Last Execution

by ElfLord123

2B is trapped. Trapped in a never ending cycle of executing 9S. But one day that changes. She executes 9S one last time and never has to execute him again. But her last execution was her worst and one that would haunt her for the rest of her life. (Alternate route AU where 2B survives instead of 9S).

21. it'll always End like this

The platform was covered by this point. Covered in debris. Covered in corpses. About three quarters of the first wave of machines had killed themselves on the spot. The rest of them were infected with a logic virus and sent to fight her. And subsequent waves were composed of infected machines and androids. So she slaughtered them.

A2 scoffed.

N2 could've used this newfound guilt as a psychological attack. But it didn't know what she was now. But she did feel guilt. She only did this because she had no choice. Still, it didn't make her feel better.

And maybe…

Maybe that was a good thing.

A2 fell to her knees, using her sword as a crutch as she caught her breath.

Viral infection at 20%...

Her task was done. She had to get out of here before she reaches the top.

Reaches 2B.

A2 looked over. There was a downed flight at the edge of the platform, the pilot stuck like a pincushion with four spears. A2 forced herself to her feet.

The virus was progressing through her systems. Logic viruses progress differently for different androids. For 2B, her physical body was attacked first so she felt a lot of physical pain. For 9S, his senses were attack first. His sense of sight. Sound. Touch. For her, mind was under attack. She was feeling dizzy. As if the entire world was a pendulum. She hobbled over to the flight unit and tore out the pilot.

Suddenly, she felt a burning pain in her heart. At first she thought she got impaled. That maybe an android or a machine got the jump on her. But no. The logic virus was progressing and triggering her pain centers.

A2 pulled herself into the flight unit, activating the engines.

"I'm sorry, 2B," A2 muttered. "I'm sorry it had to be this way."

She was going to die.

No way around it.

She didn't have the technical know-how to solve the virus herself. She didn't have a Pod to assist her. And she didn't even have any logic virus vaccines.

Stop thinking about it.

Focus on 2B.

If 2B catches up to her then…

She couldn't let 2B find her. She had to get as far away as possible. These things were capable of space flight. Let's aim this thing for high orbit. The one place 2B could never find. The one place 2B could never reach. Hell, she was going to slam herself into the moon at full speed.

A2 was jolted out of her thoughts at the sudden bang, her body jolting forward. If it wasn't for the inertial dampeners she would have been turned into paste from the deceleration. She had clipped a wall.

The virus was affecting her mind. She couldn't think. She couldn't focus.

2B…

2B…

"2B…" A2 muttered. "Stay safe."

She was clear of the tower, heading toward the brown sky.

Wait. Brown sky?

A2 was shot back into reality again when she realized she was not flying toward the sky but toward the ground. She veered her flight unit, trying to aim it at the sky. Brown. Gray. White. Brown. More brown. White. Gray. Where was the damn sky?

"SHIT!" A2 hissed. She only got a glimpse of it. The building in front of her. And she slammed into it at high hypersonic speeds. The top of the building practically evaporated from the impact. A2 felt the harness come loose and she was sent flying. She didn't know what happened to the building she hit. Probably collapsed like a stack of cards. But she did know she was launched from her flight unit. She was tossed through the next building before bouncing off the wall of the third. She hit the streets below, her body cracking the concrete.

Her mind was practically melting. She could feel it. How long before she turns into a drooling shell of her former self? She didn't want 2B to see her like this. Well, the flight unit was out of commission so she would have to go on foot.

Viral infection 35%.

Was there any way to get that off the screen?

A2 began hobbling down the street. She was dizzy and she was tired. But it seemed the logic virus wasn't only affecting her mind. She could feel a burning sensation in her legs. Weak for now. But it was growing in intensity.

"Need to get away from…2B…" A2 panted. She began limping down the street. Where should she go? Orbit would've been the better option, but the flight unit was wrecked.

Pod 153 had warned her. Warned that even 2B was at constant risk of being infected with that logic virus trap. And her body was state of the art and the system was put in place by a team of scientists in a lab. A2's system was old and the system was put in place by a single Pod in a cave. She knew that this trap would infect her.

All she could do now was get as far away from 2B as possible. This virus was bad news. A2 didn't plant to stick around to experience full corruption. A fate worse than death. But if A2 ended it then 2B would find her body. Something like that would hurt her. That was why she had hoped to fly into orbit. She needed to vanish. But she couldn't think of any location that guaranteed 2B would never find her body. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But A2 knew stubborn 2B was. And the world was a lot smaller when you had a YorHa android's speed. She needed to find a place to hide her body.

She could head to the flooded city. Throw herself into the ocean. Her body would sink to the bottom and 2B would not be able to search for her. And since that section of the city was sinking, it meant that every passing month will result in her going deeper and deeper. But this will involve climbing down the edge of the crater and through the sewage pipe. The pipe was stuffed with garbage. It would take too long. Plus with how fogged her mind was, she'll trip over every last stupid thing.

She had to try.

She slowly hobbled her way over to the crater. Hobbling not because she was in pain but she was tired.

So tired…

So tired…

Focus. She was at the edge of the crater. She now had to carefully make her way down.

Stay awake. Stay awake.

Her hand gripping the dirt, she slid down the slope. The building she had crashed into was the building across from where 2B and 9S first touched down in the city.

From what she got from 9S's memories, he planned on crossing a collapsed wall into that building. But 2B had the bright idea of leaping off the edge.

'Hey, 2B!'

'You should know better than to try that. Not even a cutting-edge YorHa like you would survive that kind of fall. Try not to act so recklessly, alright?'

A2 chuckled. 2B had activated her downward attack and intertial dampeners and had come out of that unscathed. He didn't remember but she's made far greater leaps than that. Well, the building connected to that rooftop was now a heap of debris so guess if they ever land there again, they'd all have to jump.

A2 limped to the edge of the crater, her eyelids fighting to stay open.

Then a hot pain shot up her leg. A2 practically fell over. God, what was that? It felt like her leg was on fire. She reached down to grasped it, trying desperately to make the pain go away.

God, make it stop.

No, she had to keep going. She was an attacker android. She could take it.

The virus must've reached her nerve programming and was tampering with her senses. It was just making her feel pain. Just finding the pain value and cranking it into the ceiling.

Even from the crash site she could hear it. But as she got closer and closer to the tower, it got louder and louder. Booming. The sound of two YorHa clashing. Coming from high above the clouds, it sounded like the gods were angry. A2 could see pieces of the tower scattered all across the ground, shaken loose from the violence up above. On cue, another piece the size of a tugboat smashed into the ground, embedding itself deep like a nail in wood. A2 shielded her face from the dirt. She was going to have to be careful. It was raining pieces of the Tower. Jackass had said it was like this when she and 2B fought up there the first time.

The machine network cleaned up the mess. But now it was happening again. The battle between two YorHa was shaking the tower apart.

Well, here's to hoping she doesn't get crushed.

A2 was limping toward the pipe when another piece suddenly came from the sky. A2 threw herself backwards when one the size of a house came crashing down on the pipe in front of her.

If she had acted just a millisecond late, she would have been crushed.

"Well, screw you too!" A2 shouted at the sky. She had to throw herself into the ocean. She hobbled up to the piece of debris. She grasped it but couldn't move it.

Damn it. The virus was affecting her physical strength. She should be able to lift this no problem. But she couldn't muster the physical strength.

"Damn it!" she roared, punching the chunk of debris. But what would normally shatter it barely left a dent. She could try cutting it to pieces. But she was wasting time. She couldn't move as fast as she used to so if this fails then it's just more time she wasted. She couldn't let herself be found.

She needed someplace else.

"The chasm…" A2 muttered. That was the only place she could think of. If she throws herself off the edge of the chasm that divided the shopping mall from the city, she'll sink to the bottom of the river at the bottom. 2B would not only have to think of going down to the bottom but even if she does that she'll have to search the bottom of the river.

Ironic. 2B once fought machines begging to be killed down there. She won't be aiming for that shallow pond. She had to aim at the river.

So she began hobbling her way across the landscape. Her mind was in a fog. So much so that she barely had any coordination in an act as simple as walking. But the pain in her legs was spreading.

Damn, did it hurt.

Her muscles and mind were practically deadened, so much so that she couldn't even react to the pain. But that didn't ease up the pain. It just meant she was too exhausted to react to what felt like her legs melting from sheer heat.

She was, in a way, a prisoner in her body. She hurt and yet she couldn't even react. There were horror stories of androids activating prematurely. Their minds would be active, but their bodies would be deactivated. As a result, they would feel the pain of the operation being performed on them but be unable to do anything about it. That was what it felt like.

Maybe she should just lay down for a bit. An hour or two won't hurt.

No, she can't. 2B might finish her fight with 2E. And if 2B wins, A2 couldn't let herself be found.

When.

When 2B wins. Not if. 2B will defeat her own demons. A2 was sure of that.

But either way, she couldn't lay down. 2B will find her here. And the corruption was progressing too quickly.

Viral infection at 45%...

The chasm.

She had to get to the shopping district.

Before she left the crater, A2 first peeked over the edge of the cliff, peering down into the hole in the crater. The goliath they had trapped at the bottom had practically collapsed a section of the city bashing itself against the wall before it finally used its claws to tears itself open. N2 was a petty piece of shit. Couldn't just let go of the machines in its thrall. No, it had to kill them.

Best she doesn't fall down there. If she does, there was no getting back out. Her body was too spent.

Climbing the edge of the crater was hell. Her limbs were so dead she could barley even move them, let alone use them to climb the crater. Everything got a lot easier once she got street side. Ground was stable. Ground was flat.

She could only hope that the machines outside the tower had killed themselves.

That thought sounded so wrong. Which was also weird. Feeling bad for wishing death upon the machines. But the alternative was worse anyways. So hopefully the machines ended it rather than suffer this fate.

She had made good progress when she realized something. She was giggling. Her mind was in such a fog that she hadn't noticed. But she had been giggling hysterically. In spite of her situation. In spite of her limping through the city.

How long has she been giggling like a nut job for? With how far gone her mind was, it wouldn't surprise her if it was ever since she crashed. Probably not. But still, the fact she was giggling like this showed that she was losing it and losing it fast. She shook her head and forced herself to stop giggling like a lunatic.

Focus. Chasm. Commercial district. She had to keep going.

It wasn't until she heard crunching beneath her feet she looked down and noticed sand beneath her.

Sand?

Damn it, she ended up walking to the desert. She didn't have time for this nonsense.

Viral infection at 56%...

She adjusted her course, heading for the commercial district.

This seriously blows. All these years of surviving YorHa and this is how she bites the dust. She couldn't go out in a blaze of glory? She was seriously going to have to expire by tossing herself off the cliff? Hell, she didn't even know if tossing herself into the river will do the trick. YorHa don't need air. It was a convenience. Which means if the fall doesn't kill her, she'll not only be in pain from the virus but be pain from chugging water until her body gives out.

2B…

She had to do this for 2B.

Ironic she was doing so much for a woman she hates. But, even though some part of her hates 2B another part of her felt something else. Even though the hate was the most prominent, it was not the strongest. She felt something else.

Something different.

Something stronger.

Viral infection 69%

And now there's ringing in her ears. Bad enough she had to die in such a humiliating manner. But she has to get a headache before it happens.

She could see a radio tower in the distance. Some sort of archway next to it. Commercial district was not far away.

But it seemed life had one more middle finger to throw at her. She looked up to see a boar glaring at her. A giant one the size of a truck. 2B was the one who carried all the animal scents and bait. Half because 9S was curious about animals and half because 2B actually liked animals. A2 on the other hand didn't like animals and had nothing to tame them with.

"I don't suppose you'll just get out of the way…" she sighed. The boar's guttural growl gave her its answer. But before anything could happen another warning flashed.

Internal temperatures reaching dangerous levels…

Internal combustion imminent…

"Oh, are you kidding me?"

A2 felt like her body exploded. It reminded her of the explosion her body would create when activating berserker mode. But this was more powerful. Uncontrolled. She cried out in pain as it felt like the flesh was blown off her bones. She cried out as she fell over, her entire body screaming in pain. She had to look at her own hands to make sure she really had not been reduced to a skeleton. Hell, if it meant getting rid of this pain maybe turning into a skeleton wasn't so bad.

Viral infection at 89%.

Well, at least the explosion scared off the pig.

Just a little further. Get to the cliff. Then throw herself off.

Damn it, this brain fog was making it hard to concentrate. Hard to realize what was happening around her.

It wasn't until she walked face first into a giant tree, she realized it.

Shit. She passed her mark. She was supposed to throw herself off the cliff. Instead it seemed she had walked herself across the bridge, through the commercial facility, and right into the forest.

Damn it. She was wasting time. She couldn't let 2B find her. Was there any place in the forest she could do this? Yeah, there was another ravine near her former kingdom. She could throw herself down that. But, it was further away. Much further. Far enough that 2B might finish her fight with 2E and find her before she reaches it. She had to

Viral infection at 95%...

-.-

MEANWHILE…

2E stared at 2B in complete disbelief. She just listened the ramblings of a psychotic child. She was utterly speechless. There were no words that could convey how she felt. She searched the dictionary and could not find any. But she had to find a word for it. And this was the closest thing she could come up with.

"Pathetic…" she breathed. "Pathetic, pathetic, Pathetic PATHETIC! You…you realize how absurd this is? DO YOU?! 2B? The noble warrior? Is that really what you think you are? You know that is just a lie, SO WHY CAN'T YOU ADMIT IT?! The more one tries to be some force for good, the deeper they entrap themselves in their own cycles of contradictions! Humans, machines, androids. You and I? We're living proof of this, AND WE'RE JUST A MERE MURDERER! If you can't see that then DIE! I'll kill you, bury you alongside those INSANE fantasies of yours! I WILL SNUFF OUT THE LIE THAT IS 2B!"

2B let out a battle cry and charged in. Was this delusional liar this insane? 2B was not only down to one hand but her left hand. And she was still missing her left eye. What hope did 2B have to defeat her? 2E was far more powerful, more experienced. Most importantly, 2E was the truth.

2E rushed up to 2B so quickly it looked like she existed in two places at once. 2B blocked the upward slash but it had enough power 2B was sent flying skyward. 2B had reduced mobility up in the air. But 2E maintained hers. She leapt off the ground, past 2B, and to a wall. Then she leapt from the wall, past 2B, to another wall. Then from that wall, past 2B, to the ground. She leapt back and forth, past 2B so quickly that it looked like 2B was nothing but a fountain of sparks as the lying executioner deflected every blow. Sparks and red powder exploded forth from her sword. Their clashes before had already cleared out a good chunk of the blood on the blade. But now it was exploding off in droves.

Finally, 2E aimed a blow right at 2B. Even though the sword was blocked, it still carried enough force to launch 2B into the floor.

2E landed not far away, watching 2B crawl out of the crater.

"What do you even hope to achieve?!" 2E roared. "You murdered Devola over something that didn't exist! You murdered Popola because you got offended! You murdered Pod because you were angry! 21O. 9S. Androids. Machines. You think there's anything you can do to ATONE?!"

"No," 2B panted. "There's nothing I can do to make up for that or any of the others we murdered."

"Then what are you hoping to achieve?"

"Nothing!" 2B snapped. "I'm beyond redemption. Beyond salvation. But it doesn't matter. We both know it doesn't matter! NONE OF IT MATTERS!"

"If you know it doesn't matter, then why are you doing all this? Why strive for a goal you can never achieve!"

"Even if I can't make up for the things I've done, it doesn't mean I should stop trying! We show our true selves when we have absolutely no reason to and do it anyways! My suffering won't bring back the dead. My death won't undo what I've already done. Then I'll live my life helping those that remain!"

"The words of a COMPLETE AND UTTER IDIOT!"

The next slash knocked 2B off balance. 2E raised her sword, ready to throw it into the delusional 2B's skull. But something caught her arm. Why did her arm just freeze? Like it was afraid to stop the final blow.

Fine.

2E flung her sword into the ground before 2B. Close enough that 2B thought it was aimed at her and prepared to avoid the strike. But the moment it was in the ground, 2E rushed up to her. Bare fists against a sword, even one being wielded in the left hand, the odds should be stacked against 2E. But 2E had surpassed 2B. So much so that she rushed up and effortlessly pummeled 2B, burying the lying android under a storm of punches. What sounded like a single explosion was actually a chain of punches from 2E's fists.

2E kicked 2B back, making space. This was not a fight. Yes, 2B was throwing everything she had. But 2E didn't even take this nuisance seriously.

"I guess it makes sense," 2E spat. "Humans, androids, machines, so caught up in the delusion they were doing what's right that they couldn't step back and see that their true nature."

"I'm NOT running from my true nature!" 2B shot back. "I'm a curse. A monster. I know that. But they believed in me when they shouldn't. They gave me a chance when I didn't deserve it. I owe it to them to try to be more. You should understand that, 2B!"

2B? Was that what this fraud was calling her? 2B?!

That was not her name.

That Was Not Her Name.

THAT WAS NOT HER NAME!

"Look at me, 2E!" 2E fired back. "Look at what I am. A deformed beast created from the pressure of her hollow idealism, her dream of being a hero when she can only sow destruction. The product of giving value to the meaningless. This is what your so-called convictions will do to you! You know human nature is self-deception and cruelty. And we take after our human creators."

"But we're still not human! It doesn't matter what human nature is. We have to fight it no matter what. If our nature is just cruelty it falls to us to try to rise above it!"

2E summoned an arsenal of blades above her head and launched them at 2B. The lying executioner dodged and even parried some out of the air. But she had to call up her own weapons to shoot down the rest. She sprinted across the landscape, not two but five swords hovering next to her. Not on her back but over her shoulder, ready to fire at anything that came at her.

The blades were bouncing off one another. So 2E summoned her gauntlets. Punching the air and launching them like cannonballs, the swords could not stop their momentum.

2B cried out as both gauntlets hit her. First as they flew past. Then again as they flew back to 2E.

2B was bleeding profusely and that berserker chip was only making it worse. It wasn't overtaxing her body like it would A2 but it wasn't doing it any favors.

"I can't believe that I was once a fraud like you!" 2E seethed. "Wake the hell up, 2E!"

"Take your own advice, 2B!" 2B snapped, rushing in and bringing her sword down. The two white blades met, a cloud of dried blood and sparks bursting off from the impact. "How can you stand to look at yourself?!"

"How can YOU?!"

2B was down to one arm. So 2E effortlessly grabbed her by the throat and flung her across the room.

"I am what I am because it's the truth!" 2E roared. "Why bother being disgusted over the prospect of being evil when everyone around us is the same? Why bother being disgusted over the prospect of being evil, when it is nothing but a fickle notion put in place by those who are no better?! Face it. How you view the world is nothing but a house of glass, put in place so we can come to terms with our own insignificance! Good? Evil? Save? Kill? YOU THINK ANY OF IT MATTERS?! Your perception of the world is nothing a fairy tale. So you can either wake up for DIE DREAMING!"

2E was fuming. She summoned an entire arsenal. Swords. Spears. Axes. Gauntlets. She summoned them above her head, telekinetically held in place with her NFCS. The liar's eyes widened in horror at what she saw.

With a flick of her wrist and a scream, 2E fired all these weapons. They weren't even aimed at 2B. Just the ground. They rained to the ground. Each weapon hit like a meteor and shot up a plume of dust and debris. Columns of smoke and smog as tall as a house.

She heard clangs as the fraud parried several of the blades out of the air. But 2B cried out when a gauntlet hit her right leg, snapping it. And a large sword went into her gut.

2B worked fast, tearing out the sword before using her only arm to hold her leg in place so the nanites could repair it.

The berserker chip may have been letting her push herself past her limits but she couldn't last long. 2E prepared for another attack. But her ears were suddenly filled with the sound of cracking. She looked down, realizing the entire ground was cracked. There was a spider web of fissures beneath her feet that spread across the entire landscape.

Shit…

She may have overdone it.

The ground finally shattered, dropping them to the floor below. At least it would if there was a floor. The Tower was full of open and wasted space. The Red Girl had even built a city inside the Tower complete with a sky. Which meant a lot of space and verticality. And here they were, plummeting to the bottom.

2E was prepared to activate her downward attack and launch herself to the ground. But it seemed lying-2E had a different idea. She leapt from debris to debris, making her way over. Was she seriously going to fight while they were in free fall?

Fine. But it was her funeral. Young-2E's missing limbs meant she would be at an even greater disadvantage.

The liar leapt off a rock and into 2E with enough force they were shot through about a dozen pieces of debris before smashing into one of the lager chunks of the wall. Despite still falling from the sky, the wind filling their ears, the air drying out their eyes, they threw themselves at each other.

Though there was a huge weight difference between them and the wall, they fell at the same speed. But the movement of their legs changed that. 2B tried to rush forward at 2E who tried to backpedal, using the wall as a floor. But in free fall and the wall being at an angle, they could apply next to no pressure against it.

They used their mid-air traversal systems to try to press themselves against the chunk, using it as the base to try to run down it. Even falling, 2B and 2E clashed high above the ground. The dust kicked up from the shockwaves of their blades, the blood particles that flew off 2E's sword, even the sparks, they all looked as if to stay still as they began falling alongside their combatants.

YorHa were programmed to be able to fight with both hands. But they still had their preferences. And the 2E's, both of them, were right-handed. Still, 2B was putting up a hell of a fight despite missing her left eye and right arm.

2E blocked one more attack. But the blow was so powerful 2E was sent flying off the platform.

This was getting annoying.

2E had lost anything to use as a ground now. So she summoned more weapons from her arsenal. She launched them at the platform 2B had been 'standing' on.

They were in free fall. Their only method of moving in mid air like this was the midair traversal system that let them dash in the air. But if 2B could reach any chunks of debris, she could leap off of them. And that's exactly what she did. 2B used her air dash to reach a nearby rock. And from there she leapt back and forth between all the falling pieces of cement. She leapt between the pieces as the swords and spears hit the falling debris. Yes, 2B was dodging these attacks. But it was more than that.

2E could feel it. Her missing her shots. It was harder for her to aim while falling. But that wasn't the cause of her miss. No. She was accurate enough that she could shoot that liar 2B out of the air if she wanted. Then why was she afraid of aiming right at 2B?

Her accuracy meant she could hit 2B if she wanted. But she was not accurate enough to aim to wound.

She was missing, because she could not guarantee her shots would not kill.

Damn it. Why was she still holding back?

2E was lost in thought. She thought back to the Army of Humanity's bunker. The remains of the first Number 2 in that tank. The real 2B. Why couldn't she smash the tank? What was so precious about 2B? That face was burned into her memory. And her mind was in complete shock as thought and reality blurred, the face of Number 2 coming to life and coming at her.

No, that was 2B coming at her.

2E managed to block the blade and shove 2B away. It was then she realized that swipe wasn't the goal. She felt something attached to her chest. She looked down at her bosom to see some sort of grenade shoved into the keyhole of her dress.

A grenade? Really? It would certainly be painful but an explosive like this posed no threat to a YorHa.

But she soon learned what the thing really was. When it went off, it didn't explode, engulf her in flame, nor throw shrapnel. No. If anything, shrapnel came flying at her from all around.

A gravitational field? Like the one her Pod used to have? Like the one Jackass had? 2B must've raided the remains of the armory and took one. And now it was pulling everything toward her. She cried out in pain as debris the size of trucks smashed into her, crushing her between them.

She knew what 2B's plan was. It was all too obvious. Free and unimpeded, 2B could use a downward attack and hit the ground without taking damage. But crushed between so many chunks of rock, 2E couldn't use hers.

"YOU THINK THIS IS ENOUGH TO STOP ME?!" 2E roared as she watched 2B activate her downward attack and disappear from sight.

2E could do nothing but wait. It wasn't a matter of freeing herself. She could overpower the gravitational field. But any debris she pries herself from will come flying back to her. She had no choice but to let herself slam into the ground.

Static filled her eyes as she hit the floor of this replicated cityscape. The gravitational field finally went down and all the chunks of debris burst off of her. She was registering fractured and broken bones all across her body along with internal bleeding. But she needed only a few moments to let the nanites from her recovery modules to do their work.

2E burst out of the debris with a furious yell. In the distance she could see 2B limping around, rummaging the rubble. Even with her downward-attack, doing it with one arm was a problem. So what was she doing? She must've been looking for her right arm.

2B was distracted. It would've been all too easy to rush up and finish her off. 2E even readied her sword to do just that. Yet she could not bring herself to.

So she let out a battle cry and rushed at her. 2B blocked the attack at the last second but was shoved back by the force. 2B should be running away. Running berserk mode for so long, even if it wasn't damaging her body like A2, it was slicing away at her lifespan. And that wasn't even counting all the injuries she's sustained. 2B was still missing an eye from her fight from her fight with A2. And 2E had ripped off 2B's right arm. No stanching gel meant 2B was bleeding out. The nanite swill clot her blood eventually but that was still a lot of blood in the meantime. No way 2B could keep this up.

But instead of running, 2B charged in like a suicidal maniac.

"No atonement," 2B muttered. "No redemption. But I still need to do this."

This was truly pathetic. 2B was like a child, plugging her ears and screaming because her fantasies of the world had been proven wrong. This nonsense she prattled wasn't the only thing that was meaningless. 2B had no hope of winning. 2E could end this battle easily if she wished.

But if that was the case…

2B screamed and lunged herself in for another attack.

2E's composure was gone. Her face was one of fury when as she blocked 2B's attack.

"Stupid bitch!" she snarled, shoved 2B to the side. She pursued, bringing her swords down but 2B leapt back and out of the way before returning to strike.

Liars. 2E hates liars. So she was not going to lie to herself. She can't kill 2B. But why?

2E didn't understand what the hell was going on. Her life span was several times that of 2B by this point. Her fighting experience greater. She's seen more. Killed more. And unlike 2B, she actually managed to kill A2. 2B was also still recovering from her battles while 2E was completely healed. 2B was missing her right arm. 2B was missing her left eye. Yet 2E could feel herself holding back. Why was she holding back? It was obvious 2B had no intention of changing. And 2E could finish her easily. Overwhelm her with physical might and skill.

But if she does that, she could not help but feel SHE would be the one defeated. That SHE would have lost in something important to her. And she couldn't accept that.

2E roared and rammed her head into 2B before driving her heel into 2B's gut with a boom that shook apart the unstable buildings around them. A kick powerful enough that 2B was sent flying backwards from the impact.

2E seethed watching 2B struggle to get back up. 2B's body may have been broken but her spirit had been renewed.

How could she be so STUPID?! How many times does it have to end like this? 2E recognized this woman. The woman she used to be, struggling to make sense of all her pain, still trying to find meaning to her own evils. Trying to find meaning to a meaningless existence. It was not the 2E that from all those cycles ago that 2B was trying to stop. Nor was it the 2B from this cycle 2E was going after. Though their blades and bodies clashed that was simply a medium for both of them. No. And knowing this, 2E knew exactly what she was facing.

2E cursed her own stubbornness. She had to admit it was by a sheer miracle she understood the truth. It would take a miracle for 2B to see it too. She knew this woman. The woman who tried to find meaning in all the world's pains. Who tried to do good despite swimming in an ocean of blood.

She knew this woman…

One who just needed to win. One who would cry and scream to victory.

She knew this woman…

2E let out a shuddering sigh, forcing herself to relax.

If only there was a way, if only she could just bring about that peace she always dreamt of, if only she could save everyone, she thought, she might just find a reason for her miserable existence.

2B knows she can't win. They both knew this fight was meaningless. They both knew their existence was meaningless. Even if the Red Girl was defeated, the world had already been purged of machines and androids. Even if 2E were to die, 2B will still be part 2E. Despite all this, 2B remains stubbornly defiant. Just like she herself was years ago.

Why does 2B still fight?

"In the end, it doesn't matter!" 2E spat, forming a pair of machine axes above her head. "If you won't wake up then die dreaming."

2E hurled the machine axes at 2B, who managed to block the blows but was tossed to the ground in the process.

Yes, 2B was still eager to fight. But her body was at its limit. Her technique was gone. Her run was little more than her legs stopping herself from falling over. And her walk was now a zombified hobble. Even if 2B wanted to continue fighting, she physically couldn't. But 2E was still able.

"It's a shame." 2E said. "Your spirit has outlasted your body. But spirit doesn't matter. Regardless, the fairy tale of 2B is about to reach its tragic but inevitable end."

2B gritted her teeth and rose up again. Unbelievable. Even when she knew her attempts were futile, even when she knew her fight was meaningless, she was willing to push herself past all limits to continue.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," 2B panted, her left hand clutching her Virtuous Contract. "I never expected to get myself that happy ending I wanted. I never even expected to beat you. But I still had to try. I came here because I had questions.

2E raised a curious eyebrow. It was becoming harder and harder to predict what 2B was thinking. They were molded by their experience and by this point 2B's experience was completely different than her own. Could they even be considered the same person anymore? It was a over six months' difference which may seem long. But it was nothing in the grand scheme of things.

"We both know all this is meaningless," 2B breathed. "But…do you view 9S in the same way?"

2E closed her eyes and sighed. Pod 153 had tried to use 9S to stop her as well.

"What makes you think 9S's opinion matters?" 2E asked. "He never wanted to die and I still killed him."

"I know," 2B interrupted. "We're still the same person. I remember. I remember 9S getting on his hands and knees, crying…begging me not to kill him. And I did it anyways."

2E gritted her teeth. She remembered this. It was one of the most painful executions she had to go through. 9S had caught her trying to kill him. Realizing what was to come and afraid of death, he fell to his knees in despair, begging her not to kill him.

"9S hating me…us…you understand how much it hurts. And we still killed him. It's not about what he thinks. But belief is a double edge sword. You say everything that happens in this world is meaningless. But is 9S just as meaningless as you say things are? Because what you say goes both ways. You say you can do this because none of it matters, because their lives don't matter. But that applies to everyone. Can you say 9S doesn't matter?"

2E snarled through her teeth. 9S didn't matter. He didn't. None of it mattered. Then why does the mere thought cause her pain. She can feel her own systems seizing up just contemplating it.

"No, he doesn't," 2E managed to hiss out. Though even doing that was difficult.

"Say it, the whole sentence!" 2B challenged. This should've been something 2E could easily prove. Yet 2E could not utter the words. She could open her mouth. She could mouth the words. But she could not make the sound.

9S doesn't matter…

Damn it, she couldn't say it! Why can't she say it?!

2E didn't know what it was. But it felt like something had plunged its claws into her and split her open. And she hated it. Convince herself? Could she really be so delusional that she could convince herself of that lie? Was her own brainwashing that extensive? Was she so desperate for meaning that she could come up with a lie as absurd as that?

And why was she so angry about this? 2B was just straight up wrong. If 2B declared the sky was made of glass and was falling, 2E would laugh. Not be angry. So why was 2E so furious? The executioner fumed at the words. Fumed at the thought.

No! 2B was wrong. She finally understood the truth of the world. She finally understood the truth of her own suffering.

"If you want to talk about things that matter then nothing does!" 2B panted. "Everything built gets torn down one day. Joy exists so pain can. We are uplifted so one day we can fail. Everything that gets built up will one day fall. Everything that lives is designed to end. I know our lives are meaningless. I know none of this matters. That's WHY I do it. I'm a monster. I'm beyond salvation. Beyond redemption. That's why I'll do it. If redemption is out of my reach then I have nothing to lose to try everything I can to reach it. I don't care if it's all in our heads. I don't care if nothing really matters. I just…I just…I JUST KNOW 9S MATTERS TO ME!"

At that moment…

9S…

'You're 2B, right? My name's 9S. I'm here to provide support.'

2E cried out as the memory replayed itself. It was only a momentary distraction, but it was enough. Next thing she knew, 2B had rushed in, white blade at the ready. 2E raised her bloodied Virtuous Contract up to block. But she was too late, too slow, and the technique was wrong. The blades clashed, more dried blood flying off to reveal more of the white sword beneath. But more than that. 2E's white sword broke. It snapped in two, fragments and shards of metal flying along with the last of the dried blood that flew off. 2B's own sword broke the blade and sliced through 2E's left eye.

The executioner cried out in shock, leaping across the entire city block. Part of her sword clattered to the floor as she clung to the left side of her face in pain.

Damn, that hurt. It REALLY HURT. But the only reason she wasn't on the floor in agony was because there was something else that hurt even worse. And it was playing in her head.

'We're soldiers…we take pride in our service.'

'I've never had a partner before. It's kinda fun.'

'I really enjoyed the time we had together. I think that goes for all my previous selves as well.'

A sliced left eye? Staring impending death at it charged at her. What was this? A second chance? A chance to choose differently? Has she really been believing a different lie?

No, shut up! Get those damn memories out of her head. She wasn't that person. Not anymore. And she wasn't going to get pulled back into that rabbit hole.

"GO TO HELL!" 2E screamed. She materialized swords between her fingers in both hands and flung them as 2B rushed in. 2B was screaming, tears in her eyes as she went in to confront herself. The two blades missed so 2E summoned another set of blades. She'll summon her entire arsenal if that's what it took. Again and again she summoned weapons and hurled or launched them at 2B. Again and again they missed or were deflected. Her spears, her gauntlets, everything.

2B somehow dodged through the storm of blades and reached her. 2E roared in frustration as she blocked the sword strike with the broken sword, raising her foot up then kicking back 2B with enough force she was launched to the opposite end of the room, forcing 2B to make the same journey again. 2B was in no state to continue and 2E was.

"Try as much as you like!" 2E spat. "I'll beat you every time! It's pointless, 2B!"

But 2B did not listen. Or maybe 2B did listen but still continued anyways. Because it didn't matter. Even if defeat was inevitable, even if 2E will always be a part of her, 2B has to fight. Fight for those that matter. Not matter to the world. No. Nothing matters to this godforsaken world. No. For those that matter to her.

"You have nothing left to live for! Nothing left to defend!"

2B could make the journey again and again and it wouldn't matter. The same thing will happen every time. The same thing DID happen every time. Every time 2B came close, 2E effortlessly swatted her away to the other end of the room to make the same journey. It was utterly meaningless. And yet she was willing to go through the same storm even though the outcome was all the same. Even knowing it was pointless, 2B still fought to stop 2E.

It would've been all too easy to end 2B on the spot. The liar was running on fumes. 2E's kicked her away plenty of times now. All she needed to do was use a blade instead of her boot.

WHY CAN'T SHE KILL 2B?!

2E wasn't in conflict with herself. She wasn't. And to prove it, she'll take 2B up on her challenge. Because nothing matters. Therefore, 9S doesn't matter.

He doesn't!

9S doesn't matter.

9S doesn't matter.

9S doesn't matter.

9S d*esn*t matter.

9S **esn** matter.

9S **es*** matter.

9S **es** matter.

9S **es matter.

9S *oes matter.

9S does matter.

9S DOES matter.

9S Does Matter.

9S DOES MATTER!

2B had reached her. The battle android looked like she was seconds from collapsing. She was right before 2E, sword pulled back and ready to plunge into 2E's black box. But in 2B's state, she would just be throwing herself behind the weight of the sword.

It would have been all too easy for 2E to cut her down. Yet she could not bring herself to. She pulled her sword back and swung up. Yet at the last moment, she swung wide, her blade cleaving off 2B's left arm. 2B screamed and howled in agony as the arm and the sword it held went flying up into the air.

Why? Why did she swing wide? Why did she cut off the arm? Why can't she deliver the final blow?

Why couldn't she destroy Number 2 in that tank?

Why can't she kill the 2B before her?

Why couldn't she part with the idea of 2B?

Maybe…

Maybe because despite her despair…she still wanted to be 2B. Wanted to be the hero everyone spoke up. The noble warrior. Despite all the lives she ends up taking whenever she tries to be good, she never could part with that dream.

What did she even want from life?

She did not want life. Yet she was afraid of death.

Maybe…at the end…all she wanted was to be happy.

2E blinked. She could not believe her eyes. She had torn off 2B's right am and just now she cut off 2B's left. 2B was without arms. The battle should be over. So 2E was stunned to see 2B had caught her katana in midair. Not with her arms, which had been severed from her body. No. She had no arms which meant she had no hands. She had caught the blade of her sword out of the air with her teeth. Her jaw had clamped around the flat of the blade. 2B swung her head back before swinging it back forward.

From that nanosecond, 2E knew she had lost. There was no escaping the attack. No deflecting it. But it wasn't too late to exchange the finishing blow. So 2E raised her sword ready to plunge it into 2B.

After so many clashes, 2E Virtuous Contract was now free of blood. The handle and tassel were still soaked, but her blade was now mostly clean. Clean and broken. But even a broken blade could still harm. And with her strength and speed, even a baseball bat could impale.

But as she stood there, stood there looking at 2B, she could only curse her misfortune. She and 2B were exactly the same, down to the same thought. And yet, here they were standing on opposite sides. Staring down at 2B, 2E could not help but feel…envious.

Because 2B was right. It was all meaningless so why did it matter if she was evil? It was all meaningless so…so why did it matter if she was good? No matter which it was, it was meaningless to the world. So…why doesn't she pick the one that had meaning to her?

Anything anyone does is meaningless to the world. So why doesn't she do what had meaning to her?

This was cruel, forcing herself to look into an old mirror.

Even saying she wanted to be happy was a misnomer. She did want to be happy. But, above all else, she wanted those she cared about to be happy.

'9S…were the choices I made wrong?'

-.-

What the?

2B looked around.

Her hacking space? What was she doing back here? She did not get hacked. She did not get damaged. Her last memory was her catching her sword out of the air with her mouth and running in to impale 2E. Yet she found herself back here. Back in her hacking space.

She looked down. Since hacking space was not real space, she did not have the injuries her body would have. She had both arms. She had both eyes.

She looked around. The place was still broken. Still covered in gnarled vines that threatened to choke the life out of everything. The ground was still fractured like glass. And the vines were still covered in thorns. But there was something familiar about the way this hacking space was shaped. Before her, she could see a massive chasm with a digital bridge connecting the two sides. And standing on that bridge was…

"9S…" 2B breathed.

9S.

The man she loved.

He stood there on that bridge over a massive chasm.

No wonder this place seemed so familiar. This was where she performed her last execution.

2B's legs were weak as she walked over to 9S. His face was blank. His visor was gone so she could see his eyes but even those were expressionless. She couldn't tell what he was feeling. He did not move. He did not speak. Yet he did seem aware of her, looking right at her.

What did he feel? Anger? Joy? Relief? Damn it, he couldn't make a single expression?

But did any of that matter? His feelings for her were conflicted. Equal parts love and hate. Half wanted her to live and prosper. And the other half wanted her to die. But none of that mattered. Even if he truly wanted her dead, it didn't matter.

She walked over and put her forehead against his.

"9S…" she breathed. "Nothing I say can undo the things I've done. But know this. I am sorry for everything. For everything I've done to you. For all my lies."

She reached down and took his hands. She stroked the backs of them with her thumb. Even if it wasn't real, she felt comfort holding his hands again.

"I don't know if you can forgive me for everything. But…it doesn't matter. I can't keep staying here. I have to…"

2B felt a lump build in her throat. She knew what she had to do. She was just too scared to do it.

"Ever since my last execution, I've lived here. Here, in this moment. Over and over again. Thinking about what happened. What led up to it. What I could have done differently. But…I have to move on… Nothing I do will make up for what I did. Nothing I can do will absolve me of what I've done. But I still have to keep trying."

Beyond redemption…

Beyond salvation…

It didn't matter that she couldn't achieve either of these things. She simply wanted to give everyone a happy ending. And that's all that mattered.

But there was one more thing that mattered. She had to move on. She had spent a good chunk of her life lingering on these moments. Moments when she killed him. They will always hurt. And they will always be with her. But she could not continue living in those moments.

What she saw next was…overwhelming. She was no longer in hacking space. She was standing behind 9S as he stared up at a waterfall. She was standing in front of 9S as he lay sprawled out on the ground, his legs missing as he cut them off to escape her. She was flying above 9S in a flight unit.

Her senses were overwhelmed by so many conflicting inputs. Dozens of them.

She knew what they were. They were when she killed 9S. All of them. All the moments that had been etched into her mind. Moments she couldn't let go of. Moments she couldn't escape.

No…

She could escape. She just couldn't bring herself to do it. But…but now she will.

The hurt didn't go away. But she wasn't going to live in those moments anymore.

9S was dead. She killed him. And nothing she could do will undo that. Nothing she could do could make up for that.

So she did it…

She plunged her blade into 9S's back. She plunged it into his chest. She fired her missiles at 9S. She snapped his neck. She strangled him. She caved in his skull.

If this had been real she would have done something different. But it wasn't real. And she couldn't change anything.

She let it play out. Every way to kill a loved one, she watched it happen. One by one, she went through her memories. Memories of her killing the man she loved. One by one she let it play out. And one by one…they vanished.

She didn't delete them. She was just moving on.

Destruction of the head…

Destruction of the chest…

Destruction of the heart…

Destruction of the soul…

Finally, she came back here. Back to this chasm. Back to this bridge. Back to this moment.

Her last execution…

She had just witnessed herself killing him again over fifty times. Her soul felt battered. But, she had to do this.

She cannot change what happened in the past. Only change what she does in the future. She cannot atone for what she did. Only try to do as much good in life as possible.

So 2B called it forth. She called forth her blade. And she thrust it into 9S. The projection of 9S did not move as the blade went in, warm blood splattering over their bodies.

It hurt. It always hurt. It WILL always hurt. But she didn't have to make it not hurt. She just has to move on.

She cupped his face and gently pressed her lips against his. As she closed her eyes and fell back upon her other senses, it was like he had enveloped her. He was all she could feel. His face. His warmth. It's been so long since they shared a kiss. So long. She wanted to remain like this forever. His lips against hers. Him in her arms. She wanted him back and by her side. But no matter how much she wished it, this could not come true. 9S was permanently dead. She could not bring him back. And she could not linger here. She just wanted to savor one last kiss.

Finally, she pulled back, a tear in her eye. The data was beginning to disappear. Black pixels rose up from his feet like dust particles. After a moment, his feet disappeared. Slowly but surely, the pixilation and deletion worked up his body. His legs. His waist. His arms. And right before his face vanished, the face of the man she loved, 2B needed to say one more thing.

"Goodbye…Nines…"

-.-

There was a grinding crunch as 2B plunged her sword into 2E's black box. But that wasn't enough. She continued driving forward until she tackled 2E to the ground.

2B wasn't stupid. She knew what she did left her wide open to counterattack. Especially since she didn't have any arms to defend herself with. And as she fell she prepared to feel the burning sensation of a blade plunged into her own body.

But it didn't come.

Looking down, 2B was stunned to find she had not been impaled. Instead, 2E's Virtuous Contract was dopped on the ground behind her. It was as if 2E had dropped her sword right before 2B could impale herself.

2B didn't need to wonder why 2E would do such a thing. She didn't know if they were the same person but at the very least they held the same thoughts. She knew exactly why 2E would choose to die without taking her opponent with her.

2B looked down at 2E. The executioner was dead. She died with tears in her eyes…and a smile on her face.

2B fell back, laying on the ground as she turned off berserker mode. No. Executioner mode. Figured she had to make the E-mode stand for something. As she turned off executioner mode. She was utterly exhausted. The E-chip had pushed her to where she needed to go but now that she turned it off, all she wanted was to lay there for the next century. Her body was spent, and she was missing both her arms.

With a bit of concentration, she used her NFCS to telekinetically maneuver her left arm back into place. She didn't know where her right arm went. Probably buried somewhere in the rubble. So, she took her sword and cut down on 2E's right arm. She placed it against her shoulder, crying in pain as the nerves connected.

That wasn't the only thing she needed. 2B took off her eyepatch and tossed it aside. Her flesh was not biological, so it did not rot. So, her damaged left eye was still in its socket. She grit her teeth as she plunged her fingers into her left eye socket. It certainly didn't hurt as much as it used to, but it still hurt. The pain was so bad even her undamaged right eye began to see static. She screamed in pain, her right arm flailing and punching the ground. An eye was not a solid marble. It was soft. It was squishy. She had to get her fingers around the eyeball. Finally, she got a firm grip of her eye and pulled.

2B fell to the floor screaming, grasping at her left eye socket.

She worked quickly, crawling over to 2E and pulling out her left eye before shoving it into her own socket. It was up to the nanites now so she fell back and clung to her face, rolling on the ground in agony. It was only one minute but it felt like one year. She finally removed her hands from her face.

She could see.

She could see out of both eyes.

The pain was still fresh. It felt like her left eye was on fire. But, she could see.

But she wasn't the only one who needed replacement limbs. 2B knelt down and use her sword to cut off 2E's left arm. And with that she dematerialized it into her inventory. A2 will be happy to get a left arm back.

She glanced down at the body before her. Technically her own body.

They were one and the same person. And 2E will always be part of her.

2B gently organized the body respectfully and laying her straight. It was the most respectful she could be to a corpse with no arms. 2B even took her discarded eyepatch and put it on 2E, hiding the empty socket. She picked up 2E's Virtuous Contract. She tried her best to pick up all the broken pieces. The blade was almost cleared of the dried blood, revealing the damaged blade beneath. The edge was chipped and it bore countless scars. It would take some work to mend it back together.

Masumune said that a sword reflects the soul of the user. This one was quite accurate. And in a flash of golden light, 2B put the sword into her inventory.

"It's over…" she said. "We did it, 9S. We finally did it."

They won.

Or did they?

2B rose to her feet, using her sword as a crutch. She was in a part of the tower she has never been before: the very bottom. Wherever she was, she had to still be above the ground. The structures at the bottom were too small to house a copied city like this. She walked in a direction for a bit. It seemed that the battle was too much for the Tower to handle. The rain of falling debris had severely damaged the ground, knocking out holes to the bottom.

No Pod to slow her descent. Well, she had both arms now. So 2B leapt into the hole, activating her downward attack and plunging toward the ground. She hit the ground like a meteor, tossing up a column of dirt that rivaled the buildings. But 2B did cry out in pain and immediately fall over. Her inertial dampeners were damaged, and her arm was still getting used to the new body. But, she had made it to the bottom alive.

2B noticed a field of dead machines and androids. Dead from self-inflicted wounds. That meant A2 was successful. So where was she?

The first thing she noticed was that a nearby building had completely collapsed. Definitely wasn't like that before. 2B hesitated for a bit. That could've just been infected YorHa crashing their flight units. There was nothing that said it had to be A2. Besides, if A2 finished her fight she was supposed to join 2B at the top of the Tower. But if A2 finished after she and 2E almost took the tower down, then A2 would have to find another way out. Probably a damaged flight unit.

But what if it wasn't? She was supposed to meet A2 here. But, then again, that building was in proximity so it shouldn't hurt.

She made her way to the remains of the structure, seeing nothing but a half buried YorHa flight unit in the rubble. But no A2.

2B did spot a pair of fresh footprints, YorHa standard issue heels. A2?

If she was wrong, A2 was going to wonder where she went. But, if it was A2, then she might need help. 2B followed the footprints. It led out of the crater and across the city. It seemed they were heading for the desert.

But why?

2B followed them to the edge of the desert. But there was a set leaving it. Like whoever it was decided to turn around and walk away. Ok? If this was A2, what was A2 doing? If A2 finished before 2B, they would meet up at the top of the Tower. If 2B finished before A2, they would meet up on the elevator platform. If all else fails, meet at the bottom of the Tower. That was what they agreed on.

Well, the top of the Tower was gone and 2B couldn't reach the elevator. So A2 should meet her at the bottom of the Tower. But it seemed A2 was mindlessly wandering around. But why?

It seemed that the footprints led back out of the desert and to the commercial district. And 2B followed them

2B approached the chasm that cut her off from the shopping mall. And as she did so, she saw who she was seeking standing at the edge of the cliff, looking up at the sky.

"A2!" 2B called out. A2 shakily turned around. Something was wrong. 2B broke into a sprint when she saw A2 fall to her knees, using her sword to lean her weight against. 2B felt her heart drop as she watched A2 look up, opening her glowing red eyes. The undeniable sign of viral infection.

No…

No, no, no, no…

This can't be real. Why does this keep happening? They just won. They put an end to the Red Girl's cycle. They had a chance to live.

Why does it always have to end like this?

2B ran up to A2. She didn't know what to do. She wasn't a scanner. She couldn't hack it out. She was completely out of supplies. No recovery modules. No staunching gel. And no logic virus vaccines.

What could she do?

"I guess this…is it…" A2 panted.

No, no, no, no…

This had to be a joke. A sick cruel joke. A2 was the android no one could kill. Not even her. After all this time, this was how it ended?

No. Damn you, god. Don't you dare do this. Of all the people she could lose, why did it have to be A2? This had to be a nightmare. Please let this be a nightmare. Take her life in A2's place. Take her and spare A2.

Please. There had to be another way.

"A2, shut down," 2B ordered. "If we can slow it then we can remove it from your systems."

"It's already in my OS," A2 said, shaking her head. "No coming back from this now."

2B shook her head. She refused to accept this. How could she? No way to back up the data and nothing to back up even if there was a way to, they couldn't back up corrupted data.

"POD!" 2B screamed. "POD! I need to hack her! HELP!"

She looked around, desperately trying to find the metal brick. But Pod 153 was nowhere to be seen.

"Pod's not here," A2 groaned. "Don't know where she went. Don't think she survived."

What? Pod 153…died? Then they were the only two left. The only two left on this planet. After all 2B's done, after everything she's overcome, this was how it ended?

"Don't do this," 2B pleaded. "I'm alone. There's no one else."

The androids were gone. The machines were gone. There was no one. She had finally managed to overcome herself. Was this what it all amounted to? Overcoming her own despair, lifting herself up for the sole purpose of crashing her back down again?

A2 paused for a moment to think about what 2B said. Finally, A2 just chuckled. She materialized two weapons in her hand. One was a Type 4O blade. The other was Cruel Oath.

"These are 9S's memories," she said, putting Cruel Oath into the ground. "He put them on his sword. He originally wanted you to have them." She then held out the Type 4O blade. A2 was clearly in pain as the logic virus ravaged her systems. She gritted her teeth as she kept talking. "And these are my memories. Even if we aren't here, we'll always be with you, 2B. Take care of yourself, 2B. For me, and for 9S."

A2 laughed again. 2B couldn't tell if A2 was going insane or if she had some sort of revelation.

"9S's last thoughts…they were addressed to me regarding you," A2 recounted. "He said that you weren't what I think you are. That even you aren't what you think you are." A2 scoffed again. "I thought he was trying to warn me about you being an E-Type. But I was wrong. He didn't want me to kill you. He wanted to me to save you."

"And you did," 2B breathed, trying to hold her tears in. "You stopped me from going down the path of 2E. You helped teach me how to live with myself. You did save me. Thank you."

"No, thank you, 2B," A2 said. "You were there for me when I lost my kingdom. You gave me a reason, a purpose, other than killing machines. You gave me a reason to live outside of hate. No, not even that. You just gave me a reason to live. You're the one who saved me." A2 reached over and put a hand on 2B's shoulder. "You're not a monster. You're a good person. You're…my friend, 2B."

Those words made 2B smile. It was her dream to save everyone. Her most precious dream. The dream she would give anything to achieve. It was also the dream she seemingly could never achieve. For all her life, she couldn't save anyone.

No words could describe the joy 2B felt upon hearing those words. Nothing could describe how happy she was she could save one person.

A2 suddenly keeled over, crying out in pain. 2B could do nothing but watch. There was nothing she could do. The infection was getting worse. A2 continued panting, trying to just grit the teeth and bear the pain she was going through.

2B felt trapped. She was helpless. Absolutely helpless as she watched A2 suffer.

God, please. Please stop this.

"2B…" A2 huffed. "There is one last thing I need you to do."

2B felt her heart turn cold. A2 with a logic virus infection. Her mind and body violated. A fate worse than death. That meant…

Why? Why does it always end like this? It was her fate. Her curse. She kills everyone she knows.

"I want you to run…" A2 said.

What? Run? That was A2's request? Run and leave her infected with the logic virus? Run and let her mind and body get eroded and violated by corrupted code? Run and let her suffer until her body finally gives out in God knows how many years?

A fate worse than death.

She couldn't run.

"A2…I can't!" 2B choked.

"You HAVE TO! If you don't then…"

If 2B doesn't, then she'll have to kill A2. She'll have to kill another person she cares about. Because that is what she does. As a curse. As an executioner.

It was like an ice-cold sword as plunged into her chest. Once the logic virus fully corrupts A2's data, she'll lose herself. Turn into a raving husk that attacks everything on sight.

2B's fist trembled. She didn't want to. In fact, both her body and her mind were fighting to take A2's advice and run away. It took all her self-control to remain there. She wanted to run. Run away, not look back, escape before she has to kill another person she cares for.

How long was her list by this point? How many friends has she put down?

"The logic virus has almost completely corrupted my data," A2 managed to say. "But once it does, I won't be able to control myself. You need to get as far away as possible before…before that happens."

"But!"

"Damn it, 2B! Stop arguing with me! I saw at my castle. I saw you kill 4S. I have 9S's memories. He saw your reaction in the crater. I saw how much it hurt you. I know how much it hurts you to kill those around you. I'm not putting you through that again."

4S…

At the castle…

9S…

After the battle with Eve…

Yes, that pain was unbearable. Every innocent and friend she killed increased the weight of the blade in her heart, plunging it deeper and deeper. It was unbearable. She didn't want this. She'd rather die than do this again. But if she doesn't, A2 gets corrupted.

A fate worse than death…

"You ended the cycles," A2 panted. "You stopped 2E. But now…"

A2 suddenly keeled over, grasping her stomach in pain. But 2B knew it wasn't just the stomach. She remembered when she had the logic virus. It would be her entire body.

"Run…Now!" A2 ordered.

She couldn't.

SHE WON'T!

But if she doesn't…

Damn it!

"I SAID, RUN!"

As A2 screamed this, 2B let out her own agonized scream. She rushed in, her white sword reflecting the sunlight. And in a single motion, she plunged her sword into A2's chest.

…

A2's body jolted from the pain as the blade split her black box. And it seemed like the overwhelming data of pain halted the logic virus progression. A2 looked at 2B, who was gritting her teeth so hard she was sure they'd shatter.

Damn it all. Why did it always end like this?

"I won't run," 2B replied, hoping A2 would hear it before leaving. "I don't care how much it hurts me. I'm not leaving you like this. Because…you're my friend too."

A2's black box was destroyed. It was only a matter of time before her entire body shuts down. A2 looked up at the sky, a weak smile spreading over her face.

"9S…I don't think I managed to finish what you wanted," she muttered as static began to fill her vision. "But…I think she might be able to finish it herself. It's a shame there's never a time where it's the three of us. I think I would've liked that. Who…who's that? Number 4, is that you? Pascal…kids…wait up." A2 held up a hand toward the sky. "I'm coming."

And A2 fell backwards, sliding off the blade.

2B stared down at A2, watching her sister fall to the ground. She stood there staring, staring at the last person she cared about. It was only then she realized she fallen onto her knees.

Feet. Knees. Hands. She didn't know what it was that supported her by this point. She couldn't feel anything. All the sense in her body had shut down. Sound. Feeling. Taste. Smell. The only thing that remained was sight. And she stared at the body of A2.

Soon, the image of that vanished from her eyes as she buried her face into ground, her hands atop her head. And with her face buried in the grass she began sobbing. It was just a few days ago she and A2 were discussing battle strategies. Now here 2B was.

Alone.

And A2 lay dead.

Dead by 2B's hand.

"It'll always…ends like this…"

-.-

Later that day, 2B found herself back in the cave of Lunar Tears. She replaced the flower on 6O's memorial. She wanted to bury A2 in the same field. The same field with 21O, 6O, and 9S. 6O and 9S had empty graves but, she wanted them to be at rest together somehow.

Something she never got the chance to do was bury Pod. So she planted a stake in memory of Pod 042.

She prepared to dig a grave for A2 but stopped. This was not the place to do it. There was a reason 2B never gave Anemone a grave down here. It was because Anemone was leader of the resistance. She deserved to be laid to rest with her subordinates. A2 deserved the same. So 2B took her sister's body back up the elevator. She went back to the Forest Kingdom. Back to the ruins of the castle.

A YorHa had the strength to carry a building. But this 300-pound android? It felt like she was carrying a planet. Every step, 2B felt like she was on the brink of collapsing from the sheer weight in her arms. The sheer weight on her shoulders. Finally, she reached the ruins of the Forest Kingdom.

There, she finally dug A2's grave. Right in front of her kingdom. She'll be buried along with her people.

2B planted the stake in the grave. 'King A2' was engraved at the top. And 2B gently placed the peaked cap A2 wore. The 'crown'. Placed it on the stake.

Once that was done, 2B took Virtuous Contract, the beautiful white sword, and planted in A2's grave.

"Virtuous Contract," 2B said softly. "It was 9S's final wish that you save me. And you did. Thank you…A2."

Virtuous Contract. A fitting name for A2's task. The task to overcome her own hate to save 2B from herself. A sword of that name belonged in the hands of A2.

Once that was done, 2B left. Left the Kingdom. Left the forest. She just kept walking and walking. She didn't know where. She didn't know why.

It hurt.

It just hurt.

She was alone. No machines. No androids. And the last person she cared for she just killed.

She didn't know how long she was walking. Could've been a few minutes. Could've been a few days. But by the time she paid attention to her surroundings, she was back in the commercial district. Back at that rickety wooden bridge. She was back where it all began. It was here where 9S was killed by A2. It was here 2B and A2 crossed swords. It was here 2B made the first honest-to-god attempt on A2's life fueled by indescribable rage. It was here 2B normally dies if she had simply made a different decision that fateful day. And now it was here A2 dies at 2B's hand.

She materialized 2E's Virtuous Contract. She looked at the damaged blood-stained blade. There was still some trace of blood that clung to it but it wasn't caked in it anymore. Masamune once told her the weapon was a reflection of a soul. She wasn't sure if she had a soul or not but if she did then it was pretty accurate.

She stepped forth on an empty planet.

She slammed her eyes closed and gripped her hair, letting out a scream that echoed across the landscape. She screamed and screamed again. Screamed until her voice was gone.

Then…she stopped.

It hurt. It all hurt.

Good things happen so bad things hurt more. All attempts to be good ultimately lead to evil. All successes ultimately fail. Everything built up will eventually come crashing down. Everything that lives is designed to end. There was no escape from this never-ending spiral of life and death.

…

But none of that mattered.

She will keep building. She will keep struggling to be a better person. Even if it was pointless, she still had to do it.

She is a curse. A monster. And there was no escaping that fate. But she will still fight. She will do it for them. Because THEY are worth it.

…

What will she do now?

"Now…now I live," 2B said.

-.-

A/N: And thus the cycle is complete. Ending in perhaps the only way it could. I talked about the themes of Greek Tragedy in an earlier chapter. That the hero could stop their fall but by the time they realize it, it is already too late. A2 lived her life fueled by hate. Survivor's guilt left her regretting being alive. She has found renewed desire to live merely to sacrifice herself for her younger sister. 2B lived her life in conflict with herself as 2E, blindly chasing everything she thought could save lives, in pain over the prospect of being unable to atone for her past mistakes. By the time she has come to terms with trying even if atonement is impossible, there is nothing she could do for anyone anymore. A2 and 2B had grown so close that A2 was willing to let 2B run away and let the logic virus ravage her to spare 2B the pain of killing another loved one. And 2B was willing to take that pain one more time to save A2 from corruption. And 2B kills A2 in a manner mirroring how A2 would kill 2B.

You might have noticed my phrasing in the previous paragraph. Perhaps the biggest inspiration for this story was Weight of the World. Yes, it was initially inspired because I wanted to write a what-if 2B survives fanfic. But that song guided a lot of the events. 2B's overwhelming guilt to the point she wonders if the destruction of YorHa was somehow god punishing her for her past mistakes. Her dreams of saving everyone. The idea of her redemption. And above all else, the weight of the responsibility she carries with her is like carrying the weight of the world.

Redemption and atonement is left wholly up to you. You decide whether or not she has any chance of redemption. Or if she's already been through enough hardhship to be redeemed. 2B has concluded that it doesn't matter if redemption is or isn't in her reach. Even if she can never atone, she should still fight to do as much good as she can. As she now believes, a person shows their true colors when they realize nothing matters.

I forgot to mention this in my previous authors notes but it's A2's statement to N2 about life having meaning. It's a bit of an injection of my personal beliefs. You hear how immortality is bad because nothing matters anymore. Things are precious because they end. And sure that's true to a degree, things ending also renders things meaningless. The only way things matter is if they evolve. For things to end but for whatever happens to carry over into the next.

So the sword. If you noticed, right before 2E dies, her sword becomes clean of a lot of the blood on it. Referencing back to Masamune's statement about the sword being a reflection of the soul. All the gunk on the sword got cleaned off, 2E's soul managing to find its way through. And at that moment, 2E let's herself be killed by 2B. In the battle of 2B vs 2E, 2E submits to 2B. Because even though 2E is set that her purpose is killing, she could never part with the dream of the hero 2B. But 2E will always be a part of her. The physical clash is more of a manifestation or representation of the clash going on in their heads. Of 2B overcoming the darkness and trauma that is 2E. Overwhelming, insurmountable, even impossible. But she tries anyways. 2B does share 2E's views. That human nature is cruelty. That nothing they do matters. But 2B chooses to fight because it matters to her. And when 2E realizes she agrees, she relents and let's herself be killed. And 2E's sword is now 2B's sword. Being one and the same person, it is also a reflection of 2B's soul. Kintsugi comes to mind. That the damage is part of its history. That it can be repaired. And that there is beauty in spite of the damage. Like 2B.

LOL: Ooh. I like that idea. Especially having seen the newest episode of Marvel What If (The Doctor Strange one). But there are a few...holes...that I left that would make it impossible. It's better if I show you.

J: It's fine. This story has been modified thanks to the input of reviewers. Even if I can't oblige I'm eager to listen to feedback. I will say there is an issue in having her be punished by failing at an endeavor. 2B is selfless and almost everything she does is selfless. Her selfless endeavors may be misguided, like when she fought to save humanity, but selfless nonetheless. The most selfish thing she does is try to kill A2 for revenge and even that she put off because she thought she had to fight to save humanity. So if she fails in an endeavor, unless it is another misguided one then someone else will suffer for it as well. If she does have to suffer then it should be a trial or tribulation.

It also goes into some of the themes such as what does a person deserve. The androids thought machines deserved to die so you have arenas of androids killing machines. You have machines who think androids deserve to die so you have machines killing androids. Your have the Army of Humanity who think anything relating to machines deserves to die so they have no qualms letting YorHa be destroyed. So many people and groups thinking about what each other deserves. 2B, having witnessed it all and having witnessed the world end, has grown tired of all of it.

I guess this works as a good segway for this next part.

*CLEARS THROAT*

*-.-*

Please respond to this query

You have seen 2B's ordeals. Her pain and guilt of killing 9S. Her turmoil due to her nature as 2E. Her trauma of losing YorHa. Her despair of never being able to save anyone. There are those out there who are going through similar ordeals in life. Who are in pain after losing a loved one. Or are in turmoil because of something they can never undo. Or are despairing because of a dream they can never fulfill.

Do you, faithful reader, have anything you would like to say to the people who are suffering because of similar ordeals?

*-.-*

Please respond to this query. What happens next will be determined based on your answer. As you are aware, it was 2B's dream to have a happy ending. It was her dream to save everyone.

2B has committed many wrongdoings in her life. If she saves everyone, she will be unable to discern who she saves. As a result, she may end up saving people who have committed their own share of atrocities. There is a possibility that among those who are saved will be those you fundamentally see as evil.

Does her dream of saving everyone deserve to be fulfilled?

Do you, faithful reader, believe 2B deserves a happy ending?