Ruin // Danger Days (Book 3)

03.

Silent Storm stood outside the new base of the Nest, engrossed in this thoughts. Being above ground was very different from what he was used to, especially the fact that there were actually windows.

There was also the fact that he had his own room, which seriously creeped him out sometimes. He was used to being in a giant room in the bunker filled with people, not a large room reserved specifically for him.

It would be better if he had someone to share the room with, but there wasn't anyone available. Sunset was staying with Val, and he wasn't close enough with anyone else to be comfortable sharing a room with them.

He was also struggling with the whole leader thing. He mainly sat in his office organizing data or played drums in the studio, but occasionally he would be approached by a new Killjoy asking for information, fans (which he had no idea he had) asking him to sign things, or just people who were curious asking questions ("What was it like being friends with General Alien?" "Why did she leave?" "How well did you know the Fab Four?" "What did they think of your relationship with Poison?").

Honestly, he was just glad most of them liked him. The general consensus was that if Alien had chosen him, he must be good. So of course, he was constantly trying to live up to those expectations. His anxiety had gone down a lot since he had gotten to the Zones, but it still lingered.

One thing that he constantly worried about was Grenade Shock. She had told him personally that she would try to work with him and adapt to the Killjoy way of life, but he had a hard time believing that people could change. She had been the ruthless leader of an army deadset on bloodlust and revenge, and she would have to do something to prove herself. But of course, Storm wasn't going to ask her to do that. That's kind of rude. He still cared about her, of course, but that wouldn't stop him from being paranoid.

Her genius younger brother, Toxic Revenge, was a completely different story. He had completely changed his views after seeing the other side, and was the one to stop the war between the two factions. He had already began production on new weapons for the Killjoys that focused on individual defeat rather than mass destruction.

That reminded him—he should go check on Revenge. He'd asked to meet with him in the mess hall at 1200 hours to discuss an important development, but he hadn't told him anything else. Storm wondered what it was he wanted to discuss. It was 1156, so he made his way inside.

The hotel that had become the Nest had a dining room with many tables, chairs, and booths that the Killjoys had made into a mess hall. They stored all of their food in the kitchen section connected to it.

Revenge was sitting in one of the booths already, eagerly digging into a can of baked beans. He noticed Storm coming towards him and grinned. "Cane!"

Storm laughed at Revenge's use of the alias he'd gone by while undercover in the Riot, Hurricane Lightning. "Hey kiddo! And, it's Storm, remember?"

"Oh yeah," Revenge said. "Actually, that's kinda what I wanted to talk about..."

"What do you mean?" Storm sat next to the ten-year-old concernedly.

Revenge sighed. "I don't like my name. Ren gave it to me when I didn't have one, saying that I was gonna help her get revenge. I don't wanna be called that anymore 'cause I don't want that."

Storm nodded. "I see your point. So you want my help to pick out a new one? That's more Al's thing, not mine."

"How does she do it?" he asked. "You could do it if you knew her method."

"Well.." Storm thought for a moment. "She would find characteristics about people. She picked hers because she never fit in, hence 'Alien'. And she picked 'Silent' for me because I was really quiet and kept to myself. It should pretty much represent you, I guess."

Revenge shrugged, and asked himself, "What's one of the main parts of my personality? Or, what do I like the most... building things! Machines!"

"'Machine' doesn't sound right for some reason," Storm commented. "What do you like building the most? Weapons?"

"Actually, I really like building engines. They're really complicated, and I remember my dad always used to work on his car, so it helps me remember him."

"Engine is a good word," Storm said, "you can use that. Now for an adjective... Here's an idea, what's your favorite color?"

Revenge smiled. "Red!"

Storm snapped his fingers. "Red Engine! That sounds cool."

"Red Engine. I like it!" the boy grinned. "I'm gonna go tell Ren! Call me Engine, okay?"
"Okay," Storm smiled. "See ya!"

Engine ran off to tell his sister about his new name. It was really hard to forget he was a kid, with how smart he was.

Storm was glad to have him as a friend. He was going to make a great Killjoy, and a great person.

He grabbed Engine's can of beans and closed the lid, then walked back outside to a section of the back patio that Engine had claimed as his workshop. He placed the can next to one of his latest projects, and headed back inside.

He smiled to himself. This might not be so bad after all.