Chapter 17: The Pawn and the Queen

The PRASASTI building loomed before them, a monolith of glass and steel that seemed to radiate power. Julia adjusted the strap of her bag, her fingers brushing against the tools inside—a small EMP device, hacking tools, and the bypass module Ikran had provided.

“We’re just scouting,” Ikran reminded them, his voice firm. “No heroics. We get in, gather intel, and get out before they know we were here.”

Maria nodded, though her jaw was set with determination. “And if something goes wrong?”

Ikran’s expression didn’t waver. “It won’t.”

They entered the building through the main lobby, blending seamlessly with the steady stream of employees and visitors. Julia’s heart raced as they passed the security desk, its guards armed and watchful. The ID badges Ikran had forged worked without a hitch, granting them access to the elevator.

Inside, Julia studied the map of PRASASTI’s floor plan on her phone. “The central lab is on the 12th floor. We’ll need to use the maintenance shaft to avoid the guards.”

The elevator dinged, and they stepped out onto the 10th floor, slipping into a maintenance corridor. The air was colder here, the hum of machinery echoing in the narrow space.

Maria checked her watch. “We have fifteen minutes before the next security sweep. Let’s move.”

The maintenance shaft was cramped and dimly lit, but it provided a direct route to the lab. Julia led the way, her every step cautious as she navigated the narrow space.

They reached the access panel for the 12th floor, and Ikran pried it open with practiced ease. “Stay quiet,” he whispered as he helped them climb through.

The lab was a stark contrast to the sterile corridors outside. It was filled with advanced equipment, holographic displays, and rows of servers humming with activity.

Julia’s breath caught as she spotted a glowing terminal labeled “Dunnorage Protocols.”

“There,” she whispered, pointing.

Ikran moved to the terminal, plugging in a portable drive to download the files. Julia and Maria stood guard, their eyes scanning the room for any sign of movement.

Minutes ticked by like hours until the download was complete.

“Got it,” Ikran said, pulling the drive free.

Just as they turned to leave, the lab doors slid open, and a group of Kentofes operatives stepped inside.

The team froze, their hearts pounding as the operatives spread out, scanning the room.

“We know you’re here,” one of them called out, his voice cold. “There’s no escape.”

Maria’s eyes darted to a nearby console. “I can trigger a distraction,” she whispered.

“Do it,” Ikran said, gripping his weapon.

Maria slipped over to the console, her fingers flying over the keys. Moments later, alarms blared, and the room plunged into chaos as lights flickered and machines powered down.

The team used the commotion to slip back into the maintenance shaft, but the operatives were quick to recover, their shouts echoing in the narrow space.

The chase through the building was a blur of flashing lights and pounding footsteps. Maria, Julia, and Ikran weaved through corridors, their every turn met with the sound of pursuit.

They finally burst through a fire exit and onto the rooftop, the city stretching out before them. A helicopter hovered in the distance, its searchlight sweeping the building.

“This way!” Ikran shouted, leading them to a fire escape.

They descended quickly, their breaths ragged as they reached the ground. The sound of sirens grew louder, but they melted into the crowd, disappearing into the bustling streets.

Back at the safehouse, the weight of their success—and the danger they had narrowly escaped—settled over them.

“What did we get?” Maria asked as Ikran plugged the drive into his laptop.

“Everything,” he replied, his voice tinged with both relief and tension. “Blueprints, protocols, and... experiments.”

Julia leaned over his shoulder, her stomach twisting as she read the files. They contained detailed reports of human trials—people who had been implanted with Dunnorage and stripped of their autonomy.

“This is it,” Julia said, her voice trembling. “This is what we need to expose them.”

Maria placed a hand on her shoulder. “We will. But we have to be smart about it.”

Ikran nodded, his gaze hardening. “Kentofes won’t let this go unanswered. We need to move fast.”

As the team began planning their next steps, the shadows of PRASASTI seemed to linger, a reminder of the danger that lay ahead.