Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Striking First
The crew moved quickly through the narrow alleyways of the city, their footsteps echoing in the dark as they made their way toward the underground's target. Cole led the way, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. He knew the underground had eyes everywhere, and the last thing they needed was to be caught off guard.
Lina was right beside him, her presence steadying as they neared the location Ty had pinpointed—a warehouse on the outskirts of the city where the underground had been stockpiling supplies. The plan was simple: strike before they could execute their raid and cripple their operation before it gained momentum.
"Stay sharp," Cole said in a low voice, glancing back at the group behind him. "We don't know how many of them we're dealing with, but we're not here for a fight unless we have no choice."
The fighters nodded, their faces grim and determined. They had trained for this, prepared for the moment when they would go on the offensive. But this was no ordinary raid. They were walking into enemy territory, and Cole knew that if anything went wrong, it could mean disaster.
As they approached the warehouse, Cole signaled for the group to stop. The building loomed in front of them, its windows dark, but there was no doubt that something was going on inside. They could hear the faint sounds of movement, the clanking of metal and low voices drifting through the night air.
"Ty, you got eyes on this?" Cole asked quietly, turning to Ty, who was crouched beside him with a pair of binoculars.
"Yeah," Ty replied, his voice tense. "They've got guards posted at the front and back, but I don't see much movement inside. It looks like they're preparing for something big. This is definitely where they're staging for the raid."
"Alright," Cole said, nodding. "We move in, quiet and fast. Take out the guards, secure the supplies, and get out before anyone realizes what's happened."
Lina, crouched beside him, gave him a quick nod of agreement. "No mistakes. We stick to the plan."
Cole's heart raced as they crept closer to the warehouse, every muscle in his body tense with anticipation. The air was thick with the smell of oil and metal, and the sound of their footsteps seemed too loud in the stillness of the night.
They reached the back of the warehouse, where two guards stood, their cigarettes glowing faintly in the dark. Cole signaled to the others, and in a flash, Jaxon and Zack moved in, taking out the guards with swift, silent strikes. The guards barely had time to react before they were on the ground, unconscious.
"Clear," Jaxon whispered, giving Cole a thumbs-up.
Cole motioned for the others to follow as they slipped through the back entrance of the warehouse. Inside, the space was dimly lit, with crates and pallets stacked high along the walls. A few workers moved between the stacks, organizing supplies and preparing for what was clearly going to be a major operation.
"This is bigger than we thought," Lina whispered, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the room. "They're gearing up for something huge."
"Which means we need to move fast," Cole replied. "Split into groups. Take out the workers quietly. We don't want to alert anyone outside."
The crew moved with precision, spreading out through the warehouse and taking down the workers one by one. Cole stayed near the entrance, watching their progress while keeping an eye on the front door. So far, everything was going according to plan. They were in and out before anyone could sound the alarm.
But just as Cole began to relax, a sudden crash echoed through the warehouse, followed by a shout.
"Intruders!"
Cole's heart leapt into his throat. The workers they had missed had found the bodies of the guards outside, and now the entire warehouse was on high alert.
"Dammit," Cole growled, drawing his fists as the remaining workers scrambled for weapons. "No choice now. We fight."
The crew sprang into action, their training kicking in as they faced off against the armed workers. The fight was brutal, chaotic, as crates were overturned and fists flew through the air. Cole ducked under a wild swing, driving his fist into the side of one worker's ribs before pivoting and knocking another to the ground.
Lina was right beside him, moving with the grace and precision that had made her one of the most dangerous fighters in the crew. She dodged a blow aimed at her head, countering with a sharp elbow to the jaw that sent her opponent reeling.
"How many more are there?" she shouted over the noise of the fight.
"Too many," Cole replied, his voice tight as he delivered a crushing blow to another worker. "We need to get out of here."
But as the last of the workers fell, the sound of sirens filled the air.
"They called for backup!" Zack yelled, his face pale as he scanned the windows. "We've got to move now, Cole!"
Cole's mind raced. They had accomplished part of their mission—they had disrupted the underground's supply line. But now they were trapped in the middle of it, with no way out but the front door.
"Ty, Lina, get the others and head out the back," Cole ordered, his voice calm despite the chaos. "I'll hold them off here."
Lina's eyes widened. "Cole, you can't—"
"I'm not asking," Cole interrupted, his gaze firm. "Go. I'll catch up."
For a moment, Lina hesitated, her eyes searching his. But she knew better than to argue. "Be careful," she said, her voice tight with emotion.
"Always," Cole replied, giving her a small smile.
With a final glance, Lina turned and led the others toward the back exit. Cole watched them go, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew this was risky—too risky, maybe—but he couldn't let the underground win this fight. Not now.
As the sirens grew louder, Cole steeled himself, his fists clenched at his sides. He wasn't afraid of what was coming. He had been through worse. And he wasn't going to let the underground take him down.
Not tonight.
---
Outside, the flashing red and blue lights of police cars illuminated the street as the sirens wailed through the night. Cole stepped into the light, his eyes scanning the scene in front of him. Cops were pouring out of their cars, guns drawn, their faces set in grim determination.
Cole took a deep breath, his mind working furiously. He could see a way out, but it wasn't going to be easy.
He raised his hands, showing the cops that he was unarmed. "Alright, alright," he called out, his voice calm but loud enough to carry over the chaos. "You got me."
The cops moved in cautiously, their guns trained on him as they approached. "Get down on the ground!" one of them barked.
Cole complied, kneeling slowly on the pavement, his hands behind his head. His heart pounded in his chest, but his mind was already working on the next step. He needed to buy time for Lina and the others to escape, to get far enough away that the cops wouldn't catch up to them.
As the handcuffs clicked around his wrists, Cole allowed himself a small smile. The underground had called the cops, thinking it would be the end of him. But they didn't know who they were dealing with.
He was Cole Matthews. And this fight was far from over.
---
**Chapter 96: Between Two Worlds**
The cold metal of the handcuffs bit into Cole's wrists as the cops shoved him into the back of the squad car. The flashing lights cast eerie shadows on the walls of the nearby buildings, making the city feel like a different world altogether. It wasn't the first time Cole had found himself in the back of a police car, but this time felt different. This wasn't about petty street fights or the usual run-ins with the law. This was about something bigger.
As the car sped through the city streets, Cole's mind raced. He had succeeded in his mission—they had disrupted the underground's supply chain, and Lina and the others had escaped. But now he was caught between two worlds. The underground wouldn't take kindly to what he had done, and the cops were just as much a part of the problem. He was stuck in a system that didn't care about people like him, and the walls were closing in fast.
The car came to a stop in front of the station, and Cole was dragged out and into the building. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, and the smell of stale coffee and sweat filled the air. The cops processed him quickly, shoving him into a holding cell before disappearing into the station's office.
Cole sat down on the cold, hard bench, his mind still racing. He needed to get out of here, but breaking out of jail wasn't exactly part of the plan. And yet, he couldn't afford to sit idly while the underground regrouped.
As he sat there, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. A moment later, a figure appeared in the doorway—Ty, wearing a smirk that told Cole he'd been up to something.
"Well, look at you," Ty said, leaning against the bars with a grin. "Didn't think you'd get yourself locked up this quick."
Cole raised an eyebrow, but couldn't suppress a small smile. "Couldn't let you have all the fun."
"Don't worry," Ty said, pulling a set of keys from his pocket. "I've got a way out."
"You serious?" Cole asked, his eyes narrowing in disbelief.
Ty shrugged, unlocking the cell door with a casual flick of his wrist. "You think I'd leave you here? Come on, we've got work to do."
As Cole stepped out of the cell, his heart swelled with gratitude for the people he had beside him. They had a long road ahead, but they weren't walking it alone.
The fight was far from over, but with Ty, Lina, and the rest of the crew at his side, Cole knew one thing for sure:
The underground had no idea what was coming.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone