[CANADA – PRIVATE PORT]
The jet landed smoothly. Cold air rushed in the moment the door opened. Different from Amsterdam. Sharper. Heavier.
Vex stepped down first. Her eyes scanned the surroundings automatically. No civilians. No noise. Just controlled silence.
Blitz followed behind, wrapping her arms slightly. "… Cold." A pause.
"…Why is it this cold?" Raven smirked. "…Welcome to Canada." Blitz rolled her eyes. "…I don't like it already." Specter stepped down, quiet. Observing everything. Noxis followed last, calm.
Helen closed the distance with Vex. "…Transport is ready." The vehicle moved through a long, empty road. Snow lined the sides, thin. Trees tall. Endless.
Blitz leaned against the window, watching. "…Feels like a horror movie." Raven chuckled. "...Don't worry."
"…You're the scary one here."
"…Very funny."
The car slowed. A cottage appeared, isolated. Wooden. Modern but quiet. Too quiet.
Vex stepped out first. Her gaze lingered on the place. "…This will be our base. " Blitz looked around. "…You own this, too?"
"…Yes." Raven raised a brow. "…You're full of surprises." Vex ignored it.
Warm lights turned on. The inside was clean, minimal, and prepared.
Helen placed the equipment on the table. "…We rest tonight. " A pause. "…The mission starts tomorrow."
Blitz dropped onto the couch. "…Finally."
"…Food. Sleep. Life." Specter didn't sit. Her eyes, on Vex. Still thinking. Still questioning.
Raven leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "…One night before chaos. " Noxis checked the windows and locks. Silent.
Vex stood near the window. Looking outside. Snow is falling lightly. Her reflection, staring back. "…One night…" she whispered. "…Then everything changes."
The house was warm. The team was together. But beneath it all, something was waiting. And tomorrow, they would walk straight into it.
[CANADA – INDUSTRIAL ZONE | MORNING]
The sky was pale. Cold air lingered over the industrial site. A white van rolled slowly toward the entrance. Logo printed on the side: CLEANING SERVICE
Inside, no one spoke. Only the low hum of the engine and quiet breathing.
Vex sat at the front. Hands steady on her gloves. Eyes focused. "…No matter what happens…" A pause. "…stay together." She turned slightly. "…Got it?"
Blitz cracked her knuckles. "…Got it." Specter nodded. "…Understood." Raven smirked faintly. "…Let's make it interesting." Noxis stayed calm. "…We follow the plan." Helen adjusted her headset. "…I'll be your eyes."
The van stopped. A guard approached. "…Identification." Vex handed over the document without hesitation. The guard scanned it. A pause. Then, he stepped back. "…Proceed."
The gate opened. The van moved in. Machines. Workers. Security. Everything looked normal. Too normal.
The van stopped at a maintenance zone. Helen turned back slightly. "…You're clear."
"…For now." Vex opened the door. Cold air hit again. She stepped out, then turned to them. "…Go."
Helen stayed inside the van, screens lighting up. "…All units active."
"…Stay on comms." The mission had begun. No turning back. No second chances.
[OUTER PERIMETER – FACILITY]
Cold air. Metal structures. Guards moving in patterns.
Blitz adjusted her gloves, eyes scanning. "…So, this is our playground." Noxis stood beside her, calm. "…Stay focused." Blitz smirked. "…Relax."
"…I'll make it quick."
Helen's voice came through, clear. "…Team One, do you copy?" Blitz tapped her earpiece. "…Loud and clear." Noxis added, "…We're in position."
"…Two guards approaching from your left."
"…Distance: fifteen meters." Blitz cracked her neck slightly. "…Got it."
"…Three…" Helen counted softly. "…Two…"
"…Now." Blitz moved first, fast. She grabbed one guard, pulled him down silently. Noxis handled the second, clean. Precise. Both down. Blitz grinned. "…Easy."
Noxis glanced at her. "…Don't celebrate yet." Helen's voice cut in again. "…More incoming."
"…Four units." Blitz's eyes lit up. "…Now we're talking."
"…No." Noxis stepped forward, blocking slightly. "…We don't engage all." Blitz frowned. "…Then what?" Helen spoke, quick. "…Create noise on Sector B."
"…Pull them away from central route." Noxis nodded instantly. "…Understood." He turned to Blitz. "…Follow me."
Blitz smirked. "…Finally, some chaos." A metal pipe, kicked across the ground. CLANG. Sound echoed loudly. Guards turned instantly. "…Movement detected!"
Blitz jumped into view, intentionally. "…Hey!" She waved mockingly. "…Looking for me?" They rushed toward her. Exactly as planned. Blitz fought fast. Aggressive. Punch. Kick.
Noxis moved behind, taking out targets cleanly. Balanced.
"…Too slow!" Blitz laughed, ducking an attack. "…Left!" Helen warned. Blitz reacted instantly, dodging just in time. "…Nice save."
"…More units detected." Helen's voice sharpened. "…They're rerouting." Noxis looked up, calculating. "…We've done enough." Blitz frowned. "…Already?"
"…We're not here to win." A pause. "…We're here to delay." Blitz exhaled. "…Fine."
"…Let's move." They pulled back, fast. Guards chasing, but confused. Direction broken. Formation lost.
Helen's voice returned, steady. "…Good work."
"…You've bought them time." Blitz smirked. "…Told you we got this." Noxis didn't respond, but his eyes remained sharp. Because this was just the beginning.
[INNER ACCESS – MAINTENANCE ROUTE]
Dim lights. Narrow corridor. Cold metal walls.
Specter moved first, silent. Every step measured. Raven followed behind, lighter. Almost relaxed. "…You always walk like a ghost?" Specter didn't turn. "…Focus." Raven smirked. "…I am."
Helen's voice came in, soft. Controlled. "…Team Two, do you copy?"
"…Copy." Specter replied quietly. "…We're inside."
"…Two guards ahead."
"…Distance: ten meters."
"…Camera rotation in five seconds." Specter stopped instantly, raising her hand. Raven froze behind her. "…Three…" Helen counted. "…Two…"
"…One." Specter moved fast. One guard, down. Silent. Raven took the second, smooth. No noise. No struggle. Both bodies lowered gently. "…Nice." Raven whispered. Specter ignored him.
"…Turn right." Helen guided. "…Avoid main corridor."
"…Thermal sensors active there." Specter followed immediately. Raven raised a brow. "…You trust her that much?"
"…Yes." No hesitation. "…You're close." Helen continued. "…Data node ahead." A door. Locked. Specter crouched, checking the panel. "…Encrypted."
"…Give me ten seconds." Helen replied. Digits flickered. The lock clicked. "…Open." Small. Dark. Screens.
Specter moved in, plugging in a device. Data started transferring. "…Extraction in progress." Raven leaned against the wall, watching the door. "…You're good at this."
"…I have to be." A pause. A flicker, in Specter's mind. A room. Bright light. A voice, "…Stay still…" Her hand froze, just for a second.
"…Specter?" Raven noticed. "…I'm fine." But her voice, slightly off. "…Hurry." Helen's tone changed. "…System activity increasing."
"…They're starting to detect something."
Specter focused again. "…Almost done." Raven stepped closer to the door, alert now. Footsteps. Outside. Raven's eyes sharpened. "…We've got company."
Specter didn't look up. "…Three seconds." The door handle moved. "…Two." Raven adjusted his stance. "…One." CLICK."…Done."
Specter pulled the device, stood instantly. "…Move." They slipped out, just as the door opened.
Guards rushed in, but too late. "…Target lost!" Helen's voice returned, relieved. "…Good work."
Specter slowed slightly, breathing controlledly. But her eyes were distant. Because something was trying to come back.
[INNER FACILITY – RESTRICTED LEVEL]
Silence. Not normal silence. Controlled. Watching. Vex stepped into the corridor, alone. The door behind her sealed. LOCKED.
She didn't turn back. Her hand pressed lightly against her chest, pain still there. "…Focus."
Helen's voice, faint. "…Vex, signal is weakening…" Static. "…Vex, do you copy…" Gone. No connection. Vex exhaled slowly. "…As expected," Now, it was just her.
Lights flickered. A low hum filled the space. Then, a voice. Cold. Artificial. "Intruder detected." Vex didn't stop. "…Too slow."
She moved fast, precise. Cameras rotated, she slipped past blind spots. Laser grid, she ducked. Every step, calculated.
A room. Bright. A scream. A younger voice, "…Don't touch her…" Vex's jaw tightened, "…Not now."
Metal panels shifted. Drones activated. "Neutralizing target." Vex's eyes sharpened. "…Come." Fast. Close.
She dodged, spun, disabled one drone mid-air. Second, shot down. Third, too close. She slid under, kicking it into the wall. CRASH. Silence again.
A massive door stood ahead. Sealed. Layers of security. Vex stepped closer, placing her hand on the panel. "…Manual override." The system responded instantly. "Authorization denied."
Her eyes darkened. "…Then we do it my way." Wires. Code. Manual bypass. Faster, faster. The system reacted, "Threat level increasing." Lights turned red. "Lockdown initiated."
The room began to close in. Time running out. Vex's breathing quickened. Her hands steady. "…Almost…"
Then, a flicker. On the screen. A file. A name.
ALISA KHALIS
Vex froze. Just, for a second. "…No…" The system pulsed, stronger. And in that moment, it adapted. Warning lights flashing, faster. Red.
Vex's fingers hovered over the panel, but froze. Then, the screen changed. "Memory link detected." Vex's eyes narrowed. "…What are you doing…?"
The system glitched, just once. Then, the room shifted. A voice. Soft. Familiar. "…Ran…?"
Vex's body stiffened. She turned slowly. A child. Small. Fragile. Alisa. Before everything. "…Don't leave me…"
Vex's breath caught. "…Stop." But the system continued. The scene changed. A lab. Cold. People in white coats. A younger Vex, watching. Helpless.
Alisa screaming, reaching out. "…Ran!" Vex clenched her fist. "…It's not real."
"Emotional instability detected." The illusion intensified. Alisa's voice, closer now. "…Why didn't you save me…?" Silence. That hit.
Her breathing became uneven. Her hand trembled, slightly. "…I couldn't…" A whisper. "…I was just a child…" The system responded instantly. "Guilt confirmed."
"Increasing pressure." The room distorted. Walls flickering, memory overlapping reality.
Alisa standing right in front of her now. Tears in her eyes. "…You let them take me." Vex stepped back. "…No."
"…I didn't…"
"…You did." Vex shut her eyes tightly. Her grip tightened. "…This isn't her." A breath. "…This is the system."
She opened her eyes, cold again. "…And I won't lose to it." Her hands moved, fast. Code input, manual override. The system reacted, aggressively. "Resistance detected."
"Escalating." The illusion screamed, breaking apart. Alisa's voice, fading. "…Ran…" Then, silence. Only the system remained.
Vex stood, breathing hard. But steady. "…Not anymore."
The silence didn't last. A sharp sound, BEEP. Then, another. Vex froze. The screen flickered violently.
"SYSTEM OVERRIDE ATTEMPT DETECTED."
A pause. Then,
"FAILSAFE PROTOCOL ACTIVATED."
Vex's eyes narrowed. "…No." The entire room shook, lights flashing red.
"SELF-DESTRUCT SEQUENCE INITIATED."
A countdown appeared.
05:00
Blitz comms breaking through faintly, "…VEX?! WHAT WAS THAT?!" Static. Signal unstable.
Vex turned, running toward the exit. The door sealed. Heavy. She slammed the panel, nothing.
"EXIT DENIED."
Her breath tightened. "…Of course." The walls shifted, internal locks engaging. Secondary door, closing. All paths cut off.
04:12
The voice returned. Cold. "Intruder contained." Vex stepped back, slow. "…You planned this." Her jaw clenched.
"Correction: Adapted."
Helen yelled, "…Vex?!" Her screens flickered wildly. "…No, no, no…"
"…Core just locked itself!" Blitz's voice became louder through comms, "…What do you mean LOCKED?!"
Specter's voice sharp. "…Where is she?!" Helen's fingers moved fast, "…She's trapped inside!" Silence.
Then, Blitz snapped back, "…We're going in." Helen exhales fast. "…NO!"
"…If you enter now, the system will escalate further!" Inside, heat rising. The air changing. Pressure building.
03:20
Vex leaned against the wall, just for a second. Her breathing, heavy. "…So, this is it…" A faint laugh.
"…Not today." Her eyes sharpened again. She looked back at the system, "…If I'm going down…" A step forward. "…I'm taking you with me."
Countdown ticking. Room shaking. No escape. No backup. Only one choice. Destroy it, before it destroys everything.
02:18
The countdown echoed. Louder. Closer. The air burned.
Vex forced herself up, eyes scanning fast. "…There has to be a way…" Her gaze shifted, left. A panel. Slightly different. Hidden. "…Found you."
She rushed toward it, hands moving quickly. Manual override. The panel slid open, revealing a narrow passage. Dark. Tight.
No hesitation, she stepped in. The space was narrow, barely enough to move. Her breathing echoed. Footsteps fast. Behind her, the facility shaking violently.
01:34
"…Almost…" Then a sound. Not from behind. From ahead. Vex stopped. Eyes narrowing. "…Who's there?" Silence.
Then, a figure. Standing in the dark. Still. Waiting. Vex stepped forward, ready. "…Move." No response. Just, presence. Dangerous.
Too fast. A sudden strike came from the side. Vex barely reacted, but her body too exhausted. Her vision blurred. "…Tch…" She stumbled, falling to one knee.
Another hit, clean. Her body gave in. As her vision faded, she lifted her head just slightly.
Through blurred sight, a silhouette stood in front of her. Tall and watching her but she couldn't see clearly. "…You…" Darkness began lies.
Blitz kicked the door open, hard. "…MOVE!" Specter rushed in, eyes scanning everywhere. Raven and Noxis followed, fast. Helen's voice, urgent in their ears. "…You're too late!"
BOOM. Explosion shook the building. Smoke. Fire.
They reached it, breathing hard. The door, forced open. Inside nothing. Burn marks. Broken panels. But, no Vex. Silence.
"…Where is she?" Blitz's voice shaking. Specter stepped forward, heart racing. "…She was here…" Raven scanned quickly. "…No body."
"…No trace." Noxis crouched, touching the ground. "…Someone got to her first." Silence hit them. Hard.
Blitz clenched her fists. "…No." Specter's breathing became uneven. "…Ran…" Helen's voice, soft now.
"…She's gone."
TBC