Chapter 10 - The Ambush at the Dead End
"Don't move an inch," a sharp, professional voice commanded from the shadows of the tunnel entrance behind them.
Leo froze, his hand still resting on the open compartment latch of the blue wheelchair. He slowly turned his head to see two men in unmarked tactical gear stepping into the dim light of their flashlights. They carried high-powered assault rifles leveled directly at his chest, their faces concealed behind dark ballistic visors.
Behind them, pushed along by a third operative, was a familiar figure—the man from the black sedan they had seen earlier on the Manhattan street.
The man stepped forward, pulling down his scarf to reveal a calm, calculating smile. He looked down at Leo’s mother in the blue wheelchair, then let his gaze linger on the exposed carbon-fiber compartment beneath her.
"Smart kids," the man said smoothly, his voice echoing in the underground chamber. "Arthur spent months designing that transit core. We’ve been looking for it across three continents, and here it is, sitting quietly in a medical chair on a New York sidewalk."
Leo stepped defensively in front of the wheelchair, his fists clenched at his sides despite his trembling legs. "Get away from us! You have no right to be here!"
The man chuckled softly, walking a step closer while the tactical operatives kept their weapons trained firmly on Leo.
"Right? My dear boy, your father stole proprietary federal assets worth billions. We are simply recovering government property. Now, step aside from the chair before my associate loses his patience."
"She’s in labor!" Leo shouted, tears of rage and fear finally spilling over his cheeks. "She needs a hospital! If you take this chair right now, she won't survive!"
The man’s smile faded, replaced by a cold, indifferent stare. "That is unfortunate collateral damage. The encryption core cannot be compromised by human convenience."
He nodded to the operative on the right, who stepped forward and raised the butt of his rifle, aiming directly at Leo’s shoulder to shove him out of the way.
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Before the operative could strike, a deafening explosion ripped through the tunnel behind the tactical team, sending a massive wall of fire, smoke, and falling debris crashing down between the mercenaries and Leo’s position.
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