Chapter 63
Everything is stable. I checked the whole system, our plane's path as well as the possible problem that might arise as our expedition continue to follow our ideal track.
Hindi na kami nag-usap ni Pedro sa loob ng mga sumunod na mga oras, we both listened to all the instructions and given information from the UASA intelligence team.
Nang nasa kalahati na kami ng paglipad patungo sa Mars, hindi ko na napigilang hindi magsalita. Mukhang nakakalimutan ni Pedro ipaliwanag kung ano ang totoong nangyari nang biglang mamatay ang motherplane.
That wasn't a good thing, muntik ko nang paduguin ang ilong niya dahil sa matindi kong pag-aalala. And who wouldn't?
My frustration can't be erased with just mere embrace, kailangan talaga suntok muna bago yakap. Suntok muna bago lambing.
Bagay na hindi ko kayang alisin sa sistema ko, tinakot niya ako at hindi magandang tinatakot ang isang babaeng katulad ko.
"Can you tell me what happened a while ago? Everyone lost their communication with you."
"Ah, yeah. That was quite tough, I didn't think that will exhaust too much time." Alam kong hindi lang ako ang nakikinig sa kanya sa mga oras na ito.
The UASA intelligence team were also waiting for Pedro's additional information. Maaaring ang nangyari kanina ay magkaroon ng masamang epekto sa mga susunod pa na mangyayari.
We can't just continue moving without analyzing the single failure, lalo na at sensitibo ang lahat ng mga nagaganap sa misyong ito. We can't let any single detail pass.
"Since the motherplane can't handle more than two human lives inside, our movement was quite risky. We need to hurry before the plane recognizes the additional life on board."
Sa sobrang tagal na rin siguro nito kaya hindi na rin makayanan i-handle ang mga tao sa loob.
"As what we have originally planned, we are not going to dispose of the three original satellites which were connected to the motherplane, instead we block the glitching information coming from them. But since we can't totally shut it down, because there's a possibility of a simultaneous explosion that might affect the earth's ozone layer we used Engr. Wright's multipurpose metal box. The metal box had the system's ability to trap and vanish the signal information from those three satellites and it can also serve as an active communicator between the three connecting channels, UASA from the Earth, astronauts monitoring in space, and lastly Mars."
I can't help but to proudly smile hearing Pedro's word. Ibang-iba si Peter sa tuwing nasa harap ito ng misyon, he's too professional at ang tangi ko na lamang nagagawa ay tingalain siya.
My blue commander is an intelligent hot astronaut. Sinong mag-aakalang ang lalaking nagsasalita ngayon ay laging nilalamig sa Pilipinas?
Actually his words were just his introduction. Tahimik lamang ako nakikinig sa kanya at hindi na ako nagtatanong, maraming nakikinig sa kanya ngayon.
"To make it short, yes I successfully installed it. But since the motherplane was not tough enough as what we had expected since it's been years since it was launched into space it couldn't handle the advanced technology coming from the metal box. Honestly, the system gave me information that the whole motherplane would explode in a minute but I analyzed the whole mother plane and I remembered something from my father when he was in the process of building this plane satellite connectivity." Bahagya akong lumingon kay Pedro.
Yes, I remembered. His father was one of the creators of the previous satellite and plane used in space. He even told us that he witnessed his father's hardship.
Rylandrien Peter Armstrong is the only man fitted in this mission.
"According to my father, a plane can't be weak at all parts. There's always the stronger part and there's a weaker part. That's why I tried my best to locate the weakest part that couldn't handle the transfusion of advanced technology and that was when I realized that I should let go of the tail part of the mother plane, since it was originally detachable it couldn't harm the functionality of the plane even if I self destruct it."
Ilang beses akong napatango sa paliwanag ni Pedro.
"And yes, that explosion was actually my command. The communication was cut for a moment because of the few minutes of recovery and adjustment. It was nothing serious, all set. All is well."
Kumindat sa akin si Pedro nang matapos siyang magliwanag. Naiiling na lamang akong nagpatuloy sa pagpapalipad ng eroplano. Or should I say space plane?
Hindi tumigil sa pagtatanong ang mga taga UASA kay Pedro na agad naman nitong nasasagot.
I even heard Sheila Wilson, asking several questions, muntik pa silang magtalo ni Pedro dahil may gusto itong ipagawa na agad binigyan ni Pedro ng katwiran na hindi dapat.
She'll just make our mission slow. Masyadong pabibo sa mata ng mga nakatataas. Nang malaman kong hindi pala si Engr. Wright ang buong gumawa ng space plane na hawak ko, bigla na lamang akong nakaramdam ng pangamba.
I don't really trust Wilson. I hate to say this and I hate myself for turning this and damn having this kind of thinking, but hell. I am still a human with no good perceptions at all. Mukha pa lang ni Shiela, kasalanan na.
I even blamed her because of that damn explosion, pero sa sandaling may hindi magandang mangyari sa eroplanong ito at mapatunayan kong may kinalaman siya dito.
I ought to every star in the universe, isusumpa niyang nakakilala siya ng babaeng may pangalang Monzanto.
I'll beat her to death. Kung may bayang nabubura sa mapa, may mukhang nabubura sa katawan ng tao. And I'm damn willing to do it for the first time in the history.
Huwag ang Project Mars, huwag ang misyong pinangarap ko, huwag ako at huwag ngayong malapit na kaming ikasal ni Pedro. Tang ina niya.
Huminga ako nang malalim at pilit kong pinakalma ang sarili ko. Shiela Wilson can really be the converter of my evil side.
And I am not a damn saint to hide it or something, hindi ako perpektong tao at lalong hindi ako ang santong inaakala ng lahat sa mga taong kademo-demonyo.
"Lieutenant, you okay? We're having an increase of speed."
"Oh, I'm sorry Commander."
"It's okay,"
Ibinalik ko ang aking atensyon sa pagpapalipad ng space plane, lumipas pa ang ilang oras hanggang sa tuluyan ko nang makita ang planetang inaasahan ng lahat na siyang sasalo sa amin sa katapusan.
"This is Marsian 7832 space plane expedition seventh, flight in command speaking. We're about to enter the planet Mars. We had the successful route, no delays and we arrived on time." Anunsyo ko.
We tightened our seat belts and I pushed the button for us to have a complete entry. Our space plane penetration had an intensified force making us feel heavy.
Naririnig kong napapamura na rin si Pedro na parang hindi pa siya sanay sa pagpasok sa Mars, dapat ay ako ang napapamura dito. Sa halip ay kinagat ko na lamang ang aking pang-ibabang labi hanggang sa tuluyan nang makapasok ang aming eroplano.
We had our successful touchdown.
Eventhough there's a gravity on Mars, we're still required to wear our suit. Pansin ko na may nakaabang na sa aming mga sasakyan na siyang inaasahan na ang pagdating namin.
Mabilis na kaming umalis sa aming mga upuan ni Pedro at kinuha na namin ang aming Marsian suit.
Mas naunang nakapagbihis sa akin si Pedro at lumapit siya sa akin para tulungan ako.
"I'll zip it for you," tumalikod ako at hinayaan ko siyang I-zipper ito.
He gave me the helmet, pero bago ko ito magawang isuot ay mabilis siyang nakayuko sa akin at agad niyang hinalikan ang aking mga labi.
He grinned.
"First," sabay naming sabi habang nakangisi sa isa't- isa.
Our first kiss on Mars.
Akala ko hahayaan niya akong isuot na ang aking helmet nang ipahawak niya sa akin ang kanyang helmet.
He held my face and kissed me continuously. It was a series of smacks but I can't help but smile while waiting for his kiss.
"Second,"
"Third,"
"Fourth,"
"Fifth,"
Itinulak ko na siya nang hahalik siyang muli.
"Tama na Pedro, may naghihintay sa labas."
"I love you,"
"I love you too," sagot ko.
Nang pababa na kami sa eroplano ay nasa ibaba na rin si Graham Bell wearing the same suit. Siya ang may dala ng malaking sasakyan.
"How was your fly?" he asked.
"Good," sagot ni Pedro.
Inalalayan ako ni Pedro sumakay bago siya sumunod.
"How's everyone?"
"Starting to set-up everything," tipid na sagot nito.
"Good?" ako naman ang nagtanong.
Nagkibit balikat si Graham Bell na parang ayaw munang sagutin ang mga katanungan namin.
"Graham Bell, what's going on?" kahit si Pedro ay napapansin na rin ito.
"They are checking it again, maybe it was a false alarm."
"False alarm of what?" I asked again.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla na lamang akong kinakabahan. Hindi sumasagot si Graham Bell.
"Graham Bell," malamig na tawag ni Pedro.
"Alright! They saw an asteroid that was about to hit the planet! Bigger asteroid! Bigger than a damn planet!"
"WHAT?" halos sigaw na sagot namin ni Pedro.
"Where? When? Here on Mars?"
"No, it's going to hit on Earth."