Mandalas

Patrols

Maha changed her dress to the active uniform of the Mandala: a white vest with a crescent moon on her left chest and a white denim containing many protective gear and small silver weapons. Maha wore her boots that shimmered silvery blue when crammed to the ground. It looks like his boot booster engine almost broke down due to a fair amount of use these few days. He will tell Geduna to ask for a new boot.

              Maha's t45 bracelet vibrates, there's a message coming in from Joke. “Maha, something happened to Leno. It seems that Lentipede has a certain effect on the nervous system. Contact me tomorrow.”

              I hope Leno doesn't get any worse. When Maha wanted to answer Joke's message, her crescent moon vest shimmered. Kay calls out Maha. Pressing the emblem, Kay's hologram appears in front of Maha.

              “Maha, can I ask for help at the main gate?” ask Kay hologram. I don't expect to be called tonight. But if you have to, then there is no other choice. “Is there a problem?”

              “I just want to make sure of something. Please come first,” Kay replied quickly. Maha nodded. “OK, Kay. I'll be up to 10 minutes.”

              Maha transports the mace, which has now been modified to have a rope handle, and puts it behind the back. He turned on his electric motor. As soon as the garage door opens, the motorcycle is Maha

darting without touching the magnetic path below. Maha's house, and Mia's, is in the Jati housing complex located in the East of the city center. The curfew is already in effect, all residents have entered their homes. Street lights on the right and left sides of Maha. He's the only vehicle that can pass over curfew.

              Maha almost to the gate of the housing complex which is blocked by long and transverse iron bars. He slowed down the speed of the motor, giving time for the guard robot to scan his face. After the iron bars were lifted, Maha pulled the gas and drove to the main street of the city center.

              It's almost midnight, the city's been very quiet. There are no lights on the building. All the trams were silent at their respective bases. No shops are open. Earlier this morning food ingredients were sent to all residents of Trikad. The city is half dead. The hologram in the center of the city was not lit. Maha turned her motorbike to the left as she encountered the city emblem. Maha glanced at the clock projection on her bracelet for a while, only 7 minutes. Maha again pulled the gas and shot towards the main gate.

              Kay and her four unit members stood guard around the main gate. Maha parked his motorcycle next to 5 other vehicles owned by them. One of the members of Kay's unit greets Maha, “Night, chairman.” The woman was wearing the same Mandala uniform as herself.  He was his former class brother. He tried to remember what his name was, but he completely forgot. He decided to smile and nod.

              “Halo. How are things so far?”

              The woman smiled back. “Nothing looks suspicious. Did the chairman come because there was something else?”

              I feel a little confused. What did Kay call him here for?

              “Can I see Mn. Kay?” ask Maha. The woman nodded, “Sure, Mn. Kay is there.” He pointed at the short-haired woman who was talking to the tall thin man in the same white-white uniform.

              “Thank you,” says Maha while stepping away. “Sama-sama!” exclaimed the woman happily behind Maha.

              Kay saw Maha's coming. Kay and one of the members of her unit greeted Maha. “Halo, friends,” saya Maha. “Everything is good?”

              Kay cleared her throat and gestured for her friend to leave the two of them. “Ayo while walking,” Kay said. Maha followed Kay's steps down the tall main gate looming before them. “There's something you want to say?” ask Maha.

              “Ada.” Kay seemed hesitant, she weighed for a moment. “You knew this morning me and Mn. Sito was called up by Neena?”

              Maha nodded. “Iya, I heard Neena wanted to ask for a chronology of yesterday's events. Sito said I don't need to come anymore.”

              “Iya, Sito ask you and Joke to rest first.” They stopped on the left side of the gate. Reppe's capsule elevator

stand beside them. Maha looked up. The Reppe watchtower was bright, they were also watching from above the tower.

              “Many strange things happened since this morning. No. since last night. Do you realize that?’

              Maha felt Kay also caught the same thing with Maha. He was a little relieved that his suspicions did not appear on him alone. “Iya. What did you get?”

              Kay told me about the results of their meeting this morning. Regarding what the LTK said about their communication, city friendship strategy, the case of Hydroform that was slightly touched on, and Prof. Said who suddenly asked came to Geduna this afternoon.

              “Prof. Said the husband of Mn. Hoserina?” ask Maha. Mn. Hoserina was Maha's main mentor during Mandala Education. He helped Maha during the plague several years ago so that he could survive until now. It was very sad that he had to leave quickly.

              “Iya,” Reply Kay. “Do you know him?”

              Maha nodded. “Lumayan. But I haven't seen him in a long time. Last I heard he was busy working on an important project at LTK.”

              “Do you know what project?”

              “Hmm. no. He doesn't have much story. I know from his assistant.”

              Kay tried to remember the name of the big-bodied young man. “Rosi?”

              “Iya.. You know Rosi?”

              “I met him last afternoon.”

              “Ya.. used to be a member of my unit quite close to Rosi. He was engaged to Ayu. But, then split.”

              Kay nodded in understanding. Of course Joke also recognized Rosi. “Tadi after meeting with Neena, Prof. Said said he'd send people to check the hardware on our vests. But it turns out that he came alone to geduna, with his assistant.”

              “Well, he's not busy anymore apparently? Tumben.”

              “Not because of it.” Kay was hesitant. He repeatedly pinned his own hair behind his ears. Maha caught Kay's hand as she tried to touch her hair again. He touched some of Kay's hair and joined her behind her ear. Kay realized she looked quite anxious. “I only help,” said Maha. “I'm sure you didn't call me here just because you missed, right?”

              Kay laughed when she heard it. His doubts are now gone. You must know what he knows. Kay started telling me what she got from Prof. Said this afternoon. Especially why he suspected Neena and also half distrusted Mn. Sito.

              Digesting what Kay said. So his suspicions could be true. There's someone who

planned everything, but Maha did not expect Neena could be one of the culprits.

              “But, there is no reason for Neena to be a suspect. He has no motive.”

              “There must have been someone who used that access on behalf of Neena. Someone who has a reason.”

              They fell silent again. Kay told me about some of the people she met during the meeting. Commander Hos, Commander Ri, Commissioner Roman, Prof. Said, and Bu Greeta, the man who replaced Prof.

Jery is sick. I asked a few questions about Prof. Jery before He remembered Commissioner Roman.

              “Kay, wouldn't we report to Reppe? They have authority for criminal cases and other crimes,” Maha said.

              “Prof. Said had said he did not trust them too much.”

              “But, however we also do not have the authority to complete it.”

              “Entahlah but I guess it is not.” Kay thinks Maha may be right. They can't do anything either.

              Doubt re-emerged in Kay's mind. He repeated all the new information he had. A lot has happened in these 3 days. When Kay remembers especially the information that he has not conveyed, especially,

              “Maha, do you know anything about Gephu? Rebel movement that had a scene a few weeks ago?”

              Remember reading it on the news. “I just read a few traces of opinions. Does it have anything to do?”

              “Don't know but was mentioned at the meeting. I haven't had time to ask Sito.”

              “But, now that case is not proven right?”

              “Iya but I think it's weird too yeah,” Kay said. “Prof. Said suspects LTK has been infiltrated, and proven to be tampering with their network and research data. I just suspect they're all related.”

              “Gephu's main goal is to make Trikad a superior city. They want to make other cities work under Trikad. That's what I read,” said Maha.

              “Working under Trikad like a colony?” ask Kay.

              “Could be,” Maha sighed. “I've never been too deep in politics, Kay. But, if you want to connect, Gephu could infiltrate LTK, retrieve research data Prof. Said, creating Lentipede, conducted a deliberate attack on FIGHTERR, and ensured Mandala could not work by shutting down the network locally.”

              “Then, delete his track record,” connect Kay.

              “But why? What's the reason they're doing that far?” ask the Lord more to himself.

              “I don't know.”

              “Yes, but this is just a guess. And we can't prove anything.”

              “Gephu's case was closed a few weeks ago. Who can we report to?”

              “Is it possible that Reppe has also been infiltrated by Gephu?”

              “I don't know about this.”

              They both kept quiet. Maha looked up. The Reppe Tower is on top of it. He could have gone in there and asked Reppe's boss who was on duty. But, he must have been immediately put away because he was considered drunk while working.

              “What do you think if we convey this to Mn. Sito?” ask Kay.

              “There is absolutely a reason not to?” answered Maha.

              “Yah..” Kay appears to hesitate for a moment. She plays her hair again. “Prof. Said said Mn. Sito could have sided with Neena, considering they used to be in the same unit.”

              A little smile. His teacher was indeed an incredible Mandala. Especially when in his prime with the main unit he formed himself. Mn. Sito suggested that ambassadors be sent across the island so that Lentipede could be eradicated more widely, including to villages that are not bound by city law. But, he retired once he knew his best friend decided to run for Neena. Just a little

knowing this, but Maha knew the reason Sito was not married until now was related to this.

              Neena must not have a family so as not to confuse her decision in choosing as well as to

avoiding nepotism in the central government. Profs. Said must have known this from his wife, Maha's own mentor. It is only natural that Sito is suspected. But Maha had known this teacher for a long time. He believes Sito never thought to endanger the lives of others for whatever reason.

              “If that's the only reason we didn't tell Sito, I'll laugh at you.” Maha said.

              “I also think so,” said Kay. “It is easier to choose who we can trust than to assume who is our main enemy “

              “Prof. Said said that to me,” Kay said.

              “You are right,” says Maha smiling. He remembered Prof. Said and his late teacher. They belong to interesting old people. It has been a long time since they met.

              “What should we do now?” ask Kay.

              “We have to discuss again. I'll find time to tell Mn. Sito. Maybe after that we can report to the Reppe,” said Maha.

              “In addition we can add another head that if it can help,” continued Maha.

“Dan also hope that tonight they have a holiday to attack first.”