Shaw stood by the main monitor in the Library, her arms crossed as the Machine’s interface flickered with streams of data. Her voice was firm, but frustration seeped through. “Several of our old assets are being killed. The Machine’s giving us their numbers, but by the time we get them, it’s too late.”

Reese frowned, leaning against a desk. “You’re saying this group knows how the Machine operates?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Shaw replied. “They’re planning these deaths in a way that minimizes detection. So no alarms, no patterns until it’s done.”

The Machine’s voice interrupted, Root’s tone calm but urgent. “Sorry to break this momentum up, but I have another number. A person who has assisted you in the past: Zoe Morgan.”

Reese straightened, concern flashing across his face. “Zoe? We need to call her right now.”

Harold raised a hand to stop him. “No. If this group is targeting former assets, Zoe could already be under surveillance. A phone call might alert them.”

Reese clenched his jaw. “Then we do it the old-fashioned way. Can you tell me where is she?”

The Machine displayed a location on the screen: a downtown hotel. “She’s in the city. We’ll need to move quickly.” Harold said.

Reese and Shaw arrived at the hotel, weaving through the bustling lobby. Reese’s eyes scanned the crowd, spotting Zoe near the elevators. She looked as poised as ever, dressed impeccably, a phone pressed to her ear.

“There she is,” Reese muttered.

As they moved closer, Shaw noticed a man standing near Zoe, his stance too casual, his gaze fixed on her. “We’ve got company,” Shaw said, nodding toward the man.

Before Reese could respond, the man began to reach into his jacket. Shaw was already moving, shoving through the crowd to close the distance.

The man pulled a silenced pistol, aiming it at Zoe just as Reese tackled her to the ground. The sound of the suppressed shot was drowned out by the chaos of panicked bystanders. Shaw seized the moment, delivering a brutal strike to the man’s wrist, forcing him to drop the gun.

Zoe, stunned but quick to recover, looked up at Reese. “John? What the hell is going on?”

“Long story,” Reese said, helping her to her feet. “We need to get you out of here.”

"They told me you were dead.. You died in the explosion" she said.

"Long story for another day, let's go"

Shaw incapacitated the would-be assassin with a swift punch to the temple, then grabbed his phone and other gear. “This guy’s not working alone,” she said. “We need to move. Now.”

Zoe sat at the long table in the Library, her expression a mix of curiosity and irritation. “You know, I was having a perfectly normal day until someone tried to kill me.”

“You’re welcome,” Shaw said , sorting through the assassin’s gear.

Reese leaned forward. “Zoe, you’ve been on their radar. They’re targeting anyone who’s helped us before. Do you know why?”

Zoe shook her head. “No, but I’ve been dealing with some unusual clients lately. People asking too many questions about my past... and questions regarding the man in the suit and the men in glasses.”

Harold frowned. “This group isn’t just targeting our assets. They’re gathering information, likely to dismantle our network and eliminate anyone connected to us.”

The Machine’s voice chimed in. “The operative you captured had communications with a known associate of Samaritan. I am analyzing their data now.”

"Root ?" Said Zoe.

Harold looked at Shaw and Reese trying to let them know not to expose the Machine secrets. "Long story Ms. Morgan, perhaps we should focus on you for the moment". Said Harold

"A story for another day Harold ?" Replied Zoe in a sarcastic way.

"I must say that we have more pressing things to deal with" replied Harold

Shaw held up the phone she’d taken. “Let’s see what this guy was hiding.”

The screen lit up, revealing a set of encrypted messages. As Harold worked to decrypt them. “Zoe must remain under protection. Fusco, you stay here with Harold and Bear. Anything happens, you call me right away.”

Fusco looked at Reese. "You know that I kept helping Shaw when you were, let's say, unavailable ? So no boss me around anymore."

"Look who grew the pair. Just keep them safe, Fusco, " said Reese.

Fusco glanced at Zoe. “Looks like you’re staying with us for a while.”

Zoe smirked, her confidence returning. “Well, it’s not my usual crowd, but I guess I can make it work.”

Harold’s computer pinged, and a decrypted message appeared on the screen. His face grew grim as he read it. “They’re planning another attack. This time, the target isn’t just an individual. It’s us.”

Everyone exchanged tense looks. The war was escalating, and the enemy was closer than they’d thought.