I. CHAPTER 2: THE DRAGON

~The former provincial capitol of Nueva Ecija province, in the city of Palayan…~

The old provincial capitol was one of the most preserved ‘relics’ of the South China Sea War. Not because it was a nationally designated historical monument, but rather, upon the founding of the rump states of the post-war Philippines, the City of Palayan fell on the border between the Empire of the Pearl of the Orient, and its friendly neighbor, the Philippine Sixth Republic. During the conflict, it served as the headquarters for the Peoples’ Liberation Army airborne forces, from which they coordinated their attacks meant to secure the Chinese advance from the shores of Ilocos and Cagayan, down to Manila. As such, the place was subjected to intense artillery shelling, and aerial bombardment from Filipino and American planes, in a bid to level its structure.

After the Filipino surrender, however, the subsequent chaos divided Nueva Ecija into southern lands within Imperial Manila’s jurisdiction, and the northern half going under the Sixth Republic’s responsibility. From a provincial center, Palayan became a border settlement, though amicable diplomatic relations between Republican Filipinos and the Orientals ‘erased’ the border limits in practice. The capitol was left in ruins, for no government wanted to take the responsibility of funding and fixing it. Only a token force of unarmed Filipino border guards patrolled their area, and Filipino and Oriental farmers crossed the borders every day as they worked on the extensive farmlands.

The arrival of the 3rd Company of the 2nd Imperial Guard battalion, however, made use of the capitol ruins for their command center. After greeting the Republican border guards and sending them gifts of alcohol and food, the Imperial Guard set up defensive positions around the perimeter. This was because, even when the City of Palayan was in a peaceful sector, it was still considerably close to the nearest Ilocano-Oriental border, in the middle of the city of Cabanatuan to the west.

A forceful enemy raid could put their mission in danger of failure, as the nearest major Imperial army base was in Gapan City, several miles to the south.

The Imperial Guard, fresh from their ‘humiliation’ at the Battle of Lingayen, wouldn’t take chances. Eager to redeem their reputation after Arthur Valiente’s death, they were determined not to repeat the same incident. Leading the 3rd Company was the senior sergeant, Rico Roman. A veteran of numerous battles against the Ilocanos, he had the responsibility of training the ‘new’ recruits to his company; the original ones were either killed or maimed in Lingayen. As such, his unit—though the Imperial Guard was drawn from the distinguished members of the army, navy, and air forces—was relatively ‘young’ and ‘inexperienced,’ at least for guarding duties. Still, they deployed to Palayan to secure the life of Arthur Valiente’s successor, codenamed ‘the Dragon.’

“Sir!”

Sergeant Roman’s thoughts were interrupted by one of his men, assigned to watch the portable radar they brought along. After saluting him, the sergeant listened to the man’s report.

“The radar detected a force of Ilocanos heading in this direction,” he gave the sergeant written data. “We counted at least eight black hawks, and the drone squad is already sending drones to buzz on their activity. We will soon receive their report, Sir.”

“Good work, Corporal.” While Sergeant Roman and his superior prepared contingency plans for all the possible scenarios they could think of, he still couldn’t believe that they got the ‘worst situation.’ Palayan was a peaceful section of the border. And it couldn’t be a coincidence that a raiding force was heading their positions; for years and decades dating back to the first of the Ilocano-Oriental Wars, no enemy offensive pierced into that direction, nor the Imperials build-up army units there to attack Ilocandia. “Do you think our mission is bust?” he asked the opinion of his radar operator.

“I don’t know, Sir,” the man said. “But it’s best to keep them away from the dragon, should they really mean to attack us.”

Sergeant Roman nodded and reached for his radio. Likewise, the radar operator saluted him and went back to his duties.

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Pauline Maria dela Ramos. It was a name Pau hadn’t heard for a long while. She was left utterly speechless by the aide’s words, and froze on her spot even as the smell of burning rice started to fill the living room,

The aide, seeing that the noblewoman was confused, sought to calm her down by bringing to her attention the burning rice. As she rushed to turn off the stove, he spoke, “I know you’re in shock, but we’re from the Malacanang Palace, Your Grace. I believe that His Grace, the Count Alexander Sey can explain furt—!!!” At that moment, the aide was surprised when he noticed that Count Sey slumped face down on the plate of banana cue, unconscious.

“Oh, I know the Count Alexander Michael Sey,” Pau replied, her hand reaching deep inside her shorts and pulling out a butterfly knife concealed within. “He is the Chamberlain to the Emperor Arthur, and a well-known pedophile within the noble circles. What I don’t know is you, yet I have no intentions of learning your identity. From the moment you set foot in this house, you’re already dead!”

“Wait—” the aide immediately jumped away as Pau lunged at him with the butterfly knife. She followed through her attack with an attempt to punch him, though the man parried her fist, before moving behind her to restrain her movements.

“Let go of me!” Pau demanded as she stubbornly resisted. Thrashing, screaming, and biting, she gave the aide a difficult time to keep her down.

“Your Grace, please allow me to explain!” he pleaded.

But the noblewoman from Batangas showed her Batanguena side and continued to kick and shout, swinging her knife when her legs were also restrained. The aide, wishing to end the fracas before she injured herself, did a karate chop on her wrist and caused her to drop her knife. Still, Pau had her mouth free, and she screamed for help, which eventually reached the neighborhood. Soon, everyone—from the young teenagers to the burliest of men in that place—was up in arms, ready to kill the strangers harming their neighbor.

“!!!” The aide barely had time to evade the flying bolo before it hit his face. As he couldn’t move fast enough, he put his free arm to block the heavy blade from reaching him, impaling his gloved hand in the process.

“Ate Pau!” It was Ayan, bursting into the living room, and was followed by knife-, bolo- and yantok-armed men. “Are you okay—”

“You fucking idiots!” the aide bellowed so loud, the men and Ayan almost retreated to the entrance because of shock. “What if your bolo hit your sister and killed her? Don’t fucking swing and throw deadly weapons just like that, dumbass!”

“W-Wait…” Ayan’s face went beet red. “You’re not…k-killing Ate Pau?”

“Who the fuck enters the bodyguard service of the empire and kills their employer?” he countered. “Listen kid, we’re no Praetorians. Fucking calm down, people! Listen to us first!”

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Ayan kept on apologizing to the aide and his unconscious noble companion even as things eventually settled down. Pau, after having her injured wrist bandaged, had to send their ‘concerned’ neighbors away after the ruckus. A few remained, claiming to distrust the aide, yet in reality, was only there to watch and gossip. Nevertheless, Pau had bigger problems to attend to than to force their neighbors out. She had to check on the man’s hand…

“Nah, I’m good,” he told her.

“Sir, I think everyone—even our neighbors—saw how that bolo pierced your hand,” Pau insisted. “Don’t tell me that it’s fine when it’s not! Remove the glove so I can administer first aid.”

“No, no!” the man chuckled. “I’m really fine!” However, he did follow her request to remove the glove, revealing a robotic hand underneath.

“!!!”

The aide’s face couldn’t hide his amusement as Pau, Aya, and the neighbors were speechless at the bionic hand. A big hole in the middle showed its internal circuits and the non-moving fingers confirmed the damage made by the bolo earlier.

“Your Grace, you’re not the only one who has surprises up her sleeves…though I admit you shocked me with your tenacity. A true Batanguena,” the man quipped. “Again, my hand is fine. I can always have it replaced for a new bionic hand at the Imperial Orthopedic Center in Quezon City, free of charge.”

“H-Huh?” Pau stood from her seat. “Free of charge? Not even the nobles can afford such privilege! W-Wait, if you are accorded such honor, then it means…”

“Yes, Your Grace,” the man removed his trench coat, revealing the lines of medal ribbons on his chest, including the coveted Medal of Extreme Valor—the highest Imperial honor for bravery displayed on the battlefield. “Oh, wait, pardon my rudeness, Your Imperial Majesty.” Then, he reached for his breast pocket and brought out a small velvet box. Inside was a golden ring, with a big purple gem encrusted in it. To everyone else who was not familiar with it, they were only awed by that beautiful piece of jewelry. Some even thought that the man was proposing marriage to Pau; their gasps and controlled giggles filled the living room, before realizing that ring meant something else.

“Oh my god,” the noblewoman had her hands on her temples. “Everything’s moving too fast. W-What’s going on?”

“Allow me to reintroduce myself, Your Imperial Majesty. My name is Marcel Spitz, a captain of the Imperial Guard. As you can see, I’m also a recipient of the Empire’s highest military honor, the Medal of Extreme Valor.” He reached out for her hand and put the ring on her finger. After that, he kneeled before Pau and kissed her hand, astonishing Ayan and their neighbors with the regal display of reverence. But he was not yet finished, proclaiming, “As the bearer of the will of our late emperor, Arthur Valiente, I pass his signet ring to you, Lady Pauline Maria. You are his successor, and you are my empress. May your wisdom and courage be a guiding light to your people in these dark times. I offer you my sword, with which you will smite your enemies!”

Author's Notes:

Malacanang Palace - is a Spanish-era palace built on the shores of Pasig River in Manila.  Originally a personal property of one of colonial Philippines' governor-generals, it became the official working residence of the Philippine President.  The Malacanang name was said to be derived from the Filipino phrase, 'May Lakan dyan,' which meant 'There is a Lakan inside.'  Lakan is an old Filipino term for chieftain, or ruler.

Batanguena - a woman from Batangas province, south of Manila.  Batanguenos (male) and Batanguenas (female) have a reputation for being brave yet sweet, though, in this chapter, Marcel refers to Pauline as being the 'recklessly brave' Batanguena.

Yantok - is a name for a tree but it usually refers to a wooden stick that can double as a blunt weapon.  In the Philippines, Yantoks are used by the Barangay Tanods (Watchmen) whenever they go on patrols, for they are forbidden to carry guns without a license.  And yes, we Filipinos are strict when getting guns.

Praetorian - yes, the Imperial Praetorian Guard.  They were the bodyguards of the Roman Emperor, yet they were famous--or infamous--for selling their allegiance to the highest bidder.  Founded by Augustus Caesar, it was disbanded by Constantine I when they tried to overthrow him.  The term became synonymous for precarious loyalty.