Soaring Shadows

PROLOGUE

The Virtuosos

CALYPSO

"IT'S good to be back."

Malayo pa lang ay natatanaw ko na ang signage kung saan nakalagay ang mga salitang "Port of Liejo". Iniangat ko ang stunner glasses ko para mas makita nang maayos ang daungan. The stretch of the island was lined with houses and beaches that was easily visible from where I was standing.

Any minute now and I'll set my foot in that island again. It's been three long months. I missed the smell of sea breeze.

"Ay!"

Mabilis kong idinipa ang mga kamay para makakuha ng balanse at hindi tuluyang mahulog sa dagat nang umalog ang bangkang sinasakyan ko.

Mason laughed. "Lilipad ka, Cale?"

Inayos ko ang salaming tumabingi at isinuot na ulit 'yon. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Balak mo ba akong ihulog? FYI, nakaligo na ako."

"Hindi halata." He laughed again as he steered the wheel of the speed boat. "Anong trip mo? Dyan ka pa talaga sa bow tumayo. Lumayas ka nga dyan. Laki-laki ng pwet mo, 'di ko makita 'yong daan."

Pakiramdam ko umakyat lahat ng dugo sa ulo ko sa sinabi niya. "Alam mo ikaw," idinuro ko siya, "ang sama talaga ng tabas niyang dila mo. Ba't ba ikaw 'yong sumundo sa 'kin? Wala na bang ibang matinong mautusan si Void?"

Naglakad na ako pabalik sa seats, easily walking on the gunwale despite the waves crashing the boat. Nabigla lang talaga ako kanina kaya muntik na akong matumba.

"Matino naman ako. Gwapo pa." He winked at me through his Ray-Ban.

My lips just twitched to the left. I didn't dare argue 'cuz I knew that my best friend really was handsome.

"Arte mo kasi. Ba't 'di ka na lang sumabay sa bibiyaheng bangka?" sabi ni Mason.

"Maarte talaga ako, pero hindi ako 'yong may gusto no'n, 'no," sagot ko. "Si Void 'yong may gustong dumiretso agad ako pabalik sa HQ after that mission. Nasira tuloy 'yong plano kong 3-day vacation sa Barbados."

Void told me that I have another mission which I found somewhat odd. Madalas kasi ay binibigyan niya ako ng isang linggo para makapagpahinga bago bigyan ng bagong assignment.

May sariling port ang Krymmenos pero nasa kabilang side pa 'yon ng isla kung nasaan ang resort kaya sa Liejo Port na lang kami dumunggo. It was fine since we already had an arrangement with the local government way before I was even born regarding our affairs. They had an inkling on what the organization was.

Dumiretso kami sa Krymmenos Hotel gamit ang mga bikes naming iniwan nina Mason at Virgo kanina sa port bago niya ako sunduin. He mounted his Suzuki Hayabusa while I rode on the BMW S1000RR.

"Where's my Peregrine?" I asked Mason as I secure my helmet. "Ba't 'di 'yon 'yong dinala mo?"

Peregrine was the name of my Dodge Tomahawk bike. I know. Lame name. I never had the talent for naming my bikes. Void got it for me from a private auction as a gift for completing my 50th mission. It was one of the original units released.

"Virgo's making some enhancement on our bikes. Void's order."

I nodded and revved the engine before bolting to the hotel.

The crackling sound of my high-heeled ankle boots echoed in the not-so-quiet lobby of Krymmenos' main building as it hit the marble floor. Why was it bustling with people here today? Weird.

"This is bad news."

"What are they all doing here?"

"Ready na ba kayo sa World War III?"