Midnight Avenger led them into a room that seemed to be where the Society held their meetings. It looked official, just like the leaked pictures, so Aurora knew it fairly well.

  The chairs had the insignias of their various heroes inid on their backs. The Avenger pulled out a chair with Redline Racer’s symbol on it and looked at Aurora.

  “Sit.”

  Bombshell flew over to her seat and kicked her feet up on the polished table. The insignia of the Society was cquered on top. It was a seal depicting a shield with crossed fists across it with bands on the wrists. Around the edges of the seal were depictions of various superhero types.

  One was Mercury’s sandals, another a set of airpne wings inid behind a domino mask. Yet another was a clock. Other symbols indicated the elements interspersed at each side—fire, earth, wind, ice, water, electricity, metal, and wood. There was a heater-style shield for the tougher heroes like Vanguard, crossed guns id over a grenade, as well as a generic-looking atomic mushroom-cloud. The circur borders were joined hands, forming endless lines, symbolizing humanity joining hands for the greater good.

  Aurora sat in the indicated chair while Avenger took his seat to her right, and Mistral sat one seat over on Aurora’s other side, her chair embzoned with a cutss and pistol. That one was likely Privateer’s.

  “All right, let’s begin,” Avenger said after everyone was seated. He looked thoughtful as he shifted his seat to face her more directly. His eyes angled past her to Mistral. “Introduce her.”

  Mistral spoke after a moment. “Bombshell, Midnight Avenger, this is Aurora, a new heroine from San Isidro. She was empowered by the remnants of Bck Angel’s essence, so that’s why she looks like this.” She patted Aurora’s shoulder from behind. “However, I would like to assure you both that I have used my magic already to confirm her intent and cims.”

  “Your non-weather-reted powers are considered weak,” the Midnight Avenger said bluntly. “You’ll understand if I’m skeptical.”

  Aurora suppressed a gre. That sounded like an attack on Mistral. Well, sort of… it wasn’t quite.

  “Why don’t we call Dee-Emm?” Bombshell suggested. “He can verify the cims without any trouble.”

  “You don’t trust me either, Shelly?” Mistral asked.

  “I do,” Bombshell shrugged, “but you know ol’ clock-top here doesn’t trust anyone.” She grinned.

  “Excuse me,” Aurora couldn’t hold back any longer. “Mistral is my hero. I don’t know whether it’s her fir, how she fights, the backstory people I follow have theorized on. There are a million little reasons why I like her… but more than that, I trust her implicitly. It’s in who she is. I opened everything up to her and hid nothing. She would know if I fought her in any way, wouldn’t she? Even if she’s supposed to be weak outside elemental magics, she should have been able to tell that much.” She looked over her shoulder warmly and hopefully at Mistral.

  “She’s seen all of me, literally. She now knows me as well as my family, which I won’t talk about for the moment. If I was Bck Angel returned, pying games, Mistral would know I was holding out. Anyhow, I’m really comfortable with her, and I know Bck Angel hurt her. I doubt she’d look and act naturally if it was…”

  Mistral put her hand on Aurora’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “Leave it to me. You can trust me, Avenger. Since we’ve worked together, you know that I can look into souls and communicate on a deep mental level. I’m sure she’s on the level,” she said ftly.

  The Midnight Avenger crossed his arms. “Assuming I accept this, why bring her here?”

  “Duh… she wants to join us, Clockhead,” Bombshell said suddenly, throwing her arms up. “You should try uncovering your ears,” she chuckled.

  “We’re not taking any new recruits at this time,” the Avenger said.

  “How would you know? You’re ‘detached,’ aren’t cha? Maybe we held a meeting and are having open tryouts today. You wouldn’t know,” Bombshell chipped in.

  “We’re not. And you didn’t,” the Avenger replied tersely. His gaze swept from Bombshell to Aurora, scrutinizing her with the same calcuted precision he applied to threats. “Let’s move on. Drop your force field and let me ask you some questions. If you pass, then we’ll proceed.”

  “I don’t have a force field up,” Aurora said evenly, tilting her head slightly. “I don’t need to use one here in the Society’s Headquarters, do I?” Her voice was pleasant but carried an underlying firmness. “I hope this won’t compromise my personal information to yet another person tonight,” she added, exhaling softly. The tension in the room made her hyper-aware of every movement. Even with Mistral’s presence beside her, she was still under a microscope.

  The Avenger remained impassive, his face unreadable. “Are you Bck Angel?” he asked without preamble, his voice as cold and sharp as a bde.

  “No.” Aurora met his stare unflinchingly, her answer ft and immediate.

  “Are you intending harm to any of us or the Society in general?”

  “No.” Still calm, but this time, she allowed herself the smallest, almost pyful smile.

  “Is Mistral your idol?”

  Oh, damn right she was. Aurora’s expression faltered, the heat rising in her cheeks. “N-Yes,” she stammered, her confidence momentarily cracking. She’d expected another serious question, not… that.

  Midnight Avenger let a beat pass, studying her reaction, then extended his hand. “All right, then. You’re clear for now.”

  Aurora blinked, caught off guard by how quickly that had gone. She took his hand, shaking it firmly. His grip was like iron, his expression unchanged, but there was a flicker of something—perhaps grudging acknowledgment. “Thank you,” she murmured.

  He sat back, cing his fingers together. “I hope you understand my caution. You are a close physical match for Bck Angel, as I said. And that’s aside from the fact that you appear to be of the Empyrean race. There’s a global quarantine on Empyreans due to their ongoing pnetary crisis.”

  “But she’s different,” Mistral interjected, her tone brooking no argument.

  Midnight Avenger regarded her for a long moment before nodding slowly. “I see. So I assume you brought her here to at least join at the basic level?”

  “I think it would help her to have a communicator and access to the Society,” Mistral said, making her case. “Especially given the situation in San Isidro with El águi.”

  Bombshell snorted. “She’s got us there. That guy… what a problem.” She rolled her eyes, stretching her arms behind her head.

  Aurora smiled, shifting slightly in her seat. “I did think it was probably too lofty a dream to expect I’d be a full member so quickly,” she admitted. “But I’ll take what help I can get. I don’t have many resources on my own—just my powers.”

  Midnight Avenger nodded. “Let me tell you how this works, then.” His tone took on a clinical efficiency. “First, the Society of Sentinels exists to provide support for superhumans all over the world - not everyone with powers ends up a superhero, but heroics are definitely our most visible aspect. Our goal is to keep every superhero in communication—whether for consultation or active colboration in times of crisis. Second, if you truly want to be a member of the Society, you are expected to obey the Three Laws of Superheroics and to act as though you were representing the Society at all times. Finally, you will be granted basic access to our facilities in exchange for information on your cases. We pledge not to pry into your personal life, but we will investigate your cases as we deem necessary.”

  “Uuuugh… not the Three Laws,” Bombshell groaned dramatically, slumping in her seat. “Somebody wake me up when we’re done reciting the Superhero Code of Conduct.” She slumped further, feigning sleep.

  Aurora giggled softly. She knew the ws by heart already—protect bystanders first, protect yourself and allies unless it conflicts with the first w, and preserve the lives of your opponents unless it conflicts with the first two. It was essentially the superhero version of the ws of robotics, and she had already been following them instinctively. Her track record wasn’t the best given how so far a fight that could have easily pulled in civilians had always broken out each time she’d confronted the bad guys. She really needed to work on how she came across to her rogues so they didn’t automatically respond so violently, this was a good reminder to do better.

  Midnight Avenger continued, his lecture extending into a deeper breakdown of the ws. Aurora listened patiently, nodding at all the appropriate moments, but she couldn’t help but feel a little smug—she had been forged in the fmes of internet discussion boards and already lived by these rules, and he was treating her like she was brand new to the concept.

  When he finally finished, Aurora tilted her head and spoke confidently, “I already know the ws. I’ve been doing my best to live by them in my outings, but I will improve as I gain more experience.” She nodded firmly, taking the wind out of his sails before he could reiterate anything further.

  Basically, you are to protect the lives of bystanders to the best of your ability. You are to protect the lives of yourself and your allies unless it conflicts with the first w.You are to protect the lives of any opponents you might face unless it conflicts with the first two ws.

  Mistral smirked behind her, while Bombshell cracked open one eye from her ‘nap,’ smirking as well. Midnight Avenger simply studied Aurora for a beat longer before exhaling through his nose.

  Midnight Avenger’s expression somehow turned even ftter, like he’d compressed any remaining emotion into a single bck hole of skepticism. “All right. I’m going to examine any mention of you in the news, but based on the strength of Mistral’s recommendation and my own cursory examination, I’m voting to grant you Basic membership. If Bombshell agrees—”

  “Anything to move this along, I’m bored to tears…” Bombshell flopped back in her chair dramatically before fshing Aurora a cheeky grin. “Good-ness, it’ll be nice to have someone who’s not a jerk from San Isidro. Of course she can join!”

  Midnight Avenger nodded, barely acknowledging Bombshell’s antics. “In that case, I’ll requisition you a communicator. You’re limited to the visitors’ areas unless escorted by a full member. It’ll take about twenty to thirty minutes,” he enumerated, then stood and left briskly, his cape fring slightly with the motion.

  Aurora couldn’t help but stare at his retreating back. The guy was really terse. Like, aggressively terse. Did he even know what small talk was?

  Bombshell got up, stretching her arms before strolling over and offering Aurora her hand. “To be serious for a moment: Welcome to the Society.”

  Aurora took her hand eagerly, grinning from ear to ear as she shook it. “I’m really happy to be part of the Society. It’s always been a dream of mine.” She turned to Mistral with gratitude brimming in her eyes. “Thank you, both of you, for vouching for me. I think I need to make a call next. Can we do that, Mistral? It’s getting pretty te back home. Oh, and can I finally find out where we are now? And how many levels are there to membership?”

  Bombshell smirked and nudged Mistral with her elbow. “She’s not letting up, Missy. I like her.”

  Mistral took out a small sleek device from her robe and set it gently on the table beside Aurora. “Use my communicator for now. Shelly and I need to talk about something quickly. I’ll be right back,” she said before she and Bombshell walked toward the exit.

  Aurora watched them go, half tempted to follow. But she knew when a conversation wasn’t meant for her ears—besides, she had a call to make. Still, she didn’t miss how none of her questions had been answered. Maybe it was still too early. She wasn’t even officially signed up yet. No sense in acting entitled or spoiled.

  She picked up the communicator Mistral had left her, marveling at the futuristic craftsmanship. It was the size of a driver’s license but thinner than a credit card, with no visible buttons or seams. When she flexed it slightly, it bent effortlessly, molding like liquid metal before snapping back into its pristine shape. For a split second, her heart clenched—had she just broken it?!

  She fiddled with it some more and found it returned to its original form without any creases. The tech was unreal. No bezel, semi-transparent, yet when she powered it on, a 3D holographic interface projected above its surface with razor-sharp crity. It was straight-up something out of a sci-fi flick.

  After some exploration, she found the phone function and dialed home. The screen blinked as it connected, and even though she saw no speaker, she heard the ringing perfectly. When the line picked up, she nearly jumped.

  “It’s almost curfew, thanks for calling, honey. I’m very excited for you, and I know you’re in good hands at the moment, so don’t let me keep you. I imagine you’re busy,” Goonie’s warm voice came through after a quick expnation of recent events—only it wasn’t coming from the device exactly. It resonated more… inside her head?

  Aurora froze, then instinctively tried to reply in her mind. Nothing.

  Oh. So it wasn’t reading her thoughts. Good to know. She had been this close to believing it was psychic or something.

  Giggling at her own moment of paranoia, Aurora rexed and spoke. “Thanks, Mom. I knew you’d understand. There’s no pce like home, though. Well, pces, anyway… for the most part.” She hesitated before adding, “Oh! I got to see Canada! It was amazing! Did you know there are castles in Quebec?” She caught herself rambling and reeled it in. “Anyway, yeah, I am kinda busy. I was sort of inducted into the Society of Sentinels. I’ll keep you updated as much as I can. There are some secrets I have to be careful with though, I think.”

  She could hear the smile in Goonie’s voice. “Of course, sweetheart. I trust you. Just don’t forget to get some sleep tonight.”

  Aurora grinned. “I won’t. Love you.”

  “Love you too.”

  After a few more goodbyes, the line disconnected. The moment Aurora set the communicator down, Mistral re-entered the room, her expression calm and unreadable.

  “Okay,” she said smoothly. “So, we are currently in Virginia.”

  Aurora’s jaw nearly hit the table. She could be told that?!

  “This building is located in Alexandria and is disguised as the National Guardian building,” Mistral continued, seemingly unfazed by Aurora’s reaction. “It has a number of secret entrances and exits, as well as a concealed underground hangar nearby.”

  Aurora felt her mind spinning. A hidden base in the capital’s backyard? That was insane.

  “You’re now a Basic member of the Society, like me,” Mistral went on, her voice steady and reassuring. “We’re not officially Sentinel team members, but we are allowed access to their information network, their bs, and other such facilities, including the Clubhouse buildings around the world. They’re first-come, first-served though, so if someone is already using one, you have to wait your turn or go elsewhere. You’ll get daily codes on your communicator to allow entry.”

  Aurora nodded along, trying to keep up, but she could already tell this was huge.

  “There are about five levels of membership,” Mistral expined, holding up five fingers. “After Basic, there’s Official Membership, which means you’re associated with the active Sentinel team but you don’t get to make many decisions for them. Then there are the Junior members, those officially in training. That requires a commitment to sharing personal information with the organization. Then there’s Regur Membership, which you can only achieve by invitation—usually when the team has fewer than seven or eight members. You stay at that level until you either retire, leave of your own volition, or get voted out. Junior members are usually considered first if there’s an opening.”

  She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. “If you retire from Regur Membership, you automatically move into the Reserves, meaning you’re still avaible in emergencies. Finally, there’s Legacy Membership. It’s a special category, but no one really knows the full extent of what it entails. It’s reserved for heroes who’ve left an undeniable mark on the world.”

  Mistral reached for her communicator card, turning it over in her fingers. “As you’ve probably guessed, this card is essentially equivalent to a smartphone. Several preinstalled apps connect to a secure, supposedly untraceable email and communication suite. If you have a non-Basic membership, it also functions as a bank card,” she expined. “You can still download regur commercial apps if you want, but unless you use your Sentinels account, they can be tracked—so it’s recommended that you avoid making purchases on it.”

  Aurora was already so in love with the idea of this communicator.

  Mistral slipped her own card back into a hidden pocket in her costume. “I know your costume is part of your magic, but if you ever need an actual physical costume, you have access to the Sentinels’ wardrobe department. They provide high-quality suits, fashion consultations, and plenty of pre-made options. You could even have something custom-built to fit your style.”

  Aurora’s mind reeled. I could have a wardrobe designed by superheroes?

  Mistral gestured toward the seat across from her, a quiet signal that she wanted Aurora to sit again. Once she did, Mistral exhaled slowly, clearly shifting gears. There was a different energy now—something more personal.

  “I need to talk to you privately,” she said, her tone softer. “This room is as private as it gets, but I don’t want anyone walking in on us. After you get your communicator, would you like to come back to my sanctum for a little while?”

  Aurora’s heart soared. “I’d love to, Mistral!” she practically bounced at the invitation. “I’m so gd it was you who introduced me! It’s all a dream come true. Um… is there a reason why you’ve been a bit mencholy?” she asked, ying a soft hand on Mistral’s shoulder.

  Mistral smiled at her warmly. “It’s just been a long day, Aurora.” Her gaze held a quiet weight, something deep beneath her usual controlled demeanor. “Up to today, I’ve been watching you for a while—between my personal business, of course. It hasn’t exactly been easy. I’m sure you know that I halfway expected to discover another menace unleashed on the world.” She chuckled at herself, as if shaking off the weight of that worry. “Anyhow, it’s time. I’ve been thinking about taking a day off for a while. For people like us, it’s hard to find time to take a break… and even harder not to feel guilty about doing it.”

  Aurora nodded in understanding. Even heroes needed to breathe.

  “While we wait,” Mistral continued, “do you have any questions left over?”

  Aurora opened her mouth, but before she could get a word out, the great doors whooshed open again. Midnight Avenger strode in, his presence a force of sheer solemnity. He crossed the room without hesitation, reciming his seat as if the conversation that had just taken pce did not exist.

  He barely spared them a gnce before sliding a small, sleek card across the table. “Here’s your communicator. Welcome, officially, to the Society. I’ll expin the basic functions, then let you go about your business.”

  Aurora stared at the card in awe. Just like that, she had it? A shiny, alien-tech device free of charge?!

  Even though Midnight Avenger seemed retively more open than before, she didn’t have time to dwell on that. He unched straight into an efficient, rapid-fire tour of the communicator’s many functions. Help features. Stealth modes. The credit card functionality. The fact that while it was slightly longer and wider than a traditional bank card, it was just as thin and much more flexible.

  “There are several ID modes as well,” he continued, “but those are locked for Basic members and mainly pertain to official clearances.”

  Finally, after finishing his no-nonsense rundown, the Midnight Avenger got up. To Aurora’s utter surprise, he id a firm hand on her shoulder.

  “Don’t forget that we’re a Society standing together,” he said, his voice lower, almost… personal? “If you need help, we will be happy to help you. Assuming we’re avaible.”

  Aurora’s entire brain short-circuited.

  Midnight Avenger just gave her encouragement.

  Midnight Avenger just… might have… smiled behind that mask?!

  Her heart pounded. She barely kept from filing in joy. Keep it together. Act professional. Act mature.

  “Thank you!” she grinned, radiating enthusiasm. “It’s truly an honor, sir. I won’t let you all down.”

  With everything that had happened so far, she really wanted to put the communicator on her dispy shelf—but she couldn’t. In the moment, she simply bounced on her toes, clutching her very own membership card. Her wings spread out, fluttering slightly as she hugged the card like a cherished teddy bear.

  Midnight Avenger made no comment and continued his dissertation on the card’s functions. Aurora, overawed, fell silent, cradling her new favorite object. She peeked at the screen, noticing her picture and ID information. It resembled Mistral’s card but featured her own likeness. How did they even get such a clear photo? Her mind was awash with excitement, an endless internal squee.

  “I’ll do my best not to need that help,” she said, softly smiling. “But I’m really proud—and gd—to have it!”

  The Midnight Avenger nodded at Aurora, his demeanor unwavering, then exited the room, still every bit the enigma.

  Once he’d left, Mistral turned and offered a warm smile. “Come on. Ready to go?” she asked. “Or do you want to py with the communicator—or even look around a bit?” Her expression was rexed, easygoing.

  “I’d love to look around a little while I’m here!” Aurora answered, returning the smile. “But since you’re feeling tired, I’d understand if you want to head to your lodge instead. There’ll be another time, I’m sure.” She couldn’t keep a goofy grin off her face—and truthfully, she didn’t want this day to end.