Michael lies, tossing and turning in his bed thinking, "I was too fucking slow, Amina could have died if it wasn't for Segun".
His mind goes back to the bug from yesterday's mission and he tries to distract himself saying, "DIVA, when is the lockdown going to end?".
She responds, "I am only following my assigned directive and therefore can not answer your question. Agent Bankole would be in a better position to answer that", as Dele walks up towards Michael's cell, tapping on the wall.
A relieved Michael gets up asking, "How's Amina doing?" and Dele responds "She's still shaken but holding up okay".
"How are you doing?" Michael asks again as an annoyed Dele looks away saying, "You should be more worried about yourself. With two major screw ups in one day central command is going to be furious, you might get transferred out or put on ice".
"I thought you'd be happy not to deal with my ass anymore", and Dele smiles saying, "Don't push your luck Mike".
Just then a representative from high command walks into the hallway and Dele stands at attention to salute her. She hands him a white envelope saying, "Agent Bankole, by order of the supreme commander of the NSDF, you have been summoned to headquarters. Please do not delay".
With a heavy sigh Dele looks back at Michael, then the representative before following her out of the facility to a waiting helicopter.
Sequence 2
The helicopter touches down at NAF Abuja and Dele is hastily driven down to the SDF headquarters building to face the council.
Inside, he is directed to a large white conference room with no windows.
Five people, three men, one woman, and an anonymous fifth person projected on the wall sit awaiting his arrival.
As soon as he comes inside, one of the men says, "Agent Ayodele Bankole of the NSDF, Western Sector, has arrived. An observer from Japanese Ryoshi is also present, proceedings regarding the escape incident on 24-08-2017, may now begin".
Without wasting time, one of the council members asks, "We have read the reports, analysed the videos, seen everything there is to see. What we want to know is why you took such a drastic action".
Dele walks forward saying, "I had a difficult choice to make, save agent Usman or lose them both. It was... ".
One of the council members interrupts him, raising two fingers to say, "You were heard goading the entity to shoot agent Usman".
Dele replies, swiftly, "Knowing the connection the two shared I correctly assumed she would not pull the trigger. Agent Usman is a trusted colleague and a valued friend, I would never intentionally put her in harms way".
"Regardless of the feelings you may have the fact remains that a breach of this nature is unacceptable. What are your plans for retrieving the entity?".
Dele puffs out his chest and proudly says, "I do not know".
One of the council members angrily shouts "What do you mean you do not know?" while another says, "Your attempt at humour will not sway the council's opinion" but Dele stands on his words, saying, "Truly I wish I was joking but the entity has abilities we do not fully understand. It is quick, strong, immune to the effects our swiper, and can also displace itself across large distances. The only point to our advantage is its relative inexperience".
"We understand the challenge, having faced similar situations in the past, but we are not convinced of your ability to lead the Western Sector, given that you failed an important mission while losing three men in the same day".
"I will accept whatever recommendation the council decides on, for the good of the organisation" Dele says while trying to put up a brave face.
"Your fate will ultimately be decided by the supreme commander, for now the council has adjourned and you will be informed of our decision in due time".
With the council meeting over, Dele retires to one of the staff quarters assigned to him. Inside he finds a neatly arranged bed along with a pressed suit folded on the bed which he carefully examines.
Putting the suit aside, he sits on the bed and tries to call Amina but gets no response so he texts Enotayo, "What's the situation at base? " and she responds, "The bird and the bug are training, but white suits are crawling all over the place collecting evidence".
"What about Amina?" Dele asks and she replies, "She won't let me in, she isn't even leaving her room, her thoughts are a scrambled mess right now".
Frustrated, Dele thanks her before stepping out of the facility to cool his head. He enters one of the waiting SDF sedans outside, directing the driver to stop at Jabi lake.
Not long after the journey begins, he gets a call from headquarters saying, "Do not leave the FCT" and he responds, "I won't" before immediately ending the call.
Once at the lake, he steps out of the vehicle and sits finds a park bench under a tree to sit on, silently pondering his life choices.
Not long after, his thought process is disturbed by an Arab man dressed in a black suit who walks up to him asking, "Is this seat taken?".
Dele silently shakes his head and puts his right hand in his suit pocket as the man sits down to ask, "My name is Samson Hassan, what's yours?" , and an annoyed Dele coldly responds "Jacob".
Sensing trouble the man asks, "Is something wrong my friend?" and Dele replies with a heavy sigh, "Family trouble, one of my children ran away from home".
The empathic stranger tells him, "I know what it's like to be that child. I haven't seen my family in years and only my daughter comes around to keep me company".
"Is that why you vent to strangers on park benches?" Dele replies, growing more irritated by the discussion.
"Over the years I learned there is value in people, not money or objects but people...".
Standing up to leave Samson gives Dele his card, saying, "... I'm sorry about your child, if you ever need anything just give me a call" before walking off into the distance.
After giving it a good look, Dele tosses the card on the bench and sits for another thirty minutes before the driver walks up to tell him, "It's time".
Sequence 3
At the SDF Headquarters, Dele is summoned to the office of the supreme commander, Umar Bako.
After passing through the security protocols, including a secret password, the doors are opened for him to enter.
Upon sighting Dele, the Supreme Commander sends everyone else out of his office, telling him, "Come in and have a seat".
As Dele sits, Bako tells him, "I have reviewed the council's recommendation and this is my decision, I am releasing you of command of the western sector...".
Upon hearing this, Dele replies, "I understand sir" but the supreme commander rebuffs him shouting, "Will you let me finish!".
After a few moments of silence, Umar Bako continues, "You will be assigned to a newly created unit, the Special Reconnaissance, Research and Recovery Group. Though your main base remains Lagos, you will also be given the freedom to operate within any sector if you so wish".
Confused by his new assignment, Dele asks, "But sir I don't understand, I thought the council's decision was to remove me from command".
Standing up from his seat, the supreme commander responds, "Why should that confuse you? The council recommended your removal and I honoured it. Be rest assured, this transition will be made as smooth as possible, the work you are doing with the anomalous entities will be of great use going forward".
Embracing Dele while walking him to the door, Bako says, "There is something special about you Dele my boy, you attract greatness. That is why I am sure you will not disappoint me".
Sending him a farewell salute, Dele replies "I will do my best sir" before walking out of the office.
Once outside he immediately heads to NAF Abuja and takes a flight back to Lagos, informing his colleagues through DIVA of the new developments.
Michael, who just finished training with Frank and Segun, lays down on the floor moaning, "Great, more work for us!".
"The more work you do, the closer you get to leaving this place" Frank says, helping Michael up and giving him a towel.
Together they leave to the common room to have lunch and out of the corner of his eye, Segun sees Amina eating with Enotayo beside her.
He taps Michael and gestures to go meet her but a nasty look from Enotayo gives them second thoughts.
Grabbing her hand, Amina says, "It's fine" and calls them over to chat.
With a big smile on her face, Amina tells them "I know you're all so worried about me but I'm fine, I just needed a little break".
Disturbed by their silent, awkward gestures, Amina grabs them both by the neck and walks them to the television saying, "Oya stop worrying, go and watch TV, I have something for you when you're done".
After watching and nit-picking a movie for over two hours, they decide to turn it off and go to Amina's quarters for their gifts.
Inside, they meet her talking with Dele and in their surprise blurt out, "We'll come back later" but Amina calls them back before they leave saying, "Wait it will only take two minutes".
She reaches into her drawer and brings out two digital watches, a red one and a black one while saying, "I ordered these watches so we can better communicate with each other, since we will be going out more and you can't use phones".
As both boys examine the watches, Dele explains, "Before I got back, headquarters sent me a dossier of several high value targets, one of particular interest is in the Eastern Sector. Since Moise was captured there, and I suspect she will be heading back, this will be the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone".
Michael asks, "What's the plan boss?" and Dele tells, them, "What we've always done, suit up, go to work and come back alive. We all leave for Rivers at 05:00 tomorrow".
The End?