Chapter 4 - CHAPTER FIVE

After running to a reasonable distance from the destruction he wrought, where no-one will likely suspect him of anything, Steve called the driver to come and pick him up. When he entered his room in the hotel, he quickly went to the bathroom, smoked some tabs before taking his bath. He later ordered for meals after stealthily disposing of the dress he wore. He kept thinking about switching on the television in the room as he figured that the whole thing would have been on the news anytime from the moment he left the place. But, he decided against it and decided he needed to sleep because the whole event kept reverberating in his head over and over again. It wasn't long before he slept off.

His dreams were hazy and weird that night, but he remembered it all when he was abruptly woken up by knocks on his hotel door room. He stood up, walked briefly to the door and inquired who was knocking.

"It's us! " Tracy replied. On hearing Tracy's voice, he let out an exclamation to show surprise and quickly opened the door even though his mind has started wandering around, trying to know if he has been tracked down.

"Jeez! Steve, we even thought you are ready to start going immediately!" Tracy said rhetorically immediately they entered.

"Not intentional I tell you! " he said and apologized.

"I will go and take my bath now." Steve added.

"No wait. Let me ease myself first." Nora said.

"Cool! " Steve replied. She entered immediately, and while doing her business, she observed that there were pieces of weed and its ashes littered in some corners of the bathroom which also houses the toilet. Few seconds later, she came out but for some reason didn't actually talk about it but just smiled at Steve who didn't know what the smile was for but quickly rushed in to brush up and take his bath.

"Which park are we going to?" He asked as soon as he was ready.

"Park?" they both chorused.

"Yup. Didn't come with car" he replied.

"Nah, I came with mine" Tracy replied.

"Oh! Problem solved!" he added immediately.

"But, you are driving." Nora added.

"I don't know how to drive!" he replied.

"Really?" Tracy asked.

"Nah. Just kidding!" he retorted. Few minutes later, they were on their way to his sister's school, where he is an alumnus himself.

The drive from Owerri to Abia State University usually takes one hour and twenty minutes on a 64km drive through the popular Owerri-Okigwe Road unless any of the usual road hazards caused an unnecessary delay in traffic. This was not the case as they arrived even earlier than usual due to Steve maintaining an 18m/s mileage all through the journey. They entered the town before noon, and as soon as they entered the popular roundabout near the newly built township stadium, Steve implored Tracy to call Christie with his phone.

"Where are you?" she said immediately she picked the call.

"On my way back to Abuja!" he joked.

"Oh really?" she added.

"Yup" he replied.

"Be serious please." She retorted.

"Where are you?" he asked.

"At the lodge"

"Alright. I'm almost there!" he said.

"That's nice" she said with a smile on her face.

"And my sister?"

"She went out, but she will soon be back. I told her by the way!" she ended.

"You know what awaits you. See ya!" he said and ended the call as she laughed out casually.

"She has a sweet voice!" Nora added immediately he ended the call.

"Yeah, she really does!" Steve replied.

"How did you two meet?" Tracy asked.

"You will soon know!" Steve replied.

"I didn't know you can be evasive Steve." Tracy added.

"Nah, I don't want to spoil the fun, it's still too early."

"He's right you know!" Nora remarked immediately, referring to Tracy.

"I knew you were going to support him"

"That's not fair, Tracy"

"I was joking now. Haba!" Tracy stated immediately, using her facial expression to affirm same.

"We are here!" Steve alerted them few seconds later as they entered Ahaoma Street, off the popular Abakpa market. He called Christie on the phone, who came rushing down and urged the Lodge's gateman to open the gate for them before they entered and parked accordingly. Her demeanor changed immediately she saw the two girls with Steve, though she did her best to hide it by showboating huge affection and connection with Steve, hugging him and holding him very closely while Steve introduced Nora and Tracy to her.

Christie was so pretty that even Nora and Tracy couldn't help but remark to Steve that he is a lucky guy to which he smiled to. It doused the tension building up in Christie as she led them to the well spaced and finely decorated self-contained room apartment of his sister.

"Wow! Your sister really has an expensive décor taste" Nora exclaimed as they entered the room.

"She would have been pretty stunned to hear you say this." Christie replied almost immediately.

"Really?" Nora asked.

"Yes!" Christie replied.

"Why?" Tracy queried.

"She said she was cheated during the purchase phase of most of the things here and that the decorations were badly done." Christie replied.

"She is not yet back?" Steve interjected.

"Yes."

At this point, Steve decided to call her and when she learnt her brother was not just around but in her room, she left everything she was doing in school and rushed back to her lodge to welcome him.

"Jeez! You said you were coming in two days time." Annie, the sister asked immediately after hugging him and welcoming Tracy and Nora accordingly.

"Let's say, I just wanted to surprise you!" he replied. He introduced her to Tracy and Nora, and they hit it off immediately much to his surprise.

"Well, girls will be girls! " he said to himself afterwards. "I'm so hungry!" he said out loud seconds later.

"We got you covered!" Christie assured.

"That's true. So, it's the reason you were preparing the food Christie?" Annie asked in a teasing manner, though rhetorically.

"And here i was wondering! Bad girl" She exclaimed. Christie simply smiled, turning to meet Steve's gaze, who was also smiling.

"Please o... Food! Your guests are famished." Steve simply said to them before taking a leap for the bed, phone in hand.

"Your sister is really beautiful!" Tracy whispered to his ear.

"So are you!" Steve replied, making her to smile stylishly.

"I will ask you what she whispered to you later." Nora whispered to Steve afterwards and he casually smiled.

Few minutes later, they all ate a sumptuous meal of fried rice with salad, cream and huge chunks of chicken. They helped themselves to some expensive wine in the fridge afterwards. After the meal, they engaged in various conversations that bordered on a lot of topics and more on creating familiarity with the casual assimilation of Tracy and Nora into the family and friend ring.

Towards the evening, they went out together, had a lot of fun strolling around the school and visited some cool places within the school too. It was inside the school they got to know about the disaster that happened in Owerri which has been the talk everywhere since morning, but which they all seemed oblivious of except Steve. He did well to not concern himself with the incident despite the heavy internal battle of guilt that continuously riddled through his mind. They discussed it at length, formulating theories upon hypothesis and discussing the events as a rookie would. Deep in his mind though, he was saddened at their ignorance of the whole thing. He couldn't tell them his involvement. How could he? What will they think of him? How will they handle it? Will they understand him even if he tried to? Would he understand if it was someone else? A lot of questions kept running through his mind as he listened to them mostly, avoiding to talk much. They went back to Annie's place later in the evening just after dusk. A few moments later, Steve alerted them that he is going to lodge somewhere else with Christie to which they agreed he should do.

"We are fine. Go! "Tracy echoed as soon as Annie jibed him" Well, you brought two to take one, can't complain!" They all laughed at the sarcasm and then Steve left with Christie.

"So, where do we go from here?" Steve asked her as soon as they entered Christie's car.

"Mmmm... Relobiz should be fine!" she answered.

"Okay!" he said.

"Steve?" She called.

He smiled with a look at her in acknowledgement of her call.

"You should drive!" she said.

"Nah... I want you to drive me. I enjoy it" he replied, making her become a little bit shy but with smiles registered all over her face.

"Hope you came with..." She asked as soon as she started the car's ignition, but not completing her sentence intentionally.

"Of course!" he said.

"Good boy!" she muttered to him.

"Bad girl!" he replied.

It was not long before they arrived at Relobiz, a world class four-star hotel that is mostly the talk of town for those who can afford it and for those who can't. It caters for all and sundry directly and indirectly. After paying for an accommodation and lodging in one of the pricey suites, they both went to the bathroom to take their bath in a lavish bathtub affixed to it.

As soon as they entered the bathtub naked, he relaxed on the bathtub itself while she relaxed more on his arms and body. They started smoking, discussing randomly about a lot of things before the talk went back to Tracy and Nora. "I know it's been on your mind. Ask anything, I will answer." he said. "What are you actually doing with them?" she asked, letting out huge puffs from her mouth.

"I really don't know honestly...Just rhyming with the flow i guess." Steve replied.

"But don't you think it's awkward. Two random strangers, just like that...When did you say you met them again?" she queried.

"Three days ago!" he replied.

"Jeez! Steve!" she exclaimed.

"What?" he said teasingly.

"It just seemed like you have known them for ages!"

"I could say same about us, you know?" he said rhetorically.

"It's not the same thing my love " She said, running her hands on his legs.

"Sincerely though, I don't understand it myself." he remarked.

"So why allow it go on?" she queried.

"Well, they are not a threat to us for one." he said.

"And I like them both!" he ended.

"You like them? " she asked, puffing her smoke all over his face after readjusting a bit to look him in the face.

"I...Like...Them...But i love you!"

"That's not my question!"

"Maybe I didn't get it!"

"Stupid boy"

"Me, stupid?"

"Of course!" she said, laughing.

"And what if this boy...this stupid boy did this..." he said, running his hands on her neck region and all over her shoulder, slowly moving his hands downwards from her right clavicle to the breast region.

"Well, he might actually... actually is stressed here... He might actually get what he is looking for in surplus!" she retorted, exhaling deep breaths of arousal. "Really?" he asked, letting smokes from his exhales hit her nose. "Mmmm" she replied amidst heavy deepened breaths of big arousals as his hands slowly crawled down to her right nipple and gently squeezed it. "So, this beauty here wants this silly boy to uhmmm..." he didn't finish, "If he wants it" she replied. "Is he mad not to want it!" he stated, making her relax more into him. It turned to a full blown romance session that ultimately ended up with panting and a whole lot of "I love you!" afterwards.

***

It was chaos and disorganization at the Police headquarters in Owerri after the debilitating attack and assault on the force by Steve at Ledding Street. The news of the previous night was already all over the media space, with a lot of top level officers and government officials already in some sort of one meeting or the other.

Already exhausted from continuous calls at his office, the commissioner relapsed into his seat, wondering and trying to make sense of what happened. Then a call he couldn't reject came in, it was the Inspector-General of Police.

"An elite team is on their way to help out with the situation" the IGP stated after inquiring about the situation report from the Commissioner.

"Elite team?" he asked.

"That's what I said" the IGP replied.

"We have the whole situation under control respectfully sir. The forensics team is already analyzing evidence from the crime scene to figure out what we are dealing with here." He retorted.

"I didn't ask for your opinion or suggestions. Just to let you know. You will do everything within your power to aid the team. This one is out of your league!" he finished.

"Out of my league? I remember very well i clearly warned about an impending doom with detailed reports I have been sending to the headquarters. Hundreds of lives have been lost in the unfortunate blast and you sir are saying it is out of my league. Respectfully sir, this incident right here should not be politicized. I am begging you!" he finished.

"Noted" The IGP replied and ended the call.

The IGP's act clearly infuriated the CP who hurriedly left his office and headed straight to the Forensics Department without waiting for the usual protocol of them coming to meet him. Every one of them were stunned as he walked in, observed findings and demanded for their report.

"So far, we are very positive sir that the blast did not occur from a bomb or any other similar device." one of the guys, the Head, told him.

"What do you mean it is not a bomb blast? What else could have caused such massive explosion?" he asked.

"Sir, look at this!" he said going more closely to one of the snapshots, pointing out some inconsistencies.

"An explosion or blast like this should at least leave fragments, shells even. Again, no smoke; It was just like whatever caused the blast only focused on charring and drying up things." he stated.

"That's weird!" the CP said, closely observing same and agreeing with the Forensics guy.

"What does this connote then?" he asked.

"At this point sir, we can only speculate. There is really nothing much we can do. However, we have taken in a body, and we look forward to understand what really happened." he said.

The CP simply left them and started walking off the door before stopping to inform them that a special unit was coming from the National Headquarters, and that they should be ready to share all their findings with them. He walked straight to the Human Resources Department to know how they were going about on alerting the families of the deceased officers from the blast, and everything was on track. However, he was informed that there is one officer who is yet to be accounted for.

"Who is that?" he inquired.

"Osakwe Chinedu Elvis with FN/NPF/30885AD" Mr. Haddani Hassan, the head of Human Resources replied.

"What was his last duty post?" the CP inquired.

"He was one of the Sweepers detailed along with two others along the Energy Avenue area as well as Ledding Street. The areas within the blast" Mr. Haddani replied.

"And what about the other two? " the CP asked.

"Both dead!" he answered.

"And we are sure the whole area has been searched thoroughly?" the CP inquired.

"I led the search myself sir. Nothing!" he said.

"You will have to delay contacts with the families a bit, just so that we are certain and everyone is accounted for!" the CP ordered.

"Yes Sir!" he replied.

"Good!" the CP said and left.

Walking back to his office, the Public Relations Officer hurriedly met him and informed him of the PR nightmare he is having with the Press and families whose people are with the Force."I'm doing my duty. Do yours!" the CP replied him and walked away promptly.

***

After leaving, Elvis had went to somewhere far from home and away from the public scene, apparently having an epiphany and retrospection of the embarrassment he suffered at the hands of Steve. A lot of thoughts rushed through his mind immediately he left Steve, but he figured his best course of action in the circumstances was wait it out somewhere. The events were still very much fresh in his mind. From his observations, something was odd about Steve.

Thinking on the next course of action, he remembered how he was wearing only his boxers and singlet. He ran as fast as he could till he besieged and waylaid a guy, taking his clothes and shoe in the process. He went into hiding, believing that absconding from his duty post but reporting same act with the tell-tale of what happened to him was not a welcome idea. He still went back to the area, but stayed just within distance from a vantage point. It wasn't long after before the widespread destruction occurred and he saw one person walk out of there alive. The memories of the blast were very vivid in his mind; it wasn't a dream. He didn't believe what he saw, and dodged just by the corner to avoid getting seen by Steve while he crossed and entered a taxi. He wished he had listened to his wife and avoided the day. Now, the day is a permanent scar in his memory; it keeps rewinding endlessly, it's teeth's sharpened to haunt his feeble Durian mind.

In the early hours of the next day, he disguised himself and went to a News stand by Ardent Avenue; News Stands are usually popular in the town. What he saw next shook the life out of him. As he glanced through the pictures depicting the havoc and destruction wrought by Steve, his heart hardened with anger, resentment, and self hatred.

He remembered the events of the previous night, but he was too afraid then to go back to the scene of the havoc for the second time. He never thought in his wildest imagination that that was what Steve meant when he told him he was going to attack the place. He regretted not reporting to the station as he should have. He regretted everything, every action he has taken since the night before and kept calling himself a coward as he angrily left the News Stand. Everyone he knew may have been victims of the blast judging from what he read and saw, and he couldn't forgive himself. He wanted to go to the Headquarters straight away and report himself but decided against it. He didn't want to go home, for all he cared; Steve might be monitoring, following or even watching him out rightly. He got scared, and thought about going to the media to report his account of events as an anonymous person. From what he read in the media, it's obvious everyone was clueless about everything.

His wife and children came to his mind again, and this time around he decided its best he went to check them though afraid that other Officers may be in his home. But, he banked on the fact that their hands are full with the events of the previous night to even bother his home for anything.

When he reached home, and after telling the wife about what happened to him, she convinced him to go to the Headquarters and report himself. His wife was of the opinion that at the moment, he is too valuable and that any sanction would wait with what he knows.

"I have to do something first." he finally said.

"What is that?" the wife inquired.

"I have a friend at Herald Newspaper, and I have to first make sure that he has this story." he ended.

"You are not supposed to do that Elvis." the wife alerted.

"You didn't witness what I saw sweetheart. I don't trust the force, and for all i care they still may not believe me or may even term me an accomplice along with abdication of duty. I don't want to take chances Evelyn, a lot of things may be at risk. You have seen the news, heck you were scared and even thought I was dead like everyone else who was assigned to that area. You have to trust me on this one, people need to know." he ended.

"You are making me scared Elvis. Since when are you this afraid?" the wife asked.

"I'm beginning to think you should not go to the Headquarters again."

"No, I should" he said, holding her hands very calmly.

"It's the right thing to do, but after I meet with my friend at the media house." he assured.

"What If they don't believe you at the Headquarters?" she queried, seriously concerned.

"Once you don't hear from me after two days or once you read or hear a news about an officer who encountered the criminal that unleashed the Ledding Mayhem, take our kids and go to this address!" he stated.

"Jesus Christ! Elvis you are scaring the hell out of me" the wife retorted immediately.

"I hope it doesn't come to that my dear, I hope so." They talked at length on a few other things before he left.

Every eye turned and stared at him on reaching the Headquarters soon after his meeting with the media friend. He walked straight to the Office of a ranking Officer and demanded for the CP, stating that he has valuable information with regards to the events of last night. It was the PR officer's office. He simply told him to wait after getting his details. The PR Officer went to the Human Resources Department to confirm and it checked out. He promptly got three officers who followed him to his office and ordered that Mr. Osakwe be arrested immediately for abdication of duty. "This is a very big mistake. I need to see the CP" he kept screaming, causing a ruckus in the hallway as he was being dragged by the other officers to a cell.

"You are a disgrace to the Force" one of them echoed as he was finally thrown into one of the empty cells in the place and locked up.

"You guys don't understand. Let me out of here, i need to see the CP! " he kept shouting.

"If I were you, I would shut up. No one is happy, I repeat, no-one. The CP is the last person you want to see at this moment, trust me!" the PR Officer said and left!

After holding on to the iron stringed doors for a while, and downcast, he figured all is now in the hands of his media friend.

He had told him that if he doesn't hear from him before the day runs out, he should print the story with his full details.

*

Normal activities returned soon afterwards at the Headquarters and no-one informed the CP of Elvis nor of the information he claimed to possess. He slept in the cell that day and the next morning, the news broke. Every major News outlet in the country picked up and ran the story. When the CP heard about it, he was furious, so angry that he slapped the Force PRO for acting voluntarily and performing an act above his rank when he ordered him to his office to explain his actions. The news rattled everyone in the Headquarters really bad, which necessitated Elvis being demanded by the CP.

They were about to go bring him when the lights in the building started rattling a bit, while shouts started echoing here and there.

"What is happening?" the CP asked no one in particular.

"We will find out sir!" one of the officers with him replied and rushed out.

The shouting continued at a distance, walls vibrated a bit in the process, crashes can be heard. Then the gunshots began, and everyone including the CP went for their weapons immediately, fingers loosely on the triggers. They tried to communicate with people outside through walkie-talkie, but the signals were not going through; it has been jammed. They all became terrified including the CP, yet afraid to leave the office while expectantly pointing their guns at the door, the only entrance to his office.

The surrounding noise shook and put Elvis at alert; he was still in the cell at the moment of the chaos. He didn't know what was happening, but his thoughts ran wild thinking that Steve has come for him. He was fully aware that by now, his media friend should have run the story and that Steve may have read it and has come to finish him off. Looking through the open stringed iron cell, he saw people running off fully armed, scared and shooting continuously. He started shouting for someone to let him out but no one was listening nor heard him.

"No more hiding in here!" the CP said, tired of being reduced to a spectator when he should be organizing and coordinating everyone else.

"I have to get out there and know what's happening" he finished.

"We do not advise that sir, we don't know what is happening out there." one of the officers replied.

"Right now, your protection is our priority!" another added.

They were still talking when they heard a heavy blast accompanied by a massive vibration. It knocked out almost every light in the building, reducing most structures to rubbles in its wake. The CP rushed out immediately from his office while the other officers followed him.

Still in the cell as the light went out, Elvis' fright level heightened. Most of the noise within his surroundings has stopped, adding to his fright, and forced him to increase the tempo in his voice as he shouted for someone to let him out. Then, he emerged out of the darkness right in front of him; it was the man who killed the odd fellow for failing to retrieve the artefact. It wasn't Steve as he feared.

***

"You are addressed the way you dress. Is it just the dressing?" Steve asked Christie as they both lay in bed.

"Wait, that's the first thing on your mind this morning?" Christie queried.

"Seriously, just tell me. Is it just the dressing? What of the other stuffs like facial facades and expressions, movements and speeches? " he added.

"Steve?" she called.

"Yes" he replied.

"Please stop" she requested.

"Okay, okay, I have stopped...From the ethics to the mundane or from the mundane to the ethics. Which is the right placement?" he asked again.

"Someone really woke up excited this morning!"

"Well, what can I say...Someone really gave a surplus last night!" he said, making Christie to laugh uncontrollably, touching and beating him playfully in so many romantic ways. But, his mind was really occupied with something else. "Wait, wait, wait... One last thing..." he didn't say it before his phone rang. It was his sister, Annie.

"How are you two lovebirds doing?" she asked as soon as Steve picked the call and put it on loudspeaker.

"Your brother is definitely going mad this morning, please come and carry him! "Christie spoke immediately.

"Steve?" Annie called.

"Yes love!" he answered.

"What is happening?"

"Ask your friend."

"It seems like you guys are having a good time."

"Steve is having a euphoria, sorry, epiphany!" Christie joked, making them laugh hard with the way she said it.

"How are Tracy and Nora?" he asked.

"Still asleep... Those are two wild girls!" Annie replied.

"Really?" Steve asked.

"Yes. We had a lot of fun when you guys left!"

"That means you should really thank me with a nice breakfast this morning for bringing good company to you!" Steve stated.

"You can say that again!" Annie replied.

"Anyway, we will be waiting for you guys!" she added.

"Alright, we will be coming very soon. Right, Christie?" he asked.

"I don't know!" Christie replied.

"Is that shakara you are doing?" Annie asked, causing them to laugh.

"Let me not look for you!" Annie said.

"We will be there" Steve interjected and they ended the call.

"What is it this time?" Steve asked her as soon as he turned to face her.

"Don't pretend like you don't know!"

"I really don't know."

"It's so easy for you to say!"

"You are yet to tell me what is really bothering you!" he simply stated.

"Of course you know what is bothering me!" she told him as a matter of fact, feigning annoyance.

"If it has anything to do with Tracy and Nora, then really you are just overreacting unnecessarily!" he told her.

"Oh, my feelings are overreactions right?" she asked.

"It's really too early in the day Christie, don't you think?" he asked.

"I don't like that I had to know about them the way i did. You should have told me earlier!"

"Alright, noted! It won't happen again, i promise."

"On a side note though...They both love you!" he said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Tracy thinks you would have made for a very good partner!"

"Good partner? Oh!" She said smiling at Steve, and caressing him gently on his arms. She understood!

"So, as I was saying previously, the embers of wretched ruins or the ruins of wretched embers?" Steve asked.

"It's the Steve of Tracy and Nora!" she replied, causing him to laugh hysterically.

"Keep laughing!" she added.

"You know I really do love you very much?" he asked, turning to look her deeply in the eyes, holding her very closely to him by drawing her close and making sure she was well rested on his arms and her legs crossed over his in embrace.

"I know!"

"Plus, you are even more beautiful when you smile!" Steve added, smiling himself.

"And you are handsome with honey lips and sugar tongue. Stop flattering me Steve!" she said.

"Okay." he said and tried to leave the bed, but she held him back.

"Sorry, didn't mean it that way!" she assured, and he smiled.

"Wait, what is that doing?" She asked.

"Nothing!" he replied.

"Are you sure about that?" She asked, and he laughed casually.

"The 'that' wants what it wants." he said, both of them full of smiles.

They ended up having sex severally that morning before leaving for his sister's place at about 10:00am. On their way, they noticed unusual activities and gatherings of people in small clusters as they drove by.

*

"So, what's up for today?" Steve asked as soon as they were through with the usual pleasantries and breakfast.

"Gossip I guess!" Tracy said immediately.

"Maybe we go back to the hotel, they have a swimming pool" Christie said.

"That will be wonderful." Nora added immediately, excited.

"Definitely wonderful" Tracy added.

"You all do know i can't swim right?" Annie said.

"They have tubes!" Christie assured.

"And you will be in safe hands. Your brother is here!" Tracy chipped in, and he smiled.

"It's best i leave you girls to do girls stuff!" he simply said.

At that, he walked across the room and switched on the television as well as the satellite decoder. The moment it came on, "Breaking News!" splashed on the screen on one of the popular television stations, piquing everybody's attention.

"We are Live now at the Police Headquarters, Owerri. As you can see, a massive attack was launched and a lot of Police Officers has been reportedly killed or injured in the process. Preliminary reports say that the attack is similar to the one that occurred two days ago, and that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes are still at large. However, we can verifiably surmise that the attack is related to the News that broke out yesterday about Police Officer Osakwe Chinedu Elvis who claimed to have been a witness to the Ledding Street Massacre. Unfortunately, as at the time of this report, Police Officer Osakwe Chinedu Elvis is nowhere to be found at the moment since the attack at the Headquarters this morning. Already, we got anonymous information that he was reportedly locked up for abdication of duty when he availed himself at the Headquarters. We will keep you informed as things develop." The reporter ended.

"That's odd!" Steve let out.

"More like frightening. A whole Police Headquarters was attacked!" Tracy said rhetorically.

"That means no one is safe anymore in our State. And all these events are not unconnected." Nora added.

"I'm very sure they will settle whatever it is. The only times our Force men are overly serious are when one of them is a victim!" Christie said.

"You think so?" Nora asked.

"It's the reality of things!" Christie said.

"They can be good when they want to; there is certainly no doubt about that. When they are not playing there petty politics that is!" said Annie, who has been silent all the while.

Deep in his mind, he started planning out on what his next course of action is going to be and didn't bother to join their discuss. Even though he has perfected his plans, which is the major reason why he is in his sister's school, he still knows that something is not right and that figuring out what happened at the Police headquarters is important. It did cross his mind though that maybe Linagu was trying to tie loose ends by attacking the police headquarters and probably killing the officer, but he doubted it.

"When in doubt, focus at the task at hand", flashed through his mind.

"Let's not kill the vibe. Sad as it may seem!" he told them soon afterwards.

"Are you coming with us?" Christie asked.

"Nah; this is an all girls affair, so you girls should go and do your girls thing!" he answered.

"What will you be doing then?" Christie asked.

"See old acquaintances." he said, smiling.

"Your old girlfriends you mean!" Christie said jokingly.

"And that too!" he replied. Everyone laughed.

"Don't let this girl's...Uhmmm!" Christie didn't finish.

"Uhmmm your head; Please let's start going before the place gets crowded" Annie interjected.

"Yeah, that's right" Steve added.

"Don't worry Steve; your sister and your girlfriend are in capable hands!"

"I believe that the reverse is the case here my dear. Annie is a better swimmer than all of us and this is her school. Don't mind her!" Steve replied Nora.

"You have spoilt the surprise Stephen!" Annie said while they all left, leaving him behind.

In his time, and deep within his well layered and coated good guy no ruffled nature, Steve always took and rightly categorized himself as a reserved guy. It has always served him as he wanted; he made it a part of his essence down to his core. Always never involved, far from what is happening but always in the know if he desired. That pretty much summed up his life while in school. Walking down one of the pathways around a Science Block building, he remembered all the memories of his time in school, sad and fun alike. It used to be about the books, lectures, lecturers, petty student politics or the girls sometimes. But, not this time he figured. He had other things in mind this time, and his only focus as he made his way through was to meet a girl, Esther. This time as Steve recalled properly is usually a busy period for cultists, especially as it is the period for most of their usual initiation procedures and the initiation proper. He just needed to set up a few things, and he knows this is the way he must go about it. From afar, he saw her waiting at the spot he knew she will be in, dressed in a free flowing black gown and blue skinny jean.

"I was beginning to think you will not meet up again and chickened out!" the girl said.

"Sorry, had other problems to deal with; sorry!"

"What do you have for me?" he asked.

"I managed to get the location!"

"You managed to? You are funny!"

"It's more complicated than you realize. You know how secretive they are with such information."

"Okay. Well?"

She turned around and then pointed at two of the mountains not much far from where they were.

"It's either of them!"

"Inside the school premises?"

"Yeah... I'm surprised too."

"It's good. Thank you!" Steve told her.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"Nothing... I just want you to go to the police station outside school and make a report that you overheard some people talking about initiation going on somewhere around the school... Do it now, i know It's going down tonight." he said.

"Tonight?" she asked.

"Yes, it's why you got the information you got. It would have been useless to us after today."

"What if they detain or suspect me or something?" she asked.

"They won't. Say you are doing it as a good student and citizen who doesn't want to see his mates waste their future. Improvise!"

"I'm still not sure if I can..." she didn't finish before he interrupted her.

"Plus I'm a lawyer now. And you have my number. Call me if anything and I will be there." he reassured her, calmly looking her in the eyes and rubbing her shoulders reassuringly.

"And you will be getting the justice you deserve. Hope you have not forgotten!" he ended.

He could clearly see she was afraid despite all the early big girl tough talks and courage what-have-you she has been pulling off since Steve met her.

"You know all the right things to say, isn't it easier and better if you did it yourself?" she asked.

"It will be more believable coming from a girl. You just do your girl thing, put up all the innocence you can lay your hands on and sell it" he said.

"You lawyers and your sweet words!" she let out, making him laugh out casually.

"You can do it, I know you can. You have already done great." he praised.

"Alright, I will do it. So what will you do? You are yet to tell me, and I don't want all my risks to be in vain!" she said.

"Just promise not to say anything to anyone. And when in doubt as to what you want to do next, call me!" he said, dodging the question.

"Okay... I will keep it in my mind."

"Thank you!"

"Come and buy me a meal" she demanded. He wanted to put hands in his pocket and bring out his wallet, but she stopped him.

"I want you to come and buy me a meal!"

"Really? Like, you want me to walk with you to where you will...?" he asked but didn't finish.

"Yes!"

"Alright... Anything for you sweetheart"

"Wait...One more thing!"

"I'm all ears!"

She stood up and told him to stand up, which he did. Then she told him to cross his arms around her neck like in an embrace but more like to make her lap into him. He did, and she crossed her left hand across his waist.

"It's been long I wanted to do that!" she said. He simply smiled and said "You are very funny!"

"People are going to be looking at us though!" he said.

"I don't care!" she uttered immediately as they left where they sat.

"Wow!" he let out.

"There is one more tiny favor I will hope to get from you."

"I hope it's not sex!" he said immediately, but as a joke mostly.

"Yeah... It is." she said laughing.

"Awww... Sorry, taken!"

"Really?" She inquired as they entered another pathway leading to a well furnished canteen within the school premises.

"Will you still do as we agreed if i refuse?" he asked.

"Of course... That one is already concluded" she assured.

"I'm just a one person at a time kind of person. Sorry!" he replied. She pinched him a little and laughed.

"No harm in trying though!"

"Maybe when you leave, you will have a rethink and think about banging this big ass and see this pretty face scream your name." she cajoled.

They both started laughing really hard as she finished talking.

"You didn't just say that, right?" he asked, still laughing.

"You heard me!" she said and walked off from him a bit to allow him view her backside before returning back to his embrace.

"Don't worry; you may get your wish...Just not today. I have things i want to make sure they are set up properly and accordingly. I will take you up on that someday... Who knows, it may even be sooner than later!" he reassured.

"It's that a promise?" she asked.

"Yeah!" he answered.

"You are really handsome when you smile" she remarked.

"Thank you!"

"Do you want me to eat with you?" he asked as they entered the canteen.

"Sure, why not. And don't worry, I will buy!" she assured.

"You keep surprising me!"

"I am full of surprises. You will see!" she said before asking him what he wants and made the order.

*

Immediately Steve left her, he decided to go and check out the two locations she gave him. He was very familiar with one of them, being a spot he regularly visits to blow out while in school, but the other one was quite obscured. This made him conclude it will be the right place. He took a tour of the mountain on reaching there, especially the innermost parts. He observed how the terrains where laid and upon a more careful venturing inside, the contour of the environment has been nicely layered and newly cut without really giving it away. It was the place and she was right, he said to himself.

At this point, Linagu crossed his mind, and he hoped to meet him again sooner rather than later. The last meeting didn't go so well. He was still in this thought when the anani Linagu gave him vibrated and brightened up. He was a bit shaken and at alert as he didn't know what could have caused such. Not far from where he was, a blue colored cloud formed, making him even more alert. Then the cloud started dissipating slowly and from there, Linagu emerged, to his surprise.

Steve still stood where he was, unhindered as his anani mellowed down. Seeing him, Linagu conjured up a force field and hurled it with full force at Steve. His anani immediately stepped up and created a shield which effectively blocked off the resultant blast to Steve's surprise.

"You have not been training and practicing?" Linagu asked immediately as he asported off from where he stood and appeared right next to Steve.

"That's a fabulous way to make an entrance!" Steve mocked.

"I could teach you!" Linagu replied.

"It was a mock! Just letting you know you were showing off!" Steve replied.

"I could still teach you!" he answered back.

"Have you been following me? Is that why you gave me this amulet, so that you could track my movements?"

"Is that what you call it, amulet?" Linagu asked back without answering his question.

"Yes!"

"It's not an amulet. We call it Anani. I personally designed that one for you alongside my sister." he said.

"To track me?"

"Is that the only thing you have noticed about it?"

"Just answer the question!" Steve retorted.

At this, Linagu left his side and asported off, reappearing a few meters farther than where Steve stood. Surprised at his sudden move, Steve was immediately taken unawares and didn't realise when Linagu engulfed him in a force field, raised it up with him inside and unleashed a flurry of energy blasts at him. Steve's anani put up protective barriers to shield Steve from the blasts, but it wasn't enough as the force from the surge of the blast sent Steve crashing and bouncing round the envelope created by the force field till Linagu released it, sending Steve crashing to the ground.

Before he could stand up, Linagu was already on him and gave him a heavy punch which forces again was cushioned by the anani but wasn't enough to prevent Steve from flying off, hitting and crashing into tree branches as he crash landed. Immediately he stood up, Linagu was there again and wanted to hit him hard with a Unerg powered ballistic shotgun called R-To.

"Wait, wait, wait" Steve yelled out.

"Yes?"

"Lesson learnt" Steve said out immediately.

"Good!" Linagu replied and teleported them back to where they previously stood before the little lesson.

"Did I just...?"

"No, you didn't. I did!" Linagu said.

"You need to start training."

"Training?" He asked Linagu.

"Yes…And, very fast."

"How? What for?" Steve questioned.

"I would like to tell you, but I'm very busy at the moment. I will send someone else who will guide you!"

"I see the disgust in your face, but not to worry. I'm sure you would prefer the person I'm sending to me!" Linagu reassured him.

"The person is more powerful and charming than you?" Steve inquired.

"We are all powerful and charming."

"You are very funny." Steve retorted.

"So, what's your game here?" Linagu asked.

"My game? Nah, just visiting an old spot" Steve replied.

"Don't lie to me" Linagu cautioned.

"What's your game?" he asked again.

"A personal vendetta"

"Hmmm. Okay" Linagu simply whiffed but didn't bother trying to inquire further.

"You are not going to stop me?"

"It's not my business!" Linagu quickly replied him and tried to leave.

"You are carrying a heavy responsibility now though!"

"I have a question i want to ask before you go!"

"Go on" he said.

"All I have done ever since it's from impulse and guts. What is the best way to manifest whatever I want to actualize with all this power and energy flowing through me? For a beginners course level... you get the point I'm making?"

"Focus on what you want, your expectations and not on the impossibility or otherwise of your expectations being manifested. That said, stick to your guts and impulse for now, and stay out of trouble. There is a lot going on right now, especially with your little debacle in that place the other night!" Linagu informed and asported off before Steve could utter another word. He left the mountain soon afterwards and headed back to his sister's place around 3pm.

***

"What were you thinking?" a furious Neerudi asked Linagu immediately he finished recounting his recent visit to Steve.

"What was I thinking? What I have always done, thinking ahead!" he replied.

"You nearly killed him!"

"He doesn't know that, and i had to speed up the process!"

"We have to stop that nonsense he wants to do!" Neerudi alerted his brother.

"We cannot get involved Neerie, it's his Ngammu!" he replied.

"Which you started by the way!" she quickly retorted.

"I didn't start anything, it was his choice!" Linagu reminded her.

"Moreover, it's another opportunity to see how fast he is progressing!"

"You are jeopardizing everything, creating unnecessary attention, leaving Muur prints all over Duria. Someone is going to find out soon enough."

"Let's hope he is ready before then" he replied. "So, why not go and train him, get to know and work him better. It's what you always wanted, and you could minimize whatever damage and imprints of Muur we may have left all over Duria!" Linagu pushed indirectly.

"You are supposed to do that, he is your making! You performed the Ami nri"

"There is too much work to be done here, I'm always in the public eye and my disappearances are more noticeable."

"You just put me on the spot Añia... I don't like this." she said mildly.

"Please!"

"Alright, I will do it!"

"Thank you Neerie. I love you" he said and hugged her, before vanishing and leaving her embracing herself.

"So incorrigible!" she uttered and whiffed amusingly!

"I heard that!" Linagu whispered from the walls of the hall she stood, and she smiled before walking away!

Linagu has already started massive preparations underground on a need to know basis only as he didn't want to create any unnecessary attention and panic among the populace. Top among his policy makers and confidants were his sister Neerudi and Eledu. Despite several calls from Eledu to get the Muur Supreme Council up to speed with events, Linagu didn't think it necessary.

However, he scheduled to meet with the head of the Muur Supreme Council, or Ba Akamali as he is called after getting concrete evidence, the artefact recovered by Steve. As he left his sister, he went straight to the Muur Supreme Council Headquarters at Barialu, the second Muurdom.

"What brings my lord to the Quarters today?" Akaliu asked as soon as he met Linagu. He met him while he was entering the gigantic MSC Tower in Adinlam, Barialu. Akaliu is the Chief Guard of the Muur Supreme Council Headquarters and part of the Royal Squad which Linagu chairs by virtue of his position.

"The usual"

"If my lord does not mind, please walk with me!" Akaliu requested.

"You seem pretty pleased to see me Akaliu?" Linagu observed as he led him to his own official office.

"My lord is very correct in his observation!" Akaliu admitted.

They walked the rest of the short distance in silence, before finally arriving in his office, a very spacious room with huge mappings, special structures and a lot of thin projected screens. There were custom Muurian weapons, fixtures and fittings, and fashionably designed chairs used in giving the office a luxurious decoration befitting of the Chief Guard status in the Muur Supreme Council building.

"I know that if i can see it, then i am presuming my lord is pretty much aware of it." Akaliu stated.

"Aware of what?" Linagu enquired.

"The strange things manifesting slowly. My lord, we both knows what it is about, what it has always been about!"

"Akaliu?" Linagu called out.

"My lord!" he replied.

"Speak plainly"

"In the space of two days, we have caught two of our people trying to sneak into the head of the Muur Supreme Council's quarters within this building. But, it's easy to just see that they were being manipulated. Few days before that, we caught a Nolnadian who was lost somewhere in the mountains near the Barialu River from the North!"

"Why are you repeating things i am already privy to? What's your point Akaliu?" Linagu demanded.

"And then this happened just before your arrival." Akaliu stated, and dragged the projections from one of the screens to display someone, a Nolnadian who somehow manipulated his way through, stunned a guard unexpectedly with a shock blast and entered one of the Council member's quarters but was overpowered by him and subsequently captured. There was little to no surprise displayed by Linagu.

"That's a second consecutive unauthorized Nolnadian in Muurland within a very short space my lord." he stated in a concerned manner.

"When were you going to report this to me?" Linagu queried.

"I was instructed not to report it!"

"By who?" Linagu inquired further.

"The Head of the Council himself; He was embarrassed by it!"

"You do know who your allegiance is to right?" Linagu asked.

"There is no doubt about that my lord."

"Good. Never forget that at all times, you serve the people Akaliu. Subduing vital information like this because Ba Akamali told you to is against your oath to serve your people." Linagu advised.

"I regret my act my lord, it won't happen again!"

"Good. The Royal Squad meeting has been brought forward then. You will hear from me soon through Eledu." Linagu stated. "Now, i must meet with your boss!"

"Very well my lord!" Akaliu replied, and they left his zone.

The Muur Supreme Council works as the legislative organ of the Muurians, though their functions far exceed making laws and deriving the right policies for the people. They also control a very important and remarkable aspect of the Muurians, the Amarandubi. Amarandubi is the top Muurian spy agency. They're also responsible for making sure that nothing about the Muur is ever known to any other race, nation, colony or world that the Muurdom didn't permit. Normally, there was little to no squeamish between the Buamada's and The Muur Supreme Council until the creation of the Amarandubi. This is the reason why Linagu was non-forthcoming with meeting the Head of the Muur Supreme Council.

The creation of the Amarandubi was deemed as an indirect plot to reduce the powers of The Buamada's as the rulers of the Muur by reducing the type of Executive Security Powers wielded by them. This issue led to the Muur General Assembly being called to deliberate and vote on the matter at the time, the first of its kind. The General Assembly consisted of the heads of each family in the whole Muurdom; more than twenty-five million family units in total. Though the decision taken ended in favor of the Buamada's, the Amarandubi was created nonetheless but with more defined functions, operational limits, checks and a way of constant appraisals by the office of Head of Muur Security when needed.

The main reason for this resolution is the fact that the Amarandubi has the potential to be a very powerful tool of subversion of order if left unchecked. So, while the management and everything is being undertaken by the Muur Supreme Council, the General Assembly and the Buamada's retain some control powers over it's operations in areas they deem appropriate. This is the reason why Linagu has been hesitant in meeting with the Head of the Muur Supreme Council so as not to be seen crossing or interfering with jurisdictional boundaries and not appear imposing despite having the powers. This is the reason why Linagu chose Eledu, a highly renowned operative of the Amarandubi as a key member of his inner Security circle. Little wonder Neerudi didn't know about him until recently. The Amarandubi is also the reason why Neerudi constantly warns Linagu to avoid leaving Muur imprints when he visits Steve, because the Amarandubi are actually pretty good at their work.

However, the fact that a lot of incidences related to their duties are sprouting up constantly at the moment, the meeting was inevitable. The door opened immediately he approached Ba Akamali's Quarters, who walked out majestically to welcome him, and hug him as he usually does.

"I have been expecting you Añia!" he said after leaving his embrace and kissing Linagu on the forehead as is now customary of Pa Akamali.

"I know!"

"Even though I have been expecting you, I'm still left wondering what brought you to the Quarters today!" Ba Akamali questioned, and Linagu smiled.

"Well then, come. I have something i want to show you!" he said and moved while Linagu followed him immediately.

"How is your mother?" he asked as they left his Chambers and headed to a more fortified and foreclosed area of the Council building.

"Still a Buamada as usual." he said and they both laughed enthusiastically.

"Your mother is one of a kind and a blessing to our people!" He continued.

"That's a great praise coming from you Ba Akamali!"

"A Muurian must always tell the truth!" he advised.

"Rightly spoken, Ba Akamali"

"How much do you know about the Odena, what it means to our people and what it protects?" Ba Akamali asked Linagu as he stopped abruptly in his walk.

"I know what my mother tells me, what my position permits but I'm sure not as much as you know Ba Akamali!" Linagu said, and Ba Akamali continued in his walk while Linagu followed suit.

"You know, the Odena is us and we are the Odena." he said.

"I know!" Linagu replied.

"How well do you know the Revised Mantacles of Muuragi?" he asked Linagu.

"Not much!" Linagu said, but he lied.

"You know, i take you as a son Ania, so i am going to be straight forward with you!" Ba Akamali stated and stopped, while looking at Linagu sternly.

"I secretly investigated you through the Amarandubi because of a recent event we observed!"

"Why would you do that?" Linagu asked.

"I know your mother gave you access to the inner chamber of the Odena!" he simply stated.

"And?" Linagu queried.

"Just wanted to make sure you were not a threat in whatever guise. But that's not the point." he stated.

"What's the point then?" Linagu asked.

"Not everyone knows about the Modernized Revised Edition of the Mantacles of Muuragi, its full inherent powers, except just a few select of our people. Your father, Your Mother, Zanak, me, you and three other members of the Council are the people that actually knows of its existence, it's actual existence." he said and they continued their walk.

"One of the people privy to this knowledge was attacked by a Nolnadian prior to your arrival; a Nolnadian who somehow knew how to use the Mantacles of Muuragi to gain access to one of the few people who know about it." Ba Akamali stated.

"Where is this person?" Linagu inquired.

"That's who we are going to see now!" Ba Akamali said as they reached a door which gave way to reveal an Ibuda, the usual circular and well designed exquisite transport mode used by high ranking officials within the buildings. It wasn't long before they arrived at where the Nolnadian was being held, with a clover designed to emit severe pains placed at one side of the holding room.

"He has refused to speak to us. He is yours if you please!" Ba Akamali stated, patted him on the shoulder and turned to leave!

"Wait, you are not staying?" Linagu asked him immediately.

"You are now involved, that means the Muur Security Council is also involved by extension, we can't interfere again. Our Laws were very clear on that!" Ba Akamali stated.

"Alright" Linagu said. But before he left, Linagu told him he still have something to discuss with him, something very important to which Ba Akamali said he looks forward to.

He turned immediately to face the Nolnadian who was hooked up in bracelets designed to perpetually keep him weakened and impossible to remove. Any attempt to remove it infuriates the clover which emits heightened pain and feeling of worthlessness.

"You Nolnads don't give up, do you?" Linagu asked rhetorically, but the Nolnadian neither moved nor said anything.

"Left to me, i will release you immediately. I have no quarrel with you nor your Kingdom!" he said.

"But, we have a quarrel with your people, one that is going to destroy your Kingdom and be sang in our halls of great conquest while our warriors drink from the skulls of Muur ruins!" the Nolnadian replied him.

"And you would like to kill me too?" Linagu asked him.

"We know of your exploits, but rest assured that no Nolnadian is afraid of you." he answered.

"Trust me; I'm the least of your problems!" Linagu assured him, much to the confusion of the prisoner.

"I'm just flattered though how very good you and your people are becoming despite limited resources! I'm happy for your people!" Linagu stated.

"You are happy for my people?" the Nolnadian asked.

"Yes, I am truly. But, you are channeling it to the wrong cause!" Linagu told him.

"Channeling it to the wrong cause? It's easy for you to say sitting here high and in might, while we forage the universe. And to think the Muur have three functional Unerg and has refused to share, when even half is enough to last you till infinity!" The prisoner expressed with pain and disgust in his voice.

Most people didn't know that the Odena housed three complete Unerg, not even the Muurians. The Odena is a mystery and has been kept that way for centuries, but for this Nolnadian to have knowledge of the exact number of unerg, then he is privy to someone's inner circle, a Muurian nonetheless. This information alerted Linagu to a doubt he has been harboring in his mind since the incident at the Odena where some group of people were mind twisted into trying to fight him immediately he came out of the inner part of the Odena. His mind went to Zanak and his father, but with what he saw about him, he didn't believe Zanak will be capable of using the Mantacles of Muuragi against his own people despite being banished.

"I will make you an offer!" Linagu told him.

"I doubt i will be interested!" the prisoner said.

"But before i tell you what the offer is, I will tell you a simple truth. Your people are being deceived into thinking you have a chance against us. In the past, your people have tried but never succeeded and mercy was shown to your people. However, this time around, you will just be giving us an excuse to wipe your race out of the universe for good. And i want you to believe this because it is coming from me!" Linagu ended while looking at him, watching him feels unease.

"Now, my offer to you is this: You, your family and a few relations will be given safe passage into the Muur and set up, including a Muurian citizenship if you can answer this question for me." Linagu told him. The Nolnadian, whose name is Bromari, was lost in speech and his facial demeanor expressed same. The offer looks too good to be true. He and everyone else also know that Linagu is always true to his word, but his offer has questioned and brought his loyalty to the fore.

"What is the question?" Bromari asked, though undecided as to what to expect.

"For you to enter here undetected at first, you must have had access to the Muuragi. How?" Linagu asked him, making the question appear open-ended so as not to suggest answers for him should he choose to answer it.

"It bothers you, doesn't it?" Bromari asked without answering, but Linagu didn't reply.

"The offer expires in two minutes!" he said afterwards and stepped back a bit away from Bromari while observing the Nolnadian

"I cannot betray my people to save my family alone!" Bromari answered.

"Well, your time is still running, in case you decide to change your mind!" Linagu told him from where he stood, not least perturbed by his earlier answer. "My decision is already made!" Bromari replied with a tone of finality in his voice.

"And your time is up!" Linagu notified.

"Have you seen a Leviathan, an actual one?" Linagu inquired, but, in mockery unknown to Bromari though.

"I'm looking at one!" Bromari replied.

"I will take you to the Marrialu River from its confluence point just north of the Marrialu Sea. Agumi, a Leviathan guides a free asportation port and a route to a lot of places outside the Muur from that point, including Nolnad. If you can manipulate your way through Agumi and scale past it, you are free to go back to your people. If you can't, I can't help you anymore than that!" Linagu told him.

Agumi is Jack the Ripper of the underwater world. Despite its weight and body mass, there are just a few things that are faster than Agumi underwater. It kills its prey in the most spine-chilling and gruesome way possible. It impales its prey on a sharp object like a thorn on its side which makes it easier for it to devour the victim bit by bit if it wishes.

On stronger and larger living things like people, it induces paralysis by shrieking out waves from its mouth which paralyses its victims. Agumi will vigorously shake the immobilized victim violently under water afterwards so as to snap the vertebrae of the victim prior to impaling it on a thorn on its body.

"Wait, you are releasing me? Just like that? "Bromari questioned.

"I already told you I have no quarrel with you!" Linagu assured him.

"I don't believe you!" Bromari replied.

"Your choice; But if I am in your shoes, I will take my chances. You really won't like the alternative here!" Linagu assured him.

With a wave of his hand, Bromari's bracelets were off, and before Bromari could blink they were already at the Barialu River. Linagu gave him a direction and wished him "Good luck!" as he left, still finding it hard to believe that Linagu just allowed him to leave like its okay. Bromari though figured that his survival now lay in his own hands that his fate has been handed down to him by Linagu. He didn't show gratitude as he left anyway, but Linagu just smiled. On his part, Linagu knew exactly what he was doing. As someone well versed in the knowledge of the Muuragi, all he needed to detect a particular maverick of the Mantacles was to observe its imprints. And what better way than when the imprints are genuinely made in an honest but important escape and run for one's life, he reasoned! But, it was over before it even began for Bromari as Agumi tore him to pieces the moment he used a speed boat at the dock to make a run for it. He didn't really get to see Bromari do much, how could he. He was still looking at the situation when Agumi gently swam up to him and spit out something which he picked up. It was a star-like amulet Bromari was wearing, which he had concealed while he was locked up.

**

Shortly after, Neerudi left and went immediately to the Universal Asportation Agency, a very powerful agency in the Muur located in the First Muurdom, Marrialu, and the seat of power. The Universal Asportation Agency is responsible for immigrations, emigrations, transportation, exploration and some other specific travels to certain areas of the explored universe under the control of the Muurs. They are also in charge of every voyage and expeditions all through the Universe and work together with the Amarandubi to protect Muur interests all over the universe.

Unlike Linagu, Neerudi do not have the necessary authority and power to travel to anywhere she pleases except for functions or that it was demanded of her. She is being bred to be the next Nee Buamada. It's not that she can't get direct access to anything if she pleased, and nobody can refuse her if she actually demanded; but, the Muur people are very law abiding from top to bottom, and she must not be misinterpreted to abuse her powers especially with regards to earth which has been deemed off limit. Having all this in mind, she had to liaise with Eledu to acquire secret untraceable asportation links which will enable her accomplish Linagu's request. Eledu granted the request immediately, while assuring her that she will be adequately protected at all times.

At the Asportation Agency, she met with the director in charge of Emigral Rock. Emigral Rock is the name they refer to earth as, though the common name is Duria among them. She wanted to learn some things about the place to be prepared.

As a rule of law and assimilation, every Muurian is expected to have perfect knowledge of a lot of things, though some more than the other. However, the primitive nature of earth doesn't cut for further learning aside the obvious ones. But, she has been learning a lot ever since they took interest in Steve. Linagu was on his way back to the Headquarters when his anani roared, and it was Neerudi who hailed him. He immediately pressed a key and was transferred to the point of the call immediately he got sucked into the asportation link from the call.

"Hope this is not one of your usual..." Linagu did not finish before Neerudi cut him off.

"Shah! How do I meet him?" She asked.

"Oh that!" Linagu said out immediately.

"His signature is specific. Just log on to this." he said, displaying an advanced tracking system he imbued into Steve's anani.

"However, you can also track him with the anani i gave him. You know your navigations!" Linagu ended.

"Great!" She said, and Linagu asported off immediately before she could say another word.

"Very incorrigible!" she muttered and left the UAA building.

***

On reaching, Steve was not surprised they were not back. Knowing Annie, she may have convinced them they were better off at where they are than the bore that may follow soon afterwards. With the combo of Tracy and Nora, Steve did not want to think much of it. However, he decided to call Annie.

"What's up?" he said as soon as she picked the call. "We are having the time of our lives here Steve." she said out loud enthusiastically as soon as she answered the call.

"Should i come?" he asked. Immediately, Steve heard her telling the others and was rejected.

"I'm so sorry Steve, but its girls stuff! See ya!" she said.

"Wait... In case you come back and don't see me, i am watching ball somewhere. It's Champions League today." Steve told her.

"Yeah, i will relay accordingly" she replied and ended the call laughing mildly. Steve knew why she was acting that way, and couldn't agree more with her chimes.

*

Steve is a simple guy. If he put his mind to doing something, he got it done. When he decided that he was going to revenge the humiliation meted on him and Esther by Landon and his men, it was the only thought that spurred and ate him up. He spent several months calculating and perfecting what is now an obsession for him. All news involving unsavory brigands or cultists only refreshed old wounds in him that never healed. He learned to observe without uttering a word. Back in his days, Landon was a viper, an intimidating destroyer who will gore your eyes if it pleased him. Unfortunately, Steve crossed his path, and it did leave a bitter taste and a dirty dent deep within his soul.

After spending sometime at the sister's place, he left with one thing in his mind. He went straight to the Mountain, to the area he has marked out as his operations vantage point from where he wants to lay his siege. It's been brewing a long time, and even though he has always planned to revenge a wrong done to him a long while ago, it was never really on this scale. Recent events no doubt have amplified it for him to deliver it in a grand style, and nothing is going to stop him from doing it. As he positioned at the vantage point, more than 50 meters away from the initiation spot and fully loaded with his favorite Ruger Mk3 in hand, he started thinking of all the wrong things he was going to visit on them, the potential and prospective ones included. Every year, it's always same crap, different and new people, the life. But, he knew Landon will be there. When it comes to Steve, that name really rings a bell in the loudest way you can ever imagine, and the story involved Esther, the girl he met with and spoke to earlier.

He waited for at least thirty minutes before movements started in the surroundings, and in that same period he kept regurgitating what Linagu told him before he vanished while still checking up on his weapons. Mutterings started filtering in not too far from where he stood but he was very sure nothing has started yet. From his point, he saw them putting on fire in what seemed like pots or bowls to dimly light up the place while canvassing in slangs he was not all too familiar with. It wasn't long before some group of people, apparently blindfolded, were led in and a sort of greeting commenced among what should be the high ranking members of the cult group. Steve sighed, and kept observing nonetheless. He was sure of one thing though, they won't start until Landon is there. After all, he has ascended from the Capon to a self-acclaimed High Chief Priest but was somehow wildly accepted because of all he has done for the group. More like, he has earned his place, and despite no longer being a student, he still controlled a lot of things with initiations being one.

He has presumably perfected the act of screening out weaklings during the initiation rituals. While still waiting for the ceremony to commence, Steve continued to observe them, and it wasn't long before Landon and his entourage comprised of the Capon, the striker or executioner and some other long staying members in the good graces of Landon, who has refused to graduate apparently. Watching them bounce in majestically as if the sun rises from their anus and sets on their head, Steve just smiled. He has banked on it for a long time, and now he has his chance, but not yet.

Watching on from his position, the Capon did an introduction and then motioned for one of the older members to bring out a paper containing all the names of the prospective initiates and call it out. One by one he did, and they answered while being directed to move forward as they were still blindfolded. The Capon began by telling them how unworthy they were to stand in their presence, and are therefore being blindfolded.

"This is Mount Zion, the Holy and anointed Kingdom of the elite and Wampa men!" he added.

"But you will have a chance, each of you, to join us and drink from the Holy Grail of Lord Himpusha, the giver and creator of wise men!" he stated again.

"Do you want to be wise? " he screamed moderately.

"Yes!" they all screamed.

"I said, do you want to be wise?" he screamed again, followed by some members dishing out heavy lashes and blows on the initiates, and urging them to respond like wise men.

A resounding "Yes!" followed immediately.

"Good!" the Capon said and motioned for the Executioner to take over.

"Your initiation has begun!" the Executioner uttered with his hushed voice.

"You are now on the path to glory, the path where Jew men fear to tread. The path laid out only for the wise, the path Lord Himpusha himself walked on and attained the Holy Grail of the Kundalini and now sits in the abode of the enlightened carried men!" he spoke out, and continued.

"This is the path for rugged men, for the road ahead is crooked but he who walks in the path of Lord Himpusha shall fear no man born of woman!" he echoed and forced the initiates to repeat after him severally which they did.

"Now, you are going to take our holy oath of secrecy and drink from the cup of Making, for you are not made yet and neither are you wise!" he shouted at them. Another older member brought forward a bowl full of liquid concoctions and started passing it around to the initiates to drink one after the other while the executioner kept barraging them with unsavory rhetoric's as to how they need insane ruggedity to ascend the throne of made men, citing High Chief Landon as a good example of what a wise man can accomplish when he drinks from the Holy Grail of lord Himpusha. As soon as the last person drank from the bowl, Landon took over from the executioner. Steve became fully alerted, filled with rage and fury watching as he took the stage.

"You are about to be made!" he said, removing his hood and a jacket he was wearing. A priest-like red colored robe in form of a cardigan, a big beep and a sleepy designed cap reminiscent of the Cherubs were instantly adorned on him. A cup was brought forth from a bag, and what appeared like an expensive bottle of wine was brought out. Another liquid stuff was brought out from the same bag, and it seems like one of those things you take that make you highly susceptible to mild persuasions.

"Hail Lord Himpusha!" he shouted, and the crowd around him echoed it three times successively.

He took the two bottles and poured it together into a big cup. After doing that, a sharp knife was handed over to him that he used to cut himself and allowed his blood drop into the mixture. He muttered some inaudible words and then passed same to the Capon who did same and passed on to the next in rank. This continued until everyone has had a drop of his blood in the liquid mixture and the cup got back to Landon.

He took it, raised it up and screamed" Hail Lord Himpusha!"

Again, everyone replied in the same way accordingly for three times in a row.

"I can see Lord Himpusha himself in our presence this evening, hailing his children." Landon began. At this, the executioner shouted "üopaka üopaka!" Everyone repeated after him. Landon brought down the cup and continued.

"Lord Himpusha is pleased with all of us here today. You are all blessed!" he stated.

They set up a stand immediately, and underneath it is a small fire place they raised. The big steel cup was placed on top of it.

"Let this gbogbonki's be turned to men!" Landon commanded. A rowdy noise followed immediately, and the lashing began on the new initiates. Not everyone participated in it though, but majority did. As Steve looked on, he saw Landon and some of the top executives light up some tabs.

After about five minutes or thereabout, the Capon gave the order to halt the lashing and beating of the initiates. No-one died, but serious injuries were sustained by all the initiates while the older members laughed at them hilariously. They were still blindfolded.

Landon motioned for the big cup which contained all their liquid mixtures be brought forward, which was done.

"Now, you shall be made!" Landon uttered, with reference to the initiates. The initiates were ordered to remove their blindfolds, which they did accordingly and watched as Landon and the rest drank from the cup after one another. As soon as the last member finished, he carried the cup to the initiate nearest to him. Another member brought a knife.

"Because, you are not yet made, you cannot drink from the cup of wise men unless you bond with us. Now, each of you will cut yourself and ensure your blood drop into the cup!" Landon ordered. They all did as he commanded, and after they were through, the cup and knife was taken from them and given back to Landon who personally went and placed it on the stand with fire underneath. Silence raided the place as everyone awaited for the next act. A minute later, he removed it and brought it back.

"I look at all of you, you want to be men, you want to jurah in the abode of exalted carried men. You want to be refined from soft cotton to hard boiled steel. I am happy for all of you, but i cannot decide who enters. Only Lord Himpusha will decide!"

"Hail lord Himpusha!" he echoed again, and the crowd repeated after him three times. "This is the cup of wise men; this is the Holy Grail of carried men bestowed upon man by lord of the wise. Whoever amongst you that drinks but remain standing, Lord Himpusha has approved!" he finished.

"Üopaka üopaka!" the executioner started and the others joined him as the cup was passed to the initiates to drink and pass along among each other. They apparently thought it was a joke, that it was all for show but reality hit some of the initiates hard. They were about forty of them, but by the time they all finished drinking from the cup, about fifteen of them were on the ground seriously convulsing while the older members laughed at them. Some died on the spot, while some were too weak and demented to even realize what they were doing there in the first place. Horror filled the eyes of those who passed as they watched some of their fellow initiates lying there, lifeless on the ground.

At this juncture, Landon came forward and looking at the ones standing, he smiled at them. "Lord Himpusha has chosen!" He said, congratulated them, shaking their hands in the process. All the other members followed suit, greeting them like men and welcoming them to their midst.

They were doing this when they heard a noise nearby. The executioner was motioned by the Capon to check it out. Steve walked up to him stealthily and with the strength and speed of a meteor strike, his fist connected with the executioners head, breaking the neck and sending the cultist toppling to the ground. He emerged from the shadows in a rush following the killing, and the nearest person to him was sent flying backwards as he emptied bullets on his chest.

Some members and the newly initiated ones panicked and took a dash in different directions; it was everyone for himself it seemed. Steve imagined himself having a field day as he made an unlucky one clean out all of the fire in the bowls with his face charred in the process. Just a few feet away from him were Landon and some members including the Capon. They brought their own weapons, mostly shotguns with Landon the only one carrying a pistol and started shooting at him. His Anani blocked it all off as he made a dash forward, releasing an energy blast at them that sent them all flying in different directions. He was surprised at this, but not more surprised than Landon and his men. He went for Landon straight, and jacked him up, shooting two in the head on his way.

"Do you remember me?" he asked Landon in anger, trying to drag Landon off the spot. From the look on Landon's face, he did remember Steve as his face was one of surprise.

"Yeah, you do!" Steve stated and started releasing flurry of punch after punch at him. He buried Landon on the ground with the heavy punches he was dishing out till he was dead and every bone in Landon's body was crushed, his face disfigured beyond recognition. He left him on the ground, with his head and blood spattered all over the face. But, it wasn't enough. A sort of rage engulfed him again after that, forcing him to go after the other ones, taking Landon's pistol along with him.

He met the Capon trying to force himself up having fractured some bones and writhing in pain from the earlier blast unleashed by Steve. "Please, please..." he begged but Steve didn't care as he emptied Landon's bullets on his body and watched the living daylight depart his now rigid lifeless body stretched on the ground, lying in the pool of his own blood. Not satisfied yet, he diverted his attention to the others who were now running away from him into the bush, none with the courage anymore to put up a fight.

As soon as gunshots was heard, the few policemen who has been mobilized moved into action immediately having being tipped off from Esther as instructed by Steve. They were about twenty-three in number, fully loaded and armed along with some members of the school security who were to lead the way owing to their familiarity of the environment. Both security outfits have been on standby prior to now.

Owing to his superior area knowledge and superb tracking skill, Steve moved on through the bush with ease as he pursued the runaway members as well as the new initiates. A few seconds later, he caught up with one of them and before that one could say jack, he was lying down on the ground lifeless while Steve moved on. A few feet away from the last person he killed, he saw one crying and writhing in pain from a dislocated leg gotten while running away for his life. He was about to shoot him when the cultist started pleading.

"Please, please I was forced into coming here, I swear to God. It was never my intention, I denounce, I denounce!" he pleaded.

"Yeah, right; keep some nice company in your next life" Steve told him.

"Please, I have renounced... Oh God, help me!" he cried, fear written all over him as he closed his eyes in anticipation of his imminent death. Steve looked at him briefly for a while, brought down his gun and walked away.

He killed three more as he tracked them inside the bush before noticing that the security agencies were around after masterfully dislodging one of his weapons and incapacitated him momentarily. He didn't kill him but left the mountain immediately in a hurry. He didn't want any confrontation with them as the last incident was very much in his mind; these are law officers doing their duty. On their part, some of the cultists and initiates willingly sought the security operatives and surrendered themselves for fear of Steve and their own lives.

A few miles away from the scene of the horror he has pulled off, Steve regretted that he did not kill as many as he wanted to. However, he figured it was still a big win for him and the police. He believed he literally pursued the cultists into their grab. He continued his walk, and as he looked up ahead, a muddy colored light started appearing right in front of him. He stopped moving and started wondering what it could be. It surely could not have been Linagu he thought to himself because it was just a few hours ago he had come to him. The brightness started dimming in what started moving like a cloudy shadow which finally melted and Neerudi manifested immediately from it. Slowly, she started walking up to Steve who stood firm while bracing up his mind for whatever confrontation that comes next.

"Had your revenge?" she asked him upon standing few feet from him, her beauty and magnificence totally captivating Steve.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Steve asked, unmoved but still fascinated by her ravishing appearance.

"I am Neerudi!"