Is it just you and me in the wreckage of the world (2)

{Nuclear Bunker, 1 year AMW (After Mushroom War)}

Nico POV

As we stepped out of the bunker, I felt Marceline's small hand slip into mine. It was an unfamiliar sensation, warm and slightly sticky. I glanced down at her, unsure of what to say or do. Social interactions weren't exactly my forte, having spent my entire life in MO Co. with only robots and my father for company.

"So... um, where are we going?" Marceline asked, her red-rimmed eyes looking up at me expectantly.

I cleared my throat, trying to formulate a response that wouldn't sound too clinical or detached. "Well, I was thinking we could try to find more survivors. There might be other people out there who need help."

Marceline nodded, her grip on my hand tightening slightly. "Like how you found me?"

"Exactly," I replied, feeling a bit more confident. "But first, we need to find some transportation. Walking across this wasteland isn't exactly efficient."

We continued in silence for a while, the desolate landscape stretching out before us. Ruined buildings and twisted metal dotted the horizon, a stark reminder of the world that once was. I felt the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. I had escaped MO Co. to help rebuild civilization, but now I had a young girl to look after as well (though I was like 9 myself).

"So... do you like music?" I asked, attempting to break the silence.

Marceline's face lit up. "I love music! I write my own songs and play the guitar. Well, it's not really a guitar. I made it myself from some old stuff I found in the bunker."

I nodded, impressed by her creativity. "That's really cool. I've never really listened to much music myself. Mostly just the beeps and boops of the MOs."

"Beeps and boops?" Marceline giggled. "That doesn't sound like very good music."

I felt my cheeks flush slightly. "Well, I suppose it's an acquired taste," I replied, trying to sound dignified but failing miserably.

Marceline's laughter grew louder, and I found myself chuckling along with her. It felt good to laugh, to share a moment of levity in this bleak world.

As we walked, I noticed something in the distance. "Hey, Marceline, look over there," I said, pointing towards a shape on the horizon.

As we got closer, I realized it was an old, rusted car. Its paint was faded and peeling, the windows were cracked, and the tires were flat. But it was exactly what we needed.

"Wow, it's so old," Marceline said, running her hand along the rusted metal.

I smiled, an idea forming in my mind. "It may look old now, but just wait."

I reached into my pocket and pulled out one of the Bulma capsules I had packed before leaving MO Co. Marceline watched curiously as I clicked the button and tossed it towards the car.

With a small puff of smoke, the capsule opened, revealing an arc reactor and a container of nanobots. Marceline's eyes widened in wonder.

"What is that?" she asked, pointing at the glowing arc reactor.

"This," I said, picking up the reactor, "is going to give this old car new life."

I attached the arc reactor to the car's engine compartment, feeling a surge of excitement as it hummed to life. Then, I opened the container of nanobots.

"FOOTBALL, initiate car restoration protocol," I commanded.

[Initiating car restoration protocol, sir,] FOOTBALL responded.

The nanobots swarmed out of the container, covering the entire car in a shifting mass of black and gold. Marceline gasped, taking a step back.

"Don't worry," I reassured her. "They're just fixing the car."

We watched in awe as the nanobots worked their magic. Rust disappeared, dents smoothed out, and broken parts were repaired or replaced. The car's shape began to change, becoming sleeker and more aerodynamic.

After a few minutes, the nanobots retreated, revealing a stunning transformation. Where once stood a rusted wreck, there was now a sleek, black car with gold trimming. It looked like a cross between a sports car and a high-tech military vehicle.

"Whoa," Marceline breathed, her eyes wide with amazement. "That's so cool!"

I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at her reaction. "Want to take a look inside?"

We approached the car, and I opened the door for Marceline. The interior was just as impressive as the exterior, with comfortable seats, a high-tech dashboard, and various screens and controls.

"This is amazing," Marceline said, running her hands over the smooth surfaces. "How did you do this?"

I sat down in the driver's seat, feeling a bit out of place. I had never actually driven a car before, but I was confident that with FOOTBALL's help, I could figure it out.

"It's a combination of advanced technology and a bit of what you might call magic," I explained, trying to simplify the complex principles behind the nanobots and arc reactor. "The important thing is that it works, and now we have a way to travel safely and quickly."

Marceline nodded, though I could tell she didn't fully understand. That was okay; I barely understood half the things I learned from the Hall of Humanity myself.

"So, where are we going now?" she asked, buckling her seatbelt.

I paused, realizing I hadn't really thought that far ahead. "Well, I was thinking we could start by exploring the nearby areas, see if we can find any signs of other survivors. FOOTBALL, can you give us a map of the surrounding region?"

[Certainly, sir,] FOOTBALL replied, and a holographic map appeared on the car's windshield.

Marceline gasped again, reaching out to touch the hologram. Her hand passed right through it, causing her to giggle.

"This map shows us what's left of the surrounding area," I explained, pointing to various landmarks. "We can start by checking out these larger settlements. They might have survivors, or at least supplies we can use."

Marceline nodded, her face becoming serious. "Do you think we'll find more people like me? Kids without their parents?"

The question caught me off guard, and I felt a pang of sadness. "I... I don't know, Marceline. But if we do, we'll help them. Just like I'm helping you."

She smiled at me, and I felt that unfamiliar warmth in my chest again. "You're pretty cool, Nico. For a weird robot boy."

I chuckled, starting up the car. The engine purred to life, a soft hum that was barely audible. "Thanks, I think. And for the record, I'm not a robot. I'm just... different."

As we pulled away from the old bunker, I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and trepidation. This was it, the real beginning of my mission to help rebuild civilization. But now, it wasn't just about grand plans and lofty goals. It was about helping real people, starting with the little girl sitting next to me.

"Hey, Nico?" Marceline's voice pulled me from my thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Can we listen to some music? This car must have a radio or something, right?"

I smiled, realizing that despite all the advanced technology I had packed, I hadn't thought about something as simple as music. "FOOTBALL, can you access any remaining radio signals or stored music libraries?"

[Scanning for available signals, sir. I've also accessed a vast library of pre-war music stored in this country's radio towers' database.]

"Perfect," I said. "Marceline, why don't you choose something for us to listen to?"

Her face lit up as FOOTBALL displayed a list of genres and artists on one of the car's screens. As she scrolled through the options, I couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could bring a little bit of joy back into this broken world.

As we drove off into the unknown, the first notes of a song filled the car. Marceline began to sing along, her voice clear and sweet. I found myself tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, a small smile on my face.

This wasn't how I had imagined my grand adventure starting, but somehow, it felt right. With Marceline by my side and the open road ahead of us, I felt ready to face whatever challenges this new world might throw our way.

The car hummed smoothly as we drove, its sleek black and gold form a stark contrast to the desolate landscape around us. As we crested a hill, the ruins of a city came into view on the horizon.

"Look, Marceline," I said, pointing towards the skyline. "That's where we're heading next."

She leaned forward, her eyes wide with a mix of excitement and apprehension. "Do you think we'll find more people there?"

"I hope so," I replied, my voice filled with determination. "And if we do, we'll do everything we can to help them."

As we drove towards the unknown, I realized that this journey was going to be far more complex and challenging than I had initially thought. But I really thought that two kids and a little bit of technology could turn out this world for the better.

The time for adventure was just beginning, and I was ready for whatever came next.

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