Ward fumbled with a small bag of popcorn and hastened to the table. “I’m sorry, sir.” He grabbed a laptop and flipped the cover up.
“You still only use one sidekick?” said Aura.
“Do you know how hard it is to find qualified applicants who can pass our background checks?” Otis said.
“No wonder they don’t last long.”
Kade coughed behind his meaty hand. “Our humans are better than your robotic sidekicks.”
Zee stifled a grin.
“They were android assistants,” Aura said half-heartedly.
“Robots,” Kade muttered.
“And I was against them from the start. Otis should’ve told you that. If he ever talks about me.”
Mark leaned close to Joan and whispered, “This is amazing.”
“When you lose that human connection, you lose control.” Aura waved her hands. A shimmering golden glow surrounded her. “And I know human connection.”
“So we have an expert on Squawk.” Darlene ticked that off on one finger. “And experts on Prowl and Ether, who I am convinced know more than they’re letting on.” She ticked that off. Joan gave her a one-finger salute. “Flight, you are our expert on Quake.”
“The only active one,” Otis said.
Darlene started to speak, then hesitated. Then said, “There is another option.”
“Not that again.”
Kade raised his hand like an obedient student. “Stretch Boy has dementia. I don’t think he’ll be a lot of help.”
Darlene turned to fully face Otis. “We should contact her.”
Perry sucked in a sudden breath. “Don’t,” he said, quiet but weighted.
“She’s made it very clear never to bother her,” Otis said.
“Who?” Mark said.
“This is urgent,” Darlene pressed. “She has the most intel on Big Quake.”
“Guys, it’s just Quake now,” Kade insisted.
Mark bounced in his seat. “Who?”
Darlene glanced at him. “Amazing Woman.”
“Amazing Woman?” he scoffed. “She’s still alive?”
“Yes,” Otis said.
“Don’t get her involved in this,” Perry said.
“What is she, a hundred years old?” Mark said.
“Ninety-three.”
Otis shook his head. “The last time I tried reaching out, she said in no uncertain terms am I allowed to contact her again. She lives off the grid for a reason.”
