“Because if March tells Cradle the quote-unquote ‘secret’ to taking over the cluster, Cradle has two options. One is to go after Precipice, who is expecting it, with an organized group at his back. The other is to eliminate Love Lost and co-opt that power.”

“She has a team at her back,” Ashley said.

“Disorganized and reveling in that disorganization. And Cradle can get close enough to bypass that team and stab her in the back. Her team is also violent and swiftly rising to the top of the public’s most wanted list. They’re just high profile enough to grab attention, they’re striking from a visual standpoint, they’re noisy, they cause property damage, and they’re vaguely reminiscent of the old Slaughterhouse Nine. People want them gone.”

“And getting them gone wins us points with the people?” Byron asked.

Tattletale shrugged.

“What’s the secret?” Rain asked. “You said you told people. How are the Lady in Blue and March breaking the balance of their clusters?”

Tattletale smiled. “I could ask for a favor or payment for this information.”

“I’m going to find out somehow,” Rain said.

“You might find out because Cradle or Love Lost use it on you. Knowing helps you to avoid it.”

“Tattletale,” I said. “If we’re helping you by taking out your potential rivals and leaving you alone, you can throw Precipice a bone.”

“When I first met your team, Vicky, I commented on Precipice and how I don’t think he’s a great person. Cradle is twisted up inside in a way I’d need a whole lot more time to wrap my head around. Love Lost is an emotional wound so open that the contents pour out to people nearby. And Snag is dead. All thanks to him. Through his inaction, he condemned people to die. Children died.”

“You act outraged, you have morals, but sufficient money, favors, and-or necessity let you put that outrage and those morals aside?” Sveta asked. “That doesn’t seem right.”

“Are you trying to convince me not to help him?”

“I had to face down people like that once. At least have the decency not to act. Do the victims that much respect,” Sveta said.

“It’s the other way around, Sveta. Tress. Garotte. I am bothered. I don’t trust him. I’ve seen his type before. If I’m going to give a teenager of that particular type access to a whole new level of parahuman power, I need to double check things.”

“Then why ask about money or favors?” Rain asked.

“Cauldron sold vials with powers in them. They created things like Sveta, Weld, Gregor and Whippersnap on their way to making those vials. The vials were expensive. Why, when they had a man like the Number Man working for them? He could conjure money from thin air.”