More discoveries

"So what did you learn, my friend?"

"According to earlier, you surprisingly knew certain fields."

"You mean how fit I actually am?"

"No, you were able to downplay someone like a grown-up. You even know about...restricted fields of activities."

"What do you mean, I'm already 22 If I count correctly. Of course I know those stuff!"

"Then perhaps you wish to engage-"

"No, no and no. That's not something I can comfortably discuss about, even with you."

"Very well."

Chella's face reddens as a reaction to her friend's nonchalant assumption. However, that doesn't seem to be all the A.I has in mind to say, if it has its own mind that is. After haft-an-hour of awkward silence, Chella mutters some words.

"Would you like me to give you a name?"

"As an artificial intelligence, a short yet distinct name would be practically useful."

"Then how about...B.I.T? As in Battle-ready Intelligence Technology."

"That is fine."

"As least tell me that you like the name."

"If you like me to be grateful, then I am grateful."

"Gosh, nevermind."

Now her friend has a name and it's Bit. It's nothing special to anyone but for Chella, it's a beginning of deepening the mutual friendship. Thus, they basically promise to support each other from now on. Eventually she will meet new people and have her eyes fed with all kinds of wonders. But for now, Bit wishes to inform its friend and current owner about something.

"Chella, I detected some differences within you."

"Oh no, am I sick? I'm going to die early? I don't want to, when I've yet to fulfilled my life."

"If that was humor, it didn't work on me. This is serious."

"Go head."

"Within your body, some genetical alterations had manifested themselves. I couldn't deduce what had caused it. On the good side, your lungs didn't seems to have any problems and your heartbeat was stable which mean there's still oxygen. Another strange thing was in your words this morning. You mentioned things that you claimed the scavengers spoke to you about but my recorder received nothing of the sort."

"But that's not possible, I clearly heard them. They described how nice I looked, that they'd like to spend a night with me. Yet, their reactions were just... genuine shock."

"It could be due to you had made a right GUESS. Or it could be that you just happen to be irresistible."

"Don't make it sound like it was my fault."

"Logically, you made a sarcasm about the leader as he had said. So which means you spoke like you knew him well enough to make such a remark on him."

"Well, it just came to my mind that a lady in red referred to him as Daddy as well as the image of people throwing dirt on his face."

"I see, you HAPPENED to knew his pass experiences... Could it be, that you could gain access to the mindscape of someone's consciousness?"

"You mean I could see into his mind?"

"That would be a way to say it, yes. You could tap into someone's inner world which would mean you could see the current thought patterns of others."

Chella's in awe as she listens to Bit's deductions because it means she manifested a supernatural ability of her own. Her dark eyes glimmer with overdosed excitement as if they're a flashlight. Her arms tremble in exceeding joy. This is because she has a liking to the superheroes comics, especially the X-gang series. One the characters, Carles Rapier is her inspiration of a character. She always looked up to him and deemed him the alpha and omega.

After the talk, she starts feeling hungry so she opens the box next to her seat and take out a pack of potato chips. This is the type of snack that could preserve itself thus never rots but that's not why she enjoys it. She just likes how spicy it is, eating happily as her friend does the driving.

Night eventually falls, she askes Bit to open the vehicle ceiling so she can gaze at a real night sky. She then climbs up on the top and lies down with her head leaning onto her arms. She gets lost in her thoughts, her experience of the day had led her to many conclusion, that there are other humans alive and well, that she's a special individual, that the world is now a huge wasteland. The chances of someone still alive in a ruined construction keeps her hope intact.

Even when Chella already has Bit as a friend, she would like to have one who doesn't simply just respond to her words, one who would share laughter with her. That doesn't mean she dislike having Bit as her company. She stops dwelling in her mind and simply enjoys the night.

"Hey, Bit."

"What could I assist you with?"

"I just want to say thanks for being with me all this time."

"I'll say what I said again. As an A.I and a database, it is my duty to support you."

"Haha, I'm not the only special one it seems."

"...thank you."

"Is that genuine?"

"As of now, yes."

"I see."

The two stop talking as they go on with their own thing. The wheels keep rolling on the flat and sandy ground. The only sound that can be heard is the sound of rubber and dust colliding with each other. The night sky is beautiful, especially for a first-timer like Chella. Not long after, Chella feels sleepy and lies down on one of the comfy beds inside the vehicle. Bit in the meanwhile continues piloting the vehicle to go onward.

...

Somewhere above the clouds appears a giant spacecraft, in a room, a figure walks calmly in a hallway as they're about to report something to their superior. They knock on the door 3 times, asking for permission to interrupt.

"Come in."

"Sorry for the intrusion."

"Don't worry about it. Ladies, could you leave us for a bit?"

"Sure Hun."

3 good-looking women stand up from sofa and walk out of the room, leaving only the 2 men inside. The servant readies to report his duties.

"First thing first, the project goes as good as expected."

"Very good, he will be pleased to here this."

"Actually, there another thing I want to report."

"What is it then?"

"Our scout said to have found Boarman and his goons in severe condition. Many of them had their bones broken, seemed to be fall damage. As for the leader himself, he suffered severe injury on the head."

"I see, I guess Boarman wasn't possessing any potential as I hoped him to have. Or...this is the work of someone very special. Such thought...excites me as El Fuego Esquisito. I might have to look into this. If that is all, you're dismissed."

"Yes sir!"

"If this turns out that way, I may have found my senorita."

The mysterious man continues enjoying his champagne, filled with thrill.

...

Chella wakes up, seeing that Bit has stopped the Driller in the middle of the road and is occupied in something.

"Good morning, Bit."

"Good morning, I stopped because my ocular sensors detected something noteworthy."

"You found water?"

"No, but I found human footprints and they seem new. There were probably 2 humans."

"That's neat. Where do they lead to?"

"To the southeast, I believe. I'll follow the lead. You just sit still."

"Sure thing, bestie."

"Referring an A.I as a bestie is rather odd."

"I don't care because you truly are my bestie."

Bit starts piloting the Driller following the fresh footprints. Chella in her free time, takes out a comic book and becomes immensed in it. It is like that for 2 hour straight then they arrive in front of what seems to be a deserted town.

"Interesting, we found a place that isn't completely empty."

"Chella, you should proceed with caution regardless. Not all humans are friendly."

"Will do."

Chella gets out and follows the footprints leading inside of town, the footprints lead her to what looks like an entrance to the sewer. She climbs down on a rusty ladder and traverse the sewer until she finds a pathway hidden by a shroud.