Silas looked at Jiece's exosuit, then at the damaged mask hanging from one strap in his hand.
"You want me to explain how I counter shard users while you buy time for your recovery team," Silas said. "That would be generous, and I am not feeling generous."
Jiece shifted his weight. The suit read the movement and angled his shoulders toward the butterfly on Silas's side.
"I do not need the lecture," Jiece said. "I need the shard you stole."
The butterfly dropped from Silas's shoulder and folded into a black-purple orb.
Jiece recognized the shape from the feed.
He moved before the orb launched. Thrusters fired along his calves and back, pushing him sideways as the mass cut past his shoulder. His visor filled with warnings from the residue wake, but he stayed on his feet and drove forward.
