It was eight o'clock in the evening, and the Chinook helicopter, carrying civilians from Boracay arrived.
His notification sounded in his head, informing him that he had received 1,000 per civilian rescued. So he had received over 23,000 since their total number is 23.
They were all processed in the civilian section of the base, the same system used for every survivor brought in from the condominium Bayshore Residential Resort 1.
Even the congressman was there.
He stood off to the side of the intake area, jaw still bruised, a faint discoloration forming along his cheek where the punch had landed earlier.
When his turn came, he stepped forward without waiting to be called.
"I need to speak with whoever is in charge here," he said, voice controlled now, but still carrying that same edge. "Immediately."
The staff member behind the table didn't look up right away.
"Name," she said.
"I just told you, I'm a—"
"Name," she repeated.
A brief pause.
