February 16–28, 2018
"The Earth Trembles"
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1. Riyadh – OPEC Emergency Meeting
A mahogany table stretched across the hall, where ministers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Venezuela sat grim-faced.
Projected on the wall was a news headline from The Times of India:
"India Lays Foundations for Five Arc Reactors – 50 GW in Next 2 Years."
The Saudi Oil Minister banged his fist:
> "Do you fools understand what this means? If India achieves this, they won't need a drop of oil from us within five years!"
A Kuwaiti delegate whispered nervously:
> "And if they export this technology?"
Silence followed. Everyone knew the answer. The oil age would collapse.
The minister finally said coldly:
> "We must stop this man. By diplomacy, by sabotage, or by blood."
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2. Wall Street – The Crash Begins
On February 19, oil futures in New York plummeted 12% in a single day. Traders panicked. Screens flashed red:
Brent crude: -$10 overnight.
ExxonMobil: -18%.
Saudi Aramco bonds under pressure.
A CNN anchor stammered live:
> "This… this is unprecedented. One Indian company's project has triggered the steepest oil crash in decades. Some analysts are calling it the beginning of the end for fossil fuels."
Meanwhile, Tesla stock surged. So did solar firms. But the markets knew — this wasn't about renewables anymore. This was about something far beyond fusion, beyond solar, beyond wind.
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3. Back in Delhi – The Media Storm
Indian channels ran headlines all day:
"Prithvi Energy: India's Sun on Earth?"
"Arc Reactors Could Make India Energy Superpower."
"Global Oil Lobby Furious as India Breaks Free."
Shiva Shankar gave carefully scripted interviews, always calm, measured:
> "We are building for India. This is not a weapon, not a monopoly — it is the light of progress."
But inside Prithvi's HQ, Arya's security alerts blared nonstop.
> Arya: "Encrypted chatter suggests targeted operations against Shiva Shankar. At least three intelligence agencies are running scenarios."
Deepak: "Expected. Prepare the contingencies."
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4. Assassination Threat
On February 22, a package arrived at Prithvi Energy HQ. Inside was a single bullet, wrapped in black cloth, with a note:
"Stop the Arc or face the dark."
Security teams were shaken. The Indian Home Ministry immediately assigned elite Z+ security to Shiva Shankar. But Deepak knew this was just the beginning.
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5. Deepak's Countermeasures
In his estate's underground chamber, Deepak worked silently with Arya. On the holo-screen were models of satellites, drones, and security systems.
> Deepak: "We cannot rely on government protection. Too many leaks, too many infiltrators. From now on, Prithvi Energy's security will be ours alone."
Arya: "I can design an AI defense net. Autonomous drones, quantum-encrypted comms, surveillance grids. All invisible to outsiders."
Deepak: "Do it. And activate Operation Garuda. No one touches my people."
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6. POV – Shiva Shankar
That night, Shiva sat in his penthouse office, staring out at the Delhi skyline. His mechanical mind processed thousands of risk factors, but his face remained human — tired, burdened, determined.
> "They will come for me. But they don't understand — I am not alone. I am Deepak's shield."
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7. Global Ripples
In Washington, senators demanded sanctions on Prithvi Energy.
In Moscow, officials debated whether to partner or oppose.
In Beijing, the Politburo quietly greenlit cyberattacks against Arya's servers.
The whole world had been forced onto Deepak's chessboard.
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8. Closing Scene
On February 28, as oil prices slid further and markets reeled, Deepak sat in his study, running his fingers across the bullet that had been mailed.
He smiled faintly.
> "So they've finally decided to show their teeth. Good. Let's see if they're ready for the bite of the future."
And outside, the five Arc Reactor sites roared with life as foundations deepened, walls rose, and workers marched through the night.
India's five new suns were coming, whether the old world liked it or not.
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