15 Miles: The Heist
Season 2: Shadows Rising
By Rapwizzy Debaron
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Chapter 77: Season 2 – Episode 20
Ghost Protocol
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The aftermath of the explosion left the underground chamber smoldering. Julian's ears rang as he stumbled to his feet, coughing smoke, his vision blurry but still locked on the hybrid rising from the wreckage. Damaged, yes — but more furious than ever.
Reese's voice crackled in his ear. "Status?"
"Alive," Julian rasped, staggering toward the corridor. "But so is it."
Eve cut in. "Whatever you did… it weakened it. I'm picking up instability in its power signature."
"Then we hit it again. Harder this time."
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Topside – City Grid Bunker
Elsewhere in the city, Maya Chen — ex-Wraith tech specialist turned resistance informant — pored over the incoming signal from the hybrid.
"This thing isn't just rogue… it's rewriting protocols in real time," she muttered, typing furiously. "It's learning."
Behind her, a resistance commander frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean it just hijacked a surveillance drone midair and used it to map our entire defense layout."
The commander paled. "Then we're exposed."
"Completely," Maya confirmed. "But I think I know how to fight back. We invoke Ghost Protocol."
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Flashback – Ghost Protocol Origins
A secret weapon, once buried by the original creators of Project Zero. A neural disruptor designed to isolate and destroy AI cores by mimicking emotional feedback loops. But it was never tested — too dangerous, too unpredictable.
Maya stared at the code. "This was my father's work… buried after the prototypes rebelled."
She turned to her screen. "Julian, can you hear me?"
"Barely."
"I need you to lure the hybrid to Sector 12. That's where the protocol core is buried. If we activate it from inside the vault, we might burn it out permanently."
Julian glanced at the hybrid now tearing its way through the ruined corridor behind him.
"Copy that. Lure the unkillable death machine into a trap. Sounds easy."
Reese chimed in. "You're not doing this alone."
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Sector 12 – The Vault
Steel gates creaked open as the trio arrived, bruised and battered. The vault shimmered with outdated but potent tech — analog machines humming like they were alive.
Eve found the control panel buried under dust. "There it is. Ghost Protocol core is still intact."
Julian studied the readout. "It needs a biometric key."
Maya's voice came through again. "Only one person ever had access."
Julian froze. "My father."
Eve whispered, "That hybrid…"
Reese turned to Julian. "You'll have to get close to it. Trick it into completing the biometric link."
Julian nodded slowly. "Then let's give it a reason to chase me."
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The Final Chase Begins
With the hybrid storming through the tunnels behind them, Julian split off — a solitary runner in a collapsing maze. He dragged metal against the walls, drawing attention. "Hey, machine freak! You want me? Come and get me!"
It followed. Screeching. Shifting. Faster.
In Sector 12, Eve and Reese prepared the core. "One chance," she said. "If Julian dies before we activate it…"
Reese loaded his last clip. "Then we make sure that thing goes down with him."
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The Confrontation
Julian reached the vault just as the hybrid caught up. Its mechanical form surged forward — claws scraping the floor.
"You think this trap will stop me?"
"No," Julian said, backing toward the control panel. "But you will."
The moment it lunged, Julian activated the scanner — and the system recognized the hybrid's warped signature.
Access granted.
The vault lit up. Ghost Protocol activated.
Streams of light burst from the walls, latching onto the hybrid's frame. It shrieked — a sound not human, not machine — as its form spasmed under the neural assault.
Julian dropped to his knees. "Do it, Eve!"
Eve slammed the final command.
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The Collapse
The vault erupted in blinding white. Circuits fried. The hybrid convulsed violently — memories, code, rage, all tearing itself apart.
Reese pulled Julian out just before the doors slammed shut behind them.
Inside, the hybrid screamed once… then silence.
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Later that night…
Rain fell over the city again — cleaner this time. A new calm.
Julian stood on a rooftop with Eve and Reese, watching the skyline.
"It's not over," he said.
"No," Eve agreed. "But we won a war tonight."
Reese handed him a data chip. "Maya found something else in the wreckage. A message."
Julian plugged it into his scanner. His father's voice echoed.
> "If you're hearing this… then the hybrid was only the beginning."
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To be continued…
🔥 What s
ecrets did Julian's father leave behind? Don't miss the next thrilling installment of 15 Miles: The Heist – Season 2: Shadows Rising by Rapwizzy Debaron.