“I’m sure, and thank you. There’s no way I could have taken you, Potts, and Kiyoko together.”

Kiyoko was no longer breathing.

Babs freed her sister and carefully removed the shielding pearl from around Darlene’s neck. She dropped it into a padded metal box. The effects disappeared. Babs immediately activated another of her tattoos and used it to heal the worst of Darlene’s injuries.

I crouched next to Potts. “I need to talk to him.”

Babs waved a hand, and his seizures eased. Blood bubbled from his nose. He sat up, his back against the desk, and glared at me. “You’re monsters.”

I stepped to the side, staying out of his reach. “The thing is, I’ve been trying really hard not to be a monster. But if you don’t call this thing off right now? Then yah, I may have to get monstrous.”

“He can’t,” said Babs. “Kiyoko is coordinating things. She’s got one clone with the sirens. I don’t know where they’re being kept. Four others are calibrating the software for the broadcast. She’ll have sent more to find out what happened here, and to deal with us.”

“The IAS project?” I asked.

“I finished Talulah’s work.” Babs slumped. “It’s loaded and ready to launch.”

‹Deb and Lena, did you catch that? You’re going to be outnumbered four to two.›

‹Maybe we should wait for Kiyoko to gather a few more clones to make it fair?› Deb quipped.

‹Don’t get cocky.› To Babs, I asked, “Do you know who they’re targeting?”

“China. Iraq. Palestine. Saudi Arabia. Denmark. Russia.”

“Jesus,” I whispered.

“You’re both traitors,” Potts spat. The pounding outside had grown louder. It sounded like they were smashing furniture against the door. “Today’s attack will kill between one and two million people in the short term. In the long run, it will save tens of millions. It will put America at the head of an international power bloc, one that will keep creatures like you in their place.”

I was trembling with the effort to stop myself from physically attacking the man. I jammed my fists beneath my arms to control it. “Creatures like us?”

“You’re not human. Neither of you.” He looked past me to Babs.

There was no hesitation in his answer. Nothing I could say or do was going to change his mind. I reached for a book. “Where are the sirens?”

He spat. A glob of spittle and blood struck my pant leg.

“All right.” I touched the book’s magic and prepared to rip the truth from his thoughts.

Smudge burst into flame.

Something hit the window hard enough to rattle the glass. Another impact followed less than a second later. The third strike punched a small hole through the window and the closed blinds.

Potts jerked and collapsed.