The Sanctum's medical wing had become unusually quiet.
Unlike the constant activity that once filled its laboratories, the scientists now moved with measured precision. Every monitor, every heartbeat, every fluctuation was watched around the clock.
Inside the observation room, Hana lay resting on an elevated medical bed.
Her once-slender figure had changed dramatically.
Her swollen belly rose and fell gently with each breath.
Charles studied the holographic display before him, comparing the latest readings with those from the previous week.
The numbers brought a faint smile to his face.
"The child's development is remarkable."
The Savior stood behind the reinforced glass, his eyes fixed on Hana.
"Status."
Charles adjusted his glasses. "The fetus has reached the final stage of development. It has absorbed nearly all of the Haikitium administered over the past several months."
He enlarged a scan of the womb. "The integration is... extraordinary."
The Savior remained silent.
Charles continued. "We've decided to discontinue the Haikitium injections."
The Savior finally looked at him.
"Why?"
"The child no longer requires external stimulation." Charles pointed toward the scan. "Further exposure now presents more risk than benefit. We believe allowing natural development during the final stage will significantly increase the chances of a successful birth."
The Savior gave a slight nod.
"Proceed."
Charles entered several commands into the console. "The injections stop today."
A sharp alarm suddenly echoed through the laboratory.
Hana gasped.
Her body tensed violently against the bed.
Blue veins spread beneath her skin before fading almost as quickly as they appeared.
Medical staff rushed to her side.
"Energy spike!"
"Suppressors online!"
Another alarm sounded.
The lights throughout the room flickered.
Several instruments abruptly shut down before restarting seconds later.
Hana cried out, clutching her stomach.
"I... can't..."
Her voice trembled as invisible pressure rippled through the room.
Metal trays rattled.
Glass cracked.
Monitors glitched.
Charles watched the readings climb.
"The child's absorbing another surge."
One scientist looked up.
"But the injections have stopped!"
Charles nodded.
"I know."
His eyes remained fixed on the monitor.
"The Haikitium already within her body is still circulating. The child is drawing in most of it..."
He glanced toward Hana.
"...but not all."
Another pulse erupted from her body.
This time the lights dimmed completely before emergency power restored them.
Charles frowned.
"The excess is entering her own bloodstream."
The Savior stepped closer to the observation glass.
"Danger?"
Charles hesitated.
"Not immediately."
He studied the rapidly changing data.
"But her body is struggling to regulate the overflow. The mutations are becoming increasingly unstable."
Almost as if on cue, Hana's breathing steadied.
The violent energy subsided.
The room slowly returned to normal.
One by one, the warning alarms fell silent.
Charles let out a slow breath.
"The child is adapting."
He looked back toward the Savior.
"But until the birth..."
He paused.
"...we should expect more episodes like this."
The Savior never took his eyes off Hana.
"How long?"
Charles checked the latest projection.
"Based on the rate of development..."
He allowed himself a small smile.
"It won't be long now."
The Savior's expression remained unreadable.
"Prepare everything."
"No mistakes."
Charles nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Beyond the reinforced glass, Hana rested a hand gently against her stomach.
For the first time in months...
The end of the pregnancy was finally within sight.
Two Days Later
The atmosphere inside the Defence Intelligence Agency headquarters had changed.
The investigation had expanded beyond the train attack.
Every report now led to another question.
Every answer uncovered another mystery.
A knock came at the General's office.
"Come in."
The door opened and Colonel Hassan stepped inside carrying a classified folder.
"Sir."
The General looked up from his desk.
"I assume you have something."
"I believe so."
He placed the folder on the desk.
"We've identified a pattern."
That immediately caught the General's attention.
"Explain."
Hassan opened the folder, revealing a map of Nigeria.
Several locations had been marked with red circles.
"We cross-referenced unsolved incidents over the last twelve years."
The General studied the map.
"There are similarities."
He looked up.
"What kind of similarities?"
"Small engagements.
No surviving suspects.
Minimal evidence.
And witnesses describing... impossible events."
He slid several photographs across the desk.
One showed a warehouse reduced to twisted steel.
Another depicted a section of forest flattened as though struck by an invisible force.
A third showed an abandoned laboratory consumed by fire.
"At the time, every incident was investigated independently."
He pointed to the files.
"Industrial accident.
Gas explosion.
Illegal weapons cache.
Each case was eventually closed."
The General remained silent.
"And now?"
"We don't think they're connected by coincidence anymore."
Hassan placed one final photograph on the desk. It showed a deep crater in the middle of an abandoned road.
"There were no explosives.
No artillery.
No impact from an aircraft.
We still don't know what caused it."
The General studied the image for several moments. "Anything linking these locations?"
Hassan nodded.
"Yes, sir. Every incident occurred within minutes. The attackers were in and out before local authorities could respond."
He hesitated.
"And in every case...whatever they came for was gone."
The room fell silent.
The General leaned back.
"So this isn't the first operation."
"No, sir. We believe they've been active for years."
Another knock interrupted them.
"Enter."
Major Bello stepped inside carrying a sealed evidence case.
"Sir.I've just received the geological institute's final report."
She placed the case on the desk.
Inside was the small fragment of blue crystal recovered from the train.
"The institute couldn't identify it."
"We expected that."
She nodded.
"But one of the senior geologists recognized something."
The General looked up.
"What?"
"He remembered examining a similar sample..."
"...eleven years ago."
Silence.
"He was ordered to stop the analysis within twenty-four hours."
"By whom?"
"He doesn't know. The sample disappeared.
So did every record related to it."
The General slowly closed the folder.
Someone had encountered the mineral before.
Someone had erased the evidence.
He stood and walked toward the map hanging on the wall.
His eyes moved from one marked location to another.
Finally, he spoke.
"This wasn't hidden because it was dangerous."
He picked up the blue crystal fragment.
"It was hidden because someone wanted the world to believe it never existed."
Neither officer replied.
The General looked once more at the glowing crystal resting in his hand.
For the first time...
He wasn't just investigating an attack.
He was uncovering a conspiracy that had remained buried for over a decade.