A cape poked his head into the hallway. Riley lifted a hand, her wrist remaining on her knee, and gave him a small wave.

The cape remained for a minute, then as children’s voices got louder in the lobby, stepped away.

Lookout appeared once more.

“I’m actually really glad I could say hi. I thought you were off in a classified location.”

“I was. I left.”

“Oh.”

“Rode a pet of mine, then walked, then I hitchhiked. We stopped at a villain enclave and I got a ride from there.”

“Got bored?”

“I don’t think I could ever be bored, so long as I could tinker.”

“I know! Gosh, yes. But then—”

“But tinkering isn’t enough. You need people to anchor you.”

“Ah,” Lookout said. “So I’m doomed.”

“Doomed?”

“People are what I’m bad at. My power? I’m pretty good, if I can say so myself. I’m a pretty good cape. But people… I was bad at it before and I’m bad at it now.”

“Breadth and depth,” Riley said.

“Hm?”

“The earlier you get powers, the more it spreads across your personality. Growing up with it, there’s less room for you. It’s where young triggers get more versatility, more natural instinct.”

Lookout nodded. “I was eight.”

“Six. Clones, like your friend in the cell over here… they start from zero. It does have an impact.”

“I seee.”

“Depth, it’s the connection to the power. You dig that well with violence, conflict, desperation, fatigue… it becomes like a friend. But you don’t make a lot of real friends that way.”

Lookout nodded. “I know people like that.”

“Your power, is she a friend to you?” Riley asked. “Does she give you the right ideas? Does she help you put things together?”

“Yes. She’s a big old dork, though.”

“Mine’s an artist. She’s restless these days,” Riley said. “Do you have a verdict, Christopher?”

There was no movement or answer from the cell.

“So sulky,” Lookout whispered, with a mischievous look on her face.

“Seems like.”

“I wish we’d hung out before,” Lookout said. “We’re the same age, we could do the tea thing—Ashley and I did that all the time… we’re both tinkers. We could do so many cool things! Oh! Speaking of—”

“Volume.”

Lookout pressed a hand to her mouth.

“You make a terrible secret agent.”

Lookout nodded, pulling out her phone. “I dunno if you can use this. It’s a sphincter-screen. We could compare notes.”

“We could,” Riley said. “I should remind you. We’re not the same age.”

Lookout looked up at her, searching her with those glowing eyes.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. I’m dumb,” Lookout said. She handed over the phone. “Deep scans. Was someone else’s work.”