The young boy looked out at the ruins from what used to be his bedroom window. Before him lay a broken city frozen in time and emptied of souls. A breeze brought a haunting chill from the coast as he shifted his gaze to the dark machine hanging in the sky. To the desolate city and stricken land beyond, it sang its strange song.

 

“Gabe, you should stop staring at the ship and do your homework.” The Guardian spoke from a dark corner, busily working away with some tools and gadgets.

 

Gabe did not turn around. “What use is it?” he asked himself.

 

“I am teaching you how to stay alive and to mentally prepare yourself for the future.”

 

This was not exactly what an orphaned ten-year-old wanted to hear from the family robot. “Have you figured out what they want yet? Or what that noise means?” The wailing from the massive ship had been sounding now for nearly two months continuously.

 

“I am sure you know my response.” The Guardian’s hands were moving very fast now, almost a blur.

 

“But they took everyone except me. What does that mean?” The despondent boy’s voice started to tremble. “Why is there nothing happening out there at all? I mean, what do they want?” He rubbed his tired eyes with the palms of his hands, fighting off tears.

 

The Guardian said slowly in a monotone: “I do not know the answers to your questions, Gabe. And we do not know that they took everyone. We have had this conversation many times.” The robot fell silent for a moment, his eyes growing and dying in intensity. “We cannot possibly know their agenda.”

 

Gabe turned away from the window frame, pulled on a jacket and sat cross-legged on the floor to face his companion. “What’s going to happen to me?” he said, tears now running down his pale cheeks.

 

“Gabriel.” The Guardian suddenly stopped his frantic activity and stood up. The child looked up at him, knowing from his tone of voice there was something important to be said.

 

“I told you yesterday that my batteries will only last another seven months.”

 

Gabe nodded slowly.

 

“That has changed. They will be dead in three weeks.” The robot waited for a response from his charge. There wasn’t one. Kneeling on the floor in front of Gabe, The Guardian continued: “I am sorry. My batteries are depleting faster than I expected. I do not know why.”

 

“What will I do without you?” Gabe looked into the cold blue eyes of the robot.

 

“We will intensify your training. You will have to go out and find other people. We have to believe you are not the last.” The robot lit a fire and rose to prepare a meagre meal. “You need to leave this place. There is nothing for you here.”

 

“I know,” mumbled the lonely ten-year-old, who was older than his years. Outside, for no reason they could understand, the giant ship fell silent.

 

* * *

 

Three weeks passed slowly by. Gabriel now sat on the front step with the robot who had taught him as much as he could to help him cope on his own.

 

“Why is it getting darker each day?” He wondered if the robot had noticed.

 

The Guardian said in his matter-of-fact way, “That is because the other ships have moved from their positions and are blocking the sun.”

 

Gabe looked up at the sun and could just about make out part of it missing.

 

“Please look away. You will damage your eyes.”

 

“Why are they doing that?” He knew there would be no answer.

The robot simply looked round at Gabe and said, “It’s time for you to go.”

 

The Guardian then went into the house and brought out supplies and equipment.

 

“Gabriel. Put this on: it contains rations.” He handed him a backpack. “They should last you three months if you are careful. This is a light — it will be dark soon, day and night, and this is a weapon I made for you.” He handed the boy a foot-long metal stick with a rubber handle. “Push this here and the tip will give an aggressor a substantial shock.”

 

Gabe sighed heavily. He felt numb inside, like he no longer cared what happened to him.

 

“I calculate that, at this rate, the sun will be completely covered in less than five days.” The robot’s voice seemed to be slowing down. “Gabriel. I’ve been told to tell you they will come back for you. They will look after you.”

 

A shiver ran up the Gabe’s spine. He visibly shuddered. “How do you know this?”

 

“I... I do not know. The message simply appeared to me a few moments ago.” His head moved from side to side, as if trying to understand. “Goodbye, Gabe. I am sorry.”

 

The grownup boy started to walk off and looked back to say goodbye to The Guardian, who was now lying down on his back. His robot face turned towards him, but the now flickering blue eyes weren’t looking at him. They watched as the hulking ship moved silently away to join the others. The long night was almost upon them.