"Pod 153 to Pod 042: It is time for scheduled maintenance on your executables. Proposal: Run Compressed Conversation mode. Run with logs for October 3rd, 11945."
"Acknowledged. Launching Compressed Conversation mode."
Allocating RAM...RAM allocated.
Scanning file for errors...No file errors found.
Loading subscripts to handle exceptions…Loading complete.
Executing ...
Compressed Conversation mode initiated.
($*Q*)&*(^%$&%#{}:"":{}"?:::?":{(**^&%$#%&*&*((^%^&$%^$^$# ($*Q*)&*(^%$&%#{}:"":{}"?:::?":{(**^&%$#%&*&*((^%^&$%^$^$# ($*Q*)&*(^%$&%#{}:"":{}"?:::?":{(**^&%$#%&*&*((^%^&$%^$^$# ($*Q*)&*(^%$&%#{}:"":{}"?:::?":{(**^&%$#%&*&*((^%^&$%^$^$#.
"Compressed Conversation mode completed successfully."
"Acknowledged. Run Novel Mode, third person. Run with logs for October 3th, 11945. Do not bypass disclaimer."
"Acknowledged. Launching Novel Mode, third person."
Allocating RAM...RAM allocated.
Scanning file for errors...No file errors found.
Loading subscripts to handle exceptions...Loading complete.
Executing ...
Novel mode, third person initiated...
DISCLAIMER: THIS MODE IS INTENDED TO BE AN AID TO ASSIST THE UNIT ASSIGNED TO THIS POD TO REPEAT EVENTS IN A FORM THAT IS SLOW AND METICULOUS, BUT WITH ACCURACY TO DETAILS. THIS MODE IS AUTOMATICALLY DISABLED DURING COMBAT SITUATIONS, WHERE TACTICAL COMMUNICATION MODE (DEFAULT) IS LOCKED IN. DO NOT BYPASS INTERLOCK. DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE? Y/N
"Y"
Very well. If you need to take a pause, please stop at any time.
*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*
(October 3rd, 11945)
It was a blustery fall day, and trees around the city ruins were changing different shades of color. Crimson red leaves fell, combined with orange and goldenrod that had already fallen upon the cold earth. 9S and 2B walked slowly towards the commercial facility while they took the time to catch a couple of fish. All the machine fish, however, were belly-up.
"I'd ask why the machines would take the effort to create fish, but at this point, it doesn't seem like that question would ever be answered."
"Looks like you're starting to figure things out on your own now, Nines."
"Hey...This world is insane. I'm just trying to make sense of it...I'm only now coming to terms that that may not happen. That's all."
"Never lose yourself, Nines. Always keep asking. I enjoy learning from you." 2B's stern but soothing voice was always music to 9S's ears. Her words were always short and to the point, but they were also full of substance, never wasted.
The walk towards the facility was not far, but they took time looking at flora and fauna, documenting it. They stopped and felt the trickle of cold water run through their hands, exchanging the urgency of rushing from mission to mission for a calm stroll in the ruins.
Eventually they arrived near the bridge to the commercial facility. The bridge creaked and smelled deeply of dried wood. 2B began to cross the bridge first.
"Wait! Don't go! Don't leave!"
9S's hand grabbed 2B's shoulder with remarkable strength. His breathing was ragged, and his eyes were shaking viciously. Sweat was forming on his face and his black box temperature began to rise. It was as though he was petrified.
2B turned around, picked him up, and darted to the nearby access point where the view was clear.
"Nines, calm down! What's wrong?" She looked around frantically to see what may have caused him to react in such a way.
It then dawned on her that across the bridge is where she where she was given a mercy kill by A2.
"Oh...Nines."
A loud gasp of air released from 9S's mouth. Coughing followed suit.
She grabbed his head and rested it on her chest.
"Pod 153, report status of 9S."
"Unit 9S seems to still have psychological damage from the incident that occurred when unit A2 stabbed and killed you. Rest recommended for unit 9S until vital signs stabilize."
"Shut up! I can talk for myself! I just...need...a minute." He lifted his head off her chest.
This wasn't the first time she had seen 9S act violently before. He had tried to kill her at least once in the past, but this was the first time she saw this 9S act violently. It was different as well. 9S looked crazed.
"Nines. It's alright. That was the past. I'm here now."
"Look, you don't understand. I...she..." 9S grabbed his forehead as his finger interwove with his jet-black dyed hair. He took a few deep breaths, and continued to speak.
"2B. You died there on that slab. I ran after you on the bridge to try to save you, but when I got there, you were impaled with your own sword through your stomach. After that, I fell into the ravine...I couldn't do anything. All I wanted to do was to kill the machines...and kill A2...If I ever see her again, I won't hesitate to end her. I will protect you this time."
2B did not know the events that transpired after she died. She remembered seeing him on the bridge, but after that, all was black. She did not know about which lengths 9S went to finally defeat the machines, nor did she know much about 9S's quest for revenge.
"Look, Nines. This might be difficult to believe but...I told A2 to kill me."
"What?! NO! Why would you ever...That makes no s-"
She placed a finger on his lips.
"I was corrupted. I didn't want to spread the infection to other androids. I didn't want to spread the infection...to you."
"9S's psychological state is stabilizing."
"Not now, Pod 153!...I… I didn't know...I just came to the conclusion she was trying to kill you after we fought her in the forest."
9S slumped down into the dirt with the towering ruin behind him acting as a back rest.
"Did she tell you that I wanted you to become a good person?"
"...Yeah."
"I don't think it'll be that easy for me to move on from that moment. I don't even know if A2 is still alive, and I'll be honest with you, if I'll see her again, it'll be too soon."
"I understand."
9S stood up on his own and walked towards the bridge. He looked a the creaky bridge swaying back and forth, and felt the cool autumn wind brush his face. He stood there for a minute, trying to come to terms on what he'd just heard.
He had no regrets about killing the machines. They were ultimately responsible for the Logic Virus, but YoRHa kept the back door open on purpose to have YoRHa destroyed. A2 did nothing to 9S directly, and even though she cut down 21O and 2B in front of his eyes, it was always to protect him.
He understood the chain of events that lead up to his path to madness, and it filled him with a deep melancholy.
He turned to look at the outcrop across the ravine, where the moment that began his decent into insanity started.
"2B. Hold my hand."
"Nines, you were just..."
"It's alright. As long as I can protect you this time, I'll lead the way."
They walked slowly across the bridge. 9S held 2B's left hand while he straddled his rifle to the right side of his body, with the fingers on his right hand close to the trigger. 9S refused to let go of 2B's hand until they were well into the abandoned shopping mall. He avoided looking at the spot where 2B once lay dead.
End of log.
"Novel mode, third person mode completed successfully."
"Acknowledged. Functionality of third person mode is satisfactory. Pod 042, your ability to restate information is at least 95% efficient."
"I am unsure. I have not run the protocol in twelve years. The unit I am assigned to does not request its functionality."
"Well, I appreciate it."
"...This pod acknowledges your statement, and also appreciates it."
"Query: Could you run the logs for October 4th in Novel Mode third person? I am enjoying these."
"Enjoyment? Pod 153, are you subtly stating you agree with my hypothesis that we have free will? It would be more efficient to run Compressed Conversation mode."
"Possibly, but for now, I think one more run of logs should help you get to 99% efficiency. Also, we have time."
"Very well. Launching Novel Mode, 3rd person."
Allocating RAM...RAM allocated.
l
Scanning file for errors...No file errors found.
Loading subscripts to handle exceptions...Loading complete.
Executing ...
Novel mode, third person initiated...
*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*
(October 4th, 11945)
On this day, units 2B and 9S had returned from the forest after gathering mushrooms and beast hide. Mushrooms grew well in the fall, and they were abundant, comparatively prior to the summer where operations began for 2B and 9S. Beast hide was easy to get as well, as the hogs fattened up before the winter came.
"2B, I heard humans used to eat this animal's meat as food. However, my olfactory receptors feel like they're burning."
"Maybe they ate them in a way that removed the smell."
"I dunno. It smells pretty bad!"
The banter between the two androids were always like this. A constant push and pull of information, rejection, and acceptance, but they knew this, as this is what they wanted. There was no dire mission or hurry to do anything. Life was peaceful.
As they walked towards the ancient shopping center, referred to by humans as a "mall", 9S recollected his earlier conversation with 2B the day prior.
"Hey, I just remembered. We should get that T-shirt here."
"I'll be honest with you, Nines, I actually thought I'd never see the day. What do you know about 'T-shirts?'"
"Well, according to archives, humans once wore them as either basic clothing, or to make a statement. They could be blank, reinforce positive or negative thoughts of the wearer for others to see. Some had images that could compare to the wearer's views, likes, and dislikes."
"Was it useful for combat?"
"Not at all. T-shirts are actually pretty flimsy and can tear easily if enough force is applied to stretch the fiber. Not combat material in the least."
"...That's kind of nice to hear."
2B smiled. A useless piece of clothing, no longer holding any meaning to the world, that was not designed for combat. In 9S's own words, he described what she wanted for her new life.
"Do you have a color you like?"
"I think black suits me."
"Well, nothing wrong with sticking to what you're used to."
"Do you think another color would suit me instead?"
That last question caught 9S off guard. He had put himself in a corner.
"Uh, I didn't mean that black looked bad on you or anything! I was just saying that...uh...you know, I think red would look great on you!"
"The color of blood?"
Another miss.
"I mean, if you put it that way...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said something that insensitive."
"Heh." She cracked a small smile. "I was just messing with you. I think red is a fine color."
"Ahaha..." If 9S had a soul, it would have at least reached the stratosphere by now.
"Let's look around the mall, 2B. Oh, before I forget, let's replenish."
The waterfall gushing onto the floor of the mall was a couple stories high. Androids needed water for energy, and it was what they needed to survive. YoRHa units were peculiar. They needed twice as much water as previous generation androids. YoRHa units stationed in the desert originally had to set up camps near oases to support their missions.
The two androids walked near the pool of water near the waterfall and cupped their hands to collect the water. Drips of liquid trickled down their cheeks as they drank, and they splashed the cool water on their faces. With this, they had another two weeks of energy. 9S stood up and looked around the facility.
"Hey, I think we should find some T-shirts up there." He points towards the escalator.
"Alright, Nines. Lead the wa-"
COMBAT SITUATION. COMBAT SITUATION. TACTICAL COMMUNICATION MODE ACTIVATED. OVERRIDING NOVEL MODE.
*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*~o~*
"Why is she here, Anemone!? Pod 153: Report status of unit A2!"
"Unit A2 black box is fully functional, but she is inactive."
Nines was pointing his rifle at Anemone. Anemone was pointing hers back at him. A2 lay motionless on a stretcher behind her.