There was a hiss; then the lid of the Coffin swung open and NerveWires receded from his body. Everything seemed so real. Spectacularly real. And even as his old bedroom materialized in the space opening above him, he understood. Sure enough, there was Helga, smiling down at him, just as Gabby was probably doing that very second to Jackson back in the Wake.

“Welcome home,” Helga said.

3

He sat with Helga in the kitchen, having just stuffed his belly with her famous waffles and eggs and bacon. Michael enjoyed every bite, but he could never think about food the same way again. For the second time in his weird existence, he wasn’t a human. Everything about him was programmed. He had no real stomach or organs to digest food.

He was code. Complicated code, but code all the same.

Honestly, he didn’t really mind so much. Life had been great before Kaine, Weber, and that stupid Path ruined his sweet bliss. He’d get back to that. Memories of the real world would dull and fade, and Lifeblood Deep would again become his true home.

“I’m not sure which version of you I like better,” he said after one last gulp of OJ. “The one who makes this sweet breakfast or the one who goes around killing bad guys.”

Helga rolled her eyes. “I’m one and the same, Mikey boy. One and the same. And don’t think life’s going to be a peachy road. Don’t do your homework, don’t behave…well, you may see Helga the Warrior come back.”

Michael pictured her in an old barbarian’s getup with that fiery sword and snickered until his chest hurt. Yeah, he felt good, all right. Life was going to be just fine.

“Thanks for doing all this,” he finally said. Taking a cue from Bryson’s brave display in the real world, he decided to share his deepest, most sincere feelings with this miraculous woman. “I know you worked hard to program this place—to make it look like our old home. It’s amazing.” He paused, choking back a sudden wave of emotion. “Thanks for coming after me and saving me. And for figuring out a way we could keep on living in the Deep.”

Helga walked around the counter and gave him a hug, her eyes moist, then went back to her own seat.

“I have something to tell you,” she said in a quiet voice.

His curiosity was piqued. “You do?”

She nodded, and he felt a sudden dread blossom in his chest.

“No, no,” she quickly countered, “it’s not bad. I promise. I wanted to wait until…until I was certain everything worked out and we could both continue existing in the VirtNet. And…here we are.”

After a long, awkward pause, his pulse pounding in anticipation, he said, “Okay. What is it?”

“Do you remember…” She faltered. “Never mind, of course you remember. The day Sarah died.”