Steel Hearts

Chapter 2

Chapter 2 - Chaos

        There was a deafening silence that filled the room before it burst out to gasps.

       I blinked repeatedly, analyzing the features of the five men in uniform in front.

"Pardon, Miss Fuentebella." The DND secretary's voice thundered amidst the small chatters. "Can you enlighten everyone with your statement?"

        Catherine smiled. Para bang expected na nya ang ganitong reaksyon ng crowd.

"It may seem unbelievable but these guys, they aren't born humans." She said. "But..."

       Here eyes glimmered as if she was the smartest person in the world. In fact she is one but these things...

"I made them to be more than me. More than all of you. More than us..." She walked towards the end of the stage, raising her shoulders. "More than humanity."

       Napakunot ang noo ko. Is this a big joke? They all look like actual people!

"Wait," a General chimed. "Is this serious? Because I can clearly see them breathing."

      I shifted my gaze back and forth.

"My GAICS, are designed to be like humans but way more. They breathe, they sleep, they eat, they talk, they laugh." She explained. "They have eyes, they can smell, they can hear, and they even have reproductive organs!"

       She laughed at the reactions of the crowd.

"But of course they have no ability to reproduce."

       She outsourced the information clearly.

"But compared to a human, their cognitive processing is one hundred times way faster. Which means they have a hundred times higher IQ than that of an average person. Ibig sabihin nito, mas mabilis silang makakapag-isip ng taktika sa laban. Also, they have the strength of a platoon. Mas malakas sila sa normal na tao. Sanay sila sa lahat ng fighting styles and techniques, and of course, their marksmanship skills are excellent." She bragged.

"Hindi kagaya ng mga napapanood ninyo sa fictional movies, they don't have cheap batteries na nalolow-power o pag nabasa ng tubig ay nasisira. Made up of celluciterons, the clone of human cells I invented, these are all possible. Nawawalan rin sila ng energy pero mas matagal bago mangyari iyon. Napapagod pero mas mabilis makabawi ng lakas also by eating and some rest."

"They also bleed yes, but they don't die unless they're hit on their soft spot. Kahit pa ilang bala ang matamo nila, they're still good to go. Unlike most of you na pag nabaril, wala na."

"Another thing that differs them from us, is their emotional processing. They have a less complicated synthetic thalamus that I programmed, so emotions can never hinder their thinking. Ang pagtawa nila at iba pang emotional responses ay programmed lamang." She happily claimed.

"So you don't have to worry about their emotions getting in the way of whatever orders they may have. Unlike sa normal na tao na minsan kahit trained, ay may tsansa pa ring sumuway sa utos ng superiors."

          My fist clenched as I grabbed the handle of my chair tightly.

"They have no guilt. No emotions considered. They can kill whoever we want them to." Saad nya. "There is a hundred percent guarantee that orders are carried out one hundred percent."

        No one spoke. But I feel the tension in the air. I cannot help myself. I cannot hold back.

       Pakiramdam ko ay naghihintayan lang ang iba kung sino ang unang magsasalita.

     I did not wait for anyone. I stood up amidst the crowd and held my posture.

    My chair sounded, grabbing everyone's attention. Heads turned, attention earned.

       I hate the feeling I'm getting but I cannot stop here. I stared directly at Catherina's eyes.

"...in the compasssion and chivalry, of a knight-in-shining armor to a fallen enemy." I recited a part of a plebe knowledge I used to memorize before in Philippine Military Academy as a cadet.

"What are you trying to pinpoint, Lieutenant?" An Army Major asked me.

"No remorse. No mercy, sir." I replied. "We fight for humanity because we know how to be humane. But do they? How does that make them a soldier?"

      I earned nods from my superiors but Catherina debated with me.

"Is this still the time for your values lesson, Lieutenant?" She asked. "China is outthere --- excavating our reefs. Harassing our fishermen. While you stand there telling us to be humane."

       I was about to answer when someone spoke.

"I agree with Lt. Oridala." Isang boses ang sumalo sa aming argumento.

      I turned to see the termed, "Goddess of Philippine Warfare" --- Major Adrianna Orteza of Philippine Airforce. She nodded my way as we met eyes.

      I was starstrucked for a moment. Idolo ko kasi si Ma'am Orteza. Isa sya sa naging pamantayan ko na sinusundan sa pwersa. She's done so many great things for this country.

"We soldiers aren't just killing machines. Our alma mater has instilled unto us values. We don't just kill mercilessly. Hayop lang ang gumagawa noon." She added.

"Then what? Are you planning to remain preys of those you call animals around us?" Catherina laughingly mocked.

        Nobody spoke.

"Listen. I know what you guys are feeling. You are threatened by my work. You are deeply disturbed by the fact, that in the near future, this country will no longer be in need of you." She beamed sarcastically. "So I understand your paranoia."

       My fists balled to my side.

       Could that be? Could we be replaced by these... machines? Lahat ba kami, sa mga history book nalang makikita? Will we be part of old people's tell tales?

"You're wrong." I responded, my eyes staring at the floor.

"Excuse me?" She sounded rude.

       Iniangat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya at nagtama ang mga mata namin.

"Mali ka kung akala mo takot kaming hindi na kami kailanganin pa ng bayan." Nginitian ko sya. "Sa totoo lang, pangarap naming hindi na kami kailanganin pa. Dahil kapag hindi na kami kailangan, nangangahulugan na wala nang gyera. Wala nang p*****n. Wala nang namamatay, at wala nang namamatayan."

         She raised her eyebrows at me.

"Pero habang may balang kumikitil ng inosente, habang may nanunupil ng kalayaan, habang may pamilyang nawawalan ng miyembro kahit walang kaalam-alam..." I felt every single word I was saying. It thrusts deep into my heart. "Hindi kami mawawala."

      She gave out a fake small smile. I know I intimidated her. I was always good at that.

"Thank you for your opinion." She sounded like a fake b***h I almost rolled my eyes. "But the verdict only comes from Mr. DND secretary himself."

         She smiled towards the deeply-thinking DND official. His scrutinizing eyes analyzing every detail of the five men.

"Sir? What do you say?" She asks.

       I sat down, praying it won't go in favor with Catherina. These men are monsters. Hindi sila pwedeng maging tagapagtanggol ng humanidad dahil hindi nila alam kung paano magpaka tao.

"I will agree with this project." Napapikit ako nang marinig iyon. "But on one condition."

      I opened my eyes and saw the standing DND official in the stage now.

"I want them to know if all these claims of yours are true. I want them to be field-tested for one year." He said.

"Of course, sir." Catherina smiled victoriously.

      I can't believe he agreed to that! The rest of the crowd agrees with me. I saw the same disappointment in their eyes.

"And I want Lieutenant Oridala to handle the tests for these men." Napabalikwas ako at napatayo.

     Nahulog rin ang panga ni Catherina.

"S-Sir?"

"You will conduct all the necessary test, briefings and trainings for them, Lieutenant. At the end of one year, you will report to me everything and you will help me decide for finality. I will consider your every word in the impact of my decision if they will stay or no. And I don't want you to be biased. I want your fair judgement so promise me that." He said clearly and with authority. "That's an order."

       Catherina's smile and color completely drained out of her face.

"Sir yes sir!" I shouted.

       Nakita ko ang pag-ngiti ni Ma'am Orteza.

      Damnit. Of all people, ako pa ang inassign?! Ako pa na ayaw na ayaw sa mga robot na ito?! I cannot believe I will see them for a year!

       After the conference, everyone left except me, the DND secretary and Catherina with her robots.

      Ididiscuss pa raw namin ang ilan pang detalye.

"Lieutenant!" Plastik na ngumiti si Catherina nang magkalapit kami. "Didn't see your speech coming."

     I smirked at her.

"Ladies, let's not waste time. Catherina, ipakilala mo na sa amin ang mga imbensyon mo." Utos ng DND secretary.

      Napansin ko lahat ng apelido nila ay iisa. Stanton.

"Men, introduce yourselves!" Command ni Catherina.

" 2lt. Danger Stanton!" Sumaludo ang unang lalaki mula sa kaliwa, his eyes fixed forward.

      We saluted back so he returned to attention position again.

"2lt. Azure Stanton!"

"2lt. Mage Stanton!"

"2lt. Caspian Stanton!"

       And the last was...

"Captain Chaos Stanton, team and squadleader of the GAICS."

        As I rendered my salute, our eyes met. Pinabaga ko ang mata ko. I'm not sure if he understands that I don't like their kind. Sana alam nya, tutal ay 100 times silang matalino kaysa sa akin.

       I remained in my tiger facade.

       I repeated his name in my head one more time.

      Chaos.

     You sure are bringer of one.

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