Timtara's Point of View

May dalawang test tubes na nasa harapan ko. Ito na lamang ang nakapasa mula sa mga trials na ginawa namin ni Atlas. Pang-anim na phase na kami ngayon at sa paniniwala ko ay ito na ang huli.

"We just need a dying cell to confirm our conclusions," suhestyon ni Atlas. Ipinakita niya sa akin ang resulta ngayon.

0.995

'Yan ang significant number ng resulta ngayon, ang pinaka target namin ni Atlas ay 0.998 hanggang sa 0.999 lamang. Hindi rin kami pwedeng pumalpak dahil dalawang test tubes nalang ang nandito.

A dying cell also known as a half-alive cell, mahirap eh monitor ito. Sumasakit ang ulong nag-brew ako ng kape. Isang linggo na mula nang bumisita ang presidente ng Russia sa Realm at isang linggo na rin simula nang magkaroon ako ng Stoneman Syndrome. Tinanggal ko ang gloves ng aking kamay at bumungad sa akin ang daliri kong natusukan na may kasing laki ng piso na parang rashes.

'Yon nga lang hindi ito rashes o allergy. Sa ilalim ng aking balat ay ramdam ko ang pamimigat ng aking kanang kamay. Noong una ay namamanhid lang ang daliring may sugat pero hanggang tumatagal ay kumakalat ang pamamanhid. Sumunod naman ay ang paninigas at isang linggo ang lumipas ay mahirap nang gamitin ang mga joints ng kanang kamay ko. Mahirap na magsulat dahil hindi na nabebend ang aking mga joints. Parang unti-unting nagiging semento ang mga buto ng aking kamay.

And I feel it spreading every day. Naalala ko nang ipa-scan ko ang aking kamay, ito ang araw na una kong naramdaman ang paghihirap na maigalaw ito. Doon ko nalaman kung gaano ka seryoso ang sakit na ito.

"Atlas, give me all the data you have about Stoneman Virus."

"Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressive (FOP), colloquially known as Stoneman Syndrome, slowly turns connective tissue such as tendons, muscles and ligaments into bone.

The progression of the disorders starts from the neck to shoulders, and gradually proceeds to lower parts of the body and finally to the legs. What you have is the mutated version of FOP and the progression will start from the wound. Body movements will be restricted progressively because the joints get affected with the disorder. The patient finds it difficult to open mouth, which in turn causes trouble while eating and speaking.

A second skeleton grows over the first, in a process known as heterotopic ossification (HO) – this is permanent, and surgical efforts to remove bone growth can trigger immense bone growth due to the invasiveness of the procedure. Individuals with this syndrome can lose their mobility after a minor fall or a small accident, as bone growth is stimulated. As this disorder is affected very rarely, the symptoms of this disorder can be diagnosed as fibrosis or cancer. Misdiagnosis will lead to biopsies – endangering the individual further. This condition , due to the rarity of the disease which affects one in every two million people."

Mahabang paliwanag nito sa akin na ikinapanghina ko kaya napaupo ako sa sahig.

Tapos na akong umiyak. I don't have time being weak or being afraid. I don't have time to enteratin fear since fear means doubts and doubts lead to mistakes. I can't afford to have mistakes. Not when there are too many at stakes.

Nang matapos kong ilagay sa safety deposit box ang dalawang test tubes ay nagligpit na ako. Malapit na ang 3 PM. "Permission to enter, Nurse Alex." Pagbibigay alam sa akin ni Atlas nang may nurse na nakatayo sa labas.

"Permission granted," abala pa rin ako sa pagliligpit ng mga files pero dahil hirap ang kanan kong kamay ay may mga papeles na nahuhulog lamang. Doon ko napansin na may mga kamay na lumigpit sa mga nahulog kong mga papeles. Pagkalingon ko rito ay ang nakangiting mukha ni Alexander ang aking nabungaran.

"You're early. It's not even three yet."

Umupo siya sa katabi kong stool at humarap sa'kin. "You called I came."

"I don't really have the luxury of time so let me ask you this, how did Carol defeat Scraper?"

Huminga nang malalim si Alexander bago sumagot sa akin, "Carol was a quick witted woman. And she realized Scraper's weakness and it's the love of bloodshed and screams and torture. Scraper is pure evil. Huwag kang pakumpiyansa Timtara. Kaya siya ganiyan sa'yo dahil may gusto pa siyang malaman sa'yo. As long as you are a curiosity to him, you're safe."

Parang nagpanting ang aking mga panga sa kaniyang sinabi. Lahat sila ay ganiyan ang tingin kay Scraper.

"If you are here to give me some pep talk, you better guide yourself out. But you are here because I need you to tell me how to defend Scraper and I will help you with anything in return. Anything."

Matagal niya akong pinakatitigan na para bang may inaarok siya sa akin. Sinalubong ko ang kaniyang titig.

"Okay fine. But here is my terms first."

"What is it?"

"I need to be one of the first recipients of the Apohixen."

Napatigagal ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Dalawa lang ang test tubes! Kung kay Carol ang isa para iligtas si Nightwind at ang isa ay para sa akin. Paano si Scraper? No, I need the information.

"Deal. Now spill."

"You need to give a new yet stronger purpose to Scraper, a purpose where even Carol can't shake. I will help you with that but I can't help you when the time comes that it will involve hearts." Pagkasabi niya no'n ay umalis na siya ng laboratory na parang wala lang.

"Involve hearts, huh. It is too late to remind me of that, Alexander."

Mabigat ang loob na binuksan ko ang safety box at tiningnan ang dalawang test tubes, "I promised to save you both after all."

Mayroon lamang akong dalawang linggong nalalabi bago tuluyang huminto sa paggalaw ang aking katawan. May dalawang linggo na lamang akong nalalabi upang tapusin ang Apohixen.

"Permission to enter, Gerard Hudson."