Jay POV
The warehouse lights turned red.
Sirens screamed through the building.
And on the far wall the digital timer continued its slow, cruel countdown.
04:30
04:29
Felix stared at the screen.
"…That is not a friendly number."
I ignored him and scanned the warehouse again.
Pillars.
Containers.
Catwalks above us.
Somewhere in this place was the main trigger system.
Carlos's voice came through my earpiece.
"Jay, listen carefully. The explosives are wired through the support pillars."
"I see them."
"If one detonates," he continued, "they all detonate."
A chain reaction.
Entire warehouse gone.
Hannah spoke next.
"I found something in the building network. There's a control booth that manages the detonation system."
"Location?" I asked.
Endrix answered immediately.
"Upper level. Above the container rows."
I followed his direction with my eyes.
There.
A small glass booth hanging above the floor, connected to a metal staircase.
Felix spotted it too.
"Oh good. The 'stop the explosion' room."
Keifer stepped beside me.
"You planning to go up there?"
"Yes."
He nodded once.
"Then we fight our way there."
More guards began appearing between the container aisles.
Rifles.
Flashlights.
Shouting.
Yuri cracked his knuckles.
"Well. Quiet infiltration didn't last long."
I spoke into the communicator.
"Everyone move. North aisle."
Nathan's voice answered.
"Copy."
Miguel added, "We'll keep the outer perimeter clear."
Felix grinned like someone about to enjoy himself far too much.
"Field trip!"
The first guard ran into our path.
Keifer moved before anyone else.
One step.
One punch.
The man dropped instantly.
Calix whistled.
"…Never get on his bad side."
We pushed through the container maze quickly, knocking guards aside and dodging gunfire.
Above us the timer kept ticking.
03:45
03:44
My eyes locked onto the control booth staircase.
Almost there.
Then Kaiser's voice echoed through the speakers.
Calm.
Amused.
Kaiser Watson
"Still rushing toward danger, Miss Byte."
I didn't answer.
"It's one of your most predictable traits."
Felix muttered, "Someone unplug his microphone."
We reached the staircase.
But two guards were already blocking the entrance.
Keifer stepped forward.
They didn't last long.
Thirty seconds later we were running up the metal stairs.
Above us the timer hit:
03:30
And falling.
Fast.