By: Balderic
“KRAGOMM!” Nawasak ang pader ng kwarto ni Ben nang tumilapon sya at lumampas dito. Napa dapa sya sa hallway kung saan nagsitakbuhan ang mga nakakita sa kanya. Dumating ang misteryosong lalake na naka black suit at hinablot ang batok ni Ben. Hinagis ito pabalik sa kwarto.
“AAAAHHH!!” “KRAAASSHHH!!” Bumangga ang likod ni Ben sa tv at napa dapa ito ulit. Pero bago pa sya malapitan ng lalake ay nag front flip ito at sabay tayo. Mabilis nyang binigyan ng roundhouse kick ang lalake pero nasalag lang ang paa nya ng malaking braso nito. Hinablot ang paa nya at inangat muli si Ben.
“Sandali! Pwede bang mag usap muna tayo!? Hyaaaaahh!!” “KRAAAGG!” Hinagis si Ben sa pader sa may uluhan ng kama. Lumampas ang binata dahil manipis lang ang pader na gawa sa kahoy at plywood.
“EEEEEKKKK!!” Sigaw ng babaeng nasa kabilang silid na hubo’t hubad at may ka sex na lalake. Mabilis tumakas ang lalake palabas ng kwarto at iniwan ang babae.
“BRAAAMM!!!” Nag dive ang malaking lalake papunta sa kabilang kwarto at mas nawasak pa ang pader.
“KYAAAAAAHH!!” Mas lumaki ang sigaw ng babae.
“tang ina girl, umalis ka na! Nabibingi na ako sayo!” sigaw ni Ben. Nagtapis lang ang babae ng kumot at lumayas na ng silid.
Tumayo si Ben pero medyo na hihilo ito. Masyadong malakas ang lalake.
“Who the fuck are you!? What do you want from me?”
“NEST WANTS YOUR PRESENCE. YOU’VE BEEN SUMMONED.”
“Now what the fuck is Nest!?”
“IF YOU RESIST, I WILL TAKE YOU BY FORCE EVEN IF I HAVE TO BREAK EVERY SINGLE BONE IN YOUR BODY.”
“Goddamit, your voice sounds fuckin familiar. Who the fuck are you!?”
Tinanggal ng lalake ang makapal nitong maskara at lumabas ang mahaba nitong buhok. Natatakpan ang mukha nito. Inipon ng lalake ang buhok nya papunta sa likod ng ulo nya at lumitaw ang itsura nya.
“No!” hinde makapaniwala si Ben sa kanyang nakikita. Para itong naka kita ng multo. Nanaig ang takot sa kanyang katawan. Isang lalakeng hinde nya inaasahan ang makikita nya.
“You’re supposed to be dead!”
“I AM WHO I AM AND I AM LIVING. YOU WILL COME WITH ME WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT BENJAMIN SANDOBAL.”
“SHOOOMMM!!” “BOOOMM!!” Binangga ng lalake si Ben na parang isang freight train at sa lakas ng impact ay nawalan ng ulirat si Ben. Namuti ang mga mata nya sandali at bumuga ng dugo bago pa bumagsak sa sahig.
Pinulot si Ben ng lalake at mabilis itong tumakas.
———-
By: Balderic
Central Elysium
Naglalakad sa kalye ang isang babaeng nagmamadali. May hawak itong mga papeles at may naka saklay na shoulder bag.
Ito si Regina Duval, ang personal assistant ni Archimond Schiffer Black aka Cifer Black.
Matapos magkaroon ng kapayapaan ay naghiwalay ang Emperyong sinasakupan ni SAMAEL. Nahati sa bawat borders ang Purgatory. Si Cifer ngayon ang representative ng South Ukrainian border o SUB.
May isang pagpupulong ang representatives ng WAN (World Allied Nations), at si Regina ay late na sa pag attend. Nakarating sa isang malaking cross roads ang babae at may malaking public screen sa isang sulok ng square. May patalastas ito, isang tv show drama tungkol sa buhay ni Gabriel Marasigan.
“I will not allow you to win! I believe in the power of friendship and we will unite to defeat you Mr Blue!” drama ng artistang gumanap na Gabriel.
“Will Gabriel come out victorious against the notorious terrorist group Dragon and their leader Chad Blue!? Find out on the next episode of Heaven or Hell!”
“What the fuck?” Napa nga-nga si Regina habang napanood ang cringe na tv show. Alam ni Regina ang katotohanan sa likod ng mga pangyayari at alam nyang ang boss nyang si Cifer Black ang ipinapakitang kalaban sa show.
Isa nanamang commercial ang inilabas.
“After the events of the Third World War, the truth about the Empire’s technology has been revealed. And since the technology is no longer used for war, it was decided that it will be used to help rebuild this world. This is why we in DRACO will support the World Allied Nations to implement the Imperial technology into something that will benefit us all. DRACO is your key to the door of the future.”
Nagmamadaling umalis si Regina para makahabol pa ito lalo pa at na delay ito sa pagtambat sandali sa square.
Sa loob naman ng malaking gusali kung saan isinaganap ang world meet. Busy ang bawat isang representative sa kanilang topic.
“Germanic borders are secured and we have 20% increase in economic growth since the fluctuations. It seems the threat of the Separatists movement are under control.” Wika ng German representative. Ang Separatist groups ay ang mga grupo na ayaw tanggapin ang makabagong sistema ng WAN. At gusto nilang ibalik ang dating sistema ng UN.
“There has been two riots perpetrated by the Separatists in Sicily. I don’t think the local police is capable of handling the situation. As of today, there has been three confirmed deaths and 15 casualties including a 10 year old boy. I request a proper investigation on who these members are doing the chaos. I want ULTIMA agents to be there.” Report naman ng Italian representative. Ang ULTIMA o Unified Logistics Tactical Intelligence Multinational Agency ay ang ipinalit ng WAN sa STING matapos bumagsak ang unang Agency ng UN. Karamihan ng bumubuong field agents ng ULTIMA ay ang mga myembro ng STING tulad ni Mindy Bond na isa nang senior special agent na class SS.
Dumating si Regina at pasimpleng lumapit kay Cifer. Binigay nito ang report papers.
“Thanks. What took you so long?” bulong ni Cifer.
“Sorry, there’s traffic.”
“You don’t own a car Regina.”
“ahehe..yeah..I forgot.” Umalis na napahiya si Regina at umiiling lang si Cifer.
“Mr Chair, I think ULTIMA won’t be necessary in investigating this Separatist issue. The local government is enough to contain the situation.” Wika ng representative ng ULTIMA.
“May I suggest?..” sabat ni Cifer at napa tingin sa kanya ang lahat ng representatives.
“..um Mr Chair. May I suggest that we should have an open forum with the Separatists and find a common ground to ease their violent activities, considering most of them are conservatives, it wouldn’t be hard to understand that what their ultimate goal is bring back the old government system but if…”
“..are you suggesting we hear what they want? This is preposterous! Why would we be listening to these terrorist groups? They’re savages Mr Black. The only language they know is how to hurt someone and they will not stop, believe me they won’t. Unless that someone, will hurt them back.” Biglang sabat ni Lexirald Verbeski, ang representative ng Northern Ukrainian border o NUB.
“..if we let them see the visions of WAN and what it represents to the world, I believe the Separatists will understand us and we will also be able to understand them. This will not only avoid armed conflict but it will also help strengthen our relationship to the local mass especially in the rural areas where WAN cannot reach and are known to be controlled by the Separatists.” Patuloy ni Cifer.
Nagpakita ng panunuya ang ngiti ni Verbeski kay Cifer.
“why are you so bent on helping the Separatists Mr Black?” tanong ni Verbeski.
“What do you mean by that Mr Verbeski?”
“Oh you know what I mean boy. Let’s not act stupid in this hall. We all know who you are.”
“Were. That’s the word that I would use Mr Verbeski. Yes I was the leader of DRAKE and yes I am responsible for the deaths of millions of innocents. But know this, not a day goes by that I didn’t felt guilty to what I did. I know my sins and I am ready to face the consequences when it would and how it should. The Southern Ukrainian border stayed neutral and became a haven of peace. Separatist groups are allowed to voice out their concerns in my borders in exchange for continuing peace. We do not force the people, instead we help them make the right choices. And I believe that is what we needed. A united world alliance. Gabriel Marasigan did not sacrifice his life so we can have comfortable lives and free of fear. No. He sacrificed himself so the world will know that a united people will never lose against a common enemy. And today that enemy is clear. It is in ourselves. Unless we learn to forgive, to adapt and to move on, hatred, bigotry and greed will return and devour us. And soon, another SAMAEL will rise from the ashes and without unity, how can we answer the screams for justice? How do we survive?”
Hinde nakapagsalita si Verbeski sa sinabi ni Cifer. Natapos ang pagpupulong at walang nasabi man lang si Verbeski. Paglabas ni Cifer ay sinalubong sya mg secretary nya.
“I really hated that Verbeski. He’s a piece of shit.” Wika ni Regina.
“Don’t be. He’s right you know. But being right is irrelevant. It will just push people away. And being right doesn’t mean I’m wrong.” Sabay ngiti ni Cifer. Nag ring ang cellphone ni Cifer at sinagot nya ito. Isang video call mula sa Japan.
“Hello dear. How’s your meeting?” tanong ni Himeko. Tatlong buwan nang kasal si Cifer at Himeko matapos mag retire ang babae sa pakikipaglaban dahil sa mga pinsalang tinamo nya sa laban.
…