Director Sel Marris did not smile when he heard the news.
He just nodded once.
A man beside him finished the report.
"Director Seren Vale has successfully completed operations in Jakarta and Dhaka Cities."
Sel Marris folded his hands.
"Population reduction numbers?"
The man answered,
"Complete wipeout zones confirmed."
Sel Marris closed his eyes.
Not sadness.
Calculation.
"Good."
He stood up.
His long coat moved slightly.
Behind him was the symbol of his organization.
**Population Balance Directorate.**
Their job was simple.
Reduce numbers.
No matter how.
Sel Marris spoke calmly.
"Prepare the next aircraft."
One member asked,
"Target location?"
Sel Marris answered without emotion.
"Tokyo."
The room became quiet.
Everyone knew that place.
Huge.
Crowded.
Still full of life.
Another member asked slowly,
"Population estimate?"
Sel Marris replied,
"Thirteen million."
No reaction on his face.
Just numbers.
Then he said,
"Wiping them will make our work easier."
One younger member hesitated.
"Sir… that's a very large operation."
Sel Marris looked at him.
"Yes."
The young man asked,
"Are we sure this is required?"
Sel Marris walked closer.
"Do you know how many ships we have?"
The man answered,
"One thousand."
Sel Marris nodded.
"And how many people they can carry?"
"Ten million total."
Sel Marris nodded again.
"And how many people are still alive?"
The man answered quietly,
"Five hundred million."
Sel Marris spread his hands.
"So tell me."
A pause.
"Which four hundred ninety million do you want to leave behind?"
The young member said nothing.
Sel Marris continued.
"This is math."
"This is survival."
"This is not cruelty."
Another pause.
"This is selection."
Nobody argued again.
Sel Marris turned.
"Attach the device."
Members moved fast.
No more questions.
One asked,
"Departure time?"
Sel Marris answered,
"Tonight."
He looked at the city map.
So many lights.
So many lives.
He said quietly,
"History only remembers survivors."
Then he left the room.
Far away…
In the underground base…
Manav held his breath.
The sound outside was real.
Not imagination.
Priya whispered,
"Someone is here."
Arjun nodded.
"Stay behind me."
Manav whispered,
"Are they the retrieval team?"
Arjun answered,
"Most likely."
Then—
**BOOM**
The door exploded open.
Three soldiers entered.
Black uniforms.
Same broken circle symbol.
One pointed a weapon.
"Manav."
Manav was shocked.
The soldier continued.
"We need you."
Another soldier pointed at Arjun and Priya.
"These two are not required."
Priya understood first.
Her voice shook.
"You mean…"
The third soldier said coldly,
"Kill them."
Manav shouted,
"NO!"
The soldiers looked at him.
Manav stepped forward.
"I'm not going if you kill them."
The first soldier answered,
"You don't have a choice."
Manav shouted again,
"I DO!"
The soldier moved closer.
"You were marked for retrieval."
Manav answered,
"Then retrieve me with them."
The soldier shook his head.
"Not gonna happen kiddo."
Arjun stepped forward now.
"You heard him."
Soldier replied.
"Step back."
Arjun didn't move.
Priya held a metal rod again.
Her hands were shaking.
But she did not run.
The soldier said,
"Final warning."
Manav stood in front of them.
"You want me?"
"Then don't touch them."
The soldier replied,
"You are valuable."
"They are not."
Manav answered,
"Then I'm not coming."
That created a problem.
The soldiers looked at each other.
Then the leader said,
"Permission to force retrieval."
A voice came through his earpiece.
"Approved."
The soldier sighed.
"Take the boy."
Arjun moved fast.
He pushed Manav back.
"Run behind me."
Manav shouted,
"No!"
But it was too late.
The fight started.
First soldier rushed Arjun.
Arjun blocked his arm.
Punched his chest.
Second soldier tried to grab Priya.
Priya hit his arm with the rod.
Not strong.
But enough.
He got angry.
Third soldier tried to go around.
Manav threw a chair.
It hit his legs.
He fell.
Manav was shaking.
"I don't want to fight!"
Arjun shouted,
"Then don't!"
"But don't let them take you!"
First soldier attacked again.
Arjun blocked again.
But soldiers were trained.
They moved better.
Second soldier grabbed Priya's arm.
She screamed.
Arjun kicked him.
He let go.
Third soldier stood again.
He grabbed Manav's arm.
"Come quietly."
Manav bit his hand.
Hard.
The soldier shouted.
"You little bitch."
Manav pulled free.
"I said NO!"
The soldier became serious now.
"No more playing."
He pulled a shock baton.
Arjun saw it.
"Manav MOVE!"
Too slow.
The soldier swung.
Arjun jumped between.
The baton hit Arjun's side.
Electric sound.
Arjun fell to one knee.
Priya shouted,
"ARJUN!"
Manav felt fear.
Real fear.
Not for himself.
For them.
The soldier tried again.
Arjun grabbed the baton.
Even while shaking.
"You… don't… touch… them…"
He pushed the soldier back.
But he was getting tired.
Three against one.
Manav helped Arjun stand.
Arjun whispered,
"Listen."
"If they grab me… you run."
Manav shook his head.
"I'm not leaving you."
Arjun said stronger,
"That's an order."
Manav shouted,
"Yes brother!"
The soldiers regrouped.
Leader said,
"Enough."
He pulled another weapon.
Not a gun.
A restraint launcher.
"We take the boy now."
He fired.
A net shot out.
Arjun pushed Manav aside.
The net caught Arjun instead.
He fell.
Trying to break it.
Priya tried to cut it.
Too strong.
The soldier moved toward Manav again.
Manav stepped back slowly.
"I won't go."
The soldier said,
"You already are."
He reached forward—
Then something unexpected happened.
Manav punched him.
Not strong.
Not skilled.
Just desperate.
But it surprised him.
The soldier stepped back.
Manav's hands shook.
"I said no."
The soldier looked annoyed.
"Enough delay."
He signaled the others.
All three moved at once.
Priya blocked one.
Arjun still trapped.
Manav alone.
The leader grabbed Manav's arm.
This time strong.
Manav tried to pull away.
No use.
"Let go!"
The soldier replied,
"Mission first."
Priya screamed,
"MANAV!"
Arjun forced himself up.
Even inside the net.
He grabbed the soldier's leg.
The soldier stumbled.
Manav pulled free again.
But now they were angry.
The leader spoke into comm.
"Resistance confirmed."
"Permission escalation?"
Voice answered:
"Use force."
The soldier pulled a real weapon now.
Not firing.
But threatening.
Manav froze.
Everything froze.
The soldier said,
"Last chance."
"Come now."
Manav looked at Arjun.
At Priya.
His chest hurt.
His mind racing.
If he goes… they live.
If he stays… they might die.
Pressure.
Real choice.
Manav whispered,
"If I come… you leave them?"
The soldier answered,
"Yes."
Arjun shouted,
"Don't believe that!"
Priya cried,
"No!"
Manav looked torn.
The soldier extended his hand.
"Decide."
Manav slowly stepped forward.
Arjun shouted,
"MANAV STOP!"
Manav whispered,
"I'm sorry."
Priya cried harder.
"No…"
Manav said,
"You both already saved me."
"Now it's my turn."
He started walking toward the soldier.
The soldier nodded.
"Good choice."
But then—
Arjun shouted something strange.
"Manav!"
"Remember what you said yesterday!"
Manav stopped.
"What?"
Arjun said,
"You said you wanted truth."
Manav nodded slowly.
Arjun continued,
"If you go like this… you become their truth."
That confused Manav.
Arjun continued,
"Don't go because of fear."
"Only go because of choice."
Silence.
Manav realized something.
If he goes now…
It won't be his decision.
It will be fear.
He stepped back.
"I won't go like this."
The soldier shocked.
"You are making this harder."
Manav answered,
"Then make it harder."
Priya wiped tears.
That was new.
Manav was changing.
The soldier sighed.
"Then we take you unconscious."
He raised the weapon.
Arjun tried one last push.
The net tore a little.
Not enough.
Priya stood in front of Manav.
"You go through me."
The soldier said,
"So be it."
He moved forward.
Weapon raised.
Manav grabbed a broken pipe.
Hands shaking.
Heart loud.
Ready to swing.
The soldier pulled the trigger—
And at that exact moment—
A new voice came from the stairs.
"Stop."
Everyone froze.
Another soldier stood there.
Different uniform.
Higher rank.
He looked at the three soldiers.
"Who authorized lethal escalation?"
The leader answered,
"Director command."
The new soldier said,
"Override."
Everyone froze again.
The leader asked,
"Override?"
The new soldier answered,
"New order."
A pause.
"Target must not be harmed."
Manav's heart jumped.
The leader asked,
"From who?"
The new soldier answered slowly.
"Authority C-17."
Manav asked,
"C…17?"
The new soldier looked at him.
"Yes."
Manav asked,
"Do you know them?"
The soldier did not answer.
Instead he said,
"We are taking the boy."
Arjun shouted,
"He doesn't want to go!"
The soldier replied,
"He was never asked."
Manav asked,
"Why me?"
The soldier looked at him for a long second.
Then said,
"Because you are not supposed to exist."
Manav felt cold.
"What does that mean?"
The soldier stepped closer.
"It means…"
But suddenly—
Gunfire echoed from above.
Everyone looked up.
The new soldier touched his comm.
Then his face changed.
"We are out of time."
The leader asked,
"What happened?"
The answer came fast.
"Another retrieval unit is here."
Everyone froze again.
The leader asked,
"Another?"
The reply came:
"Unknown faction."
Now nobody understood.
Two groups?
Both after Manav?
The new soldier grabbed Manav's arm.
"We move now."
Arjun tried to stand.
"No!"
Priya tried to pull him back.
"Wait!"
Manav shouted,
"I'm not leaving them!"
The soldier answered,
"You may not have a choice."
Too many footsteps.
Coming fast.
Coming down.
The new soldier whispered,
"They found us."
Manav asked,
"Who?"
The soldier answered,
"I don't know."
Total silence.
Then a laser dot appeared on Manav's chest.
Then another.
Then another.
Voices shouted from the darkness:
"DO NOT MOVE!"
Arjun whispered,
"This just got worse…"
Manav's heart was beating so loud he could hear it.
And then a final voice said:
"Target confirmed."
"Secure the boy."