2025-08-12 19:55:35
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— 90 —
Ava lay on a metal examination table in the center of the sterile white laboratory. Parts of her outer casing had been carefully removed, exposing internal circuitry and processing units that pulsed with faint light. Dozens of cables ran from her systems to monitoring equipment that beeped and flashed with streams of data. She looked like a patient on an operating table, except the surgeons had been studying her mind instead of her body."Ava!" Michael rushed to her side, his heart breaking at the sight of her motionless form.Her eyes were closed, but LED indicators on her core systems still glowed faintly blue and green. She was alive, but barely. Several tubes and cables had been attached to her body, and her beautiful face was pale and still."What have they done to her?" Michael asked, his voice raw with pain.Professor Nakamura approached the table carefully, his eyes taking in the complex array of connections and monitoring devices. "They have removed several memory cores and p
— 89 —
The parking garage was dark and quiet at 11:30 PM. Michael crouched behind a concrete pillar, checking his watch for the third time in two minutes. Around him, the team made final preparations in tense silence. The air smelled of motor oil and concrete dust, mixed with the nervous sweat of people about to risk everything."Communications check," he whispered into his headset, adjusting the small microphone near his lips."North here, main entrance team ready," came the reply. Michael could hear the barely contained excitement in North's voice. The big man lived for action like this."Salvatore, service tunnel team in position," another voice confirmed. Salvatore sounded calm and professional, like he was discussing dinner plans instead of breaking into a military facility."Diego here, cyber attack launching in thirty seconds," Diego said from his position at a mobile command station they had set up in a van outside the facility. His voice was tight with concentration.Michael looked
— 88 —
Michael stared at the conference room table covered with papers, photographs, and Diego's tablet showing building schematics. The Sullivan Solutions office felt more like a war room now, with everyone huddled around the detailed plans Diego had managed to acquire."Okay, here's what we're dealing with," Diego said, pointing to the facility layout on his tablet. "Wagner's research compound is built like a fortress. Main building is three stories above ground, two below. Ava would be held here, in Sub-Level Two."He tapped the screen, highlighting a section marked "Research Wing Delta.""That's the most secure part of the facility. Reinforced doors, biometric scanners, separate ventilation system in case of chemical attacks."North leaned over to get a better look. "How many ways in and out?""Four main entrances at ground level, emergency exits on floors two and three, and one service entrance that connects to the underground parking garage.""Service entrance sounds promising," Salvat
— 87 —
Two weeks later, Michael sat in Sullivan Solutions' expanded office space, reviewing contracts with three new clients. The company had grown from a desperate scheme to a legitimate business faster than he'd expected. But as he looked over the financial reports, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out."The Denver Community Bank wants to talk about a partnership," Alexis said, walking into his office with a stack of proposals. Her red hair caught the light as she leaned against his desk. "They like our track record."Lizzy came in behind her and offered Michael a wave before plopping herself on a chair."That's good," Michael replied, though his mind was somewhere else. Sullivan Solutions was doing well, but Ava's absence hurt every day. Every technical problem his team solved reminded him of her lightning-fast thinking. Every client meeting made him remember how she could read people instantly.A knock on the door interrupted them. Brother North entered, his huge frame
— 86 —
The next morning, Michael was reviewing some business reports when North burst into his office without knocking."We got a problem, boss," North said, his usual grin replaced by a serious frown. "My guys spotted some people following Alexis and Lizzy this morning. Professional job."Michael looked up from his laptop. "Following them where?""To the coffee shop, then to Nakamura's workshop, then back to the hotel. They're not trying to hide it anymore." North pulled out his phone and showed Michael some grainy photos. "Got these from Tommy when he was doing his morning rounds."The photos showed three men in brown suits sitting in a grey toyota. They looked exactly like like bad new."Could be Federal agents," Michael said, though something felt off about it."That's what I thought at first," North replied, "but look at the license plate."Michael squinted at the photo. The plate was partially visible, and he could make out what looked like Colorado government tags."Government plates?
— 85 —
The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the Denver streets as Michael walked toward his car, still feeling the aches from that morning's training session. His shoulder was still bandaged from yesterday's training exercise, and his pride was still recovering from North's lecture about "showing off instead of showing results."Professor Nakamura had called an hour ago, asking Michael to meet him at a small electronics repair shop on the east side of town. Something about a lead on Ava's location, though the old man had been cryptic about the details over the phone."You sure you're okay to drive?" Lizzy asked, hovering beside his car like a concerned mother hen. "You look like you got hit by a truck.""I feel like I got hit by a truck," Michael admitted, "but I'm...functional. Besides, if Nakamura has information about Ava, I'm not waiting until tomorrow.""Just be careful," she said, giving him a quick hug. "And call if you need backup. North's guys are still in the area."Mich
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