MORINJO
Hours ago, the air is thick with tension as six verdant portals appear around us, each a gateway to another realm. Figures in vibrant green and yellow attire step out, moving with eerie symmetry.
Jessica's eyes widen. "How is this possible?"
"He's a sorcerer," I reply, keeping my voice steady.
The figures merge into one man, who steps forward confidently. "Fear not, heroes. I'm Christian Vincent, the Epic Sorcerer, the only Nigerian sorcerer."
"He's from Nigeria," Jessica murmurs, surprised.
"I heard that," I say, reassuring her. "We can handle this."
We move closer. "What do you want from us, sorcerer?" I ask.
Christian's lips curl into a smile. "I'm here to support you, Morinjo and Jessica."
"How do you know our names?" Jessica asks, wary.
"I'm a sorcerer. I can find out anything," he says smoothly. "I've spent four months mastering dark arts. Together, we can capture the alien, Belteshazzar, before he brings Goliath into our world. Are you with me?"
I exchange a glance with Jessica. "We should speak to the others."
"No need," I say, shaking my head. "This alien is a threat to everyone. Discussing it further will waste time." Turning back to Christian, I ask, "What's the plan?"
Christian grins. "Let's begin."
---
A few hours later
Joseph storms into the room, visibly upset. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"I made a decision, Joseph," I reply calmly.
"A stranger shows up offering help, and you just accept it?"
"We don't have a choice. We need him."
"Trust?!" Joseph spits. "You barely know the man."
I hold his gaze, frustration simmering. "Time is running out. If we don't stop Belteshazzar, he'll destroy everything."
"That doesn't mean you trust a stranger!" he counters. "You know nothing about his character or intentions, yet you're ordering us to work with him?"
"Yes, I am," I reply firmly. "If we don't act now, we'll lose everything. End of discussion." I turn to walk away, but Joseph grabs my arm.
"If this plan fails, or he betrays us, I swear you'll pay," he threatens, his grip tightening.
---
Present Day
My heart pounds as I sit in the cell, every beat a reminder of my mistakes. My hands and legs tremble as the weight of regret presses down on me.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!* Joseph's fists hit the reinforced glass wall, each thud a testament to his anger. The thick, laminated glass barely vibrates with the impact.
"Sorry, but that's shatterproof glass," John says flatly.
"There's no way out," Leonard adds, his tone resigned.
"There has to be," the black man mutters, his eyes hard. He takes out a pair of glasses and scans the ceiling.
"What are you doing?" John asks, baffled.
"Looking for an escape."
I can't take the guilt any longer. I rise and walk slowly over to Joseph, my throat dry. "Jo...seph," I stammer, barely able to speak.
He turns, his eyes blazing. "What?!"
"I...I'm sorry. I didn't listen. I was wrong," I say, forcing the words out. "I'm sorry... for everything."
Joseph's eyes flash with anger before he punches me hard in the face. Pain explodes in my nose, warm blood trickling down.
"Joseph!" Jessica shouts, rushing to my side. She holds me, concern in her eyes.
"Are you alright?" she asks, her voice soft.
"I'm fine. Leave us," I mutter, pushing her away.
Joseph punches me repeatedly, the impact sending me reeling. I taste blood, and agony sears through me. I struggle to stand, my vision blurring, each blow a reminder of my failures.
"Enough, Joseph!" Jessica's voice rings out sharply. "He apologized. You need to forgive him. Yes, he made a mistake, but he's trying to make things right."
Suddenly, the heavy prison door grates open, a loud metallic screech echoing through the corridor. We all freeze.
"Are you done fighting?" a commanding voice calls out. "Stay here—I'll figure something out."
SAMUEL
I move stealthily through the dimly lit corridors of the military barrack, my metal gauntlet glinting faintly under sparse light. The cold, sterile air prickles my skin. Slipping on my tech glasses, the HUD flickers to life, tapping into the security cameras. Images flash by rapidly as I scan each room, each corridor, searching for any hint of Christian's plan or the soldiers' intentions.
Finally, my heart pounds as I find the captured alien, slumped and weak in a small, heavily guarded room. Despite his alien form, I feel a pang of compassion. He looks… helpless, stripped of power, and I can't shake the thought of what they might do to him. I focus, listening intently to the audio feed.
Christian's voice crackles through the speakers. "I'm going to drain every last bit of his power, make him utterly helpless." The words hit like a shockwave. My heart sinks, realizing that Christian, our supposed ally, is betraying the soldiers, systematically killing them, sparing no one but the commander general. My mind reels as it clicks into place—the real threat isn't Belteshazzar. It's Christian.
Every instinct tells me to move, to escape before I'm discovered, but more urgently—to warn the others. I slip back down the corridor, racing toward the prison area, my thoughts a jumbled mess of disbelief and anger. This isn't what we signed up for.
As I burst into the prison area, Leonard, John, Jessica, Joseph, and Morinjo look up, each face marked by worry and suspicion. Their anticipation only heightens my urgency.
Leonard is the first to break the silence. "So, what did you find?"
I steady myself, trying to rein in my pounding heart. "We shouldn't have fought against the alien."
John's face twists in confusion. "Why not?"
"Because he's not the enemy," I say, voice firm with conviction. "Christian is."
Silence blankets the room as they absorb my words, shock evident on their faces. Jessica's eyes narrow, her tone thick with distrust. "Hold on—who even are you? And why are you so invested in finding Belteshazzar?"
Realizing my lack of introduction, I reply, "My name is Samuel Vincent. I'm a mechanical engineer, manager of Quad Dynamics Systems Integrators… and, also known as Time Manipulator, a hero of Nigeria."
Joseph steps forward, the skepticism in his voice palpable. "So, why were you against Belteshazzar in the first place?"
I look him in the eye, feeling the weight of my initial misunderstanding. "Because he's destroyed cities, taken lives, and caused devastation. But I misjudged him. The truth is, he's in danger now."
They exchange uneasy glances, and I see tension rising, realization dawning in each face. Jessica crosses her arms, brow furrowed. "Alright. If Christian's the real threat, what do we do next?"
"We need to reach Belteshazzar before Christian finishes whatever he's planning," I say, feeling the urgency in my bones.
One by one, they nod, a shared resolve uniting us in the dim cell. The air is thick with tension, a mix of dread and determination hanging between us. There's no turning back now.
MORINJO
As we step out of the prison with Belteshazzar, Zetacode presses a button on his remote. Just as we clear the gates, our jet descends smoothly from the sky. Without hesitation, we board swiftly, and within moments, we're speeding away from the prison.
---
A Few Hours Later
Meeting Room, Ultimate Tower
The room is silent, heavy with the weight of what just happened. No one says a word as Jessica carefully tends to my wounds. Her hands are steady, methodically cleaning and bandaging each cut.
"How are you feeling now?" she asks softly, concern in her voice as her gaze meets mine.
"I'm okay, thanks," I reply, managing a faint smile. "You're really good at this... Were you a nurse?"
She shakes her head, a slight smile touching her lips. "No, my mom was. When I was little, I used to watch her work at the hospital. She taught me a lot whenever she had time."
"That's incredible," I say, genuinely impressed. "You're saving lives now, not just fighting."
The quietness deepens until Belteshazzar, sitting nearby, breaks it. His voice is low, weighted by guilt. "I've taken so many lives, destroyed buildings, cars… brought chaos to Earth. I don't deserve to be saved. I deserve to die."
I look up, meeting his pained gaze. "No, you're wrong. You deserve to live."
Belteshazzar's eyes narrow slightly, disbelief flickering. "How can you say that? I've got human blood on my hands."
"It wasn't your fault," I reply gently, each word careful. "We've recently discovered the real threat is Christian, not you. You had no choice but to protect your family and planet, even if it was in the wrong way."
Belteshazzar lets out a shaky breath. "It was the wrong way… but it was the only choice I had. If Goliath finds out I betrayed him, he'll kill my family… destroy my planet."
"He won't kill your family, and he won't destroy your planet," Joseph interjects confidently, his voice clear and strong.
Belteshazzar's doubt remains, a skeptical look in his eyes. "What makes you so sure?"
"Because you have the power and authority to stop him," Joseph says. "You can do what's right and bring peace to your planet. Free yourself from Goliath's control, but it's up to you."
Belteshazzar hesitates, a flash of uncertainty crossing his face. "I don't know if I can. Goliath is… he's unstoppable. No one has ever defeated him."
"That's because everyone who tried went at it alone and failed," I add, moving closer. "But you don't have to face him alone. You've got us—powerful allies. Gather them, fight together, and you can bring Goliath down."
Belteshazzar studies each of us, a glimmer of determination replacing the fear in his eyes. "Thank you, Morinjo. I think… I think you're right. When I return to Treasure Planet, I'll ask for my family's forgiveness. I'll gather those who are strong and willing, and together, we'll take down Goliath."
"That's the spirit," Jessica says, her voice filled with newfound hope, and for a moment, the weight in the room lifts.
Suddenly, John interrupts, his face pale with shock. "You've got to be kidding me. Christian made an announcement after he destroyed parts of Lagos Island."
A cold dread settles in my chest. "What announcement?"
"Watch this and listen carefully," John replies, his hands trembling slightly as he raises his phone. He turns up the volume, and we all lean in, the tension thick as the video begins.
---
[The screen flickers to life, showing Christian in a high-tech command center, his expression stern, eyes cold. Behind him, ominous footage of Lagos Island smolders under a dark, oppressive sky.]
Christian
"Citizens of Lagos, and especially those of you who dare call yourselves the Ventures,
This is Christian. I address you now, not as a man who seeks power or dominance, but as one who comprehends the gravity of our current predicament.
Among you hides a being of extraordinary power—a glowing alien known as Belteshazzar. I am fully aware that you are sheltering him. But have you really grasped the danger this creature brings? His presence is a threat, not just to you, but to every single life on Lagos Island.
For too long, you've ignored the warnings, dismissed the signs, and cloaked yourselves in foolish arrogance. You've mistaken bravery for invincibility, rebellion for strength. But let me be clear: Belteshazzar is beyond anything you've ever faced. His power is uncontrollable, his influence catastrophic.
I offer you a single chance—a final opportunity to make the right choice. From this moment, you have only a few hours to surrender Belteshazzar to me. If you comply, no harm will come to you or the people of Lagos. Together, we can prevent the unthinkable. We can avert the complete destruction of this city and the countless innocent lives within it.
However, if you refuse… if you choose to test my resolve or underestimate the forces you are dealing with… I will have no choice but to unleash Belteshazzar's full wrath upon you. Lagos Island will be reduced to ashes, its streets will collapse, and your people will endure suffering beyond imagination. I will ensure that no one, not even the most resilient among you, escapes the devastation.
This is not a threat—it's a promise. Think carefully about the lives of the civilians around you—their futures, their families. Is your defiance worth their annihilation? Do not force my hand. Do not make me do what I must.
The clock is ticking. The choice is yours. Surrender Belteshazzar… or face the dire consequences of your stubbornness.
Make the right decision, Ventures. For all our sakes."
[The broadcast ends, the room plunging into an eerie silence. Outside, the haunting sounds of a city on the brink of chaos linger, pressing against the stillness around us.]
To be continued...