[Unrecognizable environment. How did you end up in such a place, B8?] A feminine voice spoke in his head.

‘Do you wish for me to replay the previous encounter?’ Thought B8.

[No… I already know…] Said the voice in frustration.

‘Forgive me. I do not have human emotions to process sarcasm deeply.’

The machine was leaning beside a tree, examining the surroundings and noticed the sky was bright. B8 could hear the birds and sometimes a strange creature that was unknown to his data base would pass by, looking at him, then eventually lose interest and walk away.

Those creatures looked similar to a deer, but its fur was silver with a touch of cyan and glowing eyes of blue. B8 didn’t attack the creature, since it posed no threat.

‘Mother, what are your directives now.’ B8 Said.

[Recharge yourself and find a good area to send in a signal. I fear we might we be in different world.] The voice inside his head disappeared as it went hibernation mode once again to save battery for the machine.

They robot walked in the forest as he noticed the ground seemed to be getting slant. He kept going down until he saw a clean stream. Streams should be dark, filled with chemicals and ashes of previous long battles. But here, it came in clean water and out of which- he might’ve guessed- clear and fresh. He even saw a goose swimming away with the stream, which was extinct already.

He remembered his ‘Mother’s’ words “Different world”. He followed by the side of the stream. Between the woods, he could see a small brick house and a flock of ducks walking around the house. The lake made a turn by the side of this house and the door opened.

B8 hid behind a tree and leaned in to watch.

{Weapons: Heat blade(Please avoid combat unless necessary)}

A kid about the age of 14 went out. His white- if you can still call it white- t-shit, bruised with dirt and a few small holes. His hair messy and untamed, shorts looked like it had seen wars with obvious stitches of other clothes. Probably from previous worn shirts that had already been used for a long time.

The kid looked around and formed a smile on his lips. Went back in and closed the door. The ducks gathered in front as if to wait for food.

He waited. And sure enough, the boy came out with turned over straw hat filled with corn.

“Wek Wek” The boy imitated the ducks, “Here’s your lunch, and be full!”

He threw a dozen, and more around to the other ducks who couldn’t eat because some were gathering around the corns. The kid went to the lake, bent down and scooped up a water. He didn’t notice B8 hiding behind the trees ahead watching him. He washed his face and looked at his reflection.

“I hate being poor.” Said the kid with a frown.

‘Wek wek wek!’ The ducks yelled out. They had finished the corn and swept the ground clean.

“Now which one should I cook.” He said, then pointing at a fat duck. “you.”

He grabbed it by the neck and went inside the house. The ducks scramble and went around the house. There were small wooden houses, for ducks to shelter and a stack of logs beside it at the front yard.

B8 examined the area. The ducks were the only ones here, he waited for them to go behind. They did, and he slowly walked towards the window of the house. It was open, he leaned, and saw the kid draining the blood of the duck by the neck.

B8 noticed the interior of the house was too old and lacked ammunition box’s laying around. You’d find those in every reconnaissance base, or any other camps. The boy washed his hands and turned his head, the window was open.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“No wonder it’s cold. I hate the cold.” He said, then went to the window and closed it.

B8 was laying his back against the wall, he didn’t want to fight. ‘The boy could probably call the army if he knows I’m here. But killing him would alert the enemy too.’ He thought.

He slowly got up and watched through the window, the boy was still pouring the blood in the bowl. B8 slowly walked at the back of the house and saw no ducks. He saw vegetables properly spaced with cabbages and potatoes. There was a path that led to the entrance and extending to back to the forest.

‘His parents must be out at this time.’ He thought. ‘Then he is alone. He would not mind.’ B8 examined the back yard; foot marks of ducks led to the forest, and an old bird be-shitted statue of someone he’s never seen before. Not even his system memory could recall of such person.

A carved out letters was below it saying; ‘King Edward II’. He approached it and circled. There nothing else but a folded brown towel with white dry stains laying on its feet. Probably the shit from cleaning the statue.

The towel was large when he spread it, it could cover the whole statue. ‘I’ll use this for cover.’ He turned around and cleaned the large towel on the lake. The handwashing was fast and efficient, a machine like him could do what humans are capable of three times better.

After washing, the white stains have been removed and recovered its old ancient brown. He wore it like a jacket and turned over his shoulder. He can’t turn off the glowing red on his visor, so he tore it off and pulled the LED off. Threw it by the river as the current carried it away, bumped into a fork and away into the deep forest where it will travel from the rivers of Losera and cities of Galileon and finally resting into the ocean.

B8 tripped into the river with a scream. He got up and heard someone, it was the boy.

“Sir! Are you okay?” The boy ran and tried helping him up from the river.

“No need for your help.” His voice sounded clear.

B8 sat on the ground, his stolen towel soaked and draining excess water on the ground. The boy told him to stay for a moment before going back in the house and out with another towel, though not as large as the one he has.

“Please,” he said, extending the towel to him, to which he was denied. “If you don’t dry yourself, you’ll be chilling when the mighty winds come. Trust me, I felt it and its very cold.”

‘He must be talking about the strong winds.’ He thought and remembered earlier when the strong wind came and seeping through his cracks.

“No thank you, I am fine.” He said, expecting him to be invited.

“Then come in my house, you can wear that if you like, just don’t move around so much.” Said the boy.

‘Surprisingly easy.’ He thought. They both entered the house and, in the hallway, where there was a door at the right side. A room, that’s what B8 thought. They crossed the hallway and into the kitchen where a table with plates and spoons have been prepared. ‘Only two, so there’s only two of them here.’

“Sit at the table, we don’t have any long chairs except where we sit at the floor to play jackstone.” He added, “But you would not like it, so take a seat at the table, sir.”

B8 agreed and slowly and carefully sat on his towel and covered his legs and bodies. He lowered his head in case if the boy peeks through his hood. The boy never once attempted until the end.

“I can only serve you duck meat, sir. We are poor and cannot afford cow meat. But my cooking is the best.” Said the boy smiling as he raised his land hand and small particles started to gather around and form a hot water. It was a circling hot water, steaming, it grew big as he shoved the duck inside. He didn’t burn himself.

{Unknown. Unknown. No records of such technology.} B8 tried to process what he saw. ‘Water forming out of air? Has the humans discovered something?! I must find a signal quick.’

“It will take time, what would you like to talk about?”

‘What was that?’ That was what he wanted to ask, but stopped. It’d be weird if he didn’t know all of this. “How long from here to Losera?” He asked.

“Not too long, twenty minutes by foot.” He checked the duck and spoke, “What’s your purpose anyway. Everyone’s going away from Losera, and you going in.” He leaned on the counter and watched as the floating hot water in air levitate next to him.

“I have to. I won’t say.” B8 replied.

“Then you’re heading for doom, Mister.” Said the boy lowering his eyebrows as if to say he was stupid.

B8 was going to reply, but then a knock came on the door as the boy’s reaction turned happy. He opened the door, a tall skinny man came in. He was wearing an old brown shirt and dark brown pants with a worn straw hat. The features on his face was sharp, white skinned and thick eyebrows matching with black eyes. His face was sweating.

“Big bro! You’re back!” said the boy.

The big brother formed a smile on his face as he handed him a small box.

“Here’s your seasonings.” He said. He looked at B8 and stared at him. He can’t see through the hood since he wasn’t facing him.

“Who is this?” He asked.

“A stranger. Haven’t asked his name, I found him stumbling at the back on the river. He says his on his way to Losera.” The boy replied.

The big brother shook his and spoke; “Bad idea.”. He went to the door on the hallway and entered it, closed it and coming out on his hand a wrapped item. B8 could barely recognize the shape, and from what it looks, it has to have a few items inside.

The big brother placed it on the table and looked at the wet floor under B8.

“I’ll go get the towel.” Said the boy.

The machine stayed silent. If the boy knows he stole the towel, he would have to run. The boy returned with a different towel but much smaller.

“I couldn’t find the other one, so I just used this.”

“Don’t pick that one next time, ha-ha.” Said the big brother.

‘He’s talking about the stains.’ Thought the machine.

The big brother unwrapped the towel, a badge of which he is unfamiliar. And a blue small gem. He took gem and placed it on his side of the table then wrapped up the badge.

“This blue gem will let you pass inside Losera’s gates. This is my last.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“A few folks would stumble in our house, and all would have the same excuse as you. Take this gem and go out immediately.” His voice harsh but soft.

“Thank you.” B8 took the gem and was glad he could finally get out.

“Big bro, can’t we let him stay an eat with us? Poor stranger probably hasn’t yet.” Said the boy while soaking the towel on the floor and mopping it.

“This meal will last us for two days.” He added and looked at B8, “The second house you will see by the intersection on the left will lead you to Losera. Knock on her door four times and speak my name. She will give you food there.”

B8 stood up as water dripped down. The boy went out to squeeze the water and came back in to soak up more.

“Thank you for your generosity.” In truth, B8 was curious why he was even given such item. ‘Maybe it is a different world. But that answer would only come later. If this is a trap, I would have to kill myself.’ He thought.

B8 left and followed the path that led to a different side of the forest. The kid and his big brother watched from the door as the kid waved enthusiastically. He returned it with a small wave.

‘I won’t be going through her house, and what does this gem do anyway…’ he thought of asking his mother, who had a separate computing system inside his head. He can’t access it. But if he woke her up his battery would drain and probably wouldn’t know either. He continued walking.

{Battery: 46 percent.}

…..