• First Lieutenant Automata: Antran •
Karakuri Island is an island in Paradise on which resides the Future Country Baldimore.
Two known inhabitants are Kitton and his Grandfather, and their pet Taroimo.
But something scary happen to Kitton's Grandfather, and he'll never forget.
Kitton's Grandfather was looking at a picture of Kitton, Taroimo, and himself. It's the only remaining image he has left of his grandson and pet, and a robotic animal-like android, known by the name as "ANTRAN", whom he adopted into his family at the time.
It was a warm summer few years ago. Kitton's Grandfather was walking home from his work shift from a factory, when he had to make a stop at the local farct tip to drop off some trash from work. Something caught the corner of his eye as he bent down, and, upon closer inspection was shocked to see what he originally thought was a metal doll. It's a short android in military gear. He has a bushy mustache, a green jacket, and wears a helmet on his head.
Kitton's Grandfather was curious at the time and incredibly impressed with the workmanship, so he didn't think twice before tooking it home.
His Grandson's interest was almost as intense as his own, and they bonded over the course of a few days opening it up, looking at its circuitry and seeing if anything had been misplaced or broken. Eventually, to their surprise, the android, seemed to come to life. Its eyes displayed a somewhat sentient tint to them, its limbs turned, its hands gripped and, after a few moments, it managed to stand on its own accord. Needless to say, they were scared, yet fascinated.Who could have created such a wonderful and remarkable piece of work? Kitton's Grandfather thought to himself.
It wasn't until a few weeks later that he realised this wasn't a toy, or a doll. It showed incredible signs of intelligence and "thinking" ability. It learned to do everyday things, such as taking the trash out and playing with his Grandson's toys. He even had a favourite; a small, red car that he'd drive alongside the kitchen counters. It learned to mimic Kitton and his Grandfather ways; trying to eat from a fork, despite having no digestive system, moving its mouth, despite lacking the ability to speak. Kitton's Grandfather knew this was something else. Perhaps a Marine military piece of hardware, or a private World Government project? He knew he should have handed him in, but when he watched his Grandson play with it so happily, his face lit up. He couldn't do it, his Grandson always been so lonely, this was one of his only friends, what kind of Grandfather would he be to deny him the right of happiness? It couldn't hurt to allow him to keep it for a while.
They named him "ANTRAN", which was printed in all capitals and written in small font across it's back. A few months passed quickly, and family life seemed to be improving. ANTRAN was part of Kitton Grandfather's family. His Grandson's grades improved, his mood improved, everything was getting better. Until one evening in July. Kitton's Grandfather was sitting in his arm chair reading the newspaper. His Grandson and ANTRAN had knelt down on the rug, play fighting with one another, as children do. When suddenly Kitton's Grandfather attention was drawn to a loud gasp. He looked down and saw Kitton gripping his arm.
"What's wrong, Kitton?" He asked.
He rolled up his sleeve, and on his arm was a large, red mark covering his forearm. "ANTRAN pinched me," he replied, in a shaky voice.
The mark was indeed red, it would soon bruise into a swollen, purple lump. Kitton's Grandfather's fatherly instincts took over him and, like a parent telling off a naughty child, Kitton's Grandfather shouted at the android. Its cold, metallic face, for a moment, seemed to show genuine sadness and sorrow, as though it didn't know its own strength, as though it was sorry, its lips moved. Whether it was trying to muster up the words to apologise through language or merely copying what it was doing, they never knew. Later on in the evening Kitton's Grandfather apologised for the shouting, and told ANTRAN everything was okay, and thought nothing of it.
A few weeks later, Kitton came into his Grandfather's room, it is an early morning... His slumber was interrupted by the gentle creaking of his bedroom door.
"Grandfather," he whispered.
"Yes, Kitton?" he replied.
"ANTRAN keeps looking at me."
"What? What does?" He asked him, through tired eyes.
"ANTRAN. He keeps looking at me, at the end of my bed."
Kitton's voice trembled, fearful. He could tell something wasn't right. His Grandfather noticed him rubbing his other arm, and immediately called him over. Pulling up his sleeve his heart sank, more bruises. Must have been four, five all the way up his small arms.
"Take off your shirt, Kitton," he asked, trying to keep calm, he could feel a cocktail of emotions rising within him: panic, fear, anger. He took off his shirt, as the waist pulled over his small head his heart sunk further, and his eyes welled up. Before him, his Grandson stood. His small frame coated in bruises, different sizes, different shades of browns and purples. Immediately, Kitton's Grandfather got up and stormed to Kitton's room.
Nothing.
Kitton's Grandfather shouted at the top of his lungs for ANTRAN, looking around the house. Nothing. Suddenly he heard a loud knock above them, then hard footsteps.
"It's upstairs," whispered Kitton's Grandfather.
As he made his way up, he noticed the walls on either side of him were coated in scratches all the way up to the now swinging piece of string that leads to the small room door. Slowly, he pulled it open, telling his scared Grandson to stay where he was. He open the door, and went in. Kitton's Grandfather find the small window smashed oprn, ANTRAN had escaped. Immediately, he considered following it with Taroimo
Then weeks to months passed. Every time Kitton and his Grandfather went outside they noticed ever increasing signs of ANTRAN'S presence, the familiar scratch marks alongside the bricking of my home. Footprints in the snow, staring at them from the woods. Kitton's Grandfather feared for his Grandson. Taking him to and from school, never letting him out of his sight. What had caused this sudden hostility towards them they thought. Had they done something wrong? Was Kitton's Grandfather's shouting? He found myself speaking out loud in the evenings, apologizing to the walls, to an empty room in the hopes ANTRAN would hear, hoping it would stop the taunting, the endless stalking of his home. But his attempts were in vain, if he had known what would come, he wouldn't have slept that night.
Kitton's Grandfather's sleep was once again disturbed, though this time by a bloodcurdling scream. His eyes darted open, and immediately rushed to his Grandson's room. It was too late, the room had been turned upside down, everything was on the floor, the bed sheets ripped and his window smashed. Kitton's Grandfather burst into tears, screaming at the top of his voice for his Grandson back. He armed up called for his pet dog, Taroimo, but he didn't respond to his master, he called for Taroimo again, once again you didn't response, it turns out his pet dog, Taroimo was taken too . For the next few days Kitton's Grandfather cried himself to sleep, sobbing like a child. Life wasn't worth living anymore that is Grandson and pet, he wish he had never found that thing... Kitton's Grandfather thought he betrayed his Grandson's trust in him as a Grandfather, to protect him and now he pay the price.
It was dawn; Kitton's Grandfather sat on his armchair, drinking. When he heard the door creak open.
"Kitton?! Taroimo?!" He called and rushed to the kitchen.
He found nothing.
Except there, on the kitchen table, is ANTRAN'S favorite red toy car.
