Chapter 59
The remaining missions went smoothly. Compared with Guatemala incident there were minor problems encountered. Pero hindi na ganito kabigat.
No more planes with a hanging metal cage, no black SUV playing with fires and not even raging motorcycles.
We're thankful that we didn't face another kind of calamity, we might survive on earthquake, tsunamis, flood, volcanic eruption but there this kind of natural calamity that until now I knew that no any good plane can't handle.
It's a hurricane.
Sa sandaling kalamidad sa hangin na ang humagupit, hindi ko na alam kung papaano ito lalabanan.
The six presidents were gathered inside our UASA main headquarters.
All I thought was a single input of their biometrics, but the system satellites were requesting for unison biometrics identification.
Madaling nakipagtulungan sa amin ang natitirang mga presidente. We're just lucky enough that those Presidents last seven years ago were still alive and breathing.
Ano na lamang ang mangyayari sa mundo kapag ang isa sa kanila ay wala na?
Engr. Wright's satellite is the only thing that we can hold on. But we really can't blame Engr. Wright for securing his invention too much. He was rejected, kicked by the organization that he once patronized and got separated from the woman he loved.
Iniiwasan niya lamang na may umangkin sa sarili niyang ideya.
Everyone's present, from the lower rank until to the highest ranking UASA member. We're all located in the broad airplane field.
A small smile went on my lips when I remembered my first step on this place.
Unang pagtapak ko kasabay nang pag-angat ng aking kamay sa kalangitan sa paraang parang maabot ko ang mga nagliliparang eroplano.
Sa tagal nang itinigil ko sa organisasyong ito, ngayon ko nalaman na hindi lamang paghawak ng aking mga kamay sa eroplano ang lubos na ikaliligaya ko.
My passion, dedication and hardship for my every mission made me realized that life isn't just how high you lifted yourself up, but the real value of life is all about how you lifted up those people who are losing their hope to pull themselves up.
If every people have this kind of principle, then the Earth can proudly say that he can still survive and fight. This is the time when humans are breathing the air with value.
But hey, let's talk about reality check. There is no such thing as united principle, laging may pagkakaiba, may magmamataas at magmamarunong. Isang matinding dahilan kung bakit ako nasa harap ng ganitong sitwasyon.
In UASA field witnessing the launching of the satellite, hoping that this technology will give us a big help that we've been wishing for before the Earth finally ends.
I've seen a lot, hindi ko man nagawang hilahin ang lahat pero may parte sa sarili ko na nagpapasalamat. Atleast, there were some who joined me and extended their hands to fight survival.
We're all facing the jet-like shell of the satellite. Nasa harapan rin namin ang anim na presidente, si Engr. Wright and our chairman. The intelligence team are on stand by for data updates and analysis connected outside the planet.
They have already coordinated with the astronauts outside, hinihintay na lamang namin ibaba ni chairman ang utos.
Nasa bandang unahan rin si Commander Mitts, Graham Bell, Jensen at si Pedro habang nanatili akong nasa likuran, kasamahan ng mga nasa kapareho kong posisyon.
My heart is beating so fast while looking at the six presidents and I can't help but to smile remember our few conversations.
I didn't know that these Presidents were all aware of my existence. Not that I hope to be recognized but it was actually an honor that those previous good leaders were supportive about my principles in life.
It's a mission accomplished.
"I got the last president, chairman." I announced on air. I heard screams, cries, curses of joy, claps and prayer.
Pedro's busy giving the last president his first aid, sa pagkakataong ito ay ako na muna ang pinahawak niya ng eroplano. Graham Bell and Jensen also got the other two presidents safely that's why the whole UASA are shouting for joy.
After we touched down, the UASA medical team immediately checked us as well as the six presidents, luckily we only got minor injuries.
Magkatabi ang kama namin ni Pedro sa clinic habang pinagpapahinga kami. Hindi man kami tinamaan ng mga seryosong pinsala, literal na nabugbog ang katawan namin sa sunod-sunod na mission.
Nang nagsarado na ang kurtina ay inilahad niya sa akin ang kanyang kamay.
"Can you hold my hand, Lieutenant?"
"Scared of clinic, Commander?" inabot ko sa kanya ang aking kamay. He smiled at me. Mariin niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko.
"Nope, I just want to hold your powerful hand. Mas malakas pa ito sa kahit anong dextrose na nakita ko." Tipid akong tumawa sa sinabi niya.
"You're imagining things again, Commander."
"Hey, I'm serious here Behati. Nauubos ang IV fluid, while your hands are not getting tired of making people fight and survive. You made me realized Behati, that there is this thing that can surpass the advance medical technology. Buong akala ko ay hindi na makakalaban ang ikatlong presidente nang atakihin ito sa puso, I saw how the doctors lost their hope but again, you made his survival possible. Maybe he really heard your words during his life and death fight. Kaya lumaban ang dating presidente para mabuhay."
Sa halip na sumagot kay Pedro ay tumitig ako sa kisame. Words are really this powerful and I'm happy that I'm using it in the right path.
Words in exchange of continuous life are those kinds of words that I won't regret voicing out.
Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na ako dahil sa matinding pagod. I just woke up when I felt that someone was caressing my hair. When I opened my eyes, I saw Pedro's sapphire orbs staring at me lovingly.
"Baby, may gustong kumausap sa'yo. Will I allow them to come in?"
"Who?"
Inalalayan ako ni Pedro na umupo nang maayos, siya na mismo ang humawi ng kurtina. At iniluwa nito ang anim na presidente na siyang pilit naming hinanap.
"I'll just wait you outside." Agad kong hinawakan ang laylayan ng uniporme ni Pedro.
"Why are you leaving me? Hindi lang ako ang tumulong sa kanila, ikaw, si Graham Bell at Jensen." Tinanggal ni Pedro ang kamay ko sa kanya.
"It's alright Lieutenant, nakausap na nila kami. Now it's your turn, woman of hope." Kumindat ito sa akin bago niya ako tuluyang iniwan.
Dalawa sa anim na presidente ay naka-wheelchair na. Pero ang natitirang apat ay may kalakasan pa, sila na mismo ang nag-alalay sa dalawang presidente.
"Good evening sir!" I bowed down my head.
"Hey, you don't need to do that beautiful Lieutenant." Nag-angat akong muli ng tingin sa kanila.
My heart melts when they gave me their genuine smile. Did I really deserve this? Kung tatanungin ay hindi lamang ako ang tumulong sa kanila.
The whole Universal Aeronautics and Space Administration, but why everyone keeps turning their eyes on me?
Nanatili ang distansya sa akin ng mga presidente, nakatayo ang mga ito habang nakatitig sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung papaano ko sisimulan ang pagkausap sa kanila.
I've said enough words, naibigay ko na sa kanila ang nais kong sabihin.
"Thank you for cooperating Presidents," panimula ko. Ilan sa kanila ay umiling sa sinabi ko.
"We should be the one thanking you. The moment you showed in national television, you gave everyone hope. Not just the leaders like us but also the individual human being living in this planet. When I first heard about you, I thought you're just exaggerating and making some hype about UASA movement, like who would trust UASA nowadays? Who would believe on their words? But the moment you showed yourself inside my country, helping people to survive, I already accepted I was wrong. You are indeed, the bravest woman alive. Our woman of hope."
Katulad nang laging nangyayari, nawawalan ako ng salita sa tuwing may taong nagsasalita sa akin tungkol sa mga bagay na nagawa ko.
I am happy, yes. This is me, Behati. I can be happy silently.
"Don't worry, we will not waste your effort. We'll definitely cooperate in every operations that will be needing our help. And just like what you've told us, we will survive. Everyone of us were born for survival."
I smiled back at them.
Isa-isang kumamay sa akin ang mga presidente habang nangangatal ang aking mga kamay.
After series of deathly missions, I can still consider myself lucky for coming back alive. And luckier for coming back with people behind me who fought with me.
Nang matapos silang makipagkamay sa akin ay hindi rin sila nagtagal at nagpaalam na. But atlast, I got my courage to talk again.
"No wonder why people elected you, dearest Presidents. You're also the toughest fighters I've met. Thank you sir!" I bowed my head again with full of respect.
Ngayong nakikita ko na sila sa unahan na magkakasama at kumakatawan sa paglaban sa panibagong buhay, ngayon ko lubos masasabing, nakuha na namin, ng buong UASA ang unang tagumpay.
Greatness will always start with good leaders.
"It's time," anunsyo ni chairman.
The six presidents placed their hand on each of their designated monitor and when their hands landed, the sound and uproaring satellite from the shell started to surround the whole UASA field.
The protective shell emitted thick white smoke as the satellite launched in the air.
Our eyes are now following its path wishing for its success. And this launching means that it is also our time to leave the Earth.
Our journey in the outer space is about to start.
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VentreCanard