DOA: Dead Or Alive

Part 3

"READY?"

"Bring it on!"

Habang nagpa-practice ng combat fighting sina Jaime at Clein sa gitna ng kwarto, nagaayos naman at nag-a-assemble ng baril sina Yael at Troy.

Kahit pa mukhang abala si Yael, hindi naman din matigil ito sa pagsulyap sa dalaga.

"Natunaw na yang si Jaime." pasaring ni Troy. Napayuko na lang si Yael at bumalik ng tingin sa baril na hawak. "Akala ko talaga okay na kayo ni Jaime noon, hindi ko ini-expect na talagang papatulan mo pa si Angel."

"You don't know anything." seryoso lang na sagot ni Yael kaya hindi na ulit nagsalita pa si Troy patungkol rito at napailing na lang.

Sabay pa ulit silang napatingin kina Jaime at Clein na mukhang nagkakalapit na ulit simula ng magkasama silang apat.

Nakita nilang seryoso ang dalawa sa paglalaban at nataong na-headlock ni Jaime si Clein kaya nag-tap out na ito.

Tumayo na si Jaime at hinaya nito ang kamay kay Clein para tulungang makatayo rin. Bakas sa mukha nila ang saya sa ginagawa nila na tila hindi napansin ang dalawa pang binata na nakatingin sa kanila.

"Troy, Yael!" biglang tawag ni Clein sa dalawa ng napalingon sa gawi nila at tila kinabigla ni Yael iyon.

Napatingin rin si Jaime kay Yael habang nakapamewang pa at nagtama ang mga paningin nila.

"Kung ako sayo, bilisan mong kumilos. Mauunahan ka na talaga ni kano." bulong pa ni Troy sabay alis sa pwesto nila ni Yael.

Maya-maya pa ay papalapit na sina Jaime at Clein sa pwesto ni Yael ngunit nagpatay malisya na lamang ang binata.

"Nice.." pagkakita at himas ni Clein sa ilang baril na nakalatag sa lamesa. Kumuha siya ng isa at kinasa pa ito at saka pinagmasdan muli.

Humimas din ni Jaime ang ilang baril bago pa man mapaangat ang tingin niya kay Yael na may hawak na rifle at diretsong nakatingin lang sa kanya. Kinasa ni Yael ang baril niya at saka umalis sa pwesto niya papunta sa pwesto ni Troy sa shooting area.

Nagsuot din siya ng ear protection at goggles. Sabay silang pumuwesto ni Troy sa magkabilaang shooting area at halos sabay na sabay ang pagkilos nila sa pagtutok sa target ng mga baril nila at sabay ring nagpaputok nito hanggang sa maubusan sila ng mga bala.

*pak pak pak!

Malakas na slow clap naman ang narinig nila mula sa likuran nila pagkatapos magpaputok ng mga baril sina Yael at Troy kaya kaagad silang napalingon roon.

"Good job guys. So nice seeing you all today." paglapit ni Deric sa apat habang nakatingin pa rin ito sa kanya.

"Hi Deric." pagbati naman ni Clein rito ng makalapit ito sa kanila.

"I need you all at my office for your first mission."

"This is what I'm talking about!" excited namang hiyaw ni Troy at lahat sila ay nagtungo na sa opisina ni Deric kasunod ito.

"THESE are the images of the Golden Turtle or the Gintong Pawikan that has been stolen 8 years ago at our National Museum. It has been reported from the CIA and it has been found." paliwanag pa ni Deric habang nagpapakita ng presentation na naka-power point sa apat na nakaupo lang sa couch kaharap niya.

"It has been found na pala eh, ano pang gagawin namin dyan?" pagkamot ulo pa ni Troy.

"Yes, it has been found, but it was not yet returned." As Deric enlightened.

"What do you mean?"

"The CIA and NBI asked for our help to return it to our country’s national treasures. Our investigation results that the golden pawikan is in the hands of one of world's notorious terrorist financer, Al Jawar Gaurav.

"Al Jawar Gaurav? Is he also the one that has been reported responsible for Texas suicide bombing, isn't he?" tila napapaisip na tanong ni Clein.

"Yes."

"He should be caught!"

"Not that easy, he has thousands of men who work for him and not easy for us to get even close to him. We couldn't just do the ambush or arresting him without strongly evidence. We need such time." as he explained.

"Tell us what we will do." seryosong saad naman na ni Yael.

"Tomorrow night, at Resorts World Manila, will have an annual auctions of different art stuff and more. But we have a source that auction event will also have a black-market auction which will also held on the same place but on the old and burned casino." pagturo-turo pa ni Deric sa pictures ng Resorts Worlds at kung anong klaseng event ang annual auction na nagaganap doon.

Mukha itong prestigious event na pawang mayayaman lang ang dumadalo. Hindi aakalaing may ilegal na transakyon na nagaganap sa likod nito.

"Yan ba yung nasunog na casino noon? Hindi ba't na-renovate na yun?" pagusisa pa ni Jaime sa imahe sa harapan.

"Yes, they made that place where they can do their illegal transactions though." sagot naman ni Deric. "I just need you to clarify if the golden pawikan will be auctioned and get it before it will be sold to anybody else."

"Why don't we just buy it?" Troy suggested.

"We shouldn't pay those terrorists to get it back." Clein answered him.

"Eh ano? Nanakawin natin yun?" as Troy counter backs question.

"We won't steal it – we will just going to have it back." As Yael clarifies him.

"How will we get into that event?" as Jaime returning to the concerned matter.

"I'm glad you asked." lumapit si Deric kay Jaime at Clein na magkatabing nakaupo sa couch at iniabot ang isang itim na invitation card.

Kinuha ni Jaime ito at kakaagad na binuksan. "Meron pa pala silang ganito?" habang minamasdan at sinusuri ang black invitation card na mayroong gold printed labeled na ‘You are invited!’.

"It's an invitation for those country's elite socialites to go and participate at the auction. But it was a special invitation for the black-market auction. You’ll go undercover. When you get into that place, you'll going to find your way going to the hidden spot. You'll show that and definitely you can have the access on it. Everything will happen next is all up to you." paliwanag pa ni Deric rito.