As Peregrine, Ricochet, and Goldbug trudge through the EMBER test, Horizon investigates Helios Bloom and Videodrome connects with a computer virus.

Content Warnings: Discussions of Domestic Manipulation.

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Beacons Test Candidates:

1. Goldbug. Exam: 980. Experience: 700. Fit A: 890. Clever team player with incredible technical skill. Self-doubting but good at thinking for himself. Fit B: 470. We already have one Silver Sentinel, we don’t need two. Doesn’t respect EMBER, he’s another Cadet disaster waiting to happen.
2. Ricochet. Exam: 748. Experience: 200. Fit A: 710. Heroic, but with a tendency to rush into danger without thinking. Fit B: 920. New but very promising, with a power set that complements ours. He’s a trooper, and he’s got more stamina than it seems.
3. Peregrine. Exam: 0 [Refused]. Experience: 900. Fit A: 720. It doesn’t matter what I write, she’s not gonna join. She’s stubborn and doesn’t listen to instructions – can’t see the bigger picture. Fit B: 950. Reliable, popular hero with a strong sense of justice. Is she a good team player, or just a good leader?
4. Prisma. Exam: 892. Experience: 800. Fit A: 800. Self-serious but proficient. Used to teamwork in the Constellation Corps, but do those loyalties conflict with EMBER? Also doesn’t quite have the young/exciting/popular factor. Fit B: 870. A reliable member of the Corps, we’ve worked with her before to good results. Don’t have a great sense of her personality behind the mask.
5. Sunnyside. Exam: 754. Experience: 800. Fit A: 640. Seems like an asshole? Honestly the fanbase is the only real draw, would help reform our image. Fit B: 720. Not perfect, but a quite effective hero with a useful power set. Worried about his ability to follow orders.
6. Petrichor. Exam: 916. Experience: 700. Fit A: 740. Weird powers, would fit more as an investigator than a Beacon. He’s had surprising success in Chicago, though. We shouldn’t underestimate him. Fit B: 880. Observant, down-to-earth, and humble. More heroes should be like him.
7. Blueman. Exam: 642. Experience: 600. Fit A: 740. Beloved by the city, young and fresh-faced, and really damn powerful. Pretty naïve and also he’s blue. Fit B: 250. Our last Beacon was killed by an Isoldi. We can’t just recruit another one without expecting major resistance. Honestly, I don’t think we can take an alien at all.
8. Freezeframe. Exam: [Awaiting Review]. Experience: 400. Fit A: 820. Fascinating powers, lots of ambition. It would take a lot of training, but she could change the world. Fit B: 100. Self-centered, attention-seeking, rule-breaking vigilante.
9. Lucerne. Exam: 718. Experience: 200. Fit A: 860. Scrappy, very proficient in combat, and really wants to learn. They could be molded into a real hero. Fit B: 220. Criminal record and not enough hero experience. I’ll need to see more before I’m convinced.

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Featuring: Violet Blitz, Cecília Gonçalves de Azeredo, Nolan Caile, Audrey Dutcher, Cam Kooken, and Vincent Le

Music and Editing by Violet Blitz

Art by Cecília Gonçalves de Azeredo

Special thanks to Lauren Tan and Mia Taylor

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