The command console, the heart of the center, sat like the bridge of a warship in the center of the room.The center itself held holo-displays, multiple feeds, and encrypted communications terminals.The air smelled faintly of ozone, steel, and roasted coffee and the faint blue light of the screens cast reflections across the polished floor, flickering like water.Kael and Niko took their places at the main table as Kael keyed in the Ridge frequency.
The holo-projector pulsed once before blooming to life.Bateman appeared first—clean-cut, squared shoulders, tight black t-shirt and his normal half-grin in place.Behind him, Kai and Hogan came into view.Kai’s dark hair was pulled back, his usual smirk firmly in place.Hogan stood beside him, arms crossed, wearing that casual grin that always made trouble feel like an option.
“Bruh,” Kai greeted, flashing a smile.“That setup looks better than here at the Ridge.You out building us now?”
Kael chuckled, leaning his hip against the table.“You know me, Kai.Can’t help it if I build things right.”His gaze softened briefly.“Good to see you, brother.Hogan.”
“Always a pleasure, Surge,” Hogan said, raising a hand in salute.“Heard your coffee’s still terrible.”
Kael smirked.“Still better than yours.”He leaned back, folding his arms.“So, Bateman—what’s the urgency?”
Bateman’s face stayed calm, but there was a tension in his voice that made Kael straighten.“We’ve got a developing situation in Newark.Viktor Sokolov—the Bratya head we’ve been talking about and had eyes on since that blowup out there in Hawaii.The bastard is setting up operations stateside.He’s running distribution through the port.Drugs, weapons, human smuggling, you name it.He’s buying out the docks and locking down the city one crew at a time.”
Niko leaned forward, arms braced on the table.“That’s a heavy play for one man.The Bratya must be spread thin for him to make a move that bold.”
“Exactly,” Bateman said.“He’s consolidating control of the East Coast routes.We’ve intercepted internal chatter and movement manifests that line up perfectly with satellite imaging.Whoever’s behind this knows what they’re doing.”
Kael frowned.“That’s detailed work, Bateman.Who gave you this intel?”
Bateman’s gaze sharpened.“Came from a ghost.”
Niko blinked.“Ghost?No way in hell.Ethan’s still recovering—”
Kael cut him off, one brow raised.“You keeping tabs on him again?”
Niko froze, instantly defensive.“Not keeping tabs.Just...you know, checking in.Occasionally.On socials and the like.”
Kael folded his arms, amused.“So, you’re cyberstalking him.”
Niko sighed, shoulders sagging.“You make it sound so creepy when you say it like that.”
Kai laughed from the screen.“That’s because itiscreepy.”
Even Bateman cracked a smile.“Focus, gentlemen.”He cleared his throat.“It’s not Ethan.This came from someone else—call sign Wraith.”
Kael’s posture stilled, his pulse tightening.“Wraith?The same Wraith who dismantled that trafficking ring in Serbia two years back?Alone?”
“The same,” Bateman confirmed.“He contacted me directly.Dropped full operational data, including logistics, payroll, and surveillance footage.Cross-checked through the Ridge tech and two independent systems.It’s airtight.”
Niko gave a low whistle.“That’s insane.I heard he went into that compound with a knife, a sat-phone, and a grudge.Fifteen traffickers down.Eight hostages out.No camera footage, no trace.Ghosted before the authorities even knew he was there.”
Kai nodded.“Not a myth.Pathfinders tracked the aftermath.He’s the real deal.”
Kael let the name roll through his mind, feeling it like an echo through time.“So, Wraith wants us to take out Sokolov.”
“That’s right,” Bateman said.“He’s been monitoring the operation for weeks.The evidence is solid.You’re the best team for a quick, surgical takedown.”
Kael nodded once.“Then, we move.No point sitting on clean intel.Our path is clear, our code intact.”
Niko adjusted the screen overlays.“We’ll need transport plans, port schematics, dock traffic, and flight clearances.”
Bateman gestured off-screen.“All of it’s in your drop folder.You’re wheels up as soon as you’re ready.Wraith’s package is encrypted to your systems.”
Kael’s tone stayed even.“We’ll handle it.You’ll hear from us when the job’s done.”
Kai stepped forward, his tone softening.“E malama pono, bruh.Keep safe.”
Kael’s mouth lifted at one corner.“Always,kai aloha.”
