*Caelum
- Castrafort
Soothing music by the chimes played when I went out of the store. I walked for a bit near the empty dark streets and gazed from afar, sighing. It's yet another peaceful night here in Castrafort city. Just me and this calmed night weather.
Napailing ako sa naisip ko. I just couldn't stop myself from thinking that this tranquility is nothing but an illusion. How many times have I been fooled by this? Behind all these quiet nights are just fears and distraught brought by the soldiers and the f*cking General. Tinatago lang nila ang tunay nilang motibo sa pagpapalaganap ng curfew na 'to.
Mula sa bulsa ko, kinuha ko ang maliit na device na inabot sa amin ni Jake noong nakaraang araw. I started playing with it a bit as I began to recall what happened to Coach and most especially to Renz. The fact that they were attacked only means that the General is on his move again to get us. What's worse is that there's a cyborg out there ready to track us down. As expected of him, he just wouldn't stop from experimenting on people. Of course he had to resort to artificial intelligence.
Grabbing the device and putting it back in my pocket, I looked up with knitted eyebrows. I started thinking that someone from us should do something before the General makes his move again. Hindi maaaring maghintay lang kami. We have to act now. Or better yet, we have to know what his others plans are. Knowing the General, he might've a dozen of plans already laid out and is just anxiously waiting for the right time.
But how are we going to find out his plans?
In the middle of my deep thoughts, I heard several fast footsteps going past behind me. They were a group of frightened young teen girls. "Dalian niyo, baka makita nila tayo."
Sa narinig ko ay alam ko na agad ang tinutukoy nila kaya agad na rin akong kumilos upang makapagtago. It's no brainer that they're running away from the patrolling soldiers tasked to chastise citizens not abiding with the curfew.
Suddenly, an idea popped out of my head. I immediately turned to a dark alley with my back leaning against the brick wall to wait for the soldiers to pass by. Hindi nagtagal ay narinig ko ang ingay mula sa makina ng kanilang sasakyan. They were fast, but I was able to see that there were only two of them inside, highly manageable. Instinctively, a smirk formed on my lips. I immediately revealed myself to go after the soldiers, but a voice with authority on its tone made me stop.
"Halt!" Clicking my tongue in dismay, I slowly raised my hands. "Do not make any unnecessary movements. Turn around!"
Heaving out a sigh, I faced the soldier that caught me, but we were both surprised when we saw each other's faces.
"C-caelum?" she stated. She was startled, but she slowly put down her gun.
That's when I felt relieved and quickly dropped my hands. "You almost got me there." Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa kanya, but I was a bit skeptical when she suddenly turned away as if something's making her feel uneasy. "Hey, is something--" I was interrupted when a strange breeze of wind blew. It was so unexpected that it brought chills down my spine. Weird.
"U-uhmm... bakit pala nasa labas ka pa?" she asked without even looking at me. She was just staring at the floor.
Sinuksok ko sa loob ng jacket ko ang aking kamay and brought out a plastic bag. I showed it to her and she immediately got her answer. "I just needed a drink." She nodded, still not looking directly at me. "And you? Tasked to patrol the streets? Then I assume I'm going to get arrested by you?"
"H-huh? H-hindi, hindi. Uhmm... u-uhh..."
"Hey, hey, relax. I'm playing," I said in between my chuckles. Natawa na lang ako sa inaakto niya. She's always been this weird. I can't believe she became a soldier like this. "You know for a soldier, you're quite nervous around people, huh Lea?"
She didn't answer nor laugh. Lea just remained silent with her head down. All of a sudden, drops of water started falling down. Agad ko siyang hinablot papunta sa eskinitang pinanggalingan ko para sumilong.
"Damn, the news didn't say something about the weather," I complained while looking up the pouring nighg sky.
"I-it's Lei," whispered the woman behind me.
That's when I embarassed myself in front of her, yet again. Matagal na kaming magkakilala, pero hindi ko pa rin matandaan nang tama ang pangalan niya. In my defense, we barely had a talk even though we've worked before during our escape. She was always been silent around me. In fact, this might actually be our longest conversation. "My bad."
Then I heard her took a deep breath and I felt even more guilty in failing to get her name right. "Ehrr... so uh, are you heading home? Need some company?" Lei suddenly turned her head towards me with shock written all over her face. "I mean, it looks like the rain isn't going to stop soon so I--"
I was cut off when the rain immediately stopped like the sky didn't weep at all. Chuckling up a bit while looking up, I spoke. "Wow, funny weather tonight, ain't it?"
Nilahad ko ang kamay ko para makasigurong hindi na umuulan saka ako umalis sa sinisilungan namin. "We better go before the rain comes again. Let me walk you home."
"Uhmm..." she muttered with an obvious hesitation in her look.
"Don't make me feel bad even more. Let me make it up to you, come on," I convinced her.
"Ano kasi... uhmm... h-hindi mo naman kailangang--"
"You and Neesha go that way, right?" I interrupted her and pointed on the other side of the alley. She remained looking at me in awe as I nodded as my way to persuade her. My lips smirked when she timidly took a step and stood beside me. Napailing na lang ako. As I've said, she is nowhere like the common soldiers around here.
"So how far away is your home from here?" I asked as we started our stroll.
"S-sa may pangalawang kanto lang," she answered. As usual, she's stuttering again.
"I see." Maikli kong sagot.
"Nasabi ni Neesha sa akin a-ang nangyari kay Renz. How is he?" Lei asked with a worried tone on her voice.
"He's stable according to Neesha. Might take a while before he fully recovers though," I responded.
"Sorry pala kung uhmm... hindi pa ako nakakabalik ulit sa warehouse..." I felt her guilt when she said that.
"Don't mention it. We all know you're situation's complicated," I reassured her while wearing a cheap smile to show her my sincerity. Trying to blend in with the soldiers to act as our spy is no joke. One wrong move from her may cause her her life. It's a great risk she's taking just to help us. "But how's everything so far? Got anything for us?"
She replied my question with a disappointing shake of her head. "Sorry. M-masyadong maingat ang Heneral sa pagbibigay ng impormasyon kahit sa mga tao niya. Piling tao lang ang napapadalhan niya ng mensahe tungkol sa mga marumi niyang gawain." I wasn't even surprised when she said that. That's just how the old f**ker plays. There goes my littlest hope that I'd have anything from the General from her. "Kahit nga ang tungkol sa cyborg na umatake kina Renz at Hope ay wala rin akong alam. K-kung nalaman ko lang sana..."
"Hey, don't be too hard on yourself. It wasn't your fault." I looked at her and tried comforting her. "At least now we have an idea on how he's trying to play his own game. This is no longer just about us trying to find an evidence to bring his name down anymore, we have to find a way to fight back and defend ourselves."
With what I said, I saw her nodding her head. Her eyes spark with determination and courage, something that I haven't seen from her yet. "P-pinapangako ko, pag-iigihan ko pa ang pagmamasid. Ipapaalam ko agad sa inyo sa oras na magkaroon na ako ng lead."
"We'll be counting on you." All of a sudden, I remembered something about the device Jake distributed to us. "Which reminds me," I brought out the small piece of device and handed it to her. "This is a distress signal device made by Jake. It's mine, but I'll just ask him for another. Use it when you need our help."
Nahihiya man ay kinuha naman niya ang device. "Th-thank you, Caelum."
Our conversation went a little too serious that I just noticed that we're already in front of her small house. I must say, it feels nice to finally to get to know her a bit more as a person and not just someone I'm working with. I got to see her other side aside from being weird and shy whenever she's around me.
"So I guess I'll just see you around," sabi ko at doo'y napatingin siya sa paligid. It seemed like she also failed to realize that we've arrived at her house. That made me chuckle.
"S-salamat, Caelum." And there she is again, being shy and all. "Kailangan mo na ring umuwi, baka mahuli ka pa nila."
"They wouldn't, but they can try," sabi ko na nagpakunot sa noo niya.
"H-hindi ka pa uuwi?" She wondered.
"I just feel like going somewhere else tonight. But you don't have to worry," I said while turning around and started to walk away. "It was a nice talk, Lei."
***
*Ean
- Lakserf
Agad kong binalik ang likod ko sa pagkakasandal sa pader nang makarinig ako ng yabag mula sa kabilang pasilyo. Base sa naririnig ko ay dalawa o tatlo silang paparating sa direksyon ko. Naloko na, kung kailan naman malapit na ako sa computer room ay ngayon pa lumabas ang mga panget na 'to. Kailangan ko makahanap ng paraan.
Hanggang sa lumiko na sila at agad akong nakitang tila isang butiking nakadikit sa pader. Binigyan ko lang sila ng malapad na ngiti.
"Ano'ng ginagawa mo diyan?" Untag ng isa sa akin na parang takang-taka sa posisyon ko.
"Hala? You don't knowed my doings? This is threading in the school. Inch and ever ounce is doer it. It's the be-a-butiki-for-a-day challenge," dahilan ko at sabay-sabay silang tumingin sa akin na may pandidiri.
"Huh!? Ano 'yon!?" Bulalas nito saka umiling. "Mga estudyante talaga ngayon, kung ano ano na naiisip."
"Hayaan niyo na 'yan, 'di niyo ba 'yan kilala? Si Ean 'yan. May saltik talaga 'yan. Tara na." Umalis na sila na parang hindi ako nasaktan sa sinabi ng isa. Grabe na rin talaga makajudge mga tao ngayon. Kala mo kung sinong anak ni amang Laksen. Mas mukha pa nga siyang butiki sa akin.
Kusa namang umunat ang labi ko nang maisip kong matagumpay akong nakahanap ng paraan para hindi mahuli. Ano pa nga ba inaasahan sa isang genu na tulad ko? It's ano... it's the thought that counts. Ay bahala na nga 'yang mga kasabihan na 'yan. Basta ako didiretso na ng computer room para makakalap na mg impormasyon tungkol sa totoong nangyayari dito sa Orthil.
Dali-dali akong nagtungo sa pintong magluluwa sa akin sa silid ng computer room, ngunit nang subukan kong buksan ang pinto ay hindi ito mabuksan. Hanggang sa mapadako ang tingin ko sa maliit na monitor sa tabi ng pinto at doo'y napahilamos na lang ako ng mukha. Anak ng-- kailangan nga pala ng fingerprint ng mga may access sa computer room ito bago mabuksan! Ano na gagawin ko ngayon!?
"... na kayo! Susunod na lang ako!" Napabalikwas naman ako nang marinig ko ang boses ng isa sa mga nakasalubong ko kanina. Walang anu-ano'y pumuwesto ako sa tabi ng mga locker dito sa pasilyo upang makapagtago.
Narinig ko ang tunog na nilikha ng biometrics saka bumukas ang pinto. Doo'y isang ideya ang namuo sa isip ko. Base sa narinig ko kanina ay mukhang may naiwan ata ang mokong, lalabas din ito agad kung hindi ako nagkakamali.
Dahan-dahan akong lumuhod saka palihim na inipon ang aking mahika sa aking paa. Bahagya akong sumilip sa pinto ng computer room habang hinihintay ang muling paglabas ng lalake. Gaya ng inaasahan ay muking lumikha ng tunog ang biometrics saka nito niluwa ang lalakeng patakbong lumabas. Hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng oras at sa isang iglap ay pinasok ko na ang loob ng computer room.
Sumalubong sa akin ang madilim na silid, ngunit dahil sa iilang kumukurap na kulay bughaw at berdeng ilaw sa paligid ay nagawa ko pa ring makita ang laman nito. May mahahabang hilera ng mesa na may halos tag-iisang dosena ng computer, ang kabilang pader naman ay mayroong mga holographic screen na naglalabas din ng kulay berdeng ilaw na wari ko ay dahil sa nagpapaganang cyber magic dito. Dumako pa ang tingin ko sa harap at doo'y nakita ko ang mas malaking screen na halos magmukhang pisara na sa laki nito. Iyon siguro ang mga ginagamit ng mga Zoidiac professor. Ganito pala ang itsura computer room, bakit bigla akong nainggit na halos araw araw ay ginagamit ito ng mga Zoidiac student?
Hanggang sa napansin ko ang nag-iisang bukas na computer. Gustuhin ko pa mang pagmasdan ang paligid ay hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng panahon at agad nang naupo sa harap ng computer. Kahit papaano naman ay alam kong gamitin ito. Buti na lang minsan ay nakukwento sa akin ni besprenning ang tungkol dito sa tuwing nagtatrabaho siya sa Intel unit. Tamang search lang gan'on.
Agad akong nagtipa sa keyboard at nag-search.
What's up and down here in Orthil.
Napasimangot ako sa binigay nitong resulta. Aba binigyan lang ako ng ilang imahe ng langit at lupa. Kung hindi ba naman engot.
Iniba ko na ang sinearch ko.
Orthil threading now
Muli akong nadismaya. Bakit puro kilay!? Aanuhin ko 'to!? Teka nagana ba 'to? Paano ba malaman kung nagana pa computer? Ma-search nga...
Haw haw de karabaw is the computer
Mahabaging ama! Fresh milk naman ngayon!? Hindi na ata nagana 'to eh! Hanggang sa makaisip na naman ako ng ideya kung tama nga ba ang nilalabas na resulta ng computer na 'to.
Angelu Frostwind
Nagulat ako nang mabilis na lumitaw ang mga impormasyon ni pareng Gelo sa screen, mula sa personal nitong impormasyon hanggang sa status nito bilang Senior. Hanggang sa may makapukaw ng aking atensyon. Agad nanglaki ang mga mata ko matapos kong mapag-alamang may listahan ng mga reports dito si besprenning. Halos lahat ng bagk rito ay tungkol sa aking hinahanap.
***
*3rd Person PoV
"Hintayin nito na ako rito. Magbibigay lang ako ng report," bilin ng lalake sa kanyang mga kaibigan saka nilapat ang hinlalaki sa maliit na screen at doo'y kaagad na nagbukas ang kaharap niyang pinto.
Kusang napakunot ang kilay ng lalake nang madatnan niyang may iilang Seniors sa loob ng silid at bawat isa sa kanila ay tila okyupado sa kanilang ginagawa. Saglit siyang natigilan dito at nagtaka. Sa huli ay nagtungo na lang siya sa kanyang pakay.
Nilapag ng lalake ang isang folder sa mesa. "Nandiyan na ang report ko ngayong araw."
"Ah, sir Rake," medyo gulat na sabi ng lalakeng nakaupo sa kabilang gilid ng mesa saka winaksi ang kanyang ginagawa. "Kami na po bahala rito. Pasensya na, medyo may pinagkakaabalahan lang kami."
"Tss. Pansin ko nga," nagtatakang untag ni Rake saka muling pinagmasdan ang mga tao sa silid. "Ano ba'ng meron? May nangyari ba?"
"Iyon ang inaalam namin, sir. Iniwan kasi ng tehnician na nakabukas ang computer habang naga-update. Pagbalik daw nila rito ay tapos na't may recent activity sa search engine," pagbibigay alam nito na ikinabahala ni Rake.
"Hindi ba't may history naman ang mga search engines dito? Ano ba ang mga hinanap niya?" Muling tanong ni Rake habang sinusubukang tumulong resolbahin ang problemang kinakaharap ng computer room.
Napakamot ang lalake sa ulo bago sumagot. "Eh 'yun nga po ang isa pa sa problema." Inabot nito kay Rake ang isang maliit na device at doo'y nakita niya ang listahan ng mga recent search sa computer. "Bukod sa huling search niya tungkol sa isang Senior dito sa Orthil ay hindi namin naintindihan ang gusto niyang malaman."
Kaagad na napatakip ng mukha si Rake habang binabasa ang inabot sa kanya. Napabuntong hininga na lang siya rito. "Mukhang alam ko na kung sino ang nanggaling rito. Kami na ang bahala kumausap sa kanya."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ano ka ngayon ha, Ean? Search search ka pa ha! Tamang sisi ka pa na may sira 'yung computer, bakit hindi mo naisip na baka 'yung nag-search ang may sira? AHHAHAHAH!
H-huh!? I'm incense there ha. Don't blamigatory me. Basta be-a-cockroach-for-a-day challenge naman gagawin ko bukas. - Ean
That would suit you well. A pest acting like a pest. - Caelum
Ang harsh! HAHAHAHAA!