"Harley said it was a miracle that he's even alive," Brooke said. "He was caught in a slaver's net, and then he disappeared. Literally."

"He's fast, but he's not that fast."

"It wasn't his changeling speed," Brooke said. "The nets those slavers used nullify changeling powers."

"Then how'd he disappear?"

"Nobody knows," Brooke said, "and Ernie won't say."

"That's weird," Natalia said, her eyes drifting to the ceiling as she pondered how Ernie could have pulled it off. "Oh, well," she finally said. "I can't believe I was out for a week."

"It was more like ten days," Brooke said. "You wouldn't believe how many visitors you've had."

"Really?"

"Most of your teachers, Raven, Max, Harley... Ernie's been here more than any of them, though."

"Ernie?"

"He does his homework over there," Brooke said, pointing to a small table in the corner of the room. "The nurse has to kick him out when visiting hours are over, and somehow he still manages to sneak back inside."

"That doesn't make any sense," Natalia said. "He's been acting like he hates us."

"I think he feels like all of this is his fault," Brooke said. "Either that, or he needs a friend. The other changelings are blaming him for what happened."

"That's ridiculous."

"I told him that, but he won't listen to me."

Natalia felt her stomach rumble. "I'm starving."

"You should be," Brooke said. "I'll call the nurse to see if she can bring you some food."

Brooke was about to ring for the nurse when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Natalia said.

The door slowly opened, and Ernie walked in.

"I'll go check on your breakfast," Brooke said. Honeysuckle slipped into Brooke's bag before she left.

Ernie was holding a small vase filled with carnations as he stood by the bed with his head hung low.

"Are those for me?" Natalia asked.

Ernie nodded and set them on the dresser next to a massive bouquet from Max.

"They're beautiful."

"You don't have to say that."

"I mean it," Natalia said. "They really are."

"I also got you this," Ernie said and took his backpack off. He unzipped the front compartment and pulled out a small package wrapped in white paper.

Natalia took it in her hands and gently unwrapped it. Inside was a porcelain unicorn standing on its hind legs. Its head was thrown to the side, and its mane and tail looked as if they were blowing in the wind.

"Where did you find it?" she asked.

"I had to order it," Ernie said. "I didn't think you had this one in your collection yet."

"It's perfect. In fact, I have the perfect place for it in my bedroom. So thank you."

"You're welcome," Ernie said.

"Brooke told me that you've been spending a lot of time here."

"I just needed a quiet place to do my homework."

Natalia smiled. "You know, Ernie, this isn't your fault."

"Yes, it is. I should have listened to you."

"What do you mean?"

"You told me that I couldn't handle it, and you were right," Ernie said. "I led everyone into that trap, and now Hale is gone... and I almost got you killed."

"Wait, what happened?"

"We heard that some of the slavers were hiding in an abandoned building, but it was a setup," Ernie said. "They were waiting for us with nets and restraining collars. The only reason I got out was because..." Ernie almost let it slip that Obadiah Strange had given him the IPA, which helped him phase in and out like a ghost.

"Because why?" Natalia asked.

"Well, I got lucky, that's all, but now Hale is gone, and it's all my fault."

"You didn't know."

"Maybe I should have." Ernie looked down. "Everyone thinks that I've been telling Von Strife where we're going so he can send the slavers after us. All I wanted to do was make Von Strife pay for what he did to Robert."

"It's going to be okay."

Ernie bowed his head. "Not this time."

"You should talk to Max," she said.

"I've been such a jerk," Ernie said. "I doubt he wants to talk to me."

Natalia reached out to touch Ernie's hand. "Yes, he does," she said gently. Ernie looked up. She could see that his eyes were red. "Friends forgive each other, Ernie. Max understands how much pain you're in, and he wants to help. We all do."

Ernie wiped his eyes with his sleeve and stood up. "I have to get going," he said.

"Promise me that you'll talk to Max."

Ernie nodded. "I'll try."

A VIAL OF PILLS.

There was still no medical explanation for Monti's illness, but the coughing had subsided, the color had returned to his skin, and his eyes had stopped drooping. Doc Trimble wanted to keep him under lock and key until he knew what was going on, but Monti had become unbearable with his incessant requests to be released from the hospital.

Against his better judgment, Doc Trimble signed Monti's release papers. There was no real excuse to keep him, but Doc Trimble was sure Monti would be back. Monti, of course, went straight to work. To make up for lost time, he had his automated workforce laboring around the clock, but that only made things worse. The clockworks started to break down, and in Monti's condition, he couldn't fix them.

Harley was coming by after school and on the weekends, but it wasn't enough. When he arrived at the workshop Saturday morning, he found Monti pale, feverish, and weak. Against Monti's wishes, Harley had Jasper call Doc Trimble. The doctor was there within the hour.

"I want you to take these. They should help with the anxiety until things settle down a bit," Trimble said, handing Monti a vial of pills.

"I don't think so," Monti said, handing the pills back to the doctor.

"If you keel over from a heart attack, you won't be much use to any of us," Trimble said. "So are you going to take them, or am I going to have to come here and stuff them down your gullet myself?"

"Fine."

"Isn't there someone who could help around here?"

"Not really," Monti said.

"What about the boy?" Doc Trimble asked as he pointed his mechanical arm at Harley. He was standing at the docking bay watching a delivery truck back in.

"He's brilliant, but he's only twelve."

"What does that matter? Does he have what it takes or doesn't he?"

Monti sighed. "Yes."

"Then you've found your solution," Trimble said.

"What about his classes?"

"You let me take care of that." With that, Trimble tipped his hat and walked out.

When Max showed up at the workshop, Monti was in his office taking a nap, and Harley was preoccupied with what looked like a pile of scrap metal.

"Are those more clockworks?" Max asked as Harley guided a robotic crane with a remote control. A magnetic arm lowered, grabbed hold of battered parts, and lifted it. Harley pushed another button, and the crane rolled along the ceiling tracks.

"It's what's left of the Mark Four armor after Oxley made me take it apart."

"Are you serious?"

Harley sighed and hit another button, making the crane release the load. The metal clanked as it hit the floor.

"Wasn't it in a scrap heap when Monti found it?" Max asked. "If he fixed it once, maybe he could fix it again."

"Not in his condition," Harley said as he put on a pair of gloves.

"You're not kidding," Monti said.

Max turned to see Monti leaning heavily on a cane. He was smiling, but it looked forced. His face was pale, and there were dark circles under his eyes.

"Shouldn't you be in bed?" Harley asked.

"What do you think?" Monti asked, changing the subject. "Is it salvageable?"

Harley shrugged as he inspected the damage to a knee joint. "I'll find a way to fix it."

"I'm sure you will." Monti turned his attention to Max. "How are you feeling?"

"Better than you."

"That isn't saying much."

"I'm still kind of sore, but it could have been a lot worse," Max said. "Logan said I'm lucky that I'm still alive."

"Trust me, I already got an earful," Monti said. "So from now on, I'll be keeping the keys to all my toys locked safely in my office."

"Sorry about that."

"You did it to save Ernie," Monti said. "So how could I be upset?"

"Thanks."

"Speaking of Ernie, how's he holding up?"

"Who knows?" Max said. "He still isn't talking to us."

"And the changelings aren't talking to him," Harley said. "They think he's working for Von Strife."

"That's crazy," Monti said.

Harley shrugged. "Ernie was the one who led them into the trap."

"Making bad decisions is a lot different from sabotage," Monti said.

"The only way Ernie is going to get off the hook is if we finish that scanner and find Hale."

"After you, then," Monti said.

Harley led them through a bank of steam. "By the way," he said as they walked past the shooting range. "Your freeze ray is still jamming."

"I'll add it to the list," Monti said.