Chapter 21: The Price of Power

Chapter 21: The Price of Power

Days had passed since the rally, and Pragya couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The Memory Chip had been an amazing tool, unlocking knowledge at an unprecedented rate. But every time he accessed it, he felt like he was losing a little piece of himself. His thoughts weren't as clear as they used to be.

"Am I… losing it?" he asked aloud as he stared at the chip in his hand. "Because I'm starting to feel like I'm losing control of my own brain."

His rebellious friend, Rhea, rolled her eyes. "You've been fine, Pragya. You're just overthinking it. It's not like the chip is controlling you. It's giving you power. Don't be a drama queen."

Pragya didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Yeah, Rhea, because nothing says 'perfectly fine' like your thoughts being influenced by an ancient chip. If I start hearing voices from the Earth again, I'm going to lose it."

And then, just as he said that, the chip buzzed. He sighed, rubbing his temples. "What now?"

The voice of the Earth, as sarcastic as ever, piped up in his mind. "Oh, don't worry, Pragya. You're doing great. But just so you know, the world's about to get a lot more interesting. Hold on tight. And maybe skip the moonwalking drones next time. They were... embarrassing."