“Volley,” Pro-now said, as the rest of the participants filed out of the meeting room. “I need you to wait behind.”

  Neviecha shot me a concerned look. I shrugged at him and sat back in my chair.

  Pro-now, Rabidor, and Dia Mater remained seated. Kabash stood by the door to ensure no one lingered. Satisfied, he returned to his seat.

  “I guess I am inner caucus now,” I said.

  Kabash snorted.

  “AV,” Pro-now said. “Are you still there?”

  “Yes, sir,” AV answered through the announcement system.

  “Log off,” Pro-now said. “And don't think I'm oblivious about what you got up to this afternoon. Your misconduct will be brought up on our next reassessment.”

  I winced. Our misconduct. Here’s to hoping Pro-now never learned I was privy to his conversation with Scythe.

  “This might come out of left field, Volley,” Pro-now said, taking a seat. “But you are now the leader of the Pacesetters. Congratulations.”

  Oh, wow.

  “I would have liked,” Pro-now continued, “to stall your appointment for a little while, but time is of the essence. We can't send your team out on dangerous missions without some form of structure. Rest assured, the details of this appointment will be communicated across the base by tomorrow.” He paused, expecting something from me.

  I swallowed. “Thank you. I will do my best to live up to your expectations.”

  “You must,” Dia Mater said, catching my eye. “Don’t take this appointment for granted, Volley. The collective responsibility of your team now rests on your shoulders. This signifies an end to your impulsive behavior; an end to your quarrel with Activity; and most importantly, an end to playing your cards close to the chest.”

  “He isn't my first choice,” Rabidor gruffed. “Or my second. Or my third. Let’s hope we don't regret this.”

  Dia Mater shot him a look.

  “I've told you before,” Kabash said, robot mask slightly off-kilter, “and I will repeat for your benefit. The one trait separating us Heroes from the rest of the super-crazed animals out there is restraint. You are in charge of lives now, Volley. You will do well to remember that.”

  I nodded. “I will.”

  “Is there anything you’d like to add?” Pro-now asked.

  My heartbeat slowed. This was it, wasn't it? The best chance I would ever get. I had some authority; the adults were bound to lend me an ear. Here, now, I could do it. Get Activity kicked off the team.

  “N-nothing, really,” I said.

  “Then we will move on to the second matter,” Pro-now said, steepling his fingers. “The assault on the Four-oh-Four.”

  “. . . which isn't slated for a month from now,” I finished.

  Pro-now didn't react, but I could swear he was smiling. “No, Volley. It isn't. The SRA—or should I say, the Colonel in particular—has a plan. She will enact it regardless of whether we join her or not.”

  “You've gone up against the Four-oh-Four,” Kabash said. “What exactly should we expect?”

  I hesitated, unwilling to revisit that terrible night. “I wrote all I remember in my report. And to be honest, Neviecha can probably tell you more.”

  Pro-now grunted. “We will disseminate your reports to every single Hero and Combat suit tonight. But any extra information would help, no matter how little. Do you have any?”

  I wracked my brain. “Not really. You have a good idea of Cnidarian's abilities. Manbite’s the heavy hitter. Dual Rook and Pawn, I think. I didn't see him fight outside of his transformation. He might not be as tough in human form.”

  “He isn't,” Pro-now agreed. “Our troops have run into him on occasion.”

  “Oh. Well then, Hebe is the most dangerous. Mostly because he can wipe out entire groups of soldiers without needing to get close.”

  Creases formed on Dia Mater's forehead. “You mentioned his ability left you with an extreme case of lethargy?”

  “It did,” I said. “He could also apply this feeling by contact. The effect lasts a greater duration when used that way because I could stand shortly after the orb disappeared. The people he touched, however, stayed down much longer.”

  “I've met him,” Rabidor said. “Both times, he fled before I got close. Smart guy.”

  Kabash straightened his mask. “The last Villain. Tellmenot . . .”

  “That's what they called him,” I said. “I don’t know about his ability, but he seemed to like dumb questions.”

  “Maybe a Player power,” Kabash said. “One that affects the mind.”

  That struck me as odd. “Shouldn't Precogs and telepaths be classified as Queens?”

  Kabash scratched his chin. “If that's the extent of their power, then no. Powers revolving around the enhancement of the mind, consciousness, and information are Player powers. They are only classed as Queen type if they segue into the control of another organism.”

  Pro-now hummed. “Tellmenot is issued a category three danger rating until we obtain more information. Should our people run into him, standard measures for dealing with all Unconventional power types would apply.”

  “And you are telling me,” Rabidor said, “that you fought all these people and won?”

  He sounded condescending, but I didn't lash out in reflex. I was a bigger person now. Team leader. “I didn't say I did. I beat Hebe and Tellmenot. Neviecha handled the other two.”

  “You beat them, Volley,” Dia Mater said. “I think you're underestimating how impressive that is.”

  “Especially considering,” Kabash added, “that you became a superhero only about one month ago.”

  Their words flattered me, but I didn’t see it that way. If Cnidarian hadn’t shown mercy, I would resemble a coral pincushion. “Are those four all we need to fear?”

  “You wish,” Kabash said.

  Dia Mater laced her fingers beneath her chin. “There are . . . more. Fortunately, the Four-oh-Four does not have as many Supers as we do. Their roster tends to be unstable.” She read my expression before I could ask. “The syndicate loses members at the drop of a hat. Some abscond, and a good number of their Supers perish due to infighting. They make up for this with active recruiting though. They also possess a few stalwarts.”

  Pro-now grabbed the remote. The projector came to life. “Boil,” he said.

  The grainy image of an obese man sporting four robust tentacle-like appendages appeared on the screen.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Pro-now tapped the table. “Boil is one of three known lords of the syndicate and the only Super bearing that rank. We believe he is a dual King and Rook. Dangerous, ranged ability on the former. Moderate, self-applied, on the latter. By GAG specifications, that makes him Kg3-Rb1.”

  Huh.

  “He can create and manipulate water molecules,” Pro-now said. “Small scale but fine control. His trademark move involves shooting water bullets, strong enough to puncture steel.”

  “He is also a Hero Killer,” Rabidor said.

  “That too,” Pro-now agreed.

  The image on the screen changed to a blurry picture of a large man in flight. But there was nothing human about him. A quartet of wings extended from his back, fleshy and venous, much like a dragonfly’s. His head looked weird, littered with multiple eyes. And, wait . . . did he have four arms?

  “Drosophobia,” Pro-now said. “Another Rook. The Four-oh-Four’s most effective hitman. Our intel on his abilities is shaky, but we suspect he is a cannibal. We’ve heard reports of him carving out his victims' tongues and eating them to make a point.”

  Dia Mater frowned. “Volley didn't need to know that.”

  “We can't coddle him forever,” Pro-now countered.

  Another image appeared on the screen, a duo this time. Unlike Drosophobia’s, the shot was clear.

  “Exhaust and Wicker,” I murmured.

  Kabash perked up. “You know them?”

  “Yeah,” I said, keeping my eyes on the screen. “They were in the news recently. For that one incident involving a burnt correctional facility. I thought the SRA captured them?”

  “They did,” Dia Mater said, eyes mimicking concrete. “For all of one hour.”

  The two Villains wore identical gas masks. But the similarities ended there. Wicker crouched on all fours, flames wrapped around his form. The taller, more imposing Exhaust trailed behind him with braided hair, shrouded in a robe of smoke.

  “If you know them,” Pro-now said, “you should be able to guess their abilities.”

  “Both Kings?” I answered.

  “And Rooks. Boil might be the most wanted Villain in Newtown, but Exhaust and Wicker concern me the most. They’ve only been around three months and have caused immeasurable losses to lives and property. The Pacesetters must never engage them without backup. Do you understand, Volley?”

  I wetted my lips. “Y-yeah.”

  Pro-now killed the display. “We will organize and share our combined intel with every member of the base. Get an early rest. At five a.m. tomorrow, you leave on a small mission with me.” His gaze rested on my face, obscured behind his black visor. “I am sorry this is coming soon after your recovery, but you were right, Volley. We don't intend to wait a month. Starting tomorrow, our war with the Four-oh-Four begins.”

  I returned to the Pacesetter base, swinging my left arm to work out the kinks.

  The common area lay quiet with all of its rooms shrouded in darkness. I flipped on the light switch in the kitchen and ducked into the refrigerator, rummaging through its contents.

  “Fingers.”

  I jumped.

  Ava leaned against the kitchen counter, a wry smile plastered on her face. “Damn. If that's how you sound when you squeal, no wonder you are popular with girls.”

  “Not funny.”

  She shrugged, still dressed in costume—the one with the suggestive emoji. However, her hood was down and the domino mask hung from her belt. Light reflected off her painted eyelids, bestowing her with maturity beyond her years. An image she destroyed each time she opened her mouth.

  “You're staring,” she murmured, gazing at the ceiling. “Am I that hot?”

  “Is a tadpole a fingerling?”

  “Fuck you.”

  “I can't guarantee I'll squeal.”

  She leered at me. “What's this? Prude Central has finally learned to riposte?”

  “Well, I've had practice.”

  “And a great teacher,” she said. “Me.”

  “Uh-huh.” I looked her over again. “Is there a reason you are standing alone in the dark?”

  “Trying to decide what to eat.” Her eyes darted around, and she chuckled. “Still deciding.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “Okay . . . Why didn’t you stop at the cafeteria? They extended dinner time just because you asked.”

  “That slop they serve is no dinner.” She groaned. “I’d rather gag.”

  “Haha.”

  “What did Pro-now want with you anyway?”

  I shrugged, delving back into the fridge. “Stuff.”

  “He made you team leader, didn't he?” She chortled at the look on my face. “Oh, come on, it was obvious. The team needs someone to fill the role, and AV wouldn't have asked you to take command today if it wasn't Pro-now's intention.”

  “You’re right,” I said, making a mental note to never underestimate her again. “I'm in charge. For now.”

  “I'm fine with it. Are you?”

  I didn't have an answer to that.

  “Want to grab dinner together?” I asked instead.

  “What's on the menu?”

  “Noodles.”

  Ava made a face. “Ugh. I lived on that stuff for an entire year while on the run.”

  “I could fry some eggs and sausages to go along with it.”

  “Sounds better. But let me help.”

  We moved toward the counter. Bazaar grabbed a knife, eyes the slightest bit unfocused. I eased the utensil from her grasp and set her to the task of preparing the noodles. She manned the electric stove while I readied the sausages and cut the vegetables.

  “Something's bothering you,” I said, handing her a pan of chopped pepper and onions. “What is it?”

  “Monthly problems. Do you want to know?”

  “Probably not.”

  She finished the noodles, and I took over the station to fry the eggs. The living room was too far out so we grabbed stools and sat in the kitchen to eat.

  “Hold on,” I said, and the thought struck me out of the blue, “how do you handle your you know when we need to go out on missions?”

  Ava offered me a dry look. “My ‘you know’ means what exactly?”

  “M-menstruation.”

  “Me-me-menstruation,” she mocked.

  “Oh, drop it. I'm curious.”

  “Why? Is there anyone you wish to knock up?” She gasped. “Don't tell me, you and Ms. Catherine . . .!”

  I lobbed a piece of sausage at her.

  She ducked beneath it. “Bad aim, Volley. Tsk. Tsk. You’re not knocking up anyone like this.”

  “Ava!”

  She grinned and chewed her food. “Well, since you can’t stem your curiosity, we get a choice of contraceptives. They are useless to me though. I don't menstruate anyway.”

  Oh. Would it be rude to ask? I shook my head and focused on my bowl.

  We ate for a few minutes in silence.

  “So,” Ava said, nibbling her meal, “the Hero Council intends to terminate the Four-oh-Four one month from now.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Am I the only one who thinks this is a tall order? The Four-oh-Four has existed almost as long as Newtown.”

  “Maybe,” I said. “But we have the advantage in firepower. I wouldn't want to be the gangsters when the SRA and CAH both come calling. Plus, Dia Mater is a force of nature all by herself.”

  Ava's knuckles tightened around her fork. “Don't underestimate the Four-oh-Four. They wouldn't have survived this long if they sucked at what they do.”

  “True.”

  Her actions seemed strange, and this was without taking into account how she'd been skulking in the dark. AV had been cryptic when I’d mentioned the possibility of a mole in the Pacesetters, but I’d like to think I caught his meaning. Looking at my team, there were only two people who fit the bill.

  Alewo was clean, that much was certain. Obong didn't have a spine. And if the saboteur was AV, we would all be fucked.

  Ava lifted an entire fried egg into her mouth.

  No. That line of thinking made no sense. Pro-now wouldn't keep her on board if he thought she was a liability. And he'd been adamant about holding on to her during his conversation with Scythe. They'd spoken about a Communion, sure, but who else could it be? We only had two Queens here at the base.

  Ava poked around her bowl. “You didn’t explain much when I visited you at the med bay. But you fought four of the syndicate’s enforcers that night, huh?”

  “More or less,” I said, slurping the noodles.

  “Aww, look at you. you are a bona fide superhero now. Alewo says you ran into Cnidarian. How tough was she to fight?”

  “Very. But you should be asking him. Between her and Manbite, they ensured the destruction of the Habakkuk.”

  “Manbite's the Rook?”

  “Yes.” I raised the bowl to my lips. “They let me go, but Cnidarian promised to finish the job at our next meeting. If I run into any of them during the assault, I won't give them a chance. I'm shooting first.”

  Ava smirked. “That's so not like you.”

  “Yeah, but I've seen what Cnidarian can do. I'd sooner lodge a rock in her head than end up like any of her victims. And if one rock doesn’t get the job done, I am lodging two.”

  Ava’s fork trembled. “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. You should know better by now, Fingers.”

  “Point taken. But this isn't a plan. It's a mindset I intend to adopt.”

  Ava shifted.

  I slid a hand to my bandolier, grazing a shell.

  “Head on to bed,” she said, rising to her feet. She took her half-eaten bowl to the sink. “I'll do the dishes.”

  “Thanks,” I said, placing my bowl beside hers.

  The kitchen knife I'd used to chop the vegetables lay close to her hand. Her fingers moved, and I tensed, but she simply reached for my bowl.

  “Goodnight,” I said, making my exit.

  She didn't reply or turn on the faucets.

  She was the one.

  Ava was the mole.

  A dreadful weight settled in my chest. She'd been pretty knowledgeable about the CAH before joining the team. And the disappearing stunt she'd pulled in Sagidi hadn't vanished from anyone’s mind.

  So, why had the CAH not stopped her?

  I paced near the catwalks leading to the dorms. Ava wasn't a friend. But she had shown signs she was willing to be one, which ranked her far above Toye as far as I was concerned.

  I could talk to her, let her in on the fact that I knew her secret. But doing that meant breaking Pro-now's trust. My meddling would also alert Ava that something was amiss and ruin whatever plans the Council had in place for her.

  But what if those plans weren't anything good? Wouldn't it be better to get her to quit while she was ahead? Could I stand by and watch Ava walk oblivious into her doom?

  My feet slowed to a stop. Ava was working with the Four-oh-Four. Which meant she wanted us to walk to our doom. If I tipped our hand, someone else could pay for my imprudence. Someone like me.

  Ava wasn't a friend. Why did I even like her? Sure, she cracked a few jokes, but how much of her character was genuine? I didn’t want to abandon a teammate, but my family's survival hinged on mine. Anyone who planned to backstab me needed to get knifed first.

  A chill seized me at the thought. Less than an hour into my new position, I was already courting difficult choices.

  I looked back at the common area where Ava was yet to emerge. I needed more time to mull over the matter.

  But I should probably start by locking my door tonight.