“
How did you get the badges?” Parker asked. “You didn’t steal a badge from a pro, did you?”
“Of course not,” Hardison said. “Geek solidarity to the end.”
“Then whose name is this on my badge? Who’s Diana Prince?”
Hardison laughed. “That’s Wonder Woman’s secret identity.”
Parker giggled at that. “And who are you? Carl Lucas?”
“That’s Luke Cage’s original name.”
“Who?” Eliot didn’t bother to conceal his irritation.
“Luke Cage? You know, Power Man? Of Power Man and Iron Fist?” Hardison waited for a response that never came. “Sweet Christmas, what’s wrong with you people?”
“We have lives. And just who am I supposed to be, huh? Batman’s secret sidekick?”
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” Sophie said. Nate gave her a nudge with his elbow, and she fixed him with a mischievous smile.
“Naw, man,” said Hardison. “I wouldn’t do that to you. I know how you feel about ‘fictional’ people.”
“So who the hell is Warren Ellis?”
“He’s a comic-book writer. Good one.”
Eliot groaned. “For God’s sake, do I look like a comic-book writer?”
“Hey, don’t knock Warren Ellis. He wrote all sorts of great stuff. Global Frequency, The Authority, Transmetropolitan. Good stuff.
”
”