“Most that I met were after, yes.”

“Then that isn’t a fair assessment. Everyone’s suffering and dealing with deep-seated problems these days.”

Lynn offered a one-note laugh. “That’s a point, sad as it is.”

She smiled and laughed while calling it sad. It was disconcerting, taken in stride with the fact that she was working with Hamza and John to undermine us, but in a softer, harder-to-tackle way.

Leaning forward on his elbows, Gary made a fist and then clenched the fist in his other hand. His voice was low as he said, “The idea that we might have a leader who has political or economic power, these deep seated problems, and a power? An ability that sets them apart from the rest of us? That’s a complete and utter nightmare, and it’s one we’ve seen in play countless times over the years.”

“And so you attack us?” I asked. “The answer to solving this problem lies in collaborating, sharing information, and mutual understanding, not in attacking.”

“The goal isn’t to attack you,” Gary said. “We would like to use you—a team that is on the surface very presentable and helpful—as a broader illustration.”

It was Swansong who replied. “You wanted to use Lookout as your illustration. She’s example number two out of three. You’re attacking a kid.”

“We’re focusing on a parahuman of interest. That she’s younger than some doesn’t matter if she has immense power.”

“I make cameras and boxes,” Lookout said. “People keep acting like I’m something special.”

“You are special, Lookout,” I said. “But it’s only because you work way too damn hard for your own good.”

“Thank you.”

“The allegations are that she terrorized her parents, controlling every aspect of their lives for over a year,” Hamza said.

“And?” I asked.

Shit, there went civility.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Why does it matter, Mr. Kouri? What do you want that you aren’t getting?”

“Consequences,” he said, his voice hard. Lookout shrunk back into her seat.

Swansong’s voice was soft, compared to her usual, and softer still in contrast to Hamza Kouri’s aggressive tone, “Victoria discovered the problem recently. Within the hour, she was talking to authorities. Authorities know the details. They chose to arrest the parents and leave Lookout with a city-appointed guardian. Consequences were meted out.”

“Based on the say-so of a girl who can falsify her own evidence. She’s altering her own face right now,” Gary said.