Chapter 22
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The sterile quiet of the vault was shattered by the distant, rhythmic thud of heavy combat boots echoing down the maintenance tunnel.
"They brought a small army," Elena stated coldly, checking the magazine of her rifle. "At least twelve hostiles, fully armored, moving in tactical formation."
"We can't go back the way we came," Jax growled, throwing his heavy duffel bag over his shoulder. He pointed to a secondary service elevator at the back of the vault. "That lift goes up to the ground-level lobby of the financial building. It's our only exit."
"Chloe, secure the ledger and the drive in your waterproof pack," Elena commanded, taking position near the breached steel door to provide covering fire. "Do not let that bag out of your sight."
"I've got it, Mom," Chloe said, zipping her backpack tight and running toward the elevator.
Jax slammed his fist onto the elevator call button. The rusted gears groaned in protest, slowly pulling the metal cage downward.
A burst of automatic gunfire erupted from the dark tunnel. Bullets sparked violently against the steel doorframe, sending chips of concrete flying into the air. Elena returned fire with calculated precision, her suppressed rifle taking down the two lead Obsidian operatives before they could even breach the room.
"They have heavy weapons!" Elena shouted, ducking back behind cover as a hail of bullets shredded the room. "Elevator status, Jax?"
"Ten seconds!" Jax yelled back, providing suppressing fire over Elena's shoulder.
The elevator doors finally slid open with a metallic screech.
"Get in!" Jax roared, grabbing Chloe by the tactical vest and shoving her safely into the cage.
Elena fired one last burst down the hallway and sprinted for the elevator. Just as she crossed the threshold, an Obsidian operative stepped into the vault, raising a grenade launcher.
"Down!" Elena screamed.
Jax slammed the emergency override button, forcing the elevator doors to close just as the grenade detonated. The shockwave slammed against the heavy metal doors, shaking the entire elevator shaft violently, but the reinforced steel held.
The cage lurched upward, groaning under the strain of the blast damage, carrying them away from the immediate slaughter.
"Is everyone okay?" Elena asked, her ears ringing from the concussive force.
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"We're intact," Jax coughed, waving away the smoke.
Chloe clutched her backpack tightly to her chest, her face pale but her eyes fierce. "We have the data. Let's find out exactly who these bastards are."
