Plan Starts

"Like I said, we're moving from a diamond formation with ten meters away from each other." They all agreed habang inaayos ko ang bracelet sa kaliwa kong kamay. "Do not engage to an unnecessary battle."

Nakarating na kami sa borders kahapon after a day of crossing the river, we arrived last night. And as expected, some Knights na pinadala ni Headmistress noon ay nakatapos na sa pag set up ng base. Our equipments are already in place. Once the scouting team gets in and get some information, agad na papasok ang unang grupo.

Sandra Belge

    Keila/Andrea                                 Cassie Greg

Reina Heil

Nakita ko ang sinulat kong formation sa lupa kanina para mas maintindihan nila. Each position and the person there supports the blind spots of the whole team.

I wasn't expecting the borders between the North and East to be a forest, pero mabuti narin dahil nakatago ang base namin sa gitna ng gubat. Kasalukuyan ay nandito kami ni Andrea nakatago sa likuran ng mga malalaking puno. Ayon kay Cassie, just past this forest is a big wooden wall. Sa itaas ng pader na ito ay may mga nagbabantay na mga blacks.

"Ate, may paparating na limang blacks, ten o'clock from your left." Sabi ni Sandra as I followed what she said. May nakita akong isang grupo ng mga blacks, lima nga sila. They are about twenty feets away from us. Our first opening.

"Reina, ikaw na ang bahala."

"Tsk. I know." Mabilis siyang tumakbo dun sa isang grupo ng mga blacks. This girl just hates formalities.

Reina changed the density of the air around the group, making it thinner and thinner. Nakatago lang si Reina habang ginagawa niya ito, but it seems the blacks noticed. Masama 'to. It'll be bad if they send a signal to their base.

"Andrea—"

"Don't order me." Isa pa 'tong babaeng ito.

Andrea quickly ran towards the group unnoticed, she went from behind them at isa isa silang pintumba, dahil narin sa wala na silang hangin. I sighed in relief at tumayo na sa tinataguan ko at lumakad papunta sa kanila with the other two following.

"I was just about to finish them myself!" Reina exclaimed.

"Well too slow, next time be faster." Andrea replied back. These two will be a problem.

These middle schoolers lack experience, I'm guessing they haven't been in a mission or mga laban kung saan kaonting mali mo lang ay mamatay ka na. The first time they did something like that may be back at the main event.

Cassie checked their bodies. May mga nakuha siyang mga extra weapons nila at mga identification cards. Each one of us took the cards para makapasok. We all nodded to each other at tinago ang nga katawan nila sa hindi makitang lugar.

We wore their cloaks to adapt their scents, mahirap na kung paghihinalaan kami. Nang malapit na kami sa may malaking pader, simuot namin ang hood para hindi makita ang mga mukha namin. Before they could lower the gates, two blacks jumped in front of us.

"Ang ID niyo, nasaan na?" Tanong ng isang blacks na hindi din namin makita ang mga mukha. I guess they don't let others see their faces?

Binigay namin ang nga ID and after five minutes, nakapasok narin kami. I smiled. I didn't expect things to be that easy. Akala ko may pro-problemahin pa kami sa pagpasok where I had prepared another plan to break in. Pero hindi na pala kailangan.

I was also expecting the inside to be in a ruined state, pero nagkamali na naman ako. The inside was peaceful, or rather, parang walang nangyaring pagsakop ng Black Clan sa lugar na ito. Blacks are strolling around with their hoods on of course, pero may mga mamamayan din na naglalakad-lakad. I frowned.

Akala ko ba nasakop ang lugar na ito? Why are people here acting like everything's alright then? May isang matandang lalaking lumapit sa akin. He was old enoigh to have a staff by his side.

"Ah, maaari mo ba akong tulungan? Mabigat kasi ang dinadala ko." He said pointing to the paperbags on the ground behind him. It seems na kakabili niya lang sa mga ito.

"Pasenya na pero may gagawin pa—" I interrupted Sandra.

"Ah sige po, kami na ang bahala. Ituro niyo nalang kung saan namin 'to dadalhin."

I felt confusion from the rest pero hindi ko muna sila pinansin at dinala ang isang paperbag, habang si Cassie na ang bumitbit ng isa pa. We then started walking as the old man lead in front of us. Lumapit sa akin si Andrea na nagtataka. She's as clueless as ever.

"Keila, anong ginagawa mo?" She whispered, enough for the five os us to hear.

"Hindi niyo ba napapansin ang paligid?" I asked but they didn't answer. I sighed. "The villagers are coexisting with the blacks. Don't you think that's weird?"

"Everything seems alright. Nasakop ba talaga ang lugar na ito?" Tanong ni Cassie.

"Exactly my question."

"But what if they're holding these people as prisoners?" Tanong ni Reina.

"Do they look like prisoners to you? Why would a certain man ask for their captors for help?"

"Paano naman kung hinahayaan lang nila ang mga tao which serves as a threat to their enemies?" Andrea asked.

Ibig niyang sabihin ay kung may laban na magaganap, siguradong madadamay ang mga tao kaya hinahayaan nila sila para kung malaman ng iba na may mga madadamay na tao, ay walang magaganap na laban. Tss. This is a smart move for those blacks. They are clearly in an advantage here.

"Dito niyo nalang ilagay ang mga iyan. Maraming salamat sa tulong niyo." The old man said as we paces the paperbags on top of a table sa labas ng bahay niya. "Buong akala talaga namin masasamang tao kayo, kaya natakot kami sa una niyong pagdating."

"Bakit naman po kayo hindi matatakot?" Si Sandra na ang nagtanong.

"Bakit? Hmm siguro ay wala naman talaga kayong balak saktan kami. Halos wala ng pakealam ang Council sa amin dahil sa pinakadulo kami ng teritoryo kaya mahirap ang buhay dito. Pero nung dumating kayo, tumaas ang bilang ng mga nakukuha naming pagkain."

"Ibig bang sabihin tinutulungan namin kayo?"

"Ah parang ganoon na nga. Halos araw-araw kami inaatake ng mga bandits dito pati ang kabilang bayan na ngayon ay nasakop narin. Ilang ulit na kami nagpadala ng reklamo sa Council pero walang dumadating na tulong. Nung dumating kayo sa bayang ito, mas namuhay kami ng matiwasay." My eyes widened. What is the meaning of this?

"Teka, bakit niyo ba naitanong?"

"Ah wala naman po, naninigurado lang kami na hindi niyo kami iisipan ng masama." It was Andrea who said that, which saved us.

"Ah walang naniniwala dito sa amin sa mga sabi-sabi na masasama kayo."

"Kung ganoon po, ay mauna na kami."

After that, we decided to take our formations. Kaya nagkahiwalay-hiwalay kami ngayon. Si Sandra ay sa kabilang parte sa unahan na lugar, ganoon din ang iba na sa ibang direksyon lang, we're all ten meters apart from each other para madali ang lahat kung nay pro-problemahin kami. Andrea and I walked around the town for a bit. Ganoon din ang mga sinasabi ng ibang tao na natutulungan namin. I am puzzled.

"Should we halt our attacks? Or should we evacuate people first?" Kanina ko rin yan iniisip.

"We need to decide the best course of action, Andrea. Maayos ang pamumuhay ng mga tao dito, and if we were to evacuate them, mas lalong maguguluhan lang sila. Or worse, they wouldn't follow us at all. Those blacks managed to get their trusts than the Council."

Nakakainis naman kais ang Council. What the hell are they doing? As I was told, the highest government ruling the island is the Council, tapos ang Four Saints, at tsaka ang mga Elites, tapos ang Knights. But the fact that they abandoned the people here what puzzled me. Or totoo ba talaga ang sinasabi ng mga tao dito? There's a possibility na brainwash lang sila ng mga blacks, I still don't trust those people.

"So should we halt our attacks then?"

"And let the Council know of the situation? Hindi. Ipagpapatuloy natin ang plano." What I said seemed to have surprised her na bigla niyang hinawakan ang balikat ko kaya napatigil ako.

"Nagbibiro ka ba?" Seryoso niyang tanong, I could tell from her looks.

"Kailan ba ako nagbiro?"

Her grip around my shoulders tightened to the point na nasasaktan na ako. I saw rage in her eyes. Andrea really cares for people, kahit hindi niya man ito aminin sa sarili niya, even if she thinks otherwise. But her 'care' for people is different from mine.

My 'care' is for benefit of the greater people, nag-iisip ako ng kinabukasan ng karamihan kahit marami man ang pwedeng masaktan o mamatay sa kasalukuyan. But her 'care' is not that complicated. She shows her 'care' in a hard way, acting like wala siyang pakealam pero sa totoo meron. That's what I was seeing from her eyes, from her rage.

"Marami ang madadamay Keila."

I'll probably regret this decision for the rest of my life kung marami nga ang madadamay sa paparating na laban, but I still need to do it. Once we clear this town from those blacks, mas magiging malapit na ang pagkikita namin ni Hoy. It's like saying na wala akong pakealam sa iba, pero ito ang rason kung bakit ako sumali sa labang ito when clearly it doesn't concern me. So I need to face reality. At sisiguraduhin ko na walang makakapigil sa akin.

"Andrea, kung aatake tayo, malalaman natin kung totoo ang lahat na sinasabi ng mga tao na hindi masama ang mga blacks. Dahil siguradong papaalisin nila ang mga tao sa labanan at kung mangyari nga yun, we're at an advantage because the blacks are too distracted for a battle." Kinuha ko ang mga kamay niya sa balikat ko at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

"At paano kung hindi mangyari yun?" Napatigil ako sa sinabi niya. Again with the what-ifs.

"Then we'll just have to continue with the plan regardless of what'll happen."

"Keila!" She called my name angrily.

"Nakuha ko na ang buong lugar mula sa itaas." My bracelet vibrated nung narinig ko ang boses ni Reina. She's levitating, at para walang makakita sa kaniya, she's altering the density of the air so she can move unnotice. One of the plans.

"Continue with the plan. Hintayin nalang natin ang balita sa dalawa." I said back.

"Tapos na ako." And that voice came from Cassie.

"I've gathered enough information." Sabi naman ni Sandra.

"Magkita tayo sa may clock tower sa gitna ng lugar, sigurado namang nakikita niyo ito." Then I ended the call.

I looked back at Andrea na nakatingin lang sa akin, obviously furious.

"Our mission is to attack this town and drive the blacks away. And you're disagreeing to it. You can be subjected to insubordination, you know." Lalo na at ako ang masusunod dito.

"Una palang alam ko na kung bakit bigla nalang akong napasali sa SC at kung bakit ako napasali sa labang ito." My eyebrows sank. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? "They wanted to get rid of me, right?" She walked passed by me. Anger. Sadness. That's what I sensed from her. I watch her as she continued walking in front of me.

"Alam mo yun, hindi ba Keila?" She knew from the start. "I know I am a threat to the peace in this island. The fact that my mother let me go to this war proved it. After all, she's got a country to rule and people to protect." Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. She was listening to that.

"My mother...doesn't really care about me after all. She cares for her people, and not me. And you're saying you won't care for those people she replaced me with."

"Andrea hindi totoo—"

"Don't console me, Keila. You were always good at those things. Magkabaliktad tayo sa halos lahat ng bagay. I've always envied you, pero alam mo ba kung ano ang mas nagpapagalit sa akin?" She turned her face around to see me. I notice her eyes water, pero pinipigilan niya lang ito. Or to put it simply, she's trying to hide it.

"What makes me angry is that my mother trusts you more than me." My eyes widened. I opened my mouth to say something, pero agad ko din naman itong sinara. Wala akong masabi. Hindi totoo ang mga sinasabi niya, but I can't prove it to her.

She turned around then started walking again. Sumusunod lang ako sa likuran niya habang naglalakad siya, our direction was set to the clock tower few blocks away. I felt disappointment within her. She was probably expecting me to say something, that what she's thinking isn't real. But I can't express her mother's feelings. I can't seem to find the right words.

Little did I know I might regret it afterwards.

Ilang hagdan pa ang inakyat namin para lang makarating sa itaas. Mabuti nalang at walang blacks na nakabantay sa clock tower na ito. Nang buksan ko ang pintuan, hindi na ako nagulat makita ang tatlo. Andrea sat on the corner, waiting habang ako naman ay lumapit sa tatlo.

They were drawing the maps of the areas they were assigned to, and with this, makakatulong to kung anong team ang mapupunta sa saang lugar. In order to have higher chance of survival and success.

"Maraming nakabantay sa area A na ito." Cassie said pointing at the right area of the map. "Dahil siguro sa halos ang mga buildings sa palibot ng area na ito ay isang storage."

"A storage?" Andrea asked.

"Their weapons and supplies. Then just below the area A, ay ang B area kung saan ang shopping district. Kumpara sa unang area, mas marami ang tao dito."

"Andrea, dala mo ang folder ng mga groups hindi ba?" She nodded and took out a folder from under her cloak.

Tinapon niya ito sa akin at nasalo ko naman. We haven't even met each other's gazes. Siguro ay dahil sa naging usapan kanina. Napansin ko ang tatlo na napatingin sa isa't isa and shrugged. They already noticed something's off.

"Kung ganoon ay magiging Area C ang lugar na ito," Sandra said pointing at her area. "Ito ang area kung saan babantay ang ikatatlong grupo para pigilan ang retreat at reinforcements ng kalaban. Halos walang blacks na nakabantay dito, pero meron ding mga bilang ng nga bata dahil malapit ito sa paaralan ng mga normal."

"Sa tabi ng area C ay ang D. Wala akong makitang ni isang kalaban, at kaonti din ang mga tao."

"And why is that? Imposible namang wala silang nakabantay."

"I asked around too, base on what the children said, sementeryo kasi ito at walang pumapasok na blacks. They said it's disrespectful." Those blacks thinking about manners?

"What about the next area?"

"Ah the E. May malaking pulang tent dito na napapalibutan ng maliliit ng itim na tent. Hindi na ako pumasok sa pula dahil baka paghihinalaan pa ako. But thanks to my ability I was able to find out na ito ang base nila. Those blacks generally come from here, at may isang leader sila na nag a-assign sa mga kalaban."

"Then there was that telephone inside na nakalagay sa lamesa. The leader used it as a communication to reached other mates of him. So they'll probably use it to call for reinforcements." Dagdag ni Sandra.

"Considering na halos walang tao sa C and D areas, magigiging madali lang sa kanila ang pagpapasok ng mga kalaban if ever they called for reinforcements." I said. "We investigated our areas as well. The area F is just a subdivision na halos walang blacks. Then the G area na puno ng nga blacks na nakabantay sa isang building. I'm guessing it's their supplies."

"The C area is suspicious. Hindi ako naniniwalang sementeryo lamang ito dahil ang sementeryo ay nasa F area sa ilalim malapit sa entrance. I'm suggesting it's a path for their reinforcements. Sinasabi lang nilang ganoon sa mga bata para hindi sila lumapit dito, because if they do, mahirap sa kalabang pumasok." Reina said.

"Also," she drew the letters on each places at tinuro ito. "The H and I areas are all too crowded. Marami din ang mga blacks since sa gitna ito ng bayan ganoon din ang J area since malapit ito sa entrance." Then she drew a circle around the wall na pinasukan namin kanina.

"This place will be the most problem, which is exactky the J area. The groups can't enter as easily and fast as possible dahil sa malaking pader, not to mention may sampung blacks na nakamatyag sa itaas. They have that same telephone on the table, I saw them using it to call back to their base."

"The wall will not be a problem." Napatingin ang tatlo kay Andrea as I just focus myself on the maps. "May dalawang bagay tayong magagawa. Either I desstroy that wall or we take over the wall." May naisip ako bigla sa sinabi ni Andrea. This girl happened to think a great idea which surprised me.

"Then I'll tell you the plan." I opened the folder at nakita ang mga pangalan ng mga teams. "The first group...." I trailed off and looked around. "May paparating."

"Wala naman akong nararamdaman." Sabi ni Sandra, who doesn't believed what I said. Well she trusts her ability too much.

"25 meters down the tower. They're probably opening the door." Biglang lumapit si Cassie sa may bintana at tumingin sa ilalim.

"It's true. I saw them entering the tower. Dalawang blacks." She probably used her ability to zoom in.

"Now I'm sensing them. Umaakyat sila sa hadan. Anong gagawin natin?" Tanong ni Sandra. "They're fast. Nandi—" she didn't have to continue. I heard knocks from the door. Napansin siguro nilang may nakapasok.

"Oi! Mga bata! Nandito na naman ba kayo naglalaro? Tandaan niyo ha? Kailangan niyo ng umuwi pagpatak ng ala'sais." I sighed in relief. And six o'clock?

"Bakit naman namin gagawin yun?" It was Andrea who shouted back.

"Huh? Nakalimutan niyo na naman ba? Bawal na lumabas ang mga mamamayan sa ganoong oras." Pinagbabawalan siguro sila mg nga blacks. "Oras na kasi yun ng changing shifts namin." They change shifts?

"Don't let them get away." Utos ko while looking at Reina.

"I don't plan to."

Binuksan niya ang pintuan, at bahagyamg nagulat ang mga blacks. Just before they could do something, including Reina, tinira na sila ni Andrea ng mga daggers niya, hitting them at their backs dahil nakatalikod sila. The girl glared at Andrea sa ginawa niya at siniguradong wala ng malay ang mga kalaban.

"Did you really have to do that?!" Sigaw niya.

"Well too slow, next time be faster." The latter replied.

"Continuing on with the plan, the first group will sneak inside unnotice. We're going to be at an advantage dahil siguradong walang lalabas ng nga tao sa gabi, even more when the outside is at a battle."

"So we're not evacuating people at all?" Tanong ni Reina.

"We don't have time."

"Huh?! Inosenteng tao ang ma—" Andrea and Reina may be at odds but they do think alike.

"Reina, calm down. Walang madadamay kung maayos ang pagsasagawa natin ng plano." Sandra said calming her friend. Perhaps that's what I should have said to Andrea too.

"In order for the first group to sneak in, Sandra and Andrea will take over the wall. Wait until they finish changing shifts at tsaka kayo umatake. Make sure you leave all of them out. While Cassie and I head over to their base and destroy their communication. Si Reina naman ay maiiwan dito sa tower. Since you can levitate, inform us of what's happening from above."

"Wouldn't it be better if I come with you? Your ability's range exceeds that of Sandra's. It's useless to have both with almost the same type of ability's purposes."

"Since when did your ability improved so much, Keila?" Tanong ni Andrea habang napatayo sa pagkakaupo niya.

"It...didn't." My range is usually only five meters. Kaya hindi ko din alam ang nangyari kanina. I took a glance from my ring....my eyes widened then frowned.

It had a small crack. I didn't even notice. Kailan nangyari 'to?

"Anyway, may rason ako kung bakit ganito ang team-ups. Cassie, ilista mo ang mga sasabihin kong teams at kung saang areas sila." She nodded and grabbed the pen from the table.

Sinabi ko ang mga teams at nilista naman ito ni Cassie. Matapos ang ilang minutong pagfa-finalise ng plano, ay biglang tumunog ang kampana. A sign sayimg it's already 6 in the evening. This is a clock tower after all, kaya hindi na ako nagulat, except Reina who did.

"Reina, contact Thane and tell him every details of our current plan pati narin ang mga areas ng mga teams. Once they're ready and waiting, simulan niyo na ang atake." They all nodded and prepared.

Lumakad ako papuntang pintuan with Andrea and the other two following behind me. Sinuot na namin ang hoods as I twisted the doorknob. Then my heart started racing. My body stiffened. I feel energy. Dumadaloy sa akin ngayon ang mga energiya sa paligid ko. I felt intense emotions just now.

I'm not supposed to be absorbing energy, but they're all unstable. Nervous, scared, excited. Nararamdamn ko ang lahat ng ito and it's making my body stiff dahil sa kakaibang enerhiya. I got a bad feeling about this. Bakit ngayon pa? Why?

Because this the ring's formed a crack. That's why my range improved with that single small crack. But something's not right. Alam kong may mali sa ability ko ngayon. My body's temperature is rising. My heart's racing more faster. And my left eye's starting to hurt.

"Keila, anong nangyayari sayo?" Tanong ni Andrea, puzzled. Another emotion. My breathing's starting to be forced. I took a deep sigh to calm myself.

"Nothing." And thus I opened the door. I shouldn't think of something unnecessary right now.

And plus, the plan is already starting, and failure is never an option.