1997, August,

Transcripts from AIT news interview with fast rising politician and senatorial candidate for Lagos State, Remilekun Phillips.

INTERVIEWER: The Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) announces new polls dates: National Assembly, April 25, 1998; Governorship and Presidential elections, August 1, 1998 and many notable men have expressed desire to run for many of these posts, amongst all these, we have a fast rising politician in the studio with us today, a man that has risen among the ranks of most esteemed activists in the country today - while facing the challenge of being one of the youngest in the game.

We have Remilekun Phillips in the studio today; a graduate of Medicine and Surgery from the esteemed Lagos state university, it is our honor to have you here with us this morning, sir.

RP: (laughs) it is an honor to be here, although the light you and everyone paints me in continues to brings me more stress in the attempt to do better.

INTERVIEWER: you opponents should take note of these intimidation tactics then.

RP: I suppose so.

INTERVIEWER: I will start with the question that has been on everyone's lips since you announced your intention to run for Senate, when was that moment you decided that your career lay, not in medicine but in politics, why did you decide so?

RP: I find it surprising that people are so surprised, politics has always been something I've been fascinated by. In my university days, I was involved with the student union, I also went as far as competing in elections which led me to being President of the union in my final year, so yes, politics has always been a part of me, not just a hasty decision.

INTERVIEWER: I see, that comes to my next question, a few weeks ago, an anonymous source reached out to a now obsolete newspaper and tipped them off of your less than stellar extracurricular activities, making a mention of you running a cult while you were in the university.

RP: nothing but nonsense rumour. It is funny that despite many of my old teachers and lecturers coming out to say kind words about my campaign there are still people out there trying to slander my name for no reason I can think of. People like to talk, so I let them do so.

INTERVIEWER: So We'd like to think, but a name was also dropped by the anonymous source, they claimed you were part of a political cult called The ORION Project, a claim that was further looked into and deemed a cult that once existed a long time ago and run by certain prominent political figures of the country.

RP: Like I said, it is nothing but rumour, politicians are no strangers to rumour mongers, there is no proof other than a so called source's word of mouth.

INTERVIEWER: One of your constant manifestos is your cry for public transparency with the government, could you expand a bit on that?

RP: of course, for so long we have seen our government cover up truths and silence the press when it comes to issues concerning the country's budgets and debts. Secrets are dangerous tools that continue to tear the bridge of connection between the government and the public. I aim for transparency.

INTERVIEWER: A man of integrity, I see.

RP: I try to be one.

INTERVIEWER: You have steadily become a fan favourite among journalists and the media who have constantly hailed you as an honest man. What do you have to say about the recent killings of journalists in the past few years?

RP: A very despicable thing that our press are killed for searching for the truth, I recently started a foundation for the families of affected press men and women, nothing can compensate for their lost lives but we can at least try to make the lives of the living better.

INTERVIEWER: It was such an honour having you here with us, here's to hoping you have a wonderful election year ahead of you.

RP: the honor was mine, every bit of it.

INTERVIEWER: And next on the news we bring you fresh updates concerning the mysterious disappearance of the son of Media Mogul, Toluwanimi Kingston and his girlfriend Tamika Afolabi. . .

***

"Why didn't you tell me that you dated Emmanuel before he died?" Kendrick couldn't help but blurt out the moment they were out of Joshua's sight.

For a second he regretted it, speaking so rashly like her lover, and when she furrowed her brows he thought she would brush aside the question. Amina hadn't bothered to put on her hijab and her long hair cascaded down to her back, occasionally the wind would pick it up and it would whip around her face.

"So that's what Jamal told you?" She mused, his heart dropped. He was so stupid, mentioning that, how was he going to explain that sudden knowledge when he and Grace had agreed on giving ORION a different answer?

"No, he didn't tell me anything, I saw pictures of you two in Jamal's office when I snooped." He said quickly, he hoped his voice was as calm as he wanted it to be, he knew too well how her eyes could be sharper than an eagle's.

Kendrick still couldn't tell if she had actually bought his lie or not. Her eyes were still distant and she stood stiffly as if she was talking to a stranger.

"I don't see how it concerns you, Kendrick, we were both adults and it was nothing but a sexual relationship, don't worry, I didn't break his heart." She said flatly. "Girls like to have fun once in a while, you know."

Then she crossed her arms over her chest, waiting for him to call her out, to challenge her answers but he couldn't, there was nothing he could say that would make him sound anything less than a jealous lover or an idiot for meddling in her life. She could do whatever she wanted, Kendrick supposed it was surprising how they had had a relationship together and she had still been the one to kill him, as if he had meant nothing to her.

He was surprised that he was still furious, that while he hated Emmanuel for making a fool out of himself, he still hated ORION more, and that included the soft eyed girl standing in front of him. What he wasn't sure of was if he still wanted to play the game he had started, because he wasn't stupid enough to think he was out of the woods.

"Answer one question for me, will you, Ken?" She said, jabbing a finger at his chest. "Why are you here? Why did you think you could start this fight and not finish it? You're not fooling anyone, at all."

His heart thud where her finger jabbed. He raced to find a response that made sense, a response that would take their attention off him for now, he needed time, but he was running out of it. He blurted out the most coherent words he could muster on the spot.

"I already told you why." Although he wasn't sure what he was saying anymore, nothing made sense anymore. "I'm power hungry, and sick of sitting on the sidelines." He didn't even sound convincing to his own ears, he sounded like a cheap imitation of the villains in cartoons. It was then that he knew that The ORION Project was on to him, they didn't just know what to do to him yet. They knew.

Kendrick was all the more surprised because these people could kill him and get away with it, why hadn't they?

Amina hummed a bitter laugh. "Oh, you are hungry, I'll give you that, but not for power, instead for something more bitter than that. I'll let you guess, it starts with a 'r'"

Kendrick gritted his teeth, cursing himself for being stupid, he could stand here all night and defend his absurd reasons but she'd never believe any of them. Nobody with a brain would believe them, he had dug that hole himself.

He gave a shrug, knowing that what he could do was play coy.

She laughed. "You won't win, Ken, and trust me, the only reason you're still standing here is because your death would be messy, and frankly, a waste of resources." A smirk tugged at the left corner of her lips, there was nothing sweet about it, it spelt mischief, it was wicked and somehow more intimidating on her red painted lips.

A shiver snaked down his spine, so sudden that he was sure she saw him shudder, making her smile widen — this was the beast she had been keeping on leash. This version of her, he didn't doubt as a murderer.

"Really, it's a win win situation for us, you have no weapon in your arsenal and we get the sponsor of your daddy dearest." At his gaping look of surprise, she added. "Yes, your father is very much aware of your extracurricular activities and he'll be pumping his money into our projects — that is if he wants to keep his company afloat in Nigeria."

Kendrick had never hated anyone more in that moment, it must have shown on his face because her smile was so wide that it looked like it would split her face in half, she had been goading him, taunting him. Kendrick couldn't phantom how he had let her soft exterior fool him. Because of Emmanuel, he had jeopardized his relationship with his father, and his father's company.

Who the hell knew what secrets The ORION Project had on Yong Conglomerate? Everyone knew the world of business was dirty, much like politics, there was no way that his father's business was clean, Kendrick knew this, it was why he had ignored the old man's less than subtle hints that Kendrick joined the business after university.

Amina gave another soft laugh, leaning in so there was barely any space between them, she smelt of ash and roses and he hated that his breath still hitched when she looked at him so intently.

"Foolish boy, you're just another conquest, another notch on my belt, and if you ever thought I felt an iota of attraction or affection for you, then the more shame on you." She whispered, tilting her head so her lips brushed the corner of his.

Kendrick inhaled sharply, then pushed her away gently. Something seemed to flash in her own eyes briefly before her smile returned.

"Not every boy wants to sleep you, Amina." Kendrick deadpanned, biting down on his lip, regretting his words and their implications. He had insinuated that she was nothing more than a toy to play with and get bored of after — with nothing worth falling in love with.

If she was offended, she didn't show it, instead choosing to brush invisible dirt off his collar and letting her finger linger near the pulse ticking near his neck.

"Like I haven't heard that one before," She snorted. "The last person who said that ended up coming back for more, until the taste drove him mad, we both know how that one guy ended — six feet under."

She pulled away, managing to belittle him with her sneer, even though he was taller than her. "You aren't even worth the effort."

She gave him a wink as if they had been flirting not passing threats.

Kendrick wasn't sure which hurt the most, her first statement or the second, he turned his head away before she saw what he desperately tried to hide. He caught sight of Joshua and Grace's grinning face and hoped for her sake that her own interrogation went better.

Make no mistake, Kendrick knew that the conversation with Amina had been nothing but an interrogation. ORION had him exactly where they wanted him, beneath them. Even though he had something he could use against them, they could always trace it back to him and then he would be doomed for.

1-1, he thought bitterly.

***

"I know everything," Joshua Phillips told Grace. He looked down at his wristwatch for the longest, most uncomfortable second before looking up at her face. He was waiting for a confession, and it made Grace gnash her teeth at his confidence, he clearly thought his voice would send her trembling.

He was in for a surprise. She grinned in his face, savouring the look of astonishment that made his eyes widen for an instant.

"Good for you." She told him, giving him what she hoped was a nonchalant shrug even though her heart pounded loudly. She was half compelled to spew the contents of her stomach before Joshua's white Jordans. 

For the first time, Joshua Phillips stuttered, then pursed his lips to shoot a glare at her. Maybe it was fear, or maybe it was confidence but Grace couldn't stop speaking.

"You see, The ORION Project has always broadcasted itself as a united organization, even while I believed it was a club of rich brats, I don't see why you should keep secrets from him." She said, tapping a finger to her chin in false contemplation. "Trust is a two way street, Joshua."

Joshua Phillips was too smart to make a mistake twice, he was quick to adopt a false air of friendliness too, reaching to give her shoulder a squeeze that was far too hard to be called comforting.

I like this game, his eyes seemed to say.

"You can always come to me with any questions, of course, I'm not all teeth." He told her, taking back his hand and letting both drop to his sides, his posture was relaxed, slouching slightly as if to say; look, I'm on your side.

Grace was not fooled.

"I want to know why the fuck I was recruited." She dropped all pretence of friendliness, letting her fury bubble to the surface. "Of course, you are allowed to your oath of silence but so am I."

He stiffened at once, looking at her with glittering brown eyes, Grace could no longer feel the heat of the flames and she cast a glance at the buildings around and saw that firefighters had managed to tame most of the fires, but every short while, one of them would burst out from the buildings, carrying someone.

"The ORION Project is a family organization, which means only children of past members can become members." He bit out.

"Which isn't the case with me," She cut in smoothly. "I don't know if you've noticed, but the closest to rich my family is is eating thrice a day and having desserts too."

"Was Sanmi a scheme to draw me in?" She asked.

Joshua smiled thinly. "No, not at first."

The smile told her he was definitely not lying, this was information that he would willingly speak of, she could tell and silenced him with a raised hand when he parted his lips to speak.

"Your father was once affiliated with us," Joshua finally admitted. "Raymond Ilori was in the same year with my father in medical school — although he didn't finish."

Grace wasn't surprised, they could accuse Raymond Ilori of murder and Grace wouldn't be surprised. She had come to associate the worst with him.

She almost let out a sigh of relief but then stiffened when she remembered she was still standing in the presence of the devil. Grace caught his slight smile and narrowed her eyes, the smile was smug, all knowing.

"That's not all is it?" She asked. He nodded.

"I will tell you what you want to know, on one condition."

"Depends on what." She deadpanned. "Do I have to sell my soul?"

He laughed, genuinely, shaking his head in a manner that told Grace that it wasn't her humour that he found funny but something else entirely. She wasn't sure she liked where he was leading her to, the conversation had began with her in charge but somehow in the last few seconds he had managed to flip the tables in his favour, she had even begun to relax.

"Every new recruit undergoes a physical examination which you and your boyfriend is yet to go through."

She didn't bother to correct his words, knowing he was well aware that there was nothing going on with her and Kendrick, Joshua just wanted her anger.

"So?" She yawned, truly exhausted. She had managed to survive a bombing and she was now fighting another battle she was not equipped for.

"So Monday, 1pm, at the Dome." He said.

"What does that entail?" She asked suspiciously.

"Blood tests, blood sample collection." He answered vaguely, then perked up when she deflated visibly. "I forgot to add, my dad will be visiting. Remilekun Phillips is looking forward to seeing you."

The vice president of the country? A violent shiver racked her body and she stumbled back, she couldn't even find it in herself to summon anger at the smirk on his face that had widened.

The same man Kendrick told her had had a hand in the death of Senator Abayomi — the senator that had been murdered months ago, the senator whose murderer still ran free and right under everyone's noses.

Joshua took another glance at his wrist watch, then looking up to give her a strange look.

"Don't worry, he doesn't count the sin of the father against the daughter."

She wanted to ask him what he meant by his cryptic words when she saw that Amina and Kendrick were already walking towards them. Joshua gave Kendrick a mock salute and Amina a pleased look, Kendrick didn't even seem bothered, looking pale. Grace wondered what Amina had told him to make him look so shaken.

She wanted to ask why nothing made sense anymore, she wanted to ask why it seemed like she was tumbling down into a dark ditch. Grace met Kendrick's eyes, trying to get him to look at her, but he was still staring at Amina.

One thing was sure now, he didn't look at her like a goddess, he looked at her like she was a wolf.

***

So which showdown was your favourite? My sweet summer child, Ken fucked up but Grace killed it! Or did she?

Moving on to fun stuff, the baddest bitch of them all; Remilekun Phillips will be making an appearance in the next update, like I've always said, hints and easter eggs are always buried in every chapter, see if you can find this one.

I hope you liked this chapter, I certainly enjoyed shouting along to Godzilla by Eminem while writing this.