Countdown to Zero – Episode 2: The Genius of Judgment

Scene 1: Judgment’s Hideout - Underground Lair

The lair is dimly lit, with holographic projections of Lagos’s banks. Audu, a calm yet calculating figure, stands before a team of hackers and operatives.

Audu: (Looking at a digital model of Fazan Bank.) “Fazan Bank will fall tonight. Its AI systems are impressive, but PRIMUS… now that’s intriguing. Let’s see if it’s as brilliant as they claim.”

Operative: “Our malware is ready, sir. It’ll trigger chaos in their internal network.”

Audu: (smirking.) “Good. But chaos isn’t enough. I want precision: their vaults, their client data, everything. And make sure PRIMUS gets distracted. If it’s watching one hand, it won’t see the other.”

(The operatives nod, and the screen fades to the Vanguard HQ.)

Scene 2: Vanguard HQ - War Room

GS stands at the head of the table, analyzing Fazan Bank’s security data with the team. The countdown reads 46:45:00. Screens display red alerts from the bank’s system.

GS: “Judgment is moving on Fazan. Audu’s a step ahead this time, but we’ve got PRIMUS. What are we looking at, Kemi?”

Kemi: (Typing furiously.) “They’ve hit the bank with a layered cyberattack. Malware is corrupting their transaction logs while another signal is spoofing access requests to the vault.”

Colonel Duru: “And that’s just the digital side. What’s happening on the ground?”

PRIMUS (AI Voice): “Detecting six operatives infiltrating through the south entrance. Armed. Minimal security presence on-site.”

GS: (Firmly.) “They’re testing us. Let’s show them what we can do. Duru, secure the vault. Kemi, neutralize the malware. Tariq, coordinate both teams.”

Tariq: (smirking.) “All in a day’s work.”

Scene 3: Fazan Bank - Vault Area

Colonel Duru leads a tactical team into the bank. PRIMUS provides real-time updates on enemy movement.

PRIMUS (AI Voice): “Three operatives detected in the main hall. Two near the vault. One is setting up a device at the secondary power grid.”

Colonel Duru: (To his team.) “Split up. Secure the vault and disable that device. Move fast.”

Duru heads toward the vault, engaging in a firefight with two operatives. The tactical precision of PRIMUS guides him to outmaneuver them.

Scene 4: Fazan Bank - Server Room

Kemi is plugged into Fazan’s central server, facing resistance from Judgment’s adaptive malware.

Kemi: (Frustrated.) “This isn’t just a virus. It’s predictive. It’s countering every move I make.”

PRIMUS (AI Voice): “Analyzing malware architecture… pattern identified. Deploying countermeasure.”

(Kemi executes the countermeasure as the malware begins to unravel. Suddenly, Audu’s voice comes through the system.)

Audu (Voice): “Clever. But do you really think you can outsmart me? This is a game of chess, and I’m always three moves ahead.”

Kemi smirks and types furiously.

Kemi: “We’ll see about that.”

(PRIMUS isolates the malware’s core, shutting it down and restoring the bank’s systems.)

Scene 5: Fazan Bank - Power Grid

Tariq, controlling a Vanguard drone, spots the operative trying to disable the power grid.

PRIMUS (AI Voice): “Operative located. Deploy counter-drone.”

Tariq sends the drone to intercept, using a non-lethal taser attachment to disable the operative before they complete their task.

Tariq (via comms): “Grid secured. How’s the vault?”

Scene 6: Fazan Bank - Vault

Colonel Duru confronts a heavily armed operative trying to breach the vault with advanced tech. A tense fight ensues, but Duru’s tactical skills and PRIMUS’s real-time guidance give him the upper hand.

PRIMUS (AI Voice): “Weak point detected in operative’s stance. Counter with a left sweep.”

Duru disarms the operative and secures the vault.

Colonel Duru (via comms): “Vault’s locked tight. Fazan is safe.”

Scene 7: Judgment’s Hideout

Audu watches the failed attack on a holographic display, unbothered. He smirks and leans back in his chair.

Audu: “Impressive, GS. PRIMUS is better than I thought. But every system has a flaw. And I will find it.”

Scene 8: Vanguard HQ

The team regroups as the countdown resets to zero for Fazan Bank.

GS: “Good work, everyone. Audu may be brilliant, but PRIMUS is better. One bank saved. On to the next.”

(The screen fades to black as the countdown for the next attack begins: 46:00:00.)

End of Episode 2