I crouch and run along the space behind the cryochambers, stepping over wires as I go. “That’s something else I don’t understand,” I call out, coming to a stop behind Day’s cylinder. “Why would you want to live in Purgatory? Unable to feel anything, surrounded by drugged people who can barely think for themselves.”

“At least I’m surrounded by friends,” the doctor says. “It’s better than being lonely.”

“But they’re not your friends, not really.”

“They used to be,” Dr. Price replies, “but they started dying. Every mission they went on, every attempt to defeat Happy, more and more of them died. I couldn’t bear it any longer, not after Midway Park.”

“So, you drugged them?”

“Not at first. I tried to convince them that hiding away and enjoying the time we had left was perhaps the better option.”

“It’s not, though, don’t you see that? Even if there’s a one percent chance we can beat Happy, we have to try.”

“Zero point seven percent,” the doctor replies.

I didn’t think it possible, but I suddenly feel even colder than before. “What did you say?”

“There is a zero point seven percent chance that Happy can be defeated, and every second of every day, Happy is working to bring that number down.”

“How do you know that?” I ask.

“There are other artificial intelligence programs. They are not as advanced as Happy, but they can run simulations and scenarios, they can calculate odds based on resources, run algorithms that predict outcomes.”

“Zero point seven,” I repeat, and the drug that still lingers in my body suddenly seems stronger. I feel like giving in to its power once again.

Pander, Igby, Molly, Malachai, Pod, Akimi, Kina.

“I don’t care,” I say. “I won’t give up. You could tell me there’s no chance at all, that it’s completely futile—I’ll still fight. Drugging people, forcing them into hiding against their will? You’re a monster.”

“So, you’ll fight no matter what?” Dr. Price asks.

“Yes,” I reply, trying to catch a glimpse of him as I move slowly around the backs of the cryochambers.

Keep stalling, I think. Just keep buying time until you see an opportunity.

“And you’ll convince others to fight?” Dr. Price calls out.

“Yes,” I reply.

“Then, Luka, I put it to you that you are the monster. You are willing to lure people to their deaths on the dishonest promise of victory! You are willing to offer false hope to those who have none! You would lead an army of children to their graves to satisfy your own need to believe that the outcome will be anything but destruction.”

“That’s not true,” I say.