“We’re people, just like anyone else,” I tell her.

“Except with awesome powers,” Sam adds.

“Like anyone else,” I continue, “we can go bad without the proper guidance.”

Daniela turns on that sly smile again. It’s almost infuriating, but I’m starting to realize it’s just a defense mechanism. Whenever she feels uncomfortable, she tries really hard to return the favor. “Yeah. Got it. You going to be my guide, John Smith? My sensei?”

“We called them Cêpan, actually. Our trainers. But they’re gone. Now, we pretty much figure stuff out for ourselves.”

Agent Walker clears her throat. I think she wants me to get rid of Daniela, but I’m not turning away any help. No way.

“You can come with us,” I say. “But you should know, the guy we’re going after is extremely dangerous.”

“Unhinged,” Sam adds.

“He’s already killed one of us,” I continue. “And I don’t think he’ll hesitate to do it again. When we’re done with him, our friend Agent Walker here is going to get us on a plane somehow, and we’re going to find a way to kill the Mogadorian in charge before his invasion goes any further.”

“You trying to scare me off?” Daniela asks, hands on her hips.

“I just want you to know what you’re in for,” I reply. “Along the way, I can try to help you with your telekinesis. Maybe figure out what else you can do. But you’ve gotta be up for it . . .”

Daniela looks over her shoulder. I realize that, more than anything, she wants to get out of here. She wants to keep busy and avoid confronting the very real possibility that she lost her entire family during the attack on New York.

“I’m in,” she says. “Let’s save the world and shit.”

Sam grins and I can’t help but smile a little bit too, especially when I notice Agent Walker rolling her eyes. With Daniela incorporated into our little bubble of secret agents, we continue on to the pier.

“Hey,” Sam says to Daniela, keeping his voice low. “Just so you know, the Mogs were taking prisoners in New York. They weren’t, like, killing everything that moved.”

“Yeah, I saw them pull that shit in my neighborhood,” Daniela replies. “So what?”

“So, just because she’s not here doesn’t mean your mom’s . . . you know.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” Daniela says this gruffly, but I think she actually means it.