16. Place to re-create

Remedios circle. Located at the intersection of Remedios, Bocobo and Nakpil in Malate, Manila.

This place is a recreation area constructed to provide the residents of Manila a place to relax.

This is during the day. At night, the place is a venue for late night pick-ups. A market for the flesh.

Even late in the evening and after a light drizzle, the plaza is still clattered with people. There are couples who go out for a nice evening walk. Some street children are also out to play. There are pimps, prostitutes and their patrons, vendors, and clients of restaurants and cafes surrounding the place.

The crowd is about to get bigger.

Bigger by four more individuals. But this group is not here to relax or trade or have some sip of coffee. They are here to battle.

RD ran straight toward the center of the plaza. Behind him, is the cloaked warrior whose blue wave-like fire ball gave them space and time to escape from two other similarly clad warriors.

RD is not sure if this new guy is here to save him. This person may be here as part of a "play" to lure him somewhere else. But he put those thoughts aside for now. Right now, he needs to get away.

One of the attackers, a female, was able to get on top of one of the buildings straddling Bocobo street. She held her hands together. Light tracing the markings on her arms illuminated from under her cloak. At it reached her hands, a series of fireballs shot toward RD. First one, then another, then another.

People began to scream. They started running away from the scene. Some on lookers started coming out of the restaurants or began peeking through the windows.

As the first fireball is about to reach RD, another fireball intercepted it. It blew up in mid air. But two more are coming. The place is now in chaos.

RD's new "ally" was throwing one fireball after another at the on coming shots from the female attacker. He intercepted all three. But he was not paying attention to the male attacker.

The male attacker is running on top the buildings that sit between Remedios and Bocobo opposite the one where the female attacker is perched. He is trying to outflank them. A bow and arrow in his hands.

He stops, pulls the string tight, aims the arrow at RD and shoots.

The newcomer did not notice him, but RD did. He already picked up a bag that somebody has dropped and was swinging it toward the archer in the same moment the arrow was released.

The arrow penetrated the bag. The force pushed the bag back. But another arrow is on the way. And there is no other bag around.

RD side-stepped toward a garbage collection barrel to his right, pushed himself off the ground with his left leg and stepped on the barrel rim with his right. He then bent his knee and pushed off the barrel to again change his direction toward the left. As he did this, he twisted his body clockwise and placed his right hand near his face. As he turned, he saw the arrow. He adjusted his hand and parried the deadly projectile away from his body. His body continued in its motion to complete a diagonal somersault.

Another arrow is on its way.

RD landed kneeling on one knee facing the archer. He saw the glint of the third arrow. He shifted his weight to his left and caught the arrow with his left hand. Then he swung his right hand and released a projectile shaped like a six-pointed star and three feet in diameter toward the archer. The archer was busy shooting down RD that he did not notice the weapon form as RD was completing his aerial roll.

The star split into two three-pointed stars. Each star swung in an arc, one to the left and the other to the right. Then they changed directions to converge at the point where the archer, ready to release his fourth arrow, is standing.

By that time, the female attacker has now repositioned herself toward the building corner near Adriatico. She jumped off to the ground.

Using the glare from the restaurant windows as a distraction, she ran back toward the direction of Bocobo. As she ran, she threw several bolts of electricity that jumped from one puddle to the other, racing toward the new warrior and RD. There are ten bolts in all crisscrossing the wet cobblestones.

On the other side of the circle, the two star-shaped projectiles caught the attention of the archer.

He jumped backward and adjusted his aim.

He released.

The two spinning projectiles met at the point where the archer was used to be. They did not collide. They spun through and continued on a figure eight direction to once again meet where the archer is supposed to be landing.

RD jumped away from where he knelt. His direction will put him in a puddle. And a puddle is a dangerous place when electricity is concerned.

The blue-flame-powered warrior leaped and caught RD as he is about to land on the puddle. This meant the RD is not going to be electrocuted. Not yet.

As they rolled, the warrior made a shield materialized just in time for the electric bolts to converge on them. The impact of the bolts on the shield shattered them. But they did not dissipate. Instead they blew up creating tens of bolts that burned anything it got into contact with.

The ground is wet. RD is wet. And he is lying on the ground. As residual bolts hit the ground. RD felt some shock.

He trembled. His joints began to hurt. And he curled from the pain.

The warrior heard RD whimper. He has to make a decision. He cannot see the archer now. He may have been hit by RDs projectiles but we was not sure. He looked for the female assailant. He cannot find her. People have started coming out of the restaurants.

They must get away.

15. Reunited

The dragon shrieked then shot green flame toward the ground, burning the vehicles on the streets as it traced a flaming line toward JJ.

JJ ran as fast has he could. The flame and the dragon right behind him. He has got to reach the corner several meters away and try to duck somewhere. He hoped. He tried. He can save himself from the flame. At the dragon's speed, it and the flame will overshoot JJ once he makes a quick right.

And it did when JJ made a quick right, the heat searing through his clothes while the flame barely grazing him. He saw a door. He turned the knob. It's locked. Horror gripping him, JJ turned to look for another way in only to find out that one of his assumptions was wrong. The dragon was able to make a sudden stop. It is now hovering in front of him, large wings flapping.

The dragon with its long neck, moved its head near JJ and shrieked. At first, JJ smelled the foul odor of sulfur from the dragon's breath blow at him. Then everything grew bright green as a blast of flame engulfed him.

JJ screamed. But he does not feel any heat. He opens his eyes and looks around.

He was feeling disoriented. He tried to make sense of where he was. The last thing he remembers is seeing a bright light at the end of the dark basement of JFK International Airport.

He looked up the ceiling. It looks old. The wooden materials is stained. He can hear the sound of busy streets outside.

Where could he be, he asks himself. His bed is comfortable enough though he can feel the springs push on to his back.

Then he remembered the dragon.

Quickly looked at his arms. No burn marks.

He touched his face. No burn marks there either.

Then he remembered about the joke they used to talk about in high school. It is about a cream locally called "sebo de macho."

Maybe they have a very effective one here, he thought. And asked himself, where is here?

Then the door knob clicks. He sat up, anticipating what will come through the old delapidated door.

What came in made him smile. It's his son, Albert, and wife Katrina.

Albert ran up to his father and jumped on his bed. He was so excited to see his father.

Katrina was less excited even with the smile on her face. JJ quickly saw the reason why. Behind Katrina is the Chinese who saved him back at the airport.

"Good to know you are well now," said Quan Tie now wearing white Chinese clothes. "I was worried when you collapsed on our way out."

JJ sighed. "Well, should I thank you," JJ asked. Katrina just standing there, seeming nervous but still smiling.

"All will be explained," assured Quan. "Right now, I leave you with your family."

With that, Quan stepped away and closed the door. JJ heard the lock click. They are locked in from outside.

As soon as the lock was in place, Katrina slackened and ran to her husband.

"Oh my God," she whispered, tears running down her face. She was shaking. "Who are these people? Why do they know us by name? Why did they bring us here?"

Albert, oblivious to what is happening, just stared at his parents.

"I don't know," answered JJ wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I don't know baby. We will find out soon."

Katrina sat up. "They said they are keeping us here. To be safe. But safe from who?"

"I am not sure," said JJ still cuddling Albert. "I am confused. Are you guys alright?"

"They gave me McDonald's," Albert said gayly. Of the three of them, he is the only one who does not seem to mind what is happening.

"It also came with an action figure," he said fishing out a small Doc Ock toy.

"Where are we," JJ asked his wife. "Do you know where we are?"

"We are somewhere in downtown Manhattan," she answered. "The van that took us here was heavily tinted. I was only able to take a peek through the windshield. I think it's Manhattan. I recognized the bridge."

"How long was I out?"

"Not long. We missed our flight. They will be waiting for us in Manila."

"Did you see any phones around here?"

"Just the one at the lobby."

"Is this some kind of a hotel?"

"I think so, but it looks deserted and old," said Katrina scanning the room.

"I just had the wildest dream," said JJ holding his head. Albert now sat on the chair near the bedside table playing with his toy.

"It's the same dream," JJ said. "I have been having this dream for days now."

"What dream," asked Katrina.

JJ narrated his dream while Katrina listened.

"I remember you waking up at night screaming and sweating," Katrina said. "Why are you having this dream? Have you consulted anyone?"

"No. I was going to ask an albularyo when we got to Tarlac but now we're seem to be stuck here."

Katrina moved closer and hugged her husband.

There was a knock on the door and the locked clicked again. Both waited for the door to open not knowing who may come in.

Quan opened the door. His face still without expression.

"Time to go. It is time you know who you are, why you are here, and what is your destiny."

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.

11. City Run

Julio Nakpil is a revolutionary leader during the Filipino-Spanish war. He has been recognized more as a musician, an artist, than as a commander of guerrilla forces who fought against Spanish rule under Andres Bonifacio. He once composed a national anthem for the Philippines in 1896 bearing the title "Marangal na Dalit ng Katagalugan." He is recognized for his works that a street in one of the party places of Manila was named after him.

Every night from 10:00pm to the wee hours of the morning, Manila's youth party along J. Nakpil Street bordering Ermita and Malate on the City of Manila. [map]

This night is different from the other nights. This night, yuppies and party goers are in the night of their lives.

It was raining that night. Scattered rain showers were brought in by Typhoon Mina (local designation) bathed the patrons of many bars and restaurants lining up the street. But the rains or the typhoon did not scare away the eager customers. The in fact reveled at the chance of cooling off in the streets.

Music were fed out of Nakpil establishments to provide appropriate dance rhythms to the young party-goers. They were from different genres spanning from the 80s, 90s, to the new millennium.

Away from all the noise and lights and drinks, rapid steps splash on puddles and bodies break through falling rain, cloaks drenched and heavy.

The man running from two others is Roberto Damasco. Running along the apex of a roof, he looked back at the two chasing him. On of them, a few meters behind and the other closely following to his left.

Roberto, or RD to his friends, works as an information technology specialist of Hewlett Packard in Makati. RD is about to reach to end of the roof.

I need to get away, he thought. I need to loose them. How did they find out where I will be tonight? That old man. I knew I could not trust him.

He primed himself to lead to the next one. A flat roof deck of a 2 story apartment building. He increases speed, times his step for the lunge.

As he is about to take the last three steps, he noticed a light flash from his left. The second pursuer stopped atop an elevated water tank and fired a fire ball at him. He lost footing and fell to his side, hitting the ridge of the rooftop with his side, almost cracking a rib. The fireball passed overhead, missing him by a few inches yet he felt the heat radiated from it as rain was immediately transformed to steam upon contact.

RD is just 24 years old and lives with his wife and one year old son in Guagua, Pampanga. He turned on his stomach and tried to grab the ridge but he was to late. He struggled to stop himself slipping toward the edge an onto the concrete pavement below the three-story building. He continued to slip. The rain waters lubricating his progress.

The pursuer behind him is now running along the length of the roofs ridge. He raised his hand and a marked spear formed from thin air and threw it at RD.

RD rolled to his left as he continued to slip, the spear boring on the galvanized iron sheet roof. As he rolled, he swung his right hand at the spear-wielding assailant, releasing three daggers in his three rolls. His aim was good but so was the attacker who was able to avoid the sharp edges of the spinning dagger bearing ancient markings.

This time, the spear-wielder stepped on the GI sheet roof, running diagonally toward RD using his momentum and the downward slope of the roof to get to RD fast. He produced a bolo. His intent: to kill.

RD was able to push himself up and used the same technique running toward the edge of the roof to the gutter and away from the boloman. He jumped, caught a suspended electrical cable and used it to swing in a 360 degree somersault across the street to another cable. He swung again, releasing his grip from the wire just before a ball of electricity reached it. RD landed on the sill of the apartment next to the aerial wires, holding the window's caulk for support.

With rain waters drenching the cables acting as conductor adding to the conductive properties of the wire, the electric charge from the ball run through the powerline on both directions, some charge transferring to the other wires through the rain droplet. A transformer at the electrical post on one end blew up due to the overloading causing a blackout.

Turning around, RD saw the boloman swing his hand. A shuriken four times larger the normal spin towards him. To his right, the other pursuer who fired the electric ball produced a spear and threw it at RD.

RD swung his left arm horizontally in front of him, releasing a similar shuriken aimed at the attacker on his right. This was followed by his right arm that released another shuriken spinning toward the attacker on his left. Leaning forward, he bent his knees, swing his arms back and propelled himself forward while making a quarter left turn. He lifted he left leg just above the spinning shuriken from his attacker on the left. The shuriken missed his leg but shredded his cloak.

His right hand caught the runner of the roof just below the gutter, this time turning the opposite direction. RD gripped the runner with his right hand and swung his legs forward, missing the spear by centimeters.

As the shuriken shattered the window while embedding itself on the wall, the spear bore a hole on the outer wall of the house.

RD used the momentum of his body to swing his legs further up, keeping a tight grip on the runner. His years of doing crunches and sit-ups helped him curl his body as his feet neared 270 degrees in its swing. His fingers are in pain, but he could not let go. He pulled himself up as he continued to swing. In the last moment, he let go, landing on his belly at the inclined GI roof. This time, the impact of his body on the roof dented it preventing him from sliding down head first to the spiked walls of the apartment compound.

He pushed himself up and searched for his attackers only to find two balls of fire coming toward him. He is in a very awkward position and had trouble getting up.

Is this the end, he asked himself.

The two fireballs converged. One from across a tree where the target of his first shuriken jumped to to avoid being cut in two and the other one from the concrete post where the other attacker perched who avoided the first shuriken by somersaulting.

A loud explosion was heard by the people partying two blocks away.