“Man, for all the pain in the butt parts of this power, there’s some upsides.”

“Versatility, problem solving, marketability, monetization, but those things make you a desirable and high-priority target.”

“Oh yeah. People showing up at my house to kidnap me or kill me.”

“Yeah.”

“Be careful,” Sveta said.

“I will,” Kenzie said. “That smells amazing, by the way. Is it going to be done in time? They’re almost here.”

“You can take yours now,” Tristan said. He had the sandwiches grilling in a frying pan, melts inside toasted bread. “Careful, it’s hot.”

Kenzie collected a sandwich with her eyehook, the prehensile tail with the camera and claw on the end.

“Victoria?” he asked. “You’re going with her?”

I grabbed a sandwich, testing first before picking it up. “Gotta ask Tattletale about something, and it’d be good to check out what they’re up to.”

“I have so, so, so much to show you. You can vet Chicken’s costume and Candy’s costume, and I’ve been working on Hookup’s costume, which I know Ashley will really like—”

“Hold up,” I said.

“—because it’s a dress, and it’s really pretty, and it goes with her mask, which Imp ordered.”

“Reel it back there,” I said. “Go back.”

“Which part? Because once a word leaves my mouth I mostly forget what I was saying.”

“Hookup?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“No,” I said. “I don’t recommend it.”

“But—” Kenzie turned around. It was Ashley she turned to for verification this time.

“Nah,” Ashley said.

“But… ugh. All the names like Kindred and Liaison and Network and Cosanguine are taken.”

“Not hookup,” I said. “Connotations. There’s a reason it isn’t taken.”

“Except I think she or her brothers and sisters liked the connotations.”

“It’s bad for the team,” I said.

“Ugghh. Why is this stuff so hard? Okay. They’re finding the street. We should make sure everything’s down there and ready to be loaded in. Tristan, can you lift it, or are you busy?”

“Take over?” Tristan asked.

“I don’t—” Rain started. “Oh, you were asking Sveta.”

“I’ve got it,” Sveta said.

“Don’t add anything. You always add a lot,” Tristan said.

With sandwich in one hand and my laptop packed into my backpack, I helped carry one bag of random components. Tristan didn’t put on his jacket, just boots, as he stepped outside, carrying the heavier things.

Kenzie nearly fell down the fire escape stairs in her enthusiasm to wave at the vehicle that was making its way into the parking lot adjacent to our building.

Darlene hopped out, crossing to where Kenzie was, doing the same thing Chastity had done with Cassie, with the kiss on each cheek. Kenzie was better at rolling with it than Rachel’s henchman had been.