Percy couldn't take away his eyes from his wife. For him, she looked absolutely different from the woman she married years ago.
Ibang-iba na ang datingan nito. Ang mga tindig at pati ang paglalakad ay iba na. Ibang tao na ang kaharap niya, gamit ang mukha ng asawa niya.
"Careful with those." Ani Perseus na itinuro ang hawak ni Vix na armalite.
"This?" Na itinaas pa ni Vixyn ang hawak na baril.
"Yeah, that!" Nanlalaki pa ang mga mata.
"It feels good in my hands. It's like I've been using this for a long time already. Na nakalimutan ko lang dahil nga sa amnesia ko." Ani Vix. "Iba sa pakiramdam kapag hawak ko ang baril."
She feels powerful as if she can do anything at all, even if it is reckless or impulsive.
"Don't get used to it." Masungit na sabi ng mister. "Dahil pagbalik na pagbalik natin sa Pilipinas ay hinding-hindi ka na hahawak ng kahit na anong baril."
Kumunot ang noo niya. Nasa loob na sila ng turbojet na gamit ng airforce at patungo na sa pupuntahan. Alam niyang naririnig sila ng ibang mga kasamahan ngunit binalewala na lang niya.
"Why?"
"What do you mean why? Of course, it's dangerous and you're not allowed to possess firearms without approval or legal papers."
"What if we need it for protection?"
"You won't need it, I'm here. I can protect you and the kids."
"You're not always around." At iniwas na ang tingin sa asawa. "Ilang beses na bang may nangyari na wala ka sa tabi namin? Sa tabi ko para protektahan kami? The only one who protected me and the kids were me."
Hindi nakasagot pabalik si Percy dahil totoo naman ang sinabi ni Vix. Tila ba tinamaan sa sinabi ng asawa.
"You're right, I wasn't always there when you needed me." At nag-iwas na din ng tingin.
"That's the more reason why I need a gun for protection. I cannot always count on you, I need to protect our kids in case you're away."
"This isn't the right time to discuss that matter. Let's talk about that when this is over." At tuluyan nang tumalikod upang hindi na makipag-usap.
Lahat sila ay may isa-isang earpiece upang doon sila makakapag-usap at magkarinigan kapag nasa gitna na sila ng laban mamaya.
None of them uttered a word because they all need to empty their minds and focus on the mission. Vixyn is internalizing to get Ruby out of her system. She needs her old self so she can fight on her own instead of being a burden to everyone, especially to her sisters and her husband.
Nang makalapag na sila sa may Texas ay lumipat naman sila sa isang armored truck. Malapit na sa border ng Mexico ang lugar kung nasaan ang buong sindikato ni Weber.
"Just follow the plan. Watch each other's back and don't get killed." Bilin sa kanila ni Diamond bago umalis kasama ang grupo nito.
Ang grupo ni Diamond na Alpha Team ang unang sumugod roon bilang parte ng plano nila. Nang mahuli na ang mga ito ng mga kalaban ay sila naman ang naghanda. Nang marinig nila si Agent Gunner na sinabing pumosisyon na ay nagsimula na nilang gawin iyon.
"This is it, sisters. We have to make sure not to fail this one." Ani Em na parehong tinapik sina Ruby at Amethyst."
"We will not." Sagot ni Amethyst bago pintunog ang mga buto sa daliri.
Ginaya naman ni Em ang kapatid na tila ba nagsisimulang mabuhay ang mga dugo dahil sa nalalapit na pakikipaglaban.
Vixyn on the other hand felt a little nervous because she couldn't make Ruby resurface. They are about to begin the attack and yet, she's just a helpless woman with amnesia in the middle of a war.
But when she felt her husband holding her hand, squeezing it tightly, she was at ease.
"Don't worry, we'll finish this together." Ani Percy.
Nginitian at tinanguan lang niya bago muling humarap sa malaking gate sa di kalayuan.
"Agents, attack!"
Nang marinig nila ang sigaw ni Dagger sa earpiece nila ay iyon ang naging hudyat nila para sumugod. Nagsimula na sila sa pagtakbo at sinusubukang umiwas sa ilang mga bumabaril sa kanila. Sumunod siya sa mga kapatid na hindi sa Main door dumaan.
"Ruby, come here!" Si Em na sumenyas sa kanya.
Both Emerald and Amethyst released a shooting rope to pull them upward towards the wall. They both pulled Ruby and then Jumped on the other side of the wall.
Pagkatapak nila sa sahig ay kaagad niyang nilingon ang asawa kung nakasunod ba ito. Sanay ang asawa niya sa mga misyon kaya walang kahirap-hirap rito na gayahin ang paraan nilang mga Gem sa pag-akyat.
"Draw your weapon, Ruby, and heighten your senses. I'm sure other Gems are just around the corners and they won't hesitate to kill us if you will give them a chance." Ani Amethyst.
Nakakaramdam ng pangamba at pag-aalinlangan si Vixyn ngunit pinipilit niyang labanan iyon. Huminga siya nang malalim at inayos na niya ang pagkakahawak sa armalite kaya't nagsimula na sila sa paglalakad.
Armed men suddenly popped out and her sister started to shoot. Hindi niya magawang kalabitin ang baril kaya't si Percy ang gumawa. He covered her but some managed to run closer to them so her body reacted. She managed to knock off some men by kicking them in the face and neck.
"Are you alright?" Tanong ng mister sa kanya na sinipat pa siya nang maubos na nila ang kalaban.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"If you can't pull the trigger, it's okay. You can just stay behind me-"
"No! I can fight! I can do this? I want to do this. I will try and take the shot later." Sagot ni Ruby at pagkatapos ay sumunod na sa mga kapatid na naglakad nang muli.
When they turned left to the last hallway on the South wing, they saw two women standing in there. Vix knew that it must be their other sisters, the other Gems who are left together with Sapphire.
Pakiramdam niya ay kilala din niya ang dalawa at matagal nang kakilala.
"Looks like we're back again from the same scenario years ago, minus Sapphire." Amber said.
"Amber, Onyx, it's us. We're here to bring down Weber's empire together with Madame Pearl and the FLAW. Help us do that and you can be free from them." Sinusubukan ni Em na kausapin ang dating mga kasamahan upang pumanig sa kanila.
"Do you think we're that stupid?!" Sarkastikong balik ni Onyx. "Do you want us to be a traitor just like you?!"
"Yes, we've betrayed the organization but only for a sole purpose, and that is to escape that hell. They captured us when we were just kids, stole us away from our family, and has made us this way." Patuloy pa din si Emerald sa pakikipag-usap upang bigyan ito ng pagkakataong hindi na lumaban pa.
"We cannot go back in the outside world, nothing awaits us in there. We are all doomed and if FLAW will fall, we will have to fall with it." Ani Amber na halatang buo na ang desisyong kalabanin sila.
Amber and Onyx draw their weapons and it is clear that they don't want to listen to them anymore so they must fight back against them.
Pinakatitigan lang ni Vix ang dalawang babae at may nabuhay na mumunting galit sa kanyang dibdib nang bigla niyang maalala ang nangyari noon sa may tuktok ng talampas.
"We gave you a chance but you didn't take it." Si Ruby na kinasa na ang armas at handa na ring lumaban. "So, let's do it your way!"
Tila ba biglang nagbago siya at lumilitaw na ang dating katauhan kaya't naglaho na ang pag-aalinlangan sa kanyang mukha. Anger can really trigger something in her.
"Amethyst, you go ahead." Tulak ni Em sa kapatid. "Kaya na namin nina Ruby at Percy to. Find Madame Pearl and the others."
Pagkatapos ay biglang sumugod na sina Amber at Onyx kaya naman mabilis nilang sinangga ang bawat atake nila. Emerald and Onyx are fighting one on one while Amber is fighting against Ruby and Percy.
Kapansin-pansin ang pagiging mabilis ng mga kalaban nila. Halatang sinanay na nang husto ng panahon sa pakikipaglaban. Halos nahihirapan silang sabayan ang bawat kilos at hindi nababantayan ang bawat atake kaya naman may mga natamo silang sugat.
Emerald is more worried for her sister than herself because Ruby has not that fully recovered from her amnesia and she's having a hard time fighting off Amber. Percy knows how to fight too coz he is trained as well but Gems has undergone more intensive training ever since they were young. And surviving on that island means that they are committed to winning no matter what it costs.
Sinusubukang paputukan ni Vix ang mga kapatid ngunit dahil mabibilis nga ay hindi niya natatamaan. Naisip niya na sana pala ay nagdala din siya ng hand gun upang mas maasinta niya nang malapitan ang kalaban.
"It looks like your skills are now rusty, Ruby." Amber is mocking her. "You even brought a man to help you in this fight." She saw her glanced at Percy for a second. "We were taught to never ask for help from a man. We're stronger and wiser than them, we are better than them." And gave her a sheepish smile. "But he's a hottie, maybe he's good at something else, huh?"
Napikon na roon si Ruby kung kaya't binitiwan na niya ang hawak na armalite at inilabas ang kanyang Kunai. Pagkatapos ay kaagad siyang sumugod at hindi na alintana ang pagtawag sa kanya ng asawa.
Percy is trying to keep up with his wife and the enemy but they are both fast. He saw how Vixyn calculated her moves to attack the woman using her weapon. It's a small knife but she can use it well.
Patuloy si Vix sa pag-atake at pagsangga din sa atake ni Amber. Kahit na nagreact na ang katawan niya bilang si Ruby ay hindi pa rin ganoon kagaling ang pakikipaglaban niya. Nagtatamo pa rin siya ng sugat at siya naman ay nahihirapang tamaan ang kapatid.
"Fuck!" Mura niya nang madaplisan siya sa braso.
"Damn, Ruby!" Si Amber nang mapaatras dahil nasipa ito ni Percy sa may tiyan. "Your man can hurt a woman without a flinch!"
"It's because you're not a woman!" Ani Perseus na tumabi sa asawa para tingnan ang sugat. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Mabilis na sagot ni Vix at iniwas na ang sugat rito. "Let's focus on this." She doesn't want any distraction.
"Didn't know you have the heart to love someone?" Amber is mockingly smiling at her while staring at them both. "What happened, Ruby? What made you change yourself, huh?" Sabay halakhak. "You know that our hearts are made of stone, but you somehow changed it-" and she paused for a bit. "-you changed it and now you become weak." Pagkatapos ay muling sumugod sa kanilang mag-asawa.
Kaagad namang nasalag ni Ruby ang atake sa kanya ngunit hindi ang mister. Nadaplisan ito sa may tagiliran ngunit nagpatuloy pa din sa pakikipagsabayan kay Amber.
"Back off, Percy, let me handle this." Gamit ang isang braso ay pinaatras niya ang lalaki upang mapapunta sa likuran niya.
"I won't." At muling tumabi sa gilid niya. "We're doing this together!"
Hindi talaga siya sinunod ng mister at naunang sumugod sa kay Amber. Her husband is not using his one hundred percent strength because he's still acting like a gentleman. He doesn't want to hurt a woman but he doesn't have a choice right now but to fight back.
"I don't want to hurt you but you leave me with no choice!" Ruby said and maneuvered her body to jump and do a high kick and it landed on Amber's face.
Kahit siya ay nagulat sa nagawa dahil hindi niya alam na kaya pala niya ang ganoong bagay. Her weapons are laced with poison and she doesn't want to kill her sister so she opted for a hand to hand combat instead.
Dumura ng dugo si Amber habang masamang nakatingin sa kanya.
"I won't
be nice anymore, Ruby. I'm done saying hello to you." At muling pumisisyon. "I'm going to finish you so I could say goodbye!"
Amber attacked her first and then Percy. She is attacking them alternately in a more aggressive way. She is faster than them and it's hard to predict her next move.
Habang tumatagal ay tila ba nawawalan na din siya ng pakiramdam. Hindi na siya nasasaktan kapag natatamaan siya o nasusugatan dahil ang tanging nasa isip niya ay ang mapatumba na ito upang matapos na.
And because Emerald has knocked off Onyx, she went to aid them in fighting Amber who was caught off guard resulted in receiving a double hit from them.
"Damn, are these women even humans?" Daing ni Percy. "They don't know how to quit!" Anito nang makitang lalapit pang muli si Amber sa kanila.
Based on what I have done in my dreams, I guess, we're not humans after all.
Sinagot ni Vix ang tanong ng asawa sa kanyang isip lang.
"We're trained not to give up." Sagot naman ni Em. "That's what Gems are."
Nang sumugod muli sa kanila ang kalaban ay nagsabay-sabay na silang tatlo kung kaya't medyo napuruhan din nila si Amber. Napaluhod ito habang hawak ang tagiliran na halatang nabalian ng buto roon.
"What are you waiting for? Kill me!" Hamon sa kanila ng dalaga.
Nakipagpalitan ng tingin si Ruby sa kapatid at kahit na hindi siya sang-ayon kina Emerald at Diamond ay hindi naman niya kayang patayin ang dating kasamahan.
"We're not going to do that, Amber. You're a victim here too. We're here to help you get out of here." Si Em.
Patuyang tumawa naman ang babae.
"Help? You mean you're going to arrest us instead of killing us?" Sabay iling. "I'd rather die than get arrested!"
"I'm sure we can come up with an agreement with SIATT. Let us help you-"
"No!" Putol nito kay Em. "I don't want your help!"
At bago pa sila makahuma ay bigla silang napapilit dahil sa usok na mula sa inihagis ni Onyx. Nang idilat nila ang mga mata ay nawala na ang dalawa at marahil ay nakatakbo na upang makatakas.
"What was that?" Si Percy na takang-taka sa nangyari habang sinusubukang hawiin ang usok sa ere.
"Smoke bomb." Si Vix na ang sumagot sa asawa dahil iyon ang pumasok sa isip niya.
"Smoke bomb?" Ulit ng lalaki na tumingin pa kay Astrid. "The one that ninjas used to escape?" Halatang hindi makapaniwala.
"Yeah, that's the one." Sagot ni Del Fierro na kinasa na muli ang dalang baril pagkatapos isukbit ang sandata nito sa likod. "We have to get going."
Sumunod naman sina Vix at Percy kay Astrid at nagsimulang maglakad. Maingat silang nagpalinga-linga sa paligid upang magmatiyag nang bigla may nakasalubong silang mga armadong lalaki.
Nakipagpalitan sila ng putok sa kalaban habang umiilag. Kanya-kanya sila sa pagtatago sa likod ng pader upang hindi matamaan.
"I'm running out of bullets!" Sigaw ni Percy.
"Don't worry, I got you covered." Ani Ruby na niratrat ang mga kalaban.
Nang may sumugod ay kanya-kanya sila sa pakikipaglaban. Vixyn is skillfully avoiding every attack and at the same time, hitting those men back. May mga nabalian na siya ng buto at may ilang napatumba dahil sa nawalan na ng malay mula sa mga atake niya.
And then suddenly, one of the men throws a grenade towards them. They all run and jumped to avoid the impact. The armed men continue to shoot at them, attacking them non-stop.
Tila ba walang katapusan ang pagdagsa ng mga kalaban at napansin na lang nila na nahiwalay na sakanilang mag-asawa si Emerald. Nagpatuloy pa din sila sa pakikipaglaban at kamuntik nang mapuruhan si Percy. Mabuti at daplis lang ang natamo ngunit hindi iyon nagustuhan ni Ruby.
She took out her weapon- Kunai and she began attacking each man, striking them. She gave them small cuts, neither too shallow nor deep. Dahil roon ay pinagtawanan lang siya ng mga lalaki.
"Seriously?" Tanong ng isa na humalakhak pa.
Pagkatapos kasi niyang pinaghihiwa nang mabilis ay nagtago siya sa likod ng pader. Nasa kabilang panig si Percy at nagkatinginan sila habang parehong nagtatago.
"You're like playing here, woman. Your attacks doesn't even bothered us " segundan naman ng isa.
"You're using a cute weapon little girl." Dagdag pa ng isa.
Dahil nakatingin si Ruby sa asawa ay kita niya ang pag-iling nito na marahil ay nababasa sa mukha niya ang binabalak ngunit hindi siya nagpatinag. Lumabas siya mula sa pinagtataguan at hinarap ang mga kalalakihang patuloy sa pang-aasar sa kanya.
"You can say that these are cute." Sabay taas sa Kunai knife niya na hawak sa magkabilang kamay. "But these are deadly, gentlemen." At dahan-dahang naglakad palapit sa mga ito. "You see, these are lethal, it can make your heart stop beating in just a few minutes."
Nagsi-kunot ang noo ng mga lalaki kaya't siya naman ngayon ang mapanganib na ngumisi.
"What are you talking about?" Tanong nung isang naunang mang-asar sa kanya.
"Can't you feel it? Can't you feel the sudden change in your breathing?" Aniya na itinagilid pa ang ulo. "Do you feel the slight burning sensation starting from the cuts and it is now radiating inside your body?" She's giving them an evil grin. "Well, my knives are laced with poison so it means that, you've been kissed by death. Ruby's kiss is deadly and-" sabay pitik. "-just like that, you'll die."
Pagkasabi niyon ay may isang napaluhod na at umubo-ubo ng dugo. Ang isa naman ay biglang napahawak sa dibdib na tila ba hindi makahinga. Ang ilan naman ay sinubukan pang maglakad palapit sakanya ngunit dumura na rin ng dugo at nangisay na sa lupa. Ang isa ay tinangka pang tutukan siya ng baril ngunit hindi na nito maangat ang kamay at unti-unting napaluhod.
"What did you do to us?" Tanong ng isa bago bumulagta at nangisay.
"I just kissed you." Aniya at inisa-isa nang sinilip ang mga nakahigang lalaki roon. "You should all be honored, gentlemen, my kisses are very precious."
Ruby felt a sense of accomplishment after killing several men. She doesn't even feel guilty about it and wouldn't mind doing it again.
"Vixyn." Tawag sa kanya ni Percy ngunit hindi niya nilingon agad. "Are you alright?"
"I've never felt so good." Aniya at doon nilingon ang lalaki.
"You have to take it slow, you don't need to kill-"
"But I want to-" putol niya sa Mister na nakahawak sa sugat nito. Alam naman niyang malayo iyon sa bituka at kaya nitong hindi indahin iyon. "I want to kill them all." Aniya at umatras ng ilang hakbang. "So I need to go. I need to go alone. You'll only distract me from my mission." Patuloy siya sa pag-atras.
"Vixyn, no!" At tinangka pang habulin siya kahit alam niyang makirot ang sugat nito.
"Stay here and don't follow me!" Aniya na tuluyan nang tumakbo palayo sa asawa.
"No, wait!" Sigaw nito ngunit hindi na niya nilingon pa at dire-direcho na siya sa pagtahak sa panibagong daan.
She jumped two floors down and beat up a few goons again. She doesn't know where to go, the only thing inside her mind is to kill all those who will choose to fight her.
Pagkanan niya sa isang pasilyo ay patay-sindi ang ilaw sa may bandang dulo. Hindi na niya nahanap si Emerald maski ang ibang mga kapatid na sina Amethyst at Diamond. Kanya-kanya siguro sa pakikipaglaban ang mga ito. May mga iilang boses sa kanyang earpiece siyang naririnig na mula sa mga agents ng SIATT kaya't nalalaman din niya ang mga nangyayari sa lugar.
May sumulpot muli na tatlong armadong lalaki sa kanyang likuran at mabilis naman niyang nagawan ng paraan upang matamaan ng kanyang mapanganib na sandata ang mga ito nang hindi siya nadadaplisan.
And because she gave them a bunch of cuts, the poison has penetrated inside the body which incapacitates them. Ruby felt an incredible satisfaction because of that.
"Serves you right!" Aniya habang nakatayo sa gilid ng mga nakahandusay na katawan ng mga lalaki.
Pagkatapos ay naglakad na siya at napahintong muli nang may matanaw siya sa dulo ng pasilyo. At dahil patay-sindi ang ilaw roon ay hindi niya gaanong maaninag kung sino iyon.
Ruby walked further towards the person and as she stepped closer, it becomes more clear to her that the figure belongs to a woman.
"Diamond, is that you?" Tanong niya habang dahan-dahang lumalapit.
When the woman didn't answer and started walking towards her, Vixyn stopped and positioned herself. She drew her weapon and prepares to attack.
But as the woman drew closer to her, she felt a wave of fear and longing in her heart that she couldn't explain. And then a sudden throbbing pain began to strike her. It feels like it's pounding her head hard. She dropped her weapons and holds her head, squeezing it tightly.
"Stop! Stop it!" She is screaming in pain but the woman is just staring at her from a couple of meters away.
Ruby has recognized her from her nightmares and she knew that this encounter will put her sanity to the test.
"Finally, you're back. Don't you miss me, my baby Ruby?"