“Amaranth, will you please stand?”

  I rose from my seat, fixing my costume as I did. Sweat tickled as it trailed down my back, and I licked my lips behind my mask. All week I’d been waiting for this, waiting for the gavel to come straight down on my head. I still wasn’t sure what my punishment would be. More probation? Fines? God only knew.

  “We’d like you to explain your side of things plainly,” Mr. Briggs, the head of the tribunal said. “We’ve read your statement and spoken to a number of witnesses, but personally I prefer to hear from the horse’s mouth. Any objections Mr. Tine, Miss Sarawa?” The others shook their heads.

  “Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Um, what do you want to know?”

  “Just start from the beginning of where our concerns do,” he said. “Clockblocker called you, why didn’t you respond?”

  “Well, I answered my phone,” I countered. “But...sir it didn’t make sense to me. I know he wasn’t messing with me now, but at the time…” I shrugged. “By the time Dragon called it was too late. Hadn’t expected to find Skitter in civilians, got surprised, and the rest is on film.” They’d played it earlier, much to my chagrin. “I’ll be honest, I was a little shocked that she just...fully outed a sixteen-year-old to me; it’s not exactly something that I have warm feelings about.”

  “Your objections were noted by then-Director Tagg, Miss Militia, and Doctor Yamada,” Mr. Briggs said.

  “It was like, ‘what if it had been me’ you know?” I continued. “PRT takes the gloves off against a girl who’s friends with a Thinker like Tattletale, she definitely has the resources to do it. I was pretty sure they were going to out me after Skitter was killed.”

  “They would have known the consequences,” Miss Sawara said gravely.

  “Sure Miss Sawara, but they knew the consequences of attacking the PRT building, of taking territory and setting themselves up as warlords.” I offered a shrug. “They hadn’t been playing by the rules, none of us were; that’s just how things were before Skitter’s capture. Anyway, that’s why I acted how I did that day. I’m sorry it lead to Skitter’s escape.”

  “Thank you Amaranth,” Mr. Briggs said with a nod. “And after she pulled you off the roof, you still didn’t attempt to fight her?”

  “I wasn’t masked, Mr. Briggs,” I said sharply. “Unless you’re suggesting I start engaging villains out of costume, which I think Miss Stanford would be interested to hear.”

  “I certainly would,” she said, seated next to me; of course my YGA was here.

  “That’s a fair point,” Mr. Tine said. “But there were ways you could have fought without giving up your identity.”

  “How many of my peers would after apparently falling off the roof?” I countered. “Yes, I could have fought her, and then the PRT would potentially be trying to deal with one of their Wards being outed along with everything else. And more importantly I might be dealing with having my mask ripped off in a city full of villains with a grudge against me. I’m willing to risk my neck when I’m doing hero work, I think my record proves that, but I want to be able to take my mask off and just…” I trailed off with a weak shrug.

  “Your record, spotty as it is, isn’t in question, only your actions on July eighth.”

  “Then I’ll remind you that Wards’ identities are protected by law,” Miss Stanford said coldly. “Wards have been expressly forbidden from engaging ‘unmasked’, as it were, since their inception. Mr. Tine, can you please clarify your issue with Amaranth’s actions?”

  “That they allowed a notorious villain to escape capture,” he replied, just as frosty.

  “We understand your point, Miss Stanford, thank you,” Mr. Briggs interjected diplomatically. “After the the video begins, frankly, I see no issues with your actions Amaranth. But disobeying an order from your captain and failing to respond to a villain’s attack appropriately are serious.”

  “I know,” I said, nodding. “And I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll probably say it a million more times before people believe me, but I’m trying to follow the rules. All I can do is show you, if you’ll let me I guess.”

  “We’ll adjourn to discuss this,” Mr. Briggs said, stacking some papers in front of him. “Amaranth, please wait outside, we’ll call you back in once we’re ready.”

  I gave him a nod, then walked past Clockblocker and Kid Win on my way out. I sat on a chair against the wall, across from the door, and Miss Stanford joined me a moment later. I rubbed my eyes, feeling tired. I slept fine, but I was stressed as hell.

  “Don’t be nervous,” Stanford said, apparently stealing Tattletale’s material. “I’ve seen Wards get light terms for far worse behaviour. A fine for disobedience at worst, that’s what I think.”

  “Thanks,” I said with a sigh. “Almost wish I’d done something after she grabbed me, just so they might go easy on me.”

  “I think your reason not to was entirely fair,” she replied. “And like I said in there, they can’t hold it against you.”

  “And if they do anyway?”

  “Then I’ll have a busy week ahead,” she said dryly. “I’m here to make sure you’re being treated fairly, and if you aren’t then my job is to call in the dogs and make them.”

  “I guess I hope you’re right then,” I said.

  I tried to settle my nerves, focusing on breathing, or my patrol with Vista tomorrow, or my date with Amy tonight, or anything but what the three PRT officials were talking about in there. As it was, I didn’t have to wait long. An officer opened the door and beckoned us back in, and we followed him through and returned to our seats. Mr. Tine wore a small frown, but the other two didn’t look unhappy at least.

  “Amaranth,” Mr. Briggs began once we were seated. “We appreciate your testimony on events. In consideration of that, the testimony of your superiors, and your record, we’ve come to a decision on how to handle this. In light of the recent award of Shatterbird’s bounty, we’ve decided a fine is inappropriate. Instead, your current probation terms will remain in place until you join the Protectorate or cease to be a member of the Wards.” I blinked. They were supposed to end before then? Huh, I thought I’d been on perma-probation already.

  “This seems inappropriate considering—”

  “Okay,” I cut off Miss Stanford’s protest. She shot me a look.

  “Miss Stanford, do you wish to lodge an objection?” Mr. Briggs asked.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  “Considering the stress Amaranth was under, I don’t believe it’s appropriate to punish her by restricting her life further,” Miss Stanford said coolly.

  “These restrictions will only apply when she’s on duty,” he countered. “And my understanding is you are seeking out foster care for her. Ideally, these won’t be so restrictive for much longer.”

  “You’re not considering the state the system is in,” she retorted. “Three months is the current wait-list for a home, at best. And my understanding is the PRT wants to resume regular operations including tours, which would certainly make for a disruptive environment.”

  “Tours run through our quarters?” I asked.

  “They do,” Stanford confirmed, eyeing Mr. Briggs. “For better or worse.”

  “We’ll make a note of your objection,” he said. “Depending on your behaviour going forward, Amaranth, we may reopen your case and reconsider.”

  “I’ll play nice,” I said simply.

  “Then this hearing is adjourned,” Mr. Briggs replied, rising from his seat.

  The rest of us followed suit, filing out of the meeting room that had been turned into a makeshift court. Stanford stopped me and gestured for the other Wards to continue on. I eyed her suspiciously as she cleared her throat.

  “Two unreasonable punishments you’ve taken on the chin? Why?” she asked flatly.

  “They weren’t that unreasonable,” I said with a shrug. “I thought my probation was already until they kicked me out or I graduated, there’s basically no change. I guess it sucks about the tour thing, but I’ll just hide in my room; no big deal. Or really I guess I can just hang out with my girlfriend, that’d be nice. Besides, I did sort of mess up ignoring Clockblocker.” She sighed.

  “I respect you taking responsibility, I just wish the PRT was a little more reasonable.” She checked her watch. “How have you been? I was informed you were involved fighting Behemoth.”

  “I was, nothing big though.” Well, the massive blast that skeletonized him, but the director said to stay quiet. “But I’m doing okay, honestly. Dating, trying to do better at school, be a better Ward; it’s a lot of work, but it’s better than what I’ve been doing.”

  “And your still receiving counselling?” I gave her a nod. “Good. And I’m glad to hear you’re doing well Amaranth, you deserve a break after what you’ve been through.”

  “Thanks,” I said. “Anything else? I want to get ready.”

  “No, go have fun,” Stanford said, giving me a smile. “We’ll check in soon.”

  I nodded again, then headed back to my quarters. The hearing had been fine, all things considered. Sure my probation was going until I was a full hero, but that was barely a year away. God...it was almost August; my birthday in a little more than a month. Frankly, the way things had been going, I was almost surprised that I was going to see it.

  I shook my head to try and clear my dark thoughts, focusing on the happier idea of dressing up for a date.

  “So how’d it go?” Vista asked as we walked along the road through the Docks, heading away from the Crater Lake. We were just north of the orange and red zones.

  “Pretty good,” I replied. “Went up to Teapot Hill, just...hung out, walked around, chatted. Then we went home, watched a movie, and went to bed. Nothing big, but it was nice.”

  “Does sound kind of nice,” she said. “You went to bed...together?”

  “Sure,” I said, shrugging. “I think I found the one thing I like about being short: little spoon.” She looked at me and made a face.

  “Gross,” Vista complained.

  “What’s gross about cuddling?” I retorted.

  “Oh so it’s not a—”

  “No,” I cut her off, cheeks heating. “No. She just...holds me, that’s it; clothes on, all kosher.”

  “Okay yeah maybe that sounds nice,” she mumbled. I saw she was growing red too.

  “What’d you do?” I asked, desperate to talk about something else.

  “Just homework,” Vista replied with a sigh. “Going to a movie tonight, might be kind of fun.”

  “Yeah?” I said. “Any ideas of what you’re seeing?”

  “Bloodstain Child,” she said, a grin growing on her face.

  “Horror,” I groaned. “Is that like, all you watch Vista? She shrugged.

  “Find me another genre that shows what people are really like,” she said. “Look not to like, whine about your taste, but romance movies are a bunch of Hollywood crap, you know? Cape movies don’t show what it’s actually like, sci-fi and fantasy are too kiddy, and anything with the army sucks.”

  “I’ll disagree about the ‘Hollywood crap’ comment,” I countered. “Sure stuff’s idealized, but it’s like...I want things to be like they are in those, y’know mostly anyway. Anyway what about comedies or like, adventure movies?”

  “Kiddy, like I said,” Vista retorted, getting an eye-roll. “It’s fine, I like horror movies plenty.”

  “Swear before I graduate I’ll find something you like,” I muttered. “Something that doesn’t involve me staying up til three in the morning because I’m afraid of the Silvan Shade stopping my heart.” That got a dry chuckle from her.

  “Wuss,” she said.

  “I try and use my lacking courage where it counts, like—”

  An explosion echoed up the streets, and looking south I saw a thin column of smoke rising into the air, rapidly growing darker. I took off running without a second thought, Vista charging after me chattering into her radio. I heard the response: disengage, wait for the Protectorate. I shared a look with Vista as the smoke grew thicker and we both ignored them, continuing to sprint. At least I could count on one person to know when rules didn’t matter.

  Three Vista-shortened blocks on, we finally found the culprits: a quintet of men in black, military-style uniforms. I almost thought they were Coil’s soldiers, til I saw the flash of a wolfsangel. Nazis. They were loading stuff into the back of a battered, armoured truck, but soon stopped as they spotted us and scrambled to get into their vehicle.

  Vista reached out a hand and spread her fingers as their tires squealed. At the same time, she slapped my shoulder and pinched with her other hand. I saw the ground in front of us warp and charged towards the truck, my strides giving me meters while their shrieking rubber only gained them inches. Disabling vehicles wasn’t something I’d exactly been trained to do, but I dove under the chassis and reached up, grabbing a spinning thing that looked important.

  I barely avoided flinching as the long rod tore itself apart when I clamped down. Steel shredded with a scream, and the truck’s wheels stopped spinning. I clambered out from under it as the Nazis jumped from the truck and started running. They barely made in ten feet before a cloud of thick, black nothing covered the road.

  Vista joined me by the truck as Grue laid into the Nazis, ducking in and out of his cloud as he rained haymakers on them. They had all fallen out of sight within thirty seconds, and he turned towards us, slowly approaching.

  “Close enough Grue,” I said when his darkness touched our toes. He paused, staring silently, a trickle of black pouring from under his demonic mask. “What?”

  “We gonna have a problem?” Grue asked roughly.

  “I’m sticking to the rules,” I countered, shaking my head. “I’m going to guess this wasn’t a random smash and grab though, hm?” No way the Undersiders would send someone otherwise.

  “If you’re not here for me or them, back off,” he rumbled as sirens began to blare on their approach.

  “Protectorate’s coming,” I said with a shrug. “I think you’re the one that needs to back off, Grue.”

  He growled, but slowly walked backwards until he vanished into his cloud. By the time Adamant arrived on the bike he was borrowing, the darkness had faded, revealing five cuffed, unconscious Nazis for the picking. The PRT van was just behind Adamant, and we helped him get the gangsters into the back. Adamant spoke briefly with the driver, then joined me and Vista as they took off, crossing his arms.

  “You’re not supposed to be here, Wards,” he said gravely.

  “It was an emergency sir,” I replied. “We were closest. If there had been capes, we’d have backed off and waited, promise.” I wasn’t sure how true that was, but it wasn’t like he had a lie detector.

  “Amaranth’s right,” Vista backed me up. “Sorry Adamant, but you were going to be too long. If we’d waited, they would have gotten away. We’re only in the orange zone though, it’s still fairly safe here, right?”

  “Back to your patrol,” Adamant said sharply. “And please stick to your routes, they’re there for a reason.”

  We shared a look and turned around, heading back up the road we’d run down to get here. It wasn’t like we had long left in our patrol, but now I was more than a little irritated. We’d been right there and they still didn’t want us responding? Ridiculous. I’d wait and see if any trouble came out of this, but I wasn’t sure how keen I was on following that party line.

  I sighed; a day from my hearing and I was already breaking the rules again. I doubted the heroes would ever believe I was actually trying to follow them but...well, sometimes they just had to be broken. If it came down to my job or saving someone, that was an easy decision to make.

  Hopefully it was one I wouldn’t have to make.