Chapter 5 A New Mission

Jill's legs were on fire as he ran away from the industrial site. He looked around at the dark shadows in the small alleys surrounding him. He had managed to get away from the trap, but the feeling of being hunted lingered. The Nexus wasn't going to back off; if anything, the pursuit would be even stronger.

SEA-Z, pull up the city map and give me an escape route," he ordered, panting as he wove in and out of the dark, deserted streets.

"Routing now, Host," SEA-Z replied, overlaying a holographic map in Jill's vision. "There is a nearby subway station. Its maintenance tunnels could provide cover and a way to lose your pursuers.

Jill followed the path laid out by SEA-Z, making sharp turns and darting into narrow alleys, his head down. His breath came out in short bursts as he reached the subway entrance. He slipped inside and bounded up the stairs two at a time, ignoring the questioning looks of late-night commuters. Reaching the platform, he eyed the maintenance door on the far wall and forced it open with a wrench that seemed to materialize in his hand; then, in an instant, he vanished into the dark tunnels beyond.

"Alright, SEA-Z," he said, voice echoing off the tunnel. "We have lost them for the time being. Strategy time: what do we do next?"

"Host, our mission remains the same: to protect the scientists on the hit list. First on the list is Dr. Amelia Park, a quantum physicist dealing in material research. She has been under contract for the government, working on a classified project. There has already been an attempt by Nexus operatives to kidnap her.

Jill leaned against the cold concrete wall, catching his breath. "Dr. Park... I've heard of her. Her work's cutting-edge, and if Nexus wants her, it's not for a friendly chat. Where is she now?"

"According to my data, Dr. Park is currently at her lab in the city's research district. I recommend you reach her before the next attack occurs," SEA-Z advised.

Jill rubbed the back of his neck, thinking fast. "If she's still in the lab, Nexus might already be planning another attempt. We can't afford to let them catch us off guard again. SEA-Z, get me everything you can on the lab's security systems. We'll need to work around them."

"Accessing now," SEA-Z said. "I've pulled up a schematic of the facility. It's pretty much a standard security layout, with men at all key points, a biometric entry system, and several cameras. I recommend we go in the back entrance and come in from the service corridor since it has minimal cover.

Good," Jill said, pushing himself off the wall and starting toward the exit of the maintenance tunnel. "I'm heading there now. Keep me updated if anything changes.

As Jill made his way through the twisting corridors and back out into the streets, the surge of adrenaline began to wear off, leaving behind a resolute will. He hadn't anticipated such a quick throw into this war, but if keeping people like Dr. Park safe were part of the mission, then he would do whatever it took to keep them that way.

The City's research district was a huge facility, home to on-sight labs and tech firms, each with secrets all its own, guarded tight. Jill showed up at Dr. Park's lab just about the time the sun started to rise, casting a pale light over the glass-and-steel structure. He kept his distance, scanning the perimeter as SEA-Z highlighted the security checkpoints on the building's holographic map.

"Remember, Host," SEA-Z said, "time is of essence. Chances are very great Nexus agents will attack within a few hours.

Jill slid around the back of the building, making his way quickly down the narrow alley between that structure and the next, into the service corridor beyond. He defeated the electronic lock on the service door and swung it open, slipping inside into the shadowy hallway beyond. As he reached Dr. Park's lab, he could make out the murmur of voices behind the heavy doors.

He peered through the small window in the door and saw Dr. Park at her workstation, talking to two men. They were wearing suits, but something about their stance triggered warning signals in Jill's brain-they stood too stiffly, hands hovering near their waists as though they were ready to whip out guns at any second.

"SEA-Z, identify those men," Jill whispered, dropping into a crouch beside the door.

Cross-referencing facial recognition data," SEA-Z replied. "They are Nexus operatives, known associates of a high-ranking field agent. Their presence confirms an extraction attempt is imminent."

Jill's jaw hardened as he weighed his options. Bursting in head-on risked sparking a firefight in the middle of the lab, but if he hesitated, the Nexus operatives would have Dr. Park in their grasp. He needed a distraction.

SEA-Z, can you trigger a fire alarm in the wing next door?" Jill asked.

"Affirmative," SEA-Z said. "Initializing now."

A shrill alarm cut through the corridor, and red warning lights flashed up and down the walls. Inside the lab, Dr. Park and the operatives looked around, startled. Jill took his chance, pushing the door open and striding inside.

"Dr. Park!" he called out, his voice firm and commanding. "We need to go. Now.

The two operatives wheeled toward Jill, their faces trading surprise for hostility as they moved to cut him off. Jill wasn't about to let that happen. He sprang forward, catching the closer one with a hard elbow to the solar plexus, then swung around to sweep the legs out from under the other.

"Go!" he yelled back at Dr. Park, who stood frozen in shock. "Move toward the exit!

Dr. Park sprang from her daze and made a dash to the door while Jill held off the operatives. One of them quickly regained his composure, pulled a concealed pistol, and fired off a shot. The bullet whizzed past Jill's ear, and he ducked low, kicking the weapon out of the man's hand before following up with a punch to the jaw.

As the second operative stumbled back, Jill took Dr. Park's arm and hustled her out of the lab. "We have to keep moving," he said as he steered her through the corridor. "The Nexus has people everywhere."

"Wh-who are you?" Dr. Park stammered, her eyes wide with terror and confusion.

"Somebody who doesn't want you dead," was Jill's answer. "More explanation when we're clear.

They moved through the building, service exit leading to service exit, until finally they spilled out into an underground parking lot. Jill kept his hand on his sidearm as they hastened towards an unmarked sedan SEA-Z had remotely unlocked for their getaway.

"Get in," Jill instructed as he scanned once more for signs of pursuit. He climbed into the driver's seat, and the motor roared to life.

As Jill reached out of the parking lot, he could see another black SUV coming into the lot from the rearview mirror-more Nexus agents. But he wasn't about to let them close in. The car tore down the streets, weaving through early morning traffic as Jill pushed the accelerator to its limits.

SEA-Z, plot course for a safe house," he growled, hugging the wheel. "We're going to have to lie low for a little while."

"Locating place of safety," replied SEA-Z. "There is a safe house ten miles away in a quiet residential area. It should provide temporary cover."

Dr. Park was seated in the passenger seat, her breathing shallow. "What do they want with me?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Information, leverage, or worse," Jill replied glumly. "Not only are they after you, but they're also after every scientist ranked at the top in projects dealing with classified information. We must find out what their plans are and stop such actions before there are more lives in danger.

The car sped to the safe house, and Jill couldn't get rid of that feeling that it all was just getting started. He had stepped into a war against an organization far more shadowy than anything he was used to. Yet, one thing was for sure-he wasn't going to let Nexus hunt him or the scientists without a fight.