The old Cybrex lab stood like a dying relic in the industrial sprawl of Karachi's Korangi district. Rusted walls, shattered windows, a flickering neon sign still buzzing faintly — CYBREX SOLUTIONS LTD.
Inspector Jamshed, Farooq, and Mehmooda crept through the rain-soaked shadows, their boots sinking in oily puddles. The city around them was silent, as if holding its breath.
"This place was shut down years ago," Farooq whispered.
"Not shut down," Jamshed murmured. "Erased."
They entered through a half-broken door. The inside smelled of metal and burnt wires. Rows of computers were still running — someone had restored power.
And then — a sound.
A weak cough echoed from behind a pile of crates.
"Ayesha?" Mehmooda called out softly.
A figure crawled out, blood on her sleeve, one hand clutching a phone. It was Ayesha, the missing data scientist.
"You came," she gasped, collapsing.
Farooq rushed to her, helping her sit against a crate. Her eyes were wide with fear and guilt.
"He's… already uploaded it," she whispered. "Black Pulse… it's online."
Jamshed's voice was steady. "Where is he controlling it from?"
Ayesha's lip trembled. "Not where… who."
She looked straight at Jamshed. "It's someone in your own circle."
The silence that followed was heavier than the thunder outside.
---
Farooq blinked. "That's not possible. We work alone."
Ayesha shook her head. "No. The mole was placed years ago. Someone you trust — someone with full access to your case files, communication lines, everything."
"Who?" Jamshed demanded.
She hesitated. "Major Rehan."
The name hit like a bullet.
"Rehan?" Mehmooda whispered. "But he's from the Intelligence Bureau. He helped us!"
"He pretended to," Ayesha said, coughing. "He was Zafar's inside man — feeding him every move you made. That's how they always stayed one step ahead."
Jamshed clenched his fists, his face pale. "No. I've known him since my training days. He saved my life in Quetta."
"And now he's selling out the whole country," Ayesha rasped. "He's at the control center now — at the old Navy bunker in Clifton. He plans to complete the activation tonight."
Farooq turned to his father. "Then we go now."
"No," Jamshed said. "We go smart. He expects us angry, reckless. We'll come silent."
---
Before they could move, the computers in the lab lit up — one by one — screens filling with static.
Then, Mr. Z's face appeared in digital distortion.
"I see you found my ghost," his voice echoed. "Hello again, Inspector."
Farooq slammed the laptop lid shut, but the speakers kept playing — the sound coming from inside the room.
A small surveillance drone hovered down from the ceiling, red light blinking.
"Run!" Jamshed shouted.
Farooq grabbed Ayesha, Mehmooda followed, as Jamshed pulled his gun and fired — one, two, three shots. The drone sparked and fell, but its red light kept blinking.
"He's tracking us," Farooq said.
"Then we disappear," Jamshed replied.
They ran into the rain, leaving the dying light of the Cybrex lab behind.
---
Later that night — an abandoned motel near Sea View.
Ayesha lay unconscious on the bed, feverish from her wounds. Mehmooda tended to her while Farooq checked the news on a burner phone.
Breaking headline:
"Anonymous Cyber-Attack Hits Banking Network — ATMs Across Karachi Shut Down."
"He's testing Black Pulse," Farooq said. "Just small-scale chaos before the real storm."
Jamshed stared out the window at the neon lights flickering through the rain.
He could almost hear Rehan's laugh — the man who once called him Legend..
He picked up his old revolver and checked the bullets.
"Tomorrow," he said quietly, "we end this."
Farooq looked at him. "With what army, Abba?"
Jamshed's gaze hardened.
"We don't need an army. We just need proof — and courage."
He turned toward Mehmooda.
"We expose Rehan before dawn. The world must see who's behind the curtain."
---
Meanwhile — Inside the Navy Bunker
Major Rehan stood before a glowing control screen, hundreds of data streams moving like veins of light.
Behind him, Dr. Zafar watched in silence.
"The inspector won't stop," Rehan said quietly.
Zafar smiled. "He'll try. But this time, he'll fail — because you'll be the one pulling the trigger."
Rehan's jaw tightened.
"You promised no bloodshed."
"I promised revolution," Zafar replied coldly. "And revolutions always start with betrayal."
He placed a hand on Rehan's shoulder. "Tomorrow, the world changes. Tonight, your friend dies."