Lian sprinted toward the base of the Chronos Tower, the Wrecker droid's heavy footsteps shaking the pavement behind her. Every time the droid fired its laser, the air turned into a furnace, melting the asphalt into glass and sending plumes of black smoke into the sky.
"The service lift is on the North side!" Kai directed, his holographic form flickering wildly as the tower's interference grew stronger.
Lian dove into a narrow maintenance alcove just as a laser beam vaporized the spot where she had been standing. She found the lift, but the keypad was smashed and sparking.
"Move aside," Kai said. His holographic arm reached into the exposed wires, his code merging with the lift's ancient circuitry.
The lift doors groaned open. Lian jumped in and slammed the 'Upper Deck' button. As the lift ascended rapidly, she watched the city shrink below her, the neon lights looking like tiny, distant stars.
"Kai, your signal is fading," she whispered, noticing his form was becoming transparent, almost invisible.
"The tower's interference is too strong," he gasped. "Listen to me, Lian. When you reach the top, Elena will be waiting. She's not just a security chief; she's been augmented with experimental tech. Don't fight her with your hands. Use the Bond. Trust the resonance."
The lift came to a violent halt. The doors were ripped open by a pair of mechanical hands. Elena stood there, her eyes glowing with a cold, predatory light.
"Welcome home, Vance. Let's see what that Key is made of."