THE NEXT DAY
8:23AM…
The boys awakened from their slumber feeling slight pains as they stepped out of their pods. Umar punched the wall in anger, his mind fixated on what Dr Kane planned to use them for. The others facial expressions reciprocated Umar's aggression.
"he think say he go just turn us to weapons abi?… I go change hin destiny." Umar said, his face red with anger.
"who do they think they are?! Kane, Bolaji, who the hell gave them the mind to think they can turn us into their lap dogs?!" he continued.
"we need to tear these collars off and go kill those bastards." Umar yelled.
"again, in a scary pattern. I agree with Umar. We NEED to get out of here, its been too long." Nasir said.
"the more time we waste, the more our families suffer and the closer these guys get to putting us in their control… we need to act now!" he continued.
"we need to find G wherever he is and go home… we need to find Zainab too…" Sadiq added.
"ofcourse. We're stronger now, A LOT stronger. We can do this… right now, break these collars, smash through those bars and fight our way out. No one can stop us." Umar said as Sadiq and Nasir agreed with him.
"why are you so quiet?" Umar asked Ahmad.
"..." Ahmad remained silent.
"... guy what are you thinking about?" Umar asked in frustration. Ahmad still remains silent.
"are you legit not agreeing with us? Don't you want to escape?…" Umar queried.
"ANSWER ME!" he yelled.
"OFCOURSE I DO!" Ahmad yelled back.
"... we can't do this on our own… and we won't win without a plan." he said.
"yes we can…" Umar said before Ahmad cut him off.
"no we can't… THINK. They've had us here for a month plus, wouldn't they have measures in place to stop us from escaping? Lethal and non-lethal." he said.
"and what about the other prisoners? What do you think will happen to them if we do manage to escape… our families and G. what do you think will happen to them if we break out of here and we don't get to them in time?!" Ahmad questioned.
"we can't act on impulse, that's what got us here in the first place." he stated.
"YOUR impulse got us here, and we got beatdown trying to stop you!" Umar said. Ahmad looks at Umar in disgust.
"thats exactly why we can't let it happen again. We need a plan…" Ahmad said.
"and who made you commander general? Me personally I don't think someone who is so easily triggered by another man should lead anyone." Umar inferred.
"are you actually going to lecture me about self control?" Ahmad asked in anger. Umar's eyes widened as he understood Ahmad's question, he looked away as he squezed his mouth, acknowledging his own flaw.
"what exactly happened between you guys that Ahmad can shut you up so easily Umar?" Sadiq asked curiously.
"none of your business… lets just focus on the task at hand." Umar said, his voice calmer.
"we can find out about it later Sado, for now lets just know how we'll get out of here." Nasir said.
"yeah, like I said we need to have a plan first… and it starts with the other prisoners, we need to make some allies and then find a way to shut these collars off… at least for a few minutes." Ahmad said.
"that one na issue ooo." Nasir said.
"not really… I think I can help with that." Sadiq said.
"really?" Umar asked curiously.
"lets hear it." Ahmad said.
"I think it's a new power. When those mind chips were brought in, I could analyse them… in great detail." Sadiq said.
"what do you mean?" Nasir asked.
"I mean I could examine them in my mind like a computer. Once I see it, I save it and then I'm able to analyse it… I was able to know those chips inside and out in just a few seconds." Sadiq explained.
"I'm doing it with the inhibitor collars right now." he said.
"wait, how can you do this with the inhibitor collar?" Ahmad asked.
"I dunno, they're probably programmed to inhibit specific powers. that's the only explanation I can think of." Sadiq answered
"well unless you want to ask I suggest we move on. Have you found any weaknesses in the collars?" Nasir asked
"no not yet, but I know its made of something harder than anything in the world, we won't be able to break it with our own strength… not while its on." Sadiq answered.
"so we have to short-circuit it somehow… that won't be easy." Ahmad said.
"that won't work either. Its built so water get can't inside. So that's ruled out." Sadiq said.
"shit…" Ahmad exclaimed. Just as he did, an alarm sounded around the prison, signaling breakfast time as all cell doors opened. Being used to the routine, the boys walked to the dining area as they continued to form their plan. Sadiq kept his eye on the exit door and the end of the hall and began to form a plan
They arrived at the dining area along with their fellow inmates and were served their disgusting breakfast, after which they found an empty table and sat around as they talked. After a few minutes of eating, the topic of how to get around the inhibitors arose and this caught the attention of an interested inmate.
On the top floor of the prison where Dr Kane and Dr Reed's offices were located, the two were back at it again in Kane's office. He was seated calmly and Reed standing in anger arguing about the direction… or directions they have been plotting for a long time now.
"... we've been over this, Reed. Everything we've done up until this point was always going to lead to this. This building, this island and the dozens of inmates we have here… all of them, are here to fulfil that one purpose." Kane said.
"why do we have to do it like this? You and I planned for the betterment of this country… this continent, but we obviously see very different ways of getting there… and yours is demented." Reed said.
"demented? When did you turn into such a wimp? Do you think any major development in history was achieved by shining your teeth and talking like a fool?" Kane queried.
"people died for the cause. People were slaughtered, hung, butchered, blown to pieces, drowned, burned alive, it was on their corpses that new civilizations were built and thriving. This continent has been sent to the back of the line time after time by the west… and now, we can take back our power." Kane ranted.
"if we do this the way you want, it doesn't make us any different from them. We can focus our resources on things that are more urgent, energy, fuel and food production. We can solve all the problems Africa has and more… countries are already taking a stand, Niger, Kenya, Guinea. All of them…" Reed said before he was interrupted.
"... SHUT… UP, you naive moron! (chuckles) wha… what the hell do you think this is, Africa Magic Showcase? Reed, in the span of a few hours you have completely diminished any good image I had of you as a functioning adult, as a man." Kane snared.
"so a few thousand beggars protesting in the streets is all of a sudden a revolution? Aside from Niger, ALL of those countries will go back to the way they were in a few days. At most a week." Kane said.
"(scoffs) you sound just like our investors." Reed stated.
"those are the people we have to worry about… for now. All of this arguing isn't going to do us any good, you need to get your head back in the game and focus on our mission. Once we get passed these old politicians, it doesn't matter what happens or who dies, we'll keep going until the work is done and realize my destiny by taking my place in a seat next to Amadioha." Kane proclaimed.
"if you continue on this path then I won't be apart of it." Reed stated with a firm tone. Kane looks at Reed, bewildered by his statement. He then smirks, gets up and walks over to Reed.
"you don't have the authority to make that decision." Kane said coldly, now face to face with Reed. He then steps back and raises his fist to Reed's face as if to try and showcase something. His black aura appeared formed on his fist. Reed's eyes widened, fear consuming him as the whole room fell into almost complete darkness.
"Emeka, you're my oldest friend believe it or not. Don't make me turn it into a distant and… cherished memory." Kane threatened.
"we have a mission to complete… and a destiny to fulfil. Lets wait till that's done, until you start making selfish decisions. Are we in agreement?" Kane asked as Reed trembled.
"f… fine… fine, we are." Reed answered.
"good boy." Dr.Kane said as he lowered his arm, his energy faded away and the room was filled with light again.
"Its gonna be great my friend. I just need you to believe in me for a while longer." Kane said as he walked back to his desk and sat down. Reed slowly walked out of the office, still shook from what had just happened.
Reed walked back to his office, still in fear of what had just happened. He made his way to his desk and plopped down on his chair as he tried to compose himself. He began to think back on his time with Kane. All his discussions, the little things he would say that eluded to this side of him. Reed had always thought that they were on the same page, Kane was ruthless but he had never thought that he would get to this. And just then, he knew what he had to do, he would never forgive himself if he allowed Kane to go through with his plan. Reed turned on his laptop and started working on plan to derail Kane's plan before its too late.
Outside the building, in the compound, the inmates were exercising their "common time" as part of their routine where they go for some leisure activities and play sports or just socialize. The boys were at the far side of the compound continuing their plan to escape the prison when an inmate approaches them.
During this time, the boys pull aside two of their acquaintances, Lareto Mwangi and Kevin Nkosi. Lareto, a 19 year old south African native of the San tribe. he has the ability to emit powerful energy pulses that can disrupt electronics and stun people. While Nkosi, a 17 year old from Kenya has the ability to manipulate and generate metal, shaping it into weapons and armor. In the weeks that have passed, the boys have come to respect and even like Lareto and Nkosi as they coexisted in captivity.
The boys dragged Lareto and Nkosi from their respective activities and they all gathered at the far end of the compound near the basketball court. They put some benches together, Lareto and Nkosi were still confused as to what the boys wanted to talk about with such urgency.
"what's going on here? What's so important you have to tell us like this?" Lareto asked curiously.
"just sit down and listen… you'll like this." Umar said.
"really?" Lareto asked as he sat on the bench.
"I don't know when we all became this close for us to be doing group cuddling sessions." Nkosi said sarcastically.
"you would like that, wouldn't you?" Sadiq asked teasingly.
"enough guys, time to get serious…"Ahmad said.
"... Lareto, Nkosi, we need you guys' help." he stated.
"for what?" Lerato and Nkosi asked.
"jailbreak boys… its time we get the hell out." Umar said. Lareto and Nkosi looked at each other, and then burst into laughter. The boys remained silent as they were being laughed at. They finally stopped laughing and noticed that the boys kept their faces straight, indicating to them that they were serious.
"wait… you're actually serious?" Lareto asked in shock.
"(scoffs) see these ones, because you think you're the strongest here doesn't mean you can be able to escape from this place." Nkosi said.
"first of all, we ARE the strongest. Secondly, we know we can't do this on our own, that's why we're calling you dipshits." Umar snared.
"and how exactly do you plan on doing this?" Lareto asked.
"now were talk…" Sadiq said before he was interrupted.
"senior men! I de greet." An inmate said as he walked up to them.
Acid, a 30 year old man with disfigured and nasty teeth, standing at 6 feet tall, with a muscular physique and light skinned. As his name suggests, his body is able to generate a highly volatile gas and liquid which he discharges from his mouth, hence his horrible dental hygiene. His blood is also highly toxic but thanks to the Nucron cell it improves his body rather than destroys it. The smell of his mouth hits the boys noses hard and they can't help but move away and cover their noses.
"omo e no bad like before, (scoffs) trust!" Acid said.
"hm?!" they all exclaimed in shock.
"yep… to say this thing no de my neck una for don die tey tey. No worry you'll get used to it." Acid said. The boys nodded.
"so wetin sup?" Ahmad asked while holding his nose.
"I bin de hear una discussion for dining… so I wan tell you say I wan join you." Acid answered. The boys look at each other in confusion.
"... wh… why?" Sadiq asked.
"which one be why? Una wan leave here, I wan join you and you de ask me why? You de mad?" Acid queried. The boys slowly let go of their noses, they were now used to the smell as Acid said.
"oya calm down, lower your voice… make we talk this thing well." Ahmad said.
"we're too big of group to talk outside, it'll look too suspicious." Nasir pointed out.
"yeah, lets go to the hall. We can be more interactive their." Ahmad said. They all marched to the main hall to continue their discussion, as they walked, Sadiq pulled Ahmad aside.
"... umm… are you sure you want to give this Acid guy the full story? Can we really trust him?" he asked.
"you can ask the same question for Lerato and Nkosi." Ahmad answered.
"lets leave out the part about us getting stronger from Mr Bolaji's experiment. I don't think we can fully trust them, but from what I've seen so far, they do things on the board and call it as it is. What we can trust is that they want to get out of here just as much as we do. Same goes for Acid." he explained.
"alright." Sadiq said satisfied by Ahmad's analysis.
"regardless of whether we can trust them or not, if they decide to betray us, at the end of the day… we're stronger than them and we'll make them pay." Umar said clenching his fist as they all agreed. They got to the hall and sat around a large table.
"ok. Everyone quiet, Sado, give them the overview." Ahmad commanded as he sat down.
"ok guys listen… this is what we have on ground: last night I found out that these inhibitor collars only inhibit specific power, the ones that they know we have. I found this out when I woke up this morning and was able to analyse they keypad by our cell, I know it inside and out and everything else in between. When I noticed this, I did the same with the collars and found some flaws we can exploit and then use that opening to break out." Sadiq exclaimed.
"hehn?… so, you just woke up today and discovered a new power?" Nkosi questioned.
"yes." Sadiq answered.
"how does that happen out of no where?" Lareto queried.
"doesn't matter. He found the power and its given us a chance. Now listen." Ahmad said. Everyone agreed and remained silent.
"well, as Ahmad said, this is chance and we need to take it. The collars can be shut down for a few seconds if we can get to that central control at the exit of the hall our cells are in. But it has to be a specific wiring failure, so I need to be there for a few seconds to make it happen. Afterwhich, Lareto, you can use your powers to completely shut of the electricity on the collars … then, we throw hands and break out(nervous laugh)." Sadiq explained.
"hmm… that's quite the plan." Nkosi said as he contemplated.
"yh and very risky." Lareto added.
"oga una de too reason this talk. As far as I'm concerned, this thing don set." Acid stated obnoxiously.
"why don't you relax and think…" Lareto tried to speak but was cut off.
"oga leave here! Do you have a better plan?" Acid questioned. Lareto remained silent knowing Acid was right.
"well… we don't really have choice do we? Lets do this." Nkosi said finally.
"fine then… God be with us." Lareto prayed. The boys smiled.
"so what're we going to do in during all the chaos? and how do we get through those security gates?" Nkosi asked.
"we fight our way out and watch each others back. Everyone's going to try and escape but we stand a better chance if we stick together and combine our strengths." Ahmad answered.
"plus with our powers, there's not much that can stand in our way." Umar added.
"yeah, but even with our powers we can't expect this to go smoothly. They definitely have measures in place to neutralize us if we try to escape." Sadiq said.
"that's right. If we don't stick to the plan they'll neutralize and capture us again." Ahmad said
"understood." Nkosi said.
"we de ready senior man." Acid said.
"good, then we need move fast but carefully. Everyone keep your eyes open and watch for irregularities and let all the others know. Tomorrow night, we're breaking out." Ahmad stated. Everyone got up and left the table, contemplating their plan as the day came to an end.