icky woke up before his alarm — not because he was excited, but because his body had forgotten what "rested" felt like. One week of double life was already carving its signature under his eyes. Hostel corridors were still half-dark, Kiran snoring with the enthusiasm of a diesel generator, and outside the window Chennai's morning humidity pressed against the glass like it had something personal against him.
His phone vibrated.A single message.
Rani:Training begins in 15 minutes.
No good morning. No easing into it.Just straight to war.
THE FINAL REGIMEN
Rani didn't greet him when he entered the office; she simply flicked her hand and the room shifted into a simulated corridor layout — the exact route inside TCS Butterfly he had memorized from brochures, YouTube vlogs, security-office job postings, and Rani's terrifying ability to reconstruct architecture from five pixels.
"Final day," she said. "You will run it until you stop making human mistakes."
"That's… not super encouraging."
"It's accurate."
He sighed and got into position.
Run One
He slipped past the simulated guard.Too slow.
Run failed.
Run Two
A camera sweep grazed his shoulder because he misjudged the timing.
Run failed.
Run Three
He gave the wrong cover story.
Run failed.
He groaned and leaned against the wall. "I think my soul wants to drop out."
Rani walked past him, arms crossed, red hair shimmering like polished metal.
"Your soul doesn't matter. Move."
"Wow. Motivational."
"I am not here to motivate you. I am here to make sure you do not get tasered by a security guard named Shanmugam."
"…that is oddly specific."
"It is the most likely name statistically."
He snorted despite himself and got back into position.
THE FIRST CLEAN RUN
An hour passed.
Then two.
On the seventh attempt, something changed.His body stopped fighting him.Movements clicked.His breathing matched the rhythm.The corridor simulation wasn't a confusing layout anymore — it felt like a familiar level in a game he'd played too many times.
Past the "guard."Through the blind spot.Swipe the fake card.Momentum, angle, posture — everything in one smooth chain.
He reached the finish point.
No alarms.No mistakes.
Rani did not clap.Of course she didn't.
She simply said, "Again."
And he did it.Perfectly.
For the first time in days, confidence crept into him — not the stupid kind, not bravado, but the kind that grows from work. From pain. From repetition.
Rani scanned him.Pulse high, but stable.Stress markers decreasing.Mental focus tight.
"You're operational," she said.
"Operational. Great. Wonderful. Totally normal thing to be called."
THE LAST CONVERSATION BEFORE THE MISSION
Rani powered down the simulation and faced him fully.
"This is the final chance to withdraw," she said. "Once you enter the real building, I cannot protect you physically. If you are detained, no one will come for you."
"I know."
"And you are only doing this for one person. Rilu Osbo. A faint name from a dream-like memory."
He looked at her, exhaled slowly.
"Yeah. That's enough."
Rani tilted her head. "Explain."
"No grand purpose. No destiny. No world-saving. I don't care what cosmic force thinks I'm important. I don't care about spheres or shadows or whatever. I just… I need answers. That's it."
He rubbed his forehead.
"And I'm tired of being scared of my own life. If she's connected somehow, if that night wasn't a dream… then I want to know."
Rani processed this quietly.Then nodded.
"Then it is decided. Tonight, we operate."
There was a shift in her tone — not soft, not emotional, but something closer to respect. Maybe acceptance. Maybe curiosity.
"Prepare your kit," she said. "Only essentials. Minimal pulls. No unnecessary strain."
READYING FOR TONIGHT
Vicky packed:
a compact grip-tool he pulled earlier
the small static mask
a tiny vial of clarity potion
a disguised access-card shell
his phone
and a packet of Tiger biscuits because he knew himself
Rani ran silent diagnostics on the Beacon, dim lights pulsing along her holo-frame.
His phone buzzed.
Kiran:Bro, dinner tonight is pongal. You alive or becoming software?
Vicky stared at the screen and smirked.
Vicky:Later da. Got something important tonight.
He turned to the Beacon on the table, then to Rani.
His stomach tightened with nerves.His palms sweated.His heartbeat refused to slow.
But he didn't back away.
Rani's red eyes glowed faintly, sharpening into focus.
"Then let us begin," she said."Tonight… we walk into TCS Butterfly."
And just like that, the week of training ended — and the real mission began.