Chapter 7: Mother
6Hs vision was hazy. Her head hurt like hell and it felt like her limbs were held together by threads.
Incidently, she wasn't standing. In fact, the blood that had rushed to her head probably only served to worsen her migrane.
She tried to speak, but immediately chocked and gagged on a rag that had been shoved in her mouth, with another rag haphazardly wrapped around her head. It cleaved and cut into her mouth sharply. Serving as yet another source of pain.
Tensing her arms and legs revealed to her that she was restrained by the wrists and ankles. Her forearms folded over one another, strictly aware of how crafty YoRHa units tended to be.
Not being able to move much regardless, 6H let her limbs fall slack as they were and moaned through the gag, testing if anyone around her was interested in her current predicament. Even simply moaning rattled her head with a dull pain.
"She's awake." a voice in front of her called out.
6Hs vision was still unfocused, but she could gather she was hoisted over someone's shoulder. With someone else following behind to monitor her, presumably. So her "front" was her captors "behind."
"That's fine," said her captor in a deeper feminine voice. She knew it was her captor because it vibrarated throughout her torso. Either her physique was just that scrawny, or they were far more built than she'd like to imagine.
"We can interrogate her once we return to camp." they continued.
The YoRHa unit following behind nodded before stopping and turning around at some sudden movement or sound. 6H couldn't tell, her head was still pounding and her ears were still ringing.
"Slaw?" said the unit in front of her as another unit approached. She could swear she'd seen her before, but she couldn't make out details.
Her captor turned around, revealing the other YoRHa unit that was leading the pack. They were immediately familiar. But once again, 6Hs damaged senses prevented any specifics from being ascertained.
6H heard 'Slaw' gasping for air after skidding to a halt.
"Fargo- interjected- but what- about- the canisters-" she gasped.
"Don't tell me- you ditched them for her? " she said, almost disgusted. 6H assumed she was referring to herself.
"Of course not," her captor started, "Desil is carrying what's left." they said, turning and pointing back towards the YoRHa unit in front. On closer inspection, the unit was holding two cylinders under either arm. Desil hoisted one above her head, showing it off.
"Only two?" Slaw said, a tinge of frustration forming.
"The others were used to slow those two down." they rolled their shoulder, hoisting 6H slightly. She huffed through her gag.
At least show some respect… she thought, weary of how indecent she looked.
Slaw sighed deeply. Stepping around in front of 6H. She still couldn't see clearly, but she could swear this person looked familiar. She cocked her head.
"You seem to be struggling to remember." she said before gripping 6H face, pulling her close. "You let most of my team die you bitch."
Slaw slapped 6H, who had finally pieced together the identity of her captors. But that meant, if Slaw was 18B, then Fargo must be-
33E stood completely aghast. The spear wound inflicted by 18B finally coming around.
19D stood in attention, presumably waiting for the shock to wear off. She sighed.
"I don't want to fight you, Thirty-Three." she said, sadly. "Quite the contrary, I want to help you."
"Help?" 33E said, almost insulted.
She shook her head. "If you want to help, why did you betray YoRHa to begin with? You had everything. And you just threw it all away... Not only what was yours, but your teammates' as well!"
19D sighed with impatience, "I left because I have far too much blood on my hands. All because YoRHa encouraged it. But I'm not beholden to them. Neither are you."
33E sneered, tightening the grip on her weapon, "You can't expect me to believe that you would effectively damn you and your team to death all because you got cold feet and grew sympathy for the enemy."
"There is more..." 19D shifted her stance uneasily,
"YoRHa is lying to us. To you. To everyone. It's only a matter of time before it all blows up in their faces. I don't want my teammates, no- my family- To get wrapped up in it."
The same instinct began to burn inside 33E.
Retreive unit 19Ds black box. It resonated. Eliminate the traitor, unit 19D.
Hold on, 33E pleaded, I need more answers.
Without her consent, 33Es hand began to shift slightly, attempting to move Iron Will into a battle position. She gripped her hands, demanding control.
"What exactly are you saying?" 33E said, the aggression only growing in her voice, "What could YoRHa possibly be lying about?!"
19D grit and beared her teeth, as if trying to swallow some unsavory phrases.
" Everything. " she seethed.
33E shook her head. "Not good enough. Try again." her hands tried to shift once more.
"Humanity." she started. "It doesn't exist. Not anymore."
33E tightened her grip, growing more impatient. " What does that mean!? "
"The moon. No one's there. Never has been-" she said.
33E couldn't hold it back anymore, she lunged dropping Iron Will and summoning The Usurper. Arm outstretched, she stabbed at 19D, who parried with her own blade. It was a large and more oriental weapon. She believed it to be the Phoenix Sword.
Mid-strike, 33E released her grip on her spear and summoned Iron Will once more, twirling around and clashed blades from the opposite angle.
"You're not in control, Thirty-Three- and yes- it's my fault, but you have to resist-!" 19D pleaded as she tried to retain her footing in the clash.
" You- don't- know me! " 33E shouted, pulling herself forward and jutted her foot into 19Ds leg to knock her off balance.
Iron Will dissapated in a flash as it was resummoned to try and vertically cleave 19D in half.
As the blade fell, 19D summoned large Type-3 gauntlets and on either hand clasped the blade, holding it in place.
19D threw the blade aside and sucker punched 33E in the face, sending her spiraling into a nearby tree stump.
"Please, just stop, Thirty-Three." 19D pleaded, catching her breath, "There no need to keep fighting like this. I'm telling you it's all for nothing-!"
33E threw herself upright, a crazed look in her eye. She summon both weapons in either hand, slamming the spear down and spinning around it, throwing Iron Will ahead.
19D dove to the ground as the massive slate of metal whirled overhead. 33E vaulted off to follow up with a stab from her spear.
19D in a flash, side-stepped out of the way and tried to punch 33E from behind.
As 33E impacted the ground, she spun around on her feet, summoning her blade once more and sliced diagonally in front of her, severing one of 19Ds legs. The executioner followed up with a kick to the gut, sending her backwards.
As 19D crumpled to the ground, She summoned her blade again and thrusted forward from the ground to try and make some distance between them. 33E simply leapt into the air and threw The Usurper downwards, piercing 19Ds right shoulder, forcing her to the ground. She bellowed out in pain as 33E slammed onto the butt of the spear foot-first. Severing 19Ds arm by the shoulder and sent it into the woods.
19D bellowed out in pain, pulling away and clutching her shoulder.
Retrieve the black box. It resonated once again.
33E stood, deep in thought.
Alternative, she proposed. Leave her to rot with the feral androids.
She could feel the instinct inside her twist and contort with consideration.
Acceptible alternative. It obliged. Perhaps understanding the personal nature of this conflict. 33E relaxed slightly.
19D looked up at 33E with that of disgust. Her breathing was heavy. "You're- really- going to trust them-?"
Wordlessly, 33E nodded.
19D chuckled. "I- suppose I shouldn't be-" she winced, "Suprised- you were a monster of my creation…"
She groaned, trying to sit up. "It's- fitting that you be my undoing." she looked down, sadly.
"Just please, kill me and leave the others alone. Let YoRHa know I killed them."
33E took a long look at 19D, her state, her words, her acceptance. It felt, different, in a word.
Annialate.
"I don't-"
Annialate.
"Want to-"
Annialate.
"Kill you-"
ANNIALATE-
With an involuntary yet swift kick upwards, 19Ds head contorted in an irregular manner as she fell limp to the ground.
33E took a deep breath. Whatever her feelings on the matter, it was over.
It was then she went pale at another thought that crossed her mind.
"6H-"
33E broke into a sprint back to where she left her comrade. Only to find her gone.
"No…" she mused. "No no no no- fuck!" she twirled around to the nearest tree and nearly punched a hole straight through it.
Out from the brush overhead, a familiar whirring eminated behind 33E. She turned to find 6Hs Pod.
"Unit 6H was last seen being carried westward by a band of YoRHa units." the Pod said.
"Why the hell didn't you follow!?" 33E asked, furious.
"The data I possess could prove dangerous if left in the wrong hands. Additionally, I do not possess any anti-YoRHa combat capabilities." it said bluntly.
33E repeatedly cursed as she scanned the ground for a trail.
"Pod!" she shouted. "Lead me to 6H! Lead me to the traitors!"
6Hs situation hadn't improved much. She eventually passed out again as she was taken to the deserter's camp. While she was under, her self-repair had managed to dramatically reduce her migraine, but the rest of her issues remained.
When she came to, she found herself atop a ridge near the large dirt patch where the traitor's camp was. She assumed she was taken to one of the edges of the island.
She was still tightly bound. Her poor treatment likely being a result of the unsavory history between her and the group.
6H still felt guilty, even though it had been months since that mission. She'd been in the thick of a skirmish between them and the machines. In the process, two of the five were killed in the battle. She didn't recall the actual event terribly well, she'd passed out from an explosion after witnessing what she believed was a unit being mauled by a machine.
If nothing else, she couldn't exactly blame the hate thrown her way. She had exactly one job and she failed at it.
18B, now known as Slaw, apparently, appeared in her peripheral. 6H assumed she was waiting for her to wake up.
Slaw approach, cut the gag off with a small pocket knife she pulled from her boot, and knelt next to 6H.
"It's been some time, hasn't it?" said Slaw, oddly more calm than expected.
6H nodded. She stretched her mouth around. It was still sore. She also felt the beginnings of dehydration, requiring her to speak minimally.
"Yeah." she said in a raspy voice, avoiding eye contact. "It has."
"So, you're following that- thing around?" Slaw asked, pointedly.
6H assumed she was talking about 33E, but wasn't sure about the phrasing.
"Thing? You mean 33E, right?" she asked.
Slaw rubbed her chin. "Yes. Sure."
"It's my current mission, so yeah." 6H retorted.
"What is that mission, exactly?" Slaw leaned in, the intensity she had before was slowly seeping back in.
"I think you can gather that already-" 6H coughed. Her throat was severely dried out, making it painful to talk.
Slaw scoffed. She stood, before realizing something. She turned back and called out. "Meds!"
The tall unit carrying a crate stopped and turned in attention. 6H immediately recognized her build to be that of her captor.
"Did she have a Pod?"
Meds shook her head, returning to her task. Slaw turned back to 6H.
"Did you or did you not have a Pod?"
6H shrugged, "My head is spinning to the point where I don't know for sure."
"No need to be so coy." Slaw said, turning to the camp, observing in admiration. "If we're right about your mission, we'll find out sooner rather than later."
"Wait-" 6H paused, still processing everything, "What does that-"
She was promptly interrupted with the rag being shoved back into her mouth. She hacked and coughed at the sudden obstruction as Slaw began walking down to the camp. "Never mind, just sit there and look pretty. We'll figure something out for you once all is said and done."
Lovely. 6H slumped down to the ground, defeated. Just lovely.
33E continued following the Pod. The general atmosphere was beginning to brighten, so she assumed they were reaching the opposite end of the forest.
"Pod." she called to attention, "Scan area for any YoRHa signatures."
The Pod flew above the trees out of sight. As she continued wondering through the thickening brush.
The end of the treeline was finally visible. Moreover, what was beyond the treeline was becoming visible as well. At first, she could only see a thin pillar of smoke. But as 33E approached, she began to hear the chatter of other androids.
In a panic, 33E ducked behind a fallen tree trunk.
"What do these things even do Desil?" asked a tall burly android.
"It's gas." Desil retorted. She had a bandana tied around her head, making her a dried brown target amongst the much muddier ground. "Don't worry about it. Just know it'll be the key to our sustainability."
The tall android shrugged, "Whatever you say."
33E glanced up the dirt pile to find a small ridge where another android was climbing down from. But, awkwardly sprawled on the ground of the ridge, bound by the arms and legs was 6H. She seemed barely conscious, her head featuring a dried drizzle of blood from her prior head wound. Any outward wounds were healed at this point, it seemed to be mostly exhaustion keeping her grounded.
As 33E inspected the scene, the Pod appeared beside her, "Alert: YoRHa activity detected, unit 6H-"
Panicked, 33E smothered the Pod, shoving it into the ground, "Shut up!" she whispered, "They're right there! " the Pod went silent.
She looked up, off behind the camp, by the other thin layer of trees, she swore she saw movement of some kind.
Reguardless, 33E needed a plan and quick. Their leader was down for the count, but clearly they were prepared for that particular case.
"Hey, Slaw" said Desil, standing and grabbing a cantein. "Has Hives been hydrated?"
Slaw gave the android a deadpan look of disgust. "Why the hell does it even matter?" she retorted.
"Jesus, we're not trying to torture her, Slaw." Desil began climbing up the ridge.
"That bitch let our own die. Don't speak for me."
"Well, she saved me." Desil said, looking back down. "I owe her this at least. "
Slaw scoffed, and began furiously taking apart her rifle to clean it.
Desil pulled out the gag and offered 6H the cantein of what was assumed to be water.
The two had a short conversation. It wasn't audible to 33E, she instead opted to use the opportunity to circle around and find the best spot to get the jump on them.
33E circled behind the YoRHa issued tent. The tall unit was still inspecting the canisters of gas.
"Hey, Meds." Slaw called out, in a quiet tone.
The tall unit turned, "Hrm?"
"Am I wrong for wanting justice for that day?" she said, inspecting the now dismantled chamber of her rifle before wiping it clean.
"I-" Meds hesitated, thinking carefully about how to handle the awkward question. "Revenge is a dangerous path to follow. I think you know that." she said, turning to Slaw. "We're not in a position to linger on... Honestly, petty querrels."
"Petty?" Slaw scoffed. "You think this is 'petty'?"
"For lack of a better word, yes." Meds approached, hushing her tone. "She wasn't technically the one responsible. Just the closest person you can blame that isn't yourself."
Slaw flinched, a small bearing falling from the piece she was holding.
"I read the report. She didn't know what was happening." Meds said, sadly. "And she couldn't have done much if she did."
Slaw was frozen in thought.
"I also don't like pointing fingers, but it was your plan that seemed to have backfired."
Using the tesne self-reflection as an opportunity, 33E summoned The Usurper and levied it against the tent, aiming for where she had heard the voices of Slaw and Meds. With one swift motion, she threw the spear, cleaving through the dense fabric towards the units.
33E rolled around the tent and jumped onto the table where Slaw's gun was in shambles. She hadn't managed to hit anyone with her blind throw, just scare them.
She resummoned The Usurper into her hands once again, "Well then." she said bluntly. "In the words of your leader, 'let's talk', shall we?"