The city faded behind them.
Aarav didn't ask where they were going.
Didn't resist.
Didn't speak.
He simply observed.
The vehicle moved smoothly through controlled routes, avoiding crowded areas. The people around him remained silent, focused, and alert.
"…Efficient," Aarav thought.
No unnecessary movement.
No wasted words.
This wasn't a random group.
This was something structured.
Something trained.
After a while—
The vehicle slowed.
Then stopped.
The door opened.
"…We're here," one of them said.
Aarav stepped out.
And paused.
The building in front of him looked normal.
Too normal.
Just another facility in the middle of the city.
Clean.
Quiet.
Unremarkable.
"…Hidden in plain sight," he murmured.
No one responded.
They guided him inside.
The moment he stepped through the entrance—
He felt it.
A shift.
Subtle.
But real.
"…Security," he thought.
Not visible.
But present.
Strong.
Layers of it.
They moved through long corridors.
White walls.
Minimal design.
Every step echoed slightly.
No clutter.
No distractions.
"…You people don't like decoration," Aarav said.
"…We don't like distractions," one of them replied.
"…Fair."
They stopped in front of a door.
Simple.
Plain.
"…Inside," the man said.
Aarav stepped in.
The room was empty.
Almost.
A table.
Two chairs.
Nothing else.
"…Classic," Aarav muttered.
The door closed behind him.
Silence.
Then—
Footsteps.
The same man entered.
Alone this time.
He sat down across from Aarav.
Calm.
Controlled.
"…Let's begin."
Aarav leaned back slightly.
"…You already started."
The man didn't react.
"…Name."
"Aarav."
"…We know that."
"…Then why ask?"
"…Protocol."
Aarav smirked faintly.
"…You people love that word."
Silence.
Then—
"…You have no system."
"…Correct."
"…And yet you've eliminated multiple targets."
"…Also correct."
The man's eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Explain."
Aarav shrugged.
"…I hit them until they stopped moving."
Silence.
The man stared at him.
Unimpressed.
"…That's not an explanation."
"…That's what happened."
Another pause.
Then—
"…You're an irregular."
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
"…That sounds official."
"…It is."
The man leaned forward slightly.
"…People like you shouldn't exist."
Aarav smiled.
"…I've heard that before."
"…And yet you do."
"…Seems like a recurring problem."
Silence again.
But this time—
Heavier.
More focused.
"…Your presence disrupts system behavior," the man continued.
"…That sounds important."
"…It is."
A brief pause.
Then—
"…You triggered an anomaly zone."
Aarav's expression didn't change.
"…Did I?"
"…Yes."
"…Interesting."
That wasn't denial.
That wasn't surprise.
That was—
Curiosity.
The man watched him carefully.
"…You're not concerned."
"…Should I be?"
"…You're being observed by entities you don't understand."
Aarav leaned slightly forward.
"…That's exactly why I'm here."
That—
Got a reaction.
A small one.
But real.
"…You want answers."
"…Obviously."
Silence.
Then—
The man leaned back.
"…Good."
Aarav frowned slightly.
"…That wasn't the response I expected."
"…We don't want to eliminate you."
Aarav's eyes narrowed.
"…That's reassuring."
"…We want to study you."
A pause.
"…That's less reassuring."
The man didn't react.
"…Because you're not just an irregular."
He looked directly at Aarav.
"…You're a variable."
The word lingered.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
Important.
Aarav smiled slowly.
"…I like that better."
Because if he was a variable—
That meant he could change things.
And that—
Was far more interesting.