Shadows of Mr Black

Scene 16

**Scene 16: The Countdown to Chaos**

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The tension in the FBI headquarters was like a taut wire, ready to snap at any moment. The team had just started to breathe easier after successfully defusing the bomb in Central Park, New York, with zero casualties. Laughter and congratulations were still echoing through the room when Daniel burst in, his face ashen with worry.

**Daniel:** (breathless) “Sir, you need to see this—the timer for Peru just reduced.”

**Mercer:** (his voice dropping, eyes narrowing) “Meaning?”

**Daniel:** (grimly) “It means that instead of the 19 hours we had, we now have less than 7 hours.”

The room fell silent, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Sarah's heart pounded as the realization hit her like a freight train.

**Sarah:** (incredulous, almost whispering) “That devil reduced it by more than half. The troops won’t be able to find and defuse the bomb in time.”

Mercer didn’t hesitate. He picked up the secure line and dialed the international security organizations coordinating in Peru. His voice was steady, but the tension was palpable. After a quick, terse conversation, he hung up and turned to face the room, his expression unreadable but his eyes filled with a cold determination.

**Mercer:** (authoritative) “The timer has been refreshed. We don’t have time for Plan A. Time to implement Plan B. We’re evacuating tourists and civilians.”

**Sarah:** (shocked, pleading) “But that would mean many people will die! The troops won’t be able to help everyone.”

**Mercer:** (steel in his voice) “That’s why we try to minimize the loss, Sarah.”

**Sarah:** (desperate) “But those lives...”

Before she could finish, Daniel rushed back into the room, his face even paler than before.

**Daniel:** (urgent, panicked) “Sir, this is not good. This is not good. The timers for the other locations—both the cities and the historic sites—have been reduced.”

Mercer’s expression darkened, a rare flicker of fear crossing his features.

**Mercer:** (forcing calm) “By how much? When?”

**Daniel:** (quickly checking the latest data) “The timers have all been reset to go off at the same time as Peru’s.”

A collective gasp filled the room. Sarah felt the air rush out of her lungs as if she’d been punched.

**Sarah:** (voice trembling) “Simultaneous bombings in highly strategic locations... this is worse than 9/11.”

Mercer clenched his fists, his jaw tightening as he processed the enormity of the situation. The implications were staggering—cities across the world, historic sites that held untold significance, all set to be obliterated within hours.

**Mercer:** (resolved, commanding) “There’s only one thing to do. Daniel, set up a press call with all the major powers and governments involved. We need to coordinate a global response now.”

**Daniel:** (determined, nodding) “Yes, sir.”

**Mercer:** (to the room) “The rest of you, divide into groups. Some of you head to the other heritage sites, others stay here and keep working with local security organizations in the affected cities. Get everyone—military, paramilitary, air force, SWAT teams, police forces—everyone. Tell them Code Black.”

The agents scattered, moving with a precision and speed that belied the panic threatening to overwhelm them. Sarah stood rooted to the spot, watching as her colleagues rushed to their stations, her mind racing with thoughts of the chaos about to unfold.

**Mercer:** (addressing the room, his voice filled with resolve) “We may not be able to save everyone, but by doing this, Mr. Black has issued a challenge not just to us, but to the whole world. And this is our answer—we may not be able to save everyone, but we can damn well keep the casualties under 15 million. Let’s move!”

**Everyone:** (in unison, with determination) “Yes, sir!”

As the agents rushed out to their assignments, Mercer turned back to Daniel, who was already setting up the press conference.

**Mercer:** (gravelly) “Daniel, is the press conference ready? I need to address the governments.”

**Daniel:** (focused, typing quickly) “Almost, sir.”

**Mercer:** “Let’s go.”

Just as Mercer began to turn, Sarah caught his arm. Her eyes were glassy, filled with emotions she could no longer keep in check.

**Sarah:** (softly, vulnerable) “Sir?”

Mercer looked down at her, seeing not just an agent, but his daughter. The hardened exterior he maintained cracked just slightly.

**Mercer:** (gently, but with urgency) “Go, Sarah.”

She hesitated for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and hugged him tightly. Mercer stiffened at first, then slowly relaxed, his arms coming around her in a rare display of affection.

**Sarah:** (her voice breaking) “I love you, Dad.”

**Mercer:** (his voice thick with emotion) “I love you too. Now go, and make sure you come back. I don’t want my granddaughters to be motherless.”

Sarah pulled back, wiping the tears from her eyes, and gave him a sharp salute, her resolve firming up again.

**Sarah:** (with determination) “Yes, sir.”

Mercer watched her leave, his heart heavy with fear but filled with pride. The room hummed with activity, the countdowns ticking louder in his ears as he steeled himself for what was to come. The world was on the brink, and they were its last line of defense.