The walls closed in around them, and for a moment, Peter felt as if the entire world had shrunk down to the cold, unfeeling concrete of the facility. It was no longer just about stopping Barrett. It was about surviving what came next.
Isaac's fingers were flying across his tablet, trying to hack through the newly established security system, but every attempt was met with a swift and merciless rejection. "It's encrypted. Not just any encryption either—this is military-grade," he muttered under his breath, his face a mixture of frustration and determination. "We're gonna need more time than we've got."
Peter could hear the rising hum of the structure above them. Whatever Barrett had designed, it was far more than just a machine. It was a weapon. And it was coming to life.
Neal paced nervously behind them, his eyes flickering between the entrance they'd come through and the thick, steel doors locking them in. "We're running out of options. What if we don't make it through this?"
Henry's voice cut through the tension, calm and composed as ever. "We will. We just need to think. We've survived worse."
Peter shot Henry a glance, his eyes narrowing. "What is that thing, Henry? Barrett's talking about changing the world. Is this some kind of weapon?"
Henry's gaze turned toward the structure above them, his mind working at full speed. "No. Not just a weapon. It's more than that. It's a power source. Something he's been working on for years, maybe even decades."
Isaac's voice interrupted the moment of silence. "A power source? What kind of power source could be so dangerous it warrants this level of secrecy?"
Henry didn't answer immediately, his eyes shifting between the hum of the machine and the chaotic series of monitors on the far side of the room. The monitors were no longer flickering—they were displaying a steady stream of data. But the data was fragmented, cryptic, as if the machine itself was sending out signals, trying to make contact.
"It's something Barrett discovered," Henry continued, his voice low, barely audible over the noise of the facility. "Something that could destabilize the entire global order. If he gets control of it, he won't just have power over nations. He'll have power over everything."
Peter's stomach twisted. They had walked into a hornet's nest, but now it was far more than that. They were facing a force that none of them fully understood—something far greater than they had anticipated.
"We need to stop it," Peter said, his voice hardening with resolve. "Whatever it is, we can't let Barrett control it."
Isaac's tablet beeped, breaking the tension. "I've got it. I've found a backdoor into the system. But we need to move fast."
Henry's eyes locked with Peter's, a silent agreement passing between them. "Let's go."
They moved swiftly, but with purpose, toward the far side of the room. The hum of the machine was growing louder now, and the lights in the facility flickered erratically. It felt like the entire place was alive, reacting to their every move.
Isaac worked quickly, his fingers dancing over the tablet, bypassing layer after layer of encrypted security. But the deeper he went, the more unstable the system seemed to become. Sparks flew from nearby wires, and the ground vibrated with the increasing pressure.
"We're running out of time," Isaac said through clenched teeth. "I don't know how long I can hold this open."
Peter felt the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He wasn't sure if they could make it out of here alive. But one thing was certain—there was no going back. They had to stop whatever Barrett had unleashed, or the world would never be the same.
Suddenly, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway behind them. Peter spun, his heart racing as he brought up his weapon. The light flickered one last time, casting shadows across the hallway.
A figure appeared in the doorway, silhouetted against the harsh light from behind.
"Barrett," Peter growled, his voice low but full of venom. "You've lost. Whatever game you're playing, it ends here."
Barrett's voice, distorted and cold, floated through the air. "You're too late, Peter. The machine is already activated. There's no stopping it now."
"Then why don't you come over here and try to make us stop?" Henry's voice was smooth, confident as ever, and his posture never faltered. He didn't even raise his gun, but Peter could feel the tension in the air—Henry had a way of making the most dangerous people second guess their next move.
Barrett stepped forward, revealing himself fully. He was different now—more confident, almost detached. He wasn't the man they had faced before. This version of Barrett was more dangerous. And he knew it.
"I don't need to do anything," Barrett said, a sinister smile curling on his lips. "The machine will do the work for me."
Peter's heart dropped as the floor beneath them rumbled, and the air grew thick with an unnatural energy. They had to stop him. And fast.
Isaac cursed under his breath. "The system's fighting back. It's locking us out again."
Peter's mind raced, but before he could say anything, Henry moved, his hand gripping the edge of a nearby control panel. "If we can't stop him from the outside, we'll stop him from the inside."
Henry's eyes locked with Peter's, a silent plan forming in the seconds before he moved.
"Get to the core," Henry ordered. "I'll handle Barrett."
Peter didn't hesitate. He knew exactly what Henry meant.
As Henry turned to face Barrett, Peter sprinted toward the machine at the center of the room. He could hear the faint sound of Barrett's mocking laughter echoing behind him, but he kept his focus. He had no choice. This was their only chance.
The core of the machine was just ahead. The closer Peter got, the more the machine hummed, thrumming with power. It was alive. And it was getting stronger with each passing second.
He was almost there.
And then, a blast of energy erupted from the core, sending Peter flying backward.
The fight for the future had only just begun.