"No," I whispered, the new power in my voice replaced by a raw, guttural sound. He won't get away with this. Not again.
The image of Maya, smiling beside Mark, burned behind my eyelids, overlaid by the shimmering patterns of data that now danced constantly in my vision. The digital world, a vast tapestry of connections and emotions, felt suddenly tainted, the golden glow of the Genesis System’s interface twisting into a furious, bloody red. It was a visceral punch to the gut, a betrayal that echoed the first, but now with the added sting of public spectacle.
Elaine’s concerned voice cut through the haze. "Leonard, you're radiating static. Your biometric readings are off the charts. What's wrong?"
I opened my eyes, the golden light within them flaring. "Mark Kross. He’s going to announce
