8. Half Human Robot

Dean still hasn't returned. All the information Alexa gathered didn't help much. The girl was only focused on finding a way home, not stopping the war. Alexa began to feel uncomfortable there even though there were many amazing things there, but as the days went by Alexa no longer focused on the differences. The sound of the explosions grew louder as if advancing to finish off the remaining robot settlements in the South and East.

Alexa was desperate now, all the girl thought about was going home.

"I don't believe in prophecies. I'm not the one in the prophecy. Yes, of course, it's not me," Alexa said to herself.

A few days ago, after Alexa was fitted with a chip so she could survive in a strange robot world without human food, Dean left after saying he would help Alexa with the next step. However, until now the man has not returned at all. Even though Harlan was there, the old man spent more time lying in bed because he was old. Alexa couldn't force Harlan to accompany her to collect all the things so they could find a way out together.

The other residents were also not in the house. Azura was the same as Dean. From the snow robot that occasionally accompanied Alexa, the war was getting worse, the attacks launched by the enemy overwhelmed their side, and many were killed, injured, and even critical. Alexa was increasingly afraid to stay there.

"I don't care about anything anymore. I want to go back," said Alexa. But the girl was then confused about what to do. "I'll just tell you," thought Alexa.

However, where would she run away? There was no place the girl could go now. The place was still foreign, and Alexa didn't know where to go. The sound of the explosion that was heard so loudly made Alexa's steps that were pacing back and forth in Dean's room stop. Her attention was drawn to the window facing West, there was a puff of black smoke that looked reddish because of the flames. Alexa's body froze, and her eyes widened along with the strong vibrations in her footsteps.

The robot citizens panicked, running aimlessly, even the vehicles that had been driving calmly in the lane that had been set also overturned. Several buildings looked fragile. The fear that Alexa felt was now getting worse, as did the robot citizens out there.

"Calm down."

Alexa was surprised when she turned around and found Harlan already there. Somehow the man had gotten there without Alexa knowing.

“This isn’t the first time or the second time. It’s just that something like this does make you panic,” Harlan said to calm Alexa down.

“But, earlier…” The girl didn’t continue her sentence. Alexa’s eyes were glassy, and her heart beating fast because of the big explosion.

Harlan just nodded, looking calm and sitting on one of the chairs in Dean’s room.

“Yes, I know. That’s why we want this war to end soon.” Harlan sighed tiredly, his gaze wandering.

“Isn’t there a ceasefire or something to stop this war?” Alexa asked.

“No. It’s useless. There was a ceasefire from the start. They rested for a week according to the agreement, but after that, the war got crazier, and since the enemy leader was replaced, everything became chaotic. That robot is crazy,” said Harlan who now looked desperate.

Alexa was now starting to calm down, the situation was not as tense as before. Suddenly his mind imagined the battlefield out there that would claim many robot victims, up to dozens of robots, or even more.

“So what should be done?” Alexa asked quietly.

“Alexa, you who have only been here for a few days are confused, we who have been here for decades do not know what to do, and cannot do much at all. So we started to rely on the prophecy, believing that there would be someone who could stop the war as written in the prophecy made by Azlan. However, as time went by, the robots no longer believed in the prophecy that had happened too long ago,” Harlan said again.

This time Alexa became quieter, even her tears came out. Harlan who was watching Alexa was surprised by it.

“Are you crying?” Harlan asked in confusion.

Alexa was even more confused by Harlan’s question.

“Of course. I’m human, I cry,” Alexa answered rather curtly. However, the girl’s attention was diverted to Harlan who was frozen in place.

“Strange,” Harlan said quietly.

“What’s strange?” Alexa asked back.

"If the chip is installed, you are automatically a robot, and slowly your body will harden so that there is no more fluid in you, like blood, or even tears," Harlan explained.

Hearing Harlan's story, Alexa did not understand what Harlan meant at all.

"If there is no blood, I die," Alexa replied.

However, Harlan was silent, very silent without blinking. He looked so shocked that Alexa stared at him.

"So, what's wrong with me?" Alexa started to get scared again now and looked at Harlan who could only stay silent.

So what?

The snow robot was then called by Harlan to examine Alexa. All the examination results displayed on the screen were stable and normal, not detecting any water at all. However, how could Alexa cry?

"Where is the book I gave you last time?" asked Harlan suddenly.

Although confused, Alexa took the notebook she kept not far from there and handed it to Harlan who immediately opened page by page in a hurry. After finding the page he was looking for, Harlan gave it to Alexa so that the girl could read it silently.

Alexa just nodded when Harlan signalled her not to speak.

In the opening greeting of the book it was written, -A beautiful, brave, and gentle human. The girl was friendly and never gave up even though there was doubt in her. However, it was so magical in my dream, that when the humans who were trapped here slowly became robots after being chipped, this girl was different. Her tears and blood were still flowing, wasn't that amazing? However, could this girl stop the war? Isn't that funny?-

Alexa leaned back, shocked after reading the book. The note left by Azlan was considered a prophecy. However, how could it possibly lead to Alexa?

-She, the girl, is the only half-robot human. When the girl who came immediately died after being chipped.-

Alexa read again then looked at Harlan who was also silent. It had been a long time since Harlan could read human handwriting.

"Half-robot human?" Alexa muttered which confused Harlan.

Then, the girl read another writing on the same page.

-That's a big secret. If her body is injured, the girl will bleed. Her body did not change, still skin and flesh even though she was covered in a bulletproof uniform and heavy attack, like a robot uniform. The girl was beautiful, and kind. She was the one who would stop the war, no matter what. But one thing was for sure, and I was sure of it, her heart did not die.-

Alexa's shoulders drooped, her breath quickened, and her heart beat twice as fast as usual. What was written was completely directed at Alexa.

- That was strange and very magical. Half-robot human? Oh, I've only heard stories about half-gods! The strangest thing was, that no matter how advanced the technology and system protecting the girl was, no one could detect her at all. The girl was like a gentle robot, no one would suspect anything other than tears and blood that would reveal her secret. Ah, how strange. It happened in my dream, but it was as if I was the one who witnessed it directly.-

Alexa paused for a moment reading the book. At first, all Alexa read were uninteresting pages, similar to drawings for making robots, and other world maps, so Alexa did not continue reading because she felt it was useless. But who would have thought, there was a little prophecy that would happen? It's just that, there is no way to stop the war.

-This is the last one. The girl has a secret power that only humans have. A power that cannot be destroyed by anything and the girl will be bound to a guardian robot, either in the Stars or on Earth. It's a secret that only I write here. If you read it, find a way to stop the war, then you will find a way back even though I don't know how to stop the war.-

Azlan's notebook seemed to be talking to Alexa now. There were some clues, but who knew how to stop the war, if it was Alexa, then she had to stop the war no matter what if the girl wanted to return.

Harlan waited for Alexa's reaction and watched the girl anxiously. What happened? What notes did the girl get? There were so many questions in Harlan's mind.

"I've only ever read books about demigods, but that-" Alexa gasped, her chest tightening. How could that happen to her?

"What's wrong?" Harlan finally asked, looking at Alexa more deeply.

"I -"

Alexa's words were cut off when the door was forced open and their attention was drawn to the door where several robots appeared with someone Alexa recognized in an unconscious state.

"Dean?" Alexa was shocked to see the man being carried by Jasfer and the others.

What happened to Dean?