The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

059. Eerie Resemblance

"Can you hear that?"

Saglit na tumigil si Axis, bago tumango. "Naririnig ko po..."

"Magaling... That was 23 hertz in frequency. Interesting," ani ni Janus habang tumatango-tango, bago inadjust ang hawak niyang maliit na gadget na naglalabas ngtunog. Pagkatapos ay may pinindot siya mula roon. "Eh ito, naririnig mo?"

Nakatuon ang atensyon ni Axis sa tunog na pinaparinig sa kanya. Pagkalipas ng ilang segundo, muling tumangon ang binata. "Opo... Parang may... tunog ng mga dahon."

Janus eyes widened, looking very impressed with the skill the young man is showing him. "Really? But... But this sound's frequency is almost just 14 hertz. Karamihan sa mga tao, nagsisimulang makarinig ng tunog na nagsisimula sa 31 hertz."

Both the scientist and Axis were inside the Paramount Building's music room, the place where the former chose to hold his session with the young man. He took with him a small machine that emitted sound waves in different frequencies, his notebook, and a pen.

Saglit na nag-isip si Axis habang nakaharap pa rin sa lalaki. "Ibig sabihin?"

"It only means that your enhanced hearing is better than a ferret's, which can hear sounds starting from 16 hertz," nakangiting tugon ni Janus bago pinatay ang hawak niyang gadget at ipinatong ito sa ibabaw ng mesa, "Gusto ko ring malaman kung gaano kalakas ang kakayanin ng pandinig mo. Unfortunately, we can't do that here. But I am going to presume that you can endure sounds way, way higher than that."

Axis still seemed to not understand what Janus is trying to explain to him. "At gaano naman po kalakas 'yun?"

"Let's just put it this way... Sa sobrang lakas ng pandinig mo, kaya mong marinig ang paghinga ng mga tao, pati na ang tibok ng puso nila kahit hindi sila ganoon kalapit sa'yo. And just so you know, the sound of people's breathing is about 10 decibels. Iniisip ko kasi, kung kaya mong marinig ang ganoon kahinang mga tunog, maybe you can withstand the most harmful sounds as well... Who knows, you might be able to endure ultrasonic sounds. So far, the loudest sound that can be produced on the face of the earth is 194 decibels. But maybe, you'll be able to resist the sound of a nuclear bomb explosion, which ranges between 230 to 240 decibels."

"Well – I never saw this ability of mine to that extent..." tugon ni Axis na tila nagulat at namangha sa paliwanag na ibinigay sa kanya ng lalaking kaharap.

"You already have the power. Ang kailangan mo na lang gawin ay intindihin ito, at alamin kung ano ang mga limitasyon mo." Janus then opened his notebook and took his develop, "By the way, did you develop additional mutations?"

"Hindi ko po alam eh..." tugon ni Axis, "Medyo disoriented po kasi ako nitong nakaraan. Hirap nga po akong makapag-focus sa klase namin."

Janus looked at the young man and gave him a curious look. "Do you feel like you're forgetting something?"

Saglit na sumeryoso ang mukha ni Axis na pilit na nag-isip. "Parang ganun po, pero hindi ko po talaga sigurado eh."

Pinagmasdan siya ni Janus, bago ito napabuntong-hininga at ngumiti. "Alam mo, huwag mo nang masyadong isipin 'yun. Baka stressed ka lang kaya nakakalimot ka. That can be a factor. Dapat siguro pumunta ka sa Paramount clinic para kumuha ng supplements mula kay Doc Lara."

Axis pursed his lips and nodded as he sighed as well, expressing his frustration.

"By the way, Axis..."

"Ano po 'yun, Sir?"

"Your abilities involve using music to induce or remove consciousness from people, right?"

"Opo."

Tumango-tango si Janus habang pinagmamasdan ang binata. "Which meant that the music you produce is a weapon you can use against other people... Pero sinubukan mo na bang gamitin 'yan sa ibang paraan. And with that, I meant, not just using it to reduce consciousness from other people."