The first shot came before anyone could speak.
Glass broke.
Priya screamed.
"DOWN!"
Arjun pulled the net off his arms.
One of the new soldiers had already cut it.
Bullets hit the wall.
Tak. Tak. Tak.
Everything became loud.
Manav could not think.
He only heard sounds.
Boots running.
Guns firing.
Someone screaming orders.
"Move left!"
"Cover him!"
"Don't let them touch the kid!"
Arjun took a fallen rifle.
He did not even check it.
He just fired.
Bang.
One of the three soldiers fell back.
Not dead.
Just hit.
Arjun shouted,
"Priya stay behind me!"
Priya grabbed a small pistol.
Her hands were shaking.
But she did not drop it.
"I am not useless," she said.
Another shot.
The second soldier from the new group jumped over a table.
Fast.
Very fast.
He kicked one of the attackers.
The attacker hit the wall hard.
The leader of the unknown faction walked inside slowly.
Like he was not scared.
Like he had done this many times.
He looked at Manav.
Straight.
"Manav."
Manav froze.
"Come with us."
Manav did not move.
The leader raised his hand.
His voice became cold.
"Kill the three."
"Save the other two."
Two of his members nodded.
"Yes sir."
Fight became worse.
Arjun blocked a punch.
Hit back.
Elbow.
Kick.
Gun dropped.
Someone shouted in pain.
Priya fired once.
She closed her eyes when she did.
Bang.
She opened them slowly.
The bullet hit the floor.
But it scared one attacker.
He moved back.
"Good," Arjun said.
"Just keep trying."
Manav stood in the middle.
Not moving.
His head was loud.
Very loud.
*If I go with them…*
*I might find C-17.*
His chest felt tight.
*But why does C-17 want me?*
*To help me?*
*Or use me?*
Another thought came.
*If I go with this unknown group…*
*Maybe I stay safe.*
*Maybe I learn truth.*
His hands shook.
*Why is everyone fighting for me?*
A body fell near him.
He stepped back fast.
The leader spoke again.
Soft.
But strong.
"Manav."
"Look at me."
Manav looked.
"You don't belong with them."
Arjun shouted while fighting,
"Don't listen!"
Punch.
Block.
Push.
"They are lying!"
The leader smiled a little.
"They always say that."
One of his soldiers hit the second attacker.
Hard.
The attacker dropped his gun.
Priya kicked it away.
She looked shocked she did that.
"I… I did that…"
Arjun almost smiled.
"See? Soldier now."
The third attacker grabbed Manav's arm suddenly.
"You're coming with us!"
Manav panicked.
"No!"
Before he could move, one unknown faction member hit that attacker from behind.
The grip broke.
Manav fell back.
Breathing fast.
"Easy," the soldier said.
"We won't hurt you."
The third attacker tried to stand again.
The leader nodded once.
A short shot sound came.
Then silence.
The three attackers were down.
No more fighting sounds.
Only breathing.
Heavy breathing.
Priya lowered her gun.
Her eyes were wet.
"Is… is it over?"
Arjun did not answer.
He watched the four newcomers carefully.
Gun still ready.
"Who are you?" Arjun asked.
The leader answered calmly.
"People who know the truth."
Arjun laughed once.
"Everyone says that."
The leader ignored that.
He looked at Manav again.
"You have a choice."
Manav swallowed.
"What choice?"
"Come with us."
"And learn why you are alive."
Silence.
Arjun stepped forward.
"He is not going anywhere."
The leader tilted his head.
"And who are you to decide?"
Arjun answered fast.
"Someone who protects him."
The leader asked,
"Even if you don't know what he is?"
Arjun did not reply.
Manav whispered,
"What I am?"
Nobody answered him.
His heart beat faster.
The leader continued,
"You want to know about C-17 right?"
Manav's eyes widened.
"How do you know that?"
The leader smiled a little.
"Because they are looking for you too."
Manav felt cold.
"Why?"
The leader answered,
"Because you matter."
Arjun interrupted,
"Stop talking in puzzles."
"Say clearly."
The leader looked at him now.
"I can."
"But truth has price."
Arjun stepped closer.
"What price?"
"Trust."
Arjun almost laughed.
"In war?"
The leader nodded.
"Especially in war."
Manav's head hurt.
Too many choices.
Too many voices.
*If I go… I might lose them.*
*If I stay… I might lose answers.*
He whispered,
"I just wanted to say thank you."
Everyone looked at him.
Manav continued,
"To the one who saved me."
His voice broke a little.
"I just wanted to know why."
Priya put a hand on his shoulder.
"We will find out."
Arjun nodded.
"Together."
The leader watched this.
Quiet.
Then he said something strange.
"You think staying together keeps you safe."
"It doesn't."
Arjun asked,
"What do you mean?"
The leader answered,
"It makes you targets."
Silence again.
Then he said something that changed everything.
"Arjun."
Arjun froze.
"You never asked why your village was destroyed."
The room felt colder.
Arjun's voice became hard.
"I know why."
The leader asked,
"Do you?"
Arjun did not answer.
The leader stepped closer.
"I can tell you the real reason."
Priya whispered,
"Arjun…"
Arjun ignored her.
"What do you know?"
The leader spoke slowly.
"More than your commanders told you."
Arjun's fists tightened.
"Say it."
The leader shook his head.
"Not free."
Arjun's anger came back.
"You think I will join you for a story?"
The leader answered quietly,
"For the truth."
Manav watched Arjun.
He had never seen his face like this.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Something else.
Hope mixed with pain.
Arjun asked again.
"What truth?"
The leader answered:
"Your village was not random."
Arjun stopped breathing for a second.
"What?"
"It was chosen."
Priya whispered,
"No…"
Arjun's voice became low.
"Chosen… why?"
The leader looked at Manav.
Then back to Arjun.
"Because of him."
Manav felt his stomach drop.
"What did I do?!"
The leader answered,
"Nothing."
"That's the problem."
Arjun stepped forward fast.
"You better explain."
The leader did not move.
"I will."
"If you come with us."
Arjun shook his head.
"You think I trust you?"
The leader answered,
"You don't have to."
"You just have to want answers more than comfort."
Arjun looked at Manav.
Then Priya.
Then the floor.
Manav whispered,
"Arjun…"
Arjun asked quietly,
"If I go… they come too."
The leader answered fast.
"Yes."
Priya looked surprised.
"Why?"
The leader said,
"Because they are already involved."
Manav asked,
"Who are you people?"
The leader finally answered.
"We are called The Null Wing."
No one knew that name.
Arjun asked,
"What do you want with Manav?"
The leader answered,
"To stop others from getting him first."
Manav asked,
"Getting me for what?"
The leader paused.
Then said,
"That is what we must protect you from."
Arjun said,
"This sounds like a fairy tale."
The leader asked him one last thing.
"Do you want to know why your family died?"
Arjun closed his eyes.
His voice became small.
"...yes."
The leader nodded.
"Then come with us."
A long silence followed.
No one moved.
Manav looked at Arjun.
Arjun looked broken.
Like the past just opened again.
Priya whispered,
"We don't have to decide now."
The leader said,
"You do."
"C-17 will reach soon."
Manav's heart jumped.
"How do you know?"
The leader answered,
"Because we intercepted their signal."
Arjun asked,
"How long?"
The leader answered simply.
"Not long."
That made the choice heavier.
Manav asked quietly,
"What if both sides are bad?"
The leader answered,
"Then choose the one that gives you truth."
Arjun laughed sadly.
"Truth killed my family."
The leader replied,
"Lies killed them."
That hit harder.
Manav stepped forward.
"I will go."
Priya looked at him shocked.
"Manav!"
He looked at her.
"I can't keep running from answers."
His voice was still small.
"But I am tired of not knowing."
Arjun looked at him.
Then nodded slowly.
"Then we go together."
The leader finally relaxed.
"Good choice."
But before anyone could move—
A sound came from outside.
Engines.
Many engines.
The leader looked at his watch.
Too fast.
"They're early."
Arjun asked,
"Who?"
The leader answered:
"C-17 retrieval unit."
Manav felt fear again.
Boot steps outside.
Many.
Not four.
Not five.
More.
A voice from outside shouted:
"TARGET CONFIRMED."
"SECURE THE CHILD."
The leader looked at Arjun.
Decision time.
"Last chance."
Arjun asked one question.
"If I come… you tell me everything?"
The leader answered:
"I tell you why your village burned."
Arjun breathed once.
Slow.
Then said,
"...I'm coming."
And that was when the outside wall suddenly exploded inward.