12. Street Fight

While the party lovers wet themselves in the streets of Nakpil, one of the favorite gimmick places in Malate, Manila, a loud explosion was heard over the loud music. As if it was rehearsed, the people stopped dancing and talking at the same time. Their heads turned to where the direction seemed to have come from. As a fireball rose from the distance, whispered questions came out from those present. Questions like what was that, where did it come from, is this another coup d'etat, or are being attacked by terrorists came out. Some started looking for their friends to see where they are. Some began opening their phones bunched under available cover from the rain and call up their parents, friends, or anyone they think might be glued on the television to know what is happening.

As the smoke rises and debris fell from the damaged roof of the apartment, its residents began stirring from inside. Footsteps and clamoring can be heard from outside. Activities also began from nearby buildings and houses. Some are trying to call on house-mates, children, parents, and house helps. A baby can be heard crying because its sleep was disturbed. Several upper floor windows, ground floor doors and street gates began opening and people began looking for the cause of the loud sound and vibrations that woke them from their peaceful cold rainy night sleep. Flashlight beams scanned the streets, most converged either on the singed roof or the sparking transformer. Those who knew what to do began dialing the police, the fire department and the power company while others shouted instructions to their house helps to make similar calls.

Almost invisible from the crowd are two cloaked figures. One standing on the large branch of an acacia tree inside the walls of the building opposite the damaged apartment and the other, on top of a concrete post of the neighboring house.

Rain continued to fall preventing those without umbrella from wandering outside.

The two cloaked figures continued to wait and see what happens to their quarry. Did he escape or is he dead. They looked at each other and around them. People are still near or on the streets while the others poked their heads through the now open windows and stayed there. Two or three people from different buildings lighted cigarettes. Even with the surgeon general's warning that smoking kills, these people don't care at all.

A police car began to turn from Taft Avenue toward the scene of the incident. Other sirens can be heard be it from the police or from the fire trucks. Another vehicle with flashing lights came from Roxas Boulevard. It seemed unusual for them to be responding this fast. The city's mayor, after all, is a former police officer and wants their law enforcers and providers of basic to be able to respond to incidents immediately.

Time is running out for the two mystery men. They need to confirm their kill fast. And one of them was able to think fast.

The man perched on the concrete post bent down on his knees and placed his hand near the wire suspended a few inches from the top of the post. Seeing this, the man on the tree prepared himself for the long jump.

Just as the police car was nearing the post with the crackling transformer and people's heads turned to that direction, an electric bolt was released by the post-perched assailant. Quickly, current flowed to on the wires and run through both directions. One to the house that draws power from it and the other to the transformer where it is connected.

Lights went on inside the house but because of the voltage of the burst of electricity some burst and popped creating a commotion inside. The same thing happened to the transformer. This second burst completely messed up its interior and blew up. The force of the explosion dislodged the braces that attached it to the post. The transformer went down, along with it the wires still attached to its contacts. The barrel shaped electrical component crashed on the concrete street prompting the police man driving the patrol car to swerve to avoid being tangled in the wires.

Both cloaked men used this distraction to leap toward the apartment opposite them. Since he is already crouched, the post-perched man jump across first followed by his companion from the tree.

To their surprise, their target is not where he is supposed to be. One of them looked over the roof to the garden below. He saw nothing. Then his comrade quickly started running. When he turned, he saw that his accomplice is running after their mark who had survived the explosion and is now running away from them toward what seemed to be a crowded street. The lights are still on on that side. They must have a separate transformer, he thought. He went after his associate.

Roberto Damasco thought he just got lucky. He is still puzzled how he was located. Only a handful of people knew where he is. And one of them is Mang Poldo. Mang Poldo is a trusted friend of his father. He had seen Mang Poldo visit their house in the province when he was a child.

But how can Mang Poldo do this to me? RD asked himself as he prepared to jump down the crowded street when he reaches the end of the five floor building he is running on top of. Did he have bad blood with my father?

Then, as he is about to jump, a ball of fire passed by him, missing him and blowing up the edge of the roof throwing debris onto the partying yuppies below. They have caught up with me, he thought and primed himself take a leap.

As RD propelled himself from the roof's edge, turned while throwing one dagger after another at the two figures he can barely discern in the dark. His throws were not really intended to hit his targets but merely to distract them, put them off balance. RD completed his 360 degree turn in time to prepare for his landing through the cleared patch amid the street dancers and on the pavement. The explosion caused many to step aside. Some started to leave the area while the rest continued looking up the smoking portion of the building.

All eyes are glued on RD as landed and rolled on the ground to break his fall. Now, down on one knee, he began to look around for a way out. The crowd is so thick all he can do now is dash toward the direction he is now facing.

He pushed himself off the ground and started running. As he neared the wall of people who had stepped back when he landed, one of the cloaks landed in front of him, his back on RD.

Instead of rolling to break his fall, this cloak used both feet and both knees to act as shock absorbers. His hands are spread for balance, the cloak sprang back up and backward toward RD, twisting counter clockwise in mid air, his right leg bent for a kick.

RD stopped on his tracks pulled his body back avoiding the kick.

The cloak continued his turn, both feet now on the ground as his pivot, his left arm bent for a palm edge strike on RD's neck, his back again toward him. RD blocked the strike with both arms, the force pushing him a bit to side. This made the attacker reverse his turn, step forward away from RD, right arm swinging for another attack. This time, his right hand is holding a dagger bearing markings from the blade to the hilt. The dagger nicked RD in his right ear and cheek.

While he staggered backward he turned away to escape, the other cloak landed in front of him in the same manner as the other one but facing RD. Instead of the jumping twisting turn and kick, this one jumped up, somersaulted on the air and kicked RD with both feet. The assailant's feet caught RD on the chin. The force of the kick lifted him up while his own momentum caused him to tumble in the air. RD landed flat on his chest.

RD recovered, pushed himself off the ground. He can see the somersaulting attacker in front of him, that fixed his location. He now turned his head to locate the first attacker. He is not there. RD looked up. The attacker is now dropping from a leap, right arm pulled back for a knife strike. RD looked at the second attacker who has landed and is now starting toward him with a marked 'ge.' Once again, he is cornered.