I awoke to the sound of shouting down the corridor. It was dark in my room. If Girl had been here, she would have had one of the older Killjoys light one of the gas lamps that hung from the ceiling. She didn't like the dark. I realised suddenly that I really did miss her. It was cold in the diner- the sun hadn't yet risen, and I didn't want to put my jacket on, so I pulled my duvet around my shoulders, huddling in its faint warmth, and headed down the corridor toward the main area of the diner. As I got closer to the source of the noise, the voices behind the door became clearer. I could hear Party Poison shouting, his voice cracking occasionally. I could tell that he was crying.

"She's just a child! We have to save her!" He shouted. I walked into the diner, and every single Killjoy in there turned to look at me. I looked straight at Fun Ghoul, Jet Star, Kobra Kid and Party Poison, and scanned the diner for the one person I couldn't see. I suddenly realised who Party Poison had been shouting about. I rounded on him, rage boiling inside my chest.

"Where's Girl?" I shouted, my voice going up in pitch. I didn't care that Party Poison was upset. All that I cared about was that Girl was missing. "Where is she?" I yelled again, furious. Party Poison turned to look at me.

"She's gone!" He cried, tears running down his face, leaving clean streaks in the dirt and dust that covered his cheeks. "The dracs got her! Korse will have dragged her back to SCARECROW headquarters. We've got to save her…" He began to sob. I took deep breaths and allowed the anger that had been building within me to subside.

"I'm helping. I don't care what your plan is, but I'm helping." I snarled. Party Poison gave a one word reply.

"No."

"Why?" I asked, enraged.

"We've already lost one kid, I won't be responsible for another going missing." He replied curtly. I was 16. I wasn't a kid, and as far as I could see, he was responsible for the capture of the closest thing that I'd got to a sister. For the second time since I'd met him, I lunged for Party Poison. This time, nobody held me back. I pummelled at his chest and stomach, sobbing and screaming with anger. He made no attempt to stop me. He just stood there, firm as a rock whilst I attacked him. When I was finished, I began to cry tears of pain, anger and worry. Party Poison grasped my shoulders firmly and crouched down so that he was eye level with me. His crying had stopped, and now he looked concernedly into my eyes.

"Princess," He began softly. "I am going to save her. I promise you that she will be okay. I'm sorry, but I will not allow you to help. I can't have your blood on my hands." He stood back up and squeezed my shoulder, resting his hand there. "We have to start planning now. Only myself, Jet Star, Fun Ghoul and Kobra Kid will go." He grimaced and turned to Doctor D, who was sat in his wheelchair near the door. "Doctor D, I want you on standby a safe distance away. If anything- anything goes wrong, get Girl out." He emphasized the last three words. There were a few moments of silence.

"Is there any word from Agent Cheri-Cola?" Show Pony piped up. "He could be useful. We all know how much he knew about the inner workings of BL/Ind, and he has blue prints for almost every building in Battery City."

"None I'm afraid, Show Pony." Party Poison frowned, and then turned to me. "Princess, I want you to stay here and hold the fort whilst we're there. I can't risk the diner being attacked whilst we're out, and you're one of the best marksmen we have. If any dracs attack, I want you here. Do you understand?" I nodded reluctantly. Party Poison spoke again, this time raising his voice so that every Killjoy in the diner could hear him. "Tonight, Killjoys, we must salute the dead and lead the fight. We are Girl's only hope."