Chapter 16: Blueprint of Control

The safehouse was quiet except for the hum of Julia’s laptop as she studied the data Ikran had brought back. The digital map of PRASASTI was detailed, revealing the organization’s layout down to its ventilation systems and security checkpoints. Maria sat beside her, scrolling through surveillance footage and schematics while Ikran stood by the window, keeping watch.

“This place is a fortress,” Julia muttered, her eyes narrowing at the screen. “Look at this—motion sensors, biometric locks, armed guards at every entrance.”

Maria frowned. “How are we supposed to get in without being caught?”

“We don’t go in the front door,” Ikran said, his tone decisive. He pointed to a section of the map labeled Maintenance Tunnels. “These run beneath the building. If we can access them, we can bypass most of the security.”

Julia leaned closer to the screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard. “The tunnels lead to the central lab,” she confirmed. “But even if we get that far, we’ll still have to deal with the biometric locks.”

Maria sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Great. So we need a key we don’t have, for locks we can’t open.”

Ikran smirked, pulling a small device from his bag. “That’s where this comes in.”

Julia raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“A bypass module,” Ikran explained. “It can temporarily disable biometric scanners. It won’t last long, but it’ll get us through the locks.”

Maria stared at him, impressed despite herself. “Where do you even get something like that?”

Ikran’s smirk faded. “Let’s just say I kept a few things when I left Kentofes.”

Julia set the laptop aside and looked at Ikran. “Okay, so we have a way in. But what are we looking for once we’re inside? We can’t just grab random files and hope for the best.”

Maria nodded. “We need something concrete—something that ties Kentofes to Dunnorage and proves what they’re planning.”

Ikran crossed his arms, his gaze distant. “The central lab is where they keep their most sensitive data. If the deactivation protocol is anywhere, it’ll be there. And if we’re lucky, we might find records of their experiments—proof of what they’ve been doing to people.”

The room fell silent as the weight of his words sank in.

“We’re not just risking our lives,” Julia said softly. “We’re putting everything on the line to stop this.”

Maria reached out, placing a hand on Julia’s shoulder. “It’s worth it. For your father, for Alex, for everyone Kentofes has hurt. We have to do this.”

Julia nodded, her resolve hardening. “Then let’s figure out how to make it work.”

For the next several hours, the trio poured over the map, devising a plan that balanced stealth and speed. The maintenance tunnels would be their entry point, but the real challenge would be navigating the heavily guarded central lab.

“There’s an access point here,” Julia said, pointing to a section of the map. “It’s hidden behind a storage room. If we can get to it, we’ll have a clear path to the lab.”

“And what about getting out?” Maria asked.

Ikran hesitated. “The same way we came in—if everything goes to plan.”

Maria gave him a look. “And if it doesn’t?”

“Then we improvise,” Ikran replied, his voice steady.

Julia sighed, closing the laptop. “This is as good as it’s going to get. We’re ready.”

As they prepared for the mission, Maria couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that settled in her chest. PRASASTI wasn’t just a building; it was a symbol of everything Kentofes stood for—control, power, and corruption.

“This is it,” Julia said, breaking the silence. “No turning back.”

Ikran checked his weapon, his expression unreadable. “Let’s move.”

Together, they stepped into the night, their goal clear and their resolve unshaken.

The blueprint of control was in their hands, and now, they were about to rewrite it.