Have you ever really sat down and considered the possibility of the dead never really dying? Not just mere reincarnation but an illusion in order for the gods to hold one down in one position for as long as possible. It was a feeling and question that I found myself spending all my time thinking on. As I come to live again just to die I only ever thought on this one thing. Death is painful for but a mere moment and it is not the pain from a wound or sickness but the feeling of losing your own very being to the ether. Someones own person – their soul if you will – sucked away and dissolved.

Normally this feeling of uncertainty is the biggest dissuasion from a fellow human taking whatever means they wish to end it. Most, but not all. I now truly understood the meaning of the way out. Being hurt so much over and over or just in a very short time makes the pain too great to ignore and dealing with such pain is not a thing just anyone is at terms to overcome. Stopping the pain is the best solution for pain and trauma.

The only solution, in fact. There was no room for debate on the matter.

How one comes to making such hurt and torment cease is another matter entirely. One goal is one goal and no matter how outwardly virtuous said goal is the way to attain it is far more telling of ones thoughts and morals by, say, asking ones position. Observing the path they take tells just how much their ambitions and ideal truly matter. If one were to argue for freedom on how they express themselves but then dictate to others how they must be treated then it does not align. Freedom is freedom – for all or for no one. States of this duality allows for any number of person to invade another life.

Perhaps I think too much. Perhaps I never thought enough. Time is all I have ever had in abundant quantity since arriving in this strange dystopia of perpetual stagnancy. The strange revisions which occur when I die have allowed me progress in allowing all my previous deaths to sink in. Was it a power gifted to me or was it by mere chance? State of the world at hand as evidence I was not within my own world. Rampant robots strutting about, a city in ruins, no other humans around, and the sun never appeared to set from view.

I kicked the head of small machine I had destroyed several minutes ago. The very same one that was responsible for my own death tens of times over, the factory for tens of times more, then the most as I simply threw myself off a ledge or even into molten metal. The latter from a grim form of painkiller to deal with the feedback from the first round of deaths. Even those were similar in number to tens of times again and again. I was trapped in this courtyard. If I stepped out of here there were more machines I was incapable of avoiding due to the sheer number of them.

Hundreds of times over I tried but never made any progress so this time I thought not playing was the best way to win this game. Though seeming to be the easiest strategy to choose as well as one of the first it never came to mind for the longest time. An impossible thing to consider when waking up in a strange place is remaining in that one place.

I heard a large swooshing bellow from overhead.

These very craft that passed by every time at the same time were never able to make it in time before I was killed by these mad automatons. This time was different though. I saw them land in the usual roofed area beyond the first stretch of buildings and remained steadfast. They seemed so drastically opposite in design that it was highly unlikely that they were on the same terms with the evil small ones. They even gave off an appearance of being human.

Scoffing I looked to the dome remains of the machine from before. This one was humanoid in nature. Perhaps these ones were early models to base off of for more advanced and complex makes of machine. Never though I would have been torn to shred by something shorter than me. Assumptions were dangerous, I should stop making them so frequently.

Nodding emphatically to myself, I had decided. I was not going to confront these new arrivals before I knew if they were human too.

My ear perked at the sound of explosives and what may have been gun fire. It sounded different somehow. Deciding it better to remain anonymous for the time I lurked off to the side of the enclosed yard. The number of bushes and support structures for the factory above would provide good enough cover from prying eyes. Hard to believe this was only my second time hiding in place.

Sounds of fighting having long been replaced by the idle chatter of birds above I wonder how long it would take for this group to arrive. Cut short as I was in my thoughts to the sound of clattering footfalls. A large group indeed. Straining my eyes over the entrance in the wall that was once gated I softened my own breathing subconsciously. I wanted no chance of being found out while I observed. If this meeting was to occur then it would be on my own terms.

The footfalls getting evidently louder and closer I watched as several people dressed in black stormed in one by one. My eyes narrowed at a thought to the number of them. Why was it less than the number of black craft? I counted in my head again as they swept the inner portion of the yard. Only six in total and they were all women or at least what may pass for one. I thought as I recalled the possibility of them being just machines like the one one the floor.

Crossing the length of the courtyard to the stairs they all came to stand by the small robot I dispatched earlier. I had used it as a test dummy of sorts to get accustomed to the movements and weak points of this machine. One looked around the area, short white hair down to the jawline and a blindfold covering her face. Blindfold? I rubbed at my eye just to make absolute sure. How did these people see past those?

She waved over to a small floating box that reminded me of a very small mini fridge, if said mini fridge also possessed arms. "Pod, what happened here? There have been no reports of any allied force in this area." The box, a pod it was called, dipped down lower to the decapitated body. A series of beeps went out from the pod for a moment then zipped right on back to shoulder height of the one who spoke.

"Analysis: This was not done by any weapon under Yorha or the resistance's listed armoury. Markings on the casing indicate blunt force trauma and a large force of leverage being applied to the headcase of this machine."

I Sucked in a soft breath. These pods were very capable. I would need to keep a mental note of this for later if these floating assistants were to be a reoccurring happening. As an extra measure in evasion I shifted slowly to the wall of the space, lining myself up for a obscured but straight shot to the gateway.

"2b..." One of the other ladies spoke up from the group. She looked to be much more reserved than the rest of the group. Hair tied in a bun and an outfit that resembled a ladies business outfit with a tight skirt. "Do you think this is linked to that high energy spike we received at this factory thirty minutes ago?"

The short haired 2b looked back to her companion, the mid-thigh length skirt of her dress fluttering in the wind lightly. "12H, That would look to be the best assumption given the data we have so far." This 2b character turned back from where the ran in from and strutted over to the discarded head, lightly tapping it with her foot. "Can we speculate how long ago this had occurred? Pod?"

The small white box made itself prominent once again as it began to speak. "Given the flow of the fluids from the machine this kill had happened less than seven minutes ago. Hypothesis: The perpetrator is not far our current position. Apprehend or eliminate and report to command."

Mouth gaping to what I had heard I internally panicked. They may just kill me on the spot should they find me? Apprehension was an option stated though how could I rely on such an outcome coming to if I was so unsure who they were and what their goals were? Thankfully I was still yet to be seen. Staying where I was now was sure to be the best bet at a continued existence. Dying was painful and lonely as I was formally acquainted with death.

2b's skirt spun with her as she had to just about face to another one of her groups members. This one wore a large amount of armour aside from a helmet. For armour it looked functional enough but it left little to the imagination. "What do you think about all of this, captain?"

The captain lifted a hand to her chin for a brief moment of silence. "I think," She took her hand down. "What the pod says is true. Whatever or whomever did this must not be very far away. Don't think that because this unknown factor eliminated a machine that it is friendly. Got it?"

"Yes, Ma'am!" All of the groupies went stock straight as they responded.

Not assuming friendly for getting rid of that nuisance? I pondered. Seems as though these human appearing ones were not on any kind of good standing with these homicidal robots. This was the best find I could make right now. If trouble comes to me I may be capable of brushing off pursuers from either side by dragging them into an opposing force. Thinking back to earlier they came from that collapsed freeway overpass. That road was packed with those machines all the times that I tried to make a break for it.

I shivered a little bit and felt at my arms. Never went over well each time. There goes the opportunity to use those machines as a distraction for this group then. Not to mention if they got past that gauntlet with just six of them then these quote people were not human. Made getting out of this factory even harder. Machines are bad enough in large numbers but these things that looked like women were worse.

Sliding closer to the gateway out of need by the new information I had gathered I held position in the middle of the last three bushes. Further movement was ill advised though, as after this all that remained was a stretch of out in the open grass infested concrete. This group had range capability as I knew I heard some type of rapid gunfire. I would be mowed down if any attempt was to be made with so many eyes and supposed firepower.

"Here is the plan then." The armoured captain began as she pointed over to the three who have yet to speak. "You lot go up to the factory entrance and take a look around where the energy spike originated. There has to be some latent residue to find." The three immediately extricated themselves from the courtyard and ran up the sets of stairs. "12h you are to take a closer inspection at the dismantled machine, your capabilities should be more than capable of getting more insight." The reserved 12h nodded and skittered off. "2b you stick with me, we are making a rear to front sweep down here. Look for any clues as to where our quarry has gone off to."

Gothic lolita dress 2b gave a curt and short nod as she moved off the right side of the compound. The captain slipped off to the opposite side in the mean while. I shifted on my feet lightly. If a move was to be made then around this point would be best. Flicking my gaze between the two ladies and their pod units starting their sweep I then looked back to the ground beneath my feet. Only a matter of time before they came across my place of hiding.

Both the black clad individuals were facing away as they searched the far end near the stairs and the third was simply to indulged in the looking over of the machine to be of worry. Slipping from the bushes slowly I kept close to the shaded wall. My clothes were just as monotone in colouring that I was likely not to be noticed from this distance as long as I kept my movements slow and deliberate.

"Captain!"

I jolted and nearly bit my tongue as I kept myself from shouting out in fright from the rather sudden exclamation. Sliding in behind a small rusted crate I peaked over to view the captain of the group had already ran over to the crouched 12h. I breathed out. Seems as though 12h had found something among the machine's innards. She raised up a small gadget from the inside of the head and held it out to the captain.

"This machine still has it's memory mostly intact. If we upload this to command then they may be able to tells us much more than we can by looking about the place."

"Alright, get your pod on it then. Let me know when the upload is completed." She began to turn back from where she came. "Don't call me over unless it is something really important next time."

"Yes Ma'am."

With the issue seemingly settled between the two they both went back to their respective roles. Possible close call aside I shrunk away from the crate and huddled up low back against the wall of the complex. Inching closer and closer to the deteriorated gate I picked the pace up slightly. Having been this far out from my original hiding place was bad enough. Exposed so far out and moving so slow I risk detection with every second still here.

Heart pounding in my ears so loudly that it nearly hurt my head I reached the end of where the wall ended at the opening began. Cutting the corner as close as I could I made my way along the old gate stuck open from years of rust. Just about to cross the edge of that very gate I heard a series of lights beeps and blips from either end of the compound. My breath hitched, right around where both of those clad in black ladies were searching.

"Alert: Attempted escape from perimeter noted."

Nothing more to do than freeze in place for a moment I heard movement as I moved my hands up and out from my sides. Slowly as was possible I turned around to be met with the point of a sword. The one I learned to be called 2b had already closed the gap with near to little sound. Certainly reinforces that there was no way they could have been human given the distance covered. My eyes glanced over the this captain of the unit to notice an even larger sword being held out towards me.

"Easy, easy." I began as i felt my stomach turn. "No need to do anything rash now, right?" I spoke to sound more confident in what I was saying. The effect looked to have been pulled off as the captain and 2b canted their head towards one another it what looked like a conversation without the use of words.

Their heads turned back fully to me again. "We'll see about that now won't we?" The emotionless way to which it was conveyed made me suppress a shiver. "Pod, contact the others to come back out from the factory. We found ourselves a lead that can speak."

"Already done."

"Good." The captain's sword dissipated in a flash of pale yellow light. My eyes went slightly wide at the sight yet I made no other indication to my reaction. Her armoured heels clack loudly as she moved a bit closer. "You are going to have a lot of questions to answer for." I gave a quick nod.

"I'll answer what I can. I'm uh..." I swivelled my head about the place. "I'm not very familiar with this area."

"Good." She said aloud with finality. "To start this off I want to know who you are and what your are doing here." I bit the inside of my cheek as she glared at me. "As I am sure you had overheard there was a very high spike of energy in this area not too long ago."

I kept silent for the moment. How was I to even explain this in way that was to be believable. There was no way telling that I was at the very source of that spike as the timing was too coincidental to be just that. In fact due to how suddenly I showed up in this strange world some foreign element must be at play. The chance they may not kill me was too unreliable given their objectives when finding that anomaly. What I need is a clever alibi that was not complicated at all. So simple that the need for proof would not even be a factor.

"Well?" She tapped her foot in place and 2b moved the sword closer to my neck.

"Woah! Calm down." I shook my head as I plead my case. "I'm a scavenger. I made my way to this factory in the hopes of finding some good salvage but was soon turned back by the number of machines inside. Too much trouble for just a chance at what may have been a little bit of salvage, right?"

"Believable." She gave a wry smile. "Tell me then, how did you even get into this compound then? As the amount of machines in this sector are so active sneaking in should be near to impossible. In fact given the sheer number of those very machines at the only viable entrance to this factory, in which none of those machines were incapacitated."

Shit. I very well almost said that out loud. She was quite correct on that front. Having been able to have the ability to live and die freely I had looked about the rest of the factory area to a lesser degree and I could in fact concur. Any area that had even a partial chance to be traversed was too densely packed for an easy entry point.

"I am going to take your silence as you not having any explanation." The captain gave pause for a moment as she looked back to the elevated entrance to the factory. "Where are those three?" She waved to her pod in exasperation. "They should have been here minutes ago. What is taking them so long?"

"A moment please; the request is being sent." I blink as the second goes by. "Received: They are currently delayed by a sizable retinue of machine life inside of the factory."

"Damn it!" Armoured foot slammed the ground, cracking the floor beneath her slightly. Discontent gaze coming back around to myself I swallowed a lump in my throat. "Well what do you know?" Came her voice, Captain strutting over to me. "A group of machines large enough to keep even trained androids of Yorha delayed. No way a one such as yourself by yourself would have been capable of sneaking past – let alone fight them by yourself."

Androids? None these people were really human? I would have face palmed had it not been for the threat of being killed. Mentally shaking myself from the line of thought I turned the attention back to the captain of this android group. She was likely to get upset were I to be quiet too long once again. "I am-" Before my double down was even uttered she stomped yet again. It made me flinch with a twitch of my eye.

"Don't you dare give me the cover story that you are a scavenger again." Her brows narrowed and she huffed angrily. "Tell me who you really are and what your connection to the anomaly is."

In advance to the opening of my mouth to keep the story the same 12h who had nearly been forgotten by all of us were reminded that she was indeed present. "Captain, I managed to finish the full extraction of the machines records to the bunker. Command should be able to give the follow up in an hour." With an overtly happy near skip she bounced over to our grouping. She looked to me and creased her brow in confusion. "Who is this anyway?" She asked.

I could see the captain recoil in her frustration on 12h's lack of comprehension over the events just prior. Wiping a hand across her weary face she gave a sigh of surrender. "This, 12h, is a lead whom we found trying to slip away from us just mere minutes ago now."

The reserved girl gave a gasp of surprise. "Oh! Really now?" She asked out to all of those present, more to the captain than 2b or myself, but got zero response. "I apologize for my lack of vigilance, captain."

"It's fine." Does not seem like it was. She looked to be annoyed a fair bit. "Good timing none the less though, 12h. Can you attempt to interface with his systems to extract the information we need should he possess it?"

An emphatic nod was given. "Yes, 1D, I can do so with little issue." Her face turned stark neutral as she stared to me. Second after second and she tried to access my systems. Not that she would be able to given I was nothing but human. Perhaps they did not know. Best to keep to myself then. Time continued to pass as 12H stared at me and her face finally relaxed all the way as her shoulders dropped. "I'm sorry, captain, I can't find any way to gain access to his systems at all." She gestured to me then flopped her arms back down to her sides. "It is like he is completely invisible digitally."

"Hypothesis: This individual is not an android but a new variant of machine meant to infiltrate or perform covert actions such as the disposal of high ranking personnel in Yorha and the resistance."

This captain, or 1D as learned her to be called now, Flicked her head to the pod next to her. "That would explain the high amount of energy discharge at a machine controlled factory." She shifted her focus back to 2B for the first time in a little while and gave the smallest of nods.

"Ma'am."

It was the only reply the dress clad android gave before her arm moved swiftly. Faster than I was able to properly keep up with. The next I knew I saw my very own body ahead of me as my perspective was unexpectedly lower to the ground. My body then fell to the floor in a heap and I noticed a truly disturbing sight. I had no head. A perfectly clean cut where my neck met the base of my head. So much blood spilling outwards.

Absolutely nothing.

An absence of feeling that I grew more and more accustomed to as these incidents added on. A flicker of lights and then I was awake again. Right off the cuff I rushed both my hands to feel at my neck below my jaw. No it was still there. Still attached to where it belonged. The distinct and stinging memory of viewing my own headless body more than likely forever burned into my memories. Would I have not been used to the feeling of death I would have thrown up right then. Yet, here I was with nothing more than a scathing recollection to stick with me.

A look to and fro told me that I was still waking up in the very same place. It has happened hundreds of time now – waking up in this exact spot each and every time I pass. The feeling that this was all a dream and I would awaken to stare at the posters on my own bedroom ceiling still a hope I had. Even if by the pattern I was experiencing indicated otherwise it was still a hope and a wish that I clung to. Naive to think but it helped regardless in keeping me at a passable level of sanity.

Scraping myself from off of the rough flooring of the factory's dockyard entrance I meandered on over to the steps. Taking a long look down to the gate at the very edge of what was visible I grumbled out. It all gave off a feeling that nothing was to happen. Nimbly, I hopped down the first portion of steps to the landing. I knew that was not true, or rather I knew that from a fairly morbid effort of trial and error.

Giving pause near the last three steps to the start of the uneven and untended grass I scanned along the yard to find the machine that was bound to wander its own way soon. Observation leading to no results, I paced out the last few steps I needed until the familiar sound of grass underfoot graced my ears. Continuing to keen in on the sound of the foliage upon the ground crunch with my steps I once again came across the border of where yard and dilapidated street began. Adjusting my tired eyes to look to the crumbled concrete road division I brought my hand up to my neck for the second time today.

Androids, they said. I nearly spoke it aloud as the thought made its way along. Both machines and androids were to be my obstacles in making it out alive then. Moaning in a bout of metal pain I felt at my brows. It appears that the blow back of all the memories coming to the forefront made my head throb slightly, but only for a moment. Shaking it off I set back on my planned out trail. For this to work I need the factory to look as though it remained untouched by any hands. Downing that small stubby trashcan was what sparked the search by those all black dress androids in my attempt previously.

Having the small one just roaming about around the entrance would go to confuse those androids and keep them off my back. At least for enough time to find a place to well and truly hunker down. Once a sufficient passage of time was achieved I could then make an effort to see if trading with other androids may be a possible life line for the future. They were after all; looking for a target. If said target were to be believed to have disappeared or mayhaps their technology had malfunctioned in the pickup of the signature then that was all the better.

Reason was apparently on the table still for them as they tried to talk to me before I was still ultimately killed in the end. Perhaps it was best to assume that was more in part due to the severely unfortunate time they had happened to drop in on. Still, keeping distance and minimal contact with those ones was advisable. Trust was to be difficult as these so called androids were quite cautious of newcomers. Doubly so if those newcomers aligned with an anomaly's timing.

Halting my walk just off to the side of the collapsed end of the overpass that acted as the bridge between this area and the next over I peered to the side. Behind the collapsed structure was a sizable enclosure of a sort with a lone tree in possession of a trunk that looked to be unnaturally thick. What a startlingly tucked away location for a tree. Giving a huff to resign to the strangeness of it all I sat up against the underside of the ruined overpass.

Though as if on cue I heard the repetitive clacking of the metal above my head. Gauging the internal clock in my head I confirmed that was right around the time for the stubby one to enter the stage. So to speak that was. Once the perfectly timed sounds of the gait from the small mechanical menace had faded into the background. Just the sound of the distant water lapping away at the littered bits of shoreline. Miracle that the buildings still stood where they touched the water. Erosion was a powerful occurrence given the correct circumstance.

I crossed my legs as I began to scratch at my chin. Considering I had little to do other than, for what felt to be the hundredth time, wait for the right time. The right time was something to be debated as of my current state. Having gotten killed simply as a consequence of waiting. This time was to be different. Hopefully that was.

Retraining my thoughts back to the water it brought up a kind of concern I have been holding for a time. The durability and qualities of this world were abnormal. I stared at the tree to prove the point to myself. The size was much larger than that of normal flora. Sure the passing of time is a factor. Trees get larger as they get older, this was easy fact. I could not guarantee just how much time has passes respective to this world so it was merely an extra component. Perhaps it was related to how the sun never looks to have moved in the sky as it once did.

Shaking my head I thought it to be silly. Too much sun was a bad happening for anything living. Yet as I had observed before my recent adventures there were a great many other tress just as this one or larger. Hypothesizing the cause was not coming along all to well as a whole variety of elements can be at play. Given the encounter with those androids there was a chance that it may be a high level of technology or even supernatural influence. The latter for my theories being seen as more of a what if rather than a serious one.

A large thundering made me seize whatever mental loops I was undergoing. It was around this time that stubby should have been making its way to the stairs towards the entrance of the factory. Why it dallied in its progress was a mystery to me. Sometimes ones like the one I saw for the very first time experience a strange halt in behaviour as they stand in place. Once a random span of time passes then they move and may again halt in place. Being the most viable answer as to why that very unit took so long to move to a destination.

I pursed my lips. Talking about the lack of progress in regards to others felt hypocritical. I have done enough as is to make my own headway harder to attain. Constant inane decisions and ideas I have formulated that get me nowhere special apart from dying at some interval. Perhaps I can come back to insulting and questioning the behaviour of the robots when I can manage to live for longer than a couple of hours. I tossed a small pebble that lay next to me. That has yet to happen as I have still to have been capable of seeing any sights from inside this industrial sectors bowl made of fallen buildings and supersized plants.

Metal clashing against itself interrupted me. Seems this group moves quite quickly. The androids maybe only touched down a few minutes ago. An exact sequence of sounds I heard in the yard played out just the same as I best recalled. Within the minute all sounds of battle ended with a distinct sound of a machine possibly self destructing. Clicks and clacks of heeled shoes echoed above me as they ran briskly down the makeshift ramp. Just as easily as they ran down the ramp, they stopped in place.

"Given we are now free of machine life until we reach the factory's entrance does anyone have any questions?" The voice was for sure that of the captain, 1D.

"I do, ma'am." There was a light step forward. The no nonsense tone gave assurance it was in fact 2B. "We were so rapidly deployed that we received no formal briefing. What is it that command so desperately wanted for us to come down to contain."

"Command did very little in feeding the data to me as we made the descent down to the surface here." A pause. "I think that is largely due to the fact that command was even taken off guard by what occurred not even an hour ago. Apparently there was such a large rise of energy of unknown origin that it made all those in high positions squirm."

"Is this a standard target elimination then?" 2B interjected again.

"Given the factor of not knowing the true point of origin it is entirely possible that if this cause is found by us we will have to destroy it."

"Uhm... What is my need for being present on this mission if it is so high stakes?" My ear perked at the voice. It was a soft melodic voice that I knew. 12H looked to have more backbone than I initially thought. That backbone may have just that of concern for the success of the squad of theirs. "Healer units are not very fit for combat scenarios."

"Not entirely untrue, 12H." 1D half scolded and half praised the healer. "With this much of a wildcard we very well may require a healer for treating injured or jacking into systems. Healers after all, can interact with most interfaces for mechanics and androids no matter how old. So rest easy 12H, your being here is asset enough to the mission."

"Thank you, captain."

All the field briefing certainly told the tale as to how they have always been late to the scene relative to me of course. Plus, this captain mentioned that the other machines were no longer an issue to face. If the plan, standard and bare bones as it may be, goes well then it will culminate in a long desired escape from this area. Rest of this deserted city here I come.

"Any other questions from the rest of you?" I held my breath as silence made itself known yet again. There was a neutral sigh from 1D. "Then I suggest we get a move on. Our target could have made a move to leave already."

"Ma'am!"

It was a resounding answer that lacked any hesitation from the group. I heard the sound of armour leading the charge of footfalls to the distance then soon past the gate where the sounds muffled as they all dissipated behind thick layers of concrete wall. Stretching out my head past the edge of the collapse I confirmed all of them to have gone the direction of the factory. Rearing my head back in I set back to my feet and squeezed out from the side to be more concealed from the view of the gate. Risking accidental sight of myself before I made it on the overpass was not an option.

Sucking my gut in to avoid a sharpened bit of rebar I popped out from my hole and made immediate headway for the apex of the ramp. Making sure to keep low I crept up to where my eyes could barely see over the edge. It was a sight to see. Strewn about lay bit and pieces of many machine bodies. I quickly headed for the valley like cover of between the two parallel buildings forming a cradle of shadows. Then hopping over a car to gain even more coverage from a coincidental sighting from behind I bent down to see curious thing that caught my eye.

Large or maybe just larger than the limbs I was accustomed to seeing on the small droids that they were. It was an arm both long and bulkier than my own yet not comically oversized from what was considered to be unnecessary. A scan along the ground closest to me revealed other pieces that fit the proportions of the now dismembered machine. If the arm and diced bit of the core body were indicative of anything it was this one type was about eight foot with thicker plating than the smaller ones to make up for structure.

Suddenly I lightly smacked the side of my head. This was not time to be gawping at the aftermath from the android's fight. Making back to traversing the battlefield graveyard I kept careful track of the cornucopia of pieces so as not to fall on my face.

A twisting game of hopscotch later gave way to an open section of land. Still surrounded by large buildings that were falling apart but it was a far shot from the scenery before. Stretches of green grass blotted with smaller trees and bushes of varied size. I felt my heart swell with pride to see that animals still lived among the chaos of the land peacefully. At the least it was not just the type of individuals comprised of only metal and components but a mix between that and life of a conventional design.

Peering straight ahead gave way to a scene that made me frown. Barricades blocking any spaces betwixt the crumbling remnants of what used to be a city. These improvised walls were not the run of the mill types either built by civilians out of dumpsters and old tires. No, these had a foundational base that climbed higher and higher via pipes and old beams which then had large plates of metal bolted and welded to. Topping it off in a literal sense was a liberal usage of barbed wire of the military variety. Thick barbs meant to dig in and gouge out flesh. Made of meat as I was this was to be a big problem.

Moving forward was the subsequent debacle to remedy. The overpass for as long lasting as it must have been standing had a stark fall off point. A large portion of itself now lay under a layer of earth, parts sticking out rigidly every few feet or so. Directly below me was an old box truck for transporting smaller loads of packages or commodities. Given the height of the box trucks trailer and the raised dirt level thanks to a certain collapse of mass It was very well possible for me to use it as a hop down point.

Turning the idea over to action I slid down the edge of the still standing raised road. A solid thunk as I landed upon the trailer made me flinch and look about quickly. Maybe someone had heard that and come to investigate. Avoiding further noise hazards I deftly climbed down from off the top to the much softer grass below, a comparatively less noticeable sound. Nearly tripping on a small portion of a concrete barrier that was sticking just up above the earth I trudged forth. Only at this moment did I notice something in the corner of my vision. A pod floating all by its own tucked away close to the old truck.

"Query: where has this unit come from?" Came the robotic drone of the voice it possessed.

I pursed my lips and gave them a quick lick. "Why do you even need to know?" I asked the question in order to feign ignorance. The pod's light at the top blinked once.

"The Yorha squad in which I have been assigned to is conducting an investigation in the sector of the old factory. This unit was left here to monitor anything that may leave. The individual in front of me came from the aforementioned direction of this factory yet this unit is unsure if they truly came from the sector in question." It stopped to reformat the question once again. "This support unit will ask again; where did this unit come from?"

A quick lie was needed here. Where else could I have come from other than the factory? Should I just adjust the scavenger cover slightly? "I was about to head on up the old factory to look for some useful parts to use but I turned back as soon as I saw a large pile of those machines." Please buy it. "That must have been you Yorha types, right? I thought it best to turn back this way and not risk getting in trouble with more machines. So many in that one pile that there had to be quite a few over at the factory."

The Yorha support unit remained quiet for almost an entire minute. "Apologies for the delay. This one was relaying the response as well as your information to this units assigned unit and squad." A sharp inhale and a shiver up my back was the mute reply. "A discrepancy has appeared. Perhaps you can remedy this?"

"Ah, ya sure. I can do my best to resolve anything." My mind was going a mile a minute. This was all giving off massive deja vu. Even my response was eerily similar.

"Affirmative. Having had taken a scan of yourself this unit and its squad wish to know why no information on anything other your physical appearance is visible. All digital information simply seems to take no form on any scale or wave length. Why is this?"

"That is rather amusing isn't it." I forced out a short laugh to seem more genuine. How easily they disposed of me just before led me to believe that human or machine life form it made no difference. Even further they may just view me in a similar light as those machines then. They were after all not alive. "Any idea on why that would be?"

"Unknown."

The curt reply made me tilt my head. To them it must have made it look like genuine confusion. Well, it was just not for the reasons they may be formulating. Hopefully. No, the reason I was caught off guard was that it was such a brief and to the point answer it was not very characteristic of these pods. "What does that make me then?" I tired to voice the concern of my dubious position in a neutral manner.

"Unknown."

"Unknown."

I jumped from the sudden intrusion into the conversation. Glancing just over my shoulder I saw a familiar face for a second time this close. "2-!" I clasped my mouth shut at my reactionary response to her unannounced arrival. She had made no noise at all how was I not to be taken by surprise. Regardless I saw her brow raise from underneath that black blindfold these Yorha all look to wear for one reason or another. Speculation later. Try not to lose my head right now.

"How do you know me?"

My blood felt ad if it had honestly run cold at the question. "Well, you see here- Hang on no need to pull your weapon out!" The excuse I was attempting to formulate got cut off abruptly as her sword materialized in her hand. This was the second time I have found myself at the end of a blade.

"I am not interested in useless drawn out explanations." She twisted her blade so the edge lined up with me. "Tell me how you know me. I have never met you before and neither has the other androids in the area."

"How would you even be sure of that?"

"My captain is currently talking with the leader in charge of this sector. She has made it clear that you have never been seen nor heard to be here recently." As if looking to have wished to continue 2B ceased her talks as her pod flashed in front of her with a projection of a screen. She gave a nod to the screen and it fizzled out of existence.

"Hang on!" I called out as I saw her arm shift. Eyes wider than I ever felt them before I began to move.

She no longer held such a comparatively small sword. This one was massive. Taller than her by quite a margin if she were to hold it straight. Baring such a weapon down on me in such a small span of time gave me no time to react other than my experience from having my own head chopped of cleanly. Bending back at the knees to lower myself and then push off from the dirt I evaded to the side. It was too little to late however.

It seems the combat android had seen this well enough in time. With a spin that made a dancer weep she propelled the huge blade outwards. Spinning like a weaponized top. This was no mere children's toy however. The feeling of the tip of the blade go through my side was effortless. Either 2B was very strong among androids or this weapon was immaculate in its design. I would surely not survive long should it be both.

Stumbling backwards my mouth opened ajar. I may have been in pain if not for the adrenaline pumping through me. Daring not to even remove my right hand from the new wound as doing so would mean bleeding to death. Keeping my focus back to the one assailant to my front I bowed out with a rapid spin on my heels and made for a narrow space between the buildings nearby. Not having any idea as to where it leads, I had little choice in the matter. Running in an attempt even if vague is better than dying for certain. The fastest turn of my head to look behind showed 2B and the pod support close behind.

Thankfully the small passage proved to small for the femme android to give another proper swing of the sword as she recalled it. Lurching to the side as I brought my head back to the front I simply decided to bounce off the wall rather than try to readjust in time. Any small mistake would lead to my doom. Just about through the pass I twisted sideways to slide past the opening that was a fair bit more narrow than the rest of this pathway. Hearing a latent hum of energy made me expedite my efforts. Popping into a strange clearing nestled away like a little square for the neighbours I felt a rush of heat as the alley behind me exploded.

"You wanted to blow me up?" I shouted out to no one in particular. It seemed like I was genuinely offended. No answer thankfully came as I kept up my escape pace.

Taking me by surprise was the new guests alerted by the explosion just a few seconds ago. Tall machine with a solid looking bipedal from leapt out from hiding from within the old buildings surrounding us. Debris flying out from what were once window frames or even walls I kept my sprint to as straight of a line as possible. Sweating from the brow I made certain to observe the new arrivals. Large metal makeshift axe pole arm in both three digit hand they swung down on 2B – all together ignoring me.

Thanking the stars above for the momentary advantage I dived out from the next alley. Stifling the oncoming feeling of extreme fatigue I belched out a large exhale of air and trekked on. Keeping a steady but slower pace than before I came upon what looked to have been an old radio tower. All of the equipment long fallen away with nothing more than the structural steel that made up the tower. Ducking about the lower rungs or bars I settled my eye down on a lone suspended bridge. It looked ragged and ramshackle though surely it must have to be stable enough to still stand.

With a new goal laid out i felt motivated. Pushing through stumbling breaths I accelerated to the rope bridge. Of course I knew that my pursuer had caught up by now. Extremely evident given the battle cry she raddled off without a care about the surprise attack she might have had otherwise. Desperate to still live I scrambled to the side. Tell tale sounds of wood being chopped reached my ears. A tree was responsible for slowing the furious and monstrous blade enough to evade the long reach.

Giving words of rambled whispers for the praise of the sheer existence of trees I felt the gap to the bridge truly coming to a close. Just like the start of anything the end seems so far off then only when you are so close do things honestly feel tangible. Like the tangibility, I felt the space behind me vanish as 2B was once again entering my personal space. Like an unseen pressure that pricks at you from behind. An unnatural feeling of being watched intently. Going for a broke strategy I jumped forward to the beginning of my escape marked off by two wood stakes drove deep into the ground.

Falling to the wooden slats that made up the walk-able suspended path above the canyon I felt as though I may fall straight through the boards. The sound reminiscent of being hit with wood sang out as I crashed down. Ignoring the seer of heat in my side I propelled myself to my feet with my single currently available arm. I was yet to exit the sphere of influence the android behind me had and held back any early celebrations that tried to well up from within. Still running across the bridge but at a much slower pace than just prior in the ruins of the city.

I wanted to pass out already. Turning my head to take a peak I was surprised to find the so prominent combat model android to stand at the precipice to this new and more lush area. Her skirt fluttered about as she was almost motionless. Only her strange support unit bobbed up and down slightly behind her. I gave a chuckle.

"Giving up so easily?" I taunted between gasps. I knew that making mistakes at this point was not acceptable but flaunting about gave me no end to joy. Escaping an entity which held more physical ability than I. I was chuffed to put it in simple terms.

Head on to a swivel I brought my view back around to get nary a glimpse of what jetted out from the large building's interior. So fast that my eye was very much incapable of tracking it. A strong grasp around my torso that felt to be near crushing. That might have been more due to the gash in my midsection. Wondering what was happening and how to best address it I was cut short by a sharp blow to the cranium. So close. My mind edged out as my vision already failed.