The same number of superheroes I saw earlier at the meeting point have already settled into position. Reaching out with my senses, even if I don't see them, I can tell that there are three hidden, and constantly moving around. I relay this back to Josh who tells me to pick the one superhero I can see who'll be the easiest for me to manage.

"You don't need to fight them," Josh says, as I squint down from the rooftop of the building. It's kind of chilly up here; I shiver, wishing I'd had the foresight to bring a jacket. "Just aggro them enough that they'll consider you a threat to leave post for, and then lure them over to the south side. Someone'll take over from there if they're interested."

I look down around the corner, where Wes is still in her construction outfit, and laugh. From up here, she's not that tiny, but she really does look like a traffic cone, just with hair. "I've found Wes."

"Yes, I know she's visible," interrupts Josh. "Focus."

I sober up, and turn my gaze to the other side where I can see the bank entrance in full view. Actually, this rooftop is situated at a perfect enough distance that there's hardly anything blocking my way. From here, I can count two visible superheroes, and both of them are slightly distracted talking to each other.

Josh whistles as I concentrate on one in particular who looks familiar. "Yow," he says. "That one's the Guardian."

"The Guardian?" I squint. Yep, that is definitely the woman I saw flirting with Wes. This is both a blessing and a curse. If she hurts me, Wes will never give her the time of day. "Lightning, right?"

"Yep," Josh confirms. "Lightning based attributes, but she's solid in offense like a rhino." Makes sense, what with those arms and thighs--she's stocky and really attractive. Good job, Wes. "Favourite move is a full body charge or slam. Usually incapacitates whoever she fights against."

Okay, then not fighting against her. She'll probably catch up to me if I can't teleport away. Lightning's any human's worst anyway. I wouldn't even be sure on how to aggro her, though I could probably figure something out.

Wait.

What if my teleporting backpack stops working? It's happened enough back in the Institute. Equipment always malfunctions or just doesn't work the way it's supposed to when it really matters. It's better to just have an easier target.

"What about that one?" I ask. "The one, right next to the Guardian." The one next over is all tall and metal-plated. The interior body that peeks out between the joints is all blue and shiny. Slightly slimmer than the Guardian, but maybe that's for speed. "The white robot mannequin with eyes."

"One: Never describe things to me again. Two: You don't know who that is?" Josh balks from my earpiece. "You don't know the Sentinel?"

I'm feeling ignorant again, which is a feeling I am hating. The wind gusts across my head, whisking my bangs from my forehead. "Should I know?"

"The Sentinel's powerful. Made powerful. Started as an AI and then got developed into the ultimate combat android. Computing and physical power over the roof, and comes equipped with all sorts of anti-super capabilities. Super strong. Intel from the Association says that they were directly made by the Doctor--"

"Wait, the Doctor, Doctor?" I demand. I take another look at the Sentinel, who doesn't look like they've got an entire arsenal of military grade bazookas up their arms or in their body at all. All humanoid. "The one who founded the Supervillain Alliance?" But if an AI was made and developed by a supervillain, what's it doing with superheroes?

"Yeah, the old guy. Which is why I'm like, 'How the hell do you not know?', you know?"

No, I didn't know and I don't know. "Okay, well, now I know." No way in hell am I about to ask my question now.

"What's your decision? You want to go with them, or scope a little more?"

Scoping probably won't lead to anyone better. Already, I'm thinking my best chance is the Sentinel. If it's an android, it's got a CPU, or some sort of processor chip that controls all commands and organizes all their data. If I can overheat it somehow, or I can shut it down, I'll be good.

"I'm going for the Sentinel," I decide.

"Cool," Josh says, and then silence. "Okay, confirmed with the other team. They're ready when you are. Make sure you activate that backpack as soon as you can and run like hell."

I close my eyes, and take a breath. This is it. This is where it counts. I open my eyes again, to the other side, where the Guardian is suddenly bent over in what looks to be laughter. Weird. Didn't know androids came equipped with humour programs, but then again, the only androids I've ever seen are the ones in newspapers.

I close my eyes again, and breathe. I stretch out my senses. I smother the calls of pacemakers and phones from my ears. I silence the pulsing of the electrical cables from below the ground. I trace around the entity that makes the Sentinel, seeking an entrance.

Something in the Sentinel's programming is noticing me. Not good.

Immediately, I dive right into the core.

There's something strange at first. Nothing's attacking me, which is the weird part. You'd think there'd be some kind of a firewall to keep outsiders out.

There's a blockade, sure. But it's not hostile. It's just sitting there, loose.

I probe it.

It gives easy, to my surprise.

And then--

I'm in.