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2024-10-29 19:42:56The Presidential jet soared high above the clouds.
In the jet's Presidential Office stood The Security chiefs, Speaker of the house of Representatives, The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, A few top- ranked Government officials and Presidential aides.A few minutes later, April Gardens, the Vice President of the Republic walked in and took her place in front of the small delegation.The Chief Justice remarked, "Madam Vice President, I apologise for cutting your holiday short. As you may know we have a crisis on our hands. The President was assassinated yesterday. It is for this reason that I must swear you into office as President in this extraordinary manner. This, of course, is as per provisions of our constitution."Ms. Gardens gave in to a single nod.An Aide gave her the Bible and the Vice President raised it in one hand. In the other hand, she received the oath of the office of President.The Chief Justice beckoned her to take oath."I, April Gardens," The Vice President swore. "Do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the Republic, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of our country. So, help me God.""Madam President." The Chief Justice remarked almost immediately after the oath. "Congratulations."The Speaker made a Congratulatory utterance, Congratulations madam President. " The security chiefs saluted and chorused almost simultaneously, "Madam President."The President bowed graciously and walked around the table to take her seat."Please, be seated," She ordered.The top government delegation took their seats in front of the President."Let me get this straight. How does our President get assassinated on our soil under the nose of heavy security?"The Police chief fidgeted on his seat before responding, "We have word that the President was in fact killed by one of our own men. The killer was employed as an ICT specialist on the Presidential's protective overwatch Program.""How does that even get to be the case?!" The President wondered. "He was supposed to be looking at the health of the systems on the locomotive. Not plowing in the drone room. Who is in Charge of the Program?""Special Agent Alexis," replied the Army Chief."I want her on that screen this minute," The President demanded.One of the aides quickly raced her fingers. And in a gif, Alexis was on the big computer screen mounted on the President's desk.The head of state wasted no time in engaging Alexis in a conversation. "Alexis, this is April Gardens. The new Republican President.""Madam President," Alexis responded. "Thank you for having me."The President continued, "I'm with the understanding that the President was killed by his own. Kindly shade light on what happened. "A picture of Mr. Zero was shared on the screen as Alexis begun her speech. "Unfortunately so, Madam President. The killer is Gilbert Zero. He served the program for the past three years under me as an ICT specialis. I know for a fact that he killed the late head of state. I just Don't know why he did that.""Alexis, stop running in circles. What happened in that train?" The President demanded.A video of Mr. Zero was shared on the screen and Alexis added narration thereto. "Zero slipped into the drone's pilot cabinet, as you can see on the footage. He drove the drone for about two minutes and he fired at the late President."The President's face shrunk with awe. "Did he have security clearance to fly the drone?" She wondered. "Where was the drone's pilot?""He did not have the security clearance. As for the pilot, he was found unconscious in the rest room," Alexis replied. "The medics believe he was drugged and dumped in the rest room."The President made further inquiries, "Are we speculating or you are submitting facts?""Madam President, these are facts," Alexis answered confidently.The President shook her head. She could not hide her disappointment. "We failed our President, his family and the country at large. Taxpayers paid you to keep an eye over his head, not to kill him."Alexis kept quiet. Ambience on both ends of the tele- conference was arrested with tension.Silence spoke aloud until the President quelled it with an inquiry, Where is this so called Zero?""He could be dead, Madam President," Alexis remarked. "He was involved in road carnage and I'm reliably informed that he was trapped in a vehicle that plunged in the river."The President chuckled coldly. She drown in further disappointment. "He could be dead?"Another stroke of silence swept across."That's incompetence if you ask me," The President established angrily. "A man kills the head of state and people are speculative about his whereabouts? I'll be touching down soon. Journalists both local and foreign will swam me over this and all I should say is that the President was killed by a person who could be dead? Find that son of a bitch, dead or alive."Alexis nodded and responded, "Yes madam President. ""I need answers before next dawn," Madam President placed her demands. She thus signalled the Aide to end the conference call.The video feed was terminated as the jet soared on above the clouds.Meanwhile, marines dived into the river to search for Mr. Zero. And after a diligent toll of about an hour, the SUV was found but Mr. Zero was not in there.The SUV was towed up onto the bridge from the floor of the river. It had no windscreen on.Another unregistered black SUV drove in and from it, Alexis emerged.Two young men walked on either side of her as she walked to the recovered SUV.She inspected the vehicle and remarked, "I underestimated him. Initiate 'Operation Mrs. Zero.' I need 24/ 7 surveillance on his family. Keep a tab on his bank account. Monitor it. Report any transactions on it.""Yes ma'am.," they chorused as Alexis wondered about in thought, looking at the river that stretched far and wide.
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The EXIT Interview Operation 'Mrs. Zero'
In the cool of the evening, a gentle knock was heard on the door to Mr. Zero's home.It had been eight hours since Mr. Zero, the once beloved ICT wiz, had turned villain. And despite the heavy police presence, he was still at large.Martina opened the door. Alexis stood by the entrance dressed in her usual formal and up- town attire. "You must be Martina," She quickly acknowledged. "I'm Alexis. I worked with your husband."Martina was taken aback and an inquiry rang out, "Is he okay?""I need to talk to you," Alexis veered straight to business in a serious tone. "May I come in?"Martina hesitantly opened the door without saying a word. Alexis walked in and sat on a chair by the dining table. Martina sat at the opposite end. Her facial expression was screaming with caution and uneasiness. The mood was rather tense. The kind that one would kill to see it vanish as the dew of the morning under the rising sun."Am sure sure you are aware that the President was killed," Alexis took out a
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His eyes blinked a couple of times before Mr. Zero finally managed to keep them open. He laid on a small old matt in a small grass thatched hut. He had no clue where he was.While he assessed the wellness of his body amid groans of pain and exhaustion, an old man wearing dirty clothes walked in with a small steaming bowl."Soup?" The old man extended the bowl to Mr. Zero who struggled to sit.Receiving the soup, he wondered, "Where am I? Who are you?!"He sniffed the soup and cast his searching gaze at the old man. The old stranger smiled and sat besides him."You're the guy the Police are looking for. Your face is all over the TV and newspapers." The old man broke the expected news. "Drink the soup, you need all the strength you can get."Mr. Zero's face waxed cold with fear. He mumbled for answers and certainty, "You... you called the Police?"The man shook his head and insisted, "Please, drink up."Mr. Zero nodded his head and drunk the warm soup, all at once. He was famished."Pho
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By the strict observance of time, it was five minutes after 3pm. Martina sat at the reserved table number two. Mr. Zero was nowhere to be seen at the famed local two- star hotel. The dining area was lightly patronized with men and women who indulged in the food, wine and hearty conversations. The majority of which were Police officers disguised as ordinary customers. Of course, they were armed but their weapons were concealed from an unsuspecting eye. Ten minutes past 3pm, a waiter Carrying a beautiful bouquet of roses and bottle of wine walked to Martina and announced, “Someone brought you this.” Receiving the items, Martina quickly opened the note that was attached. It read: You look beautiful. Am happy to see you. - Wayne “Who gave you this?” Martina sprung to her feet. She looked around, but Mr. Zero was nowhere to be seen. The waiter, startled, responded, “Some old dirty dude.” “Which way did he go?” Martina demanded desperately. “I don’t know,” the waiter retorted, “h
The EXIT Interview Nothing but a Zero
Chris sat on the wheelchair in front of a computer screen that displayed posche car images from the Internet. A pair of earphones supplied piece after piece of Rock music.Outside Chris' Rock- music comfy zone, the world was relatively quiet and evolving around peace.Mr. Zero, unnoticed by Chris, tiptoed stealthily in the room and stood by him. He was clad in the same dirty white shirt and a pair of the black trousers. And, he only had half a pair of shoes on.Looking at Chris, Mr. Zero was overpowered by emotions. He could not hold back his tears within the eye brims. Also, he was a captive of hesitation. He could not summon the the courage to speak to the lad. This was chiefly because of the dirty clothes that covered his body.Chris felt his presence. He took off his earphones but kept his gaze on the computer.Mr. Zero stood behind him and spoke softly, "hey buddy.""You're not my father," Chris snobbed.Mr. Zero was taken aback. He, however, motioned forward and knelt by Chris.
The EXIT Interview The Law Never Blinks
The next day was buzzing with the apprehension of the President's killer. Mr. Zero was the talk of the day. Both print and digital media outlets cashed in. It was a good day for business. But, not so good for Mr. Zero.At a secret Government location, he marched at considerable pace behind an armed special force officer. Besides him and behind, high ranking seals walked with a cautious eye cast squarely at Mr. Zero. Of course, they too were armed with guns. The chain that was employed to fetter his lower limbs rattled with every step he took. His arms were equally not free. They were cuffed. With a few more steady steps, Mr. Zero was standing before a big double- door entrance. Two armed Police Officers were stationed there. The duo in uniform opened the doors and Mr. Zero was ushered in.A group of top ranked security and police personnel made a well arrayed decorum. Alexis had a place amid the invited to the solemn hearing. The Speaker of the house of Representatives, The Attorne
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As the sun was setting after Mr. Zero's preliminary hearing, Alexis stood by the window smoking a cigaratte at the secret Presidential lodge.The door opened and Ms. Gardens, the President walked in. She made herself comforted on one one of the two chairs that were stationed adjacent to the bed. "We agreed April," Alexis spoke while exhaling the smoke. "I made you President. Now It's time you lived up to your end of the deal." The President allowed a moment of silence before waging her response, "The deal was to get rid of the President, find a scapegoat and shut him up. Forever. But as far as I know, Zero is still alive and is talking." "That's besides the point," Alexis contended. The President retorted almost immediately, "That is the whole point. Some may buy Zero's story. If they do, you will be answerable and it may spill over to me." Alexis turned and threw the cigaratte on the ash tray that perched on the side table. "Don't worry about him?" Alexis assured as she sat on
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Early in the morning - Ruti, perplexed and fast sinking in disbelief, stood in the small living quarters of the garage. In front of her was the television. A picture of Mr. Zero was displayed on the TV as the newscaster announced, "Now, in our developing story: the police have confirmed that the man who shot the late President has been identified as Gilbert Zero. The assailant was shot dead as he tried to escape from Police custody." It had been three days since Mr. Zero was shot. Ruti turned the television off and stealthily reached for the medium shifting spanner. She tip-toed to the small wooden bed where Mr. Zero laid. He groaned and stretched, as his eyes blinked at fast intervals. Ruti had towered over his wounded body that was only covered in a boxer short and bandages that ran around his abdomen. Ruti raised her hand, ready to hit Mr. Zero. "You're the bastard that killed the President. You robbed the woman of her husband. You orphaned those kids. It's either I kill you o
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"How do I look?" Ruti, rocking an old yellow dress with buttons running down on the front and green hat, raised and dropped her hands in a flash. "You look beautiful." Mr. Zero, wearing a greased work suit, smiled radiantly and confessed, "I didn't know you wear dresses." Ruti let out a chuckle, "It's all I have. I keep it just for special days like today." He nodded and advised, "we better be going."The pair walked out of the garage and hopped into the van. Mr. Zero took the wheel and drove off.Three months it had been since Mr. Zero survived Alexis gunshots that pierced his back. He had fully recovered. And the noise about the President’s assassination and false reports about his death had erased in most minds. Thanks to Ruti.During the ninety days, a razor neither touched his head nor beard.He looked somewhat different – he looked old with a pinch of scruffiness. He wore cap and for the first time in his life, a pair of cheap sun glasses adorned his face. All this was to dis
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Ruti Vs. Child- Welfare
Mr. Zero, clad in a pair of new chinos and a lovely shirt and looking fresh, sat behind the wheel of the van that he had brought to a stop outside the local child welfare department. Ruti, dressed in a beautiful black dress, took her place on the passenger's seat. She held a medium- sized envelope in her sweaty palms. She exhaled and turned to Mr. Zero. "Wish me luck." She said, "Pray for me." Mr. Zero smiled and looked back at her and said, "It is well." He reached for her hand and gently clamped it in his hand. Ruti, still keeping her eyes on him, nodded and stepped out of the van. Mr. Zero watched her as she walked quickly to the entrance of the local child welfare department. This was the ninth time the duo was visiting the department in a quarter. Ruti gently knocked on the door of the Department's superintendent and walked in without waiting to be invited in. A fairly old couple sat at the couch by the window while Ms. Marjory comfortably sunk in an executive chair. As so
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A swam of armed police officers and special forces arrived at the scene and quickly besieged the train. Guns and all manner of riot gear were at full display. At the signal of the superiors, the units charged forward with caution and a well- oiled intent to assault in self-defence. But, Mr. Zero and his team had already fled the scene. Deacon, the senior most amid the special forces, emerged from the unregistered vehicle and marched to the train. He was the only who seemed unconcerned about his safety. Unlike the team he led, he was not clad in a bullet proof vest. He only had a pistol tucked at the back of his trousers. He walked into the train in search for clues and possible answers. After a few steps that hinged around a careful scan, he saw the helpless figure of Alexis holding on to dear life in pain. Deacon squatted and announced his presence, “My bad. Who did this?” “Zero. He and his friends did this,” She answered. He chuckled, “I thought that son of a bitch is dead.
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300 Seconds
"The train is coming," Mia's voice echoed through the phone. "I repeat. The train is coming."Mia locked her aim on the train with the sniper's riffle. The train was a little further than two kilometres from her lofty station on the mine's crane."You heard overwatch," Mr. Zero announced on the tele- conference that kept his team in loop. "Bbob, we need that train in the pit."Bbob took in a deep breath. "Just gear up. It's coming."Bbob motioned forward and pulled the lever. This rendered a change on the course of the railway tracks. "We're ready," Big Thom announced. Mia kept a keen eye on the speeding locomotive. "Brace up, boys. It should be there in seven minutes."While the train closed in, Bbob took cover behind a bush and watched on. His part was done.Unbeknownst to Alexis and her team on the train, the railway tracks' monster was deviate into the old forgotten mine.Seconds later, the train lost control sped off the tracks. Thus, it overturned violently. A storm of dust eng
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The Plan
After day had broke, Mr. Zero took his place by the black board in Ruti's garage.Mia, Ruti, Bobb and Big Thom gathered about him. Their eyes zeroed squarely on him."Before we can discuss any of this, what's in for us?" Bobb opened the floor. Mr. Zero acknowledged with a nod. "The locomotive always has cash and valuables. Remember it's a Presidential train. Normally, it is used as a conduit to syphon public funds, drugs and precious stones. You'll split the spoils four ways."Big Thom hoarse voice thundered across the room, "and you?"Mr. Zero replied, "I just want my freedom back.""Sounds good to me," Big Thom was satisfied.Mia inquired amid chewing her bubble gum, "so, what's the plan? how do we get hold of the train?""We steal it," Mr. Zero issued a quick response. Silence swept through the garage."The train uses the same railway the corporation uses to move its locomotives. It must a round across the city once a day. I feel we can derail it," Mr. Zero outlined. "What do you
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League of the feeble
Morning had broke again. Ruti sat on the trunk of her truck in the garage. Her frame was covered in an oil stained work suit. Three metres separated her from Mr. Zero who stood by a black square the duo had painted on the wall. "What's the plan?" Wondered with a great degree of awe. "I mean, how do we steal the damn train?" Mr. Zero allowed a moment of silence. He was somewhat lost in thought. Ruti chuckled. "We need a few more men," Mr. Zero. "Just a few.""We need an army," Ruti spoke firmly. "We're talking about stealing the most protected locomotive. A few hands and minds will not do." "If a grain of rice can tick the scale," Mr. Zero voice mellowed out. "Then a few men will do. All we need is proper coordination and timing." Ruti nodded her head in agreement. "Do you have anyone in mind?" "Bobb, he once for the railway corporation," Mr. Zero replied. "Uh, we can also engage Mia, Fred and Big Tom.""Can they deliver?" Ruti wondered.Mr. Zero nodded emphatically, "I believe
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At the verge of losing a son
"How do I look?" Ruti, rocking an old yellow dress with buttons running down on the front and green hat, raised and dropped her hands in a flash. "You look beautiful." Mr. Zero, wearing a greased work suit, smiled radiantly and confessed, "I didn't know you wear dresses." Ruti let out a chuckle, "It's all I have. I keep it just for special days like today." He nodded and advised, "we better be going."The pair walked out of the garage and hopped into the van. Mr. Zero took the wheel and drove off.Three months it had been since Mr. Zero survived Alexis gunshots that pierced his back. He had fully recovered. And the noise about the President’s assassination and false reports about his death had erased in most minds. Thanks to Ruti.During the ninety days, a razor neither touched his head nor beard.He looked somewhat different – he looked old with a pinch of scruffiness. He wore cap and for the first time in his life, a pair of cheap sun glasses adorned his face. All this was to dis
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Pawns on the Chess board
Early in the morning - Ruti, perplexed and fast sinking in disbelief, stood in the small living quarters of the garage. In front of her was the television. A picture of Mr. Zero was displayed on the TV as the newscaster announced, "Now, in our developing story: the police have confirmed that the man who shot the late President has been identified as Gilbert Zero. The assailant was shot dead as he tried to escape from Police custody." It had been three days since Mr. Zero was shot. Ruti turned the television off and stealthily reached for the medium shifting spanner. She tip-toed to the small wooden bed where Mr. Zero laid. He groaned and stretched, as his eyes blinked at fast intervals. Ruti had towered over his wounded body that was only covered in a boxer short and bandages that ran around his abdomen. Ruti raised her hand, ready to hit Mr. Zero. "You're the bastard that killed the President. You robbed the woman of her husband. You orphaned those kids. It's either I kill you o
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The Agreement
As the sun was setting after Mr. Zero's preliminary hearing, Alexis stood by the window smoking a cigaratte at the secret Presidential lodge.The door opened and Ms. Gardens, the President walked in. She made herself comforted on one one of the two chairs that were stationed adjacent to the bed. "We agreed April," Alexis spoke while exhaling the smoke. "I made you President. Now It's time you lived up to your end of the deal." The President allowed a moment of silence before waging her response, "The deal was to get rid of the President, find a scapegoat and shut him up. Forever. But as far as I know, Zero is still alive and is talking." "That's besides the point," Alexis contended. The President retorted almost immediately, "That is the whole point. Some may buy Zero's story. If they do, you will be answerable and it may spill over to me." Alexis turned and threw the cigaratte on the ash tray that perched on the side table. "Don't worry about him?" Alexis assured as she sat on
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The Law Never Blinks
The next day was buzzing with the apprehension of the President's killer. Mr. Zero was the talk of the day. Both print and digital media outlets cashed in. It was a good day for business. But, not so good for Mr. Zero.At a secret Government location, he marched at considerable pace behind an armed special force officer. Besides him and behind, high ranking seals walked with a cautious eye cast squarely at Mr. Zero. Of course, they too were armed with guns. The chain that was employed to fetter his lower limbs rattled with every step he took. His arms were equally not free. They were cuffed. With a few more steady steps, Mr. Zero was standing before a big double- door entrance. Two armed Police Officers were stationed there. The duo in uniform opened the doors and Mr. Zero was ushered in.A group of top ranked security and police personnel made a well arrayed decorum. Alexis had a place amid the invited to the solemn hearing. The Speaker of the house of Representatives, The Attorne
