Chapter 29 · Protocol Zero: Burn the Sky

"Do not let go of me."

Kane's hand locked around my wrist as the spire shook hard enough to throw both of us against the control rail.

My teeth clicked together. White pain tore through my skull. Every screen in the command chamber flashed the same warning in angry red.

NEURAL LINK: 200%.

"You said the limit was one hundred and twenty," Kane growled.

"I lied."

"You lied while wiring a military core into your spine?"

"I was busy not dying."

The floor bucked again. Kane caught me around the waist before my knees gave out. His chest slammed into my back, solid and hot through two layers of ruined combat gear. His breath hit my ear.

"Vera. Look at me."

"Get your hands off me."

"Not happening. Your balance is gone."

"Then drag me to the console."

"You can barely stand."

"And you can barely think. We both have problems. Move."

He held on for half a second longer than he needed to.