C A D E
THERE WERE MORE THAN a hundred robots aiming their weapons and another hundred soldiers pointing their rifles at us. I took a quick glance behind us to see if Goldberg and Albrecht were on our tails, trapping us between his forces.
"Hindi siya susunod," sambit ni Deo nang makita niya na lumingon ako sa likuran namin. "He only came here to intimidate us and watch what we would do."
Bago pa sila nakapagpakawala ng mga lasers at rockets sa amin ay inunahan na sila ni Deo. Isang manipis na energy beam ang lumabas sa kaniyang kamay na tumama sa isang tanke. Sumabog 'yon at umusok at nasugatan ang mga sundalong malapit sa robot na 'yon.
Agad namang sumagot ang kalaban. Sabay-sabay nilang kinalabit ang trigger ng kanilang mga baril. Wala na akong sinayang na oras. Sa isang kurap ay napalilibutan kami ng isang matibay na forcefield. Kitang-kita ko ang mga bala at laser na bumabanda sa shield na ginawa ko.
Ezerina let her power make a crack on the wide streets, devouring robots and soldiers alike. Bea tried to reach for the minds of the soldiers and commanded them to walk away while Kato and Deo stayed inside the forcefield. They couldn't let their abilities out in the risk of exposing ourselves to them.
Erika stood, awe and determination staining her face.
"Kailangan nating umalis dito," sabi ko. "Siguradong maraming back-up ang darating dito mamaya."
Tumakbo kami at naghanap ng isang Humvee na hindi pa nadadamay sa gulo habang ang forcefield ay nakasunod naman sa amin. Patuloy pa rin nilang sinusubukang basagin ang shield na ginawa ko.
Pero mukhang nakita ata nila ang balak naming gawin. Lahat ng laser tanks ay pinabalahan lahat ng Humvee at sumabog ito na parang bomba. Wala kaming natitirang choice kundi suungin nang mano-mano itong mga 'to.
"Havielle, huh?" sabi ni Bea habang tumatakbo kami. Wala kaming marinig kundi ang putok ng mga baril at mga sigawan ng mga sundalo.
"I'll explain," na lang ang naisagot ni Deo.
Wala nang nagawa si Bea at tumango at tumahimik na lang. Sa tonong 'yon ni Deo ay mukhang ayaw niya munang pag-usapan ang bagay na 'yon. Bukod do'n, sadyang may kaharap nga kaming problema ngayon na mas kailangan pagtuunan ng pansin.
The whole base was in chaos. Whenever the soldiers fell on their feet, another one would replace their places. It was as if the whole forces of this base was heading to us, dedicated not to let us out.
With a snap of her fingers, a dozen soldiers screamed in pain. Ezerina used her API and her eyes begun to have the faint red glow once again. Kato tried to cut the electricity from the tanks, leaving them as useless as tin cans.
We sprinted and let my forcefield withdraw to let Deo and Kato retaliate. Ezerina couldn't deal with them without draining herself or rather in her case, overwhelm herself with hundreds of life forces. We wouldn't like to find out what would happen. Erika and Bea remained faithful to their own handguns but their bullets were running out.
We were lost in the exchange of bullets until one found its place on Erika's heart. Blood began to pour out of her wound. Her uniform darkened as it soaked her chest, to her stomach. She fell to the ground with no one to catch her but the dark asphalt of the road. Bea was immediately at her side and held her hand.
"It's okay," Bea whispered as she looked at Erika's fading eyes. Her life threatened to leave her.
"Go on," mahinang sagot ni Erika. "It's been an honor to serve my country and die serving it." Bea retaliated and when her pistol run out of bullets she threw it away. She put Erika's head gently on the ground as she finally closed her eyes.
Wala na kaming oras para pagluksaan pa ang kamatay niya at kung hindi kami kikilos ay baka kami na nag sumunod sa kaniya. We had no choice but to leave her there. It was situations like this that was the hardest to decide whether to save them even though they were already dead or save yourself so justice can be served.
"Shit," bulong ni Deo. Napalingon kaming lahat sa kaniya at agad naming nalaman kung bakit. Sa bawat atake niya ay numinipis nang numinipis ang mga laser beams niya.
"P'wede naman kitang bigyan," sambit ni Kato.
"Hindi," sagot niya. "Reserve your energy."
"Mukhang matatagalan tayo rito," sabat ni Ezerina at tinitigan niya kaming lahat gamit ang kaniyang pulang mata.
Naglabas siya ng isang maliit na device—isang manipis na salamin—at binuksan ito. Nag-type siya ng iilang command at pinatay na muli ang device. "Help is on the way," sambit niya at humiwalay siya sa amin at hinarap nang mag-isa ang mga tanke at mga laser robots. Without his glass tube, the only way for him to regain the energy he lost was to let himself be a target so he could sip the energy from it.
Pero tinutukan lang siya ng mga robot at hindi siya pinabalahan ng kahit ano. Kahit isang hibla ng buhok niya ay hindi nagalusan. Alam siguro nila ang tungkol sa abilidad ni Deo.
Nang makita siya ni Bea ay padalos-dalos siyang sumunod sa kaniya.
When I looked at our right, a huge tank pointed its barrel between us. And I was a second too late to realize what it was and what it intended to do.
It was another trap to separate us.
Before I could scream her name, it launched a rocket towards her.
BINABASA MO ANG
God's Rise | WOTG #2
Science FictionCOWER SO YOU SHALL BE VANQUISHED. Weeks have passed since their escape and Havierre's special project comes to its wake. With his army and his newly awoken weapon, he plans to overthrow the Philippine government and seize the power of the most power...
