"Ciema?" Laila shouted to the back.
Ciema straightened. "We're in."
"We're in, Bowman," Laila spoke.
"I've found Jaiden's location," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. butted in. The infotainment screen showed a detailed layout of the mansion.
"H-He's at the Leon Residence."
"Good," Bowman replied. "I'll have units moving in three minutes."
"What about Aleen?" Jada questioned.
"I-I'm not able to locate her," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. admitted. "I've somewhat been able to turn most of myself online."
"What about Chi Chi?" Jada asked hurriedly. "If they've hurt her..."
"A metabolic scan shows she's alive," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. assured her. "The ambulance has just arrived. Mr. Mace seems to be injected with aconite."
"Qiu Yue," Jada frowned.
Laila clenched her fists tightly. "Ooh. When I get my hands on her..."
"If you get your hands on her," Jada stated. "She knows Kung Fu."
"Guns beat Kung Fu," Laila snapped, drawing her pistol. "All that 'Hi-yah' and other bullshit can't stop a bullet."
Jada fell silent, shrugging in agreement. "Fair."
___________
Mr. Mace huffed, sweat soaking his forehead. He hoped the ambulance would arrive soon.
His fingers had gone numb. He lay on the couch, dazed and confused.
The door was pushed open. He looked up as Bartholomew and Rufus, Jaiden's loyal Cane Corsos barked, wagging their tails.
Rufus ran towards him, licking his face.
Moments later, four Paramedics rushed in.
"Hi. My name is Katie," she smiled. "Blink if you understand."
Mr. Mace blinked slowly.
"Dizziness, signs of paralysis," she scanned him. "Sir, do you feel any numbness?"
Mr. Mace blinked in response.
"Let's get this man up," she ordered her partner, grabbing him. They lifted him on a stretcher.
Chi Chi woke up, groggy. She spotted Mr. Mace and began to weakly bark.
"This dog seemed to be drugged," another Paramedic said.
"Let's get them both out of here," she ordered.
_________
The Agents kicked down the front door, swarming into the house. A group led by Agent Hubbard and Woodson, advanced to the living room.
"Freeze!" Hubbard shouted. "You're under arrest—"
The room was empty.
Woodson spotted blood on the carpet. He knelt, touching it.
"Any visuals on the targets?" Bowman's voice demanded through the earpiece.
"Negative," Hubbard replied.
"There's blood here," Woodson added. "Likely Jaiden's."
"Shit," Bowman cursed.
"Where could they be now?" Jada asked, swerving out of the lane.
"Scanning..." T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. said robotically. "Scanning..."
"T.I.F.F?" Jada asked, worried.
"Damn, did the virus break her?"
The screen turned black. A bar appeared, labelled 'REBOOTING.'
It filled up then the screen switched off again.
Jada and Laila waited with bated breaths. Ciema leaned forward, anxiously tapping her foot.
T.I.F.F.AN.Y. shortly appeared, winking. "Miss me?"
Laila and Jada cheered in relief. Ciema smiled in the back.
"Oh yeah," Laila smirked. "You just kicked that hacker's ass!"
Inside a moving limo, Mr. Spencer smacked his laptop.
"She just rebooted," Mr. Spencer, typing furiously. "She's locked me out, I can't—"
"It's of no consequence," Aleen said, fondly scratching Jaiden's head who rested in her lap.
His hands and legs tied, his hair disheveled. His white shirt torn open. Jaiden glared at her, his mouth gagged with his tie.
She smiled. "I got what I wanted."
"Where are we going?" Valentina asked, bored. "We should've killed him at the manor."
"To one of Jaiden's warehouses," Mr. Spencer explained. "We're taking a ship."
_________
"I have a location," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. cut into the gnawing silence. "A warehouse at Wharf area."
"What's the warehouse?" Ciema asked, pressing a button.
"You won't believe this," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. said. "But it's a plane."
"You're right," Ciema replied. "I don't believe it."
A wall slid up. , revealing a sleek black hyperbike.
Ciema mounted it without hesitation, revving the engines.
"Motorcycle Engaged," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. announced.
"What?" Laila shouted.
The BearCat's side hatch opened. The bike was lowered directly onto the teeming road.
Ciema snapped her visor down.
She gunned the throttle.
Smoke burst from the exhaust. The wheels bit into the asphalt. She squeezed the clutch.
Ciema shot forward, weaving between cars with pinpoint precession.
Laila caught sight of her disappearing form and slammed her fist against the dashboard.
"Damn you, Ciema," Laila muttered. "I called dibs."
She slumped back in her seat, fighting tears.
"It'll be okay," Jada soothed her. "Don't worry. It'll be okay."
Jada floored the accelerator, pulling on the lever. She swerved out of the lane, honking loudly.
"Bowman," Jada spoke the infotainment display, tongue caught between her teeth. "We're heading to the Wharf."
"Hopefully in one piece," Laila said, clutching at the door.
Bowman answered, "Agents will be on -ight in five minutes."
"No need," Ciema said, turning a left. "We'll be there before you."
Jada followed. Cars swerved to avoid the massive truck.
Ciema looked to the sea, noting the calmness of it all.
"Hang on Jaiden," she thought.
She twisted the throttle and disappeared down the road.
___________
Jaiden grunted as he's dragged out of limo. Men lined in front of the warehouse.
Aleen smirked.
"Jaiden," she turning towards him. Her black maxi tube dress clung to her frame, a thigh high slit revealing her leg. A white jacket rested loosely on her shoulders.
"We're here," she smiled. "The end of all things."
Jaiden glared angrily.
"Your plan is to hijack a plane?" Valentina raised an eyebrow.
"It's a missive ship that exists in movies," Mr. Spencer said, showing her the ship on the laptop. "But it's real."
The image showed a black cubicle aircraft with five engines and multiple storage levels. A medium-sized cockpit sat above a vast internal lounge separating cargo and flight controls.
"It's a cruise ship that can fly," Mr. Spencer added proudly.
"That's one word to for it," Valentina scoffed.
The warehouse's doors groaned open. The airship loomed inside, its loading ramp lowered as men scaled the incline, hauling crates.
"I will take this ship and these bombs," Aleen began manically, "and head to Times Square in New York City. I'll release them and millions will perish."
"Oh dreadful," Valentina yawned. "How do you intend to get away with this?"
"I have my ways," she said, eyes shinning. "My name will go down as one of the most deadly women in history! At last, I'll be respected."
"Lovely," Valentina clapped. "Call me when you get arrested."
She climbed into the limo, slamming the door shut.
Aleen glared as the vehicle turned towards the road. Her lips then curled into a smile.
Valentina looked down.
A bomb were magnetized beneath the seat.
She laughed softly.
With practiced ease, she pried one loose and tossed it out the window.
BOOM!
The shockwave rattled the vehicle. Valentina shielded her face, unfazed.
"Amateur," she spat.
Outside, Aleen watched the limo disappear down the road.
"If I can't kill my mother," she shrugged, turning back to Jaiden. "I'll settle with my lover."
"Come," she said sweetly.
Yongqiang seized Jaiden and dragged him toward the aircraft.
Ciema spotted the warehouse from afar. "I see it."
She gripped the clutch, turning it towards the building. The BearCat followed close behind.
"It's about to take off," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. warned. "In two minutes."
Ciema applied more speed. The ship's engines flared, blasting out blue heat.
"She's not gonna make it," Laila gritted.
"Yes she will," Jada said, flooring the accelerator.
Just the aircraft began to rise, Ciema hit the ramp.
"We're not gonna make it," Laila said.
"Oh ye of little faith," Jada chuckled.
The bike slide on its side across the floor, sparks flying.
Men in the storage room rose their guns. Yet they hesitated out of confusion.
Ciema pulled out her pistol, pulling the trigger. Two of the men got hit.
The BearCat lurched onto the ramp, leaping over and skidding into a donut roll. Jada and Laila hopped out, armed and ready.
In midair, they fired. Five men dropped to the ground. Ciema drove out of the trucks' way.
T.I.F.FA.N.Y. activated auto-pilot, regaining control and preventing it from tipping over.
Jada and Laila landed on their feet.
Silence filled the room. Bullet shells clinked to the ground.
The ramp sealed shut behind them.
Jada and Laila slowly rose, cheesing excitedly. Ciema stepped off her bike, smirking.
"Woah," she breathed.
"Indeed," Laila smirked. "Where the hell did that come from? I have never done that in my life."
"Adrenaline sweetheart," Jada winked.
The Amazons reeled as the ship lurched into the sky. They ran towards a small window.
The ground shrank beneath them.
"This is it," Laila said quietly, turning to the girls. "Jaiden's up here... We can't turn back now."
___________
In the lounge room, Jaiden was dumped on the carpet floor.
Aleen towered over him. Yongqiang dropped into a chair nearby, exhaling heavily.
"Jaiden," she purred. "Ready to die?"
Qiu Yue knelt and yanked the tie from his mouth
Jaiden coughed, slowly lifting his head. "I'm not dying."
"That's what they all say," she smiled.
Mr. Spencer placed a Smith & Wesson revolver into her hand.
Aleen began, "We found this on you."
She popped the chamber open.
"One bullet?" Her grin sharpened. "Who's it for, Jaiden? You?"
He met her gaze without flinching.
"Were you going to end it all?" Aleen chuckled. "How adorable."
"The Amazons will come for you, Aleen," he declared. "I suggest you surrender."
Aleen laughed. "How rich!"
She turned on her heel."Beat him," she ordered lightly, "but don't hurt him too badly, Qiu Yue."
Qiu Yue stepped forward, folding her fan tossing it to Yongqiang.
"小男人冇佢嘅守護者就唔係咁硬朗," she smirked.
" 佢哋唔係我嘅守衛, " he replied grimly.
Her heel slammed into his abdomen.
The air escaped his lungs. He wheezed, coughing from the blow. He curled inward, unable to clutch his belly.
___________
The cockpit doors slid open. Aleen entered stepped inside as yhe pilot turned. She grabbed the phone, lifting it to her mouth.
"Amazons," She sang. "Can you hear me?"
They froze.
Ciema's eyes narrowed.
"I have your boss," she continued. "And he will die unless you find him."
Her laughter echoed throughout the airship before the line went dead.
Ciema pulled her device out. "Scan the airship."
"Does she know we're here?" Laila asked, as T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. mapout the layout.
"No," Ciema replied. "She doesn't have a clue."
"Scan complete," T.I.F.F.A.N.Y. chirped.
Ciema zoomed in on the lounge room. "Jaiden's here."
"Stealth?" Jada grinned.
"Most likely," Ciema agreed. "Codenames?"
"Penthesilea," Jada replied.
"Hippolyta," Laila answered.
"Antiope," Ciema said. "Let's go save our boss."
They bumped fists once, and moved.
_________
Bowman stepped out of the van, scanning the skies.
The Amazons had gone radio silent. The growing quiet gnawed at her nerves.
What if they've been captured, or worse killed?
"What's going on, Bowman?" Miller asked her.
"I don't know..."
"I knew it!" he snapped. "We shouldn't have trusted them!"
His ranting was cut short as Bowman felt something hover over her.
She looked up, stunned. A massive airship loomed overhead.
"Sir, I think I've found them," she replied.
"What?" Miller barked.
"Look above you."
Silence.
"Shit!"
_________
Laila slammed a man's against the wall. She repeated the action until he went limp.
She dropped him to the floor.
Jada snuck past, lunging at another guard. She leapt at him, trying to wrap her legs around his neck.
He caught her midair and threw her to the ground.
Jada rolled, and sprang to her feet. He turned as Laila closed in, and delivered a swift blow to the jaw.
He crumpled.
Jada straightened, noticing Laila's stare. "What?"
Laila raised an eyebrow. "The Black Widow signature move?"
"It's a classic," Jada admitted. "I didn't know they could counter it."
Ciema peeked around the corner. "You two done?"
"That was fifteen people we beat up," Laila rolled her shoulders. "How many are on this damn ship?"
"Thirty-five," Ciema answered, peering at her device. "We got twenty more to go. Not to mention Aleen, her assassin friends, and the pilot."
"The more, the merrier," Jada smiled, turning heel to run.
Laila and Ciema followed behind.
"T.I.F.F.AN.Y., gauge the trajectory of the airship," Ciema ordered. "Where's it heading?"
T.I.F.F.AN.Y. sent a map to the screen. Ciema froze in her tracks. She adjusted her glasses in shock.
Laila halted, turning around. "Ciema? What's wrong?"
"It's heading to Times Square," Ciema revealed. "Fifteen thousand bombs are aboard this ship."
Jada gasped, eyes widened. "Oh my God..."
"Shit," Laila muttered.
"The countdown's minutes have adjusted to five, not thirty," Ciema continued. "When it releases the bombs on Times Square, thousands will die. Maybe more."
"We gotta hurry," Laila urged.
The two girls sprint ahead while Ciema ordered, "Inform Bowman, now, T.I.F.F.A.N.Y."
_________
Bowman stood behind an agent as data flooded her screen.
"We've been hacked," the agent muttered.
Bowman didn't hear him. Her eyes widened.
She raised her radio to her lips. "Miller."
"Bowman," his voice crackled.
She replied, "Evacuate everyone from Times Square."
"Why?" Miller demanded.
"That ship's carrying fifteen thousand bombs," she said flatly. "They'll be released on arrival."
"I'll alert the governor," he said at last.
The line went dead.
Bowman lowered her radio, exhaling slowly.
She looked up at the live feed of the airship.
She murmured, "It's up to you now, Amazons."