"Merlin," Claire said as she appeared in his lab.

"Are you supposed to be up, young lady?"

"No. I ported from the infirmary." Claire shivered. "I need to talk to you."

"Ah," Merlin gestured for Claire to sit down. "About what you saw."

All of them dying, dying from world to world, in fear—Claire closed her eyes as she sat on the chair. Took a deep breath. Then another one.

"No." Claire looked up at him. "At least not yet. Can you ward us from parahuman powers."

"Most, yes."

"Not most. All. Not just sensory powers, what about precogs like Dinah."

"I can make the attempt…" Merlin shook his head. "But there is no certainty in thi—"

"There ha—" Claire stopped from where she'd almost rising. Finally, she looked at Merlin. He was staring back at her.

"Yeah?"

"You are terrified." He didn't sound mocking. "More terrified than I have ever seen you."

"I am," Claire said. "I don't…" She decided to risk it. "Remember what you said about the Apocalypse?"

"Yes. You know."

"Yes, and if the wrong being finds out, it'll happen here."

"I could call Dinah—"

"No!" Claire shouted. "No parahumans! Not Dinah, none!" She found herself starting to hyperventilate. Suddenly, there was a vial at her lips.

"Drink this." Claire took the drink, swallowing it and feeling her heart start to slow.

"Thanks." Then she looked around. "Where's Amelia…"

"With her sister. Vicky attempted to bridge the gap between her and her mother, but now her mother is holding saving her life against Amelia. The rest of the family got involved, and I was told that the discussion was very energetic. They're now watching a movie."

"What movie?"

"After action reports of the Slaughterhouse Nine. Amelia has found herself quite interested in… Crawler, is it? She is thinking of finding a way to copy his adaptive capabilities for her own use."

Oh, boy. Claire decided to push away from her own utterly horrifying revelation for a moment. "Merlin… Have you considered that maybe Amelia needs some… Limits?"

"Yes. She needs to find them herself. You will note that she is working on things that are controllable, and has been spending time with some of the ethical readings I gave her. It's a difficult transition, between surrendering your will to what others feel you should do and taking charge—and responsibility for—your own decisions."

Like me. If Merlin wouldn't…

"I need you to come with me. I'll get Jim and we'll talk to Director Piggot." Claire made her decision. I hope it's not a bad one.

Sitting in front of Emily Piggot, Claire took a breath and before the older woman could speak, started. "Director Costa-Brown is protected from parahuman powers, right?"

"Yes, by every method we can use, many of which aren't known to me," Director Piggot said.

"And she's not a parahuman. I need to have a meeting with her. Now."

Director Piggot frowned. "I have agreed to have this meeting without Armsmaster present, but demands like that—"

"It's…" Claire looked over at Jim and Merlin. "It's not… I found out something. When I was fighting Leviathan. I need to tell her about it, but if the wrong person, anyone finds out, it would be…" She licked her lips. World after world burning… "B-bad… The more people who know the-the—"

"Claire?" Jim's voice sounded like it was coming from the far end of a tunnel. Her skin started prickling. "Claire!"

"I—" The reptilian stood in the sun and gave thanks for the spirit that had granted it the power to defend its children—the being that would mur—"Ah!" Claire gasped. There was a PRT tech holding a sensor to her neck.

"Looks like a minor panic attack, Ma'am…" Director Piggot gestured and he nodded and left.

"I'm, I'm okay." Claire took a deep breath. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not!" Jim said, a growl entering his voice. "Claire, we can help—"

"I can't tell anyone more than once, it's that dangerous. If the wrong people find out, it'd be worse than another Endbringer."

Director Piggot frowned, then nodded. "Whatever the objective facts of your claims, you believe." She paused. "Director Costa-Brown will be available here for a short period to discuss refugee affairs. She has her own security detail equipped with the… tools that you seem to feel necessary." Director Piggot paused. "Shadowdancer, I suggest that you prepare yourself to be succinct. The Chief Director is a very busy woman and is unlikely to give you more than ten minutes of her time."

Oh, that'll be enough. She would either believe Claire in a minute or not at all… or Claire would find out that Scion was aware of what she'd done as a golden light ended them all.

As a little girl she'd loved playing minefield on her mom's computer.

Here she was, playing it again.

Only without any undo button.