The chase ended as the walls rattled with the lockdown sequence, sealing James and his crew inside the archive vault. Red emergency lights hugged the edges of the room, throwing shadows over top of files and computer terminals. The voice, flat and mechanical, repeated the warning:
“Unauthorized access detected. Security lockdown initiated.”
Then came the calm, controlled voice of the Architect over the loudspeakers, laced with amusement.
“Welcome, James. To tell the truth, I commend your tenacity. But breaking into my vault? That was a mistake.”
James’s jaw clenched. The team had blundered right into a trap.
Lina’s fingers danced across her keyboard. “I’m attempting to override the system but the firewall is too strong.
Sarah looked around the walls seeking a weakness. “There’s got t
