9 The Black Scorpion

Sequence 1

Michael wakes up on the dusty floor of an abandoned castle dressed in a scale armour cuirass with a sword by his side.

He gets up,taking the sword with him and walks around, trying to find a way out of the run down castle.

As he walks over scattered books, ruined furniture and broken glass he stares transfixed at the word "survive", scribbled wildly on the walls.

He hears something rustling behind him and turns to face it but relaxes when he sees it's only a cat scurrying across the room.

Michael sighs, thinking he's safe, then turns around to face seven men in full metal armour, armed with swords, clubs and spears.

They charge him from all sides and he leaps over them to avoid their attack. He lands behind one and quickly stabs him through the heart.

He rips the sword out and with a mighty swing, decapitates another foe. A spearman rushes to stab Michael but he dodges and cuts the pole in two. Swinging again he moves to end the spearman but is smacked by a swinging club to the head and knocked to the floor.

DIVA tells him "Simulation Over" and the room fades back to a familiar white. Michael groans on the floor saying, "Come on I was winning!".

Researcher Idirabo tosses a kernel of popcorn into his mouth from the observation room and replies "You were not winning".

DIVA tells Michael "By my calculations you had a 20% chance of winning using that fighting pattern, focusing on one opponent at a time puts you at a disadvantage".

Michael hisses and gets up saying, "What do you know you're just a robot".

He grabs the sword and prepares to go again but DIVA tells him "Training has been suspended as Doctor Amina has just arrived".

Michael blasts the air with fire out of frustration as Amina walks in with a young boy hiding sheepishly behind her.

He quickly composes himself and greets her saying "Doctor…" then points his sword to the boy asking "...who's this?".

Amina responds within a giddy smile "Meet the newest member of the team".

Michael turns away, playfully twisting the sword around, and asks "Oh really? I didn't know we were hosting a field trip, I would have been better dressed".

Annoyed, Amina replies "You lack manners" so he begrudgingly walks over and forcefully shakes the boy's hand saying "Alright… I'm Michael".

The boy responds "My name is Oresegun Otedola or Segun or Black Scorpion whichever works".

Michael thinks "This guy looks like a lost kitten, he must have some serious hidden powers for them to bring him in".

Segun stares back thinking, "This guy looks pretty normal, I don't get why he's such a big deal".

Segun lets go once he feels a burning sensation overcome his hand.

Amina glares at Michael and he responds with a shrug, feigning innocence.

She sighs and tells him "Anyway Segun will be piloting the Phalanx to help support you".

Michael replies "I don't need any support" to which Amina counters, "Well you don't make the rules here so start getting comfortable with each other".

Amina signals to the researcher to follow her and leaves them alone together.

Michael sighs, "I'm going to the common room to grab some chow, are you coming?" to which Segun replies "Yeah sure" and follows him out of the training room.

They walk in awkward silence to the common room and are served their meals, yam and egg sauce each with a side of malt.

After several minutes of eating in silence Segun works up the courage to ask "So I noticed everyone giving you some bad looks, what happened?".

Michael swallows his yam and takes a sip of his drink before replying, "They hate me because I'm better than them".

Curious Segun presses further "In what way?" and Michael responds by releasing a quick burst of flame from his hand, startling Segun who asks excitedly "Whoa how did you do that!?".

Before Michael can answer their chat is interrupted by Dele calling them to one of the interrogation rooms over the intercom.

Sequence 2

The two boys quickly get up and rush to the designated spot. Once there, they meet Dele and Amina standing beside a two- way mirror which divides the room. On the other side, Prophet and Doctor Enotayo prepare to interview the captured target from Aagba, flanked by four guards.

Michael asks "You called us here?".

Dele answers, "It's time the two of you see how we really operate around here. The information we extract from him will affect your futures so watch carefully".

Amina taps her microphone and says "You may begin the procedure".

Doctor Enotayo's eyes glow a brilliant green as she says "I will find his true spirit" .

The man laughs "You will find nothing! You can not stop us, we will soon drive you all...".

The man's rambling turns to mumbling which turns to screams and frantic thrashing around.

Prophet tells the man "Resisting will not help your case" as he rolls around on the floor, screaming, cursing and banging his head on the walls

He does this until a spirit comes out through his mouth which Prophet absorbs into the eye of his staff.

As the bruised man staggers to get up, SDF personnel rush to restrain, blindfold, and drag him out of the room.

Doctor Enotayo and Prophet get up as well and move outside to meet Dele, Amina, Michael and Segun.

Dele tells Doctor Enotayo "Good work" and she replies in her mind, "Not a problem boss, he isn't the first Yoruba demon I had to deal with".

As he pulls her aside by the waist to talk away from everyone else, Prophet stretches his hand to Segun saying "They call me the Prophet, what is your name young man".

Segun walks forward reluctantly, taken aback by his white robe and staff saying, "My name is Oresegun Otedola sir".

As they shake hands, Segun feels something move through his fingers and jumps back as a small bird flies out of his palm.

Segun asks "How are you doing all this?".

The bird perches on Prophet's shoulder as he replies "In this world there are two realities, the physical and metaphysical. Though Ashe flows through each living thing, there are those of us who can bend it to our will and display abilities some consider to be unnatural".

Segun asks again, "Is it possible to learn this power?".

Prophet responds, "Yes, but it demands a heavy price" placing his hands over his sad, grey eyes.

Segun thinks "If blindness or demon possession is the price for super powers I'd rather stick with the suit" and he hears a voice tell him "Wise choice".

Confused Segun looks around asking, "Who said that?" and Michael tells him, "You'll hear that a lot just ignore it".

Dele returns to the group and informs them, "This is bad, we've gotten a positive link between this man and the Dark Wizard, he keeps reappearing in his memories".

Michael asks "Why is this bad, who is the Dark Wizard?".

Prophet turns to Michael and replies "The man who made you into that beast, he has been luring people all over the west with false promises and turning them into his pawns".

Michael's eyes glow red and he balls his fists in rage. Dele walks towards him, with Enotayo closely following behind.

He places his hand on his shoulder and says, "Don't waste your anger, save it for the enemies to come, now go get some rest, both of you".

Michael removes Dele' s hand from his shoulder and turns to walk but before he does Prophet tells them "Guard your hearts,for a weak heart is like an open wound, the pathway to destruction".

He turns back and replies "I'll keep that in mind" then walks away with Segun not far behind.

Segun looks up at Michael and says "That was pretty intense wasn't it?" but Michael simply stares back in disdain.

They awkwardly walk to their cells but before they enter Segun asks, "So… what's the plan for tomorrow?".

Michael replies dryly, "Training".

Segun goes in for a high five asking "Alright when are we going?" but Michael ignores it, replying, "You would just slow me down" before walking into his cell.

Disappointed, Segun does the same and sits silently on the bed thinking "What am I doing here?".

Restless and unable to sleep, he asks DIVA "Can you give me something to draw with?" and the side drawer opens to reveal mathematical instruments and paper.

Segun draws a sketch of the Phalanx with the arms and tail made of flexible cords instead of robotic arms.

He spends the next hour sketching and labelling until he falls asleep.

Sequence 3

The next morning Michael gets out of bed, freshens up and runs straight to the simulation room to begin training.

Before he can begin DIVA tells him "Doctor Amina will be here soon".

As she walks in, Michael moans, "For goodness sake what is it this time?".

Amina simply smiles, tilting her head playfully "I'm amending your training schedule, Segun will be training with you from now on".

Michael grumbles under his breath as Amina continues "... Also, we brought in an expert to help with your less than impressive sword work".

A lanky man in his late 30s walks in, prompting Segun to bow saying "Sensei".

The man bows in turn and responds "Segun, I see you're doing well".

Confused, Michael asks "What is going on here?" and the man responds "My name is Sensei Frank, Martial Arts instructor specialising in Karate, Judo and Kendo"

Segun asks "Sensei, how did you end up here?".

Frank simply laughs "I work for these people, we've been watching you for a long time".

He then turns to Michael, saying "We can go over that later, now we have to deal with the main problem. DIVA, give me a sword".

A mock sword drops from the ceiling and Frank catches it with ease saying "Michael, show me your stance".

Michael moves one foot forward and raises his sword at eye level. Frank slowly walks to him saying "Good foot placement… firm grip" then lunges forward to strike Michael's left side but he quickly moves to block it.

Frank says "You have good instincts but not good enough" as Michael notices someone behind him.

He dodges just in time as a simulated enemy tries to strike him from behind.

Michael dodges more quick attacks from Frank who shouts "The battle is not over yet!".

He blocks a fury of attacks from the two of them until he loses his footing and is kicked to the ground by Frank.

With a sword to Michael's neck Frank tells him "You never relax until the enemy is defeated, remember that!".

He turns the sword away and helps Michael up to his feet.

Frank tells Amina "He has a foundation, it's weak but I can strengthen it. Give me some time alone with him, I will meet with Segun later".

Amina replies, "You're the boss" then turns to Segun saying "Come let's go work on those upgrades you made" and they both leave quietly.

With the two of them alone, Frank and Michael start intense simulation training with Michael mirroring his moves.

They train for five hours without a break until Frank tells him, "You have a fire in you boy, very few of my students have shown this, what drives you?"

Michael grips the sword tightly saying "I just want to be free".

Frank grabs a towel and wipes his sweat saying "I knew someone who thought the same, he wanted freedom at all costs, eventually it cost him everything".

As Frank walks to the door Michael asks "Who was he?".

Frank replies "Kengo Abe, my former master" and walks out of the training room, leaving Michael to think on his own.

After 30 seconds of silently standing DIVA tells Michael "Rest is an essential part of a good training session" but Michael replies "I can't rest, not yet" and continues training on his own for several more hours, only stopping to drink water.

Amina and Segun come back to meet Michael slaying virtual targets and she asks with slight shock in her voice "You're still here!?".

Michael destroys the final target and says "What else would I be doing with my time?".

Walking closer, Amina quips playfully "I don't know, eating, resting, interacting with others like a normal person?".

Michael replies "But I'm not a 'normal' person, I don't even know what I am".

She puts her hand on his shoulder and says "We had this talk before Michael" but he gently pulls her hand off and replies "I can't".

Amina sighs, "Fine, it's 6:30 so I still have time, Segun dear, why don't you show Michael what you've learned?".

Segun waves his arms protesting "Wait! wait! wait! I can't fight him, what if he burns me!".

Amina turns to Segun's saying "You can't have your suit with you all the time, better to learn now than later" then points her finger at Michael sternly saying, "No fire, no flying!".

Michael shrugs replying, "I can't promise anything" while moving back a safe distance from her.

Segun also nervously moves in front of Michael, with his legs shaking but before they can face off DIVA floods the room with red light shouting;

"ALERT! ALERT! LEVEL FOUR THREAT DETECTED IN THE EASTERN SECTOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED"

Surprised, Amina asks "Why all this for a level four!?", then gets a phone call from Dele who tells her, "Get Michael and Segun suited up in the upper levels now!".

Exasperated, Amina shouts to Segun and Michael "Come on let's go now!".

The End?