Chapter 12: The Golden Bargain Alexia’s survival instincts took over immediately after she handed Ouroboros the tablet. Relinquishing the Ares Protocol meant losing the only undeniable form of leverage she possessed, moving her status from a valuable asset to a high-value debt. She straightened her shoulders sharply, ignoring the grime sticking to her clothing. The scent of ozone and ancient spice from the vampire was heady, but she filtered it out, focusing only on the calculation. “The data transfer occurred,” Alexia confirmed, her voice steadier now than it had been a moment earlier. “I delivered on the first component of the bargain. Now, we negotiate the second: my sanctuary and your objectives.” Ouroboros had been examining the tablet, running a long, elegant finger across the screen. He paused, looking up, the molten gold of his eyes glinting in the dim vault light. His slow smile remained, suggesting he found her immediate return to negotiation highly amusing. “Always persistent, little Thorne-of-the-Ash,” he mused, tucking the device deeper into his coat pocket. The gesture was dismissive, demonstrating that the data was secured and no longer something she could reclaim easily. “But the sanctuary is simple. This is Nexus Omega. It is immune to Coven Masters’ interference. No military unit can penetrate the foundation above without causing a national financial disaster. You are secured.” He took another step toward her, closing the last centimeter of distance she had attempted to maintain. His presence was overwhelming, not because of raw physical threat—though that was clearly present—but because of the sheer, focused intensity of his attention. “As for objectives,” Ouroboros continued, his voice dropping to a conversational purr, “you misunderstand the nature of our arrangement. You traded one master for another, Alexia. You no longer dictate objectives; you fulfill them.” Alexia remained rooted in place. She knew this was the trap, the conditioning reflex Ouroboros expected. Dominic had tried the same power play. Alexia could not allow it to succeed here because Ouroboros was far too powerful to manipulate through sheer brutality. She had to use her mind. “That assessment is incorrect,” Alexia countered, meeting his formidable gaze without flinching. “You took the bait, Ouroboros, which proves the leverage still exists. The Ares Protocol is massive, complex, and partially corrupted by the conditioning process I endured.” She paused, making sure her words landed precisely. “No one understands the full tactical deployment, decryption keys, and potential military countermeasures embedded in that data except for Dominic, who is currently undergoing permanent chemical retirement, and myself. Even with the full access codes, it will take your network weeks to process the data effectively without my immediate, real-time guidance.” She watched the calculation shift in his eyes. The smile didn’t disappear, but the amusement was replaced by a sharper intelligence. “You require my knowledge to effectively weaponize that asset against the Coven Masters and the Gryphon unit,” Alexia pressed on. “If you treat me as a prisoner, I become a liability, not an asset. You will waste more time extracting the data than it would take to work with me. You can contain me easily enough, but you cannot extract the cognitive components I possess.” The argument was sound, predicated on the reality she had lived for the past week: the Ares Protocol was designed to be handled by a human asset, making forced extraction dangerously inefficient. Ouroboros needed a willing interpreter. Ouroboros let out a low, appreciative sigh. He finally took a deliberate step back, creating space between them. The slight withdrawal was significant; it acknowledged her successful counter-move. He conceded the immediate physical dominance in favor of a strategic partnership. “Fascinating,” Ouroboros murmured, running a hand through his dark hair. “You resist the most basic instinct of survival: submission to the stronger factor. You insist on playing the game when you should be grateful for even this momentary respite.” “I am playing the only game I have left,” Alexia corrected. “I am offering you a rapid-acquisition pathway to full political destabilization. Speed is essential. The Coven Masters move fast. They will be actively trying to reacquire the data, or destroy it, within the next 48 hours. If you waste time ensuring my compliance, they will consolidate.” “A fair point,” Ouroboros admitted. “The Coven Masters will prioritize neutralizing the threat posed by the leak rather than pursuing the rogue element who initiated it. Yet, you are the rogue element.” “I am the catalyst,” Alexia argued. “A tool you can use immediately. I am the only person capable of identifying the weakest structural points in their digital and logistical network using the data I provided. We have shared objectives: the collapse of the Western Coven and neutralizing the Gryphon unit’s influence.” Ouroboros leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms over the fine fabric of his jacket. The golden eyes studied her, assessing her composure and reserves. The exhaustion beneath her facade was obvious, but her resolve was clearly stronger. “Tell me, Alexia,” he challenged, “what is your greatest priority *now* that you have surrendered the key?” Alexia did not hesitate. Her mind had already calculated the response. Ouroboros dealt in leverage and self-interest. Sentimentality would be a fatal weakness. “My current political position is dangerously exposed,” Alexia stated. “I used the hunter network as cover fire for my gambit across the city. Elena and her team believe I sacrificed myself for their safety. Re-engaging with them would prove them correct and expose them to your observation. So my priority is my own survival and the successful execution of your objectives, which align with my need for absolute security.” This was partially a carefully constructed lie. Her true, overriding priority was Elena's safety, but Ouroboros needed to hear a cold, tactical response. However, she knew that to maintain Ouroboros’s belief in her strategic utility, she needed to enforce one non-negotiable condition that served as a test of their short-term partnership. “There is one immediate, critical condition I require for cooperation,” Alexia stated, her voice hardening. She stepped fully into the vault’s corridor, demonstrating her commitment to the sanctuary, but she faced him, not the safety inside. “I need verifiable confirmation that Elena and the operating Hunter network have been safely extracted from the city’s immediate surveillance grid. They cannot be compromised because of my actions tonight.” Ouroboros merely smiled, tilting his head. “Ah, the tiny thorn of loyalty, still embedded in the heart of the hunter. You claim political pragmatism, yet you risk your newfound sanctuary for a lesser asset.” “It is not loyalty; it is necessity,” Alexia pushed back, relying on the cover story. “If the Coven Masters locate Elena, they will assume she has uncompromised data or knows my next movements. They will use her as a staging point for counter-tactics. Neutralizing that risk is a strategic asset for our arrangement. I assume your network monitors the hunter movement for threats?” Ouroboros chuckled softly. “We monitor everything, Alexia. The Hunter network is an irritant, not a threat, but yes, we possess extensive, real-time tracking capabilities on major operational assets—including the very capable Elena. She evaded both the Gryphons and the Coven Masters quite successfully, I might add.” He appraised her again, a deep, penetrating look that seemed to strip away the emotional layers entirely. “I find your demand highly convenient,” Ouroboros confessed. “It requires me to demonstrate the protective capabilities of my structure immediately, confirming that the transfer of the Ares Protocol does indeed come with the promised sanctuary. Furthermore, if the Hunter network believes you sacrificed yourself, they become an independent, decentralized irritant to the Coven Masters, diverting resources away from Nexus Omega.” Ouroboros walked past her now, moving deeper into the narrow corridor. Alexia followed, sensing that the main conflict was over, replaced by the grim logistics of their cooperation. “You impress me, Alexia,” Ouroboros said over his shoulder. “You are the kind of asset that warrants an immediate investment of resources. We shall treat your demand not as a concession but as the first operational step in our partnership.” He stopped at an interior door, sealed like the outer vault but much smaller. He accessed a console on the wall, the display showing intricate, constantly updating feeds of satellite heat signatures and digital communication interception matrices. “The greatest threat to your hunter colleagues is the Coven Masters’ tactical disruption unit focusing on the city’s periphery,” Ouroboros explained, gesturing to a swirling diagram on the screen. “They are attempting to predict the most likely extraction points simultaneously. A predictable perimeter sweep.” He turned to Alexia. “The objective is simple. Your expertise with the Ares Protocol data allows us to identify the location of the Coven Masters’ primary communication uplink. It’s the neurological hub of their current stabilization efforts.” “Their primary uplink is usually mobile, a high-frequency broadcast unit disguised as a utility vehicle,” Alexia stated, referencing the knowledge from the intercepted files and her conditioning. “It's secure, hardened against most conventional long-range tracking.” “Not against the Ares Protocol,” Ouroboros corrected, his eyes glowing faintly as he focused on the console. “The Protocol contains precise countermeasures and signatures the Coven never updated. It would allow us to pinpoint the unit in real-time, even through heavy encryption.” “You want to incapacitate their command and control?” Alexia asked. “Precisely,” Ouroboros confirmed. “If we destroy their ability to coordinate the hunt, the Coven Masters collapse their efforts into disorganized, localized searches. That confusion will create the perfect window for your hunter network to escape the city entirely, fulfilling your condition and demonstrating my network’s capabilities.” Alexia understood the tactical elegance. It wasn't about saving Elena directly; it was about tearing the Coven’s power structure wider open, allowing Elena to escape through the gap. Elena would be safe, and Alexia would have demonstrated her indispensable value. “What kind of operational window are we talking about?” Alexia asked. “The Masters are paranoid. They would have an immediate, automated fallback for their comms.” “We require a minimum of six operational hours of radio silence,” Ouroboros calculated. “Enough time for your friends to cross state lines and disappear into the centralized hunter network infrastructure located far north of here. Enough time for us to analyze the Ares Protocol without immediate pressure.” Alexia calculated the risks quickly. Deploying immediately with Ouroboros meant she would be visible and active, a massive risk, but it proved she was an ally, not a prisoner. Running deep analysis and decoding the Ares Protocol needed her immediate assistance which was the secondary goal, but the main drive was survival and the first step toward getting an advantage over the ancient organization that hunted her. “The data will pinpoint the mobile uplink,” Alexia agreed. “I can isolate the structural weak points in the vehicle’s hardware, allowing for a precise, surgical strike that guarantees maximum communication disruption without unnecessary Coven casualties. The Masters cannot afford to lose high-ranking military personnel.” Ouroboros smiled widely this time, a flash of ancient pleasure. “No, they cannot. A surgical strike is exactly what is required. Efficiency over carnage.” He opened the smaller vault door. Beyond lay a clean, brightly lit space that served as an operational command center. Three young men and women, dressed in sleek, dark, functional clothing, were working silently at complex arrays of screens and keyboards. They paid Ouroboros and Alexia minimal attention, maintaining intense focus on their work. The clean air was a stark contrast to the sewer’s stench. Alexia took a deep, involuntary breath. Despite the overwhelming power of Ouroboros, this place represented control, security, and the complete opposite of the chaos she had been running through. “Welcome to the executive suite of Nexus Omega, Alexia,” Ouroboros announced. “We are entirely separated from the outside world here. No electronic signal in, no unauthorized signal out. We operate entirely off the main grid, routing only what we require through extremely secure, proprietary channels.” He gestured to a nearby monitor displaying the initial data dump from the Ares Protocol. “I need you to work with my primary technical asset, Silas, who is currently processing the data structure. You need to verify the decryption pathways and isolate the necessary operational data for the comms unit location.” Ouroboros guided Alexia toward a workstation. A lean, sharp-featured man with intense blue eyes looked up, acknowledging Ouroboros with a brief nod. He did not look at Alexia with curiosity, but with the cold, professional interest of someone who had just been handed a complex, highly valuable tool. “Silas, this is Alexia Thorne,” Ouroboros introduced. “She holds the cognitive keys to the Protocol. Accelerate the triage. We require the coordinates and the structural schematics for the Coven Master’s primary mobile communications vehicle. We move in ninety minutes.” “Ninety minutes,” Silas repeated, already turning back to his screens. “Understood. We need the physical verification keys for the sub-routines, Alexia.” Alexia moved to the console. The screen was a bewildering array of military-grade encryption headers and fragmented code. Silas was good; he had already compartmentalized the data effectively. “The verification key is non-digital,” Alexia explained, her fingers hovering over the complex interface. “It requires biometric verification because of the conditioning process. Dominic ensured that only assets who had survived the neural resequencing could access the core systems.” She looked at Silas, who returned an expression of detached interest. “It’s a specific sequence of the handprint and retinal scan tied to the genetic modifications. Only my genetic structure will unlock the final layer of the Ares tactical data.” Ouroboros paused nearby, his interest clearly piqued. “A clever redundancy. Dominic was always thorough.” “He didn’t trust anyone,” Alexia simply commented. Alexia quickly followed Silas’s instructions, placing her hand on a recessed biometric scanner next to the keyboard. The panel glowed. She endured a fast, painless retinal scan. The device chirped a verification sequence. A portion of the screen immediately turned from red encryption headers to complex, multi-layered tactical schematics and logistics data. “There,” Alexia stated, pointing to a file cluster. “That subset details the Coven’s operational logistics for mobile forward bases. It includes the structural design and the communication redundancy matrices for the mobile comms unit.” Silas began rapidly running the data through a localized military GPS tracking system, correlating known Coven Master deployment patterns with the real-time encrypted data feeds Nexus Omega was intercepting. While Silas worked, Alexia remained at the terminal, her mind already shifting into operational mode. The conditioning had been a violation, but it had left her with a resource unmatched by anyone outside of Dominic’s sphere. She saw the data not as flat code but as a living map of enemy vulnerabilities. Ouroboros used the moment to complete the logistical prep. He returned with a bundle of clean, dark tactical clothing—light but durable synthetic wear designed for underground movement—and a bottle of purified water. “Hygiene is non-negotiable,” Ouroboros stated, placing the items on a nearby stainless steel table. “A clean physical state promotes a clean tactical mind. We cannot have the scent of the sewers distracting the mission.” Alexia gratefully accepted the necessities. The change of clothing was a critical step in reclaiming her mental space. The mud and filth of the sewers represented her desperate flight; the new gear suggested a controlled, organized offensive. “Access the localized Nexus Omega sanitation unit,” Ouroboros instructed. “You have ten minutes to clean and change. Silas will have the coordinates by then.” Alexia nodded and walked determinedly toward a narrow door marked ‘Infrastructure Maintenance,’ realizing it led into a surprisingly advanced, enclosed shower unit. She didn’t shower with water but with a powerful, localized chemical steam bath that quickly neutralized all contaminants and odors, leaving her skin surprisingly soft and clean. She quickly donned the new clothes—tight, flexible leggings and a long-sleeved tactical shirt in a deep, matte black. Her scraped legs and hands protested the material, but the dryness and lightness were a massive comfort. When Alexia returned to the command center, she was visibly transformed. The exhaustion was still etched around her eyes, but the confidence she had demonstrated in the tunnel was now supported by physical comfort. She was ready to move. Silas looked up from his screen. “Confirmation. The mobile comms hub is located at Primary Utility Exchange 38-Alpha, nestled discreetly in the maintenance yard next to the old downtown power station. It’s highly secured, but the Ares Protocol data confirms the vehicle’s primary broadcast module is housed in an external, removable chassis.” He turned a monitor toward Alexia. The screen showed a highly detailed, rotating 3D schematic of a large, black utility vehicle. “The Ares log suggests the external antenna array is the main vulnerability,” Alexia confirmed, pointing to a recessed panel on the vehicle's roof structure. “Dominic designed this unit with a remote shutdown procedure accessible through a localized EMP burst targeting this panel. It wouldn’t destroy the unit, but it would completely fry the long-range comms array, forcing the Coven Masters to reroute operations manually.” “The target is the antenna array panel. Surgical and guaranteed to cause chaos,” Ouroboros summarized. “Perfect. The Gryphon unit operates with similar technology; they will recognize the technical signature of the failure immediately, assuming it is a counter-attack from Dominic’s remaining forces.” Ouroboros moved to a large workbench where the dark clothing of his loyalists was stored. He began selecting items of equipment with meticulous care. “We need to discuss methodology, Thorne,” Ouroboros stated, choosing a set of sleek, black tools that resembled advanced surgical implements crossed with locking picks. “I require you to implement the failure. You possess the precise physical access codes and the operational knowledge to deliver the localized EMP.” Alexia raised an eyebrow. “You intend to bring me into the field, immediately after offering me sanctuary?” “I offered you sanctuary from hostile forces, Alexia,” Ouroboros corrected, a distinct edge entering his tone. “I did not offer you a vacation. You are the operational key. I require a direct connection to the mobile hub’s system interface to execute the localized EMP. Only you can bypass the biometric lockdown on that target once we are inside the maintenance yard.” The implication was clear. Ouroboros needed her to physically touch the Coven Master’s equipment for the operation to succeed. He was testing her commitment and her utility simultaneously. “The maintenance yard will be heavily protected, covertly,” Alexia stated, running through the possibilities. “It’s a Coven Master operation. At least two Masters will be within radio distance, and the immediate perimeter guards will be highly trained and likely wearing the new generation armor Dominic was developing.” “We move with speed and minimal visibility,” Ouroboros assured her, strapping a weapon harness subtly beneath his jacket. He turned to one of his other operatives, a strong-looking woman named Elara. “Elara, prepare the transport. Two assets only. Silent approach. The extraction point will be the Nexus Omega secondary egress tunnel, two kilometers from the target.” Ouroboros returned to Alexia, now fully equipped. His suit did not appear bulky, but the subtle lines of tactical readiness were evident beneath the fine fabric. “This will be a fast insertion and even faster extraction,” Ouroboros explained. “We use the infrastructure itself as our shield. The Coven Masters rely on massive firepower and overt displays of dominance. We rely on surgical precision and absolute silence.” He placed a compact, high-powered device into her hand. It was flat, black, and felt cold. “This is an enhanced directional EMP emitter,” Ouroboros said. “You place this on the identified panel, activate the Ares authentication override, and the module is destroyed. We exit immediately.” Alexia examined the device. It was far more advanced than anything the hunters or Dominic’s forces typically fielded. It was clean, efficient, and lethal in its specificity. “Agreed,” Alexia accepted, securing the device into a loop on her tactical leggings. “But we adhere strictly to the terms of the bargain. Elena’s safety is confirmed by the success of this mission. No deviation.” Ouroboros stepped closer, the golden intensity of his eyes mesmerizing. “I respect leverage, Alexia. You have demonstrated that you understand risk and reward better than most of my contemporaries. The Golden Bargain requires mutual benefit. You secure your hunter friends, and I secure my political advantage.” He extended a hand. This time, it was not the slow, possessive caress of their first physical contact. This was a firm, strategic handshake. “Welcome aboard, Thorne-of-the-Ash,” Ouroboros stated, a distinct current of pure, ancient power passing from his hand to hers. “Let us introduce the Coven Masters to the new political reality.” The moment the compact was sealed, the entire tone of the command center shifted from analysis to immediate action. Nexus Omega, far from being a tranquil safe haven, was clearly a launch platform for complex, aggressive operations. Alexia realized that in securing herself, she had immediately become embroiled in a much larger, more volatile conflict than Dominic’s localized coven dominance. Silas finished his final data correlation. “Coordinates confirmed, Ouroboros. We have a clear five-minute window for insertion and extraction via the tertiary maintenance tunnel route. It runs directly beneath the target yard.” “Excellent,” Ouroboros stated, already turning toward the egress point. He looked back at Alexia one last time, a predatory gleam in his golden eyes. “Are you prepared to face the Masters, Alexia? Your first mission with Nexus Omega will be a direct confrontation with the ancient authority that seeks your destruction.” “I am prepared,” Alexia confirmed, reaching for the small pouch of ancestral silver stakes she had managed to retain despite the frantic escape. She was no longer running. She was fighting on equal strategic footing, backed by the most unpredictable and powerful vampire in the underground economy of power. Ouroboros led the way, his steps silent and controlled. He was confident in his abilities and the security of his establishment. They moved quickly through a series of internal chambers, descending a final, narrow staircase. The air grew immediately cooler, indicating their proximity to the deep underground infrastructure. At the bottom of the stairs, another automated vault door opened onto a subterranean garage. It was small, secured, and housed a single, non-descript black utility van—the transport Elara had prepared. Elara, a sharp-featured woman with an economical posture, sat in the driver’s seat. “Insertion path is clear, Ouroboros,” Elara confirmed, her voice low and efficient. “Minimal civilian traffic above at this hour. The maintenance tunnels are secure.” Alexia and Ouroboros entered the back of the van. The interior was stripped down and equipped with advanced communication and monitoring gear. The atmosphere crackled with controlled intensity. “Alexia, coordinate the ingress data with Elara,” Ouroboros instructed, handing Alexia a small, encrypted communication headset. “You will guide us through the final subterranean approach. Your knowledge of the Ares infrastructure will anticipate the Coven’s subterranean security protocols better than our automated systems.” Alexia immediately locked into the communication stream with Elara, pulling up a highly detailed, three-dimensional schematic of the utility exchange. Her enhanced senses allowed her to process the complex mapping data rapidly. “The Coven will have proximity sensors tied into the exchange’s power grid,” Alexia analyzed, tapping a point on the map. “We need to hug the primary water pipeline and avoid intersecting the low-voltage sensor mesh here. It risks an immediate, silent alarm.” Elara adjusted the driving route on her tablet without a word, acknowledging the strategic necessity. Ouroboros leaned back against the cool metal of the van’s interior, his gaze fixed on Alexia. He was assessing her performance not for flaws, but for efficiency. She was demonstrating the utility she had promised. “You understand risk assessment,” Ouroboros observed. “The hunters taught you well, even when you did not realize the lesson.” “The hunter bloodline taught me necessity,” Alexia retorted, focusing on the route. “Survival is achieved through predicting the enemy’s next move, not reacting to their current one.” The van began to move, its specialized tires silently rolling along the smooth concrete of the deep utility tunnel. The rumble was almost nonexistent. They were moving beneath the labyrinthine heart of the city, targeting the central nervous system of the Coven Masters’ cleanup operation. The silence grew deep and charged during the transit. Alexia focused entirely on navigation, anticipating sensor arrays, structural weak points, and potential choke points. “We are approaching the maintenance yard’s substructure,” Alexia announced as the map indicated their proximity to the target. “Elara, hold for my signal. The tunnel access point is directly beneath the target vehicle’s engine block. We need to breach just past the structural support beam for optimal coverage.” Elara brought the van to a smooth, silent stop. The only sound was the distant, mechanical thrumming of the city’s deep infrastructure. Ouroboros moved with decisive grace, opening a lockbox and withdrawing a sleek, pressurized tunneling charge—designed for a single, quiet breach through concrete. “The surface area will be reinforced, Alexia,” Ouroboros stated, accepting the charge. “Be ready for immediate environmental contamination upon breach.” “I’m not concerned with dirt,” Alexia responded, checking the EMP device. “I am concerned with the secondary internal security of the mobile hub. If they have internal guards, we must neutralize them before they can alert the Masters.” “My concern exactly,” Ouroboros concurred, his golden eyes narrowed. “The Coven Masters will not be in the immediate vicinity, but their most dedicated guards will be. They will be expendable, but lethal.” Ouroboros moved to the back of the van, where a small, circular hatch led to the tunnel’s reinforced floor. He placed the charge precisely on the marked point. “You have seconds after the breach,” Ouroboros instructed, turning back to Alexia. “I will neutralize the exterior threats. You go directly to the target panel and implement the EMP.” He paused, a flicker of something ancient and knowing in his gaze. “Do not fail, Alexia. The price of success is your sanctuary. The price of failure is your immediate execution by the Masters, and unnecessary complications for me.” Alexia pushed down the momentary spike of fear. She was eight meters below target, about to physically sabotage the highest command sequence of the vampire authority that had destroyed her life. The rush of pure, focused purpose neutralized every other emotion. “Breach in three,” Ouroboros counted, his hand on the activation switch. “Two. One.” He activated the charge. There was a low, muffled thud, followed by the hiss of concrete yielding under immense, contained force. Dust and fine particulate matter immediately erupted from the opening. Ouroboros moved instantly, flowing through the newly formed aperture. Alexia followed, already anticipating the vertical ascent. They emerged into a narrow, dark space—the maintenance access shaft of the utility yard. The air here smelled of ozone and hot metal. Above them, the massive silhouette of the mobile communications vehicle loomed in the absolute darkness. Ouroboros was already a shadow, moving with supernatural speed to neutralize the immediate perimeter guards. There were two of them, large, armored figures standing silently at the vehicle’s periphery. Alexia heard two short, sharp sounds—not gunfire, but the clean, rapid snap of bone or pressure points yielding under extreme force. Alexia did not look back. She moved toward the massive vehicle, her heightened senses locking onto the metallic scent of the communication hub and the faint electromagnetic charge of the equipment. She scaled the side of the vehicle with the easy strength her hunter conditioning provided, gripping the cooling vents and metal seams. She finally reached the roof, lying flat against the smooth, cold metal next to the large, centralized antenna array. She located the recessed panel Silas had indicated, marked by a slight variation in the paint and the unmistakable hum of active electronics. Alexia pressed the EMP emitter onto the panel. The emitter immediately began the authentication sequence, requiring the same Ares-derived biometric verification she had provided at Nexus Omega. She placed her hand firmly on the device, providing the necessary genetic signature. The flat black screen on the device lit up, glowing green. *AUTHENTICATION COMPLETE.* Seconds later, the EMP began to charge. A rapid, high-pitched *whine* started emanating from the device, increasing in volume. Alexia knew the operational timeline. The burst would be instantaneous and localized, not affecting the city grid, but destroying the sensitive, high-frequency broadcast unit it was attached to. The Coven Masters would be deaf and dumb within seconds. She activated the firing sequence. The device instantly fell silent. The whine stopped. A faint blue flash erupted from the device, followed by a smell of burning ozone and fried circuitry. The external comms array fell silent, the faint hum of its operation dying abruptly. The lights on the mobile hub flickered, then stabilized, but the primary broadcast unit was dead. Alexia snatched the EMP emitter, now inert, and began her rapid descent. She dropped down the side of the vehicle, landing lightly on the concrete next to Ouroboros, who was already securing the perimeter. The Coven Masters’ guards were utterly silent, neutralized with chilling efficiency. The silence was the only confirmation needed. The disruption was successful. “Elara, extraction now,” Ouroboros commanded into the comms unit. “Full speed extraction protocol.” He turned to Alexia, a deep satisfaction filling his eyes. “Mission complete, Thorne. We have achieved the necessary operational silence. The Hunter network is safe for now.” His acknowledgment was cold, factual, and immensely satisfying. She had leveraged her value and secured her allies. “My sanctuary is confirmed, then,” Alexia stated, securing her position. “Confirmed,” Ouroboros agreed, making no move toward her, respecting the tactical boundary. “The Golden Bargain holds. Now, let us return to Nexus Omega. We have a Protocol to decipher.”