In an isolated room, Shane and Nara observed this new group of six people. This was an advanced procedure to determine what kind of person was joining their community and to maintain control over their actions.
So far, there were more than 3,350 people in the prison, and all of them—or at least most—had joined after going through this process. Some had been transported to the city of Atlanta over time, but since the journey was long and dangerous, it was decided that refugees would only be transported once the prison could no longer accommodate more people.
Returning to the test, it consisted of two very important processes. The first was a simple multiple-choice questionnaire, asking things like: Have you ever killed a person? What is your dream now? What are you willing to do to protect your life?
At first glance, these questions seemed designed to judge whether a person was good or bad, but that was something the S.C.T. didn't care about. The main purpose was to determine if the person was lying and to assess how dangerous they could potentially be.
This became clear in the second test, conducted shortly after the person answered the multiple-choice questions. Looking at the watch in Nara's hand, she glanced at Shane and nodded.
Realizing it was time, Shane stood up and said, "Alright, I suppose you've had enough time to answer these questions honestly."
"Yes, we're done." Ramón and the others handed their answer sheets to Shane and waited in silence for what came next.
Once they had the papers, Nara got to work and said, "Alright, we'll start with the first person, and that is… Jazmín."
When Jazmín heard this, a curtain covering some unknown instruments was pulled back, revealing them to the group of six. These devices were highly advanced, and very few people should have been familiar with them.
However, Nara didn't wait for them to guess what was about to happen. As she extended some cables toward Jazmín's hand, she said, "What you're all seeing is a polygraph—in simple terms, a lie detector. In a moment, we'll select the most important questions, and if you answer them correctly and without anomalies, this will be over quickly."
"But if, on the other hand, we realize you lied in your answers, you'll have serious problems for your future. Alright, let's get started as soon as possible," Nara said as she powered up the device.
She then moved her hands, placed some cables on Jazmín's fingers, looked at the data on her computer screen, leaned back, and picked up the sheet with the recorded answers. After that, Nara looked directly at Jazmín.
It was important to note that, in these kinds of tests, people usually tried to answer as best as possible to leave a good impression, even if their responses weren't true. This test evaluated those answers.
Jazmín, sitting across from Nara, observed the woman, who seemed to be about her age. She hadn't expected such a device to exist in this place. Even if she answered some questions truthfully, she felt inexplicably nervous.
"Alright, we can begin the questions. Are you ready?" Nara lifted her gaze and looked at Jazmín.
"Yes."
Hearing the response, Nara looked at the sheets in her hands and asked the first question: "You only need to answer with yes or no. Do not say anything else. Your name is Jazmín, correct?"
"What?" Jazmín's expression changed upon hearing this question. Obviously, her name was Jazmín, but she didn't understand what was happening.
"Just answer with yes or no. No other response will be heard," Shane said with a sharp look. Ever since Airon left the prison, he had personally taken on this role to maintain security and control over the people seeking refuge here.
As a cautious man who always preferred the safest path, Shane was obviously the right person to oversee this process and ensure nothing went wrong.
Fortunately, this job didn't require much effort, and even if some people lied in their responses, they would simply be reformed.
Jazmín remained silent for a moment, then nodded and answered, "Yes."
"As your response indicates, would you do everything possible to save a child's life, even if they were about to be killed by a walker? Is that true?" Nara carefully monitored the data from the lie detector.
"Yes."
"First lie detected. Like many others, you also prioritize your own life over that of others."
Nara, familiar with this type of interrogation, remained unfazed upon detecting the first dishonest response. Even she admitted that she would prioritize her own safety over the life of a child she didn't know. This wasn't about simple heroism or dignity—it was about survival, something necessary to stay alive today.
Shane's eyes didn't reveal any thoughts either. Many of the people who arrived at the prison as new refugees had a well-developed survival instinct and understood the hell that was living outside with the walkers.
However, after training, depending on the level of authority they wished to obtain, they adapted to a specific rank. Of the three available ranks, approximately thirty percent chose Class 1, while the rest opted for Class 2. Many preferred to continue fighting and learning to kill walkers rather than staying at the base, relying on the victories of others.
Everyone preferred to fight, and that showed how much the world had changed—turning people into strong fighters who would rather protect their own lives with their own hands than hope to be protected by others.
At this point, of the six rescued individuals, five had already been evaluated. As expected, they all lied in the moral questions, something that was duly noted in their records.
"You're the last one. Don't be afraid!" Shane said, looking at Ramón, who had an anxious expression.
"Haha, even though I answered the questions truthfully, I still feel nervous."
At that moment, Ramón looked at the cables being placed on his fingers, feeling an overwhelming sense of anxiety. He didn't know what happened to people who lied, but it was evident that the outcome wasn't favorable for them.
However, when he looked at Shane, who had a calm expression, he felt even more afraid of what could happen to him here if the device malfunctioned or if his emotions betrayed him.
Sensing this, Shane, standing beside him, shared a breathing technique to help him stay in control during the process. Using it, Ramón gradually calmed down and began answering the questions with ease.
As if time had slowed, Ramón grew increasingly tense, and just when he thought it would never end, Nara's voice reached his ears.
"Alright, that seems to be all."
Hearing this, Ramón let out a sigh of relief and then looked at Shane with a grateful smile.
"Alright, buddy, let's get you and your friends to take a shower. It'll help you rest well later." Shane led Ramón and the others to wash up.
According to the results, none of these people were dangerous, aside from a few answers that most had lied about. But those were simple responses that anyone in their situation would have answered in the same way.
In short, there was nothing to worry about regarding these new people who had been welcomed into the community.