We let the telepathic connection lapse, and I concentrated on flying. Specifically, I thought about the route, and whether I ought to be getting special permission. The signal had come from Canada.

Theoretically dropping by without warning could cause an international incident.

Of course, Canada got along with the US pretty well. It wasn’t as if we were going to fly into North Korea, for example.

Still, Canada had its own supers as well as an air force, and I didn’t want to run into either of them.

Well, not unless they could be persuaded to help, but I wasn’t sure that I had time to look into that. Plus, the Nine had people everywhere. If I went through official channels, someone might warn Rook.

“Where are we going?” Jaclyn had to raise her voice. She sat in the second row back along with Rachel and Flick.

“Somewhere in northern Canada,” I said. I looked closer at the map on the screen. “Northern Manitoba in fact. No wait, southern Nunavut maybe. Do you think the Canadian government will mind?”

From behind me, Sean laughed. It had an edge to it. “Why should they? They’re practically the fifty-first state.”

“I’m sure they’d disagree with that,” Flick said. “But Nick, don’t worry about it now. Our people have already contacted anyone who needs to know. Next time, ask Agent Lim. He’ll talk you through asking the right people for permission.”

I checked our position. We’d crossed into Canada. I checked the radar. Not seeing any missiles or superheroes closing on us, I decided we were safe.

I couldn’t see much out the windows. The stars and moon above us flickered dimly. Haley had turned on the shields (though not up to full strength). They didn’t let much energy through.

It didn’t improve the scenery much, but it helped hide us from radar.

Looking down, I didn’t see a lot of lights either. Wherever we were going, it wasn’t the most populous part of Canada.

“We’re going to be there in less than twenty minutes,” I said. “Who did Guardian say he’d be sending in? I know about Paladin, Portal, and Flame Legion. Who else?”

Flick hesitated. “Well, that might be everybody. No… They’re sending Straka, and maybe Mr. Intuitive, but remember what I said? We’ve got a lot on our plate right now, and we can’t send all the help we should. The Junior Defenders are at least experienced but they’re not supposed to be much more than help getting you people out.”

“So it’s basically just us? What about the Canadian teams?”

“I’m sure we’re talking with them sweetie, but we’ve got to be careful. You know the Nine.”

She said it calmly, as if she weren’t implying that the Nine had infiltrated any government worth infiltrating.

I checked our position. We were getting close. I started to descend, bringing the jet down fifty miles away. We could send someone in to scout out the base, and if they got in trouble, the jet could close the distance quickly in seconds.

I landed in a clearing next to a lake. A forest stood all around us. At that distance, blending in wouldn’t matter much. It wasn’t as if they’d see us out the window in the middle of the night.

Still, for all I knew, they might have regular patrols.

We left the shields on, letting them absorb the little light available. It wouldn’t turn us invisible, but we wouldn’t be obvious either.

OK. Maybe I was being overcautious.

“Here’s what I’m thinking… The Mystic and uh… Izzy, do you have a codename?”

She shook her head. “No, and I’m not ever using Dixie Supergirl again.”

“We could call you…” I noticed the color of her shirt. “Blue?”

“After my shirt? Are you kidding?” She sighed. “If it makes it easier, sure, but just this time.”

“Anyway, the two of you can scout ahead. If there are problems, come back, or call us and we’ll join you.”

As they stepped out of the door, I wondered if I should ask Daniel about their relationship status. She lived in California last I’d heard, and visiting him in Chicago might not be much at her speed, but it had to mean something.

We’re not going out. She just dropped by to talk about Stapledon.

Seriously?

I don’t want to go into it right now.

So it’s definitely more than Stapledon.

He didn’t say anything, and then the door shut behind him.

Haley looked up from the screens in front of her. “And now we wait?”

“Probably. Well, maybe. I had this idea while we were flying. Cassie’s gun is alien tech, and the jet’s mostly alien tech. I wonder if there’s a way to make them connect, and boost its telepathic range?”