The Youth

Matteo yanks out a large metal rod from a pile of scrap, falling on his butt as he does. He’s found a heap of treasure north of his new home, untouched by those unaware about the qualities of piles of trash.

Beside him floats a drone. It has more findings resting on it, this hauls the best yet. Random screws, a hammer, some usable energy cells, and now a metal rod.

“This still isn’t enough.” Mateo said before having a coughing fit.

“Need… medicine?” The drone reveals a bottle of medicine. New Ai developed by Artem allows for decision making qualities improved from the predetermined results of before.

Matteo’s illness progresses, Elena and Liang’s efforts are tireless but without substantial results yet. As such, Matteo is only kept active by the medicine Veronica gifted, and Matteo’s grit.

“I’m ok.” Matteo said.

“Medicine…Medicine.” Matteo’s Casa repeats from his shoulder.

“Fine.” Matteo gags at the taste. “Come on, mom will get worried.” He grabs his walking stick and heads back for the settlement.

In the months since leaving Veronica, the Syndicate base has developed at great speeds. They have robots building robots that then go on to aid in building infrastructure. Walls have surrounded their land and houses are ready to be used.

Drones hover the settlement, some on surveillance duty, others relaying data to Issac for planning. Zara was able to create a small communication network for their base, though her dream is still to build a satellite network and share information with everyone.

Just outside the base walls, a group of ten children play with a ball and hoverboard. The hoverboard is common technology but still one that goes for a hefty price.

Next to the group are two more children who pick a broken robot apart. They understand little of the build but their excitement is palpable nonetheless.

“That’s quite the haul you have.” Bell said as he approaches Matteo.

“Mr. Bell, I haven’t seen you around.”

“I could say the same to you. Matteo, may I ask you something?” Bell kneels.

“Ok.”

“Do you like it here?”

“Mmm, it’s ok. There is a lot to explore.”

“I see, that’s a wonderful answer. I hope you all keep such curiosity forever. Your parents and I may be building the basis for the future, but it is you all that will take us even further. I’m sure you all will take us to even the stars, don’t you have somewhere you want to go like that?”

“Somewhere I want to go… I’d like to go to the Li river.”

“Why there?”

“I went with mom and dad; it was the last time I saw them smile and laugh together.”

“I see. I hope you all go again.”

Matteo follows Bell inside, his destination the center building used by the geniuses as their lab.

The inside of the lab is a mess of robots, drones, projects floating over machines that allow them to sit in the air and be turned. Casa robots run around carrying tools or picking up fallen parts and organizing them alongside their drone partners.

Lars sits near the entrance staring at a hologram depicting a cybernetic arm. He has made great progress on connecting technology to the mind, but something as complex as the arm still takes time to create.

Near the right end of the large lab is Akihiko surrounded by circular floating platforms. Some hold tools, some hold food, they’re meant to be different forms of the floating aid for vehicles but even the failures have some uses.

“Ah, Matteo. Gathered even more?” Akihiko asked.

“I have. Will this be enough?” Matteo pushes his drone forward for Akihiko to inspect the treasure gathered.

“Hmm, it should be. I’ll have it done in two days; now how much do you weigh?”

“Umm, 35 pounds.”

“35… well I suppose that could be right. Very well, come back in two days and I will have it done.”

“Thank you.”

Matteo heads for the northern end of the base after meeting with Akihiko. Once a large garden, now mostly baron, but a large tree does sit on the hill with a nice patch of grass children sometimes use to play sports.

The hill overlooks a field with untamed forage and a river hidden within, unusable for now but still nice to see. Despite this, the area is often empty except for the two usual visitors that sit by the tree as Matteo walks closer.

“Hey.” Matteo said.

At the tree sit two young girls, the first turns to him. A recent recruit to the base, she wears an eyepatch on one eye and has a cybernetic eye in the other. “Matteo, I haven’t seen you all day.” Matilda said.

“I went to look for something.”

“Your mom is going to be angry.” The girl sitting beside Matilda said. Nozomi, Liang’s daughter and the one facing the same illness as Matteo. Although a year younger, the illness is affecting her at a much greater rate than Matteo who can still walk with assistance of his stick. Nozomi struggles to move and either crawls or gets help from others to move.

“I had D4 and C3 with me.” Matteo points to his drone and Casa who waves at the two girls.

“What did you go look for?” Matilda asked.

“It’s a secret.” Matteo said as he sat. “Everything ok?”

“My vision is still a little weird, but it’s nice to see again. I just…”

“I think it’s cool.” Matteo said.

Soon after Matilda got her first eye, she became reclusive given the strangeness of the eye. No other kid has one, and even she won’t receive the other for some time. It wasn’t until Matteo and Nozomi spoke with her that she left her room and became jovial once more.

“Thank you. I’m sure soon they will make something for you both to help with walking.”

“You’re right, I hope they do… uhm, when we can, we should go see a waterfall. There’s one nearby. You always wanted to see one, right, Nozomi?”

“Yea, but it might be a long time before we can.”

“Hm hm, remember that then. I’ll take you both to see it.”

That night, Matteo falls on his way to bed.

“Medicine, medicine.” D4 repeats.

“Sorry, D4, I don’t think medicine will help this time.” Matteo said as he struggles to stand. “D4, C3, thank you both for helping me. Even if I can’t go, please take Nozomi and Matilda to see that waterfall we found.”

“Command received and stored.” D4 said.

“C3, take a picture for me.”

“Yes sir!”

Two days later, Matteo returns to the to the tree to find his friends staring off into the distance once more. At times they play card games, but they often enjoy speaking about stories they’ve heard of the old world.

“Surprise.” Matteo mutters as he pulls a box with D4’s help. After letting out a heavy gasp of air, Matteo opens the box.

“What is it?” Matilda asked as she helps Nozomi to her feet.

As they walk over, the rest of the box falls apart to reveal a modified drone, larger than D4, with its main body enlarged and fitted with a seat and handlebars.

“Is that for me?” Nozomi asked, Matteo nods.

Nozomi presses the power button on the drone, it rises to life and scans the three children before resting its eyes on Nozomi. “Nozomi found… board safely please.”

The drone turns its side to Nozomi and lowers to the ground. With help from Matilda and Matteo, Nozomi boards the droid that hovers just above the ground.

“Maintain safe speeds. Check peripherals.” The droid spoke.

“Uhm, how do I go?” Nozomi asked.

“You turn the throttle. Don’t worry, Akihiko has it set to only go safe speeds. Give it a try.”

Nozomi nods and stares at the throttle before turning it an inch. The drone moves forward, slow as it follows her command but Nozomi soon becomes comfortable and gives it more speed.

“Woah!” Nozomi flies from one end of the garden to the next with Matilda right behind her.

The laugh together as Nozomi circles around Matilda on her new vehicle. She can’t remember the last time she moved this fast, and with this much freedom.

“Nozomi, Nozomi! This way!” Matilda leads Nozomi around the garden.

Matteo watches as the girls have fun before walking to sit against the tree. Resting his walking stick in his arms, Matteo turns to D4.

“Could you get mom, I think this is it.”

“Medicine?” D4 asked.

“No, I’m all out of energy.”

“Mother Elena.” D4 repeats as he floats away.

“Remember our promise, C3.”

“Waterfall.”

“Exactly. I’m sure they’ll love it.”

After circling the garden some more, Matilda and Nozomi return to Matteo who rests against the tree.

“This is amazing! Matteo!” Nozomi yells.

“Matteo?” Matilda checks on Matteo.

He doesn’t wake, his breathing calm, none of their calls reach him.