Episode 2 - A Musical Story

Devola and Popola lived with me for some years now, and we have not met in an exactly favorable situation.

I had just arrived in Japan on a ship full of androids, being careful to hide the fact that I was human. Then I got into a caravan that went further into the country, but machines attacked us on the way, so everyone fled in different directions.

I ended up in the City Ruins, with machines chasing me; I entered a collapsed office building during my escape, trying to cross the city through it.

However, I tripped over something and fell to the ground. Pulling myself up and looking back quickly, I saw that the impact had moved an unstable pile of rubble, revealing a disabled android beneath it.

Suddenly sparks ran through the android's peeling skin. I saw the parts inside moving and coming back to life. Suddenly, the android's eyes opened and widened, then the android hyperventilated in panic, releasing a deafening scream right after.

I nearly had a heart attack when the android scrambled out of the rubble at breakneck speed and grabbed my foot. I tried to free myself, but the grip was too strong.

Then the android looked me in the eyes and spoke.

"Help! Help!"

I widened my eyes with the scare. The android let go of me before I answered and took rubble out of where she stood previously.

What was down there surprised me; it was a girl, an android. I knew this thanks to the missing parts of the "skin" of her face, displaying a black-colored material underneath.

"Please save my sister!"

Sister? I looked closer and noticed that the other android was similar to her but in worse shape. Suddenly, the sound of the approaching machines snapped me out of my thoughts.

"I will help you, but we need to move, now!" I screamed, pulling the android to her feet and helping her to free her sister.

"Let's go!" I ran with the android carrying her sister beside me.

"What are we running from?!?" The android asked me, looking around in fear and confusion.

"Machines!" I exclaimed, looking over my shoulder.

"Machines, what machines?!?" The android screamed, looking back too.

"Those machines!" I pointed to the five Medium Bipeds and twenty Small Bipeds running after us.

"What are those things?!?"

"They are alien machines or machine life forms, call it whatever you want!"

"Aliens don't exist!" The android screamed, looking at me as if I had gone mad.

"They do exist, I was there when the spaceships arrived, believe me!" I replied.

We ran through the streets, but I noticed that I would not escape the machines with the android following me, since she slowed me down. The damage across her body was serious, her left arm sparked, her right leg crooked and she limped while carrying her sister.

I did not want to leave them behind, but I wanted to live to see another day.

We turned the corner and the worst happened, a pile of cars blocked the street. I could climb it and escape, the androids on the other hand… I prefer not to think about it.

I looked at the android and she understood. I could run away, but they would stay behind. Soon, the machines caught up to us and I looked between the machines, the pile of cars, and the androids.

"No! No! You cannot leave us here! At least take my sister and leave me here, I'm begging you!" The android screamed despaired.

I took a deep breath. Why do I always get into this kind of situation? I put my hand in my pocket and felt the handle of the Thunder Knife.

"Girl, take your sister and run, I'll buy you time." I drew my knife and readied myself.

Well, that is it. It seems like I finally met my end after years of surviving in this beautiful world. It was a good life.

It surprises me that I did not die sooner. I got in all kinds of fights, participated in various resistance groups around the world, and fought on the front lines. It was an exciting life.

"It can't end like this, not now that we've come this far!" The android screamed.

I cannot say exactly what happened, a staff appeared in the android's hand in a red flash with a movement of her wrist. Then a small red beam came out of the staff. This beam was thin as a hair and shot towards the group of machines.

Nothing happened for one second, then…

BOOM!

A massive red explosion destroyed all the machines, leaving a scorching crater behind.

I am sure my mouth touched the ground right now, but worry took over my mind when the android fell to the ground. Well, she saved my life; it is time to return the favor.

Looking better at the two androids, their models seemed familiar. Model Devola and Model Popola, I never thought I would see someone like the twins again.

What came next was a journey to find someone willing to fix the twins, while I dragged them by their feet. As if, I am going to lift two hundred kilograms of android. An android alone weighs over one hundred kilograms.

Unfortunately, other androids still do not like or straight-up hate the twins, for some reason. It has happened more than once where an android said he or she would fix them and tried to kill the twins.

However, I stopped them, nothing that a Thunder Knife to the back of the neck does not fix. I did not kill the androids; I just used enough charge to knock them unconscious… I think…

I had to fix them myself in the end. The good old Doctor Frankenstein of The Army of Humanity taught me well how an android works, and how to fix them in every way, shape, or form. I think I could build my android if I wanted.

Fixing an android was like fixing a car, and I just needed the right parts and tools. Therefore, I spend months doing missions for different androids and buying materials with the money.

I left Devola and Popola in the basement of a house that I found, a brick house with two floors, a front porch, and painted yellow. The repairs ended with the junction of a wire, now I need to wait for them to wake up.

Know what? I am tired! I will check them both tomorrow. I entered a dusty room on the second floor, lay on the moldy bed, and slept, but I had the same dream again.

I was in a flower field with a girl with a flower in her eye staring at me as five other girls stood behind her, but they never did anything. They had a faraway look on their faces while the girl with the flower in her eye approached me, opening her mouth to say something.

However, I woke up before she said what she wanted. It was always like that, I always woke up before she said anything.

"Mister, wake up." A soft female voice spoke.

Was someone calling me?

"Please wake up." A polite female voice spoke this time.

Was it a different voice? Were two people here with me? I opened my eyes and came face to face with the twins, falling out of bed in fright right after.

"Mister, are you okay?" Popola asked worriedly.

"Did you get hurt?" Devola asked in the same tone.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. But how do you two feel?" I asked, getting up while rubbing my sore head.

The twins looked at each other and bowed.

"Thank you for saving my sister!" Popola spoke happily.

"And thank you for repairing both of us!" Devola said right after.

I jumped back surprised; I did not expect this kind of reaction. In addition, were they crying? Damn it! I feel even worse now.

"I did not do much; your sister asked for help and even saved me. I just returned the favor since it was the right thing to do." I smiled at them. Really, 'it was the right thing to do'? Did not you have anything less generic to say?

I went toward the crumbling bedside table, took out a handkerchief, and handed it to both of them.

"My name is Alan by the way. What's your name?" I know their names, but basic courtesy does not hurt. Therefore, they wiped away their tears and introduced themselves.

"My name is Devola." The wavy-haired one spoke.

"And my name is Popola." The straight-haired one spoke too.

"It is nice to meet you, Alan" The two spoke simultaneously.

This is how I met the twins; they are the only androids who know that I am human. The two talked about how Project Gestalt was successful and how Nier and Shadow Lord must have merged when they received this information

I have no idea what they are talking about. Soon they asked their questions, so I explained everything, about the aliens, the machines, the war, and the surviving humans living on the moon.

They did not believe it at first, but their opinion changed after I showed the City Ruins and the machines running around. Then they asked the final question. Why was not I on the moon? I told the truth, that I woke up in a city in the Kingdom of the Night.

They both swore to protect me after knowing this, but I refused. I appreciate the concern, but I would rather not be watched everywhere I go.

Hell, they just let me record my show after I promised not to get in trouble! I hope they do not find out about Kokio's rescue.

-XXXXXX-

"Hi Devola, hi Popola! How was your day?" I spoke, getting up from the couch and greeting the twins. I hope they do not know what happened today.

"No big deal, we just walked around town." Popola spoke, but I felt she hid something.

"How was your day?" Devola asked me, smiling sweetly.

They were suspicious of something. Does she know?

"I just recorded my show and walked around town. There is nothing to worry about." Seriously, I failed miserably in not looking suspicious!

"Are you sure?" Devola teased, approaching me.

"Yes." I replied, avoiding her gaze while stepping back.

"Really?" Popola asked, approaching too and stopping beside her sister.

"Yes!" I sweat nervously.

Please do not notice! Suddenly, my stomach rumbled before they could ask anything, saving me from this situation.

RONC!

I blushed, looking down in embarrassment while the twins laughed at my suffering; I had not eaten anything for a long time.

"Come, have a seat, let's eat together." Popola suggested, pointing to the kitchen table.

"I'll get the drinks!" Devola exclaimed, running towards the closet in the living room.

Devola is kind of an alcoholic; she constantly searches for booze, stealing some of my hard-earned money to buy more from android merchants. Popola does not approve of it, but still joins her sister for drinks from time to time.

The way they act when drunk is even worse. Popola gets angry easily and starts punching the walls, almost bringing the house down. Meanwhile, a drunken Devola flirts with me and always throws up on me.

Sometimes I wonder what my life has become.

I sat in a chair at the kitchen table and waited. I wonder what surprise they have for me. Then a wonderful smell attacked my nose, it was the smell of roast beef.

When was the last time I ate this? I thought as my mouth watered.

"Here it is, roasted boar meat." Popola put the plate in front of me with several thick slices of meat.

Then, Devola appeared with three mugs and several bottles of Vodka. Where the hell did she get those? She put a mug for each one of us and filled them.

"Dev, I don't know if this is a good idea, all this drinking isn't healthy." Popola said hesitantly.

Thanks, Popola!

"Come on Pop, just one glass won't hurt. When was the last time we drank together?" Devola replied, waving her mug in front of her sister's face.

Do not accept it Popola; do not accept it!

"You're right; I suppose it doesn't hurt." Popola shrugged

Popola no! I thought as she picked up her mug, and drank all in one go.

"That's the spirit!" Devola yelled, grabbing her mug and drinking all too.

I believe this would be a good time to say that androids can drink lethal amounts of alcohol, for me, of course. I just ate my food and prepared myself for what was in store.

-A few minutes later -

"*HIC* S-sometimes I w-wonder what you do w-while going out to town, you know? *HIC* W-were you seeing other a-androids? Y-you were with a bunch of b-bitches while I am here alone, w-were you not? *HIC*" Devola rambled drunk.

She placed her chair next to mine and talked with her face inches from my own. Her alcohol breath hit my nose as she rested her right hand on my left shoulder, pulling me closer.

"*HIC* B-be honest with m-me, you w-were with S-sara, were you not? *HIC* That b-bitch! Blonde hair, blue eyes, and f-fair skin, w-what does she have t-that I do not? T-tell m-me! *HIC*"

Tell me, you drunkard, who the hell is Sara?!?

"*HIC* O-or it was not S-sara? Was it M-maria, J-jackye, or J-jane? W-which one? T-tell me! *HIC*"

I have no idea who these people are!

Suddenly, Devola shook her mug and poured Vodka all over my face with a flick of her hand. For God's sake, someone gets me out of here!

"*HIC* T-tell me, am I the p-problem? I can c-change my h-hairstyle and c-clothing. Alternatively, is it my p-personality? *HIC*" Devola shook the mug again and more Vodka splashed in my face.

I wonder what face I am making right now. I am probably staring annoyed at the wall in front of me, regretting my life choices.

"*HIC* I c-can't go on l-like this! W-what will b-become of our m-marriage? T-think about our c-children! *HIC*"

More Vodka flew in my face. Devola, we are not a couple, let alone married! Moreover, what do you mean by children?!? Androids cannot have children, where are you seeing them?!?

"*HIC* Think about M-mary, I cannot pay for her college alone! Moreover, little T-timmy, how am I going to p-pay for his s-surgery?!? *HIC* Think of A-alan Jr. He is just a b-baby! Is he going to g-grow up without a f-father? *HIC*"

Am I living in a Mexican soap opera or a bland sitcom?!? Seriously, where are the cameras?!? Where are the audience's laughter and credits?!? Unfortunately, I got another shower of booze on my face

"*HIC* K-know w-what? I am tired! I w-want a d-divorce! I will keep the c-children and the d-dog! *HIC*"

The children do not exist and dogs are extinct, good luck finding them both.

"*HIC* N-no, I c-can't do that! I s-still l-love you! Come here; give me an h-hug! *HIC*"

Great, now she is crying on my shoulder while hugging me, and I felt the Vodka pouring down my back! Married life is hard, especially when you are not married and the children do not exist!

Where was Popola in the midst of this drama?

Looking out the window, I saw Popola rip a tree off the ground and use it as a bat, trying to hit the poor machines outside.

CRASH!

A Stubby machine flew thrown the kitchen window and looked at me in panic with its green eyes.

"Exit is right over there." I said, pointing to the backyard door. The Stubby did not think twice before running for his life.

It cannot get any worse, can it?

"BLERGH!"

I thought as Devola's vomit trickled down my back.

-XXXXXX-

Devola and Popola slept on the couch after all the mess they did. I would not trade this life for anything in the world despite everything I have to go through with these two. 

I quickly changed my clothes and went to one room on the second floor of the house with POD beside me. I transformed this room into a fancy office since MASO has preserved a good part of the human constructions, including the expensive and fancy furniture.

I would see a table, chair, or bookcase that I liked while walking across the city and take it home. I just thought it would be a shame to leave such beautiful furniture lying around. It is not theft if no one is using it.

I would like to say that I put all the furniture here with my strength, but I would be lying. Devola and Popola used their absurd strength to bring the furniture over here every time I found something I liked. It was a severe blow to my masculine pride.

The office had a solid and ornate wood table in the center, with two drawers on both sides and a decorated wooden chair, almost like a king's throne, right behind it.

A full bookcase stood on the right side of the room, while a drawer with some trinkets on top of it stood on the left side.

Some of the trinkets were a revolver in a holder with an ammo box next to it, I have not used this weapon since the mission in Alaska, an album, a flower-shaped medal, and a conductor's baton from the mission in Russia.

A frame with a photo stood at the corner, showing Anemone, Commander Rose, and me, those were good times. Then, I sat in the chair with POD in front of me.

"Alright POD, let's start recording! 3, 2, 1, NOW!" A red light shone on top of the POD and the show began.

"Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the second episode of our little show! My name is Alan, your humble presenter, for those who do not know me yet. Today I bring you an episode about history, not just any history, music history!"

Honestly, I only got the idea for this episode after the presentation I did at the resistance camp.

"Let's start with a question. What is music? A difficult question, no? If you open a dictionary and look up the word music, the definition would be 'A harmonious and expressive combination of sounds', but this explanation is too dull. Music is part of human culture and used as a form of expression."

"Throughout history, there was not a single human civilization that did not have some form of music, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Japanese, and several others. They all expressed themselves through music. A little trivia for you viewers, the word music comes from the Greek musiké téchne, the art of the muses. It is interesting, don't you think?"

"You know, music was not always used as an art. Humans also used it as a war tool throughout history, war horns announced the beginning of the attack, and soldiers marched, lined up, and fired their muskets to the beat of drums."

"The choirs sang religious songs in churches, some of them built with the acoustics planned. The sound echoed throughout the place so that everyone present could hear it. Of course, music is also used in different ways, as a form of education, festivities or funerals."

I got up, walked toward the bookshelf, and picked up some books and magazines. Then I laid them open on the table and faced the POD.

"The difference between music genres can be very tenuous, so let's talk about some of the most well-known." I pointed to the magazine on my left, showing a full-page picture of a rock show.

"If I remember correctly, Rock emerged after the year 1950 in the United States, suffering mainly negative criticism from religious groups at the time. They said that Rock was the devil's thing. Who knows what went through their heads?"

"But even with so, Rock grew and united different social groups, also creating one of the greatest instruments of all time, in my opinion, the electric guitar! You know, I used to have an electric guitar. I found it in an abandoned music store."

"It was a bright red Fender guitar. Impressively, it was in perfect condition! However, my joy was short-lived because two days later I broke the guitar on the head of a machine that attacked me. I will never forget your guitar."

Now I feel like crying. It was an amazing guitar. At least the resistance in New York liked my show. I believe I have a poster they made of me here, somewhere.

"Then what became known as The Golden Age of Rock, ranging from 1960 to 1970, appeared, mainly in Great Britain. One of my favorite bands that sang during this period was The Beatles, with some of their song being Yellow Submarine, Helter Skelter, and Hey Jude. This band also brought up one of the biggest conspiracy theories."

I looked directly at POD and said three words "Paul is dead." I doubt anyone understands what I mean.

"One of the greatest rock bands of all time emerged in London, the Rolling Stones, who with The Beatles were part of the so-called British Invasion, when Rock and Pop artists became popular in the United States."

"Some of my favorite Rolling Stones songs are Paint it Black, Sympathy for the Devil, Doom, and Gloom, and Satisfaction. Oh, look at me, rambling again! We are not leaving here today if I am going to cite the various rock bands, their genres, and subgenres."

"If you have, any more questions send them to my POD. Now let's go back a little in history!" I pointed to the book on the table, revealing the image of an orchestra performing in a theater.

"Here we have an orchestra playing so-called classical music, that started in the ninth century, and continued to the present time, I think. I do not know if humans on the moon listen to classical music, but I have been to an orchestra performance before, I think they played Bach."

"The orchestras are composed of several musicians being conducted by the conductor." I explained, picking up the conductor's baton on top of the drawer.

"This is a baton; the conductor used it to conduct the orchestra, signaling which instruments should be played while trying to synchronize them as much as possible. Violins, cellos, flutes, trumpets, tubas, and many more were used to create a harmonious sound." I said swing the baton and my right hand as if I conducted an orchestra.

"Music generates different emotions for the listener. Tell me, you who watch us. What do you feel when you hear a song? Peace? Joy? Sadness? However, classical music is not just composed of orchestras; some of my favorites were played on pianos, like Moonlight Sonata and Hungarian Rhapsody."

"Unfortunately, I do not have a piano here; otherwise, I would play it for you. Let me know if you find a working piano."

"Quick question! Have you ever seen a baroque opera house? I have, once. They are true works of art! A curiosity, the audience is silent when you watch a performance in a theater, but it was a mess in the past."

"The audience dined and argued, only stopping when the big performance of the night started. The ones I like the most are The Devil's Sonata, followed by Carmina Burana, more specifically Ó Fortuna." I stopped conducting my imaginary orchestra and put the baton in place.

"In short, music has been present in human culture since they lived in caves. Ancient civilizations developed their music style, whether to express themselves or for a religious purpose. In the 9th century, classical music emerged with great orchestras and opera houses, and in 1950, Rock appeared with several bands and different genres."

"I know this is a big time skip, but we wouldn't leave here today if I explained everything in detail. I hope you enjoyed today's episode! Send your questions to POD and until the next episode!" Then I signaled for the POD to end the recording.

"So POD what do you think of today's episode?" I asked, surprised that the POD did not make any funny comments.

"I found it interesting. The music class was educational and I suggest the title 'A Musical History.'" The POD spoke happily, lifting a suggesting finger.

Wait, did POD 000 just speak articulately? In addition, its voice sounded strange, like two people talking at the same time.

"POD are you fine?" I asked, raising a questioning eyebrow.

"Claim: T-thiss uniteeeee i-is in perfect condition, a-administrator Alan." The POD replied, quickly changing to its normal behavior.

Now it is malfunctioning again. I thought, half-closing my eyes in suspicion. I think it is better to take it to the resistance camp for repairs.

-UNKNOWN-

1?: We need to be more careful. He almost discovered us.

2?: I agree, but I could not resist. I enjoyed the class.

1?: Just pay more attention next time.

2?: Fine, I promise.

-XXXXXX-

I will finally be able to sleep. Today has been a hard day. I closed the blinds on the window, closed the door, and tried to make my room as dark as possible. The permanent day and night ruined my sleep schedule.

"Good night POD." I said to the POD resting on my bedside table.

"Claim: G-good night A-administratoooooor Alan." The POD replied, before turning off its lights.

END OF CHAPTER