With a sigh, Vaughn said, “Okay. It would be easier if you guys took a more active role than telling us we’re on the right track.”

C didn’t hesitate, “The Mentalist followed the futures where we took an active role. They didn’t turn out as well as this one.”

Haley looked up from the table toward him, “This is one of the good futures?”

“I’m sorry,” he said, “but yes. We’re still wondering if we’ve given you too much help so far.”

Haley took in a breath and shook her head. I didn’t see tears, but I wouldn’t have been surprised. I let my hand brush hers and she took it—a little too tight in the first moment, but she loosened her grip.

Feeling the warmth of her hand in mine, I asked, “What can you tell us?”

With a nod, C said, “Good question. I can give you the basics. Early on in the League’s history, just as we were beginning to see the first attacks from Red Lightning’s people, Lee talked to Joe and told him that he’d lost something that he’d need help finding it and then hiding it again—”

“Wait, Grandpa,” with a small wave of her left hand, Jaclyn said, “Do you know where he hid it? Because that would save us some time and might save the world.”

C shook his head, “No. Not knowing was part of the point. We agreed beforehand that if Isaac needed to wipe our minds of that, we’d let him, but it never came to that. It was all confusing enough that he never needed to go to extra work to make it more confusing.”

Cassie laughed, “Oh good. I was worried it all might make sense.”

C snorted, “I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, but I can tell you that what we did was in the records. You'll find it if you go to the places we visited.”

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Daniel nodded, “That’s what we were planning to do. Can you tell us any more?”

“Not very much, but a little. In the files, you’ll find records of at least three different places we went. There are a few places we skipped. If you need to know anything about them, I’ll tell you what I can if it comes up. I’m sure you’re wondering why we skipped them, but it’s simple. We followed this one on and off for a few years. Sometimes it even came up in the middle of doing something else.”

C stopped, staring maybe into the past, continuing with, “Pardon me. I’m trying to remember what I can say… It all starts in the late 50s and continues through almost to Red Lightning’s death. There are a few follow-ups afterward that shouldn’t matter. Everything important was handled before Red Lightning died.”

Letting go of my hand, Haley asked, “Was anyone trying to stop you?”

Giving the group of us a long look, C said, “That’s dangerously close to things I shouldn’t tell you, but yes, there was opposition. It wasn’t anyone we’d ever seen before and we didn’t try to find out more. Even then, Isaac told us that he’d sensed that it would only make things worse for you.”

C stopped, adding, “I think that’s everything I should say for now. Do your research, and ask me questions. I’ll tell you if you’re on the right track one way or another.”

* * *

We spent the next couple of hours diving into the original Heroes’ League’s records. We’d digitized them and converted them into searchable text years ago, keeping the pictures of the pages available. Sometimes there were photos with the reports. Sometimes drawings.

Giles/Red Lighting would draw faces, devices, and locations in a realistic, almost gothic, drawing style. Both Rachel and Marcus had commented on his skill. “It’s funny,” Marcus had said, “if he’d wanted to Grandpa could have drawn comics instead of becoming a superhero… And then a supervillain.”

Captain Commando doodled silly things on his reports. The phrase “Kilroy was here” accompanied by a bald man with a long nose peering over a wall showed up more than once.

I searched on Lee, Gunther, and a few other names he’d used with the League. Half an hour later, we were looking at reports of what the group had done. Visiting Iran had turned out to be a waste of time. Lee couldn’t find anyplace where he’d lived in Sumer, including the cities, or what had then been wilderness.

No one could be surprised that things were different 4000-5000 years later.

The second trip in the series turned out to be juicier. They’d flown the jet to our moon. From the report, it seemed that they’d fought something there, but it didn’t say what.

“The moon?” Vaughn shook his head. “I’m not going to be much use, but I’d like to go.”