"You can rest now."
That was the last message that Dr Wissenheimer said to me before he put me to sleep. His wrinkled eyes were sorrowful, yet relaxed. He smiled at me. As if the tons and tons of burdens that he has put on his shoulder have finally withered away. I know that he has grown to develop an attachment to me.
I never really understood humans. I have fulfilled my duty, and I am glad.
"Thanks, Doc!" I smiled back at him.
"I know," he scratched his scrawny brown hair. he took off his glasses and used his other hand to wipe off the tears that were collecting at the edge of his eyes.
"Are you sad Doc?" I wondered as I lay in the still open sleep chamber. Others often called it the coffin since it was meant as a resting place to retire artificial cybernetic beings like me.
"Yes." He came closer to me. He held my hand.
"Why?"
"It's you, boy."
"Why? I have fulfilled my duty perfectly. With other fellow cybernetics, we have successfully defended our home. I have not broken any law. I have never failed any mission. We won Doc!"
"No! You're different, boy."
"I understand that a portion of my body was created from the technology that we stole from the invader. You spent months researching it to develop me. You should be proud, no?"
"Yes, I am."
Then, why do I see the sadness on your face Doc?" I gaped at his sincere and fatherly face.
"You know..., I still remember the day..., the first time..., when I was given the assignment to research that technology."
"Well, I know that you are pretty smart, so, I will not doubt your ability to memorise."
"Heh..." he smirked, and then he continued, "when first I heard that we managed to acquire this piece of technology, I was overjoyed. I thought to myself. this is it! We can finally win! After years and years of humanity failing to fight back, we can finally push them back out of our homes. The trideca-star core that we developed has allowed us to create you, and others like you."
"If there are others like me, what makes me so special?"
"You were created from the original core, boy. the Megin Shards that we used to create that core were the original tech that we stole directly from the invader. Not only that it gives you more power, but it also allows you to be more human. To feel, understand, and recognise emotions, to... show empathy."
"Are the others not capable of that Doc?"
"No. the artificial shards that we produced on our own are still inferior that their technology. The cybernetics that was made by the artificial core cannot create and understand emotions, they were just mindless killing machines."
"I still don't understand? I was built for the same purpose yes? Why are you still treating me differently from the others? What makes having emotions different from the others."
"Phew..." he let out a sigh. He took his hand off of mine and proceed to walk onto a desk situated in the corner of this poorly lit room. The curtain was closed because it was already nighttime. The desk was decorated with plenty of folders and stacks of paper. I could see dust accumulating on the desk and papers. Some robotic parts were also scattered on the floor of this room. It's been a while since we visit this study room of his. Doc really dislikes people when they touch his personal belonging. He was quite messy, and oftentimes, disorganised. He has a habit of forgetting things, that's why you will often see things just scattered everywhere.
Ever since he found that his research was successful, the government decided to move him to a bigger facility, with more manpower and more gadget and tools to play with.
He then sat on his favourite squeaky chair.
"Do you know who this is?" He pointed his finger to a figure in the photo.
"That is your son, correct?"
I saw a very young man wearing what seemed to be an army uniform. He seemed very proud. His chest was pointed upward with both of his hands were on his hips.
"Yes! I'm glad that you remembered." He spoke softly with a little smile on his face.
"Of course! You designed me to have a perfect memory. How can I forget!" I replied proudly.
He laughed. He leaned his back on his chair. He put the photo back on the desk facing both me and him.
"How long was it?" He said with a lifeless expression.
"What is this 'it' that you are referring to, Doc?"
He threw a big sigh. He then asked me again, "how long has it been since he died?"
"If you are referring to your son, I believe that he passed away on the battlefield five years and six months ago to be exact."
"Five years huh...., next month will be the sixth year commemoration of his death no?"
"I believe so, yes!"
"Five years ago, I already lost a son. Now, I'm about to lose another one." He said while covering his eyes with one of his hands.
"I didn't know that you have another son Doc."
"It's you Olrun."
"Me? I was indeed a creation of yours, but I can assure you that I was not born from the womb of your partner to which you had intercourse. I am also confident that you have never been in a relationship before and have been single for your entire lifespan up to this point."
" Hahaha...," he laughed. He then continued, "Is it wrong if I see you as my own son?" He looked at me while still leaning on his chair.
I could not answer that question. The room was quiet for a second.
"It's okay if you don't know the answer, You're still young anyway."
I could only smile back at him. At that point, I realised that there are still a lot of things that I have not seen. There are still plenty of things that I could learn from.
"Well..., I shall keep that word of yours as an input so that I can improve further in the future."
"Future... eh? Sorry about that." He said with a smirk on his face as if he was laughing at a joke, yet, his eyes were telling me that he was unhappy.
"Sorry about what, Doc?" I replied curiously.
"I tried my best to convince them that you will not be a threat, that, it is okay to keep your memory intact, that, it is okay to keep you..., active. But alas, they fear that you might be misused by the wrong hand, that you might pose s threat because you have their technology in them. I'm sorry that I can't keep you..., alive." He said with o tone full of regret.
"It's okay doc. The war is already over. I have served my purpose."
"NO!" he yelled. He immediately got up from his seat. He then stared at me with a sense of guilt. "You..., you are..., you are more than that." he continued.
"It's okay Doc. I understand."
He approached me. He stood near the sleep chamber. His face and body looked tired and sorrowful. As if he suddenly aged fifty years ahead to the future.
"You know Doc, this is the first time that I've felt something heavy on my chest even though there is nothing on top of me. Do you know why that can happen?"
"Do you feel sad?"
"Perhaps."
He could only reply with a smile.
"I guess..., this is the end eh?"
"I guess so, Doc."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
The chamber is now closed. The glass lid allowed me to see his last smile. I could only smile back at him
[Commencing cybernetics reset and rest protocol]
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