Silver. Sinuous. Sinister.

The light caught and fragmented into a thousand glittering points on the Myght as it hovered like an obedient pet on my outstretched fingers. Based on the research notes that Yelle retrieved from her mission in Singapore there are three things that this biotechnological breakthrough can do: Destroy, Repair, and Create. Each tiny grain is a nanobot that can mimic the capability of any living cellular organism.

It's creator's original intention is for the Myght to be used in the medical field. To be used to kill abnormal cellular growth while keeping the healthy organs alive and the system stable. It can even be programmed for bone and organ replacement and to make surgery faster and more efficient.

But the people who stole it wanted to use it for warfare. The Myght is a mindless organism that can be programmed to destroy even a healthy body or to disperse and maim a whole army. Each tiny nanobot can be injected into a host and destroy the healthy cells one by one or to be detonated to release a virus or even poison.

How to keep this safe from the clutches of Tiu and his gang? I watched as a silver tendril latched gently on my wrist, right where I know the agency's tracking device is surgically implanted.

Suddenly an idea began forming in my head.

It might just work.

***

"You are not seriously considering..." Reaper's eyes widened as I inputted the final few lines of the code. "What the hell..."

"Are you volunteering?" I asked. He shook his head and backed away.

"Hell, no."

"Take this." I placed the syringe on his hand. "I'll connect this to the main server and change the controls in my implant. You know what to do."

"This is crazy. You are crazy," he murmured in a mixture of fear and awe.

"Well the theory is sound." I tried to assure him. Or is it myself I am trying to reassure?

"Don't you think we should test it on another creature first?" The boy looked like he was ready to tear his hair out.

"We don't have time. They know we have the Myght and they also know where we are." Tch. If only I'd listened to Sanada then Komova wouldn't have the chance to rat us. Much as I hate to admit it, it is my fault.

"What if it doesn't work?" Reaper's skeptic face kept looking at me and at the deadly weapon in his hands.

"Then you should carry on my legacy."

He paled.

"Jaguar system is ready," Shanvie's voice drifted from the other end of the lab where she is currently working on the complicated wirings of what would be my replacement micro control system.

"I'm ready Shan." She approached and I settled down on the bed. Reaper had no choice but to fix the restraints on my arms and legs. This should take only a few minutes, a half-hour at the most.

A few minutes that would change my life forever.

***

"Oi ano ba?" Sinundot-sundot ko ang tagiliran ni Reaper na tulala pa rin simula ng makabalik ako galing sa meeting sa ibaba. Mula kaninang bago umalis ang team e parang lutang na siya. I mean naiintindihan ko naman na sobrang culture shock siguro at first operation niya ito at major operation pa. Naalala ko tuloy yung mga halos kapalpakan namin ni Trixie noong noob pa kami. Halos bumuga ng apoy si Jaguar noon.

"Ngayon... I mean it's my first time to see someone get shot..." sabi niya sa maliit na boses.

"Err... okay lang 'yan. Hindi naman masyadong nasaktan si 3X. Kain ka na lang nitong nutella sandwich," I offered him. Kawawang bata. Minsan nakakalimutan ko na rin na minor itong si Reaper dahil usually e mas matured pa siya kaysa sa amin umasta. Saka close na rin naman sila ni Trixie kaya kaninang nadaplisan si Trix e panic-mode siya. Not to mention napagalitan siya ni A2, aka Alfredo Zabala, dahil sa mga ininstall niyang Vocaloid music sa kotse nito. "Nutella is the answer to all troubles."

"I don't know how you can eat after..." He gestured helplessly "...that."

"Masasanay ka rin." I patted his back. "I mean try to think of it this way. We are doing the right thing to save people and the make sure the bad guys are kept away."

"Thanks Icen." Mygash... ngumiti si Reaper at naalala ko na naman na kamag-anak niya nga pala si Boss. Shems heart, ayokong maging cradle snatcher.

"'Ge, gawa ka muna ng hot choco sa pantry at ako muna magmo-monitor dito."

***

"Where are we going? Hey! Hey!"

Naalimpungatan ako sa tunog ng putok ng bala at sigawan ng aking mga pinsan. Hilong pilit kong binuksan ang aking mga nanlalabong mata.

"Bitawan niyo kami! Ano ba! Nooo!" Andi was screaming. Isang malakas na sampal ang iginawad sa kaniya ng aming bantay.

"Pasok! Sinabi nang pasok! Putangina, hindi ka ba papasok?" Wala akong magawa habang kinakaladkad kami papasok sa sasakyan. Ipinasok kaming tatlo sa backseat ng isang SUV habang panay pa rin ang putukan sa paligid. Kita ko ang takot sa luhaang mukha ni Cassie habang tulala naman si Andi at magulong-magulo ang buhok. This from a girl who wouldn't be caught dead without make-up and hair products.

"What are we going to do?" Cassie whispered. Umiling ako. Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko na alam. I just hope na safe sila Tita Eliza at Ama. We were taken separately at hindi ko pa sila nakikita simula ng kunin kami ni Brian sa condo. I know Tita and Ama have not been very good to me and my sister pero mas nananaig pa rin ang aming pagiging magkadugo.

"We're gonna die... oh my God I can't believe this. We are gonna die..." palakas nang palakas na iyak ni Andi. Parang nawawala na siya sa sarili at hindi nagfo-focus ang mga mata.

"We wont," I tried to reassure her. "Maliligtas tayo."

"Who's gonna save us, huh?" Nagulat ako ng bigla niya akong sinampal. ""yong boyfriend you? E it's your fault why we are kidnapped. Ang landi you kasi!" Sinubukan niya ulit akong sampalin pero si Cassie na ang umawat sa kaniya.

"Andi, ano ba? Hindi tayo makakaligtas kung magsisisihan tayo," Cassie whispered with vehemence. "Stop being cruel to Maria. She's our cousin."

"Tch. Cousin you diyan. She is a bitch who cares about herself kesa her family. I hope she rot to hell. She is not fit to be called family."

***

I suppressed a yawn as I watched the shadows. Antok na antok na ako pero hindi pa dumadating si Agent Yelle na papalit sa akin. Maghapon na tahimik naman ang paligid bukod doon sa medyo 'scene' kanina ni PC at A7. Gurabe sila sa pagka-cheesy, buti na lang kyootie-patootie si A7 kung hindi baka nasuka na ako sa drama kanina habang nagta-tantrums siya. Si PC naman kasi hindi marunong magdahilan. Umamin ba naman na may mission galing kay Boss Jaguar siyempre mag-aalala ang girlfriend niya.

Ambigat-bigat na ng mata ko at tiyak ko busog na busog na yung mga lamok na kanina pa nagpipiyesta dito sa pinagtataguan ko. Note to self, kailangan ng insect repellent kapag nasa stake-out.

"Unit 03, come in Unit 03." Naghintay ako ng sagot galing sa kabilang team. Sa sobrang boredom e nakakatulog na ang mga paa ko. Nag-stretch ako habang hinihintay si Unit 03. "Unit 03 nag-dinner na ba kayo? Unit 03?" Kanina pa kumakalam ang sikmura ko. Sabi ng kabilang unit e bibili sila ng makakain pero hanggang ngayon e hindi pa dumarating.

Come to think of it mga isang oras na simula ng huling may nagparamdam sa mga ibang unit.

Uh-oh.

The line remained dead. I tried the other units. Shit! Shit!

"Zebra to HQ. Come in HQ!" Shit, pati ang linya sa HQ ayaw kumonekta. Fuck, may gumagamit ng scrambler!

I got up from my position sa itaas ng puno ng mangga. From my vantage point I marked the areas kung saan dapat naroon ang mga units namin. I got my pen light and flashed a signal.

No response. It's either they are dead or engaged in battle. I got my service firearm out.

I decided to climb higher. Baka sakaling mas maganda ang visual ko.

"Anak ng tinapa."

Three units are making their way to the house. One unit is engaged in hand to hand combat. I saw a sniper two roofs away.

Anak ng zebrang duling. My hands shook from excitement and fear. I know I'm no expert marksman yet but seven out of ten is still great odds.

There is no time to waste.

I lifted my hand and carefully aimed.

"Damn it!" The first shot was off by a foot. I saw the sniper roll off the roof with his gun. I scrambled to unlock my carabiner and free-falled down the tree. I need to get to the house ahead of the enemy.

I heard a shot and the lights went off the whole street.

Suddenly, the night wasn't so boring anymore.

***

The pink-tinged clouds that half-hid the moon made the night sky looked awash with blood. The wind picked up strands of my hair that escaped my ponytail. For a moment I contemplated if I should just shave the whole lot of my hair off to signify a change and a rebellion.

This morning I received another message, a summons, from my grandfather. It has been growing more frequent as the years passed by. This time the missive came with a photograph. The message read:

Come home and marry him. This is an order.

If only it was so easy to dismiss as the earlier requests. The picture made me stop and stare for awhile before I hastily shoved it back into the envelope. The intricate origami folds that I knew took years to master were destroyed as I tried to chase away my guilty thoughts.

As the only surviving heir I know how much grandfather is still wishing that I go back and continue the family tradition. Too bad I'm too stubborn to follow orders.

I guess whether he would admit it or not, I got my stubborn genes from him. The old man knew how to play me. He knew exactly where to strike and how to do it in such a way as to lat me crawl back into the life I left behind. How he got Akihiko to agree to him is the big mystery to me. The last time we saw each other, I swore never to trust him again.

In silent moments like these, I am left with only my thoughts as company and the weirdest notions as my escape from my otherwise inescapable predicament.

Like the fact that I am hanging by a mere rope from the side of a building while down in the ground several explosions have just been heard. A column of smoke emanated from the West Wing of the condominium complex and police and agents alike crawled on the ground like so many ants trying to stop the wave of bullets from Tiu's men.

There are times when I want to question the madness of this mission, if only for the fact that Alistair Zabala has never let anyone down.

I squinted and aimed at another enemy agent trying to flee from the scene. I picked out the vehicle that is said to carry 43 speed away on the opposite direction from my target. Pursuit is of the highest priority.

"Agents, Komova has escaped from HQ. I repeat, Agent Komova has gone rouge. Target is riding a silver BMW heading towards the lair."

Tch. That bitch and I have a serious score to settle. Siya ang dahilan kung bakit parating nakakalusot si XH32 sa amin. She's been playing me from far too long and I can't simply let her get away to her real masters.

Panahon na para magbayad si Lana.

"Agent Sanada your vehicle is ready," came Icen's voice on my transponder. I unclipped the carabiner and let myself freefall on the rope before stopping inches above my black Ducati. I donned the helmet and kickstarted the vehicle, leaving the wide-eyed agent who brought it to me spluttering in the dust of my wake.

This time hindi na ako papayag na matakasan pa ako ng osbitch.

***

"Lex anong nangyayari?" I watched the confusion in my precious sister's eyes.

"Get up. We need to get moving." I saw her scramble to get her clothes on. I stuffed my laptop in my bag and strapped my guns in their holsters. I dialled Komova's number. "Report."

"They have teams on the ground floor of Seda and the 24th, going to the 25th. The bridge is the only way out."

"Where's your position?" I cursed internally as my other phone rang again. Tiu's number flashed.

"I'm here at the 10th." She paused and I heard a curse. "Sanada is on my tail. You need to get Brian out of harm's way."

"I will take care of that Zabala once in for all."

"Lex..."

I grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the door. Nakasalubong ko ang ilang mga tauhan na nagtatakbuhan. They shielded us as we made our way to the parking lot. "Get in." I pushed her in the passenger seat of the blue E150. Around me tatlo pang sasakyan ang naghahanda sa paglabas. I'm pretty sure Brian is in the black Hummer while 43 is in one of the other two vehicles. My phone has not stopped ringing since we got out of my suite.

Bumaba ang salamin ng Hummer and I could see Brian on his phone. He looked livid.

"Yes?" I answered his call.

"You will kill the Zabalas, do you understand me? I especially want that son of a bitch Alistair dead."

"Consider it done."

I got into my vehicle and we all headed out into the night.

***

"Jaguar, they're heading for the bridge."

"I know. Just as I predicted Icen. Make sure Yhona and Edge are in position. A2 is approaching with 3X."

"Copy Jaguar." Naputol na ang linya at nag-concentrate ako sa sitwasyon namin. I itch to turn back to the condo complex and follow 43 pero mas importanteng mahuli namin si Alex. The asshole has been a thorn in my side for far too long. He is the one who sold the knowledge about the Myght to Tiu's circle. If we don't catch him now, he is going to sell more secrets to the highest bidder.

And I won't forgive what he did to Panther. And to our baby girl.

Nobody messes with our baby girl.

Wait for me darling. I'm going to come and get you.

I called HQ to get an idea of what is happening on the ground. Icen rattled off her report before she stopped and an eerie silence enveloped the line.

"Icen." I had a bad feeling when I heard a landline ringing. Saglit na nawala sa linya si Clauson and I swear I could hear the distant voice of Yellow. Yellow is supposed to relieve Zebra. Shit. "ICEN!"

"It seems somebody attached a scrambler." Nanginginig ang boses ni Clauson.

"Icen get the communications back up. Give me a report on A7 ASAP."

If something happens to her Aya, I wont stop even after I kill Hernandez... 21 too and the rest of his men. Brian Tiu will suffer.

I can still feel the strange sensation of the Myght beneath my fingertips. If I close my eyes I can almost picture the tiny nanobots integrating with the cells of my body, seeking out every tiny anomaly and fixing it—old injuries being healed, sorted, and dealt with.

At the next corner I saw the E150 on the heels of Constantino's bike. This asshole dare touch my family and betray the organization!

Before I realized it I've floored the accelerator on the Audi I borrowed and slammed it at the E150. For a few precious seconds it was all screeching of metal against metal as sparks flew and glass chips rained. The car's sensors are going haywire as I continued to crash the back of the van over and over.

We took a stand-still when the E150 finally slammed on one of the lightposts. I kicked the door open and rolled out into the pavement. Bago pa man ako makatayo ay narinig ko na ang putukan. I could see Prince ducking into the back of the Audi and I stayed low to avoid enemy gunfire. He had his gun out too.

Good sign. I might make an agent out of him yet. I closed the distance and effectively disarmed him.

"Constantino." I handed him a couple of smoke bombs. "Itong gamitin mo mas effective."His answering grin was infectious. He unpinned the bombs and threw them at the enemies firing at us. Nakarinig kami ng ilang mura pero hindi na ako nag-aksaya ng panahon at hinila na siya palayo sa area. I need to get to Hernandez and I don't want him to take the upper hand.

Suddenly the van opened and I saw a face I haven't seen for quite some time. Hernandez looked smug while the girl beside him was screaming and trying to get away. I wasn't really interested in her. What I wanted is now in front of me. I smiled at Alex before I aimed my gun at his face. The asshole scrambled back to hide behind the door of his car like a surprised cockroach.

We reached Prince's bike and before the enemy could get back on its feet, he kickstarted the bike to life.

"Tangina mo Zabala. You think you can get away with your petty tricks?"

I suppressed the urge to reply. There are more things important than trading insults. Melanie started screaming at him and pulling the gun. Napamaang ako nang walang sabi-sabi niyang sinapak ang babae dahilan para tumilapon ito.

This coming from a man who professed his love to his sister?

Shit got real. I wasted no time and fired at him. He really is the scum of the earth. The effects of the tear gas had Alex's minions on the ground. Sila lang ng kapatid niya ang hindi gaanong apektado dahil nasa loob sila ng sasakyan ng sumabog ang gas.

There is one way to win this. Divide and conquer.

"Drive," I whispered to Constantino.

***

A/N:

For clarity of some parts of this story, it is best to read "It Started in the Library" first.

Re-reading everything that happened, I can't believe napakadami palang iba't ibang storyline ang naganap. XD Pati ako nahilo.