Chapter 41 Stockholm, 59° 19′ 46″ N, 18° 4′ 7″ E Normalmstrog Square

Cecilia and Akiko were relaxing in that beautiful square. It was very sunny afternoon. Beautiful spring greeted all visitors to Normalmstrog Square. They just landed this afternoon from Barcelona.

Yesterday they had time to take Professor Hernandez to El Prat Airport. He flew to Keflavik where a plane was waiting to take him to Pandora.

Professor Hernandez agreed to be part of Professor Sato's team. Especially when, Doctor Aslan, his longtime acquaintance, called him directly. But he made up his mind as soon as he listened to Cecilia's explanation about the contents of the recorded script from a chip that was found with the frozen body of a woman who was still in a coma.

Cecilia and Akiko's current mission was to try to get Professor Mbutu to join the team. Professor Mbutu was a Carbon Chemistry expert who won the Nobel Prize for his services to science.

The Guyanese professor was a genius. His research was widely used by chemical industry giants to develop various kinds of products for human needs. Professor Mbutu was a humble person. He did not have the urge to pursue material things. In fact, if he wanted to, his would gain millions of euros from royalties paid by the industries. He would have been extremely rich.

His whole life was dedicated to research in the field of science where his passion lied. For Professor Mbutu, it was a pleasure to see his research benefited so many people.

The house he lived in Stockholm was a gift from the King of Sweden who was very impressed by his dedication to science.

Although he decided to retire from his job as a lecturer at MIT, he continued to contribute to the development of Carbon Chemistry through research projects by the doctoral candidates he supervised.

Cecilia didn't go to Professor Mbutu's house. She didn't want to intrude on his privacy. After all, Cecilia received information that Professor Mbutu would spend every afternoon at Normalmstrog Square reading a book.

Akiko saw him first. An old man walked slowly toward the park carrying a small bag. His right hand held a wooden stick that he used to knock on the tiled floor as if he was walking on a musical tune.

Cecilia smiled and was about to come over. But suddenly Akiko showed her X-One.

Doctor, be careful. I am in Grozny. I got important information. The Organization's people are looking for Professor Mbutu.

They wanted to thwart our plans by eliminating him.

No one has the expertise close to Professor Mbutu. Protect him.

Noted Hitman. Since you didn't mention my name, I will continue calling you murderer.

Cecilia smirked at Akiko's response. She was about to tease her. Akiko started running fast while pulling her Kaiken.

Akiko was trying to intercept three people who were running toward the professor while holding Katana. Professor Mbutu seemed oblivious with the whole situation. He was still walking casually while playing with his wand on the tiled floor.

Professor Mbutu heard a woman shouted at him to run. The professor automatically looked back and saw three people pointed samurai swords toward him.

Cecilia ran to catch up with him. She pulled Professor Mbutu's hand into the thick flowery bush. They saw Akiko met the three attackers who were wearing ninja-style face masks. Akiko stood blocking them from pursuing Professor Mbutu who was with Cecilia. Cecilia took out her Glock with trembling hands.

For a moment, the three attackers stopped observing the young woman who was holding a small Japanese dagger.

The three of them looked at each other and shrilled a battle scream and started attacking Akiko.

Akiko immediately knew that these attackers were Japanese Samurai. The tough doctor fought back hard. A fierce and terrifying battle ensued in the midst of the quiet Normalmstrog Square.

Cecilia kept her hand on Professor Mbutu's arm who was squatting next to her. She was worried about Akiko's safety. After all she was just a doctor and not a street fighter.

But Cecilia had to reason to worry. The Yakuza daughter knocked down one person by plunging her kaiken between his shoulder blades. Undaunted, the other two continued to attack Akiko.

Akiko rolled over to dodge the first attack. Her hand grabbed the Katana that had fallen from the attacker she killed. The young doctor stood back up holding the shining Katana in both hands.

When the second attack came, Akiko, who seemed to get a new fun toy, shouted loudly to parry the attack and then slashed back at the attacker's stomach who died instantly on the spot.

The one remaining attacker seemed to be getting tired.

But still he brought his body forward lunging at Akiko with a deadly attack. Akiko didn't want to play around. She was afraid that there were more people behind them. Hence, again with a loud shout, Akiko knocked down the third attacker with his neck slashed open.

Akiko threw the Katana away then pulled her kaiken from the chest of the first attacker. Akiko hastily signaled to Cecilia to immediately run to the car park. The onlookers had called the police. The police siren was heard.

Professor Mbutu followed as Cecilia pulled his hand toward the car parked across the street. She put her Glock in her bag.

No one paid any attention to Cecilia and Professor Mbutu as they were running in a hurry. Everyone was focused on Akiko. She ran across the other street, pulled down a motorcyclist who was also watching, then jumped on the motorbike and twisted the gas as hard as possible leaving the place at a high speed.

Cecilia started the car while wearing a headset. He was sure that Akiko would contact her soon.

I'm heading out of town! The police is behind me. I will try to lose them. Go to the hotel and persuade the Professor. Meet me at the ferry port. We're going to Finland!

Akiko hung up the phone.

Cecilia drove her car to the hotel. Professor Mbutu, who was sitting on the passenger seat had been massaging his chest. He didn't like violence at all. The woman next to him was protecting him. Professor Mbutu believed that she wouldn't harm him. If that was the intention, she could have done it before.

As soon as they arrived at the hotel, Cecilia packed up quickly while telling the whole story to the Professor. Cecilia also asked Professor Mbutu to listen to the script from her laptop.

Once she finished packing, Cecilia looked at the Professor who seemed to be glued to the sofa while staring at her.

"Is this all real Miss?" He was asking the same question as Professor Hernandez. Cecilia nodded firmly. No one would believe what they heard just like that.

"Where are you taking me?" Professor Mbutu stood up as soon as he saw Cecilia rushing out of the room.

Cecilia turned and looked at the Professor pleading.

"Professor, please come with me. I will explain everything on our way to Finland."

Professor Mbutu didn't answer but he followed Cecilia into the elevator that took them to the lobby where a taxi to the Stockholm ferry port was waiting.