Page 104 of Rescuing Ally: Part 2

“Malfor’s security focuses on the main gate and airfield.” Ghost runs his fingers along the ladder’s lowest rung. “Swarm intel shows minimal guard presence in this quadrant. This back corner houses machinery, water treatment, and power distribution.”

“Perfect.” Ethan’s voice carries the first hint of satisfaction I’ve heard since we hit water.

Ghost turns his head toward Whisper. “Status on the Trojan horse?”

“Twenty percent integration.” Whisper’s eyes never leave his tablet. “Spreading through the system.”

“Charlie team, head east once we’re up.” Ghost sweeps his gaze across our faces, eyes hard as flint in the dim light. “Your women are held in the subbasement of the main building, northquadrant. Cerberus will move west, secure the server hub, and ensure total system corruption.”

“Rendezvous?” Ethan shifts his weight, already planning three steps ahead.

“North perimeter fence, zero-two-hundred. Extract through the blind spot we identified. If anyone misses rendezvous, secondary extract at the cliff base, zero-three-hundred.”

My fingers tighten around my weapon until my knuckles crack. We won’t miss the rendezvous, not with our women.

“Questions?” Ghost scans our faces.

Silence answers. We all know what’s at stake.

“I’ll take point. Brass, cover. Everyone else, ten-second intervals.” Ghost’s hand reaches for the ladder.

The hatch opens with a whisper of metal. Ghost vanishes through the gap, then Brass follows. One by one, we ascend.

Cool night air rushes into my lungs as I emerge, the sudden absence of the tunnel’s stench almost dizzying. A small concrete courtyard surrounds us, hemmed in by chain-link topped with glinting razor wire. Generator housings and massive water tanks create a maze of shadows. Distant lights from the main compound bleed against the low clouds, casting everything in a sickly yellow glow.

Somewhere beyond those lights, Ally breathes that same air.

We converge in the shadow of a towering water tank. Ghost kneels, unfolding a device that projects a ghostly blue blueprint onto the concrete.

“Security grid starting to glitch. Camera feeds are looping. Electronic locks are cycling randomly.” Something almost like pleasure flickers across Ghost’s face. “The Trojan horse is working.”

“Maybe forty minutes before full system collapse.” Whisper glances up from his tablet. “We’ve got a nice window.”

“This is where we split.” Ghost lifts his eyes to Ethan. “Charlie team, you know your objective.”

“We do.” Steel hardens Ethan’s voice.

“Happy hunting.” Ghost’s hand extends between them. For a heartbeat, something almost human crosses his face.

“You too.” Ethan clasps the offered hand.

Cerberus dissolves into shadows. Four wraiths swallowed by darkness, bound for a mission history will never record.

“Formation delta.” Ethan turns toward us, voice barely disturbing the air. “I’ll take point. Hank, you’re two. Gabe, you’re three. Walt and Blake cover our six. Rigel, Carter, and Jeb, watch our flanks.”

My heart hammers against my ribs, adrenaline flooding my system, washing away the pain. Nothing exists but the mission. The objective. The hunt.

Ally.

“We move fast. We hit hard. We leave nothing behind but bodies.” Ethan’s eyes lock with each of ours, forging connections stronger than words.

“All of us.” Hank’s voice carries the weight of promise. “Weallgo home.”

All of us. The men. The women. Ally. Everyone.

Ethan’s sharp nod launches us into motion. “Move out.”

We flow between shadows toward the main compound, eight separate killers merging into one lethal organism. Each silent footstep brings us closer.