Chapter: Pressing for Answers
Adam stood motionless in the vast hall, the glowing holographic screens around him casting soft blue and white reflections onto the polished floor.
His piercing gaze was fixed on Krish, who sat a short distance away, his posture slightly slouched.
The air between them was tense, the silence stretching uncomfortably until Adam finally spoke.
"What is it?" Adam asked, his voice calm but firm, breaking the silence like a sharp blade. "Weren’t you supposed to make a call?"
Krish looked up, his expression equal parts confused and embarrassed.
He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his deanor sheepish. "Master," he began hesitantly, "Mise Sona brought here so quickly that I left my phone at ho."
Adam’s eyes shifted subtly to Sona, who hovered nearby, her delicate wings fluttering faintly.
Her reaction was predictable—she turned her head away with an exaggerated air of disinterest, refusing to et Adam’s gaze.
It was no secret that Sona held a particular disdain for Krish, her disapproval often evident in her sharp retorts and dismissive behavior.
Adam, well aware of this dynamic, decided against addressing her attitude directly. Instead, he focused on the matter at hand.
His sharp gaze returned to the holographic screen where Pratham’s glowing blue avatar hovered. "Pratham," Adam commanded with an air of authority, "connect Krish to the President."
Pratham’s avatar gave a slight nod, his expression calm and composed.
With a subtle gesture of his hand, he activated a sequence.
Within monts, a sleek holographic screen descended from the ceiling, materializing directly in front of Krish.
The sudden appearance of the high-tech display startled Krish, and he instinctively stumbled back a step.
His wide-eyed astonishnt was impossible to miss as he stared at the advanced technology in awe.
"Master," Krish said, turning to Adam with a grin that was equal parts admiration and mischief, "you’ve truly built an incredible base."
Adam raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the flattery. "Focus, Krish," he said curtly.
Krish’s grin faltered slightly, but he returned his attention to the screen.
Before anything else could happen, Pratham’s avatar reappeared on the display, his light blue skin shimring faintly against the stark white backdrop of the room.
"Hello, my friend!" Krish greeted Pratham cheerfully, his tone casual and overly familiar.
Pratham’s expression imdiately darkened, his usually composed deanor giving way to frustration.
His tone was sharp as he replied, "I am not your friend, Krish. And if you call that again, you have no idea what I’m capable of."
Krish chuckled nervously, clearly enjoying the banter. "Oh, co on, Pratham. Why so angry? What are you going to do? You’re just a virtual being."
Adam observed the exchange in silence, his arms crossed. His sharp eyes flicked between the two, gauging the growing tension.
Pratham’s voice grew colder, his words dripping with subtle nace.
"If you think I’m incapable of action, then you’re gravely mistaken. I have access to plenty of... sensitive material about you, Krish. One upload to the internet, and it would go viral instantly."
Krish’s playful deanor evaporated in an instant. His eyes widened in alarm as his grin disappeared. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. Panic began to creep into his tone. "No, no—don’t do that!"
Desperation overtook him as he lunged toward the holographic screen, his hands outstretched in an attempt to grab it.
But his fingers passed straight through the projection, the intangible display flickering slightly from the contact.
Pratham’s avatar remained impassive, watching Krish’s flustered attempts with an almost amused expression.
"Perhaps," Pratham said coolly, "you should focus on your assigned tasks, rather than wasting my ti with trivial chatter."
Krish, caught off balance by his own montum, stumbled forward before quickly spinning around to face Pratham again.
His voice rose, tinged with desperation. "Promise you won’t share anything about online!"
Pratham’s glowing blue eyes narrowed, his tone unwavering. "I’ve made no promises to you, Krish."
The argunt was escalating rapidly, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.
Before things could spiral further, Adam’s voice rang out, firm and commanding. "Enough, both of you!"
The sheer authority in Adam’s tone was enough to silence them instantly. Krish froze mid-sentence, his protests dying in his throat.
Even Pratham’s avatar seed to pause, the flicker of irritation in his glowing eyes dimming slightly.
Adam fixed Krish with a stern look. "Krish, do what you’ve been told," he said, his voice leaving no room for argunt.
Krish opened his mouth, clearly about to protest, but one glance at Adam’s steely expression made him think better of it.
He nodded reluctantly, stepping back from the holographic screen.
Turning his attention back to Pratham, Adam’s tone softened slightly, though it retained its edge of authority. "Pratham," he said, "connect Krish to the President now. Let’s not waste any more ti."
Pratham’s avatar nodded in acknowledgnt, his calm composure fully restored. "Understood, Lord Adam," he said simply.
Krish shifted nervously as Pratham began the process of connecting to the President. His earlier bravado had vanished, replaced by a subdued unease.
He cast a quick glance at Adam, whose unwavering focus made it clear that he had no patience for further delays.
For a brief mont, Krish’s eyes flickered toward Sona, who floated nearby with an air of quiet smugness.
Her tiny fra and glowing wings betrayed none of the satisfaction she undoubtedly felt at seeing Krish chastened.
Krish sighed deeply, muttering under his breath, "This is going to be a long conversation."
Adam didn’t respond, his attention firmly on the screen as the connection to the President was finalized.
The room fell into silence, the anticipation thick in the air as the next stage of their mission began to unfold.
The scene opens with Pratham, still visible on the central holographic screen, initiating a call to the President.
The room is quiet except for the faint hum of the holographic displays.
Pratham’s calm deanor contrasts with the tension filling the space.
His digital hands move gracefully as he dials the number—the President’s personal contact, already stored in Krish’s phone.
The sound of the call ringing echoes faintly, each second stretching the suspense further.
Krish steps closer to the screen, his arms crossed and his face a mix of anticipation and irritation.
His posture radiates impatience, as though he’s preparing to confront the President with every ounce of his frustration.
Finally, the call connects. A voice—sharp, agitated, and undeniably on edge—fills the room. "Hello? Who is this? How did you get my number?" the President asks, his tone laced with frustration and suspicion.
Krish doesn’t waste a mont, his emotions boiling over as he responds sharply. "President, what have you done?"
The President’s tone shifts instantly upon recognizing Krish’s voice.
His initial frustration lts into sothing entirely different—respect tinged with a hint of nervousness. "Master," he says hurriedly, "why are you calling from an unknown number?"
But Krish isn’t interested in explanations. Ignoring the question, he continues with rising intensity.
"I told you to form an alliance with the Union. But I never told you to take the decision on your own! Who gave you the authority to decide that the Union wants to ally with you? I specifically instructed you to talk to them, not act on their behalf!"
His words reverberate through the room, every syllable underscoring his frustration.
The President, startled by the accusations, stamrs, his composure faltering under Krish’s interrogation. "Master, what are you saying? I didn’t make the decision on my own! The Union representatives ca to directly!"
Krish freezes, his expression shifting from anger to confusion. Slowly, he turns to glance at Adam, who stands nearby, equally stunned by the revelation. Adam’s sharp eyes narrow, his mind racing to process the President’s claim.
Without missing a beat, Adam steps forward, his commanding presence filling the room.
He ets Pratham’s gaze on the holographic screen and signals for the call to be muted. Pratham nods and mutes the audio, the President’s voice disappearing into silence.
Turning to Krish, Adam’s voice is firm, his authority unmistakable. "Ask him who ca to see him and what exactly they said. We need details—nas, descriptions, everything."
Krish nods, his earlier frustration now replaced by a steely determination. He motions for Pratham to unmute the call.
As the connection resus, Krish leans toward the screen, his voice sharp and demanding.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I’ve been in contact with the the Union, and they told they’ve never t you. So who exactly ca to see you?"
The President, now visibly flustered, responds quickly, his words tumbling over each other.
"Master Krish, I saw them with my own eyes. They were right there in my conference room, sitting across from . Ninja, Sona, and Tayo were the ones who ca to discuss the alliance. This happened just this morning!"
His declaration sends a ripple of shock through the room.
Adam’s eyes widen in disbelief, his normally composed expression betraying his astonishnt.
He exchanges a glance with Ninja, Sona, and Tayo, all of whom look equally stunned
Pratham, sensing the growing tension, mutes the call once again. Adam turns to face Ninja, Sona, and Tayo, his gaze piercing. "Did any of you go to the President without informing ?"
Ninja steps forward imdiately, his tone resolute. "Lord Adam, I would never act without your direct orders. I haven’t left the base."
Sona, her wings fluttering with agitation, follows suit. "Lord Adam, I swear on my loyalty to you, I didn’t leave either. You can verify this with Zero or Phantom if you need to."
Tayo nods in agreent, her usually confident deanor replaced with quiet sincerity. "Lord Adam, none of us would ever do sothing like this behind your back."
Adam studies their faces carefully, his sharp instincts searching for any hint of deception. Finding none, he nods slowly. "Don’t worry," he says, his voice steady but laced with tension. "I believe you."
Turning back to Krish, Adam’s tone grows decisive. "Tell the President to send us every photo and recording of those who ca to him claiming to be from the Union. We need to see who they really were."
Krish nods, his resolve matching Adam’s. He signals to Pratham to unmute the call again.
As the connection resus, Krish speaks directly to the President, his tone commanding.
"President, I need every bit of footage and all the photos from the conference room where those people t you. I need to see who they really were."
The President hesitates, a flicker of doubt crossing his face. But under Krish’s unwavering voice, he relents. "Master, I will send you all the footage shortly."
His voice carries a note of unease, as though he’s beginning to question the authenticity of the encounter himself.
As the call ends, a heavy silence settles over the room.
The hum of the holographic displays is the only sound that remains, underscoring the weight of the situation.
Adam stands motionless, his expression unreadable as he processes the implications of what they’ve just learned.
Ninja, Sona, and Tayo exchange uneasy glances, their earlier shock giving way to a sense of foreboding. Pratham’s avatar remains visible on the screen, his glowing blue eyes fixed on Adam, awaiting his next command.
Adam’s instincts tell him that this incident is more than a simple misunderstanding. Sothing deeper and more dangerous is at play—a force capable of impersonating his most trusted allies.
And with that, the Chapter concludes.
Reviews
All reviews (0)