Chapter 19: The First Mission.

School resumed. And there was no news about Ayo yet.

I thought about my Lil brother every day and

constantly bother Director Dogo for updates.

I believed he was as frustrated as I was.

My senior school year was hard, but I did the best

I could with my studies. I attended classes and Dr Dogo encouraged me to continue perfecting my shooting skills.

Every afternoon I spent time at the shooting

range underground the school.

Weeks gone by I have become a shooting pro with my fast draw while maintaining my accuracy with little effort.

Despite the distractions of daily life, my thoughts

dwindled on Ayo.

{Didn't he care what his disappearance was doing to me? Couldn't he at least call or text me to know that he was alive somewhere?}

Ebube and I continued to hang together especially in the cafeteria during lunch. He made progress and seemed more open toward not only me but also with the other students. He even said hello

every once in a while to the others. Ebube confided in me that Director continued to give him puzzles to solve, like the weird numbers he had shown to me during the previous summer. The challenge gave him purpose, seemed to make him more

sociable.

He remained spooked as ever, though, about his touch phobia. Nobody could physically touch him.

TheNews at times seemed like perfectly normal young adults. The four of them enjoyed watching Football at Yinka's apartment since he had a big screen TV. They gave me a standing invitation to join them whenever they were in town.

Ogechi paid a lot of attention to me which I enjoyed. I wasn't stupid, though. I knew I was being groomed. I had no real expectation that anything would happen between us. Besides, if Yinka and Ibrahim weren't able to hit on her, then what

chance did I have? Of course, since they worked together, maybe intimacy was considered taboo.

TheNews would most times disappear for days at a time without notice and with no explanation. It served as a sobering reminder. Despite the appearance of normalcy during their downtime, these beautiful people had not befriended me by

chance. They were sinister, dark creatures with an agenda. Subconsciously, I knew that they were drawing me in. I knew that but went along anyway because the scenario felt good, and their friendship gave me something to hold on to, filling

the void in my life. Being with them made worrying less.

My daily routine came to an abrupt end one February evening when Dr Dogo summoned me to his office. The old familiar leather chair waited just inside the door. Dogo told me to sit, and I did as

he asked.

He leaned back in his chair, regarded me for a moment, and sighed. "Let me get right to the point, Phood. TheNews need your assistance."

{I knew that someday it would come to this.}

A chill ran down my spine.

"What do they want me to do?"

Dogo led me out of his office. He led me down the

corridor and stopped in front of a room that during the orientation on my first day, Ekaiteh had called it The Red Chamber.

I looked at the bright red double doors with

their golden handles.

"Very few students have passed this threshold," Dogo said, his tone soft and reverent. "What goes on in the Red Chamber is highly confidential"

I followed Director Dogo into the room holding

my breath in anticipation of what I might see. My heartbeat increased along with the rise in my anxiety level.

Director closed the door, and I started

breathing again, assuring myself that there

was nothing to be afraid of.

The inside of the door and the walls and ceiling were all lined with thick padding resembling wrestling mats. A large polished wood conference table with corresponding armchairs dominated the small room.

"The others will soon be here," Dogo said.

I barely heard him.

"Your voice sounds funny like you're

talking to me from the other end of a long

tunnel."

"Soundproofing," Dogo said. "This is a quiet room. The padding on the walls deadens all noise. The insides of the walls are lined with lead. No form of eavesdropping can take

place on what goes on in here." He pointed

up to a cone-shaped object suspended

from the ceiling. "Built-in detection of any sort of listening devices, and a sophisticated mobile phone

signal, radio, infrared, Bluetooth and wifi signal interceptor, in this room no signal or rays communicates.

I took it all in and said, "Wow, you guys sure don't take any chances."

" You can say that again" he conceded.

Then, the door opened. Justice Bianca entered

with Ebube trailing behind.

"Ebube? What are you doing here?" I said in amazement.

"Sit down, Runso," Justice Bianca ordered.

Stunned, I sank into a chair. Ebube sat next

to me, his face expressionless.

Justice and Director Dogo took seats at the

the far end of the table.

I looked at Ebube."Have you been here

before?"

Justice Binca answered for him. "This is

the first time my stepSon has visited the Red Chamber, although he has been working with us for some time."

"Ebube, I didn't know." I voiced.

{Of course, I wouldn't, this place is all about secrecy. Still, I felt blindsided, being my best

friend kept it to himself.}

"My stepson didn't know he's been working with us," Justice Bianca cleared and continue.

"To Ebube, the puzzles we gave him has all

been just a game, an intellectual exercise, but there's more to it."

She looked at Director Dogo and said, "Are we set?"

Dogo nodded.

"Wait, where are TheNews?"I asked.

"Preparing," Bianca said. "Each of you has a role to play in the upcoming mission. TheNews already know theirs. This briefing is for you and Ebube alone Don't concern yourself about the others."

Director Dogo spoke next. "The majority of

graduates leave here and move on with

their lives. Only a chosen few with special

talents and skills are persuaded to join us."

Justice Bianca said, "Allow me to explain. Sometimes, well-meaning governments pass laws that end up compromising their ability to administer justice. When that happens, it often becomes necessary for patriotic citizens to take covert, extrajudicial action."

Director Dogo stood and approached me and Ebube where we sat.

{Apparently, he and the Justice were

taking turns enlightening us.}

"Phood, Ebube, do you remember from your Global Issues classes learning about Iraq and Saddam Hussein?"

Both of us nodded.

"Saddam was an evil man. He Chemically gassed his people, caused strife between his country and Iran, welcomed terrorist training camps. His actions made the entire Middle East politically unstable. The United States had to jump through

all kinds of diplomatic hoops to obtain permission from the rest of the world to invade Iraq. It cost them billions of dollars and thousands of lives."

Dogo paused and stroked his chin. "Wouldn't it

have been easier and more expedient if at the beginning of the trouble we could have deployed special military machinery to assassinate the evil man?...that would have saved billions of dollars and thousands of innocent lives wasted.

Justice Bianca's turn to speak. "The problem is the United States agreed with other nations that took assassination off the table. On the surface, that agreement makes sense but underneath?" She wiggled her finger in front of her face.

I and Ebube said nothing.

"In the case of Saddam Hussein," Dogo jumped in "the United States of America painted itself into a corner. The assassination was not an option. Justice could not be served against the man."

TheNews could have assassinated

him if given the privilege". Ebube said.

"Yes," Justice Bianca agreed.

She smiled at her stepson

"A secret machinery agency of patriots like us

working independently, but with the full blessing of our government could have taken action against such a person in no time."

"Why didn't they use machinery like TheNews?" Ebube asked.

"I'm sure it was considered," Bianca said.

"However certain cost-benefit calculations were applied, and in the case of Saddam Hussein, those calculations likely indicated an unfavourable outcome. In any event, extrajudicial involvement was not requested." She added.

"In other words, you have to pick and choose your battles wisely," Director Dogo said.

He returned to his seat beside Justice Bianca.

"I'm going to give you a bit of historical context," Bianca said. "TheNews are a component of a kind of court system. In a layman understanding, we deliver untraceable forceful Judgement to those who see themselves as the god of impunity and immunity from world court. No matter how bodily guarded and shielded that individual might seem, it might take TheNews time, but we are a very patient sect, but we shall surely hit out the target. "

{At this point my heart was beating like never before. Why can't she just go straight and say TheNews have hired assassins.}

Dr Dogo picked up on the lecture and said,

"Understandably, we are well funded by 66 countries of the world. Every country has its code name, but in this country, we are TheNews."

" What a code name to conceal a powerful sect." I voiced.

Justice Bianca chuckled " you can say that again".

"We aren't controlled by the government of the country we operate in even if the policy is to recruit only the citizen of the operating country. Before we carry out an operation, all 66 funding countries must be aware of such operation and at least 40 of these countries must agree positive before we go ahead in any parts of the world."

" So, that means you can't carry out an operation with the order of the Nigerian Government alone?" Ebube asked.

" Exactly" Dr Dogo exclaimed.

"And you are backed up by the Highest Authority of the country?" I asked.

" Affirmative!" Justice Bianca chirped in. "You see, that why I'm here and it's not just me."

"So why haven't at least 40 of these 66 cooperating countries approved the assassination of Boko-Haram leader underground." Ebube ventured.

Justice Bianca and Director Dogonyaro burst into laughter simultaneously.

"That's a topic for another day," Bianca said.

" See boys, we are hired to do many holy and unholy tasks isn't all about killing. Distraction, retrieval, delay, intercepting, kidnapping, averting of national threats, investigations, termination of the governmental and non-governmental mission, arrests, blackmailing and many more tasks we do. Some to destroy, most to correct. It all depends on the reason, aims and objectives of the decision-makers of the funding countries to the target.

"Can you carry out an operation in another country that isn't among the 66?" I asked.

" Yes, we certainly can, when an element needs to be erased, there isn't a barrier in this world for this sect." Explained Dogo. " Even if the person escapes to Pluto, we will accomplish our mission even in outer space."

" Bingo!" Ebube exclaimed.

Now back to today's purpose." Dogo Continued. "Tomorrow afternoon, the two of you are to meet Yinka at the front entrance of the academy. He will drive you in a specially outfitted bus from Kaduna to the parking lot of The Eagle Square in Abuja. Both of you are to remain on the bus. Under no circumstances are you to leave the bus. I repeat, under no circumstances are you to leave the bus. All way is cleared for us. No checkpoints will bother you guys."

"Got it, Sir," I said.

Ebube said nothing, but he nodded.

"Yinka's job is command and control, communications support, audio and video, " Director Dogo said. "Ibrahim, Christiana and

Ogechi is the designated operators and actors for this mission. Ebube, you will monitor the movement of funds. You finally get to use your number of puzzle training. It will be just like one of those numbers games you have been playing.

Phood, you will assist Ebube and

Yinka"

"Assist? How Sir?" I asked.

Justice Bianka spoke. "My stepson doesn't know the news, and you understand how he can be around strangers. Ebube trusts you. Do not misinterpret what I am saying. Ebube is fully aware of what is expected of him. He knows his job. You will be there to neutralize any negative body," she paused,

"In case situations may arise."

"Got it," I said, "You expect me to be

Ebube's..."

Justice Bianca completed my

sentence. "Friend and bodyguard."

"In that bus, all basic needs are installed, you will be well away from any danger," Dogo said, "but we always prepare for contingencies. Phood, I'm

authorizing you to carry your firearm."

(Whoa)

"Listen to me carefully," Dogo said. "That gun will remain in your holster at safe mode unless Yinka gives you an otherwise order. No exceptions."

After a pause, he asked, "Any questions?"

Ebube shook his head.

I raised a hand. "One thing I don't understand, why do machinery like TheNews even exist when the government already has its operatives?"

Justice Bianca looked at me, her expression blank.

"We can go places and do things where even the FBI or CIA has no authority. Machinery like TheNews receives extremely top- secrete mission assignments from personnel high up in the governments. An agency like the DSS, SSS, FBI, CIA, etcetera operates with congressional oversight and governmental and diplomatic laws but TheNews have no oversight. We are invisible, a dark shadow, completely off the books and traces. We operate in more like Alien ghost modes."

{What she said both frightened and excited me, to be a part of a super-secret organization. }

"You said from someone high up in the government. Who?" I countered.

Director and Justice exchanged glances. Director Dogo said, "Only Justice Bianca knows the identity of our direct high contact. It's safer for all of us that way"

{I figured it was safer for the contact than it

was for us.}

"What if I don't agree with the mission? Can I refuse an assignment?" I pressed.

Justice Bianca raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "It's too late for you to back out now if at all you are nurturing such an idea."

Director Dogo narrowed his eyes and glared at

me. "Far, far too late my dear friend. Far too late."