Chapter 9

I am a born fighter. Lumalaban na ako simula nang una kong mamulatan ang mundong ito. At hanggang ngayon ay patuloy akong lumalaban sa aking sariling paniniwala.

I was a miracle baby, hindi na inaasahan ng mga doctor noon na matagumpay akong mailalabas ng aking ina dahil sa isang komplikasyon pero mukhang hindi lamang dito matatapos ang buhay ko.

May mga bagay siguro akong kailangan idagdag sa mundong ito. May mga bagay akong dapat gawin at mga bagay na kailangang mapagtagumpayan.

At hindi ako nagsisising ang paglipad ang pinili ko para muling magpatuloy sa aking buhay.

I am a fighter of land, I am a fighter of my own principle, I am fighter of my own beliefs and most of all I am the toughest fighter of air.

Hindi pa ipinapanganak ang taong puputol sa aking mga pakpak.

Not even these terrorist.

With a high altitude, I made my jet fighter fly. Away from the mainbase, away from the people. I need to keep a good distance away from them, and the moment this Jet Fighter 87 went out to fly, I bowed that no aircrafts will ever approach the mainbase.

Yeah, I will crash them down in my own ways.

Air is my territory and you are messing up with the wrong pilot.

Not Flight Lieutenant Monzanto, not me babe.

I checked the blinking radar again, it's confirmed. There are four aircrafts approaching. But with my naked eyes, I can only see two. Their pace went slow, I knew that they have already recognized me. But that didn't give me any signal to lower my speed.

Sasalubungin ko sila, walang makakalampas.

As I fly with my tactics on, I noticed that these damn terrorist are now hiding behind clouds. Pity on them, maybe I have this second hand jet plane but that doesn't give them a damn benefit.

Aircrafts capability is not all about its functions, but the hands and power of its pilot.

And this pilot, never loved hide and seek. Radars can give me their exact locations, but it can't predict enemy's next movement. In the end, it is always the pilot's instinct and it's the pilot's calculation.

Seeing all the controls lead me to recognize the kind of plane that I am flying with. This plane is another masterpiece manufactured by Douglas Beurling, US great plane manufacturer and one of the world's honored names in the world of aviation.

I was still a student when I met him personally, their planes are too high that I can't even imagine that I will be given a chance to fly with one, but I guess my wish has granted in a tough situation.

The enemies are now scattered and no one from them can dared to come out from the clouds. Not that they scared, but I knew they had their own tactics.

Battlefield in the air is the most complicated war field of all, since the air can be a traitor.

"You are being surrounded Lieutenant, they might have identified you as the pilot. They are damn planning to trap you and burn you at the same time." Hindi na ako nagulat nang marinig ko ang boses ni Commander Armstrong.

"Yeah," I answered him.

"This is Myanmar's control room! Foreigns are not allowed inside!" Pakinig ko ang pagtatalo sa kabilang linya.

"I need to guide her, she needs another pilot to eye her! Can you identify the types of plane of these damn terrorist?!"

Walang nakasagot kay Commander Armstrong.

"Out, I need your help outside. I will give my signals, I am the only one is capable of supporting her right now, you have no idea on how to communicate with this highly intellectual stubborn pilot. She's mine, go out."

Hindi ko mapigilang magtaas ng isang kilay sa narinig ko. I can tolerate the word 'stubborn' I won't deny that. But the word 'mine' can't be tolerable.

No one owns Flight Lieutenant Behati Azalea Monzato.

"Still there Lieutenant?"

"Yes Commander?" nagpatuloy ako sa pagkikipaglaro sa mga kalaban habang hinihintay ang sasabihin ni Commander.

He probably knew already the aircrafts identification.

Naiiling na lang ako habang pinagpapatuloy ng mga kalaban ko ang pagtatago. What is your damn plan?

Hide, until you still can. Once that my keen eye have spotted you, do your best way to hide your wings. I will not just cut it, I will definitely burn it.

"I've done few researches. The four planes are replicas of Israeli's Air Force, F-15 Eagle. All four are holding M197 gatling gun loaded with 600 bullets each, 8 rounds and one of them has Ho-3 cannon, 15 rounds per minute with the velocity of 820m/s. Better from your plane baby, be careful. Be careful, please be careful."

Huminga ako ng malalim sa narinig ko. Yes, better than my plane. Pero tulad nga ng sinabi ko, wala sa galing ng eroplano ang labanan kundi ang abilidad ng mga pilotong humahawak nito.

I noticed one of the enemy's jet fighter, I made a full speed making an uneven twist of my plane as the three jet fighters started to tail me with their guns.

Nagsimula na silang magpaulan ng bala mula sa aking likuran at inaasahan ko na ito.

The radar is giving me signals about the danger behind me, but that didn't fueled my anger but the fact that these terrorist made their own comrade as bait.

May isinakripisyo silang eroplano na siyang hahabulin ko, para malayong makahabol sa aking likuran ang tatlo.

What a poor kind of tactic. They planned to get my attention by chasing and burning down the first plane, while the remaining three are busy tailgating me with their guns and canons.

Hinayaan ko muna silang magpakawala ng bala. I need to identify which plane holds the canons, ito ang kailangan kong sunod na pulbusin matapos ang eroplanong nasa unahan ko.

All I had to do is to dodge, twist and make an unpredictable movement. Hindi na ako bago sa ganito.

Naningkit na ang mga mata ko nang tumama na sa distansyang kinakailangan ko ang agwat namin nang unang eroplano. Sa kabila nang paghabol ko sa unahan, hindi ko inaalis ang atensyon ko sa mga nakasunod sa akin. I will give them their satisfaction.

With my hands on the control wheels, few controls buttons and my thumb for machine gun. I made a continuous 360 degree spin down like a was about to crash. I didn't stop my spin, until I had the perfect distance.

Walang tumama sa akin kahit isang bala mula sa kanila, come on. I know the limitations of your guns.

Agad kong kinabig pataas ang aking eroplano, inaasahan na nilang sasalubungin ko silang apat nang bala pero nagkakamali sila. Sinadya kong palampasin ang aking eroplano nang mas mataas sa kanila.

Alam kong bibilisan nilang muli ang paglipad, pero huli na sila. Getting down has the fast force of speed than every usual route.

Mas mabilis ako sa mga oras na ito.

And when I was about get down with my Jet fighter 87 burning tip with too much speed, I hit the machine gun button.

Making a loud and powerful noise of fire, dalawang eroplano ang naabutan ko. Kasabay nang pagbulusok ko ay ang pagpapaulan sa kanila nang bala hanggang sa tuluyan na itong bumagsak at sumabog sa kalawakan ng Myanmar Airbase.

"Fvck!" narinig ko ang malakas na mura ni Commander Armstrong.

Mabilis kong pinunasan ang pawis ko sa aking mukha. Naliligo na ako sa sarili kong pawis kasabay nang mabibigat kong paghinga.

"Two down, Commander."

Nakalayo na ang dalawang eroplano, the bait jet plane survived. Isa sa mga sumabog ang may hawak na kanyon.

I don't know if I had the complete calculations, but the two remaining jet fighter had their 4 rounds gatling gun. Papalapit na sila sa akin, alam kong alam na nila ang hanggganan ng bala ko.

I have 2 rounds of machine gun, hindi ako pwedeng magkamali sa kanilang dalawa. At kung tamaan ko man silang dalawa, hindi ito agad sasabog at posibleng mabuhay pa ang terroristang laman nito.

If they are going to hit their emergency bail out. But that won't give me any satisfaction, I want to burn them alive with their filthy jetplane.

"Lower the altitude baby, bring them to me. Trust me this time, your bullets are limited. I had the status here. Let them chase you this time." I heard Commander Armstrong's voice.

"Roger,"

Tulad nang inaasahan ay sumunod sa akin ang dalawang eroplano. This is too risky, sa sandaling magpaulan sila ng bala maaaring tamaan ang mga tao sa mainbase headquarters.

Yes, malayo na sa battlefield ang mga tao. But the person inside there,

"Commander—"

"Just follow my Command, Behati."

Nagpatuloy ako sa pagbaba ng lipad, kahit sobrang layo ko sa matayog na gusali na siyang mainbase ng Myanmar naaninaw ko sa salaming bubog sa tuktok nito ay ang lalaking naghihintay sa akin.

"Do the same tricks,"

"But---"

"I am fine,"

"Now you're telling me that I am the stubborn one? You are killing yourself."

"Are you worried?" I heard him laugh.

"What?"

"Just do it, you're few meters away baby."

"Stop calling me baby,"

"Uhuh?"

Sa paglapit ko mas nakikita ko ang kabuuan ng lalaking kausap ko. Nakahawak ang dalawa niyang kamay sa mga nakalatag na inaasahan kong mga button na siyang konektado sa buong Airbase ng Myanmar.

Kahit hindi ko masyadong makita, alam kong nakatitig sa akin ang kanyang mga asul na mata.

"Now go!" tulad nang gusto nito ay agad kong kinabig pataas ang aking eroplano.

Making the same movement. I heard the several gunshots on my ears, shattered glasses and even his curses.

Pero nang sandaling bumaling na pababa ang aking eroplano nakita kong nag aapoy na ang dalawang eroplanong nakasunod sa akin. From a far I saw the canons of Mynamar Military.

Nagsisimula nang mawalan ng control ang mga eroplano.

"Do the honor baby," I heard his soft voice from the radio.

Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip, gamit ang mga huli kong bala pinaulanan ko ang dalawang eroplano hanggang sa bumagsak ito at sumabog sa lupa.

Kasabay ng pawis ko ay ang mainit na luhang pumatak mula sa aking mga mata.

I killed four men.

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at nagsimula akong magsalita.

"Commander?"

"Commander Armstrong, answer me."

Agad akong kinabahan nang wala akong marinig na sagot. Nagmadali akong maglanding at habang ginagawa ko ito, kita ko ang takbuhan at talunan ng napakaraming tao dahil sa pagkakapanalo ko.

Nakakarinig na rin ako ng mga nagdaratingang mga eroplano, hindi mga kalaban kundi karagdagang tulong mula sa iba't ibang bansa.

Sino nga ba ang mag aakalang may susugod na terorista pagkatapos ng isang kalamidad? They lowered their guard.

Nakangiting mga tao mula sa Myanmar ang sumalubong sa aking pagbaba, pero isang tao lang ang hinahanap ng aking mga mata.

Where the hell is he? I'm nervous. I can't go home with my commander inside the coffin.

Pero tipid akong nangiti nang makita kong pilit siyang nakikipagsiksikan sa mga taong nasa unahan ko. I can see traces of dusk from his face and white shirt.

"Excuse me people, excuse me.."

Nanatili akong nakatayo, nang makalapas siya sa dami ng mga tao ay agad tumama ang kanyang mga asul na mata sa akin.

"You are so stubborn," malalaki ang hakbang niya papunta sa akin.

Pero hindi ko inaasahan ang gagawin niya.

I just found myself around his arms, embracing me too tight. Hindi ko maintindihan ang biglang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko.

Sa buong buhay ko bilang isang piloto, kahit kailan hindi ko naranasang yakapin sa pagbaba ko mula sa ere.

Walang nagpaparamdam sa akin na may naghihintay sa akin mula sa lupa.

Ang init, ang init ng yakap niya.

"Peter.." I uttered his name unconsciously.

I felt his body stiffened. At dahan dahan niyang kinalas ang yakap niya sa akin, nanlalaki ang kanyang asul na mga mata. Kahit ako ay nagulat nang banggitin ko ang pangalan niya.

I can't look at his icy blue eyes.

"God baby, my heart beats fast...yeah, it's Peter. Your Peter."

--

VentreCanard