"Jesus Christ!" Kenney exclaimed, his voice was shaking. He stared at his phone, unable to believe what he was seeing.Debit Alert: $15,000 withdrawn from your account.Marvin froze, his mind started racing. This virus wasn’t just for spying or stealing data. It was targeting Kenney’s bank account.But why? And how deep did Dr. Klein's project intercom go?Kenney’s face turned pale, and his hands began to shake. He stared at his phone, his breath was coming in fast, shallow bursts. His heart raced as panic set in."Fifteen thousand dollars… gone," he stammered, as his voice was barely a whisper. "How could this happen? What… what do we do now?" His hands were trembling, and sweat dotted his forehead. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath, feeling dizzy from the shock.Marvin saw the fear in Kenney’s eyes. He knew they had to act fast. Without wasting any time, he turned back to his special laptop. His fingers moved quickly across the holographic keyboard, pulling up t
Dr. Archer Klein sat comfortably in the backseat of a black, luxury sedan. The car was taking him to the Neovalle government complex, where Governor Yohan Webster was waiting to present him with a ten-million-dollar check. This money would fund his project, Intercom, which promised free internet for the whole city. The governor’s support meant everything; with it, Dr. Klein’s plans would move forward without any trouble.Mr. V, who was one of the judges who had backed Dr. Klein, thought it was a good idea for the government to recognize the project. That way, Dr. Klein would have even more supporters, and people would trust him more.When the car pulled up to the government complex, a large group of journalists rushed toward it, cameras were flashing and microphones were held out, eager to get a word from the tech genius. The moment Dr. Klein stepped out, a team of government security officers surrounded him. They were there to keep him safe and to push back the crowd of reporter
Marvin, standing tall and composed in his sleek black suit, looked unfamiliar to almost everyone in the room. Though his demeanor exuded confidence, his presence sparked quiet curiosity among the officials who were gathered at the governor's office.They exchanged puzzled glances, and whispers spread quickly as they tried to figure out who this mysterious man was.Only two men in the room remained unfazed—Dr. Klein and Mr. V. They recognized Marvin immediately, though neither showed any outward reaction.They however wondered why he was here at the governor's office.The tension in the air thickened as the Commissioner of Information and Technology, Mr. Roland, entered the room with Marvin by his side. They walked with purpose, with their arrival interrupting what had been a smooth and celebratory occasion. The governor, Senator Yohan Webster, turned toward Mr. Roland with a raised eyebrow, with surprise flickering across his face."Welcome, Mr. Roland," the governor said, his voic
Governor Webster remained standing, arms folded, his eyes locking on Marvin with a sharp, skeptical glint. He then turned his gaze toward Dr. Klein, with his voice dropping to a cool, measured tone that carried weight."Mr. Marvin," the governor began slowly, as his words were deliberate, "this accusation... it sounds rather outrageous. With the project intercom exhibition, Dr. Klein has been shown that he could instrumental in shaping Neovalle’s tech landscape. Could this... claim of yours stem from resentment? Perhaps losing the Tech Innovation Contest left a bitter taste on you?"Dr. Klein, having gathered himself, nodded quickly, his earlier nervousness started fading into a smug grin. "Precisely, Your Excellency. This is a personal vendetta. Nothing more."Marvin didn’t flinch. His voice, which remained steady and unyielding, sliced through the tension. "No, Your Excellency. This has nothing to do with a contest." His words hung in the air, charged with a quiet power. "I’m here
Governor Webster leaned forward with narrowing eyes as he fixed his gaze on Dr. Klein. His voice cut through the silence like a knife."How do you intend to defend yourself now, Dr. Klein?" he asked, his tone was sharp and unforgiving.Dr. Klein’s lips parted, but no words came at first. He struggled, his mouth was moving, but the words seemed to catch in his throat."I... I—Your Excellency, I... I can explain," he stammered, his hands were trembling as they reached for the edge of the table. "This... this is a misunderstanding. The code... it’s not what it looks like. I... I didn’t know anything about these backdoors!"He tried to gather his thoughts, but the panic on his face betrayed him. "There must be... some mistake! I... I wasn’t aware... no, I... I didn’t authorize this. It’s... it’s all a setup!" His voice wavered, growing weaker with each word.Governor Webster said nothing, only watching as Dr. Klein’s defense crumbled.It was then that Commissioner Roland, the head of Neov
Marvin stepped forward, and his eyes were locked on Dr. Klein. “About that, you lie, Dr. Klein,” he said, his voice was calm but it was laced with a cutting edge.Dr. Klein’s head snapped up in shock, with his face paling further.“You see, while I made my research about your project, I dug deeper into your private life,” Marvin continued. “And I discovered something rather interesting and very different from what you claim—you don’t have a daughter named Hannah suffering from terminal cancer. In fact, you're divorced, and you have two sons, both of whom are healthy and hearty. They’re not struggling at all, Dr. Klein. They’re both in the military.”The room fell silent, and Dr. Klein's mouth opened as if to protest, but Marvin didn’t give him a chance. He tapped a few clicks on his phone and then raised it for the dignitaries to see.“Here’s a photo album of Dr. Klein and his sons,” Marvin said, showing them the screen. “After scanning it with AI, it confirmed that this picture was
Governor Webster turned toward Marvin, and his stern expression started softening. “As for you, Mr. Marvin,” he began with a voice that carried a tone of gratitude, “I owe you more than I can say. You didn’t just uncover a lie. You saved the people of Neovalle from falling into financial ruin, and you prevented me from making a grave mistake that could have destroyed my political career. Thanks to you, we’ve avoided a disaster.”The governor paused, then continued, “You’ve protected the stability of this city and my leadership. There’s no telling how much damage would have been done if Dr. Klein’s lies had gone unnoticed. We are in your debt, Marvin.”The governor then turned to Mr. V and asked, “So, Mr. V, how do you suggest we thank Mr Marvin here?”Mr. V nodded thoughtfully. “I believe it would be fitting to award Mr. Marvin the ten million dollar funding that was originally meant for Dr. Klein. After all, Marvin was the runner-up in the Neovalle Tech Innovation Contest. His proje
Marvin and his assistant, Kenney had visited the Neovalle college of technology and they sat in the office of Dr. Gideon Barnes, an experienced engineering professor of the university. The room smelled of old books and faint machine oil, with blueprints and mechanical tools scattered across the desk. The walls were lined with framed certificates, awards, and sketches of complex machines.Dr. Barnes, a tall man with graying hair, leaned forward, looking at Marvin with deep interest. "So, you want to build a machine that can extract solar energy efficiently?" he asked, his voice was steady but curious.Marvin nodded. "Yes, professor. I’ve already developed some prototypes, but I need better tools and a more refined design to move forward."Dr. Barnes smiled knowingly. "I see you’re ambitious, Marvin. That's good. Now, if you're serious about this, you’ll need to focus on a few key areas. First, you’ll need high-efficiency solar cells—something beyond what’s available in regular market
Marvin exhaled sharply, his grip on the railing loosening as he made up his mind. Enough hesitating. If there was ever a moment to talk to Helena, this was it. He straightened his back, steeling himself, and made his way downstairs, his footsteps echoed faintly in the quiet atrium.As he approached Helena, who was seated with her back to him, he noticed something unexpected. Her phone was propped up in her metallic hands, and she was watching something intently. Marvin slowed his stride, curious. Peeking over her shoulder, he caught a glimpse of the screen.It was a romantic movie. Two of the characters were cuddled close, their faces inches apart, lost in each other’s eyes.Marvin blinked, momentarily surprised. The sight of Helena, a composed and seemingly unshakable cyborg, watching something so tender and emotional struck a chord in him. For a moment, he forgot what he wanted to say.Finally, he cleared his throat. “Hello, Helena,” he greeted, his voice was warm but slightly h
Pa Christopher’s expression shifted slightly as he prepared to deliver yet another bombshell. “There’s something else you need to know about Helena,” he said, his voice was steady but heavy with meaning.Marvin’s brows furrowed, a mix of apprehension and curiosity started knotting in his chest. “What is it?”“She’s a Richmond,” Pa Christopher revealed, his words were left hanging in the air like a heavy weight. “But she’s a distant member of our Richmond family.”Marvin’s eyes widened, surprise flickering across his face. “A Richmond?” he repeated, his voice was laced with disbelief. “She’s… one of us?”Pa Christopher nodded. “Yes. Her father, the man who worked for me, was a descendant of the Richmond bloodline—far removed, but still connected. That makes Helena part of the family, but distantly enough that there’s no direct relation to you.”Marvin leaned against the railing, processing the information. He was both surprised and, strangely, impressed. To think Helena was tied to th
Pa Christopher took a deep breath, his face darkened as he continued the story. “According to Helena,” he began slowly, “it happened one evening. Her foster father came into her room. He wanted to… take advantage of her again.”Marvin’s fists clenched at his sides, anger began bubbling up as he imagined the scene. He didn’t interrupt, though. He wanted to hear everything.“She told me that night she hated him more than ever before. She was tired of being his victim,” Pa Christopher said, his voice was steady but it was filled with restrained emotion. “When he tried to force himself on her, she fought back—scratched, slapped, bit him. She struggled as hard as she could.”Marvin’s grip on the railing tightened as he listened, his heart pounding.“While she fought him, she said something happened,” Pa Christopher continued. “She focused on him, on his wicked eyes, with everything inside her—her anger, her hatred, her desperation. And then…” He paused, looking Marvin in the eye.“What hap
Marvin’s face tightened with concern as he processed his uncle’s words. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Was Pa Christopher telling the truth? Was Helena really not his cousin? His stomach churned, and he found himself gripping the railing even tighter.“Are you serious?” Marvin asked, his voice was low and uncertain. His eyes searched his uncle’s face for any hint of deceit. “What happened to her? Since she isn't your biological child, how did you get to be her custodian?”Pa Christopher sighed deeply and leaned against the balcony, his sharp demeanor started softening as a shadow of pain crossed his face. He looked at the scenery below, as though gathering his thoughts. When he finally spoke, his voice was steady but tinged with sorrow.“Her parents… they died when she was just a child,” he said quietly. “Helena’s father was one of my staff, Marvin. He and his wife were good people. Kind, hardworking. But fate doesn’t always spare the good ones, does it?” He shook his h
Marvin’s throat tightened as his uncle’s question hung in the air. He forced himself to look calm, even though he could feel his pulse racing.“Um, yeah… um, I mean, who? Who are you talking about?” Marvin stammered, trying to sound confused. His voice cracked slightly, betraying his nerves.Pa Christopher turned toward him, his sharp eyes were narrowed as if he could see right through Marvin’s feeble attempt at acting clueless.“You like her, don’t you?” Pa Christopher asked, his voice was calm but pointed.“Who?” Marvin furrowed his brows, feigning ignorance. “I don’t know what you’re talking about uncle.”“Helena, of course,” his uncle said matter-of-factly, the faintest hint of a smile tugged at his lips.Marvin felt as though the ground beneath him had shifted. His heart pounded in his chest, but he refused to give in.“No! No, Uncle, that’s ridiculous,” Marvin said quickly, shaking his head. “I don’t… I don’t like her. She’s my cousin. And a cyborg. That would be… it’s impossibl
Now at Marvin's Helios enterprise, the Atrium was quiet, the soft hum of machines and the occasional beep of equipment echoed through the massive glass space. Marvin stood on the balcony, leaning on the steel railing, staring down at the workshop floor below. His body still ached, but he was recovering but slowly aftermath of the telepathic maneuver he had exerted using his Synapticore force continued taking its toll, but his focus was elsewhere.There she was—Helena.She was crouched beside an advanced prototype machine, her metallic fingers were working with an elegance that left him captivated. Sparks flew as she welded delicate components together, her movements were precise and efficient. Every motion she made was a blend of human grace and machine perfection, a seamless harmony between two worlds.The bright glow of her cybernetic eyes never wavered as she inspected the damaged parts. Her hands moved quickly, dismantling and replacing faulty wires with an almost supernatura
Carl’s grip on the gun tightened, his arm was steady as he pointed it directly at Daniel Bowen’s chest. The room was tense, the silence was almost suffocating.Daniel’s defiant glare began to falter as desperation crept into his voice. "Carl, listen to me," he said, his tone was trembling but firm. "You’re better than this. You’re better than betraying your own blood. We’ve been through so much together. Think about our family. Think about what this means for us."Carl didn’t say a word. His face remained cold and unreadable, but his hand didn’t waver."Please, Carl," Daniel pleaded, his voice breaking now. "I know you’re angry. I know you feel like I’ve wronged you. But killing me won’t solve anything. You’ll carry that weight forever. You don’t have to do this!"Carl’s gaze didn’t soften. His voice, when he finally spoke, was calm and emotionless. "In this game of power, only the strong survive. The weak are cast aside. It’s best to make use of every opportunity."Daniel shook his h
Mr. Richmond's smile widened as he locked eyes with Daniel Bowen. "And there is the prize," he said smoothly, pointing at the glowing Quantum Nexus crystal in Carl Bowen's hands. "The singular object that put you on a high jump."Daniel’s chest heaved with fury. He turned his gaze to Carl, and his voice trembled with disbelief. "Carl, how could you do this? How did you become a part of this madness? What could you possibly stand to gain by stealing the Quantum Nexus crystal, the very lifeblood of our family’s special Quantum Veil abilities?"Mr. Richmond raised a hand, silencing the growing tension. "No, no, no, Mr. Bowen. Carl didn’t steal it—not entirely. I mean, yes, he planned for the Quantum Nexus crystal to be carried out of the vault, but surely, it would be returned. Eventually." His smirk was sharp, cutting like a blade.Daniel gasped, the realization dawned on him. His voice cracked as he whispered, "You... you used it to lure me." His mind raced, piecing the puzzle together
The world spun in disarray for Daniel Bowen as the explosion rocked his motorcade. His ears rang with the deafening sound, his body ached from the jolt, and his vision blurred. Before he could process what had happened, strong hands yanked the door of his SUV open.And with a sharp sting to his neck—a needle. Darkness swallowed him whole.********When Daniel stirred about some hours later, his senses were overwhelmed by the sound of clinking chains and a faint musty smell. He was abducted and he was taken to an abandoned warehouse deep inside the woods.Now inside the warehouse, his head felt heavy, and he struggled to breathe. Slowly, he realized a sack covered his face, trapping him in suffocating darkness.He tried to move, but his hands and legs wouldn’t budge. Cold metal dug into his wrists and ankles. He was bound to a chair, with the unyielding grip of chains locking him in place.A moment later, footsteps echoed in the distance, drawing closer.With a rough yank, the sack w