Interval 5 PART 3 - Rest

We returned to the camp, searching for Anemone after the desert's events. She needs to know what happened as leader of the resistance. The twins changed into their disguises and we entered the camp, receiving surprised and curious looks from the locals.

I agree that our group attracted attention, but we ignored them and found Anemone, stopping only upon seeing two Yorha androids talking to her with their backs and floating PODs against us.

11B's eyes widened and I tapped her shoulder, catching her attention and pointing to a nearby alley. She nodded and hid while I waved to my PODs to follow me.

We heard snippets of conversation as we approached.

"...Desert... Strange machine..." The male android spoke.

"PODs... Owned by Yorha... Unknown android..." The female android said.

"Anemone, is there a problem?" I asked innocently, making the three androids look at me.

"Hello, Alan!" Anemone waved while smiling.

"Greetings... Wait, you are the desert's android!" The male android pointed at me surprised.

"More importantly, what are you doing with Yorha's property? Return them immediately." The female android demanded emotionlessly, advancing with firmness behind her steps.

I raised both hands in surrender and stepped back, seeing Devola and Popola ready to act from my eye's corner. Better defuse this bomb before they blow up half the camp.

"Calm down, calm down, I think we got off to a bad start. How about I introduce myself first? My name is Alan, and you?" I smiled, offering a friendly handshake.

I think the android just stared into my eyes. According to A2, the bands on Yorha's android faces are visors, so they can see their surroundings perfectly.

Fortunately, the male android broke the tense atmosphere, accepting the handshake while laughing nervously and shaking my hand quickly, asking incessant questions.

"It is nice to meet you, sir! My name is 9S, and you?! Oh, excuse me, you already introduced yourself! I am a big fan of your show! Do you mind if I ask you some questions? No? Excellent! What Android model are you? How old are you? What are your capabilities? How do you know the things you know? What is the Kingdom of the Night like? How are other countries in the world? Don't you have problems traveling with the machines wandering around?"

"9S!" The female android exclaimed.

"Sorry 2B, I was excited to meet him! There are so many things I would like to ask!"

Therefore, her name is 2B. The band covered part of her face, but I noticed a certain resemblance to A2. Is she a new model based on her? Her personality is completely different, but at least 9S is friendlier.

"How about we do this later? You guys are in the middle of something important right now." I replied.

"We're talking about the desert's strange machines. You were there too, though, I don't see the androids that accompanied you."

"Don't worry, they're fine. Moreover, what do you mean by machines? Like more than one?"

"Oh! You did not stay until the end, the first machine created a second machine similar to itself. Unfortunately, both escaped. Why would such strange machines suddenly appear?"

"No idea, but I would like to know too. It wouldn't be the first time I've encountered a strange machine."

"Seriously, could you tell me more?"

"Of course I can, but could you do one thing for me?"

"What?"

"Could you release my hand?" You have not stopped shaking my hand since the moment we started."

"Oh, pardon me!" He stopped shaking my hand but still held it.

"9S." 2B spoke impatiently, making her friend release me. "Could you explain why you possess two PODs now that you've become familiar with each other?"

"Hey, it's not my fault that Yorha's androids leave their PODs around. I found POD 000 damaged in an abandoned building and 001 submerged in a river." I lied since 11B was a deserter. Who knows what they would do?

"If what you say is true, then why didn't you contact the resistance to have them contact Yorha, or use the PODs to contact Yorha directly?"

Well, she is inquisitive and focused on duty, and probably follows rules and protocols to the letter.

Nothing new, I knew several androids in the Army of Humanity who acted the same way until they realized the rule book did not help against machines that felt no fear or pain.

"Listen, why don't you talk to Commander White if you're so upset about this? I think she would have contacted me a long time ago or sent someone to take them if she didn't want me to keep the PODs."

"He's right 2B, Commander White already knows about the recordings, as does most of the BUNKER. It is the Operators' favorite pastime in their interval." 9S interrupted our talk.

"How did I not know about this?"

"I tried to talk to you, but you said to focus on the mission." 9S shrugged.

"Hm…" 2B kicked a random rock.

"COUGH!" Anemone caught our attention upon clearing her throat. "I think we're getting off-topic, aren't we? To summarize, you two investigated the desert's strange machines, who tried to imitate human reproduction, creating a new machine. You two fought it and it created another of itself, the place collapsed and the machines fled, right?"

"Yes/Affirmative." 9S and 2B spoke simultaneously.

"And according to 9S, Alan was there before you two?" Anemone pointed at me while I looked away, sweating and laughing nervously.

"Well, POD 001 malfunctioned and one of the machines took it. We chased it to the strange machine's location. I tried to solve things peacefully until they arrived."

"It was a machine; it could have attacked at any moment." 2B replied.

"It was a newborn machine, confused and without idea of how the world works. You are young and still have much to learn, so word of advice, not everything is what it seems." I moved away, letting 2B and 9S pass.

"I admit this was unusual, there's still a lot we don't know about what's happening. Hope to see you again sir." 9S waved goodbye.

"Hm… Be careful." 2B muttered after analyzing me intensely.

"No problem, I know how to care for myself. By the way, no bad feelings about what happened, right?"

"We have different opinions, but enmity between is undesirable. We will see each other again later." 2B walked away while 9S looked between her and me.

"Congratulations, she liked you!" He gave me a thumbs-up.

"Seriously? Your girlfriend seems annoyed with me." I joked, pointing at her.

"Hey! 2B is not..." He turned bright red but 2B interrupted him.

"9S!"

"Yes ma'am!" He ran after her.

I noticed that his POD stared at me, but POD 001 placed itself between us. Suddenly, 9S's POD flew back, as if it punched, swaying aside and giving us one last look before returning to its partner.

"POD, is there a problem?"

"Negative."

Then, both Yorha's androids and their PODs disappeared through the camp's streets, making us release a sigh we did not know we held.

"Yorha androids make me nervous." I broke the silence.

"It must be because they are made with the latest technology and can kill us faster than we can draw a gun." Anemone wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"I would like to see them try." Damiana said irritably.

"Please, don't cause more problems for us." Perla reprimanded her sister.

"I don't like their attitude; the boy was nice but that girl..."

"Trust me, those two are the least troublesome, you can't imagine how many Yorha's androids cause trouble around here thinking they can do whatever they want because they are more advanced." Anemone walked toward her command tent.

"HAHAHA! It brings back memories of when I dealt with rebellious recruits. Nothing a few hundred laps around the base can't fix."

"Hump! I wish White would come down here and see what her men do when she is not around. How about leading her troops on the front lines? It would do wonders to her attitude." She joked and we stared at each other before laughing. "HAHAHA! I see the years have not ruined your sense of humor. But seriously, what the hell were you doing in the desert?" She read some documents handed to her by an android.

"Before we start, have you met Perla and Damiana yet?" I pointed to the two who accompanied me.

"Aren't they the ones who dragged you out of camp by the ear?"

"Not my finest moment." I blushed embarrassed.

"Hey there." Damiana waved.

"It is nice to meet you." Perla said politely.

"Are they gone?" 11B asked nervously upon entering the tent.

Anemone narrowed her eyes upon seeing her, focusing on the sword strapped to her back.

"You're a Yorha android, aren't you?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"She is in a similar condition to A2." I said, making her gaze soften and sigh tiredly.

"The clothes you wear help, but the hair color and the sword give away your identity. I recommend dyeing your hair, hiding the sword somehow, and changing your name."

"Thanks, by the way, I'm…" 11B didn't finish since Anemone held up her hand, interrupting her.

"The less I know the better. Fewer problems and fewer questions I have to answer if something happens. Tell me your name when you choose something new."

Nodding, 11B leaned against a tent's corner, crossing her arms and watching the androids come and go.

"Let's get serious now, what the hell happened in the desert?" Anemone slammed both hands on her table.

"Everything looked normal, I delivered the parts to Jackass as you asked, and recorded my program while she worked; just ask any android that watches me."

"What about the girls with you? According to the Yorhas, there were twin androids and a strangely dressed one accompanying you."

"It was Perla and Damiana, I know they look alike, but not to the point of being twins. And the strangely dressed android, well…" I pointed at 11B who nodded in confirmation.

"I found it strange when 2B and 9S mentioned the twins; after all, they were with me when things happened. But, the android-like machine deserves more attention."

"I can confirm that there was nothing unusual for a while until that crazy android blew up the gate." Damiana spoke.

"Jackass did what?!"

"Damiana is right; I was beside Jackass when it happened, she armed the bomb and ran away." Perla said.

"We gathered next to Jackass' tent, waiting for Perla to finish negotiating with her until POD 001 malfunctioned." I pointed to the POD in question.

"What kind of malfunction?"

"It thrashed, smoked, and sparked, then fell to the ground motionless. One of the desert machines crawled from under the sand, grabbed it, and ran through the destroyed gate."

"This is very convenient." Damiana spoke.

"It was planned; someone wanted us to follow the machine, but who?" Perla said right after.

"You're both right, that's very convenient. Was the POD hacked?"

"POD?" I asked 001.

"Claim: Negative, the form of attack was unknown."

"Are you damaged in any way?"

"Claim: Negative, all systems running at peak efficiency." Then the POD went silent again. There is something wrong here.

"Continuing, we followed the machine through the desert until we reached a big hole in a set of ruins. Surprisingly, not a single machine attacked us."

"We found several machines trying to imitate human reproduction." Perla said.

"The machines screamed and ran all over the place shortly after we arrived before merging into a cocoon. The android-like machine came from it and Alan did one of the stupidest things I saw him do." Damiana spoke.

"What did he do this time?" Anemone asked irritably.

"He tried to talk to the machine." 11B spoke.

"He did what?!?"

I flinched at Anemone's exclamation; 11B had to open her mouth.

"Of all the things you could do, you tried to talk to an unknown machine?!"

"Anemone, you know very well that rational machines exist!"

"I know, however, we spent months watching and studying them to know if they were safe to trust! You did it the moment you found the new machine!"

"And how could I not?! It was an android-like machine, something completely new!"

"Do I need to tell you all the reasons why this was a bad idea?!" Anemone crossed her arms and glared at me while I looked away ashamed.

"Listen, I'm sorry, okay? I don't know what went through my head, but it was something so new, this war has been happening for so long, I was surprised to see something so different."

Anemone put a hand on my shoulder and looked me in the eyes.

"Please be careful, I don't want to lose you after seeing my friends and comrades die."

Damn it! Congratulations Alan, you made Anemone sad, and now I feel bad!

"Anemone, I know we've had this talk many times, and many times I've put myself in danger anyway. However, it is not my intention to make you worried, things happen and sometimes I find myself in the middle of them. I wish I had a better explanation, but that's all I have to say." I held her hand.

"I get it; the worst part is I know how true this is. How many times have we been blindsided by new types of machines?" She smiled sadly.

"More than I would like." I returned the smile.

We stayed like that for a few seconds. I felt her grip on my shoulder tightening, so we approached and...

"COUGH! COUGH!" Someone coughing surprised us.

Looking towards its source, we saw Perla and Damiana staring at us.

"What will we do now that the situation has been explained?" Damiana asked while we turned away from each other in embarrassment.

"We know little about this new machine, we don't know what its goals are and where it went. I will increase the patrols around the city and the security of the camp. Maybe talk to White, but other than that, I can't do much."

"I figured, we are in the same situation too, we can only wait." Perla said.

"And prepare ourselves, starting with equipping this inconsequential idiot." Damiana pushed and glared at me, showing that I could not do anything about it.

"I will see what I can do." Anemone scratched her chin.

-XXXXXX-

"How do I look?" I asked everyone.

"Claim: Administrator Alan looks like the military man he claims to have been." POD 000 said.

"Claim: Administrator Alan looks ready to roam the city and beyond. Something he should have done a long time ago." POD 001 said.

"Let's see if I have to worry less about you now." Damiana said.

"A welcome change of style, better than the rags you normally wear." Perla spoke while 11B gave me a thumbs up and nodded.

I wore black boots, brown pants, a beige long-sleeved shirt, black gloves that came down to my wrists, and a bulletproof vest over the shirt full of ammo holders.

There was also a sheath for my Thunder Knife, knee pads, elbow pads, and a belt with a holster for my pistol. To top it off, I wore a long cloak with a camouflage pattern and a hood.

Only the guns remained, Anemone had asked an android to bring them, placing them disassembled on top of a table.

"Do you still remember how to assemble it?" She teased me.

"I hammered into that head of yours how to assemble a gun until you and the others could do it in your sleep."

"It reminds me of the hellish training you put us through. Who taught you that?"

"My wife."

"Oh! Right... Wait, are you married?!" Anemone said surprised.

"I was… She is no longer here…" I frowned.

"I am sorry about that." She said sadly.

"Thanks." I nodded, smiling back.

Now let us see what we have here, a standard AK-47 and a USP.45.

Hm… I would like a shotgun too, but I think that would be asking too much. Well, let us get started, I cracked my knuckles, took a quick look at the pieces, and started my work.

You know, it's such a strange thing, I never imagined myself holding a gun when I think about my past life, and now here I am, assembling one like it's something natural.

I think it is because it became natural. SHADES and machines, it was necessary to stay armed at all times otherwise, I would die. Then came the time when I had to teach other androids how to use guns.

The first generation had to learn in practice, but with the battle data acquired, the new generations already left the factory knowing how to shoot and with combat strategies loaded in their systems.

However, nothing beats experience. How many times did I have to point out that the rule book should not be followed to the letter?

Guns are dangerous after all; one slip of your finger, one moment of anger and someone would die... I think I am done, I scoped the AK and slung it over my shoulder while Anemone whistled surprised.

"You haven't lost your touch." She clapped her hands.

"And you doubted me?" I holstered the pistol.

"I admit that a little."

"Give me a revolver and I'll show you some cool tricks."

Looking aside, I saw 11B staring amazed, but the twins looked worried.

"Are you ok?" Perla asked.

"Yes, why?"

"You did not look away once while assembling the gun." Damiana spoke.

"Practice." I shrugged.

"It wasn't just practice…" She whispered.

"I think that's it. Thanks for the equipment Anemone. I will contact you if I discover something new about the machines. It was good to see you again."

"Equally."

We approached each other and hugged, staying like that for some time, but I noticed that Anemone would not release me.

"Anemone, can you release me?"

"No." She talked on my chest, but we did not stay together any longer as Perla and Damiana pulled us apart.

"Until next time Anemone!" I waved and she waved back.

I noticed Perla and Damiana staring at me as we left the command tent towards the camp's busy streets.

"What?"

"Why don't you two just kiss already?" Damiana said irritably.

"What?! I don't know what you're talking about!" I felt my face heat up.

"You can deny it all you want, but it's obvious." Perla spoke.

"11B, help me here."

"Sometimes 16D and I spend a lot of time cuddling." She said embarrassed.

Way to go, Alan, ask the passionate android!

I quickly walked away, preferring not to further dig my own grave, until we encountered a group of familiar androids.

Salieri, Kokio, Florence... And, Cosmos... The androids were around a metal barrel with a fire burning inside. Salieri roasted a fish skewered on a stick while some liquor bottles stood around them.

They must be on break.

The androids waved upon seeing me, except for Cosmos, who grimaced. I returned it with my own, irritating her even more. She was about to get up until Salieri stood between her and me.

"Hey Alan, I dare you to eat that fish!" He offered me the skewered fish.

Shrugging, I took the stick from his hand and bit the overcooked fish while glancing at the androids, who gave me a surprised and scared look.

"HE ATE THE FISH!" Salieri pointed at me.

"SPIT IT NOW!" Florence exclaimed.

"AAAHHH!" Kokio screamed.

"YES! YES! YES!" Cosmos rooted.

Fuck you Cosmos! Know what? I will do it myself.

A bucket full of freshly caught fish stood beside the barrel. I passed the still-screaming androids and grabbed one.

"Hey Cosmos!"

"What?"

SPLAT!

I threw the dead animal at her, hitting her face. Nothing happened for a few seconds, probably processing the situation until she realized that an animal that could kill her was in her face.

"AAAHHH!"

She fell from the wooden box while I picked another fish and placed it in front of her face.

"Come on Cosmos, what is the problem? It's just a fish, it's not like you will die from eating it."

"Stay away from me you lunatic!" She got up quickly and ran away, but I pursued her, circling the group of androids that watched us surprised.

-XXXXXX-

"Are they always like this?" Damiana asked Florence.

"You can't even imagine." The medical android answered.

"It's not that bad! Cosmos is just hard to deal with!" Kokio tried to defend her friend.

"Kokio, Cosmos is hard with everyone but you." Salieri spoke, making her cringe for it was true.

"Shouldn't we take Alan for repairs? He ate the fish!" 11B exclaimed.

"Believe me, he's had worse." Perla spoke.

Then Perla, Damiana, 11B, and the PODs talked to the other androids while Alan chased Cosmos.

"So, are you friends with Alan?" Kokio asked.

"You could say so, more like a family at that point." Perla replied.

"Seriously, how long have you known each other?"

"A few years." Damiana answered.

"You two are alike. The same model perhaps?" Florence asked.

"Not exactly, similar models, but modified for different tasks. I'm more heavy-duty whereas my sister is support-oriented." Damiana replied.

"Sisters, you two are sisters?"

"Yes, we left the factory at the same time, I think our resemblance helped." Perla said.

"Well, you are the second pair of sisters in this camp." Salieri spoke.

"Are you talking about the twins? I think I saw them a few times around camp." Damiana spoke.

"Yes."

"We noticed that other androids don't treat them well, is there a reason for that?" Perla asked.

"No one knows. All androids are programmed with this dislike for them. Something bad happened in the past and it was their fault." Salieri replied while Perla and Damiana exchanged a look, knowing what he meant.

"That is unfair, it must have been others of the same model and they still get all the blame." Perla spoke.

"Unfortunately, I can't do anything about it, or someone changes the programming of all the androids in the world to stop hating the twins, or someone explains what happened. Honestly, I don't like it, I'm programmed to hate someone without knowing why, I feel like my judgment has been altered, that my opinion on the subject is not my true opinion."

This frustrated Perla, but Damiana put a calming hand on her shoulder.

"I think we will visit them later."

"Good luck with that; they don't like strangers that much."

-XXXXXX-

Meanwhile, Florence, Kokio, and 11B talked to each other.

"Oh! Are you new here?" Kokio asked 11B.

"Yes, I entered camp a few times, but I don't think I ever spoke to you."

"So let's introduce ourselves, I'm Kokio and this is Florence."

"Hello, what's your name?"

"Hello, I am…" Taking a deep breath and calming down, 11B chose a name and revealed it to the androids since the less they knew about her the better. "My name is Camellia."

"It is nice to meet you, Camellia!" Kokio smiled.

"Welcome to the camp!" Florence answered.

"Thanks! Honestly, I was surprised to see how big this place is."

"We can show you around the camp, would you like to come with us?"

"I don't want to bother you."

"You won't bother us, come on, it will be fun." Florence insisted.

Camellia hesitated, not wanting to stray too far from her group, but Kokio and Florence tugged her by each arm.

The sisters nodded in return to her distressed gaze, saying that everything would be fine, so she escaped from the two androids' grip and gave each of them a friendly smile.

"Do you two know a place where I can buy hair dye?"

"I know a place, you're not the first to look for this, other androids like to change their appearance and…" Kokio led Camellia to the store, surprising her by how much she talked while Florence smiled amusedly.

"You will get used to it. She likes to make new friends."

"I can see that." Camellia smiled back, her group disappearing into the crowd

-XXXXXX-.

"Hey Salieri, can you tell me where we can find the twins?" Perla asked.

"Hm… If I remember correctly, they have a shop where they do general equipment repairs if they haven't gone out on a mission."

"Do they do missions often?" Damiana asked.

"Yes, the worst types, even if they're not combat androids. When they return… I'm not a medical android, but as a mechanic, let's just say it wasn't pretty…"

Without another word, Perla and Damiana stood up, searching for the twins.

"See you later!" Salieri bid farewell, only to flinch at the quick wave in response.

"I should have been more careful."

-XXXXXX-

Only Cosmos, Alan, and the PODs remained, with him still chasing Cosmos.

"Stay away from me!"

"Come on, it's just a fish!"

"Help, he wants to kill me!"

"Not so funny now, is it?"

Eventually, she escaped, an android's stamina being greater than that of a human, pushing other androids away, not realizing that Alan stayed behind.

Catching his breath, he laughed at Cosmos running away and looking at Salieri, he saw that the android tried to hold back his laugh.

"She will kill you when she returns." Salieri spoke between laughs.

"It would not be the first time." Alan shrugged.

"Want a drink?" Salieri offered a bottle, but Alan looked at it disgusted.

"No, thanks, but I'll have more fish if you don't mind." He sat down on a wooden box beside Salieri, who kicked the bucket towards him.

"I still can't believe you can eat that stuff without dying."

"I'm an old android; my parts don't have the same sensitivity as androids do today." Alan skewered a fish on a stick and roasted it over the fire.

"Seriously?"

"Yes, my insides are more like a metal skeleton full of wires and circuits."

"Wow, what year was you manufactured?" Salieri sipped his booze.

"Year four thousand one hundred and ninety."

"PPPSSSHHH!" The android spat out his drink upon hearing that and stared startled and frightened at Alan.

"What?"

"You are old as fuck!" He pointed a shaky finger at his friend, who threw a fish at him, but he dodged it.

"I am old, but that has done nothing to diminish my abilities."

"How the hell are you still alive and functioning?!"

"Androids were made with steel and titanium in my day. We could take punches from giant machines and still fight. Not like today's androids that need constant maintenance."

Salieri fixed Alan with a bored look.

"Ok, boomer."

Alan stopped and stared into the air, opening and closing his mouth repeatedly, then pointed a finger at Salieri but did not say anything. His gaze strayed upwards as he thought, then he grabbed his head and looked at the ground.

"My god, I'm a boomer!"

"The first step is acceptance." Salieri joked while Alan threw another fish at him, but he dodged again. "So, how do you do it?"

"How I do what?"

"How do you manage to be surrounded by those pretty babes? The sisters, the girl in the black jacket, and Anemone. Tell me your secret!"

"Why do you think I have any secrets?"

"They say wisdom comes with age and considering how old you are, you must have discovered some technique for getting girls."

"Bullshit, but if you're so interested in getting someone, why don't you try going out with Florence?"

"Florence? PSH! No! She and I are just friends; she does not want to date someone like me."

"All couples started as friends. In addition, what do you mean by someone like you? What is so wrong with you that Florence doesn't want to go out with you?"

"I'm just a mechanic, while Florence is a medical android; she spends the day saving lives while I'm locked in the garage changing engine oil."

"You should try it, I was nobody before I met my special someone. She was better than me at everything, but she still loved me, and I loved her back."

"Do you think I have a chance?"

"Sure, but you should shower and get ready first. Plan the date but do not plan too much, be polite but do not overdo it, Florence is not made of glass. Start slow, take a walk around camp, eat something light, and see how far it will take you, but if it doesn't work, don't insist."

"Wow! Thanks!"

"You're welcome!"

"I was right, wisdom comes with age."

Alan did not throw a fish this time; he grabbed him by the shirt and smacked him across the face with it.

"Did you say I'm old?! Yes, I am old! Moreover, young people should learn to respect their elders!"

He slapped Salieri across the face again, leaving a fish mark on his cheeks. Unfortunately, the commotion caught the attention of several androids who watched the exhibition.

This event would become the joke of the camp for months. Meanwhile, the PODs recorded everything and transmitted it to the data network, increasing even more the scope of the joke.

END OF CHAPTER