'Waves of Fire'
ZIA
"What's your team name?" Nakatingin lang ako kay Grandpa Jez na nagsasalita sa harap namin. He's been the professor for Team Alpha and here he is, being our head professor as well. Nagkatinginan lang kaming lahat dahil sa tanong niya.
"We haven't thought of it yet." Sagot ni Wilder na nakahalukipkip lang sa tabi ko. We were all wearing our suits. Like Team Alpha's suits, it was in color black with pockets on the sides. It's leather but it's fire and waterproof. It's also body fit, that way, we can move easily.
They also modified Atlas' suit to not get destroyed if he ever shifted into his wolf form. They modified Audin's suit in order for it to still fit him even if he transformed into his fully-grown form. They also modified my suit for my wings.
"Well, you better decide fast. Ayoko namang tawagin kayong 'replacement team' lang. Masyadong masakit." Natawa agad si Audin dahil sa sinasabi ni Grandpa Jez, and to be professional, we'll also be calling him Sir Jez from now one. But I want to call him Sir Grandpa Jez.
Mom and Dad raised me to be respectful. Sir Grandpa Jez.
"Alright, enough jibber-jabber. Let's get on with the mission. Replacement Team mission number two, capture the pirates of the—"
"Caribbean?" Excited na tanong ni Audin kaya agad na tumingin si Sir Jez sa kanya.
"Kid, I suffered for how many years getting over Baxter's references. Don't make me suffer again." Sir Grandpa Jez said at tinakpan lang ni Audin ang bibig niya at tumawa. Sir Grandpa Jez just huffed out and continued on to what he was saying.
"The Pirates of the West are stealing gold from a certain kingdom in the west. Your duty is to capture the pirates and bring them to this place." Pagpapaliwanag nito at pinakita pa sa amin ang isang address. It looked like a jail in the middle of the sea. It looks like that jail from the Harry Potter movies.
Ugh, now I'm making references too.
"May rules ba sa mission?" Tanong ni Wilder.
"Well, Team Alpha always had one rule. Aalis silang buo at babalik silang buo. What about you? What will be your team's rule?" Tanong ni Sir Grandpa Jez kaya agad naman silang tumingin sa akin. Napaturo narin ako sa sarili ko at tumango lang si Wilder. "I don't have any idea.." Bulong ko kay Wilder.
"Why bother making a name for the team and a rule when all of this is temporary? Nagsasayang lang kayo ng oras." Agad kaming tumingin kay Atlas na nakahalukipkip at nakapikit. I just breathed out. He has a point though. Wilder just hissed at him at tsaka na kami tumingin kay Sir Grandpa Jez.
"Anyway, you know what to do. Good luck on your second mission." Sir Grandpa Jez said before heading out. Walang imik naman kaming naglakad palabas sa headquarters namin at tsaka na naglakad papunta sa portal ng UHT.
As we walk the grounds of UHT, a lot of students were looking at us. I felt uncomfortable knowing that I'm wearing a body fit suit kaya tinakpan ko nalang ang beywang ko.
"Who the hell designed your suits?" Agad kong tiningnan si Kuya Xy na naglalakad sa tabi ko at sinabayan na kami. "The design team of course." Sagot ko kaya inis na tumingin sa akin si Kuya Xy, lalo na sa suot ko.
"I hate it." Aniya at tsaka binigyan ako ng jacket para takpan ang beywang ko. Hindi nalang ako umangal pa hanggang sa makarating na kami sa building na nasa tapat ng greenhouse at nakaharap na kaming lahat sa portal.
Hinawakan lang ni Kuya Xy ang kamay ko kaya tumingin ako sa kanya.
"Be careful." Aniya at ngumiti lang ako at tsaka tumango. Tinapik niya lang ang balikat ko at tsaka na ako kumaway sa kanya at pumasok na sa portal and the moment that we got out of it, we were all transported to a ship.
A pirate's ship.
"What the hell?" Tanong ni Wilder habang tumitingin-tingin siya sa paligid. The ship was freely floating in the middle of the ocean, no captain, no crews. Just a single ship floating by itself. The area was foggy but we could hear the sound of the waters below.
Tumingin-tingin lang ako sa paligid pero agad na kumunot ang noo ko nung bigla nalang tumakbo si Audin papunta sa gilid at tsaka sumuka.
"Wait, you have motion sickness?" Tanong ni Wilder sa kanya at sumuka na naman si Audin.
"Bakit wala kang sinabi sa amin, maharot na bata ka?!" Natatarantang tanong ni Wilder sa kanya at inis lang na tumingin si Audin sa kanya.
"We didn't even have any game plan! Walang nagsalita sa atin. Ang eemo niyo! Wala tayong team—teamwork!—Wala nga tayong pangalan at—leader!" Sigaw ni Audin at sumuka na naman kaya lumapit na ako kay Lucas na nakapikit lang at parang gusto pang matulog. "Lucas.." Mahina kong tawag sa kanya kaya nagmulat naman siya ng mga mata at pasimpleng tumingin sa akin.
"What?" Inis niyang tanong kahit wala pa naman akong sinasabi.
"Can you get rid of DinDin's motion sickness? We can't continue with the mission when one member isn't feeling well." Mahinahon kong sabi sa kanya kaya umupo naman si Lucas at tsaka tiningnan si Audin na namumutla na.
"Oi! DinDin!" Tawag niya dito at tumingin naman si Audin sa kanya.
"Come here." Mahinahong sabi ni Lucas at pasuray-suray namang naglakad si Audin papunta sa kanya at muntik pa itong matumba pero inalalayan lang siya ni Atlas. Naglakad nalang ako palapit kay Blu na nakatingin lang sa dagat at parang nagmamasid.
I just looked at him and tugged on his suit to get his attention for a minute.
"Hmm?" He hummed as a response at tsaka tumingin sa akin.
"We need a plan." Mahina kong sabi kaya tumingin naman siya sa team at tsaka niya binalik ang tingin niya sa akin. "What's your plan?" Tanong niya kaya napabuga lang ako ng hangin.
"That's the problem. I don't have one. We didn't even plan anything before coming here. We don't have a name, a leader and a plan. What kind of team is this?" Tanong ko at sinapo nalang ako mukha ko pero naramdaman kong hinawakan lang ni Blu ang balikat ko kaya dahan-dahan ko nang binaling ang tingin ko sa kanya.
"Hey, you still got me. We can do this." Aniya at tsaka na ako hinila papunta sa gitna ng ship. Hinila niya narin 'yung iba pati si Wilder na may balak pa yatang tumalon sa tubig. Hinila siya ni Blu at pinatabi sa akin at tsaka na kami bumuo ng circle.
Nagkatinginan lang kaming lahat at tsaka namin tiningnan si Blu na umupo sa tabi ko.
"Ano 'to?" Tanong ni Wilder.
"Bilog. Malamang." Sagot ni Audin kaya agad naman siyang binatukan ni Wilder pero hinampas rin ni Atlas si Wilder at naghampasan na silang tatlo. Napasapo nalang ako sa noo ko at pinatigil na silang tatlo.
"We're having our first meeting as a team." Nakangiting sabi ni Blu. Lucas just rolled his eyes and looked away. Wilder and Audin just nodded and Atlas never gave a single response. Tumikhim nalang ako at tumingin sa kanila.
Even though I said that I don't have a plan, I needed to make one. For the sake of this team.
"Alright, we need to plan this mission. Hindi naman tayo pwedeng sumugod ng sabay-sabay. We also don't know what kind of pirates we're dealing with—"
"Pirates of the West. They're humans stuck in our realm. They can't interact with other humans after they entered the secret portal to this realm by sailing to the end of the world. They're humans, but they're strong and fast." Agad kaming napatingin kay Lucas dahil sa sinabi niya. I don't know but I was suddenly reminded by how Lucas also explained to us about the Witches of the North.
He also knew about the rain and everything. It seemed like Lucas is the knowledgeable one in the team.
"Nice info. Thank you for sharing." Tiningnan lang ni Lucas ng masama si Audin na namumula na ang pisngi na para bang nalasing siya o ano. "What? I'm serious!" Giit ni Audin kaya hindi nalang siya pinagtuonan ng pansin ni Lucas.
"Okay, they're strong and fast. Blu and Lucas will be the one to take care of them. I will also help them. In case we spot hostages or such, Wilder and Atlas will take care of that. And Audin.." Saglit akong tumigil sa pagsasalita at tsaka tiningnan si Audin na nakatingin lang sa akin. He was staring at me with those pair of innocent orbs but what I had in mind wasn't innocent at all.
I just thought of something crazy.
"..you're going to be our bait." Pagpapatuloy ko ay agad na umangat ang gilid ng labi ni Wilder na para bang nabasa niya ang iinisip ko. Audin, who couldn't read my mind was confused at nakanganga pa.
"Why? Why? Why? Ba't ako?!" Taranta niyang tanong at tinuro pa ang sarili niya.
"When Professor Isha said that your form isn't advantageous to the team, she was wrong." Nakangiti kong sabi kaya tumawa na ng malakas si Wilder habang naguguluhan namang nakatingin sa akin sina Blu at Lucas pati si Atlas.
Audin was more confused at umangat lang ang gilid ng labi ko habang nakatingin ako kay Audin. Sorry, DinDin.
✥✥
"Sixty-two crews, one captain and three tigers." Sambit ko habang nakapikit ako. I was listening to the wind earlier when Atlas smelled their scents and I heard their voices. I covered our ship with invisibility shield as we were slowly approaching the said ship of the Pirates of the North.
Nagmulat na ako ng mga mata at tsaka tumingin sa kanila.
"It's time." Sambit at tumango lang si Atlas at tsaka na nagpalit ng anyo. Tumingin lang din ako kay Blu at Lucas na tumayo na at naghanda na. Wilder just sat on the floor and yawned, waiting for his turn. Tumayo narin ako at pinagpag na ang suit ko at tsaka na kami tumingin sa cabin door na nagbukas na.
"I swear, Zia. Kung hindi ka lang talaga cute at maganda, I would've never agreed to this." Audin said, or should I say Lady Audin said.
Pinigilan ko nalang ang tawa ko habang nakatingin kami kay Audin na nagpalit na ng anyo. He—or should I say she was stunning. Sexy long legs, slightly exposed cleavage, torn dress that revealed her hips and how her faced looks so pretty that I almost forgot that this was Audin.
Inis lang na tumingin sa akin si Audin at ngumuso nalang.
"Okay, malapit na tayo sa kanila. Audin, it's your time to shine." Nakangising sabi ni Wilder at tsaka na kami nagtago sa gilid ng ship para hindi kami makita ng mga pirata. Inalis ko narin ang invisibility shield sa ship namin at tsaka namin tiningnan si Audin na nakatayo na dun sa gitna.
Audin was panicking, fidgeting and cursing while he was standing there in a lady's form.
"Damnit. Gusto ko nang umuwi." Rinig kong bulong ni Audin at mahina lang akong natawa.
"Oi! Mate! Look what we have here!" Mas lalo kaming nagtago nung marinig na naman ang boses ng mga pirata. Sumiksik lang ako sa gilid pero hindi ko alam na nasa likod ko pala si Blu, causing me to lean on his chest.
Hindi ko na 'yun pinagtuonan ng pansin at tiningnan na si Audin na nag-acting pa ng nahimatay.
"Tangina. Ang OA niya." Bulong ni Wilder kaya kinurot ko lang siya para manahimik.
"Water~ water~ I need water~" Daing ni Audin. Dude, we're surrounded by water.
"Oi! Lads! We have some fresh meat over here! Looks like an abandoned ship. What are you doing here all alone, pretty princess?" Natatawang tanong ng isang pirata at narinig kong dumami na ang tumingin kay Audin.
"Please~ save me~ and my babies!" Muntik nang humagalpak si Wilder ng tawa dahil sa sinabi ni Audin kaya tinakpan na ni Lucas ang bibig ni Wilder. "You have kids?!" Gulat na tanong ng isang pirata kay Audin.
"I'm pregnant! With twins!" Agad na sagot ni Audin kaya tumulong narin si Blu sa pagtakip ng bibig ni Wilder dahil parang sasabog na siya sa tawa.
"Oi, mates! We have a pregnant woman over here. We can take her in until she gives birth and sell the babies to the Hunters." Kumunot kaagad ang noo ko dahil sa narinig ko. Hunters? I don't know if he said it as hunters such as those who hunt for creatures or the Hunters that were the creatures whom Hades got rid of their very existence after they killed Mom after the Blu Queens attack.
I was confused but I pushed it in the back of my mind at tsaka na pinikit ang mga mata ko, trying to focus on finding if there are any hostages.
"Please don't sell my babies! Hindi pa nga nila nakikita ang ama nila. Their father was eaten by a sea monster." Audin's reasoning was very twisted that even though I couldn't see the pirates, I knew that they were very confused.
"Three hostages. A woman, a man and a kid." Bulong ko kay Atlas. He just nodded in his wolf form pero agad akong napapitlag nung may dumamba kay Atlas. The tigers.
"Quick! Blu! Lucas!" Utos ko at agad naman silang kumilos, attacking all those pirates on the ship. Agad ko namang sinunog ang tatlong tigre na umatake kay Atlas. The tigers immediately ran away and Atlas immediately got up.
"The hostages are in the basement!" Sigaw ko at tumango lang siya at hinila na si Wilder patayo na tumatawa parin. A pirate was about to shoot Audin pero tinangay ko siya kaagad and I instantly froze the pirate who attacked Audin.
Audin immediately transformed back to his original form and started shouting like the kid he is.
"Release the Kraken! Release the Kraken!" Sigaw ni Audin habang lumilipad kami palayo sa ship namin. Geez, he watches too much TV.
I just looked at Blu and Lucas who were easily taking down those pirates. Nakita ko rin sina Atlas at Wilder na dala-dala na ang mga hostages at nilipat ito sa ship namin. Lumipad narin ako pababa at tsaka na binaba si Audin.
Wilder immediately drove the ship away at tsaka na ako tumulong kina Lucas at Blu sa paggapos ng mga pirata dun sa ship nila. We tied all of them in chains at the center of the ship at tsaka ko tiningnan si Lucas na may spell na ginagawa sa mga kadena.
"They could easily break it if I don't modify the chains." Pagpapaliwanag niya at tumango lang kami ni Blu dahil sa sinabi niya. We took down every single pirate in the ship at tsaka inilabas ang mga ninakaw nila para isuli ito pagkatapos ng misyon na 'to.
"Are we done?" Tanong ni Atlas na nakabalik na sa dati niyang anyo. Tumango naman ako at naglakad na pabalik sa ship naman nang bigla nalang gumalaw ang tubig kaya agad akong napaatras at muntik pa akong matumba pero may humawak sa likod ko.
Or should I say, may mga humawak sa likod ko. Sabay kong tiningnan ang kamay nina Lucas at Blu na nakasuporta sa akin. Agad akong umayos ng tayo at tsaka na tumingin sa madilim na tubig.
"Ano 'yun?" Tanong ni Wilder. Walang sumagot sa amin habang nagmamasid lang kami sa galaw ng tubig nang bigla nalang may tumama sa pirate ship na muntik na itong tumaob. Blu and Lucas immediately secured that captives at tumingin lang ako sa tubig at inilawan ito.
The waves were becoming bigger and bigger and that thing underneath us kept on banging on the ship.
Until I saw something rising from the water. Tentacles?
"Ahh! Kraken!" Sigaw ni Audin at tumakbo sa pinakadulo ng ship at humawak dito. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya habang nanginginig siyang nakatingin sa Kraken.
"They're supposed to be in movies! Not here! Ahh! Kraken! Gusto ko nang umuwi!" Sigaw ni Audin at niyakap pa ang poste na hawak niya kaya agad kaming umalerto ng team. The Kraken? Is this real? We're not even in Norway or in Greenland or in the Caribbean Sea.
Why the hell is the Kraken here?
Umulit na naman ang pagbunggo nito sa ship namin kaya napahawak na ako sa railing habang sumisigaw na si Audin dun sa kabilang ship. "We're gonna die! We're gonna die! Ahh! Kraken!" Sigaw niya kaya binato na siya ni Wilder ng kung ano man ang nahawakan nito.
The Kraken kept on bumping on the ship until some of its tentacles started coming out of the water and started breaking the ship that we're in.
We were trying hard to maintain our sanity while we're finding out a way out of this because we're in the middle of the ocean and we're being attacked by the Kraken and Audin keeps screaming like a goat. "I still need to eat strawberry cake! I don't wanna die!" Sigaw ni Audin pero agad naman siyang napatigil nung bigla nalang may portal na nagbukas sa langit.
Lahat kami ay tumingala dito pero dahil gabi na at napapalibutan kami ng fogs, we couldn't see clearly on what came out of the portal.
Until I heard something. Wings flapping. Heavy breathing. And a dragon screeching. It was a dragon.
Agad kaming tumingin sa dragon na binugahan kaagad ng apoy ang mga galamay ng Kraken. The dragon breathed out red and blue fire at the same time and we saw a certain glow near the dragon's arm. And just as the dragon got closer, we recognized the glow.
It's the wing symbol.
After that, I recognized the dragon.
It's Kuya Ash.
❅ Snow ❅