Chapter 8: Chapter 8

REPUBLIC OF AFRICA

OYO TOWN

As their bus trotted past the famous Trans amusement park, it reminded Lola about the past. It was a year before the infamous explosion, where she visited the park alongside her extended family. Back then, she was so timidly in riding those Ferris wheel. How she had grown envious of her cousins whose excited screams itched her eardrums. How her grandmother had supported and encouraged her in overcoming her fears. Those were the good old days until her life changed drastically. From her parents deaths to being a doctor and activist. But that life too changed. In one day, she had lost the right to return to Area X, the right to be a medical doctor, the right to bade her loved ones farewell. All to be an agent of The Shining, founded by a billionaire whose ways she deemed eccentric.

"Remembering good memories?" The voice asked gently beside her. It tousled her from her thoughts and only then did she pay attention to her surroundings. Rita sat in the front seat alongside the driver while Collins and Michael took the other row, giggling about something she presumed mischievous. Theodore and Marcus took the other, totally minding their business. Ariel was the loner occupying the next row, enjoying her music that blared from her headset. And lastly her, seated with The Trainer. A man she hadn't really paid attention too during their first meeting. His hair was sporting a messy undercut and a full boxed beard. His eyes were Chestnut and clear. But what attracted her most, was his ebony skin and full pink lips.

"Yeah." She replied softly, secretly taking notes of his features. Now that she looked closely, he appeared charming and for the first time, he wore a smile that brightened his face.

"I visited that park four years ago with my family."

"I'm sure you must have had quite a lot of fun." He replied with his endearing Chestnut eyes.

She nodded slowly, with a smile growing on her lips.

"Life used to be fun." She whispered uncertain if he heard her or not.

He heaved a light sigh.

"It's a shame how life changes drastically." He referenced. She studied him closely. His eyes hinted faint sadness which made her wonder what kind of pain the explosion had gifted him.

"Indeed." She affirmed as she looked through the tinted glass. "Who could have thought a doctor like me will end up signing up for one bizarre mission."

He chuckled.

"What is this Terrorists agenda? Who or what are they attacking and why?" She turned to him.

"I'm not in any position to tell." He answered. Her eyes lowered, Doctor Roberts had only revealed little and she hoped The Trainer could clear her questions. To which he failed.

"Are you," she paused her lips as their eyes met. "I hate to use the word mutant but are you like us?" She asked, secretly cursing herself for being stereotypical like the government was. Ever since the explosion, every human that were affected by the radiation in one or the other was tagged a mutant. And simply transported to Area X. A home for the less privileged.

"Unfortunately, No." He answered. She arched her eyebrow upwards.

"Unfortunately?" She queried. He smiled.

"I'm sure you can't deny the excitement you feel for having superpowers." He explained. She sighed lightly.

"That is until you know the adverse effects that comes along with them." Her eyes lowered.

"Adverse effects?" He shot her a quizzical look.

"Every thing the explosion might have given to this world, comes with a cost." She answered and then looked through the tinted glass. Opting to enjoy the rest of the journey in silence.

#########

"Say hello! To The Shining's abode." Doctor Roberts muttered in a grand gesture as they arrived in front of a flat. Roughly plastered with a faint blue metal door. Rusted and with a broken handle. The front window was designed archaically with louvers and the roofings weren't so intriguing either.

The sun shone under the serenity of the environment, barely developed. The grounds were tons of sands that sank her heels. The neighbouring houses were scattered and either plastered or uncompleted buildings with octogenarians as it's inhabitants.

"This," Collins was the first to respond as they stood side by side with each other. "Is where we'll be living for the next six months?!" He blurted with his dissatisfaction evidently written on his face.

"What were you expecting?" Doctor Roberts grinned, as he sauntered to the door.

"A magnificent building with special guards in a perfectly modeled environment."

"Yes!" Collins affirmed. "And not some typical old woman's house in a village!"

"Will you just shut up and get inside." Marcus huffed beside him. "Like you live in a better home than this."

"Says the monkey who can't pay his rent." Collins scowled.

Lola quickly intervened before another drama exploded between the two of them.

"Let's just go inside. It's sunny." She muttered calmly while the others threaded into the building.

Once she emerged into the apartment, she was greeted by a ridiculously large parlour decorated with archaic furniture. Clothed Couches that reminded of the late 1900s, a small Panasonic CRT television seated in an archaic wooden shelf, a white ceiling fan hanging from dusty asbestos and a large wooden centre table rooted amidst the couches.

"This place is awesome!" Michael pitched and all the attention diverted to him. Frowning and mumbling incoherent words.

"But why would you bring us here of all places, Doctor Roberts?" She asked while the others resigned lazily to the couches.

"Utopia is off limits for your kind at the moment, Heathers and Rivernea are currently victims of insecurities, New Canada is currently a breeding ground for politics and Area X!" He paused with a concerned expression. "That is the last place any of us would want to breathe in right now."

Lola sighed as she tiredly resigned to a single chair while Doctor Roberts and The Trainer stood.

"Besides, you'll have to agree with me that Africa is the peaceful and beautiful continent to be in right now. And this environment is the perfect place for our operations."

"Utopia is better than every other continents please." Collins remarked nonchalantly. She peered at him, wondering why he tends to be wild and sarcastic in his ways. Her attention further drifted to Ariel. In more than twenty-four hours they've spent together, the girl was the only one that hadn't said a word. It picked her curiosity but decided against talking to her. There were already too much to deal with.

"Yes Collins." Doctor Roberts responded while Rita emerged from the kitchen spreading drinks and snacks on the table. "Thank you." He added. "Now without further ado, let's get on to business."

"We just arrived Doctor Roberts, the flight and road travel stress still aches my body." Michael groaned.

"Forgive me, but the six months contract you all signed starts from now. And it proudly states that your working hours in The Shining starts from 9 am to 4pm." Doctor Roberts paused to check his watch. "This is just thirty minutes past three so there's still time."

"Oh great." Theodore rolled his eyes.

"Service!" Lola frowned as Doctor Roberts pitched while he clapped his hands for a brief moment. And suddenly the door closed, the windows shut, the whole building vibrated as astonishing blue lights appeared from the ceiling, the fan disappeared into the now metal ceilings. Paving way for a projector to birth. The CRT transformed into a small Nano-LED TV brightly displaying, The Shining.

Air conditioners protruded from the seamless walls and the wooden center table flipped into a steel table visualizing 3D holograms. The Shining, alongside several radar information.

Lola exhaled from awe that consumed her entirety. She was certain the others felt same too. The pace and glory at which an old house transformed into a technological advanced room, amused her to the very core.

"Who said this was an old woman's house?" Doctor Roberts mentioned with a proud grin. Lola smiled.

"Oh my God!" Collins muttered with his eyes scaling about the room and expressing only one thing. Amazement.

"This is amazing!" Michael added.

"Unbelievable!" Marcus muttered before his jaw dropped. Theodore and Ariel retained silence. Choosing to keep their words of astonishment to themselves while Rita and Trevor remained unmoved.

"This house is controlled by my specially programmed Super AI, Service. It's a digital Life assistant system and since you guys are now agents of The Shining, you have access to him by voicing the command word, Service."

Doctor Roberts explained while they continued to stare like enchanted beings.

"Interesting facts about this house is, it's soundproof, Lifi rooted, a perfect room for working and above all, can give limited range of comfort you need."

"Any comfort?!" Collins pitched surprisingly. "Service! I need a massage." Collins smirked.

"On it!" The voice sounded sonorously throughout the room. Lola watched in awe as his chair started to vibrate.

Doctor Roberts laughed. "Back to work, you guys will be staying at this house thirty metres away. Rita will show you the ropes." He pulled out a cubical hologram Service displayed before expanding the image. The Hologram floated midair as it encompassed the room visualizing,

A five bedroom flat luxuriously furnished.

"And your working hours like I said before will be from 9am to 4pm for the next six months. No information about The Shining shall be revealed under any circumstances. Your movements will also be monitored just in case.

And every of your expenses and needs will be handled by the agency. Here are your credit cards." The Doctor gestured courteously to the steel table that had now slid open six sides at the edges. Revealing dazzling Black credit cards.

Lola wriggled her head in disbelief as Collins and Michael briskly scooped it off with cunning grins on their faces.

"That'll be all for today, work shall resume tomorrow." Doctor Roberts continued while Service diminished the hologram.

"In the meantime, I'll advice you spend the rest your day getting whatever you need and enjoy the fresh atmosphere Africa has to offer."

Collins and Michael instantly raced towards the door that refused to open.

"Service! Open the door." Collins yelled excitedly and the door gently opened.

Lola watched the rest tour out of the building except The Trainer and Doctor Roberts.

"Won't you like to go for a walk?" Doctor Roberts asked as he sat beside her. She sighed.

"Most of my questions are yet to be answered." She replied.

"With time, you'll get answers." He smiled. "Speaking of which, you still haven't told me what you want for compensation."

She studied his expression for minutes unsure if the famous billionaire would be able to fulfill her request.