Chapter 2

The ODUA STATE is bright with the radiance of the sun hitting even the tallest of the skyscrapers. The State is bustling with hundreds of civilians moving to and fro their work places or destinations. The roads are busy with different vehicles and speed trains. 

The most fascinating thing are the skyscrapers, hundreds of blocks towards the sky, on some of them are gigantic poster boards, displaying holographic adverts of different brands and products. The siren of the police drones patrolling the state can be heard.

Kunle parks his car in the parking lot of the company, he is smartly dressed in an attire of native fabric suit, he carries a tablet. The department of human affairs is a glass skyscraper with a cylinder shape. Kunle waves at the security men at the entrance and they pave way for him to pass, the men are dressed in a camo that consist of different native fabric colours. The glass door opens and a computer voice greets;

"Welcome Mr Kunle, have a blissful day." 

"Thank you!."

Another glass door opens and rays of red laser light floods Kunle, it's the security system running a scan on his body.

"You may proceed Mr Kunle. Another computer voice comments."

"Thank you. He adjust his glasses."

The security check is over, now he passes the reception and waves at the receptionist, the ladies there dressed in native fabric gowns, smiles at him as he walks by. Now he is at the main hall, the centre is a ring that is the same to the first floor, the elevators can be seen descending and ascending, of course everything is made of glass. 

There are large screens at almost every corner that displays holographic informations about the company.

He takes the elevator to the fourth floor, he walks by the corridor, there are offices at both his right and left and they are transparent. He waves at the staffs and they wave back, Micheal sights him from his office and joins him.

"Hey how are you doing?" 

"Am great, good morning."

"Yeah, look kunle briefing is about thirty minutes from now, we are to assemble at the conference Hall on the sixth floor."

"Okay, I get it. Thanks man."

Micheal Pat's him on his shoulder and turns back to his office. Kunle arrives at his office door, and slides his card at the sensor. With a beep the led light turns green, a computer voice welcomes him and he push the glass door open. His office is very wide and there's a great view of the city, of course the walls are glass. He drops his tab on his table and sits. 

He taps the screen of his desktop and it comes to life, he clicks on a folder and connects his tab to the desktop. He will transfer some files to his desktop. He opens the report he has been working on and scans through, again the questions floods his mind. He removes his glasses and rubs his eyes.

Just then a speaker anounces the commencement of the briefing. Kunle leaves his office and makes it to the elevator, the elevator door is about to close but a hand from the inside stops it. Kunle quickly enters, his colleagues we're onboard also and they shared pleasantries. 

Soon all the staffs are sitted in the conference room, with the seats arranged in an arc form. There's a large screen hanging on the wall and the room has a lot of sound proof foams on the wall, the screen comes to life, projecting data's that are to be treated in the meeting. The CEO of the company, a person of Mrs Alake Badmus acscends the stage, she is smartly dressed in a native fabric skirt and suit, her hair is braided and packed in a doughnut shape at the back, she wears a black lipstick. 

The lights in the auditorium goes out and there's a spot light on the stage. Mrs Alake clears her throat, there's a mic on her.

"Good day once again my fellow colleagues, am glad we could all make it. There have been reports- I believe we have all been briefed about it, am talking about the deaths in the North."

There is murmuring in the auditorium.

"It is no news that the death rates has increased this few weeks, and we as the department of human affairs of this city has been assigned with the task of analysing the situation, and of course finding the cause of the deaths."

"We all know that the Northerners are blaming the central Government for the plaque they are facing. We as a team have been assigned by the government to get to the root of this matter and that was why some of you here were assigned with different tasks, your reports are what we are to discuss together here and now."

"I will like Mrs Sade, I believe have a very interesting report to share with us to please come to the stage."

There is applauding in the auditorium

Mrs Sade, a lady in her late twenties ascends the stage, she is dressed also in native fabric suit and trouser, her hair is also braided but she packed it into a pony tail. The CEO leaves the stage. The large screen interface changes as she presses a button on a small remote she wields.

"On the chart displayed on this screen is the rate of natural deaths in the North from the beginning of this year. She clicks again and the chart changes. And this is the rate of deaths with unknown causes, we can see that it rose from thirteen percent to forty percent within this year. Sadly this deaths are mostly children."

There's exclamation in the auditorium.

"We sent a team of pharmacist and some agents of food and drug enforcements to the North and this are their reports;"

"The pharmacists got samples of drugs mostly consumed by children in the North from many pharmacys as possible, now this drugs were taken to the lab of the agency of food and drug enforcement of this city for experimentation and investigation.

She clicks and an image of a microscopic organism is displayed."

The people in the auditorium exclaims.

"This organism- we have never seen anything like it before, we found them from the drugs carried to the labs for experimentation. We had an oral interview with some parents of the deceased children, I mean those who were willing to talk."

"They said that when their child comes back from school and complains of a regular headache or body pain, they give them PARACETAMOL which they purchase from the pharmacys In their zone."

She clicks and images of the victims corpse is displayed

"Soon such child starts complaining of dryness, always asking for water, in just four days, the child would be skinny and pale and short of blood. In a week time the child and others with the same faith are buried, of course after they die."

"This organism we believe is responsible for the poison in the drugs, someone somehow made this drugs a bioweapon and sent them to the North. Many innocent lives has been lost, especially children."

Kunle raises his hand up for a question.

"Mr Kunle, let's have your question."

"Thank you Mrs Sade, I am very impressed with your theories mam but I will like to know the effect of this said virus on adults."

"Thank you Mr Kunle! We found out that this virus kills the adult slower than it does to children, the average adult will have symptoms of weakness, pains in every part of their body. Then there's the dryness of the body, like the liquid of the body is being dried up so they are always dehydrated until they die. This takes about three weeks to happen."

Another woman from the auditorium raises her hand for a question.

"Yes Miss Tinu, let's have your question."

"Thank you mam, why is the health facilities in the north haven't been able to do anything concerning this bioweapon? I believe they have enough resources and facilities to do so!."

"Thank you miss Tinu! We all know that till date the Northerners see technohical advancement as evil. Reports came in that the hospitals and labs came under heavy attack by the people, they blamed the staffs in the hospitals and labs for their predicament and they had to be closed down with immediate effect."

"conclusion to my report is that someone or some group of people with high power did this, they posioned this drugs and had them sent to the north, if the northerners finds out am afraid there might be another war."

There is mumuring in the auditorium, multiple hands are raised for questions

"So who do you suspect? Who are your suspect Mrs Sade?."

Mrs Alake ascends the stage.

"You made mention of someone with power, so who do you suspect?"

Sade looks at the woman stunned, the auditorium is dead silent. 

"The Government?" 

"Excuse me madam it's just my theory, we can ask the Government questions about this-"

"That's enough Mrs Sade, you may leave the stage." Sade descends the stage embarrassed, she looks back at the CEO with surprise. Mrs Alake turns to the audience with a smile and says;

"I believe this will be all for today, you are all dismissed."

The staffs exits the conference room, the lights comes up and the window shields are lifted showing a view of the city.

It is late in the night when kunle walks to the car park and enters his car, he drops his tab on the second driver seat and drives off, the city is more beautiful at night. Bustling with Lots and lots of activities , holograms on the giant bill boards are more lively and beautiful, the police drones roam around. 

Driving back home, kunle couldn't get his mind of Sade's report, it all sounds real, the truth was right before his eyes, he could feel it. 

"Why would the CEO stop Mrs Sade from completing her theory? She made a point that could have been considered."

"Why did Mrs Alake diffend the Government in such a manner, she even ended the briefing."

"This doesn't make any sense to me, they are innocent people being killed by someone, and nobody is ready to take action?"

Just then is car computer alerts him;

"Incoming call, sir." 

"Answer.'

 Beep.

"Call on loud speaker." 

"Hey dear!" 

"Hey."

"Are you driving?"

"Yes, nice guessing."

"Haha you know that's what am good at.

Kunle grins."

"What is it baby?"

"Nothing! Am just you know-"

"I know your voice when you are bothered, talk to me, what is it?"

"There's a lot going on in the north, deaths caused by poisoned drugs and nobody is willing to ask questions."

"Oh my goodness!"

"Yeah and the only way that could have happened is not without the concent of the higher authorities."

"Kunle are you blaming the government?" 

"We could ask questions."

She's silent. Kunle grip tightens on his car car steering wheel.

"What do you plan to do?" 

"Am gonna write a report and take it to the vice president, maybe there was a mistake somewhere, we have to act fast and soon."

"Are you really sure about this, isn't this supposed to be the job of your boss."

"She wouldn't do it."

"What?-"

"She's hiding something, I don't know yet, but she knows and she's hiding something and whatever it is she doesn't want it discussed or questioned."

"Then going to the vice President might be risky or don't you think so?"

"Elizabeth, there are innocent people dieing, I can't sit back and watch, if something isn't done quick then am afraid of another war."

She sighs and sniffs.

"Good luck."

"Thanks, how's my son?" 

"He's asleep. Wanted to talk to you but you were busy."

"Yeah am sorry, tell him Daddy loves him okay?"

"Okay, I love you."

"I love you more." 

 Beep.

On his bed, Kunle lays down in his pajamas, distant siren wailings can be heard, Kunle stares at the ceiling, he had made up his mind, he's going to submit his report to the vice President , he just have to book an appointment with him. He covers himself with a blanket and soon he's asleep.