Chapter 2
The morning brought no relief from the storm. Rain continued to drizzle steadily, turning the university’s dirt pathways into slippery trails. Students hurried between buildings, their umbrellas bobbing like dark blossoms in the gray haze.
Ajit sprinted across the science block courtyard, water soaking the cuffs of his jeans. He clutched his bag tightly, feeling the weight of the mysterious device inside.
“Over here!” Rajesh called from the doorway of the computer lab, waving him inside.
Ajit ducked into the building, shaking droplets from his hair. The lab smelled of faint ozone and stale coffee, with a background hum of old machines. Rajesh had already cleared a workspace, the desk cluttered with wires, circuit boards, and an assortment of tools that hinted at a late-night tinkering session.
“You weren’t kidding about the rain,” Ajit muttered, setting his bag down.
“Yeah, yeah, weather later. Gimme,” Rajesh said, holding out his hand impatiently.
Ajit pulled the device from his bag and placed it on the table. Rajesh whistled low, turning it over with careful hands.
“Whoa,” Rajesh said, his tone shifting from curiosity to awe. “This is… something. Advanced. Military-grade, maybe even black-market tech.”
“Can you figure out what it does?” Ajit asked, leaning over his friend’s shoulder.
Rajesh shrugged, already reaching for a small screwdriver. “No promises, but I can crack it open and see what makes it tick.”
As Rajesh began prying open the device’s casing, Ajit kept his eyes on the door. The unease from the previous night still lingered, like a shadow trailing him.
“You’re unusually quiet,” Rajesh said, glancing up. “Spill it. What happened?”
Ajit hesitated, then recounted the events of the night—the intruder, their strange agility, and the cryptic warning about being watched.
Rajesh set his tools down and stared at him. “Okay, so let me get this straight. You’re saying some ninja-type broke into your room, fought you, and then just… vanished?”
“That’s the short version,” Ajit said dryly.
“And you think it’s connected to Dr. Prakash?”
“I don’t know,” Ajit admitted. “But ever since his lecture, my snake sense hasn’t stopped buzzing. It’s like—”
“Wait, wait,” Rajesh interrupted, holding up a finger. “You’re saying your supernatural spider-snake-thingy is acting up? And this guy just happens to show up at the same time? That’s not suspicious at all.”
Before Ajit could respond, the device let out a faint click. Rajesh leaned back as the casing popped open, revealing a mess of tiny wires and glowing circuitry.
“Whoa,” Rajesh breathed. “This isn’t just a gadget. It’s got some kind of transmitter. Advanced encryption, too.”
“Transmitter?” Ajit frowned. “You mean it’s sending a signal?”
“Not anymore,” Rajesh said, pointing to a severed wire. “The signal’s dead now, but whoever was using this was tracking something—or someone.”
Ajit’s stomach sank. “Me.”
“Probably,” Rajesh said, nodding grimly. “But this thing’s got layers. If I can decrypt the signal logs, I might be able to figure out who built it—or where it was sending data.”
“Do it,” Ajit said, his voice firm.
Rajesh cracked his knuckles. “You got it. But it’s gonna take a while. This isn’t like hacking your neighbor’s Wi-Fi.”
Ajit smirked despite himself. “Just call me as soon as you find anything.”
Rajesh nodded, already lost in his work, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
Ajit stepped out of the lab, pulling his hood over his head as he re-entered the rain-soaked courtyard. The sound of water dripping from the overhangs mingled with the distant chatter of students.
His snake sense was quiet now, but the device in Rajesh’s hands had confirmed one thing: someone was tracking him. The question was who—and why.
As he made his way toward the main building, his mind drifted back to Dr. Prakash. The professor’s words had been unnerving, but his presence was even more so. Ajit’s instincts told him there was a connection, but he didn’t have the pieces to put it together yet.
One thing was certain: whoever was pulling the strings wasn’t going to stop.
And neither would he.
The rain continued its relentless drumbeat against the university rooftops as Ajit walked toward his next lecture. The hallways of the main building were crowded with students seeking shelter from the downpour, their conversations bouncing off the aged walls. Ajit maneuvered through the throng, his thoughts elsewhere.
The device, the fight, and the cryptic warning—it all felt like the start of something much larger. And then there was Dr. Prakash. The man’s words, his demeanor, the way his eyes seemed to pierce through people—it was all too deliberate.
Ajit ducked into the lecture hall, finding a seat toward the back. Padmini was already there, seated near the front and absorbed in her notes. She didn’t look up as he entered, and Ajit took that as a small mercy.
The room filled quickly, and a hush fell as Dr. Prakash entered. The man exuded authority, his movements precise and controlled. He placed his briefcase on the desk and scanned the room, his gaze pausing briefly on Ajit.
Ajit felt a faint jolt of his snake sense. It wasn’t loud—more like a whisper, barely perceptible. He sat up straighter, his muscles tensing instinctively.
“Good morning,” Dr. Prakash said, his voice cutting through the quiet like a blade. “Today, we’ll discuss the integration of organic and synthetic systems. The future of evolution, if you will.”
He began writing on the chalkboard, his handwriting sharp and exact. “For centuries, humans have relied on the limitations of their biology. Muscles. Bones. Flesh. These are inefficient, fragile components. But technology has given us an alternative—one that is stronger, faster, and more enduring.”
As he spoke, Ajit felt the hum of his snake sense grow stronger. It wasn’t just the words—it was the way Prakash delivered them, with a conviction that bordered on obsession.
“Innovation is not just about invention,” Prakash continued, pacing the front of the room. “It is about surpassing what came before. To discard weakness in favor of strength. To replace inefficiency with perfection.”
A hand shot up in the front row. Padmini.
“Sir,” she said, her voice steady, “isn’t there value in preserving the balance between organic and synthetic systems? For example, prosthetics that enhance human capabilities without replacing them entirely?”
Prakash smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “An excellent question, Ms. Padmini. And an expected one.”
The room tittered nervously at his tone, but Padmini remained unfazed.
“There is a certain… romanticism,” Prakash said, “to the idea of balance. But balance is the language of mediocrity. True progress requires imbalance—an unyielding push toward the superior.”
Ajit’s jaw tightened. The professor’s words carried a weight that felt too personal, too pointed. It was as if he were speaking to someone specific, challenging them.
When the lecture finally ended, the students filed out, their chatter subdued by the intensity of Prakash’s words. Padmini lingered near the desk, asking the professor another question about the ethical implications of his theories.
Ajit waited just outside the lecture hall, leaning against the wall. His mind replayed the professor’s statements, searching for hidden meanings.
“She’s really got the professor cornered, huh?”
Ajit turned to see Rajesh approaching, his ever-present grin in place.
“What are you doing here?” Ajit asked.
“Finished decrypting part of the signal,” Rajesh said, lowering his voice. “Figured you’d want to hear this in person.”
Ajit straightened. “What did you find?”
“It’s weird,” Rajesh said, pulling out his phone and showing a series of numbers and letters. “The signal wasn’t just tracking movement—it was recording data. Environmental readings, biofeedback. Someone’s trying to build a profile on you.”
Ajit frowned, his mind racing. “Biofeedback? Why would they need that?”
Rajesh shrugged. “Maybe to study your, uh… enhancements? Either way, the signal was relayed to a proxy server, so I couldn’t trace the origin. But I did find something else.”
He pulled up another screen, showing a series of coordinates. “These were embedded in the logs. It’s a location—an abandoned warehouse near the edge of the city.”
“Looks like we’ve got our next stop,” Ajit said, his tone firm.
Rajesh hesitated. “You sure you want to do this? Whoever’s behind this tech isn’t playing around.”
“That’s exactly why I need to,” Ajit said. He glanced back into the lecture hall, where Padmini was still deep in conversation with Dr. Prakash. His snake sense stirred faintly again.
“I’ll meet you tonight,” Ajit added. “Bring whatever gear you can. This might be more than just a recon mission.”
Rajesh nodded, though the unease in his expression was clear. “Be careful, man.”
Ajit gave him a brief nod before heading off, the rain now a distant background noise compared to the storm brewing in his thoughts.
Night fell quickly over Imphal, the rain tapering off into a mist that clung to the streets like a ghostly shroud. Ajit stood at the edge of a desolate industrial zone, his hood pulled low as he scanned the rows of abandoned warehouses. Most of the windows were shattered, and the crumbling brick walls were overtaken by vines and moss. The air smelled of rust and damp concrete.
“Creepy enough for you?” Rajesh’s voice crackled softly through Ajit’s earpiece.
Ajit smirked. “Wouldn’t be a recon mission if it wasn’t.”
He crouched low, moving silently along the shadowed perimeter of the warehouse Rajesh had pinpointed earlier. It loomed in front of him, its large metal doors partially ajar.
“Any movement on your end?” Ajit whispered.
“Nothing so far,” Rajesh replied, his voice steady. “I’ve got your feed. Cameras are working fine.”
The tiny body cam Rajesh had rigged to Ajit’s jacket sent a live feed to his laptop back at the lab. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to give Ajit an edge.
“Stay sharp,” Ajit said, slipping through the gap in the doors.
Inside, the warehouse was cavernous and dimly lit by flickering overhead lights. The space was filled with rows of rusted machinery and piles of discarded equipment. Water dripped from the ceiling, forming shallow puddles on the floor.
Ajit’s snake sense hummed faintly, guiding him through the maze of shadows.
“What do you see?” Rajesh asked.
“Not much,” Ajit said, his voice low. “Looks abandoned, but it doesn’t feel right.”
He moved cautiously, his enhanced vision picking up faint heat signatures in the distance. He froze, narrowing his gaze. Three distinct shapes, humanoid but motionless, were clustered near the center of the warehouse.
“Rajesh, I’ve got something,” Ajit whispered.
“Humans?”
“Not sure.”
Ajit crept closer, keeping to the shadows. As he approached, the shapes became clearer. They weren’t people—they were machines. Sleek, humanoid drones with black, reflective surfaces and glowing red eyes.
“They’re drones,” Ajit muttered. “Three of them. Armed.”
Rajesh let out a low whistle. “Someone’s spending big money. Those aren’t your everyday security bots.”
As if on cue, one of the drones whirred to life, its head swiveling toward Ajit with an audible click.
“Uh, Ajit?” Rajesh’s voice was tense.
“I see it,” Ajit said, stepping back slowly.
The drone’s glowing eyes focused on him, and a mechanical voice echoed through the space.
“Target acquired.”
The other two drones activated in unison, their limbs unfolding with precise, fluid motions. The nearest one raised an arm, and Ajit caught the glint of a mounted weapon.
“Time to move,” Rajesh said urgently.
Ajit didn’t need to be told twice. He dove to the side just as the drone fired, the projectile shattering the crate behind him. He rolled to his feet and sprinted for cover, weaving through the maze of machinery as the drones gave chase.
“Rajesh, tell me you’ve got something useful,” Ajit panted, ducking behind a pillar as another shot narrowly missed him.
“Working on it!” Rajesh said, the sound of furious typing in the background. “These things are running on some kind of adaptive AI. If you take one out, the others will adjust their strategy.”
“Great,” Ajit muttered. “Any weak points?”
“Joints, maybe? Hit them fast and hard.”
The hum of the drones’ servos grew louder as they closed in. Ajit’s snake sense flared, and he spun around just in time to see one of them leap onto the pillar behind him. It moved with a terrifying grace, its clawed hands raking through the air where his head had been a moment earlier.
Ajit lashed out with a venom-coated punch, his fist connecting with the drone’s torso. The venom sizzled on contact, corroding the surface and sending sparks flying. The drone staggered, its movements glitching momentarily.
“Got one,” Ajit said, already moving as the other two closed in.
“Keep it up,” Rajesh said. “You’re doing great.”
Ajit didn’t have time to respond. The remaining drones split up, flanking him with military precision. One fired a burst of energy blasts, forcing Ajit to duck behind a stack of crates. The other vaulted over the obstacles, its clawed hands reaching for him.
He dropped to the ground, sliding beneath the drone and sweeping its legs out from under it. It crashed to the floor with a deafening clang, but before he could finish it off, the third drone appeared behind him.
Ajit twisted, narrowly avoiding its attack, and retaliated with a venom spray aimed at its joints. The drone froze briefly, its servos grinding as the venom corroded its mechanisms.
“Rajesh!” Ajit shouted, dodging another strike. “Any chance you can shut these things down remotely?”
“I’m trying!” Rajesh said, his voice frantic. “Just buy me another minute!”
Ajit’s muscles burned as he fought to keep ahead of the drones. They were relentless, adapting to his attacks with every move.
“Time’s running out,” Ajit muttered, his breath ragged.
“Got it!” Rajesh shouted.
The drones suddenly froze mid-motion, their red eyes dimming as their systems powered down. Ajit staggered back, his chest heaving, and watched as the machines collapsed to the ground in lifeless heaps.
“Nicely done,” Rajesh said, his voice shaking with relief. “I sent a shutdown signal through the primary network. Should keep them offline—at least for now.”
Ajit leaned against a pillar, his heart pounding. “Thanks, Rajesh. I owe you one.”
“You owe me twenty,” Rajesh shot back.
Ajit managed a weak chuckle as he surveyed the wreckage. The drones were down, but this wasn’t over. Whoever had sent them was watching, waiting.
And they’d just declared war.
The stillness in the warehouse was almost eerie. The glow of the drones’ eyes had faded, leaving them lifeless heaps of sleek black metal on the floor. Ajit crouched beside one, running his fingers over its smooth surface.
“Rajesh,” he said, his voice low, “what kind of tech are we looking at here?”
“Advanced,” Rajesh replied through the earpiece, the sound of furious typing in the background. “I mean, bleeding edge. Military-grade adaptive AI, precision targeting—this isn’t something you can pick up at a black-market flea shop.”
Ajit frowned, examining the damaged joint where his venom had corroded the metal. “You think this is tied to Prakash?”
Rajesh hesitated. “Too soon to tell. But if it is, we’re looking at someone with serious resources. Whoever sent those drones isn’t just testing the waters—they’re gearing up for something big.”
Ajit nodded grimly, his snake sense still humming faintly. Something about the air felt wrong, charged. The silence wasn’t just still—it was expectant.
“Rajesh,” he said, his voice dropping, “keep an eye on my feed. I’ve got a feeling we’re not alone.”
“Copy that,” Rajesh said. “And for the record, I hate when you say stuff like that.”
Ajit moved deeper into the warehouse, his steps careful and deliberate. The flickering overhead lights cast long, shifting shadows across the floor, turning every corner into a potential hiding spot.
His snake sense flared, sharp and sudden.
“Rajesh,” Ajit whispered, “I’ve got movement.”
“Where?”
Ajit turned his head, his enhanced vision zeroing in on a faint ripple in the air ahead of him. The distortion was subtle, like heat rising off pavement, but it was enough to set his instincts on edge.
“I don’t see anything,” Rajesh said, the feed on his end evidently not picking up the anomaly.
“Exactly,” Ajit muttered, inching closer.
The distortion flickered, then solidified into a figure cloaked in reflective armor that shimmered like a mirror. They moved with an unsettling fluidity, stepping into the light with a slow, deliberate confidence.
“Impressive,” the figure said, their voice distorted by a mechanical modulator. “Few survive the drones.”
Ajit’s muscles tensed. “Who are you?”
The figure tilted their head, the light from above glinting off their armor. “An observer. A messenger.”
“Great,” Ajit said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Any chance you could observe from somewhere else?”
The figure chuckled, the sound cold and mechanical. “You misunderstand. I’m here to deliver a message.”
“Not interested,” Ajit said, stepping into a defensive stance.
“Oh, but you should be,” the figure said, their tone almost playful. “Dr. Prakash sends his regards.”
Ajit’s chest tightened, the confirmation sending a jolt through him. “So it is him.”
The figure spread their arms wide, their reflective surface distorting the light. “He’s just begun, Mr. Singh. Consider tonight a taste of what’s to come.”
Before Ajit could respond, the figure raised a hand, and the air around them shimmered with sudden intensity. A blinding flash erupted, forcing Ajit to shield his eyes.
When the light faded, the figure was gone, leaving only the faint hum of residual energy.
“Ajit?” Rajesh’s voice was frantic in his ear. “What just happened? Your feed went white for a second.”
“They’re gone,” Ajit said, his voice tight.
“Who’s ‘they’?”
“Someone working for Prakash,” Ajit said, his mind racing. “They’re watching me, Rajesh. Tracking me. Testing me.”
Rajesh was silent for a moment. “This is bad, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” Ajit said, his jaw tightening. “It’s bad.”
He glanced back at the lifeless drones, his hands curling into fists. This wasn’t just a test—it was a message. And the fight was far from over.
“I’m heading back,” Ajit said, turning toward the exit. “We need to figure out what Prakash is planning—and how to stop him.”
“Got it,” Rajesh said. “I’ll start pulling everything I can on him. But Ajit… be careful, okay?”
“Always,” Ajit said, stepping out into the cool night air. The rain had stopped, but the storm inside him raged on.
The city felt unnaturally quiet as Ajit walked through the dimly lit streets. The rain had stopped, leaving the air thick with the scent of wet concrete and earth. He moved quickly, keeping his hood low, his mind replaying the events of the warehouse: the drones, the armored figure, and their cryptic message.
Prakash.
Ajit had suspected the professor of being more than he appeared, but now he was certain. The man wasn’t just a theorist with bold ideas—he was orchestrating something dangerous. And if the night’s ambush was any indication, Ajit was already a target.
He reached his room and unlocked the door, his snake sense pulsing faintly as he stepped inside. The small space felt colder than usual, the shadows longer. He flicked on the light, scanning the room with sharpened senses.
Empty.
Ajit locked the door behind him and set his bag on the desk, pulling out the transmitter Rajesh had decrypted earlier. He turned it over in his hands, his mind racing. This was a piece of the puzzle, but it wasn’t enough.
A faint vibration buzzed against his pocket. He pulled out his phone—Rajesh.
“Got something?” Ajit asked, holding the phone to his ear.
“You’re not gonna like it,” Rajesh said, his tone heavy.
“Try me.”
Rajesh sighed. “So, I ran a deep dive on Prakash—what little I could find, anyway. Most of his academic records check out, but there’s a gap. Six years unaccounted for. No publications, no teaching positions, nothing. Just… gone.”
Ajit frowned. “And then he shows up here?”
“Exactly,” Rajesh said. “But that’s not the worst part. I traced the funding for those drones—and the transmitter. Guess who signed off on the manufacturing contracts?”
Ajit’s grip on the phone tightened. “Prakash.”
“Bingo,” Rajesh said. “This guy isn’t just dabbling in cutting-edge tech. He’s building an arsenal.”
Ajit exhaled slowly, his mind racing. Prakash wasn’t hiding his ambitions—he was laying the groundwork for something big.
“There’s more,” Rajesh added, his voice quieter now. “I found a reference to a project in one of the encrypted logs. Something called ‘Project Asura.’”
“Asura?” Ajit repeated, the word unfamiliar yet foreboding.
“No details yet,” Rajesh said. “But the name shows up a lot. Whatever it is, it’s important—and dangerous.”
Ajit leaned back in his chair, the weight of the night pressing down on him. “Keep digging. I need to know everything about this project—and Prakash.”
“You got it,” Rajesh said. “But, Ajit… be careful. This guy’s playing a long game, and you’re in the middle of it.”
“I know,” Ajit said quietly. “And I’m not backing down.”
He hung up and stared at the transmitter on his desk. The night’s events had given him more questions than answers, but one thing was clear: Prakash wasn’t just a professor. He was a threat.
Ajit stood and moved to the window, gazing out at the rain-slicked streets. Somewhere out there, Prakash was watching, waiting. And Ajit knew it was only a matter of time before their paths crossed again.
For now, though, he had a moment to breathe. A moment to prepare.
Because when the storm came, he intended to meet it head-on.
