Chapter 50: If Tomorrow Never Comes...

"Jaguar, A7 in pursuit of the enemy," I stopped in my tracks when I heard Reaper's words. Sh*t.  

'T*ngna, I told her to stay put! Of all the times to disobey, bakit ngayon pa?!

"Diosa stop the car," I commanded her. I started running back to where I left her.

"Kuya, they have Prince. Please, kuya..." I can almost taste the fear in her voice.

"Jaguar, two more vehicles coming from the West side," Report ni Reaper sa akin.

"Reaper, prepare the overwrite on Kuroneko. Lily, do you copy?" I stopped and pulled out my palm computer habang hinihintay na ma-override ni Reaper ang control kay Kuroneko. I am not gonna let my sister get hurt.

"Diosa, brace yourself," I warned her as I fully took control of my car. "Lily, come in Lily?"

"Loud and clear, Jaguar," I heard her answer.

"Prepare to engage. Two SUVs are coming in. They are armed, do not let them get near A7."

"Roger that," I heard the roar of her engine and saw how she raced down the road on my GPS monitor.

"Kuya, ikaw na po bahala. I trust you Kuya Ali," my heart swelled when I heard Diosa's voice.

"Don't worry baby girl. Si kuya ang bahala sa'yo," I keyed my passcode and all the controls to the car shifted to my hand held computer. Kung tutuusin, para lang akong naglalaro ng Gran Turismo, but the  danger is much more apparent dahil kapag nagkamali ako, hindi lang basta game-over ang mangyayari. Buhay ng kapatid ko at ng boyfriend niya ang nakataya.

"Icen, give me a closer visual," the small screen made navigating difficult. The roads appeared as thin white ribbons and the enemy units were tiny red dots. Pero iisa lang ang importante, ang maliit na green dot na sumusunod sa kalabang unit.   

"Sending you the visual," came Icen's reply at naging split screen ang palm ko. Twenty meters separated my sister from the main vehicle. The two back-up vehicles appear to be a hundred meters away. Lily is engaged in combat with both of them.

"Team Four are you in the clear?" I contacted 3X. Kanina pa walang balita galing sa linya nila. "3X are you in the clear? Come in 3X." Tahimik.

"Jaguar, Team two in need of emergency assistance," I heard Rin speak over the line.

"Emergency team is on its way. Will be there in approximately three minutes," Sagot ni Reaper. "Red just arrived at HQ."

"Jaguar, Red here. I established contact with PC's family," I sighed. Mabuti na lang at propesyonal ang team ko. There's a few kinks here and there, but all in all, my team works best under pressure.

"Good. Tell them to stay out of my way." Hindi ako mapakali lalo na at di pa rin nagre-reply si 3X. "Reaper, can you get an update on A3 and 3X?"

"Sending you the visual. The comm. lines are busted but they are on their way to help Lily." The screen formed another split at nakita kong ligtas naman si Lady bagamat may lamat ang windshield at may tama ng mga bala ang hood. Trixie looked shaken and Kuya Alfredo is grim-faced.

I heard a sudden explosion at napatingin ako sa langit.

WHATTHE F*CK?!

 "Icen, come in Icen!" The Bird's rear propellers emitted smoke from the enemy's anti-aircraft guns.

"Emergency landing! The Bird is hit—" the noise was palpable as the Bird spun in an ever widening circle as it lost altitude.

"Icen, crash land on the second grid. Evacuate immediately. Make sure my brother makes it out alive."

"Who do you think I am, Ali?" Kuya Al's voice cut through the line. "Make sure to keep your eye on Aya." I saw a line go down and I'm pretty sure it was Kuya dangling on it with his sniper rifle. He fired a single shot and the last enemy unit on the roof went down together with his anti-aircraft gun. 

I turned my attention back on the screen.

---------------

"Reaper, I'm going out there," I called out to Reaper just as soon as I finished talking to the Constantinos.

"Ha? Teka..." Halos magkandarapa si Reaper sa pagtanggal sa headset niya. "Agent Red, you're supposed to stay in HQ!"

"Sit there and play comptroller," Honestly, hindi ko kayang maupo maghapon sa harap ng computer kagaya nila Icen at Reaper. I'd go crazy kung puro data at communication equipment ang aatupagin ko 24/7. I need something to vent out all my pent-up frustration.

"Red, pagagalitan tayo ni Jaguar!" He tried to follow kaso bigla na namang tumunog yung security alarm. "Sh*t." He muttered softly before he immediately returned to his seat.

"Reaper, send me the map for grid 7, I need an extraction plan." Jaguar's voice sounded serious. "Red, stay put. I've remote disabled your vehicle."

"Well, f*ck you..." Hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko.

"Thank you," he answered with undisguised sarcasm.

"Sending you the satellite images..." Kita sa overhead screen ang mapa kung saan nakasunod si Kuroneko sa itim na SUV na kinalalagyan ni Prince. Sinusubukan ng mga sakay nito na i-shake-off si Ms. Aya pero mas magaling mag-maneuver si boss.

Well obviously, si Boss Ali yan eh.

"Red, I need you to navigate Jaguar for me. I'm going to try to re-establish the connection with I7." Binato ni Reaper ang isa pang headset sa akin at wala akong choice kundi umupo at tumulong sa pagsasaayos ng extraction plan. Nahahati sa walo ang screen ng main frame, at bawat isa ay ibang team at anggulo ang laman.

Shet, nakakabaliw pala ang trabahong ito.

Sa isang screen naroon si A7 na nakikipaghabulan, yung isa naman si 3X at A3 na nakikipagpalitan ng putok sa humahabol kay A7, ganun din yung katabi pang screen na naka-focus naman kay Lily. Yung tatlong screen ay walang makita sa feed kundi puro usok, yung isa nakafocus lang sa med evac unit. Kita sa screen ang pagbuhat ng stretcher kung saan nakahiga ang walang malay na si Yhona at si Edge na mukhang nakikipagtalo sa paramedic na gustong paupuin siya sa wheelchair. Walang nagawa ang medic ng tutukan siya ni Edge ng baril.

 "A7, we are going to bust their tires." I grinned as I opened the target interface of Kuroneko. "Fire when you get in the clear." Two circles marked the target, bisecting and overlapping. "Fire on red."

"Copy," she replied at pasimpleng natuwa ako. Hindi mo aakalain sa kanyang maamong mukha yung pagiging kalmado niya sa gitna ng matinding bakbakan na nangyayari sa paligid niya. Oh yeah, badass runs in the blood, baby.

I wonder how badass our little cakes would be? Ayan ka na naman Red, focus!

"Target locked," her voice sounded calm despite her fear.

"Fire in three, two, ONE!" I saw the sharpened darts release and catch on the rear tires.

"Diosa, brace yourself." Boss Ali's voice was sharp. The car slowed down and spun in a long arc with the other vehicle as it slowed and lost momentum. The windows of the SUV opened and armed men fired M60's at Kuroneko.

"F*ck," I've never really heard Jaguar cuss before. Kuroneko started to back away from the gun's range. Halos hindi ako makahinga sa ginagawang pag-maneuver ni Boss Ali sa kotse. Ilang bala ang hindi naiwasang tumama pero nagawa niyang hindi makawala ang target. 

"Kuya! Kuya!" A7 is trying to override the controls.

"Diosa, stop!"

"No! Si Prince!" The controls however remained in Boss Ali's hands. 

"Kuya Ali..." she's crying... pilit niyang binubuksan ang pinto ng kotse pero ni-lock ito ni Boss.

"Trust me, baby," he soothed her. Nagsimula ulit silang lumapit. Mukhang naubos na ang bala ng M60 ng kalaban kaya calibre .32 naman ang inilabas nito.

"Jaguar, Team Four is under fire!" We all heard 3X and Reaper manipulated the screen so that we have a clear vision of what's happening. Two more vehicles are now behind Trixie and Alfredo and they are raining bullets on Lady.

"'Tangina niyo!" A3 suddenly reversed his vehicle and Lady slammed on the pursuing vehicle's front bumpers. 3X fired on the other vehicle's windshield and caught both the driver and it's passenger.  

The other vehicle slammed on Lady's side and Trixie was thrown back to the door.

"Trixie! You f*ckingsonofabitch!" A3 broke the other vehicles window with his a gun and fired shot after shot on its occupants. Naubos na ang bala pero patuloy pa rin siya sa pagkalabit sa gatilyo.

"Alfred, Alfred, stop... tama na..." Trixie tried to calm him down.

"Kuya Ali!" Napatingin ako sa kabilang screen na naka-focus kay A7. I manipulated the screen and saw armed men bring PC out of the SUV on gun-point.

What the f*ck?

"Sh*t, anong nangyayare?!" I turned to the door and saw a fuming A6.

Crap, another Zabala is on the loose.

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My shoulders felt on fire.

I wanted to do a victory cry when Kuroneko's darts hit the vehicle I'm on. We spun in a wide circle at nakakahilo ang mabilis na pag-ikot. Wala akong mahawakan dahil nakatali ang mga kamay ko at may busal ang aking bibig.

Hindi ko alam kung paano kami natunton ng mga agents ni Kuya Ali pero sobrang pasasalamat ko na ligtas na si Aya. Wala na akong pakialam kanina kung mapatay nila ako kaya binaril ko sila as soon as they entered the door. Pero nagawa pa rin nila akong mahuli at madala sa pagtakas nila.

"P*tangina, paano tayo natunton ng mga pulis?! Bilisan mo!"

"Ibigay na lang kasi natin 'to boss," narinig kong sinabi nung nagtali sa akin kanina. Hinila niya ako pababa ng sasakyan.

"Gago ka ba? Gusto mo bang mahuli tayo? Pag pinakawalan natin yan, wala na silang dahilan para buhayin tayo! Hindi yan mga pulis!"

"T*ngina, akala ko ba hawak ng pinsan mo si hepe? Paanong may nakapasok kanina?"

"Hindi ko alam! Wag mo kong sigawan!" Nakita kong nilabas niya ang cellphone niya. "T*ngina, hayop ka insan! Sumagot ka!" Nanggigigil na ibinalibag niya ang cellphone sa harapan.

"Wala na tayong choice, mukhang nilaglag tayo..." Matiim ang pagkatingin niya sa akin. "P*tangina ka, hindi ko alam kung paano at sino yang mga 'yan pero hindi na kita bubuhayin!" Hinablot niya ang ulo ko at sinabunutan ako palabas.

"LABAS!" Idiniin niya ang baril sa sentido ko. Pinabayaan ko silang hilahin ako. The longer I stall, the more time I have to get Kuya Ali's agents to do their job. 

"Papatayin namin 'to pag di niyo binigay gusto namin!" Sigaw nung lider nila. Siya yung pinsan ni congressman. Walang reaction galing kay Kuya Ali. I tried to move my arm. Kung pwede lang akong sumigaw ginawa ko na pero I could only drag my feet at mabuti na lang mas matangkad ako kaya hirap sila. I got three of them with Rin's silencer before they overpowered me kanina.

Pero ang importante, ligtas si Aya.

"HINDI KAMI NAGBIBIRO, PAPATAYIN NAMIN 'TO!"

I heard a loud crash and we all turned to the source. 

Sh*t.

The Bird just hit the ground.

 ---------------

Nakita kong inilabas nila si Prince sa sasakyan.

"Kuya Ali, please?" I started pounding on the window. Heavily tinted ang sasakyan ni Kuya Ali kaya hindi nila nakikita kung sino ang nakasakay, "Kuya, parang awa mo na..."

"HINDI KAMI NAGBIBIRO, PAPATAYIN NAMIN ITO!" I heard the man holding Prince at gunpoint.

At that moment something crashed nearby. Nakita kong bumagsak ang helicopter ng HQ at malakas ang apoy at usok na nagmumula rito. Kulay kahel ang langit galing sa nagngangalit na dingas sa rear propeller blades. Ilang saglit lang at tuluyan na itong sumabog.

"Si Kuya Alphonse!" Hinihingal ako at para akong masusuka. "Kuya Ali, si Kuya Alphonse..." Nararamdaman kong umaagos ang luha ko.

"He's fine baby, naka-evac sila ni Icen before the Bird went down." Nakahinga ako saglit ng maluwag. I licked my dry lips.

"Thank you... thank you..." Natutop ko ang aking dibdib. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kung masaktan si Kuya Al. Maliliit pa ang mga anak niya at siya rin ang tatay sa aming magkakapatid. Hindi namin makakaya kung mawawalan ulit kami ng ama.

"LUMABAS KA SA SASAKYAN!" Muli akong napatingin sa mga kidnappers. Mukhang nawawala na rin sila sa sarili at desperado nang makatakas. Hindi ko kayang walang gawin. Alam kong reckless pero ang hirap mag-isip lalo na kung makikita mo ang mahal mo at gun-point.

"Kuya si Prince po, buksan mo 'to kuyaaa!" I repeatedly hit the window and tried to open the door.

"Calm down, Diosa. Please calm down." He answered. "Lily and Kuya Alfred will be there." I saw how one of the kidnappers waved his firearm around while the other one kicked Prince at the small of his back. 

Gunshot.

Nanlamig ang mga kamay ko sa nakita ko.

"PRIIIINCE!" Nakita ko kung paano bumulwak ang dugo galing sa tama ng bala sa kanyang balikat. Napaluhod siya sa lupa.

"Isa pa, tutuluyan ko na 'to!" Itinutok muli ng lalaki ang baril sa kanyang ulo.

"They want to get away Diosa. Susubukan nilang kunin ang sasakyan sa'yo..." May sinasabi si Kuya Ali pero hindi na nagre-register sa utak ko.

The only thing I can see is the bloom of blood quickly soaking Prince's shirt. 

"NOOOO! Palabasin mo'ko dito! Kuya Ali!" Hindi ko mapigilang mapahagulgol... Si Prince, kailangan ako ni Prince! I kicked the door repeatedly.

"No, Diosa please?"

Another gunshot. Kitang-kita ko nang tumama ito sa kabilang balikat ni Prince.

I took out the gun Kuya gave me and aimed it at the glass of the window. Hindi na ako nag-atubili. Sumabog ang salamin sa lakas ng impact and my arm felt numb. Pero wala akong pakialam. Ang alam ko lang, hindi ko pwedeng pabayaan si Prince. I immediately reached for the lock pero sadyang hindi mabuksan kaya lumusot ako sa mismong bintana.

"TAMA NA!"

Please God, let me save him.

--------------

Anong ginagawa niya dito?

Napatanga ako habang pinagmamasdan si A6 na pumasok sa loob ng control room.

"Anong nangyari kay Diosa?" He looked shocked as he scanned the screens. "Sh*t... the f*ck?"

"Kuya Adam, what are you doing here?" Bakas din ang pagtataka sa mukha ni Reaper.

"May overnight kami diyan sa kabilang condo. Group project... what the f*ck? Anong nangyayari?!"

"A7's been kidnapped." I said simply.

"TAMA NA!" The loud scream from A7 made me focus back on the screen. Kita ko kung paano lumabas sa nabasag na bintana si A7. Sugat-sugat siya sa bubog pero wala siyang pakialam. She stepped barefoot on the road.

"DAMNIT!! DIOSA BUMALIK KA SA SASAKYAN!" I flinched at Jaguar's commanding voice.  

"Please, pakawalan niyo si Prince..." she pleaded them. She aimed her gun to the sky. "Kunin niyo yung sasakyan basta iwan niyo siya..." She looked tired and vulnerable.

"Itapon mo yang baril!" Utos nung kidnapper. I can see Lily's car almost at the scene. In fifteen seconds makakarating na ang back-up.

"Agent Lily, the situation has escalated. Faster!" I screamed the command.

"Do not let her get hurt!" Matigas na utos ni Jaguar.

Nakita kong hindi ibinaba ni A7 ang baril. "Bitawan mo muna siya!" I admire her skills. Marunong pa rin siyang mag-negotiate kahit takot na takot siya.

"Ang tigas ng ulo mo..." Pinaputukan niya sa paanan si A7 at napaiktad si Aya, dahilan upang mabitawan ang kanyang baril. Saka naman nakita ko ang pag-angat ni Prince at kinapitan ang legs ng isang kidnapper. Bumagsak silang pareho.

I saw Lily accelerate. Five seconds before back-up.

"Tarantado ka!" Hinampas ng kidnapper ang balikat ni Prince na may tama at napabitiw ito.

"Waag!" Agad na tumayo si A7 pero mabilis ang isa pang kidnapper at binaril siya.

"NOOO!" I could hear several people talking on the comm lines at the same time pero parang nabingi ako sa huling sigaw na 'yon.

I felt the world slow down before it fast-forwarded as she fell on the concrete in a bloody heap.

--------------

I can't suppress the gasp that I released when I saw how the bullets hit her on the chest and her head hit the pavement in a dead heap.

Sh*t! Sh*t, I'm too late!

I got my gun out and shot at the kidnappers before I even hit the brakes. One of them tried to run towards Kuroneko but he couldn't open the doors. I shot him on the leg to incapacitate him.

"HQ this is Tiger Lily, I need an emergency team. A7 is down," for the first time in my life I couldn't control my breathing as I ran down my car to get to A7.

Please? Please? Let her live...

Blood. So much blood. My hands immediately soaked on it. She's heavily wounded and I immediately applied pressure on her wound.

I reached for her hand and felt for her pulse.

Nothing.

I touched the side of her neck and let out a shuddering breath.

It's faint but it's there.

I heard the roar of Lady's engine and knew Alfredo is here. Sh*t.

"DIOSA!" I stood up and held him back with all my strength.

"Damn it Lily!" He tried to shove me away. He felt like a raging bull and it took all of my strength to hold him at bay.

"No, stop it Alfredo. Don't move her!" I slapped him. Hard. "Wait for the evac group. She might get even more hurt if you move her." He looked scared. I've never seen him so scared before. He had a deranged look in his eyes.

"Baby girl..." he fell down on the ground with a sob. Trixie was there and she had tears in her eyes as well. She immediately went to where PC is trying to crawl to A7. She took off the cloth from his mouth and untied his hands.

"A-Aya..." his voice is hoarse as he also tried his hardest to reach her side. "Aya..." I saw him kneel down and touch her brow.

"Aya, please... gumising ka..."

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A/N:

Hi, I'm back! Thank you for waiting XD. Since we're nearly at the end of the story I'd like to hear from the readers of ISITL. :D I have but a few questions which I hope you guys will answer with a comment.

1. Which Zabala is your favorite and you think deserves his/her own story?

2. If you could ask one question to one of the characters, what would it be?

3. What part of this story did you like the most?

Thank you everyone and have a great holiday~ 

P.S. I added a photo on the mediabox. I don't really have a habit of making fancasts because I like my audience to use their imagination but me and my friends had this idea of a "what if it becomes a show..." blah... blah... and well... we feel like these actors have the feel of the Zabala men. XD