The glow of the monitors cast Director Kain's office in an eerie light as Nia stood stiffly before him. It was 3:00 AM, and the tension was palpable. Kain's sharp voice cut through the silence.
"How's he doing?"
Nia hesitated only briefly before answering. "He's with us now," she said, her voice steady. "The plan is in motion."
Kain's gaze didn't waver. "Good. But… I recall hearing something about a book. Did I not ask him about that?"
Her heart skipped a beat. "He hasn't mentioned anything specific yet," she said carefully. "But I'll ask. For now, the mission takes priority."
Kain studied her intently before nodding. "See that you do."
---
The morning sun filtered through the clouds as Justin approached the designated meeting spot, tension coiling in his gut. His mind was a storm of conflicting emotions, but his face betrayed nothing. Hidden nearby, Nia monitored him through the tiny, imperceptible cameras and microphones she had meticulously planted on him.
"Everything's set," Nia's voice came through the communicator. "Remember, stay calm. But Justin… what's the deal with this book?"
Justin frowned, his jaw tightening. "Focus on the mission, Nia."
"Justin," she pressed, her tone edged with concern. "What book are they talking about?"
He sighed, the weight of her question bearing down on him. "They were talking about a diary," he finally said. "Apparently, the Justin from their timeline had something like that. But I don't have anything like it."
Nia didn't respond immediately. She didn't entirely believe him but decided to push her doubts aside for now. "Alright," she said. "Let's move forward."
---
Back at the Framework headquarters
The click of red heels echoed through the marble halls as the woman entered the Framework's central office. Her silver hair shimmered like molten moonlight, her tailored suit immaculate, and her sharp blue eyes seemed to pierce through anyone who dared meet her gaze. She carried a sleek briefcase in one hand, her presence commanding the attention of everyone she passed.
The guards at the entrance hesitated but didn't dare stop her as she strode toward the directors' chamber.
Inside, Kain and the other directors sat around the table, their eyes glued to the live feed of Justin's mission. The woman pushed the heavy doors open without ceremony, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floor.
All eyes turned to her as she walked to the center of the room, stopping directly in front of Kain's chair. She placed her briefcase down with a decisive thud.
"I'm here for that seat," she said, pointing at Kain's chair.
Kain leaned back, his expression one of amused disdain. "And you are?"
Her lips curved into a cold smile. "The woman cleaning up your messes," she said evenly. "Let me paint you a picture, gentlemen. This man—Director Kain—has built his career on lies and shortcuts. Loose ends? He leaves them everywhere. Dangerous situations? He creates them and throws others into the fire to save his skin."
Kain chuckled, shaking his head. "Quite the dramatic performance," he said. "But all you've said are baseless accusations. No one here believes you."
The woman's smile didn't falter. She opened her briefcase and pulled out a file, tossing it onto the table. "Baseless? Let's talk facts, shall we? Remember the Saito Incident?"
A murmur ran through the room.
"The supposed 'successful containment' Kain orchestrated?" she continued. "Three teams lost their lives because of his arrogance. He ignored protocol and withheld critical intel. And when things went south, who did he blame? The field agents—because, conveniently, the dead can't defend themselves."
Kain's expression darkened, but he didn't interrupt.
"And what about Operation Riptide?" she pressed, her voice sharp. "A mission sabotaged from within. Kain pointed fingers at a phantom mole, but the truth? He sold out our own agents to cover his mistakes."
The murmurs grew louder, and the directors exchanged uneasy glances.
"That's enough," Kain said, his voice low but firm.
"Enough?" The woman's eyes began to glow, an icy blue light that seemed to fill the room. "I don't think so."
As her gaze swept across the directors, their expressions shifted, their doubts turning into conviction. Her power wasn't subtle—it was absolute. Her glowing eyes compelled them to believe every word she spoke.
"You've all heard the stories," she said, her voice a chilling whisper. "You know the truth. Kain has endangered this organization time and again. He's a liability. And now, it's time for a change."
The Irish director stood, his tone resolute. "All in favor of removing Director Kain, say aye."
A chorus of "aye" followed, unanimous and unyielding.
Kain's lips curled into a bitter smile. "You think I don't know what you're doing?" he said, rising slowly. "Your tricks don't work on me."
The woman's expression faltered for the first time. "How—?"
"I'm blind," Kain said simply, tapping the dark glasses over his unseeing eyes. "Your little parlor trick doesn't affect me."
The woman's cold smile returned. "Blind or not, you're outnumbered."
The directors lunged at Kain, their movements fueled by her control. But Kain, despite his lack of sight, moved with precision, his heightened senses guiding him. He dodged their attacks with grace and countered with calculated strikes.
The room descended into chaos as Kain fought to defend himself, the odds stacked against him. Despite his skill, the sheer number of attackers overwhelmed him. Blood trickled from a cut on his forehead as he barely managed to escape through a side door.
The woman didn't flinch as Kain disappeared down the hallway. "Let him go," she said, her voice dripping with confidence. "Let him warn them. It'll make things more interesting."
Turning to the controlled directors, she issued her final command. "Send every team. I want that boy, Justin… and his book."
She said with her chilling gaze fixed on the monitor, the image of Justin at the exchange frozen on the screen.