V? That you? The bright, glowing fog of the spiritual plane floods Jack’s view.

“That’s right.”

Vardin is still just a voice, and the sound is softer than Jack remembers. There’s no shadow or anything to go with that voice. In fact, there don’t seem to be any shadows or spirits at all. Something’s different.

“You noticed, didja? Never saw them nuggets that excited.”

Jack finds his sense of awareness coming back to him, like he’s just now remembering everything that happened a few seconds ago. At least, he thinks it was only a few seconds ago.

Am I dead?

“I think, kiddo, that’s up to you. You put on an awfully good show out there. You’ve done more in your short time than most folks will ever do with theirs. No one would think less of you if you called it a day.”

I have a choice?

“Sure you do. But only one. We only ever have one choice, Jack. It’s the same choice no matter what we do. And we make that choice over and over again. Every time we pull air in our lungs. Every time our hearts beat.”

Why are you still here?

“To be honest … I ain’t for long. I just needed one last word with ya, whatever you choose.”

I can’t just stay here with you?

“Heh heh.” The old man’s voice croaks with laughter. “This place was never meant for permanent storage. More like a holding warehouse, as best as I can figure. So no. Stickin’ around isn’t an option. Not for either of us.”

What about the others? Corva, Zeke, Lyia … everyone?

“All I know is that they ain’t here, but that don’t mean they didn’t come through. But there’s only one way to know for certain.”

The choice.

“Yeah. And really, it comes down to one question.”

What’s that?

“Are you done?”

Jack knows the answer, but doesn’t think it out loud. It’s a more difficult question than it ought to be. Both possible answers to the question are short, but neither is really easy. Each one pulls a planet of gravity along with it.

Vardin already knows Jack’s answer, too. Jack isn’t sure how, but he knows the old man’s presence is fading.

“I’m proud of you, kiddo.”