11:47 p.m. – Channel 7 News Station
The newsroom was abandoned—except for the one guy still editing B-roll footage of ducks.
Then the power flickered.
The duck footage switched to static.
And suddenly, the building's studio lights powered up like it was prime time.
Because it was.
12:00 a.m. – Live Broadcast Hijack
Larsen's face appeared on every screen.
"Good evening, New Orleans," he crooned. "Tonight's top story: betrayal, espionage, and maybe a little murder!"
The lights snapped on. Dozens of Larsen's mercs, disguised as crew, surrounded the set. Cameras swiveled. Cue cards dropped. One even read "Smile, you're going viral!"
Then came the doors.
They didn't just open. They exploded.
Smoke billowed in. And through it—Ryan Bruce. Drenched in spotlight. Covered in bruises. Holding a stolen boom mic like a warhammer.
"Show's over, Larsen."
Cue laugh track. (Larsen installed one himself.)
"Ah, Veltrix," Larsen said. "Glad you could make it. I saved your dressing room. It has shuriken wallpaper and betrayal-scented candles."
Ryan hurled the boom mic like a javelin. It knocked over a camera, sparking chaos.
Studio Fight Sequence Begins:
A weatherman tackles a merc with a green screen.
The Channel 7 anchor swings a teleprompter like a sword.
Ryan uses a fog machine to blind a sniper.
Holly's 3rd grade talent show poster somehow ignites a fire.
Larsen, as always, narrates his own evil plan mid-fight.
"Tonight, I reveal ONYX CORE's sins! Their files! Their secrets! And your adorable preschool drawing of a dinosaur eating a missile. Cute stuff, Faith."
Ryan ducks under a table and whispers into his comm: "ONYX CORE, I need backup. Bring duct tape, a taser, and a motivational speaker. Larsen's monologuing again."
Suddenly—Emily appears on the catwalk.
Camera in hand.
Broadcasting everything to the real public channel.
"You forgot one thing, Larsen," she shouts. "This is my newsroom!"
She kicks a spotlight. It swings down like a wrecking ball, smashes Larsen's big reveal screen, and hits a glitter cannon instead.
Confetti rains down.
Larsen stares at it.
"This is not the tone I wanted."
Ryan dropkicks him into the "Cooking with Carol" set.
"Now it is," Ryan says, cracking his neck.
2:03 a.m. – Aftermath
Cops arrive.
ONYX CORE wipes the surveillance.
The newsroom smells like burnt cue cards and broken egos.
Emily and Ryan stand outside. Covered in soot, glitter, and possibly icing.
Emily nudges him.
"Next time, let me bring the flamethrower."
Ryan grins.
"You say that like there won't be a next time."
They both look up at the blinking ON AIR sign still barely hanging on.
Tomorrow's headlines?
Local Couple Stops Terror Broadcast, Sparks Ratings Surge.
[To be continued…]