This was really bad news-the drone circled them ominously, capturing every moment. Mira could feel her heart beating faster. "What do we do?" she asked, turning to Lila, who continued focusing on uploading their data.

"I can't hack it from here! We've got to land!" exclaimed Lila, furrowing her brow in deep concentration.

He banked the helicopter, trying to shake the drone, which followed, its camera zooming in on Kintz's face. "They'll come for us," Kintz sneered. "You think this is an escape? It's a trap.

Mira coldly shrugged him off, flying on, her mind racing, till they reached a very remote area where they could safely land. "We need to regroup and figure out our next move," she said, even though chaos was erupting everywhere.

The helicopter drew back until they descended into some sort of isolated forest area, circling back toward the city. "We gotta move fast," Victor urged, pulling Kintz out of the helicopter and securing him against a tree.

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"Lila, is it possible in any way to turn off the tracking of the drone?" Mira asked when she knew they needed some time.

“I’ll try!” Lila replied, already pulling out her device again. “But I’ll need a few minutes.”

As Lila labored, Mira wheeled on Kintz, her face an iron mask. "You are not going to win, Kintz. We're going to show them what you, what the Collective's made of.".

Kintz chuckled then, his eyes gleaming with malignant purpose. "You underrated my influence. Even should you stop me now, there are others to carry on my work.

Whatever Mira might say was cut off by the sound of rustling in the bushes not far away. She whipped around, an instinctive movement: "Shh. Do you hear that?".

Then out of the darkness loomed an altitude, a woman, marvelously figured, with something commanding in the pose of her. "I recommend that you take that man down from the tree before he gets you all killed," she said by right of command.

Who are you?" Mira repeated, ready to defend her team. Out came this face, so fierce yet collected: "I'm Agent Sophia Ramirez, and for years, I've been tracking something called the Obsidian Collective. You guys need me. No sooner had Sophia said this than the armed men appeared right behind her, guns pointed. "Put your hands up!" one yelled, and Mira realized they were surrounded after all.