Interval 3 PART 2 – Unwanted Attention.
Getting money
BUNKER
"Tell me operator 6O, what should I not find out?" Commander White asked 6O.
6O began to sweat with nervousness as she looked around in hopes of finding something to get her out of this situation. 6O then felt someone putting a hand on her shoulder, it was 21O.
"6O I believe it would be better for everyone if we say what the commander wants to know." 21O said with a sigh.
"I'm waiting for your answer." Commander White said as she stomped her foot on the floor and crossed her arms.
"Well…" 6O said as she went to her terminal and pressed a few buttons. A tab opened, this tab was called 'Open Broadcasts', and in it there was a kind of playlist containing all the episodes broadcast by Alan.
"A few days ago I detected an open signal on the world data network, connecting to the signal I found an unknown android accompanied by a POD." 6O said as she started one of the episodes for the commander to see.
The commander approached the 6O terminal with 21O beside her.
"And you didn't find it important to report that an unknown android is in possession of Yorha property?" The commander asked 6O while she was watching one of the episodes.
"I saw no harm, the android known as Alan proved to be a great connoisseur of human history, ranging from society, culture and folklore. I believe these recordings can improve the morale of the Army of Humanity and Yorha, as well as inform androids about human history." 6O said nervously.
"Hmm!" The commander stared at the recording, 21O and then 6O.
"Send all recordings to my terminal. I will not forbid you from continuing to watch the recordings, but you will only be allowed to watch them during your break." The commander said as she quickly glanced at the terminals of other operators.
"YES MA'AM!" 6O and 21O responded simultaneously.
Commander White then left, 6O and 21O slumped in their chairs as they sweated and trembled with nervousness. 6O and 21O then faced each other.
"We just convicted an innocent android didn't we?" 6O asked 21O.
"Probably." 21O replied.
Commander White's POV
What a mess, I thought as I walked into my room, clothes thrown all over the place, a messy bed, unread reports. And when was the last time I had maintenance? When was the last time I had an update?
It doesn't matter now. Maybe someday when this is all over I'll tidy up this room. As if. I wonder how long I have to perpetuate the big lie.
I sat in front of the terminal at my desk; let's see what's so interesting about these transmissions.
TIMESKIP
This is worrying. I thought as I leaned back in my chair, I couldn't care less about this android sharing human knowledge; this is even a good thing for morale, something to distract the androids a little from war. What really worries me is a word this android said.
SHADES.
How does an android still remember SHADES? If I remember correctly, many years ago after the last SHADE disappeared, a mandatory update was released for all androids in the world, there was something hidden in the software updates, a hidden code that would rewrite an android's memories, making them think that a certain project went as planned and humans lived in peace.
And now there's an android who remembers! Did he not go through the update? The made-up consequence of what would happen if someone didn't update was a total RESET returning the android to its factory version caused by a virus.
What to do? I need to contact the Army of Humanity, I thought as I typed into my terminal.
UNKNOWN LOCATION
Contrary to what many thought, the BUNKER was not the only space station created by androids to fight the aliens and their machines, a long time ago there was a station known as a laboratory, but this station was destroyed by an alleged accident with the black boxes of the androids.
The station we will focus on at the moment is a station affectionately dubbed the DEATH STAR; it was where the androids responsible for leading the army of humanity performed their duties. Since the death of Commander Rose, former leader of the Army of Humanity, the highest echelon of the Army of Humanity has been moved to one of the stations orbiting the planet, to prevent a disorganization of the army from occurring again if the leader dies.
In an office on DEATH STAR there was an android sitting at a table reviewing reports from his operators; suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Come in." The android said.
His office door opened and an android poked her head into the room.
"Sir, there is an android requesting direct communication with you." The android said.
"Can't this android get in touch with one of my aides?" The android sitting at the table asked.
"Sir, its Commander White." The android said nervously.
"Okay, connect it to my terminal." The android said with a sigh.
"Yes sir!" The android replied as she closed the door.
A screen opened on the android's desk, and on that screen appeared Commander White's face.
"White." The android said with a small smile.
"Alexander." White replied also smiling.
"It's been a while since you last contacted me. What is the special occasion?" Alexander asked.
"I have found something concerning, which I believe may be of interest to you." White replied.
"What did you find that was so troubling that you needed to contact me?" Alexander asked in a serious voice.
"An android on earth still remembers the SHADES." White said while looking Alexander in the eye.
"WHAT?!" Alexander yelled in surprise.
"Yes. I had the same reaction, the android known as Alan has been doing broadcasts sharing his knowledge of the human world, but in one of the broadcasts he mentioned SHADES and how they were everywhere."
"Didn't we create a mandatory update that secretly altered the androids' memories making them think the project worked as it was supposed to and the SHADES never existed?"
"Yes. But apparently this android has not been updated, not only that I believe you will also be interested in the appearance of this android."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I think you better see for yourself, I'm sending you the transmissions."
White said as she pressed some keys on her terminal, in less than a second all transmissions were sent to Alexander's terminal.
"White, I hope what you want to show me is worth it."
"I believe so Alexander."
Alexander then started watching the broadcasts.
TIMESKIP
"Alexander?" White asked.
There's no answer.
"Alexander?" White asked again.
Still no answer.
"ALEXANDER!" White yelled.
"What?!" Alexander asked out of his stupor.
"What did you think of what I showed you? Is that important enough to you?" White asked.
"Yes, it sure is. We need to find more information about this android; I will order the Army of Humanity databases to be searched for any information about this android, for now we only have face, name, and estimated age, as this android knows about the SHADES means that he must be old." Alexander said to White.
"Okay, I'll also order a search of Yorha's database for any relevant information. If I find anything important I will contact you immediately, I also recommend that you watch any new broadcasts."
"Right. It was nice talking to you White." Alexander said.
"It was also nice to speak to you Alexander." White replied.
"So White, do you already have a boyfriend?" Alexander asked with a teasing smile.
Commander White gave Alexander an irritated look and ended the conversation between the two.
"HAHAHA!" Alexander chuckled as he looked at his terminal.
"White, serious and focused on duty as always, but this is not the time for that; let's see what information we can find about this mysterious android."
Alexander said as he pressed a button on his terminal, then the same android of before entered his office.
"Sir! Did you call?"
"Yes. I want you and the other operators to look for any information about a specific android; we have a face, name, and estimated age."
"Yes sir!"
"I'm sending the information to you." Alexander said as he pressed some buttons on his terminal.
The android looked at a kind of advanced tablet that was in her hands. The operator's eyes widened with what she saw.
"Sir! You and that android..."
"Yes." Alexander replied without letting the android finish.
The android then straightened her stance "I will get back to you quickly with the information."
"Fine, you can go now."
"Yes sir!" The android then left the room.
Meanwhile Alexander just stared at Alan's image on his terminal.
PLANET EARTH, CITY IN RUINS
"Why are we here?" 11B asked Alan as the two hid in an alley in the ruined city, next to the two were shopping carts from a supermarket.
POD 000 and 001 were also there.
"To get money." Alan replied as he pressed the button on his thunder knife and watched electricity flow through the blade; at Alan's feet was his tool kit.
"And how do we get money hiding in an alley?"
"That is how." Alan said as he pointed to the window of a building across the street.
11B looked to where Alan was pointing, she could see two red blurs hiding behind the walls beside the windows in the building, and suddenly a sound of metallic footsteps was heard.
"Here they come, hide!" Alan said to 11B.
The two ran deeper into the alley, hiding behind a large garbage can.
A group of machines was walking down the street, two stubby and a medium-sized biped.
Devola and Popola waited for the machines to pass the building where they were hidden, when the machines took a good distance and approached the entrance of the alley where Alan and 11B were, Devola and Popola came out of their hiding places with staffs in hand.
They pointed their staffs like sniper rifles at the back of the machines heads, then a small projectile of magic shot out of both staves, each piercing one of the stubby ones in the back of the head, the machines fell to the ground.
The biped turned around looking for the source of the noise, that was his mistake as he didn't notice the two red dots pointing to his forehead, he didn't hear time to fight, before the biped could know what was happening, his head was pierced by two projectiles of magic, the biped fell flat on its face.
Alan poked his head out of the alley looking to where Devola and Popola were both gave Alan thumbs up.
"Let's go!" Alan said to 11B as he ran to the shopping cart and pushed it towards the fallen machines in the middle of the street, 11B did the same pushing his affection.
POD 000 carried the toolbox.
"What do we do?" 11B asked.
"We will open the machines to get parts." Alan replied.
"OK." 11B said as she raised her blade, preparing to cut one of the machines in two.
"What are you doing?! Stop!" Alan said as he stopped 11B.
"I will open the machines to get the parts." 11B assured.
"You are going to decrease the sale value of the parts by damaging them."
"What do you mean?" 11B asked as she lowered her sword.
"Listen, the resistance camp androids collect machine parts to fix their equipment or make repairs to themselves. And before you ask, yes, androids use machine parts to make repairs; this is the truth that everyone prefers to ignore."
"Hmm! Continue."
"Thanks! When androids fight machines, most parts end up being sliced, crushed, or pierced by bullets, and the parts that survive the fight end up damaged, which reduces their value when sold, so Devola, Popola, and I kill the machines precisely, in order to disassemble them calmly and carefully, ensuring that the parts are in perfect condition, so that they can be sold for the highest possible value. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Yea." 11B responded.
Then Alan, 11B, POD 000, POD 001 began to carefully dismantle the machines, while Devola and Popola provided cover from their hiding places.
Alan used screwdrivers to separate the limbs from the machines, 11B used the tip of her sword to open the biped's torso from top to bottom, and using her hands 11B separated the two halves of the torso exposing the pieces.
And so the process was repeated for most of the day, Alan and 11B would hide in the alley waiting for a machine to pass, which didn't take long. Devola and Popola would kill the machine. Alan and 11B would exit the alley and dismantle the machine.
11B also decided to try to knock down some machines doing as little damage to the parts as possible, 11B entered one of the buildings, climbed up to the fourth floor and waited for a group of machines to approach. There were three medium-sized bipeds walking together, two in front and one in the back, 11B waited for the group of machines to reach the window where she was hiding.
When the group got close enough 11B jumped from the fourth floor and landed in the middle of the group of machines, surprising them, 11B then swung her sword in a circle, cutting off the heads of all three machines, a perfect cut separating the heads from the bodies, thus keeping most of the parts intact.
11B then waved at Alan as she smiled. Alan waved back with a nervous smile on his face due to 11B's brutal efficiency in destroying the machines.
When they finished their shopping carts were full of machine parts.
Devola, Popola, Alan, 11B and the PODs met at the alley.
"We are going to the resistance camp to sell these parts. Are you coming too?" Alan asked Devola and Popola.
"No." Devola said.
"Actually we would like to stay here and explore a bit." Popola replied.
"If that's what you want. We'll meet at home for dinner." Alan said.
"Leave it with us." Devola replied as she walked away with Popola at her side, the two disappeared down one of the city's alleys.
WITH DEVOLA AND POPOLA
Devola and Popola walked through the city streets, dispatching any machines they found on the way, a serious air was around them, the twins walked side by side without saying a single word, and then they stopped in front of a familiar building.
"Devola are you sure about that?" Popola asked.
"Yes." Devola replied.
The two then entered the building, passing through luxurious corridors and large golden halls, the twins continued up, eventually they reached a room where there were remains of bodies scattered on the floor, these bodies wore desert tribal clothes and wooden masks with drawings on them, spears were scattered on the ground.
There was a body that stood out from the rest, he wore black robes with gold trim, a brown wooden mask with white lines and red eyes covered his face.
The twins approached the body, Devola bent down and removed the mask, underneath there where only bones.
"Hello King of Faced." Devola said as she tucked the mask under her arm.
"We are sorry for everything, but this place cannot continue to exist. I hope you found peace with Fyra."
Devola and Popola continued up until they reached a large room full of curtained windows, on the other side of this room was a bed full of flowers and toys.
Popola then approached the bed.
"We live a big lie, don't we?" Popola said as she picked up a teddy bear that was on the bed.
"Yes, I know, you know and Alan knows, but we keep perpetuating the big lie for the good of the world. We live as if nothing is wrong, as if everything went as planned." Devola said as she approached one of the windows and opened the curtain letting in the sunlight.
"But we need to put the past behind us, what's done is done, we're alive by a miracle, we've been given a second chance, we can't let the past keep tormenting us." Popola said as she put the teddy bear back on the bed.
"But what about the twins who live in the camp? Should we tell them the truth? That they are not to blame?" Devola asked.
"We'll tell them when the time is right; I can see you're not ready for this." Popola said as she stood beside her sister, together they watched the city.
"I think we've stayed here long enough." Devola said as she summoned her staff.
"I agree." Popola replied.
Together they swung their staffs and with a wave of magic the room they were in began to catch fire. Calmly the two left the room, but for a moment between the flames the twins could see a gray skinned being with black wings protruding from its back, this being was holding hands with a younger white haired girl wearing a long white dress. .
The being and the girl waved goodbye to the twins.
And the twins waved back.
Soon the fire spread throughout the building, the resistance quickly went into action to put out the flames, but it was too late, the building collapsed and was reduced to ash and ruins, the cause of the fire was determined to be caused by a machine with bad functioning that entered the building and ended up exploding.
High-ranking members of the resistance know this is just an excuse to hide the fact that no one has any idea what caused the fire.
As the building burned a pair of twins could be seen watching the fire in the distance.
WITH DEVOLA AND POPOLA
Devola and Popola finally arrived home for dinner, opening the door and wiping their shoes on the rug, the twins entered their house, a pleasant smell wafted through the air, and entering the kitchen the twins saw Alan roasting wild boar meat on the stove while POD 000 played music by his side.
"Hi Devola! Hi Popola!" Alan said as he turned to the twins.
"Hello!" The two responded at the same time.
"How was your day?" Alan asked.
"Boring." Devola said.
"We just explored the city." Popola replied.
"I'm glad nothing bad happened. But what is this?" Alan said as he pointed to the mask Devola carried under her arm.
"That? It's just a trinket we found. I will find a good place for it."
Devola said as she went into the living room and moved some books from the shelf to the side, Devola then set the mask upright in the space made.
"So Alan how was the sales?" Devola asked as she sat down at the kitchen table.
"Did you get enough money from the parts?" Popola asked as she sat down too.
"You can bet! 11B even bought a new outfit."
Looking to the side Devola and Popola saw 11B leaning against the wall with arms crossed and one foot also leaning against the wall.
11B now wore black boots, dark jeans, a black leather jacket, black fingerless gloves, sunglasses on her face; her hair was pulled back in a ponytail.
11B still with her arms crossed looked at Devola and Popola, soon 11B gave a V sign to the twins still without uncrossing her arms, at the same time a bubble of gum came out of 11B's mouth and burst covering her face.
The twins were unsure whether to laugh or be in awe of the way 11B dressed.
Alan then placed a plate of roast beef on the table.
"Want some?" Alan asked.
"Yes please!" The twins replied.
Alan then set a plate for each of them and together they began to eat.
DEATH STAR
"Sir! Here is all the information we could find about the android." Alexander's assistant said as she handed him a folder of documents.
"Thanks." Alexander said as he started to read the documents.
"Is this serious?" Alexander asked his assistant.
"Yes sir! That's all we could find!" The assistant responded nervously.
"Very well, you can go now." Alexander said.
"Yes sir!" the android said as she left the room.
Alexander then began to read and reread the document in the hope that his eyes are not deceiving him. On the document was Alan's photo with the following information.
NAME: Alan
PATENT: General
STATUS: Dead
AGE: UNKNOWN
YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: UNKNOWN
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UNKNOWN
FACTORY OF ORIGIN: UNKNOWN
SERIAL NUMBER: UNKNOWN
UPDATE HISTORY: UNKNOWN
So it means that a completely unknown android was part of the resistance, became a general, thus receiving the function of leading thousands of androids, was presumed dead, only to reappear in Japan as if nothing had happened, this android was not present in any update and because of that he knows about the SHADES?
The situation just got complicated. White will have an aneurysm and a heart attack at the same time when she finds out, but we can't make hasty decisions, let's keep an eye out to see if he reveals any more classified information.
I, too, prefer my predecessor not to die before I can meet him in person.
Alexander thought as he looked into space through his office window, in the glass of the window it was possible to see the reflection of Alexander's face, a familiar face.
A face exactly like Alan's.
OMAKE: Getting money alternatively
Alan was walking through the desert, until in the distance he saw a trailer, approaching the trailer Alan knocked on the door. The door opened and Jackass appeared.
"Alan."
"Jackass."
The two greeted each other and Alan entered the trailer.
Alan and Jackass put on yellow suits, black gloves and boots, gas masks, and caps.
"Let's cook!" Jackass said as the two approached a table full of lab equipment.
There was a box in the corner of the trailer with something written on it.
E-DRUGS
END OF CHAPTER