The blackout rippled outward from the warehouse like an invisible tsunami.
Richard watched through the window as streetlights died in sequence, plunging the industrial district into darkness. Car engines sputtered and stopped. In the distance, he could hear confused shouts and car alarms—before those too fell silent as their electronic systems failed.
The System's display pulsed with information:
> [PHARMACO BLACKOUT DEPLOYED. Radius: 2.1 kilometers. Duration: 4 hours initiated. Electronic devices disabled: 14,847. Critical infrastructure exempted: 127 systems. Estimated civilian casualties: 0. Minor injuries from traffic disruption: probable but non-fatal.]
"It's working," Elizabeth breathed. She held her phone—completely dead, just a useless brick of plastic and silicon. "Everythi
