Under the vast canopy of the night sky, dotted with shimmering stars and a crescent moon, Suri and Evan sat together on a secluded part of the ship's deck. The soft murmur of the waves below and the distant sounds of the party created a peaceful backdrop.
While resting her chin on her hand, Suri glanced at Evan, who remained focused on the horizon. The deck was bathed in the gentle glow of lanterns, casting a warm light that contrasted with the cool darkness of the ocean.
"You are not here to enjoy the party, right?" Suri asked, her voice gentle but tinged with curiosity.
Evan, initially silent, shifted his gaze away from the horizon, his eyes reflecting the distant stars. The corners of his lips barely twitched in response, followed by Suri's lighthearted giggle.
"I don't know what you plan to do," she continued, her tone a playful mix of concern and teasing, "but seeing the preparations you have made so far, I'm sure you're planning something risky, aren't you?"
Evan replied with a faint smile, "You could say that. But it's not as dangerous as it might look. I assure you, I have got everything under control."
Brushing a stray strand of hair from her face, Suri tilted her head slightly. "Would it be alright if I accompanied you?" she asked, her voice tentative.
"I'd like to be part of whatever you're planning."
Evan raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing her for a moment. "If it's not too much to ask, could you tell me about your fighting capabilities?" he inquired, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
Suri paused, her expression thoughtful. After a moment, she responded, "I wouldn't call myself the best, but I can handle special forces or commandos without much trouble. Facing too many opponents at once would be a challenge, though. And even with my strength, advanced weaponry can still be a problem."
"Superhuman!" Evan asked.
Suri didn't reply but just smiled as if silently accepting the fact.
Evan's gaze grew more intense as he absorbed her words.
There was a subtle but significant shift in his demeanor, an acknowledgement of something more profound.
He had suspected that there was more to Suri than met the eye, and her honesty confirmed his suspicions.
Just then...
This particular morning, the deck of one of the ships buzzed with activity as the crew prepared for the day's venture. Elina, ever full of energy, darted around excitedly. Her bright eyes and playful pout were fixed on Evan as she tugged at his sleeve.
"Come on, Brother Evan! Let's go explore the islands!" Elina urged, barely containing her excitement.
Evan, maintaining his usual composed demeanor, shook his head gently but firmly. "Not today, Elina. We are here for a specific purpose, and it's not safe for you to wander around."
Elina's face fell, and she crossed her arms in irritation. "But why do you and Sister Suri get to go? It sounds like you're just going on a date or something. You've changed! You love Sister Suri more than me now. I hate you!"
The sudden outburst of the little girl caught everyone by surprise, and the crew, along with Suri, stifled their laughter. Evan's expressions softened, and he crouched down to Elina's level.
"Hey, Elina, it's not like that," he said gently. "We're not going there for fun. We have important work to do. It's not safe to just wander around those islands. They're heavily guarded by the Tribal people."
Elina's pout persisted, but her curiosity was piqued. "Work? What kind of work? Can't I come along with you?"
Evan sighed, exchanging a glance with Suri, who gave him an encouraging nod. "Elina, we're dealing with sensitive matters. It's important that we stay focused and safe. I promise, once we're done, I'll make sure you get a special tour of something amazing."
Elina's eyes widened, and though she wasn't entirely convinced, she reluctantly agreed. "Fine. But you owe me a really cool story when you're done!"
Evan chuckled, ruffling her hair affectionately. "Deal. Now, why don't you go and join the others? I'm sure they'd love to hear your excitement about the islands."
As the sun climbed higher, Evan, Suri, and their team disembarked from the cruise ships and boarded a sleek boat.
They were clad in advanced warrior suits designed in Evan's lab. The suits featured padded bracers, and bulletproof material, complemented by tactical helmets that enhanced vision and offered full protection.
A modified suit that was a few years ahead of the current technology. In fact, even with present technology, Evan could make an Iron Man suit if needed. But on second thought, he felt that it was unnecessary and if anyone saw it, another trouble may brew and he wasn't keen to waste more time on such trouble.
Moreover, it may still take a few decades of research to craft such a suit in the VR world since developing such a suit wasn't as easy as it seemed.
At the back of the boat, Big Mac stood watch, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings, while the five specialized teams, each with ten members, ran final equipment checks. The boat's engines roared as they headed toward the dense, forested Nicobar Islands, where towering trees and potential dangers awaited them.
Evan glanced at Suri, his expression serious. "Stay sharp. The Tribal people are unpredictable. We have to be prepared for anything that might welcome us."
Suri nodded, her gaze focused on the island's rugged terrain as it came into view. As the boat neared the shore, the team braced themselves for the mission ahead.