"You can stay here. I'll look into protective custody for your parents."

She sighs and sags a little with the relief. "Thank you," she says, meaning it. "You're not bad. Sorry for booping your bots the other day."

"No harm done."

"Sssoo... what now?"

"Here's your room. You've already met Glam, but you can meet the rest of the team too whenever's comfortable for you - and Glam too on friendlier terms. Do you have a computer? We do a lot of emailing around."

"I do, but I bought it with stolen money."

"If we made you return the computer you wouldn't get the initial purchase price unless you've barely used it, and then you wouldn't have a computer. People you stole from will just get cash without the rigmarole. I can send a bot to get anything you need from home if you don't want to run out for it yourself."

"I can do it. I should also tell my parents about becoming a Ward and stuff. Won't they be thrilled about the whole thing," she sighs. "Do you think maybe you guys could omit the part where I was a criminal for a while?"

"By default the PRT doesn't communicate with your parents unless the Youth Guard gets involved or the parents have a complaint."

"Well but they have to, don't they? 'Cause of the protective custody thing?"

"Yes, but they're not going to go out of their way to give your parents a complete up to date account of the entire thing, and anyway the protective custody is going through the regular police."

"Yeah, okay, that's better."

"If you're not attending Arcadia and want to transfer email the deputy director about it and he'll handle it. We're currently short a Branding person but you can get an okay on your costume and name from the Boston one, who we are borrowing remotely until they find and hire a suitable replacement. There's a handbook on your desk, which you should at least consider reading. Any other questions?"

"Do I get an official welcome, a prank, or something like that? This feels kinda underwhelming."

"Official welcomes happen when all hands are on deck and will also be underwhelming. There is not an established prank tradition but I bet Glam would be delighted to think of something if you feel under-hazed."

She laughs. "I think I'm okay for now, then."

"Okay. Let me or any of my bots know if you need anything."

"Mmhm! So now if I just leave and go to my parents and grab my stuff and come back I won't be attacked by the PRT, right?"

"You're not supposed to leave in costume because you haven't been cleared by Branding and Piggot wants you to make yourself scarce while she puts something together to deal with Lung. You can leave out of costume."

"Okay!" She removes her mask, revealing a smiling girl with dark hair in a pixie cut.

"If you need to borrow some clothes you're not that far off my size, I don't know if you brought an outfit or you have one on under the costume."

"I have running shorts and a tank top on."

"Okay, then you're all set. When you're more settled in let me know when would be convenient to talk your general strategic contributions to the team and patrol scheduling for when you're cleared."

And Lorica leaves her be and sends messages to all the Wards that she's on board.