The moment Storm and his team stepped into WAN EMPIRE, the air shifted.
Lady Anna was already waiting.
She sat at the head of the long table in the briefing room, fingers drumming slowly against the polished surface. Her presence alone silenced every sound as Storm, Danger, Shooter, and Rhoda took their places.
"You failed," she said calmly.
The word hung heavy.
Storm straightened. "The shipment was compromised. LOS EMPIRE anticipated our route."
"Anticipated?" Lady Anna repeated, eyes sharp. "Or were you careless?"
Danger clenched his fists. "It was an ambush. They were ready before we arrived."
"And yet," she said coldly, "LOS EMPIRE escaped with their territory untouched."
Storm met her gaze without flinching. "We will recover what was lost."
She studied him for a long moment before finally turning to Rhoda.
"How did they know?" Lady Anna asked.
Rhoda swallowed. "Their network has improved. Someone is feeding them information... or they're watching us closer than we think."
Lady Anna's eyes darkened.
"Find the leak," she said. "And when you do-end it."
"Yes, my lady," Rhoda replied.
Lady Anna stood. "Storm, you remain in charge."
Danger's head snapped up. "What?"
"You will assist him," she added, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Danger's jaw tightened, rage flashing across his face, but he said nothing.
"Leave," she ordered.
---
DANGER'S ROOM
The door slammed shut.
Danger swept everything off the table with a roar, glass shattering against the wall.
"Always him," he snarled. "Always Storm."
He paced the room like a caged animal, breath uneven.
Failure.
The word echoed in his mind.
He grabbed a bottle, took a long swig, then laughed bitterly. "I'll show them."
---
STORM'S QUARTERS
Storm removed his jacket slowly, exhaustion finally catching up to him.
Rhoda stood by the window. "Danger's losing control."
Storm nodded. "I know."
"If he keeps this up, he'll get someone killed."
Storm's eyes hardened. "I won't let that happen."
Rhoda hesitated. "LOS EMPIRE isn't moving randomly. Someone high up is pulling strings."
Storm looked toward the distant city lights. "Then we're already behind."
---
SLAVE HOUSE
Curly woke with a start.
Her heart raced, sweat clinging to her skin.
She didn't remember the dream - only the feeling. Fear. Running. Gunfire.
Angela stirred. "You okay?"
Curly nodded, forcing a small smile. "Just a bad dream."
Angela yawned. "Get used to it. WAN EMPIRE never sleeps."
Curly lay back down, staring at the ceiling.
Somehow, she felt like the war outside wasn't far from her - like it was inching closer.
---
LOS EMPIRE - SAME NIGHT
A man stood alone, looking out over the city.
"They survived," Sam said from behind him.
The man's lips curved into a slow smile. "Good."
Sam frowned. "Good?"
"Yes," the man replied calmly. "Because broken enemies make the best mistakes."
He turned, eyes burning with something dark.
"And anna," he added softly, "hasn't felt real loss yet."