Any dangers imminent? Cape-based or otherwise.

Yeah, they've got lots of capes waiting in the wings or on their way. Right now the biggest danger is a cape across the darkness cloud from her.

Can she affect the darkness cloud with the Labyrinth power?

She can affect the area under the darkness cloud with the Labyrinth power. The darkness stays there in both versions of the space, and expands every once in a while.

That's slightly annoying. She consolidates, and extends the Labyrinth through the cloud so her path across is free of obstacles.

Empty field of grass is easy. Labyrinth had one of those for a long time. (Well, mostly empty. But she can make sure the fence is running parallel to where she wants to go and it'll count.)

Then she crosses the darkness, towards that cape.

That feels like a very questionable idea, actually.

Not through, then. Over and around?

Over and around.

This opens her up to a line of fire—a bullet here, an arrow there, a crackling bolt of whatever, but no one's aim is quite good enough. She's not going to be able to get to the target cape, though; a wall made entirely of axes bars her path.

Are there gaps she can see through?

No...there. A section bends under its own weight, leaving a temporary gap.

Blink.

The cape she's after is nowhere to be seen. Instead, there's a girl with a purple costume and a domino mask along with a completely unjustified grin.

"Hey you! I think I've got something you want; you up for a chat?"

(Jack's shade thinks this is a fantastic idea. Of course, he always did like to talk.)

She approaches slowly, menacingly.

"Speak quickly."

She talks fast, but doesn't aim for saving words.

"You're here for the powers, right? Of course you are. Way I see it, you could fight it out. Maybe you kill most of us, or maybe we manage to get you. It's amazing how many people will work together when all they have in common is that someone stupidly overpowered is coming to kill them in particular. I'm offering you a bit of information, something you can do but don't know you can do, and in exchange I want you to call this whole thing off."

"A bold request. This information would have to be valuable indeed."

"Do I look like I'm gambling here?" (Yes.) "It's valuable."

"If we like what we hear, we will consider your request. You and we both know your coin is as yet untested. You will receive no guarantee on that basis alone."

"I can tell you how to move sideways. Here to Earth Aleph and back, plus however many others there are. It does seem like a pretty decent way of getting you to not be here."

"Explain."

"Does that mean you'll leave if it works? I can only tell you once."

"If it works, you will have earned our favor. We will leave this city."

She nods. "Grue, the darkness?" The black cloud clears away. Instead of the empty field Ellie put there, there's an even emptier void. It has defined edges, but the interior is as white as its surroundings were black.

What's this?