Carter gripped the steering wheel as the car roared down the highway, the engine purring like a caged beast ready to be unleashed. The landscape outside had changed from the tight, winding city streets to the long, open stretches of rural highways. Trees, fields, and the occasional farm passed by in a blur as they sped east, the setting sun casting long shadows across the road.
In the passenger seat, Maya sat with her arms crossed, her face unreadable. She was always like this before a job—calm, collected, and completely locked in. But Carter could sense the tension in her posture. This wasn't just any job. They were heading straight for an Apex Industries facility, a place guarded by top-tier security and cutting-edge tech. And once they got there, there'd be no turning back.
Carter exhaled slowly, trying to keep his own nerves in check. He wasn't one to overthink things—he preferred to trust his instincts and react in the moment. But even he knew the stakes here were higher than anything he'd faced before.
"So," Carter said, breaking the silence, "you sure this plan of yours is going to work?"
Maya didn't look at him. Her gaze was fixed on the road ahead, her voice calm and steady. "It's the best shot we've got."
"That's not exactly a yes," Carter muttered under his breath.
Elle's voice chimed in through the speakers, her usual sarcastic tone slightly more measured. "Maya's right. It's a long shot, but it's our only shot. Apex is a fortress. We'll need to move quickly and hit them hard."
Carter nodded, gripping the wheel tighter. "No pressure then."
Maya finally glanced over at him, her eyes sharp. "Are you nervous?"
Carter flashed her a grin, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Me? Nervous? Nah, I'm always cool under pressure."
Maya didn't look convinced, but she didn't press him further. Instead, she leaned back in her seat and unfolded a map she'd pulled from her jacket pocket. It wasn't digital—just an old-fashioned paper map, marked with various red lines and dots. Carter raised an eyebrow when he saw it. He hadn't seen a map like that in years.
"What's the plan?" Carter asked, eyeing the map curiously.
"We hit the facility from the east side," Maya explained, tracing a line with her finger. "There's a service road that leads to a smaller entrance—less guarded, but still heavily monitored. We'll need to disable their surveillance systems first."
"Which is where those EMPs come in," Carter said, piecing it together.
"Exactly," Maya replied. "Once the surveillance is down, we'll have a small window to get inside. Elle will guide us through the facility's layout. We'll need to move fast—grab what we need and get out before they can react."
Carter nodded, feeling the weight of the situation settling in. "And what about the guards? You think we can get in and out without attracting too much attention?"
Maya's expression didn't waver. "There will be guards. But we'll deal with them if and when we have to."
Carter chuckled, though there was no humor in it. "Great. Always love a job where 'dealing with guards' is part of the plan."
Elle's voice cut in again, more serious this time. "You're both aware this isn't going to be like anything you've done before, right? Apex isn't just another corporation—they're one of the most powerful entities on the planet. They'll be ready for intruders."
"We know," Maya said quietly. "But we don't have a choice. If we don't stop them now, they'll get their hands on you, and then no one will be able to stop them."
Elle fell silent for a moment, her usual snarky attitude replaced by a more somber tone. "Just making sure you're ready."
Carter's grin faded as he shifted his focus back to the road. He appreciated Elle's concern, but it didn't change the fact that they were driving straight into what felt like a death trap.
"Ready or not," Carter muttered, "we're doing this."
--
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the world into a dusky twilight, the Apex facility came into view on the horizon—a massive complex of sleek, modern buildings surrounded by high fences and security towers. It looked more like a military base than a corporate compound, with tall, steel walls, razor wire, and automated turrets positioned at each corner.
Carter slowed the car as they approached, pulling off the main highway and onto a dirt road that wound through a thick patch of forest. The trees grew taller and denser as they drove, and soon the Apex facility disappeared from view, hidden by the thick foliage.
"This is it," Maya said, unfolding the map again. "We'll park here, about a mile away from the facility. We'll go the rest of the way on foot."
Carter nodded and pulled the car to a stop, killing the engine. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. He climbed out of the car, slinging the duffel bag full of gear over his shoulder.
Maya was already moving, checking her weapons and securing the EMP grenades in her jacket. She glanced at Carter, her eyes hard and focused. "You ready?"
Carter gave her a tight grin. "Always."
Elle's voice came through the speakers one last time before they headed out. "I'll guide you through the facility once you're inside. Just stay close to Maya, and don't do anything reckless."
"Reckless? Me?" Carter grinned, but the tension in his voice was clear. He wasn't exactly known for playing it safe.
"We'll see about that," Elle replied dryly.
Maya and Carter set off through the forest, moving quickly and quietly, the underbrush crunching softly under their boots. The trees cast long shadows in the fading light, and every snap of a twig made Carter's heart beat faster. He wasn't scared—he was never scared—but the adrenaline was kicking in hard now. This was the part of the job he thrived on—the quiet before the storm, the moment just before everything exploded into chaos.
After about fifteen minutes of hiking, the trees began to thin, and the towering steel walls of the Apex facility came back into view. Maya slowed their pace, crouching low as they approached the edge of the forest. They were about 100 yards from the outer fence, hidden in the shadow of the tree line.
"There," Maya whispered, pointing to a small gate on the eastern side of the facility. "That's our entry point."
Carter squinted, eyeing the gate. There were no visible guards, but he knew better than to assume it was unprotected. Apex's security wouldn't be that sloppy.
"Think they've got motion sensors?" Carter asked, keeping his voice low.
Maya nodded. "Definitely. And probably thermal imaging, too. That's why we'll need to hit the EMP first."
Carter pulled one of the small EMP grenades from the duffel bag, weighing it in his hand. It wasn't much bigger than a tennis ball, but he knew it packed enough punch to knock out every piece of electronic equipment within a quarter-mile radius. The tricky part was timing it right—too early, and they'd alert the guards before they could get inside; too late, and they'd be picked up by the security systems before they even reached the gate.
"On my mark," Maya said, her eyes scanning the perimeter. "Wait until I give the signal."
Carter nodded, crouching low beside her as they waited. The seconds ticked by, stretching out into what felt like hours. Carter's pulse quickened, the adrenaline flooding his system. This was it. The calm before the storm.
"Now," Maya whispered.
Without hesitation, Carter activated the EMP and lobbed it toward the fence. It arced through the air and landed with a soft thud, rolling to a stop just inside the gate. A split second later, there was a sharp, high-pitched whine, followed by a faint popping sound as the EMP discharged. The lights on the security towers flickered once, then went out. The cameras stopped rotating. The turrets froze in place.
"We're in," Maya said, already moving toward the gate.
Carter followed close behind, his heart racing as they sprinted across the open ground. The EMP had done its job, but it wouldn't last long. They had a small window of time before the backup systems kicked in and the facility went on full lockdown.
Maya reached the gate first, pulling a small device from her jacket and pressing it against the electronic lock. The lock clicked open, and she pushed the gate wide, gesturing for Carter to follow.
"Inside," she whispered, slipping through the gate and into the facility.
Carter ducked through the gate, keeping low as they moved along the side of the building. The courtyard was eerily silent, the usual hum of security cameras and drones now gone, replaced by the faint sound of the wind rustling through the trees. They had made it inside, but Carter knew the hard part was just beginning.
"Elle," Maya whispered into her earpiece, "we're in."
Elle's voice came through, calm and clear. "Good. Head for the main building on the west side. I'll guide you through the security checkpoints."
Maya gave Carter a nod, and they moved quickly across the courtyard, sticking to the shadows as they made their way toward the main building. The tension was palpable now—every step felt like it could be their last. Carter could feel the weight of the mission pressing down on him, the enormity of what they were about to do.
But there was no turning back now. They were in the lion's den.