Desi Destroya: A Killjoy Story

This Is How I Disappear

Desi 'Dizzy' Destroya looked out across the desert from the roof of the abandoned convenience store, alert and border-line paranoid. It had been eighteen days since she had last seen her man alive and well. She was alone, and could no longer tell you the number of times she had nearly been ghosted by BL/ind's minions.

Dizzy checked her watch, a trusty solar Timex, and sighed. It would be hours before Dr. D's next broadcast, and she was bored. She hadn't seen a S.C.A.R.E.C.R.O.W. anywhere near her hideout for days. If what had happened to Rasta Blasta had not made her spooks in every shadow, she would have believed that she was safe.

Dr. Death Defying had said the Fabulous Killjoys were on the move, hunting out recruits for their Danger Days army, stopping at every abandoned strip mall, petrol station, and convenience store; but Dizzy hadn't seen the Trans Am, or any other vehicle remotely resembling a part of the Killjoy convoy. Nothing but Rasta's bike, painted his colors in red, green, and yellow, with Dizzy's thunder bolt glossed on the right side of the windshield.

Suddenly, Desi's radio crackled. She rolled and pointed her laser gun at the sound, only to realize, with the sound of Dr. Death D's gravelly voice rolling out, that she was getting trigger happy. She rolled her eyes at herself, and zeroed in on the surprise broadcast.

"Listen up! All you crash queens and motor babies out there, we're calling you in. Somewhere on Route Guano, we're gonna be setting up a meet for all those Killjoys we've been missing in our runs. Get there fast, and you all better know how to shoot fast, and shoot to kill, 'cause we're making our move, day after tomorrow.

"You'll know the place when you find it, folks. Just look for the spider's nest." Dr. D's chuckle crackled out of the speakers. Ever since the incident at Better Living Industries Headquarters, he'd started using code, to further protect every Killjoy out there. "This is Dr. Death Defying, signing off. Remember, keep your boots tied, your gun close, and die with your mask on if you have to. Killjoys, make some noise!"

For a moment, feedback squealed, and then 'Planetary' came bursting out of the speakers. Dizzy cracked a smile for the first time since she and Rasta Blasta had gotten separated. The Fabulous Killjoys were calling them all home. And from Dr. Death D's code, as well as the American Anthem riff in the guitar solo, Desi knew exactly what to look for. The spider graffiti, somewhere near a flag still flying that wasn't branded with BL/ind's logo.

Maybe she'd find Blasta there. Desi hoped he'd escaped and gotten his ass to safety after the clap with the Dracs, and that the Killjoys had found him. She couldn't stand the thought of the alternative path events might have taken. If she let herself think about that, she'd get slow, and she'd get ghosted. Then where would Rasta be if he'd managed to survive?

A tumbleweed blew down the highway, and Dizzy jumped. Damnit, she thought to herself, I haven't slept more than four hours at a stretch since we got separated, and I've been up for three days. I need to sleep, or I''m gonna shoot Party Poison the instant he steps out from his hiding place when I show up at the meet tomorrow. And considering the massive crush Desi had had on him before Rasta Blasta had stolen her heart, that fact would humiliate her for life.

So, Desi rearranged the rolled of ball of hoodie and motorcycle jacket that Rasta had left lying by the bed the morning the Dracs attacked, and laid down to attempt a few hours of sleep.

Desi snuggled closer to Rasta as we lay under the dark California sky, safe on the roof of the abandoned motel."I think it's almost sad that the Fabulous Killjoys' HQ is a rusted out diner in the middle of nowhere."

Rasta chuckled, hugging her closer. "Well, my crash queen, have you ever heard that that diner is the safest place in California? All four or the Fabulous Killjoys are in one place, and I hear Dr. D is great with a shotgun." he said.