Purrfect war

Agent Darknight, we're ready," a man informed Xander.

He calmly plugged in his earpiece, a gesture so practiced it was almost second nature. Darwin followed suit, adjusting his gear with precision. Together, they stepped out of the lab and into the loading bay, where the truck holding the chronochip was parked.

"Clear," Darwin declared, his spectro-goggles glowing faintly as they scanned the surroundings.

Xander gave a curt nod before heading to the sleek black SUV stationed directly behind the truck. The low hum of the gates opening reverberated in the air as Hugo's holographic image flickered to life on Xander's wrist communicator.

"Sir, we've set out for Magnus Base," Xander reported in his usual detached tone.

Hugo's gaze hardened. "What about the girl?"

"She's with Agent Ryu," Xander replied curtly, avoiding any unnecessary elaboration.

Hugo studied him for a moment before nodding, his hologram dissipating into thin air.

The convoy hadn't traveled far before the chaos erupted. The sharp crack of a gunshot rang out, and a motorcyclist ahead tumbled lifelessly to the asphalt. Sirens blared as five black cars tore through the shadows, closing in on the convoy.

"We've got company!" Gru's voice crackled, panic evident in his tone.

"Agent Gru, take out the cars on the left!" Xander barked, his voice a sharp contrast to the chaos around him.

Turning, he fired at the pursuing vehicles, his aim precise. Flames engulfed two of their cars, but the enemy pressed on relentlessly. Darwin, ever the daredevil, climbed out of the SUV's window and leaped onto the truck with feline agility.

"Hello, did you miss me?" Zarro's mocking voice cut through the cacophony as he emerged from the lead car. His men fired relentlessly, their bullets ricocheting off the armored truck.

"Sir, they're gaining on us!" Gru shouted, his voice tinged with desperation.

Xander swerved his SUV violently, ramming two of the enemy's cars off the road. The screech of metal against metal was deafening.

"Done!" Darwin's voice came through as he unlocked the truck's rear compartment. "Gru, get in now!"

Shaking, Gru climbed onto the truck, joining Darwin as they returned fire. Zarro, his confidence unwavering, stood atop his car's hood, barking orders to his men.

"Don't let the truck escape!" Zarro snarled, his sharp eyes narrowing as he aimed his weapon.

Inside the truck, Xander found the driver slumped over, lifeless. His jaw tightened as he shoved the body aside, taking the wheel. The truck veered sharply, tires screeching against the asphalt.

"Seal the vault!" Xander commanded through the earpiece, while Gru frantically typed codes into his portable console.

"The vault's signal is failing!" Gru's voice trembled as he relayed the news.

Darwin waved dismissively. "Relax. Nothing can penetrate the vault."

Outside, Zarro's team upped their game. Snick bombs sailed through the air. 

"We've got trouble," Gru muttered nervously, glancing at his monitor.

Zarro made a daring leap toward the truck, but Xander swerved violently, sending him flying. Zarro landed gracefully, his feline instincts saving him from serious harm. Frustrated, he hissed, signaling his team to halt and regroup.

Darwin's wrist communicator beeped incessantly. "We need backup!" he shouted, his voice tinged with urgency. Wince's holographic image flickered to life, distorted and unstable.

"Ryu... a... Ariana... danger!" Wince's words were garbled before the connection cut out.

Xander's grip tightened on the wheel. An unfamiliar unease settled in his chest, his jaw clenching as he processed Wince's fragmented message.

Xander's jaw clenched. For reasons he couldn't pinpoint, an uneasy feeling settled in his chest.

At her aunt Lisa's house, Ariana and Ryu arrived to an unsettling silence.

"Something feels off," Ryu muttered, her sharp eyes scanning the darkened porch as she gripped her shotgun tightly.

Ariana, her unease growing, pressed the doorbell repeatedly.

"Do you think they're home?" Ryu asked, raising an eyebrow.

"They're always home," Ariana insisted, her voice wavering.

When no one answered, Ryu cautiously bargained the door open. The interior was unnervingly quiet. Shadows loomed across the walls, and the faint scent of decay lingered in the air.

Wince offered to check upstairs while Ariana and Ryu searched the ground floor. Ariana entered the kitchen, where a nauseating stench struck her. Her stomach churned as she followed the smell to a cupboard.

"Ahhh!" she screamed, stumbling back at the grisly sight of her cousins' lifeless bodies.

Tears blurred her vision as she ran to the living room, only to freeze in horror. Ryu stood with two massive men, her smirk chilling.

"Get her," Ryu ordered sharply, her voice cold and detached.

Ariana barely registered the command before a heavy blow struck her, plunging her into darkness.

When Wince returned downstairs, he froze. Ryu—now revealed as Renni—was smirking as Ariana lay unconscious, bound to a chair.

"Get the prowler upstairs," Renni commanded, her voice sharp and commanding.

Realizing the danger, Wince slipped out through a window, landing silently on the ground. Activating his comms, he relayed the dire situation. "Darwin, we need backup! Ryu was a fake, and Ariana's been captured!"

Inside, Ariana was jolted awake as cold water splashed over her face.

"So, you're Agent Heartfill's daughter," Renni mused, dragging a blade along Ariana's cheek. "Do you know how your mother, aunt, and uncle died? All because of you."

Ariana's heart pounded as she struggled against her bindings.

"Are you ready to tell me how to open the chronochip, or shall I carve the answer out of you?" Renni sneered, pressing the blade to Ariana's throat.

Finally they reached Magnus base, Xander passed the truck keys to Gru. Xander and Darwin put on their sunglasses, they got into a nearby black BMW and sped off.

"Set the coordinates" Xander said pressing harder on the gas, in less than two minutes Darwin declared "done".

Outside, Xander and Darwin coordinated their approach. Xander parked a few blocks down while they stealthily located Wince. 

"Wince, knock on the door. Darwin, eliminate anyone who steps out."

Inside, Renni ordered one of her men to investigate the knock. The door creaked open—bang!—a single gunshot silenced him.

Renni, startled, grabbed Ariana and bolted for the back door. As they fled, they were met by Xander, his imposing figure blocking their path.

"Leaving already?" he mocked, his icy gaze locking onto Renni.

Renni's eyes widened in recognition. Panicking, she shoved Ariana aside and sped off in her car, leaving her man behind.

"Guess it's just you and me now," Xander said coldly, and in an instant, the man crumpled, his throat slit.

Xander knelt by Ariana, her breaths shallow as she struggled to stay conscious.

"Ariana, stay with me," he urged, his voice uncharacteristically soft.

As the world faded, a single thought lingered in her mind: He came for me.