“Eden. My name is Eden.” He smirked and my cheeks burned.
“By the way, you make a very terrible lector. All these scientific terms and phrases, I do not think I understood the profound meanings and the substrata of all that. I just barely scratched the surface of comprehension. However, I understand what it all means and what needs to be done. You know I’m just a special ops operative… an Assassin. We are supposed to just shut the hell up and be dumb.” I joked. His nose cinched up in the cutest way the uneven dimples on his cheek became visible. He had a beautiful smile like his name. And it made me childlike all over again.
“We need to land somewhere anytime now!” I announced.
“We need to land and make plans fast. The Wraith ship wouldn’t be too far behind. Plus, they follow the radioactive signal. These steel encasements cannot in their entirety prevent the radioactive signals from spawning all over the atmosphere.” He started.
“We need faster transportation. Your vessels are unbelievably slow.” He bitched.
“Not that I have time for your sass, but something tells me you people willed us to be this archaic since you made us.” I breathed pushing the throttle up slowly to 80% levelling the chopper into a valley and made a clean landing.
A vast prairie lay all around us. Buffaloes and elephants grazed in the strip of land. Wild animals ran around in their abode, undisturbed by our presence.
“Or is that the part you ignored to tell me?”
He scuffed as the team made it out of the chopper carefully handling the devices.
“Where did you get that idea? We all have our roles. Ours is to replace and repair the components of your world. Even I do not know the makers.” He leapt to the grassy fields carefully taking one metal box from the chopper.
“What is our own role then? People of Earth I mean.” I asked, taking a turn and meeting them halfway.
“To exist, perhaps. I do not really know.” He shrugged.
I scoffed.
“For what purpose?”
“I do not know.” H shrugged once more.
“Liar!” I hissed.
“Believe me, Eden. I do not know.” He creased his forehead and I could discern the seriousness of his tone.
“Or maybe we are a test like some Guinea pigs. Lab Rats.” I gritted my teeth.
“I understand,” He replied as we marched towards a set of hooded trees.
“Perhaps we all are. Who knows?” He shrugged, marching beside me.
“You almost annihilated my entire belief system and you expect me to simply take your word for it? Do you know what this kind of burdening information can do to the religious structures? To moral basis?” I turned my attention monitoring his straight visage.
“That is why I said no one except you must know about this, not if you want this world to be a jungle. The reign of barbarians all over again.” He cleared his throat, sniffing the air as if it had an odour to it.
“In my opinion, let them be with their belief however illusory. It is always better for them to have hope even if it is an illusion. Since there is still some kind of eternal reward.” He smirked, “sort of.”
He was hiding something. I didn’t know what it was, but with time, I would get all my questions answered whatever the cost. But for now, we had to hatch a plan to fly intercontinental meanwhile running away from a bunch of killers and merciless rebels.
We caught sight of a herdsman shading his eyes from the midday sun and observing in our direction. He didn’t seem to scare of us. He shushed his cattle away in the opposing direction herding them away. The locals weren’t strangers to military drills. They had seen their fair share of attempted invasions. Nonetheless, after all these years, the Massai people had preserved their cultural heritage, I stood proud as an African seeing the sacred natural beauty untouched by the poison of modernism and technological advancement. This place was a haven. An innocent abode.
We headed towards an Indian bamboo thatched cottage up ahead. Hiding inside, the rack, roofed with dried twigs and grass, we started to hatch a plan. The destroyers could find us anytime.
We stood in a circle in the barn as Kami threw an orbicular device in the air. Ranishé termed it, the Orbitrion. The laws of gravity didn’t seem to affect it, it loomed just above our knees projecting 3D holographic images of the earth's spherical globe with the five strategic points of the equator mapped out in each location in which the devices would be placed.
We strategized for a few minutes. All we had to do was find any locals to point us to where we could get transportation, make it to Addis Ababa, break into a military base, get weapons, go to the international airport, steal a plane and make it to the first location to install the device.
Nairobi, Kenya
We stealthily made it inside the military base and found ourselves in the arsenal. I wasn’t dismayed that the Kenyans had contraband guns and sophisticated military-grade equipment that wasn’t supposed to exist but did in the black market. I had heard in rumour, the notoriety of this place. This was definitely worth Intel. HQ had to know. That is if I made it out alive.
“We will need these. They are closest to what we are accustomed to.” Ranishé grinned.
“They will have to do since we lost ours.” He stacked a couple of EM blasters inside a backpack. From a distance Gemma happily cussed. She came across certain devices and contraption she could lay bare and device our own personal laser missile projection jammer.
“I can reroute all these into makeshift devices we need to aid us. We have laptops, cell phones; tablets you name it.” She hissed as we stealthily exited the base.
We rushed out into the black SUV we hijacked on the highway and sped off, the tires screeching as I raced all the way into the metropolitan city. It was strange… we hadn’t heard a single radio chatter of the events that had gotten us this far.
“No news of the happening. I trust my government with cover-ups and shit like that.” I breathed, taking the reins of the vehicle.
“Even the shades themselves know the risks of exposure. If there were any witnesses, they would annihilate them.” He announced. My heart jolted. I feared for my Comrades.
“My friends,” I whispered as we took the road to the Jomo Kenyatta international airport.
“Hey, look at the bigger picture. You are saving your world, billions of people. Their sacrifice is worthy to pay.” He patted my hand.
He wasn’t very good at sugar coating. It came out as cold-hearted, supposing they were dead, but I had hope. I did not have to believe they were dead.
“All for what? It’s not as if they will meet some sort of eternal reward in heaven.” I blurted hitting the steering with my fists.
“Not necessarily.” He watched me from the corner of his eye. Perhaps he expected me to be curious about his statement and so, I made sure not to disappoint.
“You’ve got something to say, spit it out and stop stalling.” I rasped.
“The reward is not in the strict sense of it or how the Christians make it sound. You won’t spend eternity under some beautiful, pink blossom tree, feeding on fruits and chorusing to the seraphim choirs.” He chuckled and immediately cleared his throat when he discerned I didn’t find the joke hilarious.
“Look, this kind of information is sensitive.” He forewarned.
“I can handle it. Stop underestimating me.” I gave him a wry look taking a sharp corner as the airport lights appeared from a distance.
“Consciousness is a very complex subject. It does survive biological death. It transcends or downloads itself into some sort of server.” He heaved.
“I thought you didn’t know about the sky parents,” I eye rolled Ranishé.
“I snoop around every once in a while venturing into where I am not allowed to venture. As an engineer, I just had to put one and two together to reach certain logical conclusions to know the mechanics or at least the basics.” He sniffed, craning his neck and scanning the perimeter.
“What, pray
tell, is the purpose of the consciousness in the servers?” I squinted in his direction.
“In my opinion, to be rewarded with an even greater task.” He began,
“Take earth to be like an educational system, graduating to a university in another realm,” he stirred in his seat and continued,
“A realm where you are given higher tasks. I might have been on earth aeons ago. Who knows? I have no recollection. However, my consciousness as old as it is is always within the new self. I just cannot remember. The organic brain is not strong enough to remember memories thousands of years ago.” He lectured.
“This is some insane shit.” I pounced on the wheels, ramming through the barbed wired fence and emerging on the take-off lane. Security and airport personnel sprinted away in the mayhem, chattering in their radios alerting authorities of the insurgent. We saw a one hundred sitter sleek bird ready for take-off and made it through the stairs hijacked it sent off passengers and personnel they all ran Helter skater in a bid to save their lives, leaving an empty, fuelled and serviced aeroplane to our cause. Ranishé and his team set the equipment’s taking position and seat belts as we got ready for take-off.
“Eh guys, anyone knows how to fly an aeroplane? I mean I’m afraid my expertise ends with flying black hawks, not this big bird.”
“I’m a vessel commander I bet this orient piece of equipment wouldn’t be more than me to tackle.” He smirked, exiting his seat and rushing into the pilot command as I followed suit.
“This is the third time you have termed earthly equipment orient.” I pointed out.
“Do not be offended. It’s just that I only saw such in the archives when I was just a kid.” Ranishé blurted out with a meek smile.
Ranishé took a few minutes to familiarise himself with the analogue system as he termed it, operated the control buttons, then, the aircraft ran in the runway and took off smoothly as we settled into the comfy seats taking relaxing breaths.
“You get to fulfil your purpose now, save your world.” He breathed, resting his head on the pilot’s chair.
“What about those that failed to fulfil their purpose? Those like Hitler, Idi Amin Dada, Bin Laden, Stalin, etc.” I yawned. And for the first time since the event, I admitted to myself how beat I was. I could use a nice hot meal of corn pudding, stewed watercress with barbecued chicken.
“Whoever told you that wasn’t their purposes?” Ranishé threw me a surprised stare.
“So, their purpose was to kill millions, cause unimaginable suffering and mayhem?” I freaked.
“Balance of life, my dear. The balance of life.” He stifled a yawn.
“I’m sure you are going to tell me next that earthquakes and floods and hurricanes are a necessary evil as well.
“Wow, I’m really a good teacher.” He smirked.
“These so-called makers are sick and twisted gamblers. When you see them, if, tell them they suck.” I groaned.
“You have no idea.” He exhaled sharply.
“We didn’t ask for any of this. Why did they burden us just to taunt us in some twisted game?” I scowled.
“Look, some of these bad men and mass murderers are like teachers, investigators, agents if you will. But some are counterfeits, emulators like the notorious early 2000s Osama Bin Laden. His actions weren’t previously determined by the system. In effect, I’m positive his consciousness would not upload in the server. It would most likely be destroyed. We must never allow another seed of aberration to sprout inside the system like him and his lot.” Ranishé articulated, smacking his lips.
“Any other aberrations I should know of? I asked.
A gave me a soft look.
“No, none.” He shrugged.
Sao Tome, GULF OF GUINEA
"3.7355°N, 3.7435°W"
Ranishé whispered, punching the coordinates on the blinking word field on the screen before him.
Nairobi nested on the equator to our advantage. It set our course straight as we flew from the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, through DRC, Congo and then, Sao Tome.
The Gulf of Guinea, boasted a dire intersection of the equator, located in the north-eastern part of the tropical Atlantic Ocean, forming a volcanic chain, connecting the inland to my home country, Cameroon. I was this close to home, but I had an exigent task. Home had to wait.
This was no runway. However, we had to attempt a landing. The white sandy beach lay curved like a crescent moon, in anterior to a thick fresh green forest, surrounded by clear blue inviting ocean water.
The aircraft tyres bumped off the sand as Ranishé, steadied making an emergency landing.
The Orbitrion, illuminated, emitting blue light. A holographic compass appeared indicating arrival to our destination.
Gema carried an electromagnetic accelerator, embedded within the collision ring, as we descended the staircase.
Three large plateaus stood as guards, casting protective eyes over the scenery, catching my breath at the serene turquoise tinted ocean demarcated by white fine sand. The rainforest stood backing the sea and coconut trees lined up a few metres away from the shore. I could not help, but daydream sipping cocktails, relaxing on a beach, bench, listening to the sound of the gentle winds, the scent of the salty water and the feel of the sand on my bare toes.
I always wanted to visit a place like this. My mother once planned for us to go to Mauritius, my dream vacation location, however, father never quite found the time from to get off work.
What did the government give him anyway? He retired with a silver watch embellished with the flag and a note reading, thank you for your service. Plus, a meagre pension to go with it. Mom's teaching job had been far more effective in the household running.
But to father, serving his country was far more important than monetary returns. That was the kind of person he was. Selfless.
I shaded my eyes from the inglorious sun with my hand, my gaze darting all over the island.
"Now what?" I questioned, unsure of what direction we were taking.
"Now, we commence the installation process of device one." Ranishé breathed as we took fast strides following him as he marched confidently. The white sand sank beneath my booth, crunching as we marched forward. He obviously knew the environs well since he'd been here a couple of times in the last two millennia.
The compass blinked louder this time. Ranishé stopped and punched figures into the hologram, a huge blanket of white sand shifted before my eyes indicating a 180-inch rectangular plasma glass screen, embedded in the sand. I retraced my steps in fright, but the squad moved closer to the object, obviously familiar with it than I was.
"Holy Cow!" I cussed, holding out my hands in disbelief.
The sheet of glass blinked indicating digits, symbols and encrypted data I couldn't discern. Perhaps, some sort of code language.
Ranishé stooped down and punched on the calibrated screen as it sprang sideways, revealing a massive gap in the earth. Embedded in the walls were machinery in assortment, cables, and plugs blinking neon lights.
Ranishé punched digits again as something emerged from the gaped hole. A titanium pillar rose from the pit with a deep and eerie hum. It stopped just a few millimetres away from his face.
On the flat-topped pillar, lay an empty cyclotron. He twisted it from its hook, handing it to the only reserved teammate of his, I hadn’t heard say a single word... then, carefully opened the metallic case, retrieved the accelerator and carefully fitted the volatile object in place. It set itself, spinning at least 10 times per second, humming like a revving engine as energy bars rose within the hole walls illuminating the once darkened core. The neon lights turned blue and green as energy levels hit the maximum unit mark.
“The magnetic field is very strong now. With this, we will monitor and detect gravity. If anything changes, we will know.” Ranishé stood up from his squatting position.
I stood I awe, my mouth forming an ‘O’.
I was officially impressed. He pressured an Omega symbol, as the
pillar receded back deep into the hollow earth. The glass sheet closed, revealing new data, which instantly came under camouflage. Once more, the thick layer of sand blanketed it.
"One down, four more to go." Ranishé breathed. Just then, a fleet of four Nargoth ships appeared from a distance ahead firing pulsar phasers at us.
Gema gathered the empty equipment as we rushed to the plane.
"Gema, I will be needing that Anti-Missile System you spoke of, right about now." Ranishé groaned ascending the staircase.
"I'm yet to take it out for a spin, see if the AMS works," Gema responded, following suit.
"Now would be the time." Ranishé groaned again as we finally made it into the plane.
Gema rammed into her seat and began punching flux data graphs in a tablet she was now holding.
"We need to take off fast. I will be able to jam their signals only for a minute. I have hacked into their system already. Will try to slow them down." She yelled her fingers punching all over the screen.
"On it." She added.
The aeroplane vibrated as the sound of creaking metal made it evident that we had been hit.
"Damn, I need more juice. I will only jam their system for a bit before they get back control and reroute it." Gema complained, smacking her lips.
"We are airborne." Ranishé hollered as I settled taking short puffs of air to calm my raging heart.
The jammer worked. The ships ceased firing at us. That did not stop them from being suicidal. One of the ships flew straight for the aircraft. The plane tilted sideways as the wraith ship headed straight for the ground, ramming into the sand head first. The impact generated a thunderhead of dust, then the craft tumbled multiple times before going up in flames.
The other Wraith ships slowed as Gema kept scrambling their system. They tried, however slow to follow in pursuit. We, however, had bought ourselves some time.
"I wish we had firepower." I breathed with frustration, inspecting my Berretta 92, 16 round firearm, with only two rounds left in the magazine.
"And we are going to need a new plane," Ranishé announced.
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