Green was lounging against the corner of the cage, their hands laced behind their head as a cushion. The food platter Mongoose had brought them earlier lay empty near the cage door. Hours had passed. Usually, someone - like Mongoose, or maybe Fat Bob - would have come by and taken the tray away by now. But for some reason, tonight was different.

The cell door suddenly opened with a loud CREAK. Green looked up. They expected to see Mongoose, but the hulking shape that stooped through the doorway was far too large. Green recognized that shape.

Tiny.

Green felt goosebumps sprout down their arms. They had often thought of the giant mobster during their captivity here, but they had never seen him enter the cell. What was he doing here?

There was a clatter of metal on metal as Tiny unlocked the cage. Poisonous butterflies swirled around Green’s stomach like a sickening tornado. He’s coming in? Why?

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

The giant’s footsteps made the metal of the cage tremble. He stood just inside the cage door, his face veiled in shadow, his piggish eyes gleaming down on Green.

“Long time no see,” Tiny said. His voice was gentle, but this was even more terrifying than if he had sounded angry.

“Yeah,” Green replied. The words had come out automatically. They didn’t know what else to do. For the moment, at least, they couldn’t think of anything clever to say.

The giant shifted his bulk with a grunt, and something slid down from his shoulders and into his arms. Green hadn’t even noticed that Tiny was carrying something on his shoulders, but now they saw it was an unconscious person. Tiny sniffed. He dropped the person on the cage floor.

The person’s body slammed to the floor in a slump. Now that they lay in a pool of light, Green could see that the person was a young man. His hair and clothing were disheveled, and a trickle of dried blood was caked on his chin. Green stared at the boy quizzically.

“New friend for ya,” Tiny said.

The giant ducked through the cage door and out. As Tiny locked the cage, Green saw that the unconscious boy’s chest was moving slowly. So he was alive, at least. That was good, they supposed.

Tiny opened the cell door. He was about to leave them in the darkness again. Green knew that Mongoose and the other low-level thugs didn’t know anything about Blue, but Tiny would. The word flew from their lips before the mobster could leave. “Wait!” Green said.

Tiny looked back, his expression inscrutable.

“Is Blue okay?”

Tiny just shrugged. He didn’t say another word. Green’s heart sank as the giant stooped through the cell door and closed it behind him with a THOCK.

In that instant, as the sound of the heavy cell door closing echoed against the walls, a wild terror ripped its way through Green’s soul. The spirit that months of imprisonment had failed to break suddenly seemed to be on the brink of destruction. In that moment, Green wished they simply didn’t exist.

But then the moment passed, and Green was themself again. They wouldn’t give up. Not yet.

“Well, it’s just you and me I guess,” Green said to the unconscious boy. He didn’t answer, but that was alright.

It took Green several minutes to shift their new cellmate into a better position. They figured it would be best to make him sit up so he wouldn’t choke or something, but that was easier said than done. The boy’s weight wasn’t too heavy, but it was dead weight that made balancing almost impossible.

“Any time you wanna help out,” Green said.

The unconscious boy did not help.

“You owe me for this,” Green said.

The unconscious boy did not respond.

“Like seriously,” Green said, straining with effort, “Any time you wanna help. Any time at all.”

The unconscious boy still did not help. Which Green felt was somewhat unreasonable. Oh well.

At last, Green succeeded in moving the unconscious boy into a sitting position against the cage wall. His head was slumped forward in a way that would probably give him a neck ache when he woke up, but Green supposed it was the best they could do.

“Not much of a talker, huh?” Green said. They blinked. “Oh god, I guess I’m going crazy, huh? Talking to somebody who can’t even hear me. Well, can you blame me? I’ve been stuck here for, like, years or something.”

The unconscious boy didn’t reply.

“Oh, shut up,” Green said. They sighed heavily as they leaned their head against the corner of the cage once more. They closed their eyes to sleep.

“Hrgh…”

Green’s eyes snapped open. The unconscious boy was moving. Not much, but he was moving.

“Morning,” Green said sunnily.

The boy winced as he slowly raised his head. He looked like he’d been hit by a truck. “Ugh… Who’re you?” he asked, his voice groggy.

“I’m Green. Who are you?”

“Nico,” said the boy, rubbing the back of his head. Nico looked around, slowly regaining his senses. His vision was blurry at first, but soon enough it cleared enough for him to make out the cage bars that surrounded them. What little light there was only illuminated the room dimly.

“What is this place?”

“Hell,” Green said simply.

“Huh.”

“Yep.”

“And… who are you?”

Green smiled impishly. “I just told you that. I’m Green.”

“Right. Sorry,” Nico said. He was feeling more and more lucid now, but this only made the pain in his head sharper. “Can’t really think clearly right now.”

“Couldn’t tell,” Green said. Their lip twitched with amusement. This was the first time they’d talked to anyone who wasn’t a member of the Colombo Mafia since the night they and Blue were captured. It felt good. Really good. Like a long-dead part of themself was coming back to life.

Nico rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to focus. None of this made any sense. For some reason, it seemed very important that he figure out exactly what was going on, but the sharp headache only grew sharper the more he tried to think. C’mon, Nico. C’mon, c’mon, think!

“Tiny do that to you?” Green asked, pointing at Nico’s face.

Nico touched the spot where Green was pointing. His finger came away red with caked blood.

“Tiny?”

“Wow, they really knocked your brains out, huh? Tiny. Giant mafia bastard. He doesn’t seem to catch the irony.”

Mafia. The word bounced around Nico’s mind like a rubber ball, knocking the pieces into place. Mafia, mafia, Colombo Mafia…

“Piper!” Nico cried, standing suddenly. Too suddenly – a violent headrush made him sit down again, hard. He felt dizzy, but the confusion was gone. He remembered now.

“Whoa, calm down!” Green said, looking genuinely concerned. They stood, holding out their arms instinctively to offer support. “Hold on a sec! You need to recover; you can’t even stand on your own.”

“I’m fine,” Nico said. Clenching his teeth with effort, he stood to his feet again. He swooned, but this time he managed to stay standing.

“Right,” Green said. “So, what are you gonna do, exactly? We’re kind of locked in a cage here, if you haven’t noticed. And who’s Piper?”

Nico looked Green right in the eyes. Green went quiet. They knew that look. They recognized the furious determination that sparked in Nico’s eyes. It was the same feeling that had kept them going all this time.

“She’s my friend,” Nico said simply, and Green intuitively knew, with absolute certainty, what that really meant to him.

“Colombo’s got her?”

Nico nodded.

Green folded their arms. Suddenly they felt very small, like they and Nico were the only ones alive in a vast, cold world. “I’m sorry. I’m in the same situation.”

“What’s her name?” Nico asked gently.

“Their name is Blue,” said Green.

“Gotcha. Sorry,” Nico smiled. “So… Blue and Green, huh?”

Green looked away. They were surprised to feel tears welling up in their eyes. There was something about this boy, about Nico, that made them feel… What? Green never cried. Not in front of anyone. Not even in front of Blue. But for whatever reason, this total stranger, this guy who held the same determination to save his… friend… that Green had about saving Blue, felt safe.

Safe. That was it. That was the word.

It was safe to let their guard down around Nico. The idea of that felt silly, even foolish – after all, they’d only met him minutes ago – but it was the truth.

The tears were rolling down their cheeks now. There were only a few tears, but they were more than Green had cried in a very long time. They wiped them away angrily. What use were tears? Tears couldn’t save Blue. Tears couldn’t help them escape this cage. Tears couldn’t bring back the future that had seemed so hopeful that night on the ferris wheel.

Nico didn’t say anything. He just looked at Green with an expression of understanding that showed he felt the same way. Then he started to pace the cage while rolling his sleeves up above his elbows.

“So, Green, how do we get out of here?”

Green shook their head. They were done crying, but the bleak curtain that had fallen over the world just now felt impenetrable. “There’s no way out. Believe me, I’ve tried. The only chance you’ve got is to ambush the guard when he brings in food, but he’s Dressed. All these mafia bastards are. There’s no way we can beat them, even if we take them by surprise.”

Nico stopped pacing. A mischievous smile began to spread across his face.

Green raised an eyebrow. “What?”

Nico touched the sleeve of the pinstripe shirt. You were right, Gramps. Good thinking. His eyes were alive with excitement as he looked at Green. “Don’t worry. I’ve got something up my sleeves.”

EARLIER THAT NIGHT

Nico raised his fists, feeling the power of the pinstripe shirt tingling in his arms. Bastards! His vision was red with rage. The pinstripe shirt’s power was crackling in his veins with a power that made his arm hairs stand on end. He started to take a step towards the thugs…

SMACK!

Gramps’ hand clapped against Nico’s leg, gripping it fiercely. Startled, Nico looked down at him. The old man’s furious eyes met his. Gramps whispered something to Nico quickly, urgently, just loud enough for Nico to hear, but too quietly to be heard over the battle that raged between Piper and Monroe.

“Listen to me, Nico! You can’t let them see the power of the pinstripe shirt. Don’t use it. Keep it hidden for now. They can’t know you’re Dressed, no matter what! Not yet.”

Nico’s face hardened in response at first, then he gave in. He released the power of the pinstripe shirt. The crackling power in his body faded away.

“Trust me,” Gramps hissed.

Nico nodded…

Nico took a slow, deep breath, summoning the power of the pinstripe shirt. The shirt’s energy began to surge, crackling with an energy that felt wild and alive and unstoppable. Was it his imagination, or did the pinstripes that ran down each arm feel like they were growing hot against his skin?

He clenched his fists, took a few steps backward, then charged at the cage door. “YAHH!” he snarled.

“What are you-” Green began, but before they could finish asking the question, Nico’s shoulder SLAMMED into the cage door.

CRASH!

The door’s hinges and lock burst into pieces, detaching the door from the cage. The force of Nico’s charge carried the cage door forward with him for a moment, then he skidded to a stop. The cage door smashed into the opposite wall with a heavy metallic CLANG! The door hit the floor and teetered on its edge for a moment. Nico turned back toward Green with a look of triumph in his eyes. The cage door behind him tilted, wobbled, fell. It struck the floor with a rattling roar.

Green’s jaw dropped, then their face split into a ferocious smile. “Wicked!”

Nico smiled back, brushing metal dust from his shoulder. “Like I said. Secret weapon. Ready to get out of here?”

“Hell yeah!” Green cheered, pumping their fists.

“Come on,” Nico said. Adrenaline burned in his veins. His dizziness was gone, replaced by a focused clarity of purpose. “Let’s save our friends. You with me?”

“Ride or die,” said Green. They cracked their knuckles in anticipation. I’m coming to save you, Blue. Just hold on a little longer!

***

BEEP.

The tunnel’s spinning began to slow. The painful needle-feeling faded away at long last. Piper’s ears started to ring as the electric hum of the scanning machine subsided. The yellow streaks of light began to resolve into individual dots once more, making her feel dizzy. She clamped her eyes shut. Her breathing was shallow and quick. Her wrists and ankles were sore from straining against the heavy shackles.

Toothpick’s voice floated into the tunnel. “There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” He sounded a little disappointed.

Piper had refused to scream, refused to even make a sound, through the entire ordeal. She would not give Toothpick the satisfaction. She suspected that her defiance might have dragged out the painful experience for even longer than it might have lasted otherwise, but she didn’t care.

She felt numb, shaky. Her whole body tingled. Even though the torture was over, the ghosts of electric bugs were still fluttering weakly in her arms and legs.

The table Piper was shackled to shuddered into motion. It slid along its track, carrying her out of the tunnel. Piper only now realized how claustrophobic she had felt within the scanning machine. The open space outside the tunnel felt like freedom, despite the shackles that still bound her and the mobsters that still were her captors.

Toothpick snapped his fingers. The guard jolted into action, releasing Piper from the shackles bolted into the table. She rubbed her wrists, heart pounding. She felt the moment of truth coming fast. Now that Toothpick had the information he wanted, now that he had confirmed that the blazer was the only Powerful Fashion Statement that Piper was wearing… What was he planning to do with her?

“Kid!” Gramps cried. The old man rushed to her side. He looked distraught. “I’m so sorry, kid. I’m so so sorry,” he said, repeating the words again and again.

Toothpick pulled a fresh toothpick from the small silver case. He stuck it in his mouth and chewed its tip, his eyes never leaving his two captives. Piper glanced at him and felt a fresh flare of hatred flash through her body.

“Well, looks like you told the truth, Patchwork,” Toothpick said. “The blazer was the only Powerful Fashion Statement she was wearing after all. Had to make sure, though, y’know. Youse lost my trust tonight. I’m sure ya understand.”

Gramps didn’t look up, but Piper saw his expression harden. Their eyes met, and Piper understood. Not yet. Just a little longer.

Okay, Gramps. Piper took a quick bracing breath. Not yet.

The old man put a hand on her back and helped her sit up. Piper felt her body recovering. She was a bit woozy, but the tingling in her limbs was almost gone.

The guard was watching them closely, his fingers on the handle of his revolver. “No need for that,” Toothpick said easily. “They’re too smart to try anything. Aren’t ya?” He walked toward Piper and held out a hand, as though to help her down from the table. Piper didn’t move.

“The blazer,” Toothpick commanded. “Now.”

Piper glanced at Gramps, who nodded. With a sigh, she pulled off the blazer and tossed it to Toothpick, who caught it. A chill ran down her spine. Somehow, she felt even more vulnerable now than when she had been shackled inside the scanning machine. The white shirt she wore was short-sleeved, and her bare arms felt cold without the blazer. Goosebumps prickled on her forearms. Unconscious of what she was doing, she reached up and pulled her hat down tighter onto her head.

Toothpick draped Piper’s blazer over his arm and nodded to the guard, who moved to the door. “Alright, you two, come with me,” he said, the toothpick in his mouth bouncing. “Youse got a meeting with the boss.”

Gramps offered Piper his hand and helped her down off the table. Piper’s legs felt a little wobbly as her shoes hit the floor, but the feeling only lasted a moment. She nodded at Gramps, and the old man nodded back to her.

Together, without a word, they walked toward Toothpick. Piper felt a fresh flash of hate for the bastard as his eyes raked up and down her body before he turned to lead them out the door.

“Don’t worry, Piper, we’re going to make it through this,” Gramps whispered. “We’re going to save Nico and Tux and get the hell out of here with the license tracer. I promise.”

Nico. The image of him unconscious flashed through Piper’s mind again.

“Move it,” grunted the guard.

He gave Gramps a light shove, and the old man started walking. Piper fell in step behind him. They stepped out into the hall with Toothpick in the lead. The mobster’s walk was confident, almost a strut.

The building they were walking through was labyrinthine. They climbed stairs, they stepped through doorways, they walked down hallways. Piper tried to maintain a mental map, willing herself to remember the way back to the rooftop access door they had passed through, but her experience in the scanning machine had thoroughly driven those earlier memories from her mind. She hoped that Gramps was keeping better track of their path than she was.

Everywhere Piper looked, she saw more members of the Colombo Mafia. Most of them looked like low-level thugs. They sat around tables, they repaired weapons, they played cards, they drank from dark bottles. A sense of impending doom began to lurk in the corners of Piper’s mind. She and her friends were completely outnumbered, and their only Powerful Fashion Statement was now hanging from Toothpick’s fist.

…Or was it?

Piper’s heart thundered in her chest. How had she not remembered before now? Somehow, somehow, Nico still had the pinstripe shirt!

“I’m just gonna lock this one up ‘till he wakes up, yeah? Or does he need a scan?” asked Tiny.

“Nah, he ain’t Dressed,” Toothpick replied airily. “Make sure you lock him up good, though. That one’s got some fight in him.”

Piper had been so overwhelmed by thoughts of Moxie and the scanning machine that the exchange between Tiny and Toothpick had completely flown over her head. “He ain’t Dressed…” Was that what they really thought? Did they still not know about the pinstripe shirt?

Piper glanced furtively around and risked a whisper to Gramps, as quietly as she could manage. “Nico… Does he-”

“He does,” Gramps whispered back. Though his expression was grim, his eye twinkled.

“And Tux…”

“We’re not alone, Piper. Our friends won’t leave us high and dry. But even without them, it wouldn’t matter.”

Piper’s skin crawled as one of the drinking thugs gave her a lecherous leer. “What are you talking about?”

Gramps turned and looked directly at her. He winked. “We’ll be okay. We’ve got you,” he whispered.

“We need you, Piper. You’re the only one strong enough to see us through this thing…”

She didn’t understand. How was she supposed to save them all? How was she the only one strong enough? Wasn’t Nico stronger, especially with the power of the pinstripe shirt? Or what about Gramps himself, with his years of experience and knowledge? Come to think of it, Gramps hadn’t even wanted her to come along on this mission at first. What had changed? What could she do that they couldn’t?

Maybe, said a small voice within her, it’s not about what you can do. It’s about who you are.

The little voice sounded familiar, more a feeling than a voice, really. It reminded her of someone.

But who?

Toothpick was leading them toward a corner that led to another hallway. Piper knew, deep down, that beyond this corner was their destination. Somehow, she was certain. She sensed that as soon as they rounded that corner, they would be passing the point of no return. Beyond that turn lay a destiny from which none of them could escape. Not Gramps with his wisdom, not Nico with his pinstripe shirt, not Tux with her bow tie, and not Piper, with… With…

With what? What did she have?

Toothpick rounded the corner. Gramps followed him. In just a moment, she herself would round that corner. She was only footsteps away from the point of no return.

It hit her all at once.

“Piper, tell me… what is your dream?” Nico asked.

“Ah…” Piper returned the smile, hesitantly at first, then with a fierceness that was both endearing and intimidating. “My dream?”

Nico nodded.

“My dream…” Piper mused. It’s been so long... But here goes nothing…

Gramps, Tux and Nico looked at Piper, waiting. At last, Piper laughed.

“My dream... is to destroy this whole rotten system. The Five Presidents. The Six Families. The Clothiers. They’ve ruined this world with their greed. They’ve destroyed so many lives, including mine and my big sister’s! So my… my dream is… My dream is to see the dawn... OF A NEW, FREE WORLD!”

Nico’s jaw dropped. Gramps gasped. Tux’s tail went bushy.

Piper started to laugh again, her eyes filling with tears.

Moxie… Do you still think I’m crazy? That I’m a hopeless dreamer? Well… maybe I am. But… Piper looked at Nico, whose look of shock had given way to laughter that mingled with her own. Maybe all I was missing was some friends to dream with. And, Moxie… I think I’ve found them. After all this time…

I’ve found real friends.

Gramps and Tux were laughing now, too. The old man wiped a tear from his eye. “I tell ya, the two of you are nuts! So, you want to change the world, huh? Well. What the hell? I’ve got your back too, Piper!”

“Gramps!” Piper gasped, astonished. “You don’t think I’m crazy?”

“The hell are you talking about?” Gramps guffawed. “Of course I do! I just called you nuts, didn’t I? But apparently we’re in the business of crazy around here, didn’t you notice?”

At this, all of them laughed. They laughed for a long time.

Nico smiled at Piper. “Let’s do it.”

The small voice was speaking again. She felt its words burning through her veins in a hot blaze of adrenaline and mounting confidence.

Don’t you understand, Piper? You have a crazy dream, and you’re strong enough to chase it. Because you never give up. Because you’re unstoppable.

Piper felt strength crackling through her like lightning bolts. She clenched her fists. Her eyes blazed. And in a flash, she realized, she did recognize this voice. This feeling.

“Nico,” Piper breathed.

She set her jaw. She squared her shoulders. Here I come, Moxie.

She stepped forward. She rounded the corner.

She passed the point of no return.

***

Spats smiled. The king of the underworld sat on his throne, surrounded by his subjects.

To his right, Babydoll sat on the arm of his chair. His hand rested on her leg; her fingers stroked his shoulders. His girl.

To his left, Dr. Myasey babbled on about science, showing off his discoveries like a strutting peacock might show off its feathers. Honestly, Spats didn’t much care about the details. The Arkwright was all that mattered. Now that it was perfected, the good Doctor’s usefulness was likely approaching its end.

Finally, to Spats’ front, his loyal soldiers flanked the office door, standing guard against anyone who would dare to move against James Colombo, Don of the Colombo Mafia.

The guards snapped to alertness. Someone was knocking on the door. Spats’ eyes flicked to the clock that hung on the nearby wall. Good man, Toothpick. Right on time.

Spats held up a finger to the guards. “Sorry, Doc, I got an appointment. You understand. We need to wrap this up for tonight,” he said. He patted Babydoll’s leg. “Escort the Doc out, Doll.”

Dr. Myasey’s eyes flashed with resentment, but he acquiesced. He pocketed the Arkwright and pulled his lab coat tight around him. “Do keep in touch, Don Colombo. Our moment is approaching, La La La!”

“Right,” Spats replied. He glanced at Babydoll, who still hadn’t moved. Now, what the hell was this about? His girl was getting funny ideas tonight, and that just wouldn’t do.

“Doll. Escort the Doc to the car. Now,” the mobster said, his voice icy.

Babydoll hesitated. Her hand left Spats’ shoulder. “Come on, Spats,” she said softly. “Make one of the boys take him, huh? I’m not your errand girl.”

Spats felt something snap inside him. His hand flashed out even faster than his conscious thought. He felt a tingling surge of power in his feet and his legs as his rage instinctively caused him to draw on the power of his business wear. The power of the Spats on his feet and the Trousers on his legs was formidable. Deadly. And in this moment, it was a power that Spats Colombo did not hesitate to wield.

WHAM!

Spats was confident he’d caught Babydoll completely off-guard. For an instant after the impact, her eyes were full of shock and hurt. Then she went flying and SLAMMED into the floor before the throne. She didn’t make a sound.

“YOU WANNA RUN THAT BY ME AGAIN, BITCH?” Spats roared. He leapt to his feet and stalked toward Babydoll like a ravenous lion. “You are whatever I say you are, understand me? I SAID, YOU UNDERSTAND ME, DOLL?!”

Babydoll staggered to her feet, almost tripping on her dress as she did so. She had been dealt a walloping blow, but to Spats’ surprise, she looked quite unhurt. For a moment, the Don felt a flicker of confusion, of doubt. Then his eyes alighted on his First Lady’s arms. She was wearing her long gloves. Her Powerful Fashion Statements. How had he not noticed that before? She must have blocked his blow just in time. As his anger cooled, the Don didn’t know whether he was relieved or even more furious with her.

“Yes, Spats,” Babydoll said, her voice soft and meek. When her eyes met his, there wasn’t a trace of rebellion or resentment in them. The last of Spats’ anger melted away.

“Go on then,” he said.

“Please come with me, Dr. Myasey,” Babydoll said.

Dr. Myasey looked from Spats to Babydoll, then back again. He looked like he was going to say something, but then he thought better of it. He just shook his head at the Don in disgust before following Babydoll to the office door.

Spats sat back in his throne, heart racing, eyes dark.

***

“Here goes nothing,” Gramps whispered.

Toothpick came to a stop in front of a door guarded by multiple thugs. He glanced back at his two prisoners and smirked. He knocked on the door.

There was no response at first. Piper’s heart raced. Her stomach felt both hot and cold. Opposite emotions raged within her: impatience for the door to open, and dread of what might happen when it did.

Suddenly, the sound of a man’s voice rang out, muffled by the thick door but unmistakably enraged. Piper couldn’t make out the man’s words, but she shrank from the hate that lashed from them like vicious whips. Toothpick lowered his hand, unwilling to knock again. He muttered something to one of the guards that Piper couldn’t make out.

There was a long silence. Every heartbeat felt like a violent disturbance of the tension.

Then, at last, the door opened.

Before she even saw her, Piper felt her familiar presence approaching. She recognized the sound of her walk, the rhythm of her steps.

Piper couldn’t move. She couldn’t speak.

A woman stepped through the doorway, leading a man in a lab coat. Her dark hair cascaded from her head in black waterfalls. Her bare shoulder still bore the small scar from a fall she had taken while they were playing together as little girls. Her pouting lips were red with lipstick. And her eyes…

…Her eyes met Piper’s.

Her mouth fell open. Her eyes widened. Her hands trembled. When she spoke, her voice was not the sultry voice of Babydoll, First Lady of the Colombo Mafia. It was a voice that she herself had not heard in many years. It was a light voice. A warm voice. A voice choked with shock and unshed tears.

“Piper?” Moxie Bravo gasped.