Adam

Chapter Five (5): - The Missionaries

      The days passed briefly as Adam quickly grew accustomed to his new environment.

  Big D was more of a friend than a superior, and Kabir was everything else; mentor, chef, doctor and whatever else there was.

  He was trained to harness his ability, something he quickly adapted to since he had undergone a berserk awakening.

  And he had even had combat sessions with Big D.

  On a sunny Wednesday morning, doctor Kabir received a summon from higher authorities, and he left the lab to Adam and Big D.

  Time passed slowly as the boys sat in one part they cut out as the living room and watched TV.

  Big D was holding unto a massive frying pan as he watched the romance between the protagonist and his lover.

  “This is real love” he said to himself, lost in a trance “The kind I really desire. Not what my ex and I had going on”

  “Cynthia?” Adam enquired “I only met her once but I don’t think she’s that bad. Even though you guys are ex’s, she still thinks of you as a friend”

  “She was only being nice because you were there. She was rude enough to say I couldn’t satisfy her. That’s why she left” Big D replied, then scoffed “I can brag that no other calvary will have the same libido as me. I’m certain of it!”

  Adam smiled wryly “That’s your own problem” he said calmly, then looked back to the TV “But what about dr. Kabir? Who are the higher ups that summoned him this morning? I thought everyone minded their own businesses in the CCA?”

  “It’s not necessarily so” Big D replied “The doctor was summoned by one of the Jagabans; Douglas”

  “Jagabans?” Adam enquired “Who are those?”

  Big didn’t look away from them TV even as he explained “Every CCA organisation around the globe is controlled by a single person. The most powerful calvary. The grandmaster. It is not a title you got by earning the position, each grandmaster is the first calvary from that country, or so they tell us. The grandmaster goes ahead to form the CCA in that region and begins his hierarchy. Those directly underneath the grandmaster, those who command different factions of the calvary, are referred to as Jagabans. Jagabans are in control of a faction each of the CCA of their country, that is, they create or are given control over a certain faction of calvaries in the country. The title of Jagaban however, has a bloody history. A Jagaban, unlike the grandmaster, can be replaced, and this is done by a battle to the death against their predecessor. Presently, there are 4 Jagabans in the country, all of which killed their predecessors to attain that position. However, it is possible to gain the position of Jagaban if you can create a faction that can rival the other factions that the Jagabans control. And you must be the most powerful.  Basically, the CCA is controlled by the most powerful. The weaker ones are rooted out very fast”.

  Adam was in awe “Is that so? So dr. Kabir was summoned by someone as powerful as that? What exactly do they want with him?”

  “My honest guess” Big D said and finally rested his gaze on Adam “You”

  “Me?” Adam was shocked

  “Yes” Big D replied “Douglas, the Jagaban in question, has the same ability as you. Electricity”.

  Adam froze, the news was appalling. Now he was beginning to grasp what Kabir meant when he said he was special.

  Big D rose and waved the pan in his hand “I better get to the kitchen. The doctor would be starving by the time he gets back”.

  By evening, when the doctor returned, Adam and Big D were playing video games.

  He crashed first on his chair and heaved a sigh of exhaustion.

  “Quite the meeting if you ask me” he said tiredly while unbuttoning his shirt

  “Welcome back” Big D greeted and turned his gaze “Was it that stressful?”

  “You already know what they want” Kabir replied “Not many chances to slip by, don’t you think?”

  “It’s me they want right?” Adam enquired while still playing the video game “That Douglas, Jagaban guy. He wants me to join his faction, right?”

  Kabir seemed puzzled by Adam’s composure for a moment, then he smiled “That’s right. Douglas wants you to join his own faction. I reckon you already know why”

  The game ended and Adam dropped his pad “It’s because I have the same ability as him” he said and faced Kabir “Because I have the affinity for electricity”.

  Kabir was sure Big D had explained things to him.

  At least everything he needed to know at the moment.

  “You realise, Adam, that this means you have the same potential as Douglas himself, a Jagaban. Only three people in the world had electricity before you, and they were referred to as lightning kings. If you possess the power of a lightning king, you pose a threat to the current lightning king of this country. It could be destiny that you are meant to take over from him”.

  Adam was silent a moment, he was pondering “I really don’t believe in destiny, doctor” he replied “I can’t recall, but I don’t think I did in my past life. Besides, this man wants me to join his group right? Maybe he wants us to work as partners, instead of being enemies”.

  “Don’t be so naïve” Big D cut him short and rose “The last thing a Jagaban wants is a partner. The CCA is full of dangerous people and Jagabans are aware that everyone is a threat to them. However, that aside, will you accept this offer Adam, knowing the risk involved. Will you agree to work for Douglas, the lightning king?”

  Adam watched the two men, they seemed to be unbothered by whatever his decision may be. After all, they had promised to respect his decision.

  He sighed “Let me meet him first. Then I’ll know what to do”

  “Good enough” Kabir agreed “But bear this in mind, Big D and I are already making plans. We plan to crumble the CCA in this country. Completely”

  “Crumble, as in, bring down the entire organisation?” Adam asked

  “Yes” Kabir replied “We believe the CCA objective are not pure. I’ve lived long enough to see it, and Big D was once a wrecking bomb.  The renegade, was what they called him. However, with total respect for your decision, I think it’s only right that you came to conclusions yourself. Rest assured though, remember not to trust anyone, Adam. Most especially calvaries”

  Adam nodded “Thanks for the advice doctor. I’ll go see Douglas myself, I’m not that great of a judge of character, but if he’s up to no good, then I’m being out”

  “Great! He’s requesting your presence first thing tomorrow morning. Good luck with whatever decision you make. We will respect it”

  The next morning, Adam had already prepared for his meeting with Douglas.

  He stood at the door of the lab while Kabir focused on something he was studying via a microscope.

  “By the way, doctor” Adam said casually “What faction is Douglas controlling?”

  “They’re called the missionaries” Kabir replied “The largest faction in the CCA in this country so far. Their work is largely dangerous, but what they do is underground stuff. Very secretive”

  “You’re aware of it, aren’t you?” Adam enquired

  “I am” Kabir answered “but like I said yesterday, it’s only right that you come to conclusions yourself. Take care”

  Adam sighed, then stepped out.

  Soon, he found his way to the address doctor Kabir had given him. It was still in the CCA building, but the highest floor in the 32-storey edifice.

  This was where Douglas, the Jagaban of the missionaries, had summoned him to.

  He arrived via elevator, teleportation, a trick Kabir used often, was something he hadn’t learnt to use yet.

  Although all calvaries had this ability, Adam hadn’t learnt to use it.

  When he arrived the 32^nd floor, the elevator made a ping sound and slid open to reveal the real taste of luxury.

 The entire 32^nd floor was an extremely luxurious suite.

  It was dimly lit and had the vibes of a large cruiser cabin.

  A bar at one side, glass doors that separated the rooms, red velvet divans and a shelf with different plagues.

  Whoever this Douglas guy was, he was filthy rich.

  Adam stepped in and soaked in the sight of the luxury, the dark toned elegance of the suite was very intimidating.

  “Why don’t you take a seat for yourself, Adam” a voice called and he gazed towards the direction.

  It was Douglas, the Jagaban, and his right hand man, Frankenstein.

  They were sitting on the divan and invited him to join them.

  At first, Adam revelled at the man, Douglas was the first elderly looking person he had seen in the CCA.

  He looked to be in his mid-fifties.

  Frankenstein on the other hand, was a lanky man in a black hat and coat who had a rough stitch work done all over his face.

  He walked over gingerly, not knowing what exactly to say.

  “You must be Adam” Douglas said again and gestured for him to sit “My name is Douglas, one of the 3 current lightning kings and Jagaban of the missionaries. It is an honour to finally be meeting you”

  “The honour is mine actually” Adam replied with equal courtesy “I never imagined I’d be invited by a Jagaban himself”

  Douglas laughed it off “I am a man of little words, so let’s get straight to business”

  He looked over at Frankenstein “This is my right hand man, Frankenstein, he helps me run all the affairs of the missionaries. Unlike other calvaries, you see, Frankenstein was created, not respawned. An amazing stitch work of the bodies from the 2011 Nyanya bomb blast that we brought back to life here at the CCA. Thing is Adam, you and I are alike, very much so. In this world where there are so few like us, you would agree with me that we should have each other’s backs. As Jagaban, I am frequently unable to work closely with Frankenstein. I’d like you, Adam, to fill in that position”.

  Adam seemed puzzled for a moment “I don’t really get what you’re saying. How will I fill in your position?”

  “It’s a direct invitation to join the missionaries, Adam” Frankenstein finally spoke up “A newbie of course, but not as a low rank. We want you to work directly with me, as a junior hand man”.

  Adam stopped short “junior hand man? All of this is still very confusing. I don’t even know what the missionaries do”

  Douglas smiled knowingly “Forgive me. I absolutely forgot to let you know. The missionaries is a faction of trained combat calvaries that act as a counter-terrorism secret force. We act in the shadows, to annihilate the shadows that wreak havoc in the country. Like I said, they are trained, so they obey every order from the leader. Frankenstein spear heads the missionaries and under him is a senior hand man. I want you, Adam, to be his junior hand man”.

  Adam’s eyes widened, he understood now the complexity and magnitude of the position he had just been given.

  “You have potential Adam” Douglas continued “Work with us to draw out that potential. I can make you a lightning king like myself, and on that journey, let us root out the evils of this world together”.

  Adam was in dire confusion ‘what’s this?’ he asked himself ‘what’s this sense of justice and duty he’s suddenly spouting. I thought the doctor said the CCA was lawless. So what’s this?’

  “I’m sure you’re aware of the lawlessness of calvaries” Douglas chipped in “My dream, as a Jagaban and lightning king, is to bring order to our world of chaos. But first, we must set an example for others to see. Will you join me, Adam, to bring order to our past world and this one, or will you watch them both fall to ruins”.

  Adam knew what to do know, he saw that he had a duty and responsibility.

  Big D had said it, ‘with great power comes great responsibility’.

  He locked eyes with the lightning king “I’ll do it. I’ll join the missionaries”.

SEVERAL HOURS LATER

                Frankenstein and Adam sat alone in the suite, Douglas had left them.

  “So” Adam began “You’re Frankenstein”

  “Solomon Frankenstein” Frankenstein replied “But you can call me glassman”

  “Okay” Adam nodded “I like your coat by the way, it’s heavily wired”

  Frankenstein turned to him surprised “You can see the wirings in my coat” truthfully, the coat was heavily wired internally

  “I can see the electric charges in it” Adam replied “Dr Kabir said it’s a unique part of my ability, seeing through electric charges”

  “I designed this coat as a shield” Frankenstein replied “It has helped me survive countless attacks. Even a head on nuclear level blast”.

  Adam’s eyes widened “Really! I had no idea it was that strong. But tell me, why are we just sitting here?”

  Frankenstein sighed “We are waiting for the other missionaries. We have a mission tonight, it’s going to be your first”

  “A mission? Really? Shouldn’t I let the doctor know first? At least?’

  “There will be no need” Glassman replied “You can tell him afterwards”.

  Adam nodded “But…I have no idea about the mission details. I’m good in combat, but I have to at least know what it’s about”

  “Tonight, we’re taking down a major terror financer in the FCT. Higher ups are funding this project so if we deliver successfully, each person receives at least five million in cash”

  “Five million!” Adam exclaimed “But, who could be so terrible that he’s worth that much?”

  Glassman smiled “His name is, senator Akin Makinde”.