They were big time enough to warrant being a serious target of heroes, but by walking the line they did, they made it very easy for others to gloss over them or leave them alone in favor of other targets. Too big for Prancer’s old group of B-list villains, too small to be important. Too villainous to be worth reaching out to, too noble to be a target people could feel especially good about dealing with.

Except the unwritten rules had broken down and Eclipse Arc were out being assholes, robbing people who didn’t deserve it. Hopefully Advance Guard would steer them back onto their old path.

“Are you going?” Tristan asked.

“They’re closer to Boston. No. The fight will be over before I was out the door.”

Rain walked up until he was beside me, double-tapping and removing the necklace that powered his identity, and setting the backpack with its heavy battery onto the table by the door as the second ‘skin’ fell away. Now his ordinary scruffy self, he ran fingers through his snow-damp hair. Odd, to see him with no visible scrapes or scuffs, no lines under his eyes. He looked simultaneously younger and older. He also, I noted, had a bit of stubble, and it wasn’t sixteen-year-old wannabe stubble. His jacket was lighter than the weather warranted, but he wore multiple layers—a mix of clothes I’d seen him in before and new ones. He met my eyes.

“You look less tired than before,” I said.

“I’m really tired,” he said. “Always am. The daylight hours aren’t as harrowing now, but the dreams haven’t stopped, won’t stop. Love Lost was restless last night. Angrier for some reason. I honestly wouldn’t be shocked to see her gang on that screen.”

I looked at the screen. A few new encounters had appeared. Eclipse Arc had apparently run for it, and somehow Spright and Flapper and two members of the Lone Wolf Pack hadn’t been able to give chase. I’d have to know more before I chalked it up as a draw or as a win.

“Is it going okay?” Rain asked. “I know Kenz was upset that she was going to be away and offline when this test run went online.”

“Tech-wise, I think we’re okay. The map wasn’t working that smoothly when I last looked, and the surveillance options are just showing black screens. I don’t want to touch it in case it’s more tinker than tech. In terms of our early encounters and victories…”

Four patrols were active. In addition to that, one non-parahuman incident of crime had been foiled, Eclipse Arc had been scared away, and Bullhorn was now in the hands of the authorities.

“We should be out there,” Tristan said. He’d taken off his coat and shoes and now carried his luggage bag of armor. “It’s going to look bad if we’re absent.”