. The caretaker called them before he called us; they pay big for tip-offs. We can't do anything without those guys showing up any more. This doesn't feel right, Alvin. I know I don't have your experience, but-"15

"Stay low and be careful." Alvin signalled to the T-Kids: Move in.16

Every crept closer, keeping under cover and to the shadows. 17

"One last thing," whispered Alvin. "Shoot to take them out of The Game. Because that's what they're gonna do to you."18

Eddy nodded. 19

They all crept closer...20

The door opened, Baby Brains stepped outside...21

Everybody froze.22

**23

10 seconds before:24

Baby Brains slugged a juice. The sugar rush was now at its best, the room was spinning. He stood, light on his feet. The poker game was over, Handsome Boy was the night's winner. Luck, he sneered, he makes his own luck with a Tommy Paint Gun.25

Kid Dillinger and Bonnie Ma got all kissy-faced in another room, as did Handsome Boy and his piece of fluff. He gagged himself. Dolls, what the heck is the attraction to those things anyways?26

Alone and ignored now, he didn't want to be anywhere near the older kids and their icky touching of lips. The room, anyhow, wouldn't stop spinning, he needed some fresh air. He opened the door then stepped outside. The full moon was high, the night didn't make a sound. It was quiet.27

His eyes narrowed. Too quiet. He looked around the parking lot...28

He saw four cars parked at the edge of the lot. Four cars that weren't there two hours ago. He instantly knew.29

"T-Kids-!" he screamed, running back into the lodge. He slammed the door just as paint-balls splatted everywhere...30

The others dashed from their rooms, Tommy Paint Guns already in hand. Ruth screamed then hid under the table, fetal and hiccuping fiercely. Bonnie and Dillinger smashed the windows then fired as Baby Brains raced upstairs, shouting curses. Another wave of paint-balls, everyone ducked...31

Bonnie looked for Charlie, whom was nowhere to be seen...32

She turned, screaming, then fired, taking down a T-Kid...33

Dillinger stood against the wall, hearing the splats on the other side. He pointed out the window and fired...34

At last there was a silence. 35

They smiled at each other. The T-Kids were reloading. He motioned towards the back, Bonnie nodded, they ran.36

They burst out the back door, guns ready, expecting another attack...37

Silence, save for the laughing Alvin from out front.38

**39

Ten seconds ago:40

Alvin ducked behind a Model A, paint-balls splatted all around. He fired back then ducked another volley. Again. He looked at a T-Kid taking cover a few feet away.41

"Soldier!" he yelled. The kid turned. "Who's got the back door-?"42

The kid looked back, confused. "That what-?"43

From the second story window Baby Brains Malone fired, two fisted, laughing maniacally. Two T-Kids fell, he laughed louder. "I got two more!" he shouted at them. "The only good T-Kid is a T-Kid dead to The Game!" He fired, hooting and hollering...44

Chaos reigned.45

The realization this was another botched job was seeping in. Alvin blinked then stood, not even noticing the paint-balls whizzing about the lot...46

Baby Brains disappeared from the window, silence fell over everything.47

Alvin slumped against the car then laughed, loud, banging his head...48

Eddy stepped our from behind a car, breathing hard and lucky to not be taken out himself. He listened to Alvin laugh. He looked at the paint spattered lodge and noted it was now empty. He knew how they escaped. After a moment he joined his friend...49

**50

30 seconds ago:51

Handsome Boy MacRoy crept the edge of the parking lot, paint-balls whizzed by. He managed to slip out of the front door as all the T-Kids scattered and took cover. So far so good. He could easily be caught by a stray, he knew his luck was holding to get him this far. He looked to the dark woods then back to the battle. T-Kids were pinned down but firing back. A few yards away a car, no T-Kids around..52

Perfect. 53

He crept towards it then opened the door...54

"Freeze!"55

He turned, a T-Kid was pointing a paint-gat at him. Blast, where did he come from? He must've been keeping to the shadows like him...56

"Raise your hands," the kid barked. "I'm taking you in, it's Jeuvey for you! Looks like your legendary luck of Handsome Boy MacRoy has finally run out."57

"My name is Charlie Lee MacRoy," he said, raising his hands. He looked behind the kid, seeing Ruth creeping up, branch in hand. "And I'm not so sure about the luck thing."58

Ruth swung, the T-Kid fell. Ruth's breaths shallowed, this was her first real crime. Before she hadn't done anything, at least nothing major that could be proven. Her eyes went wide at the fact she was in now. She was one of them. She dropped the branch and breathed in, noting she wasn't hiccuping. He rushed to Handsome Boy then kissed him. 59

"Let's go," she said, rubbing his cheek.60

He looked around the yard, the battle was over. It was indeed time to go, but:61

"No," he said, pushing her back. "I can't let you. The only end for us is a hail of paint-balls and I don't want you there when it happens."62

"But I want to be there," she said. "I love you, Charlie, I will follow you anywhere."63

"Sorry, doll face," he said then opened the car door. "I'm doing this for you. Tell them it was me that struck the T-Kid."64

"Don't leave me here like this," she said. A tear wandered down her cheek. "Not like this-"65

More tears came, she hiccuped. Again. And again.66

"I'm sorry, Ruth. It was fun. Live long and well." He closed the door then drove off.67

"Charlie-," she croaked. She fell to her knees then the ground in a paroxysm of hiccups and despair...68

**69

Alvin surveyed the damage. Three T-Kids down. Good kids, they left the game doing what they believed in, doing outstanding jobs. The lodge and the cars were riddled with paint balls, dents and cracked glass. The damage was massive. He looked at the approaching press, already taking notes and pictures. He closed his eyes, remembering that they were here right from the start, they saw the whole debacle. 70

"I TOLD you we should wait for backup," hissed Eddy, furious. "We went in too early and all we have to show for it is a disaster zone! Superintendent is gonna have both our butts in a sling for this!"71

"I know," sighed Alvin. "The Bandits have kept my butt in nothing but a sling for weeks. This one was my fault, Eddy. I'll tell Superintendent Edgar how it went down, I'll handle The Press, I'll take the heat." He holstered his gat then turned, laughing. "It just doesn't get any worse than this, does it? It just doesn't."72

Behind them both headlights flared as a Model A came to life. They turned and dumbly watched Handsome Boy MacRoy drive by, passing them both within touching distance...73

They dumbly watched him drive off down the road.74

"Oh, it gets worse. It can always get worse." Eddie holstered his gat then looked back, seeing the sobbing and hiccuping Ruth. "At least we have a consolation prize. Hang tough, buddy," he said, slapping Alvin on the back. "We'll get these guys yet."