Chapter 114: Race Against Time

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: Race Against Time Chapter 114: Race Against Time

The moment they left the safehouse, the team scattered in different directions. Each of them was assigned to one of the critical locations from the Chessmaster's map, knowing full well that any misstep could doom their mission and the world.

Dominic sped toward London, where the Chessmaster's influence over the energy grid was centered. He was deep in thought, analyzing every possible way the Chessmaster could have infiltrated the system. Next to him, Marcus was preparing for their assault. They would hit the grid's central control hub a high-tech fortress hidden in plain sight.

In the SUV behind them, Alyssa and Laura were headed to Zurich. The Chessmaster's financial connections were strongest there, and if they could take down his primary means of shifting global money, it would slow him down significantly. Alyssa knew the task would be daunting, but she was fueled by the urgency of the situation.

Back at the safehouse, Eleanor sat hunched over her workstation, coordinating in real-time. She had hacked into various feeds and communication networks, giving the team intel on the fly. The timer on her screen ticked away, reminding her of how little time they had left. Forty-seven hours, thirty-three minutes.

As Dominic approached London's outskirts, Marcus handed him a small tactical device. "This will scramble their security systems long enough for us to slip in," Marcus explained. "Once we're inside, we shut down their control room and lock Volkov out of the grid."

Dominic nodded. His grip tightened on the steering wheel. "Volkov won't make this easy. We need to be quick one mistake and we'll be too late."

They parked a few blocks away from their target a bland, nondescript building in the middle of an industrial district. But Dominic knew that behind its unassuming facade was the nerve center of one of the world's most advanced energy grids. He adjusted his earpiece, hearing Eleanor's voice come through.

"You're clear to enter through the south wing. Security's light, but watch for heat sensors."

"Got it," Dominic replied. He exchanged a look with Marcus, and they both moved silently toward the building. They scaled the fence and crouched low, moving like shadows as they made their way inside.

Alyssa and Laura, meanwhile, were en route to Zurich's financial district. The city was a labyrinth of banks and investment firms, all of which the Chessmaster could be using as pawns in his plan to seize control of global financial systems.

"Once we get into the vault," Laura said, glancing over at Alyssa, "we need to pull the plug on the server that's routing his transactions. It's hidden in the infrastructure of an offshore account system."

Alyssa gritted her teeth. "We'll find it. We don't have a choice."

As they neared their destination, they could feel the tension rising. Zurich's skyline was illuminated, a glimmer of wealth and power, but Alyssa knew that what lurked underneath was far more dangerous. They had one shot to stop the Chessmaster from consolidating his financial empire and if they failed, the consequences would ripple across the world.

Back in London, Dominic and Marcus had made their way inside the energy grid's control hub. They crouched behind stacks of industrial machinery, making their way through the facility's vast corridors. Every step they took was calculated, every sound scrutinized for signs of patrols.

"Eleanor," Dominic whispered into his comms. "What's our path to the control room?"

Eleanor's voice crackled through. "Straight ahead, take the third door on the left. The security system's patched into the next room, so you'll have to disable it manually. I'll give you a two-minute window once you're inside."

Marcus gave Dominic a nod, and the two of them moved forward, slipping through the door and into the dimly lit security chamber. The control room was just ahead. As they worked, disabling the alarms and surveillance systems, Dominic's heart pounded in his chest. Volkov could be anywhere, watching, waiting for them to slip up.

Suddenly, Marcus stiffened. "We've got company," he said in a low voice.

Dominic glanced at the monitor and saw a team of guards moving through the facility, closing in on their position.

"Eleanor," Dominic hissed into his comms, "we've got incoming. Can you lock them out?"

"I'm trying," she replied, her fingers flying across her keyboard. "Hold them off for another minute, and I'll get the doors sealed."

Dominic's pulse raced. They had come too far to get caught now. He glanced at Marcus, who was already pulling out his sidearm.

"Let's give them something to think about," Marcus muttered as he set up a makeshift barricade.

Across the globe, in Zurich, Alyssa and Laura were descending into the underground vault system, disguised as bank employees. The vault was cold, sterile, and humming with electricity from the rows of servers running in the back.

Laura keyed in a sequence that opened the final door to the secure server room. "We're in."

Alyssa nodded. "We disable this, and Volkov's financial empire collapses."

But just as they stepped inside, the server room doors slammed shut behind them, trapping them inside. A voice echoed through the room's speakers it was the Chessmaster.

"You're too late, Alyssa," the voice said, smooth and calm. "You think you can stop me by disabling one server? I control more than you can imagine. This game was over before it even began."

Alyssa's heart raced, but she didn't falter. "We'll see about that."

With a glance at Laura, Alyssa reached for the control panel and initiated the override. The system beeped as it began shutting down, but they knew the Chessmaster wouldn't give up easily.

In London, Dominic and Marcus were in a firefight with the guards as Eleanor frantically worked to seal the doors. Time was running out.

"Now, Eleanor!" Marcus shouted, ducking behind a pillar as bullets ricocheted off the walls.

"Got it!" Eleanor's voice came through. The doors slammed shut just as the last guard reached them. Searᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"We've got to take down the grid," Dominic said, wiping sweat from his brow. "This is just the beginning."

As the timer continued to count down, each of them knew the true final play was yet to come.