Chapter 9 - The Siege of Track 4
The train lurched forward with a heavy, metallic clank, its massive diesel engines roaring as it began its long journey south out of the Chicago rail yards.
Outside, the storm had escalated into a full winter gale, lake-effect snow swirling through the steel girders of the industrial bridges crossing the Calumet River.
Suddenly, a loud, thunderous explosion rocked the rear of the freight train.
The entire 100-ton container car jolted violently to the left, metal screaming against metal as emergency brakes automatically engaged with a deafening screech of sparks.
"What was that?!" Dr. Aris screamed, grabbing the edge of Ethan's bed to keep from falling.
Evelyn was already at the security terminal, her hands flying across the tactical interface.
"They dropped a magnetic charge on the coupling three cars back!" Evelyn shouted, her voice laced with adrenaline. "They’ve isolated our car on the river bridge!"
Outside the reinforced observation ports, three dark helicopters hovered through the swirling snow, their searchlights blinding as they illuminated the roof of our freight container.
Fast-rope cables dropped from the open doors of the lead helicopter, hitting the steel roof with heavy metallic thuds.
"They're breaching from above!" the tactical team leader roared, racking the slide of his carbine. "Harper! Get into the safe bay with the infants! NOW!"
I didn't run to the safe bay.
I looked at the primary terminal screen, where my mother's override sequence was flashing in bright red text:
OVERRIDE SYSTEM READY. AWAITING EXECUTIVE VOICE COMMAND.
I looked at Ethan, who was struggling to sit up in his bed, his face pale with agony as he looked at me.
"Harper..." Ethan gasped. "Go to the bay..."
"No," I said, my voice dropping into an absolute, icy calm I had never felt before in my life. "This is my mother's train."
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I stepped up to the main console, pressed my palm against the biometric glass, and spoke clearly into the receiver microphone.
"Voice authorization: Harper Maya Grant," I commanded. "Execute Vance Protocol One."
