“I thought what I’d say, and it sounds weird, now that I’m here, but watertight bodysuits really suck so much when you’re sweating a lot. I feel like I’m swimming in here, and it’s full up all the way to the neck. Is that gross? I’m sorry if that’s gross. I don’t know why I fixated—”

Another hitch of the voice.

“It’s okay,” Darlene said.

I didn’t have words. I just focused on the helmet. I found the clasps and opened them.

She was sweating profusely, but I wasn’t sure that sweat was responsible for the moisture at her cheeks. Saying something or pointing out how out of sync that was with the smile on her face would have been betraying a trust, however.

My first concern was in mitigating the damage. Kenzie and Darlene, and then Chicken Little who was lying a short distance away. Was it making things worse, Kenzie being here? I didn’t have the best read of Darlene or Chicken Little. Kenzie sat beside me, her back to the wall. Darlene lay on her side, propped partially up because to do otherwise would mean her head was in Kenzie’s lap.

“When help comes, you might need to put that helmet back on. Darlene, your mask, too. I know it sounds like the dumbest thing ever when things are like this, but it could be a lot of people, and once your face is out there then your secret identity is kaput.”

That got me a solemn nod.

“Are you okay?” Kenzie asked.

“Not very,” was Darlene’s response.

“Capricorn warned me Chicken got hurt.”

“Apparently,” I said, quiet, because I wanted to make my voice heard now, before the conversation reached a point where it was too much of an intrusion.

“They hurt him. We couldn’t stop them. He can’t see or hear much now,” Darlene whispered.

Matching Darlene’s volume, Kenzie said, “Can you? I know it must hurt to be connected.”

“You and Chicken?” A tighter tone of voice, defensive.

“You and me, silly. I want to help him but…”

Lookout reached down, using the left hand that was only four fingers, no thumb. Index and ring finger went beneath Darlene’s arm, while middle and pinky went over.

“Go easy, Lookout,” I said.

Darlene resisted a bit as Kenzie lifted the arm, but didn’t fight as it was moved toward Aiden, instead.

“Help me help him?” Kenzie asked, pushing the hand of the dismembered arm toward Aiden.

Aiden stirred slightly, then touched the arm, pulling it closer to him. Both arms wrapped around the limb, pulling it against his chest.

Macabre, but I could see Darlene visibly relax at the gesture.

She wants to help too.

“Connect us,” Lookout said, insistent.

Her most injured hand reached down to Darlene’s intact one, touching wrists. Lookout twisted around to see me and spotted the helmet.