Chapter 1100:

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Coen’s response was low and swift. “Establish barricades. Slow them down.”

After issuing the order, Coen turned to Hannah, his voice tight. “Vera’s convoy is inbound. We’re attempting to impede her, but she’s determined. We may not be able to stop her.”

Hannah’s eyes hardened. Vera could not discover Xander operating on Vincent’s chip. Her voice was calm, ice over steel. “How much longer, Dr. Ward?”

Xander didn’t lift his head, his fingers flying. “Fifteen minutes! We are at the command nexus—aborting now could cause the chip to lock down or initiate a self-destruct protocol. The damage would be permanent!”

“Coen,” Hannah commanded, her decision made, “you have fifteen minutes. Use any means necessary. Create a diversion, a blockade, a traffic incident—whatever works. Hold them back.”

“Roger!” Coen snapped into action, relaying urgent commands.

Anxiety coiled tightly in Hannah’s chest. The procedure on Vincent wasn’t finished yet. Every tick of the clock grated against her nerves.

Inside the treatment room, Xander suddenly exhaled a sharp, triumphant breath. “Key acquired! Injecting dormancy sequence… Ten percent… Thirty percent…”

“Ms. Scott!” Coen’s voice crackled over the comm again, strained. “They breached the outer barrier! Vera and six personnel are proceeding on foot. ETA five minutes!”

Hannah’s resolve solidified into something cold and sharp. Vera was relentless. Letting her come in and see Xander was completely out of the question.

𝗖𝘩i𝘯𝘦𝘀𝖾 𝘯𝘰𝘃𝘦𝗅s t𝘳a𝗇𝗌𝗅𝘢𝗍е𝗱 o𝗻 𝗴𝖺𝗹𝗇𝗼𝘷𝘦𝗹s.𝗰𝘰𝗆

“Dr. Ward!” Hannah rushed to the observation window.

“Eighty percent… Injection complete!” Xander sagged in relief, swiftly disconnecting the leads from Vincent’s temples. “The chip is dormant. He’s coming around; the sedative is wearing off. Disorientation and severe cranial pain are expected.”

As Xander finished, Hannah quickly commanded, “Coen, move. Get Dr. Ward out of here. I’ll leave two people on-site. Everyone else, move the equipment through the secondary exit and erase every trace!”

A group of roughly ten helped Xander and his assistant rapidly gather the essential devices and slip out through a hidden side passage.

In moments, the high-tech medical suite reverted to a disused, ordinary classroom.

Hannah steadied Vincent and lifted him to his feet. He collapsed against her, his forehead settling into the curve of her neck.

“Vincent? Can you hear me?” She tapped his cheek, her pulse thundering. Time was a luxury they had already spent.

She kept calling out to Vincent, trying to pull him back to awareness.

Finally, Vincent stirred, a low groan escaping him as his eyelids fluttered open. His pupils contracted wildly, then dilated, struggling to find focus. A hurricane of fractured memories and pain seemed to crash behind his eyes, and his hands flew to his temples with a stifled cry.

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Message from Noa: We’re in the final quarter of the year, my dear ones, hang in there! God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. (ɔO‿=)ɔ ♥

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