Authors notes: Sorry guys I wasn't able to post because I had a cold 😞😞
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" I will get us a train " Said Luna as he nods to both Roman ( Francisco) and Rusca.
Roman and Rusca look's at each other because they have no idea what Luna's talking about.
Time skip
Location: Provincial train station
Workers unload cargo, sacks of sugar and copra from small horse-drawn carts onto the train loading platform. A sweating stuffy looking Englishman, Phineas Phys Alcott, holds the ledger and bosses the workers.
" No, no. Over there! The copra goes there! How many times must I repeat myself. " - Alcott.
General Luna, Rusca and Roman make their way toward's Alcott.
"Yes, What is it? " Says Alcott looking at the group of armed men.
Rusca (Whispers to the General): " General, do you know how to speak English? "
Luna looks at Alcott and says.
Luna ( speaking fluidly in French ): "Est-ce que vous parlez français Monsieur?"
" Euh, un peu, oui. " replied Alcott to the General's question.
" Je suis le general Antonio Luna, comandant General de-
General Luna halted speaking as Alcott interups him.
" Oui oui, que puis-je faire pour vous? "
He shifts his attention to some workers.
" Damn it to hell. I said over there! Alli! Doon! Diyan! " Said Alcott flustered by the workers.
He turns back to Luna. Alcott is clearly struggling with his French.
" il faut... il faut... " he says trying to speak.
He give up.
" One must have extreme patience towards indolence. so what is it? " he says with a sign.
Rusca and Luna looks at each other. Now It's Luna who has to step up his game. He speaks in halted, broken English.
Luna ( points to the train) " That train. Sequestered by Americans, yes?"
" I'm not quite sure. " replied Alcott.
" Not quite sure? " Says Luna with confusion on his face.
" Quite Correct, sir " said Alcott.
" Then I am quite sequestering that train. "
" You are what? Don't be absurd, sir " says Alcott laughing.
Luna looks at Roman for help.
" He says you're crazy. "
Rusca step's up to punch the clerk but Luna stop's him.
" Absurd? yes! commanding General of the Philippine Army is absurd! " ( To Roman and Rusca ) " Arrest him! " The General ordered.
Roman and Rusca grab's Alcott's arms. Alcott whips out a passport from his coat pocket.
" Wait! See here! My passport! Read the signature on this document! " He said waving his passport at the General. Luna grabs the passport and study's it.
Luna ( Studying the passport) " My goodness! Signature of the Queen Victoria's secretary of state, Lord Salisbury! "
" None other. Now, there's a good chap, release me and off you go. " Said Alcott as he shakes off the two men.
Luna ( To Roman ) " My English is running out, Arrest him already and get him out of here, damn it! " Luna says as he gets impatient and angry.
Barely suppressing their laugher Roman and Rusca pull Alcott away.
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Inside the main office of the rain station, We could see Captain Rusca and General Luna Drinking tea and eating some bread.
" This tea would go better with ensaymada. " Said Captain Rusca while drinking tea.
As we we're enjoying ourselves, Coronel Roman Francisco entered the room.
" General." He said Saluting me.
" Is everything ready? "
" Ah... we have a problem. " He said.
" The Americans? " I questioned tense at the possibility of battle.
" No, sir. Our officers. They invited their families on the train for sightseeing. There is no room for the troops to board. " Said Coronel Francisco with embarrassment.
" Damn it! " I said Dropping my tea cup at the table and storming out the room.
"You should try ensaymada with that. " Commented Coronel Francisco to captain Rusca before joining me.
At the train, we could see that it is packed with many different people's while the soldiers are waiting outside.
" Out of my way! " Said General Luna to the soldiers Making them make way. " Idiots! We are not going sightseeing! " He said as he grabs a stick near back and starts beating people with it.
" Out! " He yelled with fury on he's voice as the soldiers laughed.
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Present time: With Joven and the Reincarnated MC
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" That was a big headache. " I said massaging my head as I watch the happenings outside my window.
" That's just Filipinos being Filipinos. Family comes first. " Joven said with a smile.
' Naive ' I thought as I looked at the young man in front of me.
" And that's our biggest fault. We risk our lives for our families and neighbors but for the idea of nationhood? " I said while making my way to my chair and lighting up a cigar while Joven records what I said. " I can count with my fingers the true patriotic soldiers I've met in my life. "
" I remember one skirmish in Malabon. The fighting had stopped around dinner time. There was an American colonel who was
having dinner inside an abandoned house. " Said Luna Narrating for Joven.
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Flashback
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On a hill we could see General Luna Watching the American Coronel Eating at the abandoned house.
" Lets see who has balls amongst our infantry. " Said Gen. Luna to Roman as he gets infront of his men.
" Now, I'm giving you a chance to prove your worth to this army. Who wants to harass the Americans? They're all having dinner. " He said pointing to the house way bellow the hill.
" There is a colonel inside a house in the western side of town who is a sitting duck at this very moment. Who wants to take a shot? " He Said to his men but no one answered or stood up to volunteer.