Even as he was plummeting, Krodin tucked his legs up, kicked back at Brawn's face, sent the giant stumbling backward. Then he closed his eyes, spun on one foot, and whipped the other out at Brawn's stomach. Krodin doubled his fists and his arms were a blur as he hit the giant again and again.

Abby dug her hands into the dirt, hauled herself toward Roz and Pyrokine. Lance rushed up to her, took her arms, and helped her to stand.

Thunder too was standing now, one arm clutched tightly around his ribs. He shuffled awkwardly over to Lance. "You were a fool to come back, Lance."

"Well, I haven't finished picking on you yet."

"Shut up!" Roz yelled at them. She was crouched close to Pyrokine's head. "Oh God. . . . His neck is broken."

Twenty yards away Brawn staggered under the Fifth King's onslaught, collapsed to the ground, and lay still, moaning weakly.

Krodin stopped, turned to the others. "The flame-boy still lives? He is stronger than I thought. Step aside, girl. I will finish him. He was a powerful opponent and deserves a quick death."

Roz got to her feet, stood over Pyrokine. "No."

Abby shouted, "Roz! Get back!"

The Fifth King suddenly reeled as though hit by an invisible force. He staggered once, twice. "Still you resist me? You are a fool, girl. You will die next."

Abby and Lance grabbed Roz's hands. "Come on!" Abby said. "You can't help him now!"

Before any of the others could react, the Fifth King struck: He knocked Abby and Lance aside, locked his hand over Roz's face, and lifted her into the air. "Little witch. . . . You. Are. Next!"

From the ground at his feet, Pyrokine screamed, "No!"

He rose into the air, his limp, broken body crackling with blue, white, and green fire. "Let her go!"

Burning brighter than ever before, he launched himself at the Fifth King, crashed into his arm, forcing him to drop Roz.

Abby darted forward, dragged Roz away.

Krodin tried to shake him off, but Pyrokine continued to press himself against his arm. The blue flames seared Krodin's skin, and for the first time in his long life he screamed in pain. "No! Enough!"

With the last of his breath, Pyrokine said, "No. You don't get to decide when you've had enough. We have had enough!"

The flame was so bright now that Abby could barely look at Pyrokine. It continued to spread, burning through Krodin's flesh faster than he could heal.

"Shield your eyes!" Paragon yelled. "Everyone get back!"

His warning was almost too late: Pyrokine's body flared.

Krodin screamed, now completely consumed by the fire. He thrashed and roared, collapsed to the ground.

There was a final, searing flash so hot that it scorched the earth. And there was nothing left of them but cinders.

CHAPTER 35.

"What do we tell the rest of the world?" Lance asked Abby and Roz.

Thunder limped over to them. "That flash . . . I've never seen anything like it. How did he . . . ? I thought he just turned everything into light, but there was heat too."

Slowly, they moved closer to the blackened circle on the ground. Lance saw Roz's knees start to buckle-he grabbed for her, held her upright.

"He's gone . . . ," Roz said. "We only just found each other again and now he's gone." She pushed herself away from Lance, whirled around to stare at her brother. "I will never forgive you for this!"

Max Dalton looked at his sister for a moment, then turned away. "Roz, it was the only way. I was trying to protect you. To protect all of us."

"You wiped our memories! You framed him, sent him to prison! Why? Why?"

There was no answer.

In the failing light Lance saw Paragon approaching.

"Radio's down," the armored hero said. "Could be a side effect of the flash. But the last I heard was that everyone is recovering. There are reports coming in from all over the world. It's going to be a long time before everything is back to normal, but we'll get there. You kids should be proud of yourselves."

Quietly, Abby said to him, "But Pyrokine died."

Paragon put his hand on her shoulder. "I know, Abby. But . . . I'm sure you don't want to hear this now, but sometimes that's the price we pay." He paused for a moment, then said, "Max? You and I need to have a talk. Back this way. Now. And Thunder? This is not for your ears, or anyone else's. Understood?"

The tall boy nodded, and the four of them watched as Paragon led Max back toward the power plant.

They were silent for a few moments, until there was a long, low moan followed by scuffling sounds as Brawn regained consciousness and climbed to his feet. "Did we win?" the giant rumbled.

"Sort of," Lance said. "Pyrokine beat him. Killed himself in the process."

Brawn looked down at the scorched patch of ground. "Oh man. . . ." He looked over to where Max was returning, and said to Roz, "Has he admitted what he did yet?"

"What do you mean?" Roz asked.

"Pyrokine," Brawn said. Seeing her frown, he added, "The way Max made you forget you were ever with him."

She laughed. "Are you nuts? What are you talking about? I never met Pyrokine before today!"

Abby said, "My God, he's done it again! Roz, you were . . ." She frowned. "You were . . . What was I talking about?"

"Well, if you don't know, how are we supposed to?" Lance asked. "We're not mind-readers, you know. Anyway, this guy Pyrokine. I guess we should find out who he was."

Roz nodded. "I'll get Max on to it." She looked down at her bandage-wrapped hand. "I guess he wasn't a bad guy, in the end."

Thunder said, "Good and bad . . . it's all a matter of perspective." To Brawn, he said, "You get what I'm saying?"

"What are you looking at me for? I helped you, didn't I?"

"I guess." Thunder turned to Lance. "And I really hope your thieving days are over."

"What? After all the great new tricks I've learned?"

Max Dalton said, "All right, kids. Time to clear out. We still can't get a signal on the radio so we're just going to have to walk back to the perimeter."

Abby moved to give Roz a hug, but Roz held up her bandaged hand and backed away. "Better not."

Thunder said, "Me either. I can barely stand."

She looked at Brawn, but the expression on his face told her he wasn't the sort of person who was into hugs.

Then she turned to Lance, who was grinning at her and had his arms already outstretched.

"Oh dream on!" Abby said.

There was a crunch of heavy boots on the rubble as Paragon returned. He was holding a thick jacket in one hand. "All right, kids. Max will get the rest of you home. Stick with him. Brawn, you're probably going to have to go back to Oak Grove, but I promise we'll put in a good word for you." He tossed the jacket to Lance. "Put this on. I'll fly you home."

"Yes!" Lance pulled on the jacket and zipped it up. To the others, he said, "OK, guys. It's been fun. I don't suppose we'll ever meet again, but I shall always treasure this short time we've spent together."

"Yeah, yeah," Thunder said. "Go. You've already outstayed your welcome."

Abby smiled at him.

Then Lance felt Paragon take hold of his arms. The jetpack whined into life, and suddenly they were soaring into the air.

ALSO BY MICHAEL CARROLL:.

Quantum Prophecy: The Awakening.

Quantum Prophecy: The Gathering.

Quantum Prophecy: The Reckoning.