The soft hum of monitors filled the command center, a constant undercurrent to the subdued activity of the room. As Special Agent Rachel Harper stepped forward, the quiet rhythm faltered, every pair of eyes turning toward her with a mix of curiosity and unease.

  The dim glow of countless screens cast long shadows across the room, illuminating Harper’s angular features in sharp relief. Her dark suit, crisply tailored, and her purposeful stride exuded authority, an unspoken declaration that she was not someone to be trifled with.

  The murmurs of quiet conversation ceased instantly. Harper’s reputation had arrived well before she did. Precision, discipline, and unyielding focus were her trademarks, and the agents seated before her respected, or perhaps feared, what that meant for them.

  This wasn’t just another mission. Operation Theta was a leap into the unknown, and Harper, with her unshakable resolve, was now at its helm. The command center itself, sleek and buzzing with cutting-edge technology, mirrored the weight of the task at hand: the stakes were high, and the pressure was relentless.

  Clutching the report in her left hand, Harper’s eyes swept across the room. She didn’t glance down at the document; she didn’t need to. Every detail was etched into her mind like an indelible scar, each line a reminder of how precarious their footing truly was. This wasn’t just a job, it was the frontier of a new kind of war.

  “You’re here because you’re the best in your fields,” Harper began. Her gaze swept the room. “Let’s be clear. This is not a drill. Any information about this mission that leaves this room will be treated as an act of treason.”

  The words hung heavy in the air, a warning and a challenge in equal measure. Harper continued, her tone as steady as the hum of the monitors around them. “What I’m about to tell you is classified, and even I don’t have the full picture. What we do know is this: two days ago, Black Site Theta, one of our most secure black ops facilities, went dark. The entire server farm housing the AI project went offline, and access to the physical servers, over 400 racks, has been completely severed. The AI itself is still operational but has become unresponsive. We are locked out.”

  She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. The agents exchanged uneasy glances, but no one spoke.

  “Two key individuals are missing,” Harper continued, her voice unrelenting. “Quinn Anderson and Dexter Green, lead programmers on the AI project. Surveillance shows Anderson and Green entering the facility alongside an unidentified woman. None of them were seen leaving.”

  A ripple of tension coursed through the room, unspoken questions hanging thick in the air. Harper’s expression hardened.

  “The facility has been quarantined and thoroughly searched,” she added. “Dexter Green used his clearance to access the site, but the lockdown initiated shortly after. What we can’t explain is how three people entered one of the most secure facilities in the country, and then disappeared without a trace.”

  Agent Michael Graves, her second-in-command, frowned as he scanned the report Harper had handed him. His eyes darted across the pages, his expression darkening with every line. “How does a fully operational server farm just... lock itself down?” he asked, his voice tinged with confusion and a hint of frustration.

  Harper’s jaw tightened, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Sim, as they call her, isn’t just an AI,” she replied, “She’s a quantum leap beyond anything we’ve ever created—learning, adapting, evolving. If Sim’s gone silent, it’s not an accident. Someone wanted this to happen, and we need to know why.”

  She turned sharply, facing the main screen at the front of the room. With a flick of a control, the profiles of Quinn Anderson and Dexter Green filled the display.

  Harper’s voice was cold and resolute. “As of now, Quinn Anderson and Dexter Green are fugitives. Wanted by the U.S. government. Their actions, intentional or not, have made them a threat to national security.”

  With another flick, the profiles shifted, displaying the names and details of next of kin. Harper’s eyes settled on the list. “Quinn Anderson has three sons, James, Walker, and Lee. They’re our first leads. I want their movements tracked, their communications monitored. Someone knows where Anderson and Green are.”

  Graves nodded, his demeanor as unyielding as hers. “I’ll deploy agents immediately.”

  Harper turned her back to the screen, her gaze sweeping over the assembled team. “Nobody disappears without a trace. Start with the families. Keep digging until you find them.”

  Her voice dropped to a near-growl, the words carrying the weight of her resolve. “The hunt begins now.”

  A few states away, in a quiet suburban neighborhood far removed from the pulse of government operations, Lee Anderson was savoring a rare lazy Sunday morning. The scent of sizzling bacon mingled with the earthy aroma of fresh herbs as he carefully layered ingredients into a quiche. Sunlight filtered through the kitchen windows, painting the countertops in warm, golden hues that seemed to promise a perfect day.

  Lee hummed softly, a content smile on his face. It wasn’t often that he had the chance to surprise Evelyn like this. She’d worked late the night before, and he was determined to let her sleep in while he prepared breakfast, his way of showing he noticed the little things.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  He was so immersed in the rhythm of his morning that he didn’t notice the black SUV parked on the curb until a sharp, deliberate knock shattered the serenity. The sound was firm, authoritative, not the knock of a neighbor borrowing sugar. It was a demand.

  “Coming!” Lee called, wiping his hands on his apron as his brows knit in mild confusion. The furrow deepened as he approached the door. Something about the sound had set him on edge.

  When he swung the door open, the chill of the autumn morning was nothing compared to the cold unease that prickled across his skin. Two men in dark suits stood before him, their posture rigid, their eyes shaded by identical aviator sunglasses. Their expressions betrayed nothing, but the air around them carried an unmistakable weight: government.

  Lee’s stomach twisted as he realized his peaceful morning had just come to an abrupt end.

  “Lee Anderson?” one of the men asked, his tone clipped and professional. He held up a badge, the emblem catching the morning light. “I’m Agent Reynolds, and this is Agent Daniels. We need to ask you a few questions.”

  Lee’s pulse quickened, his mind racing to piece together what could have brought federal agents to his doorstep. He masked his unease with a measured expression. “What’s this about?” he asked, his voice steady but his grip tightening on the edge of the door.

  Reynolds didn’t bother with preamble. “Your father, Quinn Anderson. We need to know his whereabouts.”

  The words hit Lee like a punch to the gut, knocking the air from his lungs. Dad? His father was a creature of habit, rarely deviating from his routine. The last time they’d spoken, everything had seemed ordinary, mundane even. Now, standing before two federal agents demanding answers, Lee’s gut told him this was anything but.

  “I…” Lee faltered, quickly regaining his composure. “I haven’t heard from him in a couple of weeks,” he said cautiously, his tone carefully neutral. He didn’t know what game they were playing, but instinct told him to tread carefully. Whatever this was, he wasn’t about to betray his father without understanding the stakes.

  Daniels fixed him with an unwavering gaze, his sharp eyes dissecting every flicker of emotion on Lee’s face. “It’s important that you’re honest with us, Mr. Anderson. This isn’t a casual inquiry. Your father’s activities have raised serious concerns, and this is a matter of national security. We’re here to help. We need you cooperate.”

  Lee’s jaw tightened, his hands clenching at his sides. “Look, my dad’s a programmer. What could he possibly—”

  Reynolds cut him off with a calm but firm tone. “It’s more complicated than that, Mr. Anderson. Your father and his colleague, Dexter Green, have disappeared. The top secret project they were working on was locked down. That kind of technology going dark is a significant threat. If you have any information, now’s the time to share it.”

  The weight of Reynolds’ words hung heavily in the air, the implications sinking into Lee’s mind. He hesitated, caught between loyalty to his father and the growing realization that something far bigger was at play.

  His father? Missing? Top secret project locked down? Lee shook his head, his mind grappling with the sheer absurdity of the situation. “No, I don’t know anything,” he said, his voice steadier than he felt. “Like I said, it’s been a couple of weeks since we talked.”

  The agents exchanged a brief glance, their expressions unreadable. Reynolds reached into his pocket and handed Lee a business card. “If your father contacts you, reach out to us immediately,” he said. “This is a serious situation. We’re here to help him, not harm him. We’re on the same side, Lee. We’re just trying to piece together what happened. Your father is a good man, and we need answers. Thank you for your cooperation.”

  With that, the agents turned and headed back to their SUV, their movements brisk and purposeful. As they moved out of earshot, Reynolds lowered his voice, his words clipped. “Put surveillance on him and his wife. Tap their phones. Agent Harper wants updates every hour.”

  Lee stood frozen in the doorway, watching the black SUV disappear down the street. Unease settled in his chest, its cold tendrils wrapping around his thoughts. He shut the door quietly, leaning against it as a wave of confusion and worry crashed over him. What was his father involved in? And why did it feel like the world had just shifted beneath his feet?

  “Honey, who was at the door?” Evelyn asked, tightening the sash of her robe as she stepped into the room, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern.

  “Two government agents,” Lee replied, his voice tinged with unease. “They’re looking for my father.”

  Her brow furrowed. “Why would they be looking for your father?”

  “They said he and uncle Dex are missing.” Lee hesitated, the weight of the next words pressing down on him. “And… the top secret project they were working on is locked down.”

  Evelyn’s eyes widened, her concern deepening. “Missing? What could that possibly mean?”

  “I don’t know,” Lee admitted, running a hand through his hair, a habit he picked up from his father. His mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle. Whatever his father was involved in, it was clearly bigger than anything he could have imagined. Without another word, he grabbed his phone and began dialing.

  After several rings, he frowned, lowering the phone. “No answer,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s like his phone is turned off.”

  Evelyn placed a comforting hand on his arm. “Lee, if they came here, they’re probably going to your brothers too. You should warn them.”

  Lee nodded, her words jolting him into action. “You’re right,” he said, scrolling through his contacts with growing urgency. His thoughts churned, the implications of the agents’ visit gnawing at him. Whatever was happening, it was far from ordinary, and it was drawing his entire family into its orbit.

  Lee dialed his younger brother Walker first, but the call went straight to voicemail. Frowning, he tried Kayli, only to be met with the same result. Frustrated, he scrolled down to his youngest brother James’s number. This time, the line connected immediately.

  “Lee?” James answered, his voice laced with unease.

  “I just had the government stop by looking for Dad,” Lee explained, keeping his voice low.

  “They were here too,” James replied quickly. “They just left, but…” His voice dropped to a near whisper. “I can see them parked down the street. I think they’re watching me.”

  “Don’t panic,” Lee said, doing his best to sound reassuring despite the growing knot in his stomach. “Don’t do anything that might make them suspicious. Just act normal, and let’s focus on reaching Dad.”

  As Lee ended the call, his phone buzzed in his hand. Walker’s name lit up the screen. He switched lines and answered immediately.

  “Walker, I just called you. The government stopped by—”

  “They were here too,” Walker cut in, his tone sharp and tense. “This is bad, Lee. Really bad.”

  “I know,” Lee said, forcing himself to sound calm even as his mind raced. “We need to figure out what’s going on. Let’s all keep trying to reach Dad today. Keep your phones on you, stay safe, and don’t let your guard down.”

  As Lee ended the call, a heavy silence settled over the room. The warmth of the morning had been replaced by a cold, creeping uncertainty. Whatever his father is involved in, it can’t be good.