Mega Dragon: Harbinger of Death

MANDO'S STORY 2

The soldier brought a picture of the prisoner that escaped. To Ka Mando’s horror, it was his Bayani! He was yet to ask for his real name, neither had he even checked. He had been so occupied that it did not cross his mind to check. How did he escape? Should he be happy about it? At least this way, he would be safe, regardless of whether the crowd agrees to save or condemn them. He chuckled. What was he thinking? That was wrong. And sooner or later, Bayani would be caught. And if he was to be caught after fleeing, he would be killed on the spot. The party doesn’t treat deserters and spies well. Much more one that escaped punishment. Ka Mando knew he had to find him himself. If Bayani, Andres was to be truly safe, ka Mando had to find him himself and leave the rest for the people. He was confident that the people he fought so hard for would make the right choice. And Andres had to be part of the judgment.

“Keep this secret. We don’t want the people to panic yet. He could be dangerous. We must find him before the time for judgment. Make sure he is brought back alive. The people must not be denied their rights!” he ordered.

“Yes sir!” the soldier responded.

But where would he begin to search? Another problem was that, if the people knew that he escaped, he might be condemned to a different judgment. And that would be the worst of all the situations. Ka Mando summoned some of his elite team members to find Andres. He would have gone himself, but he had to be present in case he was found. It was also dangerous for him to leave so close to the time for judgment.

It was an hour to the time and Andres was still yet to be found. Ka Mando was in a bit of a panic, but he earnestly tried to remain calm.

Knock, knock.

Had news come to him that Andres had been found? The soldier came in as soon as ka Mando granted him permission. “Sir, the prisoner has been found!” the soldier informed ka Mando.

There was an apparent delight on his face. “Where?” he inquired joyously.

“Back in his cell. He returned on his own sir!”

“What?” ka Mando was perplexed. Why would he leave, to then come back on his own? Did he have a change of heart? No, it seemed unlikely. He would have given it a lot of thought beforehand. Escaping his cell was no easy feat and returning was even more difficult. Yet, he didn’t just turn himself in, he returned to his cell on his own. Andres Mendoza was a more dangerous man than he thought.

“We don’t understand it ourselves sir,” the soldier replied.

“Take me to him!” ka Mando ordered. The prisoners were shaken up to see ka Mando. They were all aware of who he was. Not once had he come to visit them in all the time they were there. But they all knew why he was there. Ka Mando was shown Andres’s cell and he dismissed the soldier and the guards around. “Why did you come back?” Ka Mando asked Andres.

“Because I thought it might put you in a difficult spot,” Andres replied.

“Then why did you leave in the first place if you knew that? I have been trying so hard to see how you all can walk free. What you did makes things even more difficult now,” ka Mando exclaimed.

“I didn’t leave, ka Mando. I was kidn*pped. Someone wanted me free.”

“What?”

“But I don’t think it’s because they cared. I think someone is trying to sabotage you. Someone knows of our relationship and is trying to use me against you.”

“Could that be why they sent you to me in the first place? But how did you get back in?”

“He said he would take care of it. I didn’t see his face because it was covered up, but somehow, he got me back in. You need to be very careful ka Mando. It seems there are people after you.” Ka Mando sighed. He bid him farewell as it was time to take them to the town square, where the people would pass judgment.

It was a large gathering of people. Clearly, his message was well taken. Almost everyone wanted to participate. “These people have been accused of being spies for the government and have a hand in the Betwagan incident from four months ago. I beseech you to pass judgment. But keep in mind what we stand for. These people are fathers, brothers, sons, just like the rest of us. Mistakes can be made. If you were to forgive them, they would swear complete disengagement from the army and never become spies again. If ever found guilty, they would be killed on the spot. They would dedicate themselves to the service of this community and work without pay to fix all they had destroyed until all is set right.

“But if you were to condemn them to death, we would be no different from the government! They have families, who would side with the government to take revenge on us. Recycling the wheel of hatred. We must break that wheel. We must be different and true to our values of human rights. We must preserve life and we must show that things can be done better than they are now!” ka Mando addressed the people and the cheers almost drown his loud and eloquent voice. The Mayor, Ka Gabi watched from the sides with a smile on his face. He was pleased with the approach that ka Mando was taking.

“So, my people, what is your judgment? Death or community service?” ka Mando beseeched the people.

But much to his horror, they all chanted. “Death, death, death!”

***

Ka Mando was horrified by the sight before him. The people were all chanting for the death of the prisoners. How could he not have noticed? The people had been on edge lately and have been looking for an outlet to release all the pent-up rage and frustration. And he just gave that to them. Not even his speech was enough to deter them. If anything, his plan had come back to haunt him. He looked to the side to see the shock on the mayor, Ka Gabi’s face. Ka Mando tried to speak but their chants completely buried his voice. They were all bloodthirsty and there was nothing he could do to change it.

The wind was strong, the air was heavy, reminding ka Mando of the night of the ambush. It felt almost the same. The thirst for blood, insisting that life must be taken. They were no different from the government they were fighting against who were always quick to resort to violence. Ka Mando wished they were different. Yes, that was all it was. A wish and nothing more. And nothing had changed in all his years of fighting for their freedom.

“That’s my dad,” a timid voice said from within the angry mob. It was the voice of a young boy, not more than eight years of age. He pulled gently on the jacket of one of the screaming men and slowly, the people around started to take notice of him. Slowly, others began to speak up. My uncle, one said. My brother, my husband, my friend. People began to voice out and gain courage.

And in no time, a section of the people began to chant, “Let them go! Let them go! Let them go!”. And it began to overwhelm the entire area.

In a matter of moments, in unison, they all began to chant, “Let them go!”. Instead of them rooting for death. Ka Mando was extremely pleased with the people’s response.

“Is that the judgment of the people!” ka Mando asked before passing the final judgment.

“Yes!” the people all chanted.

“And so shall it be!” ka Mando exclaimed and the people’s cheers followed. The prisoners were freed of their bonds and in a display of affection and relief, ran into the embrace of their friends and family. All except for Andres. He had no family there. He walked up to ka Mando and shook his hand firmly.

“Thank you, my friend. I am now in your debt,” Andres said.

“This is me, repaying you for saving me. So, you have no debt with me.”

“You spared my brother’s life. No one in your position would have done that. Saving your life was my way of repaying. Now, I am in your debt again.”

Ka Mando smiled. “Consider it lifted,” he said. He looked into the crowd and saw Ka Garina waving at him. He waved back. They walked back to ka Mando’s office but found ka Garina and a fierce-looking woman beside him. Ka Mando jolted upon seeing her. “Ka Tina, you look well,” he said, visibly frightened.

“You sure do like to walk on a thin line. If I hadn’t instigated the crowd to speak up, you would have made a mockery of yourself in front of the party,” Ka Tina lashed at him.

“So, it was you. I thought I saw someone moving around. I guess I owe you one once again for such a tremendous help,” ka Mando muttered.

“Ease up. I’m here on a friendly visit. So, that’s the famous Bayani. He looks weaker than I imagined. Are you sure you don’t have the wrong person?” ka Tina goaded.

Andres chuckled. “You can be sure that I’m the same person, ka Tina. I appreciate your assistance too. I am forever in your debt.”

“You’re welcome. Ka Garina said. The rest of the team would be joining us. Why are we the only ones here?” Ka Tina asked.

“They should be here any moment now. I’m sure they are on their way,” ka Mando replied.

Knock, knock.

This time, however, permission to enter was not sought first. A group of armed soldiers charged into ka Mando’s office, aiming their weapons at him. Leading them was the Commander, ka Dennis! “Regional Commander Ka Mando, you’re under arrest for insubordination. It would be in your interest to come quietly,” he ordered.

“What is the meaning of this?” ka Tina snapped.

“Stay out of this Tina, or you’ll join him,” ka Dennis retorted.

“Did you just threaten me?” ka Tina was furious. Andres couldn’t utter a word. He was aware that he was the reason ka Mando was in that mess, so he was in no position to utter a word. Ka Garina also tried to protest but ka Mando stopped him.

“I’ll go with you. I suppose there is no reason to cuff my hands if I come willingly right?” ka Mando asked and ka Dennis nodded in agreement. Ka Mando was escorted out of his office.

***

In front of ka Mando is his interrogator, in Kulungan prison. “Tell us about your friend, Andres Mendoza,” he said.

“I just told you the whole story,” ka Mando retorted.

“More like you told me the story of how you got arrested. There is nothing about where he is from, who he really is, who his brother is, his affiliation. If you fail to cooperate, you will be charged as an accomplice to a spy. And they will all be arrested again. Right now, we’re trying not to upset the people more than they already are, so we’re letting those criminals be for now.”

“If you were listening, you would understand that that is all I know. I never got to find out all those things.”

“Alright then. Clearly, you have refused to cooperate with us. I’m sure you know the consequences of your actions, right?”

“I am well prepared. If my life is the price for sticking with my ideals, then I have no regrets,” ka Mando replied.

The interrogator stared long at him then left in disappointment. “It would be a shame to lose a good man like you,” he said as he left.

***

Ka Mando was tried and found guilty of insubordination. And his punishment, death by firing squad. There were massive protests by the people of the town and even neighboring towns. Ka Mando was loved by most. There was unrest even within the NPA. Most of them were not happy with the decision, but there was little they could do.

The chants grew as you got closer to the town square. It almost looked like the people were preparing for war. All for one man? But he was special and everyone could attest to that fact. The CPP had several meetings to review this decision, but every time, it was not overturned. Ka Ambo was the one who kept calling for the review of the order. But nothing was going his way.

He now sought the last resort he could think of. Their old team. If any group of people had ka Mando’s interest at heart, it was them. Ka Ambo was banking on the fact that a number of them now occupied important positions. Maybe with their combined authorities, they could pull something off. Because every move he made was frustrated by the CPP.

Gathered in ka Mando’s office were ka Garina, ka Tina, ka Ambo, ka Dalen, ka Dukrus, ka Gabi, Andres Mendoza and surprisingly, ka Dennis. Together with ka Mando, with the exclusion of Andres Mendoza, were a team in their earlier years.

“What is Dennis doing here?” ka Tina snapped. She wasn’t the only one irritated by his presence. The only one who seemed not to mind was ka Ambo. He was at that time a Regional Political Officer. Ka Dalen and ka Tina were heads of medical supply for the CPP-NPA, ka Garina was a medical assistant, ka Dukrus was a Platoon Leader and was the youngest of the group, ka Gabi was the Mayor and ka Dennis was the Commander of the CPP-NPA. They were a gathering of powerful people. But not powerful enough to overturn the decision of the party.

“I think you have forgotten that we are soldiers first. Everything else comes second,” ka Dennis retorted.

“Then you shouldn’t be here, soldier,” ka Tina goaded.

“Let’s all calm down. Ka Dennis isn’t in the wrong. The command to arrest ka Mando wasn’t his. It was from the national office of the CPP. We need to look at this objectively. What can we do for him now?” ka Ambo asked.

“I say we free him,” ka Tina added sharply.

“Then you’d be breaking the law too,” ka Dennis replied.

“What is with you and the law?” ka Dalen asked. She was getting frustrated by ka Dennis's remarks. Besides, he was the one who arrested ka Mando, whether it was his decision or not.

“I saw we free him. But we try to appeal to the party first,” ka Dukrus said. “Someone like that does not deserve to die like that. He has sacrificed too much for us. All of us here have a reason to be indebted to him. And I believe we return the favor.”

“Suit yourselves,” ka Dennis said and walked out of the gathering.

“Now I can breathe well. The air is cleaner,” ka Tina goaded.

“Tina,” ka Garina cautioned her. “It seems we are all in agreement with Dukrus’s suggestion. I say we get to it then,” he said, dismissing the group.

***

The day came, the day ka Mando was to be executed. All attempts at a diplomatic resolution of the situation had failed. The party was bent on proving that no one individual was above it and sought to make a scapegoat of him. The people’s voices were unheard, but that didn’t stop them from protesting.

Ka Mando watched from his window as he was being transported to the town square. The streets he knew weren’t so serene anymore. It was chaotic. All because of him. He felt saddened by the development. He hated to cause trouble for others. Surely, this wasn’t the town he hoped to see. A larger number of people than with the previous gathering were in attendance, soldiers and civilians alike.

Ka Mando was tied to a stake in the middle of the town square. He looked at the mixture of gloomy, upset, and protesting faces in the crowd. Almost no one wanted to carry the order out. But they had to. Ka Mando reflected on his actions. He smiled gently, seeing how much the people actually cared. He did not regret his actions and if he was given a chance to do it all over again, he would not change a thing.

A soldier came out to read out ka Mando’s crime. “This man that stands before us today, Regional Commander, Ka Mando has been found guilty of insubordination and aiding spying activities by the government. His punishment, death by firing squad!” he announced and the people protested, even more, this time. And the instruction came, “Ready, aim, fire!”

***

“Ready, aim, fire!”

At that moment, a loud explosion occurred very close to the area. The entire area became completely disarrayed. In the middle of the commotion, the soldiers of the firing squad were disarmed by other soldiers and ka Mando was freed from his restraints. All attempts by the minority of the soldiers to act were futile. The majority of the soldiers present took advantage of the commotion and aided in ka Mando’s escape.

“Sir, what do we do?” the soldiers asked ka Dennis, who didn’t utter a word. He was dumbfounded at the utter recklessness of his friends. “Sir! Sir!” they beckoned on him but he didn’t respond. After a while, he said, “Let them be. We’ll catch them later. There is no point in attacking your brothers for the sins of a handful.” He left the scene as quietly as he could.

Ka Garina and ka Tina ran with ka Mando, while the others did their best to keep the soldiers at bay. “What are you guys doing? You’ve sentenced yourselves to death!” ka Mando moaned as they ran. He knew better than to waste their sacrifice by stopping.

“I told you, you always take us to the world’s end. Didn’t I? I told you to come back. What the hell do you think you’re doing by dying!” ka Garina bemoaned.

Ka Mando was silent. He didn’t want to disrespect them by refusing to go. He was aware of what they were sacrificing but he didn’t want to leave like that. “You’re aware that you’ll be fugitives, right?”

“We’re willing to take the risk,” ka Tina responded.

Ka Mando chuckled, “What will I do with you guys?”

Ka Tina separated from them at a junction. Ka Garina and ka Mando arrived at a small shed. The lighting was poor and it was difficult to navigate through it. “What are we doing here?” Ka Mando asked.

“Your transport will arrive soon. They’ll meet us soon.”

“Where are we going?”

“We’re taking you far away from here.”

“You’re not coming?”

“I’ll stay with the others. We will find a way to deal with our own situation. Don’t you worry,” ka Garina responded.

Ka Mando wasn’t happy with how much trouble he had caused them. Worse still, that he had become a fugitive. Was it really all worth it? A bullet to his right leg snapped him out of his thoughts and forced him to the ground. “Garina, are you---” he asked, not worried for himself but for his friend. But the sight before him was something he never could have seen coming. The one holding the g*n, the one who had shot him, was Ka Garina himself! “Garina, why?” ka Mando asked. Tears filled his eyes. He was in pain. Not just from the bullet wound, but from the pain of being betrayed by his best friend.

“You are so dumb, you know that right. Did you really think I could ever forgive you? Not only did you act like everything was okay, you still went ahead and made the same mistake! I lost everything!” ka Garina exclaimed.

“Garina---” ka Mando tried to appeal to him but ka Garina shot him a second time. This time, on his arm.

“I’m the one doing the talking!” ka Garina berated. “Men were convicted to be working with the government’s army. You were supposed to execute them but you let them go. You! You let them go. And one of them goes and murders my wife and child. Who am I to blame? Him? You? The government? You just needed to do your job. Follow orders as every normal soldier does. That’s why they would never make you the commander. Now, you go and do the same thing again. The same mistake. And I’m supposed to help you. I wanted you to die a shameful death but I guess I won’t be getting that. I’ll just settle for killing you myself.”

“So, it was you all this while. The one who has been trying to sabotage me? Every day, I kept hoping for a time I would be able to make it up to you. A day that I would be able to right my wrongs. But if this is the only retribution you want, then I accept it. I’m not afraid of death. I am but a man living on borrowed time.”

“Acting all-perfect till the end? So typical of you. I know you are scared. Beg! Beg me! Beg for your life! Why won’t you beg me!”

“I’m sorry ka Garina. For all the pain I’ve caused you.”

In a fit of rage, ka Garina yelled, “I hate you!”. He fired multiple shots at ka Mando, who fell to the ground. He began to shiver. It was the first time he had killed a man. “What have I done?” he repeated this so many times. “Mando, get up. It’s fine now, alright. I forgive you. Just, get up, please. I beg you,” he cried but it was all but too late. Ka Mando was already dead. Ka Garina was losing his sanity by looking at the scene before him. And in a short moment, he snapped. “You said you’d come back. Why aren’t you waking up? Wake up!”

But all his efforts were all for naught. Ka Garina placed the g*n in his mouth. His hands quivered at the thought of ending his own life. But he had nowhere else to turn to. Nowhere else to go. Ka Mando was the only solace he had after he lost his family and now, he killed him.

Before he could pull the trigger, ka Dennis rushed into the shed and disarmed him. “I won’t let it end for you so easily. I will make sure you pay dearly,” he said.

Ka Garina struggled and spouted a lot of insults, but ka Dennis held him ever so firmly. Shortly after, the place was swarmed with soldiers. They arrested ka Garina and retrieved ka Mando’s body. Unfortunately, ka Dukrus and ka Tina and ka Dalen had also been arrested.

***

News of ka Mando’s death spread like wildfire. The heat from the citizens was even more than it was when he was arrested. Protests broke out in every part of the town and CPP offices were vandalized and looted. It was complete anarchy.

Ka Garina, ka Dalen, ka Tina and ka Dukrus were all detained in Kulungan prison. Ka Gabi’s and Ka Ambo’s involvements could not be linked to the incident so they were not arrested. While Andres Mendoza was the one who was to carry ka Mando out of town, but due to the incident, he was of no use, so his involvement could also not be proven. The ones that were detained, surprisingly, even ka Garina, all remained tight-lipped regarding the incident.

***

^Year 1983, CPP National office, Sadanga, Mountain Province, Philippines^

The leaders of the Communist People’s Party, the CPP were gathered to discuss the recent turn of events. A lot had happened and they were beginning to lose the public’s opinion. The majority concorded that sentencing ka Mando to death was a rash decision and that the consequences were now unbearable, while a few others stood by the party’s decision.

“I say we sentence the man who killed ka Mando to death and free the others,” a party member said.

“No more killing, please,” another added.

“Ka Garina’s fate is not debatable. He killed a high-ranking officer outside the confines of the law. He must be executed,” ka Ambo retorted. “I agree with the earlier suggestion.”

“You are only saying this because they are your friends. I’m sure you are involved in ka Mando’s escape somehow,” one of the other members added.

“It’s the logical thing to do. Right now, the people are angry. Angrier than they have ever been. Angrier than they were at the government than they were when we sentenced ka Mando to death. And that anger is directed at us. We need to redirect that anger to someone else, otherwise, we will lose the people’s support. Luckily for us, ka Garina has made himself a suitable target as the man that killed ka Mando. Our best option is right before us.”

“He has a point. Dozens of our investors have begun to pull out. The people are beginning to label us as agents of the government. We need to appease them and we need to do so fast,” another party member concurred with ka Ambo’s suggestion.

Most of the party members seemed to agree, while some others had differing opinions. Eventually, the different opinions were grouped and votes were cast. Ka Ambo’s suggestion won the vast majority of the votes.

***

Ka Garina drowned in the death stares that gawked at him as he walked to the truck that was to take him to the town square. Ka Dalen, ka Tina, and ka Dukrus had been informed of their release. They intercepted ka Garina on his way out. It was the first and most probably the last time they would speak to him. Ka Tina was furious. She couldn’t understand what could have driven him to do what he did. Even worse, how they never noticed.

“Why’d you do it?” she asked. Ka Garina could not bear to look at their faces. What he had done was unforgivable. “Don’t you dare lower your head like a coward. You are a man, aren’t you? Face me and answer my question! Why did you do it!” she berated.

“I have no excuse. What I did is unforgivable. I know I have no right to---” ka Garina replied but ka Tina cut him short.

“That’s not what I asked you, you coward. He loved you. More than he loved anyone of us. Why?” ka Tina broke into tears and began to repeatedly hit ka Garina. The others struggled to restrain her. She viciously lunged at ka Garina but failed to escape her restraints. “Why did you waste all our efforts? Don’t think you’ll ever see peace, you coward. I will make sure they toss your body in the river. You won’t get a funeral. You---” she continued her rants, but ka Garina was no longer in sight.

Ka Tina’s word completely broke him. He was already devastated by his actions, but facing them as he did, seeing the hatred they all bore for him, made him regret… no, it was too late for any form of regret. There was no chance of retribution. If there was a hell, he would be condemned to the deepest parts. He had broken the deepest, purest form of friendship. Memories of him and Ka Mando ran through his head and tears ran across his face. He was so indulged in his reverie that he didn’t realize when they arrived at the town square. He was already covered in bruises before he got to the stake. Stones, sticks, garbage were hurled incessantly at him.