Kendra caught Tessie as she released her friction grip on the wall just as Leo came back into the house followed by Krystal and Kenny.

"Okay," said Leo. "Who are you?"

Kendra glanced at the civilians then at the front door.

"Krystal," said Leo. "Get us some sodas and snacks, Kenny help her." He pushed them toward the kitchen.

"What about Tessie?" asked Kenny.

Kendra balanced the eight-year-old on her hip and Tessie smiled at her brother. "I'm staying," she said.

* * *

"It's funny," said Todd. They were heading up I-90 toward the main pass into the inner valleys.

"Yeah?" said Candace. "I ain't laughing?" But she smiled.

"Donk," said Todd. Paul Doncaster, the man he'd killed to find out who had wanted to cover up evidence about the kidnappers. "He's a funny guy. A mercenary SOB who would just as soon shoot you if you might cause trouble -- but he must have known several thousand dirty jokes." The big SUV could easily pull 75 on the steep grade and Todd steered around the slower traffic. He didn't want to worry about what might be happening in Marshalldale, trying to pretend that Leo --Catclaw, another mercenary SOB-- had everything under control.

"What kind of dirty jokes?" asked Candace. She turned in her seat to face him better.

Anything for a distraction. "Some of them are really filthy," Todd warned.

"So tell one, see if I haven't heard it."

"Okay. Let me think of one that is just dirty enough to tell to my wife," said Todd. "Guy picks up a hooker down on Aurora..."

"Thbbbt!" said Candace. "I've heard it."

* * *

Ted Andropoulos, Daedalos, followed Billy Blueblazes progress on the monitors, the boy hadn't realized that GPS sensors had been installed in his new armor. Ted could even get direct readouts of his speed. But where was he going? Through the city traffic, he'd barely been able to hit bursts of 300 mph or so, it just wasn't possible to safely dodge heavy afternoon traffic while going much faster than 150 or so.

Ted followed Billy's trace north then east on the 80, then a burst of speed as Billy turned north on the 505. North? Was Billy heading toward Portland, Seattle, or maybe Marshalldale where Kendra said Urban had merged with some suburban cutie who was all of eight?

Why?

And how had Billie known the little girl's hair color before Lady Karma had found out her name when the child called Centurion HQ? Ted had checked some databases, school photos weren't great source material but little Tessie Munson was definitely blond.

And now Billy had run off without telling anyone where or why. Had he talked to someone else? Who?

* * *

They were back on the plane, leaving Dubai airport in the early morning before dawn, Johnny and the strange man called Dr. Meridien, who made Johnny feel weak and confused whenever they touched. They were going somewhere called Halifax this time. But Captain Spartako hadn't got on the plane with them.

Johnny had heard him say where he was going and the boy had had a very short time alone in the little lounge in Dubai. He'd dialed the 17-digit special number his big brother had given him. He'd had to tell someone, Captain Spartako was scary because he wasn't really human anymore, he was part machine. Or something?

Dr. Meridien had done things to Spartako, Johnny knew that. Dr. Meridien did things to people. He'd done something to Johnny's big brother a long time ago. Johnny was afraid that Dr. Meridien would do something to him soon.

Maybe Billy could save them both, save all of them. He was a superhero now, wasn't that what they did? Save people?

Johnny sure hoped so.