Limelight

“The powers are part of it,” I said. “But not the whole story. Why do you fear them?”

He blinked. “Because…I…”

“Because if you are so powerful,” Megan whispered, “if you have all of these resources, then you don’t have any excuses left for failing.”

He started weeping, then gritted his teeth and reached for me.

“You’ve failed, Prof,” I said.

The forcefields faded and he stumbled.

“Tia’s dead,” Megan added. “You failed her.”

“Shut up!” The wounds on his face stopped healing. “Shut up, both of you!”

Chapter 46, Calamity, page 386