Leaving Jiggling Wing restaurant, the world outside spun into a disorienting blur. The familiar streets of Crystal City felt alien, as if I was seeing them through water. My vision doubled, and my legs buckled beneath me. I reached out for my comlink, my voice was barely a whisper, "Pierce..."
I could feel my body collapsing, my control slipping away in the face of the overwhelming feelings and the strain on my implant. My fingers trembled as I attempted to crawl, the concrete cold and unforgiving against my skin. I was vaguely aware of the concerned murmurs and stares from passersby, but they felt distant, like echoes in a dream.
Pierce appeared beside me suddenly, his presence was a solid anchor in the swirling chaos. He lifted me, guiding me to lean against his shoulder. My hands, shaking uncontrollably, managed to pass the data shard to him. He tucked it safely into his pocket with a practiced motion.