It's over. 

Nico knew it the moment his uncle revealed that they've been a step ahead of them, this entire time. Hanggang ngayon, naaalala pa rin ni Nico ang sinabi sa kanya ng CEO ng DEATH nang lapitan siya nito kahapon, pagkatapos nilang arestuhin si Dr. Tiffany.

"There's always more to a case than meets the eye, Nico," Uncle X began with a tired smile. "Minsan, mistulang isang virus ang koneksyong hahanapin mo---invisible to the naked eye, but it doesn't mean it's harmless. It's there, and it will always be there until you change your perspective of things."

Normally, Nico would just shrug off his advice and act on his own.

Pero sa pagkakataong ito at sa mga pagdududang nasa isip niya habang pinapanood ang pagdala nila sa pediatrician sa presinto, pinili niyang makinig.

"There's something that's bothering you, right?" Uncle X pushed.

Marahang tumango ang detective, nakatayo pa rin sila sa kalsadang malapit sa clinic habang abala sina Inspector Ortega sa kanilang mga ginagawa.

"Some pieces... just don't seem to fit," Nico admitted. "Noong naospital ako, may nahanap na kwintas si Nova sa labas ng kwarto. The pendant wasn't uncommon, but I've seen it around. Hindi ko alam kung anong kinalaman nito sa kaso o kung bakit ito iniwan ni UD sa'min. Mukhang walang kinalaman si Dr. Tiffany dito. But then again, why did she admit to these crimes?"

Sumasakit na naman ang ulo ni Nico.

And to his irritation, mahinang natawa si Uncle X at inakbayan siya. He then started leading him towards the clinic were the police were still looking through documents and the lab boys were still bagging the fruits.

Isa-isang binuksan ni Uncle X ang mga drawer, hanggang sa mahanap nito ang isang partikular na folder.

He smiled when he read the contents and gave it to his still confused nephew.

"Mahirap unawain ang motibo ng mga tao, Nico. Humans are the only 'unsolvable cases' left on Earth, trust me. Pero tulad ng nga sinabi ko sa'yo, sometimes you just gotta change your perspective and see the crime through their eyes..."

Binuklat ni Nico ang folder. At nang makita niya ang dokumento, doon na niya napagtagpi-tagpi ang lahat.

"This means...?"

Uncle X nodded. "When Omari first settled in Eastwood and talked to us about the case, he mentioned narinig niyang sinabi ng isang dealer na bilinin ng kung sinumang kliyenteng bilisan ang shipment dahil hanggang 'December 12' lang daw siya sa Eastwood. He never got the chance to find out more about it, but Yuan and I did some digging these past few weeks. Noong pumutok ang balita sa nangyari kay Mrs. Taves, doon na kami naghinala. We've always suspected 'her', but the only ace we have against her was the date. Kaya nga kinausap namin ang mayor tungkol dito."

Pero hindi pa rin naaalis ang mga mata ni Nico sa dokumento.

'Kaya pala ganoon ang reaksyon ni Doc Tiffany.'

Soon, his phone rang. Nang sagutin niya ito, hindi na nagulat si Nico nang kumpirmahin ni Omari ang kagimbal-gimbal na katotohanan sa kasong ito...

"I've found the bats inside Dr. Ameida's house."

Wala nang dahilan para huminto ang oras sa nakaraan. Detective Nico Yukishito left the cold metal of the handcuff against his left wrist, where his Elmo wristwatch should've been. Nakakadismayang tinanggal niya pa talaga ito para lang sa okasyon ngayon.

"You were with us. That finally explains why you were able to do some sorcery and vanish
without a trace... Sinabi namin sa'yong mag-aabang kami sa simbahan para huliin si UD, kaya bago pa man magsimula ang operasyon, you already placed the stone outside the church and
acted like you were busy helping us. Sinasabi namin sa'yo ang progress ng kaso, kaya ginamit mo 'to as an advantage," Nico started explaining, not minding the blank look Dr. Jane Almeida gave him.

Nakatuon ang atensyon ng mga tao sa bus sa kanya, tahimik na nakikinig. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Nova and Chief Inspector Ortega near the rear seats of the bus.

In that moment, he was sure that they got the right pieces.

"That's why you brought a voice changer with you at the park, knowing we'd be there and that an Eidos mask is involved. Hindi na ako magtataka. Kung nagawa mo ngang patayin si Benet nang dahil lang sa namonitor mo ang mga kilos niya. When Benet was slowly piecing together your identity---specifically, your real gender---you dressed up in a suit, acted like a staff, and killed him. Pagkatapos 'non, bumalik ka sa lab at mistulang walang nangyari. With your assistant strengthening your alibi, umakto kang parang may sira ang CCTV, when the fact is: you were just faking it so that there won't be anything to look for. Noong nasa crime scene tayo, napansin kong walang sira ang camera. As opposed to your statement, the wirings were in perfect condition."

Umismid ang virologist, hindi na nagtatangkang kumawala sa handcuffs.

"I've been helping you since day one. Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo, detective?"

Napailing na lang si Nico. "Giving away a few details is a small price to pay in order to ensure your plan will go smoothly. Umakto kang nasa panig namin, hindi dahil gusto mong makatulong, kundi para hindi ka namin paghinalaan at mabantayan mo ang mga kilos namin, Dr. Almeida. And might I add, throughout the course of this case, you never once suggested the possibility of ingestion as a means of infecting someone. Dahil ikaw ang virologist na humahawak sa kasong 'to, naging madali na para sa'yong manipulahin ang lahat. That's exactly how you played Dr. Fabella," binalikan ni Nico ang imahe ng director na nahanap nila Lelouch na walang malay kahapon.

Not only was he unconscious, but he also had the weapon used in Dr. Almeida's attack.

Noong nagising ito kaninang madaling-araw, doon nila nalaman ang katotohanan.

"Hindi nawala o naging busy si Dr. Fabella... you kidnapped him. I wouldn't be surprised if you drugged him after a meeting and made it look like he abandoned ECDCP. Dahil naging abala ang lahat ng tao, ikinulong mo ang siya sa loob ng supplies closet na 'yon, where no one would dare look for him. As a consequence, you took his place and made an excuse to have a meeting with the mayor. Ikaw ang pilit kumukumbinsi sa mayor na hindi kailangan ng anumang paghihigpit.

You painted him the villain, and smeared your hands in the process. So when Dr. Fabella was able to escape, find a weapon, and attack you that night, pinamukha mong si Dr. Tiffany ang may gawa 'non para maging pabor sa'yo ang lahat. In reality, you survived that attack, drugged him again just like what you did to Benet, and dumped him back inside that room with the knife he used. You were careless because you knew you weren't staying here for long."

"Nasisiraan na kayo ng bait," Dr. Almeida countered. "Bakit ko nanan gagawin sa kanya 'yon?"

"Dahil dito," Lelouch, who had been sitting a few seats away, raised a flashdrive for all eyes to see. Maya-maya pa, ipinaliwanag ng attorney. "Noong gabing inatake ka, nandoon ka sa opisina ni Dr. Fabella...and the laptop you were using was his. May hinahanap kang dokumento, pero hindi mo 'to mahanap sa local files niya. It seems like the director was already suspicious of you and transferred all the information of your trip to Africa inside this flashdrive. Kasama ka sa research project ng ECDCP noong nakaraang taon, at narito ang lahat ng mga detalye. From what I've read here, Dr. Fabella noted how you were more focused on testing animals and inquired too much about Marburg."

Hindi nakaimik ang virologist. Her eyes sharpened. At the same time, Nico spotted Dan and his company out the window.

"That day, when you reported the virus' identity to us at the tea house, alam mong paghihinalaan namin ang may-ari ng Ye Hua's resto dahil sa crates ng wine na dala-dala mo noon sa Mockingbird Apartment. One event led to another until you figured I'd show up at the port and investigate. That's when you locked me up inside that container... When Nova visited you at your house, may classical music na tumutugtog. You did that to cover up the sounds of the fruit bats inside your basement. Pinapakawalan mo sila tuwing gabi para maghanap ng pagkain nila. Still, I don't know why you needed to throw dirt at your old friend, the pediatrician---"

"Paano kayo nakasisiguradong hindi si Tiffany ang may pakana ng lahat ng 'to?" She challenged.

Nico was getting bored of this.

"You framed her. Madalas kang nagpupunta sa clinic nya nitong nakaraang linggo. In fact, doon mo rin kinuha ang files ng mga biktima mo noong nakaraang buwan. You used her as a mechanism to gather info and as an scapegoat. Alam momg madidiin namin siya sa oras na mahanap namin ang files sa basurahan ng clinic niya, kaya siya ang tinuro mong umatake sa'yo. Back at the hospital, that wasn't hesitation I saw in your eyes when you confessed her name... that was guilt." Nico couldn't fathom how this woman can bare the idea of using her own friend for evil. "Umamin na sa'min si Tiffany kanina... Wala siyang kinalaman sa kasong ito at lalong hindi niya alam na nilalagyan mo pala ng virus ang mga prutas sa clinic kapag hindi siya nakatingin. You must be sick of yourself, Dr. Almeida."

With one hand Nico grabbed the map Nova printed a few days ago to keep track of the crime scenes.

"Pero hindi kita masisisi... Ngayon dapat makukumpleto ang plano mo, 'di ba? That rock's coordinates point to the Taves' residence. Balak mong tapusin 'to kung saan nagsimula ang lahat. Ironically, when you connect all points..."

"The six-pointed star, commonly known as the Star of David. It's a symbol for 'martyrdom and heroism', giving me a better insight of how you perceive this chaos... Sa tingin mo ba nililigtas mo ang mga inosente sa kasakiman ng mundo dahil sa ginagawa mo? Sa tingin mo ba ito ang 'greater good' sa Eastwood? Just because you weren't saved in the past doesn't mean you need to play today's God, Dr. Ameida."

Nico hated this and hated every criminal thinking they're doing the right thing. Mga umaastang umiikot ang mundo sa trahedya ng buhay nila.

In the end, nothing can ever justify their actions.

"Yuki!"

Napalingon si Detective Nico Yukishito sa unahan ng bus, kung saan kapansin-pansing tumabi ang ilang agents para bigyang-daan ang mga bagong-dating. There, a few meters in front of him, Dan and Tiffany stood with Inspector Cordova. Pero sa kabila nito, dumako ang mga mata nila sa batang naroon.

Upon closer inspection, the kid was starting to look pale.

Instantly, Dr. Almeida glared at the kid.

Nico caught this and smirked, "Ang pamilya ni Andrew ang huli mong biktima, 'di ba? You've been studying them from afar. Alam mong mapapadaan sila sa subdivision, sa tapat ng bahay ng mga Taves... You were expecting something dramatic. You were expecting he'd drop dead, but unfortunately, time wasn't on your side today, UD."

Sandaling tumahimik ang virologist. Napuno ng tensyon ang loob ng bus habang hinihintay nila ang pagsuko nito. The predator was cornered, and she had nowhere to run, not with the detective's wrist cuffed to hers.

And in desperate times, people do desperate things.

"JANE!"

Napuno ng sigaw ni Tiffany ang paligid, everyone visibly tensed as they realized what happened. Maging si Nico ay nabigla nang bigla na lang siyang nahatak ng metal sa pagitan nila. It was already too late when he saw the pocket knife against Andrew's neck, already drawing out blood.

The animosity in Dr. Almeida's eyes intensified as she held the child, using him as a shield.

"The sacrifice is necessary. Papakawalan niyo ako o papatayin ko ang batang 'to?"

Nova, being closest to the scene, was about to make her move when Nico caught her eye. From the looks of it, mukhang tutol ito sa gagawin niya. 'What the hell is he planning now?' Nova thought. Bakas ang inis sa mukha ng dalaga, pero wala siyang magawa.

Nakataya rito ang buhay ng bata.

"PAPAKAWALAN NIYO AKO O PAPATAYIN KO ANG BATANG 'TO?!"

Jane repeated, growling every syllable. Kapansin-pansing nanginginig na sa takot si Andrew, his eyes pleading to break loose of her grip.

Nico pulled at the handcuff and sighed, fetching the key from his pocket.

He started unlocking it.

"Detective Yukishito, anong ginagawa mo?!" Sigaw ni Inspector Ortega, hindi makapaniwala sa desisyon ng detective.

Still, the greatest detective in Eastwood remained calm and disentangled him from the criminal, the metal handcuffs hitting the metal floor.

Agad na kumilos si Jane at ginawang hostage ang bata, dragging Andrew along as the crowd watched in horror. Napalitan ng paghikbi ng bata ang katahimikan, walang nagtangkang kumilos.

"You'd regret that if I were you," Nico boredly stated, his hands in his pockets. "Very creative, though. It was believed that the ancient Mayan's actually sacrifice little boys in their rituals, not virgin girls... Still, you're mad for doing this."

"At bakit naman? Wala kang alam sa akin, detective. You have no idea how much I suffered! Para ano? Para lang maging kasangkapan ng iba? Para sa 'greater good'? There is no greater good... There is only a 'good' that is favored by those in power, rendering others powerless," the virologist said and squeezed the child's neck. "Go ahead. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill this one!"

Nico didn't waver.

"Fine. But it's same reason why Dr. Tiffany admitted and attempted to cover up your tracks yesterday," he then lifted his hand, revealing a necklace with a familiar pendant. "Iniwan mo nga pala 'to sa labas ng hospital room ko. But this is just one-half of the truth, isn't it?"

In that moment, Tiffany started sobbing.

"Jane... J-Jane, please let the kid go. Hindi mo naiintindihan---"

"SINO SA'TIN ANG HINDI NAKAKAINTINDI, TIFF?!" She screamed. "Sa lahat ng tao, ikaw dapat ang nakaintindi kung bakit ako ganito... Kung bakit hindi ako mabigyan ng katahimikan sa buhay! You know my fucking wounds better than anyone and yet you're acting like you don't!"

The Unknown Disease yanked the kid and started digging the knife into Andrew's flesh. Pero sa halo ng mga luha ng bata at dugong umaagos mula sa sugat nito, kinilabutan si Dr. Jane Almeida nang mapansin ang kwintas nito sa leeg.

The similar pendant on the kid's neck.

With that, she paled and stared at the boy in a different light.

The resemblance was undeniable.

The knife dropped.

Andrew cried.

Jane stepped away in disbelief, her blood staining her hands.

Her own blood.

"The other half of the truth is in your hands, UD. You asked me to give you a reason," Nico said in dismay. Hindi niya inaasahang aabot pa sa ganito para lang mabigyan ng katapusan ang kaso. Pero sa maraming pagkakataon, hindi naman talaga nila hawak ang solusyon sa lahat ng misteryo.

They were just detectives, after all.

"He's your son."

Finally, it's over.

----