The Dubai skyline shimmered under a midday sun, its modest 1985 towers a canvas for Khalid Al Maktoum's boundless ambition. He stood in the palace's war room, his Gulfstream jet fueled and ready for New York, his gold-plated Desert Eagle holstered at his hip. Sultan, the Bengal white tiger cub, prowled around a holographic map of Manhattan, his ivory fur glinting under LED lights, his blue eyes locked on the pulsing red dot marking the Custodian signal. The cub's gold collar, etched with Arabic script, amplified his regal aura, his growl a quiet storm mirroring Khalid's resolve. The World Impact Matrix (WIM) interface blazed in his vision, its alert screaming: *Critical Anomaly: Custodian core signal in New York, 2045. Investigate within 72 hours. Reward: 50,000 points.* With 2,000 points, stakes in Apple and HSBC, a Lamborghini, a Gulfstream, a Rolex, a Desert Eagle, a Maldives island, a private security force, a falcon drone, a temporal scanner, a defense matrix, and the Burj Al Arab blueprint, Khalid's empire was a global titan, but the New York signal—calling his name from 2045—threatened to hijack the WIM and erase his legacy.
The Watcher's Dubai network was eradicated, Saeed exiled, and the WIM's secrecy ensured by the *Time Anomaly Shield* and *Temporal Defense Matrix*. The Svalbard hub was disabled, revealing the Custodians—post-2040 successors to the Watchers—aiming to control anomalies like Khalid's 2045 rebirth. The Dubai beacon, neutralized in his study, had attempted to hijack the WIM, confirming the Custodians' goal: dominate his system, not destroy it. IBM's corporate espionage, uncovered at Meryl Streep's studio, was a new threat, targeting his tech empire alongside HSBC's fading sabotage. Meryl's film project and Vikram's Bangalore tech hub were soaring, but the New York signal demanded Khalid's focus to protect his allies and empire.
The system chimed, offering a new opportunity:
**Impact Opportunity: Infiltrate the New York signal source and disable the Custodian core. Reward: 25,000 points. Bonus: +15,000 points if you prevent WIM exposure and secure intel on the Custodian network.**
Khalid's *Tech Visionary Mindset* plotted a covert mission: infiltrate New York, trace the signal, and disable the core without alerting corporate or Custodian forces. His *Counter-Surveillance Expertise*, *Temporal Rift Scanner*, and *Temporal Signal Disruptor* were critical, with his private security force as backup. The WIM 2.0 shop, despite his low points, was a lifeline. He opened it, scanning the options:
**System Shop: Expanded Inventory**
- *Yacht (Sunseeker Predator Prototype): 30,000 points. Delivers a luxury vessel.*
- *High-Yield EMP Grenades (Set of 5): 15,000 points. Disables advanced tech in a 50-meter radius.*
- *Urban Infiltration Kit: 20,000 points. Provides stealth gear for city operations.*
- *Private Security Force Expansion: 35,000 points. Doubles elite guard unit size.*
- *Arctic Research Outpost Blueprint: 40,000 points. Provides plans for a Svalbard base.*
With only 2,000 points, Khalid held off, banking on future rewards. Sultan nuzzled his leg, his growl a spark of defiance. "We're hunting in the concrete jungle now, little king," Khalid said, signaling his team to board the Gulfstream.
Hamid approached, his face grim. "Your Highness, Miss Streep's first shoot is tomorrow—she's expecting you. Vikram reports IBM scouts sniffing around Bangalore's hub. And the New York signal spiked—our satellites caught a visual: a skyscraper, unmarked, glowing faintly, in Lower Manhattan."
Khalid's *Enhanced Perception* seized on the skyscraper. "Secure the studio and hub," he ordered. "Sultan's with me to New York. Alert my security force—discreet insertion, no media."
The cub roared, his claws flexing, ready for the urban battlefield.
---
The Gulfstream touched down at a private airstrip outside New York, its skyline a jagged silhouette against a dusk sky. Khalid, in a tailored black suit with his carbon-fiber tactical gauntlet concealed, led a 10-man security team into Manhattan, Sultan in a custom crate to avoid attention. The *Temporal Rift Scanner* hummed, pinpointing the signal to a nondescript skyscraper in the Financial District, its 40th floor glowing faintly blue. The system warned: *Temporal Rift Risk: 50%. Core within 500 meters.*
Khalid's *Counter-Surveillance Expertise* swept the area—no corporate surveillance, but a faint hum suggested Custodian tech. He rented a penthouse across the street, setting up a command post. Sultan, freed from the crate, prowled the windows, his gold collar glinting, his growl alerting Khalid to a black van parked below—IBM's logo barely visible. The system flagged: *Corporate Espionage Suspected: IBM tracking your movements. Neutralize discreetly.*
"Launch the falcon drone," Khalid ordered, his *Tech Visionary Mindset* orchestrating a diversion. The drone buzzed toward the van, dropping a smoke canister, scattering IBM's agents. Khalid's *Elite Combat Training* readied the Desert Eagle, but he opted for stealth, slipping into the skyscraper with Sultan and three guards.
The 40th floor was a sterile labyrinth of glass offices, but a hidden elevator—unlocked by the *Signal Amplification Matrix*—descended to a sub-basement. The air grew heavy, vibrating with a hum that strained the *Time Anomaly Shield*. A chamber opened, revealing a crystalline core—20 meters tall, pulsing with blue energy, projecting holograms of Khalid's life: his 2045 death, 2019 rebirth, Dubai's rise. The system flagged: *Custodian Core: Primary node, linked to 2045. Disable to end signal.*
A holographic Custodian materialized, its form sharper, its voice a synthetic growl. "Anomaly Al Maktoum, your system is ours. Submit, or your timeline collapses."
Khalid's *Negotiation Mastery* stalled. "You're the flaw, Custodian. Your core's tearing reality. Reveal the network, or I end you."
The hologram laughed. "We span 2040–2050, guarding causality. Your WIM is a stolen artifact, prince. Surrender it, or we erase your allies—Meryl, Vikram, Dubai."
Khalid's blood froze—the WIM's origin hinted at, but not exposed. The system roared: *Intel Gained: Custodian network 2040–2050, WIM artifact status. +10,000 points. Total: 12,000.* Drones—sleek, plasma-armed—emerged from the walls, and Khalid's *Elite Combat Training* dove for cover, firing the Desert Eagle, shattering one. Sultan leaped, clawing another, his roar shaking the chamber. The guards engaged, their rifles blazing, but the core's energy repelled bullets.
Khalid activated the *Temporal Signal Disruptor*, its pulse dimming the hologram, but the core pulsed brighter, cracking the chamber's floor. The system warned: *Rift Risk: 65%. Disable core now.* Khalid's *Counter-Surveillance Expertise* spotted a control panel, its circuits exposed. He threw an EMP grenade—summoned from Svalbard's stock—its pulse frying the drones. Sultan tackled a final drone, giving Khalid time to reach the panel.
Using his *Platinum-Encrusted Combat Knife*, Khalid pried it open, severing cables. The core shuddered, its holograms glitching—Meryl's studio intact, Dubai standing tall. The Custodian screamed, "You delay the inevitable!" before vanishing. Khalid planted explosives from his security force, detonating them, and the core imploded, its light fading. The chamber collapsed, but Sultan's roar guided the team to the elevator, escaping to the surface. The system erupted: *Impact Opportunity Complete: Core disabled, WIM protected. +25,000 points. Bonus: +15,000 points for intel. Total: 52,000.*
---
Back in the penthouse, Khalid analyzed the core's fragments, downloaded to his secure drive. The Custodians' network spanned 2040–2050, with multiple cores globally, the New York node being primary. The WIM was a "stolen artifact," possibly from 2045, explaining Khalid's rebirth. The system updated: *Mission Complete: New York core neutralized. +50,000 points. Total: 102,000.* The rift risk dropped to 0%, but the Custodians' remaining cores loomed.
Khalid opened the WIM 2.0 shop, his points a fortune:
**System Shop: Expanded Inventory**
- *Global Media Network Seed: 60,000 points. Founds a future media empire.*
- *Yacht (Sunseeker Predator Prototype): 30,000 points. Delivers a luxury vessel.*
- *Private Security Force Expansion: 35,000 points. Doubles elite guard unit size.*
- *Manhattan Penthouse (Permanent Ownership): 40,000 points. Secures a luxury New York base.*
- *Temporal Core Neutralizer: 50,000 points. Permanently disables Custodian cores.*
He spent 50,000 points on the *Temporal Core Neutralizer*, his total dropping to 52,000. A handheld device materialized, capable of shutting down future Custodian cores, ensuring long-term safety. A second purchase—40,000 points for a *Manhattan Penthouse*—summoned deeds to the command post, now a permanent New York base. His total fell to 12,000.
A satellite call from Meryl crackled through: "Khalid, our first shoot was magic, but I missed you. Dubai's safe, but rumors of American spies—IBM?—are circling. Hurry back." The system pinged: *Romantic Opportunity: Return for Meryl's studio visit. Reward: 5,000 points.*
"I'm coming, Meryl," Khalid said, his *Enhanced Loyalty Aura* warming her. "We'll shine together." The system chimed: *Romantic Progress: +2,000 points. Total: 14,000.*
Vikram's message followed: "Khalid, Bangalore's AI labs are live. IBM's backing off, but a new player—possibly Microsoft rivals—is sniffing around."
The system pinged: *Tech Hub Progress: +5,000 points. Total: 19,000.* Khalid's *Financial Acumen* leveraged his Apple stake to counter IBM, while HSBC and Barclays stabilized his markets.
But Hamid burst in, holding the *Temporal Rift Scanner*. "Your Highness, a new signal—faint, in Tokyo, dated 2048. It's not calling you… it's targeting Meryl."
The system glitched, flashing red: *Critical Anomaly: Custodian signal in Tokyo, 2048, targeting Meryl Streep. Investigate within 48 hours. Reward: 60,000 points.* Sultan roared, his claws unsheathing, and Khalid's pulse surged. The Custodians were striking his closest ally, threatening his empire's heart. As the cub's fierce eyes met his, Khalid vowed to crush the Tokyo signal and protect Meryl, no matter the cost.