“Now,” the man said. “As of this moment, I am the leader of this world. President, chancellor, prime minister, all wrapped into one. My fellow Tangents will be assigned various locations in the many countries and territories around the globe. You will submit or you will be replaced by Tangents who are more than willing to do so. The Mortality Doctrine is a wonderful thing, my new friends.”

Michael wanted to stand up and shout. Something was definitely off. After his last two encounters with Kaine within the Sleep, he knew he was right. This was absolutely, positively not Kaine.

The impostor kept talking, but Michael tuned him out, leaning over to Bryson. “That’s not him, dude. That’s not him.”

Bryson looked at him. “He does seem a little over-the-top. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know.”

“Let’s just hear him out,” Bryson said. “Learn something.”

“…that so many people had to die,” the guard was saying, his larger-than-life hologram addressing the crowd like a god. “We needed to show a display of power, make sure you know that we can do what we need to do and literally be whoever we need to be. Think about this—if we can so easily take over one of the most secure meetings in the world, imagine what else we can do. You need to abandon any idea of rebellion you may already be hatching.”

Michael didn’t know how much longer he could take this display.

And then, once again, the world changed.

5

The guard claiming to be Kaine seemed to like talking.

“Our perception of the world, of intelligence, of mortality, of life…with each passing year, it seemingly evolves at double the rate of the previous year. Our understanding of death has transcended even the most optimistic religion, when we can plainly see that the termination of our physical bodies does not have to mean the end. Although you may despise me now, that will change. In time, as we rule and show you the way…”

Kaine stopped, his words fading out as if he’d suddenly forgotten a memorized speech. A blankness washed over his face, and the silence in the chamber stretched out. Michael watched, wondering what was going on, and a thread of drool dripped from the guard’s mouth. On the huge hologram, it appeared as a long line of silver-blue that flashed, then disappeared beneath the display.

“What the…,” Bryson murmured in awe.

Kaine, the guard, whoever he was—moved his mouth to speak again, but no sound came out. Another stream of drool dripped from his lips. Then his eyes rolled up into his head and he fell backward, disappearing from the hologram.