GREEN RAGE AND RED RAGE

The city skyline burned behind them as Jester floored the gas pedal. The battered van jerked and sputtered, its engine protesting against the strain. The Beast—Luther—hunched in the back, his massive form barely fitting inside. Every bump in the road made the van groan as if it were about to give up.

"So," Jester said, glancing in the cracked rearview mirror, "how do you feel about road trips? Personally, I love 'em. Snacks, bad music, and the occasional drone chase to spice things up."

Luther's glowing green eyes flickered toward Jester, his expression unreadable. "They'll... find us."

"Oh, I'm counting on it," Jester replied with a grin. "Keeps things exciting, don't you think?"

Before Luther could respond, a sharp whirring noise filled the air. Jester glanced at the side mirror and groaned. Two sleek black drones zipped into view, their red lights glowing like predatory eyes.

"And right on cue," Jester muttered, yanking the steering wheel hard to the right. The van swerved onto a side street, narrowly avoiding a beam of energy that scorched the pavement where they'd been seconds before.

Luther braced himself against the walls of the van as it bounced and rattled. "You call this... plan?" he growled.

"Plan? Oh, no, no, no. This is improvisation!" Jester replied, pulling a sharp turn onto a narrow alley. The drones followed effortlessly, their speed and precision making the van seem like a lumbering beast in comparison.

One drone fired another shot, this time hitting the van's rear door. The blast sent it flying off its hinges, clattering onto the asphalt. Luther's claws dug into the floor to steady himself as the back of the van was left completely exposed.

"Okay, new rule," Jester shouted, glancing back. "No one opens the van's doors without asking me first!"

Luther didn't respond, his attention locked on the drones. With a growl, he pushed himself up and reached for the nearest weapon he could find—a rusted crowbar from the van's floor.

The first drone swooped closer, its weapons charging. Luther waited until it was almost upon them before hurling the crowbar with all his strength. The makeshift projectile struck the drone with a deafening clang, sending it spiraling into a nearby building in a fiery explosion.

"Nice throw, big guy!" Jester cheered. "Remind me to take you to a carnival after this."

The second drone darted upward, its targeting system recalibrating. It hovered for a moment before diving toward them at an alarming speed. Jester slammed the brakes, and the van screeched to a halt.

"Your turn again!" Jester said, gesturing toward the back.

Luther didn't hesitate. As the drone descended, he leapt from the van with surprising agility for his size. His massive fist collided with the drone mid-air, crushing it like a tin can. The shattered machine crashed to the ground in a shower of sparks, and Luther landed heavily beside it, green scales glinting in the light of the smoldering wreckage.

Jester leaned out the driver's window, clapping sarcastically. "Bravo! Ten out of ten for the execution. Minus one for style, though."

Luther shot him a glare but climbed back into the van without a word. Jester hit the gas, and they sped off again, leaving the burning remains of the drones behind.

---

As they drove deeper into the city outskirts, the chaos of Ferrovale gave way to quiet desolation. Abandoned warehouses and empty streets stretched before them, the only sounds coming from the van's struggling engine.

"So, Luther," Jester said after a while, breaking the silence. "Got any hobbies? Knitting? Stamp collecting? Rampaging?"

Luther grunted, his glowing eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Why... help me?"

Jester smirked. "Because I'm a sucker for underdogs. Or maybe it's because I'm bored. Who knows? Life's a mystery."

Luther didn't respond, but the tension in his shoulders seemed to ease slightly. For the first time, he glanced at Jester, his expression softer. "You... don't seem afraid."

"Afraid? Nah," Jester said, waving a hand dismissively. "Life's too short for fear. Besides, I've got a thing for the whole 'giant green guy with anger issues' aesthetic. It's very 'protector of the weak.'"

Luther snorted, the sound halfway between a laugh and a growl. "You're... strange."

"Thank you," Jester said with a mock bow. "I'll take that as a compliment."

Their momentary camaraderie was interrupted by a low rumbling sound. Both men stiffened as the ground beneath them began to quake. Jester slammed on the brakes, and the van skidded to a halt.

"What now?" Luther growled, his claws flexing.

Jester squinted through the windshield. The road ahead was blocked by a massive armored vehicle, its turret-mounted cannons aimed directly at them. Behind it, a squad of heavily armed soldiers emerged, their weapons gleaming under the streetlights.

"Looks like we've got company," Jester said, his tone almost cheerful. He reached for his blades, drawing them with a theatrical flourish. "Ready for round two?"

Luther's glowing green eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled from his chest. "They'll regret... following me."

Jester grinned, his mask hiding the twinkle in his eye. "Now that's the spirit!"

---

To be continued...