As a gesture of my sincerity

"What just happened?"

"Did I really hear that?"

"Oh my God, is this divine intervention?!"

"Was that an illusion? Did I imagine it?"

The reporters on-site erupted into chaos, their voices filled with shock and disbelief. Meanwhile, Chief Court and Colonel James of the National Guard wore grim expressions.

Someone had infiltrated their communication channels effortlessly, broadcasting their voice directly.

That meant one terrifying thing.

Court and James exchanged glances, seeing the same horror reflected in each other's eyes.

"I have no intention of harming humanity," the artificial voice, cold and synthesized, echoed through every speaker. "But if you dare to invade the Baxter Building, you will bear my wrath."

The officers clenched their fists, their instincts screaming danger. Then, the voice continued:

"As a gesture of my sincerity, your police cars and military vehicles will vacate the premises. The helicopters will land on the rooftops."

Court and James froze, baffled.

A gesture of sincerity? And yet it was issuing commands as if it were in control?

As their confusion deepened, the parked police vehicles around the Baxter Building suddenly roared to life.

The NYPD prided itself on state-of-the-art equipment, with their fleet of cars upgraded with the latest technology. But now, that very technology was turning against them.

"What the hell?!"

Inside one of the patrol cars, an officer watched in horror as his vehicle started moving on its own. Before he could react, the car accelerated forward.

It wasn't just his vehicle. Every police car in the vicinity, along with civilian vehicles parked nearby, simultaneously sprang into action, forming an impenetrable blockade around the Baxter Building.

Panic spread among the soldiers as their armored vehicles also powered up, engines revving without any driver input. They lurched forward, pushing up against the civilian cars, reinforcing the barricade.

A wall of vehicles now surrounded the building, cutting off all entry and exit points.

"What the hell is going on?!"

Colonel James shouted into his radio, his voice a mix of frustration and alarm.

All he got in response was static.

"Damn it!" He cursed, turning to his troops. "Find out what's happening! Now!"

A minute later, a soldier ran up to him, his face pale with fear.

"Sir, the military vehicles started on their own and repositioned themselves. We tried everything to stop them, but nothing worked!"

"Our weapons control systems are also completely unresponsive! It's like they've been scrambled!"

Colonel James's jaw tightened.

"So you're telling me we've just been reduced to cavemen?!"

"Afraid so, sir."

While the officers on the ground erupted in anger and disbelief, the news helicopters in the sky continued to broadcast every shocking development.

The dramatic movement of vehicles had been caught on camera, the footage already being aired live to millions of viewers.

This was history in the making.

"What is happening?!"

"Why are the police and military vehicles suddenly retreating?!"

"Are they all completely incompetent?!"

As the public watched in shock, their screens suddenly flickered.

Every news broadcast, every live feed—cut off in an instant.

The anchors, the reporters, everyone watching from home—stared at blank screens, stunned into silence.

Back in the helicopters, the journalists had no idea their feed had been hijacked. They prepared for further filming—until the helicopters lurched violently to the side.

People screamed as they were nearly thrown from their seats.

"What the hell was that?!"

One reporter barely managed to grab onto the safety rail, his face twisted in fury.

"I-I don't know!" the pilot stammered, his voice filled with dread. "The controls aren't responding! I can't control the helicopter!"

Terror gripped the cabin.

"Oh God, we're going to die!"

"Somebody help us!"

"I don't want to die!"

The helicopters, once hovering high above the chaos, now scattered in all directions. One by one, they descended, gently landing on the rooftops of nearby buildings.

No matter how desperately the pilots tried, they couldn't take off again.

A surreal silence settled over the city.

The reporters, still reeling from their near-death experience, blinked in disbelief.

"We're... still alive?"

"What just happened?"

"Dear God... who, or what, is controlling all of this?"

On the ground, Chief Court and Colonel James gazed up at the sky, their expressions dark and grave.

The AI's words echoed in their minds.

"As a gesture of my sincerity, your police cars and military vehicles will vacate the premises. The helicopters will land on the rooftops."

Words that had sounded like mere arrogance moments ago—had become reality.

The two men locked eyes. The situation had spiraled far beyond their control.

They needed someone higher up. Someone who could handle this level of threat.

...

At S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, alarms blared as Hill rushed into the command center.

"Director Fury!" she called out. "Massive network disruptions detected in New York City!"

Her voice was urgent.

Fury narrowed his eye. He had seen this pattern before.

A cyberattack of this scale...

Exactly like the one that had struck S.H.I.E.L.D. before.

"Sir, it's highly likely the same entity that hacked us last time has resurfaced," Hill reported.

Fury's expression hardened.

"Deploy our agents. I want every trace, every lead. Find out who's behind this—immediately!"

Across the world, intelligence agencies, defense departments, and governments turned their eyes toward New York.

Something unprecedented was unfolding in the Big Apple.

And the world was watching.

--------------

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