Taskforce: Shadows United
Episode 4: "Digital Ghosts"
Guest Team: NCIS: Los Angeles (Sam Hanna, Kensi Blye)
TEASER
INT. HIGH-RISE APARTMENT – LOS ANGELES – NIGHT
A panoramic view of the city glows beneath the stars. Inside, a young cybersecurity analyst, JORDAN CHEN, types frantically at his computer, sweat beading on his brow. He's on a video call with a shadowy figure.
SHADOWY FIGURE (V.O.):
"You have one hour. If you don't deliver the files, your family pays the price."
Jordan's hands shake as he uploads a file. Suddenly, the screen goes black. The lights flicker. He hears a noise behind him—turns—and the screen cuts to static.
ACT 1: THE CALL FOR HELP
INT. TASKFORCE COMMAND CENTER – NEW YORK – MORNING
Olivia Benson stands at the head of the table, flanked by Sylvester Dodd and Penelope Garcia. The room buzzes with urgency.
OLIVIA:
"We've been asked to consult on a case in Los Angeles. A cybersecurity analyst has gone missing after reporting a major breach in the city's power grid. The threat is credible and the stakes are high—if the grid goes down, millions are at risk."
SYLVESTER:
"I've reviewed Jordan Chen's work. He was tracking a digital ghost—someone who erases their own footprints in real time. That's not easy."
GARCIA:
"And the ransom demand came from an encrypted channel I've never seen before. This is next-level hacking."
OLIVIA:
"NCIS: LA is already on the ground. We'll be working with Sam Hanna and Kensi Blye."
INT. NCIS: LA OPS CENTER – DAY
Sam and Kensi watch city surveillance feeds. Sam's calm intensity balances Kensi's fierce determination.
SAM:
"Chen's disappearance is more than a kidnapping. Someone wants to send a message."
KENSI:
"Or cover their tracks. We need to find him before the city goes dark."
ACT 2: JOINING FORCES
INT. NCIS: LA OPS CENTER – LATER
The teams meet. Olivia shakes hands with Sam and Kensi. Sylvester and Garcia set up at the tech station.
OLIVIA:
"Sam, Kensi—thanks for having us. What do we know?"
SAM:
"Chen was working on a cyber defense protocol. His last known location was his apartment, but there's no sign of forced entry."
KENSI:
"We pulled security footage. Someone in a maintenance uniform entered the building, but never left—at least, not on camera."
SYLVESTER:
"Could be a ghost protocol—someone using digital camouflage to erase themselves from the system."
GARCIA:
"I'll run a deep scan for anomalies. If they're hiding, I'll find them."
ACT 3: THE DIGITAL HUNT
INT. CHEN'S APARTMENT – NIGHT
Kensi and Olivia search the apartment. Sylvester examines Chen's computer, while Sam canvasses neighbors.
KENSI:
"Jordan was scared. He left a message for his sister: 'If anything happens, check the blue folder.'"
OLIVIA:
"Where's the folder?"
KENSI:
"Gone. Someone took it."
Sylvester plugs into the computer, his fingers flying.
SYLVESTER:
"There's a hidden partition. I'm in. He left an encrypted video diary."
On screen, Jordan appears, his voice trembling.
JORDAN (VIDEO):
"If you're seeing this, I'm in trouble. I found something—someone's using the city's grid as a backdoor for a larger attack. Trust no one."
INT. NCIS: LA OPS CENTER – LATER
Garcia and Sylvester analyze the video's metadata.
GARCIA:
"The file was accessed remotely—by someone using a city utility IP. That's our hacker."
SYLVESTER:
"I've traced the signal to a substation downtown. If they're planning an attack, that's ground zero."
SAM:
"Let's move."
ACT 4: THE UNDERGROUND THREAT
INT. DOWNTOWN SUBSTATION – NIGHT
The team enters, flashlights cutting through the darkness. The hum of electricity fills the air. Kensi and Sam lead, Olivia close behind. Sylvester and Garcia monitor from the van outside.
KENSI:
"Movement, east corridor."
They find Jordan, bound and frightened. He warns them:
JORDAN:
"They're here. They're going to trigger a blackout."
Suddenly, the hacker appears—a masked figure with a portable device. Sam tackles the hacker, but not before the device is activated.
SYLVESTER (over comms):
"They've started a cascading failure. If we don't stop it, the whole city goes dark."
GARCIA:
"I'm in the system. I'll try to reroute the power flow."
INT. SUBSTATION CONTROL ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Sylvester, via video link, guides Olivia and Kensi through a series of manual overrides.
SYLVESTER:
"Flip the red switch, then enter the code 4-2-7. Hurry!"
Kensi works quickly, hands steady despite the pressure. Olivia keeps watch as Sam restrains the hacker.
GARCIA:
"I've isolated the malware. Uploading a patch now."
The lights flicker, then stabilize. The city is safe.
ACT 5: TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES
INT. NCIS: LA OPS CENTER – DAWN
Jordan, safe and grateful, thanks the team.
JORDAN:
"You saved my life. And the city."
OLIVIA:
"You saved yourself, Jordan. You didn't let fear win."
SAM:
"The hacker was a city contractor with access to every system. He was selling backdoor access on the dark web."
KENSI:
"He almost got away with it. But not on our watch."
SYLVESTER:
"Jordan's protocols will make the grid safer than ever."
GARCIA:
"And I've set up a digital watchdog. If anyone tries this again, we'll know."
ACT 6: REFLECTION AND BONDING
INT. BEACH CAFÉ – MORNING
The team gathers for breakfast, the ocean sparkling in the background. They laugh and share stories—Olivia about her son's first steps, Sam about undercover mishaps, Kensi about her latest martial arts class, Garcia about her rescue cats, Sylvester about his newfound confidence working with field agents.
OLIVIA:
"Every case, every city, we keep learning. We keep each other strong."
SAM:
"Trust is everything. In the field, and in life."
KENSI:
"And sometimes, the best way to fight the darkness is with a little light—and a lot of teamwork."
GARCIA:
"To new friends and old allies."
SYLVESTER:
"To family by choice."
They raise their coffee cups, united by the challenges they've faced and the bonds they've formed.
EPILOGUE
Olivia, Penelope, and Sylvester stand on the pier, watching the sunrise over Los Angeles.
OLIVIA:
"We're never alone—not in this fight, not in this life."
PENELOPE:
"And together, there's nothing we can't handle."
SYLVESTER:
"On to the next shadow."
The camera pans out as the city wakes, safe for another day—thanks to the Taskforce: Shadows United.
End of Episode