The plane landed and the soldiers dragged him to a car—a fancy hovercraft reserved for big government types. One of the soldiers drove; the other one sat next to Michael in the back, sure to flash the barrel of his gun as he took his seat. Weber situated herself on Michael’s other side.

“I lied when I said I don’t need you,” Weber said. It was the first time he’d heard her voice in hours.

Michael sighed. “And what’s that supposed to mean?” he asked wearily.

“There’s a connection between you and the Mortality Doctrine program.” She faced the window, seemingly engrossed in watching the buildings flashing by. “It’s a very complex program that was created using quantum computing. Essentially, it requires so much data knowledge that the human brain can’t handle it. Only artificial intelligence can manipulate it, and you’re part of the ethereal connection holding it all together. Like a battery in an old gas engine. Or more like the gas itself.”

Michael listened, but said nothing. He knew plenty about quantum computing and wasn’t surprised at all to know that the Mortality Doctrine program used it. That was the only way to explain how they’d figured out how to utilize the human brain itself as a computer. But how it all had to stay connected through him? That he didn’t get. Though he sure wasn’t going to admit that to Weber.

She finally turned to look at him again. “So we do need you, Michael. We just don’t need your help. Do you understand the difference?”

“I’m not an idiot,” he spat out.

“No, you’re not. We know that all too well.”

“Where are we going?” he asked. “Why did you pull me out of the Sleep, but leave Kaine and the rest of those Tangents behind?” He wished he could pretend he didn’t care, but he couldn’t hold back.

“Because he’s doing exactly what we need, whether he knows it or not.” Weber returned her gaze to the window as the car dipped and slowed, then lowered itself to the road again. A garage was opening up in the face of a really tall skyscraper. “That group of Tangents breaking away from Kaine created yet another enemy that we didn’t need. And seeing their overall numbers dwindle in all this fighting—that’s just a bonus. They will all be insignificant soon enough.”

The car rolled forward into the garage, drove through the dark for a bit, then pulled to a stop.