Ch.94: Exposed

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KAVACH Headquarters

New Delhi, Bharat, September 4, 1946

Deep within the fortified chambers of KAVACH, Trinetra's algorithms worked ceaselessly. The etheric anomaly flagged two days prior had remained under observation, but recent activity triggered a cascade of alerts across the system. A low, rhythmic hum filled the server room as Trinetra processed the new spike—a fluctuation in the runic grid tied to strategic military personnel.

At a monitoring station, Senior Technician Aditya Sharma leaned closer to the screen, his brow furrowed.

"Something's not adding up," he murmured. The anomaly signature didn't match routine events like soul transitions or dimensional bleed-over.

He opened the flagged file and cross-referenced it with runic logs. The energy fluctuation had been pinpointed to an officer stationed in Mumbai, connected to retrofitting and repair work for Bharat's military hardware.

Aditya flagged the anomaly for immediate escalation. "Let's see if this one gets dismissed," he muttered, forwarding the report to Ms. Athena and Karna with a note of urgency.

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A while back....

Raghav's Apartment, Mumbai, Bharat, August 28, 1946

Chhaya paced the room, frustration simmering just beneath her borrowed face. Days of poring over reports and observing Raghav's colleagues had yielded little. The magi-tech projects were too compartmentalized, the security protocols frustratingly tight. The runes remained inscrutable, and the mortal bureaucracy was a labyrinth she hadn't anticipated.

"Tsk, this is useless," she muttered, clicking her tongue, her voice carrying an edge of irritation.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she closed her eyes and focused. In desperation, she formed a risky plan. She knew that her actions would likely alert the security measures of this dimension, but she felt confident enough to act swiftly and escape if the situation turned unfavorable.

As she set her plans in motion, the reflections in the room shimmered faintly as her mirror clones emerged—pale, ghostly imitations of her current form.

"It's time to expand," she said, addressing the clones. "Find others—officers, workers, anyone with access. Identify those who won't be missed immediately and replace them. No mistakes."

The clones nodded silently, their forms rippling before vanishing into nearby reflective surfaces.

Mumbai Streets

Over the next few days, Chhaya's clones worked methodically, observing potential targets through mirrors in homes, offices, and public spaces. One by one, she cataloged individuals who appeared inconspicuous yet had connections to critical sectors—minor officials, engineers, and clerks handling classified documents. She avoided senior officials, sensing heightened security measures around them, and instead focused on those with less scrutiny.

Then she struck again.

Her latest target was an army logistics officer stationed in Mumbai, tasked with overseeing repair work for military vehicles and magi-tech retrofits. The man, Vishal Nair, was diligent but unremarkable, blending easily into the background of his department. His schedule was predictable, his routines repetitive—exactly what Chhaya needed.

Late one evening, as Vishal left his office, a faint shimmer in a nearby puddle caught his eye. Before he could react, a shadow reached out from the water's surface, pulling him into the Mirror Dimension.

"Wha—no! Help!" His desperate cries faded as the reflective surface smoothed over, leaving no trace of the event.

Moments later, Chhaya, now in Vishal's form, emerged from the puddle. She adjusted her uniform and walked confidently into the night.

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At present time....

KAVACH Headquarters

The moment Vishal was replaced, the runes etched into Bharat's strategic network pulsed faintly. Invisible to the naked eye, they wove through the country like an unseen web, monitoring etheric stability around key personnel and detecting any disruptions, both natural and supernatural.

In the central KAVACH server, Trinetra's alerts flared. The anomaly signature spiked dramatically, now localized to Mumbai.

Karna's and Athena's name was flagged for immediate notification.

KAVACH War Room

New Delhi, Bharat, September 4, 1946

Karna stood before the glowing runic map projected on the central table. The alert from Mumbai blinked steadily, indicating a breach in the etheric energy grid tied to strategic personnel. Athena stood beside him, her expression sharp.

"This isn't random," Athena said, her voice calm but laced with tension. "It's too precise. Whoever—or whatever—is behind this knows exactly where to strike."

Karna nodded. "We'll deploy a team to Mumbai. If this infiltrator has replaced multiple individuals, we need to identify and neutralize them before they cause irreversible damage."

Athena's eyes narrowed as she studied the anomaly's energy signature. "I will increase the rune sensitivity around all critical sites. Furthermore, we should flag immediate alerts for any further disruptions. And have the Mirror Division prepare containment protocols—we might be dealing with a reflection-based entity."

Based on her calculations and simulations, she was confident—with 99 percent accuracy—that the entity had the ability to manipulate mirrors and reflections.

Karna hesitated. "You think it could be an Asura?"

"It's possible," Athena said grimly. "But we'll know soon enough. Whatever this is, it's only just begun."

"I will inform Aryan about this. He will decide what our further actions should be."

Mirror Dimension

Inside his glassy prison, Vishal Nair shouted into the endless void. He pounded against the reflective walls, his fists bruising, his voice hoarse.

"Let me out! You won't get away with this. Someone will notice—I know they will!"

The reflection that stared back at him wore his face but carried an icy, predatory gaze. Chhaya's voice, calm and mocking, echoed through the dimension.

"They'll notice, yes," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "But by then, it'll be too late."

"For now, it will be in your best interest to behave and keep the others company," she added, smiling cunningly. She gestured, revealing other prisoners trapped in separate reflections.

Vishal's breath caught in his throat as he took in the sight. The silent, horrified expressions of the other captives sent chills down his spine.

Chhaya—or more specifically, her clone—smirked, her amusement evident. "Heh," she chuckled softly, watching the prisoners' reactions with satisfaction.

Mumbai Logistics Office

September 5, 1946

The clock ticked steadily in Vishal Nair's modest office, its rhythmic sound blending with the distant hum of military vehicles outside. Chhaya, disguised as Vishal, sat at the desk, sifting through stacks of documents. Her goal was clear: extract critical magi-tech information that could aid her in destabilizing Bharat's infrastructure.

Her fingers danced across the papers, her face a perfect mask of concentration. She was careful to emulate Vishal's mannerisms—his steady, deliberate movements and his occasional habit of muttering under his breath. Every detail mattered.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid, synchronized footsteps echoed down the corridor. Chhaya's borrowed eyes flicked toward the door as the footsteps stopped abruptly.

The door slammed open.

A squad of KAVACH agents, clad in rune-etched tactical gear, stormed into the room. Their weapons, a hybrid of magi-tech and conventional design, glimmered faintly with etheric energy. Their leader, a stern-faced woman with sharp eyes and an authoritative presence, stepped forward, flanked by two others who had already spread out to secure the room.

"Vishal Nair," the leader barked, her tone leaving no room for argument. "Step away from the desk and place your hands where we can see them. Now."

Chhaya froze for a moment, startled by how quickly she had been discovered. Her mind raced, but her face remained neutral. Carefully, she stood, raising her hands slightly in a show of compliance.

"Officers, what is the meaning of this?" she said, pitching her voice perfectly to match Vishal's usual calm but firm demeanor. "I am an officer of the Bharatiya Army, loyal and honest. Whatever this is, you're making a mistake."

The agents exchanged glances, unfazed. Their leader stepped closer, her sharp eyes locking onto Chhaya's.

"We don't have time for games," she said coldly. "Surrender now. This is your only warning."

Chhaya tilted her head slightly, feigning confusion. "I don't understand. Surrender for what? I have done nothing wrong. If this is about the anomaly reports of military, I assure you, I've been working on them diligently. There's no need for this… hostility."

The leader didn't flinch. Instead, she gestured subtly, and one of her team activated a small device that emitted a low hum. A ripple of etheric energy washed over the room, brushing against Chhaya's disguise. She felt a faint pull at the edges of her form—a magical scan designed to detect the unnatural.

Chhaya's stomach sank as she realized her ruse wouldn't hold for long.

The leader's voice cut through the tense silence. "You've been compromised. The Vishal Nair we know wouldn't show such discrepancies in his energy signature. We're trained to deal with beings like you. Drop the act, or we'll force you to."

Chhaya narrowed her eyes. "You're making a grave error," she said, her tone shifting slightly, carrying an edge of warning. "I am Vishal Nair."

One of the agents stepped forward, raising his magi-tech weapon. "Final warning: surrender now."

Chhaya's mind raced. She could feel the weight of their conviction—these weren't ordinary soldiers. They were metahuman agents, trained and equipped to handle the supernatural. Deception wouldn't be enough here.

"Fine," she said softly, lowering her hands. "If that's how it's going to be…"

In an instant, the light in the room flickered as Chhaya tapped into her reflective abilities. A shimmer passed through the air, and mirrors and reflective surfaces in the room began to distort.

The leader shouted, "Containment protocols! Now!"

But before they could act, Chhaya moved. She lunged toward the nearest reflective surface, intending to escape into the Mirror Dimension. However, the agents were prepared—one of them activated a rune inscribed on the floor, releasing a containment field designed to lock down dimensional shifts.

Chhaya felt the field snap into place, binding her within the room. Her reflection wavered as she turned to face the agents, her disguise faltering.

The leader's voice rang out again, calm and firm. "You're not going anywhere. Stand down."

Chhaya's borrowed face twisted into a snarl as she realized she was cornered. Her mind raced for a way out, but the agents were closing in, their weapons raised and their runes glowing faintly in preparation for the inevitable confrontation.

"You've been severely underestimated me," she hissed, dropping the pretense entirely. "But you'll regret this."

The room tensed, the battle on the verge of breaking out, with both sides ready to unleash their powers .

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