"Tricksters, magicians will show you all that's real
Careless jugglers, snakecharmers by your trail
Magic of a moment
Abracadabra..."

—Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen / Marko Hietala / Erno Vuorinen / Jukka Nevalainen, "Last Ride Of The Day"

If you think this is bad, you should see the other guy.

In a world already complicated by mutants, mad scientists, and magic, Mason Goodwin is about to learn that the best-planned rituals might not be where he finds himself.

"Try imagining a place where it's always safe and warm
Come in, she said
I'll give ya shelter from the storm"
— Bob Dylan

Shadowing an office-bound employee should be child's play for an AI capable of tapping any electronic device the employee touches. Colombine has two weeks to learn the high-stakes game said employee is playing. How Benjamin plans to cash in his chips and who's looking over his shoulder remain a mystery.

Just before midnight, January 6, 2017,
Elmendorf Air Force Base

"We are on standby for take-off. The seatbelt light is on. Passengers, please return to your seats if you haven't already."

Benjamin was still dead to the world, and if it weren't for his seatbelt, he would have slid out of his seat by now. Colombine amused herself by sabotaging Kota Kobayakawa's attempts to call out on his phone despite security restrictions. The various numbers he'd tried to reach could be extended into a useful exercise in social network analysis. Once they were clear of the air base and Anchorage, she let him try his luck with the extensive cell coverage in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

In which Benjamin Keeling and his personal assistant, Colombine, set off on the journey to his new school. He's traveling in good company and high spirits, even as he dreams of another life.

Parents Day! A Whateley tradition devised to show families how their little monsters are settling in amidst the many challenges of an enriching academic environment. In some cases, the message is "See? Our buildings are still standing. Do you think you could do as well with that kid of yours for what you're paying?"

Benjamin Keeling's only visiting on a job. It's only a coincidence that he's visiting today, and it's not like he's checking up on anyone. Nope!