Chapter 21: The Break-In

The night was eerily silent as the team approached PRASASTI’s central hub. The building’s sleek exterior glowed under the city’s lights, a stark contrast to the shadows the team moved through.

Julia adjusted her earpiece, her voice steady despite the tension. “Everyone ready?”

Maria nodded, clutching her bag of tools. “Let’s do this.”

Ikran, leading the way, scanned their surroundings one last time before gesturing toward the maintenance entrance. “This way.”

The door creaked open after a few seconds of Ikran’s handiwork, revealing a dimly lit corridor that led to the building’s inner workings.

The maintenance tunnels were cramped and stifling, the hum of machinery filling the air. Julia studied the map on her tablet, the glowing lines guiding their path.

“We’re almost there,” she whispered. “The central lab is just ahead.”

Maria adjusted her bag. “What’s the plan when we get there?”

Ikran’s voice was firm. “We find the prototypes and download as much data as we can. Then we get out before they know we were here.”

The lab’s entrance was guarded by a biometric lock, its sleek design mocking their efforts.

“Give me a minute,” Maria said, pulling out the bypass module.

She worked quickly, her fingers flying over the device as it hummed to life. Moments later, the lock clicked, and the door slid open.

Inside, the lab was a marvel of technology, with rows of servers, holographic displays, and the prototypes of Dunnorage encased in glass.

Julia’s breath caught as she approached one of the prototypes. “This is it. This is what they’re planning to use on people.”

Maria set her bag down, pulling out her laptop. “Let’s get the data and get out of here.”

As she began downloading files, Julia moved to another console, her heart sinking as she read the reports. The experiments weren’t just theoretical—they had already begun.

“They’re testing this,” she said, her voice trembling. “On real people.”

Ikran’s jaw tightened. “That’s why we’re here. To stop them.”

The download completed, and Maria packed up her equipment. “We’ve got what we need. Let’s move.”

Just as they turned to leave, an alarm blared, the room flooding with red light.

“They know we’re here,” Julia said, her voice urgent.

Ikran pulled out his weapon. “Then we fight our way out.”

The team moved quickly, navigating the labyrinthine corridors as Kentofes operatives closed in. The sound of boots on metal echoed behind them, growing louder with every step.

They reached the elevator shaft, and Ikran pried open the doors. “Climb,” he ordered, gesturing for Maria and Julia to go first.

The climb was treacherous, the metal rungs slick with condensation. Above them, the operatives shouted orders, their voices closing in.

“Faster!” Ikran urged, his voice sharp.

Maria reached the top first, pulling Julia through the opening before turning to help Ikran. Just as he climbed through, a bullet ricocheted off the edge, sending sparks flying.

“Go!” Ikran shouted, firing back as Maria and Julia sprinted down the corridor.

They burst onto the rooftop, the city stretching out before them. A helicopter hovered in the distance, its searchlight sweeping across the building.

“We’re trapped,” Julia said, panic creeping into her voice.

“No, we’re not,” Ikran said, spotting a zipline that connected to a neighboring building. “That’s our way out.”

Maria stared at the zipline, her stomach lurching. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Do you have a better idea?” Ikran snapped.

Without waiting for a response, he grabbed the handle and launched himself across the gap. Julia followed, her heart pounding as the wind whipped past her.

Maria hesitated, the sound of the operatives closing in spurring her forward. She grabbed the handle and leapt, her scream swallowed by the night as she soared across.

The trio landed on the neighboring rooftop, their breaths ragged as they looked back at PRASASTI.

“We did it,” Julia said, her voice filled with disbelief.

Ikran nodded, though his expression remained grim. “We’re not safe yet. Let’s move.”

As they disappeared into the night, the lab’s alarms continued to blare, a signal that the fight was far from over.