“If you aren’t willing to face down these people, or if you’re a group of minors,” Dragon said, “allow others to cover this ground in your territory. We cannot allow them footholds.”

“Share information,” Defiant said. “Team rivalries, pride, rankings, and even financial competition should be set aside. If you’re willing, and if it would make the difference, we will subsidize you in the meantime. If you need or want mediators, referees, or brokers for trade, we will provide them.”

“It’s a state of emergency?” Mayday asked.

“It is,” Defiant said. “Thinkers, strangers, some changers and some tinkers may be invaluable, given the shape this conflict is taking.”

“Yes,” Lookout’s voice was barely audible.

“The man behind the worst of this is named Teacher,” Dragon said. “He grants thinker abilities or tinker powers. The tinker powers he grants may be something he’s using to create his own temporary portals. It’s not as simple as guarding the portals that already stand.”

“Are we considering working with villain groups?” a cape standing near Fume Hood and Tempera asked.

“We have to be careful,” Defiant said. “Several are working with other groups and powers, including Cheit. Cheit formed loose ties with the Fallen, who are…”

“Antitheotical?” Dragon suggested.

“Antitheotical to Cheit’s own belief system. But Cheit’s doctrine is one that accepts any sub-sect or branch religion that is willing to agree to a set of fundamental truths. The Fallen, with some strained interpretations, fall in line with that.”

“Is that where they went?” Mayday asked.

“Some,” Defiant said.

“The new self-described Thomais branch and remnants from the attack on the compound made a break for the wilderness. End of Days phases things into desolate alternate worlds—we think they gathered supplies and used a tech-augmented version of his power to escape into another world. They’re migrating to a settlement that isn’t part of the Megalopolis and they’ll emerge there. If we get information, we will reach out to interested parties.”

“Right now we’re trying to shore up what’s missing now that the Wardens are—I don’t want to say dead. We have no reason to believe they’re dead,” Defiant said.

“Out of the picture,” Dragon’s voice was soft.

There weren’t many people here who hadn’t felt some loss when the Wardens’ HQ had disappeared. Teams had called it a base of operations, worked with staff, or lost team members.

“Yes,” Dragon said. “We’re available. We’ve already reached out to some of you, and we’ll reach out to others soon—our focus is split and we do have to concern ourselves with things beyond the city.”