Grow

Now

          Akira → Hello everyone! I'd just like to apologize for the long gap between this chapter and the previous one. There were many things that came up in real life and writer's block constantly plagued me whenever I tried to write this chapter. Nevertheless, I hope that you all enjoy it!

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          June 5, 2166

          An android was sitting down in an office overlooking a growing country. The sky was a light, pastel blue and the light breeze tugged on the leaves of the big, old maple and the grass that covered the ground ever so beautifully. He let out a small sigh, as he wished he could be out there enjoying their new world instead of staying in his office doing dull paperwork. Of course, things weren't that simple. The very second Mas accepted to be the new leader of their country, he knew that he would never have the ability to live a secluded, simple life. He knew that during the war, and he knew that it wouldn't change in the peace. Still, he wished that it could be a little bit easier.

          He decided to take a short break, and with another sigh, he rose from his chair and walked towards the nearest window. It gave a beautiful view of the large maple that he found all those years ago on his 18th birthday. And while it may not have been the birthday gift he expected, he certainly wasn't complaining. But now there were many of its kind strewn around the country everywhere, and different species had started to come back as well. But even if it was no longer as special, the tree would always hold a special place in his heart.

          He walked to another window, which showed a beautiful view of the capital from the ledge his office was situated on. Mas looked back at the paperwork and then at the window. Surely it would be alright for him to go and take a bit of a stroll in the town before he resumed his work? After all, it would very well help him clear his mind from all of the stress that work piled on him.

          So he stepped out of the building and hopped into his car. While the cars were far more expensive than they used to be in the Light Ages, they were far more advanced. While they still brought about the same convenience of not having to walk terribly inconvenient distances, they didn't cause massive destruction to the environment. It was strange that the people of the past would ever consider those old cars OK to use. Parking his car at the base of the hill (although it was a rather steep one; he still thought it should've been considered a mountain) he stepped out and started walking around.

          As he walked many people came up to him to give a friendly 'hello' before continuing on with their day and many kids stared at him before whispering and pointing to their parents. At one point during his walk, a young android came to him and asked if he was the one that saved his grandmother. His smiled and crouched down to their level, but before he could answer their question, two figures came running over to (the both of) them. They were both humans, one that he recognized as his old teacher Madison, and the other an unfamiliar male around his age. He had no idea that she had a grandkid. No less a kid.

          He stood up to his full height and addressed the two, giving a hug to his former teacher and a handshake to her child. As soon as the two males stopped shaking hands, the unknown man put his hands on his knees and started panting. Madison shook her head before she started to explain.

          "I'm really sorry that you had to get dragged into this, Mas. You must have so much work to do. See, while I was ordering our shakes, Will," she pointed to the panting male, "got distracted and lost my one and only grandchild. Yes, what an amazing son I have."

          Will quickly shot up. "You liar! Your story is absolutely false! I was the one getting the shakes! But because you can't handle people looking at your scarred face you got into a fight and let Adrian wander off! You're just too embarrassed to admit it, aren't you?!"

          At the mention of their name, the small android looked up. When he realized that they weren't calling for him, he continued about their business. Mas touched the two bickering humans on the shoulder and pulled them away from each other. "I do understand that you two were worried for the sake of Adrian, but I don't think that it's worth creating such a scene. Nor do I think that you should be making that scene in front of Adrian." He looked over towards Adrian to find him playing with a few blades of grass that were growing in the ground. Will sighed. "You're right. I just wish that mom could just stop getting so angry about her past. I understand the pain she went through, as I had to grow up without her, but I just don't understand why she keeps holding onto it, y'know?"

          Mas remembered all those years ago when he saw her at The Office. The blank look in her eyes, the eerie smile, the micro-chip embedded into her face, it was still off-putting to him, even now. After they took down the old government, they freed all of the people that were controlled by them, though their faces would be left scarred, sometimes even seriously disfigured. For Madison, the entirety of the left side of her face was left scarred, as her micro-chip ran down so deep. It was understandable that she would be sensitive about it, but even the most disfigured people had already moved far past it. Or at least were making progress in their efforts. Madison, however, seemed to have made little or none of that same progress. It was strange, considering the therapy and surgery that were offered to the victims. Of course, you could take a person to water, but you can't make them drink. That seemed to be the case with Madison. And he stated it to her face. Based on the way she averted her gaze, he knew he was right.

          After a while more of talking (and making sure Adrian didn't run off again) the three bid Mas a farewell and split away, and Mas returned to his office, ready to finish the paperwork that he had procrastinated on. With the Sun setting and lighting the water of the capital's lakes and rivers with a beautiful glow, Mas picked up his pen and continued his work, the faint hum of his gears accompanying him late into the night.

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Words → 1,059 | Pages → 3.1