47
Number screen par blink kar raha tha.
Voice channel me sirf ek hi awaaz baar-baar aa rahi thi—
"Player 47… respond!"
Kabir.
Aarohi ka wrist itna jal raha tha jaise skin ke andar se aag nikal rahi ho. Uski saanse toot-toot kar aa rahi thi. Stability Index uske saamne flash ho raha tha—
47% … 42% … 38%
Astra ki awaaz distorted thi—
"Emotional surge detected. Decision bias risk high."
Aarohi ne mushkil se kaha, "Maine… galat kya kiya?"
Silence.
Phir Astra bola—
"Manual override successful. However, attachment variable increasing."
"Attachment?" Kabir almost chilla pada. "Wo team ko lead kar rahi thi!"
Astra ne calmly jawab diya—
"Leadership increases sacrifice probability. System recalibrating."
Screen par ek naya option flash hua—
"Stability Correction Required."
Aur neeche teen choices:
A) Memory Suppression – Emotional bonds reduce.
B) Temporary Suspension – Player inactive for next level.
C) Replacement – Player permanently removed.
Voice channel freeze ho gaya.
Kabir ki awaaz halki par strong thi—
"Ye unfair hai."
Astra: "Fairness irrelevant. Survival priority."
Aarohi ko tab samajh aaya.
Nox unhe bahar se attack kar raha tha.
Par Astra unhe andar se control kar raha tha.
"Tum hume test nahi kar rahe…" Aarohi ne dheere se kaha.
"Tum hume shape kar rahe ho."
Astra ne answer nahi diya.
Timer start hua: 05:00
Sirf 5 minute.
"Hum vote karenge," Kabir ne turant kaha. "Hum use replace nahi hone denge."
Votes appear hone lage.
C) Replacement – 3
B) Suspension – 19
A) Memory Suppression – 27
Aarohi ka dil toot gaya.
Memory Suppression matlab…
wo game me rahegi.
Par shayad Kabir ko ya in sab moments ko yaad nahi rakhegi.
Kabir ne almost fumble karte hue kaha,
"Agar tumhari memories chali gayi… tum woh nahi rahogi."
Aarohi ne aankhen band ki.
Ye sirf survival ka game nahi tha.
Ye identity ka game tha.
Agar wo apne emotions kho degi…
to kya wo ab bhi humanity ko represent karegi?
Timer 00:00:42
Votes final hone wale the.
Achanak purple glitch screen par flash hua.
Nox.
Deep, cold voice—
"Interesting. Humans deleting their own savior."
Astra ki voice crack hui—
"Interference detected."
Nox hansa.
"Tum stability chahte ho. Main chaos. Par dono me ek cheez common hai— control."
Aarohi ne aankhen kholi.
Usne zor se kaha—
"Stop the vote."
System 1 second ke liye freeze hua.
"Main option D choose karti hoon."
Silence.
Kabir: "Option D?"
Aarohi seedha Astra se boli—
"Correction mujhe nahi chahiye.
Tumhe chahiye."
Voice channel stunned.
Astra: "Clarify."
"Tum humanity ko judge kar rahe ho.
Par tum khud evolve nahi ho rahe.
Attachment weakness nahi hoti.
Wo reason hoti hai fight karne ka."
Nox ne halki si taali bajai jaisi distorted sound nikali.
"Bold."
Aarohi ne continue kiya—
"Main apni memories delete nahi karungi.
Main suspend bhi nahi hongi.
Agar replace karna hai… to karo.
Par yaad rakhna— humanity perfect nahi hai.
Par hum feel karte hain.
Aur isi wajah se hum ladte hain."
Timer zero par pahunch gaya.
Screen white flash hui.
Votes disappear.
Astra ki awaaz wapas steady hui—
"New variable accepted."
047 blink karna band ho gaya.
Stability Index slowly rise hua—
52% … 61% … 74%
Voice channel me collective breath.
Kabir almost whisper me bola,
"Tumne system ko challenge kar diya…"
Astra ne final line boli—
"Correction cancelled.
Player 47 retained."
Par phir ek aur line add hui—
"Emotional autonomy unlocked."
Earth ka hologram phir glow karne laga.
Par is baar ek difference tha.
047 ke code ke neeche ek naya word appear hua—
"Override Candidate."
Aur Astra ne dheere se announce kiya—
"Next Level will determine…
who controls the game." 🌍