-Alexi-

"I think this could help"

We all agreed on the camouflage thing, and Coleen resumed discussing some parts of the map. Everyone should memorize or be familiar with it because we only had a few hours left before we executed the operation when Coleen was interrupted by Chad's voice. Lumingon kaming lahat sa kanya. May inaabot itong itim na kahon. Nang matuon ang aming mga mata doon ay binuksan niya ito. The box contained ear devices. Probably customized by the ten of us. Yeah, we're ten in this room. Kinuha ni Shane ang isa at sinipat ito.

"Is this the same earpiece you made for us?"

Tumango si Chad at kumuha ng isa para isuot sa isa nitong tenga. "Yeah, but an upgraded one. These are from the samples I made before. I just refurbished it"

Nilagay ni Chad ang box sa gitna upang hayaan kaming kumuha ng para sa amin. This time it was a small version compare to the last device we used recently. Pagkasuot ay may narinig akong automated voice na nagsasabing "You're connected". May naramdaman akong parang maliliit na galamay na kumiliti sa aking tenga.

"Whoa, whoa, my ear tickles," Shane exclaimed.

"It's a nanotech effect. The device is glued to your ear, so it won't be detached easily. It's a voice-input device. It can only removed when you say so" Chad explained. Both of my eyebrows raised, giving him an impressed expression on my face. "It has no limit radius. We can hear each other as far as we go. It is also detectable. In case one of us lost, I can track it"

Chad's skills in technology are on another level. I hope he can improve more. He might have a bright future in technology.

"Cool. Now we really look like Mission Impossible agents," Callista commented.

"Mabuti't naisipan mong gumawa ng ganito" sambit ni Kaiden. Halata din sa mukha nito ang pagkamangha. I couldn't blame him though. We're in an isolated area where our phones are useless, but then, there's a thin, nerdy guy who invented a communication device for us. "We can stay in touch on the whole operation"

The discussion resumed. Coleen explained every parts of the lab to us in detailed according to what's written in the notebook. Para siyang lider sa isang group project na pinapaliwanag sa mga kagrupo ang dapat gawin sa seryosong paraan. "We were only do this once and for all. In case we get caught, then that's the end for us. Don't ever make a mistake because we cannot undo that anymore. We will kill the captives by destroying their lifeline. Kami na ang bahala doon" she paused for a moment to glance at me. "While doing that, agad na kayong pumunta sa 6th floor para hanapin si Mr. Barri" sunod nitong nilipat ang tingin kay Reigan. "Samahan mo si Alexi na hanapin si Mr. Barri. Make sure to catch him. He's the main reason why we're going to do this"

We all nodded our heads in agreement. Mr. Barri is the person whom Mr. Arellano referred that can help us to escape. If we didn't catch him, then all our work would be in vain.

"Copy that" Reigan replied, acknowledging his part.

"The rest will go with me in finding the captives. We will destroy them one by one, including their experiment." Coleen glued her eyes to the map. "Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito, saka na natin isipin ang sunod na gagawin. Dean will surely investigate what happened. It will be a big destruction on their part once the experiment is gone"

Saglit na nagkaroon ng katahimikan sa silid. Coleen knew what would happen next because it happened before. Some of her colleagues ended up dead after the revolution when Dean investigated them. She avoids saying it. That's why she falls silent for a moment. My mind suddenly changed, opposing her idea of distributing our part.

"Let me come with you guys" pambabasag ko sa katahimikan. "It feels wrong not to accompany you since Mr. Arellano personally wrote that notebook to me to destroy the experiment," I realized; I dragged them into this, so I must be the first line of soldiers, taking the deadliest damage.

May bakas ng pagdadalawang isip sa mukha ni Coleen bago ito bumuntong hininga. I know she's holding back from disagreeing with what I said and making another plan where that would not be dangerous for me. I know she wants to protect me at all costs despite my stubbornness. And I appreciate her that way.

"Okay. You go with us" Coleen gave in. Lumipat ang tingin nito kina Kaiden at Callista "You two. Kayo na bahala kay Mr. Barri. Make sure to bring him out of the lab alive"

The two gave her a firm nod as acknowledgment. Coleen's discussion was interrupted by Shane.

"I know you read the notebook but you sound like you know this place so well"

"Well that's one of the perks I got when I was a Ghetto. I can have access in some places" sagot ni Coleen. "Dean used to tour us in the lab to introduce their evil doings" she cut it shortly, not wanting to go further in details. Mukhang 'yon ang tinutukoy niya noong sinabi niyang nakapunta na siya sa lab ng ilang beses.

"Whoah, you're a Ghetto?" gulat na tanong ni Shane. Bakas din ang gulat sa mukha ng iba naming kasamahan. Only few people in this room knew Coleen's real identity that's why.

"Not only a Ghetto. She's a brother of Ghettos' kingpin" Callista answered. Giving stress to the last word as if being a Ghetto is a sin for people like them, Mobsters.

Napatakip ng bibig si Shane. "What the? kapatid mo pala si Trevor?"

Coleen made an impatient look as she breathed sharply. "This isn't a time to talk about my previous gang"

Shane blinked her eyes, probably still processing what she heard. "Are you sure you wouldn't sabotage us?"

Tinaasan ito ng kilay ni Coleen. Her face was giving a 'Are you serious?' look. Biglang pumalakpak si Callista para kunin ang aming atensyon. I don't know if she did that to cut the tension or if she just wanted our eyes to switch on her. "Enough of that. Before I forget, I have an announcement"

Pinasadahan niya kami ng tingin lahat suot ang malawak na ngiti sa labi. Ever since I knew Callista, her thick eyeliner has been her signature. Until now it's still there kaya kapag ngumingiti ito ay lalong nagiging itim ang mga mata. "My birthday is coming this Saturday. All of you are invited. I don't take 'no's" Callista smiled to us ear to ear but with a menace on her eyes as if this is the most important event we are all obliged to attend to.

Ang bilis ng panahon. I was present at Callista's birthday last year so it means umabot na ako ng isang taon dito. Ang daming kaganapang nangyari.

"Once this thing was over. Let's celebrate my birthday and drink a lot of beer" Callista added with excitement in her voice. "Ugh! My throat has been dried up to drink alcohol"

"Your birthday is our least priority, Cali" Reigan said discreetly, interrupting her sister's short fantasy about her birthday.

Her sister grimaced, showing him how he screwed up her good mood instantly. "Yeah, I know. Better prepare a gift for me. Wala kang regalo noong nakaraang birthday ko"

Reigan let out a lazy sigh with a slight shake of his head as if being an older brother to Callista was the biggest responsibility in his lifetime.

"Uh, I don't drink. Pwede bang juice lang inumin?" Fare piped in, feeling hesitant to join in the conversation.

Ngumiti sa kanya si Callista. "Of course. We have good bartenders there and they'll make you a good drink"

Until they started to exchange small conversations about Callista's upcoming party. The last time I was there, it was worse. It's full of smoke and people you don't want to hang out with. Coleen just let their conversation go. She must be thinking, somehow this is a good distraction for us. Sa sandaling minuto ay makakalimutan naming wala kaming delikadong gagawin mamaya. I hope we can make it till Callista's birthday. Sana hindi ito ang huling pag-uusap namin na kumpleto.

Sumapit ang kinagabihan. Lahat kami ay nagtatago sa dilim habang nakasilip sa kabuuan na gusali ng Laboratory. When they said, Sonkan is like a village, they literally mean it. Since I've been here for a year now, I could be one of the people who can profess that it's true. It's like we're living in a secluded city with school buildings just to consider it's still a school, and as you walk or even drive further (Sonkan is too wide, so you'll need a vehicle to ride on), you'll discover more. There's no person in civilian clothes we've seen in the last ten minutes of taking a peek over here behind the wall. Our heads were like a layered rock in a horizontal arrangement. Salamat sa dilim dahil natatakpan kami nito. Anyone who points a flashlight at us would see our visibility.

Ang mga taong nakikita naming pagala gala sa daan ay mga armadong nakafull suit. Even their faces were covered with a helmet-like mask. It's like their soldiers or special force agent of Sonkan except their uniforms aren't camouflage design. It's black. Wala na kami sa school ground premises kaya ang ibig sabihin nasa restricted area na kami. And reaching this area feels like a sin. It screams that if any of us get caught, we will be automatically shot to kill.

"This is not how I expect to be a Mission Impossible agent, peeking like lost children in an orphanage," Shane mumbled in a flat tone. Nakabukas ang ear devices namin kaya rinig na rinig ang boses nito sa kabilang linya.

"In case anyone wants to back out, this is your last minute to reconsider," Coleen said next on the other line.

The minutes that we had to spend here, peeking extended. We're still calculating how to bypass the other side of the road since the guards are on roam mode. We couldn't risk to take them down one by one. Only a few of us know how to combat. No matter how skilled they are, the chances are slim to defeat them if they have guns. Kaya nandito padin kami at patuloy na nagmamasid. Meanwhile, heaven seemed to answer our secret prayer. One of the guards called his comrade. We couldn't hear what they actually said pero sinenyasan nito ang mga kasama na kailangan nilang umalis. They're lined up together and started to march out hanggang sa tatlo nalang ang natira para magbantay. This is the time, Coleen gave us a signal.

"Three isn't bad. Let's make our first entrance"

Pagkasabi no'n ni Coleen ay kanya kanya kaming lumabas sa pinagtataguan at sumugod sa tatlong guard. Pinaubaya namin ang pagpapatumba sa kanila kina Reigan. Some of them strangled their neck quietly before they even grab their guns. We watched them give few punches, kicks, and have their joints fractured until they passed out. Nang mawalan na sila ng malay ay tinulungan namin silang hilahin sa tagong lugar. It's a good thing it's night. We used that as advantage. Isa isa naming kinuha ang kanilang mga armas.

We had to take their clothes off. They have garments and shirts inside, so it's a relief in my conscience that we wouldn't leave them totally naked. Pinasuot namin sa tatlong lalaki ang uniform at sa kanila rin una pinahawak ang mga armas na nasamsam. Kaiden, Reigan, and Caleb are the first rangers who wore the full suit. Their faces were fully sealed by the helmet. It can only open when they press a button on the side. Kinda cool. Each of the three guards here, lying unconscious, has three spare guns in their pocket. It's a good thing it was small, like a caliber. We voted to give that to Coleen, Felicity, and Callista. Now we're all set. Some of my comrades were armed so we could guarantee our safety in the first hour or 30 minutes.

"Now let's go to the secret passage" Coleen announced. Maingat kaming naglakad papunta doon.

Gaya ng inaasahan ay may dalawang guard lamang ang nagbabantay. It's not the main entrance to the lab, so, naturally, they leave it the least priority to guard. Our heads were bowed down while keenly walking, still hiding in the dark, preventing ourselves from being caught by surveillance, whether it's a human eye or a security camera. Unang nagpakita ang tatlo naming kasama na naka full suit. The two guards may wear masks, but we know they didn't suspect them at all. Their body language seemed to wonder why those three fake guards visited their post.

I thought they're having conversation pero biglang umatake si Reigan. It's easy to recognize his posture and body figure since he's the tallest among the three. Pinukpok ni Reigan ang dulo ng baril sa batok ng isang guard. It just one blow that it made the guard passed out in instant. Hineadlockan naman ni Kaiden ang isang guard hanggang sa nawalan na din ito ng malay. We don't know if those rifles has silencer so it's a good move they didn't shoot them. Nang mapatumba nila ang dalawang guard ay sinenyasan kami ni Caleb na lumapit.

Kinuha nila Kaiden at Reigan ang access ng dalawang guard at ginamit ito para buksan ang bakal na pinto. It has detailed carvings with a sign of S. It looks strong that even a cannon couldn't break it. The 'S' sign on the door opened in half. Gano'n din ang ginawa namin sa naunang tatlong guard. Nang mawalan sila ng malay ay hinubaran namin sila at kinuha ang kanilang uniform. The second batch to wear a full suit is Coleen and Callista. They both used to hold guns and among us, girls. They're both gangsters and can engage themselves in action.

"What's your status there, Chad?" sambit ni Coleen sa kabilang linya. Chad isn't with us. He has a special task that matches his skills. Chad is a thin guy. He can't be with the boys since he might collapse in a single punch. Better engage him in a task where it requires a big brain.

"I'm currently hijacking their surveillance on where you guys going. First floor"

"Good" Coleen commended. It sounds like he's giving him an invisible thumbs-up. I don't know where exactly he is, but he guaranteed us it's a safe place where no possible pair of eyes might catch him.

Unang pumasok sina Kaiden at Reigan. Assessing if it safe for us to follow. Sumunod din sa kanila si Caleb. Maya maya'y unang bumalik si Kaiden at lumapit sa amin. He eyed at us. Kaming mga nasa normal pa naming kasuotan.

"We need you guys to disguise as well"

"We'll give you uniforms" Caleb declared. Their faces are still visible since they haven't closed their mask.

It was me, Fare, Shane, and Felicity who hasn't not disguised yet so we waited here outside. Nagtago kami sa likod ng barracks habang hinihintay ang iba naming kasama na balikan kami.

"I don't want to die" rinig kong sambit ni Fare. Hindi ko siya narinig mula sa earbud. Mukhang saglit niya muna itong pinatay.

"That Ghetto girl said, no one's gonna die. Just don't be stupid" Shane with her unfiltered words.

"Your earbud is on, Shane. I can hear you" Chad's voice appeared on the other line.

"It's okay. Consider that as a reminder to everyone don't be stupid tonight"

"We won't. Your voice distracting us, young lady" boses ni Reigan.

"U-uh.." Shane stammered. I glanced at her. Her face suddenly turned red. I hid my questioning look. "S-sorry"

"Whoah, nauutal ba siya?" Caleb's voice.

"I told you guys to turn off your devices when your convo isn't related to our MO" Coleen quickly scolded. MO, short for Modus Operandi. We simply put it in a light term to trick our brains that this isn't a suicidal operation.

Saglit naming pinatay ang suot naming device at tumitig sa madilim na kalangitan habang naghihintay. I wonder what will happen tonight. Will we succeed? Or end up interrogated after this? I heaved a deep sigh, shooing away unnecessary thoughts. I need to clear my mind so I can function later.

"Hey, ghost," Shane broke the silence. She started to talk to Felicity. "Still alive there? I haven't even heard your breathing"

"I would appreciate your silence more than your existence" Felicity murmured. Her way of telling Shane to shut up. "I'm trying to catch a nap"

Shane is beside me and even if I don't cast a glance at her once more, I know her face contorted. "Now I'm convinced no one can beat your weirdness"

I know this isn't a time to form a nonsense conversation but I keep listening. We need a short distraction from the danger we're gonna lunge later. Shane, whom I thought not feeling any ounce of fear, fell silent for a few seconds before she dropped these words.

"I'm kinda scared" sa pagkakataong 'yon ay napatingin ako sa kanya. Pinilit nitong ikubli ang mabibigat niyang paghinga sa pamamagitan ng pag-aliw sa sarili sa pagtingin sa mga bituin. Hanggang sa lumapat ang tingin nito sa akin. "Aren't you scared?"

Imbis na sagutin ang tanong niya ay ganitong salita lamang ang lumabas sa bibig ko. "You still have time to back down" I said in a most discreet way where she wouldn't feel guilty.

She chewed her lower lip. "I want to, but I don't want to leave you guys." Her head tilted down as her voice "Besides, this is the right thing to do. Save the world. Be a little hero"

Maya maya'y dumating sina Reigan. They immediately opened their mask to see us. I thought they were handling us with pairs of black army suits, but the garments were white. They said nothing aside from hurrying us to wear what they gave. Moments later we're inside of the tower, walking. Pinilit naming maghiwa hiwalay maglakad upang walang makahalata na iisa kaming grupo. The sound of my heels echoed on the tiled floor. Everything here is mixed with white color except for the guards in black suits roaming with their long guns lingering in their hands. We're like ants walking in the surge.

The girls who left behind the barracks earlier wore lab coats. I guess they beat four people in exchange for these white coats. No one could clearly see our faces because all of us had a white mask on and glasses. Napatingin ako kay Felicity na diretsong tingin lang sa daan na naglalakad. This time nakatali ang buhok nito na nakakapanibago dahil madalas nakalugay ang mahaba nitong buhok. She wouldn't be a ghost now but a female doctor or scientist.

"You look like a normal person now" I commented to her. I heard her snorted.

Maya maya'y parang tumigil ang mundo. Lahat ng kasabayan naming naglalakad ay nagsitigil. It's like a requirement for us to pause as well so we did. Ang tunog ng takong mula sa taong papalapit sa amin ang siyang dahilan ng pagtila ng oras. Of all the white and colored objects here in the hallway, it was tainted by a woman who's the only person here who wears red. Full red attire. Only one person exists here in Sonkan who has a great obsession with Red. None other than Hermione or Red Lady. Yeah, she's in front of us with her guards orderly lined up behind her.

Biglang gumapang ang kaba sa aking dibdib nang ipako nito ang tingin sa akin.

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Thanks for reading!