“If you make me a decoy sample, I might be able to swap it out,” said Nova.
“Our efforts must go beyond learning the properties of this substance,” said Phobia, stepping into the halo of candlelight. “We must consider how it can be weaponized against our enemies.”
“I agree,” Ace murmured. “Our Nightmare presented this news to us as a problem to be overcome, and yet … I think you might have just told us of our salvation.”
“Salvation?” barked Honey. “Those tyrants want to strip us of our powers!”
“Indeed,” said Ace, “and their quest for power has led them to create what might be their own undoing. As Nova has said, they are as vulnerable to this weapon as we are. If we can find a way to weaponize it, as Phobia suggests, we can turn it against them.”
“Hold on,” said Nova. “Finding a way to protect ourselves is one thing, but even if we could get ahold of Agent N and find a way to use it against the Renegades … how is that any different from what they want to do to us?” She stared at Ace. “You started your revolution because you wanted autonomy and security for all prodigies, but this is just another form of persecution.”
“What do you propose, little Nightmare?” said Ace. “We cannot defeat the Renegades in a battle of skill. There are so many of them, and so few of us. They must be weakened if they are to be overthrown.”
“But if we neutralize the powers of all the prodigies who believe differently than we do…” She groaned, frustrated. “This can’t be what you had in mind. This can’t be what we’ve been fighting for. It would make us just like them.”
“No, it would not.” Ace’s voice cut through the catacombs. “This is a means to an end. We end the Renegades, and we rebuild our world upon their ashes. Fairness. Justice. Peace. These are ideals worth sacrificing for.”
“But you’re talking about sacrificing them. Their powers, their livelihoods…”
“They are the enemy. They have made their choices—just as Ingrid and Winston. We all must take responsibility for our decisions. We all must suffer the consequences. That is the only way for true justice to prevail.” Ace started to stand, bolstered by the strength of his beliefs, but he just as quickly slumped back into his chair. A fit of coughing overtook him and he buried his mouth into his sleeve.
Nova and Honey both started to move toward him, but Ace lifted a palm, signaling for them to stay back.
Nova wrung her hands, hating the sound of those wracking coughs. Her eyes began to tear at the sight of his fingers clawing the arm of the chair, fending off what pain she could only imagine.
He needed a doctor. He needed a hospital. He needed one of the Renegades’ healers.
But of course, that wasn’t an option.
“Perhaps you should lie down,” murmured Honey, once the fit had passed.
“Soon, soon,” said Ace, his voice rough. “Nova. Have you found anything more on my helmet?”
Nova stood straighter. This, at least, she had finally made progress on.
“Not yet, but my request to work in the artifact warehouse was approved. I start tomorrow. If the helmet is there, like the Dread Warden said, I’ll find it.”
And it had to be there. No artifact was more powerful than Ace’s helmet, which he had used to amplify his telekinetic abilities. Without the helmet, he could raise a book and a teacup easily enough, but he would struggle with lifting anything much heavier than a sofa.
With the helmet, however … he would be unstoppable. He could destroy the Renegades and everything they had built, almost single-handedly. The Renegades had gotten lucky when they defeated him last time using Max and his power absorption. The Anarchists wouldn’t fall prey to such a trick again.
“Good, good.” Ace exhaled. “Learn what you can about this Agent N, but do not lose sight of your main objective. Use the boy if you must.”
Nova blinked. “The Bandit?”
Ace wheezed. The coughing fit had left his face splotchy and red, and though his breaths were still rattling, he looked almost energized. “Does he have my helmet?”
“Um … I don’t think…” She trailed off.
Oh.
He meant the other boy.
“Your companionship with the Everhart boy remains one of the greatest assets you’ve acquired so far,” he said. “His name and family alliances come with their own sort of power, one we may need to exploit.”
“Yes, power,” said Honey, her eyes laughing in the candlelight. “I told you it was attractive.”
Nova glowered at her. “I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to … exploit Adrian. He’s the leader of my patrol unit, but we haven’t really … spoken a whole lot lately.”
It was a simple truth, but one that made her breath hitch.
Things had not been the same ever since the carnival, and Nova knew it was her fault. Adrian had tried to kiss her. For a moment, she had even thought that she might want him to kiss her. That she might like it.
But she’d blown it. She ran away. Literally ran. She couldn’t even remember what excuse she gave at the time, but she could clearly recall the rejection that flashed across his features.
He hadn’t made any attempts to kiss her since. He hadn’t asked her on any more semi-dates. He hadn’t tried to get her alone or bring her sandwiches in the middle of the night or stop by her house to see if she was okay. All those things that had seemed like such a nuisance before, but now …
Much as she hated to admit it, even to herself, she missed him. She missed the way he used to look at her. No one had ever looked at her quite the way that Adrian Everhart did.
“You are afraid…，” Phobia rasped. “Afraid to feel too deeply, afraid that the truth will—”
“Okay,” Nova interrupted, almost shouting. “Don’t need the evaluation right now, thank you.”
“Is there a problem?” asked Leroy. “You’re not fighting with your team, are you?”
She shook her head. “No, everything’s fine. We’ve just been busy with patrols, and I … I’m so focused on finding the helmet, and uncovering the Council’s weaknesses, and … lots of other really important reconnaissance-type things.”
“Ah, but, child,” said Ace, “we already know one of the Council’s greatest weaknesses.” He chuckled, and the sound made Nova squirm. “You have befriended the son of our enemies. Do not squander this gift. Earn his trust. Earn his respect.” He paused, before adding, “Earn his affection. And when the time is right, we will use him to considerable advantage indeed.”
Nova’s skin prickled at the thought of earning Adrian’s affection, but she forced herself to nod. “Of course. I’ll do my best.”
Her best. To find the helmet. To learn more about Agent N. To get close to Adrian Everhart. Her chest squeezed under the weight of their growing expectations.
She was doing her best, but at the moment, she was doing her best not to let her escalating panic show.
She could do this. She would not fail.
“I know, little Nightmare,” said Ace. “I have faith in you. And when you succeed, we will rise again. We will all rise again.”