Colin bent down over the computer, focusing on his predictive software.

"Trying something new?" Dragon asked.

"Trollhunter attempted to spoof the software today by actively downplaying his abilities, engaging in foolish actions to provide a false baseline."

"What happened?"

"I won," Colin replied. "But it was because I also trusted my instincts. He did succeed in temporarily reducing the predictive algorithm's effectiveness. So, I've decided to incorporate subroutines to attempt to determine if a real enemy is trying to downplay its capabilities and give me warning. In a serious fight, such a reduction in the programs predictive capabilities would be… a serious issue."

No longer. Now Colin had the Trollhunter's subconscious cues programmed in. But the fact that the teen had even thought to try that…

The Wards were mostly undisciplined. Between the interference of Youth Guard and their own deficiencies, they had been more or less useless in the war to keep the Bay out of the hands of the various villainous groups.

But for all that they socialized a bit much with the other Wards (Director Piggot had declined Colin's suggestion that the two would be better off living on base where they could better focus), they had a focus that Colin found familiar, a focus that even some in the Protectorate missed. Their exercise matches were just that, no casual games. Claire's focus on her… Trump ability, was impressive and she and Merlin were among the rare few Trump's who could modify their abilities, and she had a focused… ruthlessness in using her abilities.

If Vista had listened to Trollhunter's four rules, she might have not been injured by the Butcher. They drilled sufficiently, if not as much as Colin did, and it was… Refreshing working against a Brute who brought both strength and skill to the training floor. Without his predictive software, Trollhunter had fought him to a draw on several occasions and beaten him outright, twice.

"Trollhunter and Shadowdancer are very skilled," Colin continued. "They would be wasted working with the Wards, instead of the mentor program with the Protectorate."

"I expect that the Teeth wish they were," Dragon said.

Colin nodded. And the fact that the two are working with the Protectorate was a feather in our cap. He was honest—his role had been relatively minor, but their arrival had been portrayed as the cavalry showing up, something that both Shadowdancer and Trollhunter seemed to have no difficulty accepting.

"It is odd, though," he continued. "They have no interest in most merchandising or PR activities, although they do enjoy meeting people. I'm told that Shadowdancer was reduced to stuttering when Kyle brought up the plan to start selling Shadowdancer branded pajamas."

"And Merlin?"

Colin snorted. "His response… 'If I wanted the adulation of the mob, I would have become the king's jester instead of his wizard'."

Dragon snorted. "From the reports I've seen… that's Merlin."

"Still… Without his assistance," Colin shrugged. "We would still have no hope of freeing the victims of the Grey Boy loops."

"Yes."

"But he's not entirely helpful. When Kid Win went to him to ask for a 'spell to help my dyscalculia' he started him meditating. Meditating." Colin snorted. Chris didn't need meditation, he needed determination to press through his issues.

"Has it had an effect?" Dragon asked.

"You mean, is he in M/S confinement? No. The only thing I've noticed is that his lab is slightly less messy."

Dismissing that thought from his mind, Colin gestured at the program. "As you see, here I've added a learning routine, that alerts me to variables in the enemy's action, especially if they appear to be trying to deceive me about their true skill…" As Dragon contributed to the discussion, Colin once again found comfort in his Tinkering.

After all, it always made sense.

"It was…" Claire was pacing in Merlin's lab. "Like I was about to touch a hot stove. I was going to try to see… you know, look back into Gregor's past to see if I could find out what happened, and it was just this sense of… Danger. Like something really, really bad would happen."

"No images?" Merlin asked.

"No." Claire shook her head. "Nothing."

"Well now," Merlin stood up and walked to the window overlooking the city. "That is interesting."

"What could it mean?"

"Case-53s have lost any memory of their past lives." Merlin paused. "But they keep enough memory to function. Usually they have language, knowledge of how to move around, even some knowledge of how to function in society. It's just their personal memories that have been lost." Then he drew a symbol in the air. "And of course, they are all… Branded."

He glanced back at Claire. "Tell me apprentice, does that sound natural? Powers may be, ah," Merlin chuckled. "Bullshit, but they also vary greatly—save in this case."

"You mean, some secret conspiracy like Void keeps talking about on PHO?" Claire shook her head. "How could people not know about it?"

"Why you yourself had the answer," Merlin said. "Danger, so sudden and close that you pulled back immediately. I daresay very bad things would have occurred had you gone ahead."

"Then we have to find out who, and reveal them, if they're doing—"

"Sit!" Merlin commended, and Claire sat. "First of all, why?"

"They're—"

"They may be, if they truly exist, be releasing parahumans onto the street, true. But do you know why?"

"No!"

"Very well. What if these are criminals? The worst of the worst, given another chance?"

"What if they're innocents!" Claire glared at her hands.

"They could be, but what I'm trying," Merlin glared at Claire, "to impart into your clearly too-hard head, is that you know revealing whatever it is you might reveal would have been bad, but not why." He picked up a vial, and stared at the slowly shifting fluid within it. "Charging ahead is fine—if you know your target. But if you do not… then waiting and learning is wise."

"I can't even ask Dinah," Claire muttered.

"Why not?"

"Because after that stupid DEA guy, they are recording all of her answers and questions. Can you imagine what would happen if I asked about a secret conspiracy and she validated it?" Claire shook her head. "Everyone would know and if that's a bad thing…"

"And now you're thinking like a wizard." Merlin nodded.

"I wish I had Dinah's power," Claire muttered.

"Do you now?" Merlin shot her a gaze. "You are braver than I."

"What?"

"One day, she may ask a question. The answer will be: Chance of your beloved child dying this day: 99 percent." Merlin shook his head. "No, I do not envy that poor child for her curse." He glanced at Claire. "Now, off with you. You have another meeting."

"I—what meeting?"

"Why, you fled so quickly that you never did have a chance to inform Kyle as to what style of pajamas you would grant your approval to… So I rescheduled your meeting."

"I—Merlin! Why… Kids are going to be wearing those!"

"Why of course. Given your age, the Protectorate could hardly be expected to issue a line of lingerie."

"You—oh, you… You…" Claire turned and stomped out of the room.

She would go to Kyle, and since she couldn't take it out on Merlin, she'd take it out on him!