They reached the Lair later that night, and a small figure ran outside when she heard the engines.
“Smile?” Boom Box called anxiously, her voice thick with tears as she stopped short, seeing two unfamiliar Battery City bikes.
“What?” Party Poison asked, sliding his mask down and stepping into the light coming from the doorway, the Kobra Kid hot on his heels.
“Party!” Boom Box yelled, her tears forgotten as she launched herself at the Killjoy, screaming in happiness. Party Poison just laughed, picking her up and kissing her forehead. The Kobra Kid reached over to ruffle her hair, and she screamed again, overjoyed to see them.
“What’s wrong?” Dr. Death Defying demanded, rolling into the doorway, a ray gun in each hand as he glared around, freezing when he saw the two men standing with Boom Box. “Boys?”
The Kobra Kid moved forward, leaving his brother with Boom Box as he joined Dr. Death Defying in the doorway. “They tried to brainwash us, but it didn’t work quite right. We were in a cell when this girl came out of nowhere and sprung us.”
“Was she all in black?” Dr. Death Defying cut in hopefully, and the Kobra Kid gave him a strange look.
“No. In fact, she was in all white.” He gave the doctor an odd look before continuing. “I don’t think she made it, anyway. When she opened the door, an alarm went off and she held off the Dracs while we ran. We saw her go down.” The Kobra Kid shook his head sadly.
“Was she a Killjoy?” Dr. Death Defying asked, wondering who would have the guts to do that.
“She said she’d been out here before, said she knew it was a suicide mission. She never mentioned being a Killjoy, but she’d definitely been out here.” The Kobra Kid hesitated, then pressed onward. “She said she was from the city, raised as an Exterminator. She stopped taking the pills they fed her, and she woke up and wound up living as a Killjoy.”
Dr. Death Defying nodded slowly. “Whoever she was, I wish we had more Killjoys like her.”
“She was just a kid, too. 17 at best.” The Kobra Kid shook his head sadly. “And she said that Exterminators have piercings, it’s how they know each other in the city. Three in each ear, one at the top of an ear, snakebites, and a nose stud.”
Dr. Death Defying froze, staring up at the Kobra Kid. “Show Pony’s got that.”

That night, Dr. Death Defying took Show Pony far out into the Zones and killed him, returning as dawn broke over the Lair, not entirely comfortable with what he’d done, but knowing it was necessary.
As he fell asleep, the other Killjoy were just waking up, knowing they’d be missing one of their own when they opened their eyes.

Four days later, Boom Box was sitting listlessly at the table when Party Poison wandered into the kitchen, ruffling her hair as he set about making some coffee. “Why so down, kiddo?”
“Show Pony was a bad man, but he pretended to be our friend.” Boom Box sighed. “I miss Smile. She didn’t like Show Pony, she knew he was bad.”
“Where’d she go?” Party Poison asked, sitting down across from the young girl with his mug of caffeine.
“I don’t know, she didn’t tell me.” Boom Box blinked furiously at her PopTarts, forcing back tears. “But Dr. D said she’s probably not coming back.”
Party Poison’s face softened. “I’m sorry, Boom.” He sighed, shifting in his chair. “She’s probably on a mission that’s worth it, though. Dr. D doesn’t just send us out to die.”
“He didn’t send her, though. She went out on her own mission, and she said it would go Costa Rica.” Boom Box’s voice waved as tears started leaking down. “She said she was doing it for me, that everything would be better for me. It’s my fault she’s not coming back.”
“No, don’t say that.” Party Poison got up, moving around the table to kneel next to Boom Box’s chair and hug her. “It’s not your fault. It’s Better Living’s fault; they made this world. She’s a Killjoy, she’d fight Better Living whether or not it was for you. I’m glad she did it for you, it means she loves you. Love is hard to find, nowadays.”
“I love you, and Kobra Kid, and Dr. D, and Jet Star and Fun Ghoul and Smile.” Boom Box whimpered.
“We all love you, too.” Party Poison assured her, rubbing her back gently.
Their quiet moment was interrupted, however, by the sound of an engine pulling up outside.

Party Poison stood in the doorway, flanked by the Kobra Kid, both of them masked and standing with their ray guns drawn as the glared at the unfamiliar Killjoy climbing off the white Battery City bike.
“Who’re you?” Party Poison demanded, but the girl didn’t answer, she just took her battered, black bag and slung it across her back, turning to face the Killjoys in the doorway. He black helmet read ‘FUCK BLI’.
Boom Box, curious as ever, pushed between the two men in the doorway to stare at the new arrival. “Smile!” She yelled, her face lighting up as she took off across the dust.
The Killjoy dropped her bag, falling to her knees to let the little girl hug her. “Smile, Party and Kobra are back! You were right about Show Pony, he was a bad man, but he’s gone now.” Boom Box immediately started updating her friend, who just ruffled the girl’s hair.
When Boom Box finally let go of the Killjoy, she stood up, picking her bag back up as Boom Box grabbed her other hand.
“This is Suicidal Smile!” Boom Box said happily as she towed her friend towards the men standing in front of the Lair. “Smile, meet Party Poison and the Kobra Kid.”
Smile nodded once at them, then let Boom Box pulled her past the men and into the Lair.
“Where’d you go? I thought you weren’t coming back!” Boom Box yelped, and all the commotion woke up Dr. Death Defying, who chose that moment to roll into the kitchen.
“Boom Box, what have I told you – Smile?” He asked, his eyes going wide. “We thought you got ghosted.” A grin broke across his face as he laughed. “So the mission was a success?” He rolled forward, clapping Smile on the back when she nodded. “You’re not gonna tell us where you went, are you?” He asked, rolling his eyes as she shook her head. “Figures.”
Turning his attention to Party Poison and the Kobra Kid, Dr. Death Defying snorted. “Don’t look so sour, boys, you haven’t been replaced.” Then he glanced at Smile, grinning wickedly. “Though it came pretty close.”
The Kobra Kid grinned, sitting down at the table, but Party Poison scowled and stayed lounging against the wall, his ray gun in easy reach. “Right.”
Smile gently dropped her bag next to a chair before sinking down into it, across from the Kobra Kid. As soon as she was settled, Boom Box hopped up into her lap, making Party Poison’s scowl darken. Boom Box just chattered away happily about what had been going on since Smile took off, rambling right into the plans the men had been working on when Party Poison cut her off.
“She doesn’t need to know that.” The red head interjected, narrowing his eyes at Smile, who still wore her helmet. “She’s not part of this, she’s just passing through.”
“Nope, she’s part of the family.” Dr. Death Defying said sternly, stopping Smile mid-nod as she agreed with Party Poison. “She’s sticking here and to the plans.”
Party Poison raised his eyebrows in surprise, but said nothing.

After spending the morning training with Smile, Boom Box, and his brother, Party Poison had to admit that Smile was as good a Killjoy as he’d ever met. She worked hard, she wasn’t afraid to get dirty, and she never complained- though her lack of voice made it a little hard to do so. At least she didn’t talk back or question anything.
“Party, Kobra, Smile, I want you three out to patrol Zone 4 today, there’s a bunch of Drac reports that aren’t adding up.” Dr. Death Defying rolled out and broke up the training session. “Just go out and make the numbers something I can work with, hmm? Simple stuff, like ‘if you have 5 Dracs and kill 5, how many are left?’” He grinned, and the three Killjoys nodded.
The trio climbed into the van, wishing they’d been able to recover the Trans Am from Battery City for its speed and maneuverability on the dust. Party Poison and the Kobra Kid hadn’t even seen it when they escaped from BLI.
As the trio wandered toward the van, Smile fell back slightly, letting the other Killjoys take their seats. Party Poison chose to ignore her, hopping in behind the wheel, but the Kobra Kid opened the passenger door and nodded for Smile to get in. She nodded her thanks as he shut the door, unused to chivalry, and then he climbed in the back. Party Poison glared at him for a moment in the rearview mirror, but said nothing before starting the car and heading east.

Three miles into Zone 4, Smile tapped Party Poison’s shoulder, pointing out across the desert as a familiar muscle car appeared through the shimmering heat and a cloud of red dust.
Party Poison glanced the way she pointed, then nodded once, adjusting the van’s course so they were headed dead-on for the Drac car.
The two vehicles stopped simultaneously, and everyone inside climbed out except for the driver of the car, which was once again Jet Star. Party Poison stiffened when he realized who the Dracs’ chauffeur was, and pointed it out to his brother, who seemed equally upset. Smile just took the opportunity to fire on the Dracs who’d already taken aim at the stunned Killjoys.
The sound of ray guns going off seemed to wake Party Poison and the Kobra Kid up, and they opened fire, too, the Dracs falling quickly between the three of them, with no Killjoy casualties.
Jet Star waited for a moment after the last Drac fell, then sped off the way he’d come from, not even acknowledging the Killjoys or the carnage.
“It was him.” Party Poison said quietly. “I can’t believe he really works for themnow.”
He’s brainwashed. He’ll come out of it once he’s off the pills. Smile held up the note to the Killjoy, who rolled his eyes dismissively.
“Right, ‘cause you know so much about Battery City.”
More than you. She retorted. Trust me, he’ll come out of it once he’s off the pills.
Party Poison glared into Smile’s visor, trying to see through the tinted window at the girl beneath. Finally he just snorted derisively and stormed back off to the driver’s door of the van, ripping it open and climbing inside.
“You haven’t… would you know if Fun Ghoul’s been out and about?” The Kobra Kid asked hesitantly.
Smile hesitated before replying. I have an idea of where he is.