CODIE: Revenant Protocol

THE WARNING

(After four years, Year 2050)

Codie Delara walks calmly to the entrance of Olympic Training Hall, her steps are light but purposeful. Behind her, the rest of her team spilled into the pathway in a mix of banter and laughter, their chattering voices echoing on the glass and metal facility's polished exterior.

"They are always like that." Sabi ni Marco nang makita niyang nagmamasid pa si Baron sa paligid niya. Ngayon lang nila nakasabay mag training ang mas bata sa kanila kaya naninibago pa siya. Samantalang ng kaibigan niyang si Codie ay parang walang naririnig na dahil nangunguna ito sa lahat akala mong kabisadong kabisado na ang lugar.

Inilibot ni Baron ang paningin, the center changed a lot. It is standing like a concrete monolith. The walls are black matter, sharp-edged architecture, and no windows. It was built for the comfort of the athlete. But now it is only used to produce champions.

"Kuya Baron and Ate Codie will represent the Shooting team of our university this year, Finally after 4 years of being 2nd placer" Jaine said happily, the youngest of their team currently first-year medtech students of MBMU. "Sigurado pang 1st na ulit tayo ngayon! Talunin ninyo ang Velacruz Institute of Engineering & Technology (VIET). Kahit pogi si Kuya Kaelen, dapat manalo pa rin tayo."

Dagdag pa dito na tawanan lang nina Runa, Baron, at Marco. Sinundan ni Brandon ng tingin si Codie, napansin niya ang nag patigil dito sa paglalakad.

"In just four years, the country had changed, faster, busier, louder. Almost unrecognizable." - Isip ni Baron.

The current year is 2050, Where NeoManila's athletic sector is now using automatic face scanners to the entrance door. Sensors on each side of the door lit up with a faint blue glow, It scans Codie's face followed by the soft beep followed as it automatically slid open after recognizing Codie.

"Welcome, Codie Delara." The scanner's voice was genderless and smooth, perfectly modulated.

"The technological advancements of this hall are scary." Baron said behind her watching the scanner do its job.

"It's Perfect," Codie replied at nag umpisa nang humakbang papasok sa loob.

The cool, recycled air of the facility greeted them like it always did. With the sterile, dry, faintly metallic scent and the big screen of the leaderboard scores from the different athlete departments, what caught their attention was the shooting department.

Tumaas ang kilay ni Codie nung nakita niya ang pangalan na nasa leaderboard, kasabay ng pag Tawa ng mga kasama niya.

"How the hell did he surpass that point?" Natatawa na nilingon ni Marco si Codie.

"Looks like we will not be going home today," Baron chuckled, pulling his jacket off as they entered.

Baron and their team are looking at the holographic screen at the middle of their bench showing their captain Codie Delara is standing at line 4 of the shooting area.

Baron let out a deep breath and looked at his surroundings realizing that their training ground 4 years ago changed a lot.

But today, the champions inside were silent...confused as they looked at their captain.

"Ang lalim naman ng buntong hininga mo." Natatawang agaw ng pansin ni Runa kay Baron na kunot noo na.

"Codie won't leave that training area hanggant hindi malinis ang isip niya, we should go home." Acting like they are not friends, Jaine rolled her eyes.

"Then call sir Marco instead parang isa din yang ayaw magpatalo." Jaine said eye still fixed on the screen.

They'd watched her train hundreds of times but today, something about her focus, the atmosphere, felt different.