Prologue
> "I know the story of a genius who had the power to change the world... but when he went against those who thought they were above him, his flesh became nothing more than a feast for the birds' taste."
---
Chapter 6: A Friendly Reunion
"From as far as I can remember, Papa has always been alone," Megan thought, watching him from across the room.
She could still recall every place they'd ever been together — the quiet labs, the empty streets, the sound of a single pair of footsteps echoing beside her.
But now… something was different.
That cold distance in his eyes — it was gone.
Right before her, Professor Banda was actually laughing.
He stood tall at 6'3", towering over his old friend, Mr. Mailo, as they shared a lively exchange filled with laughter — the kind of laughter Megan had never heard from him before.
> "And got dayum, bastard! You're still high at 6'3", huh?" Mailo said, grinning.
"Nah, doesn't matter, man. You're just short," Banda shot back, holding his belly to stop himself from bursting out laughing.
"I'm 5'8"! That's below average, but still—"
"Yeah, yeah," Banda smirked, waving him off.
"Anyway," Mailo continued, "what brings you here—"
Before Banda could respond, a woman's voice interrupted.
> "Professor Mailo, please forgive my interruption, but I'm here to attend to the issue involving my son."
Her tone was soft but firm. The boy beside her — the same one from earlier — avoided Banda's eyes immediately.
> "Oh, I see," Mailo said, his calm voice filling the room. "I was told about a case involving a boy who's been bullied?"
"Yes, sir," the mother began, but Mailo gently raised his hand.
"Calm down," he said, taking slow, elegant steps forward.
The sound of his shoes — tap, tap, tap — echoed across the floor.
The boy shifted uneasily as Mailo knelt down to meet his gaze.
> "So tell me, young man," Mailo said softly, "have you been troubled?"
The room fell into silence. Megan watched closely — she could feel the calm weight in Mailo's voice, the control.
> "No… it's not that, it's just—"
"Shhh," Mailo hushed him gently. "Now, I want you to say this in whatever tone you prefer: 'I am not really okay.'"
"No, I am okay!"
"Shhh. You are not okay."
"No—"
"You are not okay."
Mailo's calm persistence broke something inside the boy.
> "I… I'm not okay," he stammered. "I'm not okay! I'M NOT!"
The boy burst into tears, the sound echoing through the room. His mother covered her mouth as her own tears followed.
Megan just stared.
> "I don't understand… he looked so rude earlier. But now, his eyes…"
Mailo placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
> "The oppressors will be dealt with," he said softly. "No child in my school will ever face injustice again."
Even his voice felt like still water — cold, but gentle.
---
Later that afternoon, Mailo explained while Banda listened quietly.
> "The boy's been through a rough time — bullied for months. It's led to fights and... attention-seeking behavior," Mailo said.
"Oh, I see," Banda replied with his usual nonchalant tone.
(Inner monologue: Land of peace and joy… huh.)
Megan's gaze softened on her father.
> "That look in his eyes again… that desaturation," she whispered. "Father…"
> "You still haven't changed one bit, B," Mailo chuckled. "Oh — have you seen Mwale lately? She was just asking about you a few days ago—"
SMACK!
> "SHUT UPPPP! Don't you dare mention that woman again!" Banda snapped, smacking him mid-sentence.
Megan blinked, her expression blank.
"...What is going on," she muttered as the two men argued like teenagers fighting over a crush.
---
The scene shifted to the busy streets of Lusaka, glowing beneath the scorching sun.
People rushed through traffic, holographic headlines flashing across every corner.
Amid the chaos, a tall figure wrapped in a dark hoodie shoved his way through the crowd. He bumped into two kids — a little boy and his sister — trying to steal food.
> "Sir, watch where you're going!" the boy shouted.
"SHUT UP!" the man barked, scaring them off as he tapped his left ear.
"Hi, this is Mwansa… I'm close to your destination," he said through a scratchy voice, continuing to push through the crowd.
---
Meanwhile, back at Mailo's school—
> "Impressive," Mailo said, scanning Megan from head to toe. "So you designed her to learn as she goes? No pre-fed data? That's insane."
"That's right," Banda replied.
Mailo's eyes gleamed.
> "She's beautiful, too. How'd you pull this off? Even her hair texture feels human!"
Megan, confused by the attention, clutched Banda's hand.
> "Father…" she whispered quietly.
> "Amazing!" Mailo exclaimed. "She acts like a little girl around her daddy — so cute!"
Banda groaned.
"Same old tech-loving dingus, huh? Too bad we were born with different talents."
Mailo grinned.
> "Quite alright for you to say. Anyway, let's get to business."
He knelt and looked straight into Megan's eyes, making her flinch slightly.
"Your eyes bear no soul," he said softly. "Yet your actions speak more than your eyes ever could."
That same calming sensation filled the room again.
> "That feeling…" Megan whispered. "From earlier…"
She gazed at Mailo — his red eyes, pale skin, and calm smile.
> "You need not worry, child," he said, patting her shoulder gently. "Any child in my school… is a child of my own."
Banda's expression darkened instantly.
> "Need I remind you she's only—"
"What?" Mailo teased.
Megan tilted her head.
"Papa… is he shy?" she thought.
> "Don't get jealous," Mailo laughed. "She's still your daughter at the end of the day."
"I'm not jealous!" Banda yelled.
"Course you are — I can see it on your face."
---
Later that day, in Mailo's office:
> "She can start school tomorrow," Mailo said, sitting on his desk. "She's the first AI model I've heard of that wants to go to school."
"Don't call her that," Banda interrupted. "She's my kid. Don't diminish her as anything less than a person."
Megan watched him quietly.
> "Papa's expressions… keep changing today," she thought.
> "I see," Mailo said. "Still — creating something like her could be dangerous. You're Zambia's top scientist. But…" he smiled, "I think she'll make a great student."
---
Later that evening…
The car hummed softly as they drove home through Olympia Park.
The sunset painted the streets gold — quiet, peaceful.
Banda's eyes stayed fixed on the road, but his mind replayed Mailo's words:
> "You're aware we're nearing the brink of war, right? What do you think the government will do once they learn Zambia's top scientist refuses to participate?"
"Remember… I know the story of a genius who had the power to change the world… but when he went against those who thought they were above him, his flesh became nothing more than a feast for the birds' taste."
The words echoed in his mind.
He glanced at Megan, her calm, emotionless face reflecting in the windshield.
> "Megan," he whispered. "Peace…"
He remembered the young version of himself — the ambitious scientist who once dreamed of achieving global peace.
But those dreams were long gone now, buried under the weight of reality.
> "Megan," he murmured again. "If anything…"
To be continued…
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