The first step

He shifted uncomfortably on his seat as the duo of androids stared at him with naked affection and reverence as if he was god's gift to earth, from what he gathered he might as well be to them, only a few minutes ago they were soaking his armor in tears and now they looked more like dutiful maids awaiting a command from their beloved master.

He cleared his throat, trying to clear away some of the awkwardness of the whole situation instead only making them stand taller redying themselves as if he was about to impart words of great importance.

Too bad for them he had other things in mind…

"Are you two better now?"

They blinked surprised that he bothered to ask about something so unimportant but nodded nonetheless.

Still a small smile appeared on both their faces appreciative that he wanted to know about their wellbeing.

He looked at both of them taking time to read their expressions and to best understand how to continue, it wasn't hard to understand by now that they would follow his words as gospel but he didn't feel right in abusing that kind of power.

So he simply decided to be honest with them and hoped that they would take him seriously.

He had heard their names when they talked to each other so he knew what to call each of them, even if they were near-identical other than how their hair was made up and where their flower was placed.

They squirmed slightly at his wondering eyes pink coloring their cheeks.

Shirou sighed "What about your leg?" he questioned the fuzzier-haired one.

She seemed taken aback for a second as she stuttered out the words "O-oh ummmm… It's… better, thank you for asking sir."

He groaned under his breath having to stop himself from rolling his eyes "Just call me Shirou."

"Of course…" The other one said happily, her voice brimming with light "Whatever you wish."

He gave her a deadpan look that went unnoticed as she continued to give him a sweet smile. It wasn't exactly the response he was looking for but the result was the same so he simply continued…

"I have a few questions if you don't mind me aski…"

"We don't." Devola said suddenly interrupting him, her eyes soon widening in horror as she noticed what she did "I am so sorry I didn't mean to…" she started to explain desperately.

He put his hands up trying to calm down the frantic woman "It's fine, it's okay. I'm not going to be mad at you for doing that."

She nodded rapidly relief clear in her face as she took a deep breath to calm herself.

Seriously he felt like he was walking on eggshells with these two.

He shook his head clearing those thoughts away as he focused on what was important "What year are we in?"

Devola and Popola looked confused but responded immediately "11944."

Shirou's eyes narrowed at them but continued "What exactly are the machines?"

"Alien created lifeforms." Popola responded clinically "They appeared in 5012 and we've been locked in a war for earth every since."

"You were in a war for thousands of years..." Shirou said breathlessly "You were in a standstill for that long, how?"

Popola nodded her smile vanishing she didn't really have an answer for that, they had kept fighting simply because they knew no other choice.

Shirou simply stared off at the ceiling in contemplation having to think about what he had learned.

The duo of androids on the other hand remained quietly observing the man in front of them, they had a lot… that they wanted to ask but wouldn't as they were undeserving of even being in his presence much less of questioning him.

Really if the other androids knew where and with who exactly they were, they'd probably demand that they leave and stay as far away as possible.

They couldn't exactly refute those fears but…

They were selfish.

And right now they felt happier than ever before was it too much for them to want to be by his side.

Probably…

and yet…

"What are you thinking of doing, If I might ask?" Popola questioned meekly her eyes pleading up at him.

This seemed to break him out of his mind as he turned his attention back to the duo of women in front of him.

Shirou looked at her with a sideways glance as he decided on what to say "If I say I'm human what do you think will happen." he asked out of the blue confusing the androids.

Devola and Popola shared a look of contemplation before answering.

"You wouldn't be able to move around freely, if at all."

Shirou nodded his face resolute "Then I can't be found yet, I still don't fully understand the situation this world is in. I need to learn on my own how things work."

Devola stood up in a flash her chair falling behind her hitting the floor with a clanking noise "PLEASE TAKE US WITH YOU." she blurted out without thinking.

He looked at her inquisitively but said nothing waiting for more.

Devola came to a stop as his attention shifted fully to her, her mouth opening and closing, whatever courage she had, left her in the worst possible moment.

Popola sighed "What she means is that we can help you." she said in a calmer tone than her sister, but her face and range of emotions she showcased clearly showed how overwhelmed she felt at that moment "I-if you want of course..." she let the question hang as she nervously played with the hem of her shirt gripping it tightly.

Shirou looked at both with narrowed eyes, his gaze was such that they couldn't possibly meet it instead they had to stare at their feet as the human judged them.

"Why did you ask for forgiveness?" he asked softly.

Popola's eyes closed, her face scrunching up as she took a deep breath.

This question was what she feared.

"There was a project… it was supposed to revive humanity." Popola murmured the words almost in fear of him hearing the pain it brought her "We were created to oversee it, but it failed."

"Why?"

Devola shook her shoulders trying to act dismissive but unable to do so "We don't know our memories were wiped of that event we just know it did and it was because of another one of us."

They shook head to toe as they waited for the condemnation that was surely coming, they could never be released from their guilt.

"Fine."

Their heads snapped up finally meeting his gaze with their own, eyes brimmed with tears.

"I'm going to need help navigating through this anyway, but you got to follow my lead understood?"

"YES." "OF COURSE."

They answered happily with a wide smile.

They were finally able to do what they were meant to do, what they were created to do.

At this moment all they felt was bliss.

"W-we'll need supplies and we have to talk to Anemone first about the mission." Popola said slightly dejected, she didn't want to go away from him this soon.

"Y-yeah."

Shirou nodded "Alright, We'll meet later then."

They nodded enthusiastically and gathered their stuff, waving goodbye as they stepped out.

Shirou sighed once he was alone again his serious and resolute expression crumbling now looking far more tired and old than he should, his mind continuing to play around with what he learned and in the duo that he was going to be with from now on.

He couldn't possibly tell them the actual reason as to why he allowed them to follow him.

That he saw too much of himself in both of them…

... and in their guilt.

(Resistance Camp)

"Do you think they're gone..?"

Anemone rolled her eyes at the question and the tone of voice "I don't know why you sound so hopeful about it." she said dismissively not even bothering to look up from her stack of paperwork.

Her subordinate just shrugged his shoulders "Shouldn't be too hard to guess." he sneered out as if just the thought of them was venomous.

The leader of the camp merely sighed as she finally looked up to meet his cold stare. He was a rather angry-looking man what with the permanent scowl he wore everywhere but now it was far more pronounced making him look rather ugly in her opinion, it was often like that whenever mentioning those two.

She understood though… it was hard to let go of biases especially ones cultivated through hundreds of years.

She grunted feeling a migraine coming up "You shouldn't be you know, they are the best damn fixers we have right now, and considering that the machines started attacking us more often the past week, we need them."

She narrowed her eyes as he said nothing unwilling to let go of his words, his pride being too much "Understood?"

He immediately crumbled to her intense stare now glaring at the ground no words to refute her.

"Just drop the rest of the papers and go back to work your job isn't to give me lip." she added dismissively with a wave of her hand.

He grunted and dropped the box near her turning around and leaving the tent…

Only to gasp as the duo just mentioned entered right after him.

"Seems they fired up the fireworks a bit early huh." Devola muttered snidely as she glared to the outside.

Anemone sighed "Yeah well… I'm glad you two are fine."

Devola crossed her arms and snorted at her words, rather loudly, she knew better than to believe that.

Popola rolled her eyes at her sister's antics "The factory seems operational."

The resistance leader's eyes widened in surprise and slight worry "I see, that does make sense due to the rising level of attacks around the city. It seems we ha…" she started rambling out almost like she forgot she had company.

"We don't have to do anything, Popola and I are leaving." Devola interrupted with a snarky look taking a bit of enjoyment out of this.

That broke her out of her thoughts as she gave the duo an exasperated look.

"Right now?"

"Yes." Popola said resolutely unwilling to give ground at least on this matter "You don't have to pay us for the last job, instead just give us what's on this list."

She took something out of her jacket and held it out for Anemone to take, which she did slowly with a confused expression.

It turned even more confused as she read the contents within the little piece of paper "Water, food… healing ointment. Did you find a dog or something?"

"We would buy those ourselves but we both know they would simply raise the prices until we couldn't." Popola added choosing to ignore the question.

Anemone sighed and threw her arms up in defeat "Fine I'll have them gathered for you, think of it as appreciation for all you have done, they'll be outside the camp for you soon."

"Right…" Devola muttered dismissively as she started walking away from the tent a glare plastered on her face for all to see.

She didn't want to remain here any longer, they didn't need these people anymore.

The darker-skinned woman watched them go with a contemplative look as if she was debating on something "WAIT." she shouted as she stood up and went towards a chest she had in the corner of the room.

They did even if reluctantly they at least owed her that much.

Their questioning looks gave way to surprise as Anemone walked toward them and shoved something into their hands.

It was two blades identical to each other. They looked fairly simple a black handle and an off-color grey blade but their quality was leagues above the ones they left behind in the factory.

"This is Yorha made." Popola muttered as she touched the rim nearly cutting herself on the edge.

"Thank you." Devola said with a grunt unwilling to look at the resistance leader.

Anemone merely scoffed with a small smile "Nobody around here can use them to their full potential anyway, now off you go." she said while turning around while waving a hand in the air "Good luck out there."

The twins nodded to each other and walked away from the camp.

It was time for a change and this place was too rooted in the past for it.

(City Ground)

The door opened noisily hitting the back wall with a thud as a red-haired woman stepped in enthusiastically.

"Devola we're not exactly safe here you shouldn't make too much noise."

Shirou watched bemusedly as Popola reprimanded her sister which she waved off in a dismissive manner.

"So did you two get everything you needed?" Shirou questioned making his presence known.

This gave way to a rather amusing reaction to the man as the duo goofily smiled at him while scratching their cheek in a similar faction seemingly embarrassed by just being near him.

"We s-should have." Popola answered with a hazy look as she pushed her hair behind her ear before shaking it off and grabbing her bag and showing it to him "I got a few things for you water, clothes, some food, some…"

Shirou took a step back as the woman started rambling on and on taking things off the bag and putting them back basically showing him everything in under a second…

Until finally Devola chuckled and put a stop to her "Sister I think Shirou understood."

"O-oh sorry." she said quietly while playing with her fingers dejectedly.

"It's okay."

He sighed at the look they gave him, it was a cross between bliss and expectant, he didn't really know how to deal with it.

But they needed him so…

"Will I have difficulty staying hidden, like can androids know I'm human."

This question seemed to surprise both androids as they looked at one another.

"No, unless they check your pulse or something. Well, there's Pods they can probably see your vitals and easily find out your human but as long as you stay away from them you should be fine to interact with most people." Devola explained happily content in just interacting with him.

"Are these pods rare?"

It was Popola this time who interjected "They're only used by Yorha."

"I see…" Shirou said while thinking "Wait what's Yorha exactly."

The duo looked at each other frowning slightly at the question.

Devola made a complicated face before explaining seemingly wanting to change the subject "I guess the best way to describe them would be special forces..? They're under direct command from the moon base, that's all we really know." she shrugged while frowning slightly.

The man nodded absentmindedly while thinking of the new information.

Popola frowned as she walked around the room "How were you able to kill that machine I never saw you with a weapon on you."

This caught him off guard as he stared at the red-haired woman.

"I diiiiiid~." Devola said smugly a grin plastered on her face "You had your eyes closed but I saw it, it was a white blade it cleaved right through the machine like it was nothing." she seemed almost excited while explaining it, not noticing the frown appearing in the human's face "Come to think of it, it disappeared right after…"

The twins looked at him with narrowed eyes, asking without asking for information.

Shirou sighed and held out his right hand a black blade appearing in it from nothing "Its magecraft…" he added trying to not give away too much information.

It wasn't that he didn't trust them but he'd rather keep this to himself.

"You know magic?" Popola asked her eyes shining at the possibilities.

Shirou gave her a confused look at her "Do you?"

"W-well no but there are a few stories about it…" Popola said scratching the back of her head suddenly feeling awkward by his attention.

The man stared at her for a few seconds making her squirm before shaking his head and letting go of this conversation.

Something for another time...

He looked at the duo again giving them a smile and making a pretty pink blush appear on both faces.

"Are you two ready to move out then?"

They looked back at the door and then at each other…

A myriad of feelings passed through them in that one second.

Relief, happiness, nervousness…

…guilt.

That still remained even behind the high of being near a human, it wasn't really something that just went away easily.

Perhaps never…

But as he walked past them, a gentle smile on his face as he pushed through the unknown, they couldn't help but think that everything could change, even this horrid world.

Salvation wasn't something that would come easily.

But if they could grasp the one standing near them.

The door opened…

… and they took the first step.

This is about as different as I'm going to make a revised chapter from here on out I'll just add a few things here and there so they should come out faster it's just these 3 first chapters really weren't that good and i feel like a lot of people stopped there before reading everything.

I should be done with all this by next week and then start working on the next chapter see you all later and hope you enjoy the story more now hopefully.

Thanks Ivan Tridelan for all the help.