Priya sat at her desk in NAPPA Inc.’s headquarters, staring at her computer screen. The words in front of her blurred as her thoughts drifted back to Niko. Ever since he had gone into hiding, her life had been a constant tug-of-war between her loyalty to him and her duties at NAPPA. It was one thing for her to recognize that Niko was being framed by someone, but a whole other to start believing that it could be someone in NAPPA doing it. Luckily, she had managed to help him by finding out where Lopez was. Well, she didn’t find out, but he did, her and Niko’s lifesaver.
Each day, she found herself growing more suspicious of the organization she had once believed in wholeheartedly. It had started with small inconsistencies—financial records that didn’t quite add up, unusual transactions, and encrypted communications that seemed out of place. Priya’s curiosity piqued, and despite knowing the risks, she had begun her investigation.
One evening, long after her colleagues had left the office, Priya had sat alone in the dimly lit room, illuminated only by the glow of her computer screen. She’d taken a deep breath and logged into the company’s restricted database, a privilege granted to her as a senior director. She had navigated through layers of security protocols, her fingers flying over the keyboard with practiced ease from her CIA days.
“Come on; there has to be something,” she muttered to herself, her eyes scanning lines of data.
Day after day, she meticulously combed through files, cross-referencing documents and piecing together fragments of information. She stayed later than all others at the office, excitedly cross-referencing documents, realizing from time to time that several critical files she had seen before had been deleted. These setbacks gnawed at her, but she refused to give up.
Her persistence paid off when she stumbled upon a series of emails between high-ranking officials at NAPPA and undisclosed third parties. The emails were heavily encrypted, but Priya managed to decrypt enough to grasp the gist of the conversations.
What she found sent chills down her spine.
The emails discussed secret meetings, large sums of money being transferred to offshore accounts, and vague references to “the project.” The tone of the messages was urgent and conspiratorial, indicating that something significant—and possibly illegal—was being planned.
Priya leaned back in her chair, her mind in overdrive. “This is bigger than I thought.”
Her breakthrough came one night when she discovered a hidden folder within the CEO’s personal drive. It contained detailed plans for the NanoChip, but not the version she and her team had been developing. This version was modified for military applications—enhancing soldiers’ abilities, increasing aggression, and reducing fear. The documents were marked with high-level security clearances and included the names of high-ranking army officials from both the US and China.
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Priya’s heart pounded in her chest. She had uncovered secret meetings involving NAPPA’s leadership and the military, a plan to weaponize the NanoChip. Her mind flashed back to Niko and his desperate plea for her help.
But her discovery also put her in a precarious position. If anyone found out what she knew, she could be in grave danger.
She glanced around the empty office, feeling the weight of her decision pressing down on her.
The following day, Priya feigned normalcy, going about her work while discreetly gathering more evidence. She copied files onto a secure flash drive, making sure to cover her tracks. Her paranoia grew with each passing hour, every shadow seeming like a potential threat.
During a quiet moment, Priya slipped into the restroom and locked herself in a stall. With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone and tried to contact Niko using their usual encrypted communication. But there was no response. Just like in the past several days, she couldn’t reach him.
She had to act. If she couldn’t find Niko, she had no choice but to contact him again. He, who had managed to keep Niko off the radar for so long. If something had happened to Niko, then he had to help her—fast.
Back in her office, she wrote him a message to meet up at their usual spot when she heard footsteps approaching her office. Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly minimized the incriminating documents on her screen. The door creaked open, and Ryan stepped inside, his expression unreadable.
“Priya, we need to talk.”
Priya’s blood ran cold. Had they discovered her investigation?
She tried to remain calm, forcing a smile. “Of course, Ryan. What’s on your mind?”
Ryan closed the door behind him, a wide grin on his face, but his eyes narrowed. “We’ve noticed some irregularities in the system, and it seems they’re linked to your login credentials. Care to explain?”
Panic surged through Priya, but she kept her composure. “Irregularities? I’m not sure what you mean. I’ve been working on the usual projects.”
Ryan’s gaze hardened. “I’m very disappointed in you, Priya. But please, don’t play dumb. We know you’ve been snooping around. What are you looking for?”
Priya’s mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation, but she knew she was trapped. The evidence she had gathered was too damning, and there was no way she could talk her way out of this.
“I was just … concerned about some discrepancies I noticed in the financial records. I thought it might be a mistake,” she said, hoping to buy time.
Ryan banged his hand on the door. “You’re lying. I hate it when people are lying to me. I just never thought that it would be you who could betray me this way.” His voice was slightly shaking.
“I’m not lying, Ryan. What has gotten into you all of a sudden?” she said in a firm voice, trying to sound natural.
He stepped closer, his voice lowering to a menacing whisper. “Do you know what happens to people who betray NAPPA? You might even still be in touch with that murderer, Niko, aren’t you?”
Before Priya could respond, two security guards entered the room, their expressions grim. Ryan nodded to them, and they moved to flank her, grabbing her arms.
“Take her to the interrogation room,” Ryan ordered. “We’ll deal with her later.”