THE NIGHT BEFORE DEATH: TERROR STRIKES BACK

"Strong are the ones who love one's nation; brave are the ones who fight for one's nation and great are the ones who die for one's nation."

Sergeant. Marshal Eriksen looked at one of his soldiers, who was dozing. He gently shook his shoulder and said, "Wake up, young man. This is no time to sleep. The material we are carrying is precious as well as classified. We have to deliver it before the break of dawn. We cannot surely say how many eyes are currently pursuing us. We have to stay alert every second of the time. Our nation's prestige depends on the successful delivery of this package." He gave the soldier a bottle of water and walked towards the truck which contained the material.

He looked around the truck to see if any mishaps or miscalculations in the protection of the package. A smile flashed on his face when he saw that the package was fully secured. Eriksen walked towards the driver of the truck and said, "We don't have much time. The package needs to be delivered before the break of dawn. Even if we drive continuously without any stoppage, it will need still five hours more to reach our destination. So, hurry up." The driver nodded his head and started the ignition. Sergeant Eriksen climbed in the back of the truck and soon they were on the way to Mombasa from Nairobi. Sergeant Eriksen's phone rang and he received the call and said, "We have started our journey from Nairobi and will reach Mombasa in approximately five to six hours. That is the fastest we can go with the weight of the package." The other end said, "The package is highly dangerous. Keep in mind to keep your distance from it as much as possible. Even a little leak from the package can kill all of you in just five minutes. Drive carefully and keep an eye out for any intruders. Many terrorist organizations are tracking this package and we can never be sure which one attacks us. So, keep your guns ready. You have full permission to shoot and are authorized to kill anyone who interferes with your journey.

Sergeant Eriksen said, "Yes, sir." The other end disconnected the call. Eriksen took the binoculars and looked everywhere. The road was silent and only a few cars were visible, most of which were stationary. Even though the road was cold like the night, the advent of any danger was imminent. Eriksen cupped his hands as hot breath passed through his hands. He pushed his cold hands inside the pockets of his warm coat and poured some coffee into his cup. He took out a bottle of whiskey and poured some into the coffee. He was not allowed to drink while on duty, but he was too cold to obey the rules. He sipped some coffee and sat on the floor of the back of the truck. He pulled out a photograph and smiled. It was a photograph of his wife with his ten-year-old daughter. It has been almost ten months since he saw them outside the photograph. Eriksen smiled and kissed the photograph. He was about to take another sip of his coffee when the truck suddenly stopped and he spilled the whole coffee on his coat.

Sergeant Eriksen climbed down the truck and asked the driver, "What happened?" The driver said, "There is a car standing ten meters away from us. Should we initiate violence?" Eriksen said, "No. Absolutely no. We cannot attack civilians like this. Honk and see if the car moves away or not." The driver honked but the car didn't move. The driver honked again, but the car still didn't move. Sergeant Eriksen walked towards the car and saw a young woman wearing a leopard skin-colored scarf and a red office dress standing near the car. The car was a red Cadillac. Eriksen asked, "What is the problem, ma'am? Can I help you with it?" The woman looked at his uniform and smiled, "You brave officers already do so much for us ungrateful civilians. I shouldn't bother you with such a small problem." Eriksen smiled, "That is nothing of that sort. Grateful or ungrateful. It is our job and duty to serve our civilians without asking for gratitude. What is the problem, ma'am?"

The woman said politely, "I was returning home from my office when this idiot car broke down. Now, I have to stand here in the middle of the night, waiting for a tow truck." Sergeant Eriksen looked at the car and then at the woman. The woman has an uncanny resemblance to his wife and maybe for that reason, he didn't want to go away without helping that poor girl. He asked, "Can I see some ID, please?" The woman smiled, "Of course." She put her hand in her purse and took out a card. Sergeant Eriksen took the card and said, "Mrs. Nafisa Iqbal Ali. DOB- 09.07.1994. Occupation- Junior news reporter." Nafisa smiled, "Yep. That's me." Sergeant Eriksen looked at her and smiled, "Pakistani?" Nafisa smiled, "Not entirely. I'm half Pakistani and half Indian. My father was from India and he too was an army officer. My mother was a teacher in Pakistan. They met through a common friend and soon started dating and five years later, I was born." Sergeant Eriksen smiled, "My grandparents were also from different countries. My grandfather worked as a blacksmith in Portsmouth and my grandmother was from Cincinnati. She belonged to an affluent family and there were many clashes between their families when they decided to marry each other." Nafisa smiled, "Looks like we have much in common." Sergeant Eriksen smiled, "What can I say? The world's a small place." 

The driver honked and Sergeant Eriksen realized that he had an important package to deliver and he was just wasting time with Nafisa. He soon ran towards the truck and said, "She is just a damsel in distress. Pass the car. We have a package to deliver before the break of dawn." The driver said, "Yes. You said that twelve minutes ago." Sergeant Eriksen quickly climbed back on the truck and they started to move. Nafisa smiled and waved Sergeant Eriksen goodbye. The first truck almost passed Nafisa's car, when an explosion occurred and the truck exploded into pieces. Nafisa soon ran behind the cars parked along the pavement and the men sitting inside the cars started shooting at the trucks.

Sergeant Eriksen shouted, "WE HAVE BEEN AMBUSHED!! RETALIATE AND DEFEND THE PACKAGE AT ANY COST!" The soldiers quickly gathered around the truck and started shooting at the cars. The men in the car also kept shooting. Nafisa opened the trunk of the car near her and took out a bazooka and fired it at the second truck containing the "package". Sergeant Eriksen jumped from the truck as the truck exploded into several pieces. Sergeant Eriksen looked at the truck burning and his soldiers dying. They were largely outnumbered and they had no other option but to surrender. Sergeant Eriksen took out a white handkerchief and waved it. Nafisa signaled them to stop firing and walked toward Sergeant Eriksen. She smiled, "I thought you guys are even willing to lay your lives for the safety of your civilians. Now, what happened?" Sergeant Eriksen looked at her and said with anger and hate in his eyes, "I didn't surrender because I am afraid of death, bitch. I surrendered because I didn't want any more of my soldiers to die. You have already destroyed the package and killing us won't do you any benefit. So, let us go."

Nafisa smiled, "No. I cannot let you go alive. It is a matter of respect for both of us. For me, it's retribution and for you it's martyrdom." She signaled her men to fire and they soon killed the remaining soldiers. Nafisa put her gun on Sergeant Eriksen's head and asked, "Any last wish, Sergeant?" Sergeant Eriksen said grimly, "At least, tell me the name of your organization." Nafisa smiled, "We don't have any organization. We work for a purpose. To make this world free from corrupt governments and orchestrated wars." She pulled the trigger and Sergeant Eriksen fell on the ground.

Nafisa walked a little further away and took out her phone and dialed a number. The other end picked up the phone and said, "Well done, girl. Your actions have made me proud. Five more trucks and we are going to dominate the world." Nafisa smiled, "Of course. We need to make that happen. We had enough of the government's tyranny. It is time to show them we can strike back too." The other end smiled, "Good. Your helicopter is waiting in Ruiru." Nafisa disconnected the call and got inside her car. Soon, they drive towards Ruiru.

UCID Headquarters, London

A man was quickly walking towards his boss's office. He was holding a file on which was written "CONFIDENTIAL" in bold red color. He knocked on the glass door and saw his boss showing two fingers, indicating him to wait for two minutes. He pushed the door and walked inside and put the file on the table with a thud. He said, "Last night, the convoy heading from Nairobi to Mombasa was attacked by the same group. We have no survivors and our package is destroyed too." His boss rose from his seat and closed the door. He then said, "I know that already. In fact, my seniors were already scolding me for that. I am fed up with this perpetual nonsense. I need to give them a solution or else the case will be handed to the FBI and the reputation of UCID will be tarnished beyond repair." The officer said, "We have tried everything. The most elite and competent officers of UCID were assigned in this case, but all proved useless. Now, we are without any solution. We should hand over the case to the FBI, UCID is not the same agency as before. After the retirement of Sir Lorenzo, no man has been able to fill the void that he left behind." His boss looked at the phone lying on the table and said, "Then, it is time for the person to fill the void he left behind." He picked up the phone and dialed a number.

A black Mercedes Benz stopped in front of the headquarters of UCID and Sir Lorenzo got out of his car. He looked sharp as ever, but some of his hair turned white with age. He pulled his sunglasses down and looked at the statues of Cathy and Captain. He smiled and walked inside the headquarters. He entered the office of the Chief of Operations, Sir Yunus Ahmed Khan and was welcomed by him. Sir Lorenzo hugged him and said, "You have gotten fatter than the last time." Yunus smiled, "Sedantary lifestyle and a high amount of stress is the reason behind this." Sir Lorenzo laughed and said, "I know about the incident that happened in Nairobi last night. I have been closing tracking that piece of news and I think I know a person who can help us with this case." Yunus sighed, "Don't recommend names like my seniors. I have tried everything and everyone, but nothing came out of it. It is our last chance, so I really cannot fuck this up." Sir Lorenzo smiled, "No. I am not recommending names. I am just telling you that this man can help us and I have full faith in him. He busted a big case four years ago and believe me that was unbelievable. But, due to some personal issues, he took a voluntary retirement from UCID." Yunus asked, "Who is he?" Sir Lorenzo smiled, "A great friend of mine and one of the most energetic and posh officers I have ever met. Mr. Harsh Bhardwaj." Yunus asked, "I have never heard of him? Where was he stationed?" Sir Lorenzo said, "Actually, he took retirement before he was stationed." Yunus asked, "So, you are telling me that a man who took retirement even before wearing the uniform is the perfect person to help me in this case and save the dignity of UCID." Sir Lorenzo said, "Believe me, Yunus. That guy is just sheer brilliance." Yunus said, "Fine. If you are praising so much, I will take the risk." Sir Lorenzo rose and said, "Now, I just have to find out where he is." Yunus asked, "What do you mean?" Sir Lorenzo smiled, "I mean what I mean." Yunus sighed, "O, Allah!" Sir Lorenzo shook his hand and walked outside.

A man walked inside after him with tea and biscuits and asked, "Your meeting finished in just two minutes?" Yunus sighed, "They say right. Every genius is a touch of greatness and a lot of madness." He sat on his chair and closed his eyes.....