Just as promised, Pod 042 woke 2B up first, not surprised to still find A2 next to her lying down the exact same way she laid her before she too entered rest mode, her blindfold visor, now dry, was still on her forehead too. Not to mention their hands still entwined with one another.

Right, she did that before falling asleep, though 2B didn't feel like removing her hand just yet.

Maybe she was getting attached to A2 after all. Was that a bad thing though? Now with no Commander telling her otherwise why should she hold back anymore?

With her free hand she stroked her cheek, she wasn't feeling quite as warm as before, well not more beyond the normal temperature an android's body should have, 2B took it as a good thing, because overheating meant internal problems, so possibly A2's systems had managed to fight off the virus.

2B stared at the woman, lying in the field of lunar tears that illuminated them both with their eerie white light, she looked at peace. A thought occurred to her, what if A2 wouldn't wake up again?

She was about to voice her concerns to Pod 042, when he beat her to it, alerting her of just the opposite, as A2's systems rebooted themselves, and that she would wake soon. A wave of relief washed over 2B, she'd feel horrible if she had ever doomed her because she had decided to spare her life, risking her own.

2B knew A2 had decided to help her of her own accord, but somehow it didn't make her feel any better about the whole thing.

With all the despicable things she had done, and for what reason even? Because of mere and cruel lies, she probably didn't even deserve to be saved. She wasn't innocent, but again, was anyone?

She supposed not. Especially not soldiers like Yorhas, that were only created to kill.

Regardless, she had to make sure that A2 was okay first. She patiently waited as the other android awoke, she appeared tired, and confused as she looked around, seemingly trying to make up where she was, but one thing told 2B that she was fine, her eyes had returned to their original blue color.

Finally A2's gaze settled on her, her eyes wide with surprise.

"You stayed…" she whispered, her voice was so low that 2B wondered that with all the screaming she did before she hurt her voice box too.

"I told you I wasn't going to leave you."

A2 looked away again, seemingly conflicted, was she really thinking she wouldn't stay? Most likely. Given how she'd been betrayed so deeply, 2B wasn't all that surprised she thought that way.

The other android's eyes stopped to look at their hands, 2B forgot she still hadn't removed hers away. "Sorry I…" she didn't really know what to say about it.

She moved to take it back, but for the first time she felt A2's fingers close around her own, forcing her to remain there.

"It's been so long since I felt a gentle touch." she sighed, her voice was still low and rather scratchy, giving 2B the confirmation that yes, she had indeed damaged something.

2B then squeezed her hand back with a small smile. "How are you feeling?"

"The worst I have ever felt, and believe me, I have been completely miserable plenty of times before." and 2B believed it, given the sorry state her body appeared to be in, she wouldn't ask about it just yet though.

She did notice something instead, that besides moving her head around and flexing her fingers she was still lying down still as a rock, and 2B did not like that.

"You can't move, can you?" she asked, already knowing the answer as A2 shook her head.

"Not even if I tried my hardest."

2B thought for a bit, it was a bit of a long run, but even if the bridge wasn't repaired she could climb and carry her down the ravine, and then back up the opposite way, she was sure that with her Pod's help it would be possible. She was rested and fully functional too.

She could take A2 to the Resistance's Camp where she was certain 9S was waiting, plus Devola and Popola were there, those two knew their own when it came to repairs. She was sure Anemone wouldn't mind either.

"I should take you to the Resistance's Camp with me, there's people that can help you there."

"You sure you want to keep babysitting me? Shouldn't you go back to your boy? I'm sure he's worried." it wasn't like she didn't want to go with her, but she didn't want to be a problem for anyone, besides she wasn't sure how Anemone would react upon seeing her again, and she really did not want to hurt her.

"I will, but you're coming with me too."

"No chance of me convincing you otherwise?"

2B shook her head. "None at all."

With the help of her Pod, 2B was able to hoist A2 on her back, Pod kept itself attached to A2's back so he could keep her up through magnetic force so she wouldn't slip, since she couldn't hold herself up with her own arms it would have to do. Any kind of protest A2 wanted to say died in her throat, 2B was way too determined to aid her that no amount of words would change her mind.

Odd how things have turned, when she was the one supposed to save her.

When she was sure A2 was secured well enough, 2B took the elevator. Once outside again, feeling the sun shining on them as they walked in silence.

2B had her Pod take them through the safest route through the forest since the bridge was still broken, to avoid as many machines as possible until they reached the waterfall and the ravine that lead to the cave below. She did not want to risk A2 getting more damaged, she didn't know how much internally hurt she was exactly, but wasn't willing to find out if she could sustain more physical strain, and pain.

She herself could manage fine, she could move, she could fight, but A2 would be completely vulnerable, and 2B was sure that she was hating being carried already, the independent android she was and had to be.

2B wasn't sure if she could learn to do everything and survive on her own like A2 did, if she was in her place.

She found herself admiring her tenacity.

They had made it through the forest path relatively undisturbed, hiding quietly into bushes and behind trees, the biggest annoyance were just the animals staring at them, if that could be considered as such.

The path downwards was easy enough to get through, 2B had more than enough balance for them both, even in high heels, and if something happened her Pod should have been at least capable to fish both of them out of the water should they fall in, which they didn't.

2B felt A2 move her head around once they made it to the cave down below, her long hair tickling her neck. "I didn't know this place existed, never came down here."

"It could have been a convenient hideout." 2B mused.

"Certainly secluded, but someone would have eventually found me if I stayed here too long."

"Right." 2B was no fugitive, but someone on the run couldn't afford to stay still for too long, machines or other Yorha would have found her, she could have been resting, weak or injured, or all three at once.

She couldn't imagine how hard it could have been, all alone and always on alert, afraid to be found, even if she had been the one finding them that time at the castle. No idea if it had been a coincidence or if she had meant to, if 2B had to choose she'd go with the first option, she doubted that A2 would actively seek out Yorha Executioners first, with how dangerous they were, herself included.

Machines could have been a different story, but she just assumed so, they were built to fight them after all.

Once on the other side of the cave, the climb up was all but easy, mostly because 2B was constantly afraid that A2 would slip and fall, since she couldn't hold herself up, which she did, but thankfully Pod 042 had been there to catch her all the time. A2 didn't seem worried though, almost as if she accepted that she could die if she were to fall down, and not because she trusted 2B's Pod, as each time he grabbed her she would audibly grumble at him, not pleased.

Not like she could help not being helped though, since she couldn't move, and didn't bother hiding her evident frustration each time 2B was struggling to climb and had to hold her instead.

What an emotional one she was, reminded her of 9S a bit.

Finally after what felt like forever they managed to make it up on the other side, however 2B could spot machines roaming about, so far they hadn't noticed them but it was just a matter of time.

She didn't know if she could engage them, and hope to kill them before any of them got to A2, she'd have to leave her sitting somewhere after all, or just try to run past them hoping neither would get hit.

However in the distance she could hear the familiar tune of Emil's shop, he was nearby, the choice was made for her when she sent her Pod to retrieve him, hoping he wouldn't mind helping them out. In just a few seconds he zoomed over to them, startling her but mostly A2.

"2B! Good to see you!" she was so relieved to hear his cheerful voice. "Your friend doesn't look good though."

She nodded. "I know, I was wondering if you could help us get to the Resistance's Camp, A2 here is not feeling too well, and I fear machines attacking us."

"Sure thing! Hop on in!"

She had A2 get in the back first, making sure she was secured, and then climbed in herself, sitting next to her, holding her up so she wouldn't fall over.

"So that's A2 then, she's pretty! So are you 2B!" Emil cheerfully commented.

A2 didn't say anything, while 2B just thanked him.

"You have weird friends…" A2 whispered, and 2B just shrugged. "He's not bad."

Thanks to Emil's help reaching the camp took no time at all, and no machines attacked them either, the only risk was him going too fast on the road.

Just as they arrived they could see 9S and Anemone rushing over to them, if she had to guess, 2B assumed that Pod 153 alerted them they were on their way, so they were waiting for them.

Thanking Emil again they climbed out, this time 2B chose to pick up A2 bridal style, adding more to her embarrassment, she didn't have time to fuss over it as Anemone was immediately all over her.

That's right, didn't they know each other? Some memory in the corner of her mind reminded 2B of that fact.

Anemone stood close, stroking A2's cheek, looking as the woman leaned into the touch.

"Hey…" she cracked a smile.

"Number 2, you're alive." relief was evident in Anemone's voice, which made 2B wonder if she and 9S knew anything of what had happened.

"Somehow…" she sighed. "It's good to see you again."

"My Pod found the signals of both of your black boxes, though A2's one was weaker, we thought she was dying." 9S explained, coming to stand at 2B's side, looking over at the other female android in her arms. "She doesn't look too good to be honest."

"She isn't, but I'll explain. Are Devola and Popola here? She may be needing them."

Anemone nodded, she wasn't a fan of the twins, but she wasn't going to let A2 suffer in silence. "Let's get in the camp, we'll talk there."

The group headed in, where Anemone instructed the two red haired sisters to prepare a bed for her in the medical tent, thankfully for now they were all free, so for privacy reasons she had 2B place her in the furthest and most hidden corner.

"So, what happened to her? More information will help us find out what's wrong." Popola spoke and Devola prepared the instruments should they need them.

"A2 saved me. I had the logic virus, I don't know how but somehow she transferred it from me to her, and somehow survived it. I can't really say more of what she did though." 2B explained, she didn't know how the transfer happened, or how she fought it off.

Anemone looked over at A2 with a frown. "You learned that from Number 21, didn't you?" she shook her head. "I'm sorry I couldn't do anything for her."

A2 closed her eyes with a sigh. "She didn't suffer, didn't she?"

"I made sure she was still herself when she went." Anemone squeezed A2's hand. "She died smiling. They're all in a better place now."

"Yeah…"

Another number… this had 2B thinking back at when in the middle of her delirious episode A2 had mentioned that Number 4 person. She must have been her friend much like this Number 21 one.

"I'm sorry… you are not referring to Operator 21O are you? She's my… was my Operator…" 9S asked, remembering that she didn't survive the explosion of the Bunker, much like the others. 2B placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort, also still fresh of the events that had occurred a while ago.

A2 shook her head. "Number 21 was a Scanner type like you, before we weren't that many so we only referred to each other with our numbers, we didn't use designations back then."

"That's why she's still Number 2 to me."

The two nodded, understanding why the different naming, and that of those people that were their friends there was nothing left but the memories. Memories that had to be preserved.

In the meantime the twin sisters were looking at A2, with Popola with a screen before her, and Devola standing and watching from behind her. Their touch was so discreet that she didn't even feel them poking around in her head much at all, certainly they knew what they were doing.

Normally she'd hate people looking around through her systems, especially since whoever tried to do that thing usually was trying to kill her, including 9S, which had prompted her to modify herself with other android parts to block those sensitive parts of her, but at the moment she couldn't help it, and neither she wanted to make Anemone sad.

She could deal with physical pain so much better, she was used to it even, but her systems were vulnerable to attacks, even more because she was a combat type, and wasn't meant for hacking so she had a harder time defending herself from those threats.

She was mentally weaker, for other reasons too.

A2 just hoped they wouldn't access her memories, that would be awful, Anemone's presence and words already made it hard to not think about them, but she was positive it must be the same for her too, she didn't want to blame her.

It had been a long time indeed, and she had never really found out what had truly happened to Number 21, she just assumed she died in some way, maybe from some enemy, or from the explosion. Now she knew the truth, that Anemone had to put her down personally, and knowing Number 21, she probably had asked her to. She wouldn't have wanted to be in her place.

Not that what happened in the server room had been any better. Number 4's last words still hurt if she even dared to spare a thought about them.

The quartet waited until the sisters were done checking in silence, there wasn't much to say, it happened what happened.

"It would seem that her systems sustained heavy damage from the virus, to the point it paralyzed her, that's why she can't move, for now. However she should be able to recover her functions with enough rest, this wouldn't have happened should she have had proper maintenance over these years, a properly functioning body would have had an easier time in recovering." Devola explained. "As much as we know that this wouldn't have been possible of course, it's just the plain truth."

"And that's for the physical aspects, as for the mental systems we haven't detected anything major, her senses are all working and she has full cognitive abilities, her memory section is also intact." Popola raised her hands. "We swear we haven't looked into them, we promise."

"Good, because it was the last thing I wanted." A2 sighed in relief, these two knew what they were doing.

"We know better than to intrude into private stuff." Devola grinned.

"However, there's a problem." Popola brought the attention back to herself. "We have detected traces of the virus still into her."

"You mean it could still take over?" 2B asked. Had she fought it off for nothing?

"Possibly not completely take her over, her systems are heavily modified to resist viruses and hacking attempts, also this virus seems to have been made specifically from newer Yorha units such as yourself and 9S. And A2 being an older unit lacks those specific things that make you more vulnerable to it." Popola continued.

"This doesn't mean it couldn't resurface again, and hurt her, she won't die, but she won't be able to get rid of it either. Basically she's stuck with it." Devola finished.

"So she saved me for nothing?" 2B almost yelled. She had seen her while she was fighting it, she was so weak and vulnerable, and she couldn't even help her, just uselessly watch her suffer…

"She was in so much pain…"

"2B… it's okay, it was my decision, remember?" A2 looked at her, how could she be okay with this? 2B couldn't understand.

"I know… but…" 2B's protests died there, what could she do after all? No amount of whining would make the situation better for either of them.

"Can't it be hacked out? I'm willing to try." 9S proposed.

"Unfortunately not, but, we can try and hack it in a way that may cause less damage, we could attempt in rendering it dormant and less likely to attack. She might just be able to live with it well enough due to the fact that she's an older unit." Popola mused.

"That is if she wants us to." Devola shrugged.

"Of course she wants to, right A2?" much to 2B's dismay, A2 seemed to actually be thinking about it.

When A2 didn't give a response Anemone shook her out from her thoughts. "Number 2, let them help you."

But being the stubborn woman she was, A2 just looked away from her, indicating that she wasn't listening, so Anemone pressed again.

"Number 2, I know what you are thinking, I can see it in your eyes that you think this is a punishment, and that you deserve it. I lived long enough with these same feelings too, I know how it feels, so please, don't hurt yourself like this. They wouldn't want it."

"You're reading me like an open book… I hate it… stop it Anemone." A2 still was determined to not look at her.

"For the longest time I lived thinking I was the only one that survived, now that you're here I refuse to let you waste away. I haven't found you only to lose you again, who will help me carry on our friend's memories if you were to lose them because of this virus?"

"Wouldn't it be better?"

"I would stop hurting, but would you want to forget them all? Would you forget Number 4? And the others?"

A2 glared at her then. "You're evil. How dare you hit me with that?"

"I just want you to look after yourself, that's all."

"Fine… get on with it then." A2 huffed in frustration. She just could not win an argument today, she could get with Anemone, she knew what to say to make her yield, but then 2B too?

This was so infuriating…

With these thoughts the twins sent her in rest mode, claiming they would need to so it wouldn't harm her. The two had called over 9S too to show him the process too, should it be needed and shouldn't they be around to help.

"When she was hallucinating she also mentioned this Number 4 person, was she one of your friends?" 2B asked Anemone, taking her to the side to not disturb the working trio.

Anemone nodded to her. "Yes, her and Number 2 were pretty close. Not sure exactly how much, I haven't known her or the other two squadmates for too long, but it was clear that those two had something going on, that went beyond simple friendship."

Oh… well… that made sense. A2 had seen the person she had trusted and loved the most when she was at her weakest and most vulnerable.

Just like she thought of 9S before finding her too, did it mean… no, not possible… or was it?

She was thankful that Anemone didn't say anything more and sat back where she was previously, 2B following. Now they only had to wait.

It took a few hours but A2 was up and running again, and this time much more pleased as, for as sore as her body felt, she could actually move around, sit up and even walk.

The twins had done their best, even though she'd still have the virus they were sure she wouldn't risk infecting anyone, nor having really painful episodes should the virus be hacked back in the remote corner of her mind it had been shoved into.

They weren't sure how frequent the attacks would be, and she was instructed to either ask them or 9S for help should they show up, as quickly as possible to avoid the bigger and more painful phase, like the one she had in the cave.

Anemone was the first in expressing how glad she was to see that she was okay, then left her free to explore the camp, a short while she was approached from 2B.

"A2, I'm glad you're okay."

"You really got attached to me." she chuckled, was that a bad thing though? Maybe, because she didn't want to harm more people that were close to her.

"Why did you save me?" as blunt as ever.

"I guess I just wanted to do something good, for once." she ran a hand through her hair.

She was made of nothing but hate and murder after all, her squadmates had died because of her damned incompetence, all she could do was kill, for this one time she wanted to show that she was more than that. That she could save a life, should it cost her own at least she wouldn't have died like a dumb idiot.

"What will you do now?"

"I don't know, I haven't even planned to make it this far."

"Come with us then, with 9S and I, we decided to check out that tower that appeared, we thought that even if Yorha is gone, we owe it to our friends that died to keep fighting. To avenge them."

Could she? After all, what else could she do? Staying here would only bother Anemone, and going off all alone again would just make her worry, and 2B too she supposed. She did not want to drag them down with her though, what if it would turn out just like at Mount Ka'la?

"It doesn't have to be now, if you want."

Goodness… 2B was just too kind with her… how could she even say no.

"Okay, but, do not rely on me, understood? Last thing I want is for more people to disappoint."

2B just nodded, taking A2's hand in hers. "You won't."

A2 squeezed it out of reflex, she really was too nice to her, it almost hurt, but when was the last time anyone had been good to her? Far too long.

"2B… I'm glad you stayed with me in that cave…" I didn't think you would, but she didn't say it, though A2 had a feeling that 2B already knew it, smart thing she was.

The two went to meet with 9S, who was waiting, he greeted them with a smile before they took off into the city again to try and bring justice to all of their fallen friends.

Sometimes, A2's eyes would start glowing red again, her head would hurt, 2B and 9S would take her to safety, then 9S would hack into her to make sure she'd be fine again, while 2B would hold her in her arms just like the first time all over again.

Somehow, having them at her side no longer made her life be so meaningless.