"We need to talk."
Maggie's gang faced her, all but Zoridel, who hadn't been invited to this particular meeting. Maggie drew herself up to her full height, trying to seem confident and brave, though in reality she was anything but. Everything was uncertain now. Everything she'd been working for for the past three years could go up in flames in an instant.
At any moment.
"Our location has been compromised," she explained. Only Duncan reacted with any surprise at this statement. Yasmin and Chester already knew, of course, as did Eminya, who'd had the good sense—or perhaps selfishness—to stay shut in her room until the confrontation was over. But Kevin's lack of surprise only cemented what Maggie had already suspected—that he had heard the intruders coming, and, hating the fact that this knowledge was only available to him due to his powers, had done nothing.
If it weren't for Kevin's exceptional hacking and computer skills, she would have kicked him out of the gang a long time ago.
"I don't know if or when the Renegades will be back," she continued. "Earlier today, an investigative team followed Eminya here, in efforts to track down Yasmin. I don't know how they knew the two of you were connected, but that's not a good sign." She glared first at the younger girl, then at the older one. "The first Renegade to arrive saw Yasmin and Chester. The other three saw only me. I told them that I live here, and they realized that they couldn't search my place without a warrant. But for all we know, they could already be on their way over here with a warrant."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Duncan spoke up, eyebrows raised. "The first Renegade here saw Yasmin? I thought you said Yasmin was who they were looking for."
"Maggie knew him," Chester interjected. "He's her friend."
Maggie felt her face flush as Duncan, Eminya, and even Kevin all fixed their eyes on her. "You're friends with a Renegade?" Duncan asked.
"I—kind of, yeah, we—we've hung out a couple times." She forced herself to keep meeting Duncan's eyes. "He doesn't know about—about our gang, or our plan, or anything. I told him we were just a bunch of kids from the Prodigy Children's Home who didn't want to live there anymore. But I don't know how much he bought it… and I don't know if we can trust him not to tell the rest of the team about Yasmin." She wished she could. She wanted to be able to trust Max. But she couldn't blame him if he sold Yasmin out. Catching criminals was his job, after all, and Yasmin was definitely a criminal.
As was she.
"So." She clasped her palms together. "Bottom line is, this place isn't safe anymore. We need to find someplace new to store all of our supplies, and find a time to move everything when no one will see us."
"Impossible," Kevin spoke up flatly. "If they already know we're here, they're going to have people posted around this place day and night, right? Watching for suspicious activity? We're screwed."
"I… kind of agree with Kevin," Eminya admitted. "If they're watching us, and they see us constantly moving stuff out, they'll know we've got something we don't want them to see. Which will just make them really curious about what it is. Whereas if we just stay here, going about our normal business, and they see us going in and out occasionally, they won't have any reason to be suspicious, since Maggie already told them people are living here."
"Okay, well, either way, Mr. 'I hate being a prodigy so much I'm just going to pretend I'm not one,' you need to start stepping up to the plate a little," Maggie directed her words at Kevin. "You have super-sensitive hearing. That's a good thing. It's helpful. It's your job to inform us if you hear anyone coming."
"Or I could just invest in security cameras," Kevin mumbled.
Maggie huffed. "You have a perfectly good superpower. Stop wallowing in self-pity and use it."
"So that's the plan?" Duncan didn't sound convinced. "Just stay here like sitting ducks and wait for the Renegades to come find us and all our supplies?"
"Do you have a better idea?"
Duncan was silent. So was everyone else, trying to think of ways to escape scrutiny while keeping themselves and their stuff in the theater.
"What about employing our allies as guards?" Yasmin suggested. "Invite them to come stay here with us, just for these last couple weeks until the parade. Just as backup in case the Renegades do show up. They're all really good at fighting."
Maggie felt a sickening lurch in her stomach as she imagined Max stepping into the hallway at the back of the theater again, this time only to be met by Genissa Clark. Frostbite was as brutal as her alias implied—she'd have no problem whatsoever killing anyone who stepped onto the premises without permission.
"I don't think that's necessary—" she began, but as she looked around, she saw that all of her teammates were nodding. Even Kevin, who was more afraid of Frostbite's gang than he was of claps of thunder—which was saying something.
"That's brilliant," said Duncan. "Our allies all know how to fight. We don't. They'll keep us and our supplies safe should worst come to worst."
"But we don't want to get in a fight," Maggie argued. "That'll only raise alarm and suspicion."
"Better than losing all our supplies right before the big day," Chester pointed out. "Also, I think we should tell the new girl. The Sea Witch."
"Zoridel?" Maggie had purposely left Zoridel out of this meeting, as she still couldn't be certain of her loyalties. "We don't know if we can trust her."
"I bet we can trust her more than a group of Renegades who could come barging in at any moment," said Chester. "Don't you think it's smart to have as many of us as possible?"
"Unless they just arrest all of us at the same time," said Kevin. "Then we're hopeless."
"But they won't," said Eminya. "Because they can't. Yasmin's the only one they have any solid evidence on; the rest of us haven't done anything wrong. Nothing we've been caught for, at least." She sighed. "As much as I'm not a fan of our allies, I do think it makes sense to let them in on this. They used to be Renegades. If someone shows up, they'll probably know how to handle them better than any of the rest of us."
"I used to be a Renegade," Maggie reminded her. "I stayed on longer than they did. And the organization's so different now from how it used to be, I don't even think it matters. It's not like Frostbite's gang is just going to automatically recognize any Renegade who strolls in here."
"But a Renegade might recognize them," Eminya countered. "They may not have gone out on the best note, but they were a celebrated team once, right? It might be enough to give someone pause, at least."
Maggie looked out at her teammates, all of whom seemed to be in agreement with the idea of involving their allies. "Fine," she relented. "But no complaining if they start screwing everything up around here. And you are not allowed to discuss the plan with them." After a moment's consideration, she sighed and added, "And I guess we'll invite Zoridel here too. She's at least as much a part of the gang as they are."
Maggie dismissed the meeting, already thinking ahead to the unpleasant task of contacting their allies, and trying not to think about the real reason she wanted Zoridel on board. Two things the Sea Witch had said during her interview stood out to her: she was good at hand-to-hand combat, and she wasn't into killing innocent people. She'd be a good person to have around if Genissa and her goons got out of line. A good person to protect Max and his teammates, if need be.
Not like Maggie really cared what happened to his teammates, especially that jerk who'd tried to mess with her mind. She'd recognized the manipulation almost as soon as it had started—thoughts that weren't hers, or at least didn't match up with the kinds of thoughts she usually had. It was similar to what Callum had done those two times, but at the same time oh so different, because all Callum had ever done was encourage her mind to marvel at the wonder and beauty of things. Which had been darn annoying, for sure, but it was a whole lot better than trying to force her to give up her secrets.
Worse than that, though, had been how she'd completely lost control. Started crying, of all things. And Max had seen. Max…
He won't tell, she tried to assure herself, even as with every heartbeat, her mind whispered, He will tell, he will tell, he will tell.
"D'you think he'll tell?"
She turned around to see Yasmin standing behind her, watching her with a cautious expression.
"I… don't know," Maggie answered honestly. "I really don't know."
"How do you two know each other?"
She shrugged. "Long story."
"Is there…" Yasmin shifted from one foot to the other, staring down at the black wooden floor. "Is there anything we can do to make sure he doesn't tell? I don't mean do anything to him, obviously, but, like, I don't know… maybe I could carve something for him? As a thank-you-for-not-turning-me-in gift?"
"You mean a bribe?" Maggie said dryly. "That would probably make him more likely to turn you in."
"Oh." Yasmin's face fell. "So…" she fidgeted with the bottom of her shirt, sawing a small hole through the hem. Maggie doubted she even knew she was doing it. No wonder Yasmin needed new clothes ten times more often than anyone else. "Is it… dangerous for me to be here? For the plan, I mean? Should I… go somewhere else?"
Maggie regarded her in surprise. Yasmin was asking if she should leave? Coming up with the idea herself instead of waiting for Maggie to kick her out?
What was perhaps even more surprising was that Maggie hadn't been planning on kicking her out. She should. She knew it would be safer that way, safer for herself and the plan and the rest of the gang. But she couldn't help replaying the way Yasmin had jumped out of nowhere to protect her when she'd thought Max was going to harm her.
"I don't really think that'll be necessary," she said slowly. "If he tells everyone he saw you, they'll come search this place no matter what. If he doesn't, they'll have no reason to come back. Besides, we need you for the plan."
Yasmin's worried expression brightened with hope. "So I can stay?"
She nodded. "Just don't blow it."
Maggie kept her eyes peeled for signs of Max and his team members as she left the theater and made her way across town, toward the area characterized by ritzy hotels and apartment buildings with exteriors that weren't crumbling and faded. She'd only been here twice before, and both times, the visits had filled her with the same sense of apprehension and dread as she felt now.
She took the elevator up to the twentieth floor of Crestwood Apartments, where she tried to look inconspicuous as she strolled down the gilded hallway and came to a stop at Apartment 2028. Gritting her teeth, she raised her knuckles to the door and knocked.
Frostbite's cold blue eyes peered out at her a moment later. Upon seeing Maggie, her eyebrows knit together in an annoyed frown. She opened the door to let Maggie in, slamming it behind her the moment she was over the threshold. "What are you doing here?"
"Made any progress with Flamethrower yet?" she couldn't help asking sardonically, remembering Frostbite's assertion that she was somehow going to recruit the most wanted villain in the city to help them wreak havoc on the parade.
Frostbite raised her eyebrows. "I don't think you came all the way here just to ask me that. What else is going on?"
"Some Renegades stumbled across our theater earlier today. Combing all the abandoned buildings just to see if any crooks are hiding out anywhere," Maggie lied smoothly. "A couple of us were there at the time, so they were curious about why a bunch of kids were hanging out in an abandoned theater. I suspect they might come back sometime to look around, and we're concerned about them possibly finding our stock." She cleared her throat, trying to look enthusiastic about the idea. "We were wondering if you guys would be willing to come stay at the theater up until the big day, to help us stand guard."
Frostbite's lip curled in disgust. "You want us to come stay at your… theater?"
"Honestly? No, not at all. But if you want everything we've been working toward for these last few years to succeed, then it would probably be wise to keep our supplies as guarded as possible." She hated admitting that she and her gang were pretty much powerless without the formidable superpowers and superior fighting skills of Frostbite and company, but she forced herself to remember that it didn't matter. Once Supernova Day was over, she would never be powerless again. And then Frostbite would have to ask her for favors.
"I'm not as convinced as you are that all your supplies are necessary," Frostbite sniffed. "My team and I can do quite a bit of damage simply by using our powers."
"But you and your team are only four people," Maggie reminded her. "There's only so much you can do on your own." Against her better judgment, knowing it would be a step too far, she added, "Remember, all four of you were beat single-handedly by—"
"I know," Frostbite interrupted icily. "Great powers, would you stop bringing that up? The way you talk about it it's almost as if you secretly admire her or something."
"Admire? What?" Maggie exclaimed, outraged. "I don't admire her; I hate her! But I also recognize that she's good at what she does. A lot of people are good at what they do. And forgive me if I think it's a little bit self-indulgent to believe that you and your minions can take on an entire city of prodigies with nothing but four superpowers at your disposal."
"Five," Frostbite corrected her. "We'll have Flamethrower."
"Yes, because the unknown villain who could turn you into a piece of charcoal in two seconds is obviously trustworthy."
The two of them stood glaring at each other for several seconds before Frostbite let out a yawn, as if already bored by the conversation. "Whatever. If you're really that concerned, I'll send Trevor over to stay with you guys. He ought to be intimidating enough."
Maggie hid a shudder. Trevor Dunn, a.k.a Gargoyle, was the definition of intimidating, with flesh that could turn to solid stone whenever he willed it to. That being said, it had already been proven twice that he wasn't invincible.
Not like beating him in a fight was an admirable feat or anything. She wouldn't be surprised if Gargoyle's brain was made of rocks.
Still, he'd make an impressive guard.
"Okay," she said. "Send him over as soon as possible."
"I'll send him when I send him," Frostbite retorted.
One down, one to go, Maggie thought as she took the elevator back down to the lobby of the apartment building. She'd have to contact Zoridel by phone, since she had no idea where the girl lived or how she spent her free time.
She pulled the cheesy cell phone out of her pocket and navigated to Zoridel's name in the contacts list, missing the impeccable voice-activated features of the communicator band she'd worn as a Renegade all those years ago. She sent a quick message, asking Zoridel to meet her at the theater in an hour, and received a response within minutes.
She was just turning onto Star Lane when somebody fell into step beside her. She glanced up, surprised to see that it was Zoridel. Had she just walked right past her without noticing?
"Hey," Zoridel greeted her. "What's up?"
"I'll tell you when we get inside," she muttered, forcing herself not to cast her gaze around for Renegades. For the first time, it struck her that bringing all these new people into the theater—especially the very noticeable Trevor Dunn—might actually harm more than help, raising suspicion if anyone happened to be watching the premises. But the Renegades could come barging in at any moment, and she supposed it was important to have the reinforcement on hand for when that happened.
They entered the dark hallway at the back of the theater, the same place Max and his investigative team had stood just hours before. Only Chester was there now, stepping out from the nearest dressing room as soon as Maggie closed the door behind her. "Sea Witch!" he exclaimed, and Maggie felt a twinge of jealousy at how obviously excited he was to see Zoridel. He never greeted her with so much enthusiasm.
Not like I care, she reminded herself. Chester was just an annoying little kid. A kid she would possibly never see again once she took control of Ace Anarchy's helmet and became the most powerful person on the planet.
"Hi Squirt," Zoridel greeted him with a smile. "Good to see you again."
"You too." Chester shot a jet of water up toward the ceiling, tilting his head back to catch it in his mouth. "Hey, I was thinking. You and me should do a demonstration together sometime. I squirt a bunch of water into a bowl or something, and then you stick your head into it and start breathing, and then—"
"Okay, we don't have time for this," Maggie cut him off. "Zoridel, the reason I asked you come is because I wanted to talk to you about moving in full-time until the parade." She explained what had happened with Max and his team, and Zoridel's expression grew more and more concerned.
"Of course I'm willing to do that," she said. "I'll do whatever you guys need me to do. But—I'm just curious, how exactly will me being here help?"
Maggie and Chester exchanged glances, and Maggie sighed. "We have a storeroom," she explained. "It's full of everything we're going to need to wreak havoc on the parade, and it would be very incriminating if anybody found it. One of our allies is coming over to protect it, but we just want you here as—as backup." She faltered. "And… as our first line of defense."
Zoridel's eyebrows knit in concern. "First line of defense?"
"The first time we met, you told me you were good at hand-to-hand combat and reading people. It's possible we'll need you for a bit of both. If anyone who's not supposed to be here shows up at the theater, you can use your people skills to try to convince them to leave. If that doesn't work… see if you can somehow incapacitate them before they run into our guard, because he'll probably end up killing them."
Zoridel's eyes widened. "Who's your guard?"
"His name's Trevor Dunn, alias Gargoyle. He can turn his flesh into solid rock. He used to be a Renegade, but quit when his team was going to be investigated for their questionable ethics in the field."
"Gargoyle," Zoridel murmured. "I've heard of him."
"He's only going to be here as a last resort," Maggie specified.
"And he's going to be guarding the storeroom? Where is that, exactly?"
Maggie fixed her with a hard stare. "If you ever tell anyone about this storeroom, you'll be the first one Gargoyle comes after."
Zoridel met her gaze steadily, her eyes not betraying even a hint of fear. "Duly noted."
"Come on." Maggie led Zoridel past the entrance to the stage, all the way down to the very end of the hallway, where an ancient wooden door stood cloaked in shadows. The door emitted an earsplitting creak as Maggie pulled it open, revealing a dark tunnel and a narrow concrete staircase. "It's down here," she explained, flipping the light switch.
"Nothing at all sketchy about following a self-proclaimed villain down cobwebby stairs into a creepy stone cellar," Zoridel remarked with a wry smile, but followed her all the same.
They turned right at the bottom of the stairs, where they were faced with another door, this one bolted shut with a heavy metal lock, the kind that required a key to open. Or, well, the kind most people would need a key to open.
Maggie focused her powers on the lock, reminding herself of the valuables stored behind it, and the mechanism inside the key hole instantly turned, the lock falling off into her hand. "You don't use a key?" Zoridel asked.
Maggie shook her head. The lock had been one of the first things she'd bought when she'd started amassing items to use the day of the parade, and for several months she'd kept the key with her at all times, the way she always kept her bullet. It was only once she'd started spending all her earnings on supplies that she'd decided to see if she could open the lock telekinetically, and once she'd found that she could, she'd ditched the key in Harrow Bay and resorted to using only her powers to get into the storeroom. It wasn't that she actually thought the other gang members would steal her key and rob the supplies, but one could never be too cautious.
Maggie flipped another switch, this one illuminating the room behind the door. The storeroom, which had once been used to store props and backdrops for the theater, was about twenty feet in length, and at least that wide, with nearly every square inch of floor space taken up by boxes, shelves, and piles and piles of what to Zoridel probably appeared to be junk.
It wasn't junk. It all had a purpose. Every single piece.
"So, yeah," she said after giving Zoridel a minute to look around. "That's the storeroom. These are the supplies. If the Renegades decide to search this place and find all this, our entire plan falls apart. Boom. Back to square zero."
They stepped back out of the room, and Maggie flipped the light off and re-locked the door. "The lock is a good precaution, but not foolproof," she explained. "There are plenty of prodigies, Renegade and otherwise, who'd be able to get past a simple lock. That's why we need Gargoyle. And you."
"And you're not at all worried that Gargoyle himself will just bust down that door and steal your supplies?" Zoridel asked.
Maggie grimaced. It was a thought that had crossed her mind more than once, but she didn't think it was too likely. Frostbite's gang may be the ones with the stronger superpowers, but Maggie's gang had more people. They needed each other to pull this off.
"Do you have a better idea?" she drawled.
"Actually, I think I do," Zoridel replied earnestly. "I think I can get the Renegades to stop looking for Yasmin. To stop being interested in this place at all."
Maggie's voice was heavy with skepticism as she asked, "How?"
"It's complicated," Zoridel answered. "It relies heavily on my people skills. It'll take a day or two for me to figure out all the details, but once I've sorted everything out I'd estimate I have a ninety-five percent chance at succeeding."
"Yeah? So what exactly do you intend to do?"
"I don't want to tell you just yet. But it will work. Trust me."
Trust me. Maggie didn't trust anyone, but she didn't tell Zoridel that. Instead, she just said, "I'll believe it when I see the proof. Until then, we'll continue with the original plan. And if your idea runs any risk of making things worse around here, forget it."