He could see his apartment building. He was close. But he was also exhausted. The acceleration had taken a toll on his body; his muscles were screaming, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird.
He looked at the data core in his hand. It was worth a fortune. But as he stared at the ceiling, listening to the rhythm of the real world, he felt a phantom vibration in his skull—the ghost of the Zqnow.