The night air at Karachi's port district was heavy with salt and diesel. Cargo containers stretched endlessly under floodlights — perfect cover for secrets and shadows.
Inside a rented van parked near Dock 14, Farooq hunched over his laptop, cables snaking out the back into a portable antenna.
Mehmooda monitored the cameras, while Inspector Jamshed stood by the open door, pistol holstered, eyes scanning the horizon.
"We can't stay invisible forever," Jamshed murmured. "Once they detect the signal, they'll come."
Farooq cracked his knuckles. "That's the point, Abba. We want them to come."
Their plan was simple — or so it seemed.
They had rebuilt fragments of the destroyed microchip and embedded a digital bait file inside: something that looked like a map to the second packet.
Then, using a fake server node, Farooq released the file into the dark web under an anonymous handle.
Within minutes, a hit came back — someone had accessed it from an encrypted address deep within Karachi's government network.
"Got you," Farooq said, a grin flashing.
But the victory lasted seconds. His laptop beeped sharply, the screens flickering red.
"COUNTER-HACK DETECTED."
The signal bounced back at them like a mirror. Lines of code reversed — their own coordinates were being exposed.
"They're tracing us!" Mehmooda shouted.
Jamshed slammed the van door. "Cut the connection. Now!"
Farooq typed fast, trying to close the ports. But the system froze — and the speakers crackled.
A voice came through, distorted but unmistakable.
"You're clever, Farooq. Just like your father."
Everyone froze.
Mr. Z was inside their system.
"You think you can bait me with a toy trap?" he said, his voice echoing through the van. "You opened the wrong door, boy. Now I know exactly where you are."
The van lights went out.
A hum filled the air — then a drone swooped down from the darkness, hovering just meters above them. Its red camera light blinked rapidly.
"Down!" Jamshed shouted, pulling his kids behind the crates.
The drone fired a small missile — the van exploded, flames tearing through the night.
They barely made it behind the cargo containers as the shockwave hit.
Farooq coughed through the smoke. "He's using military-grade drones! That's not normal tech, Abba!"
Jamshed reloaded his weapon. "He's not just a hacker — he's running an army."
---
Elsewhere – A Secret Warehouse
Ayesha Khan sat tied to a chair, face bruised but defiant. Across from her, Mr. Z watched the explosion feed on a large monitor.
"You see, Ayesha," he said calmly, "the inspector still plays by the rules. But rules don't win wars — chaos does."
Ayesha spat at the floor. "You used me. You used everyone."
Mr. Z smiled faintly. "And yet, you're still alive — because I need you to deliver a message."
He leaned closer, voice lowering.
"Tell Jamshed… the second packet isn't what he thinks. It's a key — and it's already turning."
---
Back at the Port
Sirens wailed in the distance. Jamshed guided his children toward the water, staying low between the containers.
Farooq's wristwatch beeped softly — an alert.
"Abba, look," he said, showing the screen. "One of Mr. Z's servers just pinged from inside Karachi Port Authority's mainframe."
Jamshed's eyes hardened.
"Then the second packet really is here."
Mehmooda pointed to a sealed container labeled CYBREX EQUIPMENT – PROPERTY OF GOVT. OF PAKISTAN.
Jamshed stepped closer, running his hand over the rusted lock.
"Cybrex…" he whispered. "Dr. Zafar's old company."
Farooq grinned slightly, despite the chaos. "Looks like our trap worked after all."
Jamshed shook his head slowly.
"No, son. We didn't catch him… he caught us."
A faint click echoed — the lock on the container shifted on its own. The door creaked open, revealing nothing but darkness inside.
Then — a red LED light blinked deep within.
---
🔥 BOOM.
A blinding flash.
The explosion threw them backward into the harbor water.
When Jamshed surfaced, the container yard was burning — again.
Farooq and Mehmooda surfaced beside him, coughing.
"He knew every step," Jamshed said bitterly. "He's playing three moves ahead."
He looked at the flames consuming the container.
Among the smoke, a message shimmered briefly on a holographic screen, projected from a hidden device before it melted away:
"You can't stop what's already begun." – Z.