Colvin stands frozen, his face contorted with disbelief and fury. For once, I see something new in his eyes—fear. But before he can react, the Enforcers, his once-loyal soldiers, begin to move. Their bodies tense, their posture shifting as though they’re emerging from a long, oppressive fog.

One by one, their hands come up to their visors, hesitant at first, unsure of what to do with the flood of emotion suddenly coursing through them.

One of them stands to my left, gripping his helmet, fingers trembling as he slowly pulls it off. His face is flushed, eyes wide in confusion. For a long moment, he stares at the floor, as if the simple act of seeing it is a revelation—like he’s encountering reality for the first time.

“God… what…?” His voice is raw, strained, like someone who hasn’t spoken in years. His breath comes out in ragged gasps, as if the air itself is a shock to his system.

Another Enforcer, visor already removed, stumbles back.

His hands clutch his head, the wave of regained emotion crashing over him.

His face contorts, a flicker of pain crossing his features.

His shoulders heave as if he’s trying to shake off the weight of the years of control that have been stripped from him in an instant.

“It’s… too much,” he mutters, almost to himself, his voice trembling.

Colvin’s head whips toward them, his fury turning to panic. “What are you doing? Stop them! ”

But it’s too late. the Enforcers are no longer under his command. One by one, they look at him—not with the blind obedience they once had, but with the raw emotion of free beings who have just tasted what it is to be human again.

The first Enforcer, the one closest to me, takes a step toward Colvin, his eyes flashing with a mix of confusion and anger. “You’ve… used us,” he says, his voice almost a snarl. “We were nothing but tools to you.”

A flicker of fear crosses Colvin’s face as he begins to understand the weight of what’s happening.

He stumbles back, but his Enforcers are already moving.

They seize him by the arms, their grip no longer cold with obedience, but with something else.

They aren’t following orders. They’re acting on their own will.

“Let go of me!” Colvin snarls, his voice filled with rage. “I command you!”

But their hands tighten. There is no command left for him to give. Colvin’s strength is nothing compared to the weight of their newfound autonomy.

One of the Enforcers glances at me, and I catch the briefest flicker of something that resembles gratitude. It’s fleeting, but it’s there.

“It’s over, Regent,” the Enforcers voice is low but firm, as if reaffirming the finality of Colvin’s downfall.

They begin to drag Colvin out of the control room. His struggles are weak now, futile, as if he realizes that it’s over for him. His empire is crumbling, and there’s nothing he can do to stop it. As they pass through the door, the silence left in their wake is almost suffocating.

My gaze meets Myall’s, and his bruised face breaks into a radiant smile, his eyes glowing with pride and love. My heart swells in my chest.

“We did it,” I whisper. The weight that’s been pressing down on me for so long lifts, the culmination of every sacrifice, is overwhelming.

The door bursts open again, the sudden noise making my chest tighten—but it’s not more Enforcers. It’s our team. Liora, Jarek, Jorel, and Tariq. Their faces are flushed with exertion and triumph, their energy contagious.

Liora grins at me, her usually guarded expression cracking into something softer. “We did it,” she says, nodding towards the disabled mainframe. “The plan actually worked.”

Words escape me. I want to shout, to cry, to laugh, to collapse, but all that comes out is a shuddering breath. The adrenaline is wearing off, leaving only a deep, heavy fatigue.

We’re not done yet. The city is free, yes—but now, we have to figure out what comes next. What kind of world will we build without Colvin’s control? What will freedom really look like?

Myall steps closer, his eyes searching mine with a quiet intensity.

Without a word, he pulls me into his arms. For a moment, I stiffen, startled by the intimacy, but then I relax into him, letting out a shaky breath.

The warmth of his body envelops me, and for the first time, I feel… safe. Truly safe.

“We actually did it,” he whispers into my hair, his voice thick with emotion. “ You did it, Ziva.”

I close my eyes, pressing my face into his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my cheek. I inhale, and his scent fills my senses—sweat, salt, the unique essence of him. The world outside is in disarray, but in this moment, I’m with him, and that’s all that matters.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I murmur, my voice wavering. “Without all of you.”

His arms tighten around me, and I feel the strength in him, the certainty that we’ll face whatever comes next.

“Although,” he says softly, his breath warm against my ear. “At some point, we should discuss the fact that you were ready to sacrifice everything for my sake.”

I pull back slightly, meeting his gaze. His eyes are tender, full of love, but there’s a flicker of something else.

“It’s a choice I would gladly make again,” I say, my lips curling into a smile. “Because I love you, Myall.”

His eyes soften, and without another word, he leans down to kiss the top of my head, his voice low, meant for only my ears. “I love you too, Ziva.”