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When he opened them, he stood in a large white marble room. The veins in the stone
pulsed, as if some kind of toxic liquid were pumping through them. Sarah was there;
Bryson, too. And Agent Weber—all three of them dressed just like they’d been in the
Wake before stripping down.
“So we meet again,” Weber said with a stiff nod. She turned away from them and
walked to one of the bright walls, where she reached out and tapped a pattern on its
surface. After a moment something hissed and snapped; then a drawer slid open.
“Here we are,” she said as she pulled out a black bag with a strap, handling it
carefully. Inside was something boxy, making it obvious what the bag contained.
The Lance.
Weber turned to face them, taking a long look at Michael and his friends, as if
assessing whom she trusted most to carry the precious device. The device she’d spent
years programming.
“Take this, Michael,” she said finally, handing him the bag.
He accepted it after the slightest hesitation, wondering why she chose him, then
slipped the strap over his shoulder. With the bag resting against his hip, he unzipped it
and peeked inside, to see exactly what he’d expected: gleaming metal and colorful
wires. Weber leaned over, her hair brushing his face. She reached in and pointed to a
small keypad on the side of the device, then flipped up its protective case.
“You see that?” she said. “Once you have this open, it’s eight numbers. I trust you
have the password memorized by now.”
“That’s it?” Michael asked, feeling stupid. “Activate this and all our problems are
solved?”
Weber stepped back and nodded. “Just like I told you—find the building, break in,
find whatever it is that represents his central programming. Insert the Lance device,
enter the code. The results will be messy. Get out fast and either find a Portal or I’ll Lift
you myself once I know you’re clear. I just wish it were less dangerous.”
“Why do I get the feeling things probably won’t go so smoothly?” Sarah asked, her
arms folded as she stared at the bag on Michael’s hip.
“That’s why I’m sending you three,” Weber replied. “I trust you. I’ve seen what you
can accomplish. Things are … very complicated among my agents. This needs to be a
quiet, small operation.”
“And the Hider codes?” Bryson asked. “Those are still all in place?”
Weber nodded curtly. “Of course. Kaine should have no idea you’re coming. The same
applies as before—you won’t be able to see the code like you’re used to, and Lifeblood
Deep is realistic on a level you absolutely won’t believe until you see it for yourself. Use
your NetScreens if you have to.”
She directed a sheepish look Michael’s way. He’d lived most of his life thinking the
Deep was the real world. It was a painful reminder of everything he’d lost.
“Now, any questions before I send you off?” Weber looked eager for them to get to
work.