Sequence 1
The corvette sails back to the Apapa wharf and Michael is escorted into a container truck, per the usual procedures.
Thinking he's in for another long trip he decides to take a nap, after several minutes he's woken up and ordered out, into the SDF facility.
Once inside the common room everyone leaves him and goes about minding their business.
Confused, he walks up to an SDF office staff, sitting alone with a cup of coffee, and asks, "Aren't you guys going to handcuff me or something?".
The man tells Michael, "Sorry I can't talk right now" and he continues sipping his drink.
Michael runs towards a woman serving snacks and asks "Is this another training mission?" and she tells him "No I don't think we are scheduled for another drill, would you like a snack or a drink?".
Michael sighs and goes to take a seat, staring anxiously at everything.
Someone taps his back and he tries to punch the person but relaxes once he sees it's Amina.
She tells him, "Michael calm down, you're scaring everyone".
Michael whispers, angrily, "I just know this is another test".
Amina sits down in front of him and holds his hand reassuringly, saying, "Trust me, this is no trick. There will be more battles ahead but try to enjoy whatever peace you find right now".
Michael relaxes and Amina smiles, saying, "See, that's it!".
Still bothered by his agitated behaviour, she calls over two SDF men and tells them "Hey you two, come over here and talk with Michael".
The men walk over and one of them says "We are unable to fulfil that request due to existing protocols"
Amina smiles and tells them gently "Well I'm not asking, I'm ordering you to socialise with your colleague, what you learn from this talk may one day save your lives".
She leaves and the men reluctantly sit down in front of Michael who asks "Do you guys ever take off those masks?"
One of them says "Only around those we trust".
Michael asks "So you don't trust me?"
The other soldier says "We do not trust the anomalous, they break standard operating procedures and put the SDF at risk".
Angered, Michael shouts "But I've fought with you guys" but one of them responds "I'm guessing you've never fought for your life against one of your kind, when you do your orientation will change".
Frustrated, he excuses himself from the conversation, takes a long walk to his cell and lies down.
DIVA asks "I sense erratic behaviour, what seems to be the matter?"
Michael moans "How can you help? You're just as trapped as I am".
DIVA says "I am told humans find solace in religion when feeling trapped. You can arrange a meeting with Prophet to discuss your inefficiencies".
After several minutes of consideration Michael leaves the cell and is directed to Prophet's chambers. It is meticulously arranged and almost empty aside from a bed, a desk and a bookshelf.
Prophet gets up from his meditation on the desk saying "Yes, I have been expecting you".
DIVA tells Michael "I also told him you were coming".
Prophet gestures for her to leave and DIVA directs her attention elsewhere.
They sit down and Michael explains his boredom and frustration with his newfound abilities, social isolation and suffocating restrictions.
Prophet listens attentively and tells him "We are all called to serve for a purpose. They do not understand because man is not as strong as you are. So, for their sake, you must endure, and the one who endures to the end, he will be saved".
Sequence 2
One month later, Michael is summoned to a meeting room to be briefed on an upcoming mission.
He takes a seat and says "Finally, a real battle, I was getting sick of the simulations".
Amina hushes him down as Dele explains "Our target is an anomalous individual, situated within Aagba, Osun state".
His picture is projected as Dele explains further, "The target is extremely dangerous and has been known to draw power through blood sacrifices, for this reason, we will utilise Red Eagle in aerial reconnaissance and capture of the target.
If safe capture is not possible, the termination order will be given.
Any questions?".
The room remains silent and Dele says, "No questions then. Alpha and Beta teams should be prepared for departure by 22:30 to commence the mission at 23:30.
I wish you good fortune on this mission".
Michael suits up within the facility and is taken to a helicopter platform within the wharf under the cover of darkness. Him and six other SDF personnel board the helicopter and they depart for Aagba.
Once within the local government, Michael flies out of the helicopter to scout ahead and the ground troops land in a small field.
He locates the hospital and scans the area for any life forms saying "I have detected 13 people inside, how may we proceed?".
Overwatch tells him, "Maintain your altitude and watch the building for any strange movements"
Michael responds, "Copy that" and does as instructed.
The ground team cuts out the power to the building and quietly moves in. As they move in, storm clouds begin to form so Michael switches to the thermal camera and observes the team as they move from room to room.
He hears several shots from the radio and shouting, "The target is on the move, headed 20 degrees due south".
Michael sees a man jump out of the building and run into an open field. SDF personnel inside shoot at the man as Michael asks, "Do I have permission to engage?"
Overwatch responds, "You are clear to engage, keep the fire at a minimum, if the target escapes to a populated area, fall back and let Beta team handle it".
Michael responds, with a smile "Understood" and swoops down towards the target.
Before Michael can grab him, the man dives at the last second, causing Michael to crash hard into the dirt.
As Micheal lies in the mud DIVA tells him, "APM is ready, would you like to use it?".
Michael replies, "We want him alive so I'll do this my way".
DIVA replies, "I do not recommend this course of action".
Michael ignores her and charges in at the target, who dodges but manages to get a slight cut on his face.
He laughs and splashes the blood around on the floor, the blood mixes with the rain water and creates copies of the man.
Michael turns around and sees five copies of the target who laughs as he hides behind them saying, "Ko le mu wa".
The copies rush Michael in all directions, he blasts them one by one and they break apart into ash but their numbers keep increasing.
They swarm him and Overwatch shouts, "Get airborne now!" but it's too late; the copies grab him and pin him down. Michael can only watch as the target runs across the field to freedom, until an SDF truck races across the grass and rams the target, sending him flying several feet into the air.
The copies fade into ash in the rain as the SDF personnel restrain the target. Overwatch informs Michael "Head back to the building and help Alpha team monitor the exfil". He wipes the mud off his visor and blasts off into the sky to complete the mission.
The SDF personnel stealthily move the captured victims in the building to trucks, after the area has been confirmed free of hazardous materials Michael and the rest of the team are given the clearance to leave.
Sequence 3
Back at base Amina and Dele discuss among themselves on what to do about Michael's deficiencies.
Dele sighs and says, "He's very good at surprise attacks and against one person but completely useless on the ground, the last few missions have shown as much".
Amina suggests, "What if we give him a close range weapon?".
Dele leans against a desk and laughs, "You want to make him a sword or what?".
Amina smiles saying, "I've already drawn up something" and projects a detailed sketch of a longsword onto the wall.
Dele looks at it and changes the projection "That's good but still not enough, it needs a shield, so we should consider pairing him with our new asset".
Shocked, Amina asks, "Don't you think you think you're rushing things?".
Dele sighs, "I need to be one step ahead of my enemies at all times".
Amina gently holds his hand saying, "Just don't stumble along the way, I'll be here if you need me" then walks out of the room.
Dele looks up at the projection of a suit labelled "Phalanx MK4" and thinks "I hope I am not too late".
The End?