The Hidden Burden

The corridors of Fortex headquarters, usually bright and bustling, felt quieter as night fell. Furqon and Zafran sneaked toward the digital archive room, where all meeting logs were stored. They had agreed to seek answers about Dr. Jarir's strange behavior during the critical meeting earlier that day.

After some time working at a terminal, Furqon managed to access the recording file of the Liaison Council meeting. But what they found wasn't just an ordinary log. Within it, several parts had been censored—something that had never happened before at Fortex.

"Look at this," Furqon pointed at the deleted data fragment. "This was clearly done on purpose. But why?"

Zafran frowned. "Maybe it's related to the interdimensional threat mentioned earlier. But why would Jarir hide it from all of us?"

Furqon sighed. "We need to talk to him directly. This is too important to just speculate."

The next morning, Furqon and Zafran met Dr. Jarir in his office. Dr. Jarir looked exhausted, his eyes showing signs of sleeplessness.

"Furqon, Zafran. What is it?" he asked, trying to sound calm despite the clear tension in his voice.

"We want to know," Zafran began firmly. "What's really going on? Why was the meeting data censored, and why were you acting so differently?"

Dr. Jarir took a deep breath, then gestured for them to sit. He looked at them with an expression that mixed weariness and resolve.

"You deserve to know," he finally said. "There's a real threat we're facing—one far greater than you can imagine."

Furqon and Zafran exchanged glances, then listened intently.

"The Strategic Intelligence Division detected an energy anomaly in the Georgia dimension after your return. This anomaly not only suggests interdimensional activity but also the potential for an invasion by entities we've never encountered. If this information leaks too soon, it could cause panic among our division members."

Dr. Jarir continued, his voice low but firm. "I acted that way during the meeting not because I didn't care about your report, but because I had to protect everyone at Fortex. We don't yet know what we're dealing with, and until we understand the situation, I don't want anyone taking reckless action."

Furqon nodded slowly. "So you withheld the information to maintain stability within the base?"

"Exactly," Dr. Jarir replied. "If I seemed rushed, it's because I didn't want a discussion that might spark fear before we had a solid plan. I know it may have seemed wrong, but believe me, it was all for the good of our team."

Zafran leaned back in his chair, his thoughts spinning. "We understand. But you should know—we're ready to help. We're not just members of the Time Travel Division. We're part of this team too. If there's a threat, we want to know so we can help confront it."

Dr. Jarir gave a faint smile, a sense of relief showing on his face. "You're right. I can't do this alone. Alright, from now on, you'll be part of the core team handling this issue. But remember, this information must remain confidential until we truly understand what we're up against."

Furqon and Zafran nodded in unison. Though many questions remained, they now knew that Dr. Jarir wasn't hiding something out of ill intent. Instead, he carried the heavy burden of protecting everyone at Fortex.

As they left Dr. Jarir's office, Furqon turned to Zafran. "I think we need to prepare for something much bigger."

Zafran gave a faint smile, though his eyes reflected vigilance. "We're always ready."

And with that, their steps once again aligned, ready to face the threat that was slowly beginning to reveal itself.