Chapter 18: The Core
The biometric scanner was a sleek black panel embedded in the wall. Jane pressed her thumb to the glass and leaned forward, letting the red laser sweep across her retina.
Identity confirmed: Jane Sterling, a synthetic voice chirped.
A small, automated needle extended from the panel. Jane offered her index finger. A sharp prick, a drop of blood.
DNA sequence verified. Unlocking.
The massive steel gears groaned as the vault door swung open, releasing a rush of freezing, climate-controlled air. Inside, it wasn't piles of cash or gold bars. It was a single, glowing server rack sitting in the center of the room. The heartbeat of the Vanguard.
Jane approached the terminal. She pulled a decrypted hard drive from her clutch purse and slammed it into the server's USB port. The upload began.
"Eighty seconds, and we have everything," Jane said, her eyes glued to the progress bar. "Every bribe, every assassination order, every shell company. We burn him to the ground."
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"Good work, Jane," Marcus said.
Jane heard the click of a gun hammer behind her. It wasn't the sound of Marcus reloading. It was the sound of a gun being leveled at her back.
