[Chapter 3: Human]
"Pod, Analysis." Another female android's voice.
"Analysis Complete: Black box not detected. Organic composition detected. Hypothesis: Possible human discovered." Another pod.
In front of me, I see a duo that looks very similar, yet not quite the same. They look sort of like A2, although A2 is slightly taller and has longer hair. A young woman stands at my feet, looking down at me. Same body shape, hair color, and even the beauty mark below the lips. For whatever reason, this one wears a blindfold and a fairly revealing gothic skirt, with a hole in the chest to show some cleavage.
Frills coupled with stitched designs lace the bottom of the fabric. Her curvy legs are wrapped in thigh high stockings and she's wearing high heels. A sight to behold if I do say so myself. Compared to A2, she looks a lot healthier. Well, she's almost certainly another android, so... well-maintained is a more accurate term.
"2B, is there something– huh?" A small-framed figure approaches from behind the woman. It looks kinda like a child. Although having a somewhat masculine teenage voice, it appears rather young and has an effeminate look; fourteen years I would guess.
Slim in build with a round clear face, he dons a black blindfold that goes a little bit past the bridge of his nose. Along his chest, he sports a kind of sash belt buckle, which probably holds the rucksack on his back. His suit jacket, complete with lining and gold buttons running down the sides, are complemented with gloves, and stitching like the woman's skirt. His skinny legs protrude out of shorts and are contained in high socks inside boots that have even more buckles.
Whatever counted as fashion for robots, they had interesting taste, to say the least.
"A human? Why isn't he on the moon?" 2B questions. At least, I think that's what the boy called her. 2B… well this gets rid of any doubt. A2 and 2B huh? Ha, maybe I'll end up naming my kid a letter and a number someday.
"Wow, a real human! I never thought I'd actually have the chance to see one like this… 2B, let's take him back to the Bunker. We can run tests and diagnostics and–" the boy bubbles with excitement, only to be cut off by 2B.
"9S, we are tasked with the protection of humanity first. We must report this to Command and get this human to safety."
"Yeah, yeah… hmph." So, the smaller one is 9S. What was all that talk about running tests? I hope it's not another bathroom situation… if anything, I should just try and get out of here. A2's probably wondering where I've wandered off to by now.
"Um, 2B and 9S, is it?" I address the two as they turn their blindfolded eyes to me. "Well, uhh, thanks for saving me, but I should really get going." I turn over and start crawling towards my crutch.
"We can't have you leaving like this, you're injured," 2B asserts.
"No, no, I assure you, I don't want to ask for any more favors." My crawling speeds up. So close...
"9S, contact Command."
Fuck.
"Alrighty!" 9S beams with happiness.
"Whoa!" I squeal as 2B grabs my leg and slings me over her shoulder. "H-Hey, you don't have to carry me, I can walk myself!" 2B ignores my feeble pleas and I lie slumped over her shoulder, staring at the ground. I wince as my not-completely-healed body protests the awkward position.
9S' pod projects a screen, along with noisy static. "9S to Operator 21O."
A face appears on the screen, "Yes, what is it 9S?"
"Operator, I'm happy to see you, we've actually disco–"
"Closing channel."
"Hey, wait!"
"9S, information pertaining to oversized boars is not mission critical data."
"But they're so interesting… I-I mean jeez, don't be so cruel, it's not about boars this time."
"Closing channel."
"Wait, it's not–"
"9S, if you are going to waste our valuable time with nonsensical data on animals, then we will have no choice but to reprimand–"
"We've found a human on Earth."
"…a human?"
"Can you connect us to the Commander, please?"
"...Just a moment," the Operator pauses in silence for a few seconds, though she sounds hesitant and there's suspicion in her voice.
"9S, I'm afraid we cannot connect you with the Commander at this time. This matter is sensitive and must be discussed with the Commander in person. Please proceed to the coast with the human and board carrier Blue Ridge II. You will receive further instructions from there. You and unit 2B must monitor and maintain the human at all times. Stay safe." Static crackles once more and the screen disappears.
"That seemed a little... off, huh 2B?" 9S wonders aloud.
"We have our orders," 2B says, dismissing his concerns as she begins to walk in the apparent direction of the coast.
We've been walking for a while now and I'm starting to feel sick. I feel like a sack of rocks slung over on someone's back, with nothing but the ground to stare at.
We continue walking for about an hour, and the whole time, the boy just trails behind, staring at me with this unsettling grin on his face. I think he's about ready to start experimenting on me…
Dammit, I gotta break this silence with something, else I fear for my insides being torn out and examined. "9S, right?"
He replies, "Yep, manufactured on January 30th, 11942, deployed 4:25 A.M. Bunker Time!"
"Sorry, say that again?"
"I was manufactured on January 30th, 11942-"
"Stop right there, what year?"
"11942." A worry-free smile remains on his face.
"Oh…"
"Is something wrong?"
Aside from the fact that that I'm currently stuck in a five-digit year among many, many other things? Nope, totally fine.
"Ah, no not at all… say, kid, you seem very... cheerful."
"Of course, we found you! It's our duty as YoRHa soldiers to protect and carry out the orders of mankind, so that you can someday return to Earth."
"Is that so?"
2B interrupts, "9S, emotions are prohibited."
9S puffs out his cheeks and slumps in defeat. "Yes ma'am."
"Don't call me ma'am."
"Yes 2B." 9S turns his attention back to me. "After we wipe out the machines and their alien creators, the humans stationed on the moon will come back down and reclaim their home. I'm not too sure what will happen to us androids, though… I hope we can live alongside you. We were created to serve you, after all."
You know, even though I know these two are androids, I can't shake the feeling that I get a human impression from them. Not just the way they look obviously, but their emotions, the fact that I can have a conversation like this. 2B was even scolding 9S earlier.
The androids have saved my life twice now, but in the end, can a machine really feel something?
Living among humans… I muster up a small smile and look back at 9S. "I certainly hope that happens."
"Really? You mean that?" 9S's face brightens up.
"Sure." I'm not really sure as to what I'm hoping, but it makes me happy to see this kid so up-beat. Even though it's an android… maybe I should just enjoy the moment.
"I've always wanted to learn about the behaviors of humans, why they do the things they do. If we live among them, I can get all the data I want." 9S increases his walking pace and places himself right in front of me. He stares at my face curiously. "What constitutes a human I wonder? What makes you so different from us?"
I should really be the one asking those questions.
"Well I mean, we feel emotions and you guys fake having emotions."
"What's the difference?"
"Faking, well it's sorta like an automatic door. The sensor detects something and sends a signal to open the door. That's what it's programmed to do, it doesn't have a say in when it opens or whether it wants to open. It just does. Doesn't matter if someone is yelling at it or is happy for it. It will open itself as long as something is in front of it." 9S puffs his cheeks, looking frustrated.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Hmph." 9S crosses his arms and looks away.
"Was it something I said?"
"I'm not an automatic door," 9S blurts in anger and frustration as he pouts and looks away. "We're loyal to you and made to protect you, we're something more than that, and you think of us like this… just mindless drones following orders." 2B stops in her tracks and tightly squeezes my rib cage.
"Ow, ow, ow, stop! That's not what I meant, I'm not calling you guys automatic doors," 2B lessens her grip, giving me the chance to continue.
"It's… it's just an example. It might be a bad example but it's still an example. You guys see my facial expressions, how I react, then you respond according to that. It's in your programming. Whether it's to calm me, or something like that I don't know. You can't control it, you'll follow programming no matter what."
2B starts walking again, 9S follows and slightly tilts his head in my direction, glancing at me. "If that's faking, then what's feeling?"
"Um, It's… well…" I'm at a loss for words. What is feeling? "It's like when you get home from a long day of work and see your family. Something in you just… loves them. Something in you just wants to take care of them. Your heart speeds up and you get this tight feeling in your chest and a smile just comes to your face because you know you love them. Nothing in the world can stop that feeling from happening, you know?"
I look up to see 9S staring at me intensely.
"I'm not sure what a family is, but you said nothing in the world can stop that feeling. Isn't that the same as following our programming no matter what? It sounds like you can't control that feeling of love. Almost as if you're hardwired to feel love and respond to your so-called family." 9S says almost accusingly. "Maybe we're not too different after all."
My train of thought stops completely. The kid does have a point. If humans are hardwired to experience emotions and react to certain stimuli from the outside world, then what does it mean to be human?
If an android is programmed to simulate emotions, could I really call that faking? Now I feel guilty having called the kid an automatic door… if an android can make me feel that way, does it really matter?
9S distances himself from me and peers off into the distance. His regular curiosity and wonder takes over his face. Actually… maybe something a little more than that came to his mind.
A loud groan erupts from my stomach. Abruptly, a sword emerges in 2B's hand, appearing out of nowhere. My body jerks forward and 2B becomes alert, bracing her legs, taking a battle stance.
That might've scared her…
"What is that noise?" 2B asks cautiously.
"Hey 2B?" I ask, my stomach moaning in pain.
"Yes?" She replies, wasting no words.
"Think we could stop for a bit? I'm getting pretty hungry."
"Hungry?"
The pod proceeds to give the whole rationale behind humans needing food. Maybe those things are good for something after all.
We walk a little bit more and stop near a small river, under a broken highway bridge. Lush greenery surrounds the area, topped with fresh clear water. An enjoyable resting spot compared to sandy desert everywhere.
2B sets me down in a clearing and I lay down in the soft grass. 9S lies down next to me, not speaking a word. He unties his blindfold, exposing his blue eyes, shaped just like A2's. I suppose 2B has the same kind of eyes. 9S mimics me and begins staring at the sky. I take in the clear air and for the first time since waking up I feel peaceful.
2B comes from outside of my view, towering over me.
"I'll get you some food," she says.
"Sounds good, I appreciate it," I reply.
2B walks over to the stream and materializes a holographic chair. What kind of future am I in…? She waves her hand forward and her pod throws itself into the water. She sits, arms crossed. Minutes later, the pod jerks back and forth, eventually rising out of the water.
The pod speaks in a low voice, "Fishing: Success."
2B makes her way back to me. "Is this sufficient?"
She dangles a small guppy in front of my face.
I smile at the android's attempt. "Well, not quite, but I appreciate it 2B."
2B tilts her head to the side and looks at the guppy for a long period of time.
"What's wrong with it?" 2B asks me.
"Well it is a fish, but it's not enough for my body to function." I give a light chuckle and turn to 9S.
"Say 9S, think you could find me a fishing rod?"
"What's a fishing rod?" 9S replies.
"Hypothesis: A long flexible pole, attached to a line ending with a hook. Bait is attached to the hook to lure fish. Usually found in commercial stores pertaining to outdoorsmanship," the pod says.
"There's a commercial facility not too far from here, I'll go check it out." 9S jumps up and starts dashing away, leaving me alone with 2B. She heads back to the stream and continues to fish. Each catch is either useless junk or a fish smaller than my thumb. Frustration overcoming the android, 2B pulls out a spear and starts stabbing at the water.
I call out to her, hoping to calm her down. "Hey 2B, you don't have to try so hard, I'll survive for a bit without food." The air turns cold and she rears her spear at me with a glare. "I mean, uh… do your best!" 9S better get back soon…
After a while, 9S returns with a fishing pole. It's seen better days, and was probably more at home in the ocean than in a river, but it would work.
I teach 2B how to fish properly and I end up eating well with more food to spare. It was a little difficult eating fish that had to be gutted and cooked by a novice, but it was magnitudes better than the mush A2 tried to feed me.
2B throws me over her back and we keep walking. That was actually… kind of fun. It was just like camping with some friends. Did I even have any friends? My memories were still completely blank before a few weeks ago.
Wait, what's that noise? It sounds like a jet eng–
"Wah!" Faster than I can blink I'm swooped off 2B's shoulder. I'm being propelled forward, wind blasting in my face. I find myself in a bridal carry and look up to see my kidnapper's face, covered in a livid red aura.
"I told you not to leave. Idiot."
Edited and polished by: Recycler and 0erbayunFang
Thank you guys!
A/N: Hey guys, thanks for continuing to read. I hope you enjoyed the chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. Again, critique and feedback is always welcome! Until the next chapter!
Note: I've been getting this a lot from reviews, but I can say there is no definite route that this is based off. I was going to do Route E but eventually there were many elements I wanted to include that wouldn't allow that. I hope this doesn't take away from the enjoyment of the story YoRHa is not destroyed by the logic virus and 2B remains alive, and 9S' sanity remains intact. But where did A2 find her pod? She found it fishing for food in the flooded city for the human. Got it before 2B could. It is not pod 042
Note 2: Hey guys, sorry for the long hiatus, I've recently been busy and have not been able to work on the story. Beginning today, I will continue to write. I highly recommend you go back and read the beginning chapters, as they have been edited and polished very well by Recycler, who approached me a while back as a diligent beta reader and idea man. I hope this will be enough until the next chapter, thanks guys!