The Destruction of Batana

THE CREATION OF MONSTER 4

The next day, I looked out the classroom window. A class? As I explained, Ador also taught us like a teacher. Therefore he created a room that was made like a class at school. I whispered to the boy next to me.

“Hey, have you never been interested in going out of this lab?”

The boy glanced in the other direction for a moment. He pointed at himself. It signals whether I'm asking him or not. I almost patted my head. Then nod. Of course I asked him.

“We never thought about it. After all, we all don't want that. We are in our safe zone. The average of us also had a bittersweet experience out there. So we decided to never ask. I think it's also disrespectful. Remember Mr. Ador has given us all the facilities available. Why else find a reason to go out there?”

Makes sense. But that's not the answer I want. “But didn't Ador ever take Bastian out? Was it his request or Ador himself who invited him as a gift because Bastian had done something great?”

The boy rolled his eyeballs. Middle thought. “First of all you can't call his name without using ‘tuan’. Because it's not polite at all. Considering you're the youngest of us. If you repeat your question by adding sir, I will answer it.”

I let out a breath. Trying to hold back the annoyance from the boy's speech style that sounds really annoying. I repeated my question, this time I added the word master in front of his name. “Didn't Mr Ador ever take Bastian out? Was it his request or was it Mr Ador himself who invited him as a gift because Bastian had once done something great?”

“As I recall at that time Mr. Ador was very happy to talk with Bastian. But we don't know the details. What is clear is that Bastian did do something that time. But we never wondered.”

“Zenzen, Dio. What are you guys talking about back there?” Ador rebuked us both. Making Dio (I just found out the name of the child next to me thanks to Ador's reprimand) stop his sentence.

“I'm sorry Mr. Ador. This kid from earlier wondered on to me.” Dio glanced at me, gesturing for me to apologize as well.

I just lowered my head for a moment.

“Zenzen, if there's a part you don't understand, just ask me directly. Don't you nullify your friend who is seriously following my lesson.”

I scratched my non-itchy head while nodding once more. Back to my position.

After class, Ador asked me to come to his room. I know what's going on. Some kind of extra lesson. The difference is that this material is not about general lessons. As Ador said yesterday, I will get a lot of explanations about thinking logic, thinking control, and some about other thoughts.

“Should we start now?” Ador opened a book.

“Ador, before we start the lesson there is something I want to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Yesterday you explained at length about mind control and such, but something stuck in my mind. Why are you trying to make me use the mind when there seems to be another way that is more practical in using the features of the shield in this body? I mean, you must have done the test before, right? And I'm sure the test didn't use human props.”

Ador blinked his eyes. Just a moment and start answering. “Smart once you think about it. But I have a reason, son. I purposely made it rely on your mind instead of relying on an automated machine that pops up from a voice command or a button. Wh why? Because I have always taught you all to be able to try both under normal and flawed circumstances. That's why I never created my invention if it doesn't teach its users a lesson. Nothing practical, son. That's the lesson I want to instill deep down in your hearts.”

“Other reasons?” I still feel less with that answer.

“Another reason because I don't want the same incident to happen a second time. You know what I mean, right? The incident where Bastian beat you to a pulp.

“OK, okay, I get it. As you know from the incident. I gave the iron hand as a form of appreciation to him. I wanted to give her a gift that I didn't bother to use my mind because I wanted to make her feel relaxed for a moment. You know for yourself that he's not talented? But I want to give him a little suggestion that even if he's not talented at least he has great people around him who always support him. But I can't believe I'm even accepting the consequences of my own actions. That is the basic nature of man. If they gain a power and strength, they will not hesitate to oppress anyone who becomes a pest for them.”

I raised my hand. “maaf, Ador. Did you just consider me a pest?”

Ador laughing. “I said what Bastian might have in mind when he looked at you. Oi! So sensitive are you today. Though actually I am the most hurt in explaining this.”

I'm just smiling.

“Because of that incident I decided to never create something if there was no effort for the user. So try to understand my various explanations at length yesterday. I just want you to take a little wisdom from your new bionic body.”

I was silent for a moment. “This means you are the same as us, right?”

“Eh?” Ador did not understand the meaning of my words.

“Your explanation sounds long and very theoretical. But I only catch one conclusion from all your explanations. You cannot get out of your trauma zone. Which in the end you just feel can not put the trust of others.”

Ador jerks. He didn't think that I would say that.

“Or lest you never notice it this long?” I squinted my eyes.

Ador speechless. His face looks confused. It seems my words are right. Ador was not aware of that. He is more busy with storytelling and logic so he forgets one important thing about his feelings. That he felt so devastated at the incident that it traumatized him and difficult to forget. But he did not want to accept the fact so he tried to forget it by busying himself in his scientific theories. Trying to define if the sense of disbelief is not derived from the incident but because of something else.

Ador laughed as he waved his hand. “Come on, we don't need to discuss that shit. Let's just start the lesson. At least you should be able to understand all my theories for less than a week. I really can't wait to see you can control those shields properly and correctly.” Ador tried to divert the conversation and began to explain things.

I tilt my head. It would appear that he was trying to avoid the topic.

Week pass. My brain is already full of head-dizzying theories. I'm back in the simulation room. Back to the baseball machines. Ador no longer gives a challenge let alone explain the purpose of this simulation. I started to put my hands forward. At least I understand some of Ador's theories and try to simplify them as much as possible.

Up to the third stage. I began to push my mind to strengthen the entire shield. Ador biting lips. These are the moments of determination. If I pass I will pass this basic stage and go to the next stage. But if I fail, I'll just be dizzy again with his crazy theories for a week and repeat everything from scratch. Isn't the second thing really annoying? I think my brain will explode before I can complete this stage if the second thing really happens.

I'm trying to concentrate. I feel the WAVE flow in every nitty-gritty of my bionic body. When I was ready, the balls began to be thrown. This time it worked! The ball is immediately reflected when it touches the hologram. Ador could not help his excitement. He returned to the scene like last week. I just shake my head. At least it was better than him saying the word drone.

The next attack became easier for me. I want it three balls, four balls, five balls, all those attacks I can go through easily. We ended the session after fifteen minutes.

“OK, then I'll treat you, son. As a refreshing because you've been through this exam so well. I'm taking you somewhere. I'm sure you like it a lot.”

“One place? Does that mean you're gonna take me out of this boring lab?”

Ador thumbs up. “But I disagree with the sentence ‘boring’.”