TechWorld Expo descended into chaos.
Security alarms shrieked. Attendees surged toward exits. Smoke curled from backstage vents—more distraction than danger, but effective.
In the mayhem, Sierra and Julian ducked behind a scaffolded partition. A second later, security stormed past, oblivious.
Julian leaned against the wall, winded.
“You're pale," Sierra said, pulling him upright.
“I'm fine."
“You're not."
His hand clutched his chest. “We don't have time for fine."
---
Ten minutes earlier, Julian's backup drive had landed in Sierra's palm.
“What's on this?" she'd asked.
“Evidence of sabotage. Kane planted that code. It's rigged to spread into GuardianMesh updates."
Her blood chilled. “He wanted it to fail publicly."
“And take both of us with it."
Now, crouched in a server corr
