It was a sphere, consisting of several layers like an onion, alternating blue and red. The lens was a white circle, and as it roved, the layers moved to accommodate it looking around. Several fins extended out from the two most external layers, moving independently of one another to correct its position and hold eerily steady in the wind.

“Recorded it all,” the camera said, Kenzie’s voice with some synthesizer mixing things up.

“You got the sound, too?”

“Of course,” she said. “Can I listen to it?”

“No,” I said. “Not yet. Not when Tattletale operates the way she does. I’ve got a long flight back. Any way you can replay the conversation for me so I can listen to it on the way back, and figure out if anything needs redacting?”

“Without listening in?”

“I’d prefer if you listened in with the rest of the group. I’m concerned Tattletale can say something to me that affects one of you. She touched on some personal subjects, and I need to think about how much I’m comfortable sharing.”

“Not a problem. Give me a minute.”

I started my flight home, the camera flying alongside me.

I expected the camera to speak, when Kenzie was ready. I was a little surprised when it came through my ear-bud instead.

⊙

“…you’re bound to find a position somewhere eventually. Some cape will die in battle, and a seat will open up for you and you’ll do fine. Or retire. After what your sister did to you, nobody would blame you.”

I was still, listening to this. The others, Rain excepted, were gathered around the table. The library had picnic tables and benches strewn around, and some patio chairs for reading outdoors when the weather was good. They had arranged themselves on a mixture of seats, with Ashley standing. Kenzie’s laptop was sitting on a patio table, with Rain watching in through a halting, low-res webcam.

I’d been periodically pausing the conversation, to fill in gaps with basic knowledge and context, but I left things alone for this one.

“Do what any self-respecting twenty-one-year-old would do after failing to get into university, get a job waitressing or making hero sandwiches. Talk to your kids about the old Glory days.”

“Pause,” I said.

The recording paused.

“It took her a little while to get around to it, but it’s worth stressing that this is who she is. I thought about redacting these parts, but I think it’s important you know. The PRT thought she had the ability to sense weak points, primarily psychological ones. I agree with that assessment.”

“Your sister is Panacea, right?” Chris asked.

I tensed a bit.

“Chris,” Sveta said. “I think Victoria would prefer it if we glossed over that part.”

“It’s for context. Like she just said, it stresses who Tattletale is.”