YEAR 2020.
"CHIEF may balita na ba kayo kay Lieutenant Nina Sinclair?" magalang na tanong ni Sr. Inspector Rob Malinawan sa Chief General nang National Enforcement Agency o NEA ng Country P.
"Malinawan alam kong close tayo dahil pamangkin kita pero hindi sapat na dahilan yun para hanapan mo ako ng mga nawawalang tao," pabirong sagot nito sa tanong niya saka bumalik sa binabasang dokumento na hawak nito.
"I know but Tito alam kong kaya mo siyang hanapin," maririnig mo sa tono ng boses niya ang desperasyon na mahanap na ang babae. Marami pa siyang kailangang malaman tungkol sa nangyaring buy-bust operation tatlong taon na ang nakakalipas.
Nang balikan niya si Lieutenant Sinclair sa hospital ay nadischarge na ito at di umano ay nagresign na sa post nito bilang isang agent ng NEA. Mula noon ay naglaho na itong parang bula.
"Iho, tatlong taon na. Bakit ba kailangang hanapin mo pa siya?" ibinaba nito ang binabasa at iniukol ang buong atensyon sa kausap. Bakas ang pagtataka sa mukha nito sa mga ikinikilos niya.
"Yes and its also three years already ng magsimula ang pagpatay sa mga high profile drug lords and personalities. Thanks the heaven that the media hasn't found out about it!" worry lines started appearing on Rob's forehead. Distress is clearly heard on his tone. Alam niyang hindi niya dapat isinasangkot ang babae sa mga patayang nangyayari pero hindi niya maalis sa isip ang ngiting ibinigay nito sa kanya nang araw na una niya itong binisita.
"And you believe its her? Don't get work up because of that," pagsasawalang bahala nito sa sinabi niya. Hindi makapaniwalang tinitigan niya ito. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit hindi big deal dito ang mga patayang nangyayari. They may be bad guys and all but they have to face the law and pay for their sins through justice not their life, yun ang kanyang paniniwala.
"Halos lahat ng napatay ay may connection kay Hudas, Tito. Don't blame me for thinking that she has something to do about this," pinakalma niya ang sarili. Pag nagtagal pa ang gantong klaseng pag-uusap nila ng tiyuhin niya siguradong mag-iinit ang ulo niya and he doesn't want that. He respect his Tito.
"Nina won't do that. Besides all of the things that you're saying are circumstantial," pahayag ng Tito niya habang tinitigan siya ng mabuti. Nakakasigurado ang tono ng pananalita nito. Walang maririnig na pagdududa.
"You sound so sure," nagdududang tinitigan niya ang kanyang tito..
"I am. Afterall, I am the one who recommended her and I am also the one who approved her resignation. I won't let her resign if she'll go down that route," mariin siyang tinitigan nito. May naglalarong hamon na makikita sa mga mata nito.
He didn't back down. This is actually the first time that his Tito vouch for someone, which only means one thing, Nina is not the one. He thought so.
"Fine," at the end he gave up. He'll let this go. Just this time.
"Iho, Rob. Alam kong ginagawa mo ng mabuti ang trabaho mo. Take a rest. Wag kang magfocus sa isang tao lang. Nina is a good cop and she will always be. Nagkalat ang mga hunters at vigilante sa country P, they may or may not be the one behind the killings," heaving a sigh, the Chief General resigned from explaining to his foolish nephew at muling binasa ang dokumento na kanina pa nagpapasakit ng ulo niya.
After bidding his goodbye, Rob returned to his condo unit. Today is supposed to be his day-off pero mas pinili niyang puntahan ang uncle niya para mag imbestiga.
"Ms. Daunt," sagot niya sa caller.
"Sir," a soft hesitating voice replied back. "Name: Agsunta Sinclair. City M, Camilla Ville, House No. 3459."
A WOMAN in white suite swiftly sat in front of him. The seat where his nephew sat awhile ago.
"You should've just told him where she is Chief General Sosa," hindi nag-aangat ng tingin na pinakinggan niya ang boses ng babae. Isa nanamang sakit sa ulo.
"Tell him what exactly?" patuloy pa rin niyang binabasa ang report ng nakaraang failed operation sa City S, kung saan madaming agent nila ang namatay.
"That Nina is dead, of course," may himig ng tawa sa pananalita ng babae. "You can't exactly tell him that she's now part of The Vows, right?"
"Why are you here?" sa ikalawang pagkakataon ibinaba niya ang binabasang report. Sigurado siyang hindi tungkol sa pamangkin niya ang ipinunta nito dito.
"Ahh~ sharp as ever," the woman giggled. "about Hudas…"
NANG makaalis ang babae ay saka siya napahilot sa sentido. Sa tuwi nang pumupunta ang babae sa kanyang opisina ay may dala itong nakakapagpasakit ng ulo niya. Ito marahil ang dahilan kaya mabilis mamuti ang kanyang buhok.
"Seraphine, the First Vow," bulong niya sa sarili. Ito ang namumuno sa samahan na kung tawagin ay 'The Vows'. The woman was beautiful and has brain. A genius to say the least.
He snickered when he caught sight of the Serpentine rock in the middle of his receving table. Mula sa babae ang batong ito. Serpentine rock, according to her, attracts what you want in life- abundance in prosperity, love and healing, pero mula ng iregalo ito sa kanya ng babae sa pagkikita nila ay lalong dumami ang problemang kinahaharap niya and he didn't like it one bit.
Hanggang ngayon bukod kay Seraphine at Nina, hindi niya pa rin kilala ang iba pang member ng Vows. The woman was sly and would never allow anyone to know the identity of her members. Heck. He doesn't even know her real name. Another heck. The Vows is not even officially part of the government. But why are they cooperating with that woman and her organization? No matter how hard he thinks about it, its useless because The Vows exist longer than the government.
"DAUNTRESS," tinawagan niya ang world's reknown hacker na ngayon ay parte na ng The Vows. "Give Mr. Malinawan the address of Ms. Agsunta. He's getting nosy."
"Ahmm. Ms. S-seraphine, are you sure about that?" Dauntress replied. She sighed. Even after all this time her little hacker still doesn't change. Isa ito sa mga kinatatakutan ng iba't ibang bansa sa galing nitong manghack but the person behind the codename Dauntress is a shy timid girl, a far cry from what people drew her of.
"Yes. So do it. Okay?" she soften her voice. Looking out of the moving car, she can't help but rethink her life choices. Had she not taken this path would she be like the others? Having a normal life and all?
"W-what about Rogue?" worry laced through Dauntress' words.
"Don't worry about her."
"O-okay Seraphine," the call ended with her telling Dauntress not to worry too much. Its already planned anyway.