Vee swings at the Swarm as it approaches, attempting to swat some of it away. It's not particularly effective - swords against nanites is not an equal-footed battle - but they aren't attacking Pepper directly and that's what matters most.

The noise Miles makes causes shivers to run up and down Pepper's spine, and she can feel the way the Swarm is trying to dig into the ethereal form of her ka. It stings like acid, and Pepper winces, but Vee's effect will give her a chance to get through to Miles.

And by 'get through to him', Pepper apparently means 'tackle him to the ground'. Mostly gently, but she'll do her best to hold him down. The faceplate is still open, which puts her at risk, but it'll be hard for him to recognize her with the armor fully closed. "Miles. Wake! Up! You are Miles Upshur, not some mindless cloud of robots, and you are going to remember that!"