Chapter 41 · It's a failsafe

He didn't.

His eyes locked on the thing's chest.

A red light appeared beneath the synthetic skin.

"It's a failsafe," he said.

"How long?"

"Not long."

"That's not a number."

"Thirty seconds. Maybe less."

"Can you shut it down?"

"No."

"Can you lie better?"

"Not while you're looking at me like that."

The double laughed. His face was half Kane, half exposed machinery. "You finally understand."

Kane stepped in front of me.

"Get behind me," he said.

"Again?"

"Selah."

"No."

"If he detonates, the core will take the whole tower."

"Then we stop him."

"There isn't time."

"You don't know that."

"I do."

The double's smile widened. "He does. He built the failsafe."

I turned to Kane. "You built it?"

"Not this one."

"But you know how it works."

"Yes."

"Then tell me how to stop it."

He reached for my wrist. "You can't."

"Try me."

"The only way to interrupt the signal is to overload the contract."

"With what?"

"My life force."

"No."

"It will burn through the copy's stolen signature."

"And what does it do to you?"

His silence answered.

"Kane."

"It might kill me."

"Might?"

"Probably."

"That's a terrible plan."

"It's the only one."

"Then find another."