The summit was supposed to be a chance to negotiate peace a rare meeting of the world's most powerful leaders and innovators to discuss the aftermath of recent events. It was held in a luxurious, high-tech conference center atop the snowy peaks of the Alps, a location chosen for its isolation and security. However, Nathan, Sana, and Zara knew better. This wasn't just a meeting; it was a battleground.
Nathan adjusted his earpiece, scanning the room filled with dignitaries and key players. "This feels too perfect," he murmured to Sana, who stood beside him, her elegant black dress concealing the weapons strapped to her thighs.
"It's a trap," Zara said bluntly through the comms. She was stationed outside in a surveillance van, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she monitored the security systems. "The chatter I've intercepted suggests something big is about to go down. We're walking straight into it."
Nathan's jaw tightened. "We don't have a choice. If the Hourglass remnants are planning something, this summit is where it starts."
The atmosphere inside the conference center was tense. World leaders exchanged polite smiles, but beneath the surface, alliances were fragile, and distrust ran deep. Nathan spotted influential figures, including the elusive Marcus Kane, a wealthy industrialist rumored to have connections to the Hourglass Protocol.
"He's here," Sana whispered, her eyes locking onto Kane. "This can't be a coincidence."
Nathan nodded. "Keep an eye on him. If Kane's involved, he's not working alone."
As the summit began, the discussions were formal but strained. Topics ranged from rebuilding infrastructure to ensuring global stability after the chaos caused by the Hourglass Protocol. But Nathan could feel the underlying tension—there was an unspoken fear that more attacks were coming.
Halfway through the summit, Zara's voice crackled through the comms. "We've got a problem. I'm detecting unusual activity in the security network. Someone's trying to disable the surveillance cameras."
Nathan's heart sank. "How much time do we have?"
"Minutes, maybe less," Zara replied. "And it gets worse. I just intercepted a signal it's coming from inside the building."
"Inside?" Sana asked, her voice sharp.
"Yeah, and it's not friendly. Someone's coordinating an attack."
Nathan scanned the room, his eyes narrowing as he noticed a group of men in suits standing too close to Kane. Their movements were too deliberate, their presence too calculated.
"We're being set up," Nathan said, his voice low.
The room erupted into chaos as the lights flickered and the sound of gunfire echoed through the hall. The suited men surrounding Kane drew their weapons, firing into the air and taking control of the room.
"Everyone, stay down!" one of them barked, his voice amplified by the silence that followed the gunshots.
Nathan and Sana crouched behind a row of seats, their hands already on their concealed weapons.
"This is a hostage situation," Nathan whispered. "We need to act fast."
Through the comms, Zara's voice was panicked. "I've lost access to the building's security systems. They've locked me out."
"Can you get back in?" Nathan asked.
"I'm trying, but they've got a serious firewall. You're on your own for now."
The leader of the attackers stepped forward, his face partially hidden by a mask. But his voice was unmistakable it was Jay.
"Greetings, esteemed leaders," Jay said mockingly. "I hope you're all enjoying the summit. Unfortunately, this gathering will mark the beginning of a new era one where your power means nothing."
Nathan's blood ran cold. Jay had somehow survived their last encounter and was now leading this ambush.
"This can't be happening," Sana whispered.
"It is," Nathan replied grimly. "We have to stop him."
Nathan signaled to Sana, and the two moved stealthily through the chaos. They had to act quickly before Jay executed whatever plan he had in motion.
Sana took out one of the attackers with a swift, silent strike, grabbing his weapon and tossing it to Nathan. Together, they advanced toward the stage where Jay stood, his presence commanding the room.
But Jay wasn't unprepared. He spotted them moving through the crowd and smirked. "Ah, Nathan. I was hoping you'd show up."
He snapped his fingers, and more armed men entered the room, their weapons trained on Nathan and Sana.
"Drop your weapons," Jay said. "Let's not make this harder than it needs to be."
Nathan and Sana had no choice but to comply, dropping their weapons as Jay's men closed in.
"You don't get it, do you?" Jay said, stepping closer to Nathan. "This isn't about power. It's about survival. The world is broken, and I'm offering a solution."
"By taking hostages and killing innocent people?" Nathan shot back.
Jay laughed. "Sometimes, you have to break the system to fix it."
But as he spoke, Nathan noticed something. Jay wasn't just stalling he was buying time.
"Zara," Nathan whispered into his comm. "What's he doing?"
"I don't know yet," Zara replied. "But I've regained partial access to the systems. There's something in the basement—a device emitting a high-frequency signal. It could be a bomb."
Sana caught Nathan's eye, and they both knew what they had to do. They had to get to the basement and disable the device before it was too late.
"Cover me," Nathan whispered to Sana.
She nodded, creating a diversion by throwing a chair at one of the attackers. The sudden chaos allowed Nathan to slip away, heading toward the basement.
Nathan found the device in the basement a sleek, metallic structure with a digital timer counting down. 10 minutes.
"Zara, I need help," Nathan said, examining the device.
"I'm guiding you," Zara replied. "Cut the blue wire no, wait, the red one!"
Nathan hesitated, his hands shaking. "Which one is it?"
"Red," Zara confirmed.
He cut the wire, and the timer stopped. But as he breathed a sigh of relief, the timer flickered back to life, counting down even faster.
Nathan's comm crackled with Zara's voice. "Nathan, get out of there now. It's a decoy there's another device, and it's set to go off in two minutes!"
Before Nathan could react, the ground shook violently, and the lights in the basement flickered. Jay's voice echoed through the comm