Chapter 36 The Architect
The Architect
The Nevada desert disappears behind them.
California now.
Almost there.
The command truck hums softly as the convoy speeds south.
Ninety miles per hour.
Exactly as instructed.
The Architect studies the infrastructure map again.
Los Angeles glows brighter on the screen.
The cascade is accelerating now.
Traffic systems adjusting.
Emergency routing protocols activating.
The city preparing itself—
Without realizing why.
Perfect.
An alert flashes across the monitor.
Satellite detection.
Aircraft overhead.
The Architect tilts his head slightly.
“Interesting.”
Another alert appears.
Traffic camera disruptions ahead.
Temporary signal losses.
That shouldn’t be happening.
Unless—
He zooms the highway feed.
Three vehicles positioned along the corridor.
Professional placement.
Calculated spacing.
The Architect smiles faintly.
“They’re trying to trap us.”
The driver glances into the mirror.
“Sir?”
The Architect leans forward.
“Accelerate.”
“We’re already at ninety.”
“One hundred.”
The driver hesitates.
“This highway—”
“Now.”
The convoy surges forward.
Engines roaring as they race toward Los Angeles.
Toward the trap.
And directly toward the people waiting to stop them.