The rain fell harder, washing over the stone steps of the Gateway of India. Malhotra Corp's private army had sealed off the entire plaza. Barbed wire fences and heavy armored vehicles blocked every entrance.
In the center of the plaza, under the stone arch, a wooden platform had been erected. Appa Gawde sat in a chair, his hands bound in heavy, dark-matter shackles.
Devendra Malhotra stood beside him, surrounded by four enforcers. A massive holographic screen hovered above them, broadcasting to the entire city.
"Citizens of Mumbai," Devendra's voice echoed through the speaker systems. "The terrorists who call themselves the resistance have destroyed our power infrastructure. They claim to fight for you, but they only bring darkness."
He stepped closer to Appa, placing a hand on the old man's shoulder.
"This man, Appa Gawde, is the leader of the gang that aided them," Devendra continued. "We have given the rebel Vikram Rathod an ultimatum. Turn himself in by midnight, or this criminal will be executed."
Watching from the rooftop of a nearby hotel, Rohan gripped his rifle, his knuckles turning white.
"We have twenty minutes," Rohan whispered, his voice trembling.
"Rhea, do you have the security camera feeds?" Vikram asked, his eyes locked on Devendra.
"I'm in," Rhea said over the link. "But the plaza is crawling with Chaya-Dutas. There are at least three Wraiths near the platform. If you step onto the wet stones, they will see you instantly."
"Then we make them look somewhere else," Vikram said.