"Marami silang hindi sinasabi sa'tin."
Binasag ng isang guwardiya ang katahimikan na kanina pa sumasakal sa kanila. As part of the Orionid Task Force, they were trained to deal with the worst scenarios they might encounter in the field. Sanayan na lang sa sistema ng New Eastwood at sa pamamalakad ng kanilang gobyerno.
But as humans, they weren't trained to dispose their sympathies like what they always do to the corpses loitering the streets.
Nag-angat ng tingin ang kanyang kasama, panandalian itong huminto sa paghahakot ng bangkay ng isang estudyante. Her burnt skin and the blinking red light on her Oxygenator told enough of the story. Sa kabila nito, ipinagkibit-balikat na lang ng gwardiya ang sitwasyon.
"Wala ka bang tiwala sa gobyerno natin? Iniisip nila ang kapakanan ng New Eastwood...This?" Iminuwestra nito ang bangkay, "This is just another irresponsible person. An unfortunate casualty. Kung gusto nilang mabuhay, kailangan nilang makisabay. Hindi ang New Eastwood ang maga-adjust para sa kanila."
"Gago. Paano mo nasasabi 'yan? Hindi ka man lang ba natatakot na baka bukas ubos na ang populasyon natin?"
The other guard sighed and patted him on the shoulder. Seryoso nitong idinagdag, "Walang magagawa ang pagrereklamo. We could only hope that the mayor and his advisers have a plan to end this mess. Dahil kung hindi, dodoble pa ang trabaho natin sa body disposal team."
Panandaliang dumako ang mga mata nito sa tahimik na lansangan. Tahimik. Honestly, the silence never bothered him, but the fact that it was quiet because dead people can't speak did. Sino ba naman ang hindi kikilabutan kung may isang dosenang bangkay pa kayong kailangang alisin?
Because of the pipe leaks and overpricing of oxygen bars, unti-unti nang nalalagas ang bilang ng mga residente ng New Eastwood. Kung magpapatuloy ito, the government won't have anyone to serve nor protect anymore.
What a waste!
'Sana lang hindi pa huli ang lahat.'
*
As expected, the underground facility of the Orionid Task Force wasn't heavily guarded as the rest of the government facilities. Hindi tulad ng ibang lugar, walang mga bantay sa labas ng area at bilang lang ang CCTV cameras at security drones sa mga pasilyo.
That's not surprising.
Either they were confident enough that no one else knows about this place or they knew no fool would ever step foot in their territory.
Anupaman ang rason nila, naging advantage ito sa'min.
"Quack!"
Oh, and we found Galileo. Nahanap namin siya kanina nang papaalis na kami. Hindi ko alam kung saan na naman gumagala ang alaga ko, but it's a relief that he's safe. Siya lang ang "good news" na natanggap namin mula pa kanina.
"Malapit na tayo sa command center," I said while keeping an eye out for enemies.
"Paano mo nalaman?"
I smiled at Nesrin and motioned to the floor. Doon lang nila napansin ang glow in the dark slime na iniwan ng mga space slugs. Ang parehong mga susong ipinapadala nila sa Oblitus.
"Quack!"
"Okay, that makes sense." She smiled and patted Galileo. Siya na muna ang kumarga sa makulay na pato. I couldn't help but notice the hopefulness in her tired eyes.
Dear Science, how can she be so adorable even in a life-threatening situation?
'What in the name of asteroids, Dmitri? Focus! Damn it.'
Just to let you know, we snuck in with the help of the car cover-sized invisibility cloak. May pakinabang talaga ang pagpupuyat ni Erolle kagabi. Pero sa kabila ng maluwag na seguridad sa lugar na ito, hindi ko pa rin maiwasang maghinala. Hindi namin alam kung nasaan ang heneral, at sa bawat minutong lumilipas, lalo kaming kinakabahan. Paano na lang kung alam na pala niyang nandito kami?
BINABASA MO ANG
✔Something Out There
Science Fiction"He is never coming back, isn't he?" Several years ago, Dmitri Lexington lost his father to the unknown universe beyond their indigo skies. Growing up, he had to endure his loss and adapt to the twisted policies of their society. Isang gabi, nang tu...
