Phantom ~ [Simon Ghost Riley]

XVLIII. The Price of Redemption (Part 2)

In a blur of motion, I lunge forward, the knife finding its mark with precision. His surprised gasp is cut short as I press a gloved hand over his mouth, preventing any sound from escaping. His body slumps against the wall, life immediately fading from his eyes.

I lower him to the ground as quietly as possible, my chest a mix of pride and resolve.

This is war, after all.

"Got a security card. Entering the control room now," I whisper low.

"Good copy," Price says. "Be cautious."

With the immediate threat dealt with, I hurry to the sliding door, swiping the man's access card to gain entry.

The door slides open with a hiss, and I step into a room filled with humming machinery and blinking lights. This is it—the control room. The whole room is a mix of blinking screens and beeping consoles, a maze of technology that feels both familiar and foreign.

"Alright Price.. Starting the upload now," I say, my voice slowly growing more confident. This is the part I know. Laswell prepared me for this a few days ago.

"You got this," he says. "We're here with you."

My fingers fly over the console as I try to access the system, uploading the virus that will cripple their surveillance and defenses.

But right before I can access the final files, a warning message flashes on the screen.

'Insufficient clearance for full system access'

My breath catches in my throat. The access card I took from the fallen enemy wasn't enough to gain full control. "Fuck," I hiss.

"Keep me updated, Ace. Come on," Price's voice interjects my thoughts.

"I need another card," I say. "This one doesn't give me full permission."

Panic surges within me as I realize the magnitude of the situation. My team is counting on me, and time is running out.

It'll only take so long for someone to find the lifeless body near the elevator.

I glance around the room, searching for any clues, any way to proceed. The seconds tick away, and my heartbeat quickens.

I know what needs to be done, even if it means more blood on my hands.

But before I go out to do that, I search the fallen man's body once more, my hands trembling as I somehow manage to retrieve a second access card.

Thank fucking god.

"I found one," I update Price. "Continuing the virus immediately."

"Copy," he replies shortly.

Using the newly acquired access card, I manage to bypass the security protocol. The virus uploads successfully, and I can almost taste the victory.

But just as the control room systems begin to falter, an unexpected sound freezes my every muscle: footsteps echoing down the corridor, growing louder with each passing second.

"Shit," I mutter. But before I manage to tell Price, they're too close for me to speak again.

I rush to the door, my heart hammering against my ribs. I catch a glimpse of the men approaching, their shadows stretching across the floor. Panic ignites within me, pushing me to the brink of action.

With a swift motion, I kick the door open, surprising them with my presence.

Before they can react, one of my knives flies through the air, finding its mark on the neck of the guy on the left. My elbow finds the other man's nose, and before he can react, I lodge my other knife into his neck too.