Until We Meet Again/R18

Foxtrot

LIMA, PERU

A FEW DAYS EARLIER

***

"Tell me, Harrison. What are we doing here in Lima again? Because as far as I remember, we have been in Peru for three days already, but we still haven't contacted that son of a b*tch, Nazzar!"

Naiiling na ngumisi si Dylan Harrison nang marinig ang nagrereklamong boses ni Kraven, sa suot niyang maliit na earpiece na nakakabit sa kanyang tainga. Tama si Kraven. Tatlong araw na sila sa Lima, Peru, ngunit wala pa rin silang lead tungkol kay Nazzar. Masiyadong matinik ang Saudi national upang basta-basta na lang magpakita sa pampublikong lugar sa downtown Lima.

Pero hindi sa lahat ng pagkakataon ay makapagtago ito. Ngayong araw ay positibo para kay Dylan. His target will be out soon. Siya mismo ang magpapalabas sa lungga nito.

"Do you have a clear view of the location, Rick?" tanong niya sa ka-teammate habang inaayos ang suot na jacket kung saan nakatago ang Berretta M941 niya.

Rick is at the hotel they've checked in, at Gran Hotel Bolívar, a historic hotel located at Plaza San Martín in Lima, Peru. He is monitoring his and Kraven's movements. Gamit ang laptop nito na nakakonekta sa satellite na pag-aari ng CSS.

While Kraven is on the rooftop of the Palacio de Torre Tagle, a Spanish Baroque palace in downtown Lima, a couple of blocks east of Plaza de Armas, he is monitoring Dylan's surroundings through his sniper's scope with the guide of Cedrick's command.

"Perfect sight, Harrison! I can see the whole perimeter of the square and the museum," kaswal na sagot ni Rick.

Hotel Bolivaár settles in one of the most active Peruvian squares in Plaza San Martín, in Lima. This square is within the historic center of Lima. This square is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A monument of Peru's liberator, José de San Martín, was placed in the center of the plaza. A perfect decoy place to hide for a person like Nazzar, who loves history and the arts.

"So, you change your liking now, Harrison? Are you a renaissance collector now? Why are you in Museo de Arte de Lima? Interesado ka na ba sa makalumang arts and artifacts?” sunod-sunod na tanong ni Kraven. His voice was full of mockery, as if trying to squeeze information from him.

MALI or Museo de Arte de Lima aka Lima Art Museum is almost two kilometers away from Torre Taggle Palace, but Kraven's range of sniping is accurate. He is one of the best snipers of Navy SEALs after all. Kaya ito nagrereklamo sa pagsama sa kanya dahil imbes na bakasyon nito sa Navy ay isinama niya ito sa misyon niya sa Peru.

"Hmmm..." Dylan just hummed and ignored Kraven's comment.

Tahimik niyang inilibot ang paningin sa kabuuan ng Palacio de la Exposición kung saan matatagpuan ang museo.

A sea of people was crowding outside the vicinity who were oozing inside the museum for the new art collections today. Isa ito sa pagkakataon na inaabangan ng mga arts collectors.

MALI houses artwork from the pre-Columbian period to the present and offers a survey of three thousand years of art in Peru. The museum's east wing is under renovation as of now for a brand-new collection of Pre-Columbian art.

The thing that caught Nazzar's attention was this new art collection. Lihim na napangiti si Dylan. He is sure he can meet that man here. He has an informant that is giving him all these details.

Walang alam ang dalawa na katagpuin niya si Nazzar sa museo. Base sa nakalap niyang impormasyon, mahilig ang Saudi national sa makalumang arts at artifacts kaya ito nandito sa MALI. Bukod doon ay kilala din ito ng mga lokal na latin dahil ayon sa mga ito ay sikat na money launderer si Nazzar sa lugar na 'yon kaya't ’di nakapagtatakang matunog ang pangalan nito sa mga taga-rito. That Saudi national is really a slicky person. Mahirap itong hagilapin kung hindi ka magaling mangalap ng impormasyon.

Mahinang bumuga ng hangin si Dylan. Ilang oras na rin siyang nag-aabang sa harap ng museo pero ni anino ni Nazzar ay hindi pa niya nakikita. He's been here since eight in the morning, and it's already past four in the afternoon. He needs to wait a bit more. Waiting is victory, because patience is a virtue after all.

"I can't seem to find that Nazzar if that's why you're there, Harrison," ani Kraven. He is his eyes above, and Rick is his communication.

"Just keep your eyes on the scope, bud!" makahulugang utos niya. He believes that Nazzar will surely show up today. Hindi nito palalampasin ang mga bagong display ng museo. "What do you've got, Rick?" baling niya kay Rick.

"An unusual black sedan is coming to your location. ETA, one minute," sagot nito.

"Can you pinpoint the exact location, Rick?" narinig niyang tanong ni Kraven.

"Five hundred meters west of Palacio de la Exposición,” sagot ni Rick dito.

Napangisi si Dylan bago mabilis na inihanda ang sarili sa paghaharap nila ng target. Pasimple niyang kinapa ang baril na nakasuksok sa tagiliran niya na natatakpan ng kanyang jacket.

He's just here to talk to Nazzar, but he is ready if anything goes wrong.

Nasa harap siya ng museo kung saan may bench na mauupuan pero siguradong madadaanan ng taong papasok sa loob. Siguradong hindi siya maiiwasan ni Nazzar.

Dylan smirked. Hindi na siya makapaghintay na makita ang hitsura ng taong muntikan ng magpatumba sa kanila.

"Three vehicles approaching your location, Harrison! Is that him?" tanong ni Rick kapagkuwan. Siguradong kitang-kita nito ang buong Palacio dela Exposición sa monitor nito.

"A black sedan followed by a black van," sabad ni Kraven. "Scoping the passenger... and F*ck! Positive. It's him!” Kraven exclaimed! Marahil gamit ang scope ng sniper nito ay nakita nito ang sasakyan na kinalululan ni Nazzar. That Saudi national is way to open that didn't even bother riding in a heavily tinted car. Malaki ang tiwala nito sa kapayapaan ng lugar. Marahil ay iniisip nito na hindi ito masusundan ng kalaban nito.

"He's coming your way in thirty seconds, Harrison. Nazzar and three of his men got out of the vehicle and are now walking your way." Rick informed him.

“Copy that!” mahinang sagot ni Dylan kay Rick saka inihanda ang sarili. He’s excited about meeting the man.

Mabilis siyang tumayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa bench at paikot na humarap sa paparating na Saudi national.

The bench is just a few meters away from the museum's three-door entrance, where Nazzar is taking his steps.

The Saudi national halts when he sees Dylan standing a few meters away from him. The looks on his face showed that he didn't expect him to be there. Dylan knows Nazzar remembers him so well.

Natigilan ang Saudi national pero kaagad ding nakabawi sa pagkabigla at mabilis na kumilos ang kamay sa baywang nito. Dylan knows he wants to draw his gun. Ang tauhan nito sa likod ay mabilis ding ipinosisyon ang kamay at akmang huhugot ng armas pero mabilis niyang itinaas ang dalawang kamay at nagsalita.

"I'm not here to kill you, if that's what you think, Nazzar!" kaswal na wika niya at ibinaba ang kamay saka iminosyon iyon sa bench na inupuan kanina lang.

Nazzar relaxed, but his mouth twitched.

"What do you want, Harrison? I'm sure you're not here as a relic collector, aren't you?" he scoffs.

Dylan stepped back and sat on the bench. Sinenyasan niya itong umupo pero nag-alinlangan muna ito bago lumapit at umupo bagama't malayo ang agwat na ginawa nito mula sa kanya.

"I'd told you, Nazzar. I'm not here to put you six feet underground. My boss wants to tell you something," pagsisimula ni Dylan. Ang mata niya ay matigas na nakipagtitigan sa Saudi national habang inaarok kung ano ang nasa isip nito.

Sinenyasan nito ang tauhan na lumayo ng kaunti upang hindi marinig ang pag-uusapan nila.

"If you're not here to kill me, then tell me, Harrison. What does your boss want from me? From all I know, I have nothing for him!" hindi ito mapakali habang nakaupo. Malikot ang ulo nitong pabaling-baling at pinalibot ang tingin sa buong Palacio dela Exposición. He keeps on twitching his palms and tapping his feet.

Napangisi si Dylan. He still has this effect on him. Nazzar knows that being with him is a matter of life and death. He knows it because the last time he tried to kill him, Dylan was like a beast that showed no empathy in killing.

Nazzar is already in his late forties with his growing whiskers and his hair is getting white. Marahil humihina na ang depensa nito. Lalo pa at siya ang kaharap, ang isa sa deadliest agent ng CSS na kinatatakutan nito.

"Relax, Nazzar! I'm alone here!" Dylan chuckles. His gaze held a simple look to make sure Nazzar would lower his guard against him, and he would accept whatever conditions Dylan might want.

"At ano naman ang tingin mo sa amin? Hangin?"

Narinig niyang tanong ni Kraven sa suot na earpiece. Nakalimutan niyang nakakonekta nga pala siya rito. Hindi niya ito pinansin.

"I'm sure your teammates are just there and ready to take me!" Nazzar's voice tensed.

Stop with the cr*p, man! Just tell him already then, we can get the f*ck out of this renaissance. I want to get laid in Isla Lobos already!" nakakalokong sabad muli ni Kraven. Impatience was visible in his voice as he spoke.

Pasimple niyang itinaas ang kanang kamay at ipinakita dito ang gitnang daliri. Sigurado siyang kitang-kita iyon ni Kraven dahil sa linaw ng scope ng sniper rifle nito. Hindi na naman kasi ito makatiis na walang babaeng kasiping. Dylan secretly tsked. Wala nang pag-asang magbago ang kaibigan.

"I'm here to collect a debt and my boss wants it back. I know you know what I meant," malamig na wika niya kay Nazzar nang bumaling dito. Wala na ang aliw na nasa mukha niya, maging ang boses ay nabahiran na rin ng pagbabanta.

Biglang umilap ang mata ng Saudi national at naging alerto ang kilos. Dylan could feel it the way his eyes sharpened and his fist clenched.

Nang sulyapan niya ang tauhan nito na halos dalawang dipa lang ang layo sa kinaroroonan nila ay nakita niyang nakahanda na ang mga itong hugutin ang armas na nakasuksok sa tagiliran ng mga ito.

Dylan was sure Nazzar's men were willing to take him down there in a couple of seconds.

"Kraven, fingers on the trigger! F*ck this Arabian! Ang tigas ng ulo!" Dylan whispered, enough for Kraven to hear him through the earpiece.

"I have nothing for your Boss! I already told you!" Nazzar hissed. "If you don't want a blood pool here, you better go, Harrison. Before my man takes you down!” banta nito sa kanya upang itago ang takot sa boses nito.

"Don't f*ck with me, Nazzar!" Dylan hissed back. He is trying his patience.

The people passing beside the bench are oblivious. Wala ang mga itong kaalam-alam sa nangyayari sa kanila.

Pero hindi siya papayag na makawala ulit sa paningin niya si Nazzar. Kailangang makumbinsi niya itong tulungan silang makapasok ng Isla Lobos.

"Don't waste my time, Harrison! I have nothing to do with you or your boss!" Tumayo ito kaya't agad na nagsilapitan ang mga tauhan nito. "You are not the one who will order me around!" matigas na wika nito saka siya tinalikuran.

Bago ito makalakad palayo ay mabilis niya itong napigilan sa braso kaya't ang tauhan nitong papalapit ay mabilis na hinugot ang baril at itinutok sa kanya.