Chapter 31 · Termination Is Live

The file's still open on the cracked screen when Echo grabs my wrist.

"We're out of time," she says. "Steelhook's moving the rig to the north tower. If we don't get there first—"

"My mom knew." I pull my arm back. "She knew what Termination was. She told me not to let him plug me in."

Echo doesn't blink. "Yeah. She worked on the prototype. That's why her file's in the system."

"You knew that?"

"I know a lot of things, Kai." She's already moving toward the door, boots crunching on broken glass. "Doesn't mean I'm playing you. Means I need you alive long enough to shut this down."

I don't move. My hand's still shaking. The screen flickers—mom's face in the corner of the file, younger than I remember her. Except I don't remember her. Not really. Just the outline of her. The shape of her voice.

"What happens if I get plugged in?" I ask.

Echo stops. Turns. Her expression's flat. "Best case? You channel enough sand to collapse the storm cores. Worst case? Your brain burns out and Steelhook gets a weapon he can point at anyone he wants."

"And you want me to do it anyway."