I wince a bit but at least its better that I am not the reason he is angry, if he stops coming to Ambra's house then I will die in that shithole or will have to conscript as a low rung soldier in a war where I would just become one of the many meat shields to protect the awakened ones. I stand in silence for a bit.
I nod in appreciation and look around Antonio's garage, "So is this... like where you live or just work here and go sleep in your home far away from this dangerous area?"
Antonio checks the tire of Brian's car, then turns to face me, "Oh, nah. I work and sleep in this building. I mean I have to be here when my customers want an urgent work done. So its better to live here and its not a bad place to live you know, not too many people come in this area of city."
'So what he means by not too many people is that no officers patrol here for night or rather no surveillance from government is in this place but it would be too stupid of a move for government officials to have no eyes here. So its a boiling pot of gangs, government officials and crackheads.'
"What got you thinking so hard Arwin? and what about you Brian, you just gonna to stand there looking around nervously? Make yourself at home kids." he gestures around the garage, with shelfs and tools littered on tables. With tires placed in one corner and tanks which contained water? I guess it is to clean the vehicles from mud or something else his customers wouldn't want on their vehicle. A couch conveniently placed against the wall directly pointing towards the metal gate from which we entered from.
I look around more and then at the closed door where Brian had disappeared, "Are you sure he is ok in there? Shouldn't you go in there and like console him or something?"
"What do you mean by something?"
"Uh, offer him a drink? So you guys can drown in your sorrows and remember all the good times you all spent together." I suggest.
"Yeah if I offer him drinks, he will just sit quietly brood and definitely not go do something stupid while drunk."
"Like making the ones responsible pay?"
"Yeah, like maki-" he stops working on the car and looks at me, "Kid you are good, trying to get details out of me, now are you?"
He pats the car and walks towards us, which causes kid Brian who was less nervously looking around to come close to me and try to shield me due to him being taller and older than me.
Antonio looks with interest at a sudden burst of courage, just as he about to speak. A loud growl comes from kid Brian's stomach which stops him in his track. Kid Brian looks nervously at Antonio, unperturbed by his own hunger.
"I guess I have not been that great of a host to my young little guests. Let me offer you guys something and take that big boy out of his brooding as well."
He opens the door to see Brian standing directly infront of him, "Brooding?"
"Oh, if you were listening, you should have joined us in conversation, rather than just skulking around in a dark room." he gestures to the dark room Brian exited from.
"Skulking?" he asks threateningly, only for all his anger to just defuse as he sighs. "All of this is just happening too fast. Yesterday he was alive and well, and now? gone, poof like a fucking magician's trick. Just Fucking GONE."
He breaths in and out heavily, as his shoulders slump. A hand rests on his shoulder, and grips it tightly.
"We all feel the same Brian, we do. But doing anything now and in haste is predictable, that's what they want and it is a trap. Also you bought your Protégé and his friend here." directing his attention to us standing there, watching the conversation unfold between them.
Brian frowns at him for using that word only for him to say, "Nah, it doesn't matter now. This kid checks out, he is smart, and feels competent. Now about being competent? that we need to feel out later. But yeah, he's got a good head on shoulders that's for sure."
Brian nods as his frown falls apart, "Ok, now that's done. What do you guys wanna eat? I have got frozen french fries, frozen burger patty, wait do you kids like chicken. I also have that. Come on, we got many things to talk about."
Me and kid Brian look at each other, before I nod.
"I uh, we are your guests uncle Antonio. We would eat anything you offer."
"Oh! No, no I am not an uncle like this guy, just call me big brother or brother ant for short."
I nod at the weird nickname, but who was I to say. Anyway we go into the dark room Brian had came out of, except the lights were turned on and goddamn the place looked straight out of futuristic nerd's room with walls reinforced with steel, with tools littered about and in boxes filled with spare parts from something-something to robot parts. There was also a work desk with many monitors, with small tools littered on the desk. It also had a kitchen on the right side of the room.
"Con, cook the foods my guests want."
A humanoid robot similar to Axel walks towards us and asking in surprisingly a human tone about the food we would prefer, I was unable to tell the model of it. As it was covered heavily in modifications seemingly illegal ones at that and custom paint. Making it hard to pinpoint the model and what it could do.
"Come on kids, don't be shy. Especially you Brian, not you big guy. Kid your stomach sounded more hungry than what little you are asking, you are growing kids both of you. And you Arwin are being too polite so come on, I always have frozen food around, so much in fact that I have to throw them away once a week to clear out for fresh frozen food."
'Fresh frozen food? If by food you meant junk food, then they are not fresh by a long shot. Not forgetting that they are frozen and need to be reheated.'
Both of us order some more, as even Brian orders a soft drink with fries. As Con goes to the kitchen, the room suddenly falls into darkness only for the projector to turn on and display a screen of different channels. Antonio starts a random movie for us to watch and take off some of the edge we had, when we reached his place.
***
After eating the food and waiting for kid Brian to finish his, as I had given a large portions of my food to him, because he would only order as much I did.
"So, did you modify Con by yourself?"
"Hm? the robot? Nah, I bought it, although it took weeks and some favors where to buy Con without alerting the authorities."
"Wait, if others can crack it. Why have the company done nothing if their robot's security can be cracked. Is there an army of rogue of robots hiding in some sewers waiting for the perfect opportunity?" I ask with interest as for all the things I have written, I couldn't possibly write every tiny tit bit about world building and to appear as an innocent yet smart child always curious about the world.
"Haha, one question at a time kid. Well I don't about the others but what I do know is that these people who can do it are either already in the employment for these companies or are hiding like rats in the holes of the city, cause once the CAT get a sniff of you they corner you and hunt you down."
"CAT?" I ask as if it was the first time I ever heard of this term.
"Yeah, CAT or Cybercrime Assessment Taskforce. It is a cybercrime to hack any humanoid robot manufactured by the 3 big, and before you ask what is big 3. These 3 companies are the only ones legally authorized to manufacturer humanoid robot."
"So-o who are the-these 3 companies?", kid Brian meekly asks as even he seemed interested. He had been intently listening on the conversation while eating.
"They are RD or Robot Dimension they produce mass produce cheap and effective robots, Axiom the company which prioritizes on high end premium robots and finally Milestone company who also focus on mass producing cheap robots. and for you Arwin, the reason why these companies do nothing is that. They know if any terrorist attack happens due to these robots then the UAC will have a crack down, and start uprooting the gangs, criminals and other crime groups. So it is an unwritten rule to never use a robot in any attacks, cause if you do then what will come for you isn't humans or robots but the awakened ones."
"An-and what is th-the awakened-ed ones-"
Even I was impressed, by the detail I was hearing. A story I had written was a simple one, a simple revenge story of a protagonist who had lost his everything and hated the ones who took his family, only to once again learn of what it is to have a family. Which made it harder for me to understand, how is this possible. Did that bastard create this world according to my story like 'Let there be light' kind of bullshit, did he drug me and I am in a coma fantasizing my own story or was my past life an imaginary lie, something I have fed myself since I was young.
'Is this world real or not, am I insane? I don't feel like I have autism or any mental illness. I mean I have felt lucid ever since my birth and I am pretty sure that would not be normal even in a magical techno world.'
I had been feeling like my previous world was all made up or something ever since I turned 3. All my memories from before 3 until my 'rebirth' were all wozy and felt like remembering memories about a lucid dream. The memory before I was born felt as real as the memories I have been making now. Was this because my infant brain was still developing, so all the memories from my birth to reaching 3 years old were like a drunk dream, or-
"What are you thinking so hard kid?" I get interrupted from my musing, as kid Brian had finished his food as well and Brian had fallen asleep on the bed.
It seemed only kid Brian was asking questions while I was daydreaming.
"No, its nothing I was just thinking how to change the voice and language model- wait you know how to hack these robots right?"
He holds his hands up, "Hold up kid, why do you think I can hack a robot."
I point towards Con standing against the wall, waiting for new orders.
"And why do you think I am the one who hacked Con, I mean I just said I bought him from someone who knows how to do that."
I point towards Brian, sleeping on the bed, "He said he had a friend who knew how to change the language model and who owed him a favor or two. Then he brought me to meet you, so obviously it's you..." I stop for a moment to think about what I had said in front of kid Brian, muttering "Ah shit."
Bowing my head, "I am sorry for-"
"Why are you apologizing, you are just a kid.", he looks at me with a small smile only to turn towards the sleeping man on his bed with anger, "Aye yo, why am I hearing that you have been talking behind my back."
Hearing no reply, he grabs a pillow near him and throws it, hitting Brian dead in the head. Hard, "Don't act like you are sleeping, I know you aren't, you always used to act like you are sleeping whenever you are caught doing something stupid. So wake up before I whoop your ass awake."
He jolts up immediately, "You do know that I only woke up, cause you threw the pillow at me, right? So what mistake did I make this time, did I deliver the package to wrong address or-"
"No, and you know what wrong you did but there is point in mentioning it now." he sighs at the carefree expression on Brian's face.
"Pfft" kid Brian snickers a laugh at the comedic scene, which surprised me. In all 3 months I knew him he had never laughed and barely even smiled about anything.
Antonio turns his attention to us, silencing kid Brian as he poorly attempts to hide his smile, "Kids, you better not tell this to your family or brag to your friends ok? Or the police officers will come for your cool older brother and stupid uncle and take us away. So if you wanna eat more like you did today tell no one, if you do that..." he comes closer to us and whispers slowly, "I will give chocolates."
Kid Brian enthusiastically nods, while I also nod but remain mentally surprisedwithout showing it on my face, seeing kid Brian smiling, 'I-wait, did they do all this comedy skit just to make us comfortable. So we could mend our relationship that got strained due to Brian's outburst, but also feel closer to Antonio without feeling manipulated or feeling this situation being fake. It is obvious, Brian couldn't do it, so Antonio started the play and Brian played along to make us feel safe.'
"What do you think about learning under him, Arwin?" Brian asks in a normal tone, I had grown used to.
"I-Wait! What?", I immediately turn to Antonio, he winks at me in amusement.
"Now, now hold your horses. Kid, before I even teach you, answer me. Why should I even teach you anything?"
I look at Brian, surprise coloring my face, 'What the fuck Brian, you could have said something before you throw me in the pit, atleast a hint would have been good. I-No no, no think about the current situation, why should he teach me. This is the most basic question many character ask in stories, why would he- wait shouldn't I think what he has to offer me rather do the opposite, I mean I have been going with his flow for all this while. What can he offer? what?'
'I know for certain he is quite a knowledgeable regarding software if he is the one who hacked the robot, while he also has knowledge on how to repair cars, while not as valuable as programming is still a valuable skill to learn, since Ambra won't pay for my education, I am pretty sure whatever I learn is valuable enough on its own, I can always make money by repairing cars to fund my education. Ok he has money, customers, knowledge and I will get valuable experience.'
I look towards kid Brian then towards Antonio's face, scrutinizing every detail, 'What should I say, I have nothing of value to offer. Well nothing to my name, Can I say I self learned basic programming on language voice model of robots. Nah, he would be better than me in that area, a thirst for knowledge? no that's just something every student should have. I mean I can say, it's because he owes a favor to Brian- yeah no, Brian would kick me out himself, well not kick me physically but never visit me again kind of kick me out. What can I off-wait is this reverse psychology?'
"I am waiting for your answers, Arwin."
I look up at him and then down again like searching for answers that were hidden in the bed sheet, 'Think Arwin, think. What shou-'
"You passed Arwin." comes the reply, I immediately look up at him, seeing a smirk on his face.
"Why?"
"Well kid, that is the homework for you, why did I accept you and I want the answer the next time Brian brings you."
I nod, feeling like I had lost somehow. I feel a palm on my back, as my head turns to see kid Brian smiling, happy for me.
I fake a smile, still thinking about the question only to then remember, 'What about this kid here, I mean if I am taught by Antonio then this kid will be alo-no Arwin if you constantly think about others you will fall behind, and he is just a kid just because I am interested in programming doesn't necessarily mean he will be too. But I could convince Antonio to also accept him as a student.'
I scrutinize his face, as he turns his attention to me, "Thank you bro-Mr. Antonio for this valuable of-"
"Ok kid, I don't like this robotically polite answers coming from a kid. Be happy, jump around like a little kid, you may be smart for your age but you are still a kid, Arwin and call me brother Ant or teacher if you want, my student." he laughs at my expression.
Arwin wrinkled his face at the thought of calling someone "teacher" at his age but there are things a man has to do to survive.
I give a nod, 'I guess I will try to feel what kind of person before asking for anything.'
Both of the "brians" congratulate me, as we start to head back home. By the time I get to home it is 10pm after sending kid Brian his home, which is very fucking late for a 5year old kid to get home, way past any curfew I knew.
"What are you so lost in thoughts? You know, if you don't feel like learning under him then you can just refuse. There is no need to feel in pressure because of m-"
My head shoots up facing Brian, "No, I really am interested, if he actually is the one who hacked Con then it would be great to learn under him and..."
'But when I am done learning do I have to join their gang of sorts, is Brian like a recruiter or something. Because if that is true then the only one I can run to, to protect myself will be the authorities and they definitely don't look kindly on criminals, but if I choose to stay. I might die somewhere with a knife in my guts by the enemy gang.'
Brian notices Arwin's face scrunch up at something he can't say and guesses, "Do you want me to ask Ant, if he would teach your friend as well."
My expression relaxes a bit, 'Wait, what does he mean by that?... Oh he must be thinking that I am sad that Antonio didn't ask kid Brian to be his student as well, and as a kid I must be hesitant to ask for my friend to be included.'
But it felt nice at gaining something I didn't know I needed, a guidance.
"Um, would you ask?" I look up from my musing, facing him.
"Well I could, but would Brian even want that? So go ask him since he is your friend and if he says yes then good, I will do whatever it takes on my part."
I nod, and exit the car. As he escorts me up in silence, by the time I am in front of my door, he rings the door bell only for Axel to open it. It seems that Ambra hadn't come back yet, so I go enter and wave goodbye.
"Good night, old man." I hesitate a bit but I am able to spill out the words out of my mouth, "And thank you Brian, Thank you for everything."
I feel a warm hand on my head, as he pats me. "Don't thank me yet kid. Antonio may be like a brother but he is a stern teacher so don't embarrass me, ok?"
"Haha, I will definitely embarrass you."
He shakes his head and mutters something only to then say, "Well good night kid. I will meet you tomorrow."
The door closes, as I am once again alone in this apartment. Alone with Axel, but at the thought of doing something not fortuitous, but something that will give definitive results hypes me up and look forward to tomorrow, but first I needed to sleep.
***
*Sigh*
I walk back to my car, only for my phone to ring.
"So, you dropped the kids?"
"Yeah, look I was goi-"
"You were going to tell me when, Brian? You have got to learn to control your impulsive side, but I am going to let it slide this time."
"Sooo. Are you actually going to teach him?" I ask with hesitation.
"Why the hell not? He is a smart kid, smarter than when you were younger at least and he seemed a curious one at that. I don't know how you found a kid like him but I will check tomorrow whether he has dedication or not. Oh! and I would be carful what you would talk in front him."
"Oh come on, is it about that again. Look I said sorry, ok-"
"No thats not where I am coming from but you owe one for that, but did you notice when we talked about gang and authorities. He didn't question whether it was good or a bad thing, just whether they were caught or not."
"Oh come on, he was just curious."
"Well, Brian- I am talking about his friend not you, he seemed scared about authorities, which most kids are. But Arwin? he didn't care about whether it is morally right or wrong about hacking, he only seemed interested whether I could hack a robot or not and that Brian is a dangerous sign, you might need to teach him about morality, while I hope he learns from me when to stop and how to reassess his situation to not make an impulsive decision. You know Mark, he was also like him-"
"Don't you say that fuckers name. And don't compare him to Arwin, Arwin's a sweet kid. You may not know but I have been with him for 5 years and he is nothing like Mark."
"I know Brian, I don't know many things about Arwin, but if he doesn't know what is right and what is wrong, then you have teach him so he doesn't become-so he doesn't choose the wrong path in his life.'
Brian lets out a loud sigh, "So what did you actually call about? I know it isn't just about Arwin."
"*sigh* Your next delivery, and it was also about Arwin. He will go far in life."
Brian feels fatherly pride rise in him at that comment, "Of course he will go far. Once you teach him, I will send him away to a safer city to work in. Away from this hell hole of a city. But yeah I guess I will come there and we can talk about the next parcel they want us to transfer."
"Oh and get some beers as well, I bought a movie to watch."
"Yeah, yeah I am heading over."
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AN: Well I guess this is it. This is the last chapter to be uploaded on 2025 before the new year.
I had planned to write chapters upon chapters on this story in 2025 but as you guys know, I failed miserably and wasted time. But you guys are not here to listen to me bitching about myself.
So, I want to say Thank you - oliviaxcomm for being the first commenter to encourage me and try to sell me Book cover made by you. from website Scribblehub on 7/Aug/2025
Darinflyhigh - For also trying to sell me Book cover made by you. from Website Royal Roads on 22/Aug/2025
Deusdamorte – For encouraging me to not stop and I hope you are currently reading from website Royal Roads on 7/sep/2025
jeyebhutto - For also encouraging me, that yes someone is reading this novel with bad upload schedule and ask me about how I write from website ScribbleHub on 30/Nov/2025
This is it, and thank you to all unknown readers who have not posted any comments.
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone.