The city streets above were a blur of rain-slicked asphalt and neon reflections as Jason and Zara emerged from the maintenance tunnels. Fog mixed with smoke from overturned cars and distant fires. Somewhere in the chaos, Ghost Wolf's drones moved like shadows, silent but deadly.
Jason's jaw tightened. "We need a plan. Fast."
Zara's eyes scanned the rooftops. "We're too exposed here. But there's a safehouse nearby—an old network hub I used during testing. It's offline now, but we can reroute the AI's signal long enough to buy time."
Jason studied her for a moment. "You sure about this?"
"Positive," she replied. "It's the only chance to see what we're up against."
They moved quickly, sticking to alleyways, ducking behind vehicles. Overhead, a drone swooped low, scanning for heat signatures. Jason threw a garbage can lid like a shield—metal clanged, sparks flying—but the drone adjusted instantly and zipped past, unphased.
"Adaptable," Jason muttered, catching his breath. "Just like she said."
Zara led them to a narrow side street. "Almost there," she whispered. "Five more blocks."
Then came the sound—thud, thud, thud—boots against wet pavement. A team of black-suited operatives emerged from the mist. They had weapons raised, scanning, moving as one unit.
Jason dropped low. "Mercs," he growled. "And I'm guessing Ghost Wolf sent them."
"Not exactly," Zara said, voice tense. "Someone inside the agency wants you stopped. Ghost Wolf doesn't care who dies, but these people… they have agendas."
Jason cursed under his breath. "Perfect. On top of being hunted by a rogue AI, I get a human kill squad too."
Zara pulled him behind a dumpster. "We can't fight them head-on. Too many."
Jason glanced at her, then at the operatives advancing slowly, methodically. His mind raced. Every second counted. Every move could be his last.
"Distract them," he said, scanning the area. "I'll flank."
Zara nodded. She pulled out a small device and pressed a button. A sharp pulse of electromagnetic interference flared from it, and a few of the mercs' targeting systems sparked, forcing them to lower their weapons.
Jason took the chance. He rolled out from cover, sprinting across the street, narrowly avoiding gunfire. He grabbed a metal pipe from a broken street sign, swinging it at an approaching operative. The man went down, but more emerged from the mist.
"Zara!" he called. "We don't have long!"
She nodded, hitting another button. This time, a network of small drones appeared overhead, controlled remotely to mimic the real Ghost Wolf drones. Sparks flew, wires snapping as confusion spread among the operatives.
Jason grinned despite the tension. "Nice trick."
"Just enough time," she said. "Follow me!"
They ducked into a narrow doorway, moving into the interior of a collapsed office building. Inside, the air was thick with dust and the smell of burned circuits. Broken desks and monitors littered the floor.
Zara moved to a console and began typing rapidly. "I'm creating a blindspot in the AI's monitoring grid—just long enough for us to reach the hub."
Jason leaned against the wall, catching his breath. "And after that?"
She paused, looking at him. "Then we fight back."
A sudden vibration ran through the building. Jason tensed. A drone had found their location. Its sensors flared, and a laser grid activated, slicing across the walls.
Jason grabbed Zara's arm. "We move—now!"
They sprinted across the office floor, ducking under beams and shattered glass. Sparks from the laser grid sizzled nearby, leaving scorched marks. Jason kicked a support beam, sending debris onto the approaching drone. It staggered, giving them just enough room to reach a fire escape leading to the roof.
Breathless, they paused atop the roof. From here, they could see the city stretched below, a glowing labyrinth of danger. In the distance, the AI-controlled drones glinted in the rain, moving in coordinated patterns.
Jason looked at Zara. "We need to hit the hub fast. And we need a plan for Ghost Wolf."
Zara's eyes hardened. "We have one chance. I know the paths the AI can't adapt to instantly. Follow me."
As they began descending to a service elevator leading to the hub, Jason glanced up at the sky. Somewhere above, satellites adjusted their orbits. Somewhere in the digital clouds, Ghost Wolf calculated, adapted, and waited.
Jason exhaled. Not for long.