Somewhere below—
The second Architect is waiting.
And the timer continues counting down.
0:34:11
Less than thirty-five minutes before Los Angeles begins to collapse.
Boone glances toward the rooftop access door.
Then back at me.
“Ready?”
I take a breath.
“No.”
Then I close my laptop and step forward anyway.
“Let’s go stop an Architect.”
45
Boone
The rooftop door explodes inward.
River doesn’t hesitate.
He moves first—fast, controlled, weapon sweeping the stairwell.
“Clear left.”
“Clear right,” Gage answers behind him.
Boone keeps one arm slightly back.
Shielding Wren without slowing the team.
The stairwell spirals downward through concrete and steel.
Logan’s helicopter fades into the distance above them.
Now it’s just boots hitting metal steps.
Fast.
Quiet.
Focused.
River’s voice stays calm.
“Two floors down to the control hub.”
Wren runs beside Boone, laptop open again, fingers flying across the keyboard as she moves.
