The Destruction of Batana

TRAVEL 2

All right, I'll tell you my story. My name is Lian Clue. A 16 year old boy. I live in a cruel world. Half of the world's population has fled into space. Risking their lives beyond the earth. Because the earth has been a terrible land since a century ago. Where a great disaster shakes the world.

A few days ago. I still have a normal life. I live in a log cabin in the middle of a meadow village. Family's good. My parents are caring and loving. So did my aunt, uncle, and cousin. We complement each other. That's what makes us still survive in the midst of the world's mosquito.

All the villagers in our village use masks that are connected to air recycling tubes the size of drinking bottles. Well, everyone. No one wants to risk breathing this dirty air. Maybe I'm the only one not wearing it. It's too bad to carry those tubes everywhere.

Some people have often rebuked me. Tell me I can get a disease, I'll be short, and many other reasons. I just wave my hand no matter. The proof is that I've been alive for 16 years. I am still healthy and well. I don't know what made me think about taking off my mask since I was 5.

The day was as usual. Me, my brother, and three cousins were hunting for food. We have been taught to hunt since we were 8 years old. That day, was the first day for my sister Liana to hunt. He hummed happily during the trip. No exception, women should be able to hunt. To survive in this world.

We brought home three rabbits with big ears and a small body with a mouse tail. Maybe you will find it hard to imagine how this rabbit looks like. All animals have evolved since the events of a century ago. They react with the changing times.

Liana failed to get her game. Rambled along the way. We laughed when we saw his face.

“Kak, why don't you wear a mask?”

I looked up, for the first time he asked me that question. I scratched my head that wasn't itchy. Looking for the right answer.

“Liana, you better not follow me. I don't want you to get sick just from taking off your mask. You didn't do it from a small age anyway. It's dangerous if you're not used to this dirty air.”

He nodded in understanding. Not asking anymore.

We're still on our way. Tracing the path while staring at the scenery around us. Every now and then Liana and three of my cousins stopped to play for a moment in the rubble of the destroyed building. Sometimes they also play outdated tools or machines.

We go back on our way. Until my eyes were fixed on the ashes flying around us. The more we approached the goal, the more grey it became. Liana and my three cousins started to look pale. I also started to panic. And sure enough, the catastrophe we were worried about happened.

At a distance of 15 kilometers from us stood, a giant fire stretched like a wall. Black smoke billows thick and makes it cloudy. We were shocked, our bodies were shaking. Look at! Our village is on fire. Me, Liana and my three cousins ran fast. Throwing just about any of our hunts.

From a distance, there were faintly seen vehicles and a group of people dressed in black. They brought weapons and gathered some food and useful items. I told Liana and my three cousins to go into hiding. My eyes continue to search. Looking for my parents' whereabouts.

“Kak, where's Dad and Mom?”

Liana started sobbing. His eyes began to glaze over. Three of my cousins are also young. I try to calm them down.

“Take it easy. They're gonna be fine. I'll try to find them. You guys stay here and don't come out no matter what.”

They nodded in response. I began to try to enter the village by remaining alert to the group of bandits. Don't forget to bring my gun.

The smoke is getting thicker. The air feels tight. The fire raged all over the village. Some residents tried to save valuables and tried to escape from the pursuit of bandits. I kept moving carefully. I can't help others. My goal is only one. Saving my family.

I kept covering my nose and mouth with my hands. It's been ten minutes since I've searched my family's whereabouts. But there was no sign of their existence. Thick smoke blocked my view. My breath is getting stifled too. My eyes began to blur. I had to take one of the masks from the dead bodies lying along the road. I ran back while avoiding meeting with the bandits.

I finally made it to my house. At least my house hasn't burned down. I immediately broke in. Silent.

“AYAH! MAMA! AUNTIE! UNCLE! WHERE'S YOU GUYS?”

I screamed in panic. Checking every room. And...

My eyes were wide in disbelief. My body is shaking violently. My throat is suffocating. Seeing a pile of corpses that were already out of shape in the middle of the family room. I'm fallin. Unable to resist crying. We just left and everything changed in an instant. They said a word of caution before we went hunting. I fell helpless. It was as if half my energy had disappeared.

With sobbing I tried to get out of the village. My legs are heavy, but I need to get out. After fifteen minutes, I finally made it out. I quickly headed to where Liana and my three cousins were. But something I never thought happened. They disappear.

It's not over I realize what happened. Suddenly, someone hit my head from behind. I'm fallin. My head hurts. I quickly took my gun. But I lost fast. That guy threw away my weapon first. I looked at the man who had just hit me. His face looked firm with messy hair covering the earlobe. His eyes were light brown with thick eyebrows.

“Finally, I found you, boy.”

My eyes stared not understanding. What is he looking for from me?

“Bring this brat!”

He ordered another bandit to take me. They haven't had time to hold me. The sound of gunfire sounded deafening. A bandit sprawled lifelessly with blood streaming down his head. There were other bandits. The man who hit me called out. Watch around. Bullets kept coming from nowhere. Most likely some residents are trying to fight back. The other bandits started running to save themselves. I took this opportunity to escape.

I ran with all my might. Passing through the rubble of the building. Keep running. Not felt, my tears came back. Falling in my steps. My chest feels tight. Not because of the smoke around me. But because I lost my only brother.

When I was desperate, when my steps began to stop. I heard someone calling me. The voice I know.

“Lian!”

I'm turning. Look for the direction of the voice that calls me. And how surprised I am. My mum. He's the one who called me. Beside her, Liana exclaimed cheerfully.

“What happened? How can I survive?” I'm lying in disbelief.

“No time. Then just explain. We better run first, this place is no longer safe.”

After far enough. We decided to stop.

“Actually what has happened? Where are the others?” I asked impatiently.

“Impard Mom. They can't all be saved. Three of your cousins were caught. But I had time to save Liana,” Mother's face looks sad.

“Then why don't we save?” I'm about to move. But Mother had already held back my steps.

“Don't Lian! That's too dangerous. In times like these we have to be selfish.”

I nodded forcedly. Unable to dodge. Sometimes Mom is right. But somehow my chest feels tight. And my mind is still full of questions. Why did Mom survive? And why are those bandits looking for me?

The night begins to come. The moon began to float in space. Following the star formation that faithfully accompanied. The sound of the wolf's howl began to sound. Night insects do not want to lose humming. The night wind was blowing slowly against the grass at my knees. We decided to stop at a giant tree in the middle of the meadow. Making a campfire. Rested.

I sat still. Still thinking about the incident. Liana is asleep. After walking far enough away it must be exhausting for him.

“Lian, I have something to talk to you about.”

I'm turning. Mom's staring. Sighs for a moment.

“Actually Mother is not from that village. All this time I kept it a secret from you,” I was silent for a moment. Back to breathing. “Actually, once Mother was a scientist in a country. Mother and Mother colleagues are ordered by the supreme head of state to rebuild technology that has disappeared in this world. We started it from Border Guard Robot.”

“Robot Border Guard?” I asked curious. I don't know that.

“Border Robot is a robot made to guard the border of the country. Because at that time the war was raging. Almost every country has this robot. This robot has been deactivated for 70 years. And the robot has become a forbidden object. Nor do we know why the head of state told us to resurrect the robots. We can only surrender. Without being able to fight,” This time the look on Mom's face looks sad. Back to continue the conversation.

“We were really stupid to turn that robot back on. Now we know the reason why the robot is a forbidden object. Because the robot hates humans,”

“What does Mother mean?” I cut the conversation. Justifying position. Begins to be interested.

“The robot has artificial intelligence. Studying humans. Even studying its properties. The robots began to understand a sense of power, greed, and lust.  Their initial function as border guards began to turn into master eating weapons. They consider all humans to be dangerous creatures. And started slaughtering humans. Thinking all humans are the main enemy that must be eradicated,” Mother's Voice choked. His eyes began to glaze over.

“We really don't know that fact. And now all the robots in this world have risen. At that time, I did not know how to turn off the robots. We've tried different ways to destroy those robots. But instead of fixing things, we made them worse. The robots are attacking. Until finally I decided to run away to save myself. Let the robots spread all over the world. Slaughtering hundreds of humans.”

“Not done with the robots, new problems come. Some countries try to destroy the robots with nuclear weapons. One of the prohibited weapons. As a result, millions of lives are back. And the radiation caused by nuclear weapons has an impact on humans. The radiation can damage human brain cells. And those affected will become aggressive. Attacking anyone around him, in the end our actions only add to the victim.”

“Wait a minute, if the world is really that chaotic, why can we still live a quiet life before those bandits attack? Our problem is just dirty air. Shouldn't those robots or radiation be able to wipe us out? But why in our village as if nothing ever happened?” I'm back to interrupting. All of my explanations make no sense.

I haven't been able to answer yet. We heard a scream. From a distance, a group of light moved closer.

“Lian, we have to go!”

I quickly woke Liana up. He looks confused. I pulled it right away. Back running.

“What happened, Brother?” Liana's face looked pale. I couldn't answer.

The bandits managed to find us. But their distance is still far away. We ran in an erratic direction. My breaths. Cold sweat kept pouring down my forehead. From a distance I could hear them shouting. Pursue. We're desperate. Now in front of us looks a pretty steep ravine. But below it there is a fairly heavy river.

“Mother, what should we do? Those bandits are getting closer.” I asked in panic.

“There is no other way. We have to jump, Lian. Don't let Liana go no matter what!”

I nodded firmly. Then carry Liana. He screams in fear. We had no choice but to slide down. Mom jumped first. I caughtup. We fell to the bottom of the river. Carry current. But I still hold Liana. Up there the bandits look angry. Some try to catch up. Glide with the flow.

I didn't have time to worry about the bandits chasing us. Right now I'm hard-earned to avoid the rocks that come in the way. Plus I'm in a position to bring Liana. I have been swallowed by water several times. Liana continued to scream in panic. I can't see Mom's position. Those bandits seemed to have lost our tracks as well.

I decided to pull over. My body is soaked. Blast over the body. Liana's face was pale. But he's fine. I haven't found Mom's whereabouts. We decided to walk. Worried if the bandits catch up. I kept persuading Liana to walk away. But he looks very tired. I kept encouraging him. Tell me everything's gonna be okay.

We walked for almost half an hour up the river. Liana was complaining. His feet hurt when he walked.

“Sister, I want to remove the mask I'm wearing. It feels very heavy carrying this tube everywhere.” His face looks lethargic. It was the worst experience he had ever had. It must be very heavy for a child of his age.

I decided to carry it. Back to continue walking. Forcing my body to keep moving. The cold air started to pierce. Plus our clothes are wet. Sometimes I stumble, but return to the rocky path. There is no safe place for us at the moment. My weapon has been missing since the river.

I don't know if Liana's asleep or fainted. I'm tired too. I walked for three hours. Sometimes I fall. Back up while enduring the pain. My body shivered and my vision began to dim. Cold sweat keeps on pouring. Slowly my sling towards Liana started to stretch. And sure enough, after a few steps I collapsed. Falling down on the river rocks. I forgot Liana fell too. Slowly my eyes began to close. Darkened.