I stood in the kitchen, stirring two cups of coffee, bouncing my leg nervously as I did. I'd managed to get off a little early from console duty, trading a future patrol with Vista for the privilege. In that time, I called Miss Militia and asked her to come by for a...talk. I swallowed and set the cups on the table, just as a knock came at the door. I walked over and quickly unlocked it.

I ushered Miss Militia into my apartment with a quiet greeting. She took a seat at the kitchen table, declining my offer of a snack. Well, that was alright. I pushed one of the cups over to her, offering a smile. I took my seat and sipped it, steeling my nerves. This was going to go fine, it had to. She had taken my warning about Shadow Stalker seriously, resulting in us avoiding a probably worse future. Maybe she would again...

“So,” Miss Militia asked, ignoring the steaming cup of coffee in front of her. “What is this about?” I looked down at my kitchen table biting my lip. Fuck...this was going out on a hell of limb.

“It's about the Nine,” I explained, gaze flicking up to the clock. Half-past five, I didn't have much time. Fuck. “Um...is Armsmaster okay?” Her shoulders slumped slightly.

“He survived surgery,” Miss Militia replied, sounding tired. “Currently in recovery but...I don't know if he'll ever be back in the field.” I nodded slowly. “Now then, you said you wanted to talk. Please be quick, I need to get ready for a patrol.”

“Mannequin was here to recruit, wasn't he?” I blurted, wincing as her eyes widened. “I mean, I don't know but...the Nine aren't nine right now are they? And they were both Tinkers so...” I shrugged. Trying to pass off my postcognition as just being sharp was a pain.

“Armsmaster was targeted because of his work.” She replied tensely. Fucking really?

“Okay fine, whatever.” I shook my head. Her denial was irrelevant to my warning. “I was thinking about the other members, who they might go after, and um...” I took a deep breath. “Amy Dallon.” A flinch.

“Explain.” Miss Militia's tone was severe and she leaned forward.

“Bonesaw is a wet Tinker right?” She cocked her head. Oh that wasn't the right term... “A bio-tinker, sorry. Anyway, she makes things out of...people, and stuff. I think maybe she thinks that Panacea can do more with her power than heal.” She could, of course, but I wasn't sure that was public knowledge.

“Go on,” Miss Militia said, nodding slowly.

“So if Bonesaw thinks otherwise...” I trailed off, shrugged, then sighed. “I'm worried about her. She's...I guess we're not friends, but she's the closest thing I have around here.” Sad as that was.

“It's fair to worry about your friends,” she said after a moment.

“She's not—”

“Lia,” Miss Militia said gently, tugging down the American flag that hid her face. Her smile was soft, kind, warm. “It's going to be alright. She's part of New Wave, an entire family of heroes. The Nine wouldn't dare.”

“Armsmaster was inside our headquarters,” I retorted with a hiss. “They already did dare, and I bet he wasn't the only one under lock and key to get a visit.” I knew he wasn't, Noelle had too... “At least like...put an alert out or something?”

“We're at our limits right now.” She sighed and shook her head. “I'll make sure the response team knows that New Wave may request help. That's what I can do with who is available.”

“Let me join them.” Miss Militia frowned and I held up my hands. “I can handle anything Bonesaw throws at me.” As long as I didn't flinch. “Me and Weld are the two best able to take her on.” Well, maybe Weld. I had vague memories of his power having funky Manton shit. Maybe she couldn't work on him...

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“You just came from a console shift,” she countered. “You need rest. That's not just me saying that, Amaranth, that is the law.” My gaze fell to the table and I picked at a whorl in the wood. “I'm sorry, I can tell you're worried, but I won't have my Wards burning themselves out.” The sentiment would be nicer if we weren't talking about preventing disaster.

“Fine,” I relented, mind still whirling. “That was it. You can patrol now.” I sat back in my seat and ran my fingers through my hair.

“Are you sure?” Miss Militia checked her watch. “We have some time still, if there was anything else you need to talk about.”

I met her gentle gaze with wide eyes. Anything meant anything, and that was sorely tempting. My mouth opened, then shut again as I thought better of it. No, no I couldn't tell her about my knowledge and risk getting permanently benched. Maybe she would believe it was connected to my powers some crazy how, but more likely I'd get a tense smile that didn't reach her eyes, a knowing nod, then a visit from one shrink or another.

“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “Everything else is...fine.” At least I didn't have to worry about a lie detector. “I'm probably just paranoid.”

“You're not,” Miss Militia said sharply. “Amaranth you're a young woman worried about your friend, I'd hardly call that paranoia. Be a little better to yourself.” I swallowed the acerbic retort that bubbled up in my throat.

“Okay,” I said instead, nodding compliantly. “I'll try. Good luck.” She smiled and tugged her mask back on before rising.

“Thank you,” she replied, patting my shoulder. “Rest well, Amaranth. I hope we can patrol together sometime soon.”

Miss Militia left me alone in the apartment. I finished my cup of coffee then, with a sigh, began drinking her untouched cup as well. I'd been warned away from too much, but fuck it, tonight was gonna be a late one. 'Lip service' was something she ought to be familiar with, and that was all I'd offered. This shit was way too important to let go so easily.

As soon as I finished my coffees, I masked back up and headed out of my room. Fortunately, no one questioned the girl in costume who seemed to be on a mission. Walking with a purpose was at least one thing from the army that stuck around, along with a bad hip. Well, that wasn't really true, it was just a memory of a bad hip. My hip was fine. That was pretty fortunate, considering how much running around my job involved now.

I got in the elevator and hit the button for the motor pool two levels down. As I did, I flicked through channels on the buds in my ears until I landed on '26', the quick response force. They'd receive from all bands, but only communicate internally. The stupid part of me that made me want to do things like get in fights or go to Syria, the part I was indulging, demanded I join them. Considering the stakes, I was onboard.

I strode out of the elevator and through the garage. Assault took me on a tour down here once. How many lives ago had that been? I shook my head, didn't want to think about that right now. I walked up to the heavily armoured van that had its engine running, banging a fist against the back door. It swung open and a mirrored visor poked out.

“What?” the trooper barked. I squared myself up.

“Room for one more?” I asked, looking past him.

“Amaranth?” I saw Assault's helmet rise up. “What's up?” I raised my chin.

“I'm coming along.” I fought to keep my nerves from showing. Jesus my heart liked to beat fast... “Just for a couple hours. I...got a hunch.” He frowned, then patted the trooper's shoulder and beckoned me inside.

“This have something to do about the alert we got?” He asked quietly when I sat in the seat next to him. I stiffened, but nodded. “Fill me in, we just got told the Dallon and Pelham residences are points of interest.” That...checked out.

“Okay, so the Nine are here...” I paused, checking past him then lowering my voice. “To get a spare, I think at least. If that's why Mannequin attacked Armsmaster...” I took a deep breath. “I think Bonesaw might go after Panacea. A Tinker went after a Tinker, she might pick someone who works with...meat.” He grimaced, but slowly nodded.

“That,” Assault said grimly. “Has a disturbing logic.”

“I swear, if nothing happens in a couple hours, I'll go to bed.” I put my hand over my heart. I meant every word. “I won't even complain about console duty tomorrow.” That, at least, broke the grim scowl with a wry grin.

“Well, if nothing else,” he said, stretching out in his seat. “A little bit more boredom will teach you this job isn't all--”

“Break, break, break,” a rattled sounding voice spoke into my ears. Assault cocked his head as I did. “QRF respond to parahuman attack at 1352 Lemay Avenue.” The engine roared as I buckled myself in, the voice still talking. “The villain Bonesaw broke into the Dallon residence and attacked them. She is still at large. QRF is to coordinate a response with New Wave. Out.”

“Hey,” I said loudly to be heard over the engine. “Do I still have to go to bed?” The grimace on Assault's face told me humour wasn't appreciated, but what did I care? I'd told him so.

To my shock, telling someone had actually worked...when I disobeyed their orders at least. Hopefully I hadn't left it too late.