“Mm,” Goddess said. She fixed her hair and her collar—I wasn’t sure why, since she could look like anything and nobody here would mind, and then she lifted herself off the ground.

Wardens inbound.

“I hope it’s not Weld with the Wardens,” I said.

“Tell me about it,” Sveta replied, voice soft.

“Or Vista, or Miss Militia… or anyone,” I said. I grit my teeth. “Are you guys ready?”

“I don’t have stuff,” Lookout said. “Maybe if there’s a computer somewhere nearby, I can track things in the city, or do a quick repair of my phone.”

“We’ll check inside,” I said. “Capricorn, Rain, Swansong, Damsel, you guys handle the front line?”

“Leave me Sveta and the prosthetic body? I’ll see what I can do to get things working,” Rain said.

“Please,” Sveta said.

“No promises,” Rain said.

“So after I made a big deal about not wanting to split up, we’re splitting up?” Lookout asked.

I frowned.

“Sorry to be needy,” she said. “I just, you know, heh, I’m a bit weird after the whole ‘tear your throat out’ thing.”

“You’re a bit weird always,” Rain said. “But so are the rest of us, so you’re in good company.”

“Yeah,” Lookout said. “Listen, it’s okay, I’ll manage something somehow, I’ll get stuff fixed, and I’ll have a neat trick. Maybe I can supercharge my light gun and we can blind an entire attacking force. Then—”

“Lookout,” I interrupted her. “We’re short on time. Let me go get a computer from the entrance building. I will bring you tech. Good?”

“Good,” Lookout said, breathless.

Good.

I took off.

We were fighting the Wardens, now. We were fighting Mama Mathers. Us against the world, and it didn’t feel triumphant. It felt like we were up against the whole fucking world. Multiple worlds.

I was spooked, and I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like this, even as I could take it as necessary. We didn’t have a choice, just as Goddess hadn’t.

I saw Crystalclear with Fume Hood. I dropped to the ground. One foot slipped in mud, the other hit ice-hard soil.

“Five second recap,” I said. “Wardens are coming, be ready to fight. Teacher’s bringing in the big guns, one is Mama Mathers. If she doesn’t come from the city, it’s going to be up to all of us to deal with what she does, capture and kill her despite the insanity effect.”

Crystalclear made a face. He’d be vulnerable.

“Five second response,” he said. “They wouldn’t let me talk to Ratcatcher, but she seems healthy, if irritable. I tried to check on your lawyer, but again—”

“No contact,” I said. “I’m getting a computer and then I’ll be back.”

“Good luck!”