And then, as had so often happened in Michael’s life, things changed in an instant.

There was an eruption of noise and a searing wind of heat, and Kaine’s body catapulted into the air, disappearing in the distance.

Michael lay on the ground, so exhausted and weak from pain, he thought he’d never move again. It took everything he had left in his body to turn and look up, only to see his salvation.

4

Portals were opening all around him, dark spaces through which countless figures poured. They swarmed Kaine’s massive winged beast and his KillSim army, falling on them with every weapon imaginable. Some of the newcomers were familiar—warriors and robots and superheroes and aliens from dozens of games Michael had played with his friends over the years. Others were new to him. A thing that looked like a giant tree with a face, swinging its many branches with ruthless force. A rock creature, sharp angles of stone erupting from its chest. There was even a six-legged steel horse with a humanoid on its back made from a hundred sharp blades.

Michael breathed out in relief and disbelief. An army of Tangents had come to save them. They’d been so close to true death. And Bryson and Gabby were still out there, fighting. He had to go—

Someone put a hand on his shoulder when he tried to get up, gently pushed him back down. Michael turned to see Helga, dressed in armor, kneeling beside him. She leaned against a massive sword of fiery light that she’d driven pointfirst into the ground.

“What’s going—” he started to say, but she stopped him.

“Stop talking. We don’t have time. I pressed Kaine into killing me so I could Lift and get help. But I wasn’t fast enough. Someone’s coming for you in your Coffin—Kaine’s broken through my firewall. You have to go back, now.”

Michael scrambled to his feet, fighting the pain. “What…no! Bryson and Gabby are out there! I have to help!”

Helga grabbed him by the shirt with both hands and pulled him close. “We’ve got this, Michael. Sometimes you have to let go. Sometimes you have to let others share your burden. You understand me?”

He nodded weakly, but felt helpless.

“I’ve left a pathway for you.” Helga squeezed his shoulders. “Now go. Save yourself. And have faith in us—we can win, and I know how to destroy the Doctrine. Remember my little trick to get us to the Hive undetected? The build-and-destroy?” She didn’t wait for a response. She pulled her sword from the ground and leaped into the air, cutting in half two KillSims that had been diving toward them. “Go!” she yelled.

Michael focused on the Portal path provided by Helga, closed his eyes, coded, and Lifted himself to the Wake.

5