A/N: Fanfic wouldn't let me access the doc manager and manage stories tab for the longest time. Not sure why. Anywho, here's the next chapter.
Obligatory disclaimer stating I own nothing but this fanfic
"Just hold still, alright? We need the scan to be as accurate as possible." Devola commanded in a firm tone before stepping back. I wanted protest to Devola's command. The table she had me laying on was freezing. My crisp white shirt and pants did, unfortunately, very little to protect from the chill that hung both in the air and radiated from the table. Sure, sure, 'the scan would only take a minute' Devola had said. However, that statement couldn't have been farther from the truth. I've been forced to lay on this table for more than 30 minutes at least. Which gave me ample time to wonder what this supposed 'scan' is for. Doubly so when Devola explained that the table had been designed by YoRHa to conduct what she called a 'full body medical scan'. Aside from the obvious, I knew that this was something that the Twins, nor the Resistance, could do with their current equipment. After all, why else would YoRHa design it in the first place? "This is a very sensitive scan, Petra. The sooner you stop squirming the sooner we'll be finished." Devola spoke up when I was unable to repress a shiver that ran up my spine. Making me shift ever so slightly in a bid to detach myself as much as possible from the cold steel.
Petra. That's the name that Devola and Popola claimed Anemone had given me. I hadn't expected Anemone to do something like that. But I found that the name felt... right. Something inside me decided that I liked the name. It felt... natural. Therefore, I didn't object when Devola clued me into it earlier this morning while I ate breakfast. An offhand statement that Anemone 'needed something to call me aside from 'the Human' in her reports'. "This table is really cold." I piped up in response to Devola's remark. Glancing at her with a well defined frown. Hoping that my frown would convey all of my discomfort to the red-headed Twin. Devola just gave me a small smile in response from where she stood. Almost hidden away in the far corner of the room behind a large computer console. A very faint glow illuminating the smile on her face just before she looked back down. Face suddenly turning hard as stone when she did.
The effect was almost instantaneous. A extreme tingling sensation danced down my spine as the table hummed to life. Small tendrils branching out the closer it got to my waist. Small residuals pools staying behind as the sensation drifted downward. Much like little balls of tension that refused to leave when one stretched after sitting for a long time. Except, in this instance, the tension increased. It felt like my muscles were being coiled up tightly like spring. So much so that it started to hurt. Despite Devola's instruction, I couldn't hold still and shifted towards the edge. Eager to get away from the pain that coursed through my body. Devola suddenly seemed to phase out of existence as she ran to my side. Helping lift me off the table and onto my feet. Muttering something inaudible to my ears while she helped steady me. "I'm sorry, I should have noticed sooner." I heard her say after I had settled back into my wheelchair. Prompting me to look up at her with a curious expression. But Devola wasn't looking at me. No, she had turned her attention to the table in front the two of us.
I shifted uncomfortably in my chair. The last vestiges of the coiled muscles in my back beginning to dissipate. Yet refusing to unwind without a fight. That's when I noticed the tone in Devola's voice. It was devoid of the usual stand-offish tone that she normally carried. Whatever it was that happened, it's serious. "Something is wrong, isn't it?" My question came off as more of a statement. Tone tentative, cautious, while I spoke. Unsure of whether I should broach the subject or not. The tension that I felt from Devola further enhanced my caution.
Devola let out a long sigh. Leaning against the table after she turned to face me. "We've been waiting for YoRHa to send us this equipment. It's supposed to help us get a full look at the inside of you. But it seems that it's far more extensive than we thought. It's-" I tuned Devola's voice out. There wasn't any need for her to continue her explanation. She was looking for something in my body - something foreign. Everything became crystal once that dawned on me. Brought to the forefront of my mind with striking clarity. Both Devola and Popola dismissing my questions, the repeated 'therapy' involving me walking up and down the hall, and there was the wheelchair that had been designed for me. In hindsight, I should have noticed it a lot sooner. "Petra?" I blinked and shook my head when I felt Devola's hand on my own. Her concerned gaze fixated on me. "Hey-" Devola spoke up again when I began to look away, "-We're going to take care of you. It's only a matter of time now that we know exactly where to look." I knew that her words were meant to make me feel better. But they did little to live up to their intention. All I could think about instead of her words was that singular tingling sensation on my spine. The little pools that it left behind which felt like my muscles tensing up. I resisted the urge arch my back. Shift away from my seat and keep moving, regardless of anything in my path. As if doing so would somehow put distance between me and the remnants - shards - whatever they were, which resided in my body.
They were trying everything that they could. Of that, I'm certain. Devola and Popola assured me and have more than amply shown that they were. To say that I trusted them almost implicitly would be an understatement. I believed Devola when she assured me that everything would be fine. But there was that voice. That tiny voice in the back of my mind that kept whispering in my ear. "You will never recover. It's only a matter of time before they tire of you. Then you'll be on your own again out there. Face it, you're a dead woman walking." The voice whispered, followed soon after by taunting laughter. Although I tried my best to ignore its taunts, I couldn't deny the underlying truth. What would happen once Devola and Popola helped me fully heal? Would I be moved elsewhere? Sent up to the Colony? The thought certainly terrified me. Anything could go wrong if I were transferred to the Colony. However, all of that paled in comparison to the thought of what those fragments left in my body were doing to me.
"You know, I think we should do something different today." Devola said after I felt myself being turned and pushed towards the door. Forcibly breaking me from my inner thoughts by presenting a new one at the forefront of my mind. "Don't worry Petra, I'm fairly certain that you'll like it." She added in a surprisingly amused tone. Leading me to wonder just what she had in mind. Even while I was pushed down the hallway, Devola continued talking. "We were planning to hold off for a while until we had more. But I think we can get away with giving it to you now." Devola's tone remained level while she approached the door to my room. However, I noted that it carried a hint of her prior amusement. As if the Android had been devising this moment for quite some time. "But you have to promise to keep it on the down low from YoRHa, ok?" Devola added rather quietly as she opened the door. Gesturing ever so slightly with her head towards the inside of my room. I wondered what on earth the girl had been talking about. But I decided to shelve it for after I was presented with whatever she'd been working on.
"Oh, you two are done already?" I heard Popola ask from behind us. The straight-haired woman seemed a little surprised. Lips turned upward in an amused smile. "It must have-" Popola began to add, but I noticed Devola turn to look at her. A worried expression on her face which Popola must have noticed. Cutting herself off mid-sentence. It wasn't until the door closed behind the three of us that Popola spoke up. "Did something happen?" Her tone was laden with concern while Devola helped me get comfortable in my bed.
Devola looked at her sister after I had pulled up the blanket over my legs. "The scan showed what we were worried about." The statement had the same effect as it did on Devola earlier. Popola's face noticeably fell as she turned her gaze away from the two of us. Seemingly contemplating this newfound information. "But we can worry about that later. I was thinking about showing her the new place." Devola added quickly. Capturing my attention while she turned to look at me. "We're building a new facility below the Camp. Once it's done, we'll move you there. It's way more secure and you'll be able to move about. Sounds pretty fun, right?" The idea of moving somewhere new certainly piqued my interest. I couldn't help but almost lean forward in anticipation as a semi-transparent screen appeared in front of the Android. A loading symbol dominating it's surface as she opened a file. Suddenly, an image replaced it. The image showed a semi-spacious room with steel walls, white carpet, and black leather furniture. I couldn't see where the lights were, but I imagined they were built into the ceiling. "It'll be a few days before it's finished. But we plan to have you stay there until the machine presence in the area has significantly dropped." Devola explained after dismissing the screen. "I can take a few more pictures if you like." I eagerly nodded in response to Devola's proposal. Which somehow elicited a laugh from the Android. "Alright, I'll go take some more once I get some free time."
"Petra, do you remember A2?" Popola spoke up while pulling up her chair closer to my bedside. I nodded in acknowledgement. It was hard to forget the woman after her sudden departure when I saw her. "Well, I know that we've been putting off visitors, but if you're feeling up to it-" Popola paused, "-would you be ok with seeing her?" Again, I nodded. The response seeming to put her at ease. Shoulders becoming noticeably more relaxed as the tension left her. "That's good, she felt bad for leaving so suddenly. A2 had a lot of things she needed to take care of when Anemone explained why you were here." Popola explained with a gentle smile on her face.
I was curious about what these 'errands' were that A2 needed to run. "What sort of things did she need to take care of?" The question slipped out before my brain could reign in my instincts. Making me frown inwardly at my failure to hold my tongue. I knew better than to broach obviously sensitive subjects. Namely, subjects which concerned virtually anything to do with YoRHa. "I mean, that you can tell me that is." I quietly added a few moments after I spoke. Turning my gaze down to my folded hands which rested in my lap. Unable to look at the Twins out of simple fear of facing some sort of potential reprimand. Thoughts turning back to that day when I first awoke. Faintly, I could smell rain in the air as the thoughts drifted through my mind. It brought with it a sense of nostalgia, despite the unpleasant memory I recalled.
"YoRHa runs a lot of the assault missions against the Machines. Everyone at YoRHa is either fighting Machines or helping the Resistance with their Operations. They don't really get a lot of downtime, you know?" Devola chimed in while she sat on the edge of my bed. Startling me from my inner reverie when she put a hand over mine. "Finding downtime is a little difficult when you're operating in this area." She added wryly when I looked up at her with an inquisitive gaze. There was a knock on the door which stopped me from speaking up. Prompting Devola to glance back before rising to answer it. "Oh, looks like someone is here early." She opened the door with little ceremony. Allowing the new arrival entrance.
To say that I'm surprised would be an understatement. A2 looked, well, new. Her tattered uniform looked recently washed and her white hair seemed to shine in the light. There was a shine on her blackened chest as it caught the light. My inherent shock was in realizing that, for lack of a better word, that it was her exposed breastplate and not just simple armor. Why on earth would- "Petra, are you ok? We can do this later if-" Popola asked, leaning forward as she did. But I shook my head, interrupting her.
"N-No, I'm fine, thank you." I gave Popola a reassuring smile before looking back up at A2. The mystery woman had stopped just short of my bed. Face impassive as she stared me down with piercing grey eyes. "It's nice to meet you, A2. My name is Petra." I said, voice carrying a friendly tone as I held her gaze. It was hard to tell what A2 was thinking. The way she stared at me with such an expression made it difficult to discern her thoughts. A2's lips parted but slowly closed. Seemingly unsure of continuing whatever her line of thought was. Opting to remain silent and still, much like a statue. I tilted my head ever so slightly to the right. Curious as to what made her so silent. "Is something wrong?" My question seemed to snap A2 out of her silence. The white haired woman shaking her head briefly before she spoke,
"It's nothing."
A/N: Be sure to leave a review and tell me what you think. All criticism is greatly appreciated! :D