Enchanted Series 3: The Darkness Within

CHAPTER 34

We just reached 10k reads! Not much, but it's still a milestone for me.

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"How's our cute guy?" Hinihiwa ni Maggie ang steak.

Humigop si Dane ng kape. "Still weird."

"Weird?" Umirap si Maggie habang sumusubo.

"Am I the only one here who thinks he's weird?" Sumimangot si Dane habang nilalapag ang kape sa makintab na mesa.

Sumubo lang ulit si Maggie na parang walang pakialam sa pagkabahala ni Dane. "Here's what I think." Tinuro-turo niya ang tinidor sa kausap. "You've probably read so many minds that you know basically how an average Joe goes about his everyday life. Now here's one guy you swear never to read his mind, but you really want to, but you can't, so now you're feeling weird."

Kumunot ang noo ni Dane. "What?" asik niya. Ngunit napagtanto din niyang may punto si Maggie.

Nagsalita ang babae na puno ang bibig, kaya naman walang naintindihan si Dane sa kanyang mga sinabi.

"Just finish your meal, Mags." Muling humigop ng kape si Dane habang tinatanaw ang desyerto sa labas.

Tumunog ang telepono ng babae. Nilunok nito ang kinakain at binasa ang mensahe. "Rod wants to see us."

* * *

"An activity in Glendale." Pinakita ni Rod ang mga imahe ng mga umaatakeng robot sa isang lungsod.

"Are you sending both of us?"

"No, Dane. I'm sending her and Errol. I want this to be his first mission."

"He's in the training --"

Hindi napigilan ni Dane ang matawa nang mabulunan ang babae.

Umismid naman si Rod at inabot ang tubig nito kay Maggie. "Why do I get the feeling that you're slacking off?"

"She's just hungry," natatawang saad ni Dane.

"I'm taking my job seriously." Lumunok si Maggie. "I don't know about them." Tinukoy nito ang kasama. "Me?" saad nito habang dinidilaan ang mga ngipin, upang malamang ay mawala ang mga tinga. Tinuro pa nito ang sarili. "I'm serious. I'm not the one here who's making out with his boyfriend while on missions."

Tinapik ng natatawang si Dane si Maggie sa braso.

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Rod. Sandali itong yumuko at marahang umiling habang nakalagay ang palad sa noo.

"I'm going now," saad ni Maggie.

"Take Errol with you," saad ni Rod. "You know what to do."

"Yeah, right," sagot ng babae. "Thanks for this." Winagayway nito ang bote ng tubig.

"Keep one handy."

"Wait," singit ni Dane, "what about me?"

"I have something to discuss with you." Sandaling binaling ni Rod ang tingin kay Maggie. "You may go."

"All right." Nagkibit balikat ang babae matapos tapikin si Dane at sumenyas na aalis.

Nang makalabas si Maggie ay binuksan ni Rod ang kanyang drawer at may kinuha na maliit na bagay. "Remember this?"

"Andrea Moss's psychic blocking device?" kunot-noong sagot ni Dane.

"The lab check came in... It's not just an anti-telepathy device."

"What else is it?"

Inabot ni Rod ang bagay na ito sa kausap. "It's a biotech implant that releases DNA material into the brain."

"You mean..."

"The DNA material I surmise comes from someone like you, a superhuman."

"The CIA is probably keeping superhumans just like you are."

Bumuntong-hininga si Rod. "The genetic material made her brain impenetrable to your psychic probes and attacks. Apparently, it wasn't enough to keep telekinesis away."

"That's why David was able to hurt her."

Tumango si Rod.

"What if they made more of it?"

"Not unlikely."

"They're most likely making better biotech with that person. If my guess is right, they're probably able to cancel psionic abilities."

"That's what I'm thinking too." Hinimas ni Rod ang baba gamit ang mga daliri. "If they mass-produce it, they will be formidable."

"You think we should find whoever that superhuman they're keeping?"

Sandaling nag-isip si Rod. "No. We still don't know much about this case."

"But your spies are gathering as much info as they can, right?"

Tumango ang matandang pinuno ng ISA.

"Rod," saad niya habang iniisip ang isang bagay na bumabagabag sa kanya, "don't you think we should give Errol a break? Maybe send him back home to see his family again?"

"It's still too early."

"But..."

"And it's not safe."

"You think the CIA is still out there?"

"I don't think the CIA is still there. I know they're there." Mabilis na hinimas ni Rod ang mesa at lumitaw ang larawan ng isang kalye.

"This is where he lived?" Kita ni Dane ang lumang bahay na puno ng mga bougainvillea ang tapat. Napansin niya ang mga kotseng nakaparada. May aleng nasa tapat ng isang tindahan ng barbecue na may dalawang kostumer.

Pinindot ni Rod ang parteng ito, at lumaki ang imahe ng dalawang taong iyon, isang babae at isang lalaki. "These are spies."

"What are they doing there? They already know the guy is with us."

"Perhaps buying their time, lurking until they find a good day to take his unsuspecting parents."

"He can't go back yet," saad ni Dane na napagtanto din ang peligro para kay Errol.

"No." Huminga nang malalim si Rod. "And that's why I've sent guards as well." Tinuro ni Rod ang isang kotse. "That's them."

"Don't you think the neighbors will find out?"

"Dane," saad ni Rod na muling bumuntong-hininga, "you seem to be forgetting where you are."

Oo nga naman. Napangisi si Dane. Napagtanto niyang may pagka-estupido ang kanyang tanong.

"They're trained to blend in. They'll be fine. So will be the neighbors and Errol's parents."

"Do I smell concern?" Ngumisi si Dane.

"You could say that. Concern? Sure. You see, if he finds out his parents were taken, he'll leave this place. Don't you suppose?"

Tumango si Dane. Hanga siya sa talas ng pag-iisip ng ISA director. Sabagay, hindi naman ito magiging director, at hindi rin ito makakatakas sa CIA kung hindi ito tuso.

Halos isang oras pang nanatili si Dane kausap si Rod, at sa paglaon ay naumay na siya. Maraming mga plano ang matandang direktor, mga planong walang saysay sa kanya, dahil batid niyang hindi siya magtatagal sa pook na iyon. Hindi naman niya pinangarap na maging isang secret agent.