Once inside, we were told to grab a seat; that someone would be with us shortly. We opted to sit by the window, as watching the marina was soothing. Bethany grabbed a menu and was perusing the offerings, her eyebrows scrunched together in thought.

“That’s not cheap, Gigantor. Why’s everything so expensive?”

The server had arrived and was setting down our silverware and glasses of water and smiled at Bethany. “That’s because nearly everything we sell here is hand made. We make our own wursts, our own bread, even our own cheeses and beer. I take it you’ve not been here before?”

Bethany shook her head. “No, I don’t really get out much. I moved here almost twenty years ago with my parents, and I think I can count on one hand the amount of restaurants I’ve been to. I order from places all the time, though.”

“I try to come once a year or so, usually during Oktoberfest or your Yule season. I love the holiday sausages.” I grinned at the memory of the spicy delicacies.

“I’ve been here a few times, too. It’s always been good.” Anna leaned onto my shoulder, a small smile on her face. “And now I get to share it with two of the most important people in my world.”

“Aww! That’s so sweet! I’m gonna give you three a few more minutes to look over the menu and discuss things, okay?” We nodded and she walked over to another table.

I relaxed a bit in my seat, looking out over the lake from the diner’s ideal location. Boats were being piloted around lazily in the warming late spring sun.

It was a good day.

“What’re you smiling about over there, Gigantor?” Bethany set her menu down and propped her chin up on her hand. “Thinking about what you’re gonna do to our little Anna?”

“Beth!” Anna whispered in a strangled voice. She looked down, rubbing her forehead. “What the fuck, man?”

I snorted softly, her reddening face and neck bringing back pleasant memories of the morning I woke up to her snuggled up to me, and draped an arm around Anna’s shoulders, pulling her close to me, still gazing out onto the lake. “Nah. I’m just…experiencing something for the first time, I think. I don’t know what you’d call it, but it feels nice. Before I met Lab, I’d never been out to eat with other people. Not really, anyway. With Lab, I always felt a sense of owing him for the meal, and we’d hurl insults or jokes back and forth, and I thought that was normal.” I shrugged. “This? This feels different. I don’t know how to explain it, but I know it feels good.” I smiled at the odd warmth rising inside me.

“It’s called family, Jack.”

I looked down, seeing Anna’s bright smile. “Huh. Never thought I’d experience that again,” I murmured softly.

The waitress returned a moment later, and took our orders. Beth had a simple sausage, bacon and egg breakfast; Anna decided to have waffles with cream, and I opted for a ham, egg and mushroom omelet.

We talked a bit more as we ate, and I learned that Bethany was from New Amsterdam originally. Her family had moved here a few years before her power awoke, and they’d decided to stay in a relatively quiet neighborhood, in a somewhat quieter city than they’d come from.

Her power was technically the same as Deigo’s, actually. She was able to create needles instead of rounded projectiles, and could use them with terrifying accuracy over a distance of some twenty feet. She revealed to both Anna and I that she was thinking about studying acupuncture therapy, and become an even bigger asset to the Cloud.

We both thought it was an excellent idea, and said as much. Hell, just the thought that she could use them from a distance was crazy cool.

After breakfast, we sat there, comfortable in each other’s presence, letting the meal digest. Bethany paid the bill, and we decided it was time to head back to the gym and get our training in for the day. I said my goodbyes to the pair of them, and watched them get on the bus. Turning around, I walked back to the rear of the diner and created a door to my room.

“Hello again, Mister Wernock. Would you have a moment to chat?”

I let my door dissipate as my stomach fell to the floor. I knew that voice.

I turned around slowly, seeing No-Face and three others arrayed behind him, blocking the alley. He was wearing a wide-brimmed hat and a scarf, occluding most of his face. “Of course, sir. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I do love that polite way you have about you, my friend.” He paused, tilting his hat back slightly to peer into my eyes. “Even if it’s forced, it is much appreciated.” He raised a hand politely. “I don’t wish to take up much of your time, as I know you’re a busy man. Especially with two beautiful ladies at your side.” The grin beneath the scarf seemed genuine, and I felt some life return to me.

“It’s a new development, to be sure, and in all honesty, I’m a little lost in the situation. It’ll work out, though.”

His baritone laugh cut through the alley, and even his attendants smiled. “I like your optimism. Anyhow. As I said, I won’t take up too much time. I merely wished to inform you that you have a watcher.”

I sighed. Fucking Brighthawk. “Brighthawk?” He nodded. “How close?”

“They were in the restaurant with you. Walked in just a moment after you did. It’s doubtful that you saw them.”

“But you did, didn’t you?” He nodded. I shook my head and sighed softly, knowing what was coming. “Fuck. What can I do for you, then? I’d like to know who they are, and I know that information won’t be free.”

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

I saw his eyes crinkle under his hat. “Smart. I’ll not waste time, then. I know you aren’t going it alone, Jackson. Tell me who you’re working with, and I’ll give you the information.”

I straightened, my head reeling. There was no way he could’ve known. I had to think fast. “If you know that sir, you already know who I work for. I will not lie to you.”

He nodded. “Of that, I am certain. You fear me, and for good reason. If you choose not to tell me, I won’t hold that against you. You may, for example, report this meeting to your superiors and put the onus on them, if you wish. It matters not to me. Well? Do we have a deal, Jackson?” He extended a loosely gloved hand.

“May I make a phone call?”

He spread his hands. “Of course! I know you want the watcher situation resolved quickly. There’s no telling what they’re relaying to Brighthawk.”

I nodded and retrieved my phone from its hiding spot in my room, dialing William’s number.

“Jackson?”

“I have a situation.” I explained what was going on immediately, and waited.

“I’ll meet with him. Open a door from my office to the top of the Mirleson building, and then another pair to your location.”

“If you’re okay with it, he’d like to meet. Here and now.”

“Splendid! I would love to meet my rival!”

I opened the doors as requested, and William walked through. The doors vanished and I stood there, terrified.

William extended a hand. “Mr. No-Face? I’m Shade.”

No-Face took William’s hand, pumping it warmly. “Shade, then? It’s an honor to meet the leader of The Grey Cloud. Fear not: No harm will befall either of you, nor to your organization. Just knowing it’s real is enough for me.”

William crossed his arms. “Why did you want to know?”

“Merely to confirm a theory. Jackson? Here is a photo of the person in question.” He extended a picture, obviously taken a short while ago. I opened a peephole into the diner, seeing nobody matching the photo.

“He’s gone. Shade? There’s nobody else with a movement ability similar to mine, is there?”

“No. The Bearer of Wind or Air has yet to be reborn.”

No-Face tapped his chin. “I wonder… Mr. Shade? How would you feel about an exchange of information?”

William narrowed his eyes. “What kind?”

“I propose a joint database. No other information beyond a list of known abilities and their sub-abilities. Maybe we could help each other?”

“Hmm. I’ll have to think about that. It’s tempting.”

One of the attendants leaned over and whispered something in No-Face’s ear. “It seems my car has arrived. Gentlemen, I must take my leave. When you’ve made a decision either way, please have Jackson - I’m sorry - Portal relay it to me. I’ll not retaliate in the event of a negative answer. I eagerly await your response, Shade. Farewell.”

I watched as a sleek black car pulled up outside the diner and the four men got in, then drove away. I turned to William.

“Still jealous, Will?”

“Terrified, Jackson. I’m fucking terrified.”

I opened two sets of doors back to the Mirleson building and then to his office. William was right. No sense in being careless. We went to his office, and we both took a seat, deep in thought. How had No-Face found me again? Chicago wasn’t exactly small. Further, how had he known that I had a watcher, and managed to take a picture of them right when I needed it? Something was fishy as hell.

William abruptly stood and motioned for me to follow. We walked back into a darker corner of his office, where he took my hand and led me through the Shadow Realm for a few minutes, eventually coming out in a dark room, which opened high up on a brightly lit hillside, facing the setting sun. A broad expanse of land stretched out as far as the eye could see, complete with a small forested section that bordered a stream.

“Welcome to my Sanctuary, Jackson. Few people are allowed to visit here, and fewer still know its exact location. I want to show you something.”

He headed off down a series of switchbacks that took us down the hillside, eventually coming to a door built directly into the earth. We went inside, finding a long, well-lit tunnel that opened into an expansive greenhouse garden. A familiar smell assaulted my nostrils and I found my eyes drawn to a familiar, small, shrubby tree at the far end. Recognizing the large flowers that adorned the limbs, I stared open-mouthed at the sight.

“Impressive, isn’t it? From flower to sapling in just a few days. Of course, I had to give it copious amounts of fertilizer, as it started sapping the nearby plants for nutrients. The flowers are in full bloom, though. My bees have been having a hell of a time extracting the nectar.” He chuckled and shook his head. “I’m curious to see what effects this plant has on their honey.”

“That’s insane, William. This kind of growth shouldn’t even be possible. But it is. I’m staring right at it.” I looked over at him. “Why did you bring me here?”

He gestured toward the tree. “For starters, I wanted you to see that your experience in whatever place you’ve been visiting is not just a dream.” I nodded. “I also wanted to check with you to see how you’ve been handling the extra tasks I’ve put on you.”

I blinked rapidly. “That was what? Three days ago? I was out for the first two, dude. Still, though, I lasted about ten minutes with two doors and a peephole last night. Got a headache from hell for the next hour or so.”

William began pacing around the various plants. “Do your visits to the other place tend to happen when you’re exhausted?”

I cocked my head and let my memories replay. Holy shit. He was right. Why hadn’t I seen it? “Fuck. Yes. Yes they do.”

William nodded. “Expect to go there more often for the next few weeks, Jackson. I want you to make sure you do everything you can to increase your stamina. Not just with your doors, but with everything. Build your muscle memory with the staff. Increase your knowledge with our security concerns -especially now that No-Face knows of our existence. And build your stamina with your doors. I think you are exactly what we here in the Cloud need, Jackson.”

I looked at him sharply. “You’ve said that before, William. Level with me. What do you mean by that?” I crossed my arms.

William stared into my eyes for a long moment. Eventually he nodded. “Okay. You deserve to know a couple of things. But!” He held up his index finger. “It never leaves this garden.”