High above Kheiron City the aircraft was ready.
One button away.
One order away.
Director Seren Vale was standing near the control panel.
His face looked normal.
Like this was just another job.
Then his communicator started ringing.
He looked at the screen.
**KAEL VIREX CALLING**
Seren answered.
"What?"
Kael's voice came fast.
"Dude don't drop the bomb on Kheiron."
Seren frowned.
"Are you feeling sympathy now?"
Kael replied instantly.
"Not dumbass."
Seren rolled his eyes.
"Then what?"
Kael said,
"A politician meeting is going on there."
Seren answered calmly,
"Yeah I know."
A pause.
"So what?"
Kael sounded annoyed.
"That's why don't drop it."
Seren got irritated now.
"You dumbass explain."
Kael sighed.
"Listen carefully."
"That politician…"
"He funded Project Void."
Seren became quiet.
Kael continued.
"If he dies… we lose money."
Seren asked,
"How much?"
Kael replied,
"Enough to slow the project."
Seren did not like that.
Kael continued,
"He is a high profile leader."
"If we want more funds later… he gives it."
Seren asked,
"So he's useful."
Kael answered,
"Very."
Seren looked at the bomb control.
Then asked,
"Why wasn't I told earlier?"
Kael replied,
"Last minute info."
Seren sighed.
Annoyed.
Then said,
"Alright."
Kael relaxed a little.
"Good."
Seren gave the order.
"Do not release the bomb."
The pilot nodded.
"Bomb sequence paused."
The young officer looked confused.
"Sir?"
Seren answered,
"New priority."
Kael added on call,
"We don't waste assets."
Seren replied,
"We never do."
Call ended.
The bomb stayed locked.
The city lived another hour.
For now.
Inside Priam Auditorium.
Arjun was about to speak.
Gun ready.
Heart loud.
Then suddenly—
Priya pulled him back hard.
"STOP!"
Arjun almost lost balance.
"What are you doing?!"
Priya whispered angrily,
"You really want this?"
Arjun answered without thinking,
"YES!"
His voice shook.
"I WANT HIS DEATH!"
Manav grabbed his arm.
"Arjun wait!"
Arjun pulled away.
"No more waiting!"
Priya stood in front of him.
"Look at me."
Arjun tried to move around her.
She did not move.
"LOOK AT ME!"
He looked.
Her eyes were serious.
Not scared.
Serious.
"You shoot him… what happens next?"
Arjun answered,
"He dies."
Priya asked,
"And then?"
Arjun paused.
Then said,
"I feel peace."
Manav spoke softly,
"Or maybe you feel empty."
Arjun looked at him.
"What do you know?"
Manav answered honestly,
"Nothing."
A pause.
"But I know revenge doesn't bring people back."
That hurt.
Arjun looked down.
Gun still in his hand.
Priya said quietly,
"You waited years for this."
Arjun nodded.
"Yes."
Priya asked,
"So why rush the last minute?"
Arjun did not answer.
Because he did not know.
Manav said,
"Ask first."
Arjun whispered,
"What?"
Manav said,
"Ask why."
Arjun answered,
"I already know."
Priya shook her head.
"No you don't."
Arjun looked angry again.
"I saw my village burn!"
Priya said softly,
"But you didn't hear the order."
That stopped him again.
Manav added,
"You came for truth too."
Arjun breathed slowly.
His hands shaking.
His mind fighting.
Two voices inside him.
**Kill him.**
**Ask him.**
Priya spoke again.
"If you shoot now… you never know."
Manav added,
"You waited years."
"Wait ten more seconds."
Arjun closed his eyes.
He remembered his mother.
His sister.
His father.
His cousins.
His neighbours.
His home.
Then he opened them again.
"I still want him dead."
Priya nodded.
"That is your choice."
Manav said,
"But choose after truth."
Arjun asked,
"What if truth is bad?"
Priya answered,
"Then shoot."
Manav nodded.
"Yes."
Arjun looked at them.
"You won't stop me?"
Priya replied,
"We just want you to choose with full mind."
Manav said,
"Not just pain."
Arjun's breathing slowed.
Gun still ready.
But now his steps slower.
More controlled.
On stage the politician continued talking.
"We must stay united."
Arjun whispered,
"United?"
Manav whispered,
"They always say that."
Priya asked,
"You ready?"
Arjun nodded.
"Yes."
He stepped forward again.
One step.
Then another.
His mind now clear.
Not calm.
But clear.
He whispered,
"I will ask."
Priya nodded.
"Good."
Manav whispered,
"We're here."
Arjun said quietly,
"Thank you."
That was rare.
Very rare.
Up in the aircraft.
The young officer asked Seren,
"Sir… what if someone tries to kill the politician?"
Seren answered,
"Security will handle."
Officer asked,
"And if they fail?"
Seren replied,
"Then he was weak."
The officer asked,
"And funding?"
Seren answered coldly,
"We find another sponsor."
That answer showed something.
People were tools.
Even important ones.
Inside the hall.
Arjun now very close.
Few meters only.
He removed the safety slowly.
Click.
Manav heard it.
Priya heard it.
Nobody else.
Arjun whispered,
"This is it."
Priya said,
"Remember."
Arjun nodded.
"I will."
The politician stopped talking for water break.
Perfect moment.
Arjun stepped out from the side aisle.
Not hiding now.
Walking straight.
Manav whispered,
"This is crazy."
Priya whispered,
"Yes."
But neither stopped him.
Because some roads must be walked alone.
Arjun now just few steps away.
A guard noticed movement.
"Sir?"
Arjun raised one hand.
Gun still hidden low.
"I just want to ask a question."
The guard looked unsure.
The politician looked curious.
"Let him speak."
The guard hesitated.
Then stepped aside.
Arjun walked closer.
Manav felt his own heart racing.
Priya held her breath.
Arjun stopped right in front of the stage.
He looked up.
Face to face.
Years of pain between them.
Arjun slowly lifted the gun.
Gasps around.
Guards reacting.
Too late.
Gun already aimed.
People started shouting.
"What is he doing?!"
"Security!"
Arjun shouted louder.
"NO ONE MOVES!"
His voice was not scared.
Just broken.
The politician raised his hands slowly.
"What do you want?"
Arjun's voice cracked.
"Why."
The politician frowned.
"Why what?"
Arjun shouted now.
"WHY MY VILLAGE?!"
Silence hit the hall.
The politician looked confused.
"I don't—"
Arjun screamed,
"DON'T LIE!"
"I KNOW YOU ORDERED IT ASSHOLE!"
Guards ready to shoot.
Manav whispered,
"This is bad…"
Priya whispered,
"Trust him."
Arjun's eyes filled with tears.
"My mother died!"
"My father died!"
"My sister died!"
His voice broke fully now.
"And I lived!"
"WHY?!"
The politician looked at him carefully now.
Not like enemy.
Like memory.
Then slowly said,
"What was the village name?"
Arjun answered.
Voice shaking.
The politician's face changed slightly.
Like he remembered something.
He opened his mouth.
"I—"
Arjun tightened his finger.
"ANSWER!"
The politician said slowly,
"If it is the village I think…"
Arjun moved closer.
"THEN SAY IT!"
The politician took a breath.
"I did sign an order."
Arjun's world stopped.
Gun shaking harder now.
"But—"
Arjun shouted,
"NO BUTS!"
The politician continued,
"But it was not for destruction."
That confused everyone.
Arjun whispered,
"What?"
The politician said,
"It was marked evacuation zone."
Arjun froze.
"What…"
The politician continued,
"It was supposed to be cleared."
Arjun's voice became small.
"Cleared?"
The politician nodded.
"For a classified operation."
Arjun whispered,
"Then why did soldiers burn it?"
The politician looked serious now.
"Because someone changed the order."
That hit like lightning.
Arjun's mind went blank.
"Changed…?"
The politician nodded.
"I never ordered killing."
Arjun whispered,
"Then who…"
The politician opened his mouth to answer—
And Arjun stepped one step closer.
Gun still aimed.
Voice shaking.
"Tell me the name."
The politician took a breath.
"I will."