Two Worlds at a Time-Chapter 108: When new meets the old
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There was a stealth ship crouched in the dimly lit garage, like a predatory bird poised to strike. Its compact frame was no larger than a mid-sized car. The hull was angular, every edge and panel designed to break up its outline and scatter any signals. Even within any interstellar civilization, it could go unnoticed. Tiny, hexagonal panels covered the surface, shimmering faintly as they adjusted to mimic the muted tones of the hangar walls.
At the rear, twin ion thrusters sat recessed into the body. They were designed for silent operation, emitting only the faintest hum when active. On either side, retractable maneuvering fins folded tightly against the hull. The cockpit canopy was a dark, nearly invisible seam running along the top of the ship. The control system was entirely holographic, with a translucent interface wrapping around the pilot’s seat, displaying navigation maps, system diagnostics, and a live feed from external cameras.
Every detail of the craft screamed precision and purpose—a vessel built not for comfort but for stealth and efficiency.
"Maybe after this, I’ll give you a name. A panther like you deserves a name," Aric whispered as he touched the hull. In the next second, both Aric and the ship vanished from the garage, disappearing as if they were never there.
Aric found himself outside his hometown, in an open field that had recently been booked for an upcoming building. He remembered this place would soon turn into a mall and become a major hub in the future.
"Maybe I should have asked Dad to buy some land here. Would’ve gotten a good return," Aric whispered. He opened the cockpit and slid inside. The holographic panel came to life as soon as he switched it on.
"Primitive-level communication signal detected. Do you wish to connect?"
A warning popped up, but Aric didn’t bother with it. Instead, he used the onboard high-speed quantum computer to connect with Mira. It took less than a second.
"Holy shit... Is this what I think it is?"
"Yup," Aric replied.
"Damn. How much did it cost?" Mira asked. By now, she understood how Aric operated, so it was fine for her to ask.
"It wasn’t that costly, but it wasn’t cheap either," Aric replied. "Have the coordinates pinpointed to the computer."
The ship slowly floated up with the help of anti-gravity thrusters. Then, the twin ion thrusters came to life, jettisoning it westward. In one minute, Aric had crossed the mainland and found himself over the sea.
"Within 15 minutes, we will reach the airspace of Qatar."
"Thank you, Mira."
"You should be thankful that the laws of the country can’t use any kind of computer as an accomplice to a crime, or else I wouldn’t have been able to help you," Mira said.
"It’ll be a long time before they can even use AI, let alone make laws about its functioning," Aric said.
"Just be safe," Mira said with a hint of care and concern in her voice.
"Are you worried about me?" Aric teased her.
"My emotional meter isn’t set to human standards, but I do feel some sort of pain when I think about every time you vanish and don’t return for hours. I always wonder, what if you never come back?" Mira said.
"I set the parameter so that if I don’t come back, you’ll look after my parents and make sure they’re safe," Aric said. "And my lifespan will grow soon, so even if I don’t show up for years, you can’t neglect that work."
"So I’ll never be free from you," Mira said grumpily.
"Maybe in a thousand years if everything goes smoothly," Aric laughed.
The ship entered Qatar’s airspace, lowering its speed as it reached the coordinates.
From above, the Qatari villa radiated luxury with its sprawling layout, sand-toned walls, and intricate designs. A shimmering infinity pool wound through lush gardens dotted with palm trees and marble courtyards. Flat roofs, arched windows, and shaded verandas blended elegance with tradition. A high wall and grand gate ensured privacy, completing the scene of exclusivity.
"The villa might look like any other out here, but it’s heavily guarded, with even an anti-nuclear bunker underneath. There are 24 guards, and if you want to get to the man, you’ll have to kill all of them since they’re connected by radio and pinged regularly. You can jam the radio, but from the look on your face, I don’t think you’ll leave any of them behind."
"Oh no, no... I’ve already checked out some of the guards working for this piece of shit. Nothing will remain," Aric said with a wide grin.
"When you told me previously, at 14:59 on the 19th of August, that you’d killed people, I didn’t believe you, despite your heartbeat telling otherwise. But now I do," Mira said.
"Does that terrify you?" Aric laughed as he pulled out a small handheld gun from the compartment and some utilities from another side.
"No. It just makes me excited," Mira replied.
Aric’s entire outfit changed as the nanosuit took over his body within seconds, covering him in black and forming long ears above his forehead.
"Stay here. It won’t take long," Aric said as he opened the cockpit midair.
"I’m always here," Mira replied as Aric jumped off and glided down. The ship remained camouflaged high in the air.
Aric descended silently, the nanofiber suit adjusting its density to cushion his landing. His visor displayed augmented reality overlays, highlighting guard positions and security cameras.
The villa was a symbol of luxury in the modern world, but to Aric’s advanced technology, it was laughably vulnerable. He scanned the area through his visor. The shimmering infinity pool reflected the moonlight, and soft ambient lights lined the pathways. Two guards patrolled near the garden, rifles slung lazily over their shoulders.
"Mira, give me the layout again," Aric whispered, his voice inaudible beyond the suit’s comms.
