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“I didn’t come here for teatime,” Gus said. “Tell me what’s been happening.”

Apparently, she only likes Brazilian men.

Otis filled her in on the situation while everyone else sat and Sadie started to?—

Oops, she needed water for the coffeemaker. There was a pitcher of cucumber water, but that would be gross to use. Ward had taken up post at his laptop after getting Gus a legal pad and pen, so she couldn’t ask him for help.

She subtly caught Joan’s eye, wiggled the bag of coffee, pointed to the pot and mouthed, “ Water? ”

Joan shrugged, then waved like Just leave it . Then beckoned Sadie over to the table. Wait, she could actually partake? Sit in on a meeting of superpowered minds?

Hell yes!

She discreetly slid into the chair next to Joan’s.

Gus crossed her arms and leaned back. “What have you done to stop them?” she asked.

“We’ve fought several times with Ether, Squawk and Prowl,” Darlene said.

“Prowl gets off on that,” Joan said.

“But what have you done ? Set a trap? Shaken down their associates?”

“I was hoping they would be of help.” Darlene nodded at the former Villains. “They conveniently know very little.”

“Is Otis tossing you into the frontlines? There was a time I was you, the woman with the most power. They liked to send me in first to get shot at, run over, fight whoever came my way. Then they would swoop in and take the credit.”

Darlene gave a decisive headshake. “I’m treated as an equal.”

Gus looked at Zee. “I hope you all are.”

Zee seemed kind of surprised but pleased at her acknowledgment.

“Times have changed, Gus,” Otis said.

“But threats remain a constant.” Gus wrote something on her legal pad. “Big Quake thrives on power. No better way for him to exert his control than by taking down the city that got rid of all its Villains. Have people see who’s really in charge.”

“Where do you think he’ll strike next?” Zee said. “He’s taken out one of the main cell towers in the city. That’s caused considerable service disruptions. And SuperWatch isn’t up and running yet.”

“Super—what? What are you talking about?”

“SuperWatch. The app. Where we do everything?”

Gus blinked at them. “Is this one of those computer things?”

“It’s on your phone,” Kade helpfully supplied.

“I don’t use those. Nothing wrong with writing a letter.”

Definite Grandma Energy coming from Gus. Sadie gave her a polite smile—she loved handwritten notes.

Darlene clasped her hands on the table. “The internet is how everything is done today. These Villains are strategically interfering with all forms of commerce, communications, medical records…”

“Hitting people where it hurts the most,” Otis said.

“I imagine it’s causing you a headache,” said Gus.

“We rely heavily on SuperWatch.”

She skewered him with a sharp glare. “You rely on a computer instead of your instincts?”

“It gives us the word on the street in real time,” Kade said.

“What are your citizens saying?”

“I dunno. That’s what we need SuperWatch for.”

“When you talk to them,” Gus said. “What do they want?”

The Heroes looked at each other, unsure. The clacking of Ward’s typing stilled.

Gus exhaled a huff of air. “On your daily patrols. When you stop and talk to the people, see what they need, what their concerns are.”

“They haven’t done that in a long time,” Perry said.

Mark laughed and said, “They never did that with us.”

Darlene sneered. “What were your concerns? How many banks you could rob in one week?”

“I meant when we were living on the streets, Darlene. Because they couldn’t be bothered to help us.”

She didn’t respond to that. Sadie set a reassuring hand on Joan’s thigh and squeezed.

“If you talked to your citizens, you’d have a better idea of where to focus your energy,” said Gus. “Flapping your gums at one another in here does nothing to help out there.”

The smug look on Perry’s face… Sadie had to cover her mouth so she didn’t laugh out loud. He was very much enjoying this.

Ward held up a finger as he typed with his other hand. “Sorry, should I add that to the meeting notes?”

“No.” Otis crossed his arms. “I’m sure our citizens’ primary concern right now is safety.”

The other Supers gave similar assessments that Ward dutifully recorded. Sadie shifted in her seat. I’m a norm. Ask me how much the claim filing system on SuperWatch sucks.

The meeting languished on with more of the same: Gus telling the Supers everything they were doing wrong, the Supers bumbling to explain, Mark making snide comments. How could anything get done when no one really listened?

Sadie glanced at Perry. This was probably his ultimate revenge fantasy: a former Superhero he was friends with ripping into the current ones.

Gus looked over at the Malone twins from whatever she was writing. “What are you even doing here if you’re not going to contribute?”

“Free tacos,” Mark said, jutting his thumb at the spread of food. “And to meet you.”

“I agree with you, Gus,” Joan said. “They should be out there gathering intel.”

“You’re not going to help?” Gus said.

“I’m not a Superhero.”

“Then you’re happy to let more harm come to the city?”

Joan blinked. “No, I’m just…ah…”

“We run a food truck,” Mark said. “One we’d like to get back to so everything doesn’t spoil while we’re sitting around.”

Indicating the door, Darlene said, “You can leave anytime.”

Perry pushed his chair back like he was about to do just that. Good lord, this meeting was less productive and more snarky than the ones he presided over. How were the Supers so inefficient?

“I need to use the restroom,” Gus said. “Sidekick, don’t put that in your notes.”

Ward raised his hands off the keyboard.

“Ward’s all right.” Mark nodded at him. “Put that in your notes. Along with you need a raise.”

The sidekick stifled a smile.

Otis stood. “Why don’t we take five and regroup?”

“Yes, yes.” Gus eased her way out of her chair. “Enjoy the spoils of your profession. The free goods you insist upon. What local business did you rip off to get all that food?”

“We paid for it,” Zee said in an irritated tone they rarely used.

“The city paid for it. Which means taxpayers bought it.”

“Damn it,” Mark muttered. “I knew my tax dollars were being misappropriated.”

Flexing their long fingers, Zee said, “We get offered free stuff all the time. It’s just given to us, even when we try to turn it down. I turn things down all the time.”

They glowered at Mark as if telling him directly. Mark pretended to be all eyeroll-y.

Gus regarded Zee for a moment. “If that’s the case, then maybe things have changed for the better.”

Darlene stared at her lap. Kade looked confused—no, wait, upset. Well, Sadie had witnessed Lunk and Flight demanding sandwiches from the owners of a convenience store who’d just had their shop damaged—by Lunk and Flight. Maybe Zee turned things down, but the others sure didn’t.

The second Gus stepped out of the room, Joan and Mark turned to Perry. “I have questions,” Mark said.

“I have none at all,” Joan said. “I totally get it.”

“Joanie, it’s like Perry’s hanging out with our nana.”

“A crabby, honest person who clearly has a bone to pick with…” Joan made a subtle head gesture at the Supers.

“I see it,” Sadie admitted.

Perry sipped his mineral water and ignored them.

The Supers headed for the food. Mark leaned toward Perry and said, “Is she staying at your place?”

“She’s going home tonight.”

“Really? Just one day?”

Nodding toward the Supers, Perry said, “They’re lucky they got one day.”

“Can we invite her over for dinner?” Joan asked. “Mark and I can cook, we can get to know her…”

Perry swiveled his chair to look at them. “She won’t want to.”

“What do you want?” Sadie wondered. Surely, Perry would like to?—

“You’ve met. That’s good. Maybe when things calm down, we can revisit dinner.”

“I’m gonna ask her.” Joan touched Sadie’s arm. “That’s okay, right, if we have her over tonight?”

“Of course,” Sadie said.

She got up to grab some lunch—she’d paid for it, after all. Oh, wait—the coffee.

As she worked on detaching the water reservoir, Mark not so subtly reached behind Zee to grab a plate.

“I’m serious about the freebies,” Zee muttered. “It’s hard to turn stuff down when someone’s shoving it into your hands as a thank-you.”

“Yet you seem to find a way to take it,” Mark returned.

“Stop with all the digs.”

“I will when your cohorts subscribe to the same theory.”

Hmm. This was an area of contention between them. But really, how could it not be? Zee was part of a group with access to limitless funds while Mark had had to live by any means necessary.

Joan sidled up beside her. “So Gus, huh?”

Sadie scrunched her eyebrows together. “I’m all for unconventional relationships, but one thing’s confusing me. I see why they like each other, but why not want us to get to know her?”

“I guess it’s a way for them to compartmentalize their lives.”

“Perry is good at that,” Sadie murmured. Like how he frequented the art museum and took his secret vacations.

Mark and Zee continued whisper-sniping at each other. The other three muttered amongst themselves. Ward looked like he wasn’t sure whether to type or serve.

“Are these meetings usually this unproductive?” Sadie asked.

“Usually.”

“Gus does have a point. They should listen to the people more.”

“You can speak up,” Joan said.

“What am I going to say that you probably haven’t? Filing a claim is useless. People just want a sense of security. We want Heroes with our best interests at heart.”

“Good luck with that.”

It wasn’t that the Supers didn’t care. It just felt like Joan cared a little more. She’d spent time getting to know everyday people. She understood their struggles, their dreams and desires. She’d be a real asset if the Supers would listen to her instead of using her for her criminal background.

Joanie was the one who could turn this around.

* * *

Joan waited for Sadie and Ward in the doorway of a kitchen so nice, she wanted to cry.

It was not a shit-tastic warehouse kitchenette, oh no.

This was something that belonged in a fancy house with top-of-the-line appliances, gleaming white subway tiles, pale-gray granite countertops.

She couldn’t even step foot in it, she was so jealous.

Mark would probably throw himself on the white-tiled floor in ecstasy and declare he lived here now.

Sadie was being her adorable, charming self, thanking Ward for his help in getting filtered water from the fridge. He was supposed to be babysitting Joan, but whatever. She wanted to catch Gus alone to invite her to dinner. Maybe away from prying eyes, she’d be more receptive.

The kitchen was on the ground floor, so she made her way up the back staircase. Near the top, she heard Darlene saying, “I’ve carried the advice you gave me about fighting for justice no matter the personal cost.”

“Did I say that?” Gus replied.

“Yes. I assure you, I’ve lived my life to serve the citizens of Vector City.”

“You were a child.”

“It was my fifth birthday. The only thing I wanted was to meet you at the children’s museum. I told you I thought I had powers the way you did.” A pause, then Darlene continued, “You were the first person I shared that with.”

Joan peered around the corner to see that Darlene had waylaid Gus outside the bathroom.

Gus pursed her lips. “When you came on the scene, they said you were the next Amazing Woman. A young prodigy, like I had been.”

“Yes.” Darlene’s face lit up in a way Joan didn’t think was physically possible for her. “When I was introduced to the city as the newest Hero, I thanked you for that advice and said I would carry on your legacy.”

“You misunderstood me. It was a warning.”

“No, it was?—”

“It’s a losing battle,” Gus said. “The fact is, it doesn’t matter what you do. There will always be bad guys to fight. The hits keep coming.”

“We’re here to provide justice when they do,” Darlene said.

“Justice.” Gus snorted. “Let me tell you something. There is no real justice. What you do will never be enough.”

Darlene’s jaw hung loose.

“I’m not saying it isn’t important. I dedicated my life to the cause. I ended up getting blamed for everything that went wrong. The others made me the scapegoat for why Big Quake got away. The mayor forced my retirement. That was the thanks I got for the sacrifice.”

That explains a few things.

“I… I’m sorry that happened to you.” Darlene awkwardly patted Gus’s shoulder. “It shouldn’t have. You were a true hero. You sacrificed for the greater good.”

“That’s what a hero does.”

“That’s what I will continue to do.”

“Just be ready for the backlash when it comes. Because it will come.”

Gus brushed past Darlene. Darlene’s body deflated. Now it made sense why she was so hell-bent on justice. And why Gus’s approval meant so much to her.

Hurried footsteps echoed from downstairs. Ward must’ve realized Joan was gone.

She stepped into the hallway. Darlene met her eyes, and for a split second, there was raw humanity in them. Then she looked embarrassed.

“It sucks when your heroes let you down, doesn’t it?” Joan said.

The Super’s face hardened. She stood up straight and tall once more. “What would you know about that?” she said, crossing her arms.

“There was a time I thought the good guys might be able to help me.”

Darlene spluttered a few times. “You’re the reason we need to protect the city. You and your kind, Villain.”

She turned on her heel and marched toward the conference room.

Joan wanted to be mad, but honestly, she kind of got Darlene.

And Gus. A lot of weight had been put on their shoulders to live up to unreasonable expectations.

Extraordinary Supers who were supposed to save the city, time and time again.

Catch had been touted as “the next Amazing Woman.” At the rate she was going, that’d be a sadly fulfilled prophecy of burnout.

Darlene had taken the path of doing what she thought was right, pursuing justice at all costs. Joan had rebelled against that for a long time. But now…

As gross as it sounded, maybe a little bit of justice needed to prevail in Vector City.