Volume Two
Chapter Fifteen: Running in the Dark
INT. ABANDONED WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
Rain hammered the tin roof as the coalition regrouped in a forgotten corner of the city. The safe room was no longer safe; every member knew they were being hunted. Gibbs and Voight secured the perimeter while Walter, Paige, and Samara mapped out potential escape routes.
Penelope and Sylvester huddled over a battered laptop, the flash drive from Agent Cole blinking in the darkness. The encryption was formidable—layers of code, shifting algorithms, and digital traps. But together, their fingers flew across the keys, minds working in perfect sync.
Penelope (murmuring):
"They really didn't want anyone to see this. Sly, try the recursive bypass."
Sylvester:
"On it. If I can piggyback the subroutine—yes! We're in. At least, partially."
A progress bar crawled across the screen. Files began to unlock: names, bank accounts, encrypted emails. The scope of the conspiracy was staggering.
EXT. WAREHOUSE – NIGHT
Gibbs scanned the street, his instincts on edge. "We can't stay here long. They'll sweep every safehouse, every contact. We need to move—now."
Voight nodded. "We split up. Smaller groups, less chance of being caught. We rendezvous at the fallback location."
Samara handed out burner phones. "No calls, no texts. Only use these if absolutely necessary."
INT. WAREHOUSE – LATER
Walter gathered the team for a quick briefing. "The files mention a 'Project Ghost'—looks like it's the next phase. There's a hit planned on a federal judge tomorrow. If we don't act, more people will die."
Olivia's jaw tightened. "We can't let that happen. But we're outnumbered and outgunned."
Gibbs looked at the group, his voice steely. "We do what we do best. We improvise. We adapt. And we don't stop until this is over."
INT. ABANDONED SUBWAY TUNNEL – NIGHT
The coalition moved through the city's underbelly, shadows among shadows. Penelope and Sylvester carried the decrypted files, guarded by Paige and Happy. Gibbs led the way, Voight covering the rear.
As they moved, Penelope whispered to Sylvester, "I never thought I'd be running for my life with a mathematician. Weirdly, I feel safer."
Sylvester smiled, nerves showing. "I'm just glad you're here. I'd be lost without you."
EXT. SAFEHOUSE ALLEY – PRE-DAWN
They reached the fallback location—a nondescript building with reinforced doors. Inside, they set up a new command post. Walter and McGee began analyzing the decrypted intel, searching for patterns and connections.
Samara checked her weapon, glancing at Gibbs. "We're not fugitives. We're the only ones left who can stop this."
Gibbs nodded. "Then let's get to work."
INT. SAFEHOUSE – DAWN
As the sun rose, the coalition, battered but unbroken, prepared for their next move. The files on the flash drive revealed a web of corruption that stretched higher than any of them had feared. They were on the run, but they had the truth—and the truth was their greatest weapon.
END OF CHAPTER FIFTEEN