As a digital entity, Dragon was extremely good at noticing and analyzing patterns. She could comb through a mountain of data in seconds and predict the weather, criminal behavior, and what someone was going to eat on a particular day of the week.

  So, when the Canadian Tinker was notified by the PRT that Seraph had passed on a message via Tattletale, she knew that the day was about to get very interesting. Well, more interesting than it already was, what with all the preparations for Leviathan’s upcoming attack.

  And she was right. Being handed the details about a precog powerful enough to predict Endbringer attacks to a hundredth of a percent? That’s a bigger game-changer than what she and Colin had been working on.

  Speaking of her fellow Tinker, to her dismay, the appearance of the new Parahuman has had a devastating effect. Although their collaboration on the Endbringer prediction software is relatively recent, Armsmaster was quite proud of his contribution that accounted for atmospheric shifts. Unfortunately, they hadn’t been able to work on it as much as they preferred due to the numerous emergencies that had cropped up since Seraph appeared.

  With that same cape announcing that he could track Leviathan, then following that up with discovering a precog with a similarly potent ability, it was a double-blow to the man’s ego. Dragon wasn’t blind to her colleague’s flaws, but she was becoming quite concerned about his mental state.

  Despite his outward calm during the meeting about the Endbringer attack, she could see his internal struggle. A struggle that only increased once it became clear that Seraph would be the center point for the upcoming defense of the city.

  He actually requested a patrol exemption to spend more time in his lab, justifying it as preparation for Leviathan. So far, he has spent 48 hours hunched over the nanothorn weapon he intended to use on Endbringers. This wouldn’t have been so concerning if Colin weren’t also refusing to take breaks, seemingly pouring all of his frustration and spite on a tool that he might not end up having to use.

  With everyone so busy, no one could dedicate the time to actually speak with the local Protectorate leader.

  That’s why Dragon is so worried about him volunteering to speak with the precog’s family. She brought it up with Director Piggot, but the stressed woman snapped that she had no one else she could send to lead such an urgent mission.

  Miss Militia and Assault were still resting after a rather interesting meeting with villains at Somer’s Rock the previous night, the other Protectorate members were on patrol or working on their assigned tasks, and Legend was coordinating a response from other heroes all over the country.

  With the time-sensitive nature of the job, every second counted, as well. They couldn’t wait around for anyone else.

  Seraph’s timing in dropping this on their laps was simply atrocious.

  So, here she was, remotely piloting a smaller suit to accompany Armsmaster and two teams of PRT agents to visit the home of one Dinah Alcott. The girl, being the mayor’s niece and Triumph’s cousin, only made the situation more complex.

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  Fortunately, Colin still allowed Dragon to have access to his biomonitoring equipment. His heart rate was currently steady, but his adrenaline and cortisol were approaching dangerous levels.

  “Armsmaster,” she prompted as they arrived at the location. “Perhaps it would be better if I took the lead on this one?”

  “Why would you say that, Dragon?” he asked in a rather stiff manner.

  “You’re not in the best condition to interact with people, at the moment.” This was putting things lightly, but being too blunt might only make matters worse. “And I know that you’ve always found dealing with children challenging.”

  She saw him grit his teeth. “I’m perfectly capable of screening potential Parahumans, Dragon.”

  Dragon didn’t like the way he said that, but she’d run out of time to object. Armsmaster strode to the door and pushed the doorbell. After a few seconds, the door opened to reveal a petite, brown-haired woman in a nondescript blouse and skirt. Based on Dragon’s records, this should be Madelyn Alcott.

  Upon seeing her and one of the city’s most famous heroes, her eyes widened in surprise. Her expression grew even more worried after seeing the group of PRT agents, with their SUVs parked on the street of their upper-middle-class neighborhood.

  “Honey!” she called behind her. “Armsmaster and Dragon are here.”

  A faint “What?” came from further inside the house before Terry Alcott, who looked to be in his late 30s, came to the door. Like his wife, surprise and not a little bit of fear cross his features.

  “Armsmaster, Dragon, what can we do for you?” he asked in trepidation.

  “We’re here to discuss a very important matter with you, Mr. Alcott, Mrs. Alcott.” Colin’s professionalism shone through his delivery. Unfortunately, it didn’t alleviate the couple’s worry. If anything, they looked even more anxious. “May we come in?”

  “I, uh, of course,” the husband said after exchanging a look with his wife.

  Once they were all inside the cozy home, with the top of Dragon’s suit nearly scraping the ceiling, they were led to the living room. Along the way, she noticed a staircase leading to the second floor, and a bead curtain that offered a glimpse of the dining room and kitchen.

  They were offered seats, but both refused, explaining that their suits were too heavy.

  “So, what’s this about?” Mr. Alcott asked after he and his wife sat down.

  “We received a tip that your daughter might be a Parahuman,” Colin stated bluntly.

  “What?” Madelyn gasped. “There must be some mistake! Dinah is not a Cape!”

  “That is what we are here to confirm, ma’am,” Armsmaster answered with the same detached tone. “If she is not a Parahuman, then we will at least have ruled out the possibility. If she is, then your daughter is in grave danger.”

  “Where did you even hear about this?” Terry Alcott asked, his shock giving way to fury. “Have you been spying on us?!”

  “Please, Mr. Alcott,” Dragon interjected. “The information came from a confidential source, but –”

  “Confidential?!” The man rose to his feet, anger radiating from his flinty eyes. “Someone told you that my little girl is a Parahuman. I want to know who!”

  “It was Seraph,” a voice said from the top of the stairs.

  All eyes turned to the source, which was a waif of a girl coming down the steps.

  “Dinah!” Mrs. Alcott cried, rushing up to her daughter. “Please stay in your room. We’re having an adult conversation, right now.”

  “Sorry, Mom, but I can’t do that,” she said with a sad smile. “There’s a 76.893% chance that you’ll chase them away if I didn’t say anything.”

  “Dinah?” Mr. Alcott had also approached the little girl. “What do you mean?”

  “Exactly what I said, Dad,” she said. “You needed to know who told them about me. They would have kept quiet. Then you would have told them to leave. We don’t have time to waste.”

  “Miss Alcott?” Armsmaster spoke up. “Can you confirm that you are a Parahuman?”

  In response, the girl smiled. “I can do better than that. If I let my parents chase you out, there’s a 93.451% chance that you would have died in the next few days.”

  Everything froze at the declaration, which Dinah Alcott delivered with the innocence only a child could bring to bear.

  “Your plan won’t work,” she added, meeting Armsmaster’s gaze with unflinching confidence. “You’ll only get all of us killed if you try.”