Episode 2 — A Musical Story
Alan's POV
FLASHBACK
Devola and Popola have been living with me for a few years now, and we haven't met in an exactly favorable situation, imagine the situation, I had just arrived in Japan on a ship full of androids, and I had to be very careful that they didn't find out that I'm human, then I got into a caravan that went further into the country, we were attacked by machines, everyone in the caravan fled in different directions, I ended up in the ruined city with machines running after me, during my escape I had to go inside a collapsed office building to get to the other side of the city, I almost had a heart attack when a hand came out of the rubble and grabbed my foot, I tried to free myself, but the grip of the hand was strong, I heard a voice come out of the rubble.
"Help, help !" I widened my eyes, there was someone alive down there, the hand let go of me and I started to take the stones out of the way, what was down there surprised me, it was a girl, an android, I knew this thanks to the parts of the "skin" of her face which was missing displaying a black colored material underneath, she was crying with a desperate look on her face.
"Please save my sister!" Sister? I looked right and saw that she had something in her arms, it was another android similar to her, it was in bad shape, I was taken out of my thoughts by the sound of the approaching machines "I help you, but we need to get out of here now!" I pulled the android up "Let's go!" I ran with the android at my side, and she carried her sister in her arms.
"What are we running from!" the android asked me. "Machines!"
"Machines! What machines?" Doesn't she know? "Those!" I pointed back there were 5 Medium Bipeds and 20 stubby Bipeds running behind us. "What are those things? ", "Alien machines!" she looked at me like I was crazy "Aliens don't exist!", "Believe me they do, I was there when the ships arrived!". We ran through the streets, but I saw that I wasn't going to be able to get away with this android with me, she was very damaged, her left arm was giving off sparks, her right leg was crooked, and she was limping all the time while we were running and she was still carrying her sister, didn't want to leave them behind, but I wanted to live and they were both holding me back.
We turned the corner and the worst happened, the street was blocked by a pile of cars, I could climb this and escape the machines but the android, I prefer not to think about it, I looked to the side the android was there and it seems that she understood I could run away from the situation, but they would stay behind, soon the machines caught up to us, I was looking between the machines, the pile of cars and the android.
"No! No! You can't leave us here, I'm begging you, at least take my sister and leave me here!" I took a deep breath at what I was about to do because, I always get myself 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 pulled the knife and got ready for the fight, well that was it, after years of surviving in this beautiful world, it seems like I finally met my end, it was a good life I was surprised I didn't die sooner, I got in all kinds of fights, I participated in various resistance groups around the world fighting on the front lines, it was a good life, an exciting life.
"It can't end like this, not now that we've come this far!" It was the android, you know I can't say exactly what happened at that moment, with just a movement of her hand a staff appeared in the android's hand in a red 'flash', then a small red ray came out of the staff, this ray was thin as a hair and went towards the group of machines, for 1 second nothing happened, then.
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A red explosion destroyed all the machines, there was a crater in the place of the explosion and no sign of the machines, I'm sure my mouth was open and glued to the ground, I heard a noise behind me, it was the android she fell to the ground, well she saved my life now to return the favor, looking better at the two androids on the floor I noticed their models, I never thought I would see a model like the twins I know, model Devola and Model Popola.
What came next was a journey to find someone willing to fix them both, I had to drag the twins by their feet, like I'm going to lift 200KG of an android, yes, an android weighs over 100KG, back to the case, for some reason other androids don't like or hate the twins, it has happened more than once where an android said he would fix them and try to kill them in the end, nothing like a Thunder Knife on the back of the neck doesn't fix, I didn't kill the androids, I just used enough charge to knock them unconscious I think.
In the end I had to fix them myself, fight alongside resistance androids gave me some experience of how an android works, how to put back arms and legs, rewire wires, and do system diagnostics was like fixing a car, just have the material and know what each part does, what follows were months doing missions for different androids, if anyone had any work available I would accept, with time I bought parts and materials needed for the repairs, Devola and Popola were in basement of a house i found, it was a brick house, two floors and painted yellow, well that was it with the final junction of a wire it was finished, now just wait for them to wake up, you know what i'm tired tomorrow i check both, i went in in a room on the second floor, i lay on a bed and slept again i had this dream i was in a field of flowers, there was a girl with a flower in her eye looking at me, behind her there were five more girls but they they never did anything, they had a faraway look on their faces, she got closer and closer her mouth opened to say something but before she could say anything i woke up, it was always like this i always woke up when she was going to tell me something.
"Mister wake up." Was someone calling me?
"Please wake up." Was it a different voice had two people here?
I opened my eyes and came face to face with the twins, I fell out of bed in fright.
"Mister are you okay?" It was Popola .
"Did you get hurt?" It was Devola.
"Don't worry I'm fine, but how do you feel?" The twins looked at each other and bowed.
"Thank you for saving my sister!" Popola spoke.
"And thank you for repairing both of us!" Devola spoke.
I jumped back in fright, didn't expect this kind of reaction, and were they crying? Damn it I feel even worse now "It's not that much, your sister asked for my help and even saved me I just returned the favor, it was the right thing to do." I smiled at them, really the right thing to do, Alan didn't you have anything less generic to say? I went to the crumbling bedside table next to the bed and took out a cloth handkerchief and handed it to both of them "By the way my name is Alan, what's your name?" I know what they're called, but a little basic courtesy doesn't hurt.
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.
"Nice to meet you Alan" The two spoke simultaneously.
And that's how I met the twins who lived with me, they are the only androids who know that I am human, when they receive this information the two started talking about how Project Gestalt was a success and how Nier and ShadowLord must have merged, I have no idea what they're talking about, so the question came from where are the other humans, and I explained everything, about the aliens, the machines, and the war between androids and machines, and the surviving humans living on the moon, they didn't believe it at first, but after I showed them the ruins of the city, the machines running around they believed, then came the final question why I wasn't on the moon, I told the truth, that I just woke up in a city in the Kingdom of Night. Knowing this they both swore to protect me, to keep me safe, I refused but they were insistent their concern was appreciated but I'd rather not be watched everywhere I go, hell they just let me record my show if I promised not to get in trouble, I hope they don't find out about Kokio 's rescue.
Alan's POV
PRESENT TIMES
I got up from the couch and greeted the twins "Hi Devola, hi Popola, how was your day?" I hope they don't know what happened today.
"No big deal, we just took a walk around town." Popola spoke but I felt she was hiding something "And you Alan, how was your day?" This time it was Devola, they were suspicious of something, does she know "I just recorded my show and walked around town nothing to worry about" Seriously if I was to not look suspicious I failed miserably" "Are you sure?" Devola continued as he got closer "Yes.", "Really?" This time it was Popola she approached and stopped beside her sister "Yes!" I was sweating with nervousness, please don't notice, before they could say anything, my stomach rumbled with hunger.
"ROOOONC!"
blushed in embarrassment as I looked down, the twins laughed at my suffering, I hadn't eaten anything for a long time "Come, have a seat at the table, let's eat together." Popola said, "And I'll get the drink." Devola ran towards the closet in the living room, so Devola is kind of an alcoholic, constantly she runs off in search of booze in the city, or steals some of my hard-earned money to buy more, even though she doesn't approve Popola still joins her sister for drinks , and even worse is how they act when drunk, Popola gets angry and starts punching the walls almost bringing the house down, meanwhile a drunk Devola keeps flirting with me, and in the end always ends up throwing 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 my nose was attacked by a wonderful smell, it was the smell of roast beef when was the last time i I ate this, my mouth started to water.
"Here is roasted boar meat." Popola put the plate in front of me, there were several thick slices of meat, then Devola appeared with three Mugs and several bottles of Vodka, where the hell did she get so much Vodka? She put a glass for herself, one for her sister, and one for me and started to fill the glasses " Dev I don't know if this is a good idea, all this drinking must not be healthy." Thanks, Popola "Come on Pop, just one glass won't hurt anyone, when was the last time we had a drink together?" Don't accept Popola, don't accept "You're right, I suppose a little doesn't hurt." No Popola, I thought as she took the glass and drank it all in one go "That's the spirit!" Devola yelled as he grabbed his glass and also drank it all at once, I believe this would be a good time to say that androids can drink amounts of alcohol that are lethal to humans, I just started eating the meat and prepared myself for what was in store.
A few minutes later.
" Y-you know Alan I m- wonder what you do while s-going out to town *HIC* you were seeing other androids you weren't *HIC* while I'm here alone you were with a bunch of bitches, weren't you *HIC *?" Devola rambled drunk, she placed her chair next to me and was talking with her face inches from mine the alcohol breath hit my nose and her right hand was on my left shoulder pulling me closer to her, Devola was a drunk emotional "*HIC* Be honest you were with Sara weren't, that bitch, blonde hair, blue eyes, fair skin, what does she have that I don't have *HIC*, tell me *HIC*!"
Who the hell is Sara you drunk? "Or wasn't it Sara? Was it Maria, Jackye, or Jane? *HIC* tell me which one *HIC*?" I have no idea who these people are! With a flick of her right hand, Devola shook her Mug and poured Vodka all over my face, for God's sake someone gets me out of here! "Tell me *HIC* am I the problem? I can change *HIC*, hairstyle, the way I dress *HIC*, or is it my personality?" Devola shook the Mug again and more Vodka splashed in my face, I wonder what face I'm making right now, probably an annoying look staring at the wall in front of me.
"I can't go on like this * HIC *, what will become of our *HIC* marriage, think of our f-kids *HIC*!" More Vodka flew in my face, Devola we're not boyfriends, let alone married, and what do you mean kids, androids can't have kids, where are you seeing them! "Think of Maria I can't f-pay for her college alone *HIC*, and little Timmy how am I going to pay for his surgery *HIC*, think of Alan Jr. he's just a * HIC* baby think how he's going to grow up without a father?" I'm asking myself now, I'm living in a Mexican soap opera or a bland sitcom, seriously where are the cameras, where are the audience's laughter, the credits go up, and as I couldn't miss it, I got another shower of drink on my face "*HIC* You know what I-I'm tired, I want a divorce *HIC* I'll keep the kids and the dog *HIC*!" Children don't exist and dogs are long gone "No I can't do that I-I still l -love you, come here, give me a hug." Great now she was crying on my shoulder as she hugged me, I could feel the Vodka pouring down my back, married life is hard especially when you're not married and kids don't exist, where was Popola in the midst of this drama?
I looked out the window and there was Popola, she had ripped a tree out of the ground and was using it as a bat and trying to hit the poor machines she found outside, Popola was an aggressive drunk.
CRASH!
A stubby machine just got thrown out the kitchen window he looked at me "Exit is right over there." Said while pointing to the door, the stubby didn't think twice before running for his life, it can't get any worse, can it?
BEEEEEEEEEGH!
I thought as Devola 's vomit trickled down my back.
Alan's POV
Devola and Popola were sleeping on the couch, you know, despite everything I have to go through with these two, I wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world, I thought as I smiled at the twins, with my changed clothes and POD beside me. I went to one of the rooms on the second floor of the house, this room was transformed into a fancy office, you know MASO has preserved a good part of the human constructions, including the expensive and fancy furniture so while walking around the city I would see a table, chair or bookcase that I liked, I took it home, you know? I just think it would be a shame to leave such beautiful furniture lying around, you know? It's not theft if no one is using it, is it? I would like to say that I put all the furniture in here with my own strength, but I would be lying, every time I found something I liked Devola and Popola would use their absurd strength to bring the furniture over here, a bookcase in one hand and one table to the other, it was a severe blow to my masculine pride.
The office had a solid wood table in the center full of ornaments and details, two drawers on the left and right, behind the table a wooden chair also decorated almost like a king's throne, and to the left of the room a bookcase full of books and the right a chest of drawers with some trinkets on top, among them a revolver in a holder and an ammo box next to it, I haven't used this weapon since the mission in Alaska, a photo album, a flower-shaped medal, a conductor's baton from the mission in Russia and the corner a frame with a photo, in this photo there was me, Anemone and Commander Rose, good times those, enough thinking about the past I sat in the chair with POD in front of me. "Alright POD, let's start recording 3,2,1, NOW!" A red light came on above the POD and the 'show' began.
"Hello ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the second episode of our little 'show', for those who don't know me yet my name is Alan your humble presenter, today I bring you an episode about history, not just any history, the music history!" Honestly, I only got the idea for this episode after the 'show' I did at the resistance camp.
"Let's start with a question, what is music, a difficult question isn't it, 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 very dull. do you think? 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 other peoples, 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) interesting, don't you think?"
"You know, music was not always used as an art, throughout history it was used as a tool of war, horns and war horns announced the beginning of the attack, soldiers marched to the beat of drums, lined up and fired with their muskets, in churches the choirs sang religious songs, some churches were built with the acoustics of the planned place, the sound echoed throughout the place so that everyone present could hear what was being said, of course, music is also used in different ways, as a form of education, music for festivities or funerals." I got up and went to the shelf and picked up some books and magazines, laid them open on the table, and faced the POD.
"The difference between genres of music can be very tenuous, so let's talk about some of the most well-known" I pointed to the magazine on my left, in which there was a complete page with an image of a rock band "If I remember well, Rock emerged after 1950 in the United States, suffering mainly negative criticism, religious people at the time said that Rock was the devil's thing, who knows what was going on in their heads, but even with so much criticism getting in the way, Rock grew and united different social groups, and with it came one of the greatest instruments of all time 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 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 New York resistance liked my 'show', I believe I have a poster they made of me somewhere here.
"Continuing then came what became known as The Golden Age of Rock from 1960 to 1970 mainly in Great Britain with that came several bands like The Beatles like and forgetting Yellow Submarine, Helter Skelter is one of my favorites Hey Jude, this band also brought up one of the biggest conspiracy theories." I looked directly at POD and said just three words "Paul is Dead ". I doubt anyone understands what I mean.
"In London also emerged one of the greatest rock bands of all time Rolling Stones who with The Beatles were part of the so-called British invasion that was when Rock and Pop artists became popular in the United States, some of my favorite songs are Paint it Black, Sympathy for the Devil, Doom, and Gloom, and Satisfaction, look at me, rambling again, if I'm going to stay here citing the various rock bands their genres and subgenres we're not leaving here today if you have any more questions send your questions to POD, now let's go back a little in history." I opened a book on the table and in it was an 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 at least I don't know if humans on the moon listen to classical music, but I've been to an orchestra performance I think who were playing Bach, the orchestras are composed of several musicians being conducted by the conductor, I went towards the conductor's baton on top of the chest of drawers" "This is a baton the conductor used to conduct the orchestra, which instruments should be played, trying to synchronize them as much as possible, violins, cellos, flutes, trumpets, tubas and many others were used to create a harmonious sound" I swung the baton and right hand as if I were conducting an orchestra.
"Music generates different emotions to the listener, you who are watching us tell me what you feel when you hear a song, peace, joy, sadness, but classical music is not just composed of orchestras, some of my favorites were played on pianos Moonlight Sonata, Hungarian Rhapsody, unfortunately, I don't have a piano here, otherwise I would play it for you if you find a working piano let me know."
"Have you ever seen a baroque opera house, I have seen them once, they are true works of art, a curiosity nowadays when you watch a performance in a theater the audience is silent, but in the past, it was a mess, the audience had dinner and argued, they only stopped when the big performance of the night started, one of the ones I like the most is 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 style of music, whether to express themselves or for a religious purpose, in the 9th-century classical music emerged with great orchestras and opera houses. majestic, in 1950 Rock appeared with several bands and different genres, I know this is a big time jump, but if I stayed here to explain everything in detail we wouldn't leave here today, I hope you enjoyed today's episode, send your questions to POD and until the next episode, you can to POD."
"So POD what did you think of today's episode?" I said as I approached the POD I was surprised he didn't make any funny comments.
"I found it interesting, the music class was very educational, I suggest the title 'A Musical History'" Wait POD just spoke articulately? And his voice was strange, it sounded like two people talking at the same time, a boy and a girl. "POD you're fine."
" T-Hiss uniteeeee i-s In perfect condition A- admin Alan." Now it has malfunctioned again, I think it's best to take it to the resistance camp for repairs.
UNKNOWN POV
?1: We need to be more careful we were almost discovered.
?2: I agree, but I couldn't resist I enjoyed the class.
?1: Just pay more attention next time.
? 2: It's ok I promise.
Alan's POV
I'll finally be able to get some sleep today has been a hard day, I closed the blinds on the window closed the door, and try to make my room as dark as possible, it's part of the world stuck in a permanent day it's ruined my sleep schedule POD was floating in front of me "Good night POD"
"Good evening Administrator Alan."
END OF CHAPTER
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Until the next chapter.
