Chapter 14
The biometric sensor flashed a brilliant, steady blue, acknowledging the combined credentials of the financial auditor and the lead medical researcher. The central holographic screen paused its countdown with exactly twelve seconds remaining on the data wipe timer.
Authentication confirmed. Access granted to Master Archive.
"It worked," Clara breathed a sigh of relief, though her knees wobbled slightly from exhaustion and pain. "Julian, initiate the external broadcast. Send everything to the federal oversight committee before they override the terminal from the backup control room upstairs."
Julian’s fingers moved across the keyboard with practiced precision, selecting the entire database of financial fraud, offshore accounts, toxic waste manifests, and the synthetic coolant logs. He clicked the primary routing icon, setting the destination address straight to the federal Department of Environmental Protection and the Securities and Exchange Commission servers.
Preparing transmission... the system prompted in clean white text. Files selected: 4,892 documents. Total size: 1.4 Terabytes. Confirm transmission?
Before Julian could strike the enter key, the heavy steel door behind them shuddered violently. A muffled explosion rocked the exterior frame as someone applied an industrial breaching charge to the pneumatic locks. The steel buckled inward, rivets popping out of the concrete wall with deafening cracks.
"They're blowing the door!" Clara yelled, covering her ears as plaster rained down from the ceiling.
"Not in time," Julian said, slamming his palm down onto the enter key.
Transmission initiated, the screen flashed brightly. Progress: 10%... 40%... 70%...
The exterior door gave way with a thunderous blast, the steel slab collapsing inward onto the server room floor in a cloud of thick grey smoke and dust. Walter stepped through the wreckage, his dark suit covered in soot, holding a heavy-duty sidearm leveled directly at Julian’s chest. His face was twisted into a mask of pure, unadulterated fury.
"Step away from the console, Julian," Walter commanded, his voice shaking with restrained rage. "The game is over."
Julian didn't move. He stood firmly in front of the master terminal, keeping his body positioned between Walter and the glowing screen.
Progress: 95%... 98%...
"You're too late, Walter," Julian said calmly, his dark eyes locking onto the corporate executive without a hint of fear. "The files are already in federal hands. The board, the media, the regulators—they're all receiving the complete package right now."
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Walter’s finger tightened on the trigger, his expression darkening as he watched the progress bar on the screen hit 100%.
Transmission complete.
