I know that most of you guys wouldn't like fight scenes and some of you wouldn't like lakshmi to have turned out like this. But this ain't a normal romantic story.

She was like this from the start and she didn't change over night. She just needed a push and
she became more fearless.

Also, I didn't want my book to be purely fictional without providing you any information that could be of some use in your real life. That's the reason why I have added science and struggles of this world. Those struggles are real.

This chapter would be the last chapter of her mission and if you wouldn't like to read it, then you can skip it as well and continue to the last part as there is a twist for you .
I wouldn't say that skipping this would not affect the rest of the story as you need to get into the character of stronger version of lakshmi to know why she took those decisions.

This book is an ' all genere ' book.
Not just romantic and love struggles.

The info in middle of the story took me days to do research and as well as the missile explanation which is going to be given in this chapter has took me hours to formulate .

And to say
I was most disappointed to see that the romantic chapters and heart breaking chapters which are purely fictional and took a few hours to write would get 500+ votes
But the chapter with actual knowledge which could be of some use in real life just got 150 votes for 780 reads, which is the least in this book.....

So I guess most of my readers aren't much of fans of the science and technology.

It's okay,
now don't vote because I felt bad. I want only those who like these two chapters to genuinely vote on them. That would make me more happy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I kept on looking and searching around for anything to save myself from this moron... I vigorously shaked the chains on my wrist and ankle with expectations that it would loosen off....

I heard a sound of tearing and I looked at him while he tore his shirt compeletly causing me to shiver....
He came up to me and opened my jacket causing me to suck in a deep breath....
I'm not able to control my anxiety that's spiking up.... I took in another deep breath buy it ain't helping anymore...

" beauty with brains
But woman are only meant to be used.... " he said and I spit on his face with anger.... Remembering someone who did the same with me...

I felt a sting on my cheek followed by pain....
He slapped me!
Never!
Never would I allow anyone to raise hand on me! My pride and dignity comes first . I will drink blood of the ones who would dare to do it....

I growled with the anger that I couldn't control anymore and the next second he was leaning on me again....
I pulled the chain attached to my leg forward, causing him to lose balance as his stepped towards me and fell down to my side on the bed.
With the chain that was around my wrist , I strangled him hard enough for him to start choking. He held my hair and pulled it but I strangled him more causing him to loosen his grip.

After making sure that he is unconscious, I kept my hand in his pocket and removed the key.
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Right now he is on bed in the same position as I was before..... Chained....

I smirked at him while he gained conscious and glared at me. He yelled out for his men and tried to scare me off but I just sat there smirking.

" work done " said Antonio while coming in and I nodded.

Basheer and that girl had already taken the situation under their control.....
How?
Because their so called boss is held captive and had a gun pointing at him.

Antonio stood behind him and held a gun behind him while I removed the chains and he was pushed forward and asked to walk.

Basheer threw a shirt on him and he wore it immediately.

Suleiman started walking with me bedside him and Antonio behind him with a gun pointed at the back of his head.

As soon as we reached outside passing through his memebers who were tied up, Basheer shackled up suleiman with metal chains and nudged him to go out of the door.

We saw armed men running across the field and a few were firing from different ranges. I fired in the air to grasp their attention towards us. As soon as they saw us, they stood still with different expressions on each of their faces. A few were angry while a few were scared. Why wouldn't they be when we have their leader in our clutches .

I can see the dust in the air forming a brownish hue and the weather was hot as usual.
I looked the plain deserted road beside the ground.....
This is the only way we could escape from this building as the other exit from which we were bought in is more dangerous.

We demanded for a vehicle and as soon as a jeep was placed infront of us, I pushed Suleiman in the back seat and Antonio chained him up to the steal rod.
Did you seriously think that I would push him off after we get a vehicle?

Nah nah.

We passed through the barren village and entered the destroyed city .

I heard Basheer speaking
" where is Missile10X? " I observed them through the rear view mirror and saw him torturing Suleiman....
but as a tough nut he was,
he was just glaring back at Suleiman even after getting punches from him.

Antonio suddenly kept his hand infront of my face while driving and I looked at his hand to see a pack of chocolates, there were in Arabic language I guess. I took it and popped one in my mouth. Though I hate chocolates, but this is not a place to select what I get to eat.

" it has almond in it " he spoke while looking in front and driving.

" yah " I said and popped another 2 in mouth. I love chocolates if they almonds....

" guys can you be a little more serious! I'm doing a serious Job here!" he said getting irritated with us...

" Hey girl
Do you want some chocky? " I asked bending back and pushing the packet towards the girl who was along with us on the mission. She smiled and nodded a ' no ' while basheer groaned again and earned a laugh from us.

" Basheer babe
They are prone to getting punched
They would die rather than telling us" I said and basheer glared at Suleiman  as if infrared rays from his eyes will burn suleiman.
Lol.
This guy is an angry kid sometimes. But an efficient one though...
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As soon as we reached the border
I could feel more hot...
Deserts are meant to be hot
with never ending golden sand in them.....

I handed bug detector to Antonio and got down the jeep.
I went towards Suleiman and Basheer pushed him down on to the ground.

" Basheer babe
He is elder to me
Give him some respect " I sassed and Basheer smirked while pulling him up by holding his neck and made him stand straight facing me....

" I apologize for his actions
Mr. Suleiman.
So....
Tell me where it is " I asked him cutely with a smile.

He was about to pounce on me but Basheer smacked his head and pulled the chains holding him in place.

" listen dude
It's hot here
I mean
Very hot
So if you want to roam naked ,
I might as well give you 3 seconds time " I said the last few lines holding his collar and making him look into my eyes. No more bullshit.

The other girl started counting 3 and Suleiman didn't open his mouth.

As soon as the count three were over.
Without saying another word, I tore his clothes which were just cotton fabric making it more easy.

Antonio came and stood beside me while showing a bomb. I used the bug detector and removed phone from Suleiman's pocket. I nodded at basheer and he took it and gave it to the girl who started working on it.

I took the bomb and placed it on his abdomen and tied it up with a rope.
He was vigorously shaking his head and screaming us to remove it.
Bastard.

" what did you think?
That we will leave you after getting the jeep...
That we don't know what stupid plans you people might have ?
And you really thought that we would leave you somewhere and you would notify your members to blast it? " I asked pulling his hair and making him look into my eyes.

" congratulations
You have left us with no choice " I said and basheer pushed him off.

We all sat back in our places in jeep while he just stared at us perplexed.

" it's okay princess
I stand on my words
You can leave now,
We have left you in a refugee area and I highly doubt if you could make it back alive to your base. " I said and Antonio started engine.

" yah one more thing,
We have changed the settings in your phone........
If I feel that you should have a quick death, then I might as well press it . " I said and the jeep started moving slowly while picking up speed.

I saw him through the mirror while he is running on the ground with a bomb on his abdomen and hands tied in front.

" listen listen
The bomb is in seal tower " he screamed while still running behind the jeep. I smirked and indicated her to finish it off   while Antonio picked up the speed of jeep.

A loud sound of explosion made the ground vibrate and the waves of heat hit my exposed skin... I turned around to look at the flames.....

I turned around and sat comfortably in my place.

" you didn't have to kill him " mumbled Basheer while keeping his bag down.

" trust me
I had to " I said.
I do what I say.
I gave him 3 seconds but he had to show his attitude.

Well,
The world became a little more better place without that bastard who feeds on humans. His rack is full of everything which even Alexander dosen't do....
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As soon as we reached the base, it was already dark outside. Those men guarding the fences opened the gates for us and we entered.

As soon as we entered, the whole team asked us for the progress and we informed them that the mission has failed.

I went back to my room and this time, that girl accompanied me , as Antonio went along with Basheer to share room.

I let the shower water pass through my hair, drain down my body and shut my mind.
Shutting my mind in free time is the best solution to not hurt myself by over thinking...

I opened my mouth and took in a mouthful of water from the shower and spit it out.

I wrapped a towel and came out to see that girl waiting to use the washroom.....

I laid on my bed and let the sleep consume me under the soft sheets....moon light in the dark room..
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I got ready and stepped out of the room to see her waiting for me outside.

She nodded looking at me while I responded with a nod.
She is beautiful....though she has packs and moderately built muscles, but she is tall... Maybe 6'0 ft.
Height - check
Boobs - check
Gluteus maximus - check

Girl, she is a rare beauty.

" I can feel your eyes on me " she said while walking infront of me....

" yah
I'm checking up on you " I said and she turned back with wide eyes.
Damn, my 5'4 is of no help now.

" Don't bother
She is speaks out her mind " said Antonio passing by us in the corridor along with Ben who smiled at me and left.....

" I like that ....
Imra " she said shoving her hand towards me and I shaked it.

" Roberta " I said and she nodded.

Suddenly a bunch of our man started making nose while entering inside the hall and we looked down from the first floor.
They were carrying one of our men supporting on their shoulders while cursing loudly.

We got down and they made a way for me to check the man who was laid on the metal table.

" what happened? " I asked the one who is injured.

" my shoulder is paining " he said and I could see that , along with the multiple bruises on his face.

I inspected his shoulder joint and he told me how he fell, in which position he felt. By this , I made out that his joint has been displaced.

He removed his shirt and after a inspection, I rotated a little to know the limitations. After examining and making sure that it's antero-posteriorly dislocated, I held his hand

(5 seconds later)

' kachak '

I dusted my hands and went away from there. Ofc I did push the ball back into its socket. It's a ' traction-countertraction' technique .

Though we should administer him with anaesthesia before doing this. But we donot have them. So I just asked them to give him painkillers. It's okay if he has dislocation again in near future......then I will do a proper surgery for him when we go back.
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Almost everything is blue around me.
I feel a lot of pressure building up in my body and as well as the speed in which I'm moving is not at all helping me.......

I pressed a button on my belt and the speed of the propeller on my back decreased, causing me to slow down...

Antonio decreased his speed too and waited for me ahead. I nodded at him indicating that I was fine.
Being in water was not something I have ever dreamt about.

I looked around in the deep water and saw a few corals and rocks. A patch of corals in a river is something I have not expected..... This sure must be some experiment....
I sought out a few fishes and as well as few human bones.

Something caught my interest ,
It's half merged in the sand with corals behind it....
I dived towards the corals and pulled out the the shell like thing...

Oh god... It's a conch! 🐚
But how.... I thought it's more common in Indian Ocean... But how come they are in Al Assad river in Middle East?

I held on to it and incresed the speed of my propeller,
joined with the others.

The reason why we can't take a boat or whatever sails on the water is because the sky is under their control. There are multiple helicopters in the air which are keeping a tab on the surroundings.

As soon as we reached the coast, I removed the mask and stopped breathing for a few seconds. Damn this nitrogen is making me feel heavy. I took in large bounts of air and I felt a little dizzy.

Antonio held on to my shoulder and guided me to slowly jog towards a wall while hiding . I sat down leaning on to the wall and so did the rest while Antonio stood as tall as a mountain. I called him towards me and he raised his eyebrow. I made him stand infront of me to block the sun.

I felt something poking in my hand and I looked at my palm to see the shell. I shaked it vigorously near my ear and I felt something moving in it.

I pulled out a thread from hair band and made a loop out of it. I pushed it in and slowly pulled it out multiple times.

" girl, there must be some small living thing it. Leave it for god's sake " Basheer groaned but I gave no heard.

The next second,  a pink pearl fell out of it and I screamad in a low pitch voice! 
As expected that's a queen conch!!! 
I gave a goofy smile and kept the pearl in my pocket.

I asked Antonio to throw the conch back in the river...
If it's alive...
Then it's alive right...
It's a beautiful organism of the world which I wouldn't like it to die....

He looked up and after making sure that the helicopter left, he threw it harder and it landed in the middle of the river.
Hulk princess.

We slowly jogged into the arid area with bags on our back.
As soon as we reached the fences of garage which has been shut down since ages,
Basheer cut through the fences with Microfire Torch and we passed through it, jogged towards the garage door while Antonio was taking a cover behind us.

One second my whole body was wet as if I came out of floods and the next second I turned into a person who faced drought.

We removed the protective covers of the devices which are not water proof and set them back in their previous positions. We left behind the propellers and gadgets that we donot require anymore.
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After walking a couple of kms by hiding all the way under the shades and the buildings,
With our breaths in our palm....
Under the blazing sun
Tension visible in our body....

We have finally reached the building.
The seal tower

Antonio crouched and jogged towards the other side of the tall building.

As soon as Antonio indicated that the coast was clear , I and Imra followed by Basheer jogged in the same path and stood behind Antonio taking cover for him while he is opening the underground metal plate.

" you have 10 seconds Antonio
Before the CCTV turns to this side " Basheer murmured and Antonio swiftly broke open the lock. With out waiting for another second , we jumped into the hole.

It ain't much height, so no casualties while landing. We looked around in the white tunnel.

" 20 mins before the goods carrier passes through this tunnel .
There is a cleft 2 km away
And 500mts from there, a common wall to the storage room " Basheer said looking at the hologram in which  Luke was guiding us through the locations . No one in the team knows about this mission. We said to them that Suleiman escaped and we are going back to get him....

Well, basheer trusts Luke as they knew each other from before , though me and Antonio didn't like the idea of revealing our plan to him....
But couldn't do anything....
As Basheer is equal to us in position. We can't order him around.

We started running in the long white tunnel. Me and Antonio running on one side while Basheer and Imra on the other side of the tracks.

I could feel my lungs burning with the speed I'm running....
I took in short breaths more faster.... That's a physiological response of the body and my increased heart rate ain't helping me....

We felt the ground vibrating and we knew that the goods carrier is coming this way. It will squeeze us to death in this tunnel if we don't run fast.

I increased my pace and so did Antonio.

We could now see a large goods carrier which looked like a mini train moving really damn fast and I got scared for a second imagining getting crushed by it. I fell a pull on my hand and I retracted it back to run away from the train. I felt another tug and I looked at Antonio.....
An unkown confidence built up in me and I started running as fast as I can along with him towards the train....

As soon as the train was seconds away from hitting us, we were already in the cleft.
I took in deep breaths and I tried to control my racing heart... I can feel my body heaten up....

As soon as the cargo train left, basheer and Imra ran towards us and I held on to Imra's and she squeezed it a little....
Assuringly....
I needed this...

Antonio asked us to move back and soon the wall fell off as the mini bombs he fixed to the wall in a circular pattern broke them down. We are confident that no one would catch us with this bomb blasting sound , because
1. Blast sound was minimum compared to the train sound which could still be heard.
2. This storage room is the last one which no one uses.

Luke infiltrated in to the security system of the first few floors....otherwise it wouldn't have been possible to point this storage room in specific . The later floors are hard to infiltrate as they have a top notch security system, and it has infiltration alerting system in it.
One single mistake , the whole mission would go down in drain.

We entered through the hole and turned on our flash lights in watches. As soon as we spotted a door, we stood behind it and sent out a small spider bug through the slightly opened door.

We soon sent a signal to luke so that he can keep an eye too. I tapped twice and the hologram from my black band on my right hand showed up .
I started looking around as the bug moved by in the halls ways in the screen.

Making sure that there are not too many people, we moved to the other storage room beside this one . There were a couple of white coats on a hanger, which we wore immediately and clipped in our fake identities to it.

We stepped out of the storage confidently and mixed along with a bunch of white coats in the hall. I wore my glasses as I can't open my hologram in public. Only I can see it from inside and for outsiders, it might look like normal protective glares. My glasses are the screen now.
They are anything but normal.

Soon we entered a golden lift and it started ascending.
" New here? " we heard one of them speak and I turned to look at the middle age Man with white hair near his ear....

" Indian!
Well then you must be a genius .
Welcome dear " he said smiling warmly....
well ,
I guess there is no need for me to open my mouth as this man is answering to his questions by himself. I nodded at him with a smile and he smiled back.

As soon as the lift stopped in the 14th floor, half of them got down.

I clicked on my band and looked through the hologram in my glasses.

_________________________

'Target - 68th floor'
_________________________

Quite a tall one this seal building is...

After few seconds, we reached the 68th floor... The elevator was fast.
Most of them got down in the other floors and we were the only one left by the time we reached this floor.

We looked around and Antonio looked at me while scanning the floor with bug detector pen. He nodded a 'no' and we all moved through the complete white narrow hallway .

We stood infront of a large white doors and a panel emerged out through the wall. We took out our lens box and placed lens in our eyes.
It manipulates the Iris scan.

As soon as the scan was verified, the white doors slide open .
Basheer stuck a chip underneath the panel before it could disappear behind the wall.

While we entered inside the room , I removed a transmitter disruptor and stuck it to the wall , it cuts off the functioning of the CCTV's if present. We can't take a chance in here.....
We can't alert them...

My eyes soon landed on the thing which is in the middle of the room... I couldn't believe myself that I could get a chance to see this wonderful monster masterpiece in real life...

There lies in the middle of the dark room.....
Missile 10X
In it's all glory.
Floating in air with blue electric fences shielding it.

Basheer activated the field scanner and soon we saw that there were multiple destructable fields that have been projected in different levels from the missile till a meter in front of us.....

Well
I'm not an elastic girl
So don't even imagine me doing gymnastics there.
I ain't no Tom Cruise.
I will get us all killed with my stiff body.

Imra already went half way through the projected rays. She is quite flexible.... She is rolling, skidding, jumping....and what not!?

As soon as she reached near the missile, she turned towards us....asking what's next.....

The two men beside me were also looking at me.....
" what would I know?
You didn't  ask me while going.... " I murmured.... Seriously, I have no idea .

I looked around and spotted the spider bug on roof. I controlled it as it passed through the laser fields and as soon as it reached the missile, it climbed up onto the control panel on the base.
It inserted itself into the plug point and caused self destruction leading to inactivation of the fields in front of us.

I started moving forwards and saw Imra glaring at me....
Oops....
I should have done this before.

Soon we stood infront of the mini panel which had a plain screen. I removed a wire and plugged it to Antonio's watch. He accessed the panel through his hologram after 5 mins.

" we have 10 mins before they come for inspection " basheer said looking at a hologram in his watch. He has infiltrated the security in the upper floors.
" It is hard to infiltrate this one " Antonio said while still working on the panel.
No one knows the arrangement of field's magnitude and angulation other than me and those dead scientists. Nor does Alexander wants anyone else to know....
This whole thing feels too heavy on my shoulders......

Suddenly the room turned white and doors opened. We stood rooted in our places and swiftly removed our weapons . Men in black suits cladded body entered inside with guns.
We expected them to fire
But no.... They took their positions as if they are ready to fire and are waiting for the orders.

They moved aside and a man in grey suit stepped infront. His cold eyes were boring in to me as if trying to read what's inside my brain.... I stood still without moving an inch.

We just have a couple of hours for the fields to be reset in the missile. Otherwise the whole continent or else the whole world might get destroyed...

" what brings you here " he asked. That's the lamest question anyone can ask a theif with a box of jewelry in his hand. But his face seems anything but a joke....
wait he mentioned 'You?'
does he know me? How? Has been expecting us? No one knows about this mission in our team.....

" we have to change the fields
It's important,
We only have a couple of hours " I said. This guy surely knows that we came to steal it. I know he must have thought about it to...
I have no other way than telling him the truth to keep us alive.

" proof " he said and I sighed.

" listen
We only have a couple of hours
Either you get to let me work on that thing or else we all get to die.
You should be knowing how harmful it might be.....
As you stole it " I said and he stared at me blankly before asking his men to call someone.

Soon a group of middle aged men entered in their white coats entered inside.
The looked at us and so did we.

Those gaurds stood behind their boss while he stood along with the white coat men near us.

The boss and his white coat subjects started talking while we four glanced at each other and then reverted back our concentration on them....

" yes sir
The missile has been emitting a specific amount of heat since the last week. We have used cryonics but we don't think it could contain it any further. " a man said while showing some reports to him and boss is nodding.

" how could a metal container restrict the anti matter?
I guess that's the reason why the heat is being emitted out. " the man whom I met in elevator previously looked at Antonio for explanation.

Antonio looked at me
" she knows it " he said and here it goes..... Every other soul in this room is right now staring at me.....

I can't say that ' I won't say ' because we know that they would make us spill it out in some or the other way...

" how is it possible to create such a huge amount of anti matter?.....
A gram of anti matter could produce an explosion the size of a nuclear bomb  " he asked with eager and amused expressions on his face.... OK....
They really want to know everything now.... I fear I can't say all.....

I looked around to see their men still in position with their guns towards us........
Okay..... I guess....
I will just give them basics...

" we have used the artificial lightening and thunder in a hydrogen containment chamber .

We made sure that the anti hydrogen left out after the annihilation with the hydrogen atoms is more. We made sure that the produced anti matter gets processed through the specified alpha magnetic spectrometer to remove the presence of anti matter other than anti hydrogen which is later followed by propulsion storage mechanism. " I said almost omitting out the rest of the important key points for this mechanism.

" okay
Then how can we not measure the quantity of anti matter present in it.
It's as if there is she shields which are limiting our field penetration " he asked. This question made me realize that the scientists in our lab hasn't leaked the information. It must be someone else.... Someone close....

" yes
Though the core is a basic model proposed by alpha a decades back,
But they have modified it a little and used the dark matter and dark energy concepts in it. " as soon as I said, those men in white coat started laughing....

This is the reason why I hate people who don't have a broad mindset. They think that whatever they don't know is impossible. I don't even dare to call them scientists.
They. Are. Fools.

" care to explain? " one man asked with a smile which I want to punch out of his face.

" as if you would believe " I said rolling my eyes and felt a cool metal on my forehead. My eyes moved up to see a gun placed on my head.
That grey suit man indicated me to speak and so did I.

" The core has anti hydrogen which is having positrons and anti protons in a chain reaction. Every second they convert into reactants and products keeping the energy themselves. For this the electrode trap is left behind along with the lower magnetic field trap in the core. The elcetrodes are covered and they cannot react with the anti matter at any cost, while their function remains the same....

As the quantity of anti matter is more, this small sized container is not enough to capacitate the anti matter. So our scientists have infiltrated the usage of artficially maniputaled and created zones of dark matter and dark energy. The dark matter adds mass to the core and fields , producing an inward pressure on it to get the anti matter compressed in it's zone.
Because of this middle zone, your fields are unable to penetrate into the inner core zone.

While the dark energy present between the outer layers of the missile cause expansion between the two outer lost layers by pushing it apart.

This way, more pressure is applied on the inner zone of black matter seperated by a layer , indirectly causing increased containment of the anti matter as the fields are not enough , but are required to maintain their particulate motion in a pattern.

As soon as the fields collapse, the electrodes functioning weakens causing the anti matter particles to liberate into the other layers, which can't control their momentum .
As soon as it reaches to the TNT outermost layer, it explodes even if it doesn't come in contact with the atmosphere. " I said and let out a breath which I held back.... I had to think and rethink before I speak... I can't give them out everything....
Who the fuck uses TNT?
Release of one pound of anti matter into atmosphere causes destruction equal to 19 megatons of TNT.
And this whole thing itself is plated with TNT layer !!!!

" better we capture these people....
Especially her
She seems to know a lot more than what she spoke." said a white coat man who was silent from the moment he entered...
I'm surely getting a bad vibes from this whole thing.....

" Sir!
The core temperature is increasing " A young man in white coat said with sweat beads on his forehead.
All the faces were filled with fear and tension and they started looking at the reports while discussing among themselves....

" we have to let her operate " one man said and the other man denied saying " she just knows the information about it!  We can't let an immature handle it! " ..... The whole room was filled with voices and murmurs.

" shut up! " I screamed in frustration and everyone kept quite while turning their faces to me.

" Let  .  Me  . Do  . It " I said almost gritting my teeth and growling with anger, they talked about it for a few seconds while I fisted my hands.
I didn't explain them only to be pushed back....
For god sake we are all going to die!

" let her do it " their boss spoke out of blue and I looked at him while he stared back at us.

They pressed something on the panel and the shield around the missile got deactivated.....

My team stood behind me while the rest of them present in the room were standing far.

I let out a breath and wore gloves. I touched the black surface which soon radiated showing the internal layers through the shallow clefts with radiating electric blue colored mini circuit lines .
I looked around the missile and slowly clicked on a point 4cm above the corner which had a small glowing bluish ash circuit. Soon the outer protective gears opened up and a panel emerged out. I connected it to my watch , opened hologram screen.

I started manipulating the directions and angles of the magnetic fields inside the core through the control panel. As soon as they are aligned, I let the electrodes absorb the energy from my band which is now a portal connected to the main power line atomic box placed around my arm. (It's like a battery)

The sweat trickled down my forehead. The composition of the electric and magnetic fields are very important as the whole missile is depended on a proportional equilibrium functioning. If any thing exceeds the proportion,
then it would dismantle and blast.

I am staring at the milliseconds on my watch....
My heart is racing as fast as those milliseconds....
As soon as it reached number 28 , I shut the portal and it stopped at 30. The panel moved back inside slowly . I sighed and a smile crept on my face.....

I growled in exhaustion+happiness and fisted my hand in air.

" done!!! " I screamed with happiness that was surging in my body....
My whole body is still shivering....

Antonio came and hugged me tightly while Imra and basheer patted....
The main task is done.

" It would be easy if you cooperate with us and surrender " the man in grey suit said loudly and we looked at him.

Their men were slowly encircling us and before they could reach us, basheer dropped 2 bombs . They split open and the thick foamy gas started filling up the whole room within seconds.

We turned around to see a few men coming towards.... trying to find us in between the smoke filled room.... But only we can see as our glasses has an X ray film coat which let's us see beyond the smoke.
Antonio pressed something on the panel and the missile shut in a case.

He took the case and we started running out from the smoke filled room . As soon as we made out of the chamber , basheer changed the settings of the room panel through his hologram , so that no one comes out of the room.....while Antonio is trying to contact the base in sinjar district for jet location .
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As soon as we reached the terrace, the hot waves brushed past my skin and my hair strands flew along with the breeze .

The jet landed infront of us and we soon jogged towards it. As soon as we reached, the doors opened on the 3 sides and we get in immediately.

The jet took off.....
I leaned on to my seat and shut my eyes....
I tried controlling my breath and racing heart. I turned to my right to look at a handsome man dressed up, operating our jet....

" girl he is feeling uncomfortable " basheer said and I noticed the man to have an uncomfortable expression on his face .

" I'm just admiring his beauty...
Antonio is already 38 OLD and basheer is 39 OLD.
My eyes bleed every day seeing you both old hags " I said and Imra chuckled . Basheer glared at her and she scooted back in her seat....

Ohhho...
I guess these two are now in something something feeling something something....

I teased basheer with my eyes while giving a goofy smile and he glared at me.

" we can finally go back to home " Antonio said and I nodded with him... I really want to go back....
It's been a month....
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We landed on the plain barren land. I stepped out and walked till the base along with others . As soon as we entered , I looked at our men who were walking around and some were sitting on the floor clutching their head.

" what happened guys? " I asked and all the eyes turned towards us. I observed each and every one of their faces while going towards them.

" Mike caught the traitor .
He killed him. He found Ben trying to manipulate your coordinates in the mission while Luke was assisting you" Karisov said and I looked down at the other end of the hall . My eyes landed on Ben's pale body . He was shot in head.

I looked at Mike who is sitting on couch and looking down ,
he nodded looking at my face....
His face was filled with waves of pain and hurt.....

" Antonio
Kill Mike " I said and the next second Mike was lying on ground with blood pooling around his body.

" take his band " I murmured and Antonio went towards Mike's body and removed his band swiftly from right hand. Those bands keeps a tabs on the owner's network and save all their conversations ,vocal and messages.

I went back to my room , leaned onto the wall and sat down on the floor.....

Loosing people is the most painful thing.... Especially the ones who have spent years with you....

A muffled cry left my mouth...
He was such an angel.... He cared for everyone....he was the one who stood beside me when I killed someone for the first time.... He told me its okay to eliminate the bad people....
He always smiled infront of me.... That smile which is cost less and makes me feel at ease when ever I'm in dilemma or uncomfortable....

Those nights when all of us use to sit around the campfire and he used to dance funnily making us laugh out our stomach....
he was soo close to my heart....
it aches to realize that he is no more...

Third person POV :

Antonio entered the room and looked at the girl who showed herself as a strong woman outside the room and behind the closed doors,
she is crouching and crying in a corner like a little girl....

ofcourse she is....
She is a little girl still...

He sat beside her and looked at her shivering form... She kept her head inbetween her folded legs and he could hear her cries...

He never wanted her here...Even though Alexander has ordered him take her along with him for the mission, he denied his boss. This was the first time he disobeyed his boss.... Though he could have got a bullet in his head for that...
But he cared for the little girl like a father should....

He knew that Ben has a special place in her heart because Ben was more expressive than Antonio. Both of them took bullets for her....
They taught her to become more stronger , and as well made sure that she dosen't lose herself in this dark world....

" lakshmi " Antonio called her softly with his own tears betraying.... Lakshmi immediately hugged Antonio with the pain that was piercing her heart...

Her heart is bleeding for her old Ben...

" he....he......
He saw me as his daughter....
He has no one, no one... He said me...
He said me that he has us....
Then why did he leave ha?
We were there na.....
Ha?......
He made sure that I laugh atleast ones a day....now I am crying..
Why is he not coming!?
I'm crying!
It's paining alot.....
(a sob left her mouth)

I should have talked to him in the morning when he passed by me with a smile on his face...

Never would I have thought that it was going to be his last smile....
That it would be the last time I'm going to see him..... "
lakshmi cried out loudly....
people say that the pain reduces when you let it out... But it's not in her case..

She misses his bear hugs, she misses his large 6'ft body, she misses food he cooks for her..... She misses that smile... She misses all of him...
Someone who was always there for since the past few years....
Someone who took a bullet for her...
someone who has had her back....

" we both said you that we won't be forever with you lakshmi....
people come and go....
Remember the good time you had with him. "Antonio said and hugged her back tightly with pain in his heart for his mate who has been with him since he entered this mafia since a young age.
Remembering those good old times when they used to drink together, checking up on girls on the street...
Doing missions together.... Ben silently crying on his shoulder when his wife and child was killed....
Had to deal with this teenage Indian girl and take care of her....
He misses him dearly....
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The night was sleepless for both of them. They kept on looking at the moon hiding behind the clouds in the dark sky...... She looked at a small star near the moon.... Very small it was...
Not too bright...

Like her Ben....

" you are always with me Ben
I know you will guide me from above.
You are that star right?
I will talk to you and see you in that star.... You will be here Ben
Forever and ever
Shining like a small star . " she spoke out and a tear escaped her eye while a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips...with a painful lump in her throat.
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In the noon,
Under the blazing sun....
On the desert sand ,
A couple of jeeps are moving....

Antonio is driving while lakshmi is seated beside him and looking out into the desert, with Basheer and Imra seated behind.

After travelling for a couple of minutes , they have spotted a group of people who were migrating with heavy brown bags in their hands and on their backs...children were carrying plastic containers partially covered in jute cloth with stored water in them....

Soon there was a commotion and a woman who was holding onto a baby in her arms was pushed on to the burning sands of desert. Lakshmi immediately held on to Antonio's hand he stopped driving. All the jeeps stopped. Lakshmi, Antonio, Imra and Basheer got down while keeping the rest of the team on gaurd around the jeeps.
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As soon as they reached near to those people...

" Basheer " lakshmi called him and he nodded looking at her and went towards a man who was standing silently and watching....

Soon the woman was kicked again and she held on to her baby tightly protecting it....

Unable to see this, lakshmi strode towards the man and pushed him off her. She helped the woman in black burka to get up and helped her to hold on to her baby.

" she was abducted by an extremist group and held captive for 5 years. She escaped from them but came back with a baby. As it's not acceptable in their culture, they want her to leave the baby in the desert.
So that the rest of their religion children can have the ration which is behind spent on this baby.
They are saying that she shouldn't be born in the first place and she is a curse to them.
The husband is worried that they wouldn't be allowed to stay in the community if they wouldn't get rid of it. They will be outcasted eventually. " Basheer said to lakshmi and she groaned internally as soon as she heard religion, caste and immoral accusations tagged on a small baby.

Lakshmi POV :

" hand over a bag of our food to them, say them that in return they have to leave the baby to some reliable government workers who would take care of this child . " I said and Basheer nodded going back to them.

He was talking to them while I saw the lady lay the baby on sand.
I sprinted towards the baby and picked it up quickly .
Fuck these retards!
The sand is really hot and they are leaving a scarcely dressed infant on it!

I glared at the woman while she turned away and left while holding on to her mouth through the burka and muffling her sobs....
Everyone started leaving ,
leaving us behind....

" what happened Basheer? " I almost shouted and saw him coming towards me...

" that man said that the elders have taken a decision that either that women has to leave behind this baby girl or the rest of her children whom she had with her husband.
So she opted to leave this one behind" Basheer said and lakshmi grunted in anger.
How can one leave their child behind? They have to fight!!...
Even if it's against the family
Even if it's against the norms of society or caste or religion or what so ever it is!!!
We have to fight for our child!

Who does the innocent soul have?
except for it's father who should shoulder her and show the world....
Except for it's mother who should feed her and love her endlessly.

I felt the baby moving and I looked down in my arms....

Underneath those eyelids with small visible engorged veins, her eye balls almost protruding out....
with her shrunken cheeks,
her cheek bones are clearly outlined..
Pale skin with whitish chapped lips ,
Severely malnourished body and with visible bony prominences.....
As if her skin is just like a plastic cover......

I gulped looking at the little soul in my hands... It slowly opened its mouth to wail.... But even the cry needs some strength which she dosen't have... She closed her mouth and her forehead formed creases resembling that of an older woman.... It couldn't even move it's hands.....

Suddenly I felt someone touching my shoulder and I looked up to see the mother of this child. Before I could shout at her for making this little one through hell,
her painful broken voice stopped me.....
Basheer came in front for translation but she denied and looked at me....

" I   no  Englis
I  love   (she pointed at baby with her trembling hands)
fameily  no   (she pointed at baby telling that her family dosen't want her)
I no no   (she moved her hands indicating she didn't knew what to do in this situation, with tears in her eyes.)
I  (she showed 5 fingers)  men.
I   go  there  from
(I ran away from there)
I  pain   (she showed her widened hands indicating that it pained alot ,that they have hurt her alot)
No  with  I
(she pointed at baby and then at herself, telling that she only had baby and herself at her worse time).

(She pointed at the baby and then to her height, indicating that if the baby grows.
then she pointed at me, Imra and herself..........that girls......)
Pain..... " those brimming tears fell from my eyes understanding what she meant.... That her baby's future will be like her .

" take
(she pointed at baby)
Ok ha
(meant that we have to keep her safe)"
She joined her hands and bowed infront of me.... Her long black sleeves slid to her elbows and I gasped looking at those unhealed burnt marks.... I can't even see her skin....

I heard a muffled cry from her mouth and she held on to my face and kissed my forehead for a brief second, she removed a silver chain from underneath her burka and kept it in my palm. She bent towards my arms , placing a lingering kiss on the baby's forehead and murmured something into her ear....

' Noor e hayat '

She said softly,
while touching her baby's palm with her fingers for one last time....
Before turning her back to the
little soul in my arms....

The sun slowly going down
behind  the sands of the desert..
unable to see the depart of the two innocent souls
Filling it's pain with a orange hue in the sky

A mother walking away from her child 
going back into her world of struggles.....

Saving her child from the monsters whom she has faced....

With tears in her eyes
With a hope that her innocent child will live in a better world

A small hope in her heart
With tears rolling down her face
A small hope it is.....
Of a mother who is leaving behind a part of her soul...

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" did she really leave? " I heard Antonio speak and I came out of revere of thoughts....

She left! 
oh my god!

I looked down at the little baby in my arms , my fingers touched her bare hand and I was shocked!
Her body is cold!

I ordered Antonio to get medical kit.
I placed the baby on the front seat and injected her with 25% of 500ml DNS packet available in the kit. Imra forwarded a black cloth and I wrapped it around her carefully making sure that the cannula ain't disrupted.
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I woke up gasping and looked around in the dark room , my breath was pacing up and I rubbed my cheeks trying to take in deep breaths....

I turned to my right to see my babies sleeping peacefully....
Small snores filled the room under moon light making it's way inside from the open window...

I gulped down a glass of water placed on the table beside the bed and laid back on the soft mattress....