Chapter 3 The blueprint

Nathaniel stared at Zara, her words hanging in the cool night air. The hidden side of S.A.T.F.A.R., secrets his father had kept from him-all of it seemed too convenient. But what caught his attention most was her final request.

"I need you to bring me the blueprint," Zara said, her tone urgent but calm. "The one for the new invention your company is working on. It's important."

Nathaniel's mind raced. His father had mentioned nothing specific about a new invention, but S.A.T.F.A.R. was constantly innovating-pushing the boundaries of technology. It wasn't out of the question that something big was being developed. But why would Zara, a complete stranger, need it?

"What kind of invention are we talking about?" Nathaniel asked, feigning curiosity, though his thoughts were already spinning a plan.

Zara's eyes flickered with impatience. "You don't need the details. All you need to know is that the invention could change everything. It's dangerous in the wrong hands, but in ours, we can use it for something good. Trust me."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, feigning a mix of doubt and hesitation. "And I'm just supposed to trust you? You show up out of nowhere, know who I am, and expect me to hand over company secrets? That's not how this works."

Zara sighed, glancing around the alley as if checking to make sure no one was watching. "Look, I know how it sounds. But if I didn't think you were capable of helping, I wouldn't have come to you. You're smart, Nathaniel. You see through the games people play. And you know your father's keeping things from you. Isn't this your chance to find out the truth?"

Her words struck a chord. Nathaniel had always felt like his father was holding back, like he was being groomed to inherit S.A.T.F.A.R. without truly knowing its inner workings. But even so, the idea of trusting Zara, a stranger with questionable motives, was reckless.

He decided to play along.

"Alright," Nathaniel said slowly, acting as though he was considering her offer. "I'll get the blueprint. But you better be right about this. If I'm putting myself at risk, I need to know you're not just using me."

Zara's face lit up with relief, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You won't regret it. Once you see what we're dealing with, you'll understand why this is so important."

Nathaniel nodded, but his mind was already working on a plan. He wasn't about to walk into this blindly. Zara may have thought she was in control of the situation, but Nathaniel was far smarter and more cunning than she realized. He'd dealt with people who wanted to exploit his family's wealth and power before. This time would be no different.

"I'll need a few days to get access to the blueprint," he lied, knowing that the real challenge wasn't getting it but deceiving her.

Zara nodded, satisfied with his response. "Take your time. I'll contact you in two days to arrange a meet."

Without another word, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Nathaniel standing alone in the alley, the weight of her request pressing on him.

As soon as she was gone, Nathaniel headed straight for his car. He needed to get to the S.A.T.F.A.R. headquarters, but not for the blueprint Zara wanted. He had a different plan. If she thought he would hand over such valuable information, she had underestimated him.

The drive to the company's main office was quick, and with his status as the heir, security was no issue. Nathaniel slipped into his father's private office, the dim light of the late evening casting long shadows across the sleek, minimalist space. He approached the desk, where a high-tech security terminal was embedded into the glass surface.

Nathaniel keyed in a series of access codes, overriding the standard protocols with his personal clearance. It was risky, but he needed to find out what invention Zara was after. The blueprint had to be in the company's encrypted files, and he had every intention of seeing it for himself before Zara did.

After several minutes of searching, he found it-Project Helix. A cutting-edge technology that combined AI with bioengineering to manipulate genetic code. The potential applications were vast, from curing diseases to creating enhanced human abilities. But in the wrong hands, it could be weaponized.

Nathaniel's eyes widened as he realized the magnitude of the project. This was what Zara wanted. This was why she needed the blueprint. But there was no way he was going to hand it over, especially not without knowing her true intentions.

Smirking, Nathaniel came up with a new plan. He would create a fake blueprint-a decoy-something that looked convincing enough to fool Zara and whoever she was working for. It would buy him time to figure out who they were and why they wanted the technology.

Over the next hour, Nathaniel meticulously crafted a false version of the blueprint, altering key details and making sure it appeared authentic at first glance. The real blueprint remained safely hidden within the encrypted files, but the decoy would be enough to throw Zara off.

Satisfied with his work, Nathaniel encrypted the fake file and backed it up onto a secure drive. As he slipped the drive into his pocket, a sense of control washed over him. Zara thought she could manipulate him, but she had no idea who she was dealing with.

Two days later, Nathaniel received a message from Zara: a time and location for their next meeting. He wasn't surprised she wanted to meet in a secluded area, away from the eyes of S.A.T.F.A.R. or anyone else who might interfere.

When Nathaniel arrived at the designated spot-an old abandoned factory on the outskirts of the city-Zara was already waiting. She stood by a rusted gate, her hood pulled low over her eyes, as though she didn't want to be recognized.

"Did you bring it?" she asked as soon as Nathaniel approached.

Nathaniel nodded, pulling out the drive from his pocket. "Right here. Just like I promised."

Zara's eyes gleamed as she reached for the drive, but Nathaniel held it just out of her reach.

"Before I give this to you, I want answers," he said firmly. "Why do you need this blueprint? What are you really planning to do with it?"

Zara hesitated, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I told you, it's about stopping something dangerous. The people who want this technology will use it to control the world. We're the only ones who can stop them."

Nathaniel's jaw tightened. He didn't trust her, but for now, he needed to play along. With a slight nod, he handed over the fake drive. Zara took it, a satisfied smile crossing her lips.

"You've done the right thing," she said, tucking the drive into her coat. "I'll be in touch."

As Zara disappeared into the night once again, Nathaniel turned and walked away, his heart pounding. He had no idea what her next move would be, but one thing was clear: the game was far from over.

And Nathaniel intended to stay one step ahead.