“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Erika said, trying to evade the paramedic’s scrutiny.

  “Forget that crap about keeping the details of your powers secret. The only way anyone keeps their powers secret is by never using them since anyone with a brain will start to figure things out just by watching you. Unless you plan to never use your powers?” Beth said, looking pointedly at her.

  Something about the way the paramedic carried herself seemed a bit off. “White Knight’s not in charge is he?” Erika asked, as realization struck like a lightning bolt.

  “White Knight’s a cosplaying sword nerd,” she snorted. “He’s good enough in a fight for a D-ranker, but his powers are mainly the basic meta body enhancements and making anything he wears lighter. He wouldn’t be my first choice for a rescue op. He just happened to be close enough to the portal that he was one of the first heroes on scene, and every minute waiting means more lives lost.” Beth slipped something out of her pocket and held it out for her. A business card.

  Taking the thing, she was surprised to feel a slip of sturdy plasticine, not the usual cheap paper or card stock.

  “Officially I’m here as a first responder with EMS, unofficially, I’m Pinpoint, a registered C-Class hero. My power happens to be perfect body control and enhanced senses,” she said quietly. “Now, want to tell me your power?”

  Erika looked at Beth, Pinpoint she corrected herself, and weighed her options. She already knew she awakened, and even with a C and D class hero, it didn’t mean they’d get out of this easily. Pinpoint was right that Erika’s abilities, as weak as they seemed, may be necessary. Plus, if she knew, maybe Erika could convince the paramedic to watch over her while she bought something else. But she didn’t like the idea of revealing her powers either. At least, she didn’t want just anyone to know about them.

  “Forget that crap about keeping your powers secret. The only way anyone keeps their powers secret is by never using them since anyone with a brain will start to figure things out just by watching you. Move just a little too fast or too smoothly, pick something up just a bit too easily for how you look, and people will immediately assume you’re a secret meta and start looking closer at you. Plenty of people will gladly accuse you of being a meta in hiding and assume you plan to become a criminal. There’s no good reason to hide.”

  Pinpoint made good points, though the C-Class was wrong about one thing. Erika definitely had a good reason to stay under the radar. Though she wasn’t sure how much of an option that was. Still, that was something to worry about after she got out of the portal. Powers just made everything more complicated. “Ugh…Fine… I did awaken a power, but I have a good reason to lay low. Can you promise me you’ll stay quiet?” She was taking a chance here, but she didn’t have much choice. Pinpoint was a C-Classer, not someone she had a chance against.

  Pinpoint pointedly shifted her pack, her mouth tightening slightly. “Why should I stay quiet?” she asked pointedly, her voice steel.

  Erika hesitated, her eyes flicking to the survivors again. Pinpoint noticed. Turning around, the C-Class hero eyed the other survivors as several of them flinched in surprise. John jumped as if her gaze burned and shrunk behind the others, as if trying to avoid the woman’s attention. “Unless you’re a hero, we need to stick close together. Choose someone to buddy up with, and stay close.” Before anyone could ask her a question, Pinpoint turned back to Erika and gestured for her to follow. “Come with me, I could use some help checking if there’s any more behind us,” she said in what could only be a command.

  Nodding, Erika followed the hero, carefully stepping over the slain monsters and following her around the corner to another empty, dimly lit hallway. As soon as they were out of sight of the others, Pinpoint whirled around and grabbed her by the arm, her grip like an iron vise. “Okay, we have some privacy from the others, now spill.” Pinpoint demanded, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

  Erika fought the instinctive urge to try and run away. She saw how easily the woman holding her moved and could feel the strength in her grip. There was no escaping the hero for her, even if they weren’t in a dangerous portal. “I… can’t. It’s nothing, I just want my privacy” It was the truth, partially. Privacy kept her safe.

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  “You’re a meta. A mere ex is nothing to worry about.” Her voice was just a bit softer, a bit more accepting.

  A little more truth then. “He’s a meta too.”

  Pinpoint’s expression immediately softened. “That might complicate things a bit. Class?”

  Erika shook her head. If she said any more, it just increased the risk of him finding her. Even if Pinpoint was looking out for her, she wouldn’t stand a chance against him. “I can’t tell you anything else. It’s too dangerous.”

  Pinpoint seemed to stare off into space, a thoughtful frown on her face. The seconds passed awkwardly as the sound of fighting from up ahead died down. Erika could see Mary, John, and the other survivors looking at her and Pinpoint, the low hum of quiet muttering coming down the hallway. Slowly, she started to back up, hoping Pinpoint wouldn’t notice. Maybe if she got far enough away, she could lose the heroes and find a way out. Disappear again. She didn’t like her chances, but it’d beat falling into his hands again.

  “Fine, if you think it’s too dangerous even knowing my Class, it means this guy’s probably stronger than me or has influence. I won’t press the matter now, but you will tell me your powers, and you’ll have to register with me as your sponsor.”

  Erika sighed at Pinpoint’s demands. It was a reasonable request. Tossing it over in her head, she finally made a decision. She wouldn’t tell the woman anything about him. That was too dangerous, for her and for the hero. But she didn’t see any harm in sharing some information about the power she’d awakened. It was either that or play dumb and miss the opportunity that this portal represented.

  Decision made, Erika sorted out how she wanted to explain things, reassessed, and finally said fuck it and started talking. “I…it’s weird,” she finally said. “I get points from killing monsters, and can use them to upgrade myself. It's almost like a video game. I was able to make myself a bit stronger, a bit tougher, but whatever I bought didn’t affect me immediately. It took a few seconds, and it hurt. A lot.” Erika suppressed a shudder as she remembered the pain that ripped through her after she bought Sturdy Bones and the stat points.

  Pinpoint gave her an appraising look. “A Growth type huh? Rare. High potential, low immediate power. How long does the process take?”

  “I’m not sure. Could’ve been seconds, could’ve been hours. I just remember triggering the purchase, pain, and then passing out.”

  The hero frowned at the information. Then Pinpoint’s arms blurred as Erika felt a sharp pain on her forehead.

  “Ow!” Tears welled up in her eyes as she flinched back. Through her blurry vision, she saw the hero had an irritated look on her face, her finger still extended from where she flicked her.

  “You idiot!” Pinpoint hissed. “Never mess around with a new power if you’re not in a safe location. You only do that as a last resort.” Pinpoint gestured around at the dim hallway around them. “Back to these points. You said you earn them by killing monsters. Did you start with any before you bought things?”

  Erika shook her head. “Nothing. I had to kill zombies to get any points. 100 each kill,” she added as she saw the unspoken question on the C-classer’s face.

  “I see.” Her face softened as she realized something. “You were sucked into a SPE, had to fight a few monsters, and judging from the injuries I saw on you earlier, probably got hurt a few times before you earned enough points to get anything, am I right?”

  Erika nodded slowly, her eyes watching the woman’s hand for another flick. Pinpoint noticed and lowered it.

  “I’m not going to flick you again. Sorry about that. You probably did what you thought you needed to to survive, and probably didn’t know your own power would disable you.”

  “O’Shea, where are you?” White Knight’s voice called out from around the corner.

  Pinpoint turned around. “Around the corner checking something out, coming back!” Turning back around, she gave Erika a professional smile. “Okay, so here’s the plan. We’ll try and get you a few more kills, but I’ll have to let White Knight know if you want to try and upgrade yourself again before we get clear. Once we’re out, we’ll get you registered and figure things out from there. Deal?” Pinpoint said, sticking her hand out.

  Erika thought about it. She wanted more EXP for her power, but she wasn’t sure about letting White Knight know. She didn’t even want Pinpoint to know, but that ship sailed, sunk, and was already salvaged for loot. “Don’t want White Knight to know, not yet, but deal,” she said, grabbing the woman’s hand.

  *Ding!* Party formed! Pinpoint (Beth O’Shea - Class C Human) added to the Party! EXP sharing is now active!*

  Erika’s eyes widened as she read the new message that appeared over Pinpoint’s shoulder. “What the fuck?”