“But Victoria’s right. This is complicated. Before Victoria and Byron left to check on the Majors, Byron attacked her. We’re really only letting it slide because she has the strength to keep him in line, and I’m not that convinced it’s right to do that.”

“That’s not entirely accurate,” Byron said.

“Um,” Natalie said. “I can mediate, then. But I need more information.”

“No,” Sveta said.

“Yes,” I countered. It wasn’t easy to do, to go against every instinct and rational thought and put something forward.

Sveta turned, her expression hardening. Harder still to see that. My friend.

“We lose nothing by doing it,” I said.

“We lose time. Teacher is making his moves and we’re two steps behind. The woman on the screen right there is preparing drugs for reasons we don’t know. We can’t take time to catch someone up when they’re about to be distributed, and we definitely can’t fracture the team and let things go to pieces with infighting!”

“Kenzie’s work won’t be instantaneous. It’s worth bringing more trusted people in, giving them information, and letting them have a voice.”

“I don’t trust them!” Sveta retorted. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, I’m grateful for what you two do, Byron, Natalie, for what you three do, if I include you, Victoria. But I feel like conversations are happening in the background, like you guys talked a lot while I was stuck here, and I don’t like the direction things are going. It feels wrong.”

“Yeah,” I said. I glanced at Kenzie. She was behind Sveta, hugging one knee against her chest, the other dangling, a small smile on her face.

“I was trying to figure it out,” Sveta said. “And the only thing that makes sense to me is if Byron drugged you while you were dealing with him.”

“Drugs don’t work that way,” I said. “Kenzie would have video of him applying the drugs.”

“I would, I do.”

“Something in the water?” Sveta tried, almost plaintive. “His power has changed before, and with things this warped… it’s not impossible that it’s not pure water, now.”

“It’s a bit of a reach,” Kenzie said. “I think simpler drugs are more likely. I can check my video.”

“I would really like to see that video,” Natalie said.

“I can show you,” Kenzie said, spinning around.

“Careful,” I said.

Natalie stopped in her tracks. Sveta’s expression didn’t change an inch, but the tendrils I could see moved with more energy now. She seemed to notice that I’d noticed, and broke eye contact.

“We don’t know if it would work across recorded video.”

“The Lady in Blue has the ability to influence parahumans,” Byron said. “Natalie isn’t one.”