Chapter 37: Collateral Damage

The facility erupted into chaos the moment Natasha and Snake Eyes moved into position to take out the core of the operation. The dim glow of emergency lights barely illuminated the corridors, casting long shadows as they moved swiftly through the complex, their footsteps silent, their minds focused on the mission.

The team outside was waiting for their signal, ready to execute the final phase of the operation. They had secured the perimeter, but now it was up to Natasha and Snake Eyes to make sure the facility—and everything it was hiding—was dismantled for good.

Natasha's comms buzzed in her ear, Fury's voice breaking through. "Romanoff, status update. You have what you need?"

"We're moving to take down the main core," Natasha replied, her voice steady. "Once it's offline, we'll call for extraction."

"Make it quick," Fury warned. "Intel's coming in that reinforcements are inbound. You don't want to be there when they arrive."

Natasha acknowledged the warning, her focus already back on the task at hand. The facility's main core was buried deep within the structure, hidden behind layers of security, but with Snake Eyes guiding her through the complex, they were moving efficiently.

As they reached the final door leading to the core, Snake Eyes signaled for Natasha to stop. He examined the door's control panel carefully, his fingers tracing the wires and sensors, searching for any hidden traps. Natasha waited, her gaze scanning the corridor for any signs of movement. Time was running out, and she knew that the reinforcements would be arriving soon.

Snake Eyes gave her a quick nod, indicating that the door was clear. Natasha moved forward, bypassing the security with practiced ease. The door slid open silently, revealing the core room. It was a massive space, filled with rows of servers, computer terminals, and a central control unit that pulsed with energy. This was the heart of the operation, the place where everything they had been fighting against was being controlled.

Without a word, Snake Eyes moved to secure the room, taking out the few remaining technicians with his characteristic efficiency. Natasha approached the central console, her fingers flying over the controls as she began to shut down the facility's systems. The data she had retrieved was enough to dismantle the network, but taking down the core would cripple their ability to regroup.

Just as the shutdown sequence began, an alarm blared throughout the facility. Natasha's heart sank. They had been detected.

"Fury, we've been compromised," Natasha said into her comms, her voice sharp. "We're taking down the core, but we need extraction now."

"Working on it," Fury replied, his voice tense. "We've got a helicopter on standby, but you'll need to hold your position until we can get to you."

Natasha cursed under her breath. Reinforcements were on the way, and they were still deep within the facility. They had to buy themselves enough time to complete the mission and escape.

Snake Eyes stepped up beside her, his posture calm despite the urgency of the situation. He gestured toward the entrance, signaling that he would hold off the incoming guards while she completed the shutdown. Natasha gave him a brief nod of thanks, knowing he could handle whatever was coming their way.

The moments that followed were a blur of focused activity. Natasha worked quickly, disabling the remaining systems while the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. Snake Eyes stood guard at the door, his movements swift and precise as he dispatched the first wave of reinforcements. The dull thud of bodies hitting the floor echoed behind her, but she didn't let it distract her.

Just as the final command was entered into the system, the room shuddered violently. The lights flickered, and Natasha realized with a sinking feeling that the facility's automated defenses were still partially operational. A last-ditch failsafe, designed to keep intruders from getting too close to the core.

The room's temperature began to rise, and the walls hummed with the buildup of energy. Natasha's eyes darted to the control panel, searching for a way to disable the defenses before they overloaded the system. But before she could act, Snake Eyes appeared at her side, his hand resting briefly on her shoulder.

She looked up, her eyes meeting his. He didn't need to speak for her to understand—time was up. They had to get out now, or the entire facility would collapse around them.

"Let's move," Natasha said, standing quickly and grabbing the data drive she had downloaded. "Fury, the core's down. We're heading for extraction."

"Roger that," Fury replied. "Helicopter's inbound. Get to the roof, now."

Natasha and Snake Eyes moved quickly through the facility, retracing their steps as the alarms blared and the walls seemed to tremble with the buildup of energy. The automated defenses were still active, and with every passing second, the risk of the facility's self-destruction grew.

As they reached the final corridor leading to the roof, a group of heavily armed guards appeared at the far end, blocking their path. Without hesitation, Snake Eyes moved ahead, drawing his katana in one swift motion. His movements were a blur of precision as he cut through the guards, each strike calculated and deadly.

Natasha covered him from behind, taking out the remaining enemies with quick, precise shots. They moved together seamlessly, their years of experience in the field evident in every step they took.

By the time they reached the rooftop, the facility was on the brink of collapse. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and the sound of distant explosions echoed from within the complex. Natasha's heart raced as she spotted the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicopter hovering just above the rooftop, its side door already open and waiting for them.

Snake Eyes motioned for her to go first, and Natasha didn't hesitate. She grabbed the rope and pulled herself up into the helicopter, turning just in time to see Snake Eyes following close behind.

As soon as they were both aboard, the helicopter lifted off, pulling away from the crumbling facility below. Natasha watched as the structure collapsed in on itself, a plume of dust and debris rising into the air. The network was finished.

Fury's voice came through the comms again, this time with a note of relief. "Nice work. That should put a stop to their little operation."

Natasha exhaled, her body relaxing slightly now that the mission was over. She glanced at Snake Eyes, who was seated across from her, his gaze focused on the horizon. Despite the chaos they had just left behind, his demeanor was calm, as always.

"We couldn't have done it without you," Natasha said quietly, her words carrying a weight of gratitude she knew he would understand.

Snake Eyes gave her a subtle nod, the silent acknowledgment enough for both of them.

The facility was gone, and with it, the last vestiges of the Overseer's twisted dream. But Natasha knew this wasn't the end. There would always be more battles to fight, more shadows lurking in the corners of the world. But for now, they had won.

As the helicopter flew toward the rising sun, Natasha allowed herself a moment of quiet satisfaction. The mission was complete, and they had stopped the threat before it could grow any larger.

But deep down, she knew they were just one step ahead of whatever was coming next.