The phone rang at 5:00 in the morning, an unwelcome intrusion in the dimly lit room, jolting him abruptly from his slumber and exposing his eagerness to face the day with his notably haggard face. Candado, amidst yawns, picked up the phone and answered the call from one of the followers of the tricolor agency, Elías Vergara, known as the pine.
"What's up? It's five in the morning, I have to go to school in an hour."
"We're short-handed, we need you," came the urgent voice.
Annoyed, Candado switched on the light, rubbed his face, eyes, and mouth, and then inquired, "What happened?"
"President Julekha Chandra has been attacked; it's time for you to come here."
"But I've already spoken to Rozkiewicz about this matter."
"There's been a change of plans; come as soon as possible."
"It's early."
"It's early here too. But do you see me complaining? Stop clowning around and come."
"That's why you only clean up the messes the Drafters make, you'll never rise up."
Silence ensued.
"Are you there?"
"Sorry, I fell asleep listening to your rants."
"Hello?"
Silence persisted.
"Candado, are you there?"
Then, inflating his cheeks with air, he said, "I'LL BE THERE IN A MOMENT!"
At that moment, several thuds were heard on the other end of the line, noises like a chair falling and the lad cursing as he got back up.
"Alright, now..."
Candado promptly hung up the phone, maintaining his cool demeanor. After ten seconds, he remarked, "Ha, what a klutz," then flashed a grin. "Time to get to work."
He got out of bed, headed to the bathroom, turned on the light, and twisted the faucet, but to his surprise, no water came out.
"Oh come on, I don't have time for this," he muttered, then tapped his index finger on the tap three times until it made a strange noise. Candado ignited his finger and placed it on the faucet. But it started to vibrate and make strange noises, and just as Candado was about to touch the tap, it exploded, water gushing out onto his face in an endless torrent. When it finally stopped, Candado grabbed a towel and wiped his face.
"Dammit... I'll murder Clementina."
He then hung the towel back up and exited the bathroom. He walked over to his bed and paused, raising his left arm and snapping his fingers, and as always, his clothes flew from the wardrobe onto his body, wearing exactly what he always wore. Except instead of his hoodie, he opted for his stylish red vest with white buttons. Then he topped it off with his beret as a final accessory.
"Right, I'm ready for work."
Candado stepped out of his room and made his way towards where Hammya lay. He opened the door gently and approached her. She slept peacefully, her face tranquil and serene on the pillow, hugging a teddy bear and covered in blankets, clad in green pajamas.
Candado sat on the bed and placed his hand on Hammya's shoulder.
"Girl, wake up, it's time to work," he whispered.
Hammya made faces with her face, but she didn't wake up. She turned over and grabbed Candado's arm.
"Girl, wake up, it's time to work."
Hammya briefly opened her eyes, saw his blurry face, smiled, and closed them again.
Candado, already desperate, opened and closed his hands repeatedly, a clear sign he was losing his cool. Then he raised his left hand, with the mechanism in progress, rubbed his neck, inhaled and exhaled the air within, and began again.
"Girl," he cleared his throat and continued, "wake up, we need to—"
"No, Candado, I don't want to eat blood sausage."
"OH...!" He covered his mouth and let out a silent scream. It was clear he was about to explode, but he quickly calmed down, removed his hands from his mouth, adjusted his tie, and continued. "Girl, I want you to open those stupid eyes of yours, move your two inept legs, and get out of this room, before I drag you out my way."
Hammya turned over and opened her eyes.
"Good morning, Candado," she said with a sleepy smile.
"Good morning. Now, do me the damn favor of getting up."
"Why are you angry?"
"I'm not," he got up from the bed and walked to the door. "Get dressed now; we'll have a long and bitter morning."
Candado slammed the door shut and headed towards where Clementina slept. He approached the room, moved aside a painting, and there she was, asleep in the pose of an Egyptian pharaoh. Candado placed his index finger on her forehead, and Clementina slowly woke up, making strange noises. She opened her eyes and offered a prognosis.
"Battery at 100%, upgrades are functioning," she then turned her attention to Candado. "Good morning, sir. Do you need something?"
"Yes, actually."
"Great, I smell danger."
"I was thinking of dismembering you."
"Why?"
"Because you were messing with the pipes."
"Me?"
"Yes, you played with the damn pipes."
"It was an accident."
Candado brought his hand to his forehead.
"Forget it, I don't have time for this."
"Do you happen to have a job?"
"Exactly," he then raised his hand. "Follow me."
Candado and Clementina left the room and headed to the living room. He sat on a couch and looked at Clementina.
"I want you to patch this call through to all my colleagues," he then raised his index finger. "No exceptions."
"Do you mean those who aren't unionized too?"
"Exactly."
"Okay, then..."
Candado raised his hand.
"I misspoke, I want one of them not to come."
"Who, sir?"
"Mauricio."
"May I ask why?"
"I don't want him to leave Yara alone with those strange people for her. I can't stand to see her cry; it breaks my heart."
"Alright, removing Mauricio from the contacts and... done," then she started making squeaking noises and continued, "located, where do you want them to meet?"
"At the Tricolor agency."
"Sent. We just have to wait for their communicators to ring."
"Brilliant, now I'll wait."
"You didn't specify a time, sir."
"No need, everything will be fine," said Candado as he snapped his fingers, and a thermos and a mate appeared from the kitchen.
"Life is short, for me, it's better to enjoy it while I still have time."
"Sir, you shouldn't be so negative."
"I'm not, I'm just stating possible endings for me in life. I could walk out of the house and get hit by a car, or I could die by choking the moment I take a sip of my mate. Life is a continuous struggle, the fact that we're alive makes us victorious in the war."
"Sir..." Don't make that face, Clem. I'm still alive, and so are you."
Clementina looked down, disappointed by what she was hearing from Candado. Clearly, he was resigning himself to the fight against what was killing him, which led her to believe he was waiting for death (Tínbari) sitting down. Still, Clementina lifted her head and looked him in the eyes, the same eyes she feared to see when she asked him about something that bothered or unsettled him.
"Sir, you don't have to say that. You have to rid yourself of what's killing you." Candado lowered his mate and looked her in the eyes, and as expected, Clementina was terrified.
"I don't know what you think, but I don't care. Let me make something clear to you: I never surrender to anyone, not even to death."
"But you..."
"SHHH! SILENCE! Never treat me again like a poor old man who can't cross the street, because I'm not that kind of person. If I wanted to rid myself of this damn poison, I would have done it. But there's no way, other than finding the damn person who did this to me."
"I don't see you making an effort to find them."
Candado slammed the table hard with his hand.
"DON'T MOCK ME!" Then he walked up to Clementina, face to face. "Let me tell you something, piece of scrap. You don't know anything about me, nothing. You think I'm the same submissive boy who cried and begged for help from mom. No."
"To me, you will always be the same kind and caring boy I had the greatest honor of taking care of."
"Well, you did a good job, but not anymore. You're not stuck to my back twenty-four hours a day. Do you think I'm not trying to find the person who did this to me? YOU'RE WRONG!"
Suddenly, baby Karen started crying, and Candado looked up at the ceiling, stood up, and walked over to her.
"Don't you dare," then he closed his eyes, "no, never interfere in my affairs again."
Then he stepped away from her and headed to his little sister's room. As he left, Clementina lost her balance and fell; her sensors were overheating. Never before was she as terrified as she was now, but to her relief, Hammya had heard part of the conversation and was hiding behind the wall separating the kitchen from the living room. Hammya decided to reveal herself to help Clementina get back on her feet.
"Miss Hammya, I didn't detect you on my radars."
"It must be because of the fear you were experiencing with Candado."
"I'm such a fool. I never doubted him, and now I did. I'm stupid, how could I do that?"
"I think everyone blindly follows Candado."
"I shouldn't have meddled in his affairs. How stupid of me."
"No, you did the right thing. You intervened in his affairs because you're worried about him. You're part of this family enough to care that way. You're like Candado's sister."
Clementina didn't answer; she just processed what had just been said to her.
"I don't think I'm that close to Candado to consider myself that way."
"You're his sister, and that's it."
"Yes, but..."
"It's over and done with."
Clementina was confused by her anxiousness to be desperately seen as a sister.
"Well, I don't oppose that. I am, indirectly, his sister."
"Good, now that everything's settled, let me help you. By the way, what happened to that attitude?"
Clementina didn't want to respond to that, although it would be stupid to say no, as she would ask again. So she decided to bother her in the most intimate way possible.
"Do you like Candado?"
"No, of course not," she stuttered.
"Then why do you focus on helping him all the time?"
"You do it too."
"Yes, but I don't do it out of romantic interest, but out of personal interest."
"What?"
"Humans have motives; I, on the other hand, have a protocol. While I'm independent to take orders as I please, I feel morally bound by the family that treated me as an equal, and my duty is to help all those who are part of the Barrett family."
"I just lost my mind."
"You'll understand someday; here, in this house, we learn new things day by day. I don't know why, but it's how it is."
"Will that make me smart?"
"No, it will just help you concentrate better."
"Well, I..."
"But don't change the subject, I asked you a question."
"Question? What question?"
"For all the bytes," exclaimed Clementina excitedly, and continued, "if you harbor romantic feelings towards Candado?"
"Well, I..."
At that moment, Candado came down and interrupted.
"Did I hear my name?"
"Yes, it was me, but I wasn't calling you, I was asking a question."
Candado approached them and asked.
"And... What kind of question?"
"Just girl stuff."
"Then I'm not interested."
Clementina cleared her throat and asked.
"Shall we go now, sir?"
"Yes, we'll go by taxi."
"I'll guess, Nelson."
"No, his car is somewhat damaged, and he won't be able to have it ready today."
"Then to Uzoori?" asked Hammya.
"Exactly."
"But sir, Uzoori can't make it home on his own."
"It's okay, he'll be fine eating the abundant grass at the agency until I return, of course."
"But there's space for three."
"Yes, Uzoori is big, he could fit up to four people."
"Well, why not, let's do it."
Candado went up to the stable, while the others left the house to wait for him to bring the horse down. It was very cold in the morning; there was hardly any sun. The barking of dogs, the chirping of birds, and the occasional crowing of a nearby rooster could be heard. The asphalt was damp, and so were the streets; it looked as if it had snowed.
Clementina and Hammya stood aside, not to get in Candado's way. When the garage opened, he came out with his horse at a slow pace; he still looked asleep. Every step he took was clumsy, but despite that, the horse kept going.
"Get on."
Candado took Clementina's hand and helped her up behind him; then she took Hammya's hand and sat behind her.
"Hold on, please; we'll need to get there as quickly as possible."
"At your command."
Candado tapped the horse's neck, and it started to accelerate.
The three of them were accompanied by solitude and silence in the streets.
After the group left the town, they ended up reaching the city of Resistencia, where the movement of people could be noticed, people heading to work. Candado was taking shortcuts to get there faster. Until finally, they could see the walls of the agency, now with more security personnel. As they got closer, Candado raised his hand with his badge, letting them through and opening the door.
Inside were some of his few colleagues; some were still to come. Those missing were Kevin, Martina, Anzor, German, and Viki; the rest were there, chatting among themselves, but when they saw Candado, they stopped and looked at him.
Candado got off his horse and helped the girls get off his steed. At that moment, Mario, the guard Nelson had saved, greeted Candado with a handshake, took the horse's reins, and led him to an area where he wouldn't be in the way. Then, Candado composed himself a bit, cleared his throat, and approached his friends.
"Greetings, brothers."
"Can you tell us why you woke us up at this hour?"
"Pucheta," then he rubbed his eyes with his hand and continued, "quiet, I haven't finished speaking."
"Well, okay."
"As I was saying, I'm glad you woke up at this hour. Surely many of you wonder why I called you here and..."
"Yes, I want to know why I'm here," Pucheta interrupted.
Candado momentarily widened his eyes as he clasped his hands, but after a few seconds, he calmed down, straightened his tie, and continued.
"I continue, I've called you here because there are problems in the city of Buenos Aires, and you'll probably need our help, but I know very well that this isn't like the other situations we've had with poor enemies. It can be dangerous, and..."
"Candado," Pucheta interrupted again.
"BUT DAMMIT! WHAT DO YOU WANT NOW?!"
Pucheta, between laughter and choking back laughter, said.
"We already know that, what we want to know is how dangerous the mission is?"
"THEN WHY DON'T YOU WAIT?"
"Because it's boring; once you start talking, there's no stopping you."
"STOP?! YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK WITH YOUR INSOLENCE!"
The others laughed at the situation, except for Declan, who was listening attentively to Candado.
"Well, I think it's time to..."
"Hold on," said Clementina.
"SHIIIIIT!"
"I'm sensing the approach of five people," Clementina continued.
Candado loosened his shoulders and adjusted his beret.
"I hope they don't interrupt my words," he said.
After Candado's brief words, the front door made a loud sound as it opened, and from outside the walls appeared five people, known to most of those present. And when the doors were fully opened, they decided to enter, with Anzor leading the way. On his left side was Kevin, hooded, and German, and on his right side were Martina, also hooded, and Viki. They approached Candado and the group.
"Sorry for the delay."
"No problem," then he looked at the others and continued, "well, now that we're all gathered, I'll proceed..."
"Wait," interrupted Ana María Pucheta.
"I'M GOING TO STICK MY TONGUE OUT AT YOU!"
"I forgot to say it, good morning, Candado."
His left eye started to twitch nervously, obviously she had done it on purpose just to annoy him. Candado was about to lose his temper, unsure whether to cut her tongue out or remove her vocal cords, but a hand touched his shoulder just before he did it. It was Glinka, who was accompanied by Antonela.
"Greetings, is there room for us?"
Glinka: Lara Talavera Glinka with red eyes (God knows why), ash white hair, straight and firm nose, fair skin, she has an honorable and airy disposition, Joaquín's companion, kind-hearted and with an enormous heart, her clothes consist of long white pants with large cuffs that cover her heels (for some reason, they don't get dirty), violet shoes, a red shirt with a white ribbon.
Powers: Matter composition and everything related to metals.
Ability: Unknown to Candado, but known to Ruth, therefore there are no records.
Antonela: Black hair and bright blue eyes, very formal attire as if she were a student at a private school in blue, white knee-high socks, and black shoes. Due to her seriousness, many fear her, but she has a big heart, she's a friend of Candado's and often ensures he stays out of trouble outside his town. She doesn't like being treated as inferior.
Powers: Psychic
Abilities: She's good at everything.
"Oh, it's you two."
"Always with that cheerfulness, Candado," Glinka said sarcastically.
"What do you want?"
"What you heard, Candado, we're going with you."
"No way."
"Why?" asked Antonela.
"Because it's dangerous."
"If you want, I can give up my seat for you," Matlotsky said, raising his hand.
"Put your hand down, idiot," Candado said without looking at him.
"Okay," he said, shrinking under Candado's gaze.
"Come on, our friends are here."
"No means no, don't you understand?"
"No, because you don't give me orders, so we're going whether you like it or not."
"I see," Clementina interrupted.
"What's that?" Glinka asked.
"You don't want them to come because they're unbearable."
"No, that's not it, it's just that..."
"It's just what, Candado?"
"Oh, who am I kidding, both of them are very good at fighting, and they always get into trouble, which costs me; every time I go somewhere with you, I end up increasing my problems."
"But... Why didn't you tell us before?" Glinka asked.
"I've done it more than seven times, but you never listen to me."
"Isn't the moon beautiful, Antonela?"
"Yes, it is."
Then, Glinka looked at Candado.
"Sorry, did you say something?"
"For heaven's sake, get on the damn plane before I shoot myself."
"You seem to have great desires to kill," Kevin whispered to Martina.
"Do you think so?"
"It doesn't matter anymore," Glinka said, then looked at Antonela and continued, "Come on, let's board the plane."
With that said, Glinka took Antonela's hand and they ran to Candado's plane, leaving the group alone and confused.
Candado made a face and raised his arm.
"You heard Candado, let's all get on the damn plane," said Clementina as they applauded.
"Let's go, crazy, let's go to the plane."
"Matlotsky, shut up," then he took him by the neck, "I'll help you get on."
And with incredible strength, he lifted Matlotsky and took him inside the plane, while everyone watched.
"What was that?" Kevin asked Hector.
"Oh, they're always like that, come on, let's get on the plane."
Kevin looked at Martina and shrugged, indifferent to the situation, and entered the plane with the others.
Once everyone was inside, Viki pressed a button and the door closed, while the others sat in their seats; of course, there were more. Hector was sitting in the game room talking to Andersson and the Bailak brothers. Pucheta ran around the plane, playing with Glinka and Pio; Anzor and Declan meditated in their seats, speaking in their own language; the twins also talked to Andersson, German read the various O.M.G.A.B. magazines where each one had the face of the presidents. Candado's showed his left fist raised to the level of his right cheek, with his serious attitude and looking at the audience with a different phrase than before: "Unity is strength, and you make our strength." Then there was another one of Yuuta, Kirinyaga, Shaoran, Banu, Jacqueline, Alejandra, Raúl, Armando, and Aurora. Yuuta's showed him with his hand over his heart while looking at the sky and with a phrase that said: "Our hearts changed the world, help us keep them beating." Kirinyaga's showed him with both hands raised while looking at the audience and with a phrase that said: "Harambee changed our world, you can do it too." Shaoran's showed him with crossed arms while he was in profile, with a phrase that said: "You're not soldiers, you're our brothers." Jacqueline's showed her with crossed arms while looking at the audience: "Don't just sit there, stand up and fight alongside us." Alejandra's showed her pointing with her right hand while her left hand was on her waist; her phrase was: "Fight for your rights, don't let anyone trample you." Armando's showed him sitting in a chair, with his beret on his leg while looking at the audience with a phrase like this: "We are defenders of your homelands, but you are even more." Raúl's showed him with a fist on his chest while looking at the audience: "We stand up for you, would you stand up for us?" Banu's showed her sitting in a chair with both hands on her lap, with a phrase that said: "Harambee fought for us and we fight for Harambee." And finally, Aurora's phrase, who was in the same position as Candado, but with her right hand and a different phrase: "Help us change the world."
Of course, he wasn't reading them all at once; he only read Candado's, while his companion, Lucas, read Banu's.
"This is incredible," Lucas said.
German lowered the magazine and looked at him.
"What's incredible?"
"Banu Fereshteh has an approval rating of 79% of the votes on the island of Kanghar."
"It's because her attitude is adorable!" Candado shouted from his seat, which was far away from them.
Antonela was watching TV with Viki and Carolina. Meanwhile, Candado was sitting, sharing a seat with Hammya, who was playing with a console belonging to Ana María, and Clementina, who was reading a book, just like last time, except Nelson's seat was empty this time. Candado was reclined on his armrests, resting his head on his fist, with a weary expression.
"I hate the noise."
"Then go to another room," Clementina said without looking at him.
"Do you want me to ask for silence?" Hammya asked.
"No, it's not necessary."
"Why don't you go to sleep for a while?" Clementina suggested.
"No, that's not necessary either."
Hammya took Candado's hand and looked at him, although it took him a moment to look back at her.
"Go to sleep, you need it."
"Listen to the ladies, Candado," Tínbari said, standing in the middle of the aisle as Pucheta passed by.
Candado stroked his head and stood up. With his hands in his pockets, he left the aisle to go to one of the rooms and rest a little, as he was a bit exhausted, or rather, very much so. He opened the door, walked to the bed, and lay down on it, but this time, he didn't take off his beret like before, and looked at the ceiling.
"I hate this bed, I always have nightmares when I lie down here."
"Enough with the preambles, why don't you just sleep already? I'm interested in what I might see now."
"I hope this is the last time I sleep in a bed at this altitude, that's why I hate planes, they awaken my fears."
"And because of that, you have nightmares, yes, I know that already, now sleep already and entertain me."
"I'm just saying it could be dangerous."
"Why don't you sleep already?"
"Because I'm talking to you."
"Right, and it seems like I'm the culprit, right?"
"Well, yes, so shut up, I need to sleep a bit, if you really want me to."
"Fine, then I'll be sitting around."
"For me, you can go far away, really far away."
"That's not going to happen, and you know it very well."
Candado didn't respond, he just stared at the ceiling, with a somewhat sly smile, but in the end, he fell asleep. The sounds of the wind and the engines slowly faded away in Candado's mind, leaving him in peace and serenity.
However, that didn't stop the nightmares. After an hour, they began to grow more and more. Darkness started to spread once again in his deepest thoughts, but each nightmare was different from the last. They occasionally appeared, but they were always frequent when he slept on the plane. It was as if that bed worked in that way.
Sweat ran down his body, he struggled in bed. Again and again, he repeated the names Desza and Pullbarey. His hands lit up and extinguished, and more than once he burned the sheets. This time, he couldn't control himself. The impulses of that tormenting dream were driving him crazy, his sanity was slowly fading away. Tínbari watched attentively, with great anxiety and concern.
"Come on, you can do it, resist a little."
In Candado's dream, he found himself in a gloomy landscape, everything around him was dead. There was fire, blood, and decay. Candado stood on a pile of corpses, watching as the sky was consumed by thunder and by a strange whirlwind that traversed the clouds, swallowing everything in its path, houses, bodies, and buildings.
But after a few seconds, Candado began to feel someone's presence. He looked around, and he received an arrow in the back, but he felt no pain. Candado turned around and saw himself, only with darker tones, dead hair, a black beret, blood-drenched red eyes, inhumanly white skin, like a dead person, and his clothes were the same, only slightly darker.
Once again, Candado was going to fight himself. He pulled out the arrow and ran towards his enemy without hesitation, running through the rubble of what once was a neighborhood, until he reached his enemy. But when he arrived, he disappeared before his eyes, and not only that, but the gloomy landscape disappeared with him, leaving him in a dark room.
Armed with his facón and his powerful flame, Candado began to explore the area, walking towards no apparent destination. But after a few long steps, he began to hear laughter, and he knew that laughter already. At that moment, he began to burn everything around him, but nothing happened, and the mockery continued. Until the mysterious person appeared behind Candado and whispered to him.
"You failed, my friend."
Candado turned and unleashed a powerful blaze. However, Desza continued to mock him. With each wasted step, Candado's body deteriorated. He began to spit blood and lose balance until he knelt down and let everything out, coughing and spitting blood.
"What's wrong with you, Candado? Are you sick?"
He stood up and looked around, hoping to find that other voice, but it was impossible for him. Everything was black and dark; he couldn't see them, and every moment he heard their mockery made him sick. He couldn't take it anymore, and he began to fight blindly, throwing punches in vain.
Meanwhile, in reality, Candado was out of control. He had broken a vase and an alarm clock, and amidst the noises and wreckage he caused, the others heard him. His companions entered his room; everyone watched as Candado screamed in agony, moving back and forth, releasing all his pain, suffering, and bitterness.
It was at that moment that Kevin took Candado's shoulders, while Andersson held his legs. Everyone shouted his name over and over. Tínbari was not in his chair; instead, he was holding onto Candado's forehead.
"HANG ON! WE'RE ALMOST THERE!" Tínbari shouted.
Hammya, with both hands on his cheek, shouted his name, but Candado remained asleep, and his suffering increased more and more.
In his dream, those physical contacts gave Candado a false impression. In it, Candado was being cornered by people who were his greatest enemies: Jørgen, Desza, Ocho, Chesulloth, Azricam, Joel, Jane, Rose, Rŭsseŭs, Guz, Dockly, and Isabel, grabbing him from all sides, making it impossible for him to escape.
"LET ME GO! I'LL FINISH YOU ALL!"
"Try it," Desza said.
Candado ignited his fist and punched him in the jaw, thinking he had hit Desza, when in reality, Kevin took the blow, staggering back and ending up on the floor with blood between his nose and lips.
"KEVIN!" Martina screamed.
"Viki, get her out of here, it's dangerous," Kevin said as he stood up and tried to stop Candado again.
"Okay," Viki let go of Candado and took Martina's hands, pulling her away.
As she watched in horror at the scene.
"What's happening?" Andersson asked.
"He's having a nightmare, we have to wake him up before he does something crazy," Héctor replied while trying to do something to wake him up.
"Crazy?" Carolina asked.
"If this keeps up, he could destroy the plane," Declan replied as he grabbed Candado's arms.
"Just a little longer," Tínbari whispered.
Declan focused his attention on the demon.
"YOU!" Declan let go of Candado and ran up to Tínbari, slamming him against the wall, causing him to sit down, and once on the floor, Declan put his sword to his neck.
"You did this to him, you know very well that Candado can't sleep in aerial spaces, you know they give him nightmares, which are very harmful."
"Come on, do you really think a toothpick will harm me?"
"You are evil incarnate."
"ENOUGH, DECLAN!" Andersson shouted.
"Don't interfere," he said without looking at him.
"Listen to your friend," Tínbari said mockingly.
"You do more harm to Candado than protect him; you disgust me."
At that moment, Candado let out a scream of agony. Upon hearing this, Declan dropped his sword and ran to where his friend was.
"He has to wake up; he's harming himself, he could die."
Upon hearing this, Hammya tried to wake him up in every possible way.
"Candado, it's me, Hammya, your friend."
"LET ME GO!" he screamed in his sleep.
"Come on, wake up, please, we need you back," Clementina said.
Candado began to ignite both of his fists, and it was becoming difficult to hold him.
"We won't be able to restrain him much longer," Declan said.
"HOLD ON!" Kevin shouted.
Hammya began to get scared, but she kept trying.
"Candado, wake up, we're all waiting for you, you mustn't let that consume you; it's a dream, it's not real," Anzor said.
And slowly Candado began to hear the voices of his companions, but the one that stood out most in that situation was the sweet voice of Hammya, who pleaded for him to open his eyes. But as he fought his nightmare, it caused him more pain. Until his body collapsed, his chest rose into the air, and he let out a gut-wrenching scream, his eyes turned violet, his voice became deeper as his scream continued, the morning sky changed color, from blue to violet, causing terror to everyone present.
From outside the plane, Pullbarey, who was sitting in an armchair with a biology book in his lap, lifted his eyes and looked at the sky. Although he was located in a hotel in Buenos Aires, he could see some of that energy and even feel it. He closed the book, set it aside, and walked to the hotel's huge window, placing his right hand on the glass while the other was on his back.
"So, you've returned," he then turned and shouted, "GREG! PREPARE THE CAR! We're going to hunt down a certain person."
It was at that moment that he would have a face-to-face encounter with Candado, and slowly, the situation was changing in his favor.
Meanwhile, in the air, Candado continued to suffer his discomforts. After his convulsions ceased, Kevin turned his palm into a strange white energy, which ended up hitting his chest with all his strength, causing Candado to wake up violently. When he was awake, everyone relaxed; Kevin lay down on the floor and leaned against a piece of furniture there.
"Why didn't you do that from the beginning?" Matlotsky asked as he breathed heavily.
"Because he wouldn't stay still."
Then everyone stood up and approached Candado, who was awake and sitting on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Although he had woken up, his eyes were still violet. No one approached; everyone was a little afraid, until Tínbari was the first to step forward. Behind him were Hammya, Declan, Kevin, and Clementina, who walked behind Tínbari. He placed his normal hand on Candado's right shoulder, but he didn't react and kept staring at the ceiling. When Tínbari shook his shoulder to make him react, Candado began to speak in a strange language, a language unknown to everyone but known to Kevin. He, very alarmed and surprised, stood up and walked over to him.
"He's speaking Belelayko, our language. How is this possible? Only Martina and I speak that language."
"What is he saying? Translate it, quickly."
"Right away."
And then, he continued; everything Candado spoke, he translated.
"The bells have already rung, the ten great ones must return to their destinies, the flowers that fall into the streams will be the warning to the present, the skies will begin to tear apart, and the moon will be stained with the blood of the unbelievers. Darkness will go hand in hand with suffering. There will be no other word than his. The earth and the rain will be the food of the losers. The feasts of the dark alliance will be your downfall. No one will come out, and no one will enter. All of you are the children of one of the thousands of paths in the world. Don't give up, and don't kneel. Let all life rise and fight for the terror that will come."
"It was worth it," Tínbari said.
After Candado finished speaking in that language, his eyes dimmed, and he faded into Tínbari's arms, although the only ones who didn't know Tínbari were the Bailak brothers, who believed he was floating.
"Hammya, I didn't know you had those abilities," Martina said as a compliment.
She said this because Candado was in that position in front of Hammya.
"Uh, no, no, no, it's not me; it's him."
"And who is he?" Kevin asked.
"Well, him, you won't be able to see him, because you didn't touch Candado," Héctor said.
"What do you think I did when Candado was convulsing? I grabbed him by the shoulders, because I assure you I didn't use my mental powers to stop him."
"Yes, but did you touch his skin?"
"Well, no. Do I look like a man fond of touching men?"
"I'm not referring to that."
"Then what?" At that moment, Candado woke up.
"Please, both of you, just shut up, you're unbearable."
At that instant, Tínbari let go of him, and he fell to the floor.
"You're a..."
"Calm down," Clementina said as she helped him up. And when he stood up, he adjusted his tie, his beret, and asked, "What happened?"
"Don't you remember?" Lucas asked.
"If I did, then I wouldn't be asking."
"You had a nightmare," Declan said.
"Ah, I see," then he cleared his throat and made a gesture with his hands, "well, there's nothing to see, so, out."
"No, I don't think so, you just spoke my language."
"What? I'm sorry, but I don't speak Belelayko, Kevin, it would be impossible."
"Of course it's possible," Martina said.
"No, it's unlikely, first and foremost because their culture was lost along with their language, therefore, it's impossible for me to speak it."
"I think there are things you don't know about your body, Candado," Tínbari said mockingly.
"Shut up," he then turned and looked at him, "I know my body better than anyone."
"Doesn't seem like it."
"QUIET!"
"Who are you shouting at?"
"Tínbari, can't you tell, numbskull?"
"WELL, I'M SORRY! BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN SEE THAT PERSON!"
"DON'T RAISE YOUR VOICE AT ME!"
"You broke my face when I was helping you, you idiot."
"When did I do that? I didn't do anything to you."
"Yes, you did."
"Then where's the injury?"
"I'm a Bailak, so I heal on my own."
"AND WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT?! IDIOT!"
"I think you both need to calm down," Tínbari said.
"ENOUGH!" he then looked at Candado, "sir, you must calm down, I'll explain everything to you."
Declan took Candado out of the room, and they sat in the next room, where they talked about what happened while he was asleep. He told him everything, his nightmares, Kevin's physical aggression, the words he spoke in Belelayko, and his scream of pain. Candado listened point by point; he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Declan would never lie; that's why Candado was surprised. But after he finished telling everything, Candado looked at him, with his usual expression.
"Well, I guess I owe Kevin an apology."
"If there's one thing I learned, it's that we all make mistakes, but very few admit it." "Who told you that?"
"It was you."
"Oh, well, I didn't remember."
"You can apologize to him now; after all, he's your friend."
"Thank you, Declan."
"No problem, sir."
Then he stood up and left the room, to sit in the seats in the hallway, to finish reading the O.M.G.A.B. advertising magazine.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, Candado also stood up and headed to the room where Kevin and Martina were. At first, he didn't want to open the door and just rested his hand on the doorknob, but after meditating for a few seconds, he decided to open it and enter. Kevin and Martina were chatting with Hammya and Andersson; the rest of the group was gone. When Candado's presence was noticeable, he approached and looked him up and down, took a deep breath, and said.
"I'm sorry," then he took off his beret, "I got a bit carried away with you."
"Just a bit?"
"Well, yeah, I got really carried away, but the thing is, I want to apologize."
"It's okay, no worries, I shouldn't have raised my voice either."
"Oh, how cute," Hammya said.
"Do you want me to throw you out of the plane?" Candado asked coldly.
"No."
"Then shut up."
Then a robotic voice was heard in the room.
"Attention please, we will be landing at the Semaphores Station in the city of Buenos Aires in a few minutes."
"I dodged a bullet," Hammya whispered.
"Darn it, I'm late again," cursed Candado.
"Well, I guess work time is approaching," Andersson said with a smile.
The plane ended up landing at the agreed-upon area, where Rozkiewicz, Sofía, and Celeste were waiting for him along with reinforcements. When the craft landed about twenty meters in front of them, the door opened, and the first to step out was Candado with his hands in his pockets. When he could distinguish him, he raised his hand to the sky in greeting. Then he descended the stairs and headed towards him to shake hands.
"Hey, buddy."
"Hi Candado, I'm glad you're here."
"Now that I see your face, would you mind telling me a bit about what's going on? You didn't give me much information that day we talked on the phone."
"Yeah, sure," he then put his hand on Candado's back and guided him through the area, "this way, please."
While the two of them roamed the area, their friends got off the plane and stretched their legs. Kevin and Martina had hidden their faces when they disembarked; they still didn't trust the rest of the guild members, let alone the Semaphores. At that moment, about three figures appeared, who turned out to be Ramiro Zicman, the president of the Semaphores of Buenos Aires, then to his right was Franco Pérez Lauren, the master of the red band, and Alejandro Fischer, the master of the yellow band. They were there to greet the reinforcements.
"Greetings," said Ramiro as he shook hands with Kevin.
"Hello."
"My name is Ramiro; I'm the president of this section. I'm glad to meet you, sir..."
"I'm Baltazar."
"Alright, Balta, these are my colleagues."
"Franco."
"It's an honor."
"And Alejandro."
"Hello, nice to meet you," he said with a refined voice.
"I see you're supporters of Barreto."
"I fought him in the presidential elections, which I won," Alejandro said.
"However, it didn't serve you well since Julekha won," Alejandro added.
"Yes, Ramiro, you're a loser."
"Who is the president of the agency in Buenos Aires? Huh?"
"Well, you are, but..."
"So shut up."
"Shall we do the same?" Alejandro asked.
"Anyway, I'm glad to have you here; I had a conversation with Barreto a few hours ago, he told me he's up to his neck in a violation."
"Yes, it's true, he broke an agency rule," said Héctor.
"It's not common to see a president breaking a rule," said Ramiro.
"I knew he was corrupt," said Franco.
"For you, everyone is corrupt," said Alejandro.
"In reality, it's not like that."
"Well, there's still a lot to do to catch the enemies, so let's eat and drink."
"That's very kind of you, Mr. Ramiro," Martina said.
"Thank you, I always have been."
On the other hand, Rozkiewicz was talking to his friend about the recent troubles they had, for example; the rebellion of the Drafters, the extremist group of the Circuits felt indignant to see the president of the Semaphores walking through their areas, but he also mentioned Desza the desecrator. And just by hearing the name of that murderer, his eyes lit up.
"Desza is involved in this?"
"As you've heard, that bastard is involved in this matter."
Candado put his hand to his chin and thought for a moment before saying.
"Maybe it's not as it seems."
"What do you imply? I saw it."
"I don't doubt you saw it, my friend, but you told me you saw Desza among the crowd," then he put his hands behind his back and started playing with his fingers, "but did you see that crowd helping him?"
"No, but..."
"Exactly, it's not like that," then his thumb began to tap his index finger, "if you think about it, I can say that Desza incited violence for his benefit, using chaos, they would be too busy fighting to pay attention to them," then his finger stopped at the index, "but, knowing you, I'm quite sure someone like you could notice them in the crowd."
At that moment, Rozkiewicz began to remember what happened. Now that Candado said it, yes, he could observe Joel and Jørgen in that brawl. At the time, he thought they would set a trap for Krauser, but he was wrong. And now that he thought about it, they hadn't moved from their spots at any moment; they just observed. It was as if they were waiting for the right moment to act.
"You're right, I noticed them, but... they didn't attack me."
"You weren't their target," then he put his hands in his pockets.
Then Rozkiewicz's eyes drifted down to the floor.
"What's wrong?"
"There's something I didn't tell you over the phone."
"And what is it?"
Rozkiewicz turned around and put his hands behind his back.
"Come with me," he said in a voice so sad it was barely noticeable.
Then he walked ahead, and Candado followed. Both walked to a house nearby the agency, and Rozkiewicz didn't speak at any point; he just walked until they reached the house. He entered without asking for permission; it was as if it were his own. The place was clean and well-kept, no mess, but it had few furniture. Rozkiewicz walked to a room with a curtain in it; he stopped in front of it, then looked at Candado, placed his hand on the curtain, and pulled it aside with all his might.
Inside, there was something that left Candado almost speechless, but his demeanor remained the same. His friend and colleague, Nicolás Cabaña, was connected to a respirator, partially naked, bandages covering his chest, and connected to machines. Next to him were Leandro, who was facing away and didn't turn to see who had entered, Krauser, who was leaning against a wall sitting with a red band in his hands belonging to Nico, Esteeman, who was inspecting the machines, and a female person Candado didn't know.
Candado could hardly believe what he was seeing, but after a while, he looked at Rozkiewicz and asked, in an indifferent and barely understandable manner.
"What happened?"
"Johan betrayed us," said Esteeman.
Candado looked at his fingers and said.
"It was obvious, after all, he was a mercenary. It's a real shame he decided to work for those who tried to kill him."
Krauser tightened his grip on the band.
"Son of a bitch," he cursed angrily.
Candado glanced at him for a moment, but then his attention focused on the mysterious woman who didn't look at him, despite being in a position to notice him.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
"You're wasting your time," said Leandro, then he turned and continued, "She hasn't said a word since we arrived."
"I thought she was a relative or a friend of his, so I allowed her to pass," said Rozkiewicz.
"I don't like that girl," said Tínbari, showing a slight suspicion.
Candado put his hands in his pockets and left the room, murmuring something that no one heard except Tínbari.
"I don't like her either."
But before he could walk away, Rozkiewicz came out of the house and approached him.
"What do you want now?" asked Candado as he took a vial with the Bari liquid.
"I forgot to tell you something else."
"What?"
"Julekha Chandra wants to see you."
"Well, it will be interesting to know what she wants to tell me now," then he looked at him, "take me there then."
Rozkiewicz led Candado to Chandra, the president of the Semaphores. Although the place where they met was far from humble, Candado decided to have a conversation with her. While Candado knew her as a nagging and stubborn person, he knew that if she called him that way, it was very serious.
Candado entered the house, which, from every angle, was for wealthy people. He decided not to pay attention and headed to the room where she was. Candado opened the door gently, peeked in, and fortunately, she was there, sitting while reading some reports of what was going on. Her worried expression was present in every step she read the reports. She was so preoccupied that she didn't even notice Candado, who was in front of her. And when he had the opportunity, he cleared his throat and said.
"I see the situation has worn you down, hasn't it?"
Julekha raised her head.
"You've arrived," she said with her Nepali accent.
Julekha: A sixteen-year-old teenager, with blue hair and black eyes, her skin is tan. She wears traditional clothing from that nation (Nepal) in light colors. She has a very optimistic attitude towards the situation, as well as being too imperious, mocking, and with a character that only God can endure.
Powers: Lightning.
Ability: Fortunately, none.
"Yes, I had to come after all." "Thank God you've come." "Yes, I'm glad to be here too."
"Thank God."
"Just shut up."
"Yes, sorry, I think I got a little carried away," Candado grimaced and continued. "Tell me, what do you need me for?"
"It's terrible, Candado, they kidnapped my friend and vice president of the Semaphores."
"Huh? Rem Koirala?"
"Yes, him. During the attack, they took him. They said they wanted him to hand over the key," she became agitated, "he's in danger, and all because of me. If I don't do something soon, they'll kill him, and..." Candado put his hands on her shoulders and reassured her.
"Calm down, for heaven's sake. You're a president. I'll go save him and bring him back, but with one condition."
"What?"
"That you put Joaquín back on his duties."
"What Joaquín? I have thousands of Joaquíns."
"Don't make fun of me, you know him very well, little girl."
"Alright, alright, I'll do it, but save him."
"Done."
Then he turned around and left the way he came, and when he was halfway there, he stopped and said.
"Chandra, don't worry, everything will be fine, so relax."
"Alright, I'll try."
Candado smiled and kept walking. As he exited, Rozkiewicz was waiting for him outside.
"So? What did she say?"
"They've kidnapped her boyfriend. I think it's time to go save him."
"Knowing you, I'd say you made a deal, right?"
"Yes," he then put his hand in his pocket and took out a candy, "you could say that," then he ate it.
"And? What is it?"
"Well, in a few days, you won't be president again."
"I'VE BEEN DEPOSED?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!"
"Oh no, of course not, it's just that I managed to get Joaquín back to his position."
"Phew, thank goodness. I thought I'd been fired."
"Believe me, it's very difficult to get rid of pests."
Then he put his hands in his pockets and left.
"DID YOU JUST CALL ME A PEST?!"
After Candado met with Chandra, he dedicated himself to investigate a bit where they could be hiding until he received a call from Desza requesting what they had ordered. Candado tracked the call with Clementina and immediately got the coordinates of that call. By the time he knew the location where they were hiding, Candado met with his team, plus Rozkiewicz's, in a large hall of the Semaphores building.
"Is everyone here?" Candado asked Rozkiewicz.
"Yes, of course."
"Good, we can start." At that moment, Pucheta raised his hand.
"Candado, I have a question." Candado covered his face, as if he had a headache, and dared to ask.
"What do you want?"
"Why are we here?"
"To be able to talk without interruptions, alright?"
"Yes, I understand."
"Good, I think it's time to talk about our mission."
"But..."
"IF YOU SPEAK AGAIN, I'LL RIP YOUR TONGUE OUT!"
Pucheta fell silent and sat down.
"Thank you," he adjusted his tie and continued, "alright, we have a crisis. Vice President Rem Koirala has been kidnapped, and it's our mission to save him."
"
Question.
"What's your question, Lucas?"
"Will the Witnesses be present?"
"Of course they will, after all, they were the ones who kidnapped him."
"That will be magnificent," Leandro said as he played with his knife.
"Yes, of course," Candado cleared his throat and continued, "the objectives are clear: save Rem and get out, end of discussion. I know many of you want revenge for the Resistance incident, but it's neither the time nor the place. Killing them won't bring the dead back to life. We must capture them and make them talk."
"Isn't it unfair? Are you suggesting we should let them live after what they did to us?" Krauser interjected.
"No, Krauser, you're mistaken. I'm not Jean Valjean or St. Francis of Assisi. If they're killed, then I won't be able to gather information that concerns me. It's not about morality, it's self-interest."
"Why do you say that? You're the kindest person I've seen," Carolina said.
"Because you deserved it, but I'm one of those people who loves to make those who have committed atrocities suffer."
"And if they repent?" Anzor asked.
"In that case, I would forgive them."
"And if...?"
"Alright now, shall we focus or shall we talk about my personal life?"
"The latter," Ana María said.
"I never thought that of you. I already have a headache named Matlotsky, I don't need another one."
"I resign myself to keep quiet."
"You better. Anyway," Candado rubbed his temples with his eyes closed, then opened them, "alright, I think everyone understands the idea."
...
Candado, irritated, continued, "Alright, if you didn't understand, raise your hand."
At that moment, Matlotsky raised his hand. Candado closed his eyes and dared to ask, "What didn't you understand?"
"Are we going to carry out the mission or talk about your personal life?"
Candado kept his eyes wide open at such a question, but after a few seconds, he started laughing sarcastically, then displayed his cold and malevolent demeanor.
"Someone punch him."
Kevin and Declan punched/beat up Matlotsky.
"Thanks, your actions will be rewarded later," he adjusted his beret and looked at everyone again, "alright, it's time to carry out the mission, for Harambee."
"FOR HARAMBEE!"
After Candado delivered that moving speech (sarcasm), they decided to follow Clementina's coordinates. First, they visited the house, Leandro and Frederick, to inspect the area, the entrance, and the possible exit in case everything went wrong. Then, they sent Clementina and Hammya (more out of whim than anything else, as she was giving him a terrible headache) to visualize the area and tell them how the house was structured from the inside. Lastly, Celeste and Arce would stand guard and keep track of everything happening, without mentioning that if the targets were still there, so Clementina was also sent.
The operation was carried out until sunset. Since the house was in the middle of nowhere, under a bridge and almost without civilization around, it was easy to carry out the operation. When the sun went down, Candado and the others prepared to assault the house. It wouldn't be easy, but neither would it be for the Witnesses. With the specialized team, they were cornered; it was time for the hunt.
Candado gathered everyone present and explained the strategy. Everyone understood it perfectly, except Matlotsky, whom he had to explain to more than three times. But beyond that, everything went perfectly. The plan was as follows:
Given the size of the house, the operation would be a surprise. Thanks to the technology and skills of Héctor, Andersson, and Lucas, they were able to create a sort of protective cloak. With it, the Witnesses wouldn't be able to sense the magical forces emanating from them. Clementina, Candado, and Matlotsky didn't wear said cloaks, as Clementina and Matlotsky had no powers, one was a robot and the other a common human. Candado, on the other hand, had a Bari that perfectly concealed his magic, making him untraceable.
When night fell, Candado led the team. They would take out Desza and his team once and for all. The group surrounded the house, awaiting Candado's orders, who knew the exact location of the main door. Drawing his machete, Candado gave the awaited order to attack, and his teammates stormed into the house like cops, smashing everything in their path.
Toppling bookshelves, furniture, and anything else in their way, they searched for the Witnesses. Meanwhile, Candado roamed the house with his hands behind his back, walking calmly, searching in his own way for the miscreants. Suddenly, a person hiding behind a wall leaped out and shot at Candado with a large gun and thick bullets, embedding them in his chest and sending him flying against a wall. When Esteeman tried to deal with the situation, Candado drew a second pistol and shot him in the chest, sending him out of the house. He then reloaded the guns and shouted.
"IT'S TIME TO ATTACK, SIR!"
Then he went out the window to continue shooting at the rest of the people outside. Declan managed to cut the bullets heading towards him or any of his friends, including Hammya, who felt disgusted and reproached him.
"Be more careful, stupid."
To which she nodded. Then she ran at full speed towards the person who was shooting, Dockly. Before she could reach him, a second person interrupted the fight. Declan could clearly see who it was: Jørgen Czacki. He stopped his thrust with his right arm as he prepared to stab Declan in the chest with the other, but Declan, specialized in combat, managed to stop him in time. Before Jørgen could do anything, Anzor appeared and, with his sword, stopped a potential deadly attack towards Declan. Jørgen used his speed and attacked them both, grabbing Anzor's arms and lifting him into the air, crashing him onto the ground, but he had forgotten about Declan, who was at a critical distance behind him. His speed wouldn't save him, until Isabel appeared, who, using her earth powers, restrained Declan and moved him away from Jørgen.
"Thanks for that," Jørgen said as he leaned his back against hers.
"You're welcome, that's what I'm here for."
"SURRENDER! YOU'RE SURROUNDED!" Rozkiewicz shouted.
And at that moment, a bullet grazed his cheek.
"Does that answer your question?" Dockly asked as he reloaded his weapon.
"Dirty bastards, tear them apart!"
Orders became clear again, and they launched themselves at them once more. But just when they thought they had won the battle, reinforcements from the Earth Witnesses arrived. Everyone focused on Desza, whose mentally unstable laughter echoed throughout the place, emerging from the rubble with a megaphone in hand.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for appearing in this new chapter of Argentine national history. Witness and behold the destruction," he then burst into laughter and continued, "of this city," before laughing again.
At that moment, they launched themselves at Krauser and Rozkiewicz, but their lackeys didn't allow it. Rŭsseŭs burned the ground so that no one could get close to them, Sofia, upon seeing the woman who had humiliated her, was the first to go after her, Frederick went after Dockly, and Walter went after Joel.
"There are too many, sir," Jørgen said as he fought with Anzor, Héctor, Declan, and Ana María Pucheta.
"Don't worry, I've already thought of this," he laughed again.
Then he applauded loudly, and as he did, Clementina felt something in her sensors, warning her of a huge danger. She then looked at the structure of the house.
"Bombs? When did this happen?" she ran towards him, "CANDADO, GET OUT OF THERE NOW!"
But the house exploded before she could reach him. Everyone near the house was thrown by the shockwave, allowing Desza and his team to escape the scene, while he let out a sinister smile. Leaving the group battered and hopeless to continue fighting, as Candado had died. But just when all seemed lost, a figure emerged from the flames heading towards them. Fortunately, nothing happened to him, but he was disgusted.
"They've destroyed all the information they had, damn it."
"What do we do?" Walter asked.
"We'll hunt them down, IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO PAY!"
With those words spoken, Candado and the rest pursued them; it was time for them to pay for their crimes.
On the way, Desza had given the order to split up, and each went their separate ways. It was clear that there would be a big mess. Since the city was large, where they had fled seemed like a village. It was easier for them to hide, but thanks to Clementina, they could track each of them. The team split up to capture them, but Candado, Krauser, and Rozkiewicz wanted the biggest prize: Desza.
The streets were well-lit. Everyone knew the impending chaos, but they were unable to stop it, only to try to fix what he did.
"THEY'RE TOO SLOW!" Desza shouted as he ran across the rooftops of the buildings.
Candado and the duo followed him, each with their own objective: justice, revenge, and hatred. These three feelings would be a torment for each of them, as they would never give up until they caught him.
But as Desza ran, he realized that all of this would be too boring for him. He decided to press a button he had hidden among his belt, causing a wave of explosions throughout the area. The whole team witnessed the catastrophe unfolding before their eyes. The explosions rose and massacred many people in the area; the fire began to grow stronger and claim the unfortunate civilians, fueling the anger of everyone present and further feeding their objectives. Rage awakened once again in the team. The chaos had begun.