Anakdatu

After that very long informative speech, a very bad jump scare, and a holographic guy, now I got to face a room that is slowly filling with water. At these moments, the water just reached the height of my waist and almost a quarter of the office to be filled. What did the holographic master Yoda said? Death trap? Yeah, death trap. So I just got to the organization for like an hour and now I've got to face death? What kind of organization is this? How masochist.

First I got to do, I need to remain calm, control my breathing and find my way out. I looked around the office, of course, there are walls, duh, a desk, and oh yeah, the door shut with another metal door, maybe a water proofing seal and so that I can't escape easier, yay! I am starting to like this organization more and more. There are no air vents at top, just a ceiling fan which is no use by the way. There is a mirror, but what? Ohh, so that I can see myself die and drown like a wimp.

This is a test. I told myself. The water is a half of the office's height now which is past my height already so I am staying afloat. I've got to find a way, come on, think, think think. If I could just devise a bomb! No, no, very stupid and I've got utmost 2 minutes before I lose the chance of breathing. What else? Where else can I go out? Ugh, I feel so hopeless, come on Ramil.

The water has finally filled the room and I took a deep breath and dived down. Honestly, there are no more other ways to escape, except for the mirror. I read Sherlock Holmes quite a way back when I was young and I remembered a quote from him, he said "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.", so could it be?

I swam near the mirror and focused on it clearly, I saw shadows behind it and some lights, a two way mirror. I facepalmed underwater, I have been stupid. If I just thought quick, I have punched that down without even the water starting to fill the room. Bruh.

I swam now the blockaded door, got the nearest fire extinguisher, and swam near to the mirror once again. I used the fire extinguisher as a battering ram to break the mirror. Bam! Cracks started to appear, Bam! More cracks. Bam! Almost there.

On the last hit, the mirror broke and all the water and current exited to the broken mirror slash two way mirror slash police window and I was brought by the current and brought me to the other room, I almost fell near a hole, maybe a drainage for the water.

I was on the floor sputtering, and gasping for air, that is awesome, I told myself, so hardcore. And then I fixed myself and stood up and I saw 9 guys sitting on chairs including my Mom and Dad and they all clapped at me and cheered, I did use a bow.

"Why? And you tricky Macabulos and Sikatuna- " I asked.

Macabulos laughed while clapping "It is the first test of a Datu Puti, to act on the most intense, high pressure emergency scenarios. Back then, long time ago, the new datus were put in a sack and tossed to some river with crocodiles and poisonous snakes, they need to find a way to escape their sack so pray thanks you were not born on that era. The reason for why we are clapping, you are the fastest to make it alive and the calmest too." He said.

"Uh what? And you know this too Mom?! Hi Dad." I said and waved at my Dad.

"I know you've got the potential, your dad used to play with you every summer with that kind of exercise right? Like he will do a master arm lock on you and bring you underwater and you need to escape, remember?" My mom said, smiling.

"Hi son!" My dad said, proudly

"Yes, you heard it Datu Puti, you were a record breaking newbie, looks like you are really built for this, now, introduce yourself and shake hands while you're at it to the other Datus. And yes, they are arranged from their ranks" Macabulos said.

"Uh, okay." I said awkwardly.

I went to the very first to my right, I guess this is the highest rank guy Lakan Dula because of all the guys, he is the only one who wears a high class gray cashmere business suit. He looked like somewhere on the mid 20s but on his eyes, he looked like near the 70s, an old soul. He has the normal complexion of a Filipino, well, all of them are. A normal army cut, a very lithe build, not too buff, not too skinny, like the body of a gymnast. On his hands were battered with scars and he's got the composure of yes, a general. A role model to all.

I shook his hand "Lakan Dula".

"Datu Puti." He said, smiling on a very deep voice.

The next guy with him, wow, this is the great Lapu lapu? He of all the guys, he seemed the most laid back, the one with the most relaxing aura but when you look in his eyes, he's got that never ending fire. But indeed he is the calmest, not like how Macabulos described him. He is wearing the same sneaking suit-

"Oh yes, dear child," Macabulos butted in, "I play Metal Gear too, and these what we wear? These are not called sneaking suits."

"The heck did you just read my mind?" I said. Everybody laughed.

"Yep, because that is what I thought of it too when I first saw it." He laughed. "We call it the Automatic Warfare Energy Sneaking Orthopedic Mega-absorption Entity Suit, or commonly known as the A.W.E.S.O.M.E. Suit, or just call it awesome suit." He explained.

"Oh, okay, cool." I said.

So again, he is wearing the same Awesome Suit like all the other guys, just his build is quite larger than Lakan Dula. He is just so relaxed. He has the face of a teenager, somewhat on early 20s, his hair cut, a rebellious streak, he has that college guys' long wind blown hair. This is not what I expected on the greatest warrior of the organization.

I offered my hand, "Datu Lapu Lapu."

He shook my hand. "Lapu lapu is enough dude, hey Datu Puti, keep cool, life's short." He said in a very calm voice.

I nodded and smiled. I went to the next guy, same awesome suit, but this one, he's got the body of The Rock, Dwayne Johnson. Or it is like seeing The Rock in personal. He has a battle scarred face so maybe why he wears Aviator Ray Bans, but even he's got so much scars, he was so confident and he's got that smile like war is fun. The Tank.

"Datu Pagbuaya." I have spoken and offered my hand.

"Datu Puti." He shook my hand.

I moved on to the next guy, he is the serious type, like a man who grew up in the middle of warfare, who saw gore and blood at a very early age, or maybe he is just serious. He is so plain with a burning aura around him making him seem intimidating and even without speaking, his aura says "I maybe silent and serious but I can kill you within seconds. The dangerous sniper.

"Datu Dailisan, I'm a big fan." I offered my hand.

And he just nodded. How rude.

So I moved on to the next guy, now this guy got some spirit. He's got the confidence of Captain America, the smile of an artist and also a face. But even with those striking qualities, he has a major hold on his position, an air of royalty and leadership, like Lakan Dula's aura. The great Captain.

"Datu Manooc." I offered my hand for the fifth time.

"G'day Datu Puti." He shook my hand.

Macabulos is up next. He offered his hand, well, I shook it.

And then there's this man who is wearing another Cashmere business suit, but this one is wearing a midnight blue color suit. A smile that has mischief with it, like all his life was made to blend with the crowd. He has this very nervous attitude, like he has been electrocuted lots of times. The hiding spy, research and tech guy.

"Datu Sumakwel." I offered my hand.

"Datu Puti." He shook my hand with a smile.

And I moved on again,the next was surely Sikatuna, well, awhile ago in the office, he is wearing a helmet so I didn't recognize him now. Now, he looks like the Winter Soldier, you know, with the long hair, blank yet proud face, and the way he hold himself like "Heck, I can disappear anytime I wanted.".

"Sikatuna, we meet again." I offered my hand.

"Datu Puti, I'm sorry about awhile ago, my bad." He shook my hand.

And the last guy on the right, this guy was different; this guy is wearing a white doctor's coat over his awesome suit. His look at me seems like he is observing a specimen of evolution. Well, due to the evidences, he is like a doctor, the medic.

"Datu Bankaya." I offered my hand.

"Datu Puti, looking well and good now after 6 days." He shook my hand and smiled.

Macabulos stood up and announced, "Datu Puti, welcome to the Anakdatu, and these men, these will be your comrades in war, brothers in arms, friends at all times. They have seen through the war more than anybody could. We will protect each other at all times and so as help each other. We are the Anakdatu. So Datu Puti, feel free at home." He smiled.

All of the nine guys dispersed and left the room, leaving me and my mom and dad. I rushed towards them and hugged them both.

"Congratulations Ramil, you are an Anakdatu now." My father said with a very proud smile.

"But what about you dad? Where will you go?" I asked him, concerned.

"Oh, I will work here as a staff for awhile, but not a field agent." He told me.

"We will always be here my son, and to guide you too always." My mom promised.

"It's just everything is so fast, for things to sink well, well, it's quite astonishing." I told them.

"You'll get used to it, come, I'll give you a tour around The Hut." My dad said and smiled. As we trudged outside the room.