Coil was now in control of the PRT. It was a nightmare scenario, though one I had at least been somewhat ready for. Not this fucking soon of course, but apparently the timeline of Worm was more compressed than a three-byte jpeg. That or all my meddling had made him eager to win even at the risk of going too fast.

  I took a deep breath, staring at whorls on the conference room table. I could deal with this, survive this. He wasn't 'Coil' right now, I wasn't in immediate danger of being kidnapped, drugged, and imprisoned; 'Coil', in fact, was dead according to the after action report. Calvert didn't need to kidnap or drug me anyway, I was already under his command. Unfortunately for him, I had an awful memory and a bone to pick.

  All I had to do was keep my mouth shut. That was a simple enough feat, considering I'd already been shocked into silence. Now there was purpose, and I was sure if he was working two timelines then my alternate half would feel the same. I'd stick it out, do my job, and when Skitter blew his head off I'd pin a fucking medal on her chest.

  “You'll pardon me if I don't stand up and applaud, sir,” Assault said with a hint of venom. “Doing the same thing we were led to a terror attack where six civilians died and fifteen more were injured.”

  “Along with several villains,” Calvert replied, his voice chilly. “While I understand your desire to hit back, we simply don't have the resources. They're coming, but they haven't arrived quite yet. Once they do and we've secured our backline, then we attack.”

  “The remaining members of the Triumvirate should be here this evening,” Miss Militia added. “Scapegoat as well as Chevalier are on the way, we won't lack for firepower or support.”

  “Excellent,” Calvert said with a smile, then looked at me. “And I must offer a hearty congratulations to you, Amaranth; if it weren't for your efforts the Undersiders would be a far greater threat.” The comment made my alarm ring loudly.

  “Thank you sir,” I said simply. I didn't want to give anything away.

  “Also, uh, good work at the debate,” Clockblocker added. “For everyone who isn't aware, she jumped on the power cell that malfunctioned. Gave me enough time to keep all of us alive, saved a lot of people. Just...seriously, you're gonna make the rest of us look bad if you keep it up. So keep it up.”

  “It wasn't anything big,” I said with a shrug. “I could take the hit, no one else could...I had to.”

  “That doesn't diminish your heroism,” Miss Militia admonished gently. “You still had to overcome your fear to do it.”

  “Stopped me from getting shot too,” Vista said, bumping her elbow against me.

  “You can rest assured that your feats will be recognized, Amaranth,” Calvert said with a nod. “The rest of you are dismissed, we'll reconvene once our reinforcements arrive and discuss changing tactics. Amaranth please stay, I'd like to speak with you for a moment.” My stomach sank, but I nodded quietly as the others filed out. Miss Militia gave me a look as she passed, but I shrugged; no point getting anyone else involved.

  “Now then,” he continued, sitting next to me after the room had emptied. “I've been informed of your...secondary ability. I know you have felt unsure about sharing your 'memories' in the past, but please do try. I will take any and all of them a seriously as the grave.” I looked up and met his eyes. They were cold like that night.

  “Thank you sir,” I said flatly, fighting to keep my pounding heart from giving me away. “I...I'll tell you what I told Director Piggot: just wait. As soon as I'm sure it's safe, I'll share everything I know.”

  “Why the wait?” he asked. “Intelligence needs to be fresh to be actionable. How long will it be?”

  “Safety sir. If this gets to the wrong ears...it won't be long at all sir, I'm absolutely certain.” That got his smile to actually touch his eyes.

  “I'm glad to hear,” Calvert said, an odd fondness in his tone. “Now go get your arm fixed, I dislike seeing my Wards injured.” I suppressed a shiver.

  “Yes sir.” I rose and turned, then paused at the door. “Uh, sir, about Shatterbird...”

  “The PRT and Youth Guard need to coordinate on how to distribute the bounty,” he said, apparently assuming that an apology wasn't forthcoming. “Rest assured, you will receive it in full, minus applicable taxes of course.”

  “Of course sir,” I said with a nod. “Thank you.”

  I turned and headed out, a full-body shiver rocking me as soon as I was in the elevator and out of sight. Fuck...maybe he was in a good mood because he won, but it felt like he'd done...something in the other timeline. Like he'd figured out how I worked, for lack of a better way to say it. If that was the case...well, no, it wouldn't matter. I just had to trust that he'd still be keen on offing Skitter and that she'd take exception to that.

  That helped me relax, at least a little. Once more I wasn't sure how long it would be, but I remembered it being pretty quick. I mean, I clearly didn't fucking remember much these days but that...it just fit. Waiting like that made me feel antsy, but I didn't have a better solution right now so...hail Taylor, full of bugs, Tattletale is with thee.

  I rapped my knuckles against the door to Amy's apartment, holding my injured arm away from my body. The burns around the major one still stung, but it was easy enough to ignore as long as I kept it still. I knocked again, frowning. Was she asleep? That wouldn't make sense, there were plenty of injured...oh, dumbass. I turned around and headed back to the elevator.

  Of course she'd be in the infirmary, where everyone else was. I wasn't sure if anyone had been hurt too bad, but if they were, well... But I found, to my surprise and irritation, she wasn't there either. Muttering curses, I got back in the elevator and punched the button for my quarters. Maybe Amy was down at the hospital again, or I guess for the first time since...everything. Well whatever, maybe I could take a nap or something while I waited for the Stranger 17 to--

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  “Oh, there you are,” Amy said, looking up from Dennis. “The hell took you so long?” I took a deep breath and walked over, sitting next to her at the common room table.

  “You weren't in your room or the infirmary,” I explained.

  “Duh,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “My patients are down here, including you.”

  “Well I am now but--”

  “Hand,” she cut me off, extending hers. I shut my mouth, took my glove an dbandage of, then grabbed it, biting back a sarcastic retort. “Third and second-degree burns, bruising everywhere, your corneas are burned too...you really did jump on that bomb.”

  “Yeah, sorry.” I sighed. “Hopefully it won't happen again.”

  “No kidding,” Dennis said dryly, kicking his feet up. “I'm about done with terrorists bombing us.”

  “It's okay,” Amy said, ignoring the peanut gallery. “You got hurt being a hero, I can't really bitch about that. Can I heal you?” I gave her a nod and sighed as the aches throughout my body eased.

  “Hey remember that time Aegis threw himself on a grenade?” Kid Win piped up from the far end of the table. He was fiddling with the ruins of his armour. “Uhhh, about a year ago? The thing between Coil and the Empire?”

  “Oh god don't remind me.” Dennis' cheeks turned slightly green. “I didn't get out of the splash zone.”

  “Right sorry.” He shook his head and glanced up at me. “Reminded me of it, is all. I...miss him a lot, so it was sort of nice.”

  “Thanks.” I felt my cheeks warm and stared at my arm as it knit together. “Don't make a big thing about it, you guys would have been fine.” Like, probably, if my foreign memories could be trusted.

  “Except I'd have been shot,” Vista snipped, taking off her helmet and shaking her head. “Plus what if Dennis couldn't freeze us in time? And the civilians? Stupid as you were being a week ago...take some credit.”

  “I appreciate it,” I replied, offering her a small smile as I pulled off my mask and hood. I looked over at Kid Win, cocking my head. “Any idea what happened?”

  “Nearest I can tell?” He sighed and put down the screwdriver he was working with. “My cell got a surge of feedback power, disrupted the harmonics so it couldn't dump it into the suit, then...boom.”

  “So...what, just malfunctioned?” I asked. “Does Tinkertech even do that? I mean, when it isn't Leet's.”

  “Not usually,” he offered. “But this stuff is still all new, there's a chance I missed something, hence the autopsy. Sorry to take up the table.”

  “Could it have been sabotage?” He stiffened.

  “I...considered that,” Kid Win said after a moment. “I don't think so though, no one was logged accessing my workshop besides me; and I definitely didn't give someone else my pass.” I hummed thoughtfully.

  “You'll figure it out, Chris,” Dennis said, reaching out and patting his shoulder. “Always have before.”

  “Not always,” he muttered.

  “But usually,” Dennis said with an odd confidence. “Seriously dude, you've got this. Why not take a break, then come back to it later? Usually works with math homework.”

  “This isn't math,” Chris sighed. “But...maybe you're right.”

  “You're done, Lia,” Amy said, pulling her hand back. “Next time you land on a bomb, try and stay still?”

  We shared a collective laugh, then scrambled to cover our faces as the visitor alarm rang out. Amy paled as the doors opened and mumbled an apology before beating a hasty retreat. A look gave me the answer I needed: Gallant and Glory Girl, only Gallant in costume though. Victoria didn't look like she was doing good; the lumpy grafts had started to flake, though still seemed to be mostly intact. Gallant was limping, and I realized he was actually missing a leg of his armour, in its place a bulky cast. They joined us at the table as the laughter died.

  “Amaranth, good work,” Dean said, taking off his helmet. He looked utterly haggard, thinner and paler than I'd seen him last. “Win, any clues?”

  “Nothing yet Gallant,” he replied. “You'll be the third or forth to know.” Dean nodded.

  “Dennis, settling in okay?”

  “I'm just keeping your seat warm, boss,” Clockblocker replied flippantly. “As soon as you're not broken, I'm going back to being the funny guy.”

  “Scapegoat's coming,” I added. “Won't be too long now for...either of you.” Victoria shot me a glare, and if I didn't know better had switched on her aura.

  “That's good to hear,” Dean said, tone a little stiff. “How are you?”

  “Fine, thanks to Amy.” Okay that was definitely her aura, right? It made my alarm ring just a little louder. “How's your vacation?” He shrugged.

  “Wouldn't exactly call it a 'vacation' when I'm still living here,” he said. “Doing okay, just relaxing at home usually. Wish I could enjoy the view anymore...”

  “Oh right, you've got that richie-rich place in the Towers, don't you?” Dennis said, sitting up a little straighter. “So what, party at yours when its all over?”

  “Sure, why not?” He rolled his eyes and stood back up. “Bring your own beer and I'll put you on toilet duty though.”

  “Gin it is,” I replied without a hint of humour. “Glad you're okay though. And Glory Girl--”

  “I'm fine,” she snapped, turning her head and glaring at the stairwell Amy had fled through. “Just a little antsy that I can't do anything with a bunch of monsters running around the city.” I fought back the urge to bite back for that one.

  “Won't be too long, if Scapegoat is as good as I hear,” I said as evenly as I could. “I'm really sorry you got hurt.”

  “Not your fault.” Well, it sure didn't sound like she believed that. “I'm gonna go. Dean, walk me home?” I saw him smile for the first time since I got back.

  “Sounds good,” he replied, tucking his helmet under his arm. “See you guys.”

  “Jesus,” Dennis said when they were gone. “The hell did you do to make her hate you?”

  “Dunno,” I replied. Another lie to the pile. “Maybe she's just in a mood, or thought I was looking at her boyfriend weird?”

  “No, something happened,” he said, shaking his head. “What the hell were you doing after you split?”

  “Surviving,” I said. “Helping Amy, trying not to prove the Nine right.” Failing at that.

  “Helping Panacea...she was nominated too, right?” Kid Win asked, cocking his head. “That's...fucked up, the Nine are fucked up. What did they make you do?”

  “Did something happen between her and Glory Girl?” Vista said. “Is that why Panacea is--”

  “Guys,” I snapped, interrupting them. “If they're not talking about it with you, why the hell would I? The Nine tortured us and tried to make us snap, turn out like them. Back off.” Vista raised her hands.

  “Okay, okay, sorry.” She sighed. “Just trying to...I don't know, help?”

  “The thought's nice, really,” I assured her, not wanting to tank her opinion of me anymore. “Just...it's personal, okay?” Vista made a face, but nodded firmly. “Cool. I'm going to shower, then maybe crash for the next ten or so hours. Getting bombed really takes it out of me.”

  “Hey put in your AAR first,” Dennis called after me. “I don't want the new boss breathing down my neck anymore than I have to.” I gave him a thumbs up over my shoulder and headed towards the showers.

  I wish I could have told him he wouldn't have to worry about the new boss for long.