AUTHOR: INDONESIA HERO
Collaboration: CEDKU

“Why did Captain Charlie get off? It could be an enemy!” frantic Lieutenant Hartono asked another soldier in the truck.

“Focus only on his orders, Bengal. We will finish the task and disappear,” replied one person to the right of Hartono with the code name Corbetti.

“Wolf? I'm not used to that code.” Lieutenant Hartono noticed nine people in the truck who did not show his face. Just one day he saw a state secret, and now he has become a special force that is considered just a myth.

“Because Captain Charlie is down, I am Altaica who will lead you until the captain returns, any questions?”

“No!” answer them simultaneously.

...----------------...

Heavy rain fell in the city of Jakarta, as if to flush the entire surface of the city that was once crowded. Black clouds marched in the sky, adding to the gloomy impression amidst the chaos that ensued. However, the spatter of falling water is not enough just to calm the mood of the city residents who are being hit by monster attacks. They were piqued by shouts heard from afar, as well as shocks felt on the ground whenever the horde of monsters made an attack. Survivors continued to take shelter in safe places, while others continued to fight against the invincible enemy. However, the increasingly heavy rain does not seem to care about the circumstances that occur, continue to flush the city of Jakarta with a heavy.

“I repeat, are you an enemy or a friend?” ask once again the soldier defeated the sound of rain with a firm tone. Kahar did not answer or budge. There's no time for a fight here.

He was searching and Uncle Samsul and this soldier would die if faced with Kahar. Kahar turned his face. Run as hard as he can. Against the specks of rain that hit his face. With the speed he had, Kahar thought he had left the soldier far behind. Right now, Kahar was standing in front of Uncle Samsul's boarding house which seemed to still stand firm even though it was almost unrecognizable around him.

“Why did you run?” ask the soldier while patting Kahar on the shoulder. The clap invited Kahar's jump. His hands crossed in front of his face to protect himself. He knew that in front of him was no ordinary man.

“You must be an ally of Setiawan.” A Kahar blow struck right between the soldier's nose and eyes. Three meters away the soldier was thrown backwards.

His body hit the fence wall and into it – disappeared in the dust mixed with rainwater. Kahar's strength had nearly tripled in the rain. Kahar thought he had killed the soldier, but it was wrong! The tiger greeted his ears. Killing loneliness.

Rise up again the soldier. His face resembled the form of a tiger in a military tactical uniform that looked gallant and could adjust to the shape of the body. His eyes had completely turned into a tiger. Feathers covered his face, sharp nails with fangs growing.

“You are so presumptuous. Or you're too shy, so don't want to introduce yourself first. All right, call me Charlie,” said the soldier as he jumped and managed to bring down Kahar.

Now, Captain Charlie overrides Kahar's body. Kahar remained on the ground. An attack with claws he withered into Kahar's face. A quick attack, Kahar can't avoid. Kahar's right cheek was badly scratched, the claw looked like a tiger's scar. Blood dripped along with rain water.

“Keep out of here!” amuk Kahar threw Captain Charlie. Kahar manages to escape the clutches of Captain Charlie. With the help of rain water as an intermediary, Kahar electricity released.

Captain Charlie was hit by the attack. He's got a knee. The protective clothing he was wearing was slightly damaged in the chest. The attack that is now the ultimate Kahar.

Kahar's breathing gasps, Kahar's eyes remain alert to see the tiger man. Rain spots disguise the fight of the two extraordinary creatures. Kahar feels that he won until Captain Charlie gets up once more and with the horses challenging Kahar.

“Interesting, let's try one more time.” At full speed, Captain Charlie ran towards Kahar. He fought in the style of a tiger, his claws continuously directed towards Kahar's face, chest, hands. Kahar can't keep up with Captain Charlie's moves.

Strikes and scratches about Kahar. Kahar tried to survive as he could. Meanwhile, Captain Charlie still beat Kahar blindly. Kahar's armor became his superiority this time around. If only without that armor, Kahar would have been dead.

“What's up? You tired?” ask Captain Charlie in a high tone.

“I am a friend, not an enemy,” replied Kahar finally who finally seemed to surrender.

“That's what I wanted to hear.” Fighting stopped. Captain Charlie feels that he won, because Kahar has been battered. However, judging by Kahar's electrical wounds, Captain Charlie is not okay.

“I just want to find someone inside that kosan.” Kahar's fish finger pointed at Uncle Samsul's place.

“I can't feel life from there. The man you're looking for may be dead,” said Captain Charlie flatly.

The rain does not want to go home. This is probably the highest rainfall in Jakarta in the last fifteen years. The wind still blows strong accompanied by lightning that is more horrified by Jakarta's face. However, the rainwater was still inferior to the tears that slowly drenched Kahar's cheeks. Together with Captain Charlie, he finds Uncle Samsul has been drenched in blood with a foul smell. His stomach was bleeding a lot. He probably died yesterday.

“No, no way,” says groan Kahar refuses to believe. Captain Charlie was silent. The blood vessels in Kahar's neck were pulsing uncontrollably. His clenched hands shook violently holding back the anger. Can't believe what he saw. The figure of Kahar's third old man had stiffened lifelessly.

“What's your name?” captain Charlie asked to try to get rid of the silence. Kahar did not answer. Her tears seemed to tell all the pain in her heart.

Slowly Kahar tried to open his mouth and said, “La-bo-rasi,” reply Kahar stammered.

“Listen to this, Collaboration. You don't have to understand, this one I understand is we're on the same side as you. You know Prof. Setiawan Santoso?” ask Captain Charlie. Kahar's eyes were shocked, wide open and his eyebrows raised.

“I assume it is yes,” concluded Captain Charlie resolving his own question.

“Please say we're not people. All we want is the same as you – Setiawan life or death.”

Armored truck has arrived at the right wing – the destination. This right wing is in the eastern part of Garuda Nusantara University, close to the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Affairs. Two-meter-high walls were knocked down easily. The road has opened, an elite team has successfully entered to conduct a life or death capture operation. Trucks continued to drive cautiously inside the university, while soldiers took aim through the windows of – trucks five on the left and five on the right.

“We arrived, there is no sign of the presence of fish monsters,” reported the truck driver.

“Stay watch around, we will wait three minutes. These monsters reportedly attacked by relying on the element of surprise. We'll wait for them out.” Vice-Captain – Altaica fired a shot at any direction. It was as if the shot was telling all the monsters to come out and face us.

“Corbetti, Bengal, Amonsis you guys squad one. Trace the range of the pool, carry heavy weapons – Den SS9 with caliber 8.5 mm. The assault weapon is enough to crush the monsters to ashes,” Altaica's orders.

“Ready!” answer them all three.

“Virgata, Sumaterae, Jacksoni you two squad with the task of tracing the laboratory and capture Setiawan alive or dead.

Arm yourself the same as squad one. The rest of my –, Sondaica, Balica, and Panthera will sweep away objects around this faculty, in the absence of Captain Charlie, remain vigilant, turn on always communication. This truck will be parked next to the Faculty of Economics – not far from where we are. Clear this?”

“Clearly!”

One by one the soldiers went down, dispersing according to the strategy that had been divided. Hartono the Bengal with two colleagues walked towards the direction of three o'clock, where the faculty pool was located. From behind his sunglasses, Hartono saw squads two and three slowly disappearing.

“Bengal, stay in formation,” said Amonsis still with vigilance.

The faculty pool is quite spacious, it takes ten minutes to rotate it. According to the reports circulating, exactly this was the first time a monster had sprung up. The three of them actually walked in death waiting.

Squad one had successfully circled once the pool, nothing they found. Only the fishy remains of the monster slime were left there.

“Report, squad one finished circling the pool. No signs, done,” Corbetti said through a tool attached to their ears.

“Stay being there. Repeat again. Make sure the object has disappeared.”

“Understanding.”

Hartono could only see his two seniors walking faster than him, with hands that held steady to the long barrel guns. The eyes of the three people looked at the pond and its surroundings, nothing dangerous. As the silence whispered loudly, came a report from squad two that Hartono could listen to as well because it was in the same channel.

“Regu two reporting, here rotten once. We can't get in yet. Laboratory doors are tightly closed. We will break down.” The voice was not clear who it came from, but Hartono guessed it was Virganta.

“Accepted, do it.” Altaica really looked like a leader, it could Hartono feel from her firm and confident tone. Although in truth, Altaica was not very senior, but her intelligence and leadership spirit made Altaica the Vice-Captain.

“That child, always reigns. I'm proud and annoyed at him.” Corbetti turned his face to Amonsis next to him. From the beginning, Hartono suspected that Corbetti was an old man of his tone. It turns out to be true.

“I should retire next year as a field team, I want to also feel working behind the table,” confided Amonsis slightly let go of his guard.

“Why do you want to let go of the past and background?” asked Hartono who from the beginning wanted him to ask. That question was actually disliked by the elite field members. Questions that are not asked for answers.

“Bengal, I'm not just wasting the past, I'm rumored to be dead.” said Corbetti who cut a shout on the radio channel. “Sial! We need help!”

“Regu two in! We're going there, everybody hang vigilance. We're heading to the lab now.”

...****************...

Captain Charlie took out a body bag that he kept in his pants pocket. The bag is orange. Somehow the way he folds it so it fits in there. Kahar slowly inserts the body of Uncle Samsul assisted by Captain Charlie who has transformed into an ordinary human again.

“I will send a signal, soon to the medical personnel to transport your uncle's body,” Captain Charlie explained. His eyes that were as sharp as a tiger were still visible even though he was now human. His long, curly hair and mature brown skin did not look like soldiers. Kahar who is still in Collaboration mode to hide his true identity is still in disbelief with what he faces.

“Listen to this, Son. The military has managed to repel the horde of monsters. Now East Jakarta is almost clean of monsters. But, despite being cleaned up continuously, if this mastermind is not all captured, what's the point of ‘kan?” captain Charlie said he was trying to convince Kahar. “My team is moving towards Garuda Nusantara University. We will be greatly helped by your strength. Come with me,” concluded Captain Charlie, thrusting his hand.

“I'll be there because I want to kill Setiawan. Not because I want to be with you.” Kahar refused Captain Charlie's hand. Then walk slowly first.

“I don't mind.”