The sound of soulful music in purported worship of the CREATOR, interrupted Dike's uneventful night's sleep.
'It's a quarter past five, Tayo's Deliverance Service begins at six this morning. The place is already filling up with crowds desperate for the miraculous... How easily they sell their souls to the Beguiler...' As she spoke, Tomori stared at the gathering mass of worshippers at the 'Ark's' premises, from the security tower window.
'They don't know any better, do they? They think their worship is for the CREATOR... They think the miracles are from him. They are a hapless lot; victims of Excalibur's illusions; sorry victims of the Beguiler's evil machinations.'
'No, Dike, true worship is not offered in expectation of miracles. True worship in honour of the CREATOR, is not predicated nor precipitated by your needs or circumstances. These ones are superficial believers, were their worship profound, there would be no such desperation for the miraculous...
'They'd patiently wait for the CREATOR's visitation and intervention in their circumstances. Their desperation empowers the Beguiler's deceit!' There was evident pain in Tomori's voice.
'Do you kill in worship of the CREATOR?' Dike politely asked. 'I mean, does he approve of murder in defence of his glorious heritage?'
'We are at war, Dike. I bet Muno didn't tell you how many of his brother angels he had to kill, to restore order in Heaven. If the CREATOR approves of Muno's bloody hands in his service, he'd have no trouble accepting mine. We leave now!' Tomori's gaze was icy. She was in a murderous mood.
Maji assembled his Extraction Team before all of the residents of Safe House 306. He knew this mission was fraught with great danger. Whatever took Tomori and Dike to Warri had grave implications for every Offspring in the resistance. Tomori was not known to be reckless; she was well-measured in her antics, in fact strategic.
She had a penchant for wanting to go it alone... Maji feared she was thrusting herself into a war, probably as a preemptive strike against the 'Fallen' and allied Offsprings. Why she took Dike along, considering how important he was to the survival of humanity; was a puzzle he couldn't unravel.
'Make the most of this moment... They may be our last! My friends, every day is a blessing; so, if tomorrow doesn't come, we remain grateful for yesterday. We step out into grave uncertainties this day: To remain in the dark and do nothing, is to court a violent death for every member of this awesome family.
'I have had the privilege of serving and knowing every one of you... It is my greatest accomplishment yet; should I fail to return, Annabel, shall lead in my stead. Grieve not for those who might fall, for theirs is life eternal in the CREATOR's light...
'For that is the destination of us all; 'when' is the only variable...' Maji turned to Li Wei, 'Sit this one out, you have a baby to groom. Bruno shall take your place, he'll be our guide where we are headed.'
Maji's demeanour belied his emotions. Contemplating the loss of any member of this Offspring family he had come to love; hurt him deeply. Nonetheless, he spoke dispassionately.
Dike and Tomori seated themselves in the filled to capacity, 20,000-seat auditorium; there was a massive overflow of worshippers outside. Tomori noticed that the auditorium was rife with paranormal activity, as was expected. The acoustics of the auditorium impressed Dike... The music on display was deserving of applause and a rousing applause did the choir receive; from the expectant worshippers within and outside the auditorium.
Tayo mounted the pulpit shortly. He was a thick-set man, he looked more like a wrestler than anything else. His carriage was one of supreme confidence in his ability to satisfy the expectations of the adoring crowds... And when he spoke in his rich baritone voice, the confidence he exuded became contagious.
His opening words were: 'I am "he" empowered to manifest the power as of old', his every utterance was greeted with raucous chants of 'Healer save me'.
Tomori was utterly gutted by the chants of this gullible crowd...
'Keep your eyes on me, I am about to prophesy and minister healing to your ravaged bodies and captive souls!!' Tayo blustered loudly. As he spoke, there appeared to be some commotion somewhere in the aisles, west of Tomori. A lady under the influence of Tayo's enchantments had gone berserk and was now uttering gibberish.
It took the intervention of several ushers-all 'Bogs of Hell', to restrain and usher her backstage, perhaps for a private session with Tayo. Without any warning to Dike, Tomori screamed; with arms flailing, she collapsed and begun convulsing. Dike rushed to her aid, she however, communicated via telepathy, that the mission was on course.
'Stay put!' She said to Dike, who looked more confused than anything else. Tomori was lifted shoulder-high by the ushers and whisked backstage. Soon the screams of people under the influence of Tayo's enchantment became a familiar sound. Dike watched as scores of hypnotized people were taken backstage.
He was worried about Tomori. 'What if she's made out and her identity revealed by a more powerful "Deep"?' He waited desperately for an actionable message from Tomori. He thought about going backstage to inquire about his friend... Suddenly, the choir began to minister in songs to pave the way for Tayo's exit from the pulpit. He probably was going backstage to attend to the stricken.
'Will he return?' Dike asked an excited woman sat beside him.
'Yes, he will. After ministering healing to the demon-possessed. He'll continue with the second session.'
Dike smirked mischievously, 'He sure would meet a fierce demon in Tomori.' He muttered.
Tomori had hoped she'd have a personal audience with the revered healer Tayo, but from all appearances, a generalized deliverance session was in the offing. The Healing and Deliverance backstage hall, had about fifty traumatized victims of Tayo's enchantment: Some unconscious, others semi-conscious-their incomprehensible rattlings, their only claim to consciousness of some sort.
Watching over this supernatural 'trauma centre' of the 'Ark', were about ten 'Bogs of Hell' posing as ushers. As soon as Tayo stepped into the hall, the doors were bolted from inside... Quickly, Tayo moved over to an unconscious victim of his enchantment, pried her mouth open and forced something down her throat. Tomori couldn't believe what her half-opened eyes just witnessed...
Tayo had forced a wriggling millipede down the throat of one who came seeking healing and deliverance from the CREATOR. With a jar containing creepy crawlies, slithering in discomfort in one hand and assisted by about ten 'Bogs of Hell'; Tayo set about his insidious task briskly.
Tomori braced herself as the evil company of paranormal violators approached her... 'We have an "Oyibo" here Boss', one of Tayo's goons, gestured him towards Tomori.
The appearance of an 'Oyibo'-white-skinned person, at the backstage deliverance room or 'trauma centre' always elicited excitement in Tayo's ranks. For it was an indication that his Ministry was gaining global acclaim and his pesky little agents of coercion and manipulation-his creepy crawlies; were internationally increasing their sphere of influence.
As Tayo's hand made contact with Tomori's jaw, in an attempt to pry it open, she latched on to him and commanded him and everyone else in the hall; to go to sleep.
'Sleep!' She uttered in an uncompromising tone. And sleep they all did... She slipped into Tayo's devious mind and dredged up secrets... dark secrets. And in there, she heard of Muno-how that he and his Watcher Angels, defeated a murderous horde of the 'Fallen' in Basra, Iraq. She scoured deeper for details of Muno's whereabouts and a great 'find' she found...
Tomori unwittingly found Excalibur, patiently waiting to be found... 'I am coming for you!' He said gravely. And as though, in response to Tomori's 'find'; Tayo began to convulse violently and shortly afterward, gave up the ghost. Excalibur had killed him, apparently, he held the other half of Tayo's soul; pledged in allegiance to him. Tayo's failure to prevent Tomori from gleaning his secrets was considered a breach of allegiance by the gruesome Excalibur; so, Tayo had to die.
'Dike!!' Tomori telepathically screamed, 'Excalibur is here, run!!!'
'I am not leaving without you, Tomori. I am coming for you.' Dike retorted.
'Over there!!' Dike's distress on account of Tomori's revelation, had unhinged his powers... He had been made out by a 'Deep' in the ranks of Tayo; who now led a menacing team of ushers-'Bogs of Hell', towards him.
'Run! Dike run!!' Tomori yelled telepathically as she raced out of the deliverance room to help Dike.
'The time for running is over... I am PEERLESS!'
With his 'Bull' strength, he tossed his assailants high up into the air like rag dolls and electrocuted them mid-air; his enhanced 'Polaris' abilities left no one in doubt.
By this time, there was complete pandemonium in the auditorium... Mothers screamed for their children and worshippers regardless of status, fell over each other, as they scurried out of the auditorium; horrified by unfolding events.
Tomori arrived on the pulpit in time to witness Excalibur's arrival. Typically, an aggressive fluster of bats heralded his appearance. He was not alone... Six Blood Hounds; four-foot-tall, demon-possessed ghastly dogs, provided him deadly company... The Hounds were notoriously famed for their viciousness and grizzly strength. Tomori looked on, as scores of 'Offsprings of the Fallen', pledged to the Beguiler; and who until Tayo's sudden demise, were in his ranks; stepped out of their camouflage and encamped around Dike.
'Peerless you truly are, Dike. The Beguiler awaits his peerless host...'