[Chapter 7: Encounter]
Finally, we made it.
After two hours of walking in this terrible heat, we arrive at the desert complex. The buildings are absolutely demolished and buried in sand. The area is closed off in a large canyon and the only way to get to the complex is to slide down a mountain of sand.
"Alright, know where those decommissioned androids are at?" I ask the pod proudly, knowing I've at least made it this far.
"Scanning. Scan complete: decommissioned YoRHa models located further inside complex. Multiple machine signatures detected in immediate vicinity. Caution advised," the pod replies.
"I'll keep that in mind…"
We head further into the complex and walk on a mixture of sand and cement, which probably used to be a full street. Along the path, a rusty playground manages to stay surfaced above the sand and many collapsed buildings shrink behind it. Piles of scrap sit on both sides of the street as well.
I've yet to see any machines, but I become complacent …
"Machines within vicinity." The pod stops my train of thought.
"I know, you said that earlier, but where exactly are they? Some specifics would be nice…" I nervously question the pod, as the area around is dead quiet.
"Unknown."
"Huh?! You just said there were machines around this area!"
"Signatures detected in vicinity. Exact location unknown. Caution advised."
"No wonder A2 calls you useless…"
The passage gets narrower and metal beams stick out of the ground. Further in, piles of lifeless android bodies lay on the ground.
They're pretty damn creepy. It's like one of those human anatomy statues you'd see in a biology class. No skin, just metal and protruding eyeballs. Kinda feels like I'm being watched…
Better start looking.
"Where exactly do I find this chip?" I ask the pod.
"Chip proximity: within reach," the pod replies
"Specifics please."
"Fifty decommissioned units within ten meters contain a chip. Heading: North-west at three hundred and thirty degrees. Elevation–"
"Pod, I'm not as dense as you think, please don't mark each individual body next to me. There's literally piles of them everywhere…"
"Affirmative."
"What I meant is, where on the body is it?"
"Chip location: cranial region. Proposal: Sever cranial region to get into chip instillations."
"That's all I needed to know. At least you're not as useless as A2 thinks you are."
"Affirmative."
Out of the pile of android bodies, I choose one next to me and kneel beside it. It's leaned against the sandy rocks in a sitting position. It's missing its left leg and the arms are slightly mangled.
"Think you could get the chip out of this one?" I ask the pod.
"Affirmative. Attempting extraction of chip," the pod replies.
The pod hovers next to the android and a blowtorch replaces the spot where its Gatling gun usually is. It begins to meticulously work its way down the middle of the android's skull. Eventually, two pieces of the skull fall apart and a bunch of chaotic circuitry appears.
I don't know what any of this is nor do I want to attempt to even try and figure out where the chip is…
With a disgruntled look on my face, I turn towards the pod. "So… which one is the right chip, exactly?"
"Scanning. Scan complete. Continuing extraction of chip," the pod replies.
Phew, I thought I would have to work through all of–
"Gah!"
A small explosion erupts and launches me off my feet, sending me a couple of meters away from the android we were working on. I end up face-first, landing in another pile of android skeletons. Next to me, the pod seems to have suffered the same fate, scorched black from the explosion.
God, that hurt…
I manage to get myself back up in a sitting position. I look back to see that the android we were trying to extract the chip from is now just a smoldering pile of red ash.
The pod recovers and hovers next to me. "Extraction: Failed."
"Yeah… I can kinda see that…" I reply in disappointment. "And what exactly went wrong there?"
"I am not authorized to perform maintenance on any YoRHa android programs, or items pertaining to that android's data that I am not specifically assigned to. The YoRHa android's defenses activated when I attempted to extract the chip. Automatic self-destruction prevents any critical data from falling into unknown hands."
"Then why didn't you say anything before we attempted to get it?"
"I was unaware of this information until this present moment."
"So even you're not perfect, huh?"
"Affirmative."
"Well, we have a lot of androids to work with here, but how do we avoid getting blown up in the process?"
"To bypass YoRHa security measures, return to the Bunker to acquire clearance on reformatting and maintenance."
"Bunker?"
"The Bunker is YoRHa's base of operations. Maintenance and replacement parts may be acquired at this location."
"Where is this 'Bunker' located?"
"The Bunker is currently orbiting the planet, allowing for strike teams at any location."
"So… pretty much in space?"
"Affirmative."
"Oh… That's no problem then. No problem at all…" Well the bunker is out of the question. Besides, I don't think YoRHa would appreciate the sentiment in helping A2; seeing as she's wanted… "Any other options?"
"Proposal: A YoRHa scanner-type model may bypass security systems through hacking."
I didn't know each one of those guys had assigned roles… What constitutes a scanner android from a regular android?
Let's go out on a whim here. "Does A2 happen to be a scanner type?"
"Negative. YoRHa Type A No. 2 is an attacker type." The pod replies.
"Then what do these scanner models look like?"
The pod projects a screen and a familiar face appears. The kid. 9S I think was his name…
So, I need someone like that. Well it's no doubt that the kid will either kill or capture A2 before he helps her…
Gah! I might as well waltz up to their base and kindly ask for a scanner model at this point. We're at a dead end. We won't be able to save A2 at this pace.
Wait, what was that?
I turn to my right, trying to catch a glimpse of something moving in my peripheral vision.
Just my imagination?
A loud clanking noise comes from behind. I turn quickly to face the noise but…
Nothing.
"Someone there?" I call out instinctively. Just silence in response.
"Black box signal detected. YoRHa android detected." The pod assures my doubts.
An android is here. Could it be 2B? 9S? Could they have been following me?
I ready A2's sword and head towards the direction where the noise was last heard.
"Look, like I said last time, I'm fine on my own and I'd rather not head to the Bunker with you guys. I'm up and walking, can't you see? I can take care of myself…" Although I know negotiating with them is futile, it keeps me knowing that I can at least fight for myself.
Still, I've yet to see it. Why is it evading me? These androids have every advantage over a human, so why is it running?
There! To the left!
A blurry figure dashes past my field of view and cuts through an alleyway. My feet move by themselves, chasing the figure's path.
It's definitely an android; it's the same movement A2 was doing when she snatched me from 2B and 9S. It might be here to stop me, if it kills me here… A2…
I round the corner to the alleyway and the passage is muddled with piles of garbage. Broken glass and a few dented shopping carts lie about. Ahead, the android is sprinting away.
No mistake. Short height and a child-looking figure. It's 9S.
He's fast, it's hard to keep up. I'll lose him if I don't–
Further down, 9S takes a hard right down another pathway. Losing sight of him, a loud crashing noise is heard in his direction.
This might be my chance.
In a tunnel-vision-like state, I follow his steps. After sprinting for a couple of seconds, I come across the android and manage to block him in a dead end.
9S lies face first on the ground, tripped… over a pile of garbage?! How can such an advanced piece of technology be this clumsy?
"Ow… that hurts…" 9S writhes in pain on the ground, holding his head in his hand.
Wait a minute… I don't remember 9S ever having black hair... could he have changed his hair? Other than that, they look the exact same…
Whoops.
By the time I was done wasting my time with such a trivial thought, 9S manages to get up onto his feet. The android prepares to attack me like a cornered animal as a timid voice bellows out, "I have no other choice."
I blink and the android launches at me with his fist.
Better brace.
…
Huh?
I look down to see the android's fist barely tapping my chest. Like I saw earlier, his appearance is the same as 9S, though he has black hair instead of white.
We sit in silence for a couple of seconds, frozen in our positions.
An audible clicking noise fills the air.
Wait, is he shaking?
The android begins to tremble and the buckles on his boots start clinking. He drops to his knees and wraps his arms around my waist. Tilting his head to meet me eyes, tears begin to fall from underneath the blindfold, illuminating his face.
"P-please…" he cries out in a timid voice, "d-don't turn me in."
"Uhh, turn you in?" Wha? Just a moment ago I was fearing for my life and now he's pleading to me?
"I-I'm sorry for abandoning the force, j-just please don't k-kill me!" He bursts out sobbing uncontrollably and nuzzles his head into my left leg.
What do I do in a situation like this? He's not hostile anymore, if anything, he's in the most vulnerable position you could be in…
Maybe… I should… comfort him?
My right hand naturally sets itself on his head and I begin to stroke his hair, like one would do to their cat.
"It's alright, it's alright. I won't turn you in… I guess…" I sorta feel bad for the kid… he's crying like he lost his stuffed animal or something…
"R-really?!" The android meets my eyes again, and the saddest puppy face you could ever see turns into a big smile.
Guh, my heart.
"Yeah, I guess you could say I'm not with whoever you think I'm with."
"T-Thank you!" The android pops up off the ground and puts me into a suffocating hug.
"W-well, I-I'm glad you're okay." I-I can't breathe!
That was quite the turnaround in mood…
"YoRHa No.1 Type S is wanted by YoRHa forces for desertion and examination of classified information." My accompanying pod gives a little insight to the situation.
Hmm… YoRHa No.1 Type S. and YoRHa No.9 Type S.
No.9 and No.1… so if the one I met first was 9S then this one is… 1S? By that logic, he must be a scanner-type as well.
In response to the pod's explanation, 1S becomes frightened and quickly dashes behind me to hide. He peeks out to look at the pod.
Whoever programmed 1S didn't seem the most confident personality wise…
"They're here to capture me, they want me silenced. They've lied, Command has betrayed us!" 1S frantically yells.
I step out of 1S' way and he flinches at the pod.
This kid is hopeless…
"Don't worry about the smartass, he's with me." I explain the situation.
"R-really…?" 1S shyly replies.
"Yeah… I'm borrowing him from a friend."
"Phew, then I have nothing to worry about."
"Yeah don't worry about him, he won't report you in or anything. Say, it's good that we're getting along but… you're rather quick to trust me. A couple of minutes ago I was just chasing you, sword wielded and all."
"Heh-heh… about that… earlier when you had cornered me, I attempted to hack you. I couldn't get into any sort of circuitry, so I figured you were a… human?"
"Well, caught me red handed I suppose."
"It's true?! An actual human?! So that means C-Command was wrong… there's one, r-right here in front of me! I was right to trust you! After all, we must do everything to protect humanity!"
1S puts his hands on his hips and gleams proudly at me. I guess all scanners are enthusiastic about humans…
"If you knew I was a human by the time I cornered you, why did you try and attack me, then proceed to start begging and crying?"
"W-well, I-I'm not exactly t-the best–" 1S' bottom lip begins quivering and tears begin to well up on his face again.
Uh-oh.
"No, please don't cry… I didn't mean it like that, it's not like I'm calling you defective or anything."
"D-d-defective?" 1S' voice gets hoarse and the tears get heavier.
"Don't cry, I'm sorry!" Really, he's too pure… "Ummm… besides that, I need you! You're the only one that can help me."
1S begins to calm down and wipes the tears away from his face, "R-really?"
"Yeah of course, I'll make up for earlier." Seems like he's feeling better again. "Think you could retrieve a chip for me?"
Edited and Polished by: 0erbayunFang
Thank you for your work!
A/N: It's been a while huh? I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and thank you for sticking through despite my hiatus. I really had a fun time writing 1S' introduction. As always critique and comments are appreciated. See you in the next one!