Vista was working to close the distance for us. With the way the sky was distorting and pinching together, the station was visible and looming closer. The world warped in a rough donut shape around the clear picture of the destination.

Fuck, a part of me had hoped that there’d be a long train ride or car trip, that I could get my head sorted out and come to grips with what we were doing. That I’d be seeing Cryptid, my mom and dad, my sister.

That I might be seeing Amy sick—

Again, that sliver of a memory. Not anything coherent, but a vivid and complex tapestry of feelings without anything to map to.

Like how Miss Militia staring into my eyes made me think of a scene where I was still in that abandoned house, partially covered with a sheet, while the Protectorate tried to figure out what to do. Feeling vulnerable, wounded, scared, and hearing Amy’s voice in the background.

Thinking of seeing Amy sick and lost in her own head felt like its own similar thing, but I didn’t want to dwell in that memory. At least the memory of Miss Militia could be excused away as her being compassionate in her own stoic way. Meeting my eyes when my own mother couldn’t.

I wasn’t ready for this and we were being thrust headlong into it.

I turned my thoughts elsewhere: got to deal with the anti-parahumans so we can act against Teacher without things burning down in the meantime. Or this is their busywork while they procrastinate. I don’t know.

We’ve got a looming mission and I don’t feel like we’re getting more ready for it.

“I built your thing, Capricorn.”

Some eyes turned to Kenzie.

“The camera that should show the hidden twin in real-time.”

“Just like that,” Byron said. “I thought it would be weeks or months.”

“It’s kind of been weeks, but I didn’t have the scans and stuff I needed to puzzle it out.”

“Yeah,” Byron said. He paused, then added, “Thank you. I don’t really have words.”

“You don’t need words. I’m happy if you’re happy. Maybe mess up my hair or punch me in the shoulder or give me a hug, I dunno. You know, after, if it works.”

“No,” Swansong said.

“No?” Kenzie asked. “Huh?”

“Only if you can say you didn’t work yourself to the bone and stay up nights.”

“I didn’t. I really didn’t.”

“Good.”

“I was working on other stuff.”

Ashley grabbed Kenzie’s ear, giving it a mock shake. Kenzie laughed, her head ducked down where I couldn’t see any smile or lack thereof. Ashley was smiling a bit, which told me it was probably fine.

“I’m not much of a hugger, or a hair-messer-upper, or an arm puncher,” Byron said.

“It’s okay, that’s—”