Ould was on her way home. Her family had recently relocated from New York City to Washington, largely due to the rapid growth of Blade Technology Industries.
The affluent neighborhoods of Washington were known for their good security, and so Ould didn't expect any trouble on her route home. But danger can come unexpectedly, especially when it's planned.
Before Ould could react, a black car suddenly screeched to a stop beside her, and masked figures forced her inside. Within minutes, she was abducted.
News of her kidnapping soon reached Zod, who watched the video footage of Ould, her face pale with panic, clearly terrified by the ordeal.
Zod raised an eyebrow. As a clever Kryptonian, he had anticipated the possibility of something like this happening, and so he had taken precautions.
"Black Queen, can you track Ould's location?" Zod asked, relying on the advanced AI he had developed.
"Yes, sir," replied the Black Queen. "Ms. Ould is currently in Stark Industries but is being transferred. The destination is likely an abandoned scrapyard."
As Zod reviewed the footage, a demand was made for him to come to the scrapyard alone, without notifying the authorities. It was obviously a trap, but Zod's focus was on why they had kidnapped Ould in the first place. Did they really believe they could manipulate him just by targeting his secretary?
"Stark Industries is involved," Zod muttered to himself. "This reeks of Obadiah."
Zod, familiar with Obadiah's underhanded tactics, quickly deduced who was behind the plot. He decided to let the Black Queen handle the rescue operation to test its capabilities. However, he was ready to step in personally if needed.
The Black Queen quickly activated four of Blade Technology Industries' war machines. Although these units were guards, their firepower was far superior to the standard models sold to the public.
Unbeknownst to the terrorists, the Black Queen had already locked in on their location, using satellites to provide real-time surveillance. With the war machines in position, the AI calculated the best course of action to eliminate the terrorists with precision.
"Engage," the Black Queen commanded.
The war machines began firing, penetrating the walls and killing ten of the terrorists before they even had a chance to respond.
"Sniper fire! Take cover!" one of the terrorists shouted, scrambling to organize a defense.
"Grab the girl!" another yelled, but it was too late.
As two terrorists approached Ould, intending to use her as leverage, the wall exploded. A war machine's steel arm shot through the rubble, grabbing the men and dragging them out at an astonishing speed.
War machine!
Ould instantly recognized the machine, and so did the terrorists. Panicking, they began firing wildly in her direction. Ould screamed and shut her eyes as bullets ricocheted off the war machine that had positioned itself in front of her, acting as a shield.
"Are you okay, Ould?" a voice came from the machine. It was Zod's voice, although in reality, it was the Black Queen mimicking him.
"I'm... fine," Ould replied, her voice shaky but relieved.
"I'll get you home," the Black Queen assured her, though it needed to stay discreet.
Just as the situation seemed under control, two more war machines, painted differently, appeared on the scene and began attacking the Black Queen's units.
"Zod, how do they have war machines?" Ould asked, confused. If it were Stark Industries, it would make sense, but terrorists?
Zod knew exactly why. He had sold war machines to these groups at an exorbitant price—$600 million per unit, far above the standard market price. Disguising himself as an inside man at Blade Technology Industries, Zod had made the sale to these very terrorists.
"Don't worry about it," the Black Queen said vaguely, trying to reassure her. Ould, however, began to piece things together. She suspected these terrorists weren't mere criminals but likely had connections to other governments, trying to leverage Blade Technology's resources for their own agendas.
Before the terrorists could cause any more trouble, the Black Queen activated the backdoor system that Zod had installed in the machines. Instantly, the enemy war machines shut down, leaving the terrorists trapped inside their metal cages.
With the threat neutralized, the Black Queen scooped Ould into the arms of a war machine and flew her to safety. Meanwhile, anti-material missiles were launched at the scrapyard, turning it into a sea of flames and erasing any trace of the operation.
Back at Blade Technology Industries, Zod was not one to forget a slight. Obadiah had dared to target someone close to him, and retribution was inevitable. As Obadiah indulged in his vices, two bullets pierced his body—one through his right hand and the other through his left leg.
Though the bullets weren't immediately lethal, they were laced with a toxin. If Obadiah wanted to live, he would have to amputate his hand and leg. With no choice, he underwent the procedures, only to find that his attacker remained unknown. Unable to identify Zod as the mastermind, Obadiah was left humiliated and crippled, with no one to take his revenge upon.
Zod, meanwhile, continued with his plans, unbothered by Obadiah's suffering, knowing his message had been delivered loud and clear.