Mandalas

Rotating Direction

              After all entered the meeting room, Rosialdo Putra closed the door of the room without locking it. No one sits in a chair. They were all on alert, watching Rosi

still holding Kay's body tightly. Then came a flashing sound from behind Rosi's cloak. A small red radiance was faintly visible from within his robe. Rosi let go of Kay.

              Joke caught Kay's body and sat her down to the chair beside her. Kay seemed to tremble with her breath gasping. He dispels the hair stuck to his face while looking at Rosi with 3 other friends.

              Rosi's gun still leads to Kay. With one other hand free, Rosi took out a small panel box that had LED lights. The red wink came from the box that Rosi was holding. With the weapon still aiming at Kay, Rosi looked straight at Kay sharply. The hand holding the small panel moved pressing a few buttons.

              Then the whole lamp and the air conditioner went off in an instant.

              Everyone turned on the flashlight from his bracelet. The four lights highlighted Rosi who was still standing there in the dim light. Then He said, “I'm sorry.”

              Rosi throws her gun under Joke's feet. “I'm on your side.”

              Spontaneously, Kay picked up the gun and pointed it at Rosi's forehead. “Oh, yes?! It's unbelievable because you just wanted to kill me!”

              Rosi didn't move at all. “It only contains one ampoule of propofol and I just used it on Prof. Said,” said Rosi.

              Everything moved forward around Kay. Frian took the transparent gun, she opened the contents. The casing was already empty, there was a bit of glass shard left in it.

              “This is a short-range animal anesthetic gun. Where'd you get it?” ask Frian.

              “It doesn't matter. There's something else I have to tell you and I know you won't

trust me if I don't show it.”

              “What do you mean?” ask Joke in confusion.

              “Electricity and all signal transmitters are currently dead because I set them up. You can look at each bracelet. There is nothing you can call or contact

now it's. This all happened in the whole city.”

              Kay and Frian swiped the bracelet, trying to contact Vanya and the other members of the unit at the main gate. Cannot connect.

              “Why are you doing this?” ask Maha.

              “I get an order from my father,” replied Rosi.

              “Who is your father?” asked Kay in a confused tone. Maha, Joke, and Frian realized something. They met Rosi's father at Ayu's engagement event 2 years ago.

              “Your father.. Commissioner Roman,” said Maha, he then recalled his conversation with Prof. Jery. “Commissioner Roman leads the investigation of the Gephu rebel movement. But the case was stated not

proven.”

              “Yes, because He doesn't want to catch himself,” Rosi replied coldly. Slightly

hatred of his tone. “Commissioner Roman is the leader of the rebel movement Gephu.”

              “Wah.. I did not expect it,” Kay said a little surprised.

              “You will know later,” Rosi said.

              One of the lights hanging in the room was on. There was another light in the hallway outside the room that went through the door slit. A little wind blows from the air conditioner. Geduna electrical backup has been turned on, but only for a few devices.

              “Something's going on in the Tower right now. They intend to finish Neena tonight,”, Rosi said again. “Should've been Me and Prof. Said stayed silent at LTK. But you asked him to come here. I can't jeopardize my position in front of them. And anyway, it's safer if Prof. Said stay here until all subsides.”

              “So, it's all you? You shut down the network at FIGHTR on the night of the second attack,” Kay said.

              “You also deleted Prof's research data. Said from LTK,” said Joke.

              Rosi nodded. “You're right. They asked me to use the access Neena had to mess up the network that night, just like I do now.”

              “They also told me to delete the anti-Lent data to send to Gephu lab. They needed that to continue their research and use their artificial Lentipede to attack

Trikad.”

              Maha nodded with satisfaction. “Of course. I expected it,” said Maha. “Then what happened in the Tower?”

              Rosi shook her head slowly. “I don't know what the next plan is. All done by Greeta and my father.”

              “But you guys have to get to the Tower now. It's possible they drove Lentipede to attack Neena.”

              “If that's the case,” Frian stepped forward. “We will need a lot of help.”

              “Most Reppe are already on opposite sides. They say Commander Hos and his military forces have been dealt with. You can't ask for help from anyone other than friends

you guys,” said Rosi.

              “I can restart the network again. Once the network returns to normal, you can call the entire Mandala unit.

              “But I have to do it at LTK.” Rosi looked at them alternately, then her gaze stopped at Maha. He shook his head, “We can't let you go to LTK by yourself. We didn't

can carelessly trust fully.”

              Rosi stepped forward. He looked at Maha with a fixed gaze. “Your entire unit is home tonight. If I don't go to LTK you won't get help or I can take you to the Tower to convince you. But, the risk is in your hands,” said Rosi again. This time the calmness had already left his face. It looks a little pushy.

              “We can't leave you alone. There's still a lot you have to explain,” Frian said firmly.

              The sound of the door was slowly being moved. Everyone looks towards the door. The door was slow

open-ended. The dim light from the hallway lights entered the room. They were waiting for the figure who opened the door. But, no one was seen.

              “Who is it!” yell Kay. Rosi slowly advanced and stood in the doorway. Then suddenly a white superporcelain dish was dropped right over Rosi's head. A second later, Rosi fell backwards, unconscious.

              Bon stood in the doorway, holding the white tray with both hands.

              “Mild head injury,” Bon said.

              “Bon!” exclamation Maha. Joke laughed happily, “I know you will listen to my message.” Bon stepped forward into the room. Frian crouched down to check on Rosi. Still breathing well, no blood in sight. But he didn't want to make her conscious again.

              “Halo, friends. I guess only Ayu disappeared today, it turns out you guys are too,” Bon said cheerfully. Then he looked around. A large body figure and wearing a white coat Geduna lying on the floor because of the blow He gave. His friends must have been in a bad situation before he came. Bon asked seriously,

              “What happened?”

***

              Rosi is placed on a manual wheelchair that can be moved without electric current. Maha, Frian, Kay, Joke, and Bon came out of the meeting room into the dimly lit Vibrio hallway. The backup light was not strong enough to illuminate the entire long hallway. The air is getting hotter, the cooling air flow is not very effective. Perhaps because this backup energy is rarely used, Trikad has never experienced a decrease in power in the last 20 years.

              “I'll go to the main gate. I will send help from my unit,” Kay said.

              “Stay there should be people standing guard at the border. We can't let our guard down. Maybe it's just a trap. We never know,” says Maha. Everyone nodded in agreement.

              “I'll be on guard at the border. I have access to all of our vests. I can call the entire unit if the network is on,” suggested Frian. “Kay follow Maha and Joke to Tower.”

     “We still can not call another unit if the network has not returned,” Joke said while thinking. “One should turn on the network back.”

              Maha sighed. “But, no other options.”

              “I'll take Rosi to LTK,” Bon said. “Frian can stand guard as well as remind other units manually. I'll help her later.”

              “I can invite some people from Kay unit to call the leader of another unit directly. Some unit leaders have houses not far from the main gate,” Frian said.

              Maha nodded in agreement. “Once other unit members can be called, navigate to the 7th floor of the Tower.”

              “Maybe it won't be fast, Maha. You guys have to stick around first threes.” Bon looked at his three friends.

              “Iya true. But keep working.” Maha opens her white robe. “We have to change first. Come.” Maha invites Kay and Joke to move towards the exit of Vibrio. Meanwhile, Bon and Frian re-enter the meeting room.

              Joke passed room number 02. He remembered Leno, “Maha,” call Joke. Maha and Kay looked back. “I want to see Leno for a minute. We meet in rubeah.”

              Maha nodded then ran while holding Kay towards the exit. Joke smiled slightly looking at the two of them. He turned around and ran to Room 02.

              “Leno?” call Joke from the front of the closed iron door.

              “Moonasera!” leno replied vaguely. “Please I have someone shot here!”

              “His breath. Is there still?”

              Sounded silent for a while before Leno again replied, “Still there.” Joke felt relief approaching her mind, even though she forgot Prof. Said is still inside, at least he's alive. “It's just anesthetized,” says Joke.

              “Wait a minute.”

              Joke tried to open the door that she manually locked. The key was opened, but the door would not open. Joke pushed the door tight, but did not move. Like someone got caught.

              “Leno. Are you near the door?”

              “Yes. Why?”

              “Far from there. I want to break it!”

              Joke took a few steps back to take a swing. 3.. 2.. 1.. BRAK! Joke slammed her heavy body into the iron door. Not open. Joke set her breath again. His shoulders hurt, but he hasn't given up.

              “Are you okay?” leno's voice came from inside the room.

              “Away from door!” shout Joke.

              “I'm very far from the door!” saut Leno's.

              Joke again took a swing and broke down the door. The iron door opened with a loud bang. Leno approached Joke and helped her up.

              “Why did you get out of the isolation room?” ask Joke while grimacing in pain. It looks like there's a bruise on his right shoulder.

              “That door opens when the whole lamp and the air conditioner are off. And. and.. there's a guy shot right in front of my eyes. And then you lock us both in here..” Leno said frantically.

              “Where can I just sit still in there!”

              Joke cannot deny the words of this child. He nodded in allowing. “Ya. yes you are right.” Joke approached Prof. Said was lying in a strange position on the sofa waiting room. His right hand was stuck under his own body. His left leg hangs over the sofa.

              “Help me,” Joke said to Leno.

              Leno helps Joke justify Prof's position. Said. Leno watched Joke inspect the grandfather carefully.  “Professor... Can you hear me?” ask Joke.

              Profs. Said answered nothing. But his hand moved on its own. Joke pressed both temples Prof. Said. “Professor try to open your eyes,” says Joke.

              Profs. Said opened his eyes slightly, then closed them back. He turned his body against the corner of the sofa, like a sleeping person being woken up. Leno was very relieved

look at the grandfather's response. Although he looked sleepy, at least he was still alive.

              “I have to take care of something in the Tower. I will send people to accompany you,” Joke said again. “Stay here.” Leno nodded. “Thank you.”

              Joke out of room 02. He peeked into the meeting room. Bon, Frian, and Rosi are no longer there. Jokes

exit the door Vibrio left open.

              He was looking around the floor. There's no one there. Before Maha came with Kay and Prof. Said, Joke did ask the two Mandalas who were on guard to rest for a while. It's been 1 hour since the incident and there's no one on this floor.

              Where did everybody go?

***

              After opening the white coat that Rosi wore on a manual wheelchair with great difficulty, Frian put on a face mask to cover Rosi's face. They pushed Rosi through the emergency lane because the elevator was not operating. Geduna looked darker, but strangely they did not see anyone else milling about in the building. But they don't ask too many questions because they are too focused on carrying Rosi's heavy body

go four floors above them. They take a break after pushing Rosi into Bon's car.

              “This person ate what the hell,” Bon said while adjusting his breathing.

              “He was a Reppe official, he was almost a Reppe observer. Strenuous training definitely requires a lot of protein to build muscle mass,” Frian said with a flat face.

              “I just complained tau,” said Bon with a little annoyance. “Why did you even give a physiology lecture,”

              Rosi blinked her eyes, she was half conscious. Bon quickly took a low-dose sedative injection then pumped the liquid into Rosi's arm. Rosi was dazed for a moment before lying back in Bon's car seat.

              Bon and Frian sat in the front seat. Bon pressed a button to remove four manual rubber wheels on either side of the car. He knew a street without electricity would not make his car lift in the air. Bon kneaded the pedals and took them straight to the main gate.

              When they reached the main gate headquarters tent, Frian immediately opened the seatbelt. “I'll tell Vanya and others. Can you take care of Rosi yourself?”

              Bon nodded. “You said he was on our side, right? I was just waiting for him to wake up and ask him to reboot the network system.”

              “Stay careful,” Frian said as she closed the car door and passed away. Bon turned his car to LTK on the east side of Trikad. For a long time he did not wear rubber tires with this car, the friction of the tire with the road made his pace not as fast as usual. Bon peeked out of the windshield of the car. Rosi was almost conscious. Bon injected only half the normal dose of midazolam. He did not want to make Rosi sleep too soundly.

              Ten minutes later they reached the bottom of LTK. Bon looked back in the back seat. “Are you aware?”

              Rosi looked at Bon, still a little dazed but she nodded. “Where else?”

              “Follow what you say. To the Tower,” replied Bon. He grabbed his bag and pulled out the gun that Rosi had brought.

              “I know this is yours. I also know you said you were on our side. But I would be so stupid if

let the man who shot his own boss to roam in his office without any supervision.”

              “So now listen to me,” Bon said sharply. Bon pressed the button under his chair. The driver's seat rotates 180 degrees. Now they're both facing each other. Rosi observed Bon calmly. “You will restore this city network back, then let me call the entire unit. After that we return to Tower.”

             They're still staring. Bon continued, “I've filled your gun with something you don't want to know. But if you don't follow my words, then,

              you'll know.”

              Rosi develops her smile in front of Bon. “How are you, Bon? It's been a long time since we met.” Bon gritted his teeth. The tension and stiffness of his face did not decrease. “Follow my words,” Bon said coldly.

              Rosi raised her smile next to her and then she looked down. A little sadness was seen from the look on his face. He looked back at Bon. “I'll help you.”