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Rocket had gotten separated from the rest of the group, just great…
Now that he was thinking about it, they probably should’ve made a place to meet up incase they did get separated.
Rocket jogged through the ruined streets, he needed to find a vantage point. He could easily propel himself up and get a good look at the Crossroads. It wasn’t hard to miss the 4 colorful inphernals, especially Boombox with his loud music.
Rocket found a good place to start climbing up some rubble when he heard the groan of a zombie behind him, he was quick to summon his gear and spin around. Aiming his launcher at the rotting inphernal.
He shot a couple times at the zombie until it was a splatter of gore across the wreckage. He lowered his gun to reload before something big landed behind him. He could see the shadow of whatever it was surround him.
He looked over his shoulder, it was a giant crow. It’s piercing green eyes staring daggers into his soul. A top the giant bird was a lone inphernal, shaking with rage.
Venomshank, his eyes feral and mouth drooling a radioactive green liquid.
“…phuck”
Rocket was pretty fast, but fast enough to out run the deity running straight at him and growling like a wild animal? No, he was not fast enough.
Rocket felt the wind get knocked out of him as he was slammed against the pavement. He felt his skull crack open like an egg as his gear slid across the street.
Rocket tried to push Venomshank off him, his hands went to the deity’s face to try and stop him from biting. Rocket was not going to let himself end up a zombie, he’d kill himself before that happens.
Rocket winced as Venomshank’s acidic saliva burnt his skin. It even eroded the top layer of his prosthetic.
“Venomshank!” Rocket kicked and clawed at the deity, “Please!”
Rocket had only met Venomshank a handful of times, mostly when he was younger. Venomshank was on the nicer side of the deities, but Rocket never trusted him all that much.
Even with that bias of distrust, something was wrong with Venomshank. He was like a wild animal, had Sword ever seen him like this?
Venomshank pushed against Rocket’s hands on his face. Rocket wasn’t exactly the strongest inphernal out there, especially when compared to a literal god. Rocket could smell Venomshank’s vinegary breath through his wild pants.
Venomshank’s hands wrapped around Rocket’s throat and tightened.
Oh gods… Rocket was going to die, he’d never see Sword again, or Zuka, or even moody Medkit…
Rocket’s vision blurred with tears.
CRUNCH
Rocket choked out a scream as pain shot up his left arm, Venomshank had sunk his teeth into his hand. The acid spit burned his flesh, Rocket couldn’t breathe.
Venomshank bit him.
He was infected.
His vain attempts to escape only got weaker as his vision began to go dark from lack of oxygen. He wasn’t strong enough to beat a deity. He couldn’t even protect his family, or his home, or anybody…
The deity on top of him was suddenly thrown off him, taking a chunk of Rocket’s hand with him. It was Ban Hammer, he had swung his hammer and sent Venomshank flying.
That seemed to have knocked some sense into Venomshank, literally. The deity retreated, flying on his crow the size of a dragon, out of sight.
Rocket rolled over and coughed, his brain forcing him to do nothing but breathe for the next 30 seconds. He heard the others saying something, but the ringing in his ears was too loud to hear them.
Once the ringing in his ears had subsided and he could think about things other than the overwhelming urge to breathe. Rocket was immediately reminded of the chunk missing out of his hand.
“Rocket!” Boombox ran over to help him up before he skidded to a stop and stared at the inphernal’s hand, “holy shit man…”
Hyperlaser and Vine Staff were close behind. Vine Staff’s hand flew over her mouth. Hyperlaser hesitantly readied his gear.
“You’re infected…” Boombox said in disbelief.
Rocket stared at his half munched on hand, he could already see the green hue over taking where the bite was.
Ban Hammer stepped forward, his hammer in his hands. Even through his blindfold, he looked at Rocket with pity.
“W-wait! We can’t just-!” Vine Staff stepped in front of Rocket. “Surely there’s a cure or something?!”
“He’s already turning,” Ban Hammer pointed out. His fingers were turning green, slowly.
Rocket hadn’t said a word. Hyperlaser lowered his gun, “come on kid… think… you knew Venomshank, didn’t you? Any kind of cure you can think of?”
Rocket leaned forward, he pressed his forehead against the barrel of Hyperlaser’s gun. Hyperlaser’s breath hitched.
Rocket wasn’t going to let himself end up a zombie, he couldn’t imagine his dad or Sword find him in that pathetic state. A rotting corpse hobbling around, disgusting.
“Kill me before I turn,” Rocket said, “let me die with some dignity”
“Rocket!” Boombox called out desperately. Vine Staff itched to pull him away from the gun, but she couldn’t move a muscle.
Hyperlaser nodded, “understood.”
He raised his gun and held down the trigger to charge it up. Hyperlaser wanted it to be as quick and painless as possible. Boombox covered his eyes. Vine Staff was hyperventilating, she was a healer, she had to do something!
“If you see my dad… at least tell him I didn’t go out like a bitch…” Rocket tried to hide the terror in his voice, but he couldn’t, he was fucking terrified. His eyes shut tight as if that would make the bright ball off plasma energy right in front of him get any less bright.
“Zuka taught you well, I’ll let him know” Hyperlaser said with respect.
Hyperlaser’s finger let go of the trigger, the tip of his gun was suddenly thrusted into the air. Vine Staff had grabbed the barrel of the gun and forced it to aim at the sky.
The ray of plasma shot off into the distance, who knows where it ended up.
Boombox peaked through his hands to see what happened. Ban Hammer gripped his hammer harder, it was a sick joke to prolong Rocket’s suffering.
Hyperlaser looked at Vine Staff like she was crazy.
“Wh-what about amputation?!” Vine Staff’s eyes were shut tight. They were all probably extremely pissed at her.
She looked down at Rocket, he slowly lifted his head. He swallowed hard, he looked down at his hand. About halfway up his fingers were green.
“Boombox, the axe!” Vine Staff said. They’d found the artificial gear and given it to Boombox. He was the most unarmed of the 5, they gave it to him incase he ever found himself in trouble.
“An axe can’t amputate a limb,” Hyperlaser said with disbelief.
“It’s the best we’ve got,” Vine Staff had no idea where this surge of desperation came from, “I’m not just going to let him die!”
Hyperlaser looked down at Rocket, he looked up at the inphernal with wide, terrified eyes. Rocket swallowed hard, and nodded. He wanted to see his family again.
“D-do it…” his voice was a whimper of fear.
—
Next thing he knew, Ban Hammer’s blindfold was tied around arm as a tourniquet. Ban Hammer had the axe in hand. They decided Ban Hammer would be the one to do the amputating, he was the strongest out of them all, he’d hopefully get a quick and clean chop. Vine Staff had doused the axe in antiseptic, that was the best they got.
“This isn’t sanitary at all…” Boombox looked like he was going to be sick.
“Take a walk kid, the last thing we need is you passed out” Hyperlaser was currently pinning Rocket’s legs to the pavement. Vine Staff was at Rocket’s side. Her arms wrapped around him. Her hug both pinning him down so he wouldn’t squirm, and comforting him. He was shaking like a leaf.
“Nah, need you over here Boombox” Ban Hammer said, “Hold his arm still”
Boombox’s face drained of color, but he swallowed the bile in his throat and nodded. “Right-“ his voice cracked. Boombox grabbed Rocket’s bloodied and greenish hand and pulled. Making sure his arm was straightened out so Ban Hammer wouldn’t miss.
Rocket’s hand gripped Boombox’s so tight that it hurt, Boombox decided it was best he didn’t complain.
Vine Staff stroked the poor inphernal’s hair, “you’re okay, you’re gonna be just fine,” she said over and over. Rocket was shaking like a leaf, his breathing was gasps of air he had to force down.
Vine Staff could feel how sweaty Rocket was, he gagged. His right hand coming up to clamp over his mouth in case the bile tried to rise any higher in his throat.
“Look at me kid,” Hyperlaser demanded, Rocket’s wide, vacant eyes landed on Hyperlaser. “Deep breath” Hyperlaser said.
Rocket struggled to get a good breath. Vine Staff kept her fingers running through his hair, her arm conveniently preventing him from looking at Ban Hammer and what was about to happen.
“Ready?” Ban Hammer lined up the axe to about mid way between the wrist and elbow.
Rocket inhaled as deeply as his lungs would let him.
Ban Hammer brought the axe up above his head.
Rocket held onto Vine Staff for dear life.
Ban Hammer brought the axe down on his arm. It was anything but quick and clean, Rocket’s scream made them all wince, even Hyperlaser.
“Come on Rocket, breathe…” Vine Staff cupped his cheeks as he choked on his own scream.
The axe was dull, especially compared to most medical tools used for amputations. This left Rocket’s arm split open, his bone shattered.
“Need another swing,” Ban Hammer warned quickly before slamming the axe back down. Thankfully, the second time was the charm. He had cut through the entire arm.
Rocket could only whimper at Ban Hammer’s warning before another scream tore itself through his throat.
Rocket clenched his teeth so hard it felt like they were going to shatter under the pressure. He instinctively bit down on the closet thing. That being, unfortunately for her, Vine Staff.
She was a bit startled when Rocket chomped down on her shoulder. But it was her wooden arm, so she didn’t exactly feel it. Vine Staff hoped he didn’t get any splinters in his mouth.
Ban Hammer dropped the axe and clamped his hands around the stump that was squirting blood. His large hands and their immense pressure helped slow the bleeding.
Vine Staff stepped back to let Hyperlaser take her place once Rocket had stopped thrashing (and when she was able to coax him to stop biting her). His adrenaline was wearing off as his eyes drooped downwards.
“Hey! Kid! Eyes on me.” Hyperlaser shook him awake, “what’s your dad’s name? That kid Sword, he’s your friend, right? What’s he like?”
Hyperlaser’s questions were met with mostly unintelligible blabber from Rocket, but it was keeping him awake.
Vine Staff was quick to use her magic to heal Rocket the best she could. Mostly to slow the blood gushing out of the wound like a waterfall.
Ban Hammer stepped back, his hands covered in blood. His four eyes looked on with what looked almost like sympathy. He glanced over at Boombox.
He was silently freaking out, Rocket’s now severed hand was still tightly grabbing him. It wasn’t letting go, even as he tried to shake it off, only splattering blood everywhere. His eyes silently pleaded at Ban Hammer to help.
Ban Hammer bit his cheek to not laugh. Boombox looked at him desperately. Ban Hammer grabbed Boombox’s arm and pried Rocket’s hand off him. The virus must’ve given his limb a mind of its own. Ban Hammer took it out back and smashed it, just in case.
“Hyperlaser, I need something to cauterize this” Vine Staff said.
Hyperlaser looked around, his gun could hypothetically get hot enough to burn the wound shut, but the barrel was too small to fit Rocket’s arm.
“Boombox! Get me his gear!” Hyperlaser pointed across the area, covered in some rubble. Rocket’s rocket launcher (what a tongue twister). There had to be something in there hot enough to light his rockets and make them explode.
Boombox ran over with Rocket’s gear in hand. Vine Staff took it from him. She put Rocket’s arm down the barrel of the launcher and held the trigger down.
Rocket yelped, he latched onto Hyperlaser as the aroma of burning flesh filled the street. Rocket’s voice was gone from his screaming previously.
Eventually, Vine Staff pulled the launcher away. The bleeding had almost entirely stopped. The stump was charred, the surrounding skin was red and swelled. They’d definitely need to watch the swelling to check for infection.
Vine Staff covered the burn with Vaseline and wrapped the stump with gauze. While she was at it, she patched up the back of his head. Venomshank must’ve tackled him hard enough to crack his skull open
“Rocket!” Hyperlaser shook the inphernal, attempting to wake him back up. Before Vine Staff could panic at Rocket’s unresponsiveness, Hyperlaser gave Rocket a firm slap across the face. Vine Staff winced as Rocket jolted awake.
“Owwwwww…” Rocket slurred, rubbing his cheek with his only hand. “Asshole…”
“Sorry” Hyperlaser patted the kid on the back.
Rocket’s blinking was slow, Hyperlaser lifted his head up. “There you go kid, you did pretty damn good. I’ve seen Blackrock officials cry more over paper cuts”
Rocket let out a huff of weak laughter. Vine Staff dug around Boombox’s bag. He kept their food on him.
Rocket slowly adjusted himself, he leaned against Hyperlaser. Rocket cradled what was left of his left arm. His right ear pressed against Hyperlaser’s chest. Listening to the man’s heartbeat. It reminded Rocket he was still alive.
“…thanks for… being willing to take me out…” Rocket mumbled slowly.
Hyperlaser nodded, “I understood where you were coming from”
Rocket nodded slowly, “I didn’t want to turn.. and hurt anybody…”
Hyperlaser stroked his hair, “that’s honorable of you” he said with a small tinge of pride.
Vine Staff came back with a granola bar, something light on Rocket’s stomach. Rocket instinctively reached out with his left stump, he sighed with irritation and switched to his right prosthetic arm. Thankfully, Vine Staff had opened it for him.
Vine Staff glanced over her shoulder as Ban Hammer walked back into view from whatever he was doing behind a big pile of rubble.
“Venomshank gave your arm a mind of its own, I had to… deal with it” Ban Hammer said. Rocket just nodded, not like he wanted to see it anyways.
Boombox curled his fingers and winced, “Rocket, I love you buddy, but I think you broke a bone or two with your iron grip”
Rocket was much more involved the granola bar in his hand, “I’m not sorry…” he mumbled.
Vine Staff beckoned Boombox over and quickly healed his hands. Definitely a couple of fractures in a couple finger bones.
“You need more calcium,” Vine Staff scolded. Boombox smiled sheepishly.
“We need to keep moving,” Hyperlaser said, “your screaming definitely attracted a hoard”
Rocket nodded, he attempted to get up and was immediately hit with a wave of dizziness. Hyperlaser steadied him, “here”
Hyperlaser got down on one knee, Rocket leaned against his back. He grabbed under Rocket’s knees and lifted him up.
“I want a piggy back ride…” Boombox mumbled.
Rocket rolled his eyes.
“Let’s find a safe place to retire for the night” Vine Staff said.
Ban Hammer walked ahead of them, keeping an eye out for any zombies. Boombox was further behind, keeping an eye behind them.
Hyperlaser carried Rocket easily, he wasn’t very heavy. The kid was dead to the world, soft snoring coming from the inphernal on his back.
“Quick thinking” Hyperlaser glanced at Vine Staff.
“Hm?” She raised an eyebrow.
“To amputate,” Hyperlaser said.
Vine Staff nodded, “thank you… I couldn’t just….” She trailed off.
“He seemed pretty ready to die,” Hyperlaser looked over his shoulder at the inphernal on his back.
Neither of them wanted to unpack that right now.
“We’ll be okay,” Vine Staff ran a hand through Rocket’s hair. He let out a small noise.
Hyperlaser nodded.