As we got ready, the tense atmosphere became even more palpable with the arrival of Phoenix and Lena. The car stopped in front of Biotech, and Phoenix got out, his rigid posture and sharp gaze confirming that he was already in mission mode.

Lena, at his side, kept a serious expression, her gaze fixed on the building ahead.

"So, what are you guys doing here, waiting for a show?" Phoenix asked, direct, as always, while crossing his arms.

Tom let out a tired sigh and answered with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. "Maya thought it would be a good idea to take the wheel."

Maya crossed her arms and gave Tom a defiant look. "Oh, here you go with that fucking snitch talk!"

"Oh, really?" Phoenix raised an eyebrow, his expression becoming even darker upon hearing Tom's answer.

"But we made it this far, that's what matters." Jade intervened, trying to ease the tension, while passing me a cap. "Here, Violet." She said, placing the cap on my head with a smirk.

"Jade is right," Lena said, her voice more serious than usual. She looked directly at Marcus, then at Tom. "We need to stay focused. We can't afford distractions."

Phoenix, beside her, nodded firmly. "Exactly. Here's the plan: Maya and I will go through the main entrance, while you guys split up and enter through the side."

Tom nodded, acknowledging that arguing here wouldn't be wise. "Okay, but we need to be quick. The longer we stay out here, the greater the chances of being detected."

"We're aware of that," Lena replied, glancing worriedly at Phoenix. She was completely focused on the plan, but there was something about the way her eyes lingered on the horizon—as if she was anticipating trouble that might not have been foreseen.

"Understood," Maya replied, grimacing. "Just don't expect me to stand by if things go wrong. I'm good behind the wheel, but I'm even better when it comes to shooting bums and snitch-ons." She glanced sideways at the tone.

Phoenix gave Maya a stern look, while Lena glanced sideways, clearly more concerned about the consequences of a slip-up.

"Let's avoid unnecessary risks," she said, her tone calm but serious.

Phoenix did one last check of the equipment and communicators before turning to the group. "No mistakes. Stick to the plan. We have no room for error."

With that, the tension hung in the air again. Lena adjusted her tactical vest, her gaze quick and attentive, as if she were calculating every detail while she held her katana tightly.

"Come on, Violet, we can't waste time."

It was clear that Lena was taking everything very seriously, perhaps more than usual. She didn't want anyone to be caught off guard, and the weight of responsibility seemed to make her even more focused.

She gave me one last look, as if she wanted to say something, but she just pressed her lips together and walked on.

With that, we headed to our positions. The large Biotech building looked even more intimidating now, with its cold lights and discreet cameras watching our every move. We were about to cross the line into something dangerous.

With that, Phoenix continued, “Lena, Jade, and Marcus, start on the side. Violet, guide Tom to the server. Maya and I will go in and distract the security core. If anything goes wrong, everyone fall back to the extraction point. No heroes.”

“Remember, the extraction needs to be clean and quick,” Phoenix warned. “If anything goes wrong, we switch to plan B and head straight for the extraction point.”

As I looked around, feeling the tension in the air, my curiosity got the better of me. "Okay… but what exactly is plan B?" I asked, hoping someone would answer clearly.

For a second, everyone was silent. Lena frowned, but kept her eyes fixed on the building ahead. Phoenix just shrugged and let out a heavy sigh, as if my question was more of an annoyance than a genuine question.

"You'll know if you need it," he replied vaguely, which only increased my apprehension.

I looked at Maya, expecting her to break the ice with one of her jokes, but to my surprise, she just stared at me with a serious expression.

"Look, plan B… it's one of those things we hope we never have to use," she said, her tone somber, making it clear that this was a topic no one wanted to delve into.

"Okay, but—" I started to speak again, trying to come up with a better answer, but Lena cut me off, her voice firm and impatient.

"Focus on the plan A. We can sort out the rest if we need to."

Without a concrete answer, I just nodded slowly, feeling the weight of that uncomfortable silence around me.

As I watched, I felt a subtle shift in the air around me. The atmosphere, already thick with tension, began to heat up around Phoenix.

It was as if the air itself was reacting to his presence, charged with energy and anticipation, as if it were waiting at any moment to explode.

We moved in silence, each step echoing on the sidewalk toward the side of the Biotech building. The cold lights of the building reflected our faces, accentuating the determination in our gazes.

Lena led the way, her focus unwavering. I, Violet, positioned myself right behind her, followed by Tom and Jade, while Marcus brought up the rear.

Phoenix and Maya’s plan still echoed in my mind—they would distract themselves with security while we moved around the side, searching for an entry point.

“Lena,” I whispered, trying to keep my voice low. “What’s our best option for entry here?”

She hesitated for a moment, her eyes scanning the terrain. “If we can get to the service door, we might have a chance of getting in without being seen. But we’ll need to be quick.”

Lena led the way, advancing cautiously until we found the service exit: a giant, imposing, and clearly reinforced steel door.

The password panel on the wall next to it flashed red, indicating that access was restricted.

“Great,” I muttered, taking in the scene. “What now? We won’t be able to open this door without the password.”

Tom frowned, assessing the situation. “Look at those parked cars. If we can distract the guards, maybe we can break in and find the password.”

“Or we could try to catch one of the guards by surprise and get him to let us in,” Jade suggested, her voice thick with expectation.

“It’s going to be tough with the amount of security guards roaming around,” Marcus commented, gesturing to the armed men patrolling. They seemed well trained, and the last thing we wanted was an open confrontation. As we argued, the sound of footsteps grew closer, and the tension grew.

I pressed myself against the wall, my heart racing. “We need to decide quickly,” I said, feeling the pressure of time running out.

Lena looked at the password panel, then at the guards. “If I could just log into the security system and turn off the alarms…”

“That might draw even more attention,” Tom interrupted, his eyes focused on the group of guards. “We need to be discreet.”

That was when, suddenly, a deafening boom split the air. A distant explosion reverberated through the building, making the ground shake beneath our feet. The sound echoed off the walls, and immediate panic filled the room.