Chapter 129: EPISODE 129 — "TWO FRONTS"
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BLACK SQUAD: EPISODE 129 — "TWO FRONTS"
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ACTIVE BLACK SQUAD TEAM
ACP Sulaiman Qazi
Senior Inspector Imran Wani
Senior Inspector Arjun Rathore
Dr. R.P. Gupta (Forensics Head)
Inspector Sachin (Cyber & Surveillance Officer)
Sub-Inspector Shreya (Field Intelligence Officer)
Inspector Zoya
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SCENE 1 — ARJUN RATHORE'S FAMILY HOME — NIGHT
INT. LIVING ROOM — AN UNEASY SILENCE
The faint tick of a clock echoes through the room, each second amplifying the tension hanging in the air. Meera Rathore, her expression a mix of fear and confusion, holds the wrapped package in trembling hands. She avoids Arjun's piercing gaze, her voice barely above a whisper.
MEERA:
"I was taking out the trash... it was just there, sitting on the doorstep. No knock. Nothing."
The dim light from the table lamp casts jagged shadows across the room, the package seeming to absorb the glow. Arjun takes it from her cautiously, inspecting every corner. His experience with Black Squad makes him hyper-aware of the faint details—the creases in the wrapping, the subtle weight shift of the package, and the emblem stamped on the side—a stark black mark resembling a cobra.
ARJUN (to himself):
"Herpeet Dongra."
He slowly unwraps the package, revealing the hard disk and the wax-sealed envelope. His jaw tightens as he reads the scrawled words across the envelope: "BLACK SQUAD".
Meera's voice breaks through the silence, trembling.
MEERA:
"Arjun… what is this? What's happening?"
Arjun stands, his back straight and his expression hard.
ARJUN (commanding):
"Listen carefully, Meera. Lock every door. Close every window. Don't let anyone inside, no matter what."
His voice softens slightly as he looks at her.
ARJUN:
"I'll deal with this. Just stay safe."
As he leaves the house, his movements are quick but deliberate. The wind outside howls, rattling the windows—a storm approaches, but Arjun's mind is already consumed by another.
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SCENE 2 — BLACK SQUAD HQ, BRIEFING ROOM — NIGHT
INT. BRIEFING ROOM — AN AIR OF GRIM DETERMINATION
The room feels heavier than usual. The large monitor flickers faintly as Sachin connects the hard disk. Files open one after another until a folder labeled "GAME START" appears. The team watches silently, their faces marked by fatigue but unwavering focus.
The video begins. Herpeet Dongra's face fills the screen, his smirk chilling. He speaks slowly, each word dripping with menace.
HERPEET (on video):
"Good evening, Black Squad. I trust you've missed me. Tonight, I present you with a choice: act quickly, or watch two cities burn. Two bombs. Two locations. One puzzle. Solve it… before time runs out."
The video transitions to a countdown timer, glowing ominously—12 hours. Beneath it, layers of encrypted text and complex riddles appear. Numbers, coordinates, and symbols flash across the screen, creating an intricate web of clues.
Sachin leans forward, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he begins decrypting the puzzle.
SACHIN:
"This isn't just a puzzle—it's a maze designed to delay us. Every step is another layer."
Qazi steps closer, his voice calm but firm.
QAZI:
"Work quickly. Imran, assist him. Gupta, analyze the files for embedded residue—anything that gives us clues about the bombs."
The team dives into their respective tasks, the room humming with focused energy.
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SCENE 3 — TEAM SPLITS INTO UNITS — EARLY MORNING
INT. HQ WAR ROOM — DAWN BREAKS THROUGH THE WINDOWS
The decrypted puzzle finally reveals its answer: two sets of coordinates flash on the monitor—Mumbai Central Mall and Juhu Beach Carnival. Sachin steps back, rubbing his temples, exhaustion evident in his posture.
SACHIN (strained):
"These are the targets. If the bombs go off, the damage will be catastrophic."
Qazi, resolute as ever, begins assigning teams.
QAZI:
"Imran, you lead Unit One to Juhu Beach. Arjun, Unit Two to Mumbai Central Mall. Coordination is key—stay in constant contact. Move now."
The teams exchange quick glances before heading out, their determination overshadowing any hesitation.
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SCENE 4 — JUHU BEACH, UNIT ONE — MID-MORNING
EXT. BEACH CARNIVAL — A VIBRANT SCENE MASKING DANGER
The carnival is alive with music and laughter, families strolling through stalls, children running excitedly toward colorful rides. But Imran sees none of this—his sharp eyes scan every corner for threats as he leads his team toward the carousel.
Sachin guides them through comms.
SACHIN (over comms):
"Signal strongest near the carousel. Check underneath."
Imran crouches, his hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. He lifts a loose panel, revealing… nothing. His face hardens.
IMRAN (to team):
"Expand the search. Check every ride, every stall, every structure."
The team fans out, scouring the area, but time passes and no device is found. Imran's stomach knots as he realizes the truth.
IMRAN:
"This isn't right. There's no bomb here. We've been misled."
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SCENE 5 — MUMBAI CENTRAL MALL, UNIT TWO — SAME TIME
INT. MALL BASEMENT — AN UNEASY QUIET
The parking lot is eerily silent, the fluorescent lights casting harsh shadows across the rows of cars. Arjun's unit moves methodically, searching every suspicious package and vehicle.
Sachin's voice crackles through the comms.
SACHIN:
"Coordinates point to Row C, Slot 14. Check there."
Arjun approaches the car in Slot 14, crouching as he inspects the underside. His flashlight reveals a taped package. He carefully removes it—but as he unwraps it, he discovers it's empty. A decoy.
Anger flashes across his face as he stands abruptly.
ARJUN (to team):
"It's a diversion. Abort."
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SCENE 6 — BLACK SQUAD BUREAU ATTACK — SAME TIME
INT. HQ MAIN HALL — THE CALM BEFORE THE CHAOS
The halls of the Black Squad HQ are eerily quiet, with only the faint hum of electronics and the occasional beep of monitors breaking the silence. ACP Qazi stands near the central server room, his arms crossed and his gaze sharp, as if sensing something amiss. Zain Qazi leans against a desk nearby, his brows furrowed as he analyzes intel on a tablet.
SHREYA (approaching quickly):
"Sir, something's wrong. I've lost communication with both Imran and Arjun's units—either interference or…"
She doesn't finish her sentence. The words hang in the air like a premonition.
Suddenly, the distant echo of hurried footsteps fills the corridor. It's followed by muffled voices—too many voices for a routine patrol. Shreya freezes, her hand instinctively reaching for her sidearm.
QAZI (calmly but firmly):
"Secure the server. Sachin, with me. Shreya, lock down this floor."
The words are barely spoken when the first gunshot shatters the quiet. It's loud, deafening—a single bullet slamming into a wall near Shreya, leaving a spray of plaster dust. The HQ erupts into chaos.
INT. CORRIDORS — AN ORCHESTRATED ASSAULT
A squad of heavily armed men, wearing tactical gear marked with an unfamiliar insignia, breaches the main entrance with precision. Their movements are calculated, deliberate, like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey. They fire suppressive rounds, forcing the stationed officers into retreat.
QAZI (shouting into comms):
"All units, we're under attack! Fall back and protect the data servers!"
Sachin ducks behind a nearby console, frantically typing commands into his laptop. Sweat beads on his forehead as he initiates a secure data transfer to an external drive.
SACHIN (muttering to himself):
"Come on, come on… faster."
Shreya fires a volley of shots from her cover behind an overturned desk. Her movements are quick, precise, but she's outnumbered. One of the attackers flanks her position. She spins, her expression defiant, and fires point-blank. The assailant drops, but more take his place.
SHREYA (into comms):
"We're being overrun! I need backup!"
The attackers press forward, their bullets ripping through the corridors. Smoke grenades roll into the hall, filling the air with thick, choking clouds that obscure visibility. Through the haze, a figure emerges—Herpeet Dongra.
INT. HQ MAIN HALL — ENTER HERPEET DONGRA
Dongra strides in with chilling confidence, his black trench coat swaying with each step. His face is partially shadowed by the flickering overhead lights, but his smirk is unmistakable.
DONGRA (mockingly):
"The mighty Black Squad… reduced to ashes."
His gaze locks with Qazi's. For a moment, time seems to freeze. The chaos around them fades into the background as the two adversaries size each other up—one the unyielding protector, the other the master manipulator.
QAZI (quietly, to himself):
"Not today."
Qazi moves like a man possessed. He grabs a rifle from a fallen officer and fires, the recoil jolting against his shoulder. The bullets force Dongra's men to scatter, but Dongra remains unfazed, slipping into cover with a predatory grin.
INT. SERVER ROOM — SACRIFICE
Sachin works furiously, his fingers a blur on the keyboard. The progress bar on the screen inches forward: 95%... 96%…
The door bursts open, and two attackers charge in. Shreya appears behind them, her pistol raised. She takes them down with two clean shots, her breathing ragged.
SHREYA (to Sachin):
"How much longer?!"
SACHIN:
"I need another minute!"
But the attackers aren't stopping. More pour into the room, and Shreya fights desperately, her ammo running low.
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SCENE 7 — FINAL CALL
EXT. CITY STREET — ARJUN'S UNIT
Arjun's team stands near their vehicles, their faces marked by frustration and confusion. The mall turned out to be a decoy, and now a gnawing sense of dread fills the air. Arjun dials HQ's landline, his jaw tight as the phone rings.
INT. HQ MAIN HALL — HERPEET TAKES CONTROL
The landline on the desk rings. Dongra, standing amidst the carnage, casually picks it up. His smirk widens as he brings the receiver to his ear.
DONGRA (into phone):
"Looking for someone?"
EXT. CITY STREET
Arjun's stomach drops at the sound of Dongra's voice. His grip on the phone tightens, his knuckles white.
ARJUN (furiously):
"Where's the ACP?!"
DONGRA (mockingly):
"I'm afraid the ACP is… unavailable. But don't worry, Inspector Rathore. You'll see him soon enough. Or what's left of him."
The line goes dead. Arjun stands frozen, the weight of the moment sinking in. Around him, his team watches silently, their expressions mirroring the growing sense of helplessness.
ARJUN (to himself):
"We've been outplayed."
The camera pans to Dongra, now seated in Qazi's chair in the HQ war room. The Black Squad logo flickers ominously on the screen behind him.
DONGRA (calmly, to himself):
"Game over."
FADE OUT.