As I pick up the ropes that Sam just cut through a few minutes ago, Agent Walker and her surviving team walk over to us. She’s on her satellite phone in the middle of a hushed conversation. While she isn’t paying attention, Agent Murray grins at us and flashes a big double thumbs-up.

The helicopters set down a ways off, on one of the few stretches of plaza that wasn’t demolished by the Hunter. I guess they’re going to ferry us back to the military encampment. I have to find out what’s happened with the other Garde. I don’t have any new scars on my ankles, which means the battle is either won or still ongoing. I need to get to them, to Setrákus Ra, and put this new Legacy to good use.

Well, as long as I can figure out how to use it.

“Yes, sir,” Agent Walker says into the phone, then holds it away from her face, blinking in shock like she can’t believe what’s happening. She seems more surprised by her conversation than by the monster statue Daniela and I just made. She covers the mouthpiece of the phone and holds it out for me. “John, uh, I have the president on the line for you.”

I stare at her. “What? Seriously?”

Walker nods. “He’s apparently . . . um, changed his opinion on fully supporting the Loric. He wants you in Washington right away to discuss strategy.”

I hand the ropes off to Nine as he saunters over to us. He’s all too happy to be the one tying up Five. “Catching me didn’t make us even,” I hear him mutter to Five.

“No, it doesn’t,” Five replies quietly.

I ignore them for now. I’m about to talk to the president. I shake my head, eyeing Walker. “This isn’t some kind of trick, is it?”

“No,” Walker says, shaking the phone at me. “He’s for real. It sounds nuts but, apparently, his older daughter just experienced some kind of . . . vision? Where you gave a speech?”

Sam can’t hold back the laughter. “Get out!”

Walker looks at both of us. “Did I miss something?”

“No,” I say, smiling and reaching for the phone. “I’ll explain later.”

Before I can take Walker’s satellite phone, my own phone begins to vibrate in my back pocket. Only two people in the world have that number—Sarah and Six. The fight with Setrákus Ra must be over if they’re calling me. Hell, maybe they even killed the old bastard.

“Sorry,” I tell Walker, taking out my own phone. She looks at me like I’m crazy. “Tell the president to hold. I’ve got to take this.”