Five Days Later
The Defence Intelligence Agency Headquarters buzzed with controlled urgency.
What had begun as a routine investigation had quietly grown into one of the agency's highest-priority operations.
Analysts moved between offices carrying classified files. Satellite images covered digital displays. Phone calls flowed continuously between military commands, intelligence stations, police headquarters and government ministries.
Every lead was pursued.
Every witness re-interviewed.
Every frame of footage scrutinized.
For five days, the investigation had expanded beyond the train attack itself.
The mysterious cargo, the unidentified aircraft, even the fishermen who discovered the strange blue mineral.
The unexplained destruction.
Nothing was dismissed.
Nothing was assumed.
Down the corridor, officers gathered outside the main conference room, each carrying thick folders stamped CLASSIFIED.
One by one, they took their seats.
No one spoke.
The weight of what they had uncovered hung heavily over the room.
An aide entered, looking around at the assembled officers.
"Is everyone ready?"
A chorus of nods answered him.
He glanced toward the closed conference room doors before pressing a hand to his earpiece.
"Sir...They're ready for you."
The hallway fell silent.
Heavy footsteps echoed steadily toward the room.
The doors began to open.
The National Security Adviser's office overlooked the city of Abuja, its floor-to-ceiling windows offering a clear view of the capital below. Inside, however, the atmosphere was anything but relaxed.
A knock sounded on the heavy wooden door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and the General stepped inside carrying a single classified folder.
"Good morning, sir."
The National Security Adviser looked up from the documents on his desk.
"General."
He gestured toward the chair opposite him.
"Have a seat."
The General did so, placing the folder neatly on the desk.
The Adviser leaned back.
"I've been waiting for your report."
"I trust you've found an explanation for what happened in Lagos."
The General remained silent for a moment.
"No, sir."
The Adviser frowned.
"No?"
"I've found evidence."
"But not an explanation."
That response immediately caught the Adviser's attention.
He folded his hands.
"Go on."
The General opened the folder and slid several photographs across the desk.
Images of the destroyed train.
Thermal satellite captures.
Radar flight paths.
Still frames taken from authenticated CCTV footage.
The Adviser studied each photograph carefully.
"What am I looking at?"
"A coordinated operation carried out by twelve unidentified individuals."
The General replied calmly.
"They arrived in two separate aircraft."
"They engaged one another atop a moving train."
"They departed before security reinforcements arrived."
The Adviser looked up.
"Terrorists?"
"We don't know."
"Foreign operatives?"
"We don't know."
The General slid another photograph forward.
A frame showing blue arcs of electricity illuminating the roof of the train.
"Our cyber division has authenticated every frame."
"No evidence of digital manipulation."
The Adviser remained unconvinced.
"Special effects?"
The General shook his head.
"Our analysts considered that possibility."
"They eliminated it."
Another photograph appeared.
A towering figure standing atop the train.
Then another.
A blurred silhouette suspended in the air.
The Adviser stared silently.
Finally he spoke.
"What exactly are you suggesting, General?"
"I'm suggesting nothing."
The General's voice remained measured.
"I'm presenting verified evidence."
He placed a small sealed evidence container onto the desk.
Inside rested a fragment of glowing blue crystal.
"This material was recovered from the scene."
The Adviser picked it up, studying the faint blue glow.
"Our laboratories have been unable to identify it."
"It does not correspond to any known mineral."
"It emits measurable energy."
The Adviser slowly returned the container to the desk.
Silence filled the office.
After several moments, he looked directly at the General.
"What do you need?"
The answer came without hesitation.
"Authorization."
The Adviser raised an eyebrow.
"For?"
The General met his gaze.
"A full-scale Defence Intelligence Agency investigation."
"I want unrestricted access to military, police and intelligence records relating to this incident."
"I want authority to establish a joint task force."
"And I want every agency to cooperate without delay."
The National Security Adviser rose from his chair and walked toward the window overlooking Abuja.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Finally, he spoke.
"General..."
"If what you've brought me is accurate..."
"...then this is no longer simply an attack on a train."
He turned slowly.
"It's a threat operating inside our borders."
The General gave a single nod.
"Yes, sir."
The Adviser returned to his desk, picked up a pen and signed the authorization document.
He slid it across the desk.
"You have your task force."
He paused, his expression hardening.
"But hear me clearly."
"I don't want headlines."
"I don't want panic."
"And I certainly don't want innocent people caught in the middle."
The General stood, collecting the signed document.
"You have my word, sir."
As he turned to leave, the National Security Adviser spoke one final time.
"General."
He stopped.
"Find out who they are..."
"...before they decide to reveal themselves first."
Without another word, the General nodded and walked out of the office.
The investigation had just become a matter of national security.
____
The atmosphere inside the safe house was noticeably heavier than usual.
The six Seraphs gathered around the briefing table as Philip entered carrying a thin file.
He didn't waste time.
"We have a problem."
Everyone's attention shifted to him.
"The Nigerian government has begun investigating the train incident."
Silence.
Philip placed several photographs on the table. Satellite images. CCTV stills. Reports.
"The Defence Intelligence Agency has been assigned the case by the National Security Adviser."
Zahara's expression hardened. "How much do they know?"
"Enough."
Philip folded his arms. "They've authenticated the CCTV footage, reconstructed most of the battle, and confirmed there were twelve individuals involved."
Rafael let out a low whistle.
"That's... impressive."
"They're good," Philip admitted. "Very good."
Malak frowned. "Hold on. Aren't we technically working for the government?"
Philip shook his head. "Not exactly."
Seraphina tilted her head. "So... we're rogue operatives."
"Something like that." Philip sighed.
"We do have support from within the government. A senior official has quietly granted us a certain level of freedom over the years."
"But it's unofficial. It was never meant to survive this level of scrutiny."
Aziel crossed his arms. "So why can't our friend make the investigation disappear?"
"Because he can't."
Philip's tone remained calm.
"The National Security Adviser is personally overseeing this investigation. If our contact interferes now, he'll expose himself as the leak. The moment he does that, his career is over—and so is any protection we've had."
Malak leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face. "...We're screwed."
No one laughed.
Philip ignored the comment. "For the time being, all field operations are suspended."
The room fell silent.
"We've spent eight months leveling the playing field with the Sanctum. I'm not about to throw that away because someone caught us on camera."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"From this moment forward, you don't leave this safe house unless I authorize it."
No unnecessary contact.
No public appearances.
No mistakes. They might have already identified some.of you and the last thing I want is one of you getting captured."
Seraphina broke the silence. "And the Sanctum?"
Philip's expression darkened. "They're laying low too." He paused before adding,
"But don't mistake their silence for inactivity."
"They're planning something. And until we know what that is..."
"...we can do nothing but disappear. What they're planning might be big and if they succeed we might not win but if we're caught and placed out of commission there won't be a fight at all."
The room fell quiet once more.
For the first time since becoming Seraphs, they weren't hiding from the Sanctum.
They were hiding from their own government.