“Jasper is a joker and he can be immature, but he can give that five pounds of gun speech because he believes it. He’s in this because he thinks capes are cool, not because he’s pissed. Give me one person I know will agree with me.”

“I kind of need every senior I can get. But I’ll give you that.”

I bit my lip, thinking as I worked the combination of the safe at the topmost section of my locker. I pulled out the pistol and holstered it. I kept my hand there, reminding myself of the weapon’s weight as I tried to figure out how to word my question, and if I wanted to ask it.

“Then how about you take some of the angry ones? The new guys you were giving me.”

“That was a quick assessment.”

I gathered the pistol magazines and slotted them into the pouch, before setting to attaching the pouch to my leg and belt. “I don’t want them. I don’t want to get some people from elsewhere with their own habits and ways of doing things, and have to train them on top of doing this thing.”

“Take them, Victoria,” Gilpatrick said. “They came with good recommendations, they know their stuff, and if it does wind up being a protest, you’ll want the extra bodies. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t matter.”

“Things are never that simple, Gil,” I said.

“Take them,” he said, firm.

“You owe me for this,” I said.

“I know,” he said.

I sighed.

Armor. I pulled my vest from the bottom of the locker. I saved it for last because once it was on, I wouldn’t be able to bend down or move as easily. The old name and number was still visible by the impression that had been made in the armor when it had been punched in and painted on. The steel-wool scrubbing I’d given it hadn’t erased the whole impression.

I didn’t know who Cameron was or where they’d ended up, but I wore their armor now. I tucked the papers in between my chest and the armor, where the straps would help keep them in place.

I spoke, “It’s a cushy job, I get to geek out and show off, and I like my office and the access I get to the portal, I don’t want to take that for granted, but you owe me a few already. This is one more.”

“I know,” he said. “I’ll make it up to you. I’ve got to run. Kids to torture. I’ll send Jasper your way.”

“Alright,” I said. “Do I need my full pack?”

“No,” he said. “No, I wouldn’t do that to you. Full pack is a torment I reserve for the newbies.”