Chapter 13 – The Line Between Justice and Survival
Ibrahim's breathing was steady, but his mind raced. The Talons never acted without orders. This was a declaration—not just against him, but against the very idea of justice itself.
Commissioner Gordon kept his gun trained on the nearest Talon, his grip firm. "We need to move, now."
Ibrahim nodded, his system already calculating an exit route. The emergency corridor stretched ahead, but the sounds of battle filled the air behind them.
[Exit route compromised. Multiple hostiles detected ahead. Alternative path required.]
The system's warning came just as the emergency door burst open. More Talons.
Gordon cursed under his breath, raising his gun. "They just don't stop, do they?"
Ibrahim assessed the situation. The Talons were elite assassins, nearly impossible to kill permanently. They could heal from wounds that would put ordinary men in the grave. Fighting was a losing battle.
But he wasn't here to fight.
He was here to win.
[Activating contingency protocol: Fire Alarm System Override.]
Above them, the sprinklers activated, releasing not just water, but a dense chemical fog—a countermeasure Ibrahim had arranged weeks ago.
The Talons hesitated, their enhanced senses overwhelmed by the burning irritation in the air.
"This way!" Ibrahim grabbed Gordon's arm and moved, using the confusion to slip through an alternate corridor. They navigated past overturned chairs and shattered glass, the echoes of battle still ringing behind them.
Once outside, they found themselves in the courthouse's underground parking garage.
Gordon exhaled sharply. "You planned for this?"
"I always plan," Ibrahim replied, his system scanning the area for more threats.
[Threat Level: Low. Recommended action: Evacuate.]
A black, unmarked SUV was already waiting—a prearranged escape route.
Gordon eyed the vehicle. "You're going to have to explain a lot, Al-Farooq."
Ibrahim smirked slightly as they climbed in. "Then let's start with the fact that the Court of Owls just declared war on the legal system."
The car sped into the night, leaving the courthouse in flames behind them.
This wasn't just about law anymore.
It was about survival.
And Ibrahim wasn't about to lose.
---