Written by: VentreCanard
Prologue
"Extinction is the rule. Survival is not an exception." seryosong sabi ng aming Air Chief habang marahang naglalakad sa harapan naming lahat.
We are eight flight officers in one row while standing straight with our chin up, chest out, shoulders back and stomach in.
Hindi ko maiwasang hindi humanga sa babaeng maawtoridad na naglalakad sa aming harapan.
I always wanted to be like her, a successful and most respected pilot not just on Earth but to the whole universe. She is the only woman I admired the most. Our Air Chief Commander Deborah Mitts of Universal Aeronautics and Space Administration or most commonly known as UASA.
UASA is the science's home on Earth. It is the place where technology and human brain creates impossible things. It is a place with thousands of discoveries, yet with infinite questions left to be answered.
Lugar kung saan hindi lamang pinakamatatalinong tao ang matatagpuan kundi pati na rin mga taong punong puno ng abilidad at lakas ng loob na labanan ang bagay na inaakala nang lahat na imposible.
Halo halo na ang emosyong nararamdaman ko sa mga oras na nito. Saya, kaba at maging takot. I am at my peak, alam kong nandito na ako sa hangganan ng kakayanan ko. Nagbunga ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ko. I am here at UASA, a pilot officer and candidate to be one of the Flight Lieutenants of the next Project Mars.
Para sa akin ay isa nang napakalaking tagumpay ang mapasali sa walong babaeng nakahilera ngayon. We passed series of test, screenings and even trainings. Hindi biro ang pinagdaanan ko para lamang makarating dito.
At ngayon ang huling yugto kung saan pipiliin na mula sa aming walo ang tatlong babaeng magiging opisyal na parte ng Project Mars. It is a project where numbers of scientist will be transported to this planet to do serious study for atleast 856 sols. And it will be my honor to be one of their spaceship's pilot.
Panay ang paglalakad ni Air Chief Commander Mitts habang pinagmamasdan kaming natitirang walong babae. Papaano kami pipiliin sa pagkakataong ito? Is it strenuous test? Or another battle of intelligence?
"Number four!"
"Yes commander!" maliksing sumagot ang babaeng katabi ko.
"Tell me your opinion about what I have said." Ilang segundong natigilan ang katabi ko bago ito naisip ng sagot kay Commander. Kung ganoon ay nagsisimula na pala ang huling parte ng pagpili.
And yes, it is another battle of wits.
"We can't fight the extinction but we can find a solution. Project Mars should be pushed through with the full guidance of human's great ability and I, one of the Pilot Officer in command from the 4th district of UASA will devote my life at this project." Gusto kong lingunin ang katabi ko. Napakaganda ng sagot niya.
"Number one! Same question"
"I'll see Mars not just a subject for an experiment but a future home." Kahit ang maiksing sagot ni number one ay napahanga pa rin ako.
"Number eight!"
"It's not about my skills and my ability but my own awareness of responsibility. I am not just holding my life but also the life of those people I'll be leaving on Earth." Pakiramdam ko ay wala kahit isa sa kanila ang may masamang sagot. All of them are knowledgeable!
"Number five!" agad akong naalerto nang marinig ko ang aking numero.
I know you can do it Pilot Officer Behati Azalea Monzanto. Huminga ako ng malalim at taas noo kong sinalubong ang mata ni Commander Mitts.
"If it is the end of the world, give me an aircraft and I'll fly it high. I can't agree on your quotation commander, because survival is an exception. We can always choose to survive, I am a pilot and I will definitely fly for human race survival."
