“Are you near a save point?” Aunt Sarah asked. “Or pause and turn the television off? You can get back to it after.”

Yeah. Serious.

“This isn’t a game with save points, Mom,” Eric said, before taking the controller from me and going to the menu to save.

I retreated to the couch, and sat in the same spot as before. I motioned for Crystal to come sit between Amy and I, and she remained where she was, opposite end of the room, leaning against the doorframe.

“We wanted to have a talk,” Uncle Neil said.

“Crystal is joining the team,” my mother said. Her arms were folded.

Crystal nodded.

“Was that ever in question?” I asked.

“She could have decided to join the Wards,” Aunt Sarah said.

“People would figure out who I am pretty fast,” Crystal said, looking down and to the side. Somehow, she didn’t look happy, which was crazy to me. “And it would hurt the team.”

“We wanted to talk with you because of what happened to Crystal,” Aunt Sarah said. “Based on what’s happening elsewhere, and how Carol and I both got powers, we wanted each of you to be aware of what might be coming down the road.”

“We’ll get powers,” I said.

“Probably,” my dad said. “Possibly. I know you know the answer, but… do you know how?”

“Trigger events,” I said.

Amy spoke up, “This is like having a math whiz in the class, putting her hand up every time a question is asked.”

“I’m not that bad.”

“It’s more serious than math class,” Uncle Neil said. “Eric, do you understand about trigger events?”

“That’s the day you get powers?” Eric asked.

“It’s what makes you get powers. It’s a very important moment.”

“One of the best or worst days of your life,” I said.

“It can be,” my uncle said.

“If you want it to be a good day,” my mother said, “the best thing you can do is be a good student, a good athlete, and the best person you can be. Strive for things and then accomplish those things.”

“Great,” Amy said. “I’m doomed.”

“But,” Aunt Sarah said, and it sounded like a sentence. She gave my mom a look. “As far as we can tell, it’s rare. You should absolutely try to improve your chances, especially Victoria and Eric. The powers seem to run in the family, and getting a ‘good’ trigger would help reduce the chances that you get a bad one—”

“We don’t know if the chances are as high for you, but it would behoove you to get your grades up, Amy,” my mom said.

“Great,” Amy said, making a face.

“I’ve been urging you for some time to join a club, a team, make your own friends. You have too contained a life.”