The convoy moved silently through the empty streets of Manhattan.
No flashing lights.
No sirens.
Only the steady hum of engines cutting through the early morning darkness.
Inside the lead SUV, Emily glanced at Victoria.
"You've barely said a word."
Victoria looked out the window.
"I'm thinking."
"About Eclipse?"
Victoria shook her head.
"About us."
Emily smiled softly.
"That's a good thing, I hope."
Victoria turned to her.
"A month ago I would've arrested anyone who got this close to me."
Emily laughed quietly.
"And a month ago I would've arrested you."
They shared a smile before silence settled between them again.
This time, it felt comfortable.
Walker spoke through the radio.
"We're five minutes out."
"No one moves until I give the order."
The team acknowledged.
Outside, an abandoned warehouse district appeared through the morning fog.
Beneath it...
Eclipse waited.
Before they left the vehicle, Victoria reached for Emily's hand.
"If something happens..."
Emily immediately interrupted.
"It won't."
"You don't know that."
Emily looked into Victoria's blue eyes.
"I know one thing."
"What?"
"I'm not saying goodbye."
Victoria smiled.
"Neither am I."
Emily leaned forward and kissed her gently.
It was soft and lingering, filled with quiet reassurance rather than urgency.
When they pulled apart, Victoria rested her forehead against Emily's.
"When this is over," she whispered, "I'm taking you somewhere far away from New York."
Emily smiled.
"The little house?"
Victoria nodded.
"With the garden."
"And the golden retriever."
Emily laughed.
"I've already picked out a name."
Victoria raised an eyebrow.
"You have?"
"'Atlas.'"
Victoria laughed so hard she had to wipe away a tear.
"That's either the best idea..."
"...or the worst."
"Probably both."
Walker knocked on the SUV window.
"As much as I hate ruining the moment..."
Emily rolled her eyes.
"You've got incredible timing."
"I know."
Walker became serious again.
"It's time."
The team entered the abandoned warehouse.
Luca found the hidden freight elevator almost immediately.
"It goes down."
Walker checked his weapon.
"Everyone ready?"
Victoria looked at Emily.
Emily nodded.
"Together."
The elevator groaned as it descended.
Lower.
Lower.
Deeper beneath New York.
The doors finally opened.
Rows of steel corridors stretched before them.
Computer servers hummed behind reinforced glass.
Security cameras turned toward them.
They had found Eclipse.
But it wasn't empty.
A slow clap echoed through the corridor.
Adrian Volkov stepped into view, flanked by armed Black Vipers.
He smiled as though greeting old friends.
"I was beginning to think you'd changed your minds."
Victoria stepped forward.
"It's over, Volkov."
He laughed.
"No."
He looked at Emily.
"I see love has made you both very brave."
Emily stood shoulder to shoulder with Victoria.
"It made us stronger."
Volkov's smile faded.
"We'll test that."
Without warning, every light in the corridor went out.
Red emergency lamps flickered on.
Steel blast doors slammed shut behind the team.
A deafening alarm echoed through the underground complex.
Then came the sound of automatic weapons being loaded all around them.
The final battle had begun.