Fortunately for them, the train was still waiting. Vasco, still trying to catch his breath, saw Moses in the distance, already settled in and watching the activity with a mocking smile.
During the journey, Moses and his friends didn't miss the chance to tease Vasco.
"What a worn-out face you've got there, navigator," joked Moses.
"Was the training that easy?" teased Yuri.
"I bet he had to do push-ups all day!" added John, laughing.
Vasco sighed and slumped into his seat, too tired to retort.
"You have no idea…" he murmured, closing his eyes for a moment.
When they arrived home, Vasco was still deep in thought. He collapsed onto the sofa while Moses grabbed something to drink.
"Moses, I need to ask you something," said Vasco.
Moses looked at him with curiosity.
"Go ahead."
"Othon called me 'Analog.' What exactly does that mean?"
Moses took a sip of his drink before answering.
"Analogs are people who choose not to use brain implants. Without them, processing information is slower. They control machines with a delay, learn more slowly, and for many, are considered outdated."
Vasco frowned.
"So I'm one of them?"
Moses shrugged.
"If you don't have any chip in your brain, then yes. I chose to be analog, and I'm aware of the consequences…"
Vasco fell silent for a moment, reflecting on everything he had heard. Then he looked at Moses and asked:
"And you? Why did you choose to be Analog?"
Moses sighed and leaned on the small kitchen counter before answering.
"These devices can control people's minds, Vasco. About 40 years ago, it already happened. An entire group was manipulated without even noticing. The companies claimed it was a bug, a system error, but it sparked a massive popular uprising. For a while, many people stopped using the implants."
Vasco's eyes widened.
"And what happened next?"
Moses laughed, but without humor.
"A few months later, almost everyone was using them again. The companies came out with new versions, promises of safety, and incredible benefits. And the people? They accepted it without a second thought. Today, most people get the implant as children. But in the orphanage, we were 'protected.'"
Vasco frowned.
"Protected?"
"It's a more conservative place. They prefer to let orphans decide when they're adults. For many, that's a setback. But I've seen how people change after getting the implants. I don't want to take that risk. I don't want to be controlled. But there is a price."
Moses paused and looked directly at Vasco.
"The worst jobs are left for the Analogs. Dangerous, manual jobs that no one wants. Society sees us as inferior, slower, less efficient. That's why you need to decide soon. Are you going to continue like this or accept the implant?"
Vasco felt a weight in his chest. He had never thought about it. Since leaving the orphanage, his life had been a series of unexpected challenges. Now, there was one more to resolve.
Moses patted him on the shoulder and concluded, "This choice is yours alone..."
Vasco wanted to ask more questions. His head was full of doubts about the implants, the Analogs, and the choices he would have to make. But his exhaustion was too strong. His muscles ached, and his eyes felt heavy. He blinked slowly, trying to concentrate on the conversation, but each blink made it harder to keep his eyes open.
Moses noticed his friend's struggle not to fall asleep and smiled.
"Let's get some sleep, Vasco. Tomorrow will be tough. After work, we'll talk more."
Vasco wanted to insist, to say he needed to understand more, but he was exhausted. He just shook his head and collapsed onto the makeshift bed.
Before closing his eyes, he thought about everything that had happened. He had woken up that morning anxious about his first day of work, not knowing what to expect. Now, he felt as if he had aged years in just one day. He discovered how hard life was outside the orphanage, met Othon, went through grueling training, and now he had to make a decision that could change his life forever.
Suddenly, he felt someone tugging his blanket.
"Wake up, Vasco! We're late!"
Moses was shouting, shaking him.
Vasco opened his eyes quickly, confused. He blinked several times, not understanding what was happening.
He hadn't realized that he had fallen asleep. For him, it seemed like he had closed his eyes for a second and it was already a new day. Time had vanished.
"What...?" he murmured, still groggy.
"Come on! If we miss the train, Othon will kill you!"
Vasco got up quickly, his heart racing. His body still felt heavy, and his muscles ached, but he had no choice. The second day of work started just like the first: racing against time.