Chapter 19: The Ambush

The alarms blared, drowning out all other sound in the cold server room. The flashing red lights reflected off the glass walls, casting a warning that might as well have been written in bold letters across the entire building: You're fucked.

Alex's heart pounded in his chest, but he didn't let the panic take over. Not yet.

He grabbed the drive, yanking it out of the terminal with a quick swipe. "Maya, we're leaving." 

Maya's fingers were still flying over the keyboard. "Almost done—" 

"No, now. Get your ass up." 

Ellie's voice crackled through the comms. "Alex, we got company. They're coming up the stairwell—about ten of 'em." 

Maya's eyes darted up, her expression darkening as she pulled her gear together. "Shit. They're faster than I thought." 

Alex moved, yanking Maya out of her seat and toward the door. "We need an exit plan. Now."

Maya's eyes flickered to the window. "We take the elevator shaft, cut through the utility tunnels. It's risky, but it's our best shot." 

Ellie's voice rang through the comms. "And what happens if they're waiting for us there?" 

"We shoot first, ask questions later," Maya snapped. 

Alex's grip tightened on the drive. The prize. And the only reason they were still breathing. 

He tapped his comm. "Ellie, you take the back exit. We'll meet you on the roof." 

Ellie hesitated. "What if—" 

"No time for questions. We move now." 

Maya nodded in agreement, taking the lead as they bolted toward the service corridor. They sprinted, their boots thundering down the hallway as the sounds of pursuit grew closer. 

"Stay tight!" Alex shouted. "We're not losing each other here." 

They reached the elevator shaft, and Maya didn't waste a second. She scaled the wall like a spider, finding footholds in seconds. Alex and Ellie followed suit, climbing with a speed that felt unnatural. They were all adrenaline now.

As they ascended the shaft, the sound of footsteps below grew louder. 

A single glance between them told Alex everything. They weren't going to make it without a fight.

Suddenly, gunfire rang out. The bullets ricocheted off the metal walls, sending sparks flying. 

"Shit!" Maya grunted, her hand slipping for a moment as she reached for the next rung. 

Ellie gritted her teeth. "We need to move faster!" 

Alex reached the next floor first, vaulting over the top with ease. He turned to help Maya up just as a bullet slammed into the wall next to him, the force of it sending a jolt through his shoulder. 

"Down!" he barked, dragging Maya into cover just as the sounds of boots echoed closer. 

Ellie joined them, sliding into cover beside Alex. She was breathing hard, but there was a coldness to her eyes. "We're not getting out of this quietly." 

"Just how we like it," Maya said, already pulling her gun free. 

They moved as one, sweeping into the hallway with the precision of a well-oiled machine. 

Alex's eyes scanned the area. They were boxed in—no way out but the way they came.

A dozen armed men filled the hallway, weapons drawn. Black Sun.

The men smirked as they saw them. "You're too late," one of them sneered. 

Alex's hand hovered over his gun, but it wasn't his weapon that he had in mind. 

Maya took the lead, her gun booming in the silence. First shot, a clean kill.The second man dropped before he could even aim. 

Ellie was already on the move, running forward, ducking behind cover, firing back with surgical precision. She took down two more before the remaining guards scattered, taking cover and returning fire. 

But they weren't getting out of here without a bloody fight. 

"Keep moving!" Alex yelled. "We take them out or we get out! Now!" 

They were pinned down, the hail of bullets cracking against the concrete. The echoes of gunfire were deafening, but Alex didn't flinch. He had been in this situation too many times before. 

Maya crouched low, leaning out from cover and firing a controlled shot, picking off another guard as he exposed himself. She looked back, nodding to Alex. "We can clear the hall. Just need a minute." 

Ellie's voice rang in their comms. "I'm on the move. Back exit in sight. Don't make me wait too long!" 

"Cover us!" Alex barked, moving quickly down the hall toward the next set of doors. 

They fought their way forward, moving like shadows, silently deadly. There was no hesitation, just pure instinct. Every step forward was earned in blood. 

They reached the stairwell that led to the roof. 

But they weren't safe yet. 

At the top of the stairs stood three more Black Sun operatives, weapons trained on the door. 

Maya's lips curled into a grin. "Perfect." 

The door swung open before any of the guards could react. 

In a blur, Alex fired, taking out the first two before they could even blink. Maya's gun fired with ruthless precision, dropping the last guard. 

They were on the roof. 

But the sound of helicopters overhead made Alex's gut drop. Backup was already on the way.

Ellie was already making her move toward the edge of the building. "We need to jump. There's a safehouse two blocks down." 

Maya shook her head. "No time. They'll shoot us before we hit the ground." 

Alex looked around, calculating. "We're not jumping. We're making our own exit." 

He spotted a cargo drone tethered to the roof, an experimental model that could carry up to 600 pounds. 

Maya followed his gaze, her lips curling into a grin. "You know how to fly that thing?" 

"Better than I know how to jump," Alex said, grabbing the controls. 

Ellie cursed. "This is insane." 

"We're alive, aren't we?" 

They jumped onto the drone just as the first round of gunfire hit the roof. They were airborne before they could fire again.

With the whir of the blades above, they shot into the night sky, the ground below disappearing fast. 

Maya looked over at Alex. "You just saved our asses. Again." 

Alex didn't smile. Not yet. 

There was still too much to do. 

And Black Sun was not a threat that went away easily. 

--- 

**End of Chapter 19** 

Ready for **Chapter 20**?