Chapter 40: Departure

"Inom pa!" Itinapat ko ang baso ko sa harap ni KL na may hawak na bote. Nasa rooftop kami at umiinom. Yup, I brought him here so that I have someone to carry me back to the dorm after I got drunk.

"Mylabs anong problema mo?" tanong niya at hindi sinalinan ang baso ko. I shook the glass in front of him kaya napabuntong-hininga na lamang siya at muli iyong nilagyan. Napasimangot ako nang diretso ko iyong tinungga at tinitigan ang boteng nakatumba at walang laman. One bottle down, three to go.

"Tama na nga 'yan." inagaw ni Kl ang baso mula sa akin.

"Hep! Don't tell me what to do," wika ko sa kanya. Of course I'm not yet drunk. I choose the lesser alcohol contain na inumin kaya walang problema. I just need to drink because I made a heavy decision.

That's it. I'm leaving the Capital. For the better. If others knows what my plan is, they would be calling me stupid, impulsive or whatever ngunit hindi nila ako maiintindihan at isa pa ay wala sila sa sitwasyon ko. May punto si Nikon, masakit mang aminin pero totoo ang lahat ng mga sinabi niya tungkol sa akin.

Kahit pa sabihing kusa nila iyong ginawa and it would be ungrateful for me to disappear and leave everyone who ran with me, I think it's better to leave. They can continue running on their own, not with me kasi baka mas mapapagulo ko lamang ang sitwasyon. I am aware of how unlikable I am as a person, yet I gained trust from them. Alam kong kahit wala ako, patuloy pa rin sila sa mga nais nila because they didn't just run for me; they run because they wanted to change the system too. Change the Capital.

So my absence wouldn't be a loss. I think it would be better dahil kung wala ako, walang impulsive na Sunny na gagawa ng mga bagay na mas magpapakumplikado ng sitwasyon. No Sunny to be protected and all.

"KL?"

"Oh?"

"Do you see me as someone annoying? Pabigat? Pabida? Masama ang ugali and all?" tanong ko sa kanya at ang pusangina, hindi man lang nag-atubiling tumango.

"Yes Mylabs, you are but that's what makes you different from everyone else. You are true to yourself siguro iyan ang dahilan kaya kita nagustuhan noon, unfortunately you're tied with that Bald Grande now! Sabihin mo lang sa akin pagsinaktan ka niya, ihi-headlock ko ang kalbong 'yon," he said which made me frown.

"Hindi mo na ba ako gusto ngayon?" tanong ko. No, I wasn't flirting. I'm just asking.

"Gusto pero Mylabs, that's not how the world is, you have to accept the fact that you can get all that you want. At lalo na dahil sa sitwasyon ngayon, love isn't what matters. Realtalk mylabs, pera ang mahalaga. Kapangyarihan. And if I were to choose between money and you, pera ang pipiliin ko. Not because I don't like you but because what life can I give you kung wala akong pera sa lugar na gaya ng Capital? Look at what we are right now. Or look at yourself. You're deeply loved by people around you, yet that's just it. Kung wala kang pera, wala kang kapangyarihan. Kung wala kang kapangyarihan, kawawa ka. Sunod-sunuran ka lamang. Sad but true, 'yan ang Capital ngayon," sagot niya kasabay ng pagbuntong-hininga.

"KL?"

"Hmm?"

"You told me before there's a rich man who sponsored your MMA fights before."

He nodded few times. "Yup, Sir Trap Lennon."

"And he looks exactly like Trapezoid Bermudo," wika ko. We saw his picture and KL said that he's sure that it is Trap Lennon.

Tumango ulit siya at bahagyang nag-isip. "Yeah but now that I'm thinking of it, posibleng hindi siya iyon. A lot of people can look exactly alike lalo na at mayroong teknolohiya para roon. Isa pa, taga-Tussah si Sir Trap. You know it's impossible para sa isang Citizen ng Capital na manirahan sa Tussah."

I sighed heavily and contradicted his words in my mind. No, of course it's not impossible lalo na kung may dugo ni Papa na nananalaytay sa katawan ni Trapezoid Bermudo. Hindi iyon imposible.

"Don't ever mention it to any of the Grande."

"Okay if you say so."

***

"You ready?" tanong sa akin ni Nikon nang huminto ang sasakyan sa harap ng boundary ng Tussah at Capital. It was a long night. I spend a day with everyone at the dormitory before coming here. Kahit si Trench ay binisita ko at maging ang ibang taga-District 9 Dormitory. Paulit-ulit ko itong pinag-isipan ngunit ganoon pa rin ang desisyon ko. And I guess it will never change.

I didn't change how I treat everyone dahil baka makahalata lamang sila. Lihim na nakipagkita rin ako kay Ma'am Venna-- my mother for some time together. She didn't find it suspicious dahil mula nang malaman kong nanay ko siya, I always spend time with her secretly to avoid blowing up her secret. Who knows what Moran will do kapag nalaman niya iyon.

Mahinang tumango ako kay Nikon at humigpit ang hawak ko sa mga dokumentong inihanda niya. Travel documents, expatriation and other documents essential for me to pass the Tussan Embassy. Iniabot niya sa akin ang maliit na transparent box na naglalaman ng vial na may kulay asul na likido at syringe.

"This is the liquefied memories coming from the memory bank extracted in your P2 simulation na walang epekto sa'yo."

I frowned. "Do you have any alternative for this? I'm not really in good terms with syringes."

He nodded his head before he open the box, assemble the syringe at inilipat doon ang asul na likido. "What other alternative do you want?" he asked and my eyes widen. I think I know what he's about to do pero bago pa man ako makatalon palabas ng kotse ay nauna na niyang itulos ang syringe sa binti ko.

I began crying when he withdraw the empty syringe on my leg. "Pusangina mo Nikon."

"You are so brave on everything but syringes," komento niya.

I lamented on the car for a while and I hated Nikon and the syringe more. Nang bumaba siya ay bumaba na rin ako. A capsule was in front at nang binuksan niya iyon ay walang tao roon. "Use this to pass the boundaries. It's purely forest then dry land kaya hindi natin alam kung anong mga ligaw na hayop o halaman ang pwedeng sumalubong sa'yo."

"How would I know I'll be safe inside that? Paano kung trap pala 'yan at diyan ako sasabog?" I asked. I don't want to be inquisitive that much but better safe than sorry.

"If that's possible, Moran would have put you inside such capsule before," sagot niya. Oo nga, the capsule is a Capital's property kaya kung posible sana ang naiisip edi matagal na akong naroon. "Tulog ka habang nasa loob and you'll only wake up by the time the capsule stops and you'll find yourself in the Tussan embassy. All you need is to show them the necessary documents at sila na ang bahala na idaan ka sa anumang test upang mapatunayan ang intensyon mo sa pagpunta roon. Nevertheless, when everything is out of hand, just tell them you have no idea how a Tussan like you lived in the Capital. That's what the documents contain. The Capital deported you since you're a resident alien."

"Paano kung patayin nila ako?"

"Tussah values their people that's why they suppressed contact with others. No foreigners allowed to avoid mix bloods. You'll be safe there."

Nagdulot lamang iyon ng labis na kaba. "But I'm a mix blood. My mother's from the Capital."

"That wouldn't be a problem. They will still accept you as long as you're of Tussan Blood." Napatingin si Nikon sa suot niyang relo. "Anytime by now, the effect of the liquefied memory will come rushing so you'd better get inside."

Puto, mas lalong lumakas ang kaba ko. Paano kung hindi ko magugustuhan ang alaalang makikita ko sa memory card ni Brenda/Android IX? I cannot say no if those will start rushing in my mind. I will remember it all. But it's too late to hesitate now. Kailangan ko na lamang tanggapin ang mga malalaman ko. I stepped inside the capsule at nilingon si Nikon.

"How would I know you'll return Pentagon's memory?"

"Trust me," sagot niya. "I'm true to my words Gallego and that's something I am proud of."

I gulped few times and took another step outside. Mahirap magtiwala pero alam kong kailangan kong magtiwala kay Nikon. He's evil, manipulative and dangerous but I know that he can be true to his words. Inalis ko ang lahat ng agam-agam sa puso ko at pinindot ang button upang maisara ang capsule.

I sat on the chair and pressed another button and I felt the capsule shook and sleeping gas filled the capsule. Muli akong napabuntong-hininga bago ako pumikit at hinayaang gumalaw ang capsule kasabay ng pagsarado ng mga mata ko at dumaloy ang mga alaala sa diwa ko.

***

"Please, please, please-- argh!" Frustrated na napaupo si Trapezoid Bermudo. Binuksan niya ang lid at ilang sandali ay pawisan na siya at may dumi sa mukha. He closed the lid and then stared back.

"Okay Android IX, name all the periodic table of elements along with their atomic number and atomic mass."

The robot in front of him smiled before opening its mouth. "Do re mi fa so la ti do."

Trapezoid sat frustrated and opened a panel in the robot's tummy and plucked something. "This is not working. Gustuhin ko mang kausapin si Mozart, I cannot. We need to raise our guards or baka malaman ni Moran ang ginagawa namin. Damn, why can't I remember how we made Android X?"

He started again and again for nights and days hanggang sa muli niya iyong sinubukan. For days and nights, he failed ngunit pinagpatuloy pa rin niya iyon sa abot ng kanyang makakaya.

"Okay, Android IX good morning," bati niya isang araw.

"Good morning."

"Ready for a quiz?"

"Yes," tango ng robot.

"So give me the list of all metals with their atomic number and symbol." Halata sa mukha ni Trapezoid na kinakabahan siya na baka mali na naman ang maiproseso ng android na ginawa niya. "Ops, in their increasing atomic number for a thrill."

"Easy," sagot ng android. "3 Li Lithium, 4 Be Beryllium, 11 Na Sodium, 12 Mg Magnesium, 13 Al Aluminum, 19 K Potassium, 20 Ca Calcium, 21 Sc Scandium, 22 Ti Titanium, 23 V Vanadium, 24 Cr Chromium, 25 Mn Manganese, 26 F Iron, 27 Co Cobalt, 28 Ni Nickel, 29 Cu Copper, 30 Zn Zinc, 31 Ga Gallium, 37 Rb Rubidium, 38 Sr Strontium, 39 Y Yttrium, 40 Zr Zirconium, 41 Nb Niobium, 42 Mo Molybdenum, 43 Tc Technetium, 44 Ru Ruthenium, 45 Rh Rhodium, 46 Pd Palladium, 47 Ag Silver, 48 Cd Cadmium, 49 In Indium, 50 Sn Tin, 55 Cs Cesium, 56 Ba Barium, 57 La Lanthanum, 5 Ce Cerium, 59 Pr Praseodymium--"

"Okay stop," bulalas na Trapezoid at tila hindi makapaniwala. "How about if in alphabetical order without their symbols and atomic number?"

"Actinium, Aluminium, Americium, Barium, Berkelium , Beryllium, Bismuth, Bohrium, Cadmium, Calcium, Californium, Cerium, Cesium, Cerium, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Curium, Darmstadtium, Dubnium, Dysprosium, Einsteinium, Erbium, Europium, Fermium, Francium, Gadolinium, Gallium, Gold, Hafnium, Hassium, Holmium, Indium, Iridium, Iron, Lanthanum, Lawrencium, Lead, Lithium---"

"Okay stop. Oh my God I did it!" bulalas niya at tumalon-talon! "I did it! I really did it!"

He danced in joy and kissed the two identical kids sleeping on the sofa. Sobrang tuwa niya na halos sumigaw na siya which caused the kids to wake up.

"Daddy?"

Trapezoid walked beside the kid. "Triangle you see that beautiful woman?"

"That's not a woman, it's a robot you've been working on for months," sagot sa kanya ng bata na dahilan upang matawa siya.

"I know, I know. Pentagon, mukha ba siyang robot?"

Umiling ang isang bata at kinusot ang mata.

"See, that' because you're awesome father made that. Want to go with me to test run her?"

Pumayag ang dalawang bata at sabay silang lumabas ng laboratory na kung sa labas ay tila maliit na tool shed lamang. They were on the deserted part of CLC. The robot did everything they told her, sinagutan ang lahat ng tanong at walang mali lahat. Tuwang-tuwa naman ang dalawang bata at humanga sa ama.

"Okay that's enough for today, you go back to the shed and we'll celebrate okay? Susunod kami ni Android IX, got it?"

"Yes Daddy!" sabay na sagot ng kambal at patalon-talon pang nagtungo sa toolshed.

Nang matiyak ni Trapezoid na nakapasok na ang dalawang bata, proud na tumingin siya sa ginawa. "Finally, I perfected you. With you magagawa na namin ni Mozart ang plano namin. You will be one of the smartest thing that ever existed. Kayo ni Android X. Tapos gagawa rin kami ng Adroid VIII, Android VII and many others. Let's go inside, the kids are waiting."

Hindi pa man siya nakakatatlong hakbang ay may dumating na mga sasakyan at bumaba roon ang limang armadong lalaki.

"Trapezoid." galing ang boses na iyon sa isa sa mga bumaba sa sasakyan. The robot scanned the face of that person.

Scanning complete. Identity: Elpidio Moran.

"Tell me where did you make this android? Very beautiful," tila na-aamaze na sabi ni Moran at umikot sa robot. "You must feel bad because Mozart deserted you as a friend."

That is not true. It was their plan. Pinlano nila iyon ni Mozart. Kunwari ay hindi na sila magkaibigan at nasa Capital ang kanyang loyalty. "Hindi na ako magpapaigoy-ligoy pa Mozart, ibenta mo sa akin ang robot na 'to."

"Hindi iyan mangyayari!"

Sabay na itinutok sa kanya ng limang lalaki ang baril. Moran pulled a gun on his side at pinaputok iyon sa kanya. He was surprised but there wasn't excessive bleeding pero tila unti-unting bumabaon ang bala sa katawan niya. "That's p2, or pellet parasite. This will control your brain and make you follow my command. Actually, I already tried this on your son. This way I can get what I want dahil susunod ka sa utos ko. Ibigay mo sa akin ang robot."

"Hindi!"

Nagulat si Moran dahil sa sinagot nito. Mukhang hindi nito inaasahan na tatanggi pa rin ito kahit na nakabaon na sa katawan nito ang P2.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano mo pa nagagawang tumanggi, how about I will kill your sons?" sumungaw sa mukha ni Moran ang nakakalokong ngisi.

"Hindi mo maaring gawin 'yan! Lay a finger on them or pagsisisihan mong nabuhay ka pa!" banta ni Trapezoid. He had the most angry expression.

"Why can't I? What Elpidio wants, Elipidio gets. But it will be such a waste to kill your sons given their intellectual capacity so maybe, we will kill you. Seize him!"

Nanlaban si Trapezoid ngunit bugbog lamang ang inabot niya sa mga armadong lalaki. Moran turned to face the robot, open the lid and was amazed to see the details from the micromotors, the metal used and transparent wiring.

"Ah, this robot has no emotional attachment yet, not hard for me to train this as mine. Dalhin n'yo 'yan sa boundary at doon patayin!" wika niya bago iginiya ang robot sa sasakyan. Unknown to them, the kid Pentagon was hiding behind a tree and witnessed everything.

#

A/N: hey don't hate me if something's wrong with the list of element/atomic numbers or their symbol. I just googled them since there's no way I can pluck them out of the corners of my brain since the time I studied it at high school (lol) and hey no strength to check one by one if it's right (goodness I'm too lazy to proofread my works how much more checking those elements one by one?)

Vote and Comment
(yeah, you know the drill lol)

Thank you❤

-Tammii/ShinichiLaaaabs

P.S. If u don't like this chapter, I'll seriously feel bad. Legit, I stared at the ceiling for an hour and 30 minutes just to think of this and connect it to my original plot lol

P.S. 2
ang daldal ko, I know, sorry TT