Juan, My Commander

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

“Bairawa is one of the Village under Saptari District which is part of Sagarmatha Zone in South-Eastern Nepal,” the Commander muttered while pointing at some parts of the map showing in front of the multi-user hologram table.

We are currently at the Research Facility, one of the buildings of this vast unit. Nasa loob kami ng pentagon habang nakapalibot sa mesa na gawa sa hologram. Kasama namin ang ibang miyembro ng Alphageus.

May bagong mukha ng mga sundalong nakapalibot sa amin. Nandito rin ang Captain ngunit wala ang General. Mabuti naman.

While looking at the flashed information in front of the hologram table, my eyes was seeing something that was beyond my belief.

Yes. Technology of twenty’s were already this labyrinthine and tricky wherein hologram tables truly exist. Holograms indeed are the most futuristic way to plan and display large-scale information specially for the soldiers who’s guarding the safety of the people.

I roamed my eyes inside the current place. This pentagon was surrounded by holographic devices.

“Bairawa has ten blocks of street. According to Miss Javier,” biglang lumingon sa akin si Commander habang seryoso itong nakatitig. Nasa gitnang parte siya naming lahat, “the hostages was taken inside Block 8, underground.”

“How can you be so sure, Commander, that it was really the Draigana?” Pagtatanong ng isa sa mga sundalo. Hindi ito kasali sa grupo ni Commander. He has this black skin, probably, one of the Nepalese soldier. I think, he was one of the Captain’s underlings.

There are only two divisions present in this current meeting; the team of Commander Shamer and the Captain.

“Are you doubting Miss Javier’s information, Lieutenant Ashmid?” the Commander asked with intriguing tone. He sounds like defending me.

Each divisions has its respective lieutenants since they were handled by the veteran leaders of Alphageus.

“No, Commander. My apologies,” sabi nito at tinapunan ako ng tingin.

Tumango si Commander Shamer bago may pinindot sa hologram dahilan para magbago ang anyo nito sa aming harapan. Nawala ang mapa’t napalitan ito ng detalyadong impormasyon mula sa isang lugar.

The hologram was now showing the respective blocks of Bairawa.

“Block 8 was between the street and market,” wika ni Commander Shamer habang nagsimulang ituro ang mga parte ng lugar na nakikita mula sa hologram, “What we are seeing right now was the exact points and directions inside the Bairawa’s Village. Here,” napatitig ako kasabay ang lahat sa parte kung saan itinuro ni Commander ang pagitan ng market at street, “This is Draigana’s Lair.”

“How can we enter Draigana’s web, Commander Shamer? We’ve been haunting them for three years but we can’t get a hold on them. Now, how can we ensure this mission to be successful?” my gaze turned in front of me.

I was staring at the American man standing on the edge of the hologram table, wearing a three vertically aligned silver stars on his shoulder. He must be the Captain, one of the veteran leaders.

Matapos nitong tapunan nang tanong si Commander ay ibinaling niya ang tingin sa aking harapan. Bigla ako nitong nginitian. Hindi ko ito pinansin at agad na ibinalik kay Commander ang mga titig.

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng aking puso nang mahuli ko ang kapeng mga mata ni Commander habang mariin itong nakatitig sa akin. Mabilis itong nag-iwas ng tingin at humarap kay Captain. What was that?

“We won’t be having Alphageus’s title if we emphasize our concern over the success rate of our mission. We are the soldiers of this planet and wearing the body of delegates. We should be confident and always put in mind that every action we take, it will anticipate us on attaining this undertaking without failure .”

“Take the lead, Commander.”

Commander Gajuan proceeds on discussing the mission with his comrades. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nakatayo kasama sila. Para na akong display dito sa harapan ng holographic table.

I can’t help myself but bite my lower lip as I stared at the Commander while he was having discussion. I don’t know but I kinda felt this attraction.

Minsan, habang nakikipag palitan ng mga salita si Commander sa iba niya pang mga kasama’y sumusulyap ito sa akin. Sa akin, parang siya lang ang sundalong nakatayo sa harapan ngayon.

Nag-iwas ako nang tingin dahil bigla na lamang dumagundong ang aking dibdib.

Napatingin ako sa aming likuran, nandoon si Andy; nag-iisang nakaupo’t nakatingin sa aming kinaroroonan. Tumango ako sa kaniya’t ngumiti naman siya. Nasa Lalitpur ang iba pang miyembro sa Team ko kasama ang Reporters Team.

“Why do you trust this writer, Commander?” napalingon ulit ako sa aking harapan nang marinig ang boses ng Captain. Ngayo’y magkaharap na sila ni Commander Shamer.

They looks like having a duel. Anong nangyayari?

“She’s not just a mere writer, Captain Fayn. She was part of this mission,” matigas na usal ni Commander. They stared at each other, trying to be superior using their intense eyes.

Biglang nag-iwas ng tingin ang Captain, parang hindi niya ata kaya ang mga tingin na ipinupukol sa kaniya ni Commander Shamer. Mabilis na lumingon sa akin si Captain at matulis akong tinitigan.

“What contribution will you give us in this mission? You are just a writer. How can you fight with us? You’ll just put yourself in our way and become a hindrance,” panunuri nito sa akin.

Gusto ko sanang masaktan pero walang talab sa akin ang kaniyang mga salita. Hindi ito nakakalahati sa mga pinagsasabi ni Berdin sa akin. Napatingin ako kay Commander, tinanguan niya ako.

He was giving me a cue that I can fire the Captain with my words and with that gesture, I think I can go all out.

“Are you disturbed by my presence, Captain?” I boldly asked. Sorry, I’m not someone who’s going to sit, relax, and let someone trample my profession.

Hindi ito sumagot habang nakatitig sa akin. Inilibot ko ang paningin sa loob ng pentagon. Lahat ng kanilang mga mata’y nasa akin. Mediyo nanginig ako ngunit nawala ito nang dumapo ang aking mga mata kay Commander.

His eyes. He was giving me support the moment he flashed a sweet smile on his lips.

“Why would I be bothered by someone like you?” pagbabawi nito. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako kumuha ng lakas para kalabanin ang Captain na ito. Basta, isa lang ang nasa aking isipan. I want him to apologize from belittling my profession.

Gusto kong ma realize ng Captain na hindi basta-bastang kalabanin ang katulad kong kaya siyang patumbahin gamit ang kapangyarihan ng mga salita.

I crossed my arms in front of my chest as I composed myself, telling them that I’m confident enough to be part of this mission.

“I can feel the agitation from your eyes, Captain. You are panicking in front of this mere writer. Trepidation was building from your muscularity wherein you feared that I might steal the spotlight from you.”

“What exactly can you do? Writing some letters to achieve triumph in this mission?”

Hindi ko mapigilang ngumisi.

“Yes. You have a point with that, Captain. But let me engraved this in your mind,” inalis ko ang mga kamay na naka-krus sa aking dibdib at mariin siyang tinitigan.

“What?” Pagtatanong nito dahilan para gumuhit ang nakakalokong ngiti sa aking mga labi.

“I don’t write fictions, I write reality. I can drag you down from your position using my words as my weapon, with respect, Captain.”