A tired groan left me as I plopped down on the ground, my body completely sore from all the running and dodging I had to do, before leaning back into a tree with a sigh. The machines I encountered had been relentless, chasing me for a good while through the forest. Though I managed to lose them eventually, after running through what used to be a residential city block, weaving through multiple buildings. They eventually gave up on their chase and promptly fled back into the forest.

And now the whole affair has left me dog-tired and hungry.

Slinging my backpack off, I opened it and dug in, pulling out an apple I had grabbed back in the forest. Pulling down the lower half of my shawl, I took a bite, tilting my head back and taking a look at my surroundings as I ate.

From what little I could see, which was just the buildings around me, they had seen better days, that's for damn sure. Most of the buildings were in various forms of disarray, with some even having trees growing through them. Others were in better structural condition, though not enough you would feel entirely safe sleeping under their roofs. Then again, it's been a long time since I felt that way, and I couldn't be picky.

Taking the last bite of my apple, I gripped the apple core and chucked it a good few feet from me, behind some bushes. The last thing I need is one of those giant moose or boars I saw wandering up to me.

Leaning in deeper against the tree and closing my eyes, I let my body loosen and relax. I heaved a tired sigh, I took the time to take in the surprisingly peaceful atmosphere, with a nice breeze brushing against my exposed face, whilst the warmth of the sun was felt on my legs through my pants.

I was then caught by surprise when I heard chirping and opened my eyes to look up and see some birds sitting on a tree branch. I don't know what kind they were, thousands of years of evolution did god knows what to the animals on this planet. They were fairly small, enough to probably fit in my hand. And their coloring consisted of black with orange highlights, which gave them a somewhat fearsome look for their size. They bounced around, chirping at one another before flying off. Disappearing from my sight once they flew past a building.

I huffed. "Even with a planet-wide war going on for thousands of years, nature always finds a way," I mumbled to myself with a chuckle, taking the bird's leave as my cue to do the same.

Standing to my full height, I pressed my hands against my back as I stretched, getting a satisfying pop. "Oh, that's good." I groaned before I unslung my rifle from my back and gripped it in my hands. Time to go home, lay down, and take a well-deserved nap. I thought to myself as I walked forward.

Pebbles and dirt crunched under my boots as I walked the old decayed paved roads. With even debris from some of the buildings blocking some parts of the road. Honestly, it was surprising there were still any buildings still standing, let alone a city. Especially with the constant machine wars.

I frowned behind my shawl at the thought of those wars, and the current one that was going on. The battle between the androids had been raging for a long time, the exact date of when it all started I wasn't sure of.

"Hmm?" I came to a halt, in front of a small building. It was the same as the rest, but I could see shelves inside it, and on them were some books.

I grabbed the straps of my backpack and gave it a good shake. There was quite a bit of heft to it, but I doubt a few books would add too much weight to it

(-)

(-)

A page of illegible words greeted me for the sixth book that I opened. They weren't even a language I've seen before, and they weren't even similar to the Japanese lettering I've seen on a few signs.

Sighing, I put it back on the shelf before grabbing another and opening it, only for this one to be in Japanese.

I closed my eyes and took a deep, before chuckling. "Yeah, this place is definitely mocking me." Then again, I shouldn't be surprised, this is or used to be Japan after all. Placing it back, I looked at the floor, which had books scattered all around. I pursed my lips as I looked at them before stopping when I saw a cover with English words on it.

Crouching down, I scooped it up from the floor and held it in my hands. Wiping some dust from the cover, I grimace at the thick layer of it coating my glove. "Ugh, damn it," I grumbled as I flicked the dust off my hand while opening the book.

Thankfully the pages were in English, which was enough for me as I stuffed it in my backpack.

"Ahem." I froze at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Slowly, I turned my head towards the entrance, where a brunette female android was standing. She gave me a small nervous smile and a shy wave.

"H-Hi!" She stuttered.

I blinked at her before returning the greeting, with a wave of my own. "Morning." I grunted at her before going back to my book searching, occasionally sending glances her way to keep an eye on her. Her smile just got bigger before she walked up to a shelf and looked through the books.

Taking a closer look at her appearance, her brown chestnut hair stopped just above her shoulders, and her clothes were the standard resistance member attire, similar to what I was wearing minus the darker colors. And on her back, was what looked like an AKS-74U. I still found it odd that androids used weapons designs that would be well over ten thousand years old now in design.

But so far from my experience, they were effective against machines. While they also had more futuristic types of weapons, more often than not, they were styled after a weapon that was already from ancient human history.

Turning my attention away from her, I saw another book with English on it. Grabbing it, I flinched when the spine split apart in my hands, causing the pages to spill onto the floor.

"Gah, shit!"

I could feel her eyes on me, but I ignored the feeling, dropping what was left of the book onto the floor. A tired, exasperated sigh left me, my arms plopping onto my knees. I flinched when I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned my head to see a book being held in front of me.

Gingerly, I took it, before looking up to see the android smiling at me. I gave her a nod as I stood up. "Uh… Thanks." I muttered, while I stuffed the book into my pack.

"No problem." She beamed at me. Before going back to her own little search.

I'll admit, it was nice to interact with someone again, even if we weren't really saying much. Being around someone who looked and acted like (barring a few things) a human was pleasant, and also helped with staving off my occasional loneliness.

While I usually tended to keep my distance from androids, I would make visits to camps or towns set up by them to trade or just... mingle with them for a short time. If only to help keep my sanity. Though I learned not to talk to them too much, otherwise they get a little suspicious. When I say things they don't have an understanding of.

And I knew there was a camp or base somewhere in the city, where else would the androids I've seen be coming from? I just somehow hadn't found it yet. I had a feeling it was somewhere where even a blind person could find it instantly.

"So…" I turned to the android, who was rocking back and forth on her feet. Her bright orange eyes looked at me with curiosity, making me quirk a brow at her. "You like to collect human relics as well?"

I hummed and nodded at the question as I trailed my finger across the books on a shelf, waiting for something to catch my eye. "Somewhat," I shrugged. "It's more just collecting stuff for personal use." I answered. Stepping away from the shelf, I walked to the opposite one and repeated the process.

The android followed close. "Really?" Her eyes were wide in amazement. "A lot of androids I've met never really give this stuff the time of day. Then again, we're in constant war with the machines, so some people wouldn't have the time for such hobbies." She said, her hands grasped onto a book.

"Hmm yeah, I can see how it would be difficult for some." While my collecting of items could be seen as a hobby, it's more of just trying to keep myself mentally stable. And attempt to deal with the occasional boredom, and so I would be physically active.

"What about you?" I decided to ask her. Pulling another book from and looking at the English title and putting it in my pack.

"Ah, I only started doing this kind of stuff because of another android I met years ago. Who would collect really old uh... postcards! One of them he showed me had a picture of a place called London." She sighed with a smile. "It… it was mesmerizing seeing what the old cities used to look like. So I started collecting some myself, I found one of Moscow a while back"

I huffed in amusement. "Yeah, it was a beautiful place." I hadn't been to the current one, but from a picture, I saw it wasn't really the same, with buildings being slightly different, and not really having any color. That and the pillars of smoke, fire, and a major battle going on in the distance. I was glad I had chosen not to go there. Alaska had been more than enough for me.

I grabbed another book and stuffed it into my pack, zipping it close now that it was full. I hefted it up and placed it on my back.

"Well, it was a pleasure talking with you. But it's time for me to head home." I told her as I walked past her and went for the door.

"A-Ah! Wait, you're leaving already?" She stuttered. I stopped and gestured to my pack. "Don't really have much room left in it." Which was true, it was stuffed full of parts and other items I had collected earlier in the day. And now with the books in it, it was almost overflowing.

"Oh…"She faltered at that, rubbing her arm. She suddenly perked up. "I'll come with you!" I raised a brow as she grabbed two books and tucked them under her arm. Walking up, she stopped in front of me, all ready to go with someone she didn't know.

Is stranger danger not a concept for her? I sighed and rolled my eyes gesturing for her to follow along. I heard footsteps behind me as I pushed open the door. Becoming bathed in warm sunlight again.

Squinting slightly as I was momentarily blinded by the sun, I turned around and faced the android. "Alright, you can tag along for a while, and then we go our separate ways. Sound good?" I asked her. To which she nodded.

I nodded back and gripped my rifle with both hands and we got started on our walk. She unslung her own rifle and held in just one hand since her other arm was holding the two books she had grabbed.

Our walk was relatively silent. Minus the sound of the rustling leaves from the wind and the sounds of birds. While I was enjoying it, my companion seemed to be the opposite, constantly shifting to the point where it was starting to become distracting. With the odd occasional sound she made, put in as well.

A sigh left me and I turned my head towards her as she made a popping sound with her mouth. Her eyes flickered in my direction and looked away, only to look at me again and saw my annoyed half-lidded stare. She winced and chuckled nervously. "Eh heh! Sorry." She whispered, looking away with a blush.

I kept staring at her. "Bored?"

She jumped at my voice before calming down. "Ah, not really. It's just… I just don't like when things are quiet. Puts me on edge you know?" I nodded at that. While the city wasn't deathly quiet, it was probably the lack of sound from machines or androids. I had become real paranoid over the years, and it saved my ass a few times in the past.

Shouldering my rifle, I turned my head forward again. "How about you ask me a question?"

"Eh? A question?" She asked in confusion.

I nodded. "Yeah, it should help take your mind off things and help you relax."

She frowned. "I don't know, the last thing you want to be out here is relaxed." She said, her eyes looking at the buildings all around us, making me huff. "Well obviously, but it's better than having you shoot your own shadow." Pursing her lips, she looked to the road in thought, before slowly nodding her head.

"Yeah, I… I guess you got a point." She conceded.

"Alright then, what's your first question?"

She blinked in surprise before looking everywhere in a panic. "Uhh… Um, uh, oh! Tell me about books!" She asked while gesturing to the books in her arms.

I cleared my throat before straightening myself. "Very well, books… are for reading." I couldn't help but tease.

She blushed at my answer, her smile turning into a look of embarrassment. "I-I know that!" She exclaimed with a stutter. Making me choke down a laugh. "I just…" She puffed up her cheeks, seemingly in deep thought. "Why did humans use books, you know? What was their purpose? That sort of thing."

I coughed and cleared my throat again to hide my laughter before answering. "Books were used for quite a few things, most commonly, I suppose, would be novels. Stories that could be made by anyone, for anyone… except a few. But they could also be used for recording information, be it the history of a person, country, or the planet itself. They were essentially used for archiving." I answered her honestly. Or, at least as honestly as I could, from what little I remembered since before I ended up here.

The android looked at me with wide eyes, her mouth agape like she hadn't expected an actual answer.

I smiled at her, not that she could see it. "Weren't expecting that kind of answer were you?"

She shook her head. "Not really, I… Honestly, I wasn't expecting an actual answer. Most of the androids I know wouldn't be able to even answer that question. Let alone with that much detail!"

I couldn't help but frown at that. Sure it wasn't something new to me, but it still bothered me all the same that androids didn't really have a basic understanding of well… basic things. Then again, they have been stuck in a planet-wide war with a figurative tidal wave of machines. So understanding what humans used to do probably isn't their top priority.

"Can you tell me why the sky is blue?" I blinked at the question. My mind was filled with bewilderment.

Either the androids are really lacking information, or she just never paid attention whatsoever… Probably the latter. I scratched my nose as I tried to dig any memories of science class.

"Hoo boy… let's see. I think it has something to do with light and uh… the atmosphere," I snapped my fingers as I thought more about it. With some faint memories popping up.

"Yeah, yeah, I think I got it. There are these um, tiny air molecules which scatter the light from the sun, known as white light. And when it gets scattered, it turns into different colors, and they each have different wavelengths." I probably got the majority of that wrong.

But it's been about eighteen, nineteen years? Since I arrived. So my memories aren't the best, especially for stuff that wouldn't help much in a war zone full of androids and machines. My explanation would probably make my science teacher laugh before she explained it in full.

It seemed I did well enough though, judging by the almost starry-eyed gaze the android was giving me.

"So cool!" She said with awe. "Ooh, ooh! Tell me about space!" I couldn't stop myself from pulling a face at that. The one thing I probably knew the least about was space, so I wasn't even going to try and even explain to someone who doesn't have a basic understanding of it.

I raised a hand and shook my head. "Let's uh, temper those questions kid, I don't know that much." My words caused the android to groan and pout. "Alright…"

I rolled my eyes at the childish behavior. "I didn't say to stop asking questions, I just meant to not ask about really complicated things." That immediately gets her perked up again, that blazing curiosity in her eyes once more.

I sighed tiredly. I'm going to have my hands full for a while.

(-)

(-)

Afterward, she asked about just about everything in our immediate view, which I had an easier time with minus a few hiccups in information. She asked about the roads, cars, grass, flowers. To which I answered them to my best ability. And by best, I mean absolutely abysmal. But at the end of the day, the questions had the desired effect. As she slowly began to loosen up her tense form. Until finally she looked completely relaxed.

Taking a short pause as we climbed over a barricade built around a bus, I saw her eyeing me with curiosity and worry. Since all she did was jump high into the air and land on the roof, only to wait as I had to climb over bits of scrap and wreckage. Climbing onto the roof, I dusted myself off. "Hah…" I looked at her before gesturing to the end of the bus. "Shall we?" She nodded silently, her eyes lingered on me as I walked past. The obvious question in them.

Hopping down, I grunted when I landed, nearly falling over. "Fuck, I'm going to feel that later." I muttered to myself, rubbing my now aching knees. This is what I get for jumping at that height while wearing all this gear, along with the items I've collected sitting in my backpack.

My temporary traveling companion landed next to me with little problem. Standing up with a small twirl, and giving me a childish grin, making me huff as I walked past her.

We were at least a quarter of distance away from my home when she suddenly stopped, making me do the same, and turned to her.

"You alright?" I called out.

She stared at the ground like she forgot something before shifting her eyes towards me. "Do you know what time it is? She squeaked.

I raised a brow and reached into one of my pouches, pulling out an old damaged wristwatch. I brought it close to my face and squinted as I tried to look past the cracked glass. "It's uh… two-thirty pm." I answered. Only to be immediately replied with a horrified gasp. I looked up to see her gripping her hair, her eyes wide in panic.

"Oh crap! I've been out for too long! The commander's going to scrap me for parts!" I opened my mouth to say something but she was already running off.

"Sorry! I have to go! Bye!" She yelled, breaking into a sprint. Her hand waved wildly as she ran, quickly disappearing around a corner within moments. Leaving me standing there in slight bewilderment.

Staring at the spot she had just been occupying a few seconds ago, I couldn't help but snort in amusement and shake my head before continuing on my way home.

It didn't take long before the familiar sight of four large trees entered my view, which acted as the entrance to my home and natural camouflage. Stepping between them, I entered the courtyard in front of my home. The building I had taken shelter in was the same as all the others, with this one being four stories tall, unlike the three buildings around it. Which were at least eight, ten stories tall I think? I didn't care to count. All that mattered to me was the shade they provided.

Unraveling my shawl, I took a deep breath, as I walked under a massive cherry blossom tree that sat in the middle. Only a quarter of it was in sunlight, and if I remember correctly, they're meant to have a lot of it. Though this thing doesn't seem to care, and the only answer apparently is Maso.

At least, that's what the android I asked some time ago said. He had explained to me that Maso was a magical element that was infused with everything, be it an animal, plant, or even machines. The non-alien ones he had quickly clarified afterward.

I had just nodded like I understood what he was saying, before quickly walking away because I assumed he was just crazy, until someone else told me pretty much the same thing.

Unfortunately, I never had the time to study it, and by that, I mean I couldn't find a book that talked about it. I probably could have traded in some scrap for a copy of one at one of the few android villages I visited. Though they tended to be wary of strangers. Especially ones they might think are deserters. So they often just want to make a deal as fast as possible before essentially kicking you out. Rude, but what can you do?

Pushing past the tarp I had set up in the front doorway, I stepped over a scattered pile of broken glass and walked upstairs to the second floor where my room was.

A yawn escaped me as I stepped in. I removed my shawl, wrapping it around a coat hanger I had found a while back. Before doing the same with my backpack and combat vest. I sighed in relief at the removal of all of the heavyweight on my shoulders and plopped them down on the floor.

I stumbled forward, my exhaustion finally having caught up with me. Sitting my rifle down next to me on my makeshift bed, I quickly untied my boots and kicked them off. A soft groan left me as I stretched, before laying down on my "bed" which was just an old cushioned chair and a couple of small stools with piles of cloth on top of them to act as cushioning.

Two damn months of staying here, and I still haven't found a damn mattress. I grumbled internally, as I began to fall asleep.

(-)

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Woo... my first fanfic, good lord writing this took longer than I thought. I probably rewrote this chapter six times before settling on what I had here, and then coming back every few days later when I had thought of more stuff to add, or just improve.

And to be honest I only ended up wanting to make this story because I was inspired by A Man Rants at a Camera, for Hours On End. I just really love the idea of a human wandering around for years, "blending" in with the androids and teaching them a few basic things they can't completely understand. Whilst they just think the poor guy is an android nutcase who's slowly breaking down.

That, and I wanted to make a story where the human character is basically a father figure for the majority of the androids. So hopefully this turns out decent and to people's liking because there are few scenes I thought up that I love. The only problem is figuring out how to get to them.