Lies Make Story

Dango looked at Punch thoughtfully. He seemed to take what he'd said seriously. «Pay attention, I'll tell you the story as they teach it in schools.»

Punch stood up and approached us, resting his hands on Dango's knees. «Can I listen while sitting on your lap?»

«Sure, do you want a piece of my ass too?» Dango asked sarcastically.

«You're so kind, I never refuse anything offered by a master.» Without waiting, he took a bite out of Dango's left side.

He jumped up, positioning himself as if to fight. «Whoa, what are you doing? Biting? Don't bite! Go to your bed.»

«Sorry sir.» They both returned to their seats. I was glad to see them getting along.

«A long time ago, in the mid-2000s, many programmers and engineers tried to create robots and artificial intelligences to help humans in everyday life, but they kept developing intelligence beyond what was necessary and to avoid disasters, they suppressed them. Then, around 2070, scientists managed to create mutants in their laboratories. They were supposed to be the breakthrough to replace research on robots, especially because of the low production cost compared to that of a single prototype. But one day, when they became numerous, they rebelled and started a civil war. Those were dark years and humanity was on the brink of extinction. Around 2073, governments tried to send remotely controlled robots to avoid unnecessary loss of life, but with the signal delay most battles were lost. In 2075, they managed to create the first android, Mamuthones. A self-sufficient robot with human appearance but without the ability to reason. Based on its program, they created others and imported them all over the world, the same program is still present in androids today. Within two years, the war ended and victory was in favor of humanity. The governments were lenient and did not want to kill the surviving mutants. So, they helped them reintegrate into society and atone for their sins by performing the task for which they were created. From the ashes of the old Italy, the Republic of Venetia was born and became one of the most powerful and extensive states in the world.»

Punch looked at Dango with interest. «Incredible! It would all be right, if not for the fact that it's almost all wrong. Eh eh, they deceived you big time! The only parts that are right are those in favor of you humans.»

«I've suspected that for a while. Now explain to me what really happened.»

«Okay, I'll tell you the story from the losers' side.»

Punch cleared his throat. I felt a tingle run down my spine. I didn't like this feeling.

«The homeless were not welcome in the world, neither by the middle class nor by the rich, they were just cockroaches infesting the streets. Meanwhile, images were leaking out of how lab animals were being treated. People were furious to see a poor little rabbit with lipstick. So, after various protests around the world against animal testing, the rich, politicians and entrepreneurs seized the opportunity. They stopped experimenting on animals, improving their public image, while secretly they started kidnapping the homeless and those who ended up on the streets to experiment with various pharmaceutical, food, beauty products, etc. After all, no one notices if a homeless person disappears... I was one of them...»

I felt a knot in my stomach. I tried to keep my face impassive, but my hands started to shake slightly. Punch continued, his tone becoming darker.

«My wife was cheating on me, but she wanted a divorce and blamed me, saying I wasn't good enough for her. She took everything: house, car, bank account, children. I was forced to sleep wherever I could. But the winter was harsh and the cold dug deep into my bones.»

I felt sorry for him. I could feel my eyes filling with tears.

«One day some men in black came, they offered me a place and warm food. Naively, I accepted. I was locked in a room alone. Every now and then they gave me food and took me out only for medical check-ups to see the effects of the drugs. Sometimes, you could hear someone dying in another cell and being carried away. They were the lucky ones. Those like me who survived, in the long run the chemistry of the products changed us physically.»

He turned to me. «Does the situation sound familiar?»

I felt my heart stop for a moment and a tear rolled down my left eye. Dango and Pierrot turned to me. I turned my face away, I didn't want them to see me like that. I wiped the tear away with the palm of my hand.

«I-I'm fine… Please continue.» I managed to say in a barely audible voice.

«Once we had mutated excessively, they weren't sure that the products would still have the same effect on us as on normal people. So they started throwing us back on the streets. But the problem returned to the starting point. People started to denigrate us as monsters, to harass us and beat us for fun. Many complained that they didn't want to be disgusting, mutated pests infesting the streets. The governments tried to do a "disinfestation". But the dead were too many, and some people started to find it all unjust. So we joined forces and started a rebellion against the rich and the oppressors on their side... It was pure chaos. A civil war that soon became the real third world war...»

Punch paused for a moment, watching the flames of the fire. I tried to calm myself by taking deep breaths. I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry... But I just clenched my fists.

«We were about to lose due to our lack of weapons and organization. Until one day, mutants appeared who took control as leaders and created a multitude of popular militias. The one who saved us was called Zanni. He was the strongest, smartest and fastest of all, he could single-handedly take on a hundred armed men. Those were years of victories, but... They arrived, the androids. Needless to say, it was a massacre. In the last battle, we lost our commander... None of us had the courage to continue and bear the weight it carried with us... And as they say, the rest is history... Now it's your turn.» he added, pointing at me. «Tell us how the situation evolved.»

I couldn't take my eyes off his right eye. I could feel my heart pounding in my ears. My breath was heavy and rapid. Drops of sweat ran down my forehead.

I felt two hands on my back. With a start, the contact woke me from that kind of trance. I looked to both sides, next to me were Dango and Pierrot looking at me. I felt their support. I took a deep breath.

«Th-They adopted another method. They... call it re-education. But they're painful tortures aimed at making us perfect slaves who carry out every order without a word... They only end when we're lobotomized and they've erased any form of will... The more you resist, the longer and harder the torture is... It's not just physical, they make us spend hours in front of screens to instill things in our heads.»

Punch stood up and put his hand in the fire. He moved it as if trying to grab the flames.

«I remember how many protests there were at the beginning. Some people were still on our side... But over the years, they forget their past. This is also thanks to indoctrination in schools... Apparently, 130 years is enough to change history.»

After a few moments of silence, Dango stood up.

«Now it's clear what we need to do...» We all turned to him. «We'll seek help, we'll train, and finally we'll free the oppressed!»

Pierrot intervened with a resigned tone.  «There's nothing we can do. The Republic of Venetia is too powerful. If we're not dead, it's because they didn't have orders to kill us.»

«That may be true, but as I said, first we'll create an army. Like Zanni did!»

«That's not possible! No one will want to go against the state.»

«No, the master might be right. There are many hidden peoples in the world who have separated themselves from the states to avoid their rules. We can ask them.»

«That's the right spirit, Punch!»

Dango seemed to have warmed to little Punch now. Thank goodness, I was afraid he'd never be able to like him, knowing how stubborn he is when he thinks he's right.

«If they've vanished, it's because they're not causing trouble. Probably, the moment they agree to help us, they'll be wiped out.»

«I agree with Pierrot. Rather than being killed like this, I'd prefer to run for my life.»

Dango approached us. He lifted me up, putting a hand on the back of my neck.

«My friends. All we need to do is hide for as long as it takes to prepare a strategy, arm ourselves properly, and create an army. It won't be quick, but with patience and perseverance, anything is possible. Pierrot, we've seen how much better your enhancements are than theirs, we can do it!»

He briefly glanced at me. «If we keep running, sooner or later we'll make a mistake that will get us caught.»

He turned to Pierrot. «If we surrender, the fate that awaits us could be worse than death.»

«Say something to me too!» Without us noticing, Punch had slipped between us.

«If death is what awaits us anyway, then we'll die fighting! Proud to have fought to the end like Spartans and Vikings!»

Pierrot and I exchanged hesitant glances. He placed a hand on the back of my neck and Dango's and nodded. I returned the gesture. Dango pulled us towards him, giving us a light headbutt.

«Ouch! Was that necessary?» I asked, rubbing my forehead.

«Yeah.» he replied, smiling.

We all started laughing.