The engine room was a labyrinth of pipes and humming machinery, but Grimm and Volkova didn't slow down. They had no time to appreciate the intricacies of the ship's mechanical heart. The blast had been a clear signal: Helix was willing to destroy their own asset just to keep the mission intact. They couldn't afford to let that happen.
Grimm could feel the ship's tremors increasing, the distant rumbles of explosions echoing throughout the hull. The walls seemed to bend and groan under the pressure, as if the entire vessel were being forced into some impossible decision.
The hum of the ship's systems was deafening, but beneath it, the unmistakable sound of boots echoed from the far hallway. Grimm's pulse quickened. Helix was coming for them.
"We're almost there," Grimm muttered, as he crouched behind a stack of metal crates. "Stay sharp."
Volkova didn't reply. She was already moving again, her eyes scanning the walls, the ceiling, every potential threat. She was quiet, calculating, and that's exactly why Grimm trusted her. They made an effective team—a deadly one.
They moved swiftly, taking cover, and advanced toward the central access point of the bridge. There, behind another set of reinforced doors, was their last hurdle. The control room was a stone's throw away. They could practically smell the tension in the air.
But just as they neared the door, they saw it.
A lone figure emerged from the shadows at the far end of the corridor—tall, with a cold presence that radiated authority. Grimm's gut twisted. The man was wearing the signature black armor of the Helix enforcers, but there was something different about him. His movements were fluid, calculated. Too well-coordinated to be a standard soldier.
Grimm narrowed his eyes. This was the real danger.
The enforcer's eyes locked onto them immediately. A faint smirk danced on his lips.
"You're a long way from home, Reaper," the enforcer said, his voice calm, chilling.
Grimm's heart skipped a beat. The man knew him. How?
"Who the hell are you?" Grimm demanded, stepping out from behind the crates. His rifle was ready, aimed at the enforcer's chest.
The man didn't flinch. "You can call me Cipher."
Volkova's eyes flicked between the two men, a silent tension hanging in the air. "So, you're the one pulling the strings," she muttered, her tone dangerous. "I thought Kessler was the one behind this operation."
Cipher's smile widened slightly. "Kessler is... a means to an end. I'm the one who makes sure the operation stays on track. I'm the last piece you need to deal with before the mission is complete."
Grimm's grip on his rifle tightened. "You're the one who sold me out."
"Sold you out?" Cipher chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, Grimm. I didn't sell you out. I just made sure the necessary sacrifices were made. You were always expendable. The mission—the project—was never about you."
Grimm's jaw clenched. The rage he'd kept bottled up for months was bubbling to the surface.
"You think I'm expendable?" Grimm's voice was low, dangerous. "You're going to regret that."
Cipher took a step closer, his body language unfazed. "Perhaps. But it doesn't matter. You've already lost. You and your little team are nothing but obstacles now."
Volkova shifted, positioning herself between Grimm and Cipher. "We don't lose, not today," she said coolly, the rifle aimed unwaveringly at Cipher.
Cipher raised an eyebrow. "You're more like your commander than I thought."
Grimm's mind raced. Cipher had called him by name, knew about his past. He'd anticipated this confrontation. How deep did this go?
"You've been watching me, haven't you?" Grimm said, his voice low with a dangerous edge. "Everything I've done, everything I've sacrificed. You've been watching."
Cipher's eyes were calculating, almost pitying. "What you don't understand, Grimm, is that you were never the one in control. You never had a choice."
Before Grimm could react, Cipher moved. The enforcer's hand snapped to his side, pulling out a sleek sidearm in one fluid motion.
A shot rang out—loud and deafening.
But it wasn't Grimm who flinched.
Volkova had already moved, her instincts kicking in. She dived, pushing Grimm to the side as a bullet whizzed past them. The sound of her grunt echoed as she tumbled to the ground, but she didn't stop.
Grimm's heart raced as he grabbed her, pulling her behind cover. "Dammit, Volkova!"
"I'm fine," she snapped, her face pale, but her eyes sharp. "Just move. We're not done yet."
Cipher stepped forward, his gun aimed precisely at Grimm. "You could've joined us. But now, you're just another casualty in the plan."
The door to the bridge was just ahead, but Grimm knew they didn't have much time. He needed to think fast. The enforcers were closing in. There was no retreat.
His mind raced. He couldn't allow this to go on.
Grimm's finger squeezed the trigger before he'd fully processed the decision. A shot rang out, and Cipher's body jerked as a bullet embedded itself in his shoulder. The enforcer's weapon dropped to the ground, and for a brief moment, his stoic expression faltered.
That was all Grimm needed.
He sprang forward, faster than Cipher could react. In an instant, he was on the enforcer, his hands around Cipher's neck, driving him back into the wall. Grimm's teeth were gritted as he pushed harder, feeling the pressure against the man's windpipe.
"You made a big mistake," Grimm growled. "But it ends now."
Cipher's eyes widened as he struggled to break free. "You think you've won? Kessler—"
"I don't care about Kessler," Grimm interrupted, tightening his grip. "I care about stopping you."
With a final, desperate gasp, Cipher's body went limp.
Grimm dropped him to the ground, breathing heavily, his chest tight with rage. He stared down at the enforcer's lifeless form, the weight of everything they'd just uncovered crashing down on him.
Volkova stood up beside him, her eyes narrowed. "He wasn't the one pulling the strings, Grimm. You know that."
Grimm wiped his hand across his face, exhaustion creeping in. "I know. But it's a step closer to taking down the real threat."
They had no more time to waste. The bridge was just ahead, and the ship was heading straight into the unknown. Whatever was waiting for them, Grimm knew they had to face it—together.
"Let's finish this," Grimm said, his voice low but determined.
And with that, they charged forward.