Geneva – 10:06 PM
The alliance was stronger now.
Publicly, the ambush had backfired.
Evidence traced back to private rogue contractors.
Global sympathy leaned toward cooperation.
Phase Five had failed.
But Akanksha didn't feel victorious.
She felt watched.
Again.
Her secure console flickered.
A single encrypted message appeared:
"Sacrifice cannot be simulated. It must be real."
Her pulse slowed.
Not fear.
Recognition.
"They're not done," she whispered.
Unknown Location – Elder Chamber
The elder stood before a large digital projection of the decentralized AI backbone.
"Emotional reinforcement exceeds prediction," the strategist said.
The elder nodded calmly.
"Then remove the environment that allows reinforcement."
A new plan activated.
Not assassination.
Not ambush.
Isolation.
Geneva – Emergency Security Brief
Adrian's voice was unusually tense.
"We have a breach inside the alliance council."
Akanksha looked up sharply.
"How?"
"A legal breach," he clarified.
"Several nations are demanding independent oversight. They claim centralized emotional influence is compromising strategic neutrality."
Preyajeet frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Adrian paused.
"They're questioning your relationship."
Silence.
Akanksha's chest tightened.
"They're calling it a conflict of interest."
International Council – Closed Session
Formal.
Cold.
Professional.
A senior diplomat spoke clearly:
"For stability, emotional entanglements within strategic command must be minimized."
Minimized.
Preyajeet understood immediately.
"They want one of us reassigned."
Akanksha remained composed.
"To where?"
"Different operational theaters."
Separate continents.
Separate command structures.
No shared access.
No direct coordination.
A "preventative measure."
The strategist's hand was invisible—
But precise.
If they couldn't break trust through violence—
They would enforce distance through policy.
Private Hallway – After Session
Preyajeet exhaled slowly.
"This is cleaner than an attack."
Akanksha nodded.
"Harder too."
Because this wasn't a bomb.
It was bureaucracy.
If they refused—
Suspicion grows.
If they accepted—
They lose proximity.
Phase Five – Final Stage.
Sacrifice of presence.
Late Night – Balcony
No alarms tonight.
Just silence.
Preyajeet stood beside her.
"They think distance weakens us."
She stared at the city lights.
"It might."
He looked at her carefully.
"That's honest."
"Yes," she admitted softly.
"I'm not afraid of bullets."
He gently took her hand.
"But this?"
She nodded faintly.
"This feels harder."
Because war is loud.
Separation is quiet.
Zurich – Adrian's Analysis
Adrian reviewed alliance pressure patterns.
"Public sentiment manipulated again," he muttered.
The elder's signature was faint—
But present.
He contacted Akanksha privately.
"If you refuse reassignment, they'll frame it as emotional compromise."
She asked calmly,
"And if we accept?"
"You pass Phase Five."
She understood.
It wasn't about control anymore.
It was about proving that their bond didn't require constant proximity.
Geneva Airport – Dawn
No media.
No dramatic farewell.
Just a secured military transport preparing departure.
Preyajeet's reassignment orders confirmed.
Southern Command – Temporary.
Akanksha's role shifted to Global Oversight.
Separate.
Official.
Permanent—for now.
They stood facing each other in the quiet hangar.
He spoke first.
"They think distance creates doubt."
She shook her head softly.
"They misunderstand something."
"What?"
She stepped closer.
"Love isn't proximity."
He smiled faintly.
"It's decision."
She nodded.
"Every day."
He touched his forehead gently to hers.
"No matter where they send me…"
"I'll still choose you," she finished.
No tears.
No dramatic promises.
Just certainty.
He turned toward the aircraft.
Paused once.
Looked back.
She didn't wave.
She stood steady.
Strong.
Because sacrifice—
Is not losing someone.
It's trusting them beyond reach.
Unknown Location – Elder Chamber
The elder watched biometric data streams.
Emotional collapse probability?
Low.
Unexpectedly low.
The strategist looked uneasy.
"They're stabilizing even under separation."
The elder's expression remained unreadable.
"Good."
The strategist frowned.
"Good?"
"Yes."
The elder stepped forward.
"Because Phase Six does not test love."
The screen shifted.
Global infrastructure maps.
Energy grids.
Defense satellites.
Financial systems.
All linked subtly to early predictive AI cores.
The elder whispered:
"Phase Six tests survival."
And this time—
The attack wouldn't aim at their bond.
It would aim at the world itself.
And they would have to fight—
From opposite sides of the planet.