Section 1
In a cave on the outskirts of Birin Kudu, a man searches for his goat.
As he follows the tracks left by the animal he moans,
"Wallahi I will sell this useless thing first thing tomorrow, what sort of stress is this?".
The tracks end at the side of a cave so the man takes a
look and is shocked to the core by what
meets him inside.
He sees five women standing over a corpse on a raised slab
chanting in a strange language, filling the air with a frightening green aura.
Mustapha can only watch in shock behind a boulder as the corpse raises its neck
and stares at the women with a blank expression on its face.
One of them says, "My child, kill and multiply" and the
corpse begins to walk, with its eyes locked on Mustapha. Realising the corpse is
after him, Mustapha runs out of the cave as fast as possible, reaching his
nearby farm and slamming the door of his house behind him.
Inside his wife greets him but he pushes her aside shouting,
"Give me space Aisha, give me space!".
Surprised she replies, "What happened? Did anyone chase you?".
The man continues shouting attracting the attention of his
neighbours who ask him over and over to explain what happened.
Eventually he calms down and leads a group of vigilantes on
bikes to the cave where he saw the corpse but finds it empty with no slab in
sight, just his missing goat grazing by the side of the opening.
"Mustapha all this trouble for one goat, you just wasted our
time" one of the vigilantes shouts.
"But I swear to God there was a body here..." he insists as
they all make their way back to the village.
From the distance, one of the Night Sisters asks, "Was it
wise to let him go?" and another replies, "In time, the fruits of this action
will reveal themselves".
Section 2
Three days later, Mustapha decides to go to a nearby market to
sell the goat along with other items from his farm.
The day is mostly uneventful and he heaves a sigh of relief
as he stuffs his money in a bag and makes his way out of the market. As he
walks through the suspiciously empty streets, he notices he's being followed
and tries walking down a shortcut clutching his bag and muttering prayers to
himself.
Thinking he's in the clear, Mustapha relaxes and makes his
way out of the lonely passageway but is ambushed by a reanimated corpse which lunges
at him, dagger in hand.
Before the knife makes contact, the corpse is pulled back by
Segun who's wearing a cloak over his suit and is pinned against a brick wall. Before he realises it, Mustapha has a
bag pulled over his head and is tied down as SDF operatives swarm the
passageway.
From this radio, Dele tells Segun, "Nice catch" as the SDF personnel
restrain Mustapha and the corpse, dragging both them to a dusty SDF transport vehicle
disguised as a food truck.
Inside the truck, Dele removes the bag from the dishevelled
man's head as he shouts and pleads for his life.
"Psycho please shut him up" Dele asks and the man falls
silent as her eyes fill the white interior of the truck with a faint green glow.
"Now, was there any other witness?" he asks and she replies,
"Only us has a memory what happened" allowing Dele to relax as he thinks,
"Good, now all that's left is for Prophet to get here".
They wait 30 minutes until finally a knock is heard. Opening
the door, Dele sarcastically says, "How can you see the future but still can't
keep to time?".
Prophet replies in kind, "The day is always night to a blind
man" as he steps inside. "Just tell me what we're dealing with here" Dele whines
eager to leave.
Raising his staff, Prophet attempts to heal the entity but it
grows agitated and screams as he attempts
to rip the corrupted green ashe out from his body. The screams eventually give
way to crying as the zombie sits up saying, "Please help me!".
"Who sent you and what is your purpose?", Dele asks, the
zombie replies, "I don't know where I am, I'm scared... and so... cold".
Sensing danger, Psycho grabs Dele and Prophet forms a shield
as the zombie explodes covering the truck with a fine red mist.
As the mist clears to reveal a mess of mangled body parts, Dr
Enotayo rips off her mask runs out to vomit while Dele bangs the side of the
truck in anger.
While the truck is being assessed for damage Dele gets a
call from Amina asking, "I heard you got into some trouble, are you alright?"
and he responds "I will be once I get this assignment out of the way, it would
be easier if you were here, you know the North more than anyone" Dele replies.
"You know you're not my boss anymore so I'll need permission
from HQ, in the meantime my changes to the AVES got approved so at least I'll
be able to help soon".
"Better hurry up, see you soon" Dele says before ending the
transmission and letting out a brief sigh. Just then, Segun walks up to Dele
asking, "What now boss?" and Prophet interjects, "Now we look for the source of
this disease".
"You're going to have to speak in actual English man" Segun
says, turning around and rubbing his head in confusion.
"The herder came from the east, the zombie likewise" Segun
hears, as Dr Enotayo sends them all a telepathic message.
Dele declares, "This going to be a tough battle and with Amina
out of the mix we'll need a guide, I'm not a fan of going into situations
blind, no offence" and Prophet replies, "None taken, I also happen to know
someone who can help us".
With a heavy sign Dr Enotayo thinks, "Good this place is
making me sick already".
Section 3
In a dusty field, a rhinoceros beetle scurries away from an
approaching motorcycle onto a small blade of grass, then another passes by, and
another, until the beetle is forced to fly from the avalanche of wheels crashing
in its direction.
The noise of the rumbling engines and the screech of the
wheels against the sand gives way to the sound of gunfire as the riders
dismount and begin their attack on a small farming settlement.
Vigilantes rush out to meet them, sending a volley of shots
at their attackers but their ancient muskets are no match for the modern rifles
of their enemies, which are skilfully use to dislodge them.
The vigilantes are picked off one by one, those too slow to
run are hacked down by machetes as the bandits chant and scream in delight. One
vigilante refuses to run, and aims his weapon at the bandits, rushing through Shahada
as he closes his eyes, aims and fires.
The sound of a gunshot pierces the air followed by a loud
thud. The vigilante opens his blood soaked eyes to see his attacker dead on the
ground, followed by another shot coming from far in the distance.
The marauding bandits are thrown into confusion as the air
fills with thick smoke and more shots come their way, each hitting their
targets precisely. Through the carnage, the sound of an approaching horse
echoes through the village streets. The rider, sword in hand, crashes through
the battlefield, cutting down the bandits with a malicious rage. The once
confident attacks flee East towards their motorcycles but walk straight into an
SDF ambush and are swiftly tied up.
With the battle over, Dele walks out to inspect the carnage
and remarks, "Well done, that was some fine shooting". The White Horseman steps
out of the smoke saying, "Why do you interfere?" and Dele replies, "You looked
like you needed some help...".
The man dismounts his horse and interrupts Dele by killing
the remaining three bandits with three quick and precise bullets from his
revolver before saying, "Your help is not required, it never was, now leave".
"But what will you do when these corpses you just made rise
from the grave to seek their revenge?" Prophet asks.
"What happens to them is yours to decide, I'm through
fighting Djinn, my battle is with the living while you waste time chasing
ghosts", says the White Horseman as he walks back to his waiting steed.
Dele steps forward and tells the White Horseman "We can make
a deal, you help us take down a small problem and my friend in the corner
doesn't scramble your brains, how does that sound?". "It sounds like the
blackmail of a coward, but go ahead, I will be useless to you in any case" he
responds, calling his bluff.
With no luck, Dele signals for his men to let him go and the
strange man mounts his horse, disappearing into the fog as quickly as he came. Frustrated,
he turns to Prophet saying, "Well that
was a waste of time".
Section 4
Under a tree and warmed by the glow of a green fire, the Night
Witches sit and discuss their plans and desires.
"Sister, the messenger we sent has not returned".
"Unfortunate, they must have liked her, should we send
more?".
"Why sacrifice so many?" one asks.
"Sacrifices have to be made to protect us all, the ones who
are meant to be will find their way home".
As they speak the image in the fire takes the shape of Dele's
patrol group as they make their way back to base, one of the SDF men notes the
apparent lack of people or wildlife in the area.
"This place is a lot more quiet than usual"
Prophet says, "I suspect we are not alone" and Dele replies
"I never planned on it" their conversation is interrupted when an SDF operator
answers a coded message which reads, "Undead spotted at **** *** ****
assistance required".
Before they can organise a response the line is flooded with
messages of simultaneous attacks from all over state.
Quickly, Overwatch tells the patrol "Everyone in combat
posture, prepare to engage multiple level three entities, whatever happens, do
not die and do NOT get captured".
As they speed through the plains and sparse tree cover,
their armoured personnel carriers come under intense gunfire from multiple
angles. Overwatch orders "Do not stop, do not get separated! We need to support
the base!".
As Dele keeps barking orders, Prophet sends out his staff out
to form a defensive canopy behind the convoy as the attack intensifies. With
the base within reach, Dele heaves a sigh of relief, but it is cut short by a
loud bang and eruption of soil at the front of the convoy.
A hole had been blown in the road ahead by an IED, causing
the front of the APC to dive head first into it. Soon after, the sides of the
other two vehicles are rocked by two RPG blasts and come crashing into the
command vehicle, leaving them trapped and exposed.
Prophet's staff returns to support him but can react,
several chains, glowing green with cursed energy, burst through from the ground
and rip open the doors of the last Armoured Personnel Carrier. The chains rip
through everyone in the vehicle except Dr
Enotayo who is strangled and subdued before being dragged away into the
horizon.
Seconds after the attack stops, the SDF troops slowly emerge
from the wreckage and those still able to fight form a perimeter around the
crash.
They inform Dele of Dr Enotayo's capture and he sits by the
wreck, silent inconsolable. As Segun walks to the wreckage he asks "What do we
do now sir?" and receives no response.
Prophet drags Segun
aside and says, "Not now child, we are not alone ".
Just as they were talking, an SDF trooper drops to a firing
stance shouting, "STOP, IDENTIFY YOURSELF!"
Emerging from the fog, the White Horseman replies, "I am the
one who rides". He dismounts from his horse and throws his weapons on the
ground as a very angry Segun approaches saying, "What do you want!?"
With his hands still in the air, the white Horseman replies "You
may not know this boy, but long ago the SDF stood for something. After
witnessing this pitiable display and the capture of your operative, I am now
forced to intervene so you don't put my people in even more danger".
Outraged, Segun walks forward saying "Who do you think..."
but Prophet grabs him by the arm saying, "Come now, let us reason together, this
man speaks the truth".
Segun pulls his arm away and keeps his mouth shut as Prophet
asks, "We would gladly accept your help, but this decision depends on our leader".
Standing up, Dele walks over to the Horseman and extends his
hand saying, "We are the closest thing to family she has. Help me bring her
back and I will be in your debt".
He grabs Dele's hand and replies "For the man I once knew, I
will do this".
Section 5
Dizzy and with a massive headache, Dr Enotayo, now Psycho, wakes up in a cavern wondering what just happened. She tries to move but is tightly chained on the floor, in front of her are twelve night sisters, the
foremost one saying, "Welcome child".
Quickly she tries to use her psychic powers to knock them out but they laugh saying, "You can not harm us".
Panicked she tries to break out of the chains but they only squeeze tighter until she's immobilised on her knees. One of the night sisters
puts her palm on her cheek saying, "Be still little one, you are safe now...".
Realising her situation, Psycho stops struggling and the
chains slowly fall off her body, allowing her to stand up. Immediately she
receives a hug and a kiss on her cheek but pushes back saying, "Stop, who are
you? Why did you keep me alive?"
They respond, "You are one of us! "
"That's not true, I don't know you".
"Yes you do, let us show you".
Their eyes glow green, memories flood Psycho's mind of her past
she'd buried away and she drops to her knees. Together they help her up and guide
her to a large hall illuminated by the moon through a hole in the cavern.
There a woman, at least seven feet tall, sits on a skull throne. She walks down to Psycho and embraces her saying, "Welcome my child, I
know you are weary but we haven't much time. There are those who seek to
destroy us, the same ones who took you away from me".
"I understand Queen Mother, I know of whom you speak".
"Good, we shall strike at them and root out the cancer so that nature may heal".
Hearing this, Psycho slightly gasps which causes the Queen Mother to raise an eyebrow asking, "What is it?"
"Is bringing people back from the dead what nature intended?".
"It is our way..."
"But not my way!"
"Stop this, you will never be one of them, never!".
Still, Psycho refuses to agree forcing the Queen Mother to walk down from her throne angrily shouting, "Are you willing to die over some lousy humans!?"
With a smile on her face Psycho replies "Someone is..." as the
white moonlight between them gives away to a fiery red glow.
Psycho takes a long step back before Michael crashes into
the cave with a burst of flame, sending the Queen Mother to the ground and setting
the stage for the next battle.
The end?