**Boom.**
The warehouse behind them erupted in a column of flame, glass and metal flung skyward like confetti from hell.
Adrian hit the dock hard, coughing blood. Ivy landed beside him, vision swimming.
“Adrian—stay with me!"
His lips moved. No sound came.
She tapped her wrist. “Lucas! We're clear. But he's crashing again."
“Chip overload. Reconnection held just long enough to stabilize cortex—but any delay now, he goes dark."
“Extraction?"
“Emergency boat. North pier. You're 300 meters out. Maybe two minutes before the second wave of explosives."
Ivy gritted her teeth. “We'll run."
---
She slung Adrian's arm over her shoulder.
They half-staggered, half-crawled across the dock as metal beams groaned and flames spat heat into the rain-heavy night.
A bullet pinged off the concre
