Eldoret, Kenya, 2020

During his time there, he had met another local EVOKE agent, Codename: Ngami. From her work, he knew her real name was Adebowale, but as EVOKE protocol indicates, they preferred to refer to each other by their agent codename.

Ngami had been working tirelessly on the now dilapidated city of Eldoret. Warlords had completely leveled the town a year back, and as a long time survivor and victim of war in the area, she had a vested interest in trying to rebuild as much as possible. She had called Hiryu to the area in order to supply solar units to those still struggling to rebuild, with the help of Agent Quinn to procure the necessary funding. As Hiryu's chopper landed in the area, she was ready to greet him.

"Welcome back to Kenya, friend.", she smiled.

"And it's nice to be back, milady! Just wish I could have enjoyed a less noisy mode of transportation." Hiryu said screaming, trying to hear his fellow agent through the loud propellers of the helicopter.

"Well, work on the airport is very slow, and I would not have you risked traveling by jeep right now. Plenty of raiders around the area." She replied as they walked away from the chopper and into a small car.

They drove for a few minutes until they arrived at the remains of Moi University - a once thriving school educating the local minds of the future, now only a reminder of how much war had escalated. The constant stream of foreign weapons had kept the warlords not only supplied, but also armed to the teeth, and those children they had kidnapped and forced into their armies years back, now were young men and extremely efficient soldiers. Bot it wasn't just those forcefully conscripted. Even the citizens struggling to rebuild and survive had a battle hardened quality to them. They had all seen war first hand, and few had seen it as up close and personal as Ngame. She lived the Kenyan crisis like no other through experiencing rape, torture and witnessing the very deaths of her family. It was but a few years afterwards she joined the EVOKE network as a channel to turn her pain into relief for others. Hiryu had nothing but respect for her.

"Do you have something on your mind, Hiryu?" She asked, noticing her friend deep in thought.

"No... well, yes... I mean... I was just thinking about how much you all have gone through without giving up." Hiryu flubbed. "It just never ceases to amaze me."

"Well, me and my compatriots thank you, my friend." She smiled as she pointed at the mostly intact remains of Kericho campus. "There, that is the building we are reconditioning first. I know getting help here is hard because the war is still ongoing, so our first priority is to get proper medical facilities up and running. We will also be installing communication and satellite internet services on the library."

Hiryu looked at the large, brown building for a few moments. "Your energy requirements will be very high with little room for all the necessary cells. Thankfully, I got my hands on some new ones that should have a 35.8% efficiency. I think I MAY be able to pull this off."

Ngame clapped her hands. "Excellent. I will gather some people to help you set everything up." She stared at Hiryu for a few awkward moments.

"What is it?" Hiryu blinked.

"Well, I have another favor to ask you." Ngame said, suddenly filled with equal parts seriousness and fiery determination. "This has been going for far too long. We have tried politics, we have tried tributes, we have tried everything we can, and nothing has resolved this conflict. There is only one language these animals understand."

Hiryu's eyes got very big as he arched his left eyebrow. "Wait... are you proposing what I think you are? And more importantly, how would I fit in an armed conflict."

Ngame looked down for a brief moment, as if gauging the wisdom of her decision, before looking back at Hiryu straight in the eyes. "I know full well what I am saying, and I am willing to take whatever risk it may involve. I hear you have a natural talent for strategy, and I need your help setting up zero energy posts and communication facilities."

Hiryu laid his hand on his forehead, rubbing it. As if trying to massage his brain to process Ngame's proposal. "How in the hell are you expecting to pull this off? Who is going to fight? HOW are they going to fight? Moreover, this is not how EVOKE does things."

Ngame gently laid a hand on his shoulder and spoke in a soft tone. "Humanitarianism can only go so far. Sometimes, when faced with survival, words lose their meaning and actions are the only recourse left. How many decades have we tried dialog? How many foreign forces have defeated a warlord only to have another take his place? In order to achieve peace and unity, other countries have had to endure revolutions. It is our turn."

Hiryu looked back in her eyes, clearly seeing the honesty and determination in her. "You already begun setting things in motion, haven't you?" Ngame made a very subtle nod. "That still doesn't tell me who, exactly, will fight this revolution of yours. This doesn't tell me who will free Kenya of war."

Ngame looked down for a moment as if she didn't know how to answer Hiryu's question. "Most men are either dead or conscripted into the armies of warlords, this is true." She then looked back up and stared into his eyes. "But women are not. And women will lead this revolution to take back our land, to make it a place of peace. Hiryu... I am EVOKING you. Are you going to answer?"

Hiryu could see in her eyes how serious she was about it. And how scared she was as well, but one thing was certain - it was too late for her to turn back, now. His only decision was to be a participant or a passive observer.

There was an awkward silence, until he finally said:

"I need to make a few calls."