Lazarus Protocol

Chapter 5: Paris Pursuit

The Gare de l'Est bustled with activity as Alexander and Sarah emerged from the train, blending seamlessly into the crowd of travelers. The journey from Berlin had been tense, filled with furtive glances and hushed conversations. Now, as they stepped onto Parisian soil, a new sense of urgency enveloped them.

Alexander's eyes scanned the station, his posture taut, ready for action. Despite the gaps in his memory, his instincts remained razor-sharp. "Why Paris?" he murmured to Sarah as they made their way towards the exit.

Sarah kept her voice low, her lips barely moving. "You had a contact here. Someone you trusted implicitly. If anyone knows what's on that flash drive, it's him."

As they stepped out into the Parisian evening, the Eiffel Tower loomed in the distance, a glittering sentinel against the darkening sky. The city's beauty was lost on Alexander, his mind focused solely on the mission at hand.

"Name?" he asked curtly.

"Jacques Moreau. Former DGSE operative. Now he's... well, let's just say he operates in the shadows."

They hailed a taxi, giving the driver an address in the 18th arrondissement. As the vehicle wove through the bustling streets, Alexander's mind raced. The past few days had been a whirlwind of revelations and near-death experiences. He still wasn't sure if he could trust Sarah entirely, but for now, she was his only link to his past - and possibly his future.

The taxi dropped them off at the base of Montmartre. As they began the climb up the hill, Sarah suddenly grabbed Alexander's arm. "Alex," she hissed, her eyes wide with alarm. "Don't react, but we're being followed."

Alexander resisted the urge to turn. Instead, he casually draped his arm around Sarah's shoulders, pulling her close as if they were lovers enjoying an evening stroll. "How many?" he whispered into her ear.

"Two. Maybe three. Dark suits. They've been tailing us since the station."

Alexander's mind raced through their options. They couldn't lead these men to Jacques. But confronting them here, in the open, was too risky.

"There's a café up ahead," he murmured. "We'll stop there. Maybe we can lose them in the crowd."

They entered the bustling café, the aroma of coffee and freshly baked croissants filling the air. Alexander guided Sarah to a table near the back, positioning himself with a clear view of the entrance.

Moments later, two men entered. Their eyes scanned the room, eventually settling on Alexander and Sarah. One of them spoke quietly into a concealed microphone.

"Chimera?" Alexander asked, his voice barely audible over the café's din.

Sarah shook her head. "I don't think so. Their body language is all wrong. These guys are... different."

A waiter approached their table. Alexander ordered two espressos in flawless French, surprising even himself. Another piece of his fragmented past, surfacing when he needed it most.

As the waiter moved away, one of the men began to approach their table. Alexander tensed, ready for action. But before the man could reach them, the café's front window exploded in a shower of glass.

Chaos erupted. Patrons screamed, diving for cover. Through the shattered window, Alexander caught a glimpse of black-clad figures approaching, weapons drawn. Chimera had found them.

"Back door!" Sarah shouted over the pandemonium. They sprinted through the kitchen, startled staff diving out of their way. As they burst out into a narrow alley, the sound of gunfire erupted behind them.