Persona Non Grata

Scene 1 - The Boatman

It was almost dawn when the boat that Perfecto Peralta stole from the tulisanes reached the still waters of the Pasig river. The odds were yet again in his favor - thanks to the two meddlesome Civil Guards that stalled Pedro's band for a surprisingly considerable amount of time. It was another successful mission, he thought to himself - but his weary eyes tell a different story.

His gaze, watching the vast horizon of the river, slowly panned towards the unconscious youth stowed away on the other side of the boat-hidden beneath the stack of ropes and nets, with a crate of rifles stacked with the lot. He pondered for a while as he examined the youth's features.

"Small world, huh?" he muttered to himself, raising his head to the sky. "Well, a promise is a promise. You saved my life once. You better call us even after this."

As he paddled further into the river, rowing towards one of the boat docks in Sta. Mesa, he was startled by a sudden groan beneath the nets.

"Good morning! About time you woke up!" Peralta declared, rowing gently down the river.

"Ughh..." Francisco groaned. "Well, you hit me really hard. Are these bonds really necessary?" he complained.

"Caution, my boy." Peralta replied briefly. "Just be thankful that I was kind enough to spare you."

"Oh. Well, thank you, kind sir." Francisco replied in a sarcastic tone.

"We'll be approaching the docks, and I need to talk to somebody there." Peralta exclaimed in a calm voice. "For your own good, I need you to shut up and allow me to do the talking. Am I understood?"

"If it helps me to keep my head, then sure." Francisco answered. "What's the deal, anyway?"

"You don't want to provoke my employer." the man answered.

"All right. Suure."

"You're a feisty one for someone within shooting distance, I'll give you that." Peralta sneered. "It gives me the impression that this is not the first time you got into tangles such as this."

"And you're too kind for a hostage-taker." Francisco responded with a snicker. "Which gives me the impression that this is your first time doing this."

"Indeed." the man agreed. "Because I usually shoot witnesses on sight. So don't test me, boy."

"Truly? Why spare me, then?" the youth asked. "And use a mask next time so you won't have to go around shooting witnesses, will you."

"I never needed a mask because I usually shoot my witnesses on sight, and very often my witnesses are usually syndicate members. I don't kill innocent civilians. You were just stupid enough to run into me last night." Peralta replied.

"Bosh!" the young man retorted. "You expect me to believe such nonsense? I've had run-ins with your ilk in Tondo. You want me to think that you're a vigilante? Pshaw! More like a bounty hunter."

"How so? You think that I have a bounty to collect for your head?! Dream on, boy!" Peralta gave a short chuckle. "You have a long way to go before that day comes, lad."

"You could have just easily pulled the trigger when you found me last night to save you the trouble of...this, yet you didn't." the young man. "How come?"

"So? You think I'm soft, is that it?" Peralta answered in a stern tone.

"No." the young man replied. "But I'm thinking...you need something from me, don't you? That's why you can't kill me."

"And what would I need from you? I just picked you off the street, boy!" the old man sneered. "Yes, I could have just killed you that night. But professionals have standards. There's no glory in killing unarmed civilians."