The Nigerian Fortune A HyperDolls manga fanfic by HKMiller 27 October 2002 Featuring characters created by Shimpei Itoh; US licensee Studio Ironcat. To the best of my knowledge :), none of the Nigerian characters actually exist. - - - - - - - - - - "This place is the PITS!" complained Miyu, sweating heavily and fanning the neck of her blouse. "Why did we have to come here?" "It was your idea," replied Maika. "You found the money trail yourself, while hacking into the Traxx computer systems. Mr. Kasuga, the Traxx CEO, has been wiring modest sums of money to someone here in Lagos every month or so for over a year. So you thought we'd better trace it, in case it's related to CHAOS." The two girls, to all appearances typical uniformed Japanese high schoolers, nevertheless looked somewhat out of place walking the streets of Lagos, Nigeria. On all sides, gleaming, brand new buildings, monuments to oil wealth, towered over decrepit shacks teeming with people. Most of the passersby were Ibo or Yoruba, with extremely dark skin; occasionally Fulani could also be seen with a lighter, slightly reddish tinge to their complexion. "But it's so HOT!" panted Miyu. "And HUMID! And smell the air!" "We're close to this planet's equator and on an ocean shore. Of course it's hot and humid," replied Maika primly. "And the air smells bad because of pollution; just look at all the automobiles stalled in traffic." Maika gestured at the street they were walking along, filled with automobiles both old and new, none moving as fast as the two girls were walking. "These vehicles burn liquified carbon from fossilized lifeforms, remember." "Let's just find our hotel. We can hack try hacking into the Nigerian Central Bank from there." As she spoke, Miyu hefted the box she was carrying. "You're assuming that our hotel has working air-conditioning," replied Maika in a sing-song voice. Miyu was about to growl a response when a harried-looking individual bumped into the two girls. With a frightened glance over his shoulder, the nicely-dressed, thirty-something, rather small male pressed an overstuffed envelope and a business card into their hands, muttered a hasty "Hold this! Meet me later!", then darted off. "Hey! Watch where you're going!" yelled Miyu, shaking a fist in the direction of the fleeing man. Maika quickly flipped through the overstuffed envelope, then tucked it beneath her blouse. She then examined the business card. "Hmmm. Ahmed Grema. Senior Partner in a law firm, Ahmed and Associates." Turning the card over, she continued. "And scrawled on the back it says '8:00 pm. Lobby bar, La Paix Hotel'. Maybe he wants to meet us there to get his money back." "Money? What money?" "The 50,000 American dollars in the envelope." "HEY! YOU TWO!" Maika and Miyu looked up in the direction of the shout. Rapidly approaching them were six rather large male individuals of unsavory disposition. "We saw Grema give you the money! Hand it over, now!" Miyu and Maika glanced at each other in perplexity, then looked back at the approaching gang's leader. "Why?" Two knives, two automatic pistols, and one Kalashnikov rifle appeared in various hands. The leader just grabbed for Maika, unexpectedly missing as she dodged. He "oofed" audibly at her elbow to his ribs. "Don't you guys know that Japanese schoolgirls are unbeatable in hand-to-hand combat?" asked Miyu as she grabbed one knife in her right hand, one pistol in her left, and jammed the knife's blade into the pistols' mechanism without regard for the two gangsters who hadn't managed to let go of their weapons. Dextrously avoiding their attempts to inhibit her progress, she methodically repeated with the other pair of weapons. She then began tapping the backs of their heads with her elbows, never permitting the gangsters to touch her in return. "Miyu, you're speaking Japanese to them," Maika pointed out, while continuing to dodge her adversary without obvious effort. "Try English." "Too late." Unfortunately, the last gangster, the one with the Kalashnikov, had retreated a few steps, and was just pulling the trigger. "Oh shit. CONVERSION ACTIVATE!" "No! Miyu, don't..." was as far as Maika got before the process kicked in. In orbit high above, five satellites, undetectable by any technology known to Earth, activated their energy transmission beams, triggering Maika's and Miyu's transformation. A blinding flash enveloped Maika and Miyu, temporarily blinding all bystanders. The bullets from the Kalashnikov arrived just as the transformation finished. Miyu's inpenetrable wristbands met the bullets and deflected them back at her attacker's feet. His attempt to spray his weapon across her did no better. Eventually Miyu tired of her game, though, and stopped using her wristbands. Instead, she just strode forward, ignoring the hail of bullets, until she was in reach of the gun. She grabbed it, ignoring the barrel's heat, and twisted it into a collar around the thug's neck. She then turned back towards Maika, ignoring the hiss of burning flesh and the scream of agony from behind her. Maika had stopped her own play when the conversion kicked in, choosing instead to impel additional velocity to her assailant's next empty handed grab. As a result, her foe had gone flying straight into a brick wall across the street, at substantial velocity. "You just HAD to transform, didn't you," complained Maika. "Now that the Hyperdolls have been seen in Lagos, we'll have to go to the trouble of covering up that our other selves have been here." "I'd like to see YOU handle that Earth weapon without converting! And it's not like we bothered to come here on an Earth airline; we flew here on our own, so we just have to erase the hotel records when we leave." - - - - - - - - - - After detransforming in a nearby alleyway, the two girls continued looking for their hotel, walking down block after block. "Hey, look, Maika! This is the bank we want to investigate!" The two girls stopped in front of a large, impressive stone building, apparently dating from the British colonial period, with a wide set of stone steps. Above the entrance, a large sign read, in English, "Nigerian Central Bank." "So? What will we accomplish by going in?" "Hey, you never know; let's just walk in and look the place over." Maika shrugged. "I suppose we might need to break in at night, so we might as well check the place out." Coming down the steps towards them trudged a gangly, moaning figure. "Oh, woe is me! Misfortune has fallen upon me vastly! May God himself ease the suffering that has come unto me!" The figure placed one hand on each of the girls' outer shoulders and bowed his head. "Umm... Excuse me?" asked Maika politely. Miyu removed the hand on her shoulder, then straightened their interlocuter up by lifting the front of his shirt, all while still balancing her box on her other hand. "Oh, sorry, sorry. Please excuse my inconsiderate behavior. It is just, I am so upset in my head. I assure you that I do not customarily behave in this shocking manner. I am Sir Sambujang Jammeh, personal assistant to..." "That's nice." Maika and Miyu walked around Sir Sambujang on either side and continued up the steps. "No, no, you must hear my story. It is so distressful. I really must repeat it to you." Sir Sambujang turned and followed the two girls back up the steps. "Maybe some other time," Maika confided. "My superior, Mohammed Abacha, has US$36 million in a secret account in this bank, and I cannot find the means to withdraw it." "Too bad," Miyu replied. Sir Sambujang pulled a hankerchief out of his pocket and mopped his brow worriedly. "I must find a way before the authorities discover this secret account. The money was placed there by his father, Sani Abacha, the former military head of state." "Try finding someone who cares." "And my superior's brother, Mallam Sadiq Abacha, is also after this money. If I could just get a bit of help from someone living in a safe, wealthy country, I could free up my superior's money. You two Japanese schoolgirls would seem to be ideal for this purpose." Now at the top of the steps, the two girls turned in unison and stared Sir Sambujang in the face, fists on hips. "Look, creep, stop bothering us!" Miyu said angrily. "We. Don't. Care. Got it?" Maika said sweetly. - - - - - - - - - - Inside the bank, the two girls walked around all publicly accessibly areas. Miyu stomped hard every ten paces or so; Maika drew a map based on the echoes. Both kept their ears peeled. "I haven't heard anyone in this bank mention 'Traxx' or Mr Kasuga, not even on the upper floors. Someone's cursing CHAOS, though." "I think he just means the state of this nation, not the secret organization." "I can't tell where in the building their computers are. Every room in this place has either fans or air-conditioning, or both." "Let's just go back to our hotel for now. We can always trace the wires later." - - - - - - - - - - Hours later, the two walked into the lobby of the La Paix Hotel. "Hey! How come THIS hotel has working air conditioning?" Miyu complained. "C'mon, Maika, let's move to this one, okay? Okay?" Miyu wrapped her arms around Maika and dragged her feet, forcing Maika to pull Miyu along. "Would you mind acting your age for once?" Maika asked. "Which years, and which age? This body's, or my mind's?" "Never mind. We didn't get anything done today; let's just give this guy his money back and get out of here." Inside the hotel bar, the two spotted Ahmed Grema immediately. He was sitting in an easy chair in front of a small round table in a quiet, secluded area of the bar. Next to him, in another chair, sat a woman. As the two approached, Grema stood and rubbed his hands together. "Ah, good, good. I hoped that the gang would not suspect you. Do you still have the envelope?" Shrugging, Maika passed over the envelope. Grema busied himself counting, his lips and fingers moving rapidly. "Pardon me; my name is Susan Lateef," said the woman sitting with Grema. "From where do the two of you come?" "The central gal-" Miyu's answer was abruptly cut off by Maika's mouth. Maika, smiling, answered. "Japan. The Tokyo area. Have you heard of it?" "Japanese tourists? We don't get many Japanese tourists here." "Yes, the money is all here," Grema remarked. "Please, sit down. I'd like to show my appreciation to you two." "We really should be on our way..." "No, I insist. Waiter! Bring these girls whatever they're having!" "Tea," replied Maika. "Beer," said Miyu, ignoring the sideways "hmphing" look Maika gave her. "I'm sure the two of you are wondering what all this is about," began Grema. "Not really," answered Miyu. "A now-dead client of mine, Hamza al Mustapha, was working with Miss Lateef's now-dead father in a scheme to siphon off excess profits from diamond mines in Sierra Leone. This money is now on deposit at the Nigerian Central Bank in a secret account. It comes to a sum of US$42 million dollars. The money in this envelope is to be used for bribes, fees, etc, for the two of us to get this money transferred to a numbered account in Liechtenstein." "Wait a moment," Maika replied, puzzled. "US$42 million? We were told that this secret account held US$36 million?" "No, it's definitely $42 million; you've probably heard about a different secret account." "Oh." Maika's expression cleared. "That must be it. We didn't realize that secret bank accounts were so common on this plan... I mean, country." As the two got up to leave, a shadowy figure followed them. - - - - - - - - - - Back in their hotel room, the two girls found that the air conditioning was now working, sort of, in fits and starts. Miyu collapsed onto the king-sized bed the moment they entered their room; Maika sat at the desk and resumed her attempts to hack into the Nigerian Central Bank. "By the way, Miyu, you did ask Akai if we could borrow his computer, didn't you?" "Ulp, err, well.." replied Miyu. "But I'm sure he won't mind." "If you say so," replied Maika. "You're the one with the crush on him." "I DO NOT HAVE A CRUSH ON THAT BLITHERING IDIOT!" "Of course not," Maika replied sweetly. "Forget I said anything. Let's just..." Just then came a knock at the door of their hotel room. The two girls exchanged a puzzled glance, then Maika got up to answer it. Outside the door was a plump, sweating man wearing an expensive tailored white suit, gold chains around his neck and a ring on every finger. "Hello. I am very sorry to disturb you two ladies so late at night, but I have something quite urgent to discuss. May I come in? My name is Momoh Sanni Momoh." Maika gestured towards the room's one chair, then joined Maika on the bed. "I am a lawyer representing Mallam Sadiq Abacha, one of the many sons of the late General Sani Abacha. I believe the two of you have had some contact with a person or persons representing one or more of the other sons?" "Not deliberately," moaned Miyu. "My client is seeking possession of a sum of money belonging to his father, which is on deposit with the Nigerian Central Bank." "This sounds familiar," Maika allowed. "I do not know what other arrangements you have made, but we are willing to offer you a higher percentage of this sum in exchange for your services in transferring it to a bank in Macao." "Would this be the US$36 million sum or the US$42 million sum?" "The US$36 million. This is the first I've heard of the other figure." "Maika, the other account had nothing to do with this Sani Abacha guy," reminded Miyu tiredly. "It was something to do with diamonds." "Oh, yes, that's right," Maika said smilingly. "Silly me. Well, at any rate, we really haven't made any arrangements at all. So I'm afraid you're talking to the wrong..." "YOU! What are you doing with these girls?!" a new voice came from the door. Framed in the doorway stood Sir Sambujang, an angry finger pointing straight at Momoh. "The account belongs to my master Mohammed! You have already stolen the other account on behalf of that beastly client of yours!" "Other account?" asked Maika, raising an eyebrow. Momoh merely gave a faint, superior smile, and crossed his arms. Sir Sambujang continued, "My master's Lebanese mistress had US$25 million saved away in her retirement account, but this dishonest thief has made it to vanish into thin air!" "And what are you going to do about it?" Momoh stood up and glared menacingly at Sir Sambujang. "I might make you, too, vanish into thin air if I hear any more noise from you!" Momoh moved to leave the room. At the door, however, he stopped to look at the two girls. "I can make things either very pleasant for the two of you or very hot indeed. Remember that when you are deciding which party you will side with." Momoh slammed the door on the way out, accidentally catching Sir Sambujang's foot in it. Maika escorted the hopping Sir Sambujang to the door, smilingly but forcefully, then locked it. "Hand me that steel pipe by the bed." Miyu, still lying face down on the bed, felt around with one hand. Finding the pipe Maika sought, she tore it loose at the point where it emerged from the floor and tossed it to Maika. Maika promptly wrapped in around the door handle and embedded the other end into the wall. "That should keep these nuts away from us for the night. Maybe we can get some sleep." So saying, Maika undressed and collapsed onto the bed next to Miyu. - - - - - - - - - - The next morning, the girls came up with a new plan. "Hacking into the bank just isn't working. Let's just go there and 'persuade' some bank employee to help us." At the bank, the two girls looked around the lobby carefully. "How about that supervisor over there?" Maika proposed. Miyu agreed. The man behind the desk, thirty-something, lean, and athletic, got up to shake hands with the two girls. "I'm Roy Okoro, Assistant Director. You are Japanese? I'm glad you have stopped in; I could use a little of your noble assistance." "I think there must be some misunderstanding..." Maika began. "Our bank has an deposit of money which has never been claimed. I have determined that the money was placed there on behalf of Mobutu Sese Seko, the deposed dictator of Zaire, now deceased." "That's nice, but what we're actually here about..." Maika tried to insist. Miyu clenched her fists. "If the two of you could pretend to be relatives of Mobutu Sese Seko, I could sign over the money to you. We could then come to an accomodation about percentages. For US$30 million, I'm sure we can come to an agreement on that." "Listen, creep!" Miyu exploded, slamming one fist down on Okoro's desk, which promptly split. Small wood shavings drifted down onto the floor as Mr. Okoro, shocked, stared at his desk. "We don't care about your money!" Glancing around the lobby and meeting the stares of the patrons, Maika temporized. "Perhaps we could go somewhere a little more private?" - - - - - - - - - - In a dimly-lit room in the basement, Miyu held one finger firmly in the small of Okoro's back as he operated the computer terminal, sweating heavily and glancing occasionally at the slightly-smiling Maika. "I think I can keep my partner under control. Assuming you hurry," assured Maika. Miyu stuck her tongue out at Maika, but obligingly growled. "Just let me break a leg or two." "Not yet, Miyu. You can have your fun later." Finally, Okoro had the data. "Those transactions from a Mr. Kasuga in Japan were deposited into three different accounts, apparently. One is in the name of Ahmed Grema; the second is in the name of Momoh Sanni Momoh; the third in the name of Susan Lateef." The two girls looked at each other. "Does that make any sense at all? Kasuga is the CEO of a major corporation in Japan. Why would be be sending money here to these clowns?" Miyu asked. Maika thought about it a bit. "True, but he did inherit the position. And I didn't get the impression that he's too bright. Maybe they hit him up for 'help' on liberating one of these secret deposits?" "Exactly!" Mr. Okoro said. "And I'm sure he's a much wealthier man now, because of it. Just as the two of you will be, if you'll just help me with a few details of this $30 million account." Miyu rolled her eyes in disgust. Maika gave him a quick chop to a sensitive nerve cluster. Okoro dropped like a stone. "Let's just go back to the hotel, get Akai's computer, and leave. This money trail isn't going to lead us anywhere near CHAOS." - - - - - - - - - - Back at the hotel, the two girls unlocked their door and opened it only to find a dozen guns pointed at them. Across the room, Momoh sat, smiling, with one arm around Susan Lateef. To one side, the dead body of Ahmed Grema lay, riddled with bullets. On the desk, next to its box, Akai's precious computer was smashed to tiny pieces. "Akai's not going to be happy with you," remarked Maika, with a side-glance at Miyu. "I'll buy him a new one. He probably didn't have anything important on that primitive magnetic storage anyway." "Sure he didn't. Quantum subspace storage isn't available on this planet, you know." "Boss, these two don't look worried like they should be," noted one of the goons. "They will be," said Momoh menacingly. "This is your last chance to decide, ladies. Are you with me or against me?" "Can you answer one teeny, tiny question before we decide?" answered Maika. "NO!" In unison, Maika and Miyu shrugged. "Your problem." Faster than any of the gang members could follow, Maika and Miyu moved to either side of Momoh's chair. Maika lifted Momoh up out of his chair with one hand; Miyu lifted Susan Lateef in one of hers, then threw her one-handed across the room. With the other hand, she bent one of the gun barrels upwards into a right angel. "Now, let's do this peaceably. You guys all leave, and your boss lives." "Shoot anyway! We can split the money without him," shouted Susan Lateef, shaking one fist. Shaking their heads sadly, Maika dropped Momoh, and she and Miyu plunged into the midst of the gang. Ducking and dodging with inhuman speed, kicking and punching with uncanny accuracy, and occasionally aided when one gang member accidentally shot another, the two disabled the thugs one after another until the entire group lay moaning or unconscious on the floor. Miyu grabbed Miss Lateef and dragged her over to where Momoh lay. "Now, about those questions," began Maika sweetly. Miyu growled menacingly, idlely tying gun barrels into knots. "Questions? We'll be glad to help, won't we, Momoh dear?" answered Miss Lateef brightly. "Both of you have received wire transfers of small sums from a Mr. Kasuga, from Tokyo, Japan, into accounts in your names for over a year. This Mr. Kasuga is the CEO of a large corporation in Japan; we also know him to be a member of a secret world-wide evil organization named CHAOS. We want to know everything you can recall about those wire transfers." Both Momoh and Lateef blanched. "Wire transfers? For small sums, say of a few thousand American dollars? Well, we get so many, you see," replied Momoh hastily. "Not so many from Japan, though. Give me a minute or two, maybe I can remember something," added Lateef. "You get a lot?" asked Maika. "Okay, then do you do the same thing with all of them? And why do you receive so many?" "Well," replied Momoh nervously, "we have many well-wishers, you see..." "...who wish to aid us in liberating money frozen in various bank accounts." "And of course, one cannot accomplish anything in this country without the occasional bribe..." "...fee for this service or for that transfer..." "Honest, we manage to keep very little of this money for ourselves. We have to pay it back out again in bribes to various bank officials, to keep the police looking away, that sort of thing." "So you're saying that the CEO of Traxx Japan sent you all this money so he could get his hands on one of these secret bank accounts?" asked Miyu with a dubious expression. "Well, I can't recall the particulars for Mr. Kasuga, but most probably..." "Okay, THAT's it. I'm fed up with this place. Let's just go, Maika." "That's what I said earlier, Miyu. AFTER you pick up any identifying marks on those computer parts," replied Maika, pointing at Akai's shattered computer, "and I've paid a visit to the hotel's records department." - - - - - - - - - - The next day, back in Japan, Maika made sure Miyu apologized to Akai. "And I'll get you a new computer, Akai, tomorrow. I promise. I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Hideo Akai frowned momentarily at Miyu. "All my stored email, gone. Including the message I received a few days ago from Nigeria. It might have been worth hundreds of millions of yen! It seems there's this secret account, see, lying untouched in the central bank for years..." Akai paused. "Miyu, why are you knocking your head against my wall?" THE END. This and other fics posted at: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/5058