Chapter 6 - The Encirclement
Mason’s voice went flat, cold, and entirely devoid of emotion. "Gideon."
The man in the suit was Arthur Gideon, Chief Operating Officer of Vanguard BioTech—and the man who had ordered the fateful trial at Fort Bragg six years ago.
Sienna stood up, pushing Ava’s wheelchair behind her, shielding her daughter with her own body. "Who allowed you into this private facility?"
Gideon didn't look at Sienna. His eyes remained locked on Mason. "You’ve done remarkable work here, Major. Using our experimental myofascial release protocols on a civilian child. I must admit, I’m impressed you managed to reconstruct the neural interface sequencing from memory."
"She’s a child, Gideon," Mason said, his voice dropping an octave, carrying a terrifying resonance. "Get your men out of this building before I break them in half."
Gideon chuckled dryly. "Still the same hot-headed combat rescue hero. Unfortunately for you, Major, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina issued a federal warrant for your arrest twenty minutes ago. Unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, theft of military intellectual property, and high treason."
Gideon tapped his finger against the glass.
"Two federal marshals are currently sitting in the administrator's office upstairs," Gideon continued smoothy. "Accompanied by a team of private contractors authorized to seize all research materials, digital files, and personal equipment associated with your work."
Sienna stepped forward, her eyes blazing with corporate fury. "I am Sienna Ashford, CEO of Ashford Capital. I own this facility, I own the land it sits on, and I employ every attorney currently practicing in this district. If your men take one step into this therapy room, I will file an emergency federal injunction that will freeze Vanguard BioTech's assets before the sun goes down!"
Gideon finally turned his eyes toward Sienna, offering a cold, patronizing nod. "Ah, Ms. Ashford. The brilliant venture capitalist. You're very powerful in Oregon, I'm sure. But you are vastly out of your depth when it comes to national security contracts."
Gideon gestured to one of the leather-jacketed men beside him.
"We aren't here to harm you or your daughter, Ms. Ashford," Gideon said. "We simply want the Major and the encrypted hard drive he stole from our research laboratory in 2020. Give us the drive, let the marshals take the Major, and you can keep your daughter's newfound voice."
Ava, sitting in her chair behind Sienna, reached out and grabbed her mother's dress, her small body trembling with sudden fear. "Mommy... don't let them take Mr. Mason."
Mason turned his head slightly, glancing back at Ava. The cold, lethal intensity in his eyes softened for a fraction of a second.
"They're not taking anyone, Ava," Mason said softly.
He looked back at Gideon through the glass.
"The hard drive isn't here, Gideon," Mason said. "It's in a secure safety deposit box at a private vault in Seattle. And the decryption key is stored inside a localized server that wipes itself if my biometrics don't check in every forty-eight hours."
Gideon’s smile faded slightly. "You're bluffing."
"Try me," Mason said flatly. "Arrest me, put me in a federal holding cell, and watch six years of clinical research—including the proof that Vanguard forged safety data that killed nineteen-year-old soldiers—automatically broadcast to every major news network and federal prosecutor in the country."
The corridor went deathly quiet.
Gideon stared at Mason through the two-way glass, his jaw clenching hard. He knew Mason Ryder didn't bluff.
"You have twenty-four hours, Major," Gideon said, his voice turning razor-sharp. "Bring the hard drive to the Vanguard regional office in downtown Portland by six o'clock tomorrow evening. Or we will initiate a civil asset forfeiture seizure on this entire facility, and your little patient will spend the rest of her childhood in a state ward while her mother fights federal subpoenas."
Gideon turned on his heel and walked down the corridor, his two security operatives following close behind.
The heavy steel door clicked shut.
Sienna turned to Mason, her face pale. "Is it true? Do you have the drive in Seattle?"
May you like
Mason looked at her, his eyes dark and filled with a bitter, tragic truth.
"There is no drive in Seattle, Sienna," Mason whispered softly. "The drive is hidden right here in Portland. And it's the only thing keeping me alive."
