Chapter 7: The Escape Algorithm

Chapter 7: The Escape Algorithm

Aarav sprinted down the dimly lit corridor, his heart pounding like a malfunctioning circuit. The automated sentinels clanked behind him, their mechanical joints moving with eerie precision. "For machines that are supposed to enforce peace, they sure are aggressive!" he muttered.

The emergency exit was still a hundred meters away. Vidyut's voice echoed in his earpiece. "Minister Sinha, your odds of survival decrease by 12% every five seconds. A tactical deviation is recommended."

"Oh, so now you're a fortune teller?" Aarav huffed, dodging a laser blast that seared the air next to him. He skidded behind a steel column, panting. "Vidyut, options!"

"There is an alternative exit through the ventilation system. The probability of evasion: 37.6%."

"Those aren't great odds."

"Your current odds of reaching the main exit: 18.2%."

Aarav rolled his eyes. "Fine. Give me a path!"

A holographic map flickered to life on his wrist device, showing an access panel above him. He climbed onto a desk, pried open the panel, and hoisted himself inside just as a sentinel's bullet ricocheted off the metal frame. "I hope this ventilation system was designed for humans and not just data packets."

Inside, the tunnel was narrow and eerily silent. He crawled forward, Vidyut updating him with real-time enemy locations. "Minister Sinha, I suggest moving quickly. Netrakar has activated thermal scanning."

Aarav gritted his teeth. "Of course it has. That AI probably knows my body temperature better than I do."

He reached a vertical shaft leading downward. Below, the faint hum of an old backup generator resonated. "Vidyut, where does this lead?"

"A disused surveillance room. Probability of detection: 11.4%."

"That's practically invisible!"

He exhaled and slid down the shaft, landing in the dust-covered room. The walls were lined with inactive monitors. A thick layer of neglect covered the control panels. He dusted off a keyboard and booted up the system.

"Vidyut, can I create a decoy signal to confuse Netrakar?"

"Yes, but only for approximately 43 seconds before it self-c