Finally, the van arrives at the edge of the city. Bulletproof Girl watches Johnny crane his neck into the front seat, trying to catch a glimpse of his old town. She knows that while on missions, many new and old Killjoys search the streets for their families, their old homes. Bulletproof Girl doesn't.

Well, that isn't exactly true. Bulletproof Girl had had one friend at the orphanage, a girl by the name of Alice. Bulletproof Girl had mostly just tagged along on Alice's 'adventures', like a sidekick. They hadn't called each other by their real names; they'd had 'code names'. Alice's was Louis and Bulletproof's was Clark. She couldn't remember what the names were from.

Alice had committed many a 'crime' at the orphanage, though Bulletproof had mostly been ignored as a confused girl who didn't know she was friends with a mad child. Alice had written stories, gone into the boy's side of the orphanage (albeit only to see if they were treated better than the girls), used profane language, and even gotten into a fight once.

That day, she had gotten into a fight with a girl named Elena, who had started to pick on Bulletproof Girl. For most of her time at the orphanage, the others had left Bulletproof alone, but that day Elena had lost interest in bothering her usual victims, and had come over to the two girls at lunch. She'd pestered Bulletproof Girl in any way she could; she made fun of her hair, she labeled Bulletproof's quiet demeanor as muteness, and finally told Bulletproof she'd seen smarter creatures crawling around on the sidewalk. That was too much for Alice, who had finally punched the girl in the jaw. She'd gotten in huge trouble with the headmaster of the orphanage, and it was clear that the fight was the last straw. 

One day, she had disappeared, and Bulletproof Girl had never seen her again. One of the nicer nurses had told Bulletproof that Alice had been adopted, but it was clear even then that she'd been disposed of.

Bulletproof Girl, while on her missions, half-heartedly looked for Alice, but she had never seen her. Most likely, Alice was dead. But still, Bulletproof kept an eye out, for the girl that had taught her life didn't have to be by others' rules.

Tonight, here in the city, there is no moon, and it is very dark. The perfect night for a mission.

Everyone is quiet now that they've reached the city, in order not to wake any BL/ind citizens, who might contact the authorities. The van, with its specially-designed muffling engine, makes its quiet, almost puttering sound as it drives through the streets of Battery City.

Mad Gear drives on, with Missile Kid cuddled up next to him, giving him directions from a map. "Almost there," Missile Kid calls into the back seat. "Be ready."

Bulletproof Girl sits quietly, and puts her hand on her gun, without thinking about it. She takes it out of its holster on her belt, and holds it in her lap. This is familiar, and it calms her down. She tells herself to focus solely on her mission. It must go right. It has to.

Before long, the van stops, and Mad Gear and Missile Kid lean into the back seat.

"Everybody remember the plan?" Mad Gear asks.

The Killjoys all nod together.

"Good." He smiles and gives a salute, saying the words every Killjoy hears before a mission, for luck. "Keep your boots tight, keep your gun close, and die with your mask on if you've got to."

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Author's Note: That Gee art tho