Hours later, Niko found himself on a plane, hurtling toward an unknown future. The loss of his job, his home, and his life in Singapore weighed heavily on him, and the plane’s hum was a constant reminder of the inexorable change he was hurtling toward. What choice did he have? He couldn’t go back to his parents, had no other family, and resisting both the Singaporean and U.S. government wasn’t an option. He had been instructed not to tell anyone where he was going and the official version was that he had been fired. His friends and colleagues, especially Ryan, would be left in the dark about his sudden disappearance.
He felt a pang of guilt, thinking about how worried they would be, especially Ryan, who had always been his confidant.
Special Agent Najjar sat nearby, her gaze steady and unyielding as she stared out the window. When he had first boarded the plane, he’d noticed her sitting with a file that had his name on it.
“Nikola Tesic, forty-two, Harvard graduate, expert in nanomedicine.” She’d glanced up from the file, her expression neutral. “Impressive resume. But I see you’ve had some trouble with the law back home.”
Niko had shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his mind racing through the events that had led him here. “Yes, I’ve had some … misunderstandings,” he’d replied cautiously. “Those records were supposed to be sealed.”
“They were, and now they are completely erased from your file, as a small token of our appreciation. You will see Professor, that we are reasonable people. Now, let’s focus on the task ahead. The project lead, General Meyer, will brief you when we land.”
As the plane sped towards its destination, Niko’s mind raced. What project was so crucial it warranted such extreme measures? Why the secrecy? And what role did Edmundsson play in all this?
He must have dozed off because when he opened his eyes, they were about to land.
“Welcome to Puerto Rico,” the pilot announced over the PA system.
Looking out the window, Niko saw the sun rising over a sprawling complex of modern buildings and towers. The landscape was a breathtaking mix of rugged terrain and sleek architecture, with the dawn casting a golden glow over the scene. It looked like a futuristic city nestled in the mountains, where nature and human ingenuity seemed to coexist.
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As they descended further, a massive radio telescope, the largest Niko had even seen, dominated the landscape. Its enormous dish, spanning nearly a thousand feet in diameter, was nestled within a natural limestone sinkhole. Above the dish, a suspended platform held intricate receivers and transmitters, connected by a network of cables. The sheer scale of the structure was awe-inspiring.
“Welcome to the Arecibo Observatory,” Najjar told him, noticing Niko’s fascination. “It used to be a leading center for astronomical research. Now, it’s the hub for our new project, SPA, repurposed by the Western Bloc and the U.S. to fit our advanced needs.”
Niko continued to stare in awe as they drove through the campus. Automated vehicles zipped around, their sleek designs a testament to cutting-edge technology. They moved through an outdoor network of transparent tubes connecting the various buildings like a maze. The air was filled with a low hum of ventilators.
As they passed by the impressive structures, Niko recalled hearing about the Arecibo Observatory in his childhood, its significance just a distant memory he couldn’t quite place.
They stopped in front of a massive yurt-like structure, its domed roof gleaming under the rising sun. Inside, the facility buzzed with activity. Scientists and soldiers moved purposefully, immersed in their tasks. The interior was a large open space with endless rows of high-tech labs.
Najjar led Niko to an elevator that whisked them down to an underground level, the walls of the shaft lined with sophisticated circuitry.
“General Meyer will brief you now,” Najjar said as they navigated a maze of corridors, the air growing cooler and more sterile the deeper they went.
Finally, they entered a room that was filled with advanced holographic displays, each one depicting complex data streams and models. General Meyer, a stately woman with steely blue eyes, greeted them. Her presence was commanding, her uniform crisp and adorned with numerous medals.
“Welcome to the Scientific Probes and Astrobiology Area, or SPA, as well call it, Professor Tesic. Do I pronounce that correctly?”
“It’s “Teshich”, actually”, Niko corrected her and shook her hand, trying to mask his unease.
“Professor Tesic, I apologize for the drastic measures, but we need your expertise.”
Meyer gestured for him to follow. “Come with me to the briefing room. The others will join us shortly, and we’ll get you up to speed.”
As they walked, Niko glanced around the high-tech facility, still feeling uncertain. “Why do you need me? Why am I here?”
Meyer stopped and looked directly into his eyes. “Professor, you are here to change the world.”