We fell silent as Regent stepped out of the cell with Victor in tow.

Hows he handle? Tattletale asked.

Like a Mercedes with an invisible, sticky gear shift, Regent said.

Care to explain?

Victor stretched, and said, Everything moves well, peak condition, but his power doesnt work so hot with him as a puppet. Cant tell what Im borrowing or who Im stealing from. I think Id need his cooperation-

Our captive sneered a little.

-And I dont think hes willing to give it, Regent said.

So the question is whether we want to take the time to try to convince him or take an indirect route, Grue said.

Skitters going to have to go in a few minutes, so lets see what you can do in the here and now?

Sure. Grue extended a hand and smothered Victor in darkness. A second later, he said, Im getting something. Anyone here speak another language? Sug puppene til horemammaen din?

No, Tattletale said. Youre getting that from Victor.

Cant really use it. Now how do I change what Im stealing?

Tattletale shrugged. It could be youre only picking up the surface stuff. Here, Regent, try some martial arts forms.

Like what? I dont know this stuff.

Victor does. You fight using your puppets muscle memory, right? Try moving around, see what clicks and Grue will let you know if were accomplishing anything.

There was a pause. Victors hand briefly flashed out of the cloud of darkness as he shifted positions.

Grue rolled his shoulders some. Yeah. Theres a martial art in there somewhere. Im picking something up, but its slow.

Tattletale smiled. Take everything you can. Well see what sticks.

Its kind of depressing, Grue said, settling onto a stool, I always took some pride in honing my body, training, all that. This feels like cheating. Skipping the hard work.

You said you never had the time or interest to dedicate yourself to investing in a martial art, Tattletale pointed out.

I didnt. But thats not to say I wouldnt eventually. A few years down the line, when things are quieter, I can see myself doing that, earning belts and learning to fight.

If you dont want to do this, Regent said, I could do something else with my day.

Grue shook his head. No. Its fine. Doesnt feel quite right, but Ill be able to do more to help you guys if I can fight better, if Im more versatile. And Im getting another language, again. Latin, I think. Get him doing the forms again?

Regent sighed.

Tattletale frowned, Hes trying to drag you off course. Using his brain to bring other stuff to the surface. Listen, Im going to see Skitter off, and then Ill talk to Coil, see if he has anyone who could drug Victor and mess with his mental functions without incapacitating him.

Drugs, like the ones Coils using on Dinah, I thought. And this would give Tattletale and me a chance to have some words about the hit Coil had put on my head.

I had to wonder why? I was arguably doing the best among his underlings. Why was it so hard for him to simply let Dinah go, maybe take countermeasures to ensure she didnt betray him, and leave things alone?

I wouldnt be any threat to him if he wasnt doing something morally reprehensible.

We left Regent and Grue to their task and stepped out of the wing with the cells, venturing onto the metal walkway that overlooked the lower level. I could see the Travelers at the vault door that kept Noelle contained, as well as the soldiers going about their business.

Which struck me as odd, when I thought about it.

Whats with the soldiers? I asked. Hes got, what, fifty or sixty here?

A little under that, but some are elsewhere.

Why? I get that he was using them before, fighting Empire Eighty-Eight, but whats he using them for now? He didnt send them against the Endbringer, he didnt use them against the Nine. I get that he maybe fought off the Merchants and the Chosen when they were thriving, kept them from gaining too much steam, but it seems like a lot of money to spend on soldiers he doesnt intend to use.

Well, Tattletale said, leaning on the railing. One, keeping them employed here means they wont be hired by someone else.

Right.

And I think they factor into his plan. Either as a contingency or a greater aspect of it.

I nodded. I would have asked what that plan was, but I didnt want to say anything that would be too suspicious if overheard. Not while we were on Coils turf, especially.

Tattletale didnt seem to have those same concerns. She leaned closer and murmured, Youve got two jobs back to back. That means youve got a few things to do. Number one, if weve got a mole in our group and our communications are compromised, that means we need a mole in Coils group. Someone that can inform us about any of Coils movements hes wanting to keep concealed from us.

Ballistic? I asked.

Mm, she murmured a response. Sound him out. Be careful about it, but try to get a sense of how tight he is with the rest of the Travelers. Like Cherish said, Trickster isnt tight with his team. See just how un-tight Ballistic is with his boss, and maybe we can make some inroads.

Okay.

That wont be easy, because I get the sense he doesnt like you, and hes upset youve stepped on his toes here.

I frowned.

The second thing? About the possible murder attempt? She asked.

Just a little worried about that.

He only decided it as recently as this morning, so anything hes set up is going to happen later.

And you dont know how hes going to approach this, or what hell do?

She shook her head. All I know is that Coils intending for it to happen tonight, probably related to your job with the mayor.

And youre positive on this?

Its one of those things where everything clicks into place perfectly if we acknowledge this one fact: he wants to kill you. For example, he has more reasons to send Imp than to send Trickster.

Hows that work?

Ive already filled Imp in on this, but Coils concerned about Grues emotional state and what it means for our team as a whole.

I nodded. Which means he wants to remove Imp from the picture to see how Grue handles himself.

So were keeping that on the down-low. Im not sure when well be able to do it, but Ive talked with Imp and Regent, and sort of hinted on the subject with Bitch, and we might be looking at making you our team leader. At least for a little while.

I snapped my head around to look at her.

It makes the most sense. You have the best grip on whos in play and how to use our abilities. You think tactically, she murmured.

Why not you? I asked. You have seniority, you have more experience, you can apparently keep track of Imp, and you can identify our enemys weaknesses.

Im not sure I have more experience, Tattletale admitted, Or at least, my experience doesnt count for much. Robbing software companies and casinos doesnt really compare to going toe to toe with Mannequin.

My other points stand.

Just because were putting you in charge doesnt mean I cant still handle that stuff. If you want to delegate to me at any point, thats fine. Its just a question of who we turn to when we need a spur of the moment decision.

Im not good at those. Im only good when I can plan, consider everything thats at play.

I dont think you give yourself credit. Ive said it before, Ill say it again, youre good at improvising.

With just me, maybe. Just my own abilities. Im not sure I can do that if Im also worrying about the four of you.

Well have to see in the field. Unless youre really going to argue Grues going to be able to hold his own in a high pressure situation?

I frowned behind my mask and shook my head.

Of course, discussing this means nothing if you get killed. Dont.

Easy as that? Dont get killed?

Youre going into a tricky situation with the most amoral member and the most versatile member of their group. Keep an eye on everything and try to be unpredictable so they cant get you in a trap.

I just had to figure out how to do that with a job this cut and dry.

Ballistics coming, Tattletale said. I looked and saw Ballistic ascending the staircase at the far end of the walkway. It would take him a minute or three to join us.

Any final tips before Im left with him?

Hes angry. Coils roped in the Travelers by promising to help them with Noelle, but theres two snags in that which we may be able to use. For one thing, I dont know if Coil seriously intends to offer any fix he does find. For another, Ballistic cares less about that than anyone else. Or maybe it would be better to say he almost doesnt want to help with that because Trickster wants it so badly.

That sounds like its less about team friction and more about sheer enmity.

I think they were really good friends once and now theyre distant.

Well, it wasnt like I wasnt unfamiliar with that idea.

And, she said, her voice low, I can tell you the Noelle thing isnt the only crisis theyre working on handling. The focus on Noelle is something of a sore point with Ballistic.

Vague. And I cant really say anything about that without admitting the info came from you.

Yeah, she said. Then she straightened, turning toward Ballistic.

That huddle looked like a conspiracy at work, he commented. He looked like hed based his costume off of the capes of a different era, with only some concessions made to fitting in with his teams color scheme; a costume in black with red patterns on the fabric, heavy on the armor panels and padding, making a big guy look even bigger. His mask was square, with holes only for the eyes. Belts and pouches were strapped across his entire body.

Conspiracy? Us? Tattletale grinned.

You were whispering about something.

Boys, she said, winking.

Hm, he didnt look impressed.

No, we really were talking about boys. About Grue, specifically, and maybe replacing him as leader.

Hey, I said, before Id processed why she was saying that. She wanted to earn some measure of trust by volunteering a secret.

She shrugged. Theyre going to find out eventually. Well have to trust Ballistic to not go running to Coil to tell on us.

He folded his arms. Putting me in a compromising spot?

Sure. You can handle it, she told him. She gave me a pat on the shoulder, Im going to see about those drugs for Victor. Good luck to you two.

Tell me, Ballistic said, as Tattletale strolled off, Do you ever get past that point where you feel painfully uncomfortable around her?

Yeah, I said. You get over that with time.

I didnt add that the discomfort he was describing was largely linked to the number of secrets one was trying to keep from her. It almost went without saying.

Youre still insisting on coming along? he asked. You know I can handle this on my own.

I dont doubt that. But Im kind of wanting to see this place.

Why?

Im running my own territory. Maybe there are ideas I can use. And I want to see how people are coping in other districts.

Id ask why again, but Im not sure Id get it.

If this city doesnt get condemned, youre going to have people moving into your district. Even after the citys infrastructure is up and running again, those people are going to put pressure on you for certain things.

See, youre approaching this like a medieval lord, managing her serfs and servants and I see this more as being a watchdog.

I gestured toward the exit, and he sighed. We began making our way out of the base.

Do you really want to limit yourself to being a watchdog?

When Im making this much cash? When even the top guys in this town would run scared from me? Sure. He held the door open for me.

And thats all it comes down to? Cash and being feared?

Im a living gun and my surroundings are nothing but piles of ammunition. What do you expect? You dont think youre scary?

I think you can have money and power, you can be fearsome where necessary, but you can still make a difference at the same time.

Doesnt seem worth it, working your ass off to make some people a little happier and more comfortable before the world ends.

Youre one of the people thats fixated on that, huh?

The worlds gonna end. How can you shrug that off?

It might not.

Right, he said, clearly humoring me.

This wasnt working. Tattletale had said Ballistic was angry, but Id taken that to be the same sort of anger that Bitch harbored. Whatever was going on with Noelle and the group dynamics that had Sundancer so unhappy, it had made Ballistic angry at the world, angry at circumstance. A different sort of anger, really: he didnt really care about anything or anyone.

How was I supposed to get through to him if that was the case?

I decided to call him on it.

Okay, so your only priorities are money and power? Then why are you so annoyed that Im coming along? What does it matter?

Its my business, my territory, and Im capable of handling her on my own. Its insulting that Coil thinks Id need any help, and its rude that youd volunteer yourself without checking with me first.

Okay, I said. Hypothetically, just going by what you were saying earlier, why should I give a damn? The worlds going to end in a few years anyways. What does it matter if I get on your bad side?

Thats different, he said, sounding annoyed.

Why? Because its you thats getting shortchanged?

Because were basically coworkers. If were going to have to fight alongside one another, we cant be worried about this sort of thing.

Okay, first of all? I have a closer working relationship with the people in my territory than I do with any of the Travelers. If and when you get more people in your territory, you might find thats the same with you, too. So Im not sure I buy that coworker thing.

Youre talking apples and oranges. Capes and non-capes.

Fine. Hed left an opening for me to target. Then Ill just point to your other coworkers. The other Travelers. Theres obvious friction. Theres resentment. Cherish said as much. So I dont think you buy the coworker thing either.

Again, thats different.

You say that a lot. Maybe this principle youre living by isnt that strong if it cant hold up to the most basic arguments. Unless you care to explain why thats different?

Youre grilling me for info on my team.

Im curious whats going on there, yeah. But Im also trying to figure you out. As you said, were coworkers.

Werent you just debating the coworker thing?

Decide if you really believe it, let me know, and Ill change my argument accordingly, I said.

He sighed.

Im not trying to get on your bad side, I said. Really. But Ive dealt with some interesting personalities like Bitch, Regent and Imp for a little while now, and I know I wont be able to communicate with you until I understand where youre coming from. So Im willing to go the extra mile to figure you out now so I can understand you in the future

I trailed off, but I kept one eye on him to see if there was any hint that he knew about Coils plans to terminate my future. There was nothing. I couldnt see his face, but nothing had changed in his posture, his stride or overall body language.

Youre not going to stop digging and get off my case here, huh? He asked.

I was mentally categorizing him as very similar to Bitch in many respects. He was smarter, though, and the weapons he wielded in a discussion were less about threatening imminent harm than, what? Setting himself further apart from me? Breaking ties, categorizing me as an enemy in his head and making dealing with him harder in the future?

It would explain why there was a schism between him and the other members of his group.

If you ask me to? Ill back off. But I made the call on the spur of the moment, as I might with Bitch if I were positive she wasnt about to hit me. I think you and I would both agree that youd be admitting Im right if you did.

Thats dirty.

Sure.

So what do you want to know, then? Shall I divulge my deepest, darkest secrets?

Ill settle for knowing why youre all so angry at Trickster, why you specifically are angry at him.

Nope. Cant say.

Cant or wont?

Wont. We made a deal, and that deal means weve kept some stuff from Coil, even. Im not about to tell you.

I dont need to know specifics.

You dont need to know the general details, either.

Not really. But maybe you need to tell me? One of your teammates said they were awfully lonely, and theyre closer with the rest of the team than you are. Maybe youre lonely too, nobody to vent to?

Im a guy. We dont do the whole emotional sharing thing. You trying to channel Tattletale here? Why are you so intent on getting the details, here? This isnt just curiosity or wanting to know your coworkers.

Because so much hinges on my ability to get you on board against Coil.

I didnt have a good response, so I fell silent. We continued walking down the streets towards the crater-lake, our footsteps sloshing in the shallow water.

He took everything from us, Ballistic said, breaking the silence.

Trickster?

Trickster. When everything started falling apart, he stepped up to make the calls. Bad ones. And now the group is all we have left. No friends, no family, no home to go back to, no goals beyond fixing Tricksters fuckups.

I was thinking of how it had come out that Sundancer was reluctant to use her powers because of the damage shed done in the past. Civilian deaths? Had they included their own families? Had Noelle been included in that?

It might explain why they were so gun-shy about using their powers to their fullest potential and why theyd been so insistent on keeping Noelle locked up when we were up against the Nine.

He went on, The others might hate Trickster but they still respect him. Or they dont respect him but they dont hate him either. Probably more the former than the latter. But I dont have any love for the guy, I dont have any respect for him either, and I seem to be alone in that.

So where do you go from there?

Now were back to square one. I already explained. Money, being feared, respect and living in comfort as a badass watchdog.

All that stuff about hating him, blaming him for ruining your life, and you dont want any revenge on him? I asked, as casually as I could manage.

No. Im with the group for one reason. I stick with shit. Not going to turn on the guy. I agreed to this thing with Coil because I thought itd be a way to get back some of what weve lost, maybe. But all I see is my teammates getting all starry-eyed with hope while Coil feeds us empty promises. Saying Tattletale will find an answer, or hell make a request to some major scientists in parahuman study. And of course theres no answers.

There could be.

Nah. Why would he give us what we want if it means losing our services? But I dont really care anymore. I made a deal with Coil and Ill stick that through until I have a good reason not to. Way I figure it, fuck my team, fuck Coil, but its not worth confronting anyone over if it means Im wasting the remaining two years of my life trying to get another gig this cushy.

That seems kind of claustrophobic, setting those restrictions on yourself, letting things with your team drop by the wayside. Being all alone?

Wont be alone. Figure Ive got enough cash and respect I can get groupies. Thatll do for the next couple of years. Unless youre going to argue theres some point to a committed, long term relationship when theres no long term?

I sighed. There was no point in continuing this. I could tell that Ballistic wasnt going to budge, and I didnt have a good reason to convince him to join us.

We crossed several city blocks in silence. When wed reached the lake Leviathan had created downtown, we began to walk around to the north end to Dolltown.

So how are we doing this? Attack strategy? Ballistic asked.

Any chance youll let me make the first move?

And take all the credit? His voice hardened.

Ill let you take half the credit if Im successful. You can take all the credit if I fail.

Nope.

What?

I get what youre doing. You want to make us Travelers look bad. Get yourself a bigger slice of the pie somewhere down the road. More respect, more power, and youre doing that by wedging yourself into everything, getting hyperinvolved. Gotta be in first place.

Thats crazy.

Right. Then explain why youre going overboard with your territory.

Im getting the job done, taking care of my people.

Nah. Its more than that. Theres something driving you to work that hard. Youre looking to supplant us.

Hed stopped walking. I paused and turned to face him.

He chuckled lightly, I dont blame you for it. I mean, its pretty scummy, when were supposed to be working together, but I get that you want to be on top.

We are working together.

I may be taller and in better shape than average, but Im not dumb. You think I didnt catch the wedge you were trying to drive into our team? Sounding me out for any hard feelings I might have for the others?

Shit. This sort of thing was Tattletales field, not mine. Now it was going south fast, and I could imagine how this would explode in my face.

I cleared my throat a little and clarified, I was sounding you out because it was clear you did have hard feelings for the other members of your team, and I wanted to give you a chance to talk about it.

Ah, so the creepy bug girl is really a softie in the end, his voice was laced with sarcasm. No ulterior motives at all.

Whatever, I said. Nevermind.

So fuck you, he said. No, Im not giving you first dibs on this doll woman. Second I see her, Im taking her out of action and making it a hundred percent clear it was all my doing. Youll get what you wanted, which you said was to see the territory, and I get what I want, which is to finish up my territory so I can kick back.

This wasnt how I wanted things to go on any level. I could have groaned in frustration. Instead, I sent out a command to my bugs and took a deep breath.

Okay, I told him.

Yeah?

But I think Ill stay out of the line of fire. I get the impression I offended you, so maybe we give each other some breathing room? Avoid getting shot?

I wouldnt jeopardize the setup Ive got with Coil for that. But maybe its best you do stay out of the way.

I nodded and turned to go.

Okay, so no mole inside the Travelers.

I could still hope to achieve something here.

Using my bugs, I tracked Parians movements within Dolltown. She was moving quickly, joined by a small collection of people. Many were shrouded in cloth, leaving me to guess if they were real people or something new shed done with her creations.

I drew out directions with my bugs, guiding her away from Ballistic. She didnt listen at first, but that changed when Ballistic fired off his first attack, creating a deafening crash. From the sound of it, hed done something to send a car flying into a building. A moment later, he did it again. I walked faster. I could call Atlas to me, but I didnt want to get spotted in the air.

Dolltown was ugly. It had been hit hard by the Nine and the fight between them and Hookwolfs army. There were scars on the buildings where Hookwolf had struck, holes and marks in the wall where Purity had fired her beams. Menja had done some damage here and there, with some handprints marking various pieces of architecture where her gauntlets had bit into stone and metal.

I pushed open a doorway and stepped into a ruined building. Parian faced me. Her mask had a crack in it, and there was blood staining her worn frock. She was surrounded by a half-dozen of her remaining people, each of whom wore masks and costumes. A life-size doll, a man who was wrapped in fabric to the point that he looked something like a mummy, a little girl in a skintight suit of flannel with holes cut out for the eyes, one blue and one green.

Did Parian have capes working for her? Or-

No.

They were the people Bonesaw had done surgery on. The ones shed altered to look like members of the Nine. They were covering the faces and bodies Bonesaw had given them.

What do you want? Parian asked.

To negotiate, I said.

Your buddy isnt too interested in negotiating, by the sounds of it, she said. She flinched as another crash sounded somewhere nearby.

I took a gamble here, warning you about him. He wanted to hurt you, make you into an example. I dont operate that way.

Dont think I can trust you on that.

Youll have to. Because Ive gone around Ballistics back, Im kind of counting on you hearing me out, because if I fail here, its going to fuck up things with this alliance my team has with the Travelers. And with Coil.

She glanced around. I could sense someone moving nearby. One of her people, sneaking up behind me. No gun, a light search with my bugs told me, and more of the same cloth costume the other Dolltown residents were wearing. I ignored my potential assailant. I could handle an attack from a knife. Id just need to be on guard in case they aimed to club me over the head.

I know about the person thats circling around to ambush me, I said. Can we just talk, without someone trying to hurt me?

What are you wanting to talk about, then?

You got dealt a raw hand. The Nine targeted you, like they targeted some people I care about. People I love. Thats not fair. So I was thinking, Ive got a lot of money. I have access to resources. I know its not much, its not really enough, but maybe we could get doctors for your friends and family. Fix whats been done to them.

And what would you want in exchange?

Join my team, I said. I-

No.

Listen, I hissed the word, Its the best way to guarantee safety for everyone here. It gets Ballistic off your back. Even if you avoid him today, hes going to level half of Dolltown, and hell come back tomorrow to level the other half. Everything else would stay the same, youd have the same freedoms, only wed supply you with everything you need. Not just rice and fresh water, but good food. Medical care. Proper shelter. All you need to offer is lip service and we can fix so many of the things that have gone wrong here.

The person behind me stepped closer. I turned to keep an eye on her and she lunged in that same instant.

Three spikes of metal were sticking out from between her fingers, like improvised brass knuckles. When she punched them into my shoulder, they went straight through my costume, piercing through the bone as though they were hot knives and I were nothing but soft butter. She swept my feet from under me and pushed me to the ground.

The lady said no, Flechette told me, one hand holding me down, the other hand raised to strike me again.