The city's pulse slowed as midnight crept closer. Streetlights flickered, casting long, twisted shadows through the empty alleys. The air was thick with anticipation — and danger.
Alex, Brad, Gaurav, and Lyra met silently outside the crumbling communications bunker. The building looked forgotten by time — rusted metal gates, cracked concrete, graffiti peeling from walls.
Lyra pulled a small device from her pocket. "This is the key." She smiled grimly. "A jammer and scanner combo. It'll help us get past the biometric sensors — but only for a few minutes. After that, we're on our own."
Gaurav swallowed hard but nodded. "Let's move."
Inside, the bunker smelled of stale air and rust. Their footsteps echoed on cold concrete as they navigated narrow corridors lined with old server racks and flickering lights.
Brad's eyes darted around, "Feels like we're in a sci-fi movie."
Alex shot him a look but couldn't hide the nervous smile. "Focus."
At the main control room, Lyra attached the device to a scanner. A series of beeps and whirs, then a soft green glow. The door clicked open.
Beyond was a room bathed in blue light — screens filled with data streams, satellite images, and encrypted files.
Lyra began working quickly. "I'm in. Downloading everything now."
Suddenly, the silence shattered.
Footsteps. Heavy. Fast.
"Security," Lyra hissed. "We've been compromised!"
Alex grabbed a fire extinguisher from the corner, holding it like a weapon.
Gaurav glanced at the screens — an alert blinked: Unauthorized access detected.
The door started to slide shut.
"Help me hold it!" Brad shouted.
Together, they jammed the door, muscles burning.
From behind, the sound of boots grew louder.
Lyra shouted, "Five minutes left on the download! We can't let them cut us off!"
The tension squeezed tighter as the team fought to keep the door from closing.
Outside, the city slept unaware — but inside this bunker, the battle for humanity's last hope was just beginning.