Bab 76: CH74: TEAM REUNION
This is a passion work. So, I would really appreciate it if you leave behind a review when you're done reading.
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CH74: TEAM REUNION
"Something weird has been going on with us since we woke up. Colonel Balogun said you would explain it to us when you got back." Fatima said to Korede.
The other team members also looked to him expectantly.
When Korede saw their expressions, he involuntarily smiled.
"As I'm sure you've noticed, the changes that have occurred in you are mostly beneficial. Any discomfort you have is because you haven't gotten used to these changes nor learnt how to control or manage them." He said
The team nodded
He continued, "The changes you see, are as a result of you all reaching the Master Skill Level"
"Master Skill Level…" Abdul-Lateef murmured silently while his eyes flickered.
This didn't escape Korede's notice. He, however, didn't say anything to him as he could see the confused expression of the others.
"Due to our current location, I can't tell you much. What I can tell you is that there're seven Skill levels. Novice, Beginner, Specialist, Expert, Master, Grandmaster and, finally, the God-like Level in ascending order of strength. You guys have reached the fifth level which is the Master Skill level. This caused the changes you noticed. You have been granted access to latent superhuman abilities your body possesses." Korede said.
While the team was in reverie, he added,
"Although Masters aren't common, they aren't so rare either. My family always produces more than two every generation. So, you don't have to be concerned or complacent about your newfound abilities."
"Then it would be the commander and you in this current generation, right?" Fatima asked.
"Oh? You can tell?" Korede asked.
He was a little surprised she could tell. It wasn't exactly easy to tell someone was a Master if the person really wanted to hide it. Most people would just feel the person was special, that's all. Since Korede was able to use experience and a trick to determine one's skill level, he knew the importance of being able to hide your Skill level.
Due to this, he had asked Aon and Grandmaster Hattori Hanzo for tips to better hide his Will and consequently, his Skill level. Now, unless he actively used his Will, it would be difficult for someone to tell he was a Master or, at least, possessed Will
"Yes" Fatima affirmed. "The Colonel hinted to us that he was like us. So, if we're Masters, he must be one too. And I can sense something similar to my abilities from you. So I'm guessing you're one too."
From her explanation, Korede had an idea of how she noticed.
He channelled his Will into the {Life Communication} script.
"What about now?" He asked.
"Yes, the feeling is stronger and clearer now."
He withdrew his Will from the script and channelled it into the other Will Tactics Scripts shared by the others. Immediately he did, each person reacted to the corresponding script. This confirmed his suspicions.
'Will Tactics Resonance!'
[Seems like it] Aon agreed.
'Do you know about this?'
[No, I do not. This is the first time I'm also seeing Will Tactic transferred to others. So, whatever happens, is new to me too. However, it's interesting]
"What's going on?" The team members asked.
"Well, I think I can explain but not here. Talks about this and Skill level can't be discussed anywhere nor openly."
The team realised there must be an important secret he didn't want to reveal at their current location.
"Also…" Korede said, gesturing out the ward.
The team members looked there and saw their families heading to their ward.
"We'll continue this later. For now, just know that what you have is a good thing." He said.
Korede seemed to remember something else.
"We'll also need to decide on each of our futures. When we're at a more secure venue, I'll explain better."
Just as he finished saying that, the ward door opened and the families entered. Korede stood up and exchanged pleasantries with them and was about to leave.
"Why don't you stay so that we can get to know each other well? We're all pretty much family now." Mrs Abdul-Salam said.
For some reason, Korede found it hard to refuse her so he stayed. Also, he didn't have anything he urgently needed to do.
Banter and laughter filled the room as the families exchanged stories. Korede was secretly grateful his family wasn't present as some of the stories exchanged were embarrassing. He couldn't help but wonder what the families had talked about when they were in a coma.
Due to their coma, the families had become familiar with each other and they all quickly became close. They must have talked about their children. So, Korede's worries were not too far fetched.
The chatter and banter continued for two hours until Korede finally said.
"Sorry but I have to go. I enjoyed my time and the stories. However, I just got back from a mission and I haven't gone home yet."
Hearing that, nobody said anything to make him stay.
Korede was about to leave when he heard someone say,
"Were you the one the army sent to Onitsha?"
Korede looked back. It was Champion's father and his programming tutor who had spoken.
"Onitsha? What do you mean?" Korede feigned ignorance while the Bravo team were caught off guard by the sudden question.
"Dad…" Champion called out trying to stop his father but the man ignored him.
Mr Onuoha didn't say anything. He opened his phone and played a video. It was a news feed.
Somehow, the media had gotten word that the NDz had been destroyed by the Security-Defence forces.
"I know the NDz and two other groups were involved in the mission that put your team in a coma. So, I followed up on them. Today, when I heard about the destruction of the gang, I called in a favour with one of my contacts. He confirmed to me that it was done by the army. Five days ago, you left for a mission. Today, you're back and one of the groups responsible for the mishap of your previous mission was destroyed. I don't think it's a coincidence."
While he was inwardly shocked, Korede didn't show it on his face.
"What are you getting at, sir?" He asked.
"Thank you." Mr Onuoha said.
"I didn't do anything, sir." Korede denied. He turned around to leave.
Just before he walked through the door, he said without turning back.
"Even if I did, it wasn't necessarily for revenge."
With that, he left.
Mr Lawal, Temitope's father, eyed the youth as he left. Though he tried to hide it, the retired grifter and expert conman who spent his life reading people could tell there was some truth to Mr Onuoha's words judging from the youth's reaction.
He looked at his son, who immediately looked away, confirming his suspicion. He smiled.
As for Mrs Abdul-Salam and the Mohammeds, they were confused as to what just happened.
Just when they were about to ask questions, their children quickly changed the topic. They went along with it as they understood it was probably what they shouldn't ask.
Outside the hospital, Korede looked back and shook his head.
'It seems the clean-up was not thorough enough. To think even a civilian could figure things out.'
Actually, Korede was overreacting. Mr Onuoha wasn't an ordinary civilian. His company was a big military contractor, so he had close ties with the top echelon of the military. It wouldn't be too difficult for him to call in a few favours to find out whatever he wanted to know. Not to mention, though the mission was classified to obscure the army's role in the Op, it wasn't to the extent of a National Security level secret. So, some officers might be loose-tongued about it. Of course, to specific people.
However, this caused Korede to come to a decision.
'If a civilian can find out about the Op, who is to say more important missions won't be compromised. I'm starting to wonder if I should trust the system for what I want… need to do. I guess I only have one choice.'
[Are you sure about that? You know you're overreacting, right? You really think it would be that easy to find out about your country's core secrets?]
'I know I'm overreacting. You can even call me paranoid. I don't just want to take any chances. With how good the Emissary's intel network seems to be, if a civilian can get hold of military intel, I don't see anything stopping him from doing the same or better.'
[Fair enough. Well, it's your decision.]
Korede took a breath and looked at the sky. After a while, he shook his head before heading to the barracks in the camp to pack his things. He soon left the base with his things after leaving a message for his brother.
He left the base and took a taxi heading home.
When he got home, his father wasn't around. Only his mother, Shade Balogun, and nephew, Dare, were present. When the little guy saw him, he jumped on and stuck to him not letting go. Like that, Korede greeted his mother before showing the little boy his gifts. It was only then the boy released him to play with the toys.
Korede laughed while Shade when to prepare something for her darling son to eat.
'It's good to be home.' Korede thought.
A few days later, it was the first anniversary of the Alpha team's deaths.
[A.N: Please, don't forget to leave a review of the work to encourage me. Your opinion matters to me.]
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