🧾 RECAP:
Neil uncovers the identity of Horizon's mastermind—Dr. Elias Voss, who's now operating in India under the name "Veer Rana." With confirmation from Raj Malhotra and a final message from his mother, Neil gears up to head to Mumbai, a place brimming with biotech, illicit money, and hidden truths.
đź“– CHAPTER 9: Veer Rana
Mumbai, India – Midnight Arrival
The city was alive, even in the dead of night. It throbbed with energy—traffic coursing through its veins, neon lights flickering over rain-soaked streets. Neil stepped out of the sleek black sedan and gazed up at the towering skyline.
"Welcome home," Raj murmured.
It wasn't Neil's home, but it was where the truth awaited him now.
---
The Lab Front
Masquerading as a biotech company, Rana Innovations was nestled in the bustling heart of Lower Parel—its glass exterior gleaming, security personnel stationed everywhere, and whispers of an underground vault that no one dared to mention.
Tatiana pressed a thumb drive into Neil's palm. "The power grid is mapped out. You'll have a five-minute window. After that, we either disappear or face the consequences."
Neil chuckled. "No pressure at all."
He strode into the lobby, sporting a fake ID badge, slicked-back hair, and a calm demeanor. For those fleeting five minutes, he blended in as just another corporate executive.
Until the elevator descended far deeper than the building should have allowed.
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Level -4: The Core
Steel corridors. Armed guards. Blue neon lights pulsing along the floor.
Neil slipped into a data room and connected the drive. Files began downloading. Logs unveiled shipments, organ research, experimental weapon contracts—all linked to Veer Rana.
Then, the screen flickered to life.
> "Hello, Neil."
He froze in place.
> "You're either brave or reckless. But mostly, you're predictable."
It was Voss. Veer Rana.
His voice flowed through the intercom, smooth and calculated.
> "I watched you grow. Your father had heart. Your mother had vision. You... you carry rage.
"Now you're starting to see your worth."
Neil tightened his jaw. "Where are you?"
> "Closer than you think."
In an instant, the power cut out. Red lights began to flash, and sirens wailed.
Tatiana's voice crackled through. "They know you're in there. I'm bringing the car around. MOVE!"
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The Chase
Neil charged through emergency exits, firing back at the private guards. He dove down an empty lift shaft, grabbing a maintenance cable to slow his fall.
Above him, security was in chaos. Below him, freedom awaited.
He burst into the alley just as the car screeched to a stop.
Raj flung the door open. "Did you see him?"
Neil jumped in. "No, but he definitely saw me."
---
Inside the Car
As they sped away, Neil sifted through the stolen files.
Among them was a single, encrypted video. Once decrypted, it revealed Veer Rana in a hidden lab.
And behind him… a woman.
Neil's mother.
Alive.
---
🔫 *To Be Continued in Chapter 10: "Mother's Secret"*