CHAPTER SIXTEEN: THE NEW WORLD ORDER

A New Arrival

The air was thick with tension as the survivors stood near the wreckage of the Olumo-7 escape pod, watching the smoke curl into the sky. Edward, weak and disoriented, leaned against Jace while Kunle scanned their surroundings.

Then they heard it-the crunch of boots on dry leaves.

"Hands where we can see'em!"

A deep voice rang out as armed men emerged from the trees, their weapons raised.

Jace instinctively stepped in front of his wife and Son, gripping the handle of his machete. Kunle tensed beside him, ready for a fight.

The leader of the group, a broad-shouldered man, stepped forward. His military fatigues were faded but well-kept, and his rifle rested easily in his hands, as though he had carried it all his life.

His voice was steady, commanding.

"Name's Wallace Adams. Nigerian Armed Forces. Lower your weapons."

Jace hesitated. "The military? I thought there was no government left."

Wallace smirked. "Most of it's gone, yeah. But not all of it."

His soldiers kept their eyes on the group, but their stance wasn't aggressive-it was controlled, professional.

Edward, still weak, took a shaky step forward. "Please... I need medical help."

Wallace's eyes flickered to the wreckage of the spacecraft, then back to the astronaut.

"You fell from the sky, huh?" Wallace exhaled. "Guess today ain't a normal day."

Then he motioned to his men. "Get 'em in the trucks. We're taking 'em home."

The drive took hours.

Jace and Kunle sat in the back of a reinforced military truck, watching the landscape roll past. It was eerie roads that were once filled with chaos that now lay empty, cracked, overtaken by nature.

They passed through abandoned towns, collapsed bridges, and burnt-out cars, until finally, they saw it--

A city. A real, functioning city.

The walls surrounding it were tall and fortified, lined with watchtowers and snipers. Past the gates, the world didn't look broken anymore.

People walked the streets in clean clothes. Shops were open. There were markets, schools, even restaurants. Children played on the sidewalks.

It looked like the world before the fall.

Jace, still gripping Mosun's hand, whispered, "This... this isn't real."

Wallace overheard and grinned. "Welcome to The New World Order-last standing government in Nigeria."

Inside a large briefing hall, Jace and the others sat while a high-ranking official-a tall man in a suit with military insignias on the shoulders- stood at the front.

His name was Brigadier General Usman Danjuma.

He surveyed the new arrivals before speaking.

"You are now under the protection of The New World Order. Here, we live by the old world's structure. You will receive housing, employment, food, and security. In exchange, you will contribute."

He paced slowly.

"But understand this, once you are in, you do not leave. The world out there is dead. We will not risk contamination, or the spread of chaos. You are here... permanently."

Silence filled the room.

Kunle leaned towards Jace. "This ain't freedom. It's a cage."

Jace nodded, his mind already racing.

Danjuma continued. "You will all be assigned jobs based on your skills. Those who refuse... well, let's just say we don't accommodate freeloaders."

A soldier handed out assignment papers.

Jace said: ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING UNIT - INFRASTRUCTURE REDEVELOPMENT

Kunle said: UFC FIGHTER - SECURITY UNIT

Miss Okafor was assigned to education, and even Kayode's group found themselves placed in roles like supply management and medical assistance.

Danjuma clasped his hands behind his back.

"Welcome to your new life."

The first few days were surreal. Jace and his family were given an apartment, clean clothes, and ration cards. It felt safe but something felt off.

There were patrols everywhere, ensuring people stayed in line. While people looked happy, Jace could see the truth in their eyes-they were trapped.

Then came the offer.

Jace and Kunle were called to meet Colonel Ibrahim Alade, a high-ranking official. He sat behind a wooden desk, hands folded, studying them.

"You two are capable men," he said finally. "We have a mission for you."

Jace exchanged a glance with Kunle. "What kind of mission?"

Alade leaned forward.

"Abuja. We need to retrieve certain artifacts from the National Museum. High-value cultural and historical pieces. They must be recovered... before looters take them."

Jace frowned. "Why us?"

Alade smirked. "Because we can't risk sending our men. If you fail, we lose nothing. But if you succeed... you will be rewarded."

Kunle raised an eyebrow. "Rewarded how?"

Alade's smirk widened.

"Freedom. A way out of here."

Silence.

Jace's mind raced.

This was it. Their chance.

But there was one problem-

What else was waiting for them in Abuja?