The Killjoys should have returned an hour ago.

Ammunition Flash knows this. If all had gone well, they would have been back by now.

He's been in Camera Monitoring Room A for the last two hours, sitting in a chair. Waiting, for the Killjoys to come back. Staring at a screen that shows only desert. Ammunition doesn't know how the regular monitors do it. He thinks he'd go insane if he stared at an empty desert all day.

He isn't normally so nervous about missions. He's not sure what makes this one so different.

Maybe it's because of the importance. Of course, rescuing any potential Killjoy from BL/ind's cruel grip is important, but this mission is important for other reasons, too. Party Poison and Fun Ghoul are determined to get Helena out. Saving the adoptive daughter of two founders is important, Ammunition knows.

Maybe it's because of Johnny. It was so soon, to send him on his first mission. It will teach him much of what he needs to know very quickly, but if he makes a mistake, it could be fatal.

Or maybe, it's Bulletproof Girl. Normally, when they go on missions Ammunition Flash and Bulletproof Girl go together. They keep close to each other, watching each other's backs. They've been on so many missions together, in fact, that it's almost become routine for them to be partners on a mission. It feels strange for Bulletproof to go without him. He should have gone, too.

Still thinking of Bulletproof Girl, Ammunition Flash looks up to see a girl with hot pink hair, ear gauges, and punk clothes standing over him, with a coffee in her hand. It's Crazy Cat, the supervisor of Room A. 

She holds out the coffee to him. "Caffeine?"

Gratefully, he takes the coffee from her hands and takes a sip. One cream, one sugar. Just the way he likes it. "Thank you."

Crazy Cat sits next to him, as if she understands his worry. They've been friends for about a year, since Ammunition was made leader.

Ammunition Flash had become leader rather abruptly. The previous leader, a woman named Novocaine Spirit, had died suddenly on a mission. At the time, despite the age gap, Ammunition had been a good confidant of Novocaine--they'd had similar personalities, and had become good friends. Novocaine Spirit had been almost like a mother to Ammunition Flash; or at least, what he thought a mother should be like. She had been kind, caring, supportive, and a great listener. She'd taken him under her wing, and even taught him a bit about being a leader.

But all of that had ended when she'd died. Ammunition Flash had been heartbroken. He'd lost one of his best friends, and the only real mother figure in his life.

After her death, it had been time to elect a new leader. Normally, a young Killjoy would be chosen by the current leader and trained to succeed them. However, Novocaine Spirit hadn't been leader very long, and hadn't had the chance. And in the event that a successor could not be found, an election, of sorts, was held.

The Killjoys had gathered in the courtyard, and a representative from the Nest, a boy named Neon Streak, had asked for suggestions for who should take charge.

"Ammunition Flash!" someone had yelled from the crowd. Ammunition had turned to the Killjoy in surprised, and seen that it was Bulletproof Girl. She'd given him a supportive grin.

"He's been friends with Novocaine Spirit for a long time," she continued. "He probably knows plenty about leading already. I nominate Ammunition Flash for leadership."

To his surprise, the others had murmured agreement, almost unanimously. And just like that, Ammunition Flash had become one of the youngest leaders in Killjoy history. He'd only been seventeen years old.

Ammunition Flash had worked so hard to prove his worth. He frequently put aside personal things in favor of work duties, such as eating, sleeping, recreation, and relationships with others. The only people in his life who'd stuck around, who'd understood his duty, were Bulletproof Girl, Lightning Scare, and Crazy Cat. He owed all of them for being so patient with him, for understanding that he had to put the greater interest of the hideout in front of them.

Now, sitting here with Crazy Cat, Ammunition Flash feels grateful to his friend, for being here for him when he needs support, even though he can't always be around to offer his own.

He's jolted out of his thoughts by a boy sitting in front of one of the camera monitors. "I see them!"

Quickly, Ammunition gets up from his chair and approaches the screen. Yes, the Killjoy van is there at last, driving on towards the hideout. Relief fills him.

"Get a med team down there, just in case," Ammunition calls over his shoulder as he leaves the room. "I'm going down to meet them."