SUMMARY:

Lilia was the typical woman going through her life until she was transported nearly 10,000 years into the future. At first believing she was in a coma dream but is rudely awakened. For a machine though, it presented an opportunity into what it means to be human and the price of hate which filled the heart of his twin.

TAGS:

OCxAdam, Romantic Tragedy, graphic descriptions (both sexual and gore in later chapters), sexual tension, slow burn

IMPORTANT NON-CANON STUFF:

The events of NieR/Drakengard have been pushed a little further into the future timeline wise. Including the Gestalt program and the White Chlorination Syndrome outbreak happens after the year 2018. The events of this fanficion follows loosely that of the NieR: Automata game and certain events have been pushed later timeline wise than canon. (If you wanna know more about the timeline go to the Nier Wiki.) (nier. wikia dot com/ wiki/Timelines)

The only two dates that are consistent which relates to this fic that are canon is The 243rd Descent Op (March 10th) and the Goliath-class machines in the Ruined city (April 7th).

**There is a day/night cycle in this fic!**

Fic cover I own. Go here to view: (( botticella89 dot deviantart dot com/art/Lily-Shaped-Gear-cover-741732212 ))

I make no money from this. This is fanfiction. All hail Yoko Taro for he is Emil reincarnated to destroy our emotions! Hopefully, I have channeled him when I wrote this fanfic.

Huge props to my co-conspirator Eravalefantasy (archiveofourown dot org/ users/Eravalefantasy) who kept me going writing this fanfic as well as my mega beta-reader. (Seriously, go check out her writing, she's awesome!)

Enjoy the fic!


Chapter 1: Welcome To Dreamland

She studied her reflection in the vanity mirror, the left side of her head straightened by a heavy duty hair straightener; feeling the heat originating from the styled locks of hair, while the alternative side was a kinky curly mess. Lilia failed to come up with an alternative to the everyday routine but the potential for looking like she woke up on the street didn't appeal.

Her long tresses pulled into a stylish bun behind her head, she sprayed her hair liberally to control it from crinkling until her return home that day.

Perfectly putting on her facial routine, her hazel-green eyes accentuated and warmed her caramel skin. The lipstick chosen the right shade to brighten her full lips.

Serious eyes inspected her office clothes, scrutinizing the folds were smooth and clear of wrinkles. Consisting of a reddish-purple button-up blouse, a black knee-length skirt, a wide belt at her waist that stressed her hour-glass figure, and black panty hose that led down to her shiny black heels. Lilia kept her back straight and her eyes forward.

Tapping her cell phone on, she speed-dialed a number she knew by heart. The screen showed a boy at the age of thirteen, with wooly hair, dark skin and his mother's gray eyes smiling warmly at her.

On the second ring the receiver answered.

"Hi Auntie!" said the boy, his voice cracking although he tried to hide it.

She smiled at his attempt to sound older and not a young teen. "Hi Markus, good mornin' to you. How are things over in Texas? Good grades?"

"Yes Auntie. We'll get our mid-semester reports cards soon."

"All A's right?"

"Um, I dunno about that."

She furrowed her brows. "You better not have a C on there."

"Oh, no! Nothin' like that." The teen quickly assured. "And I was thinkin' about joinin' the football team next year when I'm a freshman."

The hidden question made her freeze. That's right… he'll start high school next year.

"I dunno Markus… your grades are more important than the football team."

"Oh, c'mon Auntie. They kick guys out when they fall below a B average. Can ya think about it?"

She sighed. It probably wouldn't hurt in the long run and the private school was stricter with schooling than the public school. She had little doubt that if he fell below their standards, he would be kicked from the team. Although it gave her a little pride, he thought to ask her, Lilia wasn't his guardian.

"When do you need to register?"

"On our last day of school."

That would be May 15th. "I'll talk to your grandma about it. We'll tell you at the beginning of May. You focus on your grades until then."

She heard a bell, and she looked at the clock. It'd be 6:45 in Texas right now.

"Oh! Gotta go for breakfast. Talk to ya later Auntie!"

"Be good! Love you!"

"I know. Bye!"

And the call was severed.

A melancholic smile graced her face. It had taken her years of saving each penny. What had happened the year before was the reason she had the finances to send him to that school. That's what she wanted for him, a school that didn't suffer from the dread of its gangs and drugs. Markus had been there for going on two years now. It had been rough for him at first with the rigidness of private school and being so many states away. But after the first semester, he had settled in easy and made new friends. Lilia missed him terribly. The moments on the phone were a poor substitute compared to when she used to see him several times a week. However, she braved the absence of him knowing this was for the best. The acceptance letter hung on her wall. A reminder that all her efforts weren't in vain.

She gave a brief glance to a photograph of her and a man in uniform that was taken Christmas day in 2013.

Bradly… your sacrifice wasn't in vain and I hope you're proud of him. She thought to the static picture; a brief moment of longing and acceptance.

After that, she snagged her oversized purse and strolled out of her apartment before locking the door behind her, heels clunking on the carpet.

Once outside, she waited at the bus stop, hopped on once it arrived, and paid her toll. Taking her seat, the bus would take her to the IT center across town. Once she settled, Lilia put in her ear-buds connected to her phone and listened to music.

Summer was fast approaching, the days growing ever warmer. The moisture stuck to her skin.

On her way, she saw something peculiar. She thought she detected an electrical spark on the metal roof of the bus. Dismissing it as her imagination until it happened again, this time on the metal window frame of the set in front of her. Whispers from the other passengers about a spark let her know it wasn't just her.

The bus stopped as it skidded its wheels across the asphalt road; the force of the brakes being slammed on by the driver caused the passengers to swear. It only lasted half a second before the other vehicles around them experienced the same phenomenon and crashed into each other, the bus struck by a vehicle behind them. Tightly holding on to her purse and bracing herself from the impact, her heart raced.

The hell was goin' on?!

The sparks she and the other passengers witnessed increased in volume. A pressure pressed on their bodies as the metal bent and popped. In a panic, the passengers, including herself, vacated the bus. They hooted and hollered in hysteria.

Before she got into the line of panicked people to get out a deafening boom overcame her. It enveloped her in a blinding light. It shocked her pores in its cool electricity. Lilia heard the terrified screams and wails of the other passengers along with her own. Her body felt compressed, and it twisted her insides.

The screams turned quiet as it was her own filling the void.

Just when her nerves couldn't take the electrical roller-coaster ride anymore. It all stopped in an instant as her body plunked on a hot surface. The scorched sizzle invaded her sinuses. Her stomach knotted so tightly it evacuated her morning breakfast into a vicious mess that half her face landed in before she blacked out.

When she came to, she realized two things. One, how disgusted she was at having bile over half her face and part of her hair. And two, the needle prodding ache she felt around her whole body. A similar feeling to when an arm or leg would fall asleep.

Pushing herself up just to get out of her own puke, the ice-cold needle prodding in her muscles intensified, but she pressed on until she was laying back and away from the acrid contents.

Where the fuck...?!

Her mind clouded as she reviewed her surroundings.

Decaying, collapsed buildings that were wrapped in vines and supporting giant trees whose roots weaved in fragmented, muddied windows. Thick gouges split many of the buildings, allowing her to observe the insides of hollow concrete floors that would have occupied many meetings, hirings, firings, and wages tediously earned. Said concrete and steel beams littered around their bases or stuck up like splinters on skin. The light had a delicate purple sheen in the early morning sun; the rays just peeking over the far left buildings. Its warmth caused the dew to permeate the air with humidity that was sticking to her skin. Rich green grass rose a couple feet high. In front of her was a demolished bridge that at the edge was a half hanging semi-trailer. Its shipping container was heavily rusted and half torn, spilling out the decomposing contents on the overgrown grass. Lilia herself was nestled within that musky grass, in a shallow depression of burned soil and a puddle of her own breakfast.

This has to be a dream. She rationalized. Remembering getting on the city bus, taking her seat, that loud crunch of metal. Something about a spark? Has to be. I must have been in an accident and I'm at the hospital. Is this what a coma dream feels like?

Believing at that moment, her mind had conjured up the post-apocalyptic world. It was hauntingly beautiful in its own way. The empty quiet and isolation of no other humans in the vicinity. What ruined it from being perfect was the bile on the side of her head and hair. Although it wasn't the first time she had woken up in her own vomit. That part should have been taken out.

Sitting here with vomit on my face isn't gonna make this dream any better Lilia. Warily thinking to herself as she opened her oversized purse for a makeup towelette. Using several to make sure she none of the vomit was left. Carelessly depositing them on the blackened ground. Then, taking out a travel bottle of alcohol-free Crest to swirl around her foul-smelling mouth. The harsh mint flavor cut through the bile and the smell filled her sinuses of the pungent solution, spitting it out in a stream at her puke pile. Smacking her tongue on the roof of her mouth she felt the tingles.

Feeling less revolting in the dream world, she shakily pushed herself up; her small heeled shoes making it challenging. Nearly falling back down, she stood shakily to get out of the chard depression, grab her purse, and walk into the grass.

Now she had a better view of the lifeless cityscape that wasn't obstructed by dense grass.

The asphalt roads and sidewalks were in need of repair as the buildings themselves were. Tree roots and weathering cracked and fractured the once durable surface. Rusted vehicles—from cars, trucks and even mopeds—had doors unhinged, busted windows, and rotting tires covered in moss dotting the cracked asphalt. Smaller trees and patches of white flowers randomized their location within the grass and sidewalks.

Lilia walked toward the patch of asphalt careful not to stumble on a rock; heels not being the shoe of choice on uneven ground. Once she was certain of not landing on her voluminous rear-end, she leisurely walked down the broken road; noticing a pile of brownish metal on the right side of the road, half covering in the high grass. Curious, she walked toward it. On closer inspection it looked like one of those robots from a black and white classic Hollywood film; the kind that would take over Earth and enslave the human population. With a cylinder-shaped body, silver-dollar sized rivets, the joints connected by a simple hinge with exposed wires, three segmented fingers, and a dome-shaped head that had two glass circles for eyes. She tapped it with the pointy end of her right heel see if it would come to life. Sadly, it remained motionless on the ground.

Continuing on the broken asphalt she spotted identical robot machine along with smaller ones that looked like R2-D2 with arms and paddle-like feet, that would reach up to her chest.

The first sign of animal life came in the form of a fucking moose. She'd seen pictures of them, but holy shit they were huge! Its antlers towering over a stop sign and could have been as wide as she was tall. It was easily been eight feet at the humped shoulder. Staying well away from them she had to leave the asphalt and ducking into an over grown ally way. Coming out of the other side, she saw a steady stream below a crumbled overpass, its muted flow soothing.

To her right she was startled by a snap of some bushes and out came one of those small pod, R2-D2 looking machines walking on its flipper like feet, its eyes glowing a soft green.

Curiosity being a sin of hers, she cautiously approached the podling machine. Normally, she'd like to keep her distance, but the belief of her being in a dream made her bolder than usual. It noticed her but gave no expression of attacking. Its button shaped, dull green sensors for eyes stared unblinking at her.

"Well, hello there." she stated as she bent down to eye-level with the machine. "You're an awfully cute little thing." Lilia said in a tone she reserved when talking to children.

She then raised her left hand to touch and rub the crown of the small machine's head. Rubbing the dirt and flecks of rust on her fingers.

Its eyes flashed into a bright red and made a wonk! sound before its arm like appendages made a windmill motion that knocked her arm aside. Lilia made a shriek as the pain flared from the impact. Her heart raced as she landed on her butt and shifted herself from the sudden violent machine. It then leapt in the air to body slam her, but she rolled at the last second, quickly scrambling to her feet. Losing a heel, she limped away.

At a safe distance from the machine, she inspected her aching arm; the pain making itself clear as her adrenaline subsided and breathing relaxed. It wasn't broken, thankfully, but damn it hurt like hell. It was already swelling and forming a knotted bruise. Lilia knew she wouldn't be using that arm for a while. At least, not for any heavy lifting.

Wait, a minute! She realized in horror, If this is a coma dream, why the fuck did I feel pain?!

The gnawing thought eclipsed in her mind, that people don't experience pain in dreams. The notion unsettling and unthinkable for her to consider that the present moment as reality.

Dismissing it as some muscle or nerve memory that made her brain think this was real, she rationalized. Lilia couldn't conceive the suggestion that she was thousands of years into the future, or some other fool thing. She laughed, finding it all too ridiculous. Dealing with the sore arm and achy ankle will have to be tolerated within her dream.

At least, I'm not running from spiders. Quickly stifling the thought, best not give her over-active imaginary dreamland any ideas. As long as I leave those machines alone, I'll be all right. And the moose.

Later, she added boars to that list, too.

—xxx—

Failing to realize that using that Small Stubby's visual sensors, two other pairs of reddish eyes scrutinized the exchange. Fascinated and curious. The synthetic network within their heads analyzing the new data with obsession. At least, for one than the other.

They had attached themselves to that end of the machine network when readings of a EMP explosion came from the city ruins area. Curious what caused it, but they were busy at the time playing at a neighboring city. Once they noticed the strange android model, they stopped playing and peeked through the network to see.

His other half with short-cropped hair dismissed it, thinking it faulty or new YoRHa android.

However, his older twin—more curious than the other—wanted a better inspection of this android. "I think I'll see for myself brother. If it is a YoRHa model, I'm curious to see what its primary function is. We've not seen one that looks like that before."

The laid-back twin scratched his chin. "Has to be deficient for sure. Don't you think so?"

"If it is deficient, then we have nothing to worry about."

His twin looked at him with uncertainty. "You're not leaving are you?"

"You'll be fine, Eve. I'll be back once my curiosity is satisfied. Here," he gave him a book, "read some of this while I'm gone. I'll be back before you know it."

His brother sighed as he took the book from him, dejected by the fact he would be alone without his twin, "Fine. Just hurry it up all right? I wanna finish playing."

"Of course. I'll be back soon." The older twin promised and in a flash of golden-yellow light he teleported away.

Eve looked around, anxiety bubbling in his chest of being alone. He looked at the book his wonderful brother gave him. It was a human book, something Adam loved to read.

Adam loved human things.

—xxx—

A loud ring blared through the scorching desert and a screen materialized from Pod 042.

"Operator 6O to 2B. Come in 2B."

"2B here, go ahead."

"There was seismic activity in the City Ruins, it also produced a small EMP blast and many of our way points and communications are down for the area. You and 9S are to investigate."

"Understood."

"I've uploaded the coordinates to the approximate area to your Pod and updated your map. Good luck 2B! Operator out!" The screen disintegrated once the call was severed.

"That could have been the source of that blast we detected." 9S hypothesized.

"9S's hypothesis is valid. Proposal: proceed to the area and investigate." Her pod droned out.

"Let's go then. But, let's not forget about you Little Sister."

"Oh! I hope no one got hurt from that blast." The large biped with a purple bow said with concern. "Oh look! We made it out! Thanks for bringing me! I can make my way back home from here. And you'll tell me how to make children! Bye 9S! Bye grouchy lady!"

As they were making their way up the rocky sandstone, 9S couldn't help but voice his complaint about sand in his shoes. 2B ignored his complaint and the uncomfortable feeling in her shoes and dress. Her tacky, elastic skin impervious to the drying brought by the sun's rays. Her internal filters shifted out the dusty air and cleaning the synthetic oil inside her body. She'd deal with it once it was time for her routine maintenance back at the Resistance camp.

The dry, arid environment gave way to the decaying city.

Nearing the location given by Operator 6O, she felt the residual electrical charge brought by the EMP. Small spasms could be felt in her wiring and circuitry, but not enough to hinder her primary function.

Several of the buildings had crumbled further from the event. They knew they found the exact location that was the origin of the EMP charge, both by the concentration of leftover ions and by burns within the ground. It was in the clearing nestled within the city itself, approximately three meters in diameter. The docile machines that grouped in the area lay motionless and unresponsive, no doubt destroyed by the EMP.

What was strange was the smell of acid. A slimy pile within the scorched earth was the source. Along with white cloths they found that also had the smell inter-mixed with a cleaning agent.

Their drives recording the location and detail to relay back to the Bunker for later analysis.

2B's pod piped up in is usual monotone, "Detecting a faint trail by the charge of the blast. Proposal: Follow the trail."

The other Pod chimed in with a more female monotone, "Hypothesis: It is possible that the residual charge is within the source of the disruption."

"Well, let's follow it. It could be something else the machines are doing. Besides whatever that thing was we saw in the desert a month ago." 9S reasoned, disliking the strange turn of circumstance of late.

"Agreed. Pod follow the trail, we'll be behind you."

"Affirmative."

—xxx—

Now her dream was taking a strange turn of events. Machines running an amusement park? It was rather charming to be frank. They'd even painted their faces into smiles and dressed in jesters costumes. Twirling around while spraying bits of colorful confetti from their tiny arms. The doorman went on about collecting ten stamps for a prize. Down the main avenue, at the center of the park, was a white, giant, fantasy inspired castle that was built in a way to allow a misshapen heart shape in the middle. Bright fireworks exploded and fired around the castle like she had seen out of a Disneyland commercial.

Despite the occupation of the gleeful machines, the park itself drastically needed reconstruction. The brick and stone crumbled from the roofs, windows shattered, the once brilliant colors inlaid were saturated heavily, and moss and vines formed a haphazard jumble. If she peered closely, she could make out the pictures that were once painted on some buildings. Time and the elements had diminished them to a flaky and tarnished patchwork. Not wanting to speculate of what the once grand and childlike buildings looked like on the inside, she continued onward.

Lilia rolled her eyes at the utter ridiculousness of it all. She chuckled and didn't complain. Her bare feet touching the cool cobblestone and the loose confetti on the ground. After losing her shoe with that machine from earlier, she put the other in her purse. Seeing no benefit to walking around with one heel on. Her black pantyhose the only thing covering her feet.

"HappIneS comE be hAppy!" The little and big machines would say while twirling and spraying colorful confetti from their hands.

"Play! Play! Come see the play! Romeos and Juliets!"

"Play?" She asked to the hovering machine with a yellow string wig and a doll painted face.

"Oh yes! Come see! It's so wonderful!" The flying machine taking off to the castle at the middle of the amusement park.

Lilia smiled and went along with it. This could be fun! The ache she felt on her arm forgotten as she followed the flying machine.

"Welcome! Welcome! Come watch Romeos and Juliets!" The doorman for the castle stated, opening the door for her.

Inside the castle wasn't as grand or lustrous as the outside. The wallpaper and carpeting was something to be desired. Littered with heavy soiled stains and bits of trash and debris peppered the room and the theater room. And she didn't even want to know the oily, gunk feeling she felt beneath her feet was. The same types of machines she saw outside were within the room. Waiting for the show to start. Apparently this dream didn't believe in chairs. So she took to herself to find a spot semi-clear of litter and stains to stand and wait.

A few moments later a tall machine with a top hat came out and announced, "Welcome! We present Romeos and Juliets! Have fun! Enjoy your stay!"

It exited the stage and the ragged curtains parted.

A podling, purple in color, ran out and said in its digitized monotone, "Romeo, O Romeo. Where art thou Romeo?"

Five other podling machines came out after a line as spoken by one of them. Reciting a line from the classic Shakespearean tragedy. Before they wailed and punched each other screaming "Die you bastard!" "I hate you!" and so on. She stared in bewildered amazement before she busted out laughing at the sheer absurdity of it.

Lilia laughed harder when the last podling was still standing, then exploded declaring, "I cannot live without my Romeo."

She clapped and shouted, "Bravo! Bravo!" forgetting the pain from her sore arm from the jolts of her enthusiastic claps. Uncaring that she could feel the eyes of the machines in the room on her.

That was some stupidly amusing shit right there! A-haha!

Once her mirth had died down, the announcer came up to her. "You haven't been here before. Here's a stamp!"

Oh! That's right! The stamps. She pulled out the card she was given, and the machine punched a stamp into the stiff card. The ink drying quickly.

"Come back again!"

Thanking the machine before walking outside. The air had warmed from the sun, leaving a pleasant feel to the air from the crisp morning.

I guess even in a dream the weather can be nice too.

She over-looked the dull, green-brown moat around the castle. Leaning over the railing, the water shining her reflection on the calm surface along with the clouds that dotted the sky. Noting her hair becoming its usual state of wiry curls as it rebelliously tried to pull out of the bun. She sighed dejectedly. Even in her dreams she couldn't escape her rebellious hair, no matter how much she pressed, sprayed, and wove it in a bun or braid.

Lilia concentrated on her reflection, willing her hair straight.

Nope. Access denied.

Gah! Not even in my dreams!

Walking haltingly back into the castle she asked the doorman where the restrooms were.

"What's a restroom?" was her answer.

Popping her hip out in frustration, she walked her way through the foyer and peeked into the side rooms until she saw a crumbled sign for a restroom. The windows in the hall providing enough light for her to see that the mirror was broken, and the glass shattered on the floor in the women's room. She could swear she felt her eyebrows melt from the smell. Quickly closing the door. She eyed the men's room sign.

She sighed in annoyance. Oh come on! This is a dream and doubtful those machines care which toilet you use.

Peeking into the men's room, she was thankful that the floor was not occupied by glass, or other nasty things. Throwing out her social propriety, she went inside to do her business (while not sitting on the toilets). Then she tried to tame her hair and put it back in a bun. Lilia had to ignore the skeleton of a dead raccoon in the last stall and pretended not see a rat scurry at the corner of her eye. Rolling her eyes, she'd seen worse bathrooms than this in her life, the kind that had a passed out junky who hadn't bathed in a month sitting on a dull floor covered in piss, shit, jizz and leftover needles.

Scampering out as fast as possible and back into the main park area, Lilia looked around.

So, what else is there to do here?

—xxx—

Reddish eyes inspected the park area observing the android model interacting with the disconnected machines. What was it the humans called this? Fun? Amusement? Entertainment? His booted feet perched on one of the over-sized limbs of a great oak tree on the perimeter of the park ruins. His sensors detected faint traces of the EMP explosion on the new YoRHa android model. He detected no outward shielding or pulse of an emitter that would have protected this android. Strange. Also it lacked one of those Pod machines the new models had with them as a support aid. And what did it use as a defense weapon? No attachments were visible except for the bag across its shoulder.

During his studies of the humans he'd seen such a thing called a "carry-on bag" or "purse." Perhaps such defenses are contained within?

Highly impractical, not when they could use energy to hold their weapons. The YoRHa appeared to have been subjected to a logic virus to have created such a useless android model. He crossed his arms against his naked chest as he continued to observe, using his hearing amplifiers to listen in on her conversations with the disconnected machines.

"I've seen the machines outside, they don't do much. Even though one of them hurt me when I touched it."

"Oh! I'm sorry you were hurt! Those are still connected to the server. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Just a bruise on my arm. That server you mentioned, it's a network for all the machines?"

"Oh yes! But we aren't connected anymore. We want to have fun here. Be happy!"

"That's good I suppose. Are there any other machines like you?"

The flying machine bobbed and whizzed in its interpretation of excitement, "We live next door to some machines that are peaceful. Would you like to meet them?"

He noted the gesture of the android scratching its jaw and a hand on her curvy hip.

"Well, why not? Can you take me?"

"Oh sure! Right this way!"

Examining the android's movements, Adam was convinced the YoRHa has lost their sense of android designs. The android's movements were slow, awkward and could hardly keep up with the machine. Its choice in clothes were a great impairment. And did he hear the noise of breath from the android? Foolish. A waste of materials and internal resources required for breathing. Androids and machines both had no use for the action.

Adam watched the departure of the Small Flyer as the android entered the grouping of machines. A village by human specifications. He was uninterested in their life and indifferent with them being disconnected from the server.

He lingered to view the android, wanting to decipher its function, and perhaps glean insight on the intentions of the humans on the moon.

—xxx—

She followed the flying machine as best she could, her knee-length skirt making it difficult. Feet struggled on rugged wood planks used to build a rudimentary bridge that led deeper into the woods. The trees grew immeasurably tall, towering like the multistory buildings in her home of Atlanta. Their woven limbs created the iconic cone shape at the top third of the trees. A mixture of pine and oak packed together, the spaces between them creating pathways for the deer she saw to graze. Musk, the warming of the sun, and the permeating stench of life's regeneration of resources invaded her senses. The does and fawns making their bleats to each other, the birds in the treetops singing to one another, and the occasional pop and break of wood and rustle of the fallen leaves created a soft symphony of noise.

Lilia heard the machines before she entered the village, their mechanical whirs a distinguished contrast to the natural sounds of the wood.

Gazing wide-eyed at the village of machines, she couldn't believe how outrageous her dream was. It was akin to something out of a sci-fi movie on primitive, other-worldly natives. The machines had taken misshapen, cut wood and assembled a structure circling one of the giant trees, to make, well, a tree house. Ladders connected the different segments of the tree house.

She heard the robotic sound of children below her and spied small machines in a game of play—chasing and giggling, kicking up the dark, moist earth blended with dead roots and decayed leaves. She smiled and thought it adorable.

One of the big and tall machines spotted her at the end of the bridge and waved at her. She waved back and approached. She was intimidated considering the machine was at least twice her height. While probably break her like Bane did to Batman.

"Hello, is this, um, the peaceful machine village I heard about?" She forced out in her most friendly manner.

"Oh yes, are you one of the androids from Anemone's camp?"

Uh? Android? Anemone? "Excuse me?"

"You're not from the Resistance outpost?"

She shook her head, "No, I'm, uh, not from around here. I was at the amusement park and one of the machines there told me about this place. I thought I'd pay a visit."

"So, you're visiting? Visiting is good."

Lilia smiled and nodded, "Are you the leader here?" She asked.

"Oh no. Pascal is. He helped bring us together and build this place."

"Can I come in and meet Pascal? This village looks interesting!" Wondering what was in store for her with how well her imaginative dream was going with this village.

"As long as you mean no harm, you're more than welcome in."

"Thank you."

"Pascal is up there." The machine pointed to the second floor of the tree house. "Usually."

Lilia thanked the machine again and made her way through the village. Her sin of curiosity getting the betterment of her, again. Detouring to meet other machines, she even found a weapons shop and items. Way too close to one of those role-playing games she loved. Unfortunately, she had no, uh, G, on her. Why was it that when she wanted to materialize something it never materialized, but her imaginative mind could come up with other weird shit? Oh well.

And that Jean Paul machine… said some convoluted things that made her brain hurt. Something or another about existence. The machine next to him explained that he was a "philosopher", but he was a jerk more like.

In the middle of talking to one of the child machines, one of them shouted "Uncle Pascal! Are you here to play?"

Lilia turned to the machine who had come up behind her. He was built differently than the others, not much, but enough to make him recognizable. It reminded her of those old black and white sci-fi movies, with a bulky torso, skinny arms and legs, and large glass bulbs for eyes.

"I'm sorry children, but I heard about our visitor. Thought I'd come say hello."

Now that was a surprise, 'Uncle Pascal' had a female voice box. The kind, motherly type. Brushing it aside for introductions.

Well, to not be rude.

"Hello, Pascal. I'm Lilia, nice to meet you."

"Thank you. Children, can I talk to our visitor please? Go over to the play area."

"OK Uncle Pascal! Don't forget to play with us later!" And the gang of child machines bounced away.

She gave the machine a warm smile and said, "You have such a nice village."

"Thank you. We try to maintain a pacifist living here. We've given up our need to fight a long time ago. Are you one of the other androids? I know Anemone needs those fuel filters, and I'm almost finished with them."

A faint blush came across her cheeks as she admitted, "Oh, um. I don't know Anemone. I… am not from around here."

"Then you're from YoRHa, yes? I hope your Commander understands we really are peaceful and mean no harm. I've met two of the other androids, 2B and 9S. I got the feeling they didn't quite believe me I'm afraid," Pascal explained.

"Um," Just go along with it, it's a dream. Remember? "Yes, I'm... scouting. Gathering information. I thought I'd gather intel on your village. More than what you gave to… 2B and 9S." Mention that Commander person too. "The… Commander wanted me to run an assessment on the village. And if you knew of any other villages like yours." Way to go playing it cool Lilia. Ten-out-of-ten on bullshitting in a dream.

The robot-machine looked down in disappointment. "I really hope your Commander doesn't see us as a threat."

"Oh! Um, the Commander is being… cautious." She crossed her arms and shifted her feet.

"I see. It's understandable with the war with machines and androids."

Whoa! A war? Alright brain, no need to go this sci-fi on me in a dream. Not complaining that much though. Just keep shooting the shit. Just say the standard.

"War is a terrible thing." Okay not that standard.

"It is. Many of us grew tired of fighting since we've had no communication with our creators for centuries. I've told 2B and 9S as much."

Creators? OK either humans or aliens. With how weird this dream is, I'm going aliens.

Pascal continued, "As for other villages. There are others who've disconnected from the server. Not all of them friendly. There's one in the forest region to the north of here that's hostile of late. I'd avoid them. And another in the abandoned factory in the city that's forming. I'm unsure of them though. Without being linked to our creator's server, we aren't aware of each other anymore."

Lilia hummed noncommittally before asking, "Your…. creators. Do you know why you've not heard from them in centuries?"

"I'm afraid not." The machine replied regretfully. "Few machine models were consistently in direct contact. The ones you see here were only developed for fighting. Including myself."

"This, um, server, do you know where it is?"

"I'm sorry, but I don't know. Once we disconnected and destroyed our plug-in to connect to the server, it's part of our program to delete that information. We haven't given it much consideration since we did."

Heh, maybe their dead by the sounds of it.Although Lilia kept that thought to herself.

"It's alright. It's good to see… friendly machines for a change in this war."

Pascal made the sound of soft laughter, "Likewise. I really hope things work out between us and your Commander. I want us to get along and live harmoniously together. Maybe even the humans on the moon can return too."

Humans on the moon?! What?

Clearing her throat from her astonishment she said, "Me too." Lilia smiled and bounced on the balls of her naked heels. Hoping that the bullshitting was over with for the time being. "May I ask you something?"

"Of course!"

"Could I, um, stay here for a while? I'd like to gather more information about your village for a longer stay. If you can't I totally get it!"

"Oh no! It's fine. We have a small room at the top of the tree for you to use."

Can't beat a super friendly machine. Besides, she'd always wondered what I'd be like to be in a tree house. Since she grew up in the city all her life and the only trees, she saw frequently were the shriveled-up trees at the local park. One of those long-lost childhood dreams, such as what I'd be like to be a farmer's wife milking cows for a living.

By then the sun was high up and its warmth beat down on her, the woods circulating the humidity, and beads of perspiration dotted her forehead and she could feel the wet nastiness on her armpits, bra and groin. She didn't even want to think about how shriveled and wild the short ends of her hair looked like.

Where ever she was outside of her dream must be making her feel this way. Turn on the air conditioning please.

Her stomach rumbled in protest of being empty. She could sense a dusking of pink on her cheeks. Luckily Pascal had seen to her room and had left. Which was little more than a cubicle with a bench for her to sit.

Great, now I feel hungry in my dreams.

She'd feel more self-conscious about herself, but she reasoned it was a dream and these were machines anyway, she unbuttoned her blouse and pulled off her pantyhose. She looked at the large purple-black bruise on her arm from that machine attack earlier, sighing in annoyance.

Lilia dug through her purse for that apple she remembered packing as a snack for work. Biting into it as she watched the village of machines from the open window, she'd had vivid dreams before, but not in this detail. First time for everything though.

—xxx—

2B and 9S neared Pascal's village. The trail of ions had been very confusing for the androids since they began finding the source of the EMP blast.

First, it was through the overgrown city which had them find a shoe that had a significant accumulation of that EMP charge ions. Then, through the amusement park. Now, toward Pascal's village.

9S's suspicious nature reared its grotesque head and he vocalized his mistrust, once again stating that something was going on within the village of machines. 2B was swift to reject them.

Pascal had expressed no indicators of deceit. Although, she begrudgingly agreed it couldn't be ruled out.

The villagers greeted them on their appearance, and Pascal stopped his discussion with the item shop machine.

"Oh! 2B! 9S! Wonderful for you to be here. I've just finished speaking to another android named Lilia."

"Who?" Her speech was cool, but confusion rattled in her data bank.

"Lilia. She reported that she was sent here by your Commander to gather information on our village and other's like ours that are disconnected from the server."

"2B do you know of this Lilia? I don't know of any 'Lilia' model at YoRHa." 9S asked, confusion clear in his query.

"I don't." she answered, "Pod, contact the Bunker."

"Negative. Communications are still disabled for the area."

"Damn." She cursed in irritation.

Pascal watched the brief exchange and, what he understood to be worry, rattled in his metal shell, "2B, what's the matter? Is something wrong?"

"Pascal, did you detect an EMP blast earlier today? Perhaps seismic activity at the same time?" 9S asked promptly.

"Our sensors indicated a tremor this morning from the city area. Why?"

"We were assigned to investigate that blast. It knocked out our comms within the city and some surrounding area." 2B explained, "Our support Pods indicated a trail that had a concentration of the residual ions that has led us here to your village. Besides this, 'Lilia' have you noticed anything unusual?"

"2B, what if Pascal is a part of that blast?" 9S hissed out forcibly.

"Your suggestion has been noted 9S." She stated dismissively.

Pascal sighed, "I can understand his suspicion 2B. But, no, other than this Lilia android, things have been normal here. She's been very pleasant if not nervous, I think. Maybe this is her first time leaving YoRHa?" He offered as an explanation for her behavior.

"Perhaps. We should speak to her."

—xxx—

She examined the wavering trees with boredom. Even though she could swear she sensed eyes on herself, she dismissed it as her normal shy nature of taking her work shirt off. She observed two humanoid looking people running into the village from where she had arrived. Maybe those are the androids Pascal mentioned? Lilia could see they wore all black attire and had white-ish hair, and what was that on their backs and floating next to them?

If this dream could get any stranger, she thought.

"Excuse me?" A tiny voice said while pulling on the hem of her skirt.

Turning her head to regard the origin, which was one of the short child-like machines. Whom was with a group of its friends.

"You're one of the androids? Uncle Pascal said you're our guest."

"What's a 'guest'?" Interrupted one of the other child machines.

Lilia turned around fully on her seat to look upon the group of child robots. Amused beyond expectation at how much they act like actual children. "A guest is someone you invite into your home." She explained simply.

They hummed and whirred in excitement.

"Can guests play with us?"

"Sure!"

A chorus of "please play with us" erupted from the gaggle of child-bots.

Lilia regarded the over-eager metallic children. "Hey," said in inspiration, "would you guys like to hear a story?"

A chorus of "A story?" "What's a story?" was her answer.

"A story is… um, a… tale, er account of an event. For entertainment. They usually have a meanin' to them. Um, humans had lots of them. They love stories."

"Really? tell us one!" Followed by a symphony of "Yes!", "Please", and "Tell one!"

"OK, hum," She took a moment to consider of one, but came up with the one she knew the best from her childhood. "How about the story of The Little Mermaid?"

"What's a mermaid?"

Oh right, they wouldn't know what that is. "A mermaid is a made-up creature, that's has the top half of a human, but the bottom part of a fish. A mermaid specifically has the top half of a female human. And they live in the ocean."

"Were they real?"

"No. It's a fictional story, but do you want me to tell it or not?" She rolled her eyes exasperated but amused.

"Okaaaay. We'll be quiet." One of the children stated exasperatingly. The rest followed suit and sat on the wood planks watching her keenly.

She smiled as she got comfortable on the wooden bench she had been sitting on.

Clearing her throat, she began, "A long time ago, humans roamed the seas with ships made of wood. In the deepest ocean there lived a little mermaid who longed to live among humans. She collected everything she could from them. Trinkets, coins, clothin'. Her father, the king of the mer people, forbade her. He was fierce in his protection and love of his only daughter. The little mermaid was undeterred by her father's command.

"One day, she saw the shadow of a boat above her secret collection away from her father's underwater castle. Excited, she swam as fast as she could to see the human men workin' on the boat. As she often did.

"She watched a young man work the boat. He was dashin' and handsome and she found herself growin' fond of him the longer she watched and listened to him.

"Abruptly, a storm came. The boat thrashed violently from the waves and hard wind. In horror, the mermaid watched as the young man was thrown overboard by one of the sails. Which had knocked him out cold. He would surely drown and die.

"She swam as fast as she could to save him. Trying her best to keep him above water so he wouldn't drown. She prayed to the gods to help and give her strength. The storm abated and took him to shore. She felt so happy to have saved him. Thankin' the gods to have heard her prayer she sang a song. The wonderful tune stirred the young man from his slumber. The little mermaid, shy and frightened, leapt back into the ocean.

"She wanted deeply to have human legs and be with the young man she had fallen for.

"Her father found out what had happened. And with fear and his fatherly duty of protectin' his daughter, he found the collection of human things she kept, and destroyed them. Then, locked her in the castle.

"She swore a vow to have human legs and be with the young man. What she didn't realize is that servants of the sea-witch—"

"What's a sea-witch?" one of the children asked abruptly.

"A… bad person who can do magic."

"What's magic?"

Jesus Christ... "It's… when someone can do impossible feats with spells."

"What's a spell?"

"A command, to nature mostly. Now can I get on with the story?"

They were silent.

"Okay, now the sea-witch's servants had watched the exchange between father and daughter. They found their way into the castle and told the little mermaid that the sea-witch, their master, could help her get legs and be with the human man.

"Her heart, filled with love and longin', escaped the castle with the two servants. Bringin' her to the sea-witch's cave. Where she agreed to work her magic and give her legs, but there was three conditions she must endure and fulfill or suffer a fate worse than death.

"First, she would have legs and be human fully, but every step she would take would be excruciating pain. Second, she would lose her voice. Last, she must seduce the young man and be given her first kiss by him in three days' time. She agreed without a second thought.

"The sea-witch laughed as she weaved her spell. Her fin slowly turned to legs, and she found it hard to breathe. Swimmin' as fast as she could to the surface while the sea-witch's laugh echoed from the ocean floor.

"She found the shore where she had left the man and crawled onto the sand. The little mermaid filled with joy as she stared at herself. Seeing toes and feet instead of a flipper. As fate would have it, the young man was walkin' the shore that day, lookin' for the person who saved him. He saw the little mermaid—now human—alone and naked at the shore. He ran to her to see the matter. Her heart filled with joy at seeing him, took her first step, only to cry in pain as she collapsed on the sandy beach.

"The man flung his coat over her and picked her up to take to his home. Where he lived as the lord of the land. The sea-witch's spell promise rang true. Her steps caused her pain and she couldn't speak to the man to confess that she saved him. Try as she may, she couldn't convey to him her love and devotion. In dismay, she witnessed him fall for another woman. Her hope dashed.

"By dusk on the third day the sea-witch came to collect from the little mermaid. Where she revealed that it was all a plot of revenge against her father. For he banished her long ago and was the reason for her exile. The little mermaid was the world to her father, and since the sea-witch couldn't best him, she would break his heart instead.

"Right at that moment her father came up from the sea, eyes wide in horror. The little mermaid took her final step of being human and jumped toward her father, but instead of catchin' his darlin' daughter, he only caught sea foam. The sea-witch's menacing laugh echoed throughout the shore."

She was silent at the end of the tale. The child-bots would look on with full eyes—if they had eyes.

"Is that the end?" asked by one of them.

Lilia nodded, "Yup."

"Tell us another one!" And the rest repeated it while bouncing.

"Children, that's enough," she heard Pascal say from her left side. She had heard him approach but thought little of it. Behind him were the two androids she saw from earlier. "Go to the playground, I have to talk to Lilia."

"Can she come play with us later?"

"We'll see. Now go play."

The child-bots huffed away. She got up from her seat to regard Pascal and what she presumed were the two androids. To be real frank, they both looked like anime cosplayers. She didn't complain considering the female looking one was rather cute. Having a moment of self-consciousness when she thought they were looking at her attentively. Lilia had her work shirt unbuttoned, revealing much of her torso. She didn't know whether the fact they were blind-folded made it less embarrassing.

How did they go around blind-folded? And they had swords levitating behind them! Along with a weird floaty, box-shaped gadget beside them.

"Confirmed: the ion trail ends here." One of the gadgets said in a digitized male voice.

What? Ion trail? And did that floating box just talk?! Alexia got a brother it seems!

"Can you detect a black box signal?" Demanded the female android.

"Negative."

The hell is a black box? And why would it give a signal?

Lilia could feel the beginnings of trepidation in her breast. Is this where her dream became a nightmare? She swallowed a lump in her throat.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't given a… black box." She immediately declared.

"Negative," interjected the floating gadget, "All YoRHa models in service are issued a black box. It is their primary core and database."

Well shit…

"2B this could be another one of those." The boy android said cryptically.

'Those'? 'Those' what? Now she was highly confused and started second guessing herself. Lilia doubted they would believe what she said at that point. Since as she'd been caught in a lie and how Pascal wasn't endorsing her. Now would be a good point to wake up.

Alright self, wake up! Rise and shine! Get up and eat your grits!

Nothing.

Time to shoot the shit.

Crossing her arms and being as nonchalant as possible she responded, "Look, I don't know what you're talkin' about. And I don't appreciate the accusatory tone you're givin' me Mr. Backstreet Boy."

"Excuse me?"

"Is your hearin' in need of repair?"

"Watch yourself machine—"

"Machine?!" Her hands instantly went to her hips at the indictment. "Take off that blind-fold you fool. Do I look like a machine? No offense Pascal."

The two supposed androids looked at each other.

"Proposal: Watch over the subject until communication with the Bunker is restored."

"Agreed." Said the female android.

Lilia gave a small sigh. Giving herself a chance to figure a way out this dilemma she dug herself into. She can't die in a dream thankfully.

Okay, so their communications are down, for whatever reason. They think I'm a machine. Something about me having a trace amount of ions from a blast, which was a cause of their communication with their Commander being offline?

Gah! This is a dream so no wonder it doesn't make sense. None of this does. So why bother trying to figure it out?

"Me too. And for the record, I haven't done anythin' to anyone. So, there's no reason to be cunty. I'm sure when you get your communication back, it'll sort itself out."

That you've been a lying hag to fit in. Ten-out-of-ten in getting yourself into trouble, even in a dream. You don't have a clue of what's going on in this dream. You're not in control, apparently. This is so stupid.

One big stupid, stupid dream.

She spun to leave the three of them behind.

"Where are you going?" The male android demanded.

"For a walk." She answered over her shoulder not bothering to look back. Lilia needed time to think.

She didn't get her chance to. The ground shook causing her to stumble on the wooden planks. The trees splintered and swayed violently. A whir of mechanical noises became louder. A machine that was the size of a bus, contorted in a shape comparable to a scorpion without pincers parted through the woods. The beady red sensors for eyes scanned the village. The child-bots and adult machines ran from the intruding machine.

Aw hell…

The scanning lasers zeroed in on her, conjoining in a single beam.

Aw shit…

"Target Identified... Capture..." It groaned out before it revved itself up into a giant leap into the air. Its long-segmented tail parting into a grab-a-toy claw as it reached for her.

Fear caused her freeze.

The machine's motion was cut short as the female android's sword sliced at the tail-claw. Stopping the machine from grabbing her. The boy android behind her. The gadgets spraying a stream of gun fire.

A cold pincer hand clutched her by the arm, wrenching her head to see who—

"C'mon! We have to get away from that Searcher!"

Before she could formulate a sentence, Pascal jumped down the tree with her, arms encircling around his head tightly. Too petrified to even scream, the impact knocked the wind out of her, but she held on even as Pascal, unfazed by the decent, ran toward the villagers. The sounds of the fight between that machine thing and the androids faded as they headed deeper into the woods.

Lilia needed a breather to handle whatever the fuck just transpired. Pascal hurried around to make certain the other machines were okay.

It was short lived as they heard the clangs of the machine's stomps heading toward them along with the grunts, metallic clings of the android's swords, and gunfire. She could see the crimson light from its eye sensors as it closed in.

She looked back at the machines from the village who were terribly frightened by that machine. The child-bots produced the sound of crying.

It wants me.

Tearing the side seams on her skirt apart. Then, she gulped the knot in her throat she mustered her courage and shouted, "Hey asshole! Come get me!" Before taking off in a sprint perpendicular of the machine, jumping over tree and vine to lead it away.

It worked.

Closer the stomps and clangs inched toward her. The trees cracked and collapsed to let the giant machine through. Her heart thumped hard in her chest as her lungs burned. Lilia had to ignore the pain on her exposed feet as she ran; hearing the sword swipes and gunfire behind her working to bring the machine down.

I'm stuck in a nightmare now and can't wake up! Lilia felt tree limbs and sharp bushes clawing on her clothes and flesh. A flash of a sharp object caught her on the shoulder, the searing pain made her adrenaline pump that much harder. Hard wired instincts to flee gave her feet the speed she needed.

A second later a blinding, burning sensation scorched her shoulder. Losing her footing and sense of direction from the impact, she failed to acknowledge that she had reached the end of the forest edge. She registered a brief flash and boom of an explosion before her body slammed into rocky soil. Her vision cycling between sky blue and red clay on the steep incline. Instincts screaming to snatch something, anything. Just as that instinct soared in her nerves, her head punched on a rock. The impact on her skull immediately sent her vision black.

Last she remembered was feeling no dirt scraping along her bruised and battered skin, the sensation of her stomach being yanked through her throat, the metallic tang of blood on her tongue, and the wind whistling faintly in her ears.

She would wake up now.