In the vast, underground Rajasthan base, Amar stood among the towering stone pillars, the dim, flickering lights casting long shadows across the 10,000-square-foot corridor. The air was cool, thick with the scent of stone and faint moisture, the distant hum of the hydroelectric motor echoing from a marked hall 1.5 kilometers beneath the desert's surface. The God of Darkness had tested The Messenger's teleportation rune, revealing this hidden fortress—seven interconnected corridors, invisible to the world. Vikram Rathore, his eyes glinting with Darkness's power, paced nearby, his mind alight with the base's potential as their stronghold. "Amar, I've got two subordinates in the task force—contracted, sharp, technical minds not fully used. Meera Joshi and Rohan Sharma. I'll coordinate with them to make this place our headquarters."
Amar's golden eyes burned with resolve. "Let's bring them here." They closed their eyes, shadows swirling, and sent a telepathic call across Pune. Meera, Rohan, it's Vikram. Amar's found a hidden base. We need your skills to shape it. Can we come to you? In Kothrud, Meera, a sharp-eyed detective with a talent for systems, and in Viman Nagar, Rohan, a wiry tech specialist, agreed instantly. Amar and Vikram dissolved into shadows, teleporting first to Meera's modest apartment, where computer screens glowed amid circuit boards, the air heavy with coffee. Then to Rohan's sleek flat, cluttered with gadgets and blueprints, neon city lights filtering through the blinds. In each home, Amar unfolded the parchment, its spiral sigils glowing faintly. "This rune lets you teleport to the base," he said, guiding their hands to channel Darkness's power. Meera's first attempt faltered, lines uneven, but her focus sharpened, drawing the obsidian spiral. Rohan, quick-witted, mastered it after two tries, the rune shimmering on his floor.
Meera and Rohan stepped onto their runes, vanishing, and Amar and Vikram followed, reappearing in the Rajasthan base's vast corridor, its 15-foot ceiling looming under the eerie lights. Meera's breath caught, her eyes tracing the rune-etched pillars. "This is… unreal," she whispered. Rohan, already mapping the space mentally, nodded, his fingers twitching as if sketching. Vikram stepped forward, his voice firm. "You two are our best for this. The task force doesn't tap your full skills—systems, tech, innovation. Make a plan: how do we use this base, what can we do now, what do we need?"
Meera's gaze hardened, ideas sparking. "It's hidden, perfect for a command center. We can set up encrypted comms, surveillance, training zones—but we'll need servers, equipment, funds." Rohan added, "We can start with basics: map the power grid from the motor, rig temporary terminals, optimize lighting. I can patch systems together fast." They turned to Amar and Vikram. "Can we teleport here whenever we need?" Amar nodded. "Yes, the rune's yours to use freely. It draws on my power, but it's manageable." Vikram agreed. "Get started."
Meera and Rohan exchanged a determined glance. "We'll begin now," Rohan said. Meera started pacing, mentally mapping the corridors.