Reborn in America’s Anti-Terror Unit

Somewhere in Los Angeles, Daniel Glo received a call from Senator Dick. 

"Stand down. Immediately."

"Why?"

"David Palmer has struck a deal with us. He won't expose the incident and has guaranteed that the two CTU agents will keep their mouths shut. The boss wants everything to stop right now."

The Black Colonel was stunned, but quickly grasped the implication. "What about my men?"

"That's your problem. Just make sure there are no more screw-ups. Don't think I don't know—your people botched the hit again. David Palmer got out. Otherwise, the boss wouldn't be negotiating with them."

With that, Senator Dick hung up. The colonel stood in silence. His men were now trapped inside the Hilton Hotel. Though they still had hostages, the building was surrounded by CTU and responding police units.

"Boss, what do we do? We've got a few high-profile hostages, but the place is crawling with cops..."

Just then, he got a call from one of his subordinates inside the Hilton.

"Hmm... What's our casualty count?"

"Only seven of us left. Everyone else is dead..."

"Any captured?"

"No."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I personally finished off the seriously wounded."

A conflicted expression flickered across the colonel's face, but it was quickly replaced with cold resolve. These men must not be captured. If they were, the higher-ups would abandon him in a heartbeat—he knew that much.

"Gather everyone around you. I need to speak to them..."

The Red Vipers' squad commander was surprised by the colonel's order. Withdrawing from combat positions now carried huge risk, but he followed the instruction without question.

They positioned hostages at the door as human shields while the remaining Red Vipers regrouped.

"Boss, they're all here. What now...?"

On the other end of the line, the colonel could almost visualize his men huddled around the phone, waiting for orders. But he didn't say a word. He just pressed a button.

An electrical current became a data signal, transmitted via a specialized phone, routed through countless relays, and finally received by a phone inside the banquet hall.

The special device matched the signal, triggered its preset command, and emitted a new electronic order as a signal. The earpieces worn by the Red Viper operatives received it—and one by one, they self-detonated.

Inside the banquet hall, the terrified hostages saw the vicious-looking mercenaries gathering, thinking they were about to carry out some horrific act.

But suddenly, blood mist burst from the heads of those men. One by one, they dropped to the ground. Not just them—even the corpses of previously killed attackers had their skulls split open by internal detonations.

...

Outside the banquet hall, the CTU tactical team remained on high alert, locked in a tense standoff. Suddenly, the gunfire stopped. The enemy ceased firing, instead placing hostages at the door as shields.

The commander suspected the enemy was planning something big and was just about to order a breach when the doors burst open—and a flood of hostages came rushing out in panic.

Without needing orders, CTU agents tackled the escaping hostages to the ground, forcing them down. It was an abnormal situation—highly likely the enemy was hiding among them or had rigged them with explosives.

The hostages weren't herded back but were held strictly in place—face down, hands behind their heads. Anyone who resisted was met with the butt of a rifle. This was no time for talk about rights or due process.

Once the hostages were under control, several agents were left to guard them while the rest rushed into the banquet hall.

What they found was a room filled with bodies.

Corpses were scattered everywhere. Based on clothing alone, it was easy to distinguish between two groups. One group was USSS agents in black suits; the other, the gunmen they had fought.

But there was something strange about the attackers—all had horrific head wounds. None had intact skulls. Half their faces had been blown off.

"Clear..." 

"Clear..."

The tactical team swept the room quickly. When the commander stepped inside, the scene brought an audible gasp from many.

Staring at the corpses, the commander couldn't help but wonder—who were these people, and why would they choose death over capture so absolutely?

...

On the first floor of the hotel, just as Owen, Jack, and David Palmer exited the building, they were immediately surrounded by heavily armed police.

Owen was recognized on sight and ordered to his knees, hands on his head.

The three were separated. David Palmer was taken to a secure location, while Owen and Jack were held at gunpoint. Officers moved in to cuff them behind their backs.

Owen was a wanted man, and Jack Bauer's image had just been broadcast with a BOLO alert. He was a suspect too.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine."

Before leaving, David Palmer turned back to reassure them. Owen and Jack were quickly surrounded and kept under tight guard.

A short while later, Tony and several other CTU field agents arrived. Tony knew more than anyone what was really going on, but there was little he could do—he simply asked the police to be as civil as possible.

The deputy director stood nearby, watching Jack Bauer kneel on the ground. Jack had always been a tough opponent. His previous attempts to unseat Jack had failed. But now, finally, he had his chance.

Several black SUVs arrived. The FBI was here.

A man in a black suit approached with several agents, glanced down at Owen and Jack, then flashed his badge.

"I'm FBI Agent Stephen Williams. Steve Owen, you are under arrest for the murder of CTU agent Nina Myers."

Owen looked at the man in front of him. He remembered him—this guy was also part of the Black Colonel's crew. He wore a suit, so Owen couldn't see his arm, but he was certain that the same Red Viper tattoo would be there.

"Take him."

Stephen Williams waved, and two FBI agents lifted Owen to his feet, intending to drag him toward their vehicle—but CTU agents blocked their path.

"What the hell are you doing? You trying to cover for him?"

Stephen Williams was openly defiant, ignoring the CTU agents' posture and challenging them directly. Eventually, he locked eyes with CTU's newly appointed deputy director.

Truth be told, the deputy director didn't want to get involved. But everyone at CTU had heard what Jack's wife and daughter said: that someone inside the FBI was part of the conspiracy.

If he allowed Owen to be taken now—knowing the FBI might be compromised—he'd lose all trust from his team. Unless he planned to leave CTU soon, he had no choice but to take a stand, even if it was just for appearances.

"No. You can't take our people."

The deputy director said firmly.

"Sorry, this is my case. It's out of your hands."

The FBI agent refused to back down.

Tension built as the two groups stared each other down.

The deputy took a step forward. "He's involved in the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. This is now classified as a terrorist attack. My jurisdiction overrides yours. You will cooperate."

With that, the deputy waved his hand. Tony and the others immediately moved, loading Jack and Owen into one of their own vehicles. Stephen Williams tried to intervene, but as soon as he took a call—he turned around and walked away like nothing had happened.

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