“These two?” Capricorn asked.

“It would be smart,” Harbinger One said. “We’d do things our way, but we’ve been forewarned that you wouldn’t like our methods.”

“What methods?” Flashbang asked.

Swansong gave the answer. “They’d go out the front door, into the hail of gunfire. They’d kill or maim every threat and every potential threat and then torture answers out of the survivors.”

“You oversell us,” Harbinger One said. “Not into the hail of gunfire. Not in the late evening when visibility is low.”

“I stand corrected,” Swansong said.

“If it was just capes who were aware of what Cradle’s group did and were condoning it, maybe,” I said. “But there are civilians in that town, and I doubt capes living out in the corner worlds are fully aware of all the context. No killing.”

“Then we’re at your disposal,” Harbinger One said. “No killing.”

“No maiming, no permanent damage. Not civilians.”

“No permanent damage includes mental scarring from trauma. Don’t break them,” Foil said.

The Harbinger spread his arms, before uttering the least believable, “We’ll be good,” I’d ever heard.

I looked over the group. Some strong, capable capes. A lot of people I trusted and knew how to work with. And then the handful I didn’t.

And three overlarge canines, who were on the dangerous side of neutral.

“You trust Cassie?” I asked Rachel.

“Mm,” was the unhelpful response.

“Why?” Cassie asked.

“Someone has to take the controller that unlocks the portal, and someone needs to look after Precipice,” I said. “You don’t have powers?”

She shook her head. “And I’m glad.”

My estimation of her rose by just a little, even without the approval from Rachel.

My glance in Rachel’s direction as I thought that seemed to be a cue for her to say something.

“She’s never disappointed me,” Rachel said. “Some of my old teammates, but not Cassie.”

I saw Cassie react to that, like someone could have knocked her on her ass with the gentlest push.

“You’re good with it?” I asked Rain. “We’ll leave you with her.”

He nodded.

“Take Yips,” Rachel said.

“Yes ma’am,” Cassie said.

Rain joined Cassie, at the side of the group. A dog loomed above him, but he didn’t look too intimidated.

My mom and my dad were talking, standing by one window. The two Harbingers took another window. Damsel and Swansong hung back, having a murmured conversation. One long clawed finger pointed at the Harbingers.

As help went, they seemed like more complication than actual assistance.

“What’s it look like out there?” I asked. Byron was standing by the window.

A gauntleted finger pointed, indicating. “Lights are on, including some bigger lights, not much cover of darkness. Some people outside, some armed. A good number of capes.”

“Any sign they’re guarding a specific building or direction?”

Byron shook his head.