When Cade enters a "quantum pocket" in an attempt to free Joshua Bridges, who has been imprisoned there, he finds his ally stuck in a time loop that always results in the Earth being destroyed.
Tropes:
- Earth-Shattering Kaboom: Every loop ends with the Earth being destroyed by a Gua superweapon. Joshua and Cade finally avert the explosion and break the loop.
- Fling a Light into the Future: After realising that some details from the last loop bleed over, Cade and Joshua leave clues for their future selves that help them break the loop.
- "Groundhog Day" Loop: The loop begins with Joshua realising he has 19 minutes to disarm the superweapon and ends with it going off.
- Pocket Dimension: Joshua is imprisoned in a Quantum Pocket.
