Cayden's Crusade

Take Back The Case

"Wait", she said. She was examining each of us na sasama sa kanya sa labas. "Put this over the logo".

She handed each of us what seemed like a circle shaped black cloth. When we put it over the logo, kumapit ito and stayed in place."Para saan ba to?", tanong ni Clovis.

"That will protect the logo", she explained. "If the logo barely even get a scratch, your suit will not work. It's gonna be hard out there, your suit is your lifeline. If you die, it's either because the dwellers have feasted on you or you'll die of radiation".

When she was satisfied, she gestured us to follow her into the tunnel. She was leading the way and I was behind her. The tunnel was dark and only the flashlight she was holding was lighting up our way.

"I have a question", I told her. I just need to know more. "What are the mutants?"

She looked at me before continuing to walk. "They're humans with a goblin's blood".

That was not the answer I was looking for. It creates more questions instead."What's the difference?"

" The goblin are humans bitten by dwellers. Unlike the dwellers, walang kang magandang makukuha sa poison nito kahit pa baliktad-baliktarin mo ang mundo."

She stopped for a while as if sensing something then dismissed it. She continued walking and her explanation. "Ang mutant, we don't have much information about them but we suspect that they were humans infused with a goblin's blood".

"Infused?", it was Aloutte who asked this time.

"Yes, a human bitten by a goblin will be infected and turn to a goblin as well. It's just that the transformation is faster compared to a dweller's bite. But a mutant, it seems like a goblin blood is infused with them, parang experiment. Mutants retains their ability to fight and survive but not their humanity. Their desires for human flesh is even worse than a goblin".

"But who would ever do that", I asked, unbelieving.

"Believe me, Cayden. There are people who would do anything for power and greed. Even experimenting with humans and goblin blood". She said it as if she knew something.

"How come hindi itinuro yan sa classroom?",Clovis asked.

"They would not allow it".

"They?"

"The council. This is only the third time we we saw a mutant but
we already suspect what it was when we first saw it. We discussed it with the council but they are just stupid. They won't believe it if they haven't seen it with their eyes or see any evidence."

She stopped again. Then walked. "They control what to teach and what to train".

Another stop. It was a dead end ahead."We're here".

She turned off the flashlight and kicked the wall. I can't see anything but I'm sure that the sands building in the walls of the tunnels were floating. Then, on the left sight of the wall, there is a glow until a stair is revealed. She climbed up and opened the top.

"Alright, there's the HQ", turo niya sa nag-iisang building sa unahan. We can barely see it since it seemed to blend with the desert's color.

Diniscuss ni Orielle kung ano plano niya pagkalabas namin ng tunnel. Mas priority na makuha ang case pero if kung puwede ay patayin rin ang mga dwellers. As many as possible.

Malapit na kami sa HQ building. Kitang kita na ang mga dwellers. Karamihan ay mga isopods. Orielle warned us na posibleng nasa ilalim lang nang mga buhangin ang vipers kaya dapat mag-ingat.

Sumenyas si Orielle at itinuro ang case. Napapalibutan ito nang mga isopods.

"I think kaya natin patayin ang lahat", sabi ni Aloutte.

We dispersed. Si Orielle at Cassius papunta sa may case. Sinalubong kaagad sila nang mga vipers na nakalubog sa mga buhangin. May mga ilan isopods rin na umatake sa kanila.

Kami naman, siniguradong walang mga dwellers na mag-aabang sa dadaanan nila pabalik nang HQ.

"Cayden, tulungan mo na lang sila Cassius. Kami na bahala dito", sabi Aloutte sa gitna nang pakikipaglaban sa mga vipers.

"Roger", sabi ko. Tumakbo ako papunta kina Cassius at Orielle na medyo nahihirapan sa mga isopods na nakaharang sa case.

Napansin ni Orielle ang pagdating ko. She smiled at me. Damn! She's so beautiful. I smiled back at him at hinarap ang mga isopods.

Napatay ni Cassius ang dalawang isopods na kaharap niya. He took this chance to circle around them para makuha ang case habang unti unti na nagmelt ang katawan nito.

I made sure to kill the remaining two bago ko sinundan si Orielle at Cassius pabalik nang HQ.

Konti na lang ang natira kaya nagpa-iwan ang iba para ubusin ang mga natitirang dwellers.

Nasa may pinto na sina Cassius at Orielle. Binubuksan na niya ito nang may isang viper na umatake sa likuran ni Cassius.

"Duck!", sigaw ni Orielle kay Cassius.

Cassius ducked as Orielle slashed the viper. She looked graceful even when fighting. Bumukas ang pinto at lumuwa sina Myron, Zinny at Holden.

"He's still asleep. Kaka-inject lang namin nang huling syringe", Zinny said.

"We heard the door kaya pumunta na lang kami dito in case we can help", Holden said.

"Thank you", Orielle said sincerely. "You can help them with the remaining dwellers".

"Sure", sabi ni Myron at tumakbo palabas. Sumunod naman sa kanya sina Zinny at Holden.

We went down immediately. Tulog pa nga si Sir Samuel. Dahan-dahang inapply ni Orielle ang cure kay Sir Samuel. Isang malalim na hininga ang pinalabas niya nang mainject na lahat ng laman ng vial.

"He'll be fine in a day or two", sabi niya. "You can tell everyone to rest once nakapasok na sila".

Tumango lang kami ni Cassius at lumabas na nang room.

Kakapasok lang din nang iba pag-akyat namin sa taas.

"Kumusta si Sir?", tanong ni Aloutte.

"He'll be fine in a day or two", sagot ni Cassius. " Sabi ni Orielle magpahinga daw muna tayo".

"Asan si Clovis at Chava?"

"Andun pa sa labas, dinidispose ang mga natirang lures", it was Naila who answered my question.

Ang aming pahinga ay nauwi sa kwentuhan tungkol sa mga nangyari.

"Buti na lang dumating sina Zinny, kung hindi baka nakagat na pwet ko nung walang-hiyang viper na yun", kwento ni Brick na natatawa.

"Ayan kasi, busy pagpabilib kay Naila kaya di na napansin na may viper sa likuran niya", sabi naman ni Chava na tumatawa rin. Kadadating lang nila ni Clovis galing sa labas. Nag-blush naman si Naila dahil sa sinabi nang kapatid niya.

They continued with their stories habang nakikinig lang ako at nakikitawa sa kanila. Napansin naman ni Aloutte ang pananahimik ko.

"O, Cayden, ano iniisip mo?"

I just smiled. "Wala lang. Naisip ko lang kung ganito na ba mangyayari sa atin once fully pledged rangers na tayo".

Lahat napaisip rin. "Siguro kung makikipaglaban lang sa mga dwellers,  it's not that bad naman. Ayoko lang yung may makagat, gaya ni Sir", sabi ni Zinny. "I'm not even sure kung ano na mangyari sa atin kung wala si Orielle".

"Yeah", tango ni Cassius. "Orielle saved us".

"She's still a mystery to me, though", sabi ni Aloutte.

Everyone agreed.