As Juvena and Guelio climbed up the bamboo ladder of the hut, they saw Renee waiting for them, as she fixed Sanchez' blanket, who has been asleep the whole time. She looked at the both of them, and smirked teasingly, before talking to Juvena.

"Miss Juvena, she wants to talk to you."

"Renee, please call whoever the hell saved me, I want to talk to them."

"You don't have to repeat it, Adrienne. She's already here."

Juvena walked to the bed where Adrienne was lying on. At the door frame, she saw her looking at the stars, as was her habit when she was tied - both literally and figuratively - to a bed. Something, as Juvena remembered, that came from her fascination for the stars as a kid.

Juvena awkwardly walked towards Adrienne, still admiring her like she used to when they were both younger. Adrienne didn't notice when she sat beside her on the bed. She held her hand, which made Adrienne somewhat shoot up before turning to see Juvena.

Before Juvena could talk, she inspected Adrienne's face. She could see her reddened wound, though now it was less swollen than earlier. She also had her signature keloid near her left eye, but it was less prominent now than a decade ago.

Adrienne started with "Señora? Señora Juvena. Thank you for saving me."

She was bent over, her eyes not daring to meet with her saviour. She wasn't trembling, but she could feel a chill down her spine. 

"That was nothing. My job is to be the protector for those who can't save themselves. I'm their savior, their angel. Whatever that means."

"So what are you? A constable? A military attache? Some girl wearing a white coat with mysterious capabilities?", she said somewhat sarcastically.

"I'm none of those, Adrienne. I'm just a person that wants to see more justice in the world. Even if I have to do it myself."

"Aren't you the idealist?"

"Says the one who does exactly the same thing."

Adrienne let out a muffled gasp and shook her head before looking again at Juvena. She jerked her hand from Juvena's as she shuffled back to her original position on the bed. 

"Like I said, thank you for saving me. But I think I need to rest for now."

Juvena for her part did not know what to do. She has more to say, more to share. In fact, she hasn't even divulged their secret. But obviously, it couldn't be forced upon Adrienne. Tired, hurting and probably still in shock - or denial - she needs her space. 

"Very well then. I'll let you be."

It was hard for her to let go of Adrienne's hand. It was a hand with a familiar warmth, that felt like home for her. A home that has been deprived of her for almost all of her life. She stood gracefully and turned away from Adrienne and the bed, heading for the window before facing the door. 

"Rest well. Our adventures won't end yet, 妹."

Guelio and Rodrigo, who were standing on the door frame, watched as the event unfolded before their eyes. When Juvena exited, Guelio followed her while Rodrigo stayed vigilant in case the infirm needed anything.

"Does she not know you? Or does she refuse to recognize you?"

Juvena sighed as she glanced back at the room. She knew it would come to a point where she wouldn't recognize her. Not only has it been to long a time, but it's also part of a mercenary's training to disown anything that is a part of her past to hide their identity. Juvena has wondered why she would still put up the facade, even if it's an intimate moment in a hidden area. There was no need for her to hide, besides didn't they come from the same family? Is she hiding something from her, and us?

"Are Adrienne and I not sisters, Guelio?"

Guelio who was also looking at Adrienne and Rodrigo glanced back at Juvena before saying: "She clearly does not want to accept it. She can't cope with a remnant of a life she's repressed come back to her with the same vigour as before. I can see it in her hesitation."

He sighed, turning his head to Juvena, locking eyes with her. "I would know."

Juvena stayed silent, nodding to Guelio's declaration. She doesn't understand the stubbornness, but she can understand that Adrienne needs to rest. And possibly to take in the situation as well. So she decides to do so as well, as did the others. Renee, Guelio, Rodrigo and Sanchez all took up different chairs and cleopatra benches.

Juvena, for her part, entered her own room, tucked away in the far corner behind the kitchen, almost falling onto the bed. As the window let the midnight breeze enter the room, coupled with the sound of the crashing waves, all Juvena could do was just close her eyes and try falling asleep. Though knowing very well what has happened and what is to happen, she will find it difficult. The Spanish at their tail, her sister injured and the Katipunan discovered, it was only a matter of time before blood and tears would rain over Philippine soil.

~~~

A man, dressed in the attire of a Guardia Veterana, approached the house on the far side of the Palanyag River. He had to leave his horse in town, because the area was treacherous and it would be easier to travel on foot. Besides, it wouldn't be subtle if he brought a blundering, neighing equine to a secluded place. It wasn't part of his plan.

'Nothing really does come to plan anyway. Everything just falls out of place.

Such was his line of thought, as he lighted his Cuban cigar with a match. He stood for a while, inhaling the sweet nicotine-infused smoke, the only solace he has with him, before moving on to the other side of the hill. He saw the sun break through the foliage as he passed through the forest. The rays pierced the damp soil and grass as he ambled through with a trail of smoke and muttered words.

When he reached his destination, he inhaled his last smoke before stubbing it and burying it on the ground. From inside he heard some activity such as muffled footsteps, quiet muttering and the familiar click of a pistol. Instinctively, he drew his own C78 revolver and aimed above, at the door of the house, ready to fire at any eventuality.

Soon the muffled footsteps he could hear multiplied. He was outnumbered with a measly revolver, while those on the other side could have anything from Mausers, Remingtons and even Muratas. He could die at an instant, if his gut was wrong or if he did one wrong move, as was his case sometimes. No matter what, however, it will still be a zero-sum. Just another man dead, killed with the bullets of another. Only he's a general, and they're tulisanes. Still the concept remains.

The door swung open swiftly, and soon he was faced with a man holding a revolver, another wielding a blunderbuss and a woman with a cutlass against his six-shot. It was a standoff for a moment. Until the man Heneral Crisanto Rodel was aiming at recognized him, which, too, was the case for Crisanto.

Lowering his weapon, he holstered it and gave out his hand, saying: "Good morning sunshine. It isn't my specialty to ruin comprehensive plans, but I have to admit you're doing well at it."

The man lowered his weapon as well, while telling the others to do the same. He took the hand and exchanged it with a handshake only few could recognize. Though from afar it could be just one man greeting another, there were certain distinct subtleties, such as folded thumbs and irregular pumps. A handshake devised by the burgeoning Katipunan movement, as a derivative of their hand-sign identification.

"I think you know the reason why I had to cancel plans, Heneral. It was necessary to this entire thing, now more than ever. I believe you are looking at her right now." said Guelio as he pointed to Juvena, who was finished putting her blade in the scabbard.

"Ah.. Si. Ahora, compiendo. La Anghel de Revuelta. Juvena Santa Clara. It is a pleasure."

Juvena, herself out of place, refused to recognize the greeting and motioned for Guelio to continue speaking.

"Since you've bothered yourself to get here, why don't you enter? We were just cooking breakfast when some man in a Guardia Civil uniform strut around the shoreline near the house we were staying in."

"It is my apologies if somebody had the perverse pleasure in delaying plans which set to destroy the Spanish colonial government. You do need a wake-up call, Guelio."

"And I'm glad to have woken up to your admirable dedication then."