“Drowthers—that’s us?” asked Xena.

“It sounds like the N word,” said Pat.

“It’s exactly like the N word, the way most people in the Families use it,” said Danny. “But some of us want to use our power to protect you.”

“Don’t let them through the Gate, man,” said Hal.

“I told you how they’ll make him do it,” said Hermia.

“Then kill yourself first,” said Hal. “That’s what I’d do.”

The words hung in the air.

“Maybe you would,” said Danny. “But I’m not that kind of hero. I’m not any kind of hero.”

“‘With great power comes great responsibility,’” intoned Wheeler.

“If only,” said Danny. “In the real world, with great power comes great suffering—by the people who don’t have the power.”

“I wasn’t kidding,” said Hal. “You shouldn’t exist. If you didn’t exist, things would keep on going the way they have been since 632 or whenever.”

“Spacetime would only create another like me,” said Danny. “And maybe the next guy would be even worse than me.”

“He did use his power to help us,” said Laurette.

“You were knocking Coach Bleeder on his ass,” said Hal.

“Yes,” said Danny. “And making him drop his watch.”

“To protect me?” asked Hal.

“And because it was funny,” said Danny.

“It was funny,” said Hal.

“Are you going to destroy the world, Danny?” asked Sin.

“I hope not,” said Danny. “Here’s what I hope. I hope that the Families will unite to use their power to stop all wars, to stop all the terrorists, to put an end to all the shit.”

“Did they ever do that before, back before the gates were closed?” asked Hal.

“No,” said Danny.

“Why would it be any different now?” said Hal.

“Because Danny’s here,” said Hermia. “If one of the Family starts acting like Stalin or Pol Pot or Idi Amin, Danny has the power to gate him to the bottom of the Atlantic, and they know it. They’ve got no way to stop him. As long as Danny’s alive, he has a chance to keep it all under control.”

“So you’re going to be, like, the god of all gods,” said Hal.

Danny sat down. “Yeah,” he said.

“Plus graduate from high school on schedule,” said Hal.

“Maybe I’m not going to be able to pull that off,” said Danny.

“Why did you ever think you could?” asked Pat.

“Because I didn’t know I could make a Great Gate when I came here,” said Danny. “I didn’t know anything. I just wanted to be normal.”

Hal made a weighing motion with his hands. “Normal, or supreme god. Supreme god, or normal. So hard to decide.” Then Hal reached out his hand to Danny. Offering a handshake.

“I’m in,” said Hal.

“In what?”