Chapter 44: Infiltration
Chapter 44: Infiltration
Silvia's POV
The night air was thick with tension as Silvia crouched behind a stack of rusted crates near Titan Industries' outer perimeter. The massive skyscraper loomed ahead, its reflective surface gleaming under the artificial glow of the city lights. Surveillance drones buzzed through the air, their sensors sweeping the streets below. This was the most dangerous mission they had undertaken yet.
Dragon was beside her, his sharp golden eyes scanning the security patrols. Tarren and Raleth were positioned at different vantage points, waiting for the signal to move. Silvia exhaled slowly, gripping the handle of her dagger. There was no room for error.
She tapped her comm device. "Positions?"
"South entrance is clear," Tarren reported. "We've got a ten-minute window before the next patrol."
"West side is quiet, but the security locks on the vent system are more advanced than we thought," Raleth added. "This won't be a simple bypass."
Silvia turned to Dragon. "Looks like we're improvising."
He smirked. "Just the way I like it."
She rolled her eyes, signaling for the team to move. It was time to break into Titan Industries.
Breaking In
Moving like shadows, Silvia and Dragon reached the building's ventilation shaft first. Raleth had already dismantled the outer panel, revealing a series of security wires blinking in alternating patterns.
"I can disable these," Raleth whispered, fingers already working with a set of precision tools. "But it'll take time."
Silvia kept watch as Dragon knelt beside her, leaning close. "You sure you want to do this?" he murmured.
She glanced at him, seeing the concern beneath his teasing bravado. "We don't have a choice. If we don't stop this war, no one else will."
Dragon nodded, his smirk fading into something softer. "Then let's make it count."
With a final click, Raleth disengaged the last security mechanism. "We're in."
Silvia took a steadying breath before crawling into the vent. The real mission had begun.
Inside the Beast
The air inside the ventilation system was stale, filled with the hum of machinery. Silvia led the way, her mind mapping out their route based on the schematics they had memorized. Below them, corporate guards patrolled the sleek, white corridors.
"Security station is two levels down," Tarren whispered through the comms. "You'll need to disable it before accessing the vault."
Silvia adjusted her position. "Copy that. Raleth, take the west duct and plant the distraction charge. Dragon, with me."
Dragon arched a brow. "You just want me close, don't you?"
She sighed. "Less talking, more moving."
With practiced efficiency, they reached a maintenance hatch leading into the main corridors. Silvia peered through the grating, spotting two guards stationed near the security hub. She motioned to Dragon, who grinned. It was time for some fun.
A Silent Takedown
Dragon dropped down first, moving swiftly and silently. Before the first guard could react, he wrapped an arm around the man's throat, dragging him into the shadows. Silvia followed, slipping behind the second guard and delivering a precise strike to his neck. Both men crumpled without a sound.
She exhaled. "Too easy."
Dragon smirked. "Disappointed?"
"Not yet. Let's get to work."
As Dragon moved to hack into the security panel, Silvia kept watch, every nerve on edge. This was the most critical moment—one mistake and the entire mission was compromised.
A few tense seconds passed before Dragon gave her a triumphant nod. "Security's down. We're clear to move."
Silvia tapped her comms. "Tarren, Raleth, we're in. Heading to the vault now."
"Roger that," Tarren replied. "Move fast—this window won't stay open long."
The Vault
The vault room was exactly where the schematics had shown—heavily fortified, with reinforced steel doors and multiple biometric locks. Silvia frowned. "This isn't going to be easy."
Dragon cracked his knuckles. "Leave that to me."
While he worked on bypassing the locks, Silvia scanned the surroundings. Something felt… off. The air was too still, the silence too absolute.
"Dragon, hurry. I don't like this."
Before he could respond, the hallway lights flickered red—the silent alarm had been triggered.
Tarren's voice cut through the comms. "You've got incoming. Move, now!"
Silvia clenched her fists. So much for stealth.
Escaping the Vault
Dragon worked faster, his fingers flying over the panel as warning sirens blared outside. Silvia positioned herself near the entrance, blade drawn. "Whatever you're doing, do it faster."
"I'm already on it, princess," Dragon muttered, his eyes locked on the intricate lock mechanism.
Footsteps thundered down the hallway. Silvia's grip tightened around her dagger as three armored guards stormed in. Before they could fire, she lunged, striking fast. She slashed the first guard's wrist, knocking his weapon away before spinning and slamming an elbow into his temple.
Dragon barely looked up. "That's one."
The second guard raised his rifle, but before he could shoot, Silvia ducked and swept his legs out from under him, sending him crashing to the floor. A swift kick to the jaw left him unconscious.
"Two," Dragon counted, smirking.
The third guard charged at her, swinging a stun baton. Silvia barely dodged, twisting away from the electric crackle. This one was fast. She needed to be faster.
Dragon suddenly moved, grabbing the guard's wrist and yanking him backward, giving Silvia the opening she needed. She spun and drove her dagger into the man's chest armor, knocking the wind out of him.
"Three," Dragon finished, grinning. "We make a good team."
Silvia rolled her eyes. "I do all the work, and you take the credit. Typical."
"I'm wounded," Dragon said, clutching his chest in mock offense. "Let's grab the data and get out of here."
The vault hissed open, revealing rows of computer servers. Silvia grabbed a storage drive, slotting it into the console. If this contained the proof they needed, everything was about to change.
"Got it," she confirmed, pulling the drive free.
Dragon smirked. "Now let's see if we can actually make it out alive."