After Nurse Emily left, I was left alone with General Roger inside the room. Looking at General Roger on the bed again, I couldn't still comprehend how he became like that - Someone totally different to the point even I didn't recognize him at first glance. I still can't understand how is he alive in that state. Just by looking at the burns all around his body, anybody can tell that it's from grenades, probably not just because of one. It's as if he competed with a number of them. Even losing an arm and a leg as a result. In contrast, the only thing that Lieutenant Narc only loses is his pants.
"...?"
Come to think of it, where's Lieutenant Narc? He should be with the doctor earlier, right? I stepped outside the room and planned to look for him but as soon as I got outside, he was there standing beside the doorway, dazing. I tried asking him what he was doing but he stayed silent and continued to stare into nothingness.
"What are you doing –"
"...!" Right before I got the chance to ask again, he jolted and stared at me silently.
"...Is there a problem?"
"N-No..." he replied in a low tone, looking away from me. "Sorry..."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"..."
"What did you and the doctor talk about?"
"..."
"Why are you not answering?"
"..."
"Is it about General Roger?"
"...!" His eyes widened but remained silent.
That seems to be the case...
"...What did the doctor say about General –"
"Hey," Lieutenant Narc cut me off, staring into nothingness with a serious expression. "Is it possible for someone to give their lifespan to anyone?"
"...I don't think so." I paused before answering as I look at him right beside me.
"Yeah, right?" He forced a smile. "Sorry for the dumb question..."
"..."
If it is possible for that to happen, then what's the point of it? Giving your lifespan to someone to prolong their life and someday that same life you give would just be taken away too. It's like stretching something for it to be as long as you want it to be that is bound to snap no matter what you do. No matter how much you try, the end is inevitable.
A pointless move.
A waste of energy if you could say.
But why –
"...Why do humans keep trying?"
"Because we're humans," Lieutenant Narc who started walking back inside the room said in a low tone, "That's why we always try..." His eyes focused on General Roger.
"..."
Does that answer my question? Isn't that just repeating what I said without it being a question? Though I don't know why I blurted out that question from my thoughts in the first place.
"Rem," Lieutenant Narc stopped walking midway, his eyes still looking at General Roger inside the room, "why don't you go to your father."
"...Father?"
"It's been a long time since he'd seen you."
"...?"
I have a father? If I have one, then who's my mother...? No. Do robots have parents in the first place?
