Revolution and Power
Somewhere in Russia.
"Let's go over this again", Andreas ordered the man wearing a white coat. The man with a white coat nodded and signalled for the two security men to bring the tied man.
"Please, I beg you. Don't kill me please", the man, who was already beaten to a pulp begged in his native language. His face was riddled with wounds and dried blood, and his left eye was swollen and black. Apart from the blue-stripped trousers he wore, he was almost naked.
There was a white circular line marked over the base of his skull. The man kept pleading for the scientist to free him, but he turned a deaf ear and ordered for him to be tied to the wooden chair.
"My wife is waiting for me, my children…" the man kept begging, but received no response. The man wearing the white coat took a chalk, cleaned the circular line on his head and marked a plus in specific areas of his skull.
"No, you can't do this", the man cried out. Andreas, who was already annoyed by the yapping stood and slowly approached the bleeding man. "Shut up! You have no idea how privileged you are to be among the first people to be given the chance to unlock your hidden abilities. You should be thanking us".
"I'm not interested in unlocking anything. I'm okay with what I am—". His was interrupted by a punch on his cheeks. "You low lives don't know anything. You have no idea what this opportunity could do to your pathetic life. You'll have the power to rule the world, and no one would question you".
Then, coming closer, he whispered. "You can even control World powers and become the king of the earth. Think about it, riches beyond measure".
The bleeding man shook his head negatively and growled. "I love my life as it is. I have no interest in controlling anybody". "That's pathetic". Looking up at the man with a coat, he signalled him.
The man in coat brought out an electric saw and turned it on. "No no no—argghhh!!!!" The man's screamed in horror as his skull was gradually split open.
Andreas left the room and dialled a number on his cell phone. "Give me good news", he said. "He's still adamant Andreas. But don't worry, I'll keep trying", the caller on the other end said.
"Forget it. We're going with the next plan", Andreas sighed. "No hold on for a second. You are not killing him Andreas. We've talked about this—".
"I'm running out of patience Eugene. The plan needs to keep moving".
"Then give me six months to convince him, please", Eugene begged. "Three months, and that's final", Andreas said and disconnected the call.
* * * * * * * * * *
As soon as he was fully relaxed, Caleb left the balcony and decided to call it a day. However, he saw Hawking still seated on his bed, screwing in a silencer on his Desert Eagle.
"I assume you were asleep", Caleb said lamely and sat on his bed. "I couldn't sleep", Hawking replied. Caleb nodded and fell silent for a moment.
"I've been thinking, and I want to resume schooling", Caleb said. However, Hawking didn't seem surprised. "Really? You care to say why?"
"It's been my dream to graduate from University and earn a degree that's why. Besides, it's what my mother would want me to do", he replied.
"Caleb", Hawking suddenly called his name. "Hmm?"
"Were you taught relativity in school?"
"Not at all?
"Alright, but you should know the consequence of wormholes opening at random locations".
"Kolade told me it's affecting the time-space continuum, but I don't understand", Caleb frowned. Out of all the events that would've ended humanity, this one was outright ridiculous.
Hawking didn't reply immediately. As soon as he was done calibrating the gun, he took out something that looked like a compass. "Do you know what happens if you puncture a tyre without patching it?"
"All the compressed air would escape. But I don't get your point—"
"My point is, a wormhole is open, it conflicts with the laws of physics, and if someone don't "patch" the hole it caused, not even your little brain could comprehend the destruction that would ensue".
Caleb fell into deep thought. Wormholes are not really that destructive, is it? Was it why it was so small? "Please, don't be offended, but how long does this wormhole need to exist before it begin causing chaos?"
"Two days at max", Hawking answered. "And you people somehow built a device that could shrink it back to its original size in record time?" Caleb frowned. "That I cannot answer you", Hawking said.
"Alright, I'm done. Now let's discuss tomorrows plan", Hawking dropped the compass on the small table and faced Caleb, staring at him directly at his eyes.
"Alright, I'm listening".
"Before I begin, I need to enlighten you on the event that led up to Albert's death".
* * * * * * * * * *
The police knew there was a foul play on Albert's death, but they couldn't find a solid evidence, since the murderer had cleaned up his tracks. The only information they knew was that all of his research went missing mysteriously.
However, Lucy already knew who and when Albert was killed. While his fellow scientists believed he was delusional, only one saw that he wasn't bluffing.
His name was Eugene Westfield. He was the closest friend to Albert, having done multiple projects and researches in the country of England together. Before his unfortunate death, however, Eugene was charged with embezzlement and was made to spend thirty years in prison.
However, Albert was able to bail him, but he lost his license to practice medicine, so he opted for other unrelated job. He married a Nigerian woman and settled in Port-Harcourt, where he got his job as a school board committee, thanks to his reputation as a former practising doctor.
It wasn't long before he was transferred to Victoria Island where he joined the group of inspection board members, which involves rating selected schools in Lagos in terms of educational quality, population, and overall school's cleanliness.
However, that was not attracted him to Lucy. It was his connection to a group of Russian scientist.
* * * * * * * * * *
"You see, these people had figured out that the hippocampus was special, and so naturally when they heard of Albert's research, they wanted him to join them for one aim—to turn the dream to reality", Hawking paused for Caleb to digest all of the information.
Caleb, being the fast thinker understood everything in a short while. "But Albert refused their invitation, so they murdered him during the countdown to new year", Caleb immediately understood the reason of Albert's death and his missing research papers.
"Correct. And his death is three months away, which gives us time to prepare. This is where our main mission begins. I've already laid out the plans, but I would like your input", Hawking said and took out a blueprint of a house.