Dead City

Frame

Makalipas ang halos dalawang oras ay bumalik ako sakanila Tin upang panoorin ang ginagawa nila ulit. Hindi ko na kasi kinaya kanina ang panonood sa kanila.

"Could you pour that vial on your right in to this vial?" Tanong ni Tin kay Dylan.

"What is that?" Tanong ko kay Tin at tinukoy ang pinaghahalo niyang likido.

Sa itsura niya ngayon ay mukha na siyang isang scientist dahil sa puting gown, gloves at iba pang gamit na suot niya.

"I'm redoing my mixture earlier, but I've made adjustments." She answered.

Napatingin naman ako sakanila Ian sa gitna kaya ako nagpunta doon.

They're super busy.

"Can you make this sentence more of urgent request?" Pagturo ni Theo sa papel na pinagsusulatan ni Eula.

"Yes. Of course."

"Oh, uhm, Dah. I almost forgot to tell you. I've found your mother and sister's location. They're in the arena where other people were instructed to stay for safety for a while. I managed to talked to them for a minute to make sure they're really fine, which they are. They asked me to lend you a message, because it's too hard for them to connect so they might not be able to message you directly. They said that they're fine and you should take care of yourself. Your sister also told me to say that she misses you and love you so much." Mahabang sabi ni Ian. Bigla naman ako parang nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib.

Gladly, they're fine!

"Thank you so much, Ian. I owe you one." I said.

"No. You saved me, so I owe you. And afterall, you're my friend so it's nothing. I'm happy to help you, Dah." He replies.

"Thank you, Ian. Really.... thank you." I said. Ngumiti naman siya saakin bago bumalik sakaniyang ginagawa.

Now I can stop worrying so much for them.

"How's it going?" Tanong ko kay Eula ng makalipat na si Theo sakanila Gale.

"I'm in the process of polishing the message we will send to the government." Aniya.

Bigla akong napatigil nang maalala yung mga sinabi ni Stone dati kay Mia tungkol sa gobyerno. Dali-dali akong lumapit kay Theo upang sabihin ito.

"May I talk to you for a minute?"

"I'm kind a busy. Is it urgent?"

"Yes!" I answered briefly. Tinignan niya muna ako ng ilang segundo bago bumuntong hininga atsaka sumunod saakin dito sa parang "silid".

"I think Captain Stone is not the culprit. He said when they've got to the Government's Office, they find out that the government wants to eliminate a group, and Stone said that that group is this group. He also said that they were watching every move we make."

"When did he said that?" Biglang tanong ni Theo.

"When the city were attacked by Government's soldiers." Tugon ko.

He probably didn't heared it because he was too preoccupied on something, or maybe he partially removed his connection to us.

"If that's the case, then someone must've framed Captain Stone." He said.

"Why didn't you have said that earlier?" Tanong niya.

"I forgot." I uttered.

Hindi siya nagsalita ng ilang segundo na animo'y may malalim na iniisip. Magpapaalam na sana ako nang bigla niyang hilain ang aking kamay.

"Don't go yet." Sabi niya kaya ako napaharap.

"Why?" Tanong ko atsaka niya binitiwan ang aking kamay.

"Remember when I was finding the other ETP when we're still in the headquarters?"

"Yes. Why?"

"I'm not actually finding it because I already assumed that the ETP were stolen. I was inspecting the area."

"And do you also remember when Ian were about to open the door for me?"

"Yes, I remember."

"It is because I saw how clean the area is-far from what I was expecting. Because if someone were to stole something from a foreign area, it should be messy, right?"

"Then someone who knows the area is the one who stole it." Pagdugtong ko sa sinabi niya.

"Then who is it? I'm more convince now that Captain Stone didn't done it. Besides, he's with us when the headquarters were under attack." I said.

"Probably someone who is in the higher position. Someone who also has connection or part of the government." He said.

"Someone who has the authority. Someone...." Napatigil ako atsaka sakaniya napatingin.

"The General." Sabay naming sabi.

"But... didn't you said that he sacrificed himself to give you the other ETP as well as to save all of us, that's why we have the two ETP's?"

"Yes. But if you look into different perspective, it make sense."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Probably to make things easier for him. He gave the other one to us because he must've realized that the other one is already with us. So to make things easier for him, he gave the other one and also plan to give the other to us since betraying us is the last thing we could've think of from him. By that, it will be as quick as grabbing the juice from your trusted friend."

Ibig sabihin ay ginamit niya yung tiwala sakaniya nila Theo, pati sila mismo ay ginamit niya rin, para sa sarili niyang rason.

"Then why did he frame Captain Stone? Why Captain Stone?" I asked.

"Stone has a history of being aggressive, but it is just because he was protecting someone. He will do anything just to protect the people he value the most. Everyone of us knows it."

"It may be the best reason to frame him since the ETP's and tetrahedron are the reason why his sister died. To look like it was a revenge."

"But why--" naputol ang sasabihin ko nang bigla kaming nakarinig ng kalabog kasabay ng sigaw sa labas kaya kami dali-daling lumabas.

Pagkakita namin ay hawak-hawak ng Heneral si Giz habang nakatutok ang baril nito sa ulo ni Giz.

Hindi ko napansin yung baril niya kanina. Saan ba iyan galing?

"D-dad? What's the meaning of this?" Bahagyang paglapit ni Mia.

"Don't move sweetheart." Pagharap nila ng baril sakaniya kaya siya agad napatigil at itinaas ang dalawang kamay.

Ibinalik ulit ng Heneral ang baril kay Giz.

"General Diaz, please lower your gun. Don't involve others to this. Let's calmly talk about this." Wika ni Theo habang nakataas ng bahagya ang dalawang kamay.

"Give me the other ETP." Aniya. Ang isang ETP ay nasa harapan nila, samantalang ang isa ay na kay Hans na hindi ko alam kung paano napunta sakaniya. Bigla naman sumingit saaking isipan yung sinabi ni Mia saakin dati na si Hans ay may sobrang bilis na kamay.

"I'm afraid I can't do that General." Sagot ni Hans.

"Agent Lopez, please give me the other ETP so we can't hurt anyone here." Madiin at may pagbabantang sabi niya.

Si Giz ay umiiyak na dahil sa takot.

"Grab the other ETP." Utos niya kay Giz kaya niya ito nanginginig na kinuha sa lamesa.

"Agent Lopez, I repeat, give me the other ETP." Sabi niya ulit.

"Agent Kenny, give me also the serum you were experimenting earlier. That one in the middle."

"But that's--" nahinto si Tin sa pagsasalita nang itutok sakaniya ng Heneral yung baril.

"You're like Miss Chantal, their former member whose specialization is about medicine."

"I wonder what will she feel when she knew she was been replaced." Wika niya atsaka tinignan isa-isa sila Hans hanggang sa huli niyang tinignan ay si Theo, atsaka ngumiti ng maliit.

"Agent Kenny, the vial." Madiin niyang sabi kay Dylan ulit.

"I ca--"

Bigla niyang pinaputok ang kaniyang baril sa itaas kaya kami lahat napayuko.

"The vial and the other ETP! Please."

"Agent Kenny, Agent Lopez, give him what he wants." Theo ordered.

Hindi agad gumalaw sila Dylan at Hans.

"We will give you what you want, in exchange of her." Sabi ni Theo sa Heneral.

"Deal." He said.

Bahagyang lumapit sila Hans sakaniya samantalang siya'y kinuha ang isang ETP kay Giz atsaka siya nito tinulak dahilan ng pagkatumba niya sa sahig.

Napansin ko sila Kurt at Owen na pasimpleng kinukuha ang mga baril sa lapag, o kung tawagin nila Ian na GNK7.

Kasabay ng pagbasag ng mga pader ang pagbaril ni Kurt sa kamay ng Heneral kaya niya nabitiwan ang hawak niyang baril, samantalang si Owen ay binaril din ang flashdrive na nasa lamesa na balak sanang kunin din ng Heneral kaya ito nawasak.

Ito yung flashdrive kung nasaan yung mga datas na kinuha nila Ian at Giz dati.

May mga sundalong nagsipasok atsaka mabilis na kinuha ang Heneral kasama ng mga gusto niyang kunin kanina, maliban sa flashdrive dahil ito'y nawasak. Pati si Mia ay hinihila nila ngunit nagpupumiglas siyang sumama.

"Let go of me!"

"Get your filthy hands out of her! She said let go of her!" Ani ni Owen na malapit kay Mia.

"Get the girl. She can be our asset." Sabi ng Heneral sa mga kasamahan niya at tinukoy si Giz.

We are about to react when the soldiers pointed us their guns ready to fire if ever we make a move.

"No. No!" Pagpupumiglas ni Giz ngunit nagawa na nila siyang maisakay sa kotse.

Nang makuha na nila lahat ng gusto nilang makuha ay agad din silang umalis. Pero bago sila tuluyang makalayo ay nagbato sila ng bomba dito saamin kaya kami agad naalerto.

Mabilis akong tumalikod ngunit nakaramdam ako ng pagyakap saaking likuran bago ito sumabog. Tumilapon kami sa kung saan dahil sa lakas nito.

Mabilis akong bumangon upang makita sila Ian, ngunit tanging itim ang aking nakikita at matinis na ingay ang naririnig ko. Bahagyang bumabalik ang aking paningin ngunit ang pandinig ko'y ganon pa rin.

"Dahlia. Are you okay? We need to go." Mahina kong dinig na sabi ni Irish saakin atsaka ako tinulungan makatayo.

Habang naglalakad kami ay napatingin ako sakanila Mia at Gale.

"Captain. Wake up, captain!" Anila sa lalaking puno ng sugat at galos sa katawan na nakahiga sa sahig at walang malay. Dito ko lang din naalala yung yumakap saakin bago sumabog yung bomba.

It was him. It was Theo. The one who hugged me is Theo. But why did he do that? Why did he protect me?

"Tin. Are you okay? Can you hear me?" Rinig kong tanong ni Dylan kaya ako napatingin sa aming gilid.

Nakaupo si Tin sa sahig habang hawak ang kaniyang ulo. Sa pagkakaalala ko'y mas malapit sila doon sa bomba kaysa sa amin ni Theo.

"Come on everybody, let's go! Vice-Captain has started the engine." Wika ni Ian malapit sa pinto.

"Let's go. We need to hurry." Sambit ni Irish saakin.

Pagsakay naming lahat sa sasakyan ay agad din kaming umalis.

Pagkarating namin sa isang mukhang lumang gusali ay agad kami ditong pumasok. Si Kurt ang nagsabi na pwede kami ditong tumuloy. Nang makarating kami sa sinasabi niyang kwarto ay bumungad saamin ang mga lalaking may napakaraming tattoo, may iba pa nga sakanila na nasa proseso ng pagta-tattoo sa kanilang mukhang kliyente.

"Kurt. It's been a long time. How have you been? Who are these people?" Pagbati sakaniya ng mukhang may ari dito sa lugar. Medyo maliit siya, mataba ng kaunti, medyo malaki ang katawan, maraming tattoo at hikaw, kalbo at may mahabang balbas.

"Ey! Antonio. It's really been a long time. It's nice to see you again. And uh... these people are my comrades. We were attacked, and you're the first person that slips into my mind."

"Attacked? By whom?"

"The soldiers from the Government."

"The Government?"

"Yes. It's a long story." Kurt said.

"You mean the bombing incidents? It's all over the news." Aniya matapos sabihing tumuloy kami. Ang mga nagta-tattoo ay gumilid lahat upang mabigyan kami ng espasyo. Ang isa naman sakanila ay binuksan ang T.V at tama nga ang sinabi nung lalaking si Antonio, nasa balita na ito.

Bigla akong kinabahan nang makita ko ang itsura namin ni Theo. Hindi ito masyadong malinaw, ngunit alam kong kami ito. Ito yung panahong tumatakas kami sa banko, bago namin makita ang ama ni Mia.

Shit! I'm on T.V. I and Theo are on T.V.

Ang sabi sa balita ay may mga kawatan na nahuli sa lugar na may mga armas kung saan kami galing kanina, kaya walang nagawa ang mga sundalo upang lumaban pabalik. Ang sabi ay yung lalaki at babaeng nakuhanan ng litrato na tumatakas galing sa banko ay pinaghihinalaang lider ng grupo ng mga kawatan.

Ang sabi rin nila ay natamaan pa raw ang komander ng mga sundalo dahil sa insidente. May tama ang isang lalaking mukhang tinutukoy nilang komander sa braso. May mga bendahe din ito sa kamay at kaniyang mukha.

Who on earth is that man? I didn't even saw him there.

Sabi pa rito ay nasa proseso sila ngayon ng pagtitingin sa lugar ng mga katawan ng mga kawatan o dikaya'y ebidensya na pwede nilang makuha.

Hinahanap ng mata ko ang ama ni Mia, ngunit wala. Lahat ng sinasabi nila sa balita ay mali.

Nilipat nila ito at napunta sa balita na kung saan ang mga "Humanoid Creatures" ay mas dumadami na at kumakalat sa iba't ibang parte ng mundo. Noong unang nood ko sa TV noong bago pa namin malaman ang tungkol sa trabaho ni Ian ay hindi pa sila gaano marami, pero ngayon ay sobrang dami na nila.

Ang sabi pa dito'y gumagawa na ng paraan ang gobyerno upang masolusyunan ang nangyayari, ngunit ang tanging nakikita ko lang ay pinapapunta lang nila ang mga tao sa isang malaking lugar.

May mga pulis at sundalo na nagkalat, ngunit wala silang panama sa mga "Humanoid Creatures" o kung tawagin nila Ian ay L-X, dahil tipikal na baril lang ang kanilang gamit.

Ang dami ng nabawian ng buhay, ayon sa balita.

"Are those humanoid creatures real?" Tanong ni Antonio saamin.

"They are." Tugon ni Hans.