A/N: It took a while to roll this one out. Anyway, I hope you enjoy!
Important stuff goes here.
"Here, I want you to take this." I look up at Anemone when I hear her speak. She's set her rifle down on the ground next to her and kneeled in front of me. While she did, my gaze followed her. It's only when she held her hand out to me that I notice she's holding a gun. It's a pistol of some kind, I guessed. But I've no idea what kind it is. Only that it's been very well maintained. It's surface is completely black, polished, and it's grip is wrapped in what I guessed as scrap pieces of leather. "Do you know how to use one of these?" Anemone asked as she placed the firearm in my outstretched hand. I nodded mutely. The weapon felt pretty heavy in my hands. Almost equal to the worry as the realization dawned on me. Does... does Anemone think that the Machines will... "Just aim and pull the trigger. This switch right here is the safety." Anemone explained, pointing with a gloved hand at a small lever on the side. "Only use it as a last resort, understand?" Anemone's firm voice helped ground me back in reality. More so when I looked from the weapon in my hand then back to Anemone. There's a determination in her eyes that somehow made me nod in affirmation. She looked away and I hear the sound of metal scraping against concrete as she picked up her weapon. "I need to go coordinate the defense. Jackass will be here in a few moments. She's... Well, she'll make sure you're safe and take you to the shelter underground." The momentary pause in Anemone's voice wasn't lost on me. But so was the distant explosion that made me look towards the entrance again.
"O-Ok..." I managed to say as I let my hands rest in my lap. Unable to support the weight of the gun she had given me any further. Unlike the one I found back then, the gun Anemone just gave me is significantly heavier. When I look up at Anemone, I'm a little surprised to see the warm smile she has. It's like she's silently assuring me that everything is going to be fine. However, the moment is short lived. Because she turned and ran off towards the entrance of camp, the same way that 2B and 9S ran. The black cloak of hers flapping in the wind behind her while she sprinted.
It seems that there's hardly anyone left in the Camp now. The only ones left are the shop keepers, if I could call them that, whom are busy trying to remove rubble. Though there are one or two who seem to be breaking open crates and laying guns. As well as small rectangular, metal, boxes. I guessed that said boxes are ammo canisters. Judging by their vaguely military faded paint. As well as the fact that they were being stacked by certain guns.
A loud, harsh, crashing sound to my left made me start and look in the aforementioned direction. Just down the alley way, I see the mangled remains of... something. There's wood, concrete, and metal pipes blocking the alley way. The metal pipes were all twisted and bent in several different directions. If I had to take a guess, I think that the mangled remains were likely once a scaffolding of some sort. Perhaps meant to help do repairs. Though I couldn't really say for sure from where I'm sitting. Only that -
"Hey, kid, snap out of it!" A rough voice snapped me out of my observation. Forcing me to look up at the unknown person who addressed me. The person who addressed me is a cloaked woman. A hand on her hip and a gun in the other. The cloak is green and worn over a beige shirt and brown pants. As well as a pair black boots. An outfit similar to Anemone's, I guess. But it's hard to tell because the clothing is covered in filth and is heavily tattered. Like she had just been through a rough fight. Perhaps subject to having been recently blown up, even. She carries an air of annoyance about her. Like she hated that this battle is going on right at this moment. A faint explosion, followed by furious gunfire, made the both of us look off towards the entrance again. There's... I think I can hear someone shouting for help. Something that sent a fresh bolt of fear straight through me. "You're that kid Anemone won't shut up about, yeah?" The nameless woman asked as she took a step towards me. All but yanking me to my feet and slinging my arm over her shoulders.
"Are you...?"
"Jackass." She grunted out the name while she strode towards the alley way blocked by debris. It's hard to tell if the acrid stench of gunpowder and smoke is coming from her or it's from the battle going on outside of the Resistance Camp. Regardless, being worried about such things ranked pretty low on that list. Especially when she all but starts to drag me over the debris that cluttered the alley. "Come on, can't you-" I heard Jackass say in an irritated tone. Only to quickly cut herself off when I tripped and slipped from her grip. Landing on a flat but somewhat jagged piece of concrete. "-Oh, right, you're not - yeah." Jackass said when I slowly pushed myself up to look at her. Repressing the urge to wince at the few scrapes I earned from my tumble onto the ground. "Here, climb on." Jackass said in a near inaudible tone with her back turned to me after slipping her gun into the holster strapped to her upper thigh.
With some effort, I managed to reach up and grasp her shoulders. Then pull myself higher and allow her to take hold of my legs. "Thank you." I said quietly when she hoisted me up while I tightened my grip on her shoulders. However, she didn't say anything. Save for the occasional quiet grunt of exertion while she climbed slowly over the rubble that blocked the alley way. It may as well have been a small mountain with how big the rubble pile is. But Jackass didn't seem the least bit bothered. Aside from the odd piece of debris that proved to have no handholds. In which she'd have to propel herself and attempt to grab the edge.
Once she crested the top of the pile, I'm able to take a peak over her shoulder. Only to be greeted by a horrifying sight - There are numerous bodies sprawled on the ground on the other side. They... they've been crushed, burnt, and some to seem to even have been ripped apart. It's a sickening sight. Especially those who've been burned. Some are blackened to the point that their faux flesh has started to peel back. Revealing scorched metal and exploded electronic parts underneath. A pit formed in my stomach... o-oh gods... I think I'm going to be sick. I have to place a hand over my mouth and look away. This is too much; It's too much.
"Hmph." It sounds... wait, did Jackass direct that at me just now!? I struggle to take a deep breath then bring myself to look forward. Only to find Jackass looking forward. Except... there's an aura of... indifference? I can't tell since I can't see her face. But the posture she carried is different now. If possible, I'd have asked what's wrong. However, she started jumping down from ledge to ledge. Descending the rubble until she landed on the pavement at the bottom. "This isn't your doing now is it, Number 2?" At the mention of the number, I tentatively peak past Jackass' head again. All the while, I make sure to not look down at the ground when I do.
The first thing I see from my cautious glance is the platinum hair. Then the familiar tattered uniform. "A2?" I say in surprise when I recognize the form of the peculiar woman. When I say the name, I notice A2's gaze flick towards me. A faint and ghosting expression of surprise flits across her face. But is quickly replaced with a stone cold expression again. The relief I started to feel freezes when Jackass' question dawned on me. Did... did A2 kill these Resistance soldiers?
I hear the sound of a sword being sheathed. Then footsteps, slow and almost calculating, if such a thing were possible. I'd say that they were deliberate if I had to take a second chance at describing it. "They were infected. I collapsed the alley way to stop them from entering the Camp." Infected? What did A2 mean by that? I want to ask but I get the sense that she has more to say when she stops just short of arms reach to me and Jackass. "Where are you taking her, Jackass?" I'm surprised at the hard edge in A2's tone. Though I quickly dismiss it as a result of the battle going on at the moment. It would make sense, after all.
"Anemone wanted her taken somewhere safe. What's it to you?" There's a very guarded tone in Jackass' voice when she spoke. Which I found a little odd as I looked from Jackass then to A2. Expecting a reply from the YoRHa android. It was my understanding that both the Resistance and YoRHa are allies. That is supposed to be the case, right? So, why is-
"Where are you taking her, Jackass? Don't fuck with me." A2 spoke, a hand on the hilt of her sword now. The sight made me subconsciously tighten my grip. I look to Jackass when I notice her tense.
This... I need to say something - anything - before they get into an argument. If they do, I'm not sure I could get them to stop. "Can we get moving?" When I spoke up, I notice that my words had an immediate effect. Both A2 and Jackass look at me. Seeming as if to realize that I've been here the whole time. "Please?" I urge when the smell of smoke in the air began to become more prevalent. Stinging the inside of my nose and the back of my throat. It's a terrible feeling. Bringing to mind the sense that I'm inhaling nothing but smoke instead of simple air. I want to cough. It's an urge sitting just out of reach. Yet still close enough that I feel that, if I took another breath, the exhale would result in me coughing. Which forced me to take shallow breaths.
Jackass let out an annoyed sigh after a few moments. I feel her shift and, out of the corner of my eye, see her look to A2, "There's a hidden hatch in one of the storage rooms down the alley. Just past the gate on the left." It doesn't take much to know that Jackass probably wouldn't have relented if I hadn't said anything. I can't say I've known Jackass for very long, obviously, but I can tell that much just by the way she's spoken since I've met her. "Anemone ordered the Resistance to build an underground bunker. Says it'll be safer to keep her there rather than on the surface. Since, you know, something like that-" Jackass gave a slight indication backwards with her head, most likely meaning the giant Machine hovering over the Resistance Camp, "-Could happen."
Another explosion rang out through the air. This time, it's much closer. The suddenness of it made me start and bury my face in Jackass' shoulder. Ignoring the rough material as it rubbed against my skin while I waited for debris to rain down on top of the three of us. But... it didn't come. After a moment, I tentatively raise my head and look around slowly. The faded concrete buildings still seemed intact. Though marred with the marks of long years exposed to the elements. Chipped and crumbling, though still serviceable. But, when I look up, I can tell that another explosion could possibly change that. Because I can see there's places in the walls where there are huge gaps. No, that isn't right - there's large cracks and holes. Revealing a darkened interior that I couldn't possibly see into without the aid of a flashlight. When I look back, I see several columns of smoke.
The realization began to dawn on me - That explosion came from inside the Resistance Camp. A part of me wanted to run back. Check if anyone was hurt. But, at the same time, I want to run away. Get as far away as I can. Honestly, I hate this feeling. It tears me up inside that Jackass and A2 are just sitting here. Being in the middle of a battlefield is not something I want to do at all. Period. "I can't stay and chat anymore. Anemone will never shut up about it if I don't get her to safety now." Jackass finally said before she started jogging down the alley. Although it wasn't easy to get a clear view, I manage to get a glimpse of A2 running to catch up with the two of us. Her hand seemingly glued to the handle of her sword while she ran. There's movement behind A2. And I crane your neck to look past her. It... looks like three large, heavily rusted, figures. They're right at the base of the large pile of rubble. Their cylindrical body and spherical head, two crimson glowing dots staring intently at me, are distinct. Those... those are Machines!
Time seemed to slow down when I see that A2 noticed me looking past her. She skidded to a halt and spun around. Sword drawn and crouched in a defensive posture. The three bulky machines raised their arm. It's some sort of cannon, I think, because the tip of the arm they raised began to glow bright red.
I only have a second, not even enough time to yell out a warning, before a flash of red flooded my vision. The next - my senses are flooded with searing heat and a loud 'Boom!'' rang out. The blast seeming to resound through my skull while the world around me twisted and spun. Blurring almost until all I see are mismatched colors. Haphazardly mixed in some failed attempt at something akin to a painting. I can barely grasp at what is going on. That is, of course, until I feel myself collide against solid concrete and roll twice before everything stopped. The Machines fired at the three of us. The fact that I feel intense throbbing pain throughout my whole body confirmed it. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts. A groan of pain slipped out and I blink while trying to push myself up. But I stop that endeavor quickly. There's something heavy on me. Acting as an immovable counterweight to my attempt to move. Though that doesn't stop me from working to - "J... Jackass?" I barely managed to say when I try to look behind me. The Resistance woman is sprawled on top of me. Motionless and silent to my weak voice when I address her.
I let out another quiet, pained, grunt while I try yet again to free myself. It seemed like - "Dammit! If they-" The weight from Jackass suddenly disappeared after I hear A2's voice. Followed by the sound of a heavy thud. Just as quickly as the weight disappeared, my vision is dominated by the view of A2's worried expression. Her eyes wide for but a moment before they narrowed. Something must have caught her attention. Because A2 abruptly looked off to something behind her.
While she looked away, I try to look in the same direction as she. But my vision is blurry. So, all I can see is the motionless body of Jackass laying a few feet from the two of us. Her clothing is badly scorched from the boots up to her knees. Utterly blackened and likely beyond any attempts of mending. I can't see her face because her head is turned away. "A2, what...?" I try to say while looking back to aforementioned YoRHa soldier. But I trail off when you see her put a finger to her lips.
In one smooth movement, I feel a hand slide up behind my shoulders and another under my knees. Then I'm lifted into the air. "Alert: Multiple Machine Life forms detected. Evacuate the patient immediately." I recognize that automated voice. It's 949! Unfortunately, A2 started running before I could try to get a look at where the Pod was. Which left me with only brief glimpses of the tiny robot floating close behind. "Warning: High frequency signals detected. Hypothesis: The Machines are attempting to jam localized transmissions." The little Pod announced when A2 slowed and began ascending a flight of steps. Surprisingly careful to not jostle me around. If I didn't know better, I'd have believed that she's still running on level ground.
The most I could tell is that she'd turned into one of the buildings. It must be pretty far away from the Camp, the sounds of battle have significantly quieted down. Yet I can still make out muffled gunfire. "Are you ok? You're not wounded?" I can feel a distinct sense of worry in A2's voice. But she's not looking at me when she speaks. Her gaze is set straight ahead. Unwavering as she slowed her stride. There must not be any windows around. It's so dark, I can just barely make out her face now. Regardless, I can't help but stare at A2.
I shake my head and turn my attention to myself. Assessing for whether or not I'm hurt. When I did, I find out right away that it hurts to breath. Every breath is accompanied by a slow yet stinging sensation. Although it isn't overwhelming, I attribute that pain to having someone as heavy as Jackass landing on top of me, "It hurts to breath a little. But... I think I'm ok."
A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope you're doing well! O/