“Mr. Donner, what does responsible access to sensitive systems mean to you?”

  “Well… I like the idea of it. It sounds good. It’s catchy.”

  Wally and I walked until we reached a crosswalk just past the headquarters building. I glanced back, and sure enough, the twins were following at a distance, still staring daggers at me. Which wasn’t a great way to maintain their cover. I shrugged and decided to ignore them.

  We waited for the crosswalk signal to change, and then I urged Wally to follow me. As we crossed, I dialed an all too familiar number.

  “Hello?” said a deep voice on the other end.

  “Squid? Congrats on getting out, man! How’s life treating you?”

  “Half my VIPs are gone and I don’t think they’ll be back, but the club’s still turning a profit. In some ways this is less stressful. How about yourself?”

  “Well, that’s the real question, isn’t it? I was wondering if you can give me some advice on a tricky ‘relationship’ issue.”

  “Jett,” whispered Wally. “What are you doing?”

  I grinned. “One sec, Squid. Wally, just follow my lead. We’re gonna get me on a team.”

  “But Marin said—”

  “She said that because I didn’t have leverage. That’s about to change.”

  I briefly summarized to Squid what had just gone down at HQ, along with my half formed plan. Wally looked equal parts concerned and confused as I talked.

  “Hmm,” Squid said. “It’s risky, but you know what? Screw it. After that bullshit it’s the least they deserve, and your instincts are on point. They’re gonna keep finding excuses to keep you on the bench unless you force their hand. Just don’t make the timeframe too tight, and be ready to negotiate when it all goes down because they’re gonna be pissed. Here’s what I recommend…”

  I grinned mischievously as Squid told me exactly what I needed to do to make the waves I wanted. Tonight was going to be a night to remember.

  They didn’t want to cooperate with Jett? Fine. They could deal with Red instead.

  “I wish we could’ve at least brought Fu,” Wally muttered. The sky was getting dark, and the real Topside nightlife was starting to show itself. Neon signs lit up dazzlingly, and half the skyscrapers lit up with floodlights or projections. “You know I hate clubs and crap. Why are we doing this again? And why are you being all mysterious?”

  “We’re on a mission,” I said. I had finally hung up with Squid, and I had a list of notes tapped into my phone. Wally had his tablet with him—his old one—upon my request. “And we’re being followed. I don’t know how closely they’ll try to listen in on us, so just trust me and follow my lead.”

  “What kind of ‘mission?’”

  “Operation ‘Force Their Hands.’ Wall, be a dear and find me an influencer currently clubbing in this area. Female, about my age, cute, moderately successful, has gone viral a time or two, likes celebrity gossip, preferably single.”

  Wally’s jaw dropped. “What the hell, Jett? Isn’t that like, the exact opposite of the kind of person you’d want to date?”

  “Ugh no, I would never date her. But if she thought I might for a bit, it’d help.”

  Wally dove into his tablet, bewildered. “There’s a Marissa Kline checking in from a club called Chromatic. G-Reel channel is @TeaWithRissa. Over a million followers. Shones, am I stalking a girl? I promised myself I’d never do this.”

  “Good. Come on.”

  Club Chromatic lived up to its name, an almost painfully pastel and neon thing a few cells over from HQ, lasers and spotlights leading up to the entrance, EDM bass pounding. And from the looks of it, the interior was less subdued.

  “That’s… quite loud,” I admitted. “Will it be too much, Wall?”

  Wally curled his lip at the multi-hued abomination. “If I start to look ill, just hit me with some Feverflame. I’m sure it’ll feel better than looking at that.”

  “Ok then. One more thing. Code phrase is ‘Is it hot in here or is it just me?’”

  Wally looked at me blankly. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “That’s your signal to pull me out.”

  “Of what?!”

  “Just remember it.”

  It was early enough in the evening that the club wasn’t filled up yet. The bouncer studied us for a moment, particularly Wally’s legs. He looked at me, and I saw his eyes widen with what could have been recognition. He waved us through without a word. We got ourselves drinks and began to explore the place. I insisted that Wally limit himself to keep his mind sharp, which was hardly necessary advice; he’d never been much of a drinker.

  “What about you?” he asked.

  ?This will work, right, Habby??

  [Of course it will work. Alcohol is technically a poison, so Guardian’s Immunity will cleanse it unless you suppress it. In fact, alcohol will be particularly easy for you to break down because it’s flammable.]

  “I’m good,” I said to Wally. “I have a skill that’ll keep me sober. But I need it to look like I’m not.”

  “You are just getting weirder and weirder tonight, I swear.”

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  After a few minutes of aimless wandering, Wally spotted our target. She was seated at a booth with a gaggle of friends, apparently having a Girlz Night. And she was nauseating. Hair an almost neon shade of pink—not like Jessie’s more natural pink color, you can always spot a dye job. Her top, if that’s what you wanted to call it, was equally bright. She had her phone out, of course, and was taking single and group selfies at regular intervals.

  “Yep, that looks like our mark.” I pointed to a TV on the wall behind her table. “Ok, Wall. Highlight reel from the Corwin interview. On that monitor. Go.”

  “Shones, Jett, you watch too many movies. I can’t just do that instantly.”

  “How long will it take?”

  “At least thirty seconds.”

  I inched closer to Marissa’s table, still unnoticed, until Wally made the switch. Then I gestured at the TV and spoke way louder than necessary, slightly slurring my speech. “Oh, hey! There I am on TV again! Damn, Wally, I just can’t get away from me!”

  The girls at the table froze. They looked at me, around to the TV where interview me was showing my sensitive side, and then back to me. Marissa’s eyes locked on to me analytically, and I instantly knew that Girlz Night was over for her.

  She was now at work.

  “Oh, evening ladies!” I said, as if noticing them for the first time. “This place kicks ass, huh? You know, I’ve been up here for weeks but I still haven’t actually seen Topside. Thought I’d see what all the hype was about.”

  “Shut up,” said Marissa. “Are you Jett Fulgen? The Jett Fulgen?”

  “Me? Oh yeah. I’m Jett Fulgen. Red the street skidder, wrestled a giant cat, got pardoned, shook the mayor’s hand, made Lys Corwin cry on live TV, and the Grand City’s next big hero. That’s me. Why?”

  I spent the next two hours as the de facto king of Marissa’s table. I regaled the ladies there with mostly true accounts of my exploits on the pro skid circuit and as Red. Marissa pretended to ooh and ah, and she quickly and graciously agreed to cover both of our tabs. Wally sat sullenly off to the side, where one of Marissa’s friends kept trying to chat him up with little success.

  Marissa herself was pouring the flirting on hard and heavy, laughing just a bit too hard at my jokes and showing an odd fascination with the embroidered habanero on my hoodie, which she seemed to need to touch.

  “That’s my lecti,” I pointed out.

  “Whoa, your little spirit guy? Can I meet him?”

  “Maybe in a week or so. I still need to tier up a skill before he can appear to others.”

  “He’s so cute! But he looks a little small.”

  “This isn’t to scale. He’s definitely more impressive in person.”

  “Oh. Well, I’d love to see what I’m missing!”

  [Thank you, Jett. I appreciate that.]

  ?You really think she’s still talking about you? I thought you were good at double entendres.?

  “He always says that,” Wally quipped. “Then he says not to judge because it’s chili.”

  A couple of the girls blinked, the pun taking a moment to register, and then the entire table erupted in laughter. Wally sat there blushing with the “Shit, did I just say that?” look he always got whenever he squeezed off a good joke. I casually gave him an immolated finger, and then he grinned.

  Marissa casually tapped her phone screen as we talked, trying to make it look like she was idly browsing, even disinterested. But she was also holding her phone more upright and steady than was natural. She was filming everything I said, if not streaming it live.

  Which was perfect.

  I pounded back another shot of whiskey, exhaling carefully so it wouldn't be obvious I was basically breathing out exhaust from burning up most of the alcohol. Even so, the air in front of my face rippled slightly from the heat. I'd allowed just enough to remain in my system to convincingly flush my cheeks. Habby seemed masterful at this balance, and I got the sense it was acquired knowledge from Issa’s and Ember’s memories.

  “So, Jett,” Marissa said with a highly telegraphed hair toss. “What’s coming up next for you, huh? Any big future plans?” She batted her eyelashes fetchingly.

  [Are you sure you don’t want to pursue this woman?]

  ?Zip it.?

  She’d asked variations of that question a couple of times, and I’d quickly deflected, though with more hesitation each time. Squid was right. It created the impression I had a secret that I wanted to share but wasn’t allowed to, and I wasn’t quite drunk enough not to care.

  I figured I’d nibbled at the hook enough, and it was time to bite down.

  A quick micro-immolation made my hand warm as I wrapped it around Marissa’s shoulder and leaned in. She giggled fetchingly, but I saw GCreds in her eyes more than stars. “Ok,” I slurred. “I’m not supposed to tell anyone about this, but I like you, Marissa. Can I trust you to keep a secret?”

  “Of course,” she breathed, quivering with anticipation. I could barely keep a straight face. Wally’s eyes bugged.

  “So. G-Tech isn’t ready to announce it yet, but they’re about to assign me to a team. I’ll be out in the field, punching bad guys and saving kids, in four weeks tops. It’s gonna be a big deal. Two Guardians unleashed on the Grand City, officially.”

  “Wow. Even with Mantis still out there?”

  “I could wipe the floor with Mantis now,” I lied. “So keep watchin’ the news. You’ll see me again soon. But you didn’t hear that from me, right? This whole table. It’s our secret, right?”

  “Of course,” said Marissa, and her friends mumbled in agreement. I’d eat my amulet if that “secret” wasn’t already working its way through the like-share-comment mill as we sat there.

  “Whew,” I said, and I leaned in closer to Marissa. “Is it hot in here? Or is it just me?”

  Marissa gazed at me with half-lidded eyes and began to lean in as well. “Well, since you asked…”

  “Okay then!” said Wally, suddenly standing with a creak of metal. “I think you’ve had enough, Jett. Let’s get you back to base, huh?”

  “What?” I said. “No, I’m fine, I’m fine!”

  Wally gently helped me to my feet, and I staggered dramatically. “Whoa,” I said. “Room’s spinning. Maybe I overdid it.”

  “Sorry ladies,” Wally said as he threw my arm over his shoulder and started nudging me toward the exit. “Uh, sorcerers, am I right? They think they’re invincible!”

  That got some laughs, but one of Marissa’s friends stuffed something into Wally’s hand.

  “Whazzat?” I muttered as we left the club. I shook myself and removed my arm from Wally’s shoulder. “Seriously, what is that?”

  “Marissa’s number,” Wally said flatly. “Also another number. I assume that one’s for me.”

  “Well, we won all around, didn’t we?”

  “If you say so. You—you were about to kiss her. You seriously wanted to leave her hanging?”

  “Oh yeah. Give her something to wonder about.”

  “So what else did we ‘win?’ I didn’t see the point of any of that! All you did was lie! Who would even believe that?”

  I smirked. “Let’s wait and find out, shall we?”

  Wally and I sat at breakfast the following morning. He was still regarding me like I’d gone off my rocker, and maybe I had. I was cheerfully enjoying a breakfast burrito and the fact nutrition had stocked some decent hot sauces. I practically drowned each successive stratum of the burrito in ghost pepper goodness before taking a bite.

  “So seriously, are you going to explain what that was last night?” Wally asked, munching on cereal and eyeing me warily.

  “Wait for it,” I said.

  “For what?”

  “Is it blowing up?”

  Wally glanced at his tablet again. “Yes, it’s insane. Half the net is talking about it. But I don’t see how it’s going to—”

  “Wait for it,” I insisted.

  We ate for another minute in silence, Wally still glaring at me. Then Isabel Marin’s voice suddenly rang out across the cafeteria, piercing.

  “Jett Fulgen, what the hell did you do?!”

  I snapped my fingers. “There it is.”

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