Location: ONYX CORE Hidden Sub-Basement – 2:04 AM
"I hate this part," Ryan muttered, tightening the straps on his field belt. "The waiting. The dramatic entrance. The morally gray father-in-law trying to blow us up."
Emily gave him a look. "You've been waiting ten minutes. My whole life was a lie."
"Yeah, but yours didn't involve dodging exo-suit Mafia queens and laser drones before breakfast."
BOOM.
The floor shook. One of the security doors above exploded open, metal crashing like thunder.
A distorted voice crackled through the intercom.
"Hello, Emily. You've grown."
Emily stiffened.
Ryan reached for her hand. "I've got you."
She squeezed back. "You better."
2:06 AM – Vault Edge
They ducked behind a wall of prototype gear as Bella Castini descended, her exosuit pulsing with red circuits and stolen vengeance. Drones hovered around her like metal hornets. And behind her, slow and steady…
The Glitch Wolf stepped into view.
Trench coat swaying. Mask flickering with data. Voice smooth like a bedtime story turned wrong.
"Ryan. I trained you better than this."
Ryan peeked from cover. "Hey, don't blame me. I skipped your 'How to betray your country and stalk your daughter' seminar."
Bella raised an arm. "You brought this on yourself, Family Man."
Emily stood up. "You're wearing my father's legacy like a costume."
Bella sneered. "No, honey. I'm upgrading it."
2:09 AM – Sudden Reversal
Without warning, a nearby ONYX prototype blinked to life—a power glove Holly had accidentally named "Punchy-Punch 9000" during a lab visit once. Ryan stared at it.
"…You thinking what I'm thinking?" he whispered.
Emily blinked. "That the world's ending and our kids better get a therapist?"
"No. I mean yes, but—" He grabbed the glove. "It's time for a Dad Punch."
He leapt from cover, dodging drones like a man possessed by caffeine and fatherly vengeance.
"HEY BELLA! FAMILY'S A TEAM SPORT!"
He punched the ground.
The glove launched a shockwave that sent half the drones slamming into the ceiling like rogue popcorn.
Emily rolled her eyes—then tackled the nearest control terminal and started hacking with her usual fury.
2:11 AM – Glitch Wolf Strikes
While Ryan did acrobatics and dad-jokes mid-combat, Glitch Wolf moved with terrifying precision. He didn't shoot to kill—he disarmed, disoriented, and watched.
Always watching Emily.
"Do you understand now?" he said, voice full of buried grief. "I left to protect you. But they twisted everything. I had to erase myself."
Emily's hands froze over the controls.
"I needed to know you were okay," he said. "So I watched. Every newscast. Every school event. I was there. The first time you said 'Mom.' The night you brought home him."
Ryan winced. "Was that really the moment you snapped? I mean, I was wearing cargo shorts, but still—"
2:13 AM – Countdown Reaches 60 Seconds
Suddenly, the charges beeped. One minute until detonation.
Ryan and Emily locked eyes. No time left.
He tossed her the briefcase. "You get out. I finish this."
Emily caught it. "You finish nothing without me."
Glitch Wolf raised his hand—then lowered it.
"You're still her choice," he said quietly.
Bella screamed. "No! She's mine now! I rebuilt this!"
Glitch Wolf turned. "You stole this. And you never understood what ONYX CORE stood for."
He pressed a hidden control on his wrist. The exosuit around Bella shut down.
2:14 AM – Escape Route, Emotional Fallout
As the sub-vault began to collapse, Glitch Wolf turned back to Emily.
"I was a ghost. But I never stopped being your father."
Emily hesitated—then gave him a hard nod. Not forgiveness. But something like goodbye.
Ryan grabbed her hand. "C'mon. Our ride's exploding."
They ran. Alarms blaring. Tech shattering. Flames blooming behind them.
2:16 AM – Aftermath: Surface Level
The sub-basement blew behind them, a silent mushroom cloud of data and memories lost.
Ryan collapsed onto the grass, coughing. Emily sat beside him.
They looked up.
A shooting star passed.
"Think that was him?" Emily asked.
Ryan nodded. "Probably. Or a satellite on fire. Either way—he's gone."
Emily exhaled. "Good."
Ryan pulled her into his arms. "Now can we please go home? I have a spaghetti stain on my sock from three missions ago."
Final Hook – 2:19 AM – Elsewhere
Deep in the shadows of an abandoned ONYX facility…
A new terminal booted up.
A wolf-shaped cursor blinked.
FILE RECOVERED: PHOENIX.PROTOCOL
A hidden voice whispered:
"Let the next hunt begin."
(TO BE CONTINUED…)