The subterranean foundations groaned as Interpol's secondary perimeter commenced heavy mortar strikes on the estate above. Dust and fractured concrete rained down into the lower launch bay, lit only by the amber sequence lights of the hydraulic lift.
Abir swung his leg over the matte-black saddle of the **H2R**, his movements fluid and entirely devoid of panic. Arisa, having secured the decrypted core arrays into the inner lining of her tactical jacket, locked herself onto the pillion behind him.
"Abir, the thermal nets indicate full containment on the surface," Arisa stated, her voice projecting through the helmet comms. "This subterranean line feeds into the old municipal overflow tunnels. But the transit routes leading toward the international border have been fully locked down with armored blockades."
Abir engaged the ignition. The supercharged inline-four engine erupted into life, its mechanical scream transforming the enclosed concrete shaft into a chamber of pure, vibrating resonance.
"Let them hold the highways, brother," Abir whispered, his gray eyes fixed on the exit vault. "The devil doesn't negotiate with barricades. Rider, take the armored decoy vessel and push east. Force their tactical focus to split. Arisa and I will take the western line through the derelict shipyards."
"Copy that, Boss," Rider responded, slamming a fresh drum into his automatic rifle. "In twenty minutes, I'll have every federal asset chasing ghosts in the opposite direction. Move out."
The heavy steel bulkhead hissed open, and Abir pinned the throttle. The custom rear compound broke traction for a split second, burning rubber against the concrete before launching the H2R into the dark abyss of the outer tunnels.
Within moments, they transitioned from the subterranean shafts into the neglected, rain-slicked industrial alleys of the lower district. The sub-zero wind buffeted against Abir's carbon-fiber visor. Behind him, Arisa checked her wrist-mounted tactical overlay, monitoring the local police radio frequencies.
"Abir! Two interception units just picked up our acoustic signature! They're diverting to cut our exit!"
Two high-speed tactical cruisers materialized from the fog ahead, their emergency strobes painting the wet brick walls in violent strobes of blue and red. They angled their chassis to form an impenetrable metal wall across the asphalt. Abir didn't even touch the Brembo brakes; instead, he kicked the shifter down, sending the H2R roaring past 200 km/h.
"Hold on, my Queen!" Abir growled through the comms.
At the absolute terminal limit before impact, Abir dropped his knee, leaning the massive supercharged beast into an extreme, physics-defying angle. The footpegs scraped the asphalt, throwing a brilliant shower of sparks into the night as the H2R sliced cleanly through the narrow gap between the cruisers' bumpers.
The officers inside only registered a fleeting black blur and a deafening mechanical shriek before the phantom vanished into the midnight haze.
They pulled into the shadow of the abandoned shipyard hangar, the engine ticking as it cooled. Abir dismounted, pulling his helmet off, his dark hair damp against his forehead. Looking back at Arisa, a dangerous, cold smile touched his lips.
"Marcus Cruz thought he was trapsmithing a demon, brother," Abir muttered, looking at the city skyline. "He forgot the night belongs to me. Arisa, boot the secondary mainframes. No more running. It's time we breach Interpol's central grid."
---
---