8.07

Shadow Stalker. It was Sophia Hess. The realization hit me like a physical blow. Was Emma a cape, too? No, she’d been around other capes, times when she’d be in costume if she had powers. But those times… Shadow Stalker had been at the mall, the fundraiser. Was Emma her plus one? Did Emma know about Sophia? A sick feeling told me she did. Emma probably found out before high school, while I was at camp. The drama of the cape community, Emma would have turned on me, become Sophia’s confidante. A cliche, but they had their basis.

Armsmaster hauled me up, his grip painfully tight. He marched me towards Legend and Miss Militia. He’d lost his arm, Panacea’s work? “What are you doing here?” he roared. I’d apparently escaped my restraints, caught peeping on a blue tag, Shadow Stalker. Unmasked. “Who is she?” Legend asked. “Skitter, Undersiders, Master-5, bugs only,” Miss Militia replied. Did Sophia know who I was? She’d heard me talk, hadn’t she? “Nobody explained anything,” I said. “Hospital personnel aren’t permitted to talk, liability,” Miss Militia echoed. “Panacea did,” I said. “New Wave, not official,” Armsmaster said, an excuse for Legend. “She’s the only one who would talk to me!” I raised my voice. “Keep your voice down,” Legend warned, “Or it severely curtail what options you have left.” Respect? For Sophia?

“What are they?” I asked. “Birdcage, if you used the Endbringer situation to your advantage,” he said. Ridiculous. This was Sophia. “It was an accident,” I said. “Skitter’s an adept liar,” Armsmaster warned. “Another option, join the Wards,” Legend offered. “No,” I said, immediately. With Sophia? No way. “I’d sooner go to the Birdcage.” My contempt for heroes was growing. “Is there a third option?” I asked. “You do not get to negotiate!” Armsmaster shouted. “The only authority you have is the authority people give you,” a familiar voice said. Grue. “You’re alive,” he said. “Is Tattletale okay?” I asked. “I’m at about ninety percent,” she said.

“If you divulge the confidential information, your team could face the same penalties,” Miss Militia warned. “So you want us to leave a teammate in your custody?” Grue asked. Teammate. He’d called me that. Regent looked worse for wear, Bitch was rigid, repressed anger, Tattletale was on crutches. “Collateral,” Miss Militia said, the final option. “Generally reserved for capes we can trust,” Armsmaster added. “Explain?” Grue asked. A past case, a villain revealed his face to the other cape, so abuse of knowledge would be mutually damaging. “That doesn’t work either,” I said. “You’re making this difficult,” Legend said. “Knowing Skitter, she has her reasons,” Grue said. “She always does,” Armsmaster said.

“Let me make my case?” Tattletale asked. “I need more details on this group,” Legend said. “Tattletale, master manipulator, Thinker 7,” Armsmaster said. “Seven? I’m flattered,” Tattletale grinned. “Reason enough to end this now,” Armsmaster said. “Miss Militia? Escort them away?” Legend asked. Miss Militia materialized a gun. “Start a fight here, it’s an end to the truce,” Grue warned. Trickster was recording. “Let’s walk,” Miss Militia said. “No,” Grue challenged. “If I could just say my piece,” Tattletale started. “Quiet,” Armsmaster interrupted. “Whatever. Grue, let’s go,” Tattletale said, “We’ll handle this, Skitter.”

When they were out of earshot, Legend said, “Pick one or I’ll choose.”

This working? The armbands crackled. Tattletale was broadcasting, Miss Militia pointing a gun at Grue. “Free speech is a wonderful thing, isn’t it?” Tattletale said. “Armband, pause announcement,” she ordered. “Let’s negotiate,” she said, “Shoot us, and confirm you’ve got something to hide. Two, I do my announcement, truce ends. Three, release the girl.” “You could be bluffing,” Legend said. Tattletale cited a break in casualties during the Leviathan fight. “Skitter’s right here, she’s not dead,” Tattletale said. “My armband broke,” I said. “Or did someone break it?” Tattletale looked at Armsmaster. She accused him of manipulating the fight, using an EMP to disable my armband. “This is nonsense,” Armsmaster said. “Check the armband,” Tattletale repeated.

Armsmaster lunged, Legend hit him with a laser. “It was for the greater good,” Armsmaster said, no shame. “You don’t know everything,” he said, “She’s not who you think she is.” “Grue, shut him up,” I said. “She’s a wannabe hero,” Armsmaster said, “Said she was a hero, that you Undersiders mistook her for a villain.” He revealed our meetings, my supposed betrayal. “Is this true?” Grue asked Tattletale. “Yeah,” she confirmed. I backed away, nobody stopped me. I ran, no place to go.