In the damp, concrete belly of the estate's basement, the Black Squad leader hung suspended from a heavy iron chair. Blood dripped steadily from his split lip onto his torn tactical vest. A single, naked bulb swayed from the ceiling, casting erratic shadows that turned the interrogation room into a subterranean hell. Abir slowly rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, stepping into the dim light. In his hand, a sleek tactical knife caught the amber glare of the bulb.
Standing a few paces back, Arisa tracked the mercenary's biometric spikes on her tablet. Abir pressed the cold, razor-sharp tip of the blade directly against the man's carotid artery.
"My threshold for compliance is exceptionally low, brother," Abir whispered, his voice dangerously devoid of emotion. "Where are the other two cells of the Black Squad embedded, and what are their primary objectives? Speak now, or I will peel your armor away piece by piece."
"I... I don't possess that data!" the leader gasped, his pupils dilating as the steel bit into his skin. "Our assignment was strictly localized to this estate. The secondary units report directly to Lord Draco!"
Abir didn't flinch. He applied a fraction more pressure, drawing a thin line of crimson. "I despises fairy tales."
"Stop! Wait!" the mercenary shrieked, his composure breaking entirely. "The secondary assault cell is heavily fortified inside Warehouse 3 at the abandoned shipping yard in Sector 4! They have high-caliber sniper platforms and RPGs. Their mandate is to orchestrate an ambush the moment your perimeter drops and you hit the open highway!"
Arisa's fingers instantly flew across her screen. "Abir, the telemetry matches. Thermal mapping indicates at least ten high-density signatures within that sector. What about the final cell?"
Abir grabbed the man by his damp hair, forcing his head back. "The third unit. Where are they?"
"The central power grid and communication hub..." the leader whimpered, blood bubbling at the corner of his mouth. "At exactly 05:00 hours, they are scheduled to compromise the city's grid and cellular towers. Draco wants you completely blind and isolated before the primary strike force arrives."
Abir released his grip, stepping back as he wiped the blade on a cloth. He gestured to Rider, who promptly gagged the prisoner and secured the cell. Turning to Arisa, Abir slotted his custom sidearms into his tactical rig.
"We have a four-hour window before dawn, Arisa," Abir said, his eyes darkening with absolute intent. "We neutralize the sniper nest at the shipping yard first. Tell Rider to mobilize his top five marksmen. Tonight, the highway doesn't belong to Draco. It belongs to the supercharger of my **H2R**."
Arisa snapped her tablet shut and checked the chamber of her sub-machine gun. "I'm riding shotgun, Abir. Let's teach Draco that this entire city is a kill zone."
---