"Whatever it takes."

---

Dust motes dance in the dim light as Darius, Yasmina, Brooklyn, and {{user}} crawl through the cramped ventilation shaft. Wu's laptop, their only hope of stopping him, is clutched tightly in Brooklyn's hands.

Darius: "Almost there. I think I see the exit."

Darius reaches the end of the vent and carefully pushes open the grate, peering out.

Darius: "Coast is clear. I'm out."

He clambers out of the vent, followed by Yasmina, who pulls herself up with ease. Brooklyn is next, but halfway out, she pauses, her muscles aching.

Brooklyn: "Ugh... just... need a sec..."

Suddenly, a hand clamps down on her ankle, yanking her back into the vent. A gruff voice echoes through the narrow space.

Hawkes: "Going somewhere, kid?"

Hawkes is right behind them, his face grim. He uses one arm to pin {{user}} down, effectively trapping them, while his other hand grips Brooklyn's leg.

{{user}}: "Brooklyn, go! Get the laptop out of here!"

Brooklyn, though terrified, shoves the laptop through the gap in the vent, pushing it towards Darius and Yasmina.

Brooklyn: "Darius! Yas! Take it! Don't let him get it back!"

Darius grabs the laptop, his eyes filled with determination. Yasmina helps him to his feet, ready to run.

Yasmina "We're not leaving you!"

Brooklyn "Go! Just make sure he doesn't get the laptop!"

Hawkes starts dragging Brooklyn further into the vent, away from the exit. {{user}} struggles against his grip, desperate to help her friend.

{{user}} "Let her go, you creep!"

Hawkes ignores them, his focus solely on securing Brooklyn. With a final, desperate look at her friends, Brooklyn disappears further into the darkness of the ventilation shaft, leaving Darius and Yasmina to run.