My Struggles
Nelson smirked as he appeared in front of Vince, but Vince didn't seem surprised to see his old classmate.
"Yeah, long time. How have you been?" Vince muttered, his tone dripping with boredom.
"Cool," Nelson replied, walking closer.
"Do you still go by Flawless, Nelson M.?" Vince raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in his voice.
"No, I go by Nelson. Just Nelson."
Vince tilted his head, his right eye twitching slightly. "Let me lower myself to your language, dear boy called Nelson by birth. Do you go by Flawless in terms of nicknames?!"
"Which part don't you understand? I don't go by nicknames anymore! I go by Nelson—music-wise and everything," Nelson snapped, his patience wearing thin.
Vince stared at him, momentarily speechless.
"Talking about lowering language, dear boy Nelson," Nelson shot back, clearly annoyed.
"Thank you for your response, my terrible sir. Oh, and mind your attitude next time, please. I'm still older, so respect your elders. Don't forget that," Vince concluded, his tone sharp.
He walked over to Curl, giving him a look that could cut through steel.
"So, you're sure we're going to test it on him? You can always reconsider," Vince said, glancing back at Nelson.
"Yes. All he has to do is enter the chamber, and the process will begin," Curl replied calmly.
"Hmmm. Good luck dying, Nelson! I'm out," Vince said, turning on his heel and walking away.
"I'm going to kill him!" Nelson growled, grinding his teeth.
"Just ignore him. Vince will always be Vince," Nasiphi said, trying to ease the tension.
"Whatever," Nelson muttered.
***
The lab was a high-tech sanctuary of innovation, tucked away in the heart of the headquarters. It was a sprawling space, filled with the hum of machinery and the faint glow of monitors. The walls were lined with sleek, metallic panels, interrupted only by the occasional holographic display or whiteboard covered in complex equations and schematics.
The centerpiece of the lab was the chamber—a futuristic pod that looked like something out of a sci-fi movie. It was made of transparent, reinforced glass, with a metallic frame that gleamed under the bright overhead lights. Inside, the chamber was padded with soft, white material, designed to keep its occupant comfortable during long procedures. Tubes and wires snaked out from the sides, connecting to a control panel that blinked with an array of colorful lights.
Surrounding the chamber were workstations, each equipped with state-of-the-art computers and tools. Screens displayed real-time data, from biometric readings to encrypted mission logs. The air smelled faintly of ozone and disinfectant, a testament to the lab's sterile environment.
To the left of the chamber was a storage area, filled with shelves of gadgets, prototypes, and spare parts. There were drones, grappling hooks, and even a few experimental weapons, all meticulously organized and labeled. A 3D printer sat in the corner, its nozzle still warm from recent use.
To the right was a small observation room, separated from the main lab by a glass wall. Inside, a team of engineers and technicians monitored the chamber's readings, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of their screens. The room was filled with the quiet murmur of conversation and the occasional beep of a machine.
"Okay, Nelson. Enter the chamber, but you'll need to take your shirt off. We'll insert the chip, and you'll be put to sleep for 48 hours," Curl explained, pointing to the sleek, pod-like chamber in the center of the room.
"You're kidding, right? Two days?! Is it safe?" Nelson's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yeah, pretty much," Curl said, shoving his hands into his pockets.
"Fine!" Nelson exclaimed, pulling off his shirt and tossing it aside. He stepped into the chamber and lay down, his body fitting snugly into the padded interior.
"This looks like a coffin. If I die, I'm definitely haunting you, Curl," Nelson said, half-joking, half-serious.
Curl gulped, a flicker of fear crossing his face. "I'm a dead man," he muttered under his breath. "Start the procedure!" he commanded.
Thando stepped forward, attaching tubes to Nelson's arms and chest. The chamber hummed to life, and Nelson's eyes fluttered shut as he was plunged into a deep sleep.
"Is he going to be okay?" Nasiphi asked, her voice tinged with concern as she looked at Curl.
"Yes. Now, let's head out and let them take care of everything," Curl said, ushering her out of the lab.
***
Vince was sitting outside in the garden.
"Viiincee!" Nasiphi called out, her voice carrying across the yard.
Vince, sitting cross-legged on the grass, looked up from the sky and turned his attention to her.
"Wassup?"
"Nothing much," she said, sitting down beside him.
"Uh-huh?"
"Seems like you and Nelson don't get along."
"What do you mean?" Vince asked, tilting his head.
"The way you two talk to each other."
"Oh, that. Don't worry—it's called bro toxicity," Vince said, his gaze returning to the sky.
"Oh! Okay, that's… nice," Nasiphi said, her eyes lingering on him.
"Hey, wanna go get some ice cream?" Vince asked, turning to her with a grin.
"Yes," she replied, smiling warmly.
The two stood up and walked off, disappearing down the road. They went to a park, where they found a quiet spot, sitting on a smooth wooden bench under the shade of a large oak tree. The park was alive with the sounds of children laughing, ducks quacking by the pond, and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. The air was sweet with the scent of blooming flowers, and the warm sun cast a golden glow over everything.
Nasiphi took a lick of her ice cream and turned to Vince.
"Vince?"
"Wassup?" he replied, glancing at her.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, go ahead," he said, turning his attention back to his ice cream.
"Do you still miss Siphiliswe?"
The question hit Vince like a punch to the gut. His heart raced, his palms grew sweaty, and his mind was suddenly flooded with memories he'd tried to bury.
"Siphiliswe, huh?" he said, his voice quieter now. He took a deep breath, collecting his thoughts. "My dear lady, to be honest with you, your question caught me off guard. But yeah, there was a time I did miss her. I vented my emotions and started to realize the past created a trauma I had to deal with. Now, all I can say is she's out of my mind," Vince said, licking his ice cream.
"Oh," Nasiphi said, her eyes wide with surprise.
"Yeah. Are you going to finish that ice cream, or should I do it for you?" Vince leaned toward her, a playful glint in his eye.
"Yes!" she said, quickly pulling her ice cream away from him.
"Mxm," Vince chuckled, leaning back.
"Do you think Nelson is going to be okay?" Nasiphi asked after a moment.
"Yeah. With Curl taking care of things, I'm pretty sure," Vince said, giving her a warm smile.
"I see you trust Curl a lot," she said, licking her ice cream.
"Trust? Maybe, maybe not. But all I know is that guy raised me as a kid, took me in, and I'm grateful. All I can say is Nelson is in the right hands," Vince said, his gaze drifting back to the sky.
*Meanwhile, at the Laboratory*
The chamber glowed brightly as the procedure reached its final stages. The chip was successfully injected into Nelson's upper spinal cord, and the machine hummed softly as it completed its task.
"Sir, the procedure is complete," Zinhle announced, her voice filled with relief.
"Wonderful. I'm delighted to hear something that soothes my heart," Curl said, giving a little wink.
"But I have to say, we've added a few adjustments," Thando interjected, her tone cautious.
"What kind of adjustments?" Curl asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The chip will dissolve in Nelson. It's not harmful—it'll dissolve into water," Thando explained.
"Good. That's not a problem," Curl said, nodding.
A few minutes later, as the team relaxed, Curl suddenly realized something.
"Wait! Where are Vince and Nasiphi?" he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness.
The group exchanged glances, no one having an answer.
"Vince is wearing one of his assassin clothes. They have trackers, right? Why don't we track them?" Thando suggested.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Curl muttered, feeling a bit foolish. "Alright, let's rush to the computer."
He hurried over to the surveillance room and began typing furiously on the keyboard.
"Have you found their precise location?" Thando asked, peering over his shoulder.
"Yeah, it seems they're in the park. Idiots! For their upcoming missions, I should teach them how to use a pistol and an AK-47. Send a car to go get them," Curl concluded.
***
10 Minutes Later
The warm sunset cast a gentle glow over the vibrant green park . Vince and nasiphi had been licking their ice creamm, nearly done. Vince's eyes seemed lost in thought, his gaze drifting toward the horizon. Nasiphi, on the other hand, watched him with a curious expression, her eyes sparkling with interest.
The peaceful ambiance was suddenly disrupted by the sound of a van pulling up nearby. The door slid open, and Vince and Nasiphi exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions turning from relaxed to apprehensive.