IV - Glide Slope

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The part of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) which provides a radio beam at an angle of approximately three (3) degrees to the point of touchdown from the outer marker thus giving the pilot information about the height of the aircraft on final approach.

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August... 1941? Nineteen... forty-one?

Okay, don't get me wrong. I know history. Or rather, in a context, I know the basic and important ones. I know that of the Spanish colonization of three-hundred years plus, that of Christianity, and GOMBURZA, and Rizal, and the Propaganda Movement, and Bonifacio; the Philippine-American War after the Treaty of Paris, and Aguinaldo, and the forty years rule of the Americans; the three-years Japanese regime during World War II, and the Bataan Death March; the presidents and Martial Law and People Power and history repeating itself that the country is bound to fall to much murky waters because of electing corrupt and imbecile politicians.

Then, earlier, Geronimo mentioned Quezon and MacArthur that give me a rough idea then that it is the American regime. But that isn't much because what happened on August 1941? Or even in year 1941 at all? Is it before MacArthur's classic words of "I shall return" or after?

But still, fuck... I hate dates. Not to mention that in all era that I could've chosen to dream of, it will be in a year that I don't even have any idea at all. Like what on earth even happened on this year for me to even think... of being together... with an Elian-look-a-like out of César?

I then slap and pinch my cheeks, wielding myself to wake up and gain bearing of what dreamscape is this. Because everything feels too real; with the only problem that I can't remember anything beyond this morning. And yet... did I fall in some loophole?

No. No, 'wag mong isipin 'yan, (Y/N).

This is the cause of your imaginative brain after reading too many stories featuring such situations. Stories about being reincarnated in a different time and entering another person's body. Stories of death and being trapped in an era one doesn't actually belong to.

Pero, tangina. Paano kung ganoon nga?! Paano kung 'di lang ako nakatulog pero talagang namatay na? Like, no!

I sigh heavily and stare once again at the calendar. The month and year of August 1941 mocking me with its presence right now. I shall get my bearings, but I can't figure out what date it is today. I doubt it that neither me nor César is the type of person to make some diary or log...

Siguro si Elian, oo. Natural lang sa mga piloto ang i-logged ang mga flights nila as some sort of a baby book or diary. Pero itong si César ay isang sundalo. Hindi ko naman kailangan tanungin pa 'yon sa kanya dahil halata naman sa naging pag-uusap nila kanina at sa kasuotan nila. Pero, piloto rin kaya siya sa panaginip kong ito?

For one, I dream of Elian in this. Along with Captains Mondigo and Aclan. It shall not be too far from reality at all that they could be pilots, too, right? Like, served in the military and be fighter pilots? But does the Philippines already have such resources in this year?!

Like, hindi ko nga alam if nangyari na ang World War I or hindi pa sa panahon na ito eh! Ang masisigurado ko lang ay hindi pa nangyayari ang World War II dahil wala pang mga Hapon!

I am even doubting myself if planes are being used during the wars at that time. At least, I know that planes are still young innovations. But not that old, I guess, to be involved in World War I? World War II, sure, because Japanese planes bombed Pearl Harbor.

Alam mo namang barko lang ginamit ng mga Hapon, eh 'di talo kaagad sila.

So, it is a big question mark if they are fighter pilots, because... do the Philippines really have the money to afford such? At least, I know back in my reality that supplanting the best and most modernized fighter planes isn't on every president's toplist as they much want to fill their own pockets.

Artificial Horizon - A César Fernando Basa x Reader storyWhere stories live. Discover now