"Pressure’s spiking on Loop 7," a voice crackled in his earpiece. It was Sarah, the systems monitor. "If that compressor seizes, the server farms in Sector 4 go dark. Then the banking grid. Then everything."

The vibration beneath his boots began to smooth out. The "thrum" returned to a rhythmic, healthy purr.

"Pressure stabilizing," Sarah whispered, relief evident in her voice. "Temperatures in Sector 4 are dropping. You saved the grid, Elias."