We walked towards the resistance camp, the injured android still holding onto my shoulders. It could be worse, I could be the injured one taken to the resistance, and so all androids would know that I am human.
The secret I kept for years would be over in a few minutes as androids have adoration for humans, they would not let me go and would protect me with their lives, which would be the end of my adventures.
Putting those thoughts aside, Kokio and I are in the middle of an uncomfortable situation, since neither of us has said a word since we walked. The awkward silence was killing me and I saw the discomfort on her face too. Therefore, I broke the silence.
"So how is the resistance?" I asked, smiling nervously. Kokio jumped slightly upon hearing my voice, but she smiled and answered.
"Well, most days are quiet, but I still work non-stop, rarely having a break. Anemone always gives task after task 'Kokio where is the daily report? Kokio, did you repair the parts in the inventory? Kokio, have you done your maintenance? Kokio, where are the documents I asked for? Kokio, I need you to take a guard shift!' Kokio, Kokio, Kokio… AAAHHH! I DON'T HAVE A MINUTE OF PEACE, IT'S JUST WORK, WORK, AND MORE WORK, AND TODAY WHEN I HAD ONE OF MY FEW DAYS OFF, I ENDED UP IN THIS SITUATION!"
I jumped a little at the sudden outburst, I did not expect her to be so frustrated, she screamed and stomped the ground as she spoke, but eventually stopped when she noticed that I watched her.
"Sorry, it's just that no one ever asked me about the resistance and I vented my frustration on you. However, if you want to know, the resistance is a good place, full of friendly androids that fight this war. There is the weapons merchant, the parts merchant, several stalls with androids selling trinkets, there is also a flowerbed, and a corner to relax while listening to the jukebox, and this is where I stay with my friends sometimes. There is also a weird android that lives in the desert, she shows up occasionally, and the twins, but I would rather not talk about them. We're all led by Anemone in the end."
Kokio said, smiling with her face red in shame due to her previous outburst. She seemed happy to talk about her friends but I could not help but notice the strange tone when she talked about the twins. I wonder if they are whom I am thinking of.
"Anemone, I wonder how she is doing." I sighed.
"Did you say something?" Kokio asked.
"No, nothing!" I quickly corrected myself.
"Okay, now tell me about yourself, Alan, since I've told you about myself. You look like an old android, so what is your model? What were you doing alone in the city? Why do you have a POD?" Kokio asked question after question, bringing her face closer to mine.
"Calm down one question at a time! Yes, I am a very old android, probably the oldest in the world. I prefer to avoid talking about my model; it is rude to ask about the model of an android, you know. I'm kind of a traveler, I go from place to place with no objective in mind, but I assure you, I've traveled all over the world. South America, Central America, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, I've been to Rio de Janeiro, New York, London, Paris, Moscow, Berlin, and now I'm here in Japan. Finally, I found the POD in an abandoned building."
"Wow, if you've traveled the world then it means you've been in Realm of the Night, you've seen the night! Tell me, what is the night like? Not just that, what is the world like? All I know about humans is on my systems, but I want to know more about them, their culture, art, and architecture! I saw the great buildings they built in old photos, but I would love to see them personally!" Kokio spoke happily with a dreamy look.
It breaks my heart to know what happened to these constructions, the Eiffel Tower became a battle platform for the machines, with anti-aircraft batteries, missile launchers, and large broadcast antennas. The tower finally fell on a special resistance mission in Paris, I know because I was there.
The Empire State Building became a gigantic computer processing information for the machines. The building fell like a tower due to the explosives planted in its foundation. I planted the explosives and ran as if my life depended on it, after all, it did.
"Maybe someday you can, the buildings were still there the last time I checked." It is a shame, but sometimes a lie is necessary.
"You mentioned being the oldest android in the world, what year were you made in?"
Damn, she had to ask that!
"I'd rather not talk about it; let's just say I'm older than I look." I replied looking away and hoping that she would drop the subject.
"Come on, I want to know! You can't be that old!" Kokio asked curiously.
"No." I replied flatly.
"Come on, say it!" However, Kokio insisted.
"No."
"Claim: Say it, old man…" POD 000 spoke, joining the conversation.
"No, and that is it!"
"Okay" Kokio replied dejectedly.
"Claim: Ok old man..." POD 000 replied too.
That son of a...
-XXXXXX-
Finally, we arrived at the resistance camp, passing through a small hill, improvised barricades, and an alley between two buildings. The camp vibrated with life, but the place went completely silent when I put my feet inside with a wounded Kokio leaning against me.
Everyone would hear if a pin fell to the floor and all the androids looked at me intensely. I did not know what to do, so I smiled nervously and waved.
"Hello."
"KOKIO!" The androids screamed and surrounded us before I could do anything, and then they asked several questions simultaneously.
"Are you okay?"
"Where were you?"
"What happened to your leg?"
"Who is this guy with you?"
"Did he hurt you?"
I could not take the noise anymore so I yelled from the top of my lungs.
"SHUT UP!"
Soon all the androids fell silent.
"I don't know if you guys noticed but Kokio needs repairs, machines attacked her! So how about you guys take her in for repairs and then ask the questions?!?"
My words worked and the androids calmed down. Suddenly, one of them left the crowd and ran toward Kokio, hugging her.
"Kokio, where have you been? I was so worried, you disappeared and no one in the camp knew where you were!" The mysterious android spoke relieved.
"I'm fine Cosmos, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused. I left during my break and went to town by myself, where machines attacked me. I would be dead if it wasn't for Alan, he saved me." Kokio replied ashamed, returning the hug.
"Please don't do this anymore, I thought you were dead. And who is Alan?"
"He is Alan." Kokio spoke happily while pointing at me.
I had moved away when they talked, now this Cosmos girl and the other androids looked at me. Damn it!
"All right, hey take Kokio in for repairs!" Cosmos screamed, and then two androids came and took Kokio away.
Cosmos walked towards me when Kokio got out of sight and stopped in front of me, looking me up and down intensely while frowning. She does not bite, it is worse, she judges.
Damn it again! I was so close to the exit, I just wanted to go back home!
"So you're Alan?" Cosmos asked as she crossed her arms.
"Y-yes!" I stuttered, come on Alan; do not let yourself be intimidated!
"So Alan, if that's your name, what were you doing in the middle of the town? I can believe in Kokio walking too far and getting in trouble, but it's very convenient for someone to appear out of nowhere and save her, don't you think?" Cosmos spoke, circling me while analyzing me.
"Well, I'm kind of a traveler, I don't have any destiny, and just go from place to place, collecting objects from the human world on the way. I saved Kokio because I was nearby, I heard gunshots and screams, and saw Kokio in danger, so I helped her. Now here we are and you can ask my POD for some proof." I said, smiling confidently, but it soon faded away when I saw the POD slamming itself into a wall beside me.
"Claim: Ouch." The POD spoke emotionlessly.
"Claim: Ouch." Then, it hit the wall again.
"Claim: Ouch." And again.
Cosmos stared at the POD for a while and then spoke.
"I'll believe you, for now. Kokio seems to like you, but if I find out you're lying." Cosmos said menacingly, slamming her fist in her open palm.
"Yes ma'am." I answered, swallowing hard upon understanding the message.
"Great, welcome to the resistance camp." Cosmos smiled innocently and walked away.
I got a good look at her as she walked away, and I have to admit, the factories build androids to the point of perfection.
She had curly red-brown hair, chocolate-colored skin, slightly pink lips, a small nose, slightly rosy cheeks, and finally, green eyes. She also wore the standard resistance outfit, which did not do much to hide her curves.
Calm down my racing heart! I do not want to know what she would do to me if she finds out that I am staring, or maybe I want to.
Well, I will explore the camp a little since I am here.
"POD, come with me!" I called the fling box who still hit the wall.
"Claim: Affirmativeeeee... Old man."
"I heard that!"
-XXXXXX-
I looked around as I walked through the streets; the androids built the camp between some ruined buildings with makeshift tents next to them.
I saw merchant androids under these tents while others talked and went about their daily lives. They sat on crates, carried documents, and tinkered with strange machines and devices.
I could not help but notice the looks the androids gave me, probably because I am an outsider and have a POD following me. Well, I cannot do anything about it.
I think I will talk to one of the merchants. Maybe he has something interesting to sell. Therefore, I entered a square tent with rows of metal shelves and a counter with a male android behind it.
However, he wore strange clothes, a black coat that reached his shins, a black hood, and purple cloth with white lines that hid his face, leaving only his eyes exposed. He also wore brown gloves and boots, and a large backpack.
"Welcome! What are you buying?" The android said as soon as I put my feet in the tent. What a weirdo.
"I'm just looking around, I'll let you know if I find something I like."
"As you wish, stranger." The android replied.
Well, let us see what he has in store, so I can get out of here as soon as possible. I saw old CDs, I doubt they still work, and books, I leafed through them and they were illegible, cell phones, radios, and notebooks, all broken.
Suddenly, something caught my attention, a guitar in a corner of the tent. It has been a long time since I saw one of these. Surprisingly, it was in good condition, so I picked it up and took it to the counter.
"How much do you want for the guitar?" I asked the merchant android.
"50G." The merchant replied.
Holy shit, that is too expensive for something so simple!
"Do you think I am made of money? I can give you 30G." I bargained.
"45G." The merchant gave his price.
"35G." However, I rebutted with my own.
"45G." Nevertheless, the merchant insisted.
"40G and I'll take that box of guitar strings." I said, pointing to a box on the counter. The merchant stared at me for a while and sighed before replying.
"Done." He said, typing into a small terminal on the counter.
Oh, I forgot about that, androids do not carry physical money with them, but they use a small terminal with the Gs registered on them and do their transactions in seconds instead.
I carry the physical money with me since I am not an android, so I put my hand in my pocket and took out the equivalent of 40G, a golden coin with a G on it.
I handed it to the merchant and he stared at me for a few seconds, but he shrugged and accepted the money. Therefore, I took the guitar, put the box in my backpack, and left the tent.
However, I heard the merchant say something on my way out.
"HEHEHEHA! Thank you, come back anytime." The merchant spoke while waving at me.
I ignored him, quickened my pace, and got out of there.
-XXXXXX-
This place is bigger than I thought; the deeper I went the more I saw. More tents, residential areas, warehouses. Is that an android wearing a machine head for a helmet? Who am I to judge? I use a machine head as a pan.
"Alan, look over here!" Someone called me.
Looking at the source of the noise, I saw Kokio waving and smiling at me while sitting next to a group of androids. I returned the gesture and walked toward her.
"Sit here; I want you to meet my friends!" Kokio said happily, pointing to a crate next to her; so I did as she said and analyzed the other androids. There were two of them, one male and one female.
The male wore the resistance uniform, but with a tool belt, probably a mechanic or something like that. He had brown hair, yellow eyes, slightly tanned skin, and some oil stains on his face.
Judging by her equipment, the female android probably worked with android repair, the Red Cross on her uniform helped my guess. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.
I am still amazed at how beautiful androids are, male and female, of course. Suddenly, the male android spoke, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"So, you are the one who saved Kokio? You do not look like a fighter to me. Kokio said that you defeated two Stubbys and a Medium Biped. I find it hard to believe." The male android said while crossing his arms.
It could have been me or the POD almost exploding again, but the flying fridge shook as if irritated by the comment of the android.
"Salieri, be politer, please!" The female android spoke angrily, scolding her companion.
Therefore, his name was Salieri, curious. Androids and machines have weird naming conventions
"I apologize for his behavior. Allow us to introduce ourselves correctly, please. My name is Florence, and this is Salieri, I am a repair android and he is a mechanical android, if you do not know. I was the one who cared for Kokio, and we are grateful for you saving her." Florence spoke politely, bowing a little.
"No need to thank me, I saw that someone was in trouble and decided to help. I couldn't leave her there; I don't like to stand still and watch when people are in danger."
"I'm glad to hear that. It looks like there are still good androids out there. Others would run away, or let Kokio die and loot the body." Florence grimaced.
"Wait! Androids wouldn't do that, would they?" I said surprised.
Do androids loot other android's bodies now? I never saw that in all my years of living in this world, that are many, by the way.
"Believe me, it happens more than it should, the longer this war goes on the more desperate some androids get. They only focus on surviving." Florence said sadly, looking away ashamed.
"But if anyone wants to harm Kokio, they will have to get through me first, including you." Salieri said proudly while pointing at himself, meanwhile, the POD shook again.
"Salieri stop! Alan saved me; he fought the machines and brought me to the camp! If he wanted to hurt me he would have done it already, so treat him better, please." Kokio exclaimed, scolding Salieri too.
"Okay, okay, I am sorry for what I said. It's just that I worry about Kokio and I'm afraid of what might happen since she tends to get in trouble." Salieri replied, scratching the back of his neck while blushing in shame.
My first impression of him changed, he is not all bad. It is good to know he cares about his friends.
"So Alan what is that?" Kokio said, pointing at my guitar.
"This is a guitar, a stringed musical instrument that some humans played. I bought it from a merchant. It was surprising to find one in good condition." I replied, placing the guitar on my lap.
Kokio widened her eyes and jumped excitedly on her crate.
"Can you play some human music? You are an old android who has traveled the world! You must know some music!" Kokio spoke happily, approaching her face to mine and making me jump back surprised.
"I don't know. It's been a while since I played something." I spoke hesitantly.
"Come on, play it." Kokio insisted.
"Play it." Florence said, her eyes shining with curiosity.
"Play it." Salieri spoke too, but less confident in my abilities.
"Fine, ok." I sighed.
I checked the guitar strings, tested a few chords to see if it was tuned, and played some music.
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day"
"Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say"
"No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip"
"The stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip"
"Big iron on his hip"
"It was early in the morning when he rode into the town"
"He came riding from the south side, slowly looking ' all around"
"He's an outlaw loose and running came the whisper from each lip"
"And he's here to do some business with the big iron on his hip"
"Big iron on his hip"
"In this town, there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas Red"
"Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead"
"He was vicious and a killer through a youth of twenty-four"
"And the notches on his pistol numbered one and nineteen more"
"One and nineteen more"
"Now the stranger started talking made it plain to folks around"
"Was an Arizona ranger wouldn't be too long in town"
"He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead"
"And he said it didn't matter, he was after Texas Red"
"After Texas Red"
"Wasn't long before the story was relayed to Texas Red"
"But the outlaw didn't worry, men that tried before were dead"
"Twenty men had tried to take him; twenty men had made a slip"
"Twenty-one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip"
"Big iron on his hip"
"The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet"
"It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street"
"Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath"
"They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death"
"About to meet his death"
"There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play"
"And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today"
"Texas Red had not cleared leather, for a bullet fairly ripped"
"And the rangers' aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip"
"Big iron on his hip"
"It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered around"
"There before them lay the body of the outlaw on the ground"
"Oh, he might have gone on living but he made one fatal slip"
"When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip"
"Big iron on his hip"
"Big iron, big iron"
"When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip"
"Big iron on his hip"
When I finished and looked around, I saw a circle of androids around me. How did I not notice them before?
Suddenly, they clapped their hands, making me blush while I scratched the back of my head. I did not know what to say, so I stood up and bowed in gratitude.
"That was awesome, where did you learn this song?" Kokio asked impressed.
"I learned from a friend, but I prefer not to go into details." I replied, hiding my sadness with a smile when I remembered said friend.
"Could you play another one?" Salieri asked in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, but I think I've stayed here long enough. It's time for me to go home." I answered, looking at my non-existent wristwatch.
"Do you have to go?" Kokio asked sadly.
"Yes, but I'm not leaving forever, I'll return to the camp one of these days." I shrugged.
"All right, I'll miss you." Kokio replied, hugging me.
This surprised me, but I hugged her back. We stayed like that for a few minutes, but it became a problem when Kokio rubbed her face on my chest and hugged me harder.
"Kokio, can you let me go now?" I asked disconcerted.
"No." Kokio replied happily.
Damn, I have seen this reaction before, androids are programmed to protect and adore humans, and from what it seems, interacting with humans gives them a good feeling.
It varies from android to android, some act normal, and others want to hold my hand or hug me for a long time. In the worst case, the androids would convulse with an ecstatic smile on their faces, as if they used the best drug in the world.
I have lost count of how many times I have had to run for my life due to androids addicted to me.
As if the situation was not bad enough, I glimpsed Cosmos coming around the corner and she saw Kokio and I hugging. Then she ran towards me as if she wanted to kill me, which I did not doubt, judging by the murderous look on her face.
"Kokio let me go now!" I screamed in fear.
"No!" Kokio replied, oblivious to the situation.
"POD HELP!"
"Claim: Affirmative." POD 000 grabbed Kokio by the shoulders and pulled her away from me.
"Salieri, Florence, it was a pleasure to meet you, but I have to go! POD, come with me!" I said, running for my life with POD 000 behind me.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" I yelled at the androids in my path as an angry Cosmos pursued me.
"I KNEW IT; YOU WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HER, THERE WILL NOT BE A STRING OF HAIR LEFT WHEN I CATCH YOU!" Cosmos screamed, running after me.
"AAAHHH!" All I could do was scream back in panic.
Unfortunately, I did not notice two androids in front of me as I ran; I only saw red hair before falling to the ground with both of them. However, I could not stop now since Cosmos still pursued me.
"I'm sorry, but I need to go now!" I apologized and ran away.
-With the two androids-
"Devola are you okay?" The female straight-haired android asked, but her companion did not react to her question.
"Devola?" The android asked again but received no answer.
"Devola?" The android asked worriedly, poking her friend's shoulder.
"Devola!" The android screamed angrily, finally receiving a reaction.
"Popola, did you see who that android was?" The wavy-haired android asked, pointing at the running male android.
"No, who?" Popola asked confused.
"General Alan!" Devola screamed, grabbing her sister by the shoulders.
"WHAT?!?" Popola screamed surprised.
"Alan, wait!" The two screamed, running after their old friend.
-Back to Alan-
Great, as if Cosmos wanting to kill me was not enough, now the two androids are running after me! Looks like apologizing for the fall did not help! Nevertheless, an android stepped out of one of the buildings while carrying various papers in her hands and stood in my way.
-With the android-
Finally, I have finished the paperwork! I just need to take them to the archives and my work will be done for today!
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
I wonder what I should do now; maybe I will read a book.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Alternatively, maybe I should listen to some music on the jukebox.
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
Who is yelling at me? Looking at the source of the noise, I saw an android running at me. He knocked me to the ground and all my papers flew away in the process.
Damn, I will have to organize them again!
"I'M VERY SORRY!"
Son of a bitch! Know what? Never mind!
I bent down to grab the papers, but an angry Cosmos passed by me, stomping the papers, followed by Devola and Popola.
I give up!
"Alan, wait!" The twins screamed when I was about to return to my office
Alan, so that was the android's name. Alan? Alan? I have heard that name before… Wait, Alan?!? General Alan?!? I stopped for a minute and thought about that android's face.
Dark hair, scars, slightly tanned skin, tired face, and a disheveled look; it was the same General Alan from all those years ago! I thought he died! I cannot miss this chance! I need to talk to him!
-With Alan-
My God, now the paper android is coming after me! Luckily, the camp exit was just ahead! Just a few more meters and I would be out of here!
"GET BACK HERE!"
"WAIT!"
That is if the raging androids behind me did not catch up to me first.
"POD, do something!"
"Claim: Affirmative, doing something."
When I told the POD to do something, I did not expect it to be something so extreme.
The POD fired at some scaffolding at the entrance to the camp, taking it down and blocking the path behind us. Fortunately, I escaped the camp with the POD.
"YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER, I'LL TURN YOU INTO SCRAP THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU HERE!" Cosmos screamed in the distance
So, I ran even faster.
-With Anemone-
Damn, he ran away! He shows up here at the camp after so many years of me thinking that he died, and got himself into trouble as usual. Still, I am glad to know that one of my friends is alive somewhere in this town and that I am not alone.
Well, he has made quite a mess. I thought, looking at the collapsed scaffolding.
"Hey you, clean up this mess!" I ordered the androids that came to see what all the fuss was about.
"Yes ma'am!" They replied before doing as I said when I returned to my office.
Alan is alive, Commander Rose would have been happy to see him again since they were close. It is a shame she is no longer among us, I wonder what her reaction would be.
-With Devola and Popola-
"Can you believe it? He is here after all these years!" Popola spoke happily.
"I know Pop; I thought he died during the machine attack." Devola replied, deep in thought.
"Me too, I thought that one of the few persons who was kind to us died, but now he's here. We have to talk to him when he shows up again, right Dev?"
"Yes, Pop, now let's go to our home." Devola replied, bothered by something.
The twins noticed the looks that the other androids gave them while walking. Sadly, they were already used to it, but the knowledge that their friend was alive and well served as a small relief.
-With Alan again-
I finally got home after this crazy day! Making the recording, fighting machines, rescuing an android, visiting the resistance camp, a mad android chasing me out of the camp, I just want to rest!
My house stood further away from the city, between trees and vegetation. It was a two-story brick house, painted a light shade of yellow and with a front porch.
I unlocked the door, took off my boots, threw my backpack in a corner of the living room, and lay down on the couch.
"Welcome back Alan, how was your day?" Two female voices spoke simultaneously. Oh, I forgot about those two, the twins.
"Hi Devola, hi Popola." I said tiredly, smiling at them.
END OF CHAPTER