The Destruction of Batana

THE ZENZEN 5

Be today Ador took us on a tour. He even rented a mini bus for us to use as a vehicle to the city museum. For his own food Ador asked Gyo to make it. I could hear Gyo's panicked voice over the phone as soon as I heard Ador's request. I can imagine how troublesome Gyo is this morning. Ah, nevermind. It is too lazy to take care of other people's business.

Before leaving, I asked Arina to talk to me. After a long time he decided to dare to interact back with me. I've been warning him for a year since Bastian's departure. I am not the type to forgive someone. That's why I'll never forgive him. He's been disappointing me ever since my fight with Bastian.

“What was your attitude earlier?” I said with a cold tone and a sharp look.

Arina simply smiled as she played the ground with her feet. “I just congratulated you. No more.”

I rolled my eyeballs and rubbed my hair. “You think I won't stay silent with your attitude just now, huh? I warned you a year ago. I will never recognize you again nor try to talk to you.”

For a year I have been insisting on ignoring it. If I cross paths with him, I'll only assume the wind passes. That's what I've been doing for a year.

“I think you're misunderstanding me right now. You must think my anger at you has been muffled by time, don't you? Too bad I'm not that kind of person. So don't mess with me anymore!” I emphasized the last sentence in an annoyed tone. So that he no longer bullies me.

“Hmm... It wasn't like you said you weren't gonna talk to me. But now you're the one who spoke to me first?”

Eh? I almost patted my head. His words are not wrong. Because it makes me a little embarrassed. I scratched my forehead. “ Listen. This time it was my last warning. From this second no longer speak to me.”

I was about to turn around.

“We'll see! Until when are you so stubborn! I guess you'll keep talking to me if I take you to talk first!” Arina shouted out loud while smiling.

I just shook my head. I will not let my heart wobble in the slightest. It won't!

But the truth is I lost to a girl.

We have arrived at the museum. Y'all know? all the way to the museum, I couldn't calm down. Arina. The thirteen-year-old girl who was the same age as me repeatedly lured me to speak. I've been trying to avoid it. But Ador, the old man heard Arina's words and rebuked me. Tell me why I didn't return his words. I had to, really forced. My tongue was even very faint and my words sounded broken as I answered his words. Because now I do more activities outside the laboratory, Ador so never monitor my activities with other children in the laboratory. He thought I was familiar with the other kids. But the truth is not.

I want to be very angry. But this situation is very unlikely. Maybe I'll explode as soon as I get back to the lab. At least for now I will hold my emotions.

“Hei, Zenzen. What's with your tangled face? You should have enjoyed today because you were just accepted at a prestigious academy in this city.”

I swallowed spit. Arina just invited me back to talk. I try to take my eyes off. At least I don't need to see it.

The museum is very large with modern architecture made of shiny steel. The windows are made large and wide so that anyone can peek at what is inside the museum from the outside. Some of the statues are displayed in front of the museum.

We entered the museum. Inside are glass domes that hold ancient 20th century items. One thing that caught my attention was a rectangular-shaped gadget the size of an adult hand. In front of the glass cube it displays a holographic screen and information about the object.

It's called a cell phone. It is said that the tool has ceased to exist since a disaster struck a quarter of the earth. Creating a communication network was cut off in that era so that it does not allow all humans to communicate with others using the rectangular object. The object itself was found on the body of a woman who was crushed by the ruins of the building due to the great disaster. After that all humans leave the object and switch to a more advanced communication tool.

“What do you see?” Arina is hoarding.

I quickly left him.

The world after destruction is incredible. Humans have not ceaselessly created innovations to rise again after various disasters that struck them in that era. I heard that in that century there was a large-scale shift of the Earth's plate which resulted in the breaking up of several parts of the continent and forming a new continent. Chaos is everywhere too. The crisis of food, communication, medicine, shelter, transportation, all that makes humans have to repeat everything from the beginning. Finding something new but very efficient in precarious circumstances. Use what is there to create something.

Only smart people can survive. Strength is not everything. But the most important thing is intelligence. How do we rebuild the broken, how do we survive. All of this requires intelligence.

We crossed hallway by aisle. I can't explain one by one all the antiques in this museum. Only one or two things caught my attention. Until we arrived at a circular room with a height of three meters. In the middle of the room on display a robot with an oblong head and half his body looks damaged. His hands look long with fingers like blades.

“Robot Border Guard.” Ador hissing slowly.

All views are now on Ador.

“The Border Guard Robot is the worst robot in history created by humans. The robot nearly wiped out half the world. Billions of people became victims, not knowing their age or status. Anything can be slaughtered by this robot.”

I stared in amazement at the two-meter-high robot. Next to the robot carcass on display there is a hologram that shows the original form of the robot.

“The Border Guard Robot or commonly referred to as RP-2 was created thirty-three years ago. I was a witness to the incident, kids. It's just that I'm still very young. About ten years. Chaos is everywhere. I was born into a pretty family. So that we can move from one country to another. Finding a safe place to take shelter. Be me ending up in this metropolis. But that experience will never be forgotten by people like me, children. Explosions everywhere. Giant black smoke billowed high into the sky. The bodies of those killed were scattered everywhere. At least that's what happened due to a fatal human error because it has created the object.”

“In the end RP-2 was immediately disabled by their company using some kind of transmitter. Then the transmitter was destroyed for ever so that it would no longer be misused by anyone. And now you can see for yourself how that thing looks in front of you.”

The kids understood.

“Master, what is the cause of the damage to those robots so they turn to attack humans?” Ask a child.

“Good questions. I'll give you the early functions of those robots. They were created to guard the borders of the country. After the disaster that hit the earth two centuries earlier. They are not tired of wanting to control various regions for the survival of their nation. In the end a scientist who wants to create world peace makes a Border Guard Robot. At that time several countries had formed and they did not want to participate in the wars that broke out around the world. Eventually the countries ordered the robots to keep their countries from outside threats. The threat could be troops, weapons, even spies. Well, this robot is designed to be able to read human expressions and analyze their characters all. If one suspicion is found, the robots will attack anyone who is considered a threat.”

The room was silent for a moment. Leave a glowing hologram next to the immobile robot. The children gave a horrified expression hearing the story. Ador continued his explanation.

“This is actually a fatal mistake made by scientists. They're creating robots that are too smart. So the robots began to analyze other human traits. They learn some bad things from humans such as greed, excessive exploitation of nature, greed, and various other bad things. Those robots turned into weapons eat sir. Which ultimately attacked its own landlord. I remember how many robots there were. They are very much. The number may be more than thousands. Just imagine, the company can produce a hundred robots per day that will be spread throughout the country that needs it. At first everyone loved him because their country was safe thanks to the robots, but it was also easy to hate him. Once that thing turns evil, then one world will hate it. Whoever it is, they'll all hate it.”

“Oi! I told you, didn't I?” Ador squinted his eyes.

The boy just rubbed his head while smiling.

“OK, I'll explain the details. Scientists are beginning to discover the cause of the robots' aggressive behavior. Oi! Doesn't the maker always know how to destroy his work. They always know the solution to the problem they have done. They emitted a kind of decommissioning wave exactly about eighty hours after the awakening of the robots. No one knows the details. What was clear was the seconds before all the robots died, the sky was dark with clouds that were deep gray. The clouds formed a vortex in the ceiling. Then from behind the cloud came a glittering bluish light and a wave slammed from the cloud vortex. A few seconds later, the robots no longer move and just lay on the road. Then the sky back bright.”

“Are you also witnessing that bluish light?”

Ador shakes. “Oh, of course not. My refuge is really far from the source of that great disaster. We are in a country where there is not a single RP-2 there. Can you guess where the country is?”

We shook our heads in unison. I also don't know that fact.

“It was a small island-shaped country. Their country consists of only five islands and one island is inhabited by only twenty million inhabitants. The country was the underdeveloped country of that era but thanks to that incident they turned into the most developed and prosperous country. When everyone is so busy on how to get the air back clean, the country has already started. They do not build housing with steel materials and other environmental damaging materials. They use wood as the building material. They eat from the fruits of nature. Oh! How can the country be considered as a backward country. In fact they are the most advanced among other countries. If you visit there, you will never find a beggar, a poor man or a homeless man.”

Eh? Is there really a country like that? “Lantas why didn't you decide to stay in that place?”

Ador shook his head slowly. “Living in a foreign country is not a good solution, son. We the refugees decided to return to our respective areas. More cannot stand the life and circumstances in the country. Our status there is only shelter. If it is safe we will return to our respective places of origin. That is the principle of modern man. I am also not an exception. I have that feeling too. I'm used to living a modern life and can never live in a place like that, son. Therefore we decided to return to our place of origin.”

It's very unfortunate. If I were to become Ador, I would prefer to stay in such a peaceful place. But the truth is I was born in a different place. Why do I think I can live in such a place? In the end, I was destined to live in a place like this. Where power and wealth are everything.

We went back to the museum. As soon as we finished touring, Gyo had been waiting for us near the parking lot. He looks overwhelmed. Carry a number of noodles placed in a melamine bowl with a heat-resistant rubber cap. Then we ate the noodles in the park provided by the museum as a picnic spot.

We returned to the lab just in the afternoon. Another week is the day of my departure for Talent Academy. Ador had already prepared all the items I needed to bring to the academy.My goal was only one, defeating Cario. At least that's what Ador told me over and over again tirelessly.

I intend to reprimand Arina as soon as I go home.

“Arina.” I called him and gestured him to speak with four eyes.

Arina just smiled as she crossed her hands in front of her chest.” You said this morning was your last conversation. But now you're asking to talk to me again?”

I let out a pissed breath. This kid is getting allowed to become more and more. I'm about to protest. But Arina cut my sentence first.

“I did not intend to talk to you this morning. But I did it for the sake of Mr. Ador. Not because I want to try to make you forgive me. I've never seen Mr. Ador so happy. That's why I'm a little grateful to you. So don't get me wrong.”

I'm speechless. The words I was about to throw out suddenly couldn't come out of my mouth. I don't know what's going on. But hearing the reason it seemed like he was indeed telling the truth.

“I will never ask you to forgive me, Zenzen. It was my fault for not trusting anyone else. Let me give you a reason why I hate listening to the words of people I don't trust. Because I've been betrayed by someone before I was betrayed by Bastian.”

Silent moment. The air slowly caressed my hair. I just grunt slowly. Again, I don't understand why I let him talk. But I decided to hear the story. At least this is for the last time and will be the last before I go to the academy.

“Yes, I totally agreed with you a year ago. About what you said about me who never listened to anyone else. Although I repeatedly do not want to listen to you but some of my feelings listen to what you say. It hurts, but I have to accept it. Before I was taken care of by Ador, my parents fought so many times that they broke things and damaged furniture, that I could not sleep. The night is torture and the day is prison. A strange family indeed. We still live a very ordinary day but once night comes, they will shout at each other like howling wolves.” Arina was silent. “I always thought why don't they just get divorced? Or why they love each other but in the end just to fight each other. I don't get it. All I heard were cries, harsh words, the sound of things breaking. That's all I hear every night before I go to sleep. No, I can barely even sleep.”

“Until I decide to cover both my ears. Stopped to never hear that noise again. But my suffering didn't quite get there. My neighbors started talking about our family. Every time I go to school, they'll whisper in the back about my family. One or two did not even hesitate to reprimand me directly if they were very objected to all the noise that occurred. Nobody cares about me, nobody tries to listen to me. Therefore I started trying to never listen to anyone else.”

“So I decided to ignore all that. Think of it as just a bad luck of the wind or the chirping of birds. But my parents are getting worse. I can't take it anymore. That night I finally gathered my courage, rebuked them.” Arina was silent for a moment, she rubbed her ears. “But what happened finally I completely lost my hearing. It was only next door but it was still very painful. My father slapped hard right in my right ear. Blood is pouring out of my ears. But I don't feel any pain. All I felt at that moment was his pain staring at my father's fierce glaring face. While saying what a little boy like me should interfere in family matters. Those were the last words I heard from the tip of his lips. Then I lifted a chair. No more loving eyes. Just the sight of a cold-blooded killer. Mom quickly protected me. Right at the last second, mother's head hit the chair hard. I can still hear her screaming voice with my left ear.”

“Police arrived five hours later after I ran away from home in a bloody state. My father was arrested. And I was taken to the hospital. You know what happened after that? My father's on trial. My father's family didn't accept my father as a suspect. I was called deaf in the right ear. But I can still listen to the words of others with my left ear. I was in so much shock that it was hard to testify. My father's lawyer said that Dad had schizophrenia. A mental disorder in which a person cannot distinguish what is real and what is not. That's why you always go on a rampage at night. That's why he always yells at Mom for no reason. The lawyer said that Dad doesn't remember killing Mom and hitting me that night. The words made me even more shocked. I can still hear. But in that trial I couldn't hear anything.”

“Finally Dad wasn't sentenced to prison. He was put in a mental hospital and stayed in that place for a very long time. My suffering is not finished until there. My family doesn't want to take care of me. While the family of the mother wants to cut off all family relations from my father including me since the trial. They were devastated by the unfair outcome of the trial. Blaming me for not being able to say anything in court that day. I, who was still in treatment, finally escaped from the hospital. It was raining that day and my ears were bleeding again. I strayed. I don't know where to go.”

“I was found unconscious by someone. Mr. Ador, he was the one who found me unconscious in a narrow alley with a bloody ear. I was taken to this place and received her treatment. I didn't speak a single sentence let alone listen to his words. Until Mr. Ador says one thing that makes me want to listen to him. He said, ‘It's okay if you don't want to listen. But start to talk.’ I was silent for a moment. Those words touched some of my hard heart. I listened to him say. And I cried at that moment. For the first time I really listened to what I wanted to hear.” Arina moved her legs.

“Until the second where Bastian hit me. Before that, I would never listen to words I didn't like. I just want to hear what I want to hear. More talking than listening. I liked Bastian because he rarely spoke and listened to me talk more. That's what makes me feel comfortable around him. The other kids won't last long if those who listen to me speak. So the average person doesn't like me. But I don't care, as long as there is one person who will listen to me, I feel very happy.”

“I want to deny all your stories.” I stopped his words.

Arina jerks. Our eyes clashed with each other.

“You were wrong from the start. If you're listening to everyone say bad things about you, why don't you try to stop them? It's so easy to do it. Tell me if you've had a hard day in your family. You should have talked a lot that day. But you wasted it. You threw away all that opportunity. They spoke so because they all heard all the commotion that was going on in your family. I'm sure the complaint wasn't an insinuation. Except for a rebuke so you try to open your problem.” I shook my head. “Until now you still haven't changed. You think you're any different than you were a year ago? Of course not, you idiot. You're still the same. From your story I understand, you still can't listen to the words of others. The proof is that you ignored my remarks and violated them. Which means you didn't listen to my warning at all. Oi! Listening is not always bad. Therefore hear my words and no longer speak to me.” I emphasized the last sentence in a high tone. Gesticulating if I'm a little upset by her attitude.

Arina smiled. “I thought you'd say that, thank you. You're the second person I've listened to after Mr. Ador. And also see you.”

That day I didn't know if this was our last conversation. Because the next day, Arina was no longer in this laboratory.