Local news outlets had reported that Martin Obi had returned to his family. It became a national story that quickly escalated into an election campaign strategy. The presidential election was fast approaching, and the sitting government was unconstitutionally seeking for a third term in office.
The Martin Obi's story had made a way for the government to hold the angry protesters at bay. They would say: "the safe return of Martin Obi – a show of dedication and adequate security from a hard working government."
But in all, the government had played no part in Martin Obi's sudden return. It was a sudden return that would soon change the fortune of things for Mr. Obi's family.
An invitation by the president was one of a series of freak events that happened in quick successions. The president had invited the family for lunch in one of Nsukka's biggest restaurants. One could say that this was an election campaign bribery to say the least.
When the president arrived at Nsukka, he was met with boos and jeers from anti-government protesters. The crowd was restless; the flash bulbs of cameras going off, voices were hurling insults and questions, but the president remained calm. In the midst of the noises, he had that sheepish smile that yearned for acceptance. The story of Martin Obi was the one he was eager to exploit, and so, it wasn't much of a surprise to see that Martin was always by his side throughout the lunch hour and beyond.
They took pictures, ate lunch together, and faced the media for a press conference to perfect his campaign ploy. And even the press conference was steered to vouchsafe the president with praises ahead of the upcoming election.
Martin was facing the cameras with the president seated by his right side, and then his father on the left, who showed off his dentition with a bold grin. It wasn't long before Martin began to face the incessant questions from journalists.
"How are you feeling to be back home after a long disappearance?" One of the journalists asked.
"Where did you go? Who abducted you?" Another journalist asked.
But Martin never spoke a word. The cameras glared at their faces. Martin's quietness had instantly created an awkward situation. The silence lingered on for quite a while before Martin turned his face to a nearby camera and lamented heavily.
"I have cancer!" He said.
He turned his face away from the camera and looked straight at the president.
"You have cancer! We all have cancer!"
Martin's face was gutted with gloom and fear while he spoke those words. The president gestured with his hands to the TV crew to go off record, but many people had already seen the broadcast. The newspapers sold copies the next day. It made front pages on all the national dailies across the nation. There were skits and memes on the internet trolling the president.
One caption wrote: "the cancer president."
Another with a different caption wrote: "The country in cancer mess."
"Boy blasts the president; you have cancer."
The president was embarrassed. He was angry with Martin because of this shocking concession. He immediately went for a cancer test, and the test result showed he had a mysterious malignant cancer disease. In fact, everyone in the presidential villa had developed a cancer disease including the doctor who conducted the tests – Dr Henshaw.
"This is bloody insane!" Dr. Henshaw said. "It appears we all have this cancer disease in us; no one has escaped this. And from the tests we conducted so far, the disease is spreading quickly all over our body."
From there, many more tests were conducted. Everyone had cancer. The world had just realized this. It was like a pandemic. All over the world, throughout the different races, cultures, and religions, every human suffered the cancer disease. It was the beginning of a cancer apocalypse, which was silent but equally deadly.
The panic was unreal! The religious ones sought the face of their gods; others bleeped and sloshed to the gills.
"This could be the end of mankind," they agreed. "Let's enjoy our last days here on earth before it will be too late for us to smoke some pot."
But the only cure for a cancer disease is in the hand of professor Nwafor. With him, humanity was gifted a chance to survive. So, across the seas, professor Nwafor's name grew more popular. Obviously the most important human in the entire planet. People from all over the world headed to Africa for his cancer drugs.
Even the president took a military convoy to Nsukka for the most coveted creature now – the professor Nwafor. The president's mission was quiet to avoid an outside spy. If the people find out how the president was endeavoring to covet the professor for himself, it could be a massive dent in his presidential ambition. In light of that, president Coco used a military convoy as a camouflage to keep him on a low-key.
When they arrived at the professor's house, they found out that the professor wasn't at home. His neighbors couldn't offer a tangible information - probably because of the poor relationship between the neighbors and the professor. So, the president sent soldiers to Nwafor's office, but they all came back with the news that he was also not there. So, quietly, during the night hours, the president left Nsukka.
Things were quickly changing for him. The sweet taste of power was quickly becoming sour, and he feared the people would revolt against him at one point. He feared they would say: "we trusted him with our lives, and he has failed." But Coco was not one to give up power so easily. Things may be sour in such a perilous time, but the potential of losing power on a platter was also president Coco's biggest fear.
However, on the other side of the divide, Chioma had succumbed to Dr. Mustafa's incessant attention. It was the kind of attention she never got from a father; a kind of attention she had often craved for. So often, they have gotten over little hugs and kisses, but then they decided to step up their affection for each other in a hotel room. Their intimacy exposed their most unassailable secrets and truths. Chioma saw glimpses of her horrible past – a dark past full of hate for the pastor that raped her at a tender age. Dr. Mustafa, however, kept plunging in regardless of Chioma's torments. What mattered at that moment was for their journey over the moon to achieve maximum satisfaction.
Chioma held on to his back and explored his skin. He had scars all over his body. She also cared less about the scars, but the reality of what they were doing dawned upon them as soon as milk was spilled. It was funny how they hardly spoke to each other after that.
Surely, it was because of the guilt they felt. Yet, they trusted each other enough to ride together to a nearby hospital for a cancer test. On getting to the hospital, they met many people on a long queue waiting for their turn to be tested. Old, young, rich, and poor folks alike. All day long, the ones that were tested had no negative results. A worrying expression on their faces each time they came out from the testing lab. A kid asked his mother, "Mum, are we going to die?" That was the billion-dollar question. The mother, like everyone else hoped that things would get better someday.
Dr. Mustafa and Chioma wouldn't want to spend half of their day waiting for a cancer test, so they decided to go their separate ways. Chioma alighted from the vehicle and aboard a public bus on her way home. When she opened the door of her apartment, she was greeted by a distraught Jennifer.
"So, this is what you do now, isn't it? You sleep around with your lecturers."
Chioma didn't reply. She was busy unpacking the expensive gifts Dr. Mustafa bought for her. The room was silent for a while before Chioma replied.
"You don't know what you are saying, Jane. I don't sleep with my teachers; am just in love with one of them. There's a big difference here."
Jennifer became furious.
"Can you listen to yourself? You are telling me that you are in love with a man old enough to be your father. Can you get a grip of yourself?"
"Yes, I know he's way older than me. When was the last time a man paid great attention to me like he did? When was the last time I was being taken care of like he did? You know what? I think you are just being jealous."
A mild argument sparked between the two friends. But it was Chioma that felt the stick. She thought about Jennifer's words; perhaps she was making a mistake by dating the lecturer. Of course she was an adult, so she was old enough to make her own decisions. The material gifts was so difficult to refuse. Clearly, she has been seduced by those gifts for sure.
The argument made her feel bad, and she needed some kind of distraction. So, she switched on the radio and listened to the citywide news program.
"Good Morning N.S.K; welcome to the top of the hour news program. My name is Raymond Okonkwo, and here are the headlines this morning: the missing professor Nwafor was seen around Bukumbusa Island with many people now seeking for his cancer drugs…"
Chioma took out her phone from her purse to dial Dr. Mustafa's number. Suddenly, her phone rang with a hidden number.
"Hello," she answered, and a female voice replied on the other end. The voice was subtle – like she was being tortured. She didn't tell her the name; she just gave Chioma an address which she quickly took note of. Then she went to the bus station to take a bus heading to the address.
When she arrived there, a young lady sat on the trunk of a vehicle. The young lady gestured at her to come over. Then, they exchanged greetings before the young lady started introducing herself.
"My name is Ebere," she said.
She spoke warmly; unlike the traumatic voice she used on the telephone.
"Do you know what Chidiebere means?" She asked.
"Of course I do," replied Chioma. "It means God is merciful."
"Do you believe in God?" Ebere asked.
"No. Don't tell me you brought me all the way here to talk about God. You said you have something important to tell me."
Ebere grinned.
"Before I tell you what you want to hear, let me ask this one last question."
"Alright, go ahead."
"Can you gladly abort a child?" Ebere asked. "I mean, can you do it without your conscience smeared by the guilt of it?"
Chioma was harried. She attempted to leave, but she was held back by Ebere.
"There's a child sleeping inside the vehicle. The child belongs to Dr. Mustafa. He asked me to abort that child way before she was born, but I refused. I've seen how he's so fond of you – even when he's drunk. Yes, he loves women; he's got his brain replaced with his cock. But when the time comes, he will do to you the exact things he did to me. When I met him, I had the best grades in school just for satisfying his pervert needs. He also helped me with a dream job afterwards. However, I got pregnant for him, and he wanted me to abort it. He went about saying things like how it was forbidden in his religion blah blah blah. Anyway, he left me to take care of the child alone because I refused to abort. I still love him, and you are wrecking my efforts to get him back for myself. That's why I called you out here."
It was there Chioma knew of Dr. Mustafa's hidden intention. Ebere had revealed everything to her.
"So Dr. Mustafa has two wives and six children in Germany. He's often lied about his marital status," Ebere continued.
"Please, say no more," Chioma said.
She has heard enough. Her mind started racing with varying thoughts.
"What were those scars on his back?" She wondered. "What if he's another psychopath who likes to rape girls?"
At that point, she wanted to run away as far as possible. Perhaps, to a different place where she can pursue a career and develop a decent life. The next day, she packed up and left Nsukka - without leaving a note.
For hours, she was on the road in a public bus on route to Port Harcourt. Half way the journey, the bus developed a flat tire. She and the other passengers had to wait by the roadside for the driver to fix it. As they waited, two elderly women stood beside her – one was more advanced in age than the other. Their conversation caught her attention.
"It felt like a magnet," the older woman said. "It felt like I was strongly attracted to anything that have radio on it; especially the cars. Can boldly say it started when I swallowed that cancer drugs. I wasn't the same again. I've attempted to control myself; sometimes, I cut myself to get a firm grip of myself. Furthermore, I'm beginning to feel I will lose it at some point."
"Are you saying that the drugs have Neuron effects?"
"Yeah, perhaps it does."
Chioma listened with keen interest until they got back in the vehicle. Many people in the vehicle were traveling for the cancer drugs at the Island. The locals have changed the name of the Island from Bukumbusa Island to the sanctuary home of bitakwa goddess. They believed the island bled because of the wrath of the bitakwa goddess, but she forgave them and bestowed her healing powers on professor Nwafor as a sign of peace.
President Coco was among the first people to receive the cancer drugs. His main opposition leader was going to support professor Nwafor with lots of money to make more drugs. Coco saw that as a proper election campaign strategy that could attract his supporters away from him. He wanted to do something bigger, so he made a banquet in Nsukka and invited the best scientific brains in the country to celebrate professor Nwafor's achievement. Top scientists from top Universities in the country were in attendance. Dr. Mustafa was also there. He had emailed Chioma inviting her for the banquet to meet the dean of the faculty of science concerning her troubles with her thesis.
But Midway in the event, Chioma was not there. Professor Eze was the dean of faculty of science. He was a well-respected man who held the faculty highly above other faculties in the university. He was also in contention to become the next vice Chancellor of the university. Dr. Mustafa hovered around the hall until he met the dean with a handshake.
"What a colorful event professor," Dr. Mustafa said.
"Yes," replied professor Eze.
Dr. Mustafa grabbed a glass cup of wine, and he raised a toast.
"I raise a toast to science and more innovations!"
He clinked the professor's glass cup, and they both drank the wine.
"Tell me, how is Aisha in Germany? I hope she's doing fine?" Professor Eze asked.
Aisha was Dr. Mustafa's first wife. She was in Germany with her four children – four from the six children he had with two wives.
"Aisha is fine Sir."
"Good to know," professor Eze said. "If you want to talk to me, feel free to say what you wish to say."
"Yes, I wish to discuss something with you. It is about a student; my student. She is suffering."
"Is she one of your campus girlfriends?"
"No, no," replied Dr. Mustafa. "She is a bright student; she's just in a bad situation."
"A bad situation?" The professor asked.
"Yes. A bad situation with professor Nwafor," replied Dr. Mustafa.
"And what about professor Nwafor?" the dean asked.
"The student is having a hard time working with him; on her behalf, I appeal for a change of supervisor."
"What you are asking is beyond me. I'm sorry."
"Why? You are the dean!"
"A dean who wants to be the vice chancellor of the University. I can't afford to offend the teachers in any way. Come on doc, drink some wine; enjoy the music."
Dr. Mustafa was disappointed. If Chioma was there with him, perhaps it could have been easier to convince the dean.
But Chioma was far away in Port Harcourt. A taxi dropped her in front of a three-storey building, and she made her way through the stairs. On getting to the second floor, she gave the door a knock, and her friend Nneka opened the door. When she saw Chioma, she was torpid to make a complete statement.
"Evening Chi…" She spluttered.
She was barely greeting Chioma on her arrival. Instead, she went to the sitting room and collapsed on the couch.
"Nneka, are you okay?" Chioma asked.
"No," she replied. "I have a strange disease."
She pointed to a bucket full of dead skin. The dead skin peeled off from her body. Chioma was thrilled.
"Is this an infection?" She asked.
"I don't know," Nneka replied. "I started having this horrible itch on my left arm, and then I scratched it vigorously until my skin peeled off. But the itch kept spreading, and it is still spreading fast."
Chioma was afraid.
"Is this a symptom of an unknown disease?" she thought to herself.
She reached for her bag, and she took out her phone. She was about to call the hospital, but she was then stopped by her friend.
"Stop," Nneka said. "Don't call anybody. Just look outside the window."
She pointed at a window; the window that led to her backyard. The window was locked, but Chioma opened it. When she opened the window, she saw an array of expensive vehicles. From the latest models to the ones that were a bit old.
"I stole them all" Nneka said. "I swear I don't know how it happened. I don't even have a driver's license. All I can remember was an urgent need to get into a vehicle. I also felt this urge to listen to radio."
Chioma became terribly afraid. She dropped her bag on the floor, and she ran into the street. Inside the streets, people were going about their businesses. It was getting dark, and people were rushing back to their homes. A man scurried past her, and suddenly, he disappeared into the dark. She attempted to follow him, but instead she met some men on the other side of the road gambling and quarrelling over money. It was as if everything was fine and normal. But she had a strong feeling that something was terribly going wrong. Chioma ran all the way to another street and stopped at a barber's shop. People gathered at the barber shop, and they were watching a live television broadcast.
"It's not soccer, and they are all gathered like this," she said.
She wriggled her way through the crowd until she had a clear view of what they were watching on the television.
"Goddammit! This Martin Obi again."
She asked a man standing next to him:
"Hello, please what's going on? What's he saying?"
"He has a message for the nation," he replied.
"What message?"
"That's what we are waiting to hear. Hey barber, kindly increase the volume a bit."
Martin Obi was on live television again. The entire country had tuned in to listen to what he had to say. Since the day he spoke about the cancer pandemic, the nation was eager to hear from him again.
"My name is Martin Obi," he said. "I am an alien."
He paused for effect, and he touched his collar as a show of pride.
"Well, if you know me, you will know that I was a human being like you all. However, it's boring to be a human, so I changed. I died, and now I have been re-born."
He paused again, and removed his shirt. His skin was peeling off slowly from his chest down to his belly. His human skin died and dropped off, and it was replaced with alien scales.
"My brothers are waiting. Waiting for the right time. The right time is near; nearer than you can imagine."
He laughed.
"Do you know what? This is not really cancer. Funny, isn't it? You go panicking about cancer, and here am I telling you all that this is not cancer."
He laughed again.
"This is alien Interbreed. Just you are getting fucked by my alien brothers. Now, let me explain this to you. So, a long time ago in my planet, we live and reproduce by making seeds, or what you humans can call mitosis. Every two years, we divide our cells to make two daughter cells. But then, we evolved, and we started making seeds every two weeks. It became a burden because we are over populating with time."
He paused again. This time, he gazed dispirited at the camera screen.
"Humans, we need your space!" He said, and he returned his shirt back on his peeling body.
Chioma had goose bumps on her body as she watched the broadcast. Martin's voice was no longer nasally like that of a nerd. It was more like a dreadful, bold, and merciless tone of terror.
"We have studied your planet for ages," he said. "Throughout the ages, we never fully understand your kind. Although we now know you are weak, but you are also strong with technologies. We took time to understand how you talk in different languages, how you give birth, how you die, and most importantly, how you decay. We have a lot to learn from you, but there is no need to go to war with you mortals. We are immortals; we just have to shove our immortality down your throats and see what you are going to do about it. So, we developed an advanced nanotechnology to suppress our seeds into nano size. All we had to do was to create a perfect camouflage to protect it from your space soldiers. So, we covered it all up in a visible protein coat, and we merged it with a meteoroid, which successfully landed on this planet."
A hashtag message #TheMessengers was trending on social media all over the world. The nations of Earth had one messenger that mysteriously disappeared and returned like Martin. They were all on televisions all over the world at the same time – conveying the message to the people of planet Earth.
"Aliens are here!" Martin said, and he removed his shirt again. "We never knew it will happen this fast. We thought it will take ages for your scientists to release our seeds from the protein coat. A protein coat that was dormant like a stone. How can you gullible humans be able to solve the puzzle? How can you crack open the stone? Only a favorable catalyst can be able to set our babies free, and a man found the answer. He was favored with the first seed, and the rest had travelled through electromagnetic radiation of all frequencies. Each one of you, humans, that needed radiation to survive, you all have received our seed. Thanks to your speedy technologies; the 6G technology, and the rest of its kind. And now we zeleblites will fuck humans forever, and we will produce more and more of zeleblite babies. This is the alien interbreed. Now, you will die and be reborn in scales."
All of a sudden, there was a gunshot in the studio. The broadcast was still live, but a bullet had pierced through Martin's skull and splashed his blood all over the camera screen. The channel became scrambled, and the entire country plunged into a sudden panic.