The target was in a slightly bizarre location.

"That's weird, the location data seems off in this area… W-Woah!" Ruby exclaimed as she lost her footing and slipped in the sand. Jaune catching her arm as he issued a small warning. Android bodies could certainly handle sand but Jaune had no intention of stripping and cleaning his body back at the resistance camp.

"Seems like there aren't any enemy signals in this area." Jaune sighed as he quickly scanned over his records for the location. Violent machines were showing up in the desert and Ruby and Jaune were sent to link up with the outpost and exterminate any machines nearby. For now, though they couldn't even find the informant.

"Jaune over there!" Ruby shouted as she began to swing her arms wildly. Jaune squinted his eyes as he looked and saw a figure in the distance. Close enough to see Ruby's waving at least. It took a few moments for the duo to realize the silhouette wasn't waving back. They just stood there on a rocky area watching over the two. Maybe they were unaware YoRHa sent androids. Or perhaps they were in a bad mood. YoRHa androids were forbidden from showing emotions but the others on the ground may not have been the same.

Jaune clenched his jaw as he swiftly jumped and began sliding down the hill of sand. Ruby making her own sounds of enjoyment as Jaune slid perfectly to a stop and the redheaded model stumbled just a bit before catching herself. They made a few strategic jumps before getting close enough to the tanned android. Well, their skin was made tanned at least.

She introduced herself with an unexpectedly friendly voice. Seemed like they weren't in a bad mood. "I'm Vernal, nice to meet you." She asked as she looked over the high-class Android models. "Wow, they really do have perfect skin for you YoRHa models." Ruby quietly mumbled her own thanks at the compliment as Jaune let the two hash it out. Looking around it was clear this area was a dead end. Two massive cliffsides and a rock wall blocking the three into this small pocket of rock.

Jaune interrupted the conversation about weapons between the androids. Pointing up at the wall in front of them. "Why are you stationed here to meet us?"

"Oh, it's just my little welcome to the world. I figured you two would appreciate this more than some of the other desert stationed androids. Open sesame!" She shouted as a massive blast of wind rushed in their direction. The wall Jaune was pointing at bursting and crumbling the moment Vernal said the the 'e' in sesame. The blast shaking the ground and forcing Ruby to stumble before Jaune grabbed her by the arm.

The pressure left as soon as it arrived leaving Ruby staring up at Jaune with those silver eyes. Even behind her blindfold visor, he could feel her stare. Jaune looked away fast, moving his head back towards the blast site and seeing a path forward. Instantly connecting the situation and sharing a short goodbye with Vernal before walking along.

"She was pretty cool huh?" Ruby smiled, taking big steps to keep up with Jaune's pace.

"A bit violent," he remarked, in truth she just did her job and did it well. It seemed to make the usually bored Ruby a little more lively so who knows. Maybe blowing stuff up could be a fun exercise later.

The machines had been showing up along the desert pipeline. It didn't actually work which made it more confusing but it helped to have a single straight pipe to follow to a destination. Though Jaune didn't exactly enjoy the desert itself. Visiting brought back memories he'd rather forget. Before he could clear his mind, however—

"Machines!" Ruby shouted, her voice deepening slightly as she paused. Jaunes visor updated with Ruby's scanner information. There were machine signals all around them, but there was nothing in sight.

"Where are they?" Jaune asked not getting a response. No matter where he looked all he saw was the colour of sand and the brown rusted pipeline.

Ruby's response was cut short as she looked down. The sand below her shifted inward before bursting out. Knocking Ruby away as machines crawled out of the sand. The sound of sand clicking against metal was heard with each one that came out. Jaune's sword was already in his hand ready. The cylindrical bodies of the machines creaking as five small and biped types charged at the duo. Very common machine types but something was different about them. The machines had rags tied to their limbs and had planks of wood strapped to their faces. Almost like they were wearing clothes and masks.

If that wasn't strange enough the sounds of the machines changed from random groans and beeping into…

`"Ki1l..."`

The voice was clearly artificial. If it could even be called a voice. It was different from the mindless sounds the machines typically made.

`"Dest0y… the enemy…"`

"the enemy…" Jaune mumbled as he repeated what he heard. Turning back to his partner and informing. "I think the machines are speaking?" Before Ruby could respond one of them charged leaving Jaune with little option. Easily slicing through the hunks of metal with his sword any machines who weren't cut fell over doing their own screech. Shabby rags flying off their bodies as another wave of machines came out from behind. One down.

Jaune sliced upward pushing one back as he grabbed his larger sword from his back. Slamming all 330 pounds of his weight and the blade into the round head of the machine and causing a shockwave around that wrecked another. Jaune feeling the dense android body of his shift a little inside as he stood back up. Two down.

"Jaune dodge!" Ruby shouted finally on her feet, pushing her arms forward with effort. Jaune narrowly dodged a haymaker from one of the bigger machines and watched as the machine exploded after missing. Ruby's hacking got the machine to self destruct and managed to catch some of the other damaged ones in the blast. Four down.

The last machine was dealing with the concentrated shots from pods 042 and 153. Normally Jaune would control where his pod fired but in the surprise of the attack, he was glad it automatically got to work.

Considering there were only five machines, extermination took longer than expected. The resistance leader didn't lie when they mentioned how tough the desert machines were. If it took YoRHa models in top condition this long to deal with them it must have been close to impossible for the other androids around.

"Why were they wearing those?" Jaune asked his partner. If anyone knows anything about machines it was the scanner android whose entire job was to scan out areas and observe machines.

"They look kinda like how humans in the past used to dress," Ruby said, "I've seen things like those in our human era databases. Now that I think about it… their face paint looks kinda like those used in fringe trivial societies."

"So the machines are imitating human culture? Why?" Jaune asked

"I don't think they're doing it with a specific intention. Ruby informed. Moving one of the wooden planks below her foot. As her lips contorted into a bit of a condescending smirk. Jaune quickly ending the thought process. It made sense after all. They are just machines. "There are more enemy signals up ahead," Ruby said as a bit of an annoyed look replaced her smile.

"You don't call five machines an outbreak."

"I know..."

Interlude

Iron Story Part 1:

Mom, if you're cold, I can give you my hat.
You're the best mother in the world, after all!

Iron Story Part 2:

Mommy, if you're hungry, you can have my cookie.
You're my favourite person in the world, after all!

Iron Story Part 3:

Mommy, if you're scared, I can sleep by your side.
You're my bestest friend in the world, after all!

YoRHa Broadcast Part 1:

Morning, listeners! It's time to kick off another installment of Listener Letters with your favourite radio idol, DJ 24D!
Now let's get this day started right, shall we?