Fidgeted in the long queue at the airport, his patience wearing thin. Every minute felt like an hour, the urgency of his situation pressing on him like a weight he couldn't shake off.
The line crawled forward, and Nakul couldn't help but feel a rising panic. He was a man with a target on his back, and the longer he stood there, the closer that target seemed to get.
"If I can fly, why am I stuck in this line?"
he muttered under his breath, his frustration boiling over.
"Patience,"
Ozwel's voice resonated in his mind, calm and reassuring.
"We can't afford to draw attention. Flying out would make you a target, and I can't shield you from everything."
Nakul's eyes darted around the crowded terminal, paranoia creeping in. Every face seemed suspicious, every glance a potential threat. His mind raced with possibilities, each more terrifying than the last. But deep down, he knew Ozwel was right. One wrong move, and it could all be over.
Thousands of miles away, Max was indulging in his own brand of escapism. The neon-lit villa buzzed with life girls, twinks, ladyboys, and a never-ending flow of liquor.
It was a scene of hedonistic excess, but beneath the surface, there was an emptiness. He was drowning in distractions, ignoring the dark cloud that loomed over him.
"You really seem to enjoy fucking and getting fucked by men,"
a mocking voice cut through the noise. The speaker was a tall, dark figure, his Thai accent thick with sarcasm.
Max turned and smirked, recognizing the figure immediately.
"It's better than being surrounded by eunuchs, don't you think?"
His tone was casual, but there was an edge to his words, a tension he couldn't quite shake.
Chanarak, a childhood friend who now owned resorts and ran brothels across Thailand, poured himself a drink, eyes narrowing slightly.
"You always knew how to live in the moment. But don't you think you're overdoing it? You've got responsibilities, Max."
Max let out a laugh, but it was hollow.
"Responsibilities are overrated. Let's just say I'm involved in things you wouldn't believe."
Chanarak studied him, concern flickering in his eyes.
"Just be careful, okay? That CIA work you do seems dangerous. If you ever find yourself in over your head… get out."
Max nodded, more out of habit than agreement. He knew Chanarak was right, but he wasn't ready to face that reality just yet. The night wore on, but the weight of their conversation lingered, a reminder that the party couldn't last forever.
Back at the airport, Nakul finally clutched his ticket. Relief washed over him, a small victory in a much larger battle. As he waited to board, his phone buzzed with another message from Ozwel.
"You're not alone, Nakul. Others have faced this before. We'll find them, and together we'll stand a chance. But first, get to your destination. There's someone there who can help."
Nakul took a deep breath, letting the words sink in. The path ahead was uncertain, but at least he had a direction now, a goal to focus on. The journey was just beginning, and each step carried the weight of the unknown.
As the plane took off, Nakul stared out of the window, lost in thought. The image of his laboratory dematerializing replayed in his mind, a stark reminder of the power he was up against.
"All my life's work.... "
he whispered, the words catching in his throat. But there was no time to dwell on it. Ozwel's message echoed in his mind, urging him forward. There was still a chance, still hope, even if it was faint.
On the other side of the world, Max found himself alone, the party long over. He stared into the darkness, Chanarak's words playing over in his mind. He had responsibilities, ones he couldn't ignore forever. The warning from the Syndicate had been clear, but for now, he chose to live in the moment a little longer.
"Chanarak, I'm heading to Nepal!"
Max suddenly shouted, snapping his friend out of his chair.
"Now you like Nepalese girls?"
"Exactly,"
Max replied, a mischievous grin on his face.
Hours later...,
Nakul found himself at Kathmandu Airport, exhausted from the flight. As he walked through the terminal, he suddenly bumped into a man dressed in a black suit, wearing dark sunglasses, and carrying a briefcase.
The impact sent Nakul sprawling to the cold marble floor.
"Nakul, be careful!"
Ozwel's voice warned, but before Nakul could react, the man was already apologizing.
"I'm terribly sorry, young man,"
the stranger said, his voice hurried.
"I didn't see you there. I'm Max, a tourist just arrived here. I've already lost my bag. Everything my friend gave me, all my money that I borrowed, all gone...! "
Max started sobbing in front of the Stranger as every fraudster does to random people for money, just as Nakul thought as well.
Nakul looked up at him, noticing the panic in the man's voice.
"It's alright, Max. I hope you find your bag soon. I wish I could help, but I'm on my way to some important business."
"Nakul, don't tell him your name. Use a fake one,"
Ozwel's voice cut in, the warning clear.
Without hesitation, Nakul nodded and quickly corrected himself.
"It was nice meeting you, My name is Arjun, Max,I wish I could help a bit but I should get going."
"Have a good day, boy. And don't lose your bag like I did,"
Max called after him sobbing and crying his eyeballs out, as Nakul hurried away.
Nakul exited the airport safely dodging the Authority's Superior , Ozwel's voice returned with urgency.
"Fly north, as fast as you can."
Nakul didn't question the instruction. He glanced around, then jumped into the air, soaring above the terminal. An airplane whizzed by, and he dodged it just in time before speeding off into the mountains, disappearing into the vast wilderness.
"Is it where the Kanchenjunga situated?"
He asked with a confusion since the terrain was filled with many mountains dwarfing one another, it was hard to differentiate which mountain is which.
After roaming around and visiting all peaks and hiding from the patrol helicopters of Indian and Chinese Airforce, Ozwel lets him know which one is Kanchenjunga.
From there only Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga were differentiable , all the other peaks looked big rocks in front of those two. He saw Indian plains, shivaliks , Tibetan Plateaus, and even Karakoram Range and also the curve of Earth's surface from the height he was at.
Approximately Twenty Kilometers above the sea level....,
"So Earth is not flat after all."
Mocking the flat earth believers and making even Ozwel laugh at this joke.