By: Balderic
Sa isang training dojo, may naka paikot na mga lalake at babae na naka upo sa canvas. Sa gitna naman nila ay parehong nakatayo si Honshou at Olga. Maluwag ang dojo at malaki ang distansya ng dalawang mandirigma. Pareho silang naka suot ng martial arts garb. Magkatitig silang dalawa at nag bow. Magkasabay silang nag fighting stance.
Dahan dahan silang umiikot sa gitna ng dojo. Minamasid ang bawat galaw. Maingat sa bawat apak sa canvas at kumakaway kaway ang mga kamay.
“It’s an honor to finally match my skills against the Siberian Mantis herself.”
“There’s no honor yet. Honor comes after you earned it….with your blood! “ biglang sumugod si Olga.
Nagpalitan ng mga suntok ang dalawa. Kaliwa’t kanang suntok ang nasalag ni Honshou. Subalit sadyang mabilis si Olga. Animo’y sayaw ng kamatayan ang kanilang ginagawa. Apat na suntok ni Olga ang nakapasok sa sikmura at tagiliran ni Honshou. Napa atras ito pero sumugod ulit. Hinde matanggap ng pride ni Honshou ang nagawa ni Olga sa kanya.
Matapos masalag ang huling suntok ni Olga, hinawakan kaagad ni Honshou ang kamao ni Olga at hinila. Lumipad ang kanang paa ni Olga papunta sa ulo ni Honshou. Sinalubong ito ng siko ni Honshou at hinde parin binibitiwan ang kamao ni Olga. Lumapit si Olga ng ilang hakbang pero umatras naman si Honshou para ma maintain ang distansya nila.
Tumalon paatras ang negrong mandirigma at hinila lalo ang kamay ni Olga. Nadala si Olga subalit tinakpan naman nya ng kabilang kamay ang mukha ni Honshou. Sinipa si Olga ng dalawang beses sa tagiliran at mabilis na umikot si Honshou patalikod para ibalibag si Olga.
“Pak!! ” Parang nag tambling si Olga pero hinde tumama ang likod nya sa canvas dahil naka landing ang mga paa nya bago pa bumagsak ang katawan nya. Nagulat si Honshou. Tumapon ng elbow blow si Honshou papunta sa mukha ni Olga. Na block ito ng isang braso ni Olga at dito sila nag hiwalay.
“Well, I’m impressed. And I’m not easily impressed dear.” Wika ni Olga at naka ngiti ito.
“Likewise, for someone whose not a member of the Four Sin Kings, you sure can keep up with me. I guess STING really has something to show for but apparently you left and they have nothing now.”
Nawala kaagad ang ngiti ni Olga. Seryoso na ulit ang mukha nya.
“For someone who has never fought an STING agent in a real fight, you sure talk with pride. But sorry to disappoint you but I’m not nearly as strong as the one agent I know of.”
“Who? “ na curious bigla si Honshou.
“It doesn’t matter. You will face him soon enough. That man may seem dumb but when he gets serious, I don’t think anyone can take him one on one.”
“Oh really. Curious but I only believe what I see.”
“That… I promise that you will Wristler.” Sagot naman ni Olga.
—-
Present Time, London
Isang malaking gusali sa gitna ng London ang inoobserbahan ng YuRen Team. Gamit ang isang tranciever, na detect ng Proto Phantom Drive ni Alex ang signal na nilalabas ng original na Phantom Drive sa ilalim ng gusali.
Nagtago sa isang vent duct ang dalawang babae. Tinignan nila ng maigi ang paligid. Kakaunti lang ang nakikita nilang tao rito. Tila nagbabalatkayo ang gusaling may tinatagong mahalagang bagay. At dahil kakaunti lang ang bantay, walang magdududa na tumingin sa loob. May kutob rin sina Karen na posibleng nabawasan ang bantay dahil nag bubunyi pa ang mga ito sa unang panalo laban sa hukbo ng UN.
Gumapang pa sila papasok at dahil sa blueprint na nakuha nila, mas mapapadali ang paghanap nila ng kinaroroonan ng signal. Habang bumababa sila ay palakas ng palakas ang signal.
—-
Nasa may dalampasigan naman ang tinahak ni Ken at Mindy. Layunin nilang e disable ang mga malalakas na cannons at artillery ng DRAKE. Nasa daan ang KenDy Team at maingat na minamatyagan ang bawat sulok ng kalsada. Parang ghost town ang London. Tahimik at walang katao taong naglalakad. Hinde mawari nina Ken kung saan dinala ng DRAKE ang mga sibilyan. Nagtago sa isang sulok ng gusali ang dalawa at natatanaw na nila ang mga kanyon sa di kalayuan. Tinignan nila kung meron itong control room dahil electronic powered and mga ito. Subalit maraming mga gusali at hinde nila alam kung saan dito ang control room. Minabuti nilang obserbahan ang mga naglalakad na mga bantay dahil posibleng bumigay ito ng info kung saan kinokontrol ang mga kanyon.
“Guys I don’t think they are controlling the cannons here.” Report ni Ken.
“They could be controlling them via a control center somewhere in the city.” Sagot naman ni Gabriel.
“Guys, it’s Alex, standby for confirmation, I think team YuRen are near the Phantom Drive.”
—-
Sa loob ng duct, narating nila Karen sa pinakadulo neto at sumilip sila. Nagulat sila sa nakita.
“Shit! “
“What’s wrong Karen? “ tanong ni Gabriel.
“There’s nothing here! It’s empty! “
“But that’s impossible! It says here the signal is coming from that room.” Wika naman ni Alex.
“I know but there’s nothing here.”
“It’s a trap! “ wika naman ni Yumiko.
“Kkzzzztt!! ” “Aarghh!! “ biglang sumigaw si Ken at Mindy matapos marinig ang parang kuryente.
“Ken! What’s going on! Answer me! Ken! “ subalit hinde na sumagot si Ken sa mga tawag ni Gabriel. Nasa itaas ng isang gusali si Gabriel at may magandang vintage view sa paligid subalit nawalan na sya ng koneksyon sa team KenDy.
“Am I speaking with Agent Marasigan here? “ biglang may boses na pamilyar ang narinig ni Gabriel sa intercom na galing kay Ken.
“Cifer! “
“Oh good. It’s been a long time since I heard your voice agent Marasigan. After Lucilla’s unfortunate sacrifice, I thought you really died. But thanks to Krauss leaving clues of your survival, now I got myself ready for a retaliation coming from your team.”
“Where are you!? “
“Come at the Big Ben tower if you value your fellow agent’s lives.” Pinutol na ni Cifer ang tawag.
“Shit.. “
“Master? “
“Yes Yumiko? “
“What are we going to do? It’s obviously a trap.”
“We don’t have much of a choice.”
—-
Ilang sandali ay nakarating na si Gabriel sa Ben tower. Gamit ang isang sports car, huminto ito sa harapan mismo ng tower na ilang metro ang distansya sa kotse. Alam ni Gabriel na isa itong patibong. Maraming snipers ang nagkalat na nakapaikot sa mga gusali. May mga armored na sundalo rin sa kalsada at marami ang mga ito.
Bumaba ng kotse si Gabriel. Naka tactical suit parin ito at may mga baril sa magkabilang bahagi ng hita, mga bala, dalawang daggers, at isang medium length na espada sa likod. Dahan dahan at kalmado lang na nagpalakad si Gabriel. Isang grupo ng DRAKE troops ang sumusunod sa likod nya habang may mga red lasers naman galing sa mga snipers ang malikot na naka lock ang target kay Gabriel.
Sa di kalayuan ay may isa ring grupo ng DRAKE at nasa gitna nila si Wristler Djimon Honshou ang pinakamalakas na mandirigma ng DRAKE, si Himeko ang personal bodyguard ni Cifer na master rin ng swordsmanship, at si Cifer Black ang utak ng DRAKE. Nasa harapan nila ang mga nakaluhod at nakataling si Ken at Mindy.
Huminto si Gabriel ng ilang metro ang layo sa pangkat ni Cifer. Nagkaharap ulit ang dalawang magkatunggali.
“Hmph, I was very sad at Lucilla’s demise but I was also hoping that you survived that event. And good thing you did mr Marasigan. You have really exceeded my expectations. But how stupid of you to come here. Do you really think I have no idea of your presence?” wika ni Cifer na nakangiti.
“Do not take me lightly Cifer. Surrender now and disarm your army before it’s too late.” Kalmado namang sagot ni Gabriel.
“You know that I could kill you right this moment?”
Nag shrug ng balikat at tumaas ang mga kamay ni Gabriel.
“Obviously. But your pride won’t satisfy that will it? I have followed you and foiled a lot of your plans in the past that killing me now is not as satisfying as killing me the way that you wanted isn’t it? “
“Hahahaha! You really do amuse me. Now, reveal your two assistants so we can get this over with.”
“You think you have me under control but you don’t Cifer, believe me.”
“Kzzzzt!!!! ” “Aaaaahhh!!! “ may pinindut si Cifer na remote at tila nakuryente sina Ken at Mindy. Nagulat naman si Gabriel dito.
“After we captured them, we have implanted them with trackers if they ever tried to escape. But since you stupid idiots tried to come back, it’s time to give them a lesson.”
“Gabriel!! “ napatingin si Gabriel sa kanang bahagi nya at nakita nyang nakatali na rin sina Krauss at Natalie Miller. Dinala rin sila sa harapan at tinabi kina Ken.
“Now that we have everything in place, all that’s left is you to show your two friends still sniffing around in the city! “ tinutok ni Cifer ang isang baril sa ulo ni Ken.
Hinde makapagsalita si Gabriel. Tila napako ang mga paa neto sa kalsada at hinde rin makagalaw. Maingat sya sa kanyang gagawin at posibleng ikamatay ng kanyang mga kasamahan.
“You need to let go of this darkness inside you Cifer. DRAKE is created as a symbol of justice and equality but you corrupted it and turn it into something even I cannot recognize. You have become the very person you tries to destroy!” wika ni Krauss.
“You know that you’re starting to annoy me old man.”
“What I did to leave DRAKE is not all about giving up! I chose to join STING in hoping I can recruit all of you in joining with me. You see, STING is the same as DRAKE! The only difference is that STING is within the United Nations and DRAKE isn’t.”
“Whatever old man. All we know is you left us and betrayed us. You know nothing of the hardships we faced. You know nothing of the things we a forced to accept. You left us in the darkest moments of our lives and you expect us to forget everything and join you. No… I swore to all my fallen brothers that DRAKE will become more than just a mercenary group. More than what you started.”
“You’re doing all of this and become blinded by rage and revenge. Let it go Archie. You are better than this. You’re a very smart man. You know you can accomplish more if you do not upset the current order. Because all this, will be for nothing once you have fallen.”
“I’ve been living in the dark for as long as I can remember. And forcing me into the light is not something I am comfortable to go to old man. Sorry, but it will never work. Every nation have seen my capabilities and my weapons. If they manage to take me out of the picture, these great nations will scavenge our technology, learn our secrets, all for their own personal gains. So no thank you.”
“Cifer, stop this. You need to stop this. A lot of lives have been lost. How many more will lose their lives so you can achieve your goals? Stop this now.” Wika naman ni Gabriel na nakikiusap kay Cifer.
“I believe you can be more than this Archie. I’ve seen how brilliant you are. And I know of your horrible past. Do not let it eat any more of your humanity. Do not let the darkness consume you… “ wika ni Krauss
…