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McPherson continued as if the others hadn’t spoken.

“We are going to allow them to remain here as long as their diplomats want to speak to authorities. We’re trying desperately to smooth over the crisis in their country that you created and our government wishes to avoid any further unfortunate episodes.

They don’t want to risk a war, no matter how much you people seem to want one. ”

Bridget icily straightened the pile of papers in front of her. “I see.” She steepled her fingers. “So a hostile force has invaded and tried to kill several hundred people, including us, and the government’s response is ‘wait and see’?”

“How come the government’s policy is never ‘wait and see’ when I blow shit up?

” Holly pouted. “Whenever I so much as touch a stick of dynamite everyone’s like,” she took on an exaggerated tone of voice and waggled her hands in the air, “’it’s the end of the world! Burn that monster! Burn her! ’”

“We have no evidence that the Agletarians were behind the accident at the hospital.” McPherson shook her head. “We can’t base policy off of unproven rumor and bias.”

“I got your ‘bias’ right here, you fucking bitch.” Emily flipped her off. “Eat. My. Ass.”

“Even if your paranoia is correct, fighting them will only make this worse.” McPherson explained.

“The best way to minimize damage and needless casualties is to let diplomacy take its course. I recognize that you think that’s a terrible thing to suggest, but we’re all adults here.

And this is the real world. And in the real world, heroes make sacrifices for the greater good. ”

“There is no good greater than me.” Monty announced simply.

“They’re actively trying to kill us.” Holly gestured around the table and then at McPherson. “While you’re talking to them, they’re killing us and you’re telling us to take it? What, better that we all die than you .”

“That’s the job.” McPherson said flatly.

Holly made a face in dismissive astonishment. “Oh, fuck you, lady.”

“So… it’s sounding like we’re on our own.” Poacher summarized. “Again.”

“Yeah, there’s a big surprise.” Cory rolled his eyes. “Jesus, the fucking A-Team got more help from the authorities than we do.”

“We kill more people though.” Natalie added, like that detail more than made up for it.

“But they had Mr. T.” Emily shook her head. “I’d join any team that has Mr. T on it.”

“No question. He’s hardcore.” Poacher nodded. “T don’t fuck around.”

“A remarkable entertainer, yes.” Amy added.

“Do we have any leads on this Mercygiver guy?” Bridget asked, finally focused on the matter at hand.

“No.” Oz shook his head. “Not yet.”

“But I have graciously offered the assistance of my Irregulars in that.” Montgomery volunteered.

Bridget looked confused and suspicious. “… Why ?”

“See, I asked that too.” Natalie nodded, obviously pleased that Bridget agreed with her assessment of the situation.

“I care deeply about this team.” Montgomery defended, his voice flat and unconvincing to the point of being mocking.

Bridget rolled her eyes, but let the matter drop. “Okay, so what about the Agletarians?”

“I just got finished telling you, there’s no proof it’s the m .” McPherson chimed in. “You’re jumping to conclusions.”

Bridget ignored that. “We’ve got one of their super-suit things, right?”

Oz nodded. “One of the suits exploded and was too far gone to salvage, that’s what brought the building down, but I was able to recover the other one from the wreckage of the building, yes.”

“Probably should hose it off before anyone tries it on or anything though.” Poacher suggested. “Word is that Oz liquefied the asshole who was wearing it last.”

Emily made a face. “Ew.”

“Pretty fucking awesome, little buddy.” Poacher praised, holding out a fist to Oz in a ceremonial fist bump.

But Oz saw nothing praiseworthy about being forced to kill someone. It had to be done, but it certainly wasn’t a celebratory event.

Some of Oz’s earliest memories were watching people die. Bodies contorting as the bullets ripped through them.

Oz didn’t like it when anyone died.

It meant he had failed.

If he’d been a better hero, he could have found a way to talk down that man last night or disarm him in a non-lethal way.

He could have turned the man and gotten him to tell him who had hired him and why they wanted Natalie dead.

If Oz were a true White Hat, he could have used that man to solve this entire mystery, right there. This could have all been over.

But Natalie was endangered and there simply wasn’t a question about what needed to be done.

Oz still didn’t like it though.

It made him think of his aunt’s constant warnings about his family’s curse.

Bridget pivoted in her chair. “Machines Department, you want to explain that armor?”

“Oh, McCallister changed the name back to ‘Engineering Department.’” Polly informed the other woman. “But we’re also the Motor Pool, so it doesn’t make much sense.”

“That armor ain’t technically a ‘machine,’ it’s a weapon.

” Mack announced. “That’s why I haven’t figured out how to control it with my powers yet.

I’ll get it eventually, it’ll just take some time and a little practice.

Sometimes it’s like tryin’ to pick a lock.

” He turned to look at his digital companion.

“And the name makes perfect sense, Poll, I don’t know why you keep sayin’ that. ”

Bridget looked at the woman to her left. “Weapons Department, do you want to explain this?”

“That’s not a weapon, that’s armor.” Holly shook her head. “ I understand the energy blasts, but I’m not paid to figure out the suit.” She pointed down the table. “I kicked it over to the Production Department to reverse engineer it.”

“Which, obviously isn’t a job for the Engineering Department . For some reason.” Bridget pinched the bridge of her nose.

Natalie let out a sharp bark of laughter. “Jesus! I am so screwed if this is the crack team that’s trying to rescue me.” She looked over at Oz. “See why I want to handle this on my own?”

Bridget continued trying to find someone in the conference room who could be at all helpful. “ Production Department do you have a report on how we can stop these armored madmen from slaughtering us?”

Oz wasn’t happy about the idea of Monty doing anything.

“Not currently, no.” The man shook his head, but took on a determined look. “But I’ve got my best people working on it as we speak.”

All eyes cut to Higgins, who was sitting in the corner, staring at the body armor their attacker had been wearing. Higgin’s was leaning forward in his chair, his chin in his hands, eyes focused on the vest intently. Just staring at the object as if waiting for it to break into song.

“Well, does that ever make me feel confident.” Natalie crossed her arms over her chest.

“Is there are particular reason why we’ve got Oliver Twist over there examining it instead of Marian?” Cynic wondered aloud, unhappy about trusting anyone but his wife with something.

“Because a new variety of techno-armor is not an Accounting, Legal, or Research issue.” Marian informed him.

“Can we please make it one?” Cynic all but begged. “Because that guy’s kinda creeping me out and I distrust the shit outta him.”

“He has a system.” Marian defended.

Cynic snorted. “His ‘system’ has been going on for an hour now, and frankly, I think he’s just asleep.”

“Monty is evil and an insufferable SOB, but Higgins is legit.” Mack added. “He might be misled, but he’s the real deal. You wanna talk about understandin’ how somethin’ is manufactured, Higgins is the O.G. in that regard.”

“He won gold in the Henchmen Olympics two years ago.” Amy chimed in, obviously still proud that someone in her “family” had achieved such an accomplishment.

Monty nodded. “I only hire the best people.”

Bridget didn’t look convinced, asking for a go-ahead from the Weapons Department. “Holly?”

Holly waved a disinterested hand. “Let the man do his job.”

Bridget decided to let the matter drop. “So, the men at the hospital arrived there in a car registered to someone else, who Oz and Mull then found dead in his apartment.” She looked at Oz. “Were you able to find anything else at the scene?”

Oz thought about the coded letter from the Agletarians and the note from Mercygiver.

“No.” He shook his head.

It wasn’t that he didn’t trust everyone on his team. But he didn’t trust everyone on his team. As soon as there was a definite link between this event and Natalie, the city would place the blame for it on her.

And he’d rather risk the city than Natalie.

Which wasn’t something a true White Hat should ever think, let alone act on. But Oz didn’t really care.

Natalie looked surprised by the idea that he’d withhold such sensitive information from the team, her head whipping around to squint at him.

Marian also looked up, as she tried to determine his motives for the lie.

“What I want to know, is how Monty once again managed to avoid a catastrophe.” Mack turned in his chair to address the other man. “You got anything you want to tell us?”

Monty shrugged like it was a nonevent. “Wyatt started to evacuate the hospital two minutes after Higgins first informed me of the possible but non-specific threat of attack.”

“You’re saying you… what?” Mack looked baffled and dubious. “ Warned Wyatt?”

Monty was silent for a beat. “In my own way.” His head tilted to the side. “So, from a certain point of view… I saved hundreds of people.”

Mack didn’t look convinced. “Why should we believe that?”

“Because I’m telling you that.”

“You’re an opportunist and a liar.” Mack reminded him.

“But I’m also very capable.” Monty shook his head. “If I planned to kill you last night, you all would have been in the building when it blew.”

The room silently considered that .

To be honest, that was a pretty fair defense.