The Days After Tomorrow

The Days After Tomorrow

Finished February 27, 2023

2034 was when the war between androids and humans began. The war lasting decades killing both humans and androids alike, nearly wiping out the entire population of earth as a whole, leaving everything to chaos. Those who were smart enough left for safe grounds, making places like ‘Peace Bunkers’ to find some sort of order in all the chaos. Or, they leave to survive by themselves. However those who did not leave, fought valiantly or foolishly we may never know. 

The war was destructive, leading buildings to collapse, towns to crumple, and even leaving whole sections of cities to level out. There was no chance of new growth in those areas with how damaged those places were at the time leading people to assume the worst of it all. 

2058….

The years after the war were just as, if not more painful and dangerous than before, some wishing to be back to the years of the war because “at least they had rations and had plenty of food to go around…”  The famine, the thing that killed most of the remaining first generation ‘survivors’, the second and third generations after, learning to make do with the things they had. Relearning to farm, cook, and much more. 

A huge step from using androids. 

Hope had run out long after everything started, and no one dared to go anywhere close to towns and more specifically cities, out of fear of androids or larger groups of humans to be there. Those fears however were one of many myths or folklore that were taken seriously by those communities, so very few people stay in places with a high density of buildings. Leaving those areas to flourish, areas growing trees inside toppled apartment buildings nearly reaching to apartment height. Flowers growing in between the cracks in the concrete along with weeds. 

In one area of this specific city however is a place that has strangely been open the entire time this had all been going on, and that place is ‘Terry’s café’. Terry’s café is small compared to the other buildings in the area and beside, with two levels and the outside looking as if the person who had owned it first was originally a flower shop but was later turned into a café. The inside however had more of a late 80’s look to it with checkered flooring and parts of cars in different corners of the room. The androids that are there working, were cleaning or talking to imaginary customers and making them food. With the way they act it’s almost as if time has looped forever in this place. Acting as if the war and the famine never existed.

 On this particular day someone enters the café, and not just anyone, a human…. 

A human boy. 

This boy in particular has a name, his name is Aurthur Wymblur Jaycobs. A boy one would describe as both rowdy, obnoxious, an overall bright young boy and…. a cold killer, depending on how you meet him. With his bright orange hair seemingly unable to stay in one place the owner of said hair forgoing trying to brush it. With his round childlike features and his bright green eyes, one would think that he would be seen easily by other survivors and killed on site, however he’s quite clever when making traps and shooting unsuspecting victims. There are myths saying that he owns the cities, some even saying he was born in one of the toppled buildings. Most don’t believe he’s real, saying that he’s just one of a bunch of ghost stories to tell children at night to warrant them from going into the cities. Either way you put it though Aurthur… is not a kid to be reckoned with. 

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Arthur was racing around the block in section B-1C, a section he has been in and around to know the way in his sleep. He would usually do this twice a week in different sections, practising his parkour. On this particular day he was making his laps when he had noticed a new side street he'd never seen before. Being the curious little shit he was, he went to check it out. It just so happened to be the place the café was in, squished between two toppled buildings. It looked interesting since it looked to be the only thing open and in operation at least… from the outside. As he ran closer to said café he noticed that indeed it was open and androids were freely running around in there… interesting. Disregarding how many red flags there were just by this thing being opened in the first place he invited himself in…. 

And this… is where our story begins…

As Arthur entered the café the doorbell above the door chimed with timed rhythm letting every android in the building that a new person had entered the café. Arthur flabbergasted that the bell is still working given that everything outside of this store is broken, feeling like a deer caught in headlights stared owlishly. 

No one said a thing in those few minutes, unsure whether it was a good idea to speak or not. The android manning the counter was the first to speak, asking in what seemed like a motherly tone “Hello young one, how can we help you on this perfect spring evening?” Arthur, unsure how to go about answering the question, stays silent. 

The Counter android -Arthur’s now dubbed- realizing it won’t get an answer out of him anytime soon shouts to whoever is in the kitchen “Order up for one stack of waffles and a small coffee!” there was a muffled reply from in the kitchen, their answer seemed to have made the Counter Android upset with it replying back “Well he might as well have something while he’s here, he looks so thin a gust of wind could blow him over! So get him the things I asked for before I make you” before turning to Arthur to say quietly “No offence hunny, but you look like you haven’t eaten anything since you’ve been born.” Arthur, feeling the need to defend his honour, argued back saying “Hey! I’m not skinny, I’m pretty average for kids my age!” The counter android had an almost look of surprise before collecting itself and replying with a glint in its ‘eyes’ “Ooooh really~, when was the last time you ate then?”

….. Now that was a question. 

The last he had remembered was a week ago, when he was looking through C-5E looking for if there were any lone survivors wandering around, when he had started to become hungry. It was the third time that week alone and it was becoming increasingly annoying. Sometimes Arthur wished he didn’t have a stomach, either way he needed food and he needed food right now. Arthur looked around to see where the closest deserted store was, which happened to be right beside him at the time, whoo hoo! That time he happened to get two cans of beans, so he heated them up with a makeshift fire He made all by himself. 

“About a week ago why does that matter though, I’m the most well off by the world's standards, other kids my age barely get that! So BOOM! SUCK ON THAT!” 

The once happy chattering of the café turns dead silent. All androids that were previously minding their business, now facing the only kid in the room in horror of what they had just heard. 

Well off? This malnourished child is more well off than most kids?

Arthurs words shock the entire café. Them all realizing the gravity of the situation and how bad it really was out there. For years they were to never leave the building in fear of what their owner might do to them. But…. 

they don’t have to worry any more, their owner has been dead for probably as long as they’ve been working for. 

They realize what their new objective is: ‘keep. this. boy. safe.’

“Hey! You guys good? Your fucking scaring me, which I don’t say often out loud, but I will hurt you if you fucks go crazy on me!” Arthur nearly yells, quick to brase his gun just in case. Arthurs’ almost worried threat seemed to have knocked them out of their stupor, with Counter android responding “Yes, we’re fine, RIGHT GUYS!” A collective ‘yeah’ was said amongst the androids as they went back to what they were originally doing. 

“Anyhow, how ‘bout you go and sit down in one of the seats over here.” It said, pointing to the bar seats in front of the counter. Shrugging, Arthur takes his hand off his holster as he walks over to the seat closest to the cash register, looking forward into the window of the kitchen. Where, more androids are busy working on food in the back. 

The seats themselves sigh in relief from not being sat on in a long time when he adjusts himself in his seat. The Counter Android -He really needs to figure out its name cause it’s getting reeal annoying calling them that- seemed pleased with this new development going as to say “So! What's your name kid? I gotta know the name to the face." 

"Arthur Wymblur Jacobs, I came up with the name myself!" He proudly exclaimed. 

“Oh did you really? Can you tell me where you got the idea?” The Counter Android questioned, seemingly excited to hear more, and for the next few hours the two of them chatted more while Arthur was enjoying his waffles and surprisingly delicious coffee. The two, taking turns asking meaningless questions. Eventually though Arthur had to leave, however this was not in vain as Arthur had promised to come back the next day excited to hangout more with the androids.

From then onwards it became their routine for Arthur to come into the café, have food and chat with the androids and would have to leave again a few hours later. Arthur soon found out the names of the androids, and more specifically the Counter Androids name which her name is Maria. Arthur had gotten to know her a lot more than the others going as to say now even friends, but you didn’t hear it from me. Lately he’s been somewhat of a regular. Well as far as regulars go in the apocalypse at least, it’s like when you give a stray animal food they always come back for more. Arthur hoped that maybe….maybe this time he’ll be able to have a somewhat normal life finally.

But things never stay like that forever…

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It was a ‘normal’ tuesday evening….well as far as normal goes at least now with a new schedule; get up at noonish – according the position of the sun – parkour around from B-1C to Z-0A looking for new survivors foolishly wandering around His city and kill them, then afterwards head to the café. THAT'S IT! That's all that was supposed to happen on a NORMAL day. Except today while looking through section C-5D for survivors he finds a large group of androids, about ten to fifteen that seemed to be patrolling the area looking for… something Arthur couldn’t tell from where he was at the time.

The androids themselves looked as though they were made for either military or the police force of some kind Arthur didn’t care he just wanted these assholes off his turf. Their faces were that of white plastic not as shiny with wear and tear from over the years. The features were that of symmetrical perfection, uncanny valley to that of the norm. The androids all wore the same outfit; an indistinguishable uniform shirt with ruffed up dress pants and dress shoes that look like they’re on their last life. These types of androids are a hivemind. They only follow one ruler and they are told set instructions not all the same though, and most of all are not at all fond of humans. They believe that all humans should be extinct. Which is not great for Arthur at the moment.  

From where Arthur was positioned behind a large piece of concrete, he shouldn’t be found unless one of the androids turns in his general area. So in theory if he just keeps to the side closest to the apartment complexes he should be able to leave scott free. 

…But it’s never that easy…

Just as he was moving  closer to the buildings mentioned before he slipped on a pile of crumbled apartment wall, which caused his gun to fall off his holster hitting other pieces of rock along the way. Which then in turn made one of the androids turn over in his direction. 

No one moved or made a sound for a total of five seconds…. 

Before Arthur fumbled more trying to correct himself before finally running out into one of the alleyways. The androids, realizing that it was indeed a human over where Arthur was originally, go to chase after him. Going through houses and buildings to hopping fences and even secret passageways Arthur thought he only knew, the androids still were on Arthurs tail the entire time. Shooting Arthur to get him to slow down, it worked somewhat with nicking Arthur a few times in the legs and shoulders. But with so much adrenaline pumping in Arthur it didn’t keep him down for long. After what felt like hours they finally reached B-1C and from there he went into the side street to the café, as he finally got some distance on the androids. The only thought that Arthur could conjure up as he turned another corner and saw the lights of the café, was ‘sorry Maria looks like I’m bringing company this time.’ 

Arthur bursted into the happy café, frantically trying to find Maria who just so happened to be at the counter as always looking more concerned by the second. Running over to her he exclaims “Maria, please, you gatta help me they’resthseseguysandithinkthinktheywannakillme!”

“Woe woe woe! Calm down what are yo-” just then the sounds of multiple footsteps could be heard with rapid succession coming towards the café. Right then Maria had to make a decision and fast, “Ok, Arthur you get behind the counter!” Maria explains to Arthur as he does so, she didn’t have to tell the others what to do as they were already pretending as if there was nothing wrong when she turned to them. 

The counter that Arthur was in was…. Not that interesting all in all. It has a hidden compartment, usually used to store extra bottles of alcohol, now used to store a panicking Arthur at the moment.  A loud bang is what sets Arthur further on edge because that can mean only one thing. 

There here…

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Just up above the counter, in the doorway bursts in the androids from before. They start looking in places around the café with intent, not caring if they're shoving other androids out of the way. “OKAY, THAT’S ENOUGH!” Maria shouted over all the ruckus, getting sick of the blatant disrespect. Surprisingly, she was able to get them to stop, them all standing straight up and forward staring at her. “What I want to know is why you’re making a mess of my store.” Maria was starting to get angry fast if no one here explains themselves. Their captain –from the fact that one else dared to speak– is the one to speak “We are A1-T3CH from Astech Corporation. We were sent to this city with the instruction to bring back a life form that seems to inhabit here regularly. We encountered it once and are searching for it for it has run off. Do you have any knowledge of its whereabouts?” It spoke with indifference as if it was reciting from a stripted. 

These guys are here to hurt him, they're here to hurt Arthur, they're here to hurt your son! Maria could hear over the silence almost unable to think with how loud the system was being but she pushed through. 

“See? Now isn’t that easier than wrecking my shit?” Maria closes her eyes and takes an unneeded breath before she speaks “Anyways I can’t help you with that one since we’ve never seen this ‘life from’ come into our café, Hell! We’ve never left this building for that matter, so if you could be so kind, please leave.” Maria then opens her eyes, and if looks could kill, they all would be a pile of dust sitting at the bottom of a six feet deep hole, “Before I am force to take you out myself” The cameras in the android's eyes shifted, seemingly surprised that one of its kind is being aggressive with its words. 

“Are you threatening our team?” the android said, cocking its head slightly like would a confused dog. Eyes watching Maria like a hawk looking at its next meal. 

“So what if I am?” they’re both inches away from each other, if they were human they would be able to feel their breath on each other. Maria just wanted them away from her boy. 

“Then by proxy I would have to kill you too” and with that it took out a gun and started to fire it, as well Maria ducked under the counter to grab her guns from her holster, “let’s get this over with”. 

From inside the hidden compartment Arthur finally, having calmed down some, could hear loud muffling from up above. When sudden banging and popping started out of nowhere, making Arthur slightly annoyed that he couldn’t see what was going on, because if he did he would be dead. Arthur shifted in his spot, as he did this a shot of white hot pain came from his right shoulder and his left calf, Arthur realised that in his panicked state he forgot about his injuries. After coming to this reaization his injuries were starting to become unbearable, ‘Oh I really hope Maria finishes up what she's doing because I have nothing to wrap these wounds up.’ 

Luckily for Arthur he didn’t have to wait long for as soon as the banging started it soon ended and he was let out. When Maria opened the door, Arthur could see the damage the other androids did. She had a slash with blue ooze trailing down her face and wires sticking out of her arms. “Well it t’k you long ‘nough ‘m in SO much pain I think ‘m going to faint fr’m just the pain” Arthur slurs his words before promptly passing out. Maria, now super concerned with the amount of blood on Arthur and that he just passed out, picks Arthur up carefully and briskly walks upstairs to the second floor of the café and into a small room on the right of the stairs.

 The small room had a slanted roof with baby blue walls, with the room itself looking as if it was originally a baby room but instead of a crib in the corner it’s a twin sized bed, with the dusty covers still on there from years before. The room was otherwise vacant compared to the rest of the café. Maria places Arthur’s sleeping body on the bed and gets to work on fixing his wounds the best she can….

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When Arthur finally wakes up the first few things he notes is that one, there are hands on his head slowly carding through his head, two, there is a light coming from somewhere and it’s getting annoying, but whining seemed to get it to leave, and three, whatever he’s on right now is SO comfy at the moment. He could hear quiet laughter above and to the right of him as he shifts more, only to have pain give Arthur a reminder of what happened in the last…. What time is it? 

As Arthur shifts, he opens his eyes and blinks before looking up to see who exactly is touching his hair. When he looks up he can see Maria staring at him, like a mother looking at their baby. She no longer had blue running down her face, now a scar to replace it. It looks like she fixed herself up if the halfass patching is anything to go by. 

“Hey mornin’ sleepy, hope you had an at least somewhat decent sleep.” Maria spoke softly to Arthur as she continued to card her hands through his hair. Arthur closed his eyes and leaned into the warmth he assumed was part of the technology in her, he just grunted in response “five more minutes please?” She humed back in return as she removed her hand “okay, just don’t move to much you are still recovering, I’ll just be down stairs then.” She got up from her chair beside the bed and started to walk out, She was about half way to the door when she heard a mumble from the bed. 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite get that, can you repeat yourself?” Maria asked as she made her way back to the bedside. When she got to the bedside Arthur’s hand lazily shot out to grab her and asked quietly “Can you stay…mom?” Arthur’s face warmed so much a rose would be jealous. Arthur, clearly embarrassed hides his face to only show his bright green eyes. Maria, unable to resist the cuteness, sits back in her seat and removes Arthur's hand so that she can go back to carding her hand through his head. 

And they sit like that for the first part of the morning, and later Maria will make sure Arthur’s wounds are healing nicely. Then they would go downstairs to eat and chat, later Arthur would ask to stay in the café and they would stay like that for the years to come like a little weird makeshift family. 

However for now they stay like this with Maria carding her hand through Arthur’s now sleeping body. 

And isn’t that enough?