The guards didn't let Karan see the layout of the main family compound. As soon as his talk with Tamika was over, they put a rag on his face again and escorted him out. They pulled off the rag when they were outside his clinic. With a drive in his pocket, full of credits, he found himself in front of his apartment once again.
As he went to his clinic, some people came around to ask whether he was okay. After making sure that everything was alright with his apartment and clinic, Karan finally decided to cross off one of the things that was on the agenda for him.
The sun was about to set in a few minutes, District 3 was basking in the orange-greyish glow, when Karan was navigating his way through the usual chaos of the streets.
While walking in the market area of District 3, Karan crossed a burned-down shop named Papa's Meat. The way the flames had enveloped the shop, they had destroyed everything.
Victor is indeed very thorough, He thought. This shop was a front, through which he and Victor both used to siphon money in order to pay taxes.
Directly in front of Papa's meat was a rather large apartment complex. Located in the middle of the District, this place was the home of some of the richest people here. And his friend also lived here.
Instead of using the building's front entrance, Karan made his way to the old, ruined parking complex down the road, which was now home to junkies of the town. He made his way to the top and jumped to the adjacent building's roof.
He went one floor down and entered the supply room. From there, he jumped through the window to another building.
After making several detours, Karan finally landed on the roof of Victor's building. The access point of the roof was locked, and the place had a camera pointing towards the door. Karan just came and stood there, while the camera zoomed in on him.
"Who are you?" A voice from a speaker beside the camera.
Karan sighed, "I am a dirty little whore you have come to be spanked by you." He heard a chuckle, and the door opened.
Victor's building was 7 floors high. Victor controls the sixth floor and the roof. He is one of the best hackers in the world and a constant partner in crime. They had been good friend for many years, which is why Karan thought that it would be for the best if he loops in Victor about what was going on in the world.
When Karan entered Victor's room, he saw the man sitting in front of the wall of screens. The displays were showing random stuff, from one showing an old pre-war era movie, to another one showing blueprints of a missile.
Then there was Victor, a Meatlic, who had gone through 80% body part replacements. And surprisgly he was not only alive, but sane. Half of his face was made of greyish-white steel, and his right eye was a glowing red. He looked like a villain straight out of a fairy tale, yet he had a smile on his face.
"Darius!" Victor said as he came to him and gave him a bear hug. When he finally let Karan go, he added, "How have you been, man? It has been a long time."
"We talked just days ago," Karan said with a stoic face.
Victor waved his hand, "That doesn't count. It has been a long time since you came to the house. Hell, I dont even remember when was the last time you visited me."
"Five weeks ago," Karan said, "When we were planning the heist,"
"You are such a buzz kill," he said, and then gestured towards the couch. "Come. Have a seat. I want to know all about what the fuck is happening between you and the Popovs."
Of course, he knew, Karan thought. Victor was one of the most notorious and accomplished hackers.
After taking a seat, Karan looked Victor in the eye. "Victor. This is serious," he said, making the man tense up. "What I am about to tell you might sound absurd. But it is true, it is happening, and I need your help to understand everything about it."
"Okay.." Victor was unsure of what was happening. And it is then that Karan filled him in about everything related to Dreamscape. He told him everything, how it all started, how it ended, the theories that he had, and what this could potentially mean for society. Victor didnt speak much as he went on, and when Karan was finally done, Victor didnt say anything. He stayed silent, staring at him.
Abruptly, he let out a laugh, "Fuck.." He said, "Karan.. A part of me wants to say that this is a good joke. But I know two things. Number one, Karan Ahuja does not like to joke around. Second, if you really are joking, then you are not Karan Ahuja."
Victor really knows the real Karan, not the cowardly Karan that runs a clinic. The real Karan, the monster.
"I dont know what to say," Victor added, "It sounds like a fairy tale. A webnovel. And not a really good one as well, just a very run-of-the-mill kind,"
"All of it is true", Karan said. "I am also having a really hard time deciphering what is going on and how to tackle it."
Victor stayed silent for a moment, then asked, "So this energy.. Aether. It is coming to Earth, and you believe that it could potentially change the Earth for good?"
Karan nodded, "It is a valid assumption. The book mentioned that the energy enhances every living thing, which includes plants. If this energy could potentially enhance plants, Earth could become habitable once again. Perhaps in time, it could regain its former glory."
"And humans being enhanced? It is really hard to control the old school psycho Metalics nowadays, I wonder what would happen if normal humans got even more enhanced," Victor said dreamingly.
"Mayhem," Karan said, one word, and it fit perfectly.
Victor then rubbed his head, "Still.." He then looked at Karan, "You understand that this a really hard pill to swallow. You are telling me that the world as we know it is going to change… magically."
"Do you own research. You are capable enough," Karan said.
Victor nodded, "I will do that."
Then Karan leaned forward, "Now, shall we get onto serious business?"
Victor paused, "You being the fiancée of Tamika and the world being changed by magic was not serious business?"
Karan shook his head, "Not even close."
"Okay.. Shoot," Victor said.
"Have you not heard anything?" Karan asked, "Do you really not know what we stole?"
As if a light bulb switched on in Victor's brain, "Oh yeah… I wanted to ask. What the hell was in those crates?"
Karan let out a big sigh, "Cake."
Victor stared at him for a second, then burst out laughing, "Damn!" He said, wiping his tears, "We managed to snag some rich brat's cake? That is the funniest heist in the history of the world,"
Karan stared at him with a stoic face, "If that was the case, then I wouldn't have come here empty-handed. Cakes are a real delicacy to share with friends, is it not?"
Victor didnt understand the insinuation and kept chuckling. Another light bulb lit up, and Victor's mood took an unexpected one-eighty-degree turn.
He leaned forward, "Cake.. As in yellow cake? The one that is used in the nuclear power plants,"
Karan slowly nodded his head. Victor abruptly stood up and punched the couch he was sitting on, punching through it. That was not enough for the man; he then lifted the impaled couch and threw it to the other end of the room.
"GOD FUCKING DAMMIT!" he yelled. "Why it couldnt be guns? Why it couldnt be credits? Why did it have to be nuclear material!"
Karan stayed seated and then, with a very serious tone, said, "Victor. We need to be very careful. Any mishaps, and the Kumegava hounds will be onto us. You know what would happen then, right?"
"I know," Victor said, still not facing him directly. But one thing he knew for sure, Kumegave would not let this go. They would be sending their hunting dogs pretty soon….