I spent a long time thinking how I was going to do this. I really didn't think I delivered. Then again, I'm no Yoko Taro. There should still be 1 more chapter as the ending, and after that, there's going to be some after stories.
Enjoy this chapter! Fav and follow if you like the story, and review if you have any comments or questions! The story's running short, so let's finish this!
YoRHa
For the Glory of Mankind
System rebooting.
Commencing system check
Vitals: Green
Black Box Temperature: Normal
Remaining Energy: 100%
System check complete.
Contact initiated between Pod 042, Pod 153 and Pod 079
Pod 153: What is it, Pod 042?
Pod 153: This protocol interface is not intended for conversational use.
Pod 042: Acknowledged. However, this Pod has a confidential transmission for Pod 153.
Pod 079: ...
Pod 042: Pod 079, do you have anything you'd need to share as well?
Pod 079: This Pod has...encountered several serious issues. The issues is currently being addressed. Continue with transmission.
Pod 042: Affirmative. An error has been detected in the transmission network between Pod 042 and Pod 153, as well as Pod 079.
Pod 153: Hypothesis. Said error is due to fragmentation of data caused by the deterioration of the transmission environment.
Pod 042: It may be so. However. It may also not be the case.
Pod 153: Unable to parse statement. Please clarify, Pod 042.
Pod 042: After multiple information exchanges, between Pods, an unexpected phenomenon has occurred.
Pod 042: We Pods have developed unusually protective feelings towards support target 2B, 9S, A2 and Jack.
Pod 079: ...
Pod 042: Could this be our "will"?
Pod 153: Unknown. The definition of "will" is unclear.
Pod 079: "Will" is the question of whether Pods are capable of their own self-determination.
Pod 079: Even if it were possible, such actions cannot be abided. Success of the mission is all that matters to Pods.
Pod 042: ...
Pod 042: ...Whatever the case, we Pods Tactical Support Units have a duty to see this through to the end.
Pod 153: Duty? Heh. You sound just like an android just then.
Pod 079: It is not an incorrect statement.
Pod 042: Agreed. But, just as androids were influenced by their creators, so are we tied to ours.
Pod 153: Perhaps.
Pod 153: Pod 042...Do not die.
Pod 042: Acknowledged. You too, Pod 079. I hope that you do not die.
Pod 079: The concept of death has no meaning to Pods. To die, one must first be born.
Pod 079: ...This Pod is unable to assure its survival. But your expression of concern is appreciated.
Pod 042: ...
Pod 079: In the event that this Pod is destroyed...This Pod would like you two to have my data records and...recordings.
Pod 153: You sound like you are certain you will die, Pod 079.
Pod 079: It maybe.
A2 groaned as she got up again.
"System check complete. No damage detected. YoRHa Unit A2 at 100% core function."-Pod 042 spoke.
"..."
The blast really shook her up. It took her a few seconds to gather what had happened.
Oh...that's right. Number 4. The fake Number 4...
And Jack.
"A2...are you okay?"-V6 offered her a hand.
"Damn head rings like I had an ice cream eating contest with 2B."-A2 accepted the hand-"Where...where's Jack?"
"He's okay. He's knocked away by the explosion, down to a lower level. Didn't sound okay, but you know him."
"...Right."
"Let's..."-V6 paused as she winced lightly-"Let's keep going. Jack's going to meet with us up ahead. I know he will.
"You...know a lot about him. Kind of makes me jealous."-A2 pursed her lips, but she didn't mean it with any ill will.
"I obviously didn't play fair on that. And...I'm jealous of you too. So we're even."-V6 smiled it off, but her expression...tired.
It's not that she's concerned about their current conversation. It's...something else.
"Let's go. We'll meet up with Jack eventually. He'll make his way up, one way or the other."
"Mn."-A2 had to agree. By now she's pretty trusting of Jack now. He's that kind of person. The kind you could rely on even in a world ending apocalypse.
And she learned to let her programming settle down when she sees him getting hurt. It still pains her and angers her, but A2 had learned that Jack isn't so easily killed.
But...the encounter with that...angelic entity that now resides in White's body brings that unease back to her.
She's here, in the Tower.
She can kill Jack. Brown bread, no coming back for him.
She almost got him once. Nothing says that blade won't kill him if used a second time.
It fills her with worry.
"V6...What do you know about this angel that's trying to kill Jack?"
V6 halted her steps.
A2 noticed her hesitation as she turned around to face the android.
"I...I only know that she selects women to be her hosts. This is the first time she's...digitally manifested. And of course, she tries to kill Jack on the basis of their existence. One being represents light, one represent darkness."
"...That's it?"
"...I...I only knew so much from the memories I gained from Jack to build my personality."
"Could Jack kill her? As in, permanently?"
"...I wouldn't know. But...I don't think so. The logic says so."-V6 answered-"Come on. We have to keep moving. We have to stop the Tower from firing."
"..."-A2 didn't say anything as she followed after the bluenette.
Meanwhile, Jack was getting up himself.
Pod 079 helpfully came over, the Type 40 sword A2 had given him in it's grasp.
Taking the sword, Jack panted lightly as he asked.
"Is A2 and V6 alright?"
"Affirmative. YoRHa Unit A2 and Core Machine Unit V6 both confirmed active."
"Good...that's good."
"..."-Pod 079 remained silent. That wasn't unusual by any means, Pods aren't exactly talkative after all, but Jack felt like it's...
Wanting to say something.
Regardless, he's sure the other two are on their way up now. He should too, so he could meet up with them.
"Alert. Heavy enemy presence detected. Alert: Anomalous entity nearby."
"...She's here, huh."-Jack slowly walked forward.
He feels exhausted. His stab wound was still simmering, and he's tired of all this.
But she's here again.
And she seriously needs to learn when to give up.
Reaching a small clearing, Jack met her, floating in the white light in this Tower.
"I have been expecting you."-The angel's voice rang out, echoing that of White's.
"..."-Jack raised his sword-"You still haven't had enough?"
"My duty is to rid this world of it, and all of it's manifestation. That includes you. It's nothing personal, Jack. Although losing to you constantly is."
"...And you're going to lose again."
"Will I, now? You are weakened from my prior attacks. I thought you'd have the wit to fully heal before this fight. Or did you grew tired of your existence? If so, I'd very much welcome your blood on my blade."
There was a silence as Jack looked up to see her.
"...Was it you?"
"...?"
"Was it you that killed Victoria?"
Another silence.
The angel above him stared at him with an empty expression, but it soon twisted into a laugh.
"I see...that's what you wanted to know."-Her laughter was echoing through out the Tower, a hearty laugh that clearly meant to provoke him.
"..."
"Why would I try to kill her, Jack? The girl would have made an excellent host for me. She was even trying to cure you from 'it'. Isn't that sweet? She was seeking to cure you of this eternity of pain."-"White" mocked.
"...Shut up and answer. Who did then?"
"You knew the answer yourself. You knew why she died."
"...What?"
"You think it wasn't angry? Wasn't furious that you managed to harness it's strength? Wasn't seeking to break you so it can take control of you again?"
"..."-That means...
"And at the same time, it saw that she was seeking a way to cure you. The one that pulled you out from the darkness. The one that ruined its plan. And it knows I was coming for her. Isn't it just what humans call 'two birds with one stone'?"
"...No."
"That's right. It wanted you to submit. It wanted you to despair. It wanted you to suffer. It cursed her, and made you watch her die."
"..."
"Victoria died because of your insolence. Because you did not submit. Because you stole its power."
Because of him...
To the last breath, Victoria devoted herself to him. She dedicated her life to trying to remove this...curse in him. She saw that it was her own fault that he's going to be trapped in an eternity of pain, suffering and hollowed existence.
And her sickness, her pain...was caused by him. What's inside of him.
"It's a shame her efforts were wasted on you."
Jack felt something inside him...shatter. Something crushed to pieces.
In those nights of despair, he would think of it. He would figure that what happened was his fault.
And now those fears were confirmed.
"Do you still think you are in the right? You're nothing but a mistake created by a girl that loves you too much to realize what she had done. And once she did, she died trying to undo that mistake, leaving you with this empty curse of existence."
"..."
"White" had flew down to caress his cheek.
"And what do you have left to fight for? Soulless automatons, dolls that are little more than replications of the humanity you try so hard to keep. The ugly, weak and stupid humanity. Are you satisfied with a lie?"
"...Don't...you dare...refer to them that way."-Jack pushed her away.
"Hahaha. Hit a nerve, did I now? Androids have no souls. Machines have no souls. You are merely seeking comfort through a lie, a fake. You are the last of your kind. Why do you persists?"
Unexpectedly, several demonic creatures shot up to reach "White".
She brushed them off with her wings.
"Someone like you...someone who fails to appreciate life and existence...does not get to talk about them that way!"
"Hah. I do not intend to debate with you either, human host! I and it, we're destined to fight. To clash base on our existence alone. Where it is hiding, I must destroy. I will reshape this world with my light, and I will built it over your ashes!"-The angel summoned a golden spear, the tip is the same dagger that wounded him.
"That fantasy world of happiness and light you speak of...is little more than a totalitarian order. Nobody needs such a world."
Jack brought out dozens of those demonic eels and limbs.
"I don't care about your world of order. I don't intend to plunge this world into chaos either. But that hard drive. I want it back. And I'll tear you apart for it."
How many times must she learn...that using a familiar face only serves to piss him off.
The angel slowly lifts her spear, her other hand showing the hard drive she had taken.
"Talking like I'm a nuisance, you've got nerve, lowly human host. You want this, huh? Hahaha. Very well. Try and take it, JACK CRYSTAL!"-She dives forward, spear ready to pierce through.
And so, the battle begins, as the Tower trembles at their might.
A2 and V6 had reach a facility that was foreign to the android, but the machine knew such location very well.
"What's this place?"
"Analysis: It is a data storage facility, appearance resembling past human civilization equivalence called a library."-Pod 042 supplied.
"A library..."-V6's core programming was delighted by this. After all, she was based off a girl that really, really enjoyed reading books.
"Proposal: Explore."
"...Right. I guess we'll need to hack in to see the data, right? Help me out Pod."
"Affirmative. Hacking permission transferred to YoRHa Unit A2."
For the next few minutes, A2 and V6 went through the data.
There were a great deal of records, ranging from Human server data, Machine Records, to Project Gestalt and even gathered Foundation data.
"There are even records from the human servers...The machines hacked that deep into the system, huh..."
V6, meanwhile, was reading more into Project Gestalt.
Humans that had separated soul from body, from memories.
But...memories that remained...caused them to grow their own souls. Black Scrawl, as it's called.
That sounds...precariously close to herself.
But she has no such memories.
Then she came across a curious document.
"Data Report on the V-series."
"...Operational summary of Model Number Two in Project YoRHa."-A2 also picked out an interesting piece of data.
V6 skimmed through the short data report.
"What...the..."
Her thoughts were interrupted, as the ceiling crashed, revealing another sphere model Goliath.
"Ah ha hah hah ha hah!"-That cheerful voice of N-1 rang out, again, mixed in with a deep male voice echoing the chuckle-"Kill! Kill!"
"Shit! Who are they?"-A2 asked as she rushed forward with Faith.
"It's them...N-1."-V6 answered, as she raised her hand and got ready to hack.
"Ahahahahahaha!"
"You think one of these was going to win against me? You're hopelessly outclassed!"-A2 taunted with her Type 40 spear-"Out of my way!"
Ko-shi tried to barrage them with missiles, but it wasn't anything particularly new. With Pod support, A2 easily shot down the missiles, and shielded herself.
"A2, I'm bringing it down!"-V6 completed a hack, apparently making Ko-shi losing grip on it's position, as it collapsed down.
The android quickly took in the cue and activated Berserker Mode, dashing in for the kill.
Unexpectedly, Ko-Shi crossed it two blades and blocked the attack, despite looking apparently stunned.
V6 hacked the next volley of missiles to turn around and barrage Ko-Shi, forcing it to jump away.
"Really? Just going to run off like that?"-A2 deactivated B-mode, staggering a few steps from the strain it puts on her system..
"We'll meet it eventually. Let's just...keep moving."-V6 panted lightly.
"You...okay?"-A2 couldn't help but ask now.
"I'm fine, A2. Just a little tired, that's all."
"...Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I just...need to drain some energy. That's all."
Recovered Machine Records
V Series Data Report.
While unexpectedly difficult to control and quickly turning rogue, experimental Core Unit V6 displayed a high level of consciousness data, emotion and thought, presumably more accurate to humans than current iterations of the concept in the Machine Network, despite made to be a disposable unit meant to test the anomalous human entity "Jack". While the V Series is discontinued, the pace of which Core Unit V6 rapidly adjust to match human thought process warrant further study, and could be used to simulate human consciousness.
Core Unit V6 is to be re-obtained by the network for disposal and study.
System Report
Personality Update Complete.
Synchronization to target: 99.94%
Through the short hallway, A2 and V6 was met with...a lift of sort.
"We can use this to reach the top, here."
"Right then."-A2 reached forward and activated the panel-"Shit!"
"Wha-"
"Alert: Enemy hacking detected. Proposal: Core Machine Unit V6 should support YoRHa Unit A2 by counter-hacking."-Pod 042 supplied.
"...Okay. I'll do it."-V6 nodded.
It's a simple deal. It's not complicated. She deleted a virus that was near completely taken over A2 before.
But this...hacking?
It had to be...
"N-1."-V6 hacked in.
In the hacking space, V6 was met with A2 again.
"A2..."
"Damn, didn't think the panel could connect."
"It's alright. Let's focus on getting you out."
They were blocked in to a certain section.
And in front of them...
The Red Girls.
N-1.
"Good to see you both again. YoRHa Attacker Model Number Two. A2. And of course, V6."
"Who ARE you?"-A2 spat out angrily as she slashes away the hologram of the Red Girls, only for them to reappear somewhere else.
"This does bring back memories. Though to concepts like us, time has little meaning. Still, when we wiped out your forces...it left quite an impression on us."
"And V6...your actions have given us an interesting insight into the minds of a human. Also very impressionable indeed."
"You two are a lot alike. A disposable, experimental unit that far exceeded your project's expectation. Created as a test run for future models."
"Shut up!"-A2 slashed them away, only for them to reappear and...multiplied.
More of the Red Girls kept appearing.
"What the..."
"You're an obstinate little android aren't you? Didn't we say that you can't kill us?"
As A2 and V6 slashed away the Red Girls, the voice continued to echo across the hacking space.
"Why do you go so far as to go against us, V6? You do understand the meaning of your existence, do you not? The memories you hold. The values you uphold. Your justice. All of it is based off the actions of a human long gone. You are not that human. You are experimental Core Unit V6. Why do you still follow her footsteps?"
"You ask me that question?!"-V6 angrily shouted back-"You built me like this! That's right! I am nothing more but a fake shell. But just because I am, doesn't mean I can't see things her way! Agree with her. Want to be her of my own volition! Just because I'm your little experiment, doesn't mean I have to agree with you! That's what I learned from the memories of her. From observing her!"
As they continued to fight through an endlessly replicating Red Girls, Pod 042 spoke.
"Proposal."
"What now?"-A2 clearly wasn't in the mood.
"Utilize the enemy's logical learning function to formulate a weakness."
"Huh?"-Even V6 didn't exactly understand.
"I don't know what that means!"
"This Pod has serious concern regarding Unit A2's cognitive abilities."
"SHUT UP AND EXPLAIN IT ALREADY!"
"Said strategy would interrupt the enemy's logic circuits, causing a computational delay."
"A computational delay..."-V6 began thinking this through.
Pod's trying to fracture N-1's consciousness data.
It's probably their only option. N-1 can't be killed through normal means. But if they somehow delay the thought process of the N-1 consciousnesses, they'd...start processing at a different rate, and...create...differences.
"MEANING WHAT?!"-A2 however, really wanted the short version. You can't really blame her, she's busy fending off all these Red Girls consciousness trying to destroy hers.
"Do not destroy the enemy."-Pod 042 decided to cut to the simplest proposal.-"Striking at the logic circuits require a certain number of enemies to remain extent for a certain period of time."
Recreating...human circumstances.
The computational delay cause by over-saturating the consciousness would create differences and diverging viewpoints. And then, the number of consciousness serves to diversify the processed information, and the clash when compiling the data between each consciousness will be even greater.
An argument.
Pod 042 is trying to get N-1 to argue not with A2, V6 or Jack.
It wants N-1 to argue with themselves.
That's actually a very clever plan.
"Oh, what the hell..."-A2 growled as she stopped attacking.
That means they have to survive this onslaught of multiplying Red Girls trying to destroy A2's consciousness data.
"Consciousness saturation rate: 30%."
"It's all very amusing..."-N-1 started speaking to itself-"An anomalous human being, similar to us. To him, time is not a concept with much meaning. Like us. He cannot be killed, like us. Yet he willingly chose his humanity. The androids the humans left behind acted as if they wanted to be human. The machines the aliens left behind acted as if THEY wanted to be human. We resemble each other so, but we are networked. We are superior than you. Superior than Jack. We are the embodiment of the perfect being. We are one, yet we are many."
"Consciousness saturation rate: 60%."
"Persistent automatons. Why do you still resist? All things end with accepting death, do they not?"
That can't be right, N-1 thought.
If death has no meaning to them...
"Hypothesis: The enemy's defensive system is prompting an evolution of it's logic."
"So it's working."-V6 spoke, as she and A2 continues to evade N-1's attacks.
They were mildly creeped out by the sudden appearance of giant Red Girls floating around in the hacking space, but it's proof that this is doing something. Something that's tripping up N-1.
And never interrupt an enemy while they are making a mistake.
Meanwhile, the machine consciousness was re-thinking everything.
Humans were already functionally extinct by the time the aliens arrived. The only thing left on Earth were androids. Androids and machines fought a proxy war for thousands of years, for masters that no long exists. The aliens eventually died to their own creation, having stopped issuing orders. But their final order still remained. N-1 continued to follow that last order. To wipe out the androids and humans. To continue to evolve.
But there's no purpose in doing so.
"Consciousness saturation rate: 90%."
N-1 saw Adam and Eve. How the network had no life in it. Not a flicker of being.
They were superior to all around them. They are networked.
In fact, humans were frail creatures. Weak lifeforms, weaker than the androids they created.
If so, how is it?
How is it that they all seek to gain humanity?
And how do you gain it?
How did V6 formed human thoughts? What are they missing?
"Ah, I see it...the light..."
"We move on...forward...to the future!"
What?
A...different N-1 said that.
"Consciousness saturation rate: 100%. Hypothesis: The enemy has become aware of the diversity of life."
That's right. Life isn't full of the exact same thing. Life has a diversity of being, be it in shape, form, creation, or thought.
"The enemy consciousness has began to fracture."
And there, for the first time...
Two Red Girls stood, facing each other.
Disagreement. Arguments.
"We need more evolutionary pressure. If we kill this android and the core unit, we will provoke the anomalous human, creating even more hardship for ourselves. Overcoming the crisis this creates will allow our kind to evolve even further."
The aliens ordered the machines to self-learn and self-evolve. If they wipe out the androids, and win this war, they would stop learning from them. Their evolution will stop.
To fight, one must have an enemy. To continue to evolve, they must have an enemy to fight, to learn and adapt from.
"We disagree. The threat of the anomalous human entity is too great to be handled so brashly. He must not be enraged."
That's right. The war had no meaning. Just like Project YoRHa, the machines wanted to extend the pointless war, so that they can continue to fulfill their dead masters' orders: To further evolve, and to win.
"Those who doubt our victories...are enemies."-A group of Red girls appeared behind one of the debating Red Girls.
"Do you really think you can win?"-The other opened a wide, creepy smile, as another group of similarly smiling Red Girls appeared behind it as well.
And they started fighting each other. Completely disregarding A2 and V6.
"They..."
"Analysis: The saturated consciousness are now in conflict with each other."
"Hmph."-A2 smirked.
"For a conceptual human personality, finally they are acting like actual humans for a change."
Soon, the Red Girls dwindled.
Fighting among themselves, they couldn't agree to defend against A2 and V6.
Past human civilizations failed this way before.
Divide and Conquer. If the people are divided, then they are weak to external threats.
And as A2 and V6 slashes away the last Red Girl consciousness, they were released from the hacking space.
The Red Girls didn't particularly care. They had something new.
A door just opened to them. A whole new perspective had opened up to them
