Encino – Streets
The air felt thick with tension as Mike and Johnny raced through the streets of Encino. Mike's mind was focused, zeroed in on one thing: getting to Tory before FANG V2 did. The fight with Kade had been a painful reminder of the forces still hunting him—forces that didn't want him to move on.
Johnny's fingers gripped the steering wheel as they sped toward the address Tory had given, their tires screeching around corners. "You really think they're gonna let her go?" Johnny asked, his eyes fixed on the road.
Mike's jaw tightened. "They won't. But we're not letting them take her."
Johnny nodded, his grip on the wheel tightening. "Then we'll show them what happens when they mess with the wrong people."
Mike's hand curled into a fist at his side. FANG V2 thought they could erase him. They thought they could erase everything he had built, everything he had fought for. But they had no idea who they were dealing with.
Encino – Abandoned Warehouse
Tory's heart pounded in her chest as she struggled to break free from the man's grip. Her arm throbbed in pain, but she refused to show any weakness. She wasn't going to let them take her without a fight.
She glanced around the dimly lit warehouse, looking for anything that could give her an edge. The man holding her was tall, built like a machine, and his grip was unyielding. She needed to think fast.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides.
"FANG V2," the man replied coldly, his face still hidden behind a mask. "You're a liability."
Before Tory could react, the man threw her into a pile of crates. She landed hard, the impact knocking the wind from her lungs, but she quickly rolled to her feet, her instincts kicking in.
"You're making a mistake," she hissed, wiping blood from her lip. "You won't get away with this."
The man didn't reply. Instead, he moved toward her with terrifying speed, his hand reaching for her throat. But just as he lunged, a loud crash echoed through the warehouse.
"Let her go!" Mike's voice rang out as he and Johnny burst through the door, guns drawn.
The man turned to face them, his eyes narrowing behind the mask. "You're too late," he sneered. "She's already marked for termination."
Johnny's finger twitched on the trigger, but Mike held him back. "We don't kill him," Mike said, his voice low but commanding. "Not yet."
Mike moved forward, his stance ready, but the man wasn't done. In one swift motion, he threw a smoke grenade at their feet, filling the air with a dense cloud of smoke. Mike's eyes narrowed as the world around him dissolved into gray.
"We need to move fast," Johnny said, coughing from the smoke.
Mike's hand hovered near his sidearm, but he didn't draw it. He had learned from years of combat that sometimes, the best weapon was patience. He listened. Focused.
In the haze, he heard the sound of movement—a footstep, a shift in the air. Without warning, the man lunged toward them again. But Mike was ready.
He moved with precision, ducking just in time to avoid the attack. With a swift, practiced motion, Mike grabbed the man's arm and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to the ground.
Johnny quickly stepped in, securing the man's wrists. "Who sent you?" Johnny demanded, his voice menacing.
The man grunted in pain but didn't speak. His silence was a threat in itself.
Mike crouched down, staring at the man, his eyes cold. "You know who I am," he said. "You know what I've done. You know I'll make sure your whole operation burns to the ground if you don't start talking."
For a long moment, there was silence. The man's chest heaved as he caught his breath, but he refused to look up.
Mike's patience was running out. "Tell me, or I'll make sure you regret it."
Finally, the man spoke, his voice barely audible. "Dr. Kessler... she's coming for you. All of you. You can't stop her."
Mike's eyes flicked to Johnny, who met his gaze. They both knew what this meant.
Dr. Kessler wasn't done. She was more dangerous than ever, and now, she had a personal stake in Mike's destruction.
Mike stood, pulling the man to his feet. "Where is she?" he demanded. "Where is Dr. Kessler?"
The man chuckled darkly. "You'll never find her in time."
Mike's grip tightened, but before he could respond, the sound of approaching sirens cut through the air.
"Get out of here!" Johnny barked. "We need to move now!"
Mike didn't hesitate. He pushed the man aside and grabbed Tory's arm, helping her to her feet. Johnny led the way out of the warehouse, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the empty space.
Encino – Safehouse
Back at the safehouse, they took a moment to regroup. Mike had patched up Tory's wounds, but there was a coldness in his eyes. This was bigger than he had imagined. Dr. Kessler was playing a game, and Mike wasn't sure if he was winning or losing.
Tory sat on the couch, her face bruised but her expression defiant. "You really think you can stop her?"
Mike sat across from her, his fingers drumming on the table. "I don't have a choice. If I don't stop her, she'll destroy everything."
Johnny leaned against the wall, his arms crossed. "We're not backing down, Mike. We take this fight to them. We finish it."
Mike looked at them both, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "We'll need more than just us. We need to gather information, plan this out. Dr. Kessler won't be easy to find, and when we do... it's going to be a hell of a fight."
Germany – FANG V2 Compound
Dr. Kessler stood before a new set of monitors, watching as the latest footage came through. Mike had survived, once again. He had outsmarted Kade, outlasted him.
She pressed a button, sending a command to the monitors. A new figure appeared on the screen—a shadow in the night. A figure cloaked in darkness, more dangerous than any before him.
"Unit 17 is ready," one of her technicians reported.
Kessler smiled coldly. "Good. Let's see if Mike Harris can survive this one."
Mike, Johnny, and Tory are racing against time as they prepare for the inevitable confrontation with Dr. Kessler. Unit 17 has been activated, and the stakes are higher than ever.