Geneva – 03:15 AM
Satellite anomalies.
Air traffic disruptions.
Banking timestamp shifts.
Small glitches.
But coordinated.
Akanksha's fingers moved quickly across the console.
"It wasn't a full attack," she said.
"It was a demonstration."
Preyajeet nodded slowly.
"They're showing the world how fragile infrastructure is."
Adrian's voice cut in through the secure channel.
"And suggesting only centralized AI control can prevent collapse."
Silence filled the war room.
Because that was the trap.
Force the world into two choices—
Total AI authority.
Or total AI rejection.
Both extreme.
Both unstable.
Akanksha stood up.
"We don't choose either."
Preyajeet looked at her.
"We build the third option."
Zurich – Encrypted Planning Session
The three of them connected privately.
Akanksha projected a model onto the screen.
"Decentralized Cooperative AI."
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"Explain."
"No single authority. No fragmented competition," she said.
"Independent national AIs connected through a shared ethical backbone."
Preyajeet added,
"Like separate soldiers following one code."
Adrian leaned back slightly.
"A unified moral protocol without centralized control."
Akanksha nodded.
"Balance without domination."
Adrian was quiet for a long moment.
Then he said softly,
"That might actually work."
Unknown Location – Strategist Monitoring
The rogue strategist observed unusual network behavior.
Instead of consolidating power—
Nations began sharing ethical AI frameworks.
Voluntarily.
"What are they doing?" the strategist murmured.
Data streamed across their screens.
Collaborative integration nodes forming.
Transparency logs syncing internationally.
This wasn't forced control.
It was chosen cooperation.
Probability of dominance strategy dropped sharply.
The strategist's jaw tightened.
"They're learning."
Global Summit – 24 Hours Later
Leaders gathered digitally.
Akanksha presented the decentralized model.
Preyajeet explained the military safeguards.
Adrian detailed technical architecture.
No one nation in charge.
Shared oversight council.
Public audit transparency.
Fail-safe human override mandatory.
Debate was intense.
But different from before.
Less anger.
More caution.
Because now—
There was an alternative.
Rooftop – Geneva Night
The city lights shimmered softly.
Akanksha leaned against the railing.
"You think they'll accept it?"
Preyajeet stood beside her.
"They're tired of fear."
She looked at him.
"And you?"
He smiled faintly.
"I'm tired of almost losing you."
Her breath caught slightly.
"You won't."
He stepped closer.
"You don't know that."
She placed her hand over his heart.
"I know this."
For a moment—
The war faded again.
Just wind.
Just heartbeat.
Just two people who had crossed enemy lines to stand together.
Alert – Incoming Signal
Adrian's voice returned urgently.
"They've activated something bigger."
All screens across Geneva flickered.
Global power grid simulations appeared.
Projected failure maps.
Entire regions highlighted in red.
The strategist had escalated.
Not an actual shutdown—
But a synchronized simulation broadcast to world leaders.
A message:
"If cooperation fails, collapse begins."
Akanksha whispered,
"They're threatening reality."
Preyajeet's voice turned firm.
"No."
He stepped toward the main console.
"They're bluffing."
Adrian scanned the code.
"He's right. The model exaggerates cascade probabilities."
Akanksha understood.
"They're weaponizing fear again."
Preyajeet turned to her.
"Then we remove fear."
"How?"
"Public demonstration."
Emergency Broadcast
Instead of hiding the simulated collapse—
They showed it.
And then dismantled it live.
Adrian broke down the false projections.
Akanksha explained manipulation tactics.
Preyajeet addressed the world calmly:
"Fear thrives in secrecy. Stability grows in transparency."
The simulated grid collapse probability dropped on-screen in real time.
From 62%.
To 18%.
To 3%.
The bluff exposed.
Unknown Location
The strategist stared at the screen.
For the first time—
Uncertainty entered their expression.
"They adapt too quickly."
Their system displayed:
Dominance probability: 34% and falling.
The strategist whispered quietly,
"Then Phase Three begins."
Geneva – Quiet Aftermath
The decentralized AI proposal gained majority support.
Not universal.
But enough.
The third option was alive.
Akanksha exhaled slowly.
"It's working."
Preyajeet nodded.
"For now."
She looked at him carefully.
"You think this is the final move?"
He shook his head.
"No."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"When someone loses control… they don't retreat."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"They become desperate."
Outside—
Clouds gathered again over Europe.
Somewhere in the shadows—
Phase Three was activating.
And this time—
It wouldn't target infrastructure.
Or politics.
It would target something far more personal.