Tom spent the entire next day on a dangerous ledge on a slope, trapped within the confines of that underground dome. He gazed upwards, lost in thought, considering the possibilities. The endless white landscape stretched out before him, though he knew he was deep inside in a massive Antarctic iceberg. The only exit was the steel door- a way out meant solely for him, not for A-01. One option was to escape together and live in hiding in the year 2030 forever. He considered the odds: perhaps Mat Flicker had lied. But he couldn’t risk it. He wouldn’t force A-01 to walk through that door with him. The idea seemed impossible, so he dismissed it immediately.


For the first time, life had led him to a path worth staying on. He had decided that he never wanted to abandon it. Yet, if he died in the real world, he would never see her again. There was no middle ground.


His own team was killing him. Most likely, they assumed the mission had failed because he was delayed in returning, so they took matters into their own hands. It was his fault. How had he believed that military scientists and soldiers would keep him alive on that bed forever? He had embarked on a mission that should have been completed on day one! Of course, they would kill him! But Lancer had promised.. They’d wait for him.. But there it was – another lie from his captain!


<< You little bitch…>> he murmured and clenched his fist, picturing it crashing into Lancer’s oval face. The admiration he’d held for so long had transformed into a thirst for revenge. Still, how he would confront Lancer was a plan he believed he’d have time to devise later.


First, he had to return to his physical form before it was too late.