Ryan shut the door to his room and let out a long breath. His heart was still pounding from what had happened earlier. The chase, the strange drones, the masked men—none of it made sense. He glanced at the watch strapped to his wrist, its smooth black surface reflecting the dim glow of his desk lamp.

  "I should have never gone near that warehouse," he thought. But deep down, he knew that wasn’t true. He had to know more.

  "Kaia," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

  "Yes, Ryan?" The AI’s voice came smoothly, as if nothing had happened.

  "That wasn’t normal, right? Those flying things… those weren’t drones."

  Kaia hesitated. "Correct. The technology displayed at that warehouse surpasses conventional human engineering. Those objects exhibited fluid movement patterns beyond modern drone capabilities. Their power source is also… unusual."

  Ryan narrowed his eyes. "Unusual how?"

  "There was a unique energy signature," Kaia said. "I detected a faint resonance similar to the energy within this watch."

  Ryan’s breath hitched. "You mean… whatever that was, it’s connected to you?"

  "It is a possibility," Kaia admitted. "But I need more data to confirm."

  Ryan sat back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "This is getting out of control."

  ---

  The next day at school, Ryan tried to act normal, but his mind was elsewhere. He kept replaying the events of last night, the way his drone suddenly lost connection, the men in masks, and now this strange connection Kaia mentioned.

  "Hey, Ryan, you okay?" Sam nudged him as they sat in class.

  "Huh? Yeah, I’m fine," Ryan said quickly.

  "You sure? You look like you haven’t slept in a week."

  Ryan forced a laugh. "Just caught up in a new project."

  Sam smirked. "Man, you and your gadgets. One day, you’re gonna build something crazy."

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Ryan smiled weakly but said nothing.

  ---

  After school, Ryan rushed home. He threw his bag onto his bed and powered up his computer. He needed to analyze last night’s footage.

  "Kaia, show me what my drone recorded before it lost connection."

  The screen flickered to life, displaying a grainy video feed from the drone’s camera. The warehouse appeared dark and still, but then the flying objects came into view. They moved unnaturally, their smooth glides almost organic.

  Ryan frowned. "Enhance the image."

  Kaia processed the request, clearing up the footage slightly. Ryan’s eyes widened as he saw something he hadn’t noticed before.

  "There," he pointed. "Zoom in on that figure."

  Kaia complied, enlarging a shadowy figure standing near the entrance of the warehouse. The man was wearing a hoodie, his face partially hidden, but Ryan could make out a faint badge clipped to his pocket.

  "Wait a minute…" Ryan muttered. He quickly ran an image search on local news reporters.

  Within seconds, Kaia pulled up a match. "This individual is Daniel Carter, a journalist known for investigative reporting."

  "A journalist?" Ryan leaned back, deep in thought. "Why would a reporter be at a place like that?"

  Kaia responded, "It is likely he was investigating the same anomaly you were. Perhaps he has information you do not."

  Ryan exhaled. "Then I need to find him."

  ---

  Tracking down Daniel Carter wasn’t too hard. The guy had an active presence online, posting articles about corruption, underground crime, and even government conspiracies.

  "Kaia, find me his recent locations," Ryan said.

  A map popped up on his screen. "He was last seen covering a local ATM fraud case. Multiple transactions were made using stolen credentials, but there were no signs of skimmers or hacking."

  Ryan’s mind connected the dots. "ATM frauds… strange technology… the warehouse. They have to be linked."

  "Your reasoning is sound," Kaia agreed. "However, be cautious. If this journalist is investigating them, he may already be a target."

  Ryan bit his lip. "Then I better find him before they do."

  ---

  That night, Ryan took his upgraded drone and set out. The streets were quiet, but his mind was racing. Using Kaia’s tracking, he found Daniel Carter outside a convenience store, scribbling in a notebook.

  Ryan approached cautiously. "Daniel Carter?"

  The journalist looked up, eyes sharp with suspicion. "Who’s asking?"

  Ryan hesitated before saying, "I know about the warehouse. About what you saw."

  Daniel’s expression darkened. He grabbed Ryan’s arm and pulled him into a nearby alley. "Who the hell are you?"

  "I’m not your enemy," Ryan said quickly. "I just… I need to know what’s going on."

  Daniel studied him for a moment before sighing. "Kid, you have no idea what you’re getting into."

  "Then tell me," Ryan urged.

  Daniel ran a hand through his hair. "I was investigating a string of frauds happening across the city—money vanishing from ATMs without a trace. But then, I found something else. A warehouse with technology I can’t explain. And now, the police are involved."

  Ryan’s stomach dropped. "The police?"

  "Yeah," Daniel said. "They’ve been watching the place too. But they aren’t making any arrests. It’s like they’re waiting for something."

  Ryan clenched his fists. This was bigger than he thought.

  Suddenly, a loud **BANG** echoed through the alley.

  Ryan and Daniel spun around as a group of masked men rushed toward them.

  "Move!" Daniel yelled.

  Ryan bolted, his heart pounding as they ran through the streets. His mind raced. "Kaia, what do I do?!"

  "Accessing nearby routes. Turn left!"

  Ryan obeyed, dragging Daniel with him. But the men were fast, closing in.

  "Kaia, I need something—anything!"

  The watch vibrated. "Activating defensive measures."

  Suddenly, Ryan’s modified stun gun **hummed to life**, its power boosted beyond anything he had seen before.

  He turned and fired.

  A **bright blue arc** shot out, hitting one of the men square in the chest. The attacker convulsed and collapsed.

  "What the hell?!" Daniel gasped.

  Ryan didn’t have time to explain. "Keep running!"

  They darted through the city, finally slipping into a crowded street where their pursuers couldn’t follow.

  Ryan doubled over, catching his breath. "That… was too close."

  Daniel looked at him, breathing heavily. "Kid, what are you?"

  Ryan hesitated before glancing at the watch. "I don’t know."

  Daniel exhaled. "Well, whatever you are, you’re in deep now."

  Ryan knew he was right.

  This was just the beginning.

  ___________________

  Hey everyone! If you’re enjoying the story so far, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Your reviews and feedback really help me improve and keep the chapters coming. Let me know what you liked, what you’re curious about, and what you think will happen next! Thanks for readin