Chapter 6
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Part 7 — The Phoenix Protocol
The steering wheel started moving on its own.
Ethan tried to hold him, but felt a slight resistance.
The system had partially taken control.
A sequence of golden lights appeared on the dashboard, spanning the entire width of the instrument panel.
Then a message appeared.
Phoenix Protocol authorized.
CREATOR: DANIEL CARTER.
CONFIRMED HEIR USER.
The manager stared intently at the screen.
I've never seen anything like this...
Behind them, the three SUVs continued to approach.
The first one accelerated again.
This time he tried to push the hypercar off the road.
But the instant he touched the back of the golden vehicle, a metallic sound was heard.
The suspension adjusted automatically.
The four wheels shifted position slightly, increasing stability.
The SUV lost control.
It spun around on itself.
It ended up crashing into the central divider.
Ethan was surprised.
Did the car do that by itself?
The system responded immediately.
— Evasive maneuver completed. Probability of collision reduced to two percent.
The manager smiled for the first time since they had left the booth.
Your father built a car that learns in real time...
Ethan shook his head.
- No...
He looked at the panel.
He built a car that protects the driver.
The other two SUVs remained behind them.
They no longer tried to fight.
They simply followed suit.
As if they were waiting for the right moment.
After twenty minutes, the road began to climb.
The rain was becoming increasingly intense.
The map indicated a mountainous, practically deserted area.
The system started talking again.
Destination fifteen kilometers away.
"We're close," Ethan murmured.
Suddenly, a new window opened on the screen.
Message recorded by Daniel Carter.
The video started automatically.
Daniel appeared sitting in the old workshop.
He had the same tired look as in previous recordings.
But this time, smile.
Ethan...
If you are seeing this message, it means that the Phoenix Protocol has been activated.
This means only one thing.
They are chasing you.
The manager held his breath.
Daniel continued.
— If you've made it this far, you've already discovered that a car has never been just an automobile.
It was built to safeguard a truth.
A truth that many people are still willing to kill to hide.
The recording failed for a moment.
Then Daniel resumed.
Don't trust anyone just because they say they were my friend.
Trust only the facts.
And remember one thing...
Not all enemies use weapons.
Some people use smiles.
The recording has finished.
The manager slowly lowered his eyes.
Ethan realized.
You're thinking he might be talking about you.
The man did not try to defend himself.
- Yes.
— Is it?
The manager took a deep breath.
If I had been involved... I would never have gotten in this car with you.
Ethan remained silent.
I wanted to believe him.
But he also remembered his father's words.
Trust only the facts.
A few minutes later, the hypercar turned onto a narrow dirt road.
The trees covered almost the entire path.
In the distance, a huge concrete building appeared.
An old hydroelectric power plant.
Abandoned for decades.
The map disappeared.
In its place, only an arrow appeared.
Underground entrance.
"I don't see any entrance," said the manager.
Ethan didn't either.
In front of him was only a wall covered in vegetation.
Then he noticed a small golden symbol engraved on a stone.
It was exactly the same as the one on the dashboard.
He stopped the car.
He left slowly.
The rain was falling heavily.
He brought his hand close to the symbol.
The instant his fingers touched the surface...
A heavy mechanism was heard.
The mountain began to move.
A huge steel door emerged, hidden behind the vegetation.
The manager was speechless.
Did your father build this?
- I think so...
The doors opened wide.
Inside, there was a tunnel illuminated by lights that automatically turned on as the hypercar moved forward.
When they reached the end of the tunnel, Ethan froze.
Ahead of him lay a gigantic workshop.
Much bigger than the old one.
Tools impeccably organized.
Computers are still on.
Disassembled engines.
And in the center of the room...
Five golden hypercars.
Not just one.
Five.
All unfinished.
The manager approached slowly.
- My God...
The prototype...
— He wasn't the only one.
Ethan walked between the vehicles.
Each one had slight differences.
Different engines.
Different systems.
As if they were stages of an evolution.
Then he heard a sound.
Steps.
Coming from the darkness.
The boy turned around immediately.
A figure emerged in the background of the workshop.
Older.
Unshaven beard.
Gray hair.
Lean.
But unmistakable.
Daniel Carter.
For a few seconds, father and son simply looked at each other.
Ethan's eyes filled with tears.
- Father...
Daniel smiled.
He took a step forward.
But before I could answer...
A gunshot was heard.
The bullet hit the ground between the two of them.
A voice echoed from the tunnel entrance.
No one leaves here.
Ethan turned around.
The two remaining SUVs had arrived.
And behind them...
The billionaire slowly entered the workshop.
Clapping their hands.
What an exciting meeting...
He smiled.
Then he looked directly at Daniel.
May you like
— We finally meet again.
Continued in Part 8...
