This first chapter was one half of a birthday present to Recycler.
If only I could have gotten this to him on time.
The door quietly swung open and closed just as silently. 40B had just entered the storage area were 131S was hiding. Mentally, he cursed the infernal luck that got him in this position. He didn't mean to read all of those files. He didn't want to be burdened with this knowledge. He didn't ask to be put in this position.
But the android who just found his hiding place, who was once one of his closest advisors and- dare he say it- the closest android he'd known to be a friend, was slowly encroaching on him. He knew better than to give any sign he was there. Once, the only name he had for her was "40B", but now he knew far, far better. She was part of the less-palatable part of YoRHa, which were created to keep the secret a secret.
She was really 40E, an Executor type. 131S had no clue as to the number of androids who had meet their end at her blades, their only crime being possession of knowledge. And now, the administration had deemed him guilty of the same, as the nearing android could obviously attest.
There was really nowhere he could go. 131S was the lead administrator of the camp, doing something like- dare he think it- fleeing the camp was unthinkable. This was his home. His work, his labor, his pride. All of this was going to be taken away from him by the Executor in a minute or so because he found a few files he wasn't supposed to.
131S took a deep breath. Perhaps, he mused, he should enjoy the final moments he had here. Reflect on and be happy with all his accomplishments so far. Yes, that could very well be a good-
A resounding crash sounded through the room. A choked shriek pierced through 131S's ears briefly afterwards, before he heard the distinct sound of an android's body collapsing on the ground. His joints locked. What happened? Was she… down? Was there some sort of catastrophic failure on her part? This doesn't happen without some-
"Ugh, I hate that I have to log all these incidents." Someone was not so quietly making their way through the room. Someone, 131S noted, he hadn't heard before at all, and someone who just… appeared(?) in this room. "Alright, come on out, 131S, she's down. I got something for ya."
131S sat there in disbelief. Who was this, who claimed to take out a YoRHa android so quickly- and an Executor model, no less. And who was she to demand such of an administrator like him?
The exact same to disable an Executor model. Right.
131S quickly made up his mind. If she was powerful enough to stop an Executor, she was powerful enough to stop him several times over. Best to not provoke her into attacking him, he reasoned. 131S stood up and slowly made his way toward the unknown interloper.
As he rounded the corner, he sized up the new android. She stood slightly taller than he did, wearing black and white clothes- black boots, gloves, tie, and a short skirt, but a white blouse. She was paging through a rather thick book with an embossed golden cover, her right hand both supporting the book and looped through a large, full ring of keys. She leaned against a sizable suitcase which, to an unsuspecting onlooker, would seem to outweigh her. Laying on the ground in front of her was an unconscious 40B.
No, 131S reminded himself, 40E.
"There you are," the stranger wistfully noted the obvious, not looking up from her apparently engrossing literature, "I was wondering if I needed to pull you out here myself."
"Who are you? What do you want? How did you overcome an Executor type?" He wanted answers, now.
The stranger merely rolled her eyes, still not looking at him. "Save someone from their imminent rapid dismemberment, and all they can do is demand you answer their myriad of questions. But, considering the extenuating circumstances, I suppose I may answer a few questions for you." She straightened herself up, faced 131S, and bowed. "You may call me Accord. I want you to become an ambassador, of a sort. Easily." She rose back up and returned to her book, still not looking at him. "I believe I answered your questions."
"What- no! No you haven't!" 131S saw Accord suddenly pause, her head slightly looking up from her book. "Why did you select me? Why did you take out 40E? Why-" He was cut off when she snapped her book shut, turning to face him.
"Listen, 131S. I saved you from being removed from existence. Considering your kind's propensity to want to continue living, you're being rather rude at the moment." She began advancing toward him, taking on an intimidating air that surpassed what she seemingly should be capable of. "You can accept that this is going on, you being saved from your assigned Executor and following my instructions, or… you can decline," she bent down and effortlessly picked up the nightmare that stalked 131S just minutes before, "and she can continue doing her job. I'm sure at least she'll be happy."
131S paused in thought. Accord wasn't leaving him any choice, and the not-so-veiled threat of noncompliance wasn't something he could leave unfactored. "I understand the situation, Accord. I'll cooperate with you."
"Good!" Accord let 40E crash into a heap at her feet, then reached out to grab the deactivated pod next to her. "Here, for your trouble." She paused, miming being in thought. "Ah, sorry to drop this on you so suddenly, but I don't think you'll be able to make the trip there awake."
"Wait, wait." 131S couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Are you insinuating that you didn't just drop the rest of this entire situation on top of me?"
"No," Accord picked up her suitcase, "but this is the only part I truly feel sorry about."
She brought it around her head, striking 131S before he could react.