Chapter 13 - THE PANDORA DRIVEBack in the tactical operations room, Ethan slotted Dr. Reed’s drive into the secure terminal.
Lines of complex biochemical formulas, medical trial manifests, and encrypted surveillance logs flooded the high-definition monitor.
“Look at this,” I murmured, leaning over the console and pointing to a list of names linked to the Project Janus trial. “It’s not just Noah. There are dozens of children—all of them heirs to prominent industrial, political, and syndicate families across the tri-state area. They were all systematically diagnosed with rare, untreatable neuromuscular disorders by corrupted doctors.”
Ethan’s hands clenched into tight fists on the edge of the desk.
“Vance was building an invisible army of hostages,” Ethan said, his voice laced with pure venom. “By making the children of powerful leaders entirely dependent on rare, controlled medications administered exclusively by his sleeper agents, he could control empires without firing a single shot.”
“And now that Vance is locked in a black site,” I added, the blood draining from my face, “someone else inherits control of the network.”
As if on cue, the computer terminal chimed sharply.
The screen blinked, overriding our data files with a blank, black background. A single line of crimson text typed itself out letter by letter across the monitor:
You cut off the head of the snake, Ethan. But the tail still strikes.
Below the text, a live video feed popped up. It showed a dimly lit underground warehouse filled with massive cryogenic storage tanks. Standing in front of the camera, wearing a sleek tactical mask and holding a remote detonator, was an unknown operative bearing the insignia of the Janus Syndicate.
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“The cleanup protocol has been initiated,” a synthesized, electronic voice spoke through the speakers. “All trial data, storage units, and medical facilities are scheduled for thermal incineration in exactly thirty minutes. If you want the complete neutralization antidote for the surviving children... come and get it.”
The feed cut to black.
