“They were a bigger threat than anyone was aware, because they’re a massive weak point that nobody on our side is aware of, while foreign powers are eager to foster them. They were the biggest factor with the least noise around them.”

“Tell me about this noise.”

“Other thinkers, complicating factors, power-induced randomness, blind spots. An example would be how I couldn’t act against Teacher as long as he had Christine Mathers. If I look at her future then she starts appearing in all futures I can see. I slowed him down when I could but that was a lot of effort and a lot of risk he’d target me. There are a few things like that.”

“My colleagues want to know how you started and how this is supposed to end.”

“I started by identifying key players and figured out the courses of action that helped them climb. Up until the election I was putting a lot of time and energy into working out if I could put Gary or one of the other two in charge, but I didn’t like the numbers after that point.”

“You manipulated the election.”

“No. I could have, but it wasn’t worth it. I changed my focus to putting things in as positive a place as they could before the portal disaster.”

“Tell me more about that.”

“Massive interdimensional effect. I couldn’t see past it and I didn’t know what it was. I planned things and ensured everyone was as healthy and safe as possible before it went off. Then I steered things after.”

“Steered Gary.”

“Only a little. The movement was rising around him and people were angry. Cheit’s theocracy desperately wants Gimel and interfering with their agents has been a major focus of mine. Keeping them in the background. Keeping the anti-parahumans they were fostering as a thing that was simmering. Keeping Shin’s role in things simmering.”

“My colleagues will want proof.”

“I can send you my redacted notes on questions asked, with the when, why, and who, as it pertains to that.”

“Will you talk to a thinker?”

“No. No mind control, no interference, no powers or people I don’t know and trust.”

“It would be a thinker, not a master. Someone who reads, but has no other impact.”

Dinah shook her head.

“You have to realize this makes convincing people much, much harder, if you refuse.”

“I realize.”

“Let’s go back to the process and end goal.”

“You realize how scary we are, right? How scary you are, Miss Militia?”

“I think I see where you’re going with this, Dinah, and I know what you’ve been through and how it might color your perceptions. But don’t make the same mistake the anti-parahuman groups do. We aren’t our powers. We’re people.”