Turbulence Report: Captain of Us

PROLOGUE

ASHEERIA'S POV:

I stared at the maintenance tablet.

May nagreport na Flifht AXW142 reported an intermittent warning message during cruise attitude.

"Any luck?" Tanong ni Yuki. My co- aviation engineer.

I shook my head and observes the surroundings.

"The sensor readings are normal." I said and thinks...

"Then why did the warning trigger?" I whispered and asked..

"That's exactly what we're trying to figure out." Yuki said and inspects again.

I scrolled through another page of diagnostic data.

No overheating.

No electrical overload.

No abnormal readings.

Parang normal lang naman.

"Maybe dahil sa faulty sensor..." Sambit ko.

"Wiring ata..." Sambit naman ni Yuki.

"Baka pagod lang yung aircraft" I said jokingly but deep inside pagod nako.

"You need to sleep, Engr Ria." Sambit niya. He calls me Ria.

"You also need to sleep, Engr Yuki." Sambit ko.

"Pilot report says the warning appeared for twelve seconds," sabi ko habang binabasa ang report.

"Then disappeared."

"Then appeared again after thirty minutes."

Yuki nodded.

"Intermittent fault."

"The worst kind."

"The absolute worst kind."

Pareho kaming napabuntong-hininga.
Intermittent problems were nightmares.

Kapag permanent ang sira, madali.

Hanapin mo.

Ayusin mo.

Tapos.

Pero kapag pasulpot-sulpot?

Parang naglalaro ng taguan ang problema.

"Baka environmental trigger," sabi ni Yuki.

"Turbulence?" Sambit ko.

"Possible." Pagagree ni Yuki.

"Temperature fluctuation?" Sambit ni Yuki.

"Possible." Sambit ko.

"Software glitch?" Sambit ko.

"Also possible." Sambit ni Yuki.

I groaned. Bwisit.

"I hate the word possible." Sambit ko at inaanalyze kung nasaan ang malfunction.

"Welcome to engineering."
Napatawa siya nang bahagya.

"Thanks grabe Yuki laki nang natulong mo. Very inspiring." Sambit ko at bahagyang napapalakpak.

"Glad to help." I checked another section of the report.

"Pilot said all aircraft systems remained operational." Sambit ni Yuki.

"No performance degradation." Sambit ko.

"No flight control issues."

"No unusual vibration."

"Fuel consumption normal." Napasapo ako ng noo.

Yuki crossed his arms.

"Which means whatever happened wasn't severe enough to affect operations."

"Still not enough reason to ignore it." Sambit ko

"Exactly." Sambit ni Yuki.

Tahimik kaming dalawa sandali.
The hum of the hangar echoed around us.

Mechanics worked in the distance.
Tools clinked somewhere nearby.
The scent of aviation fuel lingered faintly in the air.

Normally, I loved this environment.

Today?

I just wanted to go my bed.

"You know," sabi ni Yuki, "normal people spend weekends resting."
I looked at him.

"Normal people also don't spend their free time arguing with aircraft."
Sambit ko.

"Fair point." Sambit niya.

"Besides, if we clear this aircraft without finding the source of the warning and something happens later, I won't be able to sleep." Sambit ko.

Yuki smiled.
"You say that like you're sleeping now." Sambit niya.

I sighs and call an Chaelio. My Aviation Psych Consultant.

"Good evening, Engineer Velazquez."
Sambit niya. He have this deep soft firm voice.

A soft smile lingered on me.

A smile immediately tugged at the corner of my lips.

Of course. Only Chaelio would answer a phone call like he was picking up an official report.

"Please tell me you're not stressing again"

A soft chuckle came from the other line.

"Please tell me you're not calling because you've forgotten to eat again. " Sambit niya.

I looked at the untouched sandwich beside my tablet.

"...That's not important."

"Engineer Velazquez." Sambit niya nang may pagkaseryoso ang boses.

"Okay, maybe I forgot." Sambit ko.

"I knew it." Sambit niya and he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes.

"Being unable to solve something immediately doesn't mean you're failing. You're tired and been working for hours." He said. He is soft spoken and sweet. For me is he is like a friend I could ran up to.

"Eat." He commanded.

I rolled my eyes.

"Bossy."

"Eat."

"Chaelio."

"Eat."

I laughed.

"Fine."

"Good."

I unwrapped the sandwich.

Took a bite.

And immediately realized how hungry I actually was.

He is my escape throught he skies of turbulence. Someone I could talk to when I'm feeling down and have discomfort. It feels lighter when I heard his voice.