Atomic Rebooted

47. Evidence

MIRA

It was kind of strange, taking the tram without Henry, and heading into City Hall. Still, I think I liked being by myself for just a little bit. I didn't really have that as a Sentinel, and you always knew that you were never alone. Someone was always watching, your teammates were always close by.

Never had I actually had the chance to just sit by myself and think. I'd never had a chance to do a lot of the things I'd done in the last week.

I kept my head down when walking past the big receptionist's desk and instead walked straight for the archives. It was an empty room again—except for the old man, who was putting away files on a cart.

"You're back," he grumbled. "What do you want?"

I hesitated. "I was wondering if you had access to the birth certificates for the Sentinels."

The old man just shook his head. "Sorry, kid. Those are locked off from us. They even have the special paperwork for the exemption. Couldn't even retrieve it for official city business, much less public curiosity."

"Oh." I bit my lip.

"Look, if I could, I'd give it to you, Mira." He looked at me meaningfully.

I frowned, remembering what Ms. Lancaster had said earlier, about how both she and the old man were like us.

"I never told you my name."

"Didn't have to." He moved the cart down a little ways, then stopped to look through the files. "You do have a right to know your parents, in my opinion. It's really too bad that Atomic Energy is so determined to keep you in the dark."

"You're a mind-reader."

"Among other talents." He nodded at the door behind me, and it closed. He then shrugged. "Not that I've had much use for them in a long time."

That's when it clicked for me. "You're Mastermind. The first villain and hero of New Kingsbury!"

"Don't say it so loud, kid, I'm in retirement." He placed a manilla folder in one of the filing cabinets. "Have been for nearly twenty years. I'm not letting some snot-nosed Sentinel ruin that now. My wife would kill me first."

"Not a Sentinel." I paused. Why was I telling him this. "Not anymore."

He looked back to me, and nodded, a gleam of respect in his eye. "Maybe there's hope for you kids yet."

I didn't know what to say to that. After all, I didn't have much hope for my future, beyond talking to Heretic.

"Ah, that one, someone should have been looking into her case a long time ago." Mastermind let out a heavy sigh. "She was such a good kid—she didn't deserve the cards life dealt her."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're the one going to see her later today, kid, go ask her." He shrugged. "Just because I can see her secrets doesn't mean that they're mine to share."

That was fair.

"Besides, you speedsters are so impatient." He unlocked the cabinet opposite to the one he had just opened. "Always blunt, to the point, and trying to take the easy way out."

I opened my mouth to protest, but then thought better of it.

"You know Heretic, then?"

"Of course I do—didn't Warlock tell you anything?" Mastermind grinned. "She was the one who talked me into retirement. That's her real power, you know. Making weapons and moving metal? That's nothing compared to her words. She was a lot like Warlock, in her younger years. He really is her protege."