Charged Destruction!

The night was thick with tension as Nyota and Aurora stood in the shadows outside the factory. The air felt heavier than it had any right to, the distant hum of the city now nothing more than an afterthought. There was an eerie stillness in the air, as if the world was waiting, holding its breath.

The darkness stretched across the factory district, the dim yellow lights along the perimeter casting long, jagged shadows across the ground. Security was sparse tonight—just a few guards in a routine patrol, their movements predictable, their attention divided. It was late. The workers had long since gone home, and now only the hum of machinery and the occasional passing patrol car disturbed the silence.

Nyota carried two plastic tanks of gasoline—one gripped in each hand. The tanks felt heavier with each passing second. His fingers tightened around the straps as he turned to Aurora.

"Ready?" he asked, his voice a low murmur in the cool night.

Aurora didn't answer immediately. She gave him a single, steady nod, her eyes scanning the perimeter with a focused intensity. Her usual calm demeanor was still in place, but Nyota could see the flicker of something else beneath the surface—an edge of impatience.

Nyota's breath formed mist in the cool air as he squinted toward the factory gates. The last few hours of preparation had been tense, but now there was no turning back. Everything had to go according to plan, or the entire operation would unravel.

"We go in quiet, no more than necessary," he reminded her. "Once we're inside, the goal is to light the place up and get out."

Aurora gave a short nod. "I'm not here for a light show. Let's burn it down."

Nyota smirked despite the situation. He had known Aurora long enough to recognize the dry humor in her tone. Beneath her quiet exterior was a sharp, efficient mind—one that knew exactly how to execute a mission. And when it came to destruction, she had no qualms about doing it with precision.

With the guards' patrol routes in mind, Nyota led the way, ducking into a narrow alley that ran alongside the factory. Aurora moved beside him, the sound of their footsteps muted on the damp pavement. They kept to the shadows, using the city's streets to conceal their movements as they neared the factory's perimeter.

The main gate was locked, but Nyota had anticipated that. He reached into his pack and pulled out a compact device. His fingers worked quickly, deftly manipulating the wires inside the tool. With a soft click, the lock disengaged. He gave Aurora a quick glance, and she moved forward, sliding into the gap he had created in the gate.

The factory loomed ahead, its walls high and foreboding. Inside, the vast expanse of machinery sat dormant, waiting. The absence of workers only made the space feel more alien, more cold.

As Nyota followed Aurora inside, the first thing that struck him was the smell—the stench of oil, metal, and chemical fumes, thick and pungent in the air. It was a smell that seeped into his clothes and clung to his skin, reminding him of the weight of their task.

They crept across the floor, the sound of their steps barely audible against the smooth concrete. The faint hum of idle machinery was the only noise that accompanied them as they moved further into the factory, their movements deliberate and precise.

Nyota's eyes flicked across the room. He knew the layout—he had memorized the blueprints. They had to make it to the storage tanks and chemical vats, those were the key points. If they could destroy the core systems, the factory would be ruined.

"Aurora," Nyota whispered, handing her a gasoline container. "Take the left side. I'll cover the right."

Aurora didn't need to respond; she just gave him a sharp nod and split off, moving with grace and stealth. Nyota took a deep breath and turned to his own task.

He moved toward the main area where the fuel storage tanks were kept. The gasoline containers in his hands felt even heavier now.

He emptied the gasoline tanks as quickly and quietly as possible. As he did, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the situation pressing on him, the realization that every choice they made tonight would shape the course of the mission.

Aurora was already ahead of him, methodically placing her charges in strategic locations across the factory floor. Nyota caught a glimpse of her through the factory, impressed by her efficiency. She never hesitated, never faltered.

When they had finished planting their charges, Nyota took a moment to glance around the factory, his mind racing. They had done their part. Now, all they had to do was light it up and get out.

The faint hum of the machinery around them began to grate on his nerves, each whir of the engines a reminder that they weren't alone in this factory. The fire that they were about to set would leave its mark.

"Match?" Aurora's voice was low as she approached him, a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes. Her calm exterior had slipped just slightly, but Nyota understood. This moment would be the most anticipated—the moment before the destruction.

Nyota reached into his jacket and pulled out a matchbook, flipping it open with a practiced motion. He ripped out a match and handed it to Aurora, who took it between her fingers. A spark of violet plasma flickered at her fingertips, igniting the match instantly. She watched the flame dance for a moment before tilting it downward, letting the fire take its course.

Inspired, Nyota plucked another match from the book. Instead of striking it against the rough strip, he pinched the tip between his fingers. A surge of blue lightning arced from his skin, crackling as it kissed the matchstick. The head flared to life in an instant, its flame tinged with an eerie electric glow. The match hissed as he held it above the gasoline, the scent of sulfur sharp in the air, mixing with the charged tang of ozone.

As he tossed it onto the floor, the liquid gasoline ignited almost instantly. The flame spread like a living thing, twisting and leaping across the factory floor, licking at the machinery and chemical storage. Nyota's heart pounded in his chest as the fire spread quickly, each second feeling like an eternity.

"Time to go," he muttered, grabbing the backpack with the remaining supplies.

Aurora was already moving toward the back exit. Nyota followed her, keeping his eyes on the spreading fire. They needed to leave before the flames spread too far, or they risked being trapped inside. The air was thick with smoke, and the temperature was rising rapidly as the fire took hold of the factory.

They reached the back of the factory, where more propane tanks awaited. Nyota wasted no time positioning them just outside the door, ensuring they had enough distance for maximum impact. He knew the explosion would be massive, but it was the only way to guarantee the factory's destruction.

Once he and Aurora were at a safe distance, he extended his palm toward the tanks. Blue Lightning crackled to life in his hand, tendrils of energy snapping around his fingers. With a flick of his wrist, the electricity coalesced into a concentrated orb, pulsing with raw energy.

He launched it.

The bolt struck the tanks with a deafening crack, igniting the gas in an instant. The ground trembled beneath them as a thunderous explosion ripped through the factory, sending a shockwave surging through the streets. Windows shattered. A blinding fireball erupted into the sky, its searing heat pressing against their backs even from afar.

The factory was done.

Nyota's heart pounded, but his mind was already on the next phase of the operation. He and Aurora turned, taking one last look at the inferno before disappearing into the night.

"Good stuff, kid," Aurora roughed her hand through his hair with a grin. "Welcome to the good side—cop turned criminal."

"Let's move," he said, his voice taut with urgency.

They sprinted for the hills, as they returned to the extraction point. The heat from the explosion of the burning factory was still strong in the air, and the light of the fire cast long, flickering shadows across the ground.

"Do you think they've finished?" Nyota asked, his voice quieter now, a subtle hint of uncertainty creeping in.

Aurora didn't answer immediately. She was scanning the area, her sharp eyes darting over every corner, every shadow. Finally, she spoke, her tone calm and steady. "We would've heard it by now, but they'll be fine. We've done our part. They'll finish theirs."

Nyota nodded, though the knot in his stomach remained. He had faith in his team, but there was always that lingering doubt, the fear that something would go wrong. They had done everything by the book, but this wasn't over until they were all safely out.

As they neared the extraction point, Nyota couldn't shake the image of the factory burning in the distance. He knew their work was far from done, but there was a fleeting sense of satisfaction that came with watching it all burn down.

The fire from the factory still illuminated the skyline, but as Nyota looked back, he knew that they had made their mark. The mission was a success, yet it remained far from over.