“It’s something to think about,” Tristan said, nodding to himself.

There was more noise at the stairs. Another arrival?

“Shoot, are we out of time already?” Kenzie asked. “No. Are they early?”

I opened the door again.

“You never did explain how you can do that now,” Tristan observed. “Reaching ten feet away. Full control?”

“Ever since last night.”

“Since you were burned to a crisp by the Titan-like thing with all the hands, or since you merged with the system for a second?” Tristan asked.

I shrugged.

Vista poked her head around the door.

“Everything okay?” Vista asked.

“It’s good,” Tristan said. “Thanks for giving me a few extra minutes. Tell Byron thanks, too. I’ll see you guys tonight. I’ll be thinking about the plans, tweaks and stuff.”

“We’ll be ready,” Rain said. He put the shoulder of the mechanical arm up his sleeve, then let it connect. He flexed the hand. “As ready as is possible, anyway.”

Tristan phased out. Byron lurched a bit, like he was going to fall out of his chair, then caught himself. He took in a deep breath.

Vista reached over, and he reached up, taking her hand, giving it a squeeze before letting it go. She pulled her headgear off, and fixed her hair. She looked tired.

“Long day?” I asked.

“Narwhal expects everyone working for her to keep up with her,” Vista said. “I was up most of last night, too.”

“You managing?” Byron asked. “Do you want my chair?”

“I’m fine. But I’m looking forward to taking a break with you, getting some food, talking by the fire.”

“That sounds so nice,” Byron said.

“Not to sound like I’m hurrying you guys along so Byron can hang out with me, but the guy downstairs was looking pretty impatient,” Vista said.

“I’m done, mostly,” Kenzie said. “Give me a minute. I’ve got to clean up.”

“I’ll clean up if I can start right away,” a voice said at the door.

The voice came from a gangly looking dude with a cutout in his mask, just below his mouth, so a beard caked in gel could be shaped into a crescent.

“You’ll follow the instructions exactly?” Kenzie asked, hands on her hips now. “Soup was very specific. I don’t want to get on his bad side.”

“I will,” the guy said.

“I’m leaving some screens behind. They aren’t really efficient to carry with. And there’s a visualization socket, you can plug any data device in and it’ll visualize every bit of data you’ve got. All pictures, all models—”

“Can I get to work?”

“Okay!” Kenzie said, smiling. She winked. “Check it out, though.”

“I will.”

He grabbed boxes from under the tables and began unpacking them before Kenzie was fully done. She gave a box of tinker stuff to Rain to carry, then gave me another.