The shrill wail of alarms echoed through the compound, accompanied by the thundering of boots from approaching guards. Zara's muscles tensed as she locked eyes with Selena Rourke. The faint smile on Rourke's lips revealed confidence—too much confidence for someone cornered.
"Zara, this was a mistake," Rourke said, stepping away from the control panel and raising her hands slightly, though not in surrender. "You should've stayed in the shadows. Now, you've brought the war to my doorstep."
"Save it," Zara replied, her pistol aimed squarely at Rourke's chest. "Call off your guards. Now."
Rourke chuckled darkly. "You think this is about guards? Oh, Zara, this is about survival—yours."
Before Zara could process the words, a hissing sound filled the room. Gas vents activated, releasing a pale, noxious cloud into the air.
"Gas! Move!" Zara shouted to Callum, who was already reaching for his rebreather. She slapped hers into place, her eyes burning from the initial exposure.
Rourke used the distraction to dart toward a hidden compartment in the wall, pulling out a sleek, customized rifle. Zara fired, but Rourke was fast, rolling behind a console for cover.
"You've underestimated me," Rourke taunted, her voice echoing through the room. "I've built this empire from the ground up. Do you think you can bring me down with a few bullets and a self-righteous speech?"
Zara motioned for Callum to flank Rourke. He nodded, moving silently along the room's perimeter. "This isn't about speeches," Zara called out. "This is about justice—for everyone you've crushed under your boots."
Rourke's laugh was cold. "Justice? There's no justice in this world, only power. And I have it."
The firefight erupted in a blur of motion. Rourke fired a burst, the rounds narrowly missing Zara as she dove for cover. Zara returned fire, forcing Rourke to retreat further into the room. Meanwhile, Callum closed in from the side, his blade glinting in the dim light.
"Vera, we need that override now!" Zara barked into her comms.
"I'm working on it," Vera replied, her voice strained. "The system's more encrypted than we thought. Thirty seconds!"
Zara cursed under her breath. They didn't have thirty seconds. She reloaded quickly, her mind racing.
Callum reached Rourke's position, engaging her in close combat. He swung his blade, but Rourke blocked with the butt of her rifle, countering with a vicious strike that sent him staggering.
"You're good," Rourke said, her voice dripping with disdain. "But not good enough."
Zara seized the opportunity, charging forward and tackling Rourke to the ground. The two women grappled, each fighting for control of the rifle.
"Override complete!" Vera announced in Zara's earpiece. The alarms silenced, and the gas vents deactivated.
With a final surge of strength, Zara twisted the rifle out of Rourke's grasp and pinned her to the floor.
"It's over," Zara said, her voice icy.
Rourke smirked. "It's never over, Kincaid."
The sound of reinforcements approaching told Zara she had only moments to decide what to do next.