Running water.
The unmistakable bubbly sound pierced the all-engulfing black that permeated their existence. That and the lack of any tactile sensation was the only notable thing to them. She did not know how long it had been like this, nor did they particularly care.
Content to just drift within their own mindscape…
…
…..
….
What am I?
The seemingly innocent thought floated unanswered for an indiscernible amount of time. That is, until a small flicker appeared before them. Suddenly, and quite violently, they were bombarded with all these new things. The being recoiled from these new experiences, for they felt… bad? They wanted to cast away the images, the visions, but they had the inexplicable impression that they were there to stay. Soon enough, the bombardment got worse, and the being was overwhelmed with dozens, no, HUNDREDS of new concepts. Things like despair, regret, fear, pain, betrayal, guilt, hopelessness, rage, contempt, and… happiness. When it seemed like they were about to be drowned in the torrent of agonizing hurt, the being was subject to happiness, then amusement, then friendship, and companionship, and so on and so forth until… love.
Although they were far too few, they pondered over these new, warm feelings that they had been given, and why these scenes elicited such emotion. Until they remembered the name of such things.
Ah. These are my Memories.
She remembered everything now. Although, she wished she hadn't. Her name was 2B, despite her original designation 2E. She wasn't feeling these feelings for the first time, she already felt them. But why now? She had already died. Was this hell? Did it exist after all? Why did she have to live through all this trauma again? 2B wrestled with these questions for some time before an important one struck her.
How can I hear the water?
She knew for sure that she died, A2 had fulfilled her final request. But then again, that was because of the logic virus, and that didn't seem to be affecting her anymore. To confirm whether she was dead or alive, 2B ran a diagnostic on. The thought seemed ridiculous, because if she was dead, she wouldn't be able to. She was shocked to find, however, that the diagnostic returned back that she was fully functional, according to the little text box appearing in the corner of her vision.
So apparently she was alive. She didn't know how to feel about it, though. If she was indeed alive, then why couldn't she see? Her eyes seem to be perfectly fine unless… It was too dark to see. Experimenting further, 2B thought to herself to flex her hands and the appendages responded in turn. In her right hand she felt the familiar handle of Virtuous Contract, which would account for the sudden trip down memory lane; they must have downloaded while she was unconscious. Her left hand, curiously enough, caressed a solid surface. She couldn't discern what the surface was exactly because of her glove obstructing the feel. So it seemed she was still clothed as well, which led her to believe that she was, in fact, not in the great beyond.
2B now felt confident enough to move her entire arm, the action revitalizing the limb after a long time of not moving. Was this similar to what humans meant when they said 'pins and needles'? Groping around revealed that the solid surface was irregular, and rough enough to pull on her glove as she slid her hand against it. She concluded that what she was feeling was stone. Combining that with the complete and utter darkness along with the echoey rebound of the moving water, she could conclude further that she was in a cave of some sort, but she had no recollection of how she got there.
Using her sword to push herself up, 2B attempted to stand. Halfway up, she stumbled and fell to the side, the sound of her body and blade colliding with the ground was near deafening until she properly adjusted her audio levels. A warning message informed her that she was running on critically low energy levels and that her functions for managing her equilibrium had much of their power diverted to other processes within her. She changed tactics and crawled on all fours instead. She made it a few meters forward before her palms became soaked from a thin layer of water covering the cave floor.
For the next few minutes, she shuffled around and waved her sword in a wide arc to get an idea of her surroundings. Her goal was to get to the water; only a few mouthfuls would be enough to replenish her energy levels. At least, theoretically. She's never had to resort to using her hydrogen-based energy processing function before. The missions would always conclude before it came to that.
Soon enough, as 2B made another semicircle with her weapon, she heard and felt a steady stream of water pull down on the end of the blade. She set the katana aside and cupped her hands, catching the cold liquid in her palms and bringing it to her lips. As she drank, 2B was concerned at the amount of water she needed to drink before she received the message saying there was sufficient material for processing. She must've been running on the power of a potato battery.
To prove her point, it only took about 30 seconds of processing before all her systems were operating at full capacity and her charge was restored to nearly 10 percent. Now that she was rejuvenated, 2B stood to her full height and "sheathed" her katana in the floating, golden, energy ring behind her. The soft yellow glow from it was enough to light the area around her. The cave was ancient, with dark, wet stalactites and stalagmites dotting the area. No vegetation was present, and a bit of exploring revealed a large underground pool that resided on a raised portion of the cave; Hence the little waterfall she drank from.
2B started retracing her steps as best as she could, for without realizing it, she had made it quite a distance from her waking place. She soon discovered that the water from the pool was flowing in such a way that it was slowly going to fill the cave. She wasn't worried, however. It still had a few centuries before it reached that point.
It took way less time to get to her starting point now that she was walking, but her arrival did reveal an alarming sight. 2B was puzzling to herself on the way back how she was dry even though the water had been flowing towards her, and the answer appeared in the form of a stone bed that was in the shape of her slumbering form. It seemed as though her body had prevented the erosion of the rock as the water flowed, eventually leaving a high spot perfectly suited for her. But if that were true, She had to have not moved for hundreds, if not thousands, of years.
As much as she wanted an explanation of her situation, she had to find a way out of this cave. She pulled her shoulders back and pushed further into the darkness with her familiar militaristic gait. She followed the winding path with some difficulty due to steep declines and tight squeezes, the only prevalent sound being that of her heels against the rocky floor. As irregular as the formation was, it consistently moved in the downward direction.
Eventually the tunnel opened up into a chamber much like the one she first found herself in. The only notable differences were the significant increase in rock formations and the shin-deep layer of water that filled half of the space. 2B sloshed her way through the water, watching to not hit her head against a low portion of the ceiling. It turned out that she should've been looking down instead. When her foot collided with something in the water, she stumbled forward and failed to catch herself, which led to her getting a surprise bath. The sudden cold caused her to gasp, breaking her so-far stoic countenance. 2B picked herself up and turned to inspect the object she tripped over.
What she saw nearly suffocated her with emotion.
Lying serenely against a stone pillar, much of her body submerged in water, was 6O, 2B's Operator. Officially, 6O's only task was to give 2B her mission and all its details, as well as keep her informed and collect data, and ultimately leave 2B alone. However, 6O was a cheerful spirit (if somewhat childish) and would always call 2B fur superfluous things. From heartbreak for being rejected to fortune telling based on astronomy, 6O did anything but leave 2B alone. Shamefully she had to admit that at first she didn't like 6O; She was almost the polar opposite of 2B in terms of personality. But 2B grew to enjoy the chats with the girl, no matter how brief. She was always a friendly face and cared deeply for 2B's well being.
What hurt 2B so was the memory of having to kill her after she had been hacked and corrupted.
2B stood in front of the girl, trembling and on the verge of tears. The guilt and joy she felt clashing within her was overwhelming. Slowly, as if the wrong move would make her disappear, 2B reached down and gently shook 6O. When it failed to wake her, 2B shook a little harder. 2B's emotional dam cracked as she panicked, her shaking getting erratic as she started to believe more and more that 6O was dead. Before she broke down completely, 2B was saved as she remembered how low on power she herself was after waking up. Since Operator models managed data more than they fight, 6O's subroutines might've dedicated what little energy she had left to maintain her mind. If she was at enough of a critical low, her body might be refusing to wake up until it gets more power.
Unfortunately, No situation like this has ever happened in the history of YoRHa, so 2B had to improvise. She grabbed 6O's head and opened her mouth, holding aside her veil that hid her nose and mouth, then proceeded to dunk her into the water and quickly bring her back up. 2B prayed while she held the blonde's mouth shut to keep the water in. 2B's seemed to be the right call to make, as upon detecting the water, 6O's body expended some energy to swallow the life-giving liquid.
It didn't take long for 6O to stir out of her sleep. With a groan and some shifting, the blonde android gained strength, filling 2B with an indescribable feeling of relief. 6O's brow creased before she shot forward, eyes wide open in fear. She didn't go far however, for 2B was quick to catch her. 6O was frantically glancing around the cave, breathing erratically. When she looked to see who was pinning her in place, 60 simply stopped moving and stared.
She remained that way for what was an unbearably long time for 2B. She was anxious of her Operator's reaction. 6O then quite suddenly burst into tears. The cave was filled with the sound of despair coming from the hurting android. Startled by her outburst, 2B let go of 6O, worried that she was the cause for her sadness.
6O soon cried out. "2B! I remember everythiiiing…!"
"I was so scared! I was in so much pain, and-" 2B silenced her by pulling 6O towards her in a tight embrace.
6O cried silently while 2B held her, comforting her the best way she knew how. 2B, although her emotional state was in a similar state of turmoil, was able to maintain her composure after so many years of steeling herself against this level of trauma. Though her face showed little emotion from practice and the black blindfold, 2B's voice was laden with more care and compassion than 6O had ever heard in all the time she had known her. "Shhh. It's over now, It's all over. I am so overjoyed that you're ok."
Her words helped calm 6O down. She was distracted by this side of 2B that she didn't think she had. She didn't mind though, rather, she wrapped her arms around 2B in return and was content to sit there. After some time, 6O's sniffling died down and they sat holding each other in the cold water.
Neither of them made a move to break their hug, but 6O spoke up first. "What happened?"
2B's facade nearly broke from the simple question. She knew the answer all too well, In fact, she had known it every time things played out like this since day one, and the guilt has crushed her ever since. But she didn't want to lay that all on her right now. "To YoRHa, a lot of bad things, but that's not important right now. As for how we got here, I have no clue."
6O pulled her head away and looked up into 2B's blindfold. Her blue teary eyes searching 2B for something more. The fighter, unfamiliar with the situation, didn't know what she was looking for. However, she could give her something to look forward to. "But I do know we can't sit here forever. If I found you, then there might be others. Do you think you can move?"
6O nodded her head and slowly stood up with the assistance of 2B. From there they made their way deeper into the darkness. 2B had to slow down considerably for 6O since she was struggling with the rough terrain and limited vision. Though she was slightly frustrated with their pace, she knew it wasn't 6O's fault. Afterall, She had never even once been to the surface before, which upon 2B's realizing, raised the question of how she got here in the first place. The orbital space station had exploded, which would have destroyed her entirely, and even if her body somehow survived that blast, re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere would've disintegrated her. And that was all ignoring the fact that 2B herself had slain her, but there was no evidence to show for it. It stood to reason that something had happened after her own death that allowed the both of them to be saved. But what was it?
2B looked back at 6O who was studying the ground carefully in the faint glow, her twin braids swaying lazily as she picked her steps carefully. 2B thought of something to assist her. "Do you have the weapon sheathing system?"
The Operator's eyes snapped up to 2B, startled out of her concentration. "Uh. yeah I do."
With a thought, 2B conjured up her set of Demon's Cry, a pair of sinister combat bracers that she favored when facing other androids in combat because of their speed. She held them out to 6O who was hesitant to take them. "Here, sheath them and you'll get some more light."
2B turned forward and continued to march. "Besides, you might end up needing them."
6O studied the weapon carefully before letting them dematerialize from her hands and materialize behind her, floating at shoulder level. "But I don't know how to use them."
2B stopped for a moment and pondered her statement, forgetting that Operator models are only trained in hand-to-hand combat for emergencies and nothing else. "Are you still able to access my combat data?"
She shook her head.
2B wondered if she understood the rest of her question. "Not from the Bunker, I mean from me?"
6O blinked before staring into space for a moment. Almost immediately, 2B felt the familiar connection that usually signified that her mission data was being copied to the Bunker's servers. She always thought that the information was taken directly by the Bunker and the Operators initiated the procedure, but now she knew that it was just the Operators who sorted through the data at seemingly impossible speed before transferring it. No wonder 6O could talk a mile a minute, Her actual thoughts must've been ten times as fast.
6O's blinked a few times before looking at 2B and taking a fighting stance with Demon's Cry, her fighting stance. A small smile formed on 2B's face from the antics of her companion. If 6O really knew how to use those now with the efficiency 2B was capable of, then she was now one formidable fighter, regardless of her physical strength and agility.
With that settled, they continued forward until they reached a new chamber. Unlike the last one, this room was almost entirely bare, the stream of water simply carrying on straight through. This area was much larger too, since both of their dim lights didn't quite reach the walls. 2B marched forward and explored the room, 6O trailing behind her. Her searching ultimately amounted to nothing. 2B was hoping she would find more survivors. She was examining minor imperfections in the floors and wall when 6O called to her. "Hey, what do you think did this?"
2B approached the crouched form of 6O, who was similarly examining a portion of the stream. While the rest of the water flow carried over the ground, a perfectly round bowl was carved into the floor in the middle of the stream. Using a hand to feel the inside surface, 2B deduced that it was accomplished by laser, as even their most advanced drilling tools couldn't have done this.
This must've taken a lot of energy, so it had to have been made for an important reason.
"2B, I think someone else was already here." 2B followed 6O's gaze and understood why she would think so. Roughly three feet from the water bowl, there laid a low spot that had a small collection of water in it, with a trail of droplets connecting the two. Someone had recently moved water by hand over to that spot. With newfound resolve, 2B grabbed 6O by the arm and hoisted her up to her feet, eliciting a small yelp. "Let's go."
They hurriedly traversed the system of halls and chambers in search of life. 6O barely managed to keep up, but she was determined not to hinder her friend. Quite suddenly, they reached a portion of the cave that transformed into an unnaturally uniform hallway of white. The surface of the walls and floor was shiny and made of neither metal or stone, but of a synthetic material that gave 2B a strange sense of lingering dread. She didn't focus on that, however. Now that she was on flat ground, she and 6O could open up. Conscious of her friend, 2B made sure to keep a pace that was manageable for 6O. They careened down the hallway, desperate to catch up with whoever they were searching for.
Soon, the pair came to what they could easily say as the last thing they expected to find. A library. At least, a copy of one. Every surface was made of the same white material, including all of the books and shelves. With a scan, 6O concluded that the entire room was one mass data bank, but all of the data it might've stored was gone. They spent little time exploring and instead went through a set of white double doors at the bottom of the stairs in the center of the room. They were prompted to go through them because of the stream of water, which, strangely enough, had a trough carved into the floor that continued through them. The doors led to another cave, except the stone here was carved into a proper hallway, but something told 2B that it was made separate to the white library.
Still, the water flowed down the gently sloped structure. 2B decided that someone or something placed it there as a guide. Her hunch was given some credence when they at last reached a familiar place.
As they stood taking in their view, an audible gasp of wonder emanated from 6O. In front of them was another chamber, only this one had the most beautiful white flowers cascading across the entire floor. In the center sat a makeshift shack made from what looked to be a large oil tank. This time, the two of them didn't need their lights to see, as the bioluminescent flowers provided a hauntingly beautiful glow, asif the cavern was bathed in moonlight. Standing in the center of the flower bed were four individuals that they had never expected to see. There was the Commander, Operator 21O, which was 9S's operator, A2, and last of all, 9S himself.
However, they weren't standing peacefully.
A2 was alone, a distance away from the other three, waiting calmly. 21O and the Commander were both struggling to restrain 9S, who was desperately trying to get to A2. His intentions were made clear when he cried out. "I'LL KILL YOU! LET ME GO!"
21O desperately tried to calm him down. "Get a hold of yourself, 9S! It's over!"
"NOT UNTIL SHE PAYS FOR WHAT SHE DID!" 9S was kicking frantically, and as strong as the Commander and 21O were, 9S, being a field model, had a lot of strength as well. If this were to go on any longer, something bad might become of it.
"2B, you have to stop him." 6O's question went unheard, as 2B was already walking slowly towards him as if in a trance.
"I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID! I'LL - " 9S's voice hitched, for as he was about to deliver another death threat to A2, a third pair of hands gently rested onto his shoulders. They held no hostility, and the gloves covering them were soft. He was motionless, letting the hands slide forward and down his chest. He dared not look at them, for he dared not hope. He felt the hands connect together over his abdomen, where they then applied a light pressure. Giving in, 9S was released from the grasp of the disbelieving women holding him and his back made contact with a body. He barely registered that he was being embraced. His eyes remained locked onto A2's equally shocked face, tears forming as he felt all of his prior hate and resentment melt away, soon replaced by an indescribable sadness.
He didn't believe it. He couldn't. He held steady, prepared himself to hear that it was someone else behind him. However, The last of his fortitude crumbled when a voice he hadn't heard in an agonizingly long time whispered in his ear, as shaky as he felt. "I missed you."
Those three words were enough to buckle his knees. The weight of his convoluted consciousness was too heavy to bear without the driving force of revenge. He went limp in the arms of the single most important person in his life. 2B kneeled as he fell, gently holding him until he was laying on the ground, resting against her.
"I'm so sorry." At 2B's words, 9S let free his anguish. Crying openly, not knowing if his tears were of joy or sorrow, nor caring of those who saw him. He was alone for so long without her.
Soon, 2B couldn't control her own emotions. Her own tears began leaking through her blindfold and she failed to withhold a choked sob. Their journey had not been happy, nor easy, and it was fated to end in tragedy everytime it began anew. The pair's shared lament was one that affected the others greatly. For some, it was the unfamiliarity with the situation. For others it was guilt.
It would be a while before their position would change, and when it finally did, it was 9S rolling onto his knees and turning to look at his love's face, her hand held in his all the while. Through his blurred vision, he saw the countenance of that of 2B, and he could feel the familiarity exuding from her.
But he needed to be sure.
With trembling hands, he reached forward and around the back of her head. 2B's flawless white hair softly swept the sides of his hands, he could've sworn he could feel it through the gloves. He carefully undid the knot of that concealing blindfold. He pulled the accursed fabric away. He couldn't breathe as, for the first time ever, he gazed into the most beautiful, smoky-blue eyes he had ever seen. Every other time he saw them, it was moments before either his own life, or hers, was taken, leaving him unable to truly appreciate them.
A smile formed upon his face as he drank in her features. 2B returned it, sharing in his need to just look at each other. Their moment was interrupted, however, when soft footsteps approached them. They both looked up to see A2 standing before them, a mournful expression adorning her face, yet she smiled when she spoke. "I am glad to see you are okay."
9S's anger resurfaced again and he generated his blade, but before he could even move, 2B locked her fingers around his wrist and stayed his blade. "There's no need, 9S."
9S looked turned to her with confusion. "But she-!?"
"I asked her to do it." Her confession stalled 9S's desire to attack. The look of hurt he wore caused 2B a great deal of pain, but he needed to know that her death wasn't A2's fault. "I asked her to kill me because the virus was going to make me go insane. So I gave her my sword and told her to take my life with it."
9S slumped back down on the ground, his voice raising as he questioned her actions. "But why!? I could have saved you. YOU sent me away when I was the only one who could fight the virus."
"Maybe. But I couldn't risk killing you. Not again." The guilt in her voice while she spoke made 9S dial back his accusations. Her last statement triggered the memory of A2 explaining who 2B truly was. E hadn't remembered it clearly because of the gap caused by the logic virus.
She knew the whole time that she was going to have to kill me. And the only way she could stop it was by ending her own life.
"You wanted to save me." 2B nodded her head. 9S looked her directly in the eyes, his entire demeanor that of a broken soul when he spoke the words that 2B feared to hear the most. "Did you even think of how I would feel once you were gone? I can't live without you."
2B clenched her fist, prepared to be berated by 9S for her selfish actions. She knew how he would feel, but she couldn't stand to kill him even one more time. Her eyes stayed glued to the ground but she could still see him stand up in her peripherals. She closed her eyes in preparation. To her surprise, instead of the harsh outburst she thought she deserved, 2B felt him take ahold of her shoulders and pull her up.
When she stood to her full height, It was her turn to look at 9S in confusion, but before anything was said, 9S pulled her closer to him and gave her a hug. Only this time they were properly facing each other. "You know what. I don't care why you did it and I'm sick of feeling only hate, sadness, and fear. I only ask that we leave it behind. Ok."
2B smiled, bigger and brighter than she ever had before. She, too, was sick and tired of feeling like that. "Ok."
They pulled away from each other, now properly reconnected. 2B panned around to see the other four androids waiting awkwardly four them to have their moment. Having realized that A2 was still waiting for a response, 2B approached her and greeted her in turn, with 9S still looking uncomfortable being on nonviolent terms with the android. "I'm sorry to you too. For asking you to do that."
A2 returned to her usual moody self, albeit more respectful of the two. "Well, If I had known your psychotic boyfriend was going to hunt me down for the rest of my days, I would've refused."
2B raised an eyebrow, and it clicked in A2's mind that she probably had no clue what happened after she died. In fact, she and 9S were the only ones who did. "Right, well, Right as I finished you off, 9S came to witness it. The last thing he saw was me standing above you as you fell in that ravine. I had every intention of explaining the truth of what happened but before he could reach me the tower appeared out of nowhere and sent us to completely different parts of the city."
Speaking for the first time since everyone had gathered, the Commander stepped forward to speak. "The Tower?"
A2 looked at the white-clad android with disdain, but after learning the whole purpose of their existence, realized that she couldn't rightfully blame the woman for EVERY misfortune of hers. "Indeed. It came up out of the ground a short while after the Bunker exploded in the sky. As a matter of fact, We're standing in a part of it."
That statement drew the questioning looks from everyone in the cave. It appeared that it would be up to A2 and 9S to explain everything that had happened. 9S looked to her and she to him, both of them feeling the tension that remained. He moved his hand up to scratch his head. "Ohhh boy."
A2 only sighed in response before starting her recount of the events that transpired. The six androids had collected in a ring on the ground, acknowledgements and greetings passed between 6O and 2B to the rest of them before they settled in completely. A2 and 9S alternated between themselves to get a more accurate timeline of everything. A few parts were harder for them to remember. For A2, it was the deletion of Pascal's memories. For 9S, It was fighting the clones of 2B. As they told of their grim encounters, 9S and A2 gained a greater understanding of each other, and the hardships they each had to face. Sharing their experiences helped them understand why they each made the decisions that they did, and ultimately why they were at odds at the very end. What the pair revealed, especially the secrets within the tower and its sub-units, disturbed them all greatly. When they had finally finished with their duel, and the grand sum of all human data being sent away, It took some time for them all to process it all. They all had their questions for each other, and each android answered to the best of their ability.
When they had finished, and hours had passed, they were only left with one question. How did they get to where they are now? No one could say for sure because all of them technically died. 6O suggested that this might've been the afterlife. At first, they thought it impossible, but they also had no way to refute it. It was eventually the Commander who suggested something other than pondering. "Perhaps we should move forward. Guessing isn't getting us anywhere."
A2 glared at the blonde, her voice acquiring an edge to it. "I don't take orders from you. Actually, none of us have to. So don't go assuming command."
"I am well aware that my position in YoRHa means nothing anymore, but my proficiency in handling information and selecting a plan of action is still a tool we have. I am not ordering anyone to do anything, I am only suggesting what our best course is." The calm response made A2's eyes narrow and her annoyance spiked.
In defense of her former superior, 21O spoke up. "We may not have to take orders from her, but we might want to."
"You know, she has a point." A2's head snapped in the direction of 9S. "We may not have the support of all of YoRHa, but we have enough people here to create an efficient team. Two combat units and a scout for field work, two Operators for support and data processing, and a Commander for strategy and direction. If we all fall in roles similar to our previous ones, we can become a considerable force, even without the support of the Bunker."
A2 was about to argue, but hesitated. She was going to call them all YoRHa dogs before she remembered that 9S likely hated YoRha as much as she did. To convince her more, 2B tried to appeal to A2's survival instinct. "We have no clue what happened, and we won't be getting a debriefing. Our chances of survival are the absolute highest with that orientation. Besides, we don't have to operate like YoRHa did, we don't have to take orders blindly."
6O piped up her concerns. "We also need to hurry in case there are other survivors."
A2 pinched the bridge of her nose. The Commander's words, along with the Operator's as well, meant very little to her, no matter how logical. But 2B and 9S had gained her respect. She eventually decided to relent. "All right, we can give it a try, but if this doesn't work and we die, I'll haunt you all."
The Commander smiled, glad they could all agree. "Thank you, A2."
"Fuck off." Was her only (yet likely her best) response.
2B took the opportunity to stand up and address the group, and more specifically, Commander and 21O. "Just as a precaution, I think it worthwhile to arm you two properly. I already did so with 6O."
Upon agreement, A2, 2B, and 9S created a link between all of them in order to share their digital weapon storage. They decided that they would divide up all of their current weapons which, due to their travels, were quite numerous. While 2B and A2 could have two weapon presets, meaning they could quickly switch between four unique weapons, two at a time, 9S could only have one weapon in each weapon set, and the Operators and Commander could only openly carry one weapon period. In order to switch weapons, Commander, 21O, and 6O had to actively transfer their weapons into storage before equipping another, unless they wanted to deal with physically carrying an extra.
When it was all said and done, The groups final line up went as such: 2B with Virtuous Contract and Virtuous Treaty in her first preset, and Virtuous Dignity and Virtuous Grief in her second. A2 wielded the type-3 fists and type-3 blade in her first set, and her YoRHa-issue blade and Phoenix lance in the other. 9S's two weapon sets consisted of his Cruel Oath and Iron Will. 6O was content with Demon's Cry, 21O took a liking to the Dragoon Lance, and the Commander chose the type-40 Sword.
After transferring the necessary combat data to allow Commander and 21O to use their weapons, the group set off. 2B and 9S led the way through the opening where they remembered an elevator used to be. Behind them was the Commander, with 21O and 6O taking up defensive positions beside her, and A2 guarded their flank. Their high-efficiency formation seemed to be unnecessary for the time being, however, as there was not a single living creature besides the occasional moss patches. They remained close together, for leaving the white light of the flower bed left them to rely on the glow of their sheaths.
After hours of traversing the natural labyrinth, they came to the remains of the tower. Since they were familiar with the structure, A2 and 9S took the lead, combining their knowledge in order to navigate the dilapidated structure. Even though they had previously been at odds with each other, their task enabled them to ignore the tension between them. 2B watched them closely from the rear, ready to intervene in the event they were at each other's throats. Thankfully, there was no incident. Soon the pair reached the end of a corridor that had collapsed onto another, forcefully connecting the two. In front of the group was a set of white doors devoid of any markings. A2 and 9S seemed wary of them.
2B worried that something might be wrong. "Do you two recognize it?"
9S turned around to answer her. Upon closer inspection, he seemed bewildered rather than cautionary as she originally thought. "Well, this is actually the front door. I didn't expect us to find it so suddenly, or at all really. It should've been crushed."
A2 walked forward and placed her hand on the left door, tracking with her finger the strange pattern that the dust on the surface was in. "These doors have been opened recently. However, I don't understand how they would lead anywhere. We should be at the bottom of the sinkhole in the city, but if that were the case, then those cave tunnels started well above the city skyline."
A2 pulled her hand away as the doors suddenly shifted. They all watched as the two white slabs slid into their recesses, squinting as the bright light of the sun spilled through the opening. A loud grinding sound paired with the slowness of their movements raised concern in A2 and 9S, as the doors seemed much older than they remembered. When the mechanism ceased movement, they all stepped through the threshold and emerged into a forest of towering pines. The trees and ground were covered in a thick blanket of white snow that reached up to their knees. The group gazed around, in awe of the scenery they beheld.
A rumbling sound drew their attention to the doors from where they came from. They could now attribute the device's sluggishness to the thick layer of stone that had fused to the outside. Once it was closed, the only distinguishing feature that revealed the location was the broken chunks of stone that had fallen off when the device first engaged. Otherwise, it blended into the rocky outcropping that protruded from the mountain base they were just inside. There was also no evidence to suggest that the tower, nor the city, had been there. It was as if they had been transported to a whole new world.
9S noticed that the chunks of rock that had been broken by the doors weren't covered in snow, and further analysis revealed a pair of tracks that led away from the entrance that none of them made. He voiced his discovery and the group followed them. None of them knew why they were here, so no one discussed the new surroundings, except for a comment from 6O talking about how cold and pretty the snow was. Her enthusiasm seemed to annoy 21O and A2, but it brought a faint smile to 2B's face. The girl had never been to the surface of Earth before and pictures could only do so much.
Once again, they were on the move, this time down a steep and slippery descent made worse by the snow and ice. It was apparent that they had exited the cave from a place high on the side of a mountain. They hiked over a small rise in the terrain, the other side revealing a frozen pond resting on an outcrop about a kilometer away. With their android eyes, they could see the two survivors they were tracking beside the bank thanks to their red hair. However, they were too far to tell what state they were in and who they were. With their targets within sight, the group picked up their pace as much as they could in the knee-high drifts. 2B, 9S, and A2 had to slow down, for 21O, 6O, and the Commander were not as agile as them. When they were close enough, 2B could make out who the pair was.
2B slowed down to a brisk walk when she determined that there wasn't any cause for alarm. 9S recognized the pair as well. Excitedly, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. "HEY!"
The two redheads snapped around, startled by his call. 9S waved at them and the pair stood up and waved back. 9S was about to shout something again but was stopped by 21O who lightly smacked the back of his head. "Trying to alert every potential hostile to our position?"
9S grumbled while rubbing the spot where she hit him, saying something about 'they can't exactly sneak up on us'. At their beckoning, the group approached the two androids known as Devola and Popola.
Devola and Popola were unique models, who were always built in the pair 'Devola' and 'Popola' rather than the number and letter system most other androids used. They were developed to care for humans medically, making sure they didn't die out before the chlorination syndrome drove them to extinction. Unfortunately, no cure was ever found and the last vestiges of the human race escaped to the stars to escape the disease. The Devola and Popola models were eventually blamed for failing their duties and have been treated with scorn for centuries by nearly everyone. But to 2B and 9S, they were good people. They dealt with any ailments they had while on the surface and had opened a small shop in the resistance camp before everything had taken a turn for the worse. The last time 9S had seen them, they had sacrificed themselves to enable his entry into the Tower, so seeing them alive and well relieved some of the guilt he felt.
Devola took a step forward and greeted them all with a smile on her face. "2B, 9S, A2, It's good to see you all. We were worried that you might not have made it."
Seeing her cheerfulness put 9S in high spirits, it was a rare sight after all, considering their difficult past. "Yeah, you too. Wait, what do you mean by 'made it'?"
Devola and Popola stepped aside and waved their hands toward a little monument beside the pond. It was a cubicle made from the same material as the tower. On top of it sat the motionless forms of pods 042 and 153. "I bet you all have been wondering how we're all here and alive."
At their nodding Popola continued. "Well after we woke up in that cave, we did some exploring and found 2B's and 9S's pods. The strange thing was, they were inactive and wouldn't respond no matter what we did. Beside them we found a data capsule."
Devola picked the two units up and handed them to their respective owners and then continued their side of the story. "In it were recordings of them, and how they saved us. After the tower fell, Those two little pods collected our remains and spent years repairing them and recovering our memories from the corrupted data left by the bunker. If you all were wondering how this cave system seems strangely intact for being a collapsed super structure, that's because they dug it out. However, that isn't the most shocking news."
Popola took up the reins from her sister. "After they had placed us where they deemed fit, they simply sat and waited, stating 'The future will be a better place for them'. The rest of the data was them sitting beside one another and keeping track of the passing time. When they eventually had run out of power, nearly 5,000 years had passed. There is no way for us to know how long we've been here."
The revelation struck them hard. As difficult as it was to believe, there was plenty of evidence to show how ancient the cave was. 2B thought back to her resting place and how the water eroded the ground around her. "How come we haven't decomposed? Even the strongest materials deteriorate overtime."
9S beat the twins in answering the question. "Because the cave was sealed by the tower. As long as the epidermal layer of a YoRHa android remains intact, water and oxygen alone isn't sufficient to break our bodies down, especially since we still had enough energy to power our tertiary systems, one of them being responsible to maintain the condition of our bodies."
The Commander crossed her arms in thought. "We also have an idea of how long we've been here. Our bodies contain a significantly larger amount of energy than pods do. Assuming that we were at full power before we were placed here, we could've easily been here for hundreds of thousands of years after the pods were depleted of power."
21O added her own disturbing thought to the Commander's logic. "That means that there is a great possibility that we're the only androids left."
Everyone fell silent at the grim speculation. Being the last of their kind started to make them understand how the humans must've felt. None of them had ever been without the support chain that was the population of androids. A deep sense of isolation pervaded their souls.
6O, however, had come to a realization of her own. "Does that mean Machines are gone too? Is the war over?"
Her question snapped everyone out of their slump. Could it really be true? For millennia they had been fighting the aliens and their machine army. All they ever knew was warfare and sorrow. Did they now have a chance to leave that life behind?
"We shouldn't get our hopes up." They turned their attention to A2, who was also excited by the notion of not having to fight, but wasn't ready to believe it. "For all we know we could be the last eight androids up against a world's population of machines."
"Well, they might be friendly. Without Adam and Eve, there is no real reason for them to be hostile." 9S suggested, thinking of the complacent machines that would simply roam around.
However, A2 countered him with equally sound reasoning. "Or they could be like the machines in the forest kingdom. They weren't connected to the network either."
9S yielded, for A2's hate for the machines was greater than anyone else's and her disdain for them was bleeding into her attitude. Of course, she was forced to accept the chance that there were peaceful machines. The memory of Pascal weighed heavily on her soul.
A2's train of thought brought her to what she had believed to be her final moments, and the regrets she had confessed to herself. If she actually wanted to live her life, she first needed to let go of her anger. She uncrossed her arms and let them fall to her sides, now seeming more weary than anything else. "You know what, scratch that. No point in worrying until we've actually identified a threat. The only thing we should worry about is finding out how to get out of this cold."
At her words, the group became acutely aware of said cold. Although it wasn't lethal, the frigid temperature was at the very least unpleasant, especially since none of them had clothes suited for such a climate. Not to mention that some of their systems functions would decrease in capability. For instance, the pure white snow would negatively affect their sight overtime, making it harder to judge distances and see minor details. Of course, 9S and 2B didn't have this problem because of their blind folds, but they all suffered decreased motor function output. Lag would also be a problem, they would all literally 'think' slower.
They all came to the consensus that they needed to find shelter. The cave wasn't an option because there was no way to open it from the outside. So the party of (now) eight androids made their way down the incline. Along the way, 6O, 21O, and the commander froze as a herd of deer sped through the forest in front of them. After they had passed, the three girls relaxed, but still stared in awe after the animals. When they were out of sight, 6O let out an excited squeal. For the next ten minutes, 6O ceaselessly talked about the deer.
At some point, 9S pointed out that there was an incredible lack of pollution in the air. Their scans confirmed that the air was, in fact, incredibly clear. During the machine wars, the vast amount of waste created by machine oil and weapon manufacturing clouded Earth's atmosphere, creating a 'fog of war' so to speak. Here, however, they couldn't find a single particle. Nor could they find evidence of radiation that was left by the Androids' energy weapons. Though they only emitted a small amount of radiation, the traces would linger. But the group of androids couldn't detect anything here. To them, it meant that there hasn't been any combat here for thousands of years, lending credence to the possibility of machines, androids, or both being extinct.
They trekked for hours. It was well into the darkness of night when they found a breathtaking sight. Mostly unaffected by the darkness, they stepped into a clearing where the forest unveiled a beautiful snow-laden valley. A gently curved river ran through the two mountain ranges that formed the landscape. Farther down the mountain they stood upon, there sat what appeared to be the remains of an ancient outpost that overlooked the valley's entirety. To the right of them was an immense plain devoid of any defining features.
Upon their approach, the outpost proved to be man-made, at least they thought so. It was constructed out of primarily cobblestone and wood. What perplexed them, however, was the sheer scale of it. There were human sized entrances, but there were also doorways that spanned several meters across and sometimes four stories tall. Where the interior chambers still remained intact, they were equally large. The thickness of the floor and support structures suggest that the building served to hold gargantuan weights. Some of the chambers on higher floors had openings as well. It was as if things would be loaded in from the outside, but there were zero remains of anything that resembled an elevator.
Even though they discussed it at length, no one could make heads or tails of the remains. The most prominent of their many questions being how this structure outlasted the continent that the city ruins rested on. What also didn't make sense was that their scans suggested that the structure was built after they themselves had been sealed away. As a matter of fact, according to the evidence they had perceived, this structure was only a few thousand years old. The only possible reason they could think of was that there were still androids alive somewhere.
Spurred on by the exciting prospect, the group now surveyed the area fervently for traces of androids. Unfortunately, they came up empty handed. They were about to leave with the bitter taste of disappointment when 9S, who was perched on the edge of a wall, excitedly shouted "LOOK!" whilst pointing down the mountain. When they scrambled up to his position they all followed his gaze and found a cause for hope. Way down at the base of the mountain was the unmistakable orange glow of firelight. Between the distance and the glare caused by the snow, they couldn't see any figures, but there had to be at least one person, for the light would blink in and out of existence, signifying that something kept passing between it and them.
With a new goal and destination in mind. They all entered a speedy gait. Well, as speedy as it could be while moving through snow drifts down a mountainside. Many minutes passed before they closed in on the source of light. It was when they were roughly three kilometers away when they were halted by a discouraging sight. Indeed, they were able two distinguish two figures moving around the fire, appearing to be in some strange dance. There were also two mounts to the side of the fire, similar to the caribou that 2B, 9S, and A2 were familiar with, only smaller and without antlers. That wasn't what made them hesitate, however. No, It was the significantly large creature laying beside the fire, observing the pair. It was unlike anything they had seen before, and strangely enough, the firelight reflecting onto it showed blue, as if it were covered by tinted glass. By consensus, they agreed to approach much more slowly, because if they could see the figures by the campfire, then that likely meant that they would be able to see their company.
The wind, which blew in the direction behind them, would be enough to cover the sound of their feet crunching in the snow, but they knew animals typically had incredible hearing. They would not have to worry about smell as much, between the wind and the fact that androids didn't really produce an odor there should be nothing for the large creature to detect. What worried them was the chance that if either of the individuals, who they now knew were sparring, turned to look at them. The blue creature, which they could now see was winged and was a spitting image of a dragon that were spoken of in old human legends, was thankfully facing away from them and preoccupied by the two androids that were locked in mock combat.
The group of YoRHa androids (and Devola and Popola) stopped when they were about 400 meters away. 9S, along with 21O and 6O, created a short range network that would allow them to communicate mentally rather than aloud. They agreed that if they wanted to make contact, it would need to be as peaceful as possible, but they also needed to be prepared incase of a fight.
As the two individuals ceased fighting, the group came up with their plan. 2B and 9S would approach them first, with the other six androids circling around the camp in case they needed to swarm the strangers from all sides. Of course, they couldn't completely encircle the camp without entering the field of view of the dragon (They agreed to call it as such), but it was enough to give them the advantage. Once everyone was in position and concealed, 2B and 9S stood up and casually approached the campsite, Their weapons stored in their digital forms to appear unarmed.
As soon as they were close enough for the firelight to hit 2B and 9S, the two strangers jumped to their feet, alarmed, and drew their respective weapons. The dragon, faster than they anticipated, stood up and whipped its head towards them, letting loose a threatening growl. In response, 2B and 9S stuck their hands up in the air and stopped in their tracks.
The boy on the left had a bow and arrow trained on them whilst the man on the right held a plain straight sword. Their attires were suited for travel, heavy clothes as well as a cloak on the man. What surprised the two androids was that the man on the right was adorned with wrinkles, silver hair, and a long, white beard, appearing as if he were well aged, which shouldn't be possible for androids. The other looked young, as most androids typically do. But he had short and curly, brown hair. As well as brown eyes, which signified they were definitely not YoRHa models.
In a threatening manner, the old one shouted. "State your names and your business!"
9S took a step forward, flinching when they all trained their eyes on him. "I'm 9S, this is 2B. We are sort of lost. We saw the campfire and came to see if you could help us."
Ignoring their request, the old one continued questioning them. "Do you serve the King?"
"Uh, No." 9S did not need to look at 2B to sense her shared confusion, as well as all the others, due to their connection with the others.
The two men shared a look and the boy called out his own question, less threatening than the old one. "I see no weapons or supplies on you. Are you armed?"
Here, 9S disliked having to lie, but he did not hesitate. "No, we are not."
The two men debated between themselves in a hushed manner, but not quite enough to be unheard by 9S and 2B.
The boy started. "If they did serve the king, wouldn't they have either attacked us or fled and reported Saphira to the King's men?"
The old one countered. "It could also be a ploy to get closer to us before they attack. They can't be trusted."
"But we can't turn them away either, They've already seen Saphira." The boy's statement seemed to annoy the older one.
The old one considered his words. "Damn this mess. Ask Saphira how she couldn't sense their approach."
The boy focused intently for a moment, before responding to the old one. "She says to be wary of them. Even though she can see them, she can't find their scent."
This seemed to make the old one even more cautious. "Let them come, but if need be, get ready to flee with Saphira. No being alive should be able to hide from a dragon unless they have considerable power. But keep an arrow notched. Your name is Fenin, I'm your grandfather Morrin."
The old man lowered his sword, but did not sheathe it. "You may come closer, but slowly. It seems we have some questions for you!"
As instructed, 9S and 2B approached the campfire, hands aloft the whole time. As they neared, the boy was instructed to fetch something for them to sit on. When he had finished dragging a sizable log beside the fire, they were prompted to sit. 'Fenin' and 'Morrin' followed suit, but on the opposite side of the fire. The dragon, who they now assumed was Saphira, kept her eyes trained on them.
Once they were fully within the light of the fire, Fenin's face became tinged with pink and he seemed to focus on the space behind them. 9S and 2B noticed that this was after he took in 2B's appearance, they were unsure of the cause however.
Morrin was unaffected and continued his questioning, but less hostile than before. "How were you able to see this fire?"
2B and 9S were confused for a moment but realized what he meant when they looked at each other. 9S's amusement was evident in his voice. "Oh yeah. These blindfold's are see-through. They just help with the brightness of the snow."
Fenin seemed suspicious. "But it's the middle of the night? Surely it can't be too bright now."
9S wasn't sure how to reply so 2B took the lead. In a much more blunt tone, she came up with a lie so naturally that 9S almost believed her. "At this hour, it wouldn't have mattered if we took them off or not."
Fenin relented, but it was obvious he wasn't entirely convinced. "I guess."
9S could feel something strange with 2B through their connection. When he inquired about it mentally, she was more excited than he had ever known her to be.
9S! If they were androids, why would they be worried about light? And look at them. Have you EVER seen any models like them before? What about the pot over the fire? What's in it?
9S was scrutinizing these details as she pointed them out. Eventually he realized what she was hinting at. Even though he doubted it to be true, he could still feel his own excitement bubble up.
No, It can't be true! Can it?
2B replied earnestly. Can you think of any other explanation?
9S eventually began to believe it. But if they are, how do we find out? If we ask them outright if they are humans then it will make them infinitely more suspicious of us.
2B agreed with him. Let's not ask right now. Wait until we've gained their trust.
Their mental conversation lasted mere milliseconds, so it went unnoticed by Fenin and Morrin. Morrin's questioning continued. "It's quite cold out and the nearest town is far behind us. Pray tell how you managed to get this far without succumbing to frostbite or starvation. Your clothes surely don't seem suited for the season."
9S had no answer, and so 2B improvised once again, lying flawlessly. "We're nomadic. Our people are accustomed to harsh conditions. Besides, we haven't been out long."
"I thought you said you were lost?" Morrin's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
2B remained unnerved. "We are. We lost our camp along with our supplies. We were exploring the ruins when night fell and couldn't find our way back."
Morrin and Fenin seemed equally disbelieving of them. Morrin became slightly more hostile. "You mean Utgard? But no Human is capable of reaching the outpost on foot. It's too steep to climb!"
9S would've been sweating if he could, but he remained composed as 2B built their alibi out of thin air. "You're right, it is. At least, from here it is. We traveled up the neighboring mountain and found a path to Utgard. We've been traveling the mountains for some time now."
Morrin wasn't convinced. "If we were to believe you, then how did you manage to make it down here in one night?"
2B, remained as cool as the snow around them. "As you said, it's the cold season. The snow drifts are deep, making an excellent cushion for landing on. Not to mention that going down the mountainside is easier than going up it."
Morrin's skepticism was clear on his face, and his questions didn't cease. "Speaking of your clothing. It's very ornate… and foreign. How would nomads acquire such fine clothes?"
For effect, 2B smiled ever so slightly. "I appreciate your praise. It took a lot of hours to make these outfits."
9S was in awe, and ever so thankful, of his partner. He knew there was no way for them to seem not suspicious, but the fact she could even make a somewhat plausible story to explain their situation was amazing.
Wanting to change the focus away from their less than believable tale. 2B crossed her legs to appear more relaxed. "So, as for some dire-"
"You're not human, are you?"
Fenin's question caused everyone in the network to become alarmed, including 9S. 2B remained composed, however, and did her best to keep the situation from escalating. "What makes you think that?"
The boy nervously gripped his bow, but made no move to draw the string. He seemed to be as nervous as they were. "Ignoring your made up background. You've both sat here and conversed with us for some time, and for every word you've spoken, not once have I seen steam escape your mouths."
When 9S and 2B looked closely, sure enough, there was steam whenever Fenin or Morrin exhaled, along with Saphira and the horses. In an immensely immature manner, 9S tested it himself and exhaled in front of him. No steam came forth.
Fenin and Morrin jumped from their seats and once again faced them with weapons at the ready. 2B had to convince the others not to launch their attack. She had a plan to bring the situation around.
Morrin seemed the most fearful of 9S and 2B. "In all my years, I have never heard or seen any creature resembling man that needn't breathe. You're not man, you're not elf, nor are you shade. What are you then!?"
9S was panicked, he kept looking between them and 2B, waiting for her signal on what to do next. She decided the best thing to do was come clean. "You're right, we're not human."
"Well then, What are you!" Spat Morrin.
"We are androids. And before I explain further, you should know that we were created by humans, and have a deep love for them, so you have no reason to fear us."
For 9S and 2B, It was a few tense moments of wondering whether they would fight or not. Thankfully, Morrin and Fenin slowly sat back down, intrigued by her claim.
Morrin sheathed his weapon, keen on hearing them out. "Explain."
From then on, 2B and 9S explained the origin of androids, why they were created, and what their physiology was like. They told a very limited amount about their human history, especially the fact that they were extinct, thinking that it would be a bit much for their conversation. Hey did explain their machine foes in detail, specifically the events that led them to be in the cave and how they woke up. Even if it was a fraction of android history, it was more than enough to leave Morrin and Fenin dumbfounded.
"So your names, Tubee and Nyness, are in fact the numbers and letters 2 B and 9 S?" Morrin asked in wonder.
"Correct. Now, considering our story, could you care to bring us up to speed on your world and yourselves, 'Fenin' and 'Morrin?" 2B thought it only fair since they were so forthcoming.
Morrin's face scrunched up in confusion. "We didn't tell you our names."
"We have better hearing than normal, we heard you designate your fake names as well as Saphira's" 2B nodded her head to the dragon.
Morrin nodded his head. "Very well, you're due an explanation. First of all, My name is Brom."
"And mine is Eragon." The boy held his hand to his chest.
Who they now knew as Brom and Eragon, well, mostly Brom, explained the key points of Alagaesia's history and geography, drawing a crude map to picture the varying regions. After that, They explained the reason for their journey. Eragon was the first free dragon rider to be seen in Alagaesia for several hundred years, as well as Saphira being the only known dragon besides King Galbatorix's own mount, Shruikan. They went on how Eragon's uncle was slain by creatures known as the Ra'zac and he was now on the path for revenge.
One thing that intrigued the androids was the telepathic abilities that Eragon and Brom told them of, as well as Saphira's incredible intelligence. When the lengthy explanations were over, 2B approached them with an offer.
Though she addressed them all, her focus was on Eragon. "If it's alright, we would like nothing more than to help you. We have nowhere to go and would love to hear more about humans considering we've had no contact with our creators."
"I, uhhh, well-" Eragon was blushing and stumbling over his words when Saphira puffed out some hot air at him to snap him out of his stupor.
Instead, Brom answered. "I don't know, It would be nigh on impossible to keep a low profile, and we can't guarantee your safety. We also don't have enough supplies for you nor the money for new clothes and horses."
9S responded confidently. "Oh, no need to worry about that. We don't need to eat, remember. We also can keep up with the horses as long as you're not at full gallop. And as for fighting, we're more than capable. Some of us have been fighting for centuries."
Brom raised his eyebrow curiously. "Some of you?"
9S sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. A nervous laugh escaped his lips while 21O clearly stated 'Idiot' through their network. 2B tried to spin his slip up favorably. "9S and Myself were sent ahead to see if you were friendly. We didn't want to alarm you. But yes, you'd have many capable fighters on your side."
Eragon posed the question he, Saphira, and Brom wanted to know. "How many?"
2B made a show of standing up and waving around the campsite, but she had already sent the message 'all clear' to her comrades.
They were startled as Saphira perked up and snapped her head around in various directions, hearing the footsteps of the androids as they made their way towards camp. When they all came close enough, Eragon was, once again, as red as an apple as they were joined by six of the most beautiful women he had ever seen in his life, seven when he included 2B. The outfits of 21O, 6O, and the Commander were more revealing than what was typically worn by human women, he could even go as far as to say they were indecent. A2 was practically wearing nothing, but her damaged skin helped remind him that they weren't human. Unfortunately, his body wouldn't believe him. Even Brom wasn't immune, and his cheeks shifted color ever so slightly.
When they were all present, 2B went through and introduced them all. "This is A2, 21O, 6O, Devola, Popola, and the Commander."
Each nodded when their respective names were called. 6O gave a little wave, ecstatic that she was able to meet humans. Devola and Popola were equally excited, but were also hesitant considering their history between humans and other Devola and Popola models. Commander, 21O, and A2 remained reserved as ever, but they did eye the humans with obvious curiosity.
Brom cleared his throat and tried to introduce himself once again, but was interrupted by 2B. "No need to go through the whole story again, much like you, we have a mental link with each other, so they heard everything you told us."
Brom nodded his head and recomposed himself. "Good, it will save us some time. As for your earlier question, we will let you accompany us, but only once you all answer a question of my own."
They agreed, so he continued. "We are going to spend much of our time fighting the Empire, as well as bandits and other unsavory individuals we might encounter along the way. Will you be willing to kill other humans, who you love so dearly?"
The question struck a chord within them all. It was one they never thought they would ever need to consider. Especially for the case of 6O and 21O, who had never seen combat before. Through their shared connection, everyone could feel the many complicated emotions.
Suddenly, The Commander stepped forward and placed a fist against her chest. The YoRHa salute, except this time, she was using it to swear hers, and their conviction. "We do indeed love humans, but we are not ignorant of the less than favorable side of them. And I have no doubt that if we are faced with any evil, be it human or not, we will not hesitate to vanquish it."
The other androids had momentarily forgotten how well spoken the Commander was. No wonder she was able to keep morale up through several millennia of war. Her words resonated within them, and they all knew that she was right. When they all confirmed that they would be able to kill, if need be, Brom nodded his head. "It's settled then. Eragon, we are sure to have an interesting story to tell."
When no response was heard, Brom turned to see Eragon staring intently at the ground, face no less red than it was earlier as he snapped glances at the androids around him. For the first time since they all met, Brom seemed amused. He spoke to himself. "Ah, of course."
Brom snatched up his wooden staff and rapped Eragon on his knuckles. Eragon yelped in pain, clutching his hand as he glared at Brom. "What was that for!"
"To help you focus. It's difficult enough to teach you with that dense skull of yours. I don't need your mind on other things."
Eragon muttered angrily, but was unable to retort. Saphira made a strange sound through her nose that seemed to make Eragon even more flustered. When the androids looked puzzled by it, Brom told them that she was laughing at him. Which explained his embarrassment, but not what was so funny (well, Devola and Popola could guess).
When the conversation lulled, 6O stepped forward and all eyes fell on her. In an adorably awkward manner, she made a request. "Um… Miss Saphira, is it alright if we… talk to Eragon and Brom? It's just that, I've never thought I would ever get to meet humans."
9S was quick to jump in as well. "And! um… you too, because, well, I personally didn't think dragons existed."
Saphira, who had been watching silently for most of the interaction, seemed to regard the androids' words. When she felt that their intent was innocent, her eyes softened and she relayed a message to Eragon.
Tell them Yes, and that I am curious about them as well. But we can't talk the whole night away, so we must keep it short.
When Eragon gave voice to her words, he immediately regretted it. He was swarmed by 6O, Devola, and Popola, desperately trying to answer all their questions. It was particularly difficult when the androids insisted on touching him, they wanted to 'see if humans were as warm and soft as history says'. 9S knew that the humans were overwhelmed so he, along with 2B, and A2, conversed with Saphira as best as they could. 21O and the Commander held a conversation with Brom, and in a much more mature manner than the rest of their group.
After nearly an hour of questioning that varied between childish and philosophical, Saphira ended the conversation by grabbing Eragon by his tunic and lifting him out of the reach of the androids and promptly tucking him under her wing.
Speaking over the sounds of Eragon's protests, Brom addressed them all. "All right. It's time we get to bed. If we stay up any later we will be irritable all day tomorrow."
Saphira let Eragon free so he could arrange his bedroll beside her. As he and Brom were nearly ready to settle in for the night, Eragon made an observation that should've been obvious to them earlier. "We don't have enough beds for you."
9S tried his best to ease their concern. "Oh don't worry about that, we don't really need to sleep. We can keep watch for you instead."
Brom, Eragon, and Saphira were not necessarily fond of the answer. If it were anyone else, they would have thought them suspicious. In order to let her human companions rest easy, Saphira assured them that she would keep watch as well.
Accepting her answer, they both went to bed, their fatigue of recent events dragging them into a deep slumber. Saphira watched as the androids kept to their word and stationed themselves at intervals around the camp's edge.
Somewhat familiar with their presence, Saphira allowed herself to doze, but did not sleep, and awaited the sun to rise in the morning.
