My hands are shaking as I read the memo from work. A new summary of our lab's activity. And all of our projects are gone except for the few no one believed in in the first place. I stand in the parking lot for a few minutes trying to digest this news before stepping inside, then I realize I can't go in there and go about this day as if it were any other. Our lab director, Steve, looks surprised when I charge through the door of his office.

"Cass?" He furrows his brow, cocks his head. He's not used to me looking frantic and wild-eyed.

"The memo, Steve." I drop my satchel on a chair and look Steve straight in the eyes. "What happened to our most valuable research projects?"

"Whatever do you mean, Cass? They're all there, don't you see? We're excited about the vitamin research you'll be leading as—"

"It's a nowhere project, and you know it."

But the look on his face tells me he doesn't know it. All of a sudden, my heart is pounding double time. It's happening. This isn't about Rebecca Burke stealing our AB005 project, but instead, it's about her wiping out our entire lab and leaving us with crap. I'm sure of it now. And what's the point of arguing with Steve when she's stolen his memories? He'll think I'm crazy. I take a deep breath and try to stay calm. I can't let him or anyone else around here see the panic building inside.

"It's not as exciting as some of our past projects," I mumble, back pedaling uncomfortably, "but I see the potential."

Steve smiles, and it seems he's satisfied with my words.

"I'll... umm... be going now. Lot's of work to do." I grab my bag but don't head into the lab. Instead, I race across town to Central University.

**

It's almost like Rebecca Burke has been expecting me. Even though I show up unannounced, she invites me into her office right away and showers me with smiles. Am I wrong about her being a memory stealer? No. Do not weaken, I tell myself. I can't let her steamroll over me with her smooth manner. But when she closes the door to her office, the tone changes. She is just as polite, but it's clear she knows who I am and why I'm here. I could hold back, or I could go for broke at this point. I decide to go for broke.

"Why did you steal our projects and wipe out our memories?" I ask.

"I didn't wipe out your memory." Her smile is wide and brilliant, contrasting with her prim blonde chignon and a pristine lab coat.

"That's because you can't. You know that as well as I do."

"True." She nods.

"Look, this is insane," I hiss. "What do you expect to do with all you've stolen?"

Rebecca raises an eyebrow. "Well, local government is a good place to start, don't you think? I can convince them to fund more of my own personal research."

Of course. I have a megalomaniac scientist on my hands. And the only way I can take her down is by strengthening my powers to such a point that I can actually take back those memories she stole and transmit them back where they belong. She knows this as well as I do. Most memory catchers can absorb memories without actually removing them from their owners. Only the most powerful memory catchers can actually take them completely out of someone's mind. Does Rebecca realize my powers have been weakening? It's impossible to tell.

"This competition, this challenge of powers, was supposed to start in a few weeks and yet..."

"Playing by the rules is so boring." She shrugs.

"You could be disqualified for this." I say the words haughtily and with confidence, but I know and she knows that's unlikely. If I report her to our organizers, by the time they hold an investigation, the whole contest will be over, and I'll have missed it. Because all the parties involved in a complaint are immediately prohibited from participating.

We're both silent for a few minutes, and then she speaks. "What did you come here for? Did you expect me to hand everything back to you?"

"No. Sadly, I didn't. I came because... well, because I think it's best to know the enemy."

She smiled, a broad smile of confidence. "There, I must agree. Thank you for stopping by, Cassiopeia. May the best woman win."