“Hello?” Jasper weaved through the office, throwing glances at monitors and loose papers as if they might tell her what way to go. Which door did Karren take Grace through? And why did this hallway have so many doors? “What happened to everyone?”
“I got dragged into a tour of the offices,” Holly said.
“Is Dax still with you?”
“No. I lost track of him.”
Ugh. Great. Jasper paused next to a door and peered through the window. No Grace.
“I’m good,” Dax said. “I think. I don’t know what’s happening. I’m outside now.”
Jasper frowned. “Outside the building?”
“Yeah. I guess I’m with a group going to interview a celebrity. Sarena Trench?”
“Great.” Jasper moved on to peer into the next room. Still nothing. “Maybe they’re finally going to ask her if she’s South Siren.” Grace’s lack of response was making Jasper more anxious by the second.
“Sarena’s not South Siren.” Holly cut into the conversation with more aggression than Jasper thought necessary. “Your theory makes no sense. Why would a pop star run around at night as a supervillain?”
“And no offense to Sarena,” Thea added. “I love her music. But she comes off as, uh…”
“An idiot?” Jasper turned around and stalked down the hallway. “It’s an act. The shallow controversies she gets involved in make great distractions.”
Grace probably couldn’t talk right now without drawing attention to herself. There was no reason to worry. The nerds working here couldn’t possibly pose a threat to her, right?
“You sound like a conspiracy theorist,” Holly muttered.
“Hang on,” Dax said. After a moment, he returned with new information. “We’re asking Sarena about the guest list for her pet hekten’s birthday party.”
“Is that all the people in this city care about?” Jasper tightened her hands at her sides to stop herself from flinging them out in frustration. “Some stupid party for a space octopus?”
“Hekten,” Holly corrected. “And everyone’s very concerned about his neoworm infection.”
Jasper wished Holly could see her rolling her eyes. As far as she was concerned, a hekten was basically a six-legged neon octopus covered in spikes.
Thea chimed in again. “I do have to admit, it’s cool that Sarena worked her way up from where she was born in the Tide District.”
“Yeah, using her powers—ugh, never mind.” Jasper was fighting a pointless battle. Even though Sarena spoke in a higher pitch than the voice she used as South Siren, she was surprised more people didn’t notice the similarity. “Thea, what are you doing right now?”
“Some dude asked me to kill an arachnid in the break room for him.”
“He couldn’t do it himself?” Jasper asked. One of the many trains of thought running in the back of her mind offered up an idea. “Wait, what’s his name?”
“Uh, Avior Roiva,” Thea answered. “And no, he’s terrified of them. He was seriously freaking out.”
“Cool. Angel? Can you talk?” Numbers in the corner of Jasper’s vision indicated that her heart rate was creeping higher.
“I’m okay,” Grace said quietly. “I guess we’re doing taste testing? To put together a personality quiz? Do they do any news at all here?”
Jasper hadn’t realized how tense she was until the relief sank in. “It used to be more reputable,” she told Grace, shoulders sagging. “Now they’re just trying to get attention. The more clicks on their site, the more ads they can display, the more money they make. That’s going to be the key to impressing Attom.”
“What do you need us to do?” Thea asked.
“Keep gathering information. I’m working on a few different ideas. Grace, what room are you in?”
“No idea,” Grace answered.
Jasper circled back to the main floor and paused next to a monitor displaying virtual memos. She swiped through them. “Okay, new question: what are you taste testing?”
“Whatever it is, it has solnuts in it,” Grace answered. “Karren’s slightly allergic, so she can’t do it herself.”
“‘I need help trying weird foods for a quiz,’” Jasper read off one of the memos. “Signed by Karren. Date and time match. Does solnut gum sound right?”
“That sounds disgusting, actually,” Holly said.
“Not talking to you. Angel?”
“That sounds right,” Grace confirmed.
Jasper found the room number at the bottom of the message. “I’m on my way to you.” She returned to the hallway wrapping around the main office.
“Why?”
“I need your help,” Jasper told her. And Grace had been out of her sight long enough. “We’re going to make Attom some money.”
Jasper found the correct door and threw it open. She scanned the room’s small crowd for a moment before spotting Grace standing awkwardly in the back corner. With a wave of her hand, she gestured for Grace to follow her out.
“Should I tell Karren I have to go?” Grace glanced back as she reached Jasper.
“Looks like she’s got enough help as it is,” Jasper said. “If she needs it, she’ll just grab another intern. I doubt she even remembers your face.” She set off down the hallway, forcing Grace to half-walk, half-jog to keep up.
“The good news,” Jasper continued. “Is that we don’t have to climb back into the building. We can use our badges when we come back.”
“We’re leaving the building?” Grace asked. “Where are we going?”
“To make some news.”
Grace’s eyes widened in alarm. “That sounds—”
“Dangerous? Illegal? Fun?” Jasper didn’t wait for a response to her suggestions. “It will be. For me. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you out of danger. But you’ll still be close enough for me to reach if Blades show up.”
“Why not leave me here?” Grace asked.
“If Blades catch wind you’re at Starchatter and get in, I won’t be able to get back fast enough to protect you.” There were risks either way. Any decision Jasper made could lead to Blades. But in any case, she wanted Grace near her at all times.
“What about the others?”
“Great fighters, but against a bunch of Blades? I’m your best bet.”
“Hey,” Holly snapped.
“I hate to admit it, Holly, but she has a point,” Thea said.
“Fine. But I don’t like the sound of whatever she’s up to now.”
“It’s none of your business,” Jasper said. “Thea, I need you to get into Starchatter’s netsite. I’m going to send you an article soon, and I want it on the front page.”
“What if it backfires and Attom gets pissed at you?” Thea asked.
“Then we’ll go from there.” Jasper tapped her mute button. Grace did the same.
The two left the main office, took a short hallway to a building exit, and stepped out onto a skywalk. Jasper pulled her smartsphere from her coat and set it on the railing. While she adjusted her hair, pulling it from the updo back into its usual high ponytail, she said, “Mia, show me the top Starchatter articles by Attom.”
“Which screen?” Mia asked.
“Mine.” Jasper ignored Grace’s confused expression as articles popped up in her vision, visible only to her. “All right, Attom, what kind of chaos are you interested in?”
Grace took a step closer to Jasper’s side. “What are you planning?”
Jasper scanned the headlines. “I was thinking something involving theft. Probably a car chase. A sword fight would be ideal, but I can never find someone else with a sword.” She blinked away the articles and returned the sphere to her pocket. “Quick question: how do feel about riding in the passenger seat of a stolen car?”
Grace sighed. “Sure. Why not? I’ve already been part of a jailbreak and a robbery.”
“You sure?” Jasper lifted an eyebrow.
“Everyone in the city’s against me anyway, right?”
Oof. “I wouldn’t say that,” Jasper told her. “Starr’s trying to get you arrested, but people still think you’re a hero.” At the very least, they were confused about what was going down between the governor and the girl who’d saved him.
“I don’t even deserve that. Look, I know you’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe, however good or bad your reasons may be.” Grace lifted her chin and met Jasper’s gaze with a surprising intensity. “Promise me you won’t hurt any civilians, and I’ll stick with you.”
At least Grace hadn’t given up entirely. That was oddly relieving. “Deal,” Jasper said. She turned and pointed down. “We’re going to hit Skyway 74. I’ll make my way down, and then you can follow.”
“Why don’t I just carry you?” Grace asked.
“You can do that?”
“Uh, yes?” Grace folded her arms. “I’m not weak. It takes a lot of strength just to move my wings. I’ve carried heavier things than you.”
Jasper held back a laugh at Grace’s attempt to be intimidating. “I’m heavier than I look,” she warned. “And not just because of all the weapons strapped to my body.”
“Why’s that?”
“I don’t have time to get into it now.” Jasper jumped onto the railing. “And while I appreciate the offer, I can move faster alone.” She stepped forward, off the skywalk and into a free fall. She grabbed a passing banner with her right hand and drew a dagger with her left. The blade sliced through the rope with ease, sending her swinging with the banner.
Setting her sights on a massive red carrier vehicle barreling down the skyway, Jasper braced herself for the drop. The timing had to be perfect. She risked a quick glance back at Grace, who stood on the skywalk railing, pulling off her jacket.
Jasper let go of the banner. Traffic raced toward her. She slammed into the roof of the carrier with a grunt and rolled. As she rose to her feet, Grace took to the air high above.
Grace nearly missed the vehicle when she landed. She hit a few inches from the edge and lost her balance. Jasper grabbed her arm to keep her from tumbling off.
“Thanks,” Grace gasped. She tucked her wings in and pulled her jacket back on with shaking hands. “I could use some more flight practice. Starr didn’t let me out much.”
“We’ll find time to squeeze some in.” Jasper kept her hand on Grace’s arm. With the other, she pointed to a sleek yellow vehicle flying overhead. Her heat vision showed only one person inside. “That’s our target.”
“How are we getting to it?” Grace asked.
Jasper grinned. Finally. She’d stolen the grappling hook nearly a week ago and had yet to find an opportunity to use it. Until now. She pulled it from the belt hidden under her coat and took aim.
“Hold on tight,” she told Grace.
Grace reluctantly grabbed Jasper’s left arm. Jasper pulled the trigger, and the hook latched on to the bottom of the vehicle. She tightened her hand around Grace’s arm for good measure, and then they were speeding through the air.
Jasper swung Grace onto the vehicle’s roof before getting to work. Punching in the window with her right fist, tossing the driver onto a nearby skywalk, pulling Grace into the passenger seat—it all happened in a matter of seconds.
“Mia, I need you to make some notes for me,” Jasper said as she settled into the driver’s seat. “Track my route and record the time.”
“Would you like me to give your note a title?” Mia asked.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Got it. Your note will be titled, ‘That Won’t Be Necessary.’”
“I—okay, fine.” Jasper wrapped her hands around the wheel. “Let’s make this interesting.” She jerked the flying car to the right, taking them out of the flow of traffic and drawing a sharp gasp from Grace.
The plan forming in Jasper’s mind solidified. “Can you do me a small favor?” she asked. “I need you to hit me as hard as you can.”
“What?” Grace yelped.
“Not yet. I’ll tell you when. You can throw a punch, right?”
“Yes.” Grace sounded indignant.
Jasper’s gaze moved to the cupholder between them, to the half empty bottle of Nova Cora. She grabbed it. “Nice.”
Grace made a face as Jasper took a sip. “What if they were sick?”
“My immune system’s seen much worse.” Jasper took another swig and yanked back the steering wheel. The vehicle veered up. She scanned the dashboard. “Doesn’t look like this thing has wheels. Hold on tight.”
“Hold on to what?” Grace squeaked. “There aren’t any handles—”
They crashed into a rooftop plaza. Metal screeched as they skidded across pavement. People darted away from the vehicle—not that any were in their path to begin with. Jasper had noted where all of the civilians were before choosing her landing angle.
Her gaze fixed on her target: a money transaction machine at the edge of the plaza, sitting against the wall of a taller section of the building. There was a security camera pointed right at it. Perfect.
The friction between the vehicle and the pavement slowed them enough to make the collision with the machine relatively painless. Once they’d come to a complete stop, Jasper threw open her door. “Wait a minute before following me,” she told Grace. “And play along.”
Outside the car, she lifted the hood, drew a gun, and scanned the engine. A few well aimed shots, and the whole thing was smoking in seconds. No real threat, no real danger, just something for show.
Jasper stalked through the smoke and around the car to the smashed transaction machine. The crash had torn it clean open, allowing the wind to pluck free stray jano bills. She smiled and waved at the security camera before she began shoving stray the bills into her pockets.
Around her, people yelled at each other to call the police while pulling out their own devices to record the scene. Jasper flashed them a grin.
A figure moved in the smoke. Grace coughed a few times as she stepped toward Jasper. She’d left her jacket in the car, exposing her wings. “What are you doing?” Her voice was quiet. Shaky. She didn’t look scared, though, just unsure of herself.
Jasper waved one of the bills in Grace’s face. “I’m taking this money,” she said loudly. “I’d like to see you try to stop me.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Grace lifted her fists. Her hands trembled, but determination had found its way into her gaze. “Hand it over.”
Jasper gave her the slightest nod.
Grace swung.
Even though she’d braced herself for it, the hit sent Jasper stumbling backward. She laughed as she rubbed her jaw. Grace was stronger than she’d expected.
People cheered. This was going well. Jasper smirked as she straightened up. “All right, Alvarez, I don’t have time for this. Don’t bother chasing me.” She winked at Grace before turning and sprinting into a narrow walkway between two buildings towering over the plaza. The abundance of pipes snaking around overhead suggested pedestrians weren’t actually supposed to come through here. Well, that, and the small gate she’d had to jump over.
Jasper emerged on the other side of the gap at the edge of a narrow, low-speed skyway that was clear at the moment. She stopped and rested her hands on her hips, wondering what the best route back to Starchatter would be. If they crossed here and then went north—
Grace came out of the gap behind her, breathing hard and clutching her jacket. She pulled it back on as she reached Jasper. “What was all that for?”
“My article.” Jasper turned to fully face her.
“I mean, why did you have me pretend to fight you?”
“To piss off Starr.” Jasper laughed and took a step back into the street. Then another, and another.
A car slammed into her.