CHAPTER 10: Lift the Curtain

Lilia's dreams that night were restless—flashes of color and sound. Vague remembrances following twin orbs of pink light. Sensations of metal hands ran down her arms, prickling her skin in goosebumps, their shape resembling human bones. They caressed her neck and breasts—giving titillating prickles on her skin. Instead of feeling fear, safety and security radiated from the metallic hands. The sound of gears turning and electrical sparks buzzing in tune to a rhythmic thump-thump beat filled her hearing. Sometimes her name cooed in a digitized tenor from the owner of the hands.

This is how she woke up the following morning. Lilia had spent the previous day trying to keep herself busy within the peaceful machine village, happily taking on repairing programs and keeping the child-bots entertained with stories and playtime. By the end of the day the tasks exhausted her.

Her bronze skin tingled from her dream. Nerves jittered in apprehension and a list of questions paced in her mind. Try as she might, she couldn't see Adam within the machines in the village. There were personality traits and interest in humanity, but otherwise he behaved and had abilities that were so similar to the androids 2B and 9S. She couldn't fathom what it meant, but she held hope he had an answer for her.

Lilia rested in bed as she waited for the machines to stir. Over time she had noticed that they had a 'sleep mode' for a few hours before dawn. Once they woke, it meant sunrise was imminent. Their digitized voices and metallic footsteps filled the quiet night before the light of day.

The songbirds started their calls followed by the machines rousing sometime later. Her lungs filled and exhaled before pushing herself up, turning on her flashlight and got dressed before she strapped on her purse and grabbed her metal staff. Last, turning off her flashlight she walked lethargically out her door. Her delicate hand froze at the door knob as she remembered to return Adam's glasses. The black rim frames sat in isolation on her floor when she went back inside to pick them up. Guilt, remorse, and longing twisted in her chest as her thumbs traced along the black, plastic outline. A small sad smiled formed on her lips as she opened the ear pieces and put the empty black frames on her face.

By the time she reached the outskirts of the village, a dull purple hue bathed the woodland and a light fog hung low on the ground. Later the sun would peek through the thicket of trees and vines. The air was thick with the humidity from the dew that had collected that night; her hairline wet with the moisture despite the cool morning.

The birds made their songs, the deer bleated, and the squirrels barked at each other. Even the grasshoppers and crickets made the last of their chirps before the cicadas then dominate with their music. The life of the woods kicked up the decaying, dark brown leaves; snapped rotting twigs and knotted branches carpeted in fungus and moss; and rustled the shoots of grass and delicate yellow and white flowers that colored the floor. The hyperactive squirrels jumped from branch to branch and climb the ivy riddled oaks and pines. The songbirds and crows cawed at their antics, annoyed at being disturbed. The typical melody of summer.

Once she made it to the dire bear carcass. Which still smelled rancid and constricted her throat in its heady stench. The once great beast had reduced to yellowed bones and goop piles of white maggots and flies at the areas where flesh and organs remained. Its fur lain in haphazard streaks from predators and scavengers pulling from the decaying meaty morsels. Even those bits weren't safe from the flies that laid their eggs. The surrounding ground black with oxidized blood with the taste of iron.

Only taking a brief look she always did while standing at the forest line before heading toward her destination. Not wanting to stay for too long, else her mind drift to that moment when death was a dire bear's gaping maw.

When she arrived at their meeting spot, he wasn't there. The grill she used sat abandoned, having forgot it the other day in her haste. While she waited for Adam, she set up her staff to fish. It wasn't until she grilled her catch Adam teleported in a torrent of yellow energy.

"Adam!" she exclaimed, relief in the undertones of her voice. "You came! I was startin' to get a little worried."

The silver-haired machine blinked at her before a small, sad smile graced his face. "Gave you my word, didn't I?"

Lilia looked away while saying, "Well… yeah. Sorry, it's just after the other night…"

The machine shook his head and waved off her apology. "Don't worry about it. I was in shock is all my little time traveler."

Lilia produced a relieved smile and scratched the back of her head. "Phew! I thought you'd think I was crazy or somethin' like that."

The silver haired machine cocked his brow and sat next to her in familiar leisure. Adam's presence beside her around the campfire calmed Lilia's anxious mind. Even though they had discovered their true selves days ago, his feelings hadn't changed if he was willing to share space with her.

"I still have questions, but I doubt you have the answers to how you came to be here."

"You'd be right on that." She admitted as she removed the grill to place it on the wooden blocks between her and Adam. "It was just… a typical day for me." She stated distantly. "Anyway, let's say the blessin' and talk while we eat."

They merged their hands and Lilia said the blessing over the food.

"Oh, and before I forget." She removed the glasses from her face and gave them to the machine. "I'm sorry. For slappin' you."

The silver-haired machine huffed and took the glasses he wore from her. "No need to apologize. I… deserved it." He said as he put the black-rimmed glasses on.

"Doesn't mean that what I did was right. But, anyway, let's eat before it gets cold."

Lilia quietly dug into the morsels of fish. When Adam did not eat with her, she questioned him.

"I think… you need it more than I do." He said simply.

"You sure? I don't mind."

Adam chuckled at her. "Eat Lilia."

"If… you say so."

For a moment they were silent as she ate her meal. Adam stoically went between watching her chew the flaky fish and the flowing river. It was an uneasy silence between them.

"Maybe it'd be better for you to start." Adam piped up when she finished.

Lilia shrugged her shoulders, happy to break the uneasy silence that had settled between them."It was just a typical day like I said. Thought it was a dream at first."

"A dream?"

"Yeah." She reminisced as she finished the last morsel of her fish. As she continued to talk, she busily cleaned her grill top. "I was on my way to work and took the bus. I remember the cars crashin' into each other and the bus I was on had, well, sparks goin' around it. Next thing I knew, whoosh, I'm here. I thought I was in a coma dream 'cause of the cars crashin' into each other and I was at a hospital. I mean, all this stuff is so advanced and strange could you blame me? Like a machine-android war, humans on the moon 'cause of an alien invasion, little machines runnin' an amusement park, and giant friggin' animals much bigger than my time? It was all wa-ay too strange for me to think it was real."

"What changed?" He asked.

A sour look molded on her face. "A giant friggin' machine is what."

"You mean the Searcher?"

"Oh yeah—" her words stopped dead. The cleaned grill top hovering above her purse. "Hold on! How the hell do you know about that?"

He smiled. "Remember when I told you I knew of you when you told that pacifist village you were a YoRHa diplomat? I saw what happened."

Lilia's mouth was gaping in shock at him. She then blushed, put her grill top into her purse, and poked his chest none too gently. "Why didn't you say anythin'?!"

The silver haired machine chuckled. Gently rubbing where her fingertip poked him. "Don't blame me you were too slow to catch on."

"Slow?!" She exclaimed mortified. "I'm not the only one who's slow around here! I'm surprised you took this long to figure out I was a human!"

Adam chuckled again. "Point taken."

A memory surfaced in Lilia's mind. "Wait… if you saw what happened… do you know who took me to the Resistance camp?"

At this point Adam let out a full laugh. "You're welcome."

"Wait! You—! Adam!" Disbelief rattling her mind. Realizing he was the reason she still lived all along and didn't know it. "Why… why did you do that? You didn't even know me."

He shrugged his shoulders. "My curiosity of humanity. I overheard you tell those machine children a human story, and I wanted to see if you had more knowledge. I didn't regret my decision when I saw the contents of your purse, and the original lie you told me was convincing enough." He explained. "And now knowing what you are… it's a strange sense of irony."

Lilia rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Since you're a machine, maybe you can answer this: that Searcher… you wouldn't know why it was after me do you? I mean, I was only here a few hours at most before it showed up."

"No." He answered truthfully and shook his head. "Machines like that hold little appeal to me. I recall from the network data at the time was for it to capture you. No reason or drop off point."

Disappointment saturated her sigh before she said, "Yeah. My friend 9S said the same when he tried hackin' it. And it's weird that another one hasn't come at me again since then. We think whatever or whoever brought me here sent it after me."

Adam nodded. "It's a reasonable assessment. And it is strange that another attempt at your capture hasn't has yet been attempted."

"Yeah, it irks me like you wouldn't believe. Not complainin' though. I don't wanna run into another one of those anytime soon." Mentally shuttering at the thought. "Anyway, what of you? You say you're a machine... but you look like an android."

"It is... hard to explain..." he began, "The memories of that time are fuzzy and matters little. What I can say was that machines... gave birth to me. But then one became two. That part is clear. And it was your android friends that caused one to be two."

Wait… does that mean…? Did 2B and 9S know this whole time? After I told them about him… why didn't they…? Lilia clenched her fists at the thought and a deep frown soured her face.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine." Shaking her anger simmering below her mind. "Just givin' myself a reminder to chew out two androids next time I see them."

A silver brow raised in curiosity as he asked, "'Chew out'? How will you do that? I don't think it's possible for them to fit in your mouth. Is this one of those human idioms?"

"Oh, um, yeah." A small blush formed on her cheeks at her lack of insight to a common phrase. "It means I'm gonna give them a stern talkin' to."

"I see." Adam said while nodding he understood. "Makes me wonder why they continued to let you see me if they knew."

"Me too." She said before going back to her list of questions. "Anyway, you said 'one that became two'? You mean you and Eve? How did that happen?"

"Conflict." He responded simply.

"They... fought you?" A guess to what he spoke of. "Why?"

He shrugged. "I cannot fathom the answer. Why fight a creature born in front of them? Who was a blank slate at that? I will admit there was—I don't know how to describe it—the blades and gunfire hurt and I didn't know how to defend myself until I pushed back... and then—" A small smile formed on his face as he whispered, "I liked it. The tingles on my skin, learning to move to avoid their blades and Pod fire, and when I retaliated. I wanted to learn more—to feel more."

An expectant and thrilled expression lit his eyes as he stared at her as he asked excited, "Do human's feel that way? Is that why you fight so much? Based on how exhilarating it was for me, I can see why."

"I... don't know Adam." She admitted. "I'm no expert on human behavior and I don't know how you guys function up there," she pointed to his head, "to guess."

A frown etched itself on his face in clear disappointment. "How is it you do not know? You are human."

Lilia looked away in apology and held his hand before she replied, "Being human... is a mess of a thing. We're more likely to crawl in the dark than walk in the light."

His brows pinched as he tried to make sense of what she said. Lilia felt his red eyes on her as she glanced back at him before she realized she used another idiom.

"Sorry. What I meant is we're more likely to be ignorant than knowledgeable of anything."

A loud snort and a wide smile inched on his lips. "I beg to differ."

She only shrugged and decided to change the subject off her species failings. "Well, I know why you call yourselves Adam and Eve. But… you realize that Eve is a woman's name, right? Why not call yourselves Cain and Abel?"

The silver-haired machine let out a hardy laugh.

"What's so funny?" She asked with indignation.

"Eve asked the same." He allowed the last of his chuckles die before he explained, "It is how we were created that prompted our names. Eve knows his name is female."

"... And he's OK with it?"

Adam nodded.

God you machines and androids are friggin' weird. Lilia thought with a tinge of amusement.

She had to ask, "So… am I to assume that Eve came out of your rib?"

"In a sense." He replied. "I consider us the same entity because of it. Even though Eve thinks otherwise."

Lilia scratched the back of her head in thought. "Kinda hard to be the same entity when you two don't sound alike. I mean, based on what you've told me."

Adam pursed his lips before he somberly said, "We… are still one."

She noticed she hit a sore spot for the machine and she quickly apologized, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean—"

"No. No, it's all right." He sighed deeply. "I know you meant nothing by it."

Not wanting to further upset the machine, she let the subject drop. Instead, moving on to safer territory.

"Isn't this a strange relationship we built for ourselves? I've always been told to be as honest as possible in a relationship. But we… lied about our true selves from the start. In a weird way… I'm kinda glad. I mean, it irks me like you wouldn't believe. But, if I had known you were a machine from the start I wouldn't have gone near you. Ya know, based on what I knew at the time."

Adam nodded in agreement. "As am I Lilia. It… wouldn't have ended well for you."

She turned to face him, confusion on her face. "What do you mean?"

Adam clenched his hands into fists and looked away from her. "It shames me to think of it."

"Adam?" Dread inching in her voice. "What do you mean by it wouldn't have ended well for me?"

Instead of answering, he reflected, "After the confrontation with the androids and searched through the network's archives, humans just… fascinated me. I would scan through the data and archives repeatedly. I would read books that were still legible. Examine anything and everything relating to them. Humans obsessed me to the point of, well, 'madness' as it was referred to. And I… would have done anything at all just to know more. Nothing would have been off limits in my objective." His voice turned solemn and low, "Including… inflicting pain and suffering on the creatures I revered."

A gasp escaped her throat, and she clenched her staff tighter. Hazel-green eyes looked at him in horror. Unable to decide whether she should run or continue to hear him out from his admission. Even though it sounded as if he has thought otherwise from his original goal.

She took a deep breath and tried to be as brave as possible. Lilia knew compared to the machines, she stood little chance in terms of defense or trying to run. Had being witness to their strength and speed that were multitudes greater than her own and their non-human capabilities. She wasn't the apex predator in this situation, the scales tipping in the machine's favor.

The lump of dread that settled in her throat pressed to her stomach as she cautiously asked, "You sound as though you have changed your mind."

He nodded.

Not releasing her guard at his admittance. "How do I know you aren't lyin' to me?"

"I could say the same for you." He rebuked flatly. "You lied convincingly since I first met you. However, I… understand why. If you had told me at the beginning, I wouldn't have hesitated to capture and dissect you. But I—"

"But?" Her heart and body hopeful at his next words.

"I wouldn't be standing here with you. I wouldn't have learned anything about humans. My original plan… would have been fruitless. A complete failure. In that regard, you shall have no fear. I won't hurt you."

Her hazel-green eyes gave him a piercing look. "You still haven't answered my question."

A forlorn expression molded on his face and clenched his hands before he returned to their original position.

"I… have a confession."

Her brows furrowed but said nothing.

"My code… has changed."

Confused she asked, "Your… code?"

"Yes, I… You see…" Trying to find the words to best describe what he had learned about himself. "Before we met, my code—personality, program, whatever you need to describe it—differed from it is now. My original code was just that, my need to learn and dissect humans at whatever the cost. But then, as I started our rendezvous, a new code wrote itself. It was so slowly written that I didn't notice it.

"Over time it… started… messing—interfering or blocking—that original code. I don't know how it did so. Once… once you revealed who you actually are… the two codes… fought each other. And I… can no longer fulfill that original code."

She was silent for a few moments to process what he had said. "So, this… new code deleted the old one?"

He shook his head, "No. It's still there. The best way to describe it to you is that the old code is in solitary confinement."

Her eyes blinked in understanding. "Sounds like what an anti-virus program would do when it detects malware on a computer."

His silver brow crooked at what she said. "What?"

Her hand waved off his question as she blushed. "Oh, um, nevermind. But anyway, I understand what you are saying. So there's… no way for you to harm me?"

"No. The code won't allow it, and… I wouldn't want to if I didn't have it."

Lilia got up and walked moved away from him, closer to the stream. Her mind racing and jumbling at the information at Adam's admissions. The one thing she trusted and was certain of turned out to be a lie, and now he offered her the truth. She didn't want what he said now to be a lie, having enough with the uncertainty and sheets of lies with the world. Only wanting one piece that could give her some hope, some comfort.

He could still hurt me. She reasoned. They lie like we can. He could still do it one day. Cut me up like a lab rat. But... those moments... The sensation of him kissing her, making her laugh, and giving her something to look forward to. Someone who she doesn't have to hide herself. I cannot bare it if you are a lie, Adam.

The staff she clutched in her hand, clunked on the stream's stony bank when she let go. Unbuckling her dagger and knife belt from her waist. Any defense she discarded the moment of the metallic clink hitting the stones on her feet. Lilia was completely vulnerable. Maroon eyes watched her movements, curious and having trepidation. He got up and stood just a foot behind her.

"Adam… I need you to do somethin' for me." She turned and had the etchings of fear and acceptance in her eyes. Her warm hands reached out to his metal gauntlet hand, the red tips contrasting on the black leather. Muscles in her throat working as she placed his open hand around her delicate human throat. Holding on to his forearm to keep him there. "I need you… to squeeze."

Pink emanated from his pupils as his maroon eyes widened. His body tensed at seeing his dragon claw hand wrapping around her vulnerable throat and Lilia's demand for him to harm her. In a flash, his other hand clenched at her delicate wrist on her right arm. The gentle water flow and the clinks from the golden tags on his gloves the only sounds in the isolated river bank.

"No…"

"Why not? I—there is no one here to stop you. This is the only way I know you are tellin' me the truth. I need you to squeeze."

"You… you can't just… I—I am telling the truth! I can't—!"

"Squeeze Adam!" She yelled at his face. "This is what you wanted right? You wanted to know what humans were capable of? Nothing off limits, right? So squeeze you damn machine!"

Lilia could feel the trembles underneath her hands and see the stress on Adam's face of her demand. The bright pink luminescence from his pupils hurt her eyes, faint wafts of reddish smoke emitted from the visual sensor. She recognized his emotional stabilizers were working overtime, never seeing them glow so bright before. Despite being terrified, she continued to push.

"Well? C'mon! What's stoppin' you!?"

"Lilia-a-a…" His tenor voice digitized. "I c-c-can't… won't."

"I said squeeze you stupid bucket of bolts!"

At her last command, his body slacked and the stressed tension vanished. His eyes continued to glow in a dimmer fashion.

Silence fell.

A piercing, female shriek echoed the woods as his arm popped from its socket at the shoulder. Clear reddish liquid spurted from the wound, staining his pristine white shirt, along with sparks from the connection. Freaking at the arm Lilia held on to, she tossed it away. The gauntlet arm thunked on the stony ground, the red liquid staining the dirt and rock. The disconnection sprayed her. Her heart hammering in her ears.

"Adam!" She hollered. "What the—"

"System Code two-three-eight-five has been executed. Reformatting containment of System Code one-zero-zero-three. Containment confirmed." Adam said in a droning, digitized monotone. His eyes blazing a cold, pink glow. His face slack, lifeless and his body straightened stiff.

"Adam! Adam I'm sorry! I didn't mean for you to—!"

"Running diagnostics of Lilia safety protocols." He interrupted. After a few seconds he responded "Lilia safety protocols confirmed. No threats detected. System A.I. undergoing diagnostics and repair. Approximate repair time forty-eight minutes. Engage diagnostics and repair."

"Adam?"

"Machine Model three-four-one-one-zero-two-A. Codename: ADAM system A.I. is undergoing diagnostics and repair. Please wait."

That's not Adam... what... what or who is this? Is this a back-up program? What have I done?

She blinked at the statue still machine. "Who… am I talkin' to?"

"Lilia is engaging this System Unit's sub-code eight-seven-six-four. Primary function to stabilize system unit's higher cognition, memory, and emotions. Secondary function to run system unit diagnostics and repair to prevent damage to system unit's A.I." The machine explained in a digitized monotone voice.

Is this… the 'machine part' of Adam's brain?

"So… Adam is… asleep?"

"Negative. System Unit A.I. is temporarily offline."

"Isn't it… the same thing?" She asked.

"Negative. Sleeping in an indicator the System Unit is rejuvenating energy loss. System Unit A.I. is not rejuvenating loss of energy. System Unit A.I. is temporarily offline."

"Oh." Scratching her head at his answer. "Why… why did Adam…" Unable to finish her sentence, she pointed to his severed arm laying on the stony river bank.

The machine's head looked at the appendage in cold stoicism to his own missing arm before responding. "A confliction and heightened emotional stress in System Unit's code caused disconnection of right arm. It compromised original code one-zero-zero-three containment and threatened the new default primary code two-three-eight-five. Prompting a System Unit A.I. shutdown."

Code containment... Adam said a code was contained a little bit ago.

Curiously she asked, "What… what are those code's functions?"

"Warning. Lilia does not have permission to access these files."

"Oh." Disappointment on her face. "Can't blame me for askin'. Anyway… how long until Adam comes, um, back online?"

"System Unit A.I. will be online in approximately thirty-seven minutes."

"Guess… I should make myself comfortable."

She walked toward the stacks of mossy boulders that dotted the riverbank and sat down on one. Hands raised so she could rest her head on them, she relaxed to watch the flow of the river and listen to the chirping birds and buzzing cicadas. Guilt muddled her mind over making Adam lose his arm, the reddish stains as evidence, which peppered her clothing. Maybe he could reattach it? Or, reabsorb it like she saw when he broke his old body.

I hope he forgives me for what happened. She thought melancholically. I wouldn't blame him if he was angry with me. You're real stupid Lilia for making him do that.

She then looked back at where Adam stood stark still and watched her. It shouldn't bother her, he watched her in the past. Shivers goosed down her spine just as she realized what unsettled her about his eyes, demeanor, and general self.

They were lifeless.

Adam was lifeless.

With how advanced Adam and the androids she's come across and even to a degree the machines like Pascal it was easy to forget they were not flesh and blood beings. Even in her time the animatronics weren't advanced as they are now. They were close but not near where the line blurred and the distinction disappeared. Now as he stood before her with a near perfect replica of a human body but lifeless eyes and demeanor twisted her stomach.

Jesus Christ this is fucking creepy. She thought as shivers traveled her body again and glanced away.

The machine's footsteps crunched on the dirt and rocks sounded as he approached as he took a close stance next to her. Lilia kept her eyes on the stream and forest, she didn't want to look into those dead eyes. Not even when they trailed across her body, which made the hairs on her neck stand.

After a few minutes the stiff machine said, "Sub-code eight-seven-six-four has granted Lilia the necessary permissions to access requested files. Do you wish to continue?"

She blinked in surprise and dared to make eye contact with the machine. "Huh?"

The machine repeated, "Sub-code eight-seven-six-four has granted Lilia the necessary permissions to access requested files. Do you wish to continue?"

"Oh!" She realized what he was talking about. "Um, y-yeah."

"Original code one-zero-zero-three's default function: Dissect and analyze humans. End goal: To seek knowledge of human behavior to imitate them. Replaced by code two-three-eight-five. Default function: Establish necessary contact with the android named Lilia who has knowledge of human behavior and patterns. End goal: To seek knowledge of human behavior to imitate them. Modification to this code occurred once this System Unit learned Lilia was a human. The knowledge prompted a delayed conflict with code one-zero-zero-three and subsequent containment."

Lilia took a moment to digest what the machine said. "So… so Adam wasn't lyin'… he can't hurt me."

"Affirmative. System code two-three-eight-five and necessary heightened emotional responses will not allow this System Unit to jeopardize physical harm to Lilia."

Relief flooded through her body, but she also needed to know something else. "What… changed?"

"Insufficient data to respond. Please elaborate."

Lilia shook her head in self-depreciation, needing to remember she was talking to a 'machine' and not Adam per se. "What I mean is… is why would the new code, I guess, override the old one? Why was it more of a priority when they both accomplished the same goal?"

Minutes ticked by before the machine answered. "System Unit's emotional response to Lilia would be the best answer."

"Emotional response?"

"Affirmative. Clarification is needed.

"Hypothesis: If system code one-zero-zero-three had contained code two-three-eight-five dissection and experimentation on Lilia would occur to further the code's goal as per the System Unit's A.I. self-determining function. In doing so would cause a destabilization of sixty-five percent in this System Unit's A.I. caused by the emotional response this System Unit has with Lilia. A destabilization that magnitude would have three probable outcomes.

"Outcome one: Irreparable damage to System Unit's A.I. Outcome two: A permanent system and memory wipe. Outcome three: A System Unit self-destruct.

"The outcomes failed acceptable stabilization and preservation range. Thus, another outcome was hypothesized, a containment of one of the two codes. The factors of containing system code one-zero-zero-three had a higher chance of stabilization and preservation than the latter. No other anomalies or conflicts have arisen since containment."

"Then… that a good thing then?" She said distantly.

"Affirmative."

For the rest of the time until Adam's A.I. turned back on, Lilia and the machine waited in silence. Once Adam turned back on, he was understandably upset with her. She tried her best to explain herself to him. Although he accepted it, he was not pacified. She also told him what happened while he was out, he shrugged it off and gave him a "I told you so" look. It was easy enough for him to reattach his arm since the cause for the detachment had passed. That golden light he could make surrounded the area and after a few minutes, the arm was back to working again. The whole time he didn't look her in the eye.

"Adam… I really am sorry." She said mournfully.

Still not looking at her before he responded. "No… I understand your reasoning. And I don't blame you. Maybe I'm… just angry at myself for letting it come to that."

She shook her head. "No, don't say that. I should have known if you wanted to hurt me, you'd done it once you realized I was human." A self-depreciating sigh emitted from her mouth. "This whole friggin' world has got me paranoid."

"Lilia…" He said as he turned to face her.

She shook her head to dismiss his next word before she approached and hugged him, wrapping her arms around his lithe waist and pressing her head on his chest. A soft gasp emitted from the machine's throat. His body twitched and hesitated before, he too, returned the gesture. Even though there was a lack of warmth from his body, she could still feel the meaning and emotion behind it. Which was good enough for her.

"Forgive me?" she asked softly.

"Lilia…"

The silver-haired machine took his gauntlet hand to nudge her head up. Her glassy, hazel-green eyes melted his insides as he pressed a kiss on her forehead. A relieved sigh breathed out of her throat as she turned her head to gaze at him, a gentle smile on her lips. Without hesitation, she took the hint and stood on her toes while Adam leaned in to press a lingering kiss on her plump lips. The air between them stirring and the residual tension discarded into the wind.

Another type of tension vibrated into their being. The kind that shook the ground and sent electricity into the air. Both pairs of eyes looked at each other in apprehension.

Lilia swallowed the nervous lump in her throat. "What was… that?" As easily as possible, she lowered her heels and looked around them.

The machine's reddish eyes dimmed in their glow. A minute later, he spoke. "Well… this isn't good."

"Adam…" She asked again, dread in her voice, "What was that?"

"A massive EMP pulse approximately forty-eight kilometers or thirty miles south from us. And it was made… from Grün." He informed her.

"Adam… what's a 'Grün'?"

He turned his head toward the vibrations before he answered her. "A machine that was created three hundred and twenty years ago to end the machine-android war. The machines discarded it to the bottom of the ocean due to its instability. It's a few miles from shore right now. It appears it has made its way back."

Lilia swallowed nervously. "How… bad is it?"

"Considering it can emit an EMP that can eliminate android and machine alike for miles and it's over a thousand meters tall." He answered honestly.

Oh god… is this… is this why 2B and 9S had to leave so suddenly yesterday? Why they seemed afraid?

Her hands twitched at the dreaded thought of what would happen to them if such a machine isn't stopped.

I know they're YoRHa soldiers, it's what we built them for. And this is the price non-combatants face when those who are soldiers get sent off. You know this for a fact Lilia. From what Adam said… this isn't some ordinary Goliath-class type machine.

The possibility of them not returning. Or, in their case, pieces of their memory missing. What if the EMP that thing makes is enough to destroy their whole data if they aren't protected? What will happen once it reaches shore?

For Christ's sake! We felt that all the way over here!

"I will help destroy it." He suddenly stated.

Familiar dread knotted her gut. "No!" she exclaimed.

Adam knotted his silver brows at her. "Grün is a danger to you Lilia. I am better equipped to face it. I promise to return."

"I'm fightin' for you Lily. I'll be gone only a few more months. Just wait on me. We'll have a proper wedding and honeymoon when I get back. I promise."

A long-lost dream whispered in her mind as chapped lips kissed her cool ones from the winter air. The faint aroma of mint Crest toothpaste and sandalwood shaving cream lingered on his mouth and cheeks. Warmth radiated from his smile which pulled on the scar on his left temple and his large, callused hands wrapped around her's as she reciprocated just as hard—just to hold on one more second. Dark brown eyes twinkled in their depths; below lay the steel wrappings as he whispered his promise again. He gave a final kiss on her forehead—final in every sense of the word.

The image stayed with Lilia as he walked out of the base chapel in his uniform and carrying his duffle, leaving her with two witnesses, court approved papers, and a ring on her left hand glittering like the holiday snow falling from the gray Georgia sky.

Happiness and fear welled in her breast as she made the same promise.

"Besides," Adam's voice pulled her from long-ago memories as he continued, "I'll be an asset since I know the workings of that machine from the network."

"No!" she exclaimed. Her delicate hands clutching his shirt. "Don't go. I… I'm sure that YoRHa can handle it."

The machine puffed out through his nose. "I doubt they have any in depth knowledge of that machine. It was built to kill them."

"And it killed machine alike to!" She exclaimed in a shout. "You said so yourself."

He nodded in affirmative. "True, however I can erect a shield that will stop the EMP from doing any damage. I'll be fine. I don't think those YoRHa units can do that."

"But—"

He put a finger on her lips to silence her. "Grün will harm you Lilia. It's close by and the EMP isn't healthy for you either. I'll go for my brother too. He needs protecting as well."

Fear paralyzed her as tears welled in her eyes. His hand caressed her cheek as he planted soothing kisses on her lips.

"...for you Lily... I promise..." His voice echoed.

A cocky smile graced Adam's lips. "Don't be dramatic Lilia. I'll be back before you know it. I promise."

Those were his words to. Before he—"God-fucking-dammit." She hissed out. "All right, just… just come back safely."

"Of course. Besides," he held her tightly and whispered in her ear, "we have so much to discuss."

The anxiety clawed at her. The background noise in her mind he might not come back gnashed at her. It was irrational, she acknowledged that. Adam was a machine that could be downloaded into another body. But the fear, the ancient, instinctual fear of losing life at a battlefield was overwhelming to her. Grün is an inevitable fight being the threat it was. The mortality thoughts raced in her mind.

The cruel picture in her mind of him returning in parts concealed in a coffin.

Without thinking, she leapt up at him and placed a passionate kiss on his lips. For luck, for a promise to come back, to not do anything stupid. At the least, to not get too maimed up.

Along with her promise to be brave and wait for him.

Just as she had to do so long ago.

"I might have to go into danger more often if you kiss me like that." He made a fox-sly grin as he cockily said that.

Lilia blushed and scoffed, "You're terrible."

Adam chortled at her, thinking she was being rather ridiculous and melodramatic.

"I'll be back as quickly as possible." He assured. "No need to fret."

He placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before he backs away while he surrounded himself in teleporting light. Their hands briefly met before he vanishes, leaving her alone. With only the lazy flow of the stream, the yammers of the cicadas, the chirps and caws of the birds, the barking of the squirrels, and the ivy-riddled great oaks and pines for company. All uncaring to the utter loneliness she felt. Lilia's mind racing through a dark hole of doubt and anxiety.

He'll come back. If… something happens… he'll just get another body and he'll come back. He'll tell me all about it too. And tell me how foolish I was for worrying. It won't end like last time.

Lilia tried her best to convince herself even as the fathom touch of winter caressed her skin and old promises lingered in the air unfulfilled.

—xxx—

What the two love birds didn't realize is that another pair of red eyes watched them. A pair filled with loathing, jealousy, and seeping hatred.

The pair of eyes wasn't there for the whole sequence of their conversation, but the latter half. Lips sneering distastefully at how she could manipulate his twin. How he looked at her. Kissed her. It had been months since the last he saw that android. Now, looking at it at this moment, he is even less impressed now than he was then. Even weaker, unimpressive, and frankly a filthy excuse of a sentient being than originally suspected.

What makes that android so special?

His brows leered as he observed her waving that pole around. It looked methodical, like something a fight model would use. Although it was poorly and clumsily executed.

Then, a wicked idea came to mind. There she was all alone. No other android for miles—having all conjoined at the Grün battle far to the south. The machine village was miles away and posed no threat. His brother—who is all he wanted out of this world—would likewise be occupied for a long while. It would take time for his plan to formulate, but if it went well, he'd be rid of her and free his beloved twin from whatever hacks she put him under.

Oh, dear, dear Lilia… I have a special present just for you. Don't fret. I'll be right back.

A/N: Sorry for the long dialogue in this chapter, the pace quickens next chapter though. And holy snap!-Only seven chapters left!