“This is how we operate,” Spright said. He put the binder he was holding down, moving a few things to look at the things on the table. Having verified something or verified the lack of something, he gave Sveta and I his full attention. “We identify targets in need and we handle them. We’re good at it.”

“What about jurisdictions?” I asked.

Spright paused. One finger tapped the desk. “This is Foresight’s. They got this territory when we held a lottery for the major areas of the city.”

“Did you talk to Foresight?” Sveta asked. Her tone was a marked contrast to mine. It sounded pitying or pleading. Spright had already pointed out how I sounded.

“You think this is your territory,” Spright voiced his realization aloud.

“Did you talk to Foresight?” I repeated Sveta’s question in my own way.

“Not me personally,” Spright said. “Okay. We need to talk this out, but now isn’t the time. Let me do my thing, two to five minute investigation, then if you wanted to let me copy some of your powers to make a graceful exit, I’d appreciate it. Then we have a conversation.”

He put one hand on the binder. I put my hand down on the corner of the binder, and slid it away from him.

“ReSound got sliced up,” I said.

I could see Spright tense. “How sliced up?”

“Enough that I’m mentioning it,” I said. “And enough that we need you to go straight back to your team and tell them to leave. Then we can have a chat.”

“Okay,” Spright said. He walked around the table, putting it between us. “I hear what you’re saying.”

“Time is of the essence here,” I said. The change in position worried me. Was he going to bolt? Or anticipating violence from me?

I changed my stance, forcing myself to relax my posture.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve raided enemy territory or the first time someone was hurt. We have a pattern we operate by. I handle my part and I trust the others to handle theirs.”

“And Cedar Point?” I asked.

“Will be better off in the long run,” Spright said.

“Capes aren’t liked right now,” Sveta said. “The local villains have been pressuring people here who can’t afford to leave, which makes feelings toward capes even lower. We were doing something here. You can’t just…”

The pity or pleading in her voice gave way to frustration at that last part, to the point she couldn’t finish her own sentence.

“…Create a mess and trust they’ll be better off,” I said.

“Yes. Exactly, thank you,” Sveta said.

“Others have been coming—”

“Were invited to come,” I said. “Screened, to avoid a screwy situation.”

“We were invited too!” Spright said.