To Gri[e]ve

Chapter One: Uneasy Alliance

Looking back on it, 9S wouldn't ever be able to tell if it was the piercing mechanical shrieks or the acrid smell of smoke and oil that reached him first, or if they both hit him at the same time. Perhaps it had been the screams hit him first, after all, and pulled him from the haze of mental static he'd been stuck in since losing 2B. Perhaps that was what allowed him to pick up the smell of the smoke in the first place.

All 9S knew was that, as soon as he realized that the horrifying sounds and smells where coming from Pascal's village, he was sprinting as fast as his legs could possibly carry him towards the village. 'Not Pacal! I can't lose anyone else!' The sight that greeted him was one that would haunt him for the rest of his life. The once peaceful Machines were attacking and eating each other while the victims were helpless to protect themselves while stuck on their backs. Fire raged everywhere and the air was full of smoke, cinders, and pained cries.

Motion from the corner of his eye and shouts drew his attention to a skirmish going on nearby. His breath caught when he realized who it was. 'A2...' It was the first time he'd seem her in months now. The first time he'd seen her since that day on the bridge when his partner was suddenly and cruelly ripped away from him at her hands. He drew his sword quickly and charged at her with a roar. "A2!"

The other android whipped to face him, startled at his sudden appearance. She quickly lifted her blade to block his own as he swung at her. "9S?! 9S, stop! Now's not the time for this!"

9S was deaf to her shouts and blind to his surroundings aside from her as he lunged again, slashing with his sword and attempting to hack into her systems. All surrounding noise had blended into one constant hum of static and his vision was stained red as he attacked relentlessly.

A2 was helpless to do anything more than block and dodge his attacks while trying to fend off Machines that tried to attack them as well. Once she got an opening, she swung the hilt of her sword and hit 9S hard in the head before kicking him away. She lunged at him and pinned him to the ground. "Listen to me! We're in the middle of a massacre here! Snap out of it!"

9S struggled to throw her off and snarled at her. "You killed 2B! You took her from me and you're going to pay! I'll kill you!"

A2 pinned him more firmly and gave him a light shake. "Now is NOT the time! We can settle that later, but right now Pascal's in trouble and he needs us!"

The name of his friend broke through the fury that had possessed him and brought him back to his senses. "P... Pascal... The village!" He looked around to get his bearings back. "Wh... What the hell is going on?!"

A2 watched him warily for a moment before slowly getting up and helping him to his feet. "Dunno. We can figure that out later. Right now, we need to deal with these berserk Machines and find Pascal."

9S nodded numbly in agreement and launched himself at the nearest group of cannibal Machines and started taking them out while A2 went for the next nearest group. It took several minutes, but they finally managed to clear the village. Once they'd dealt with the cannibals and put out the fires, they both made frantic attempts to contact Pascal after they were both unable to find him. They finally got a hold of him after several more panic-filled minutes. "Oh, A2! And is that 9S? How's the village? How are my people...?"

9S frowned. "I'm sorry, Pascal... They... They're gone..."

Pascal wrung his hands quietly. "Oh... I see..."

A2 chimed in. "Hey, are you safe? Where are you?"

"Yes, I'm safe. I managed to get myself and children to safety. We're at the Abandoned Factory. It's been empty for awhile now and we've been using it for storage so it's quite safe."

9S gave a nod. "Alright, we're on our way there. Just hang tight." He hung up the call and hurried out to the Factory with A2.

It was A2 who spoke up first as they made the journey there. "Look... I know you don't like me, and you have every reason not to, but I think we need to call a truce, at least until we can figure out what the hell happened back there. Right now, Pascal needs us and fighting each other isn't going to help him"

9S managed to hide his surprise as he responded. "Yeah... Alright, fine... But only for Pascal's sake. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if something happened to him because of my personal grudge, and... 2B... 2B wouldn't either..." He looked away from her and chewed on his lip as he tried to fight down the pain threatening to overwhelm him at the mere mention of 2B's name.

A2 pretended not to notice as she nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you guys were both friends with him right? She... She'd probably want you to help him out..."

9S bit back the snappy retort he initially wanted to respond with and instead asked her, "What about you then? Why are you helping him? I thought you hated Machines too..."

The other android shrugged. "He helped me out when I was in a bind. I suppose we were technically even since I'd saved him from some other Machines that had been attacking him before that, Still... I couldn't just not help when he called me..."

The scanner could only nod silently as he processed her words. She'd always been a mystery to him, ever since he and 2B had first run into her in the Forest Kingdom. He'd never really been able to get much data on her since anyone he asked was either unwilling to answer or didn't know much about her.

The pair arrived at the Factory moments later and were met by Pascal as they entered the room he and the children had holed up in. 9S was sure that if his face could express emotions, the friendly Machine would have been smiling at them as he greeted them, despite the situation they were all caught up in. "9S! It's been quite awhile! And A2, welcome! I'm so glad you're both safe!"

9S couldn't help but give him a small smile. "Hey, Pascal. It has been awhile huh? Is everyone okay here?"

Pascal nodded enthusiastically. "Oh yes! Thankfully, we're all unharmed. We owe the both of you our lives."

A2 stepped forward. "That's very good to hear, but what in hell's name happened back there? What was with those crazy Machines?"

Pascal shook his head with a sigh as he shrugged. "I'm afraid I don't know... Everything was just fine and normal one moment and then the next... some of the villagers went berserk and started attacking their friends... But I don't know why..." He hugged himself with a shudder.

9S gently patted his shoulder to try and comfort him. "It'll be okay. We'll look into it later and see if we can figure out why that happened so we can try to stop it from happening again. Right now, though, we need to make sure this place is safe before we can rest on our laurels."

Pod 153 and Pod 042 both suddenly chimed in together. "Alert: Multiple enemies approaching current location!"

A2 spun on her heel and quickly headed for the door. "Then we'll just cut 'em off before they can reach the door. Let's go, 9S."

9S quickly nodded and followed after her. "We'll take care of this, Pascal. You stay in here with the children and try to keep them calm."

Pascal gave a nod and waved to them. "Okay. Good luck and be careful!"

9S waved back as he slipped out the door after A2 and closed it behind them. He paused and glanced at her curiously when she held out a sword in front of him. A jolt of shock shot through him when he recognized it and he moved slowly to take it from her, holding it reverently. "Th... This... This is..."

"It's 2B's sword... She... She left her memories in it... or something... somehow... Anyway, I... I think she'd want you to have it..."

The scanner hugged the sword close to him as he trembled. "Then why...? Why...? Why'd you kill her?! Why'd you have to take her away from me?!"

A2 flinched and sighed as she glanced over at him. "It wasn't by choice... She was infected with a logic virus..."

"Then why didn't she just come to me?! I could have gotten rid of it!"

"She was too far gone for that. Even if you could have gotten rid of the virus and cured her, you would've been infected yourself. I think she knew that and was trying to protect you..."

9S bit his lip as he choked on sobs. "She was all I had... Now she's gone... You took her away from me... I... I didn't even... get to say goodbye..."

A2 tentatively laid a hand on his shoulder, hoping to offer some sort of comfort. "That would've only made dealing with losing her that much harder for you... I think she knew that too..." She glanced at the horizon as she rubbed his shoulder soothingly for a moment before giving him a light nudge. "Now focus, Kid. They're here..."

9S tensed as the sounds of the approaching Machines grew louder. He quickly scrubbed the tears from his eyes before slipping into a battle stance, brandishing 2B's sword. '2B... I really hope you can hear me... I need you... I need your strength... Please... Help me get through this... For Pascal and those children...' He tightened his grip on the sword as he charged at the nearest Machine with a shout. A2 joined in right behind him, the pair slicing furiously at any Machine that came within reach of their blades. The Pods circled protectively around them and constantly sprayed the Machines with bullets and lasers. Eventually, 9S started hacking into the Machines to help speed the battle up while A2 and the Pods watched his back.

A loud droning noise and a rumbling in the ground caught them off guard and threw them for a loop, however, which caused them to freeze and stare as a large swarm of airborne Machines approached them, flanked by a giant Goliath class Machine.

A2 gaped as she watched them get closer. "Wh... What the hell?! How're we supposed to beat all those?!"

9S grit his teeth and looked around frantically as he tried to think up some sort of plan. "Um... Let me think here..." He suddenly noticed another, deactivated Goliath nearby and got an idea. "I think I know what to do! Watch my back and buy me some time!"

He quickly worked on hacking into the Goliath and activating it while A2 and the Pods continued to fight. The gigantic Machine soon started to creak and groan as it slowly began to move. Though it was heavy and unwieldy, 9S managed to use it to fend the seemingly endless horde of hostile Machines, swatting them away like bugs, before turning his attention to the Goliath that followed them.

The two giant Machines exchanged several slow, heavy blows with each other before the hostile Goliath managed to knock the one 9S had hacked into off of its feet. Not allowing himself any time to panic at the loss, he quickly hacked into the other Goliath.

The large hacking space was full of obstacles that 9S was quick to confront. Various shooters were brought down by his own and he took out the columns that were keeping up the barrier around the core. After several minutes of grappling with each other in cyberspace, the Goliath deactivated and collapsed into the ocean, sending up a large spray of water that also nearly deafened them with its loudness.

After the Machines were dealt with, 9S and A2 hurried back inside to check on their friends. Pascal stepped forward to meet them as the children dashed up to them and crowded around them, clumsily hugging them and chirping their thanks. "Welcome back! I'm very glad you're both safe!"

9S gently gave the small Machines around him affectionate pats on their heads as he nodded gratefully to Pascal. "Thank you. We're just glad we could help. Say, why don't you and the children come back to the Resistance Camp with us? It's probably the safest place for you right now and they already know you so they shouldn't have a problem with it."

A2 nodded in agreement. "Yeah, the kid's right. Safety in numbers and all that. We're all better off in a group. Especially with the virus spreading like it is."

Pascal mulled the idea over for a few moments before giving a nod. "Alright, we'll go with you. Hopefully they have enough space to accommodate us..."

9S chuckled with a small smile. "Oh I'm sure they can figure something out."

A2 spun and headed for the door. "C'mon then. Let's move while we still have some daylight left. I ain't spending the night in this creepy old place."

9S nodded and waved Pascal and the children on ahead of him, bringing up the rear while A2 led the way back to the Resistance Camp. It took them a couple of hours because the two androids had to slow their pace in order to avoid leaving their Machine friends in the dust. They also had to fend off hostile Machines along the way.

Anemone greeted them when they finally arrived at the camp. "9S! A2! It's good to see you both back in one piece! And welcome back again, Pascal! I see you brought some of your villagers with you this time."

The children dragged A2 off to play, heedless of her protests, while 9S and Pascal filled Anemone in on what had happened. She listened with a frown and glanced over to where the children were playing as she crossed her arms and spoke softly. "So this is all that's left then...?"

9S nodded quietly. "Yeah... Pascal managed to get himself and the kids to safety, but the others didn't make it..."

Anemone sighed heavily and clapped a hand onto Pascal's shoulder. "I'm so sorry... We'll do everything we can to help you and, of course, you're more than welcome to stay with us here. We'll see what we can do about getting you guys set up with your own private space."

Pascal patted her hand gratefully and nodded. "Alright, thank you. I really appreciate it."

"Don't worry about it. It's the least we can do after everything you and your village have done to help us."

After Anemone went to make arrangements, 9S and Pascal sat nearby and watched the children contently. Pascal turned to 9S after a moment. "I never had the chance to ask before... Where's 2B? I thought you two were always together."

9S clenched his fists in his lap and turned away to hide his frown as he answered quietly. "Gone... She's... gone..."

Pascal stiffened and blinked in shock before sighing shakily. "Oh... Oh no... I'm so sorry... I didn't know..."

"You couldn't have known and it wasn't your doing, Pascal... You have nothing to apologize for... She... A2 said she was infected by the logic virus... A2... She... killed her... I saw it... She killed her before I could stop her..."

Pascal gently patted his shoulder in an attempt to comfort him. "And you still worked with her to save us... 2B would be very proud of you... Overcoming something like that would be very difficult, I think..."

9S laid a hand on top of Pascal's on his shoulder quietly and squeezed it lightly. "Yeah, well... She'd never forgive me if I let something happen to you just because I was holding a grudge against her when she was trying to help you..."

The two sat there quietly for several minutes, squeezing each others hand and drawing comfort from each others company, before Pascal lightly nudged 9S. "You should probably go and get some maintenance done..."

9S nodded and gave Pascal's hand a final squeeze before he stood, stretching his stiffened muscles. "Yeah, I probably should... Hey, Pascal...?"

Pascal blinked up at him curiously. "Yes, 9S? What is it?"

"Thank you..." He gave his friend a small, grateful smile before limping over to where Devola and Popola were sitting.

Popola took one brief glance at him before ushering him over to a cot and coaxing him into lying down on it. "Here, 9S. Lay down here and we'll get you fixed back up, good as new, in no time." After getting him settled down, she put 9S into his maintenance mode and quickly got to work as her twin jumped in to help out.

Stuck in maintenance mode, there wasn't anything else for 9S to do but listen to Devola and Popola chatter to each other while they worked and to get lost in his own thoughts. As hard as he tried to avoid it, they kept drifting to 2B and the time they spent together.

He remembered all of the tasks and missions they worked on together, all the searching they did and the enemies they fought together. While he'd said all the running around was a pain, he cherished any and every second he'd spent with his partner. He'd gladly run fetch errands for the rest of eternity if he could only have stayed by her side. Along with the missions, he remembered the rare quiet moments they spent together too. All the times they fished together, 2B actually bursting into a full-on fit of laughter when he went to startle a moose just to see how it would react and ended up getting chased up a tree by it, all the times they'd just sit and talk or just in companionable silence and admire the scenery together for hours. There were also a handful of times that they stargazed together. 9S would point out all the constellations he could find and tell the stories behind them while 2B would listen contently and trace out the constellations with him. They'd even seen a meteor shower one time and had been absolutely awestruck by it.

'There was so much more that I could've shown her... There was so much left for us to explore together... With YoRHa gone... we would've been free... We could've gone anywhere we wanted... seen anything we wanted... whenever we liked... I'll... never get to hear her laugh or see her smile at me again...'

Devola paused her work and lightly wiped away the tears leaking from 9S's eyes in a rare show of tenderness, something usually reserved for her sister. "Must be thinking about 2B..."

Popola rubbed a few soothing circles on 9S's shoulder as she nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he probably is... Poor thing... I'm sure he's really missing her... They were really close..."

A2 wandered over to the group and pulled up a chair, watching the twins work on the scanner. "How's he doing?"

Popola gave her a smile in greeting. "Hey, A2. He's doing just fine. He didn't get too banged up, thankfully, so repairs are going smoothly. We're actually just about done here, I think."

A2 sighed in relief and nodded in approval. "Good. That's good news. About time we had some of that..."

9S was brought out of maintenance mode shortly after, and he stretched with a yawn before sitting up. "Thanks, guys..."

Popola nodded happily with a warm smile. "Anytime. You should go and get some rest. It's getting late. Don't push yourself too hard okay?"

The scanner nodded quietly and stood up. "Yeah... Okay..." A2 and the twin healers watched, frowning in concern, as 9S shuffled off silently to the room Anemone had given to him and 2B when they'd first arrived.

A2 was tempted to follow him to make sure he was okay, but she figured that he would probably want some space and privacy. She didn't want to intrude or give him more reason to be angry with her so she decided to leave him be for now and just check on him later on.

9S grabbed 2B's old pillow from her bed and crawled into his own bed, curling around the pillow and burying his face into it with a shaky sigh. His throat ached and his lungs burned as he fought back his tears. Pod 153 hovered anxiously over him. "Alert: Unit 9S is experiencing severe emotional distress..."

A half-sob half-chuckle escaped the scanner as he wiped his cheeks. "Thanks, Pod... I know I am... It's fine..." He gave his Pod a light, affectionate pat on its hull and curled up tighter around the pillow he was hugging.

Pod 153 continued to hover over him protectively and watched him worriedly. "Query: Would hearing the voice of Unit 2B help settle your emotional state?"

9S glanced up at his Pod, curious despite himself. "You... Do you have recordings of her voice?"

"Affirmative. Shall I commence playback?"

"... Yes, please... Maybe it would help..." The scanner buried his face into 2B's pillow again and breathed in deeply, trying to pick up her scent, as Pod 153 started playing recordings of 2B speaking. The Pod made sure the recordings contained only light, pleasant topics so that they wouldn't upset her charge any further. After a few moments, a soft, pulsing humming sound played in the background along with the voice recordings. 9S looked up in surprise as he instantly recognized the sound. "That's... You have a recording of her Black Box too...?"

"Affirmative."

"... Thanks for doing this for me, Pod..." He curled back up around the pillow and buried his face back into it as he listened silently.

"... Affirmative..."

Several minutes later, 9S slowly started to drift off into sleep mode. Once he was asleep, Pod 153 tugged off his boots and pulled the blankets up over his head before lightly patting his head. "Goodnight, 9S..." The recordings stopped as she fell into a light version of sleep mode.