"Oh? Aaron, why are you looking at your father's personal documents?"
"Nothing really important, I'm just interested in Android biology, Mama."
Aaron was in his parents' bedroom, engrossed in the files spread out on his father's desk, and seated comfortably in a wooden chair. When Amy approached him as the door closed and saw Aaron immersed in the documents.
"Curious about yourself? What do you want to know? Mama will tell you everything," she said kindly, offering a warm smile. She then pulled over a chair and sat down beside him.
"Well, I'm sure you already know this kind of complex stuff, given your advanced learning capacity and computational mind," she added factually.
"Then tell me, Mama —what are we, Androids; Are we just machines or living creatures?" His voice was serious, eyes fixed on her.
"A living creature, my baby," she answered softly, her tone gentle, as if explaining to a confused child.
"We only applied a mechanical mutation serum to the human sperm and egg cells during incubation, in the capsule process. It makes the Android appear human externally, but not at the atomic or genetic level."
"Your genes are structured like complex engines—constantly working, evolving, upgrading the body towards optimal functionality, much like an infinitely adaptable living machine."
"Additionally, we didn't embed a program into your creation process —also, in the same way the other Androids were being made, because we understood that such programming could hinder your mental development and halt the creativity essential for technological progress."
She paused thoughtfully before asking, with a teasing smile, "Now, tell me — what do you think a scientist values most in their projects?"
"Their equipment?" Aaron guessed.
"No."
"Their time?" he suggested.
"No." She shook her head gently.
"Then is it passion?"
"Close, but not quite."
"Then what is it, Mama?" Aaron pressed, eager to find the answer.
"Their free will," she said smugly.
"Free will fuels imagination. It drives the growth of civilization even today, shaping personalities, emotions, and individual desires. Emotions such as happiness, sadness, anger, and love are powered by free will, pushing humans to create inventions, develop theories, and forge legacies."
"Happiness promotes progress to improve our lives. Sadness inspires medicine to heal our loved ones. Anger sparks weapons to defeat our foes. And Love fuels our desire to pass down a meaningful legacy. It's this pure human will that still lifts our burning heart from ancient times and until that still sustains us, even today."
"This is also what is the essence of our project. Even so We don't want AI dictating our lives' directions. We understand what could happen if machines control us. That's why we want our child to inherit our wisdom, even though you are fully modified," she chuckled softly, slightly embarrassed.
"Even so, Aaron, never let others define what you truly are. What matters most is that you are our son," she said earnestly, with a warm smile.
Aaron's face lit with a warm smile as his gaze rested on his mother. This moment was the one that would remain etched in his memory forever and the whole meaning of why he was still fighting. But suddenly, he heard a distant voice calling from behind him.
"Ah, big brother, are you still visiting Mom and Dad's graves?"
Aaron awakened from his reminiscing as he gazed at the gravestone of his mother, noting its location at the corner of the wall where she had passed away. Realizing he had been dreaming while awake, he shifted his gaze and saw a young blond-haired man, approximately 195 centimeters tall, with striking amethyst eyes identical to his own. The man approached him with a curious expression.
"Hm, if I want to reminisce alone..." Aaron said, though his tone conveyed confusion as he watched Noah, his brother, place a small device on the ground at the gravesite. The device emitted a soft glow, projecting a hologram.
"A hologram flower?" Aaron asked, intrigued.
"Well, you know our situation here — it's impossible to grow real plants," Noah replied honestly, somewhat embarrassed.
"But isn't Isabella growing actual flowers in her greenhouse garden?" Aaron questioned.
"Do you want me to die? You know what will happen if I pluck those flowers. I still want to keep my handsome face intact," Noah said in a tone tinged with fear, clearly terrified of Isabella's wrath if she found out his flowers were damaged or missing. He clearly remembered her fierce temper.
Aaron sighed, disappointed. He hadn't realized Noah was developing such narcissistic tendencies. He then pointed toward another nearby grave.
"Hm? What are you pointing at?" Noah asked, glancing at the other grave. His eyes widened in shock as he saw a flower lying on the ground, and he looked at Aaron, noticing another in his left hand.
"How..." Noah began.
"I ask, she gives me," Aaron responded simply.
"I was defeated by a stone-faced man..." Noah said, still in shock.
"Don't dwell on it too much. Also, congratulations on waking up from cryosleep, Noah," Aaron said, placing a flower on the gravestone labeled Amy.
"I don't feel any sincerity... but thanks. It's really all Isabella's work—one week of her therapy," Noah replied.
"We are waiting for you, Noah. All preparations are complete," Aaron announced.
"So, it's time to go to the surface. Too much time has passed; we can finally escape our confinement," Noah said eagerly.
"Are you nervous?" Aaron asked.
"No, I'm excited. You promised that I'll become stronger if we get that serum," Noah replied confidently.
"Still, it's million year, huh? didn't feel it"
"nearly a million years. Don't let it bother you," Aaron said.
"That's what cryosleep does —it halts cellular activity, as if time is frozen for you," he explained.
"We woke you up too early, though."
"Then, how many years have I slept?" Noah inquired.
"Starting in your twenties, since you were still young for cryosleep before, so approximately 999,976 years now," Aaron answered.
"That's such a long time," Noah muttered.
The brothers fell silent, each lost in thought about how many years had passed and what their past had become.
"We're going to get our revenge, big brother —for Mom and Dad," Noah said with resolve.
Suddenly, a cheerful voice interrupted them.
"Ahh, there you two are! I've been looking everywhere for you!"
They looked up to see a woman with long, violet twin-tailed hair, standing 201 centimeters tall, running toward them with energetic strides.
"Oh, hello, Ishtar. Still as lively as ever," Noah greeted.
"What do you mean by that? Am I loud?" Ishtar retorted.
"No, no, hehehe—" Noah chuckled nervously.
"Are you laughing, you brat?!" she exclaimed, raising her fist as if to punch him in the stomach, but Aaron caught her arm.
"That's for later, Ishtar. What do you need?" Aaron asked, releasing her arm.
"Well, Noah is being summoned by Isabella, who is about to conduct his final checkup," Ishtar explained.
"And Ciel is calling you, too, because the Vanguard Drone has just returned from surface surveillance. She reports they've gathered enough information on surface conditions."
"Good. Noah, Ishtar, finish your personal affairs. Tomorrow, we begin the launch," Aaron said as he turned to leave.
"Roger~" Ishtar saluted casually.
"I'm heading out now. Bye-bye, Ishtar," Noah said, dashing away from her.
"Wait! I'm coming too!" Ishtar said, as she followed him.
Aaron went through the automatic sliding door and looked into the vast room. The once half-empty space had transformed into a bustling factory filled with heavy machinery, conveyor belts, and whirring equipment. Drones hovered tirelessly overhead, performing maintenance and operations with mechanical precision.
"We did too much to this place, though we're clearing it now..." he murmured, his voice tinged with a mix of regret and determination.
"But enough of hiding, I'll bring war to the surface, and no one will be able to stop the impending catastrophe."
He moved toward the enormous vehicle parked nearby, which resembled a colossal train. It stood approximately 250 meters tall, with a width of 350 meters and a length stretching 500 meters. Its weight was beyond measurement —an overwhelming mass of metal and advanced alloys. The vehicle's cart, mirroring the same massive dimensions, those are was poised as if ready to launch into the horizon.