Imaginative Future 3

Chapter 23 - Convergence

The transport plane touched down, and we were immediately met with a stark, unsettling reality. Changi Airport, normally a bustling hub of international travel, was eerily quiet, patrolled by masked officials. The sterile scent of disinfectant hung heavy in the air. Stringent health screenings awaited us: temperature checks, rapid virus tests, and detailed questionnaires. The level of control was palpable, a chilling reminder of the world we were re-entering.

Back at the Agency, the Singapore command center was a fortress of concentrated anxiety. Clynston's fingers flew across his keyboard, reinforcing digital defenses. Janice coordinated with local authorities, her expression grim. The air was thick with the weight of the unknown, the knowledge that we were facing an enemy both invisible and rapidly evolving.

I snapped at Clynston over a minor technicality, my voice sharp and impatient. I brushed off Aloysius's attempts at conversation, my eyes fixed on the main screen. My usual composure was replaced by a simmering frustration, a storm brewing beneath the surface.

Charmaine and Ryan analyzed the recovered data, confirming Finch's chilling warning. Dr. Lin, contacted remotely, confirmed their fears. "The virus is evolving beyond our initial projections," she warned, her voice grave.

Clynston uncovered hidden communication channels, Janice tracked suspicious financial transactions – OmniCorp's influence persisted. We realized "Nightfall" was merely a diversion.

Then Valerie approached. I could feel her eyes on me, filled with a mixture of concern and something else… disappointment? I avoided her gaze, focusing on the data streams flickering across the screens.

"Jiaxing," she said, her voice soft but firm. "This isn't you."

"I'm fine," I replied, my voice clipped, not looking at her. "Just focused."

"Focused? Or pushing everyone away?" she asked, her voice rising slightly. "You're snapping at everyone, ignoring Aloysius, and… you won't even look at me."

I turned away, my jaw clenched. "I have a lot on my mind, Valerie."

"We all do," she said, her voice laced with frustration. "But you're not dealing with it. You're shutting down."

"I'm handling it," I insisted, my voice tight. "I don't need… I don't need this right now."

"What do you need, Jiaxing?" she asked, her voice softening. "Tell me. Let me help."

"I can't," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "I can't risk… I can't risk failing again."

"Failing?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"Jade," I said, my voice barely audible. "I trusted her. And I was wrong. I was blind. I can't let that happen again. Not to anyone."

"Jiaxing," she said, her voice filled with a desperate concern. "You can't carry this alone. You're not alone. We're here for you."

"I know," I said, my voice heavy with the weight of my fears. "But I can't… I can't trust myself right now."

A piercing alarm shattered the tense moment. A distress signal from Silva's team flashed across the main screen. "Ambush," a distorted voice crackled through the speakers. "They were waiting for us. We need backup."

My eyes hardened with a desperate resolve. "I'm going. I'm leading the rescue." I couldn't afford to hesitate. Not this time.