OPPOSITES

The Plan

GKIRIKIRI MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON,LAGOS STATE.

Tom and Kabala alighted their SUV,both dressed in black,uniformed suits and their eyes were concealed in sunshades. The guard noticed this unusual drip from both strange,young men and approached them,stopping them before they could get into the prison gate.

"Who are you young men and what do you want?" He questioned,sounding as tough as he could be. Both of them chuckled and faced him.

"CIA, we're here to see your Oga." Tom replied confidently.

"Badg...?" He was stopped right on his tracks as he saw their badges.

"Would you let us in now?" Kabala asked. He frowned,several times CIA agents had visited but those crooks were worse than a corrupt police officer. They had ways made sure that they delivered errands for crime bosses who obligatorily had to be imprisoned and he despised them but something told him these guys were different and that they were here for justice.

"When you get inside,there's a door just before the passage to the prison,that's where the offices are. There you'll meet security that would ask you why you are here and also direct you to the Boss." He gave them the directions.

Kabala walked up to him with a smile and patted his shoulders.

"Thank you so much,you just made our jobs easier." He said and walked in. Tom followed him but not without thanking the guard profusely. The guard,confused and suspicious, contacted his boss via his walkie-talkie and told him of their presence.

After five minutes of getting searched and questioned by the security guards,they were led to meet the director of the prison whose office seemed to be opposite of what they had expected. As they walked through the dimly lit passage,they could not help but notice the state of the walls which were fading and also collapsing. They knew the building wouldn't last long if it wasn't maintained or renovated,they just wondered why the government never paid attention to the prisons but were eager to send petty and small-time criminals to such jails which breakouts would be high.

"Here we are." The security guard told them and stood before a huge,mahogany door. They made to open the door but the guard stopped them.

"Why?" Tom asked.

"Oga no get joy. (The boss is an angry man). If you enter unannounced,he might shoot your legs." The guard warned.

Kabala wondered why the country was like this. How could a mentally unstable person be allowed to direct the operations of a prison.

"Okay,thanks." Tom said and knocked the door.

"Come in." A deep,gruffy voice replied from inside. He turned the knob and walked in with Kabala trudging in behind him.

"Good afternoon sir." Tom greeted,notcing that it was an elderly man, probably in his late fifties. He was in a grey suit and was seated behind a desk. Before him was a laptop which he was studying something on.

"Have a seat." He said after both men had gotten into the room. They both sat and just remained silent. Kabala tried to speak but he was shut down by the director's hand signal that told him to hold on. After a minute of observation,he stopped and faced both young men who seemed eager to discuss with him.

"What brings the CIA's meta squad here?" He chuckled and relaxed.

"We're here to discuss sir." Tom replied. He laughed and sat straight.

"Discuss about what?" He asked.

"About this guy." Kabala replied and brought out a tablet from his bag and placed it on the desk before the old man.

"What's this?" The director asked.

"You'll see." The former said and Scorpio's prison profile showed up on the screen. The director's eyes widened for a few seconds and then he regained his composure.

"So what's up with him?" He asked.

"A lot and we need your cooperation." Tom replied.

"Why are you here to discuss about him?" The director asked.

"Because he's the suspect of a national crime case,we need to find out as much as we can about him." Tom replied.

"Okay,so what do you want to know?" The old man asked and his eyebrows creased into a frown.

"Everything."

"I don't know much about him. All I know is that his name is Ben Oisho. He was brought here on a ten year term for manslaughter but in 2019,the vice-president gave him presidential pardon and he left." He explained. Tom and Kabala stared at each other,they knew that story but there was more they needed from this man who seemed to be holding back.

Then Tom came up with a great idea,he got up and began to survey the room,looking up and down for anything interesting as though the whole office was. From the marveled tiles to the well designed ceilings and also the expensive collections of wine on a shelf in the office,it sure seemed like one which belonged to a pimp.

"You know,you guys over here are underappreciated?" He said. The older man stared at him in agreement and nodded.

"Yes. I mean we're here bounding dangerous people away from the community while standing the risk of getting killed in a rescue mission or in a jailbreak from one of the prisoners but the government and the people only recognize the armed forces,they recognize the police and pay them more while we here are the dogs that have to feed off the crumbles of bread that have fallen on the floor." He complained. Both agents knew they had gotten his emotions and decided to put the advantage into use.

"You know for an underappreciated directory,you sure do have a fancy and luxurious office." Tom continued. The older man broke a sweat and shuddered,knowing he had sold. himself and was trapped.

"Well I have a cotton farm and my wife has a brand of clothes." He defended. That was true but it didn't explain the extreme luxury out in his office.

"Oh,that's nice. You know I know about both companies you just mentioned and they both have a net worth of about $400,000. That leaves me wondering how you managed to get this rare alligator skinned couch here." Kabala said,sitting on a green,leather couch behind the director.

"I wonder if you launder?" Tom rhymed. The older man sweat again but suddenly relaxed, realizing there was nothing wrong with telling them the truth.

"Okay I'll tell you everything about Scorpio." He agreed.

"Good,now let's hear it." Kabala said and sat opposite him,staring right into his face.

"In March 2019,the vice president visited me and requested that I released Kabala,I refused,knowing he once worked for a drug cartel and the manslaughter he was arrested for was the smallest of his crimes which were unknown. He offered me up to 20 Million Naira but I rejected,it was until he threatened that I'll lose my job that I agreed and freed him. I knew something was fishy that day and told some of my boys to stalk them,the only information I eventually got was that Scorpio had joined the special ops squad and had gone rogue. Everyone searched for him but he's just disappeared." He explained. After the explanation,he sighed and sat back on his chair.

"Thank you for the information, we'll be on our way now." Tom said and pulled Kabala up. As both men got to the door,Tom turned and faced the older man.

"I guess that bribe made you a millionaire? Anyways,your secret is safe with me as long as you give every worker a raise and probably a side hustle." He warned.

"Yes I agree." The director said and the door was shut. He just wondered what was happening.

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Lexi and Dare were seated right in front of the director's desk in his office,awaiting the older man to show up. Amidst the waiting,Dare's phone rang and he answered the call.

"Salam Alaekum son." She greeted.

"Waleikum Salam mom,how're you doing?" He replied. He felt her chuckle and then she replied.

"I'm fine. Dare,where are you?"

"School?" He lied.

"Your roommates haven't seen you in weeks though you're now on vacation."

"Okay I've got to be honest. I'm not in school but I promise you,I'm somewhere safe and I swear,I'll tell you everything as soon as I return home." He confessed though not diving into details. He knew his mother would accept but she was worried,he was the first son and as soon as he gained admission into the university,his introverted life had changed.

"Okay I believe but when would you be coming home?" She asked.

"Before August ends." He stated.

"Please you have to return as soon as you can,we need to discuss." She said.

"Did you have a bad dream?" He asked,knowing that would be the reason his mother sounded worried.

"Yes so you have to return soon." She confirmed. He sighed and stared at the wooden desk,with his mind pondering over several thoughts,the dream must have been about him and one thing about his mother's dreams is that they are revelations, especially of future occurrences that can be avoided if attention was paid.

"Okay Mom,bye." He told her.

"Bye son,take care." She replied and hung up.

"Momma had a dream again?" Lexi asked, noticing his worried look.

"Yeah,I'm afraid it's relating to this case on the ground. Let's just get this over with as soon as we can." He replied. Immediately,the director entered,greeted them and sat on his desk.

"So what brings the CIA here?" He asked.

"We're here to talk about one of your former soldiers." He said.

"Let me guess,Ben Oisho? What did he do?" He asked.

"Yes. We believe he's now planning something but we just can't find out." Lexi replied.

"So are you insinuating that we still have contacts with him after he went rogue?" The director flared up.

"Relax sir,we aren't saying that. We just need some vital information about him that can aid our investigation." Dare replied.

"Okay,so what do you need?" The older man asked,now relaxed.

"Everything you know about him."

"Well,Ben was a really good soldier. He was recommended to me by the vice president and he never disappointed. Everything was well with him until last year,we had little or no missions and he sparked,killing several workers and soldiers here,including men of his own platoon. After that he left and since then we've been on the hunt for him but we have had no luck." He explained. Dare stared at Lexi who nodded in confirmation that the man was sincere.

"Okay,thank you so much but can you do us a favour and give us his records,a detailed account of his missions,teammates and known relatives or contacts?" Dare requested.

"Oh yes I was already working on that." He director said and brought out a file from the bag strapped along his shoulders. Lexi collected it and checked it,it contained all they needed.

"Thank you so much sir,we will take our leave now." Dare announced and stood up.

"Wait I just remembered something." The director stopped them. They turned in anticipation to hear what he wanted to say.

"There was a teammate of Ben,his code name was RPG. He and Ben were very close and I noticed that he had been missing since the time Ben went rogue. We checked the CCTV records and noticed he disappeared." He said.

"Can we have access to the footages?" Lexi requested.

"Sure,no problem."

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BossP was in the centre of the main operating room,surrounded by Kabala,Stella,Tom and some other CIA agents who were awaiting the briefing of the new mission. They would have started if not for Dare and Lexi who were the vital people for this mission.

"I'd rather crap my pants than wait for those two." Stella grumbled. The huge monitor table was just glowing in a fading blue light,a sign of idleness.

Lexi and Dare arrived the room,looking fatigued.

"You guys shagging or what?" Tom joked,noticing they were roughed up.

"Well Dare is an ass, running from Abuja to Lagos!,isn't that insane?" Lexi replied bitterly.

"Just relax man, Boss called and said it was about the new mission so relax." Dare assured and was now beside BossP.

"I guess you all have an idea of our mission?" BossP inquired.

They all nodded in agreement,urging him to continue.

"This new mission has already been planned and had began execution two years ago,all we needed was the approval to take action and now we have it.

I'm sure you're all aware of black Mob,a human trafficking organization ran by the popular Senegalese-Nigerian crime boss...DON whose other nefarious organizations are known.

We now have directives to bust this place down and thanks to proper planning,this would be done." He said. He looked around to see any confused faces but there wasn't any.

"Good,so here's the outline." He said and an island's map virtually appeared above the monitor.

"This is the Tarobo island, unnoticed and perfect for such operations. The island is perfectly secured on the north and southern shores but it isn't guarded from the Eastern side due to the heavy waves always falling there.

As usual,they host an annual sale where all of the kidnapped victims would be presented for sale and so far,our plan of rescuing the girl is working.

This year wouldn't be an exception but there would be a difference,we end the organization.

So here's the plan:

Dare,you would go with one of our agents as a brother to go and buy the girls. Don't buy any girls,just try to cause commotion,the rest of the girls would be bought by our agents. Tom,you'll be going to the island to replace an agent of ours who has fallen sick,he's a worker there and don't worry,all of your instructions would be sent to you. Kabala and Stella,I'll need you stay behind the bushes on this bill." He said and pointed to a hill covered with bushes.

"You'll act as back up should in case things go south because Dare would try to get the remaining presented girls inside the building they are kept. There,Tom would know what to do. E

There's also one thing you should all know when you're done taking them down. The island has a huge wall surrounding it but it's ways underground due to the fact that they believe in their organized selves and security. When you have saved the girls,the walls should be ejected and Tom that's your job.

As for you Lexi,you've got a different mission." He said.

They all had this unsatisfied look but were still excited except for Lexi,who wondered why he'll be excluded from such an interesting task and Stella,who knew she wasn't really a meta but now,she had to get into the action.

"I know Lexi,you're astounded right? Well your mission is to go and serve as the president's granddaughter's bodyguard. Relax,it isn't something easy. I listened to your conversations and realized that Scorpio might be after Dare but he's trying to use Chelsea to get to him so I'll need you to be her bodyguard and during a gala which would come up in two days' time, we'll organize a kidnap and bring her here where she'll be safe till we stop Scorpio." He told him. Lexi frowned,to him his assignment was the worst and Stella wished to be in his shoes at that moment.

"So Tom, follow me so you'll be briefed on your role. Polo would transfer all the information to your phones." He told them and made to leave the door.

"One more thing." He said and turned abruptly.

"Don't screw up." He said and left the room.

To be continued......