Light, fresh air, and a hard wooden surface they laid me on. One moment I was about to fight for my freedom then someone had to cheap shot me. I have been lying here for about half an hour now, listening to them talk to each other.
So far I have learned their names, Adam and Eve. They are connected to a machine network and have an obsession with humans. Adam appears to be an intellectual while his brother is a little less so. I suppose it's best to see what they want now and get it over with rather than continue to play dead.
With that in mind, I quickly opened my eyes and set up to find myself on a long wooden table setting outside on the ruins of a large building. Setting a few feet in front of me is the machine I believe calls himself Adam while Eve is undoubtedly behind me.
" I see you finally decide to stop the charade," said Adam looking up from his book.
"I thought as much, how could you tell?" I asked curiously as I wondered how they could tell I was pretending to still be unconscious. The brother behind me spoke.
"Your breathing rate changed." Said the one named Eve. What an odd name for a male but hey this is the future and there not human.
Then Adam spoke up "We have a chair for you please sit we have much to discuss." I look to my right and find a chair there dead center of the table between the two. So I rub my aching head for the blow I took and scooted off the table and took a seat.
"I apologize if my brother has injured you more than intended after all from what we uncovered from the book about your anatomy and biology your kind tends to be quite delicate." He said waving around his right hand.
I look around hoping to find my favorite book around but she is nowhere in sight. I could simply conjure her to me but I figure it is best to hear out my host first before doing anything that could be seen as aggressive.
"Well, I'm alive so that means you want something from me. Now what might that be gentlemen." I said while trying to keep myself calm and collected but still, my curiosity has been known to get the better of me and I just want to get this over with..
"Well, you see we machines-lifeforms have a keen interest in humanity. Your kind fascinates us, war, religion, love, family, your kind is an enigma. I'm curious too what answers you being a human might provide me. So tell me what is humanity?" Adem laid all this on me at once demanding answers to questions many great philosophers would debate and study their entire lives for. But this might be my best way to get more information on the current climate and why a bunch of library trashing androids want to take me to some bunker.
"Alright, but are you willing to help inform me of the current state of affairs, a trade-off if you will?" At my words, Adam gave a small smile and put his hands together.
"You answer a question for us and we will do so for you." He said obviously pleased by how this is those words I have a moment's pause before wondering what is the best way to answer this. Then I realized it was a vague question.
"Alright, but I must ask you a more specific question. the term humanity means many different things. Humanity could mean all humans or perhaps a morality scale for example." I explained hoping he would understand and give me a more specific question.
"Alright, then I have a theory perhaps you might be able to shed a little more light on. The more I read your books and research on your kind I have become to the conclusion that confect is the core of humanity. Is my theory correct?" He asked about his beliefs about humanity. I will say he's not too far off in my opinion but the problem is when it comes to philosophy there is no one true formula. So I guess I am just going to have to give him my view on things.
"I believe conflict is more of a causality, a reaction when two or more conflicting beliefs or actions meet. This leads to wars, debates, and all other forms of conflict." I explained giving him my opinion while looking at his reaction. He seemed to be focusing on me and taking everything in what I'm saying. Wile Eve also appears to be watching but he doesn't seem as interested as his brother who seems to have a keen interest in human knowledge. The order is a little low in members at the moment considering there are possibly two others but our locations were to be kept for each other for security reasons.
"If conflict is not the center of human nature then it is in close connection to it. Tell me then what is the center of humanity?" He demanded a hunger for the knowledge he seeks evident in his voice.
"Alright but then you must answer a question for me." I reminded him as I Myself am eager to receive answer questions I see as vital information.
Adam gives a slight nod. "Alright, I will answer one of your questions once you finish correcting my theory," He said leaning back in his chair.
"The flaw in your theory is that you tried to classify the core of humanity into one aspect. Humanity is far more complex and because of this individual humans tend to not always agree with one another thus conflict arises. You could have ten humans in a single room and each one of them could very well have completely different beliefs. Many have tried to truly understand humanity, some would spend their entire lives speaking the truth and each of them came up with a different answer. The truth is humanity can't be labeled by one single attribute for each human is different. You must simply judge each human individually." I attempt to describe to him what I believe the core is humanity. A variable because each one of us is different with our own goals and desires.
Adam seems to be pondering my theory. "Perhaps I needed to do more research into individual humans." He said, sounding pleased with the information I have given him.
"However, that can be done at a later time. Right now it's my turn to answer your questions." He said waiting for me to ask him questions of my own while his brother is still just sitting there showing little interest in the conversation.
I think about what I want to ask him and quite a few questions come to mind but I need to speak in order of importance. " Tell me about the androids that attempted to abduct before you and your brother...well abducted me?" I was curious to know more about the largest danger to the library at this point in time.
Adam shrugged "There YoRHa model android built to battle machine lifeforms in their pointless and never-ending battle to reclaim the earth for humanity." With that I perked up there are humans on the moon. Honestly, it sounds too good to be true, I thought white chlorination syndrome would have wiped us out with a few of us being excused for our service as a reward for being thralls to the watchers and their masters.
"Are there really humans on the moon?" I asked while I wondered if there is truth in this.
"Doubtful, I researched all throughout the machine network and all evidence points to humans being long extinct before we even arrived. With the exception of yourself." His words did not shock me, honestly, I was expecting it the moment I woke up. I let out a long sigh, enjoying the take in of fresh air but then Adam continued.
"Regardless I would avoid them if I were you. As a human, you are the equivalent to a god in their eyes. They will stop at nothing to get a hold of you and I guarantee they will never let you set foot on earth again." He explained filling me with a sense of dread.
"Wait earth?" I replied wondering what he meant by never setting foot on earth again."
To my surprise the bother behind me answered this question. "Their bunker is in space." He said but then Adam clarified a little better.
Their command center labeled the bunker is currently orbiting the earth, think of it as a giant satellite." He explained giving a little more detail then his brother..
"Alright, then it's your turn to ask me a question," I told him as he suddenly turned to look off into the distance.
"It appears we will only have enough time to ask each other one last quest before we need to go our separate ways for the time being. So tell me what is death to you humans. We machine lifeforms are connected to the network and are incapable of being touched by death and thus wish to know why you humans both fear and revere it simultaneously?" He asked me while still glaring at something in the distance. I looked over his shoulders and saw nothing. Perhaps he can see much further than a human can.
Finally, a question I might be able to answer without much difficulty since my own teacher was a master of the subject and we would share our theories with each other all the time. "Death to us humans is both a beginning and an end much like a door that you can only enter once but never walk back though. We, humans, have souls that are a part of us our essence if you will. When we die that part of us moves to another plane of existence leaving this world. However there are few exceptions of course. But many of us accept this and welcome it. Then there are those who fear it; they fear it to the point they will do anything to cheat it. I know of an enchanter who dreamed of crafting a phylactery to which he would bind his essence and thus achieve immortality. However, he could not find this knowledge and it made him vulnerable to dark promises from beings with nothing but malicious intent for his kind." I told him then stood up ready to ask my last question then flee the area.
Adam turned his head back to look at me. "Fascinating, humans are even more complex than I could have ever imagined." He said scratching his chin.
"Are there any factions or individuals I should look out for other than this YoRHa?" I asked, hoping to have a little more information before we go our ways.
"Machines connected to the network will generally have a fascination with you and will most likely not attack out of malicious. Other than that we can't promise you anything." Once Adam said that Eve stood up and walked up to me.
"Brother you promised if I let you talk to the human the three of us could go play.." He said, sounding disappointed. That was until his brother spoke again.
"Next time Eve, there will be plenty of time. But for now, we can't risk attracting more attention to him. So, for now, I wish you, luck human you should head east from here but be mindful of the androids." He said before leaping off the building with Eve, heading north. Leaving me alone on the rooftop.
With a sigh of relief, I concentrate and conjure my missing book. The air shimmered beside me and she appeared. From the looks of it, no harm has come to her.
She however was floating around me checking to see if I'm alright. "Master are you ok, the machines did not hurt you right? she asked before remaining stationary.
I couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Vetito you'd since if anything bad was happening to me. You are part of me after all." I said reminding her that she is tied to my magic and thus shared a connection with me. But then her happiness from seeing me alright change to worry.
"Master the android they are coming this way, you need to hurry." she stressed to me.
"I know Vetito, my gracious hosts were kind enough to tell me that east is our best bet," I told her as I looked around and found my travel pack behind Adam's chair.
I pulled out the compass and walked to the eastern edge of the building. "Vetito if you would please," I said and held out my right arm and grasped her so she might levitate me down.
As she levtared me down I couldn't help but tell her the good news `Well Vetito I believe I might have just found a machine worthy enough to offer membership into the order. Infact dare I say he might even be a possible successor.
Well here you go tell me what you think.