Hello readers, I finished the chapter sooner than expected after having the internet down for an entire evening. I know I have dozens of readers from the Russian Federation, a country where I lived for a short time. Please, if any of my Russian readers knows anyone who is or who might serve in the army, I have a huge favor to ask. Please make sure they memorize the telephone number to surrender to the armed forces of Ukraine. The war is hopeless for Russia, they are almost out of modern equipment and over a thousand Russian soldiers are killed or severely wounded every day. It's better to stay alive and uninjured than to participate in this cruel war against the Ukrainian people. I love Russia and Russian culture as you can see with the many references I make in this work, especially to Russian literature, so I want you to preserve your lives.
To Qrious writ3r: interesting, I didn't know that about clones. In the world of Nier, Replicants (who probably aren't clones) live normal life spans, and I'll assume for the sake of this work that they would be able to make clones with who live full lives.
Interesting opinion about whether 9S would forgive 2B sooner or later. The 'you're thinking about how much you want to **** 2B, aren't you?' moment was incredible, and does show at least some subconscious hatred. There's also a chapter early on in the book "YoRHa Boys" which makes it clear that 9S would be willing to kill 2B in some circumstances, but I won't spoil that here, anyone interested can read the book.
Oh shoot, I forgot about fish being dangerous to androids! I'm sorry for that mistake. I went back and changed that part of the chapter. Thanks for the help!
Chapter 10: Anemone.
Akhmatova stared out the window of their vehicle at the barren plains. "Do you think we'll get to see 2D?"
"I think she's still guarding it," said 9S. The poor boy looked miserable, and his voice was a little hoarse.
The four of them: Hunter, Akhmatova, 2B, and 9S, were all on their way to New Denver to visit the YoRHa manufacturing facility. After New Denver, they were going to the resistance town Akhmatova was from.
The trip was awkward; 2B and 9S weren't speaking, and the other two couldn't think of a good conversation topic. At long last they saw the city in the distance. The dilapidated buildings, smokestacks, and warehouses greeted them, as did the smog which hovered over the land with an air of impending doom. As they drove into the city, many androids and some machines passed by the windows. Everyone looked miserable: some depressed, and others angry. The mood reminded Hunter of some large human cities he had visited.
"This is it," 2B said, stopping the vehicle.
They all got out. Several YoRHa units already surrounded the vehicle, providing security for them. The human looked at the facility. It was bigger than an American Costco by quite a margin.
The former lieutenant heard a voice behind him. "Hello Hunter!" He turned around and smiled. There was 2D in front of him. She was the defense android who he'd helped after her partner was savagely killed. They embraced warmly.
"How have you been?"
"I'm doing great! Haven't felt a bit scared after coming back, and I'm happy."
Hunter was relieved, "I'm so glad!"
Their conversation was interrupted by an X model android, "we need to get you inside, sir."
They all rushed inside. The security team was tense having Hunter outside in a city. They didn't want news of a human's existence spreading. If machines found out there was a living human, they'd probably do everything in their power to kill him.
Inside the building, they found themselves in a small office with desks and computer terminals. Two androids in camouflage security uniforms were watching security cameras. They were introduced to Hunter and Akhmatova as contractors for YoRHa, rather than being YoRHa units.
The tour inside the plant was brief. Almost everything was automated, with many robotic arms doing the work. The main things manufactured were YoRHa androids, but there were also weapons, clothes, tools, and building materials being produced. Even some food items were prepared and packaged there, some of which Hunter recognized from the YoRHa cafeteria.
At the end of the tour, Hunter was brought to the end of the android assembly line. A large conveyor belt led down into a rectangular pool which smelled of cleaning chemicals. A finished android body was seen inside, eyes closed and naked, soaking in the bath. She had long silver hair which flowed around her in the liquid.
The android in charge told the guests, "this model is an updated version of an old YoRHa prototype design. It's an attacker model, made for close quarters combat. They have incredible strength compared to battle models, which are similar."
2D knelt down next to the bath, "someone needs to start her up for the first time. Do you want to do the honors Hunter?"
"Absolutely, how do I do it?"
"Just reach your arm in and touch the top of her head firmly."
Hunter stepped into the bath, which came up just above his knees.
"You didn't need to step in, but that's okay," said 2D, flabbergasted.
"I want to help her up after she's awake," Hunter replied. He reached down and touched her head hard with three of his fingertips.
"You need to use more pressure."
Hunter pressed down harder, and the android's icy blue eyes snapped open. She sat up, coughing liquid and gasping. Hunter offered his hands. The android looked up at him innocently with her cute little features.
A voice called out, "YoRHa unit A2, your chief mission in life is to protect and serve humanity. Arise."
A2 took Hunter's hands and stood up.
"In front of you is the last surviving human. His name is Hunter. Thank him for being here and waking you up."
A2 looked at him with wonder, "you're human?"
"I am."
"Thank you," she said, her mouth forming an O.
"You're welcome."
A2 hopped out and turned around and offered her own hands to help Hunter out of the bath. Clothes were brought for A2, and a change of socks and shoes for Hunter.
"Sorry, I should have thought about getting them wet, I was being stupid," Hunter apologized as he took his shoes and socks off.
"It's no trouble," 2D assured, "just make sure you take your footwear off before getting your feet wet. We don't want you being uncomfortable or getting sick."
The android in charge, after talking to A2, went to the human and explained, "Commander White requested that A2 come to help guard you at the resistance base, and to train with her sister unit — 2B. Is that acceptable to you?"
"Yes, that's fine."
"Good, this concludes your tour. We're honored that you and your friend came to visit us. We'll escort you to the car when you're ready."
A few minutes later, they were getting back in the YoRHa vehicle to head to the Resistance base. The car was too crowded with one new passenger, so 2B sat on A2's lap. Hunter only noticed it now, but A2 was a bit bigger than her sister.
"How do you feel, A2?" Hunter asked.
"I don't know, normal maybe. No, I'm happy."
9S wondered, "why is that?"
"Because I'm with my master."
"You mean me?" Hunter asked.
"Of course."
"Please don't call me master."
"Okay, mas– how would you like me to call you?"
"Hunter will be fine."
"Is there anything you'd like me to do for you, Hunter?"
2B snapped, "shut up A2, don't annoy him."
Hunter was shocked, "2B, she didn't do anything wrong."
"I apologize, sir. A2 and I share the same personality and memory programming. She reminds me of how I behaved when I was new and it irritates me, she's such a child."
Ahkmatova interjected, "Hunter and I need to speak to the base leader alone when we arrive."
"Really what for?" asked 9S
"Well, it's private."
A2 spoke again, "Hunter, where do you come from?"
"I come from a place called New Hampshire. It's a pretty land to the North East, or at least, it used to be pretty."
"Oh, and where are you from 9S?" She asked so innocently.
"I'm a YoRHa unit too, so I come from the same place as you do."
"Do you want me to sing for you, Hunter?"
"That's very thoughtful! Yes, that would be nice."
A2 started singing soothingly, and it made their trip seem to pass faster. [Author's note: A2 sang the song "Grandma" from Nier.]
When they eventually arrived, Hunter, Akhmatova, 2B, 9S, and A2 stayed behind with all the things they brought. The YoRHa units escorting them left in the vehicle they came in, and in flight units.
A crowd of Resistance androids gathered to greet Akhmatova and her human companion. A couple minutes later, the leader of the base, Locke, drew them aside to the privacy of his office.
"Welcome back, both of you! So," he began, "what do you make of YoRHa? Can they be trusted?"
"I don't think they'll be hostile towards us," Akhmatova said. "What do you think, Hunter?"
"They wouldn't be hostile, but they aren't honest. They keep secrets from their own androids on pain of death. I'm not even sure they're honest with me. They told me that they can clone genetically distinct humans based on editing my DNA, but one of their androids, after hacking into their classified data, told me that they can't. They were at least very hospitable to Akhmatova and I."
"That doesn't seem right at all. We'll agree to more trade with them, but we should prepare a plan in case they attack. Who knows, they might try to take Hunter by force."
"If they try, I'll kill them," said Ahkmatova.
"I know you'll do everything you can to protect him. Do we have to have YoRHa androids at this base?"
The female android assured, "two of them, 9S and 2B are no longer members of YoRHa, they are loyal only to Hunter."
"I can vouch for them. They aren't loyal to YoRHa any more. In fact, they'd be a great protection against them."
"If you say so. There is one other matter, we'd like to give this place a name and declare it a town. Would you come up with our name, and consider being our first mayor, Hunter?"
"I can suggest a name I suppose, but I'll have to decline being mayor."
"You won't be staying with us permanently?"
"I haven't decided yet, but that's not the reason I won't be mayor. Truth be told, I'm not ready for that kind of responsibility."
"I respect that. Well, come and see me when you've thought of a name for our town."
"One more thing sir," entreated the Resistance girl, "it's about my brother, the one who saved Hunter."
Two days ago, in the YoRHa base, Aeschylus's dead android body was ready for cleaning. At the request of Akhmatova, all of her dead brother's broken parts had been replaced or repaired. He was restored to the functional state he had died in, even his processing and memory chips had been replaced. A complete android operating system could have been installed in the body, but if he was turned on, it wouldn't be Aeschylus who would awake. Aeschylus was dead: his data, his personality, and his memories had been lost when the machines bashed his head in. Unlike YoRHa units, resistance androids didn't have their data uploaded and preserved; when they died, they were gone forever.
Devola and Popola stood reverently by as Hunter and Akhmatova carefully sponge cleaned the exterior. The android's body was dried with towels and dressed in one of Hunter's new Western style suits. After the body was laid gently in the coffin, Akhmatova looked at him. His face looked tired and dignified, showing the long and hard life he had lived. This coffin was loaded onto the vehicle Hunter and his friends took.
The funeral came a few days later at the resistance base. Akhmatova told Hunter to give a very short eulogy, because her brother had always been one of few words. At the burial site, over a hundred attendees gathered around the hole Aeschylus would be placed in. It was morning, with dew specked grass and columbine flowers on the ground.
Standing next to the coffin, the human spoke these words: "There is no greater gift than the gift of life; Aeschylus gave his to us. His final act, his self-sacrifice, will forever crown his life with bravery. I don't know what we can do to repay his gift, what we can do to return the favor. I know only one thing we can do. We must remember him; we will always remember him.
Akhmatova was the next to speak, "I miss you, brother. I wish you could come back to us. You'd love spending time with Hunter. Thank you for saving us; thanks for being my best friend. You were the most human android I ever met, and I love you."
After that, volunteers lowered the casket into the ground. Hunter himself took a shovel and filled the hole with dirt. The funeral was over, and no android left, none wanted to. After many minutes, when Hunter was done, several androids in the crowd came forward with flower seeds to plant over the grave. Someone watered the bed as Hunter went and put his arm around Akhmatova. The sun shone over the mountains, painting the sky with neon purple and orange colors.
"Let's go home," Hunter's best friend said.
Sleeping arrangements were a little awkward. With two beds to sleep one man and four androids, Akhmatova's little wooden home wasn't a suitable place for them all. Separate sleeping arrangements were found for two of their party, and Akhmatova insisted that 2B sleep in her home.
"There might be trouble if she's with 9S, or even A2," she whispered to her friend.
"I agree, but what will we do about the two beds? Who will share?"
"What would you feel most comfortable with? I'd be happy to share with you, wouldn't mind with 2B, and 2B would happily do anything for you. Besides, 2B owes you after you saved her from YoRHa."
"Then let's be the ones to share a bed, you feel like family to me."
"I know, right! Sometimes I think of you almost as my son or nephew."
"Speaking of which, did I tell you how 9S said that YoRHa wants to reprogram their androids?"
"To make them motivated, not only by a love for humanity like all androids, but also a desire to form families and to live for their sake. I remember."
"I'd like to take this chance when we're alone with 2B tonight and ask her about it. Maybe she knows something about YoRHa's plans?"
"It's worth a shot. I'd also like to hear more of her side of the story when it comes to 9S."
A couple of hours later, they started turning in for the night.
Hunter wondered at his new roommate, "do you have pajamas, 2B?"
"No, I usually sleep on top of beds while wearing my uniform, it's more efficient."
"Alright," said the human, pulling a fleece jacket over himself for warmth. He sat on Akhmatova's bed, which wasn't much larger than a twin size. Using a sensitive tone of voice, he said, "2B, can I ask you about 9S?"
"Yes, but I don't see the point. You already know everything."
"I don't know one thing, and it's very important. You care about him a lot, so why did you agree to keep killing him?"
"It was my job. My real designation isn't 2B, it's 2E; the E stands for executioner. 9S has an excessively curious and inquisitive personality, which makes him the perfect scanner. He's very important to YoRHa for his abilities, but his curiosity always drives him to hack into YoRHa's most sensitive files. When that happens, his pod reports his activity, and it's my job to kill him before he can leak secrets; that's why I'm always paired with him.
2B revealed her story, how her relationship with 9S evolved, and what drove her to kill him again and again.
After she was done, 2B's audience was stunned. Akhmatova was the first to speak, "does 9S know about this?"
"He knows nothing except that I've killed him."
"He needs to know. He would be a lot more understanding."
Hunter added, "he would, he needs to know how much you care about him, and how you really feel."
"It doesn't matter, he would never love me, even if he forgave me. At this point, I just hope I can make it up to him a little. Even if I'm forgivable, I'm not lovable."
"Yes you are," Hunter said, "I think you're lovable and deserve love. What you did wasn't right, but you were put in the most vulnerable position possible, manipulated, and controlled. You can't shift all the blame away from yourself, but most of the blame falls on YoRHa. All you can do now is take responsibility for what you did."
"And how do I do that?"
"Love 9S, just love him no matter what, and be willing to show it without hesitation this time. You loved him in death, now love him in life."
2B clenched her fist resolutely, "alright."
They went to bed even though it was still light out; the strange behavior of the Sun in this time and place made that a necessity for the human body, which naturally operated in 24 hour cycles. The two androids waited for their human friend to wake up before they themselves arose. Akhmatova, whose face was nestled in Hunter's chest as he slept, looked up at him as he stirred.
"Good morning," she said.
"Good morning. How do you think A2 and 9S are doing?"
"I don't know, A2 has the same base personality as 2B, and she doesn't have to kill him or anything, so I'm guessing they're best friends already."
2B became worried, "do you think she could replace me for him?" 2B called from across the room.
"Of course not, no one could replace you," said the other android.
"9S always liked my personality, but unlike me, A2 hasn't mistreated him."
"Well then come here, I'll do something to make you prettier for 9S." The two walked to the center of the room, and Akhmatova placed 2B in front of a full body mirror. First, she took off 2B's blindfold, next, she went and grabbed a flower from a vase. A lady android from the Resistance had given the bouquet to Hunter not long after their arrival. The flower which was chosen was a red anemone.
"I need something to hold it in place in your hair," she explained, looking around.
2B gave her a pink ribbon, "9S gave it to me once, and I treasure it."
As Akhmatova started fixing the flower in front of 2B's ear and the ribbon behind, she explained the meaning of the anemone, "there is an ancient human legend about two lovers, Adonis, and the goddess Aphrodite. When Adonis was killed, Aphrodite's tears mixed with his blood and spilled on the ground. The first anemone flowers rose in that spot, forever a symbol of death and forsaken love. There, you look so pretty."
2B looked in the mirror and turned around to face Hunter, "what do you think?"
"I think it won't be easy for him to stay mad with you looking like that."
2B smiled a little, "I hope so."
The group went outside a few minutes later. They saw 9S following A2 from the balcony.
"Stop following me," A2 asked.
"I'm just trying to not get separated, we need to be ready when the others wake up."
"I don't care."
2B shook her head, "she's so similar to me, and I hate it."
"Now's your chance to change it," said the other android girl.
"I feel sick."
9S noticed them and waved, "good morning, how did you sleep?"
The human responded, "good morning, 9S! I slept well, thank you."
9S looked curious, "why are you wearing those in your hair, 2B? You never cared about fashion."
"I'm wearing them for you. Akhmatova thought you might like them."
"What, really?"
"I want to talk to you alone."
"Why?" 9S sounded cautious.
"I want to apologize and try to make up for what I've done. I have a gift for you as well."
"Go with her, 9S, she's sincere," Hunter told him.
"I'll leave my weapons behind if you don't trust me," she said.
"No, that's okay, keep your weapons."
Akhmatova offered to take the pair to a pretty spot outside of town. They accepted, and she left them under the shade of a tree by a winding river.
"Well, what did you want to say?" said 9S, apprehensively.
First of all, I want to tell you about our past. You deserve to know, since I took your memories.
"By now you know that my real designation isn't 2B, but 2El. I was paired with you because you have an excessively curious and inquisitive personality, which makes you the perfect scanner, the best YoRHa ever had, in fact. Your curiosity always drives you to hack into YoRHa's most sensitive files. When that happened, your pod reported your activity, and it was my job to kill you before you had the chance to leak secrets; that's why I was always paired with you, to be your executioner."
"I already know all that."
"Here's what you might not know. I found it hard the first time I killed you, I was fond of you, and you put up quite a fight. You kept trying to reason with me. In the end, you asked me why. Why was I killing you? At first, it was because I believed in the mission of YoRHa, to rid the world of machines and make a place suitable for humans. Can you believe it, at first I actually believed that YoRHa could clone humans with genetic material from a Moon base, I was so gullible, not like you, you question everything. Every time you came back without your memories, you kept being so kind to me, and I felt guilty. You always made every effort to get to know me, the real me, unlike anyone else I knew who were more concerned with themselves. Several times, you told me you were glad that I was the one to end your life, that you would rather have me do it than anyone else. And one of those times, as you were bleeding out, you made me promise that I would be the one to kill you whenever you hacked into the server. And I've kept that promise to you, it's all I could do. I started to love you, to sob uncontrollably after each time I killed you. You're so tender and kind, and I'm cruel. I didn't deserve to be by your side, but I had made a promise to you, and wanted your company however distant we had to be."
"Why didn't you try to escape and run away with me?"
"If we had, we would have been hunted down and killed, almost for sure. YoRHa wouldn't have spared any effort to end us. And if we had been caught, my memories would have been erased. Another executioner model would have been assigned to you, and I would lose you forever. Eventually, I just couldn't take it anymore, and I started to plan an escape, but you broke into the servers before my plans were complete, and I had to kill you again. This time you left a letter for me in my room. And there in the letter, you finally told me the full truth of YoRHa's deceptions, including information you hadn't gotten the chance to share with me before because of how quickly I cut short your life. One part of the letter interested me greatly. YoRHa were going to found towns and cities once they were ready, and fill them with new androids who found fulfillment in forming families and taking care of them. The older YoRHa units who were made for combat like us would be reprogrammed.
"I was desperate. I went to the Commander with an offer. I would keep killing you and do my duties without question, but when the time came, I wanted her to give me…" 2B was so embarrassed, she thought it would kill her.
"You wanted her to give you what?"
"I wanted the Commander to give me you to be my husband, and for us to live in peace with the families who would be created. The Commander agreed to my request, and I continued doing what I was before, for the sake of being with you."
"You wanted me to be your what!?"
2B blushed. "Later, Hunter agreed to let us leave YoRHa and work as his bodyguards to keep you safe, and to allow us to stay together. I thought I was in a dream, I started thinking about all the things I'd say to you, how I'd show you how I feel about you, but then you went missing. You had hacked into the servers for the last time, and you know what happened after that.
"I owe you more than I can give, but I'll repay as much as I can for the rest of my life. I belong to you now. You can do whatever you want with me, only don't leave me, that's a price too high for me to bear. These past few days of being alienated from you were pure Hell. I can't live without you, you're my addiction. You're like sunshine, flowers, food, a gentle rain on my face, the happy birds flying in the sky, and everything pleasant and beautiful in life. I love you Nines. Here's my sword, you can kill me if it will make you feel better. We're no longer a part of YoRHa, and they won't bring me back using my data when I die. If you choose to kill me now, I'll be dead forever, so please–"
"Stop it, 2B!"
"What?"
"I don't want to kill you. I'm not ready to believe you yet, not after all the lies and mistreatment, but… I don't want to be apart from you either."
"Oh, Nines!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek repeatedly. 9S slowly put his arms around her. "Oh, I almost forgot, years ago, I started searching through my memory files and compiling all of our shared memories into a file, besides anything violent. You can have the file and see these memories for yourself, I hope it will partly make up for what I've taken from you."
"2B, you really did that for me?"
"I'll do anything for you from now on."
9S walked back with 2B, hand in hand.
"All better?" Hunter asked.
"Not all better," 2B responded, "but I'll make the most of every moment we have."
"Wait, what's been going on between you two?" A2 asked.
"Sometimes, I've asked myself that same question," 9S said.
Would you like a Christmas chapter, and if so, what do you want to see in it? What should the Resistance town be named? Please let me know in a review. I'm open to any and all criticisms, questions, comments, praise, or anything else you'd like to say. Don't worry, I have thick skin. Your wish is my command.