Chapter 2: Canyon of Ghosts
6H patiently paced the plateu as 33E was looking around it's edges. They weren't necessarily high up, but the terrain immediately below was rocky and awkward.
33E hadn't said a word since their check-in with the operator. It was beginning to irritate 6H.
"Find a way down?" 6H asked. 33E simply continued looking, seemingly ignoring her.
6H sighed deeply. For as beautiful as the view was, she was quickly becoming impatient. "Do we even know what units we're looking for?" 6H asked. 33E continued ignoring her.
She quietly cursed to herself, opting to help look around the plateau, peering over the edge. It was a steep drop. But with the help of her Pod, they could probably make it down unscathed.
"Say, Thirty-Three?" 6H called out, not exactly hopeful for a response, "I think we can make it down if we use my Pod."
Frustratingly, 33E continued ignoring her.
6H frowned and snapped her fingers, summoning her Pod to attention. She grabbed hold of it's arms, made a running start and leapt off. She found herself gliding down the to the ground, landing on the uneven rock. She struggled to keep her balance as the stone beneath her heels shifted slightly.
She turned around to see 33E peering over down at her.
6H desperately wanted to make 33E ask nicely for her Pod. Not wanting a death wish, however, she simply gestured the Pod to her, signaling to assist her partner.
Moments later, 33E landed next 6H, still avoiding eye contact.
"…Thanks…" 33E muttered, catching 6H by surprise.
"Your very welcome." 6H said with newfound confidence, "Remember, I'm here to help. If you need something, just ask."
"I'll… Keep that in mind." 33E retorted, unamused.
6H let out a silent huff as they began the trek towards the canyon in front of them. It was the only real entrance into the rest of the island, cutting off the limited rocky grasslands from whatever was beyond the mountains.
Either side of the canyon had stretches of road, or at least thin strips of land to guide the ongoing traveler. But, much to the unit's dismay, those roads were inaccessible due to their excessive elevation.
Small patches of grass dotted the heart of the canyon. With rocks and loose dirt patches smothering what was left.
33E knelt down, checking one of the patches, "This canyon must have been made long ago." she picked up a rock from a pile of nearby dirt, "These dirt patches, on the other hand, suggest that someone has been messing around here."
"Could it be our YoRHa units?" 6H asked.
"I don't think so." 33E shook her head, "This place is too exposed for any YoRHa unit to try and take shelter in. Unless there was some sort of battle here while passing through…"
33E stood, "The question is, why was there a fight to begin with?"
In the back of 6H's head, she had been worried about this. There was no evidence ahead of time that the island was populated in any way, but neither was there evidence to the contrary. If they were lucky, they were simply caught up in a tussle with some wild boars.
They began walking through the canyon with relative ease. It was going to be a long trek, but 6H was more concerned with the odd movement out of the corner of her eye. There was something strange, something almost ghastly that seemed to appear. Assuming it was even real, she couldn't determine its shape or size.
"Do we know if there are machines here? Ones that are still on the network?" 6H asked, tapping 33Es shoulder. She shook her head.
"There's no way a machine could make it out here. Even if they could, the network couldn't reach this island. Too far." 33E said as she glanced up at the ridge to her right.
6H wasn't sold. At the very least, she had a distinct feeling that something was watching them.
The crumpling of rocks could be heard behind them, forcing the two units to turn around. A small pile had formed at the base of the leftmost ridge.
"Just a landslide." 33E relaxed, "The ground must still be soft here."
6H, in the other hand, was only becoming increasingly nervous. She'd heard stories about from the old world about incorporeal beings. Perhaps the island had some of these creatures? Ghosts and the like?
6H's pod drifted into view, "Analysis, units 6H and 33E are being followed by an android."
The two stopped.
"What-? How do you know?" 6H asked her pod.
"Heat signatures detected on the ridges above. Android classification codes exist, but are not equal to YoRHa codes." the pod explained. "However, other unknown material exists on the ridges as well."
33E summoned a spear. 6H had seen it before, in fact, many YoRHa units did. Known as The Usurper, the spear was found during an expadition in one of the surrounding areas of the abandoned city. However, it, like many similar weapons, was locked away in the "elite armory" a place where weapons for only those of high enough stature are held.
33E sneered looking around, "Dammit all. I thought this place was abandoned!"
"M-maybe if we don't antagonize them, we won't need to engage." 6H tried to reason with the dismissive 33E, who shook her head.
"If we're being followed, they probably know about the other YoRHa units. We'll need to engage regardless." 33E said, gripping her spear with both hands.
6H questioned the inherently antagonistic approach 33E chose to employ. But, in the end it made sense an offensive unit would prioritize information gathering through assertive means.
"Slowly, then?" 6H said, lowering her voice.
33E rolled her eyes and nodded. She began approaching the leftmost ridge, gesturing 6H to stay put.
Slow step after slow step, 33E approached the ridge, trying to see if there was any signs of life.
Not far behind, 6H heard a noise from the opposite ridge. She turned around to see a figure hiding, alongside the same ghastly something. She began looking back and forth, panicked.
She approached 33E to inform her of the other stalkers. 33E gestured for her to stop.
"33E!" 6H whispered.
33E aggressively gestured to her again.
"There more on the other side-!" as 6H tried to warn 33E, a loud noise echoed throughout the canyon. Suddenly a human shaped figure jumped from the ridge, falling head-first towards 6H.
"Move!" 33E shoved 6H aside and thrusted her spear towards the android, impailing them through the head.
A black liquid splattered to the ground behind and ran down the spear, as the now limp corpse hung from the spear. 6H starred at it quizzically.
33E threw the corpse to the ground and swiped her spear clean of residue.
"Thanks for the save.." 6H said. 33E simply starred at her with a familiar frustration.
Does- she not know about my lack of combat experience? 6H thought. She has to know… Right? If it was true, 33E was in for an unsavory surprise.
Another ungodly noise erupted from the opposite ridge. Another android began falling towards them.
"Shit-! Run!" 33E commanded.
6H hesitated, pointing at the liquid that fell from the android, "Pod. Take a sample of that residue."
She broke into a sprint trying to follow 33E.
"So much for information!" 6H said in a somewhat sarcastic manner.
"You want to ask those things!?" 33E retorted.
"Fair- enough-" 6H said, maintaining her breathing. It had been a while since she'd had a workout like this. 33E on the other hand, was beginning to make some distance between them. She was clearly more in-shape.
"Pick up the pace, healer!" 33E said, looking back. "Shit-!"
33E turned around, skidding to a brief halt as she summoned a massive blade and swatted aside an android that had began to chase them on all fours. It was sent careening into the side of the ridge. Before restarting her jog, quickly catching up to 6H.
"What are those things-?!" 6H huffed.
"No idea- just keep running!" 33E said.
"We can't keep going like this, though!" 6H pleaded.
As much as she hated to admit, 33E agreed. They'd sooner expose themselves in an open field at the opposite end of the ridge and back themselves into a corner. Thankfully, in the not too far distance, she spotted a small opening against the left ridge. She looked at the wall of dirt and rock next to her.
"Head to that hole up ahead." 33E pointed, "Don't stop."
"What about you-?" 6H said, but was quickly interrupted.
"Don't question it, just go!" 33E shouted.
33E summoned her blade once again and kicked off the ground. Upon identifying the largest pile of rocks on the ridge, she began to spin, building momentum using the weight of her blade.
She released her grip, sending the blade into the side of the ridge with a thunderous crash. Creating an intense landslide.
33E broke back into a sprint, following 6H through the quickly thickening dust clouds. She dove into the small opening and took a quick look around.
It was no more than a few feet deep. But it was enough to shield them from the landslide and hide them from the army of androids, which began charging past like a stampede, climbing and leaping off the newly formed pile dirt and stone.
"Wha-" 6H panted, catching her breath. "What was that about!?"
"No idea." 33E said, bluntly. "But there's too many to take on, we're going to have to avoid them."
"Easier said than done." 6H retorted, crossing her arms as she rolled her eyes with an indignant impatience.
"The canyon goes only has one way forward, you know." she continued, "And if those things are going to be in the way, we might as well have flown over."
"You know we can't." 33E said.
"But why not!?" 6H said, exasperated. "It's not like we don't have a good reason!"
"If we fly over, the rogue units will know we're here. Even worse, they might come looking for the flight units themselves as a means of escape, if they don't already have some." 33E said. She wasn't thrilled with the situation as much as 6H, but she knew they needed to stay rational. Any sizable mistake would cost them the mission and their lives.
33E peered out of the hole and into the distance. Peeking from behind the trees and cliffs on the rightmost ridge, a path could be seen. In fact, 33E could swear a building was visible. But it wasn't clear enough to discern one way or the other. Unfortunately, it was their best bet.
33E pointed out to the path. "There. A small dirt path leading us out of the canyon. If nothing else, we could get our bearings there."
6H looked out. She nodded nervously. "What if that's where they came from?"
33E sighed. "We'll feel it out." she stepped out from the hole. "We can try fleeing into the mountains, worst case scenario."
6H shuttered at the thought. Then my ankles may as well be broken twigs…
The two began darting towards the path as fast as they could. 6H desperately trying to keep up with 33E. She could tell 33E was slowing down, if only a little.
6Hs Pod approached beside her. "Movement detected ahead and behind units 6H and 33E. Evasive maneuver recommended."
"Shit-" 33E cursed. She skid to a halt and in one swift motion, swung her giant blade into the ground, the dirt congealing into a small hill.
"Take cover and figure out a way to escape." 33E commanded, "I'll hold them off." 33E flourished her blade as it faded away. She charged towards the middle of the canyon, getting a good look at the small crowds of androids approaching from either side.
33E summoned her spear and jutted it into the ground behind her and summoned her large claymore once again.
Once the crowd in front of her was close enough, she spun around, building momentum with her blade. She jutted her boot into the dirt and let the blade loose, letting it spin and cut though and leaving a dent in the crowd.
33E twirled around, lifting her leg and slamming it into the butt of her spear at an odd angle, giving it intense torque, spinning ahead and cutting the chest of the lead android. 33E caught the spear with both hands and with a flourish upward, cleanly removing the androids head. It flew overhead and landed behind the dirt hill 6H was currently hiding by.
6H coughed as she swatted away the dust cloud. "Pod- is there anything we can do to stop these- things?"
The Pod hovered idly for a moment. 6H could hear the grunts of 33E as she fended off the silent mob. Her anxiety only grew.
"Bio analysis complete." the Pod relayed. "Analysis: these androids are made up of a substance similar to YoRHa units and other androids. But there are distinct imperfections by comparison."
"Elaborate." 6H said.
"This substance has trace amounts of rust. Leading to discoloration. As well as stark amounts of calcium. Disproportionate to that contained in average androids." the Pod said.
"As such, it is possible these androids biological signatures could be isolated." the Pod concluded.
"Isolated? Wait, do you mean-?" Mid-thought, 6H peered over the hill. 33E was struggling and losing ground quickly.
Claymore in one hand and spear in the other, 33E swung around, stabbed the earth with the spear, and began to shift her weight. 33E clung to the blade as it was being pulled outward from the motion. After three solid rotations, leaving her immediate surroundings clear of hostile. She released her grip on the blade once more, letting it cut through more of the now slowed crowd behind her.
33E gripped the spear with both hands, pushing downward and back up to launch herself slightly upward. She spun the spear as she descended and impaled an android through the head as it fell limp.
"Thirty-Three!" 6H exclaimed.
33E shifted her gaze toward the cover she had made, the Pod was flying over. A blue blinking light on its interface.
33E pulled the spear out of the ground and spun it around, sending the android corpse into the crowd.
"Behind you-!" 6H called out as an android grabbed 33E from behind. It forced her into a chokehold. 33E gagged and gasped for air, dropping her spear to the ground. She tried to pull the inhuman android's grip free. But it felt almost rusted shut.
The Pod slowed its approach and began to blink with more intensity and speed. It sped up until it was a singular persistent light.
In a blinding flash of blue energy, the majority of androids fell limp. Thankfully, this included the grip on 33E. She fell to the ground, gasping for air.
6H vaulted over the cover and ran to 33E.
"Pod. Quick analysis." 6H commanded.
The Pod, staggering from the intense amount of energy it had released, approached 33E.
"No-" 33E swatted the Pod away, hacking and wheezing for breath.
"I just need water." she said.
Quick to comply, 6H produced a flask from her fanny pack, handing it to 33E who snagged the flask and without even taking a breath, began to empty its contents into her system. She gasped, mildly satisfied and thew the flask aside.
"We need to keep moving." she stood and began hobbling towards the path leading up to the ridge.
6H stood aghast. Not entirely sure how to respond to her partners outburst.
The Pod floated beside her, dropping the now dusted and dented flash in her hand.
"She's a piece of work, isn't she?" 6H said with a frown to no one in particular. She began following 33E.
"Analysis, 33E does not trust 6H. This could present a problem for the longevity of the mission-" the Pod explained, but was cut off by 6H.
"You're telling me something I already know. The question is why doesn't she trust me?" 6H asked, growing slightly frustrated.
"Records indicate that unit 33E has a history of struggling to cooperate with other YoRHa units." the Pod said.
Perfect. 6H thought. Just perfect.
She picked up the pace, following 33E up the path, glancing back at the temporarily disabled androids as the pair escaped to the mysterious building above.