> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://cryptonunsnft.gitbook.io/cryptonunsnft/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://cryptonunsnft.gitbook.io/cryptonunsnft/chapter-four-the-aboriginals.md).

# Chapter Four: The Aboriginals

“*From a man’s level of understanding, so will his speech pour forth.”–Anonymous.*

\ <br>

They were at the interception point somewhere in the outskirts of Johannesburg, waiting…patiently.

Camouflaged among the low bushes of the vast plain land to the right, a mile away from the only settlement outside the city of Johannesburg, and a mountain with a passage way to their left.

Black River terrorist were heavily armored, and highly trained, which meant ambushing them within the mountain pass would be suicidal…for Ashanti and her team.

Ashanti gripped her gun with every fiber of her being to calm her racing heart. If the mission was successful, they would have saved thousand of lives and set back Black River's plans back by two years according to their informant.

The sound of a running engine emanated faintly from the distance to their right. It grew louder until a large truck materialized from within the mountain pass, moving at full speed.

The plan was to shoot out the tires systemically at the same time, causing them to spin out of control, which in turn would buy them enough time to secure the perimeter and take Arno Jabulani alive.

Ashanti and the team had a 'no shoot to kill' rule. Bandili, as well as the others believed it made them no different from the depraved system they were trying to fight. Though this didn’t reduce their brutality in methods in anyway.

“Timmy, you seeing this?” Annaki said from her position. They were spread out in close proximity, systematically giving themselves a vantage point of the truck's front and rear tires.

“Yeah, I see it.” Timmy said into the mic sneakily latched to his right ear. He and Annaki had the rear tires, while Ashanti and Bandili had the front.

The truck was now within range. A few more seconds and they would get the order from Bandili to aim and shoot at the rear tires.

Suddenly, the truck came to an abrupt halt…

“What the hell is going on!” Timmy whispered forcefully.

The eighteen wheeler paused for a second or two as the driver tried to rev the engine back to life, then it sputtered and the driver forged ahead, gaining normal speed.

“Annaki, Timmy, Now!” Came Bandili's orders.

They both fired in unison and the precision of seasoned experts. The truck’s tires ruptured, sending the truck swaying hysterically almost immediately.

“Ahsanti! Now!” Came Bandili’s orders.

Ashanti fired two rounds from the muzzle of her sniper rifle into the right front tires while Bandili fired a single shot at the opposite side.

The truck spun and screeched loudly on its front right and rear tires, then it flipped over, landing on its right side, skidding noisily on its side before coming to a halt with part of its head leaning towards the bushes.

Smoke bellowed out of the engine in a thick fog.

Quickly, the four aboriginals fighting against Black River for the last two years crept hurriedly to the idle truck lying sideways on the road.

The driver’s door suddenly burst open, causing them to crouch with guns drawn, ready for anything.

Ashanti expected the back door of the heavy truck to burst open at any moment, but nothing happened except for driver’s door which had just been pushed open.

Slowly, there was no mistaking it, a hand gripped the side of the truck, and another gripped the other side of the door.

Adrenaline surged through Ashanti’s body like wild fire consuming a forest.

Someone was making their way out through the driver’s door. The figure pushed out with enormous effort and staggered to his feet.

Ashanti’s jaws dropped the moment she saw who it was.

“Is that Arno?” She asked.

“ 'Told you he was coming.” Bandili said, still holding his position.

“Something feels off.” Ashanti was adamant.

Arno walked unevenly in his gait towards them.

“Hold it right there, Jabulani.” Bandili said firmly the minute Arno dropped to the ground. His finger locked on the trigger just in case Jabulani decided to get cocky.

“So you’re the ones called The Aboriginals.” He said, spitting blood to the ground. “You’ve been a thorn in my flesh, I’d give you that.”

Ashanti still felt uneasy. Arno was alone, and it made her senses skyrocket with thoughts. There had to be a bigger picture here. Could it be he was trying to cause a diversion, Ashanti’s mind throbbed with multiple strings of possibilities.

Bandili signaled to Annaki and Timmy to get make sure Arno was alone.

“You see,” Arno continued. “ What better way to end a war than plant a seed for the victory of a greater war. What better way to earn loyalty than showing yourself approved and loyal to the cause.”

Something was brewing, and Ashanti could feel it but couldn’t place it yet.

“What the hell are you talking about?” She asked Jabulani forcefully.

Arno Jabulani spread his arms wide and said one thing with a smile on his face.

“Sacrifices must be made.”

Almost simultaneously something clicked, and the truck exploded, causing a raging fire to burst outwards carrying large chunks of metal and shards of glass.

The shockwave threw Ashanti and Bandili a few yards back, causing them to crash land to the floor, knocking the two of them out, stone cold.

Everything went black…

••••••••

After what seemed to be a drowsy and fuzzy dreamlike coma, Ashanti opened her eyes to the b dolinding lights of a room. Like a ward, but private.

“Oh thank God, you’re awake.” A voice said from her right. “We thought you were really dead.”

Ashanti swayed her head to the side. What she saw was a man in a priestly robe, but oddly he had a denim jacket on. His face had a grey stubble of a beard. His eyes looked kind, but a kindness that had known pain.

“Where are my?” Was Ashanti’s first question.

“Somewhere beneath the Rosebank Cathedral.”

Ashanti’s eyes widened a fragment of an inch.

“What’s a place like this doing under a cathedral?” She asked.

“It doesn’t exist.”

Ashanti raised an eyebrow, but she had other things in mind.

“Where are my brothers?”

“They didn’t make it, Ashanti. I’m sorry.”

The pain rippled through her heart like a thousand volts of electricity. A tear rolled down her right cheek, and she turned her head away from the priest.

“ I wanted to wait till you were fully recovered before doing this.”

“Jabulani?”

“Dead…Your sleeper agent at Black River sold you out. It was all planned. The truck, the fact that the aboriginals would try to intercept at that point and as a team.” He paused to let that sink in, then continued. “Arno Jabulani was a deranged extremist who believed his death would strengthen the faith of all Black River followers.”

“It did, didn’t it?” Ashanti turned to face the priest. It was all clear to her now. Arno coming alone, risking his life. Talking about sacrifices just before the bomb went off.

The Priest nodded. “On the bright side, he’s no longer a threat.” He added.

“How do you even see a bright side to this?” Ashanti was perplexed.

“Now that’s the interesting part.” The priest leaned forward as if he had been waiting for that very moment. “Arno made a smart move, but what he forgot was he was the most zealous of them all. With him gone, Black River would push onwards, but under the right pressure–“

“They'll crack.” Ashanti said, completing his words. “I’m guessing you’re here because you believe I can help.” She made a statement, not question.

The Priest smiled. “You’re the last surviving Aboriginal. Your network of spies span across the whole eastern plains of Africa to South Africa. Though not many, but they’ll listen to you, the last Aboriginal. You need to understand that in two years you have achieved something the Monastery has been trying to establish for the last eight years. A network on this continent.”

"The Monastery?” Ashanti asked.

“Needs you as much you need it.”

“How so?”

“Your network stays loyal to you, but you do not have the proper backing or training to tackle terrorism and hunger in Africa. The Monastery, has both.”

“How do I find it?” Ashanti asked genuinely. She wasn’t one to waste time on an opportunity. She knew the only way to defeat the parasitic claws of terrorism and hunger in Africa would be to play ball with what the priest was offering.

“Here’s all you need.” The priest said, handing her a piece of paper. The same kind of paper he had given Nakano.

“How on Earth am I supposed to get to the Himalayas? And even if I do, how do I find the Monastery?”

“ The Monastery finds those who seek it with genuine intentions.” The Priest said. “Get to the extraction point, we'll take it from there.”

Without saying another word, the priest stood up, nodded at Ashanti in acknowledgement, then walked out the room, leaving a pile of thoughts running through her mind…Yet she knew what had to be done.