Chapter 25
The silence in the mechanical bay was absolute, broken only by the hum of the massive antenna gears. Cole stared at the man he had put a bullet into months ago.
"You look surprised, Lieutenant," Hayes smiled, a cruel, aristocratic expression. He touched the faint, jagged scar on his forehead. "You always were a precise shot. But the Vanguard had access to experimental battlefield trauma technology. They rebuilt me. And then I rebuilt them."
"You aren't the Vanguard anymore," Cole stated, his voice a low, vibrating hum of pure menace, not lowering his weapon. "You are Lazarus."
"The Vanguard was weak. Corrupted by politics and greed," Hayes sneered, pacing slowly across the metal grating. "Lazarus is pure. We don't negotiate with governments. We control them. And this satellite network is the ultimate leash."
"You are going to die in this mountain, Hayes," Cole promised, his gray eyes devoid of any emotion.
"You think you can blow the antenna, Cole?" Hayes chuckled, gesturing to the C4 charges on the struts. "Go ahead. Press the detonator. The explosive force will destroy the dish, but it will also trigger a localized avalanche that will wipe this entire peak off the map. You will die with us."
"I made peace with that a long time ago," Cole whispered, his thumb resting heavily on the detonator.
"But did you make peace with leaving your sister alone?" Hayes asked smoothly.
Cole froze.
Hayes reached into his tactical vest, pulling out a ruggedized tablet. He turned the screen toward Cole.
The live video feed displayed the familiar, quiet street in Wyoming. The front porch of Cole’s off-base house. Standing in the driveway, surrounded by four heavily armed mercenaries, were Sarah, Ava, and Nora.
"You are good, Cole. But you can't be in two places at once," Hayes mocked. "You press that detonator, my men in Wyoming execute your family on live feed."
The apex predator in Cole’s chest roared, a violent, apocalyptic fury threatening to consume him. He stared at the screen, seeing the terror in his sister’s eyes, seeing Nora clutching her white bunny.
"What do you want, Hayes?" Cole demanded, his voice thick with raw, barely contained rage.
"I want the microdot," Hayes stated flatly. "I want the original decryption key Ethan Vance died to protect. I know you didn't destroy it in London. You are too smart to surrender your only leverage."
Cole stared at the man. He reached into his tactical vest, pulling out the small, silver dog tag.
"Bring the dog tag to me," Hayes ordered. "And I will order my men to stand down."
Cole didn't hesitate. He took a slow step forward, holding the silver tag out in his open palm.
The ten Lazarus operatives raised their weapons, keeping their laser sights painted on Cole’s chest.
"Cole, don't do it!" Sarah’s voice crackled through his earpiece, desperate and terrified. "If he gets the key, he controls the network!"
Cole ignored her. He walked to the center of the room, stopping five feet from Hayes.
"Toss it," Hayes commanded, his eyes gleaming with triumphant greed.
Cole tossed the silver tag.
Hayes caught it effortlessly, a massive, victorious smile spreading across his scarred face. "The world is finally ours, Lieutenant. Kill him."
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The operatives tightened their fingers on their triggers.
"Sarah," Cole whispered into his comms, a dark, terrifying smile touching his lips. "Execute Protocol Zero."
