"Servitum"

A few technical support units, called as pods in short, fly as a group in the sky, carrying small things like a hand that is gloved and a few chips. The 120th century was a place of ruin… a battlefield between machine and android lifeforms. For most of YoRHa, the enhanced android faction, they first thought that humanity still lived, only to be hidden to the truth that humanity had already gone extinct. The main outpost was destroyed by a single logic virus stream, and all that was left, is dishing out a remaining conflict between the side of the rampant and more organized machines. They were smarter… more perceptive… more knowledgable. But they also knew the truth about YoRHa.

The pods were going to separate locations in the City Ruins, with most going to two bodies belonging to formerly living YoRHa units, a male and a female both wearing black blindfolds and having attire machine its color. There was also a separate body… another YoRHa unit having long hair… also being visited by a pod and being given chips while being maintained. While all this happened, a white blouse-wearing woman with black stockings looked at the events in different locations. She fixed her glasses, finding the sight enjoyable.

She smiles a little and mutters to herself. "The three of you have gone through so much. It's only deserving that there should be a chance all of you live. I hope…" She frowns to herself. "…that this time and place would never cease to exist."

Everything that lives, is designed to end… or so the original quote says from an android who seemed confused of her past. I can't blame her. She didn't know who she was talking about, and she'll know things later on...

My name is Accord. I observe singularities in the timeline. Though given the recent turn of events, my priority is slowly changing. The 120th century is never the same as the years before… because there are things impossible in the past, that can be achieved at this very time.

I'm still here to observe and record, though I know it will change. I'm not someone perfect. I do this to protect all timelines from destruction… And… As much as I want to say that it all goes well… I would be lying. Bigger things have started to go into play.

Accord clenches a fist as she looks at what was happening… the android couple was awakening after being repaired by the pods. She went to follow the pods to see where they'd go. As what she finds out later on, the pods go so far away just before their hover in flight has failed. She senses internal programs failing in their systems. She sighs at this, knowing what has happened. 'So you protected yourselves from destroying your friends… I admire your courage…'

Life will never be the same for these three. I'm looking for allies. And while I'm not sure that these three can fit in, I know that they'll play a good role nonetheless. A war is coming.

Accord nods to herself and walks off, later disappearing as eyes would look away after briefly spotting her, only to find the figure gone when they looked back.

More than ever… I have to be ready for her.

Opening her eyes quickly, A2 sits up from the window sill. Her vision was restored as well as her basic senses. And so far, nothing was out of place from her body. Her diagnostics so far only showed some minor scratches, but nothing new from her usual readings before…

…before the ark went down with her. 'I remember…' She thought of this and looked around. She seemed to be near one edge of land where the horizon of water was visible to her. She then examines herself and looked at her left hand. She did have some revealing clothing, but she's at least looking in one piece. "The pods… They…"

A2 - I didn't need to speak. I've seen a few images of what they were doing, breaking out of their own programs themselves and achieving sentience. The likes of androids have the ability to hack, but for them to hack their own program and break out just to be free? They must have considered all possibilities. My memories should have been deleted instead… since we're truly without power now. YoRHa is finished and it should have ended with the three of us. It was then I had a feeling… the pods have their own programmed deaths in the case of a data salvage, and a self-destruct order would come if the data salvage is completed. 042… 143… They're gone...

A2 then stepped off the window sill and stepped onto the floor, letting her heels step on the surface. Noticing that her long hair was around, she assumed the body she's in was an old body of hers put back together. This was probably for the best… to give a distinction she's not 2B. 'I don't care anymore. I'd rather live free.' She sees a nearby set of clothes that were abandoned. Assuming that the building ruins were used, some androids that were prudent with tasks must have either left them there, or discarded them in a hurry. She then approached the clothing and began to tear a section of cloth off them. She then began to tie her hair down, making what she seems to know as a ponytail at the back of her head.

Then A2's hearing was picking up audio, coming from a familiar male voice from a distance. "I don't know about this… I'm picking up… another android?"

A female replied next, sounding like A2's voice but different in its own distinctions. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty sure." The male responded, and A2 believes this was indeed the android designated 9S.

With A2 finished in getting herself checked and assuring her silver-haired ponytail hair was tightly knit, she looks into the land where building ruins and trees are side by side. She then spots at a distance of two YoRHa androids without their blind covers, usually with black attire covered by some building ruins. "They have to listen to themselves," she muttered. 'Long range communication with any unit is impossible for now, but those two I can reach from here.' As soon as her thoughts finished, she used her ability to call. And as soon as one of the androids answered, A2 spoke first. "I had a feeling you'd make it… just not how I thought."

9S didn't answer from the other line completely. He was covered by the building ruins that had a good view from a nearby tall building. Beside him was 2B, who didn't know who he was talking to. Eventually, he came clean and replied. "You're the last person I had in mind of talking to me. Where are the pods?"

2B who was right beside him replied first. "I thought the pods were-"

"Well I don't believe it."

"LISTEN TO YOURSELF." 2B said it with a firm voice. "Let me speak to her. I have a good guess of who it is." She only received a nod from 9S before she got his call connected to her interface. "A2, I'm calling it in… and I'd rather drop our differences here and now. It's just the three of us."

"2B?!" 9S protests.

"Understood." A2 replied on the other line, making both androids hear it. "We may as well pick up where we left off."

As soon as the communication line was cut in conclusion, 9S grits his teeth and protests at 2B. "Maybe you didn't remember that she killed you off! I still don't trust her! Not after what she's done."

2B glares at 9S, and makes a fist with her hand before she swings it to hit a wall and making a hole through since it was weakened after all its time standing. "No. We're dropping it. Me. You. The data of humanity exists but humanity itself is no longer physically existent… not anymore. If we don't accept that and let bad blood grow, we won't be able to gather ourselves right. They're what remains of our past. You told me yourself, 9S. A2 saved you, destroyed the only weapon that could destroy the data. I'd rather live with that and completely forget she's a fugitive." She then moves past him and stops at a corner, seeing A2 coming over to where they should be. Looking back at her friend, she continues to speak. "The situation's changed, Nines. We're survivors."

9S continues to get surprises from 2B, a combat android, while he was only a scanner android, though efficient in combat and functions differently. "We'll see what we can get from her. I suggest you lead this, 2B. I'm not going to talk to her."

2B nods and leaves her cover, with 9S behind her. Seeing A2 stop beside another neighboring building ruin, 2B was casual as she approached the experimental YoRHa unit herself now without fear between the two of them. And expecting 9S to follow her, 2B would declare A2 to be an ally instead of an enemy. And stopping just a few feet away from her, she spoke up. "I killed some of my own. The whole time… the machines were already one step ahead."

"The virus," A2 replied. "Did you… hold any feelings of contempt against me?"

"I wasn't sure back then." 2B then looked at 9S, then back to A2. "But I am now."

A2 observed 9S who was looking away from her. "Do you want to keep sulking to yourself like this?"

"Give him time," 2B said. "Some shared memories came from you… and I've been processing it for a while. I didn't really think that 9S would be able to see through my true purpose. Android killer. No wonder it felt so familiar."

"2B." A2 called out with a firm tone and glared at 2B. "That's enough. I think we've all had it with the bullshit we've all gone through."

2B snorts. "Everything has changed. The machines have gotten so far within their sentience. They succeeded in becoming human themselves and have their own good and evil placed within them."

"They're saturated. So in other words… The Terminals are in a feud." A2 continued the statement and kept speaking. "The true goal the three of us should accomplish is to remedy the situation... probably give our best to convince the machines who are still left in the planet, those still in the network, to come to their senses and stop being used."

"Considering YoRHa is no longer around, they should get more loosened." 9S replies out of the blue, surprising the two female androids but he kept going. "I briefly saw… When I was getting invaded by the virus and… saved by A2… I saw some instructions come in. I wasn't sure, but it's at least clear. If the Ark itself collapses, they're to make another attempt at invading the human data on the moon. If it becomes effectively theirs, it's over. And I thought they just wanted to leave this world instead."

"But we don't know what their true intention is, despite their plans," 2B said. "Destroying the Bunker was only step one."

"Well?" A2 asked, seeing that 2B was thinking of a plan.

And 2B frowns. "A2… I don't have the right to take this from you. You saw through YoRHa. Not me."

"I saw through their lies while casualties are made, and that's different from what you've been through. Look… You're as much as responsible for what remains for androids. The memories you have with 9S are the most precious. I had only my squad mates from back then at the Pearl Harbor descent. It doesn't really compare to you two. So… I want you to command me. Consider me under your arsenal." A2 said this while looking at 9S. "There's no choice to be made."

2B looks at 9S who wanted to try and protest A2's suggestion. But 2B had other plans. "9S, she makes a point. I'm probably the more stable leader than she is."

A2 groans quiet and nods. She runs towards a direction to a forested area, leaving 2B and 9S to themselves.

And 9S began to speak up to 2B. "So… Attack the machines, or dialogue?"

"We gotta find more information, but we still have to be careful. If they could hack me again, there's no way I would completely counter. We're without pods now, 9S. So the best thing we must do… is survive."

"Humanity's complicated history… it's brought us to this, hasn't it?"

"This used to be a magical land. Now it's full of abominations." She looks at 9S and stares to his eyes for a while before speaking again. "And we're a part of them." 2B then looks forward and starts to follow the path A2 took. She wasn't sure at first, but she sensed 9S really did follow her, and he'd do that for as long as she's alive.

Author's Note BEGIN:

So I decided to rewrite and make sure that the other chapters maintain a clean format! I posted at the reddit about my plans towards this fanfiction and I've heard no comments yet as of this last update. The other chapters will be getting a format rewrite, so expect a cleaner piece of work!

If this is your first time seeing this chapter, then welcome to the fanfiction! You'll be getting yourself a nice dose of more NieR: Automata than Drakengard.

You should know that I'm open for reviews! If you like to leave one to see how I've been doing, it would be a great help! But… Expect me to keep this fanfiction going no matter how harsh the review is. I double-check and triple-check my own works to make sure it lives up to nice fanfiction standards.

I won't delay you guys any further! Here's Chapter 1, so enjoy!

END… Author's Note.

Chapter BEGIN:

2B – Normally when faced with challenges, I relay information that I have and request for more. And now without a central command structure, and a piece of technical support by my side, I realized that some part of my purpose for living is removed. It felt new to me, as I'm sure also felt new to 9S.

Now I'm leading both A2 and 9S through a world of uncertainty. The machine life forms are divided, between those who want to be human and work harmoniously with androids who are left from the Resistance, and those who want to eradicate humanity's only remaining memories. I feel compelled to still fight and protect our past, but isn't it slowly changing our enemy too? I had to ask A2 for more information…

A2 scouted out and led the formation into a short clearing in the forested area where they were a few buildings in ruin meant for recreation in the past. While 9S looking into another area, she noticed 2B was closer to her and followed from behind. "I promise I'm not leading us to an ambush."

"I'm not even distrusting you at all… even with what happened… between you two." 2B looked away at first, but she eventually was in eye contact with A2 again. "9S… He opened up… about his emotions towards you. All the pain and anger. Without me killing him, of course the only thing guiding him was his anger, and the suffering he'd take by seeing my corpse. Worse… I was responsible for it. I made him feel that way from the beginning."

"Hey. You requested my help."

"…because I didn't want him to see me… succumb to a machine's virus… and laugh while I'm under a terrifying fate like it's just another day. No. I turned away from it as soon as I'm free from the grasp of the Bunker... after it was destroyed. Maybe I felt the freedom I was still granted only for a short time."

"...only to later lose it to a virus which you didn't fully want." A2 continued it and snorted. "His reaction was premature, but I've already accepted that. He's just emotional. Really emotional."

"He's always been different from every other model, A2. I think he's only realizing that he needs to rethink what he feels."

"Well... is he improving?"

"He's... getting there." 2B frowns. "So... The Resistance isn't mostly finished. Some camps were attacked and taken down, but they're still hanging on."

"You think Anemone is still out there somewhere. I agree. She's quite resilient, really. And she's better in adapting to these situations than we do. We rely in on a central protocol structure most of the time. But the Resistance interacts with everything on a completely different level here on Earth. I wouldn't be surprised if-" A2 stopped walking immediately as she saw something peculiar. Just outside the connecting building ruins, she's able to spot a ruined compound nearby. "You two don't explore so much with your missions, and I never seen this place before."

2B noticed the compound and was realizing what A2 meant. "Nines and I are just around to the letter. So yes... I don't know this either."

"Great…" A2 then started to walk towards the compound, before she started to contact 9S. "You better regroup with us. An unexplored compound just caught our eye."

9S was silent for a little while at first, but responded. "I'm on my way."

2B noticed 9S responded with uncertainty as she followed A2. 'I know you have your doubts, Nines. I hope you get over this.' That was in her mind as she was behind A2 as they were entering the compound. Looking around, she noticed there were ruined arches used as small housing units. "Was this compound once a camp?"

"It looks like it… Ugh… I wish the pods were around right about now. But if you ask what I think, I'd say this was once a makeshift clinic, at least in a few spots in the compound. One thing I noticed too… This must have been a stronghold before it was taken over. And based on how these buildings were originally built, they were originally-"

"...military." 9S said that as he got to accompany the two from behind. "Makes sense, protecting civilians meant they have to be in a strong holdout point."

2B analyzed what's left of the arch ruins. "I'm seeing some connectors to these arches. A2?"

"Yeah. I see them too. They're not just tents."

"On the sizes of the arches, there could have been hangars here instead of smaller structures. This compound is bigger than how it looks from the outside." 2B said that just before the three encountered a central building ruin in the compound. "This looks promising though."

9S groans. "I just completed some updates over this area. I might not be a pod, but I got my uses enough. Apparently, this compound, used to be a military outpost. Seems the city was under siege and this outpost remained standing after all this time. The humans back then called this outpost Forward Operating Base Designation Servitum. Wait... Heads up. Also says that there's an administrative office here that seals up certain equipment... related to suspended animation."

A2 looked at 9S and 2B followed suit. "You're sure?"

"That's what it says. I was lucky in getting this data in way before I got back out in the field again. YoRHa was clearly covering up a few things about Earth's true standing when the aliens were succeeding in taking this planet over. If this information is accurate, that office is several floors down in that main building." 9S points to the same central building ruin. "A lift shaft should take us down there. The rest of the data regarding everything I've told you ends beyond that shaft. Only that room would make sense and the building's general structure."

"Then that's where we need to go," A2 said as she looked at 2B. "2B?"

2B nods. "You don't need to tell me. We're going in. Take point, A2." And she receives a nod from A2 before the experimental android took point of the formation. 2B followed and 9S followed her. And just as A2 went into the building to scout, 2B then spoke up. "Nines... You should tell me."

9S then spoke, anticipating 2B would open up on that subject. "Tell me what?"

"When are you going to drop your grudge?" 2B said this as she entered the building together with 9S while activating their enhanced vision to see in darkened areas. "Think about it, Nines. You got that much closer to her, though not in forms of companionship. You were only angered when I was killed. I had my reasons. That virus was killing me, just as it should have if she let you be corrupted. You might have hated her up to her death, so that doesn't give you a right to hate her now."

"But she killed you, 2B. Or maybe you just don't value life anymore?" 9S said that and must have ticked a nerve in 2B, making the female combat android suddenly dash to him and punch him at his torso. 9S winced and groaned in pain, getting to one knee and feeling the spot where he was punched. "2B...? What was that for...?"

2B glared at 9S. "You really didn't learn to get over yourself... even if you're a high-end model... even if you're so predictable in learning the truth. It gets annoying if this keeps going. Maybe I just won't be motivated to let you live... really serving my purpose in killing you in around 50 times, and adding another incident in my log." She gripped his uniform collar and forced him to stand, still gripping it and showed her rage. "If you weren't so sensitive and went after A2, maybe I should have seen this side of you more. I guess my mistake hangs right there. But this time I know. You've cared for me for so many times, and you didn't care how you ended up yourself."

"I LOVED YOU!" 9S said it and noticed 2B winced at him. "I didn't know what to do with those emotions... But..."

2B unexpectedly lets go of 9S, while she smiles at him. "You don't know how long I've waited to hear those words."

"Then-!" 9S tried to speak, but a finger from 2B stopped him from moving his lips. It wasn't forced, but she was signaling him to be silent.

"All in the right time, Nines. At least I wasn't wrong with my emotional response on you, too. For the meantime..." 2B changed the subject and used her short range comms to make contact. "A2, found the lift shaft?"

"Yeah, I found it. It extends all the way down underground. Looks like 9S was right, but we don't know exactly what is down there. You better get over here, quick." A2 sounded urgent and it gave 2B and 9S to move on immediately. And as they arrived at A2's position, the two noticed the number of decommissioned machines next to A2 and the lift shaft without its door. "I had to deal with them before I got here. It's not something I'd worry about."

"You should have told us!" 2B gently pushed A2's shoulder to express her concern. "We're trying to survive and most of our systems are inoperable at this time. Plus... we don't have our pods. Best you don't get too reckless. Or did you want to actually die?"

A2 sighs and looks at the decommissioned machines. "I don't have a death wish. But it's not like I don't have any choice but defend myself. And... Don't think I couldn't completely understand why you two won't join me here earlier." A2 chuckled at the two. "My guess is already accurate enough that I shouldn't tell you about it."

9S sighs then inspects the elevator entrance, looking through the entryway and down to see how deep the shaft is. "If the structure of this building is accurate, this lift was originally designed to travel down from here, up to a maximum underground floor of Level Sub 120. Whatever this kind of lift is and when this came from, it was certainly designed to resist movement pressure and could have been an advanced lift to protect its passengers, unlike the ones used in the 21st century."

"In any case, we should still climb down." 2B said this as she looked from the entry and down on the lift shaft. "Whatever secrets are held... It's all down there. I'll take point from here."

"Copy," A2 replied.

"I'm sure the machines don't have enough of a gut to get down there without destroying themselves. Let's go." 2B didn't hesitate and ran in, before reaching the other end of the entryway as she hanged on to the metallic grills of the long downward shaft. She temporarily lets go and she descends, before using her feet and hands to attach, while using her legs to absorb and maintain her next grip. As she went down continuously, A2 and 9S followed suit with her technique.

The three androids were able to find themselves right at the bottom, where 2B was able to get to the unopened lift door of Floor Sub 120. A2 soon got down there, not landing on the ruined elevator and some decommissioned machines. Jumping to the doorway, A2 assists 2B in opening the door on opposite sides of each other. 9S only just arrived just as the two other YoRHa androids were able to open the door.

And 9S immediately saw there was a floating machine sphere, followed by others each with glowing emitter lights red in color. "Crap... Spheres!" He then jumps in through the opened doorway of Level Sub 120 while equipping his light attack sword, smashing through the first sphere he saw and held his blade with both hands. As he went for his second target and unleashed a combo with his weapon, A2 and 2B soon followed suit.

It took only a minute, with 2B releasing a last combination of light attack slashes with kicks just before the last hostile exploded after being severely damaged. Sheathing her blade at her back to hover, she declared: "Clear," which she said as she looked at A2 and 9S. "We're blind here, so let's try to keep together. Splitting up is not a good option."

"Agreed," A2 said, sheathing her light attack sword at her back as it hovers next to her. "They're all low level machines. Took us a while, but I'm sure they only boasted the numbers, not their skill."

9S then made a suggestion. "2B, let's stick closer together. I might not have an idea how to navigate, but I at least know where the room is located. Feels weird... trying to follow only a compass."

"Better than anything," 2B said it just before she started to move. "Let's go." She moved faster just as 9S was beside her and A2 followed from behind.

It took the three several minutes navigating the rooms. There were laboratories that experimented on biological matter, and others that were testing nanotechnology applications. The nanotechnology startled A2 for a bit, since it made her realize that humanity should have had the chance to enhance their weaponry or defenses in the case of an attack. Question is... How long had it started to exist?

They didn't encounter any other machines until they finally come across a sealed door, disguised to just be an ordinary door at the end of a corridor. Then A2 came forward. "If you allow me..." She said it casually before equipping a heavy bladed two-handed sword, designed to cut down medium-sized opponents.

2B looked at the door and was thinking of the material it used. She then looked at A2. "Execute."

A2 grunted, holding her heavy blade and lifting the hilt up. Swinging it down, the door is halved and pushed into the room, knocking it off its blast hinges. "It's open." As A2 said that, 2B nods at her. A2 proceeds inside with her weapon drawn and she was immediately surprised. "Wait-!" She stopped speaking just as 2B and 9S opened their mouths in surprise, looking around the office. They were all seeing the same thing: Capsules. Cryostasis capsules. And there were four of them as she observed. "What... is this...?"

9S approached one of the capsules and touched it. There was cold air forming from inside of the glass that he couldn't see unless he focuses his attention toward the occupant of the capsule he's looking at. And he could see that there's a female... most probably a human. "Impossible... Are they... alive?"

2B was looking at other capsules around her, then looked back at 9S, reading his emotion. She was eventually starting to share his sentiment. "We were lied to… And yet…

"I can be angered and saddened at all things as we fight to save humanity... but this changes everything, seeing we're with what's left of humanity now..."

"Cryostasis?" A2 said it as she puts her heavy blade to hover at her back as it follows her movements. "I thought they tried it and still failed to produce significant results."

"Probably lies mixed up with the fact a surviving population evacuated to the moon," 9S remarked. "All the records we've been known to have possessed were partially doctored, after all."

"And to think we've all come here out of discovering this with our eyes," A2 said it and chuckled while shaking her head. "Oh shit… This is real. Wait… You think this isn't all made by machines, 2B?"

2B was then concerned of A2, who seems to think that the fact of humans inside capsules, was nothing more than just a trick. "About your concern… If this were a ploy the machines are making just to eliminate the last of YoRHa, they would have protected it more as they're almost unending now."

"So your plan..." A2 said as she gave 2B a serious look. "Open them?"

"Open them."

"Wait!" 9S protested. "You two sure we won't kill them?! Unless we find the controls to their capsules, I suggest we don't force them open."

"Fair point," A2 said. "I don't see any of the controls on the capsules. Do any of you…?"

Silence fell in the room as the androids' intentions were clear.

"I can help with that," a female voice came into the room. And a holographic image made from the room's projectors was forming from its feet, up to its legs, torso, chest, and head. The three androids saw a young woman with black hair, appearing in her 20's in a red sleeveless dress with a length of up to her thighs. "I am the Autonomous Light Intelligence Coefficient Entity holographic image. You may all... call me ALICE."

END… Chapter 1.