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"Pod 153, it is time for scheduled maintenance on your executables. Run Novel Mode, 3rd person. Run with my logs for October 5th, 11946 for testing cross-connection. Bypass disclaimer. "

"Acknowledged. Launching Novel Mode, 3rd person."

Allocating RAM...RAM allocated.

Scanning file for errors...No file errors found.

Loading subscripts to handle exceptions...Loading complete.

Executing ...

Novel mode, 3rd person initiated...

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(October 5th, 11945)

It was always day in the City Ruins. The Earth's rotation was heavily influenced by the event with the "Giant" and "Dragon" thousands of years prior. Many of the androids had never seen the night, and some would tell stories of how the sky could turn pitch black. They also heard that during the nights of the past, humans would hold events called campfires.

The word "campfire" itself wasn't significant, but the events that surrounded a campfire held the attention of many of the androids stationed at the camp. People would drink, eat, and tell stories, but what humans truly used them for, was to unravel themselves from the ropes that bound them to life.

With this in mind, many androids, during downtime, would relax in the back of the camp. Singing songs of ancient times, and getting drunk off alcohol. Drama was not allowed here, and if there was any, it was kept outside the wire fence.

"I can't keep him here, 2B."

"I know."

Anemone's stomach was bandaged to avoid contaminants from entering the wound. The sealing glue would need to dry before the bandages would come off. As Anemone spoke, her gaze focused on the kindling fire. She sat on a log with one leg extended, and the other angled on the log itself. Her heel pressed upon the weathered wood as her foot pressed firmly into the dirt.

She drank from a flask from behind her hooded jacket.

2B, sitting on another log directly across from her, gazed not at the fire, but through a wall she could not see through. In her mind, she could visualize 9S tied to the stretcher. She maintained her composure, but she could not look Anemone in the face.

"Anemone, why didn't you contact us before you found A2? You must have known that 9S would react...in some way."

Anemone pinched her forehead with her thumb and index fingers.

"Jackass."

"Jackass?"

"Yea. She just kinda showed up after telling me it would take two days to deliver A2's body. I was going to use that time to plan something so I could try to lessen the effects on 9S once he saw her again."

She took another drink.

"Jackass didn't consider that even though it took two days to find him, they were only a day away from here. She was supposed to come back today, not yesterday."

"I see."

2B's gaze focused on the fire. "So you placed her on the stretcher?"

"No. Jackass again. She kinda just dropped her off there and ran off. She said she had something to do with making some drugs. She's resourceful, but I think her circuitry is starting to rust."

"Heh."

"I would have put her in the storage room out back, but Jackass and her crew moved so fast out of here I didn't have time to tell her."

Anemone took another swig of her flask.

"I have also been thinking...about asking you guys to leave recently."

"Our presence here places the others in danger. I understand completely."

2B's quick response caught her off guard but she was relieved to hear the black haired android's response. Her face looked as if she had the question on her mind for some time.

"You aren't upset?"

"I am a combat android, Anemone. Strategically, placing us in your care only brings danger to the camp. I am trained to deal with unpleasant truths...Of course, I would be lying if it didn't hurt to hear that. Speaking of which, that message..."

"Right. The one that set off that jumpy guy. Seems the so-called "Council" or whatever wants you and 9S."

"Yes. Most likely A2 by extension. We already confirmed that the Moon server is just an AI perpetuated to keep androids from falling into apathy. However, it is true that the server contains the remnants of the human genome."

"In all honesty, I think the AI is nothing but a computer. I do believe, however, you should take caution with the message. I feel that many androids refuse to believe that humanity no longer resides on the Moon. People will come to try to send you and 9S there."

"You won't assist?"

"Of course not! The only reason why this place is still standing is because of the efforts of the three of you. We wouldn't think of reporting you to the Council."

Anemone took a hearty sigh and looked directly at 2B.

"We don't have the parts to repair 9S's water storage tank. However, Pascal might."

"Pas...cal? I haven't heard from him in a long time."

"Yes...well, that's because...his memories were erased by A2."

"Erased? Why?"

"Something...tragic happened to him. He lost most of his village to a logic virus, and after he tried to protect what little family he had left, they killed themselves in fear. He asked A2 to either kill him or erase his memories. She chose to remove his memories."

2B was dismayed. A2 was always placed in a position where she did something for the greater good, at the expense of someone life. She was oddly grateful for it.

"Regardless, Pascal still has some knowledge on android repair, and still reads books regarding philosophy. It's like he lost his memories, but kept his personality. With that, once 9S's repairs are finished, that room in the storehouse will no longer be available to the two of you. As a precaution, he'll stay strapped until we get a chance to talk to him, or at least until I feel that he won't go into another murderous rampage."

"Understood."

2B stood up and brushed herself off and walked towards the storehouse.

"Thank you, Anemone."

"...Think nothing of it."

2B entered the storehouse and stripped down to her undergarments. She folded her resistance clothing to perfect squares. She put on the skirt she was issued when she was still a part of YoRHa, but instead of the top, she wore a red T-shirt with a faded white heart in the middle. It gripped her form closely, but wore loosely on the bottom.

"Let's start a new life together, Nines..."