The building was chaos. The sound of gunfire had ceased, but the echo of explosions reverberated through the concrete walls. The team had already positioned themselves into strategic points, but Naina’s mind was working on overdrive. Every decision she made felt heavier than the last. They were deep inside enemy territory, and the stakes had never been higher.

"We need to move, now!" Naina’s voice cut through the tension as she signaled her team. "We’re running out of time."

Rajveer, standing beside her, gave a tight nod, his expression unreadable but focused. They were both aware that they were facing something far bigger than they had originally thought. Colonel Shakti Chandra, with his cryptic words and sinister motives, had just become the tip of the iceberg. And as Naina looked around the room, she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something else—something even darker—that they were yet to uncover.

With quick, measured steps, the team moved deeper into the building. Yudi and Ali took the lead, their eyes scanning for threats while Pooja and Aalekh provided rear security. Rajveer and Naina, however, stayed at the forefront. Naina could feel the weight of Rajveer’s presence beside her, but his silence from earlier still bothered her. There was something he wasn’t telling her, and she was determined to find out what.

As they reached the end of the hallway, they stopped at an imposing metal door. It was reinforced, clearly designed to withstand a lot more than the usual wear and tear. Naina knew this was it—the heart of the operation. The information they were after, the final link in the chain, had to be inside.

"We need to get in," Naina said, her voice unwavering.

Rajveer moved ahead, pulling a set of tools from his belt. "I’ll get it open. Stay sharp."

The others fanned out, taking cover as Rajveer worked his magic on the lock. Naina watched him closely, her eyes searching his face for any sign of doubt. But there was none. Rajveer was determined, focused. Yet something about him felt distant—an emptiness in his eyes that she couldn’t quite place.

"Almost there," Rajveer muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration.

The seconds felt like hours as the sound of his tools clicking echoed in the quiet hallway. Finally, with a soft click, the door gave way, and Rajveer pushed it open. The room beyond was dark, the air thick with a damp, metallic scent. Naina’s instincts told her that this place had been untouched for a long time.

"Let’s move," Naina whispered, leading the way into the dimly lit room.

The team followed, but the atmosphere was thick with the sense of impending danger. The room was large, with old metal shelves lined against the walls. Computer terminals were scattered about, many of them covered in dust, their screens dark. But there was a faint hum, almost imperceptible, coming from the far corner of the room.

Rajveer’s eyes darted to the source of the sound, his instincts kicking in. "We’re not alone," he muttered, moving cautiously toward the corner.

Naina signaled to the others to stay low. She felt her heart racing in her chest as they moved toward the source. When they reached the corner, Naina’s breath caught in her throat. There, in front of them, was a large set of monitors, each showing different feeds from various parts of KMA.

But that wasn’t the most alarming part.

On the central screen was a live feed showing none other than Naveen Singh Ahluwalia—Naina’s brother—tied to a chair, unconscious, his face bruised and bloodied.

"Naveen!" Naina’s voice cracked with panic.

Rajveer reached out to grab her arm. "We need to stay calm. We can’t afford to act rashly now."

But Naina could barely hear him. All she could see was the image of her brother. He was alive, but barely. The reality of the situation hit her like a wave. Everything they had done, all the risks they had taken, had led to this moment. Naveen was at the center of it all, and now they had to act fast to save him.

"What is this?" Yudi asked, his voice laced with disbelief as he joined Naina by the monitor.

Rajveer stepped forward, analyzing the equipment. "This is where it all connects," he said quietly. "Chandra’s been tracking us. He knew every move we made. Even your brother wasn’t safe."

Naina’s mind raced. "We need to get him out of here. Now."

But before anyone could react, a voice echoed from the shadows, sending a chill down their spines.

"I see you’ve found it," Colonel Chandra’s voice boomed from the doorway.

The team spun around, but they were already too late. The door had been rigged, and a blast of electric force surged through the room, temporarily disabling their communications and weapons.

"Chandra!" Rajveer roared, but it was too late.

Chandra stepped into the room, flanked by Major Nair and a few of his armed men. His eyes glinted with cruel amusement as he surveyed the group.

"You thought you could stop me?" Chandra sneered. "This was always going to be bigger than you. You’re too late. This room, these monitors, they’re just a small part of my plan."

Naina’s heart pounded in her chest. "You’re insane!" she shouted, stepping forward, her fists clenched. "You won’t get away with this. We’ll stop you."

Chandra’s smile widened, but there was something almost sadistic in it. "You don’t get it, Naina. It’s already over. You were always meant to fail."

Rajveer’s eyes narrowed. "We’ve still got a chance."

Chandra laughed darkly. "Oh, I don’t think so."

Suddenly, the screens flickered to life. A new image appeared: Naveen, but this time, he was not alone. Another figure stood beside him—Lala Gehlot—smiling menacingly.

"This ends here," Naina whispered, her voice trembling with both fear and resolve. The pieces were falling into place, but the fight was far from over.

The real battle was just beginning.

---

To be continued...