“You could,” I said. “It’s your right.”

“I don’t see why you’re as defensive as you are,” Sveta said.

“I’m playing defense because paranoia is the only way to survive,” Chris said. He reached up to adjust his headphones, wincing mid-adjustment. “How many sessions did it take before I gave you all the basics?”

“Four or five,” Kenzie said.

“Well, this is session one with the new person,” Chris said. “If you want to drop me from the team because I’m not okay with that, fine. I’ll figure something else out.”

“Nobody is saying that,” Sveta said. “You’ve come this far with us, don’t get shy now.”

“I’m not shy, I’m suspicious. That won’t change,” Chris said. He sounded irritated, in a way his expression didn’t convey effectively.

“Okay,” Mrs. Yamada said. “I don’t think pressuring Chris will help anything. Again, however, I would really urge everyone present to periodically take stock. Pay attention to what you’re feeling, imagine this dialogue extrapolated out to a greater, higher-stakes situation. How will you handle your feelings, and will you feel have both a voice and the ability to affect the changes you need?”

“You’re worried we’ll get railroaded,” Rain said.

“I’m worried about a number of things, Rain. I wish you would be willing to put things off for six months or a year, maintain contact, see how you get along as simple friends and acquaintances, let the ties solidify or break as they will, and then move forward if it is what you still want.”

“There are a lot of issues to hammer out,” I said. “You’re coming at this from so many different directions… how do you even get started in terms of the kind of team you end up being? In other things? I’d join my voice to Mrs. Yamada’s and urge you to take your time.”

“Like I said, I’m feeling the pressure,” Rain said. “My cluster is homing in on me.”

“I can talk to people, if you want. If you need another cape to back you up, I might be able to help.”

“I mean, that sounds nice,” Rain said. “But I can’t help but lie in bed some mornings, wondering if this is the day. If, in the next twenty-four hours, the other three members of my cluster come after me in an organized way, with a lot of money and a lot of resources poured into things. When I see it playing out in my head, I know they’re organized, and I worry we’re not. If we’re part of a team, if we’re training, coordinating, then maybe we can work together in an organized way too.”

“There’s a lot that goes into making a team. You can stay together and watch Rain’s back, meet, talk, and plan.”