A plasma detonation thudded behind them and traveled through the floor into Elias's boots.
He kept walking.
Every step dragged at his ribs. The net he had fired over A Block had taken the last stable layer from his core, and the empty place under his collarbone felt scraped raw. His forearms ached from holding shape after shape past the point where Dots should have refused him.
Behind him, Kikaru fought Warden Vance in the ruined entrance. Tidwell bled under Paul's hands. Faye and Wes were pinned by blue iron because Elias had pulled the trigger himself.
The thought did not leave.
Asurik Gusmen fell into step beside him, clean uniform untouched by the worst of the breach. The rocky Ikona on his shoulder gave off a steady heat that made the corridor air ripple.
"You look like your stomach finally understands the work, cook."
