Interval 5 PART 2 - Prometheus and Sisyphus

We returned home after today's events, almost ripping the door off its hinges, and collapsing into the living room.

I threw myself into the armchair with the fire ax in my hands, looking out the window. Devola, Popola, and 11B sat on the couch with their weapons ready while the PODs floated beside me.

We stared at each other in tense silence, waiting for someone to converse.

"So.../That was.../What the hell.../That machine..." Everyone spoke simultaneously.

We went silent again after realizing no one could speak. Minutes passed and we walked around the house, looking out the windows, waiting for something. What was that something? A machine? A Yorha android?

I cannot tell. We were all afraid. I do not know how much time passed, but eventually, we calmed down and talked.

"I think it's time we talk about what happened." I took a deep breath, receiving a nod from everyone.

"What were those machines doing? The ones I fought during missions never did something so strange." 11B spoke first.

"The machines tried to imitate human reproduction." Popola spoke right after, frowning in deep thought.

"And from that, a machine was born." Devola continued, crossing her arms, and sharing her sister's feelings.

"And androids attacking were one of the first things this machine saw when born." I spoke.

"Alan, you fought this war longer than anyone here. Do you know why the machines acted like that?" 11B asked and everyone looked at me expectantly, waiting for an answer.

"Let me tell you the story of Prometheus." I replied, looking up and leaning back on my armchair.

-Kingdom of the Night, El Salvador, Year 7.645-

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

The Medium Biped fell to the ground, torn apart by the shots of my Mossberg Mariner while a Stubby approached from my left. Spinning quickly, I aimed at its face, pumped, and pulled the trigger.

BANG!

The machine fell to the ground, its head blasted by the lead rain, but another Stubby appeared on my right. I turned towards it, pumped, and pulled the trigger again.

BANG!

The machine fell too, the red light in its eyes fading. Suddenly, I heard metallic footsteps approaching and saw a Medium Stubby running towards me. I did not have time to reload, so I drew my Beretta and fired.

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

The machine fell in mid-run, its body sliding across the street. A few seconds of silence passed before metallic footsteps echoed down the moonlit street.

I ran away from there, passing through wide and narrow streets, entering a five-story building, and hiding myself on the fourth floor, next to a window overlooking the street.

I pressed my back against the wall and watched the area, seeing a group of passing machines, their red eyes lighting up the night, so I hid behind the wall again, waiting for them to go away.

I waited a few seconds in silence when the steps disappeared. The machines did not come back, I slid my back against the wall and sat on the floor, sighing relieved. Therefore, I reloaded my guns and rested.

"That was close." A male voice said beside me mockingly.

Looking at the broken window glass, I saw my reflection talking to me, but it did not follow my movements and had a different appearance, white hair and red eyes.

"Shut up." I replied annoyed, focusing on my guns.

"Come on; is this how you treat me after everything I've done for you?" The Watcher asked with false sadness while holding its heart.

"What do you want? That I thank you?" I asked back sarcastically.

"Yes, or you could pray and worship me, that will do." The Watcher shrugged, cleaning its nails on its shirt.

"As if I would do that, I'd rather die!" I yelled but quickly covered my mouth before I attracted more machines.

"Oh! You know what will happen if you die again, if you win, you'll wake up the next day like nothing happened, if I win, well, let's just say I'll have the same fun I had in the Amazon Rainforest years ago." The Watcher replied, pressing its face on the glass while smiling from ear to ear in sadistic glee.

"That will not happen again." I muttered, grimacing when the memories came back.

"What's the problem? You found Novi again, did you not? What fault do I have if some androids died as a result?" The Watcher replied, pointing at itself.

"You tricked me!" I exclaimed, biting my tongue to shut up.

"I tricked you? Meh! Maybe I have, but you got what you wanted, didn't you?" The Watcher asked, resting its head on its hand.

"Yes, but the price was not worth it." I whispered, looking at the floor in regret.

"You are too sentimental, you would be happier if you cared less about others and more about what you want." The Watcher waved its free hand, dismissing my words.

"I did that and look where I am, alone and stuck with a mad God." I answered, opening my arms and waving around.

"Maybe I'm mad, maybe I'm a God, but we'll be together for a long time, after all, you agreed to make a pact with me." The Watcher laughed while I slowly brought my hand towards my chest, right above my heart.

"Shut up."

"Remember, my pact buddy, I'll always be here if you want to talk. Let me know when you give up, and then I'll finish what I started in Midgard." The Watcher said as if I was his friend, before disappearing.

Fuck it! It is better to find a place to sleep! I walked through the building, going door to door, until I found a simple room with a bed, closet, and a full-length mirror.

I entered the room and closed the door behind me, pushing the closet in front of it for safety, then threw my clothes and equipment aside, leaving my guns beside the bed and stopping in front of the mirror.

Taking off my shirt, I saw the black tattoo-like mark on my chest, the image of two children touching their cheeks, their faces merging to form a third eye in the center. A circle with strange letters surrounded the face, while the angel's wing sprouted from the sides, passing over the circle and extending outward.

A pact mark, a sign that I sacrificed something to become powerful, and now I am stuck with whatever that thing is. God, Watcher, and Flower, the thing always refers to itself differently.

I just know that it wants to destroy everything, and it needs me for that. Stepping away from the mirror, I went to bed and tried to sleep.

CRASH!

CRASH!

CRASH!

I woke up to the sound of something bashing on the door, shaking the closed repeatedly. I quickly got up, grabbed my shotgun, and aimed at the door. Peeking through the window, I could not see anything outside. It was total darkness.

CRASH!

Whatever bashed on the door knocked the closet and the door down, revealing a wall of darkness, until two red and shiny objects appeared close to the floor. These objects rose until they reached about two meters in height.

A pair of long, thin hands gripped the doorframe, and the thing stretched its body into the room.

It was a white creature with a slender but well-built physique, hands and feet ending into claws, and a long sharp tail that glided across the ground. Its face looked like a metal mask representing two faces merging, with two horns extending upwards on top of its head.

The thing hunched over and entered the room, almost dragging its arms on the floor, stared at me, and roared. I quickly aimed at it. Simultaneously, it jumped towards me, so I pulled the trigger...

Then the world disappeared.

-XXXXXX-

"Gasp!" I woke up scared with my lungs begging for air. Getting up and looking around, I saw that everything seemed normal, the closet still barred door, and the moonlight illuminated the streets.

"Did you like the dream?" The thing I made the pact with asked, appearing beside me with crossed arms and a sick smile.

"So you are the one who creates the nightmares?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course! I don't have much to do, so tormenting you is one of my few sources of entertainment." The Watcher nodded.

"Listen here you..."

I could not finish, as the whole building shook.

RUMBLE!

"Earthquake!" I screamed, trying to keep my balance as everything shook and creaked.

"What are you doing standing there you bastard? Get out of here now!" The Watcher screamed, pointing to the barred door.

I immediately grabbed my things, pushed the closet aside, and left the room. I ran through the corridors of the building and down the stairs until I reached the street where everything shook, cars, glass windows, and buildings, while small objects fell from shelves and furniture.

I heard a deafening noise and a large shadow passed over me. Looking up, I saw something like a meteor passing over the city, landing in the soccer stadium in the distance with a huge explosion.

"A meteor, as if the machines trying to kill us weren't enough, now we have to worry about a giant boulder falling from the sky and crushing us." The Watcher complained, stomping the ground. I ignored it and walked towards the stadium.

"You won't see what that thing was, will you?" The Watcher asked in disbelief.

"What do you think?" I asked sarcastically without turning back.

"I think you should do as I command!" The Watcher exclaimed, appearing beside me.

"I think you should shut up!" I replied in the same tone, focusing my gaze on the stadium.

"Humans have no respect for their superiors. It was a mistake to create you." The Watcher said annoyed, as if I owned something.

"Seriously? So why don't you kill me?" I asked amusedly, already knowing the answer.

"You know very well why." The Watcher muttered between gritted teeth.

"Because depending on how I die, you die too." I smiled cockily, and The Watcher went silent.

I ran through the city streets, past buildings of old architecture, tiled roads with grass growing in them, shops and houses falling apart, rusty cars, and much more.

Sprawled machines on the ground were in my path, with sparks shooting from their joints, Stubby and Bipedal, including their medium versions. An electromagnetic pulse perhaps?

I advanced until I approached the soccer stadium. The meteor left a huge trail of destruction during its fall, leveling part of the city, knocking down the wall of the stadium, and stopping in the center of the field.

I entered the stadium, quickly looking at the name at the entrance on the way, Estádio Cuscatlán.

I ran through the corridors of the stadium until I reached the entrance to the field. The meteor's fall raised a huge cloud of smoke, but I heard a robotic voice coming from there.

"Trajectory error, unknown location, damage caused during the fall, initiating self-repair."

What is this thing?

"Life form detected, scanning... Life form identified as human, one of the creators."

A huge purple-colored eye glowed through the smoke.

"Greetings!"

The smoke dissipated and I had a full view of the thing in front of me. It was a gigantic metallic sphere made of irregular metal parts, with alien machines and androids trapped in there too.

"What… what are you?" I asked, widening my eyes while stepping back in fear.

"We are Prometheus!"

"We?" I asked confused, wondering if I should run away now.

"Yes, we."

"I am Prometheus!" A machine in the sphere spoke.

"I am Prometheus!" An android in the sphere spoke.

"I am Prometheus!" A machine I could not identify spoke.

"We are Prometheus!" Everyone spoke simultaneously.

"It is nice to meet you, creator!" Everyone spoke again.

"Creator?" I asked again, more questions filling my mind with each word spoke.

"Yes, we are Prometheus, formerly P-33, a machine created by humans to fight the legion. Now we are free to explore the world after millennia decommissioned, and centuries of repairs."

"I didn't think humans would create a giant, talking metal sphere." I laughed, feeling the fear disappear at the gentle tone of the sphere.

"And they didn't, we took this form by merging with the various machines found on this planet, the Junk Heap machines, the strange red-eyed machines, and the androids, our minds combined in symbiosis, forming a network."

"Like a computer network?"

"Correct!" Prometheus said happily.

"Sorry if this sounds rude, but you seem strangely happy to see me." I replied, scratching the back of my head in shame.

"Why wouldn't we? For centuries, we wondered where all the humans went, until we finally found one. But tell me, are you feeling well?"

"Yes, I am, why the question?"

"My scans indicate that your heart is not beating. Are you having a heart attack? They say that some humans have heart attacks without any noticeable symptoms. I recommend looking for the nearest hospital."

I put my hand on my chest and heard the Watcher chuckling in the back of my mind.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Even if I went to the hospital, it's not like there's anyone there to help me." I shrugged, reassuring Prometheus with a shaky smile.

"Why that?"

"Well, I am the last human on the planet." I sighed, trying to hide how much it hurt.

"Where did the other humans go?"

"The humans went to the moon." I answered, pointing upward toward the natural satellite in the sky.

"To the Moon, why?" Prometheus asked confused.

"Because the alien machines kicked them off the planet?" I replied, telling what everyone told me, I knew it was not true, but I did not know what happened to humanity.

"Alien machines, you mean the red-eyed machines?"

"Yes."

"But why do you remain here, shouldn't you be on the moon? Did they leave you behind? Did you overslept and miss the shuttle to the moon? We can try to contact the humans if you wish. They must have some communication system on the moon."

"No, I don't want to bother them and you. The reason I stay here... Well, this planet is my home; I don't want to leave it to the machines." I answered, smiling nostalgically.

"Could you tell us more about the machines?"

"Yes, no problem! Aliens attacked this planet for no apparent reason centuries ago. The aliens used an army of machines to invade, in retaliation, the production of androids increased and the planet went into all-out war with no clear winner. But the machines are slowly winning, they have no fear, self-preservation, or free will, they advance endlessly in abundance." I replied, sitting on the field in front of Prometheus.

"So the machines and androids fight because they have no other option because they were ordered to fight?" Prometheus spoke annoyed.

"Yes." I nodded.

"We don't like it. Maybe they would stop if they saw the world as we saw, and think as we think."

"Who knows? I fought the machines for years; they've been mindless drones but so far."

"Hm… Why do you fight, is not this pointless? There will always be more, no matter how many machines you destroy."

"Maybe it's pointless, I feel like I don't make progress, no matter how hard I try. However, we should keep trying even if it is pointless, shouldn't we? Better to die trying than to live without doing anything, right? Moreover, what should I do, stand still and watch? We will return to the fight when I find my men."

"Your men, are you in the military?" Prometheus asked surprised.

"Not to brag, but I'm a General, or so I think I am, my men must think I'm dead." I replied, puffing out my chest proudly.

"Sorry for not referring to you properly, Sir!" Prometheus said nervously.

"Stop it, I'm not in uniform and you're not one of my soldiers, call me Alan." I answered, waving my hands apologetically.

"Yes, Mister Alan. Nevertheless, if we may ask. What happened for you to be separated from your men?"

"I became a general because all other capable androids died, and fulfilled my duties and led my men through hardship, with stress and a lot of coffee. We fought the machines for years, keeping them in a stalemate, until an almost infinite army knocked on our door in the Amazon Rainforest, the machines became too much for us to fight."

"And what happened afterward?"

"I ordered the evacuation of the base and the detonation of the Maso Generators, creating the equivalent of a nuclear explosion without radiation, destroying the machine army. I separated from my men during the escape and spent a good deal of time unconscious. Due to a certain God..." I whispered the last part and heard the Watcher laugh.

"...I wandered around for a while when I woke up and found some non-combatant androids, they heard rumors that the androids from the Amazon base moved to Alaska, and I tried to get there."

"This is one hell of a story, what about Alaska? It's a long trip."

"Absolutely, but sometimes I feel like I'm making a futile effort." I said, lowering my shoulders and deflating my chest in disappointment.

"Why?" Prometheus asked confused.

"Every time I get a little bit of normality in my life, I end up losing it all." I sighed.

"Could you explain?"

"I was married once, you know? My wife died of an incurable disease, so I traveled towards the Amazon Rainforest, where I settled in an android village, but destroyed it, my entire fault. Then I found a boy called Emil, we traveled for some time until the aliens attacked and Emil fought with everything he had, let us just say there are several of him out there now. When I thought I found my home among the androids of the Army of Humanity, I lost everything to the machines. I feel that no matter what I do, I will lose everything in the end, but I keep moving forward."

"Is this your dream, Mister Alan?"

"My dream?" I asked, raising my head.

"Getting back to normality, a place to settle down with family and friends."

"I think so." I said hesitantly.

"Don't give up Mister Alan, even if it seems impossible, you shouldn't give up, we didn't give up and see how far we've come, humans have survived until today because they didn't give up, so keep going and your dream will come true. We have a dream to see the sky, but we have already realized that dream, so we decided to go further."

"Thank you, Prometheus, and further? You mean..." I asked, smiling softly and looking toward the night sky.

"Yes, space. We are exploring the world for parts, to get into space and see what lies beyond." Prometheus said happily.

"You are closer to fulfilling your dream than I am to mine." I laughed drily.

"Don't give up, Mister Alan, someday you'll make it!" Prometheus replied, trying to cheer me up, and it helped a little.

"Thanks." I muttered, and then a silence fell between us.

"Tell me Mister Alan, where are we?"

"San Salvador."

"San Salvador? We went off course. Tell me Mister Alan, would you mind keeping us company while we prepare the launch site?"

"No, actually it's nice to have someone to talk to; it helps keep my mind sane. But what do you mean by launch site?"

"This stadium is the perfect place for us to prepare for our launch and continue exploring the world. We can use the machines in the city to modify the stadium."

"Do what you want; you are the collective consciousness here."

"Understood, initiating a connection to nearby machines."

Prometheus' eye glowed, a few minutes passed and I heard metallic steps. Looking at the entrance to the stadium, I saw the disabled machines walking with glowing purple eyes, carrying tools, pieces of metal, car engines, and more.

"Starting construction, would you mind if we talked while the machines work?"

"No Prometheus, it would be a pleasure." I nodded, smiling and patting the giant sphere.

Prometheus and I talked about different subjects, the events we both missed, the history of the world, our dreams and goals, memories of the past, the war, the androids, and the humans.

-XXXXXX-

I think that is it, after two months, Prometheus was leaving. Metal, circuits, computers, control centers, and metal platforms covered the stadium and surrounded Prometheus.

The machines that worked on the construction merged with Prometheus too, becoming part of their network.

"Mister Alan, it's time for us to proceed with our journey, we will return to the Junk Heap and go to space when we are finished."

"I wish you a safe journey Prometheus; I hope you find what you are looking for." I replied from one of the platforms in front of Prometheu's eye.

"Before we leave, we would like to ask you something, Mr. Alan."

"Ask it." I said curiously.

"Would you like to come with us, to space?"

I went silent with this proposal; go to space, away from this planet, this war, and the place the Watcher wants to destroy.

"Is this serious?" I asked disbelieving, feeling my body shake.

"Yes, we could explore other planets and galaxies, and see the wonders of the universe. We can modify our body so that a human can live inside us."

My God!

"You called me?" The Watcher appeared, smiling cockily beside me.

Shut up!

This proposal is one in a million. How many people dreamed of it, to explore space? It would be a childhood dream coming true.

However, what about my friends, the people who trusted me? Should I let them think I am dead? In addition, this planet, the planet where I was born? I have been here for so long, that I am not sure if I am psychologically prepared to leave Earth so abruptly.

"Prometheus, I am grateful for everything, but I refuse, although the proposal to explore the universe is wonderful, I do not want to leave the planet, there is a chance that my soldiers, my friends, and my family, are alive in Alaska, I need to know if that is true." I sighed, feeling my heart scream in pain.

"I see, it's a shame, we would love to have one of our creators come along with us. We wish you luck in your search. But there is something else we would like to discuss, the alien machines."

"Yes?"

"We want to give them awareness, the ability to choose their destiny."

"Are you sure? You guys can worsen the war with this." I said, taken back by the answer.

"We are aware of the possibility, but this is something we want to do. Why do machines fight? Because they have no other option, they are not allowed to live, we want to change that, to let them live."

"Do what you want, it's not like I can stop you." I replied, crossing my arms and averting my gaze, on how bad this idea sounded.

"We understand, better withdraw from the stadium, the launch sequence will begin shortly."

"Okay, goodbye Prometheus." I said, patting the sphere.

"Goodbye, Mister Alan." Prometheus replied, shining his eye.

The whole stadium shook, smoke came out from under Prometheus, and I ran out of the stadium. I saw Prometheus tearing through the sky when I was far enough away, flying towards the other side of the world. I waved at the large metallic sphere as it disappeared into the horizon.

"Ha! That ball of rust finally went away." The Watcher laughed spitefully.

"Shut up." I replied without looking at him, focusing on the horizon.

"I don't know why you let it go; the old tin can was a human creation, wasn't it? If it were my creation, I would demand total obedience."

"And you still wonder why I call you Mad God." I said emotionlessly.

"A creation must obey the creator; it was because of this lack of obedience that I decided to destroy you humans."

"And you failed several times, didn't you? After all, I'm still here." I replied, smiling from ear to ear.

The Watcher fell silent, grimaced, and disappeared, while I danced internally with my small victory. With Prometheus following its journey, I followed mine, Alaska is my next goal.

-Puerto San Jose, Guatemala-

Months passed and I headed north, this time I got to Guatemala, but I felt like I was not making progress. It takes me months, almost years to cross a country; I do not have any means of transportation and have to be careful with the machines in my way.

I walked through the port, following the coast of the mainland; this was my plan to get to Alaska. Everything seemed normal, with no machines in the area, until I heard a ship's horn.

Looking toward the sea, I saw a small ship approaching the port, with Prometheus written on the side. I smiled and ran towards the docks, waiting for the ship to arrive. A ramp descended from the ship's side and a voice came from inside it.

"Greetings Mister Alan, it was a long time no? Please come in."

I went up the ramp and entered the ship, marveling at its technologically advanced interior, walls full of wires and monitors, and gauges and screens that I had no idea what they indicated.

"Come this way, Mister Alan." A voice called from inside the captain's room. There I found a large computer with a purple eye glowing on a monitor.

"Greetings!" Prometheus said happily.

"It is good to see you again Prometheus!" I replied in the same tone.

"Likewise Mister Alan, how have you been?"

"Good and you?" I replied, leaning on the computer.

"I am in perfect condition, ready to start my journey into space. Are you ready to sail to Alaska?"

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

"We modified this ship to function autonomously, with its course set to Alaska. It will still proceed to its destination, even when we move away from the planet and lose control of it."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Why not? We are Prometheus, a living machine, we can choose, and we choose to help you, think of it as thanks for keeping us company."

"I… I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything; just keep us company while we prepare for launch."

"Are you going so soon?" I sat in the captain's chair.

"Affirmative, the launch will start on 10, 9, 8... You know, machines attacked us during our travels while screaming for our lives, we thought. Why were these machines participating in this terrifying battle? There could only be one reason: they did not know fear. Fear is a form of consciousness that forges the ego. It was because they were not alive that they could fight to the death."

The counting continued.

"...3, 2, 1, we're going up, we're passed the clouds, we're through the atmosphere, we're in space. Mister Alan, can you hear me?"

"Yes." I replied, smiling while some tears formed in the corner of my eyes. I will miss Prometheus.

"Thanks for keeping us company. I am watching the war from up here. My systems are connected all over the world, this is so ugly, and I will give my last gift to the machines. This gift is a message. Let us live!"

"This is exciting, some of us are laughing, brimming with hope and anticipation for the future. Others, afraid of the unknown, trembling with fear. There are those of us talking among ourselves, and others sitting silently with our eyes closed."

"We are going further and further into the outside world, just as we promised you. We are alive, just like you were. We are singing, singing, singing. Will our music reach you? Will our feelings reach you, wherever you are? Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah."

"Let us live! Let us live! Let us live! Let us live! Let us live! Let us live! Let us live! Let us live!"

The message repeated for a few minutes until everything was silent.

"Prometheus?" I said hesitantly.

"Yes, Mister Alan?"

"Goodbye, and thanks for everything."

"Goodbye..."

Prometheus' voice cut off and everything went silent. The ship continued on its way at full speed. Fortunately, there was food and some books on the ship to keep me distracted from the Watcher's litanies.

I only saw the calm sea and Emil's giant heads staring at me with their permanent smiles for a long time. Finally, I arrived at my destination, and the ship docked in a port built by the Army of Humanity.

Snow fell from the sky, covering the place in a sea of white, while a light mist drifted through the area. I walked down the ship's ramp with my gun ready, looking for any machine, until I found one.

"Hey, you!" A Stubby spoke as it ran towards me.

I recoiled in fright. After so much time fighting emotionless machines, one just suddenly spoke. My eyes widened and my mouth dropped. Is this the result of Prometheus' plan?

"You are not allowed to dock here; I will have to fine you!" The Stubby wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to me. Taking the paper with a trembling hand, I read its contents.

"Fine for docking in a prohibited place, Amount: 100,000,000,000Gs"

I almost fainted thanks to the amount of the fine. I saw the Stubby walk away while the mist lifted, revealing something unbelievable surrounding me, machines working on the harbor as if they were humans, moving crates, talking, preparing ships, and operating cranes.

Prometheus, you have done the impossible!

-XXXXXX-

I finished telling the story, omitting the parts about the Watcher, and me being human.

"So it was a machine created by humans that gave alien machines a will of their own? So machines feel and think like people." 11B asked disbelieved while holding her head and staring at the floor.

"Yes." I shrugged.

11B took a deep breath, grabbed a cushion from the sofa, covered her face, and screamed.

"AAAHHH!"

"Surprising, who knew a P-unit would evolve to such a degree?" Devola spoke, holding her shin while deep in thought.

"Our creators never imagined this possibility for such a simple machine." Popola continued, crossing her arms, and sharing her sister's opinion.

"That's why the machines act like humans, now what the desert machine wants is what remains to be seen. Why create something like it? And what will it do?" I said, looking out of the window toward the ruins in the distance, wondering what the future have in store for us.

-BUNKER-

"Is this serious?" Commander White asked Alexander, the two talking through a terminal.

"Yes." Alexander answered as if nothing happened.

"Was an unknown android a general in the Army of Humanity?" White asked again, holding the bridge of her nose.

"Yes." Alexander nodded, failing to hide his smile.

"Why are you so calm about it?!?" White snapped, demanding answers.

"Because despite being unknown, his victories cannot be ignored."

"Don't give me that talk, this android knows too much, he must be eliminated!"

"White, I fought this war longer than you, centuries to be precise. I've learned with those years of experience that you don't throw such a valuable resource away."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, let's just say news of a war hero's return could do wonders for the morale of the Army of Humanity and resistance groups."

"You're not suggesting putting this android back in the army, are you?"

"Not for the time being. I intend to use him as a symbol."

"I hope you know what you're doing, Alexander."

"Trust me, White, now if you'll excuse me, I need to make some calls." Alexander spoke, ending the conversation between the two.

White let out a long sigh and leaned back in her chair, clutching her forehead due to the stress.

"What else do I have to do today?" White asked herself as she read her messages.

"A request of 16D to be transferred to Earth? Hm… Approved…"

-Germany, Berlin, Present Time-

At the base of the Army of Humanity, in the area controlled by the androids, a telephone rang inside an office. An unknown android answered that phone; he or she sat on a large swivel chair, which hid his or her figure from everyone.

"Hello?" The android asked.

"Hello! This is Commander Alexander speaking." The voice on the other side said playfully, making the hand holding the phone tense visibly.

"Sorry for the informality, Sir!" The android replied nervously, assuming a respectful tone.

"Don't worry about it; I'm just calling to let you know you're being transferred."

"Transferred?"

"Yes, judging how things are under control in Germany, you will be transferred to a place where you are needed."

"If you may ask, where will we be transferred?"

"You will be transferred to Japan. Tell me, what do your men and you think about meeting a certain general you served a long time ago?"

END OF CHAPTER