Kragus' Sabotage

Medeyin Airlines, Kanlun Mountains, Zierra Continent

***

Two thousand passengers shook as the Medeyin Airlines withstand the turbulence as it sliced through thick stratus clouds when it flew above the rocky and steep mountains of Kanlun. The sun rays gleamed through the circular glass windows lined equally at the passenger's side of the plane.

Its elegance and size made innate assurance with the passengers that never had in history that this type of plane crashed, most especially from one of the largest reputable airlines, Medeyin.

In business class, about ten passengers were comfortably lying and sitting on flexible reclining cushion seats, it could be declined or inclined, or upright. This portion of the airline, nearest to the pilot's cabin had more privacy than the economic seats at the mid-to-back portion of the plane.

Each passenger had more legroom and more features they could choose from depending on their liking. They could watch movies with small LED screens attached to their seats or they could sleep peacefully by sliding the curtains above them to provide more privacy.

A wide selection of food, from chicken cordon blue, sliced pizzas, clubhouse sandwiches, exquisite dishes of beef and pork, and even lamb chop dishes depending on the occasion. Even a wide selection of wine and liquor was offered to the passengers in this class unlike the economy class, in which they were only offered tea, water, and coffee, and a few finger snacks for their meals, otherwise, you will pay for the extra food almost double the original prices in ordinary restaurants. Business-class tickets were almost thrice the price of that regular economy fare.

Lester White, late forties, prim-looking, wore his suit with sophistication and sat on one of these elegant reclining seats. He raised his finger addressing the airline stewardess who sat almost at the back of the pilot's cabin door. She walked towards him with her arms spread across the stow bins placed on the passenger's overhead.

She wore a fitting stewardess red and white combination colored uniform and a printed logo on her chest of Medeyin Airlines.

"Hi sir, my name is Ciara. How may I help you?" Her tone was very professional and efficient.

"Hi. Can you send two glasses of vodka in the rocks, with meatball pasta for both of us?"

Lester referred to his colleague sitting beside him, an Epidemiologist, who studied and cure viral and bacterial outbreaks. It was Doctor Julio Magno, early 50's, who works for the CDC.

"Thanks, Lester." The Doctor said.

"Hey Doctor, you deserve more than this. You are helping the indigenous people of the Kanlun Mountains to be cured of this outbreak. A lot of suffering on this side of this planet and they are very lucky to have you, Doctor." Lester said.

"It would not be made possible Lester without your foundation's support to provide medical drives for these people. The outbreak is spreading fast in the mountains, given a few months, the virus will touch down major cities through animal carriers."

"That is why, what we are doing here Doctor Julio, is urgent. Financial resources are not a factor in a situation like this."

"I am very pleased Lester to have known a philanthropist like you. True in your heart. There is no need for you even to visit these places. I am sure, there is a lot of work outside of this, that needed your attention." The Doctor said with a hint of admiration for the multi-billionaire tycoon and philanthropist.

For a few moments, the Flight stewardess went back with their orders and served them on their tray tables connected to their seats. The Stewardess held a professional smile as she served the two clients. It seemed that the stewardess was extra friendly for she knew whose Lester White is. Lester White owned various companies in the pharmaceuticals and food industries and he frequents the pages of Business magazines.

"This is what I need in this life, to serve the poor, feed the hungry, and replicate this generosity amongst other individuals like me." Lester opened the thought.

"Well, it sure can motivate other business magnates Lester." Doctor Julio motioned.

The two continued their conversation regarding world philanthropy, healing the sick, and the like. Suddenly a voice interjected in the middle of their conversation. It was coming from a man sitting in front of them, overhearing their discussion.

"There is nothing you can do Lester. It is too late for the humans to survive what is to come." The man did not glance at them, still sitting in his cushion chair. His face was unconcealed with the two men sitting at the back.

Both stopped talking and Lester said to the man in front, "Ah, I think you are wrong, mister. There is always we can do and contribute to healing this world." Lester said. His voice was loud

"Well, there are things you can do, but it would not make a significant difference. Humans do not change. They are getting worse and worse and in the nearest future, this world will collapse. It is inevitable."

The man turned his body from his seat and looked at the two gentlemen sitting behind him. He was in his late 30s, handsome, with black long hair and a little mustache. He wore a business suit. His skin was brown and his eye pupils were pure black. He smiled at them with a deceptive look.

"How can you say that Mr.?" Lester asked. The billionaire was assertive in a challenge.

"Manaroth. Kragus Manaroth." The man said. "I have been watching this human race for millenniums and I see an imminent destruction of yourselves and this world. This world is dying Lester and I am here to save it."

Both gentlemen did not react, they do not know what to say. To them, this man was maybe crazy, out of this world craziness and it was futile to forcibly introduce their perspectives to this man. They remained silent and Kragus went back to his current position.

Suddenly,

'Boom!'

The deafening sound of a jet engine blew from the right side of the plane's wing. It shook the whole plane and others even jumped from their seats due to the tremendous turbulence, the explosion caused.

Then a cracking sound from the speakers said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. Our right engine blew caused by mechanical error. Please remain in your seats, and stay calm, we are trying to land safely on the north side of Kanlun mountain!"

Every passenger screamed. Lester and Doctor Julio held their hands, closed their eyes, and started praying. Kragus Manaroth just sat comfortably in his chair with a smile on his face. Shrieking sounds of metal shards, torn against the strong wind as the airline decreased its altitude. Smoke from the engine, darkened almost covered the sun rays that invaded their windows.

Oxygen masks descended from their compartments and the passengers took them with haste. Everybody was crying. Everybody prayed. Everybody screamed. All passengers ducked their heads, in a defensive position except Kragus. Just sat there smiling, and listening to the movie with his headphones. Mixed emotions of fear, resentment, and faith – as everybody prayed and hope consumed the airline's atmosphere.

Never-ending turbulence has experienced by the airline as it descended to four thousand feet slicing through the strong winds that the mountain provides.

"Brace yourselves!" Once again, the captain spoke through the speakers. For about six seconds,

'Crash!'

The airline tore in half as it crashed through a steep hill of the mountain, the tail portion bounced and rolled with tremendous speed and it fell to a cliff. As it reached the bottom, the tail portion exploded.

The other half continued its pursuit of a safe landing but the mountain was too rocky, combined with strong and old forestation. It also bounced against the rocks, shards of metal strewn across the mountain bed, and finally, it went to a full stop with the airline's nose totaling itself to a towering outcropping.

Almost all the passengers in the business class were still alive but bloodied and some bones were broken. Others were unconscious. Fire in every corner of the surviving part of the plane.

Lester woke up, with gushing blood on his forehead. A grimace of pain on his face as he tried to move, and remove himself from his seatbelt. He glanced at Doctor Julio, but he was unconscious but still breathing. He surveyed the wreckage in the hope to find help.

A smell of engine fuel invaded Lester's nostrils and he shouted, staggering, "Engine fuel leak, everybody out now!" No one seemed to move, but most of them started to move slowly.

Lester struggled to remove his foot, stuck between crumpled metal below his feet. He did not try to wake up Julio but attended to his stuck foot instead. He pulled it out with all his might and he was successful.

But in the process, it lacerated his Achilles tendon and the searing pain loomed on the affected part. He was not able to stand but crawled towards the door. He gained a few meters from crawling, then that voice again spoke, "I told you, Lester. There is nothing you can do."

Lester looked for the source and found that the man was impaled to the wall on his left side. With the sharp shard of metal came through his stomach, elevated himself from the ground. But Kragus was smiling, his blood continued to flow from his mouth, and no signs of pain on his face.

The Engine fuel's smell grew stronger. It was not a leak anymore, it seemed the fuel tank was cut open. Lester knew that the plane was going to blow, clusters of fire were in every corner of that plane. Then, the inevitable happened,

'Boom!'

The surviving plane disintegrated by the second explosion. Metal shards flew from every direction disrupting the mountain's peace. As the particles settled, smoke invaded the scene. No soul survived. What remained was the plane's metal debris, fire, and smoke everywhere, and a silhouette of a man standing at the center of chaos.

The man started to walk away from the haze of smoke and it revealed his face as the sunlight shone at him. Bloodied and with black soot all over his face but his suit was still intact but with few torn on its garments.

It was Kragus, standing as if nothing happened.