15 Miles: The Heist
By Rapwizzy Debaron
Episode 7: Retribution Protocol
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The data core felt hot in Julian's grip—like it held more than just code. Like it carried Max's last breath. His sacrifice.
The team moved fast through the subterranean tunnels, their boots echoing against damp concrete. Sweat mixed with soot as firelight flickered through cracks in the ceiling above them.
"We'll surface two clicks from here," Carter reported, checking his scanner. "City Sector C—less surveillance."
Julian nodded, eyes locked ahead. "Eve, give me a rundown on the data."
She pulled a mini-drive from her vest and connected it to a holographic wrist reader. A swirl of blue light pulsed above her arm, displaying layers of encrypted files and schematics.
"It's everything. Nexus isn't just a digital weapon—it's plugged into global infrastructure. Airports, defense grids, water systems, even AI-controlled drones."
Reese let out a low whistle. "So Lucian doesn't just want money—he wants a reset button for the world."
Julian's jaw clenched. "And we've got the off-switch."
Suddenly, static crackled through their comms. Carter's earpiece hissed. "They're triangulating. We've been pinged."
Eve killed the display. "Scramble signals, now!"
Carter activated a jamming beacon and tossed it into a side tunnel. The signal warped, and the enemy's tracking blinked off—for now.
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Meanwhile…
Lucian stood in the ruins of the telecom station, untouched by the smoke swirling around him. His soldiers combed the rubble as recovery drones hovered, scanning for data.
A lieutenant approached. "We didn't recover the core, sir. D7 escaped with it."
Lucian's gaze didn't shift. "Then it's war."
He turned toward his mobile command deck. "Initiate Protocol Orion. I want every street, every signal, every camera tracing them. Block exits. Freeze financial records. We'll starve them out."
"And if that fails?" the soldier asked.
Lucian's lips curled into a cruel smile.
"Then we burn the city."
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Underground Command Point — 02:42 AM
D7 reached an abandoned safehouse beneath an old subway terminal. Julian placed the scorched data core into a reinforced container. It locked with a hiss.
"Tomorrow, we release this to the world," he said. "But first—we break Lucian's hold."
Eve pulled up city maps, pointing at an armory hub. "Nexus has a primary control node inside the Ghost Net vault. If we destroy it, we cripple their network."
Reese grinned. "Now you're talking."
Julian turned to the team. "This won't be a stealth op. We go in loud."
Carter handed out new gear—EMP grenades, magnetic climbers, auto-target drones.
"Last chance to back out," Julian said.
No one moved.
Reese loaded his rifle. "Let's ruin a tyrant's day."
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Elsewhere…
Deep beneath Lucian's private server tower, a hidden chamber lit up. A voice spoke from a circular pod, digital and eerie.
"Julian... Max's death... the stolen data… It's all triggering the convergence."
Lucian entered the room alone, placing his hand on the pod's sensor.
"It's time."
A mechanical eye opened at the center of the pod—watching, calculating.
"Shall I wake the sleeper?"
Lucian nodded. "Unleash Project Specter."
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Back at the safehouse
Julian's watch buzzed.
Encrypted signal.
Just two words:
> "They're coming."
He looked at his team. "Gear up. Next stop—the Ghost Net vault."
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> To be continued…
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