Dead City

The Rendezvous

After they manage to locate and connect to GE15, we saw the message Felix has sent us. It said that we will rendezvous at the broken bridge, which I think the bridge Mia have talked about while talking to Luke. Now, we're on our way to meet them.

Naiwan ang iba at tanging kami nila Theo, Mia, Dylan, Kurt at Tin lamang ang magkakasama.

Nasabi rin sa mensahe ang tungkol sa plano ng gobyerno sa pagpatay sa Crest at Velvet na grupo. Kailangan nilang patayin ang dalawang grupong ito, lalo na ang grupo nila Theo dahil sila ang may kayang sirain ang pinaka plano ng gobyerno.

Ang pinaka plano raw ng gobyerno ay ang paggamit ng mga aliens sa laban upang ma-kontrol nila ang bawat bansa, o tamang sabihing ang mundo, gamit ang tetrahedron. Gusto rin nilang hanapin kung saan nanggagaling ang mga aliens na nagpunta dito sa mundo upang pagmunuan din ito.

Pagkatapos ng biyahe namin ay iniwan namin ang aming sasakyan sa tagong lugar. Madilim at malamig ang simoy ng hangin dito. Napayakap tuloy ako saaking suot na kung saan pareho sa suot nila Dylan; A black hoodie. Kailangan kasi namin mag ingat upang hindi kami makita ng mga kalaban.

Ang tulay na tinutukoy nila ay sirang sira nga. It looks like there's a huge object fell that destroyed this bridge.

"There they are, captain." Wika ni Mia atsaka tinuro ang nasa harapan namin. Tinignan ko naman ito ng maigi at nakita ang apat na hubog ng mga taong naglalakad papalapit saamin. Ang tatlo dito ay hindi na nagkakalayo ng tangkad, samantalang ang isa sakanila ay halos kasing tangkad lang ni Gale at kasing payat ni Irish.

Nang makalapit sila ng tuluyan ay dito ko lang nakita ang kanilang mga itsura. I should say that they are all good looking. Yung tatlong matatangkad ay lalaki samantalang ang isa ay babae.

Ibang-iba ang itsura nila ngayon sa itsura nila dati noong tinulungan sila ng grupo nila Theo sa headquarters nang sumabog ang sasakyan nila. They looked really injured that time that's why I kind a didn't recognized them.

"Vice-captain Felix."

"Captain Theo." Pagbati nila sa isa't-isa. Inalis naman namin nila Mia ang hood ng suot namin tulad ni Theo.

The man who Theo is talking to has a shoulder blade length black hair. He has a color mustard scarf wrapped elegantly on his neck, similar color to his slacks. He's wearing a black trench coat, black inner, and black gloves. I could clearly see that he's a clean freak just by looking at him. He also has cigarette on his mouth. He is the Velvet's vice captain, Felix. And I could safely say that his physique is quite similar to Dylan's, but he's a bit bulkier.

"How did you guys escaped?" Theo asks.

"Because of Philip. His resources and quick-wittedness has helped us escaped from the hands of the government." Felix answered.

Felix is like Theo. Why am I seeing Theo in him?

The other one on his right who he called Philip has a light aura. He has a smile on his face which I never seen on Theo and Felix faces, that's why he's charismatic. He's got a clean cut and is wearing a gel to make his hair go up, exposing his whole face. He's wearing a black slacks like the other man, and a white sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Naka suot din siya ng vest na kulay lila. Out of them, gentlemen, he has a slender body.

"We've met soldiers that are different from the Government's allies on our way here. But Calum and Gin manage to eliminate them instantly." Felix said.

"As expected." Theo uttered silently.

Ang tinukoy niyang Gin ay yung babaeng nasa kaliwa niya. She has a long black hair with a gold butterfly claw hair clip on it. She's also wearing a black gloves like Felix. Naka white long sleeves siya at skirt na black na umaabot hanggang sa kaniyang tuhod. Nakasuot din siya ng stockings na black, at kulay maroon na heels. Meron din siyang subo-subong lollipop.

Ang lalaking katabi niya naman ay sa palagay ko'y si Calum, yung isang lalaking may suot ng itim na slacks. Mag kasing payat lang sila ni Ian, at siya ang pinaka maliit sa dalawang lalaking kasama niya. He's lean, to say the least. He's wearing a black turtle neck on his inner, and beige coat on top. He has 5 piercings on his left ear and 3 piercings on his right ear. He also has an undercut. Sa tingin ko ay nasa pagitan siya sa pagiging seryoso at charismatic nila Felix at Philip.

"Where is captain Stone?" Tanong ni Calum.

"We aren't with them. Captain Stone and Brian have been missing for more than a week. Luke is the only one with us. But he's in our hideout together with our other members." Sagot ni Dylan.

Why do I have in my mind who are those enemies Felix have talked about?

.

"I almost didn't recognized you three, Captain Theo, Mia and Dylan." Sabi ni Philip habang kami ay naglalakad na papasok sa building kung nasaan sila Ian. Alam ko naman agad kung bakit niya ito sinabi, dahil sa buhok nila.

"This kind of design for defense, it's the idea of Luke, am I right?" Pagtanong ni Gin habang tinitignan ang paligid.

"Yes. It is majority of Luke's idea. But Owen, Captain and especially this man, Kurt, have a big part of making this particular design." Mia answered.

Ngayon ko lang ito nalaman na kasama pala si Kurt sa pagplano dito. He's impressive.

"It's not polite to ask this but, who are these people? I have to ask for safety purposes. They're might be a spy sent by the enemies." Wika ni Calum at tinukoy kami nila Kurt at Tin.

"They're not an enemy nor a spy. They are our alliies. There are more of them inside." Pagsagot ni Dylan sakaniya.

"In that case, well, let me introduce myself to you three. My name is Calum, I am part of the group named the Velvet. I am good at the battlefield, but many of my enemies are underestimating me because of my physique, which led them into the disadvantage." Wika niya atsaka bahagyang inayos ang kaniyang suot habang patuloy kami sa paglalakad.

"It pains me that people cannot afford to peak at my beautiful body. How I wish they could just sneak peak under this clothes of mine before I even end their lives." Mayabang niyang sabi.

"They probably choose not to see that because they don't want to have that image in their minds for the last moments of their lives." Sambit naman sakaniya ni Philip kaya siya tinignan ng masama ni Calum.

"Shup up!" Aniya kay Philip.

"Only if you'd kiss me." Malanding wika ni Philip atsaka ngumuso kay Calum na hindi namin inasahan nila Tin.

"So, you're part of making this. Impressive, huh. I'm sure Gin here probably studying every details and purpose you have done to build this as we walk." Pagiiba ni Calum atsaka ipinatong ang braso kay Kurt. Hinila niya naman si Gin atsaka rin ipinatong ang braso sa balikat niya.

"Kurt might get along with us, eh? What do you say, vice-captain?" Pagtanong ni Philip habang pinapakialaman ang mga pwede niyang mahawakan sa dinaraanan namin.

"Don't touch things if you don't want this place to explode." Kalmado at malamig na sabi sakaniya ni Felix habang may sigarilyo pa rin sakaniyang bibig. Agad naman binawi ni Philip ang kaniyang kamay.

"What do you mean?" Tanong ni Philip na animo'y batang takot na takot. Napatawa naman si Dylan atsaka ipinatong din ang braso kay Philip.

"There's just many bombs sleeping here. It is for emergency purposes, thanks to Kurt's idea. And hey, there's more outside. There are most probably a hundreds of bombs they've planted in our perimeter." Dylan said brightly as if he's telling a child that they will give them candies and chocolates.

Wait, what?! Bombs?!

But how did Felix knew there are bombs here? Even I don't even know nor see any bombs here.

Hindi ko namalayan na napatigil pala ako sa paglalakad dahil sa kaalamang maraming bomba ang nakapalibot saamin ngayon. Mabuti na lang at tinapik ako ng bahagya ni Tin sa balikat.

Pagkarating namin ay agad silang binati nila Luke, samantalang sila Irish ay biglang-bigla sa mga nakikita. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa kagandahang lalaki at babae ng mga ito o dahil sa ano mang rason.

"Captain, there are three good news and three bad news." Pagsabi ni Gale pagdating ni Theo sa lamesa nila. Sumunod naman sila Felix dito kasama si Luke.

Napansin ko ang pagtitig ni Gale kay Calum at sa palagay ko'y si Ian din, dahil tinulak niya ng bahagya si Gale upang mabalik siya sa kasalukuyan. Agad naman nag iwas ng tingin si Gale atsaka namula.

"What is it?" Tanong ni Theo.

"Oh! Ahh.... ahm.... the three good news is that we located Captain Stone and two of the ETPs, as well as, some necessary information about the aliens that are invading the Earth. The three bad news is that the enemies located our place and they're on their way here, they also manage to steal the list of our names and data about all of us, including them, and the blueprint of our headquarters, the one you and Dahlia got from the bank. And the last one is that the aliens are evolving that's why our guns are now useless." Wika ni Gale.

Ang nakakabigla dito ay kung paano nalaman o nakuha ng gobyerno ang aming impormasyon. Hindi naman kami kasama doon sa mga pangalang nakuha namin ni Theo dati sa banko. Paano nagawa ng gobyerno 'yon?

"The reason why the enemies located our place and manage to steal some valuable information to us is because I ordered Ian to infiltrate the government's main system in order to locate the ETPs. But, Luke and Gale also manage to steal some exclusive information there about the aliens invading the Earth." Sabi ni Hans.

"It's fine. It's a good trading, agent Lopez." Paghawak ni Theo sa balikat ni Hans bago niya ito lampasan upang dumiretso sakanila Owen sa kabilang lamesa.

"How did you guys manage to infiltrate the government's system? I mean, our state right now can't do that if there isn't any internal access from the government that will allow us to enter their system." Tanong ni Mia sakanila Ian.

"It was Giz. She's the one who allowed us to penetrate the main system of the government." Sagot ni Ian.

"Speaking of Giz, did you find her location?" Tanong ni Mia na nais ko rin sanang itanong sakanila.

"Her exact location, not yet. But we presume she's fine because she manage to help us infiltrate the government's system." Tugon ni Gale.

"How much time do we have until the enemies reach our perimeter?" Tanong ni Theo kaya ako napatingin sakanila.

"About ten minutes, captain." Sagot ni Owen.

"We don't have much time left." Halos pabulong niyang sabi habang ang mga palad niya'y naka patong sa lamesa.

We really don't have much time left. We can't risk any moment we have now. What happened before, meeting face-to-face of our enemies and escaped, is just a mere luck. Right now, we don't know if ever luck is still with us. We need more time to leave this area.

According to my understanding, fighting the enemies will probably not an ideal move. We can't risk our assets and our lives fighting enemies that doesn't have any valuable thing we can get from. But still, if we can't have more time to gather our things here we will fall back to where we have nothing but a mere will, again.

"Captain, one more thing. The enemies approaching are many in numbers and powers than we have right now. But if ever we faced them, we still have the chance to win, now that we have the two most finest killing machines, Calum and Gin. We have an 89% chance to win. But if the aliens meddle, which has a high probability, now that they're also increasing in numbers rapidly, we'll lose because we lack the right weapons for them. The enemies combine have 97% chance of winning. The enemies are in the advantage now." Pagkuha ng attention ni Gale sakaniya.

Is this the statistician Mia have talked about before? As I remember, she said, Gale is not only expert in computers and has a fast hands. She said that Gale can be an statistician when in the matter of life and death situation.

Right, the aliens. I nearly forgot about them. Maybe because they're laying low, or maybe evolving, just like Gale said.

"Gather all the important things we have. The most important things only. We can't risk the 89 percent." Utos ni Theo kaya lahat kami ay kumilos na, maliban sakanila Felix, Philip, Calum at Gin na nasa tabi lang at mukhang nago-obserba.

Bigla ko naman naalala yung sinabi ni Luke tungkol kay Felix sa taas ng respeto niya kay Theo.

"Damn it. We're always the one that is being pursued." Reklamo ni Kurt.

"We can't help that. The friend we have is part of the group that the government itself cannot bring to submission." Sambit ni Eula.

I glances at my side where Felix and his other members are just sitting calmly. I can't believe that Calum and Gin are the most finest killing machines, according to Gale. I mean, they aren't look like one.

I am now curious how the Velvet group work. Napanood ko na kasi ng ilang beses kung paano magtrabaho ang grupo nila Theo, ang Crest group. Ang grupo na lang nila Captain Stone ang hindi pa.

"Captain, all done." Sabi nila Mia sakaniya.

"Owen, group everyone according to purposes. I'll gonna try something to expand our time limit." Utos sakaniya ni Theo atsaka nagpunta sa lamesa nila Ian atsaka may pinagpipindot.

I assume it's about the bombs they've planted in our perimeter.

"And, ahm, oh! Captain. Gangs that once pursued us before are planning to attack us again. I just wanted to inform you." Ian informed him.

Gangs that once pursued us? Yung mga dating kasama ni Dylan?

"Alright." Pagtango ni Theo.

"Agent Kenny. Please come here at once." Pagtawag niya kay Dylan kaya rin siya agad na lumapit.

"Okay. Everyone, we only have four available and trusted vehicles so I'm gonna split us into four groups." Sabi ni Owen habang nasa gitna. Lumapit naman kami ng bahagya tulad nila Felix upang marinig siya ng malinaw.

"The first group which should be in the first lane includes Mia, Gale, Gin, Irish, and Kurt. Your purpose is the way. The three remaining groups are dependant in your sense of direction."

"The second group that should be in the second lane includes me, Ian, Theo, Athena, and Dahlia. Our purpose is overseeing all the other groups, make a decision as well as commanding, and the bridge between the first lane and the third lane."

"The third group that must be in the third lane includes Luke, Dylan, Eula, and Felix. Your purpose is offense. You will be guarding the second group and backing up the fourth group in case of unavoidable fight. You also should update your front what is going on with you and in your back in order for them to give the information to the first group and also make a decision. But this group doesn't have a person that knows medicals, so beware."

"The last group which must be the last in the lane includes Hans, Tin, Antonio, Philip and Calum. Your purpose must be defense and an overseer to your front and your back. This group knows how to flee effectively to avoid any damage or injuries. However, this group doesn't have an access to Ian's laptop. Meaning, it will be hard for you to communicate to us." He discussed.

Nasabi niya rin na hindi kami pwedeng gumamit ng earpiece ngayon dahil malaki ang tsansa na ma-track kami ng mga kalaban dahil sa nangyaring koneksyon kanina sa main systems ng kalaban at saamin. Magiging mabilis sakanila na kumpleto ang kagamitan na ma-track kami, kaya mas mabuting mag ingat.

"Any more questions?" Tanong niya ngunit wala ng nagsalita pa saamin.

Why am I in the second lane?

"Your face asks why did I put you into the second group." Sabi saakin ni Owen kaya ako napatingin sakaniya.

Ang iba ay naglalagay na ng mga kagamitan sa sasakyan.

"Well... ahm. Yeah. Why did you put me in that group? I mean, I can't even see myself being in that group." I said that made him chuckle a little.

"You're underestimating yourself as well as not trusting and knowing how capable you are." He said.

"Compared to all of us, the Crest group, your quick in reading the situation is almost in the range of captain Theo. You're the only one of us, including the group of captain Stone, that is able to synchronised almost everytime to the way captain Theo's critical thinking."

"That's why we didn't even questioned why you're being able to stay beside our captain almost everytime and having the capacity to grip and understand the situation without anyone's help. We didn't even bother if you two are making a decision or whatnot, because we believe that you have the capacity."

"Eh?" Hindi makapaniwala at naguguluhan kong sabi sakaniya kaya siya ulit napatawa ng bahagya.

"Let's say for example about our General betraying us and framing captain Stone. Captain Theo already suspecting our General when we're still in our headquarters, while his members are still ignorant about it. We suppose that the reason why he stole the prototype ETP and give it to Ian is because he is suspecting that the General has some hidden agendas, which turned out to be true. And you, being with us for like a week keep up of what is happening already."

"I myself realized all of that later, when we're analysing while you two are in the bank."

"Eh?" Mahina kong sabi dahil hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa mga sinasabi niya.

"You know what, our General have said before to us that fighting Captain Theo is like fighting himself has made sense to me now. I've been with captain for over a decade, and yet, I or anyone of our group can't even keep up the pace of Captain's thinking." Aniya atsaka bahagyang natawa.

"How pitiful I am for not realizing that til now." He said.

Tinulungan naman na namin sila Mia sa paglagay ng mga gamit sa sasakyan.

"Let's go! This place are gonna explode!" Sabi ni Kurt kaya na kami agad nagsipasok sa sasakyan namin.

Tinapakan agad ni Athena ang gas pagkaandar nila Mia sa harapan namin. Sumunod naman na sila Dylan at Hans sa likod. Pagkalayo namin ng bahagya sa lugar ay may pinindot si Theo sa laptop na hawak niya atsaka biglang sumabog yung building sa likuran namin kung saan kami galing kanina. May pinagpipindot pa siya dito at nagsunod-sunod ulit ang pagsabog ng daan sa likuran namin.

All this time, that building has a lot of bomb waiting to detonate. Pati ang daan kasalungat sa dinaraanan namin ngayon ay punong-puno rin ng bomba na ngayon ay patuloy pa rin sa pagsabog. It's like it is connected to each other, and it's core is our building because of how the bombs are exploding consecutively.

May mga pinagpipindot pa siya hanggang sa natapos siya at si Ian na ang pinabayaan niya sa pagta-type habang ang bomba ay dinig na dinig ko pa rin saaming likuran dahil sa lakas ng mga ito.

I think Theo chooses to destroy our place in order for us to stay hidden from our enemies. If ever they have seen our things back in our building, they will gonna get informations to us using it, and we don't want that to happen. I also think that by planting bombs in our perimeter is for buying us time to escape this area so that the enemies approaching can't tail us.... again.

"Agent Mendoza, send the location of captain Stone to agent Austria."

"Roger, captain." Tugon ni Ian.