Codebreakers: The Detective and the Hacker (Cipher Chronicles 1)

10

Svetlana

         “Kung control talaga ang habol nila… tao ang gusto nilang gamitin, hindi robots? Bakit hindi nalang sila gumamit ng AI or mechanical alternatives? Bakit kailangang mag-experiment pa sa mga tao?”

Pumikit siya saglit, para bang naghahanap ng tamang sagot. Nang muling dumilat ang mga mata niya, bumungad na naman sa akin ang intensity ng kanyang tingin. “Because humans are harder to predict—and that’s what makes them the ultimate weapon. Technology, robots, AI… lahat ng iyon may limitations. But humans? They adapt, they think, they feel. If you can control that adaptability and intelligence, you have the most powerful tool in existence.”

Napasinghap ako. Para bang biglang bumigat ang hangin sa paligid ko. “So you’re saying... they’re not just creating mindless drones. They want humans who are completely aware of their actions but have no control over them? Like... prisoners inside their own bodies?”

Tumango siya. “Exactly. Imagine someone with all their skills, talents, and intellect intact—but every decision they make is dictated by someone else. It’s like turning people into highly advanced machines, but with the perfect disguise. No one would suspect them because they’re still... human.”

Halos bumaliktad ang sikmura ko sa sinabi niya. “Tangina, Lei. That’s... twisted.”

“Twisted, but effective,” dagdag niya. “If this organization perfects their experiments, they won’t need armies or robots. They could infiltrate governments, businesses—every aspect of society—without anyone realizing it. Their ‘human weapons’ would look and act normal, but every action they take would serve the organization’s goals.”

Napahawak ako sa sentido ko. “And the experiments... that’s where they’re testing the limits of their control? Para malaman kung hanggang saan nila kayang diktahan ang utak ng tao?”

“Yes,” sagot niya. “They’re experimenting on debtors because they’re expendable in the organization’s eyes. No one questions their disappearance, no one notices if they change. These experiments might still be in their early stages, but the fact that they’re willing to risk so much means they’re getting close to something big.”

“Big? Like what?”

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. “A breakthrough. Complete mental domination. Imagine being able to flip a switch and turn anyone into a loyal soldier, an assassin, or even just a puppet to execute their plans. It would be unstoppable.”

Napalunok ako. Bigla kong naisip si Neid. Paano kung isa rin siyang target? Or worse… paano kung alam niyang nangyayari na ito? I still remember when he ask me if i did believe in the Josh Santiago's incident, na kagat daw ang aso ang dahilan. Hindi ko pa siya natatanong tungkol dito, hindi ko din siya matanong dahil problema pa nito ang pinsang nawawala.

“Kaya pala walang palya sa galaw nila,” sabi ko, pilit na iniintindi ang lawak ng situasyon. “May pattern ba tayong nakita sa mga victims? Like common traits or connections?”

“Most of them are in deep debt, yes,” tugon ni Lei habang bumalik sa mga litratong hawak niya. “But there’s another pattern we’re starting to see, some of the victims had high IQs or unique skills. It’s possible the organization isn’t just targeting any debtor—they’re choosing people who could be useful to them once controlled.”

Nag-init ang ulo ko sa narinig. “So hindi lang sila naniningil ng utang—nagpaparaya rin sila ng buhay ng tao para sa twisted science project nila? Putangina, Lei, they’re playing god.”