04:36 a.m.
Paradise Island.

Lockdown—

complete.

Sea.
Land.
Air.

All—

tightened.

The city—

no longer flowing.

Only—

filtering.

“Movement anomaly detected.”

A point.

Moving.

Controlled.

“Hossein Ahmadinejad.”

“Location locked.”

“Dock perimeter.”

“He’s waiting.”

“I’m going.”

4:58 a.m.

Old dock.

Wind—

cold.

Water—

black.

He stands.

Waiting.

“You came.”

“You’re done.”

“No.”

Then—

movement.

No warning.

Direct.

Combat.

Step.

Cut.

I shift.

Block.

Control.

He counters.

Elbow.

Knee.

Close.

Lock.

Break.

Reset.

Distance—

less than one meter.

Blade.

Short.

Fast.

I redirect.

Control wrist.

Pressure.

Break line.

He escapes.

Again.

Faster.

Lower angle.

I step in.

Lock.

Joint control.

This time—

deep.

“End.”

Break.

Strike.

Impact.

He bleeds.

Still standing.

“You’re good.”

“You’re late.”

Silence.

He steps back.

Then—

jumps.

Water.

Gone.

6:12 a.m.

SID Operations Room.

KARAM network—

collapsed.

“Confirmed neutralized.”

But—

“Status?”

Hossein Ahmadinejad:

UNKNOWN

“He’s alive.”

“And gone.”

“Where?”

“Country C.”

Silence.

“Paradise Island is safe.”

Pause.

“For now.”