Points of View By Nike ************************************************************************ Prologue: Febuary 14, 2000 10:30 PM Her slap hit my face. Hard. “You…jerk! Get out of my face! Get out of my life!” And with that, she walked away. Into the night. With pleasure, I said to myself as I watched her g with dark narrowed eyes. I am SO sick and tired of putting up with YOUR temper tantrums, you bitch. We had just come down from the steps of some fancy, expensive restaurant, from what I had hoped would be the most romantic and perfect Valentine evening with Kana. Oh well… I guess not. So, instead of a goodnight kiss and some sugar, all I got was a goodnight slap and bile rising up my throat. Hell, she’s probably out there in the streets, already charming a ride home from some loser. Heck, she can take up yoga and turn herself into a pretzel right now for all I care. Dates made on Valentine nights are always the best. **** Febuary 14, 2006 11:10 PM It looked bad. Both of our primary and secondary targets were successfully wiped out in the first assault, but we’re encountering some pretty heavy resistance on the way back. Damn. Someone up there has a sick sense of humor.Yup, tonight’s the night whenall the bitterness of my life began. That same night that drove me to the Peacekeepers. Valentine’s day. What irony. But that was six years ago. I am now Major Winter Stormshadow of the Delta Squad, Peacekeepers. Delta Squad, also known as “Death Squad”. Peacekeepers, the most elite military unit in the country. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised, with the way the whole country has turnedout to bein the past six years. When the president finally declared an all out zwar against terrorism, we expected all sorts of psychos to rise up to the challenge, from low-level criminal gangs to fundamentalist Muslim zealots. But who would have ever thought that the most ruthless one of them all would come from the Holy Mother Church? At first the Divine Order of the Alpha and Omega emerged as some kind of religious organization Dedicated to charity works such as helping the poor, the sick, and the homeless. Their call for the united nation inspired millions m0of Filipinos who were sick and tired from the hopelessness of our sinking economy. The people believed in them. Even I believed in them. Until came December 25, 2004, when they gassed an MRT 3 train with four quarter-sized drums of Warfarin, a deadly neurotoxic gas, in their so - called”religious cleansing”, killing thousands of innocent commuters on their way home for a Christmas dinner. Men, women…and worse, children. The people and the government were shocked and outraged at this tragedy. In a short time, democracy and ideas such as freedom of speech went down the drain as the entire country was plunged into a Martial Law that made the Marcos Dictatorship look soft by comparison Soldiers now march on the streets were happychildren used to play a few years ago. Don’t even know if we’re still the good guys or not. I shake my head at thought. Focus. Got to focus. Got to get back to the extraction site. The squad—Nicki,Keith,Jasper and Vinze--- should be there already. “Wing Commander”. I turned around. The voice spoke my call sign with familiarity. Two guys stood before me. How they were able to sneak up on me, I’ll never know. They were wearing black jumpsuits similar to, but not identical to my own. They were carrying rifles that didn’t look like anything I’ve seen before. I immediately reached for my own firearm. “ Easy, Wing Commander. It’s us . No time to explain.” The one in front of me took off his night vision helmet. A quick glance in the moonlight identified the owner of the familiar voice. Captain Jasper Serpiyente, call sign Sentinel, of the Delta Squad Peacekeepers. A trick? “ Truth…” I murmured. “… justice…” came the reply from the other guy. “…and the DS,P way.” Sentinel finished. The old countersign. My squad’s little secret code. They were my comrades. They could not be any other. “ Hurry,” the other guy whispered. Sentinel grabbed my arm, and the next thing I saw was blinding flash of white light ***** February 14, 2011 12:20 AM The other guy was definitely my old comrade, Lieutenant Keith Darkmoon, call sign Darkmoon. But something was definitely wrong. Aside from the uniform and the weaponry, Darkmoon now had a Captain’s rank insignia. He also had a scar on his left check. “ You’re in the future, pal.” Sentinel began. “Welcome to the Delta HQ,2011” Darkmoon activated a giant screen in front of us, and Sentinel directed me to a computer console. News compilations of the past ten years flashed on the screen. Sure, it did look convincing.The equipment also looked slightly advanced from anything I’d ever seen before, too. I turned to them. “Okay. Assuming that you guys are right and I am in the future, why am I here?” Sentinel called up a news file dated a few days ago “DIVINE ORDER THREATENS TO DETONATE BOMB IN NEO-MANILA.”. The big , bold letters filled the screen. Then they faded away to reveal a net news anchorwoman describing how the Order of Alpha and Omega were demanding the release of some of their associates from prison. If the government didn’t comply, they ‘d blow up some new bomb. This bomb was deadlier than anything in my time. The mortality rate of this one would outnumber the X-mas MRT gassing by millions. “What do you want me to do?” I grimly asked. “ Help you hit them?” “No.” Sentinel shook his head. “Too late. You, the you of 2011, led the squad on a strike on the enemy’s base. You haven’t been heard from in the last 32 hours. We need to hit the source.” H e grimly continued. “The one who perfected the bomb. The one who founded the Order.” “Okay,” I asked again, frowning. “Who’s he?” “Not a he.” A new file appeared. The photo shocked me. The caption read. “Dr.Kanashimi Kitsune”. KanashimiKitsune. Kana , my ex-girlfriend. I stare at them in surprise. “Then why all this backstep business?” Sentinel shrugged. “Because the last time we can pinpoint her as an easy target was..” February 14, 2000 10:00PM “….our Valentine date. Is she really going to blow up Neo-Manila? Tell me, what’s she like in eleven years?” Sentinel shrugged again. “We don’t know much. She’s smart and ruthless. She’s deadly as she is pretty.” I snorted in contempt. It was pretty much like my description of Kana. “I guess some people don’t change much in eleven years.” Sentinel didn’t reply. He stared at the sniper ray in his hand. It was a small lightweight weapon that wreaked holy havoc into unarmored flesh. A silent, deadly weapon. ***** February 14, 2000 10:29 PM I watched myself walk down those steps, walking arm-in-waist with Kanashimi Katsune. The scene erupted as soon as we reached the last step. “You…you slime!” She cried. The slap. Get out of my sight! Get out of my life!” I watched my own seemingly stoic bitter expression. Sentinel raised his own sniper ray. “No!” I screamed. “You CAN’T!” I grabbed his wrist. The deadly beam flew above Kana’s head. And her scream pierced the cold night air ******* February 14, 2000 10:29 PM Sentinel stared at the sniper ray at his hand.A bright light flashed behind us and we all turned to see a new figure, weapon ready. Sentinel breathed a sigh of relief as we all recognized the new time traveler, Lt Vinze Ironlance call sign Vanguard. “Do it,” Vanguard said in a cold and harsh voice. “Ice the bitch.” I noticed limp and a lot of dried blood on his black uniform. Vanguard had been with me in that strike eleven years later..It was a complete utter failure. The squad had become separated and was picked off , one by one. Sentinel and Darkmoon attempted to follow us, and paid with their lives. Vanguard had escaped to the base, read the base log, and followed us to the past. He handed me a computer printout. I read it. It was the dead list. Delta Squad, peacekeeper Roster. Sgt Michael Christian “Miks” Dimacali, KIA. Lt Keith”Darkmoon” Darkmoon,KIA. Sgt Des “Ryu” Tercias,KIA. Capt Andrew “Andy” Tankeh, KIA. Capt. Jasper “Sentinel” Serpiyente, KIA…” KIA. Killed in action . Killed of one Kanashimi Kitsune. The repetition of the word struck home I felt a pang of guilt when I saw that only Nicki and I were not listed dead. We were only listed as missing. I watched myself walk down those steps, walking arm-in-waist with Kanashimi Kitsune. The two of us stopped midway. Kana gasped in fear. Vanguard had his metal pistol raised, and his finger applied pressure on the trigger. ************ February 14, 2000 10:29 PM Vanguard had his metal pistol raised, waiting for the Winter Stormshadow of this time to emerge With a fox in a tight black dress. Another flash of light. The newcomer placed his hand on Vanguard’s weapon and forced it down. Bile went up my throat as I recognized the newcomer. What were once had been an arm and leg were now lifeless bionic replacements. Half of his face was encased in metal. A clearly electronic eye stared at me from that half. It was my most trusted comrade, Captain Nicholas “Nicki” Goldenfire. “Don’t do it!” Nicki shouted. He and I had been separated from the squad in that final strike. We made it. But not without cost. That cost was now clearly seen . Nicki and I followed the defeated terrorist halfway across the globe. He spent months in a coma in a distant nation. A year after his recovery, or reconstruction as he put it, I had settled down and we parted way . He followed us back in time only upon seeing the log at the abandoned Delta HQ. “It has to be done.” I told him, my heart hardened. “Vanguard is right. The whole squad…. dead! You, look at you! You’re not even completely human anymore! All this misery can be averted…. For the life of one..” I couldn’t even bring myself to say the word. Bitch. “A bitch.” Nicki told me gently. “ A bitch that you love.” I stared at him, shocked. “You settled down a year after I recovered. I stared at him, shocked. “You settled down a year after I recovered. You married her.” February 14, 2000 10:29 PM “Don’t do it” Nicki shouted “Please … don’t.” Another voice ordered. Older, and wearier than Nicki’s. We all turned to face yet another newcomer. He, too, was wearing a jumpsuit, but it wasn’t a black peacekeeper uniform like ours. He had no visible weapons, save for two weary eyes that looked at us from behind a mask. “Truth…” I began. “…justice and theDS, P way.” The guy finished. The newcomer pulled off his mask, revealing a fgace of about forty-something, or so, with a lot of gray in his hair. He was me. He/I had lived a relatively quiet life with his/my bride.In 2023, he/I returned to the abandoned Delte HQ to exorcise a few old ghost. He/I too saw the still functioning log there. “You know the price if she lives.” I said to the Winter Stormshadow of 2023. “If you kill her, your daughter will die,” He/ I replied firmly. I was speechless. “Two days before I left, she just celebrated her fifth birthday.” He/I continued. I watched myself walk down those steps, walking arm-in-waist with Kanashimi Kitsune. ******* February14,2000 10:29 PM Sentinel raised his weapon. I put my hand on his wrist, and firmly took it away from him. “Truth…” I began. I heard what sounded like a metallic footstep. An energy bolt tore into the back of Wing Commander of 2023’s skull. Another bolt vaporized Vanguard’s chest. The rest tried to return fire, but even their battle-home re4flexes failed them. The future versions of my comrades lay dead at my feet. The assailant stepped into the night. I stood there, waiting for my inevitable death. But no more bolts came. I felt I knew why. The clearly female figure was clad in what I looked like night black armor that fit her like a glove. She carried a long rifle-like weapon, the one that I assumed had eliminated my comrades so quickly. Somehow, I found the courage to speak. “What’s your name, daughter?” She removed her helmet. Short raven hair fell neatly into place, accenting her beautiful face and mysterious eyes. Quite like Kana. She gave me her name. Shinigami Stormshadow. Shinigami. Death. Quite apt for my daughter. “I had to eliminate those meddling fools.” She began with a devilish smile. “They were going to srop me fromputting the device Mom had perfected into a good use. Why settle for anything less when the whole world is yours for the taking? You, Father, were a very good teacher. I learned a lot from you. But deceit was best learned frm Mom. You did love each other, you know. Or at least, I think you did while you writhed from the poison that I gave you both. Death in each other’s arms. How poetic. How sickeningly poetic. Yes, I killed you. That’s why I won’t have to do it now. Not to you. The you before I was born. Come, Father. Let me take y ou back to your proper time.” She gestured at the sniper ray. “You really don’t expect that toy to harm me, do you?” She raised the rifle. ******** February 14, 2000 10:29 PM I watched myself walk down those steps, walking arm-in-waist with Kanashimi Ketsune. Seeing the dark armored lady with the gun, Kana screamed, and the me of 2000 embraced her tightly. I raised the sniper ray. A heartbeat later, the rifle turned. A heartbeat later, laser tore into Winter Stormshadow and Kanashimi Ketsuni of 2000. A heartbeat later, my arm was vaporized. A heartbeat later , the young couple fell into the ground, still locked in each other’ I gazed at the bitter expression on my daughter’s face. Because of me, we both had never existed. We faded together in the fabric of time. **** Epilogue: Febuary 14, 2006 6:00 PM Nicholas Goldenfire stood from his kneeling position at his grandfather’s grave in Manila Memorial Park. His handsome rugged, but calm features were set against the sunset in the horizon. Smiling, he looked around for his daughter. Little Nicole was sitting on a nearby patch of grass, looking at a flower. He picked her up and walked back into the car. On his way, he thought about what the future could have held for each man. He thought about what each occupant in the cemetery could have brought the future. He passed by the gravestone of a stranger. A stanger named Winter Stormshadow. Born March 15, 1980, died Febuary 14, 2000. He shook his head as another thought came to him. “We will never know.”