The Rise of a Maharlikan Federation

Chapter 2: A New Beginning (Revised)

Previously in Chapter 1: The Assassination

In the war-torn Manila of 2090, scientist Anderson Garcia and Colonel Michael Bautista met to discuss a groundbreaking discovery about temporal displacement caused by nuclear warfare. Their meeting was violently interrupted by assassins, and both men were fatally wounded. In their dying moments, they experienced a temporal shift, awakening in Manila of 1880 with their memories intact but in younger bodies. Now known as Andreas Garcia and Marcelo Bautista, they find themselves presented with an unprecedented opportunity to reshape history and prevent the catastrophic future they left behind.

Chapter 2: A New Beginning

The morning sun cast long shadows across Manila's Binondo district as Andreas Garcia made his way through the bustling streets. Five days had passed since his resurrection in 1880, and each moment felt like walking through a living museum. The cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and the mix of Spanish colonial architecture with Chinese shophouses created a tableau he had only seen in historical archives.

His new identity as Andreas Garcia, a Spanish-educated Filipino intellectual, had come with certain advantages. The previous owner of this body - his younger self in this timeline - had already established connections within Manila's scientific community. The transition felt almost predetermined, as if the tears in time had sought out the most compatible hosts for their displaced consciousness.

The sound of church bells from the nearby Minor Basilica of San Lorenzo Ruiz reminded him of his appointment. Marcelo - formerly Michael - Bautista had arranged a meeting at a small café frequented by ilustrados, the educated class of Filipino society. As Andreas approached the establishment, he noticed how different his old friend looked in his crisp military uniform, the gold buttons gleaming in the morning light.

"Buenos días, mi amigo," Marcelo greeted him in perfect Spanish, standing to pull out a chair. The ease with which they had both adapted to speaking Spanish and following nineteenth-century customs surprised them both.

"We need to discuss our progress," Andreas replied quietly, accepting a cup of strong native coffee from the server. "The past five days have been... enlightening."

Marcelo nodded, his eyes scanning the café's other patrons with military precision. "I've secured my position within the Guardia Civil. The Spanish authorities seem to trust my loyalty implicitly - the memories and connections of this body's previous occupant are proving invaluable."

"The same with my scientific credentials," Andreas agreed. "Though the limitations of nineteenth-century knowledge are... frustrating. I had to bite my tongue yesterday when a colleague insisted that miasma theory explained cholera outbreaks."

"We can't show our hand too early," Marcelo warned. "Remember, we're playing a long game here. Speaking of which..." He pulled out a small notebook, seemingly innocent but filled with their careful observations and plans. "We need to discuss the key events we remember from this period."

Andreas leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The Spanish-American War won't begin for another eighteen years. Before that, we have the Philippine Revolution in 1896. But the groundwork - the real change - begins now, in the 1880s."

"José Rizal will publish 'Noli Me Tángere' in 1887," Marcelo added, making notes. "That book becomes a catalyst for nationalist sentiment. But before that..."

"The execution of the Gomburza martyrs has already happened," Andreas interjected. "1872. It's already serving as a rallying point for reform movements. What we need to focus on is the next phase - the organization of the Filipino people."