Ten minutes earlier, a ship with all its lights off silently approached the ocean research base. Once the ship stopped, Jason Bourne emerged from the cabin, quickly donning his diving gear before slipping into the water from the stern.
Beneath the surface, Jason moved silently, quickly reaching the titanium alloy fence that surrounded the base. Using tools he carried with him, he detached a segment of the fencing and slipped through.
The torrential rain above helped mask his approach. He didn't have to worry about being spotted due to air bubbles—visibility in the water was already low because of the storm and the encroaching darkness. But all of this only made Jason's infiltration easier.
The spotlight from the control tower illuminated the water below, giving Jason good visibility. With powerful kicks from his fins, he advanced swiftly through the murky water.
Suddenly, his instincts flared—a primal warning born of years of intense training. Jason twisted around just in time to see a massive shape charging at him through the gloom.
A great white shark.
Its jaws gaped wide as it closed the distance, revealing rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. Legend had it that great whites had up to 5,000 teeth. The sight alone could chill the soul.
Jason's heart pounded, but he forced himself to stay calm. At the last second, he arched his back and delivered a precise double kick to the shark's snout, using its momentum to flip himself alongside it. Then, he grabbed onto the root of its jaw and let the beast pull him forward.
It was a move worthy of myth—too bad there was no one to see it.
The shark, having missed its strike, now swam forward with Jason clinging to its side. But Jason knew better than to ride this thing for long. That first escape had been luck—God wouldn't help him twice.
After being dragged a short distance, he spotted the edge of the base. Letting go, Jason quickly scrambled up an iron ladder onto the structure. Just as he reached the top, the dark shape of the great white surged back through the water beneath him. It had indeed returned.
Having narrowly escaped, Jason exhaled a heavy breath and muttered a curse under his breath. Why the hell would an ocean research base be keeping great whites, of all things?
Then he spotted a figure in the fuel zone. Even in the dark, Jason recognized Glaz immediately. Avril's own whereabouts might have been elusive, but her close associates were no secret. Seeing Glaz confirmed Jason hadn't come here for nothing.
He watched the elevator stop at the second floor, then headed toward the adjacent stairwell.
…
Underwater, Second Floor
Owen and Eddie were hiding behind a waterproof bulkhead door, quietly observing the lab.
Inside, bright fluorescent lights lit up a scene of bustling activity. A few lab-coated technicians were busy at work. From the look of it, only one man and one woman were actual researchers—the rest appeared to be assistants.
The woman had to be Dr. Susie.
At the center of the lab was a pool that connected to the outside ocean. A massive great white shark lay motionless in the water, heavily sedated. The male researcher was operating a machine, extracting something from the shark's skull.
"Brain matter…" Owen murmured, watching as the extracted fluid was handed to Dr. Susie. She began a procedure with practiced ease. Soon, the large monitor showed the microscopic reaction as everyone waited.
At first, nothing.
Then, the cells under the microscope—previously laced with red filaments—began to change. The red veins gradually faded.
"We did it! We actually did it!"
The two lead researchers hugged in jubilation. Dr. Susie picked up a recorder, her voice trembling as she spoke: "It's a success. We really did it. The second-generation targeted shark brain protein has successfully reacted with Alzheimer's cells. This means a true cure for Alzheimer's is within reach."
"That's not all…" the male researcher said, adjusting his glasses in excitement. "If we replace the regular shark brain protein in Blue One with the second-generation version, the effects will be even more powerful. Users will have faster learning capabilities, sharper reflexes, and enhanced strength. Of course, the addictive side effects will be worse too. Unfortunately, that's something we still haven't solved…"
While the rest of the lab celebrated, Owen frowned. He didn't know what "second-generation shark brain protein" meant, but from what Susie just said, it had led to not only an Alzheimer's treatment but also to something called "Blue One" with some sort of enhancement effects. What was that?
The thought had barely formed when the lab doors swung open. A woman in a leather jacket strode in with sharp, clicking bootsteps. Owen tensed—it was Avril.
The sharp sound of her heels cut through the celebration. One of the assistants, a short-haired woman, stepped forward.
"Ms. Vivienne, you can't come in—this is a restricted lab—"
Bang!
The assistant dropped dead before finishing her sentence.
"I'm not Vivienne," Avril said coldly. "I'm here for something. Dr. Susie, I want the USB around your neck. And you—" she turned to the male researcher, "—you're holding the upgraded Blue One, right? Hand it over."
As she spoke, she casually yet purposefully waved her gun across the room. Everyone instinctively backed away.
"Who are you? A spy? MI6? CIA? You know what Blue One is—you should know who it belongs to. Do you understand what you're doing?" the researcher asked, flustered.
Avril laughed. "Of course I know. Blue One is a CIA-commissioned enhancement drug. Sure, it has flaws, but its power is undeniable. And you know how I know? Because I was supposed to be one of its first test subjects. Now shut up and give it to me."
She fired another shot—this one into the shark. The previously sedated animal flinched, then thrashed violently, breaking free from its restraints and darting back into the sea through the water inlet, vanishing into the deep.
Having now killed someone and released the shark, Avril's savagery had silenced everyone. Terrified, the male researcher handed over the vial without protest.
Then came a creak at the door.
Glaz entered, gave Avril an "OK" gesture, and whispered, "Bombs are set."
His voice was quiet, but in the hushed lab it rang like a bell. Everyone heard it.
Bombs? Everyone's mind jumped to the worst possible conclusion—mass execution, just like in every thriller they'd ever seen.
In an underwater base, any breach in structure could be catastrophic. The entire facility depended on tightly sealed pressure systems. A single bullet could bring it all down—explosives weren't just dangerous, they were apocalypse-level threats.
"Give me the USB," Avril demanded, her patience gone as she stepped forward.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Owen knew it was now or never.
Whatever this "Blue One" really was, if Avril wanted it, then it had to be important—and Owen wasn't about to let her have it.
It was clear now—Avril's long-term interest in this place revolved entirely around Blue One. It had to be critical to her plans. There was no way Owen would let her succeed.
______
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