Page 185 of Neon Flux

“Cyanos, if you would.”

I gently guided her toward one of the server’s holographic terminals.

“Just do it. We’ll be out of here soon.”

She was shaking, and not just her body. I finally felt her Flux again, and it was nothing but static. Her fingers started moving across the holographic keyboard.

I leaned in as close as I dared, my voice barely audible.

“Doll, what happened in there?”

Did I really think she’d answer? I didn’t know. I’d never seen her like this, and I was desperate.

She hit a few more keys, and I watched as the data uploaded.

“Good,” Levi said, suddenly beside us again. “That will do, Asset Hoshina.” I let go of her. He looked at the holoscreen, frowning. “Now the rest of it.”

Her Flux spiked again, electromagnetic currents visible beneath her skin like violet lightning.

“You can’t mean—”

“Oh, I certainly do.” Levi’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. He gestured toward Taos, who lay semi-conscious among the captured rebels. “The consciousness transfer protocol. Use it on her.” He reached down, pulled a drive from the rebel’s front pocket, and swiftly attached it to the nearest node.

Eon’s gaze darted to the holographic interface, recognition dawning as she scanned the code that popped up. I watched her face transform as comprehension collapsed into horror.

“This code is…unstable,” she whispered. “If I initiate the transfer sequence, the outcome would be—”

“Not so different from what happened to Renard, I imagine.” Levi completed her thought with the calm satisfaction of someone who had calculated every variable. “Precisely.”

“It’s too much processing power. The Stellarium system here is already unstable. The overload it would cause—”

“Yes, and if I’m not mistaken, we should have seven minutes to reach the roof and clear the area. Plenty of time.” He adjusted his cuffs with practiced nonchalance. “This infrastructure was due for an upgrade anyway.”

“But thousands of people live within the blast radius.”

Levi said nothing, the silence more damning than any justification.

Eon’s eyes flicked to Taos, her dazed form representing yet another impossible choice.

“You can’t possibly mean to…” Her voice faltered as the color drained from her face. “No, I won’t—I can’t—”

“Chak,” Levi said, his voice carrying the bored certainty of absolute power, “Ms. Ibarra has reneged on her contract. Please execute the termination protocol.”

Tex’s hologram cocked his gun, the motion almost casual.

Eon screamed, “No!”

In an instant, Levi was on her, fingers digging into her cheeks, forcing her to her knees. I saw red, electromagnetic currents surging beneath my implants. I pulled up my Flux—when a deep voice sounded in my ear.

“Stand down, Cyanos.” Tex. Always Tex.

“No can do, boss. Not this time.” My implants burned as I channeled more current than they were designed to handle.

“I told you not to engage with her, but you never listen. You forced me to involve her in this, so deal with the consequences. She will survive this on her own. Make the wrong move, and neither of you will escape.” His voice carried the same emotionless certainty I’d trusted for years. “I know your life means little to you—but what about hers?”

He saw right through me, like he always had.

“Stand down, before I must do something I will regret,” Tex ordered.