“I have a reservoir filled with lightning under my heart,” said Alexis. “How fast it runs down depends on a lot of things. My voice is usually the first thing to go, followed by my balance, followed by the strength in my arms and legs. Eventually, I wind up unable to move without hurting so much it feels like the storm that brought me back to life is ripping me to pieces. I don’t know how long I could stay that way without dying. I’ve never felt like it was important to learn. Is that what you wanted to know? Would you like more details? I’d offer to show you my scars, but Jack might notice if I started pulling off my clothes, so I’d prefer not to.”

Kade winced. “You’re angry.”

“A little bit, yes. I understand wanting to know what your allies are capable of, but the fact that I’ve been damaged doesn’t make me broken, and you don’t need to behave as if it does. This is my home, my world, and I’m going to fight to get it back, just as hard as Jack will. Harder, maybe. She’ll always be a newcomer here. She loves her land, and she’ll protect it, but this is where I was born. The Moon has known my first breath, all three times I’ve taken it, and She loves me all the same.”

Kade nodded, and was silent.

Ahead of them, leading the ragged gang of teens across the impossible landscape, Jack suddenly stiffened. All of them could hear her anguished cry of “Dr. Bleak!” before she broke into a run, moving with surprising speed over the uneven ground.

Sumi raced after her, easily matching Jack’s sudden, panic-driven speed. Christopher and Kade were close behind. Alexis didn’t run. Alexis walked with quiet resignation, as if she knew that hurrying would change nothing.

She paused for a moment when she reached Cora, who had stopped dead in her tracks, and whose eyes were filled with iridescent swirls, like sunlight dancing on the surface of the sea. Alexis bit her lip.

“I don’t suppose it would make any difference if I said that you’re supposed to help us save the world, would it?” she asked.

Cora didn’t move.

Alexis closed her eyes.