Hours later, Niko found himself on a private jet, glancing out the window as the Singapore skyline vanished beneath thick clouds. The city he called home, his students, his quiet routine—it was all gone, just like that. Was this a temporary assignment? Would he ever be free to return?

  The plane's slight turbulence grated on his nerves. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to surrender control of his life to this irritatingly arrogant CIA agent. But did he really have a choice? He couldn’t go running back to his family in Europe for help, had no one else in Singapore. And resisting both the Singaporean government and the Western Pact? That wasn’t a safe option. Singapore played the field well, always balancing between superpowers, but it looked like they’d chosen him as a pawn to maintain that balance. He’d been instructed to keep his destination a secret. Officially, he was on an extended research sabbatical, traveling to a remote field location to pursue an “exciting opportunity.” His friends and colleagues, especially Ryan, would be left in the dark about the truth behind his sudden disappearance.

  He felt a pang of guilt, thinking about how worried they would be, especially Ryan, who had always been his confidant. Bitterness consumed him as he shot a look at Najjar. She sat a few rows ahead, her expression distant and indifferent as she glanced out the window, seemingly unmoved by his presence. She’d barely acknowledged him since they’d boarded, instead spending her time flipping through a thin file labeled with his name, her fingers tapping impatiently against it as though eager to be done with the whole ordeal.

  Finally, she looked over at him, a trace of boredom in her eyes. “Impressive resume. Forty-two and already one of the world’s leading experts in nanomedicine.” She paused, raising an eyebrow without any hint of admiration. “Harvard education, too. But I see you’ve had some trouble with the law back home.”

  Niko shifted uneasily, feeling as though he were in the hot seat, coming face to face with a past he’d long buried in a dark corner of his mind. “Yes, I’ve had some…misunderstandings,” he replied cautiously. Panic gripped him. “Those records were supposed to be sealed.”

  “They were, and now they’re completely erased from your file, as a small token of our appreciation. You’ll soon discover, Professor, that we can be reasonable. Now, forget the past and focus on the task ahead. The project lead will brief you when we land.”

  Niko’s mind flip-flopped between his old life and the unknowns that awaited him. What project was so crucial it warranted such extreme measures? He was dealing with the US government, so he understood the secrecy. But why him, and what role did Edmundsson play in all this?

  He must have dozed off, because when he opened his eyes, the plane was beginning its descent. “We’re now approaching San Juan International Airport,” said the pilot’s voice through the cabin speakers. “At this point, I’d like to request that everyone fasten their seatbelts.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Niko blinked, confused. San Juan? Puerto Rico? He glanced out the window at the shimmering coastline below, feeling his pulse quicken. So this was their destination. Looking out the window, he saw the sun rising over a sprawling complex of modern buildings and towers. The landscape was striking, with rugged terrain and clean, modern architecture. The dawn light highlighted a city that seemed to balance between the mountains and human design.

  As they descended further, a massive radio telescope, the largest Niko had ever seen, dominated the landscape. Its enormous dish, spanning nearly a thousand feet in diameter, was nestled within a natural limestone sinkhole. Above the dish, a suspended platform held intricate receivers and transmitters, connected by a network of cables. The sheer scale of the structure was awe-inspiring.

  “Welcome to Arecibo Observatory,” Najjar told him, noticing Niko’s fascination. “It used to be a leading center for astronomical research. Now, it’s the hub for our new project.”

  As Niko stepped off the plane, he blinked against the bright Puerto Rican sun, taking in his surroundings. Military vehicles lined the tarmac, their dark surfaces gleaming under the heat. A few soldiers were scattered around, some casting curious glances his way, others barely paying attention, busy with their daily tasks.

  A guard waved him over to a waiting car, all tinted windows and sleek curves. As soon as he climbed in, they took off, winding through a modern campus that felt like it belonged in a movie. Driverless cars zipped by in transparent tubes connecting buildings, the whole setup seeming to move like a colony of ants. Niko caught himself staring, mesmerized by the efficiency and complex design of the place.

  As they passed the towering structures, Niko vaguely recalled hearing about the observatory in his childhood—something about it being a hub for the search for extraterrestrial life. But this was on another level, far beyond what he’d imagined for a research station.

  They stopped in front of a massive yurt-like structure, its domed roof gleaming under the rising sun. Inside, the place was alive with activity. Scientists and soldiers moved quickly, focused on their work. The interior was a large open space with endless rows of high-tech labs.

  Najjar led Niko to an elevator that whisked them down to an underground level, the walls of the shaft lined with sophisticated circuitry. They navigated a maze of corridors, the air growing cooler and more sterile the deeper they went. Finally, they entered a room that was filled with advanced holographic displays, each one depicting complex data streams and models. A stately woman with blonde hair and steely blue eyes greeted them. Her presence was commanding, her uniform crisp and adorned with numerous medals. Niko felt a mix of curiosity and a slight edge of intimidation—she looked like someone who was used to being in control, her eyes sizing him up in an instant.

  “General Marsha Meyer, US Army,” the woman said. "Welcome to the Scientific Probes and Astrobiology Area, or ‘SPA’ as we like to call it, Professor Tesic. Am I pronouncing that correctly? ‘Tez-zick?’”

  “It’s ‘Tesh-ich,’ actually,” Niko corrected her while shaking her hand, trying to mask his unease. “But you can call me Niko.”

  “Professor Tesic, I apologize for the drastic measures, but we need your expertise,” she continued. “Come with me to the briefing room. The others will join us shortly, and we’ll get you up to speed.”

  As they walked, Niko glanced around the high-tech facility, still feeling uncertain. “Why do you need me? Why am I here?”

  Meyer stopped and looked directly into his eyes. “Professor, you’re here to change the world.”