When we were created, we were the newest models. The Devola and Popola type androids were designed to serve as the observers of Project Gestalt. At the time, we had many peers, because there needed to be a pair observing each region.
We were probably paired as twins so there would be a “backup” in case some unforeseen calamity befell one of us. The project was long-lived, spanning the course of approximately a thousand years.
And humans, who were responsible for planning the project, would be unable to lay a hand on it once it was under way. That meant we had to carry on the skilled work that humans had been doing.
We would have been lying if we said we weren’t anxious. But we felt a sense of honor that swept away almost any anxiety. All of us were thrilled to be the surrogates for humans.
But our role as observers abruptly came to an end. It was reported that a pair of Devola and Popola models had gone mad in another city. As a result, the extinction of humanity was imminent.
After that, we sent the genetic profile data of humanity to the moon as a last ray of hope. But the data was rather paltry, and having the genetic profile data of various humans did not guarantee that we would be able to reconstruct the species in the future. Human anatomy and cognitive schemata was much too complex to reconstruct from just genetic data.
The Devola and Popola models faced hostility from all the androids who knew about the incident. Androids were built to respect and protect humans with their lives. We Devola and Popola were the criminals responsible for bringing ruin upon humanity.
Eventually Command decided to conceal the failure of Project Gestalt. Most of our memories encompassing the project were erased. The only memories left in our consciousness were the name of the project, and the fact that our model’s breakdown had led to the extinction of humanity. What our peers had experienced as observers; what we did, and what we didn’t do; the details of the incident; how the situation had escalated; and how we had responded; whether or not the incident was preventable…
We will never know. Countless questions arose, but we will never get answers. The majority of androids constructed after the end of humanity are not aware of our sins. They don’t even know the name of the project. But still we live in exile. It’s now convention for them to persecute us.
And we probably deserve to be killed without reason. Or perhaps kill ourselves. At least, that’s what the other androids think.
But we can’t die. Then we won’t be able to atone. Our guilt keeps us from death. We can’t die a failure.
We wanted to live in a deserted area, just the two of us. But we couldn’t do that either, because we needed somebody to receive our atonements.
We want to be assigned the most dangerous missions. We can die during a mission. As long as there’s evidence that we served and helped someone, we will be willing to meet a final death. We just wait for that day…
That concludes the personal records of the twins, formerly known as the observers.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I see…”
9S was reminded of Popola’s scream, saying they had to atone for their sins. That was a result of their guilt. He understood why they had laid down their lives to help him. And why they were always covered in scrapes and bruises, and willingly embarked on faraway missions.
“Question: Why did androids Devola and Popola choose to die at the same time?”
“In the most recent encounter, a solo escape was possible…I think.”
9S interrupted Pod. For the Devola and Popola that 9S knew, death was salvation. That’s why they chose to die together. This was just his hypothesis, since he wasn’t sure of the situation that the original, rampant Devola and Popola had been put in. But, hand in hand, they must have overcome many challenges along the thousand-year project. There was no chance that, even if one of them was on the verge of death, the other would leave her partner’s side.
Even if one of them survived without the other, all that would be left was regret. He knew that firsthand, because he himself had been forced to let go and survive.
“I hope you never have to know the feeling,” said 9S.
Pod didn’t have to go through this. It was better that no one go through this. This pain.
As he was having such thoughts, Pod again interjected with a question.
“Why does this tower have a ground-floor entrance? The resources are imported from the sky. It is unnecessary for there to be a pedestrian entrance.”
He was reminded of the resource-recovery units, where he had seen the floating spiral of Machine parts being sent off into the sky. He knew the parts were being delivered to the tower, but he hadn’t thought of the importing process. Rather, he hadn’t cared enough to take the time to think about it.
“Prediction: Trap.”
“I don’t mind if it’s a trap.”
He had no interest in Machine remains. What he did have interest in were the Machines that had yet to become remains. That was because…
“I’m just going to kill them all.”
The elevator rattled to a loud stop.