Vivid like Red
Death.
The end of self.
The horror of knowing you would at one point open your eyes one last time.
Death in general terms hadn't been something that most androids thought about, their bodies had the capability of running for timeless eons so long as they took care of themselves, most of them hadn't even known for exactly how long they had been alive… and that's where the machines came in to change that arrogance.
An end was an end regardless of species and no matter how much they ran for safety the machines always lacked mercy and it was this that androids first learned to fear what happened when you no longer exist.
They learned to fear that cold embrace... just like their creators once did.
Yorha units on the other hand differed for they had the capability of saving, a very small change if you look at it in its basic form. This ability allowed them to backup their data, their experiences… in essence everything about themselves up until that point and recreate a body with said data essentially a type of revival if you can call it that.
An undying, ever-learning, unlimited force of soldiers.
The best enemy for the self-replicating machines that had taken over humanity's planet.
That wasn't exactly how 6B saw it at this very moment.
An emotionless eye scanned the landscape in front of her, she couldn't hear anything other than a soft ringing noise that kept interrupting whatever thought she made long since losing that part of her senses.
What happened? She didn't understand the day was going as usual. Flashes of yells, smoke, fire, and dirt rang through her mind.
The attack had been immediate nobody had any time to prepare just a few minutes ago she was talking amicably with a couple of androids.
Aaah…
That's right… where were they now?
Looking around she noticed two bodies crawling around parts missing others broken, they were yelling angrily. At who? Her? Why? What could she possibly do against such an impossible enemy?
The desperation on their faces was all too clear.
Her help wouldn't change anything.
Before they could even finish whatever plea they had, their lives were stomped out of existence by something that probably didn't even notice they were there in the first place as it continued its reckless marching through the city.
The two that were destroyed weren't combat units, not even Yorha types so this would be the last time she saw them.
Too bad…
A large shadow was cast upon herself as the giant took another step barely missing her destroyed body, it was still enough to throw her around along with the rubble.
She hit the ground with a grunt everything going white as her core had gone into critical condition.
She accessed the situation.
Two arms missing.
The left side of her cranium destroyed.
Right leg crumpled to useless.
Chances of survival… zero.
She felt something hovering around as her ever-present pod showed itself in the aftermath of the attack presenting an option on its screen.
It was a rudimentary question one she heard thousands of times the answer always the same.
Yes…
But she didn't say it… no... not this time.
She didn't want the new 6B to relive this trauma… she didn't want her to remember.
So the pod left, perhaps to help the already remade 6B.
The one that would live.
It was getting cold.
She wondered what type of life this new version of herself would get.
I'm afraid.
Would she morn the friends lost?
I don't…
Would she make new ones?
Please…
Would it be this time that she lived forever?
I don't want to die…
Curling to herself as best she could she gave out one last whimper…
(City grounds)
"My god." Popola's eyes widened at the level of destruction in front of her.
The city was unrecognizable at this point if before it barely help up an image of its once lost splendor now it didn't even do that. Nothing but craters dirt and broken stone remained of a once metropolitan bustling area and that wasn't even the worst part. All around them humanoid bodies appeared quite a few of them were only recognizable due to their android nature as pieces of machinery were buried under the rubble.
A fog of dirt and smoke covered the area though that wasn't enough to hide the perpetrators as they shambled around recklessly almost ignorant of the type of destruction they brought.
"This is worse than I thought." Devola gulped her eyes scanning every tidbit of the horrifying visage in front of her "What the hell has Yorha been doing, where's the flight units?"
A scratching sound came out of the little earpiece as Popola tried to reinforce the volume so all three could hear "(They moved from the ocean we had no time to prepare before they were on us.)"
Shirou who had remained quiet through their journey emotionlessly scanned the battleground "...and what about reinforcements?"
The static sound returned "(We tried our best with the remaining transporters but that's a slow process with only one left working and whenever we try a carrier it gets shot down… the same happened to any flight units…)" she would've continued if not for the interruption.
"Why aren't they attacking the resistance camp?" Shirou narrowed his eyes, it was hard to tell from a distance but every building around the resistance remained standing they didn't venture that far as of yet.
"(That… I don't know, they almost seem to be waiting for something.)"
Upon hearing this Popola and Devola's eyes widened as they connected the dots "Shirou… please…"
He turned around his eyes serious and resolute "Waiting for someone, you mean."
The piece remained quiet for a bit "(That's our theory…)"
He nodded looking at the ground missing the fearful stare the twins gave him "Do you know what exactly is shooting down anything in the sky?"
"(No, we do however know Its approximate location, It's close to the factory perhaps even in the ocean but that's as far as we got. Not much sightseeing has been done as everyone is locked on the resistance camp and they keep interfering with our radar. We had people surveying that place daily since it was a hot spot of machine activity but they were swiftly killed before the Goliath attack.)"
He stepped away from the edge of the building turning away from the lumbering giants a few hundred meters away. "Here's what we'll do." he walked close to the duo who looked on apprehensively about whatever his mind concocted "I'll use myself as a distraction leading them away from the camp, while that's happening you will be free to follow on through to the factory."
The duo grit their teeth as their worse fears were turning into reality "Shirou… you can't possibly mean to…"
"(What exactly do you plan to do with them…)"
"There's a place near the entrance of the forest It's surrounded by buildings and ample space and if I'm lucky I can use the ravine to throw one of them down should be big enough, while I do that you'll direct your forces towards whatever it is that's bombing you."
Everyone gaped at him incredulously, static returned to the piece as the commander searched for words "(I… you do understand what you're up against right?)"
"More than you know." he sighed not bothering to look around at his companions already knowing their objections "It doesn't matter regardless we can't keep this standstill for long, I'll keep them busy you can be sure of that."
"(Very well, we lack any other options so long as we keep getting attacked, we'll send the remaining forces that we still have around the city towards the enemy.)"
"You'll know when to start."
"(Understood I'll need to communicate with my soldiers, I'll await your signal.)"
Popola grabbed the piece turning it off, angrily staring at him almost growling "Are you insane.. do you have any idea… you…" she ran a hand through her hair as she spluttered frantically not really knowing what to say until all that was left was her loud breathing as she tried to calm herself.
Shirou simply stared at her already knowing that an argument would break out regardless of his decision, he understood where she was coming from though, giving her time to vent.
Devola, on the other hand, remained quiet stewing on her own thoughts and feelings murmuring quietly though loud enough for the other two to hear "You don't owe them anything you know."
"What?" Confusion settled on his face as he turned to regard Devola. He was ready for anger, for denial but not for… this.
"We can just leave…" she gulped her eyes closing the words sounding nauseating even to herself "We don't need to do anything… We can just go leave all of this."
He remained resolute "I'm sorry Devola I can't betray everything that I am… I won't."
She nodded looking at the ground sadness washing over her "What are we supposed to do then?"
He clenched his hand his eyes not meeting theirs knowing what comes next would only make everything worse "I'm going to do this alone."
Popola looked incredulous at him "You understand what you're asking of us right?"
"I do but it's better this way." he looked at her sympathetically trying to express himself as best he could.
"We're not strong enough right? We can't keep up." Devola chuckled bitterly "So you're leaving us behind."
He tried to reach out but the woman swiftly dodged "That's not what I'm trying to do I'll come back I promise."
She snorted dismissively "Fine." she looked to her left towards her sister trying to tell her a message that eluded him "We'll go with Yorha to attack the Factory."
Popola looked at her in surprise though she was unable to get a word in such was the intensity of her sister.
Shirou looked incredulously at the two "Are you su..?"
Before he could finish he was interrupted by Devola "We are, this war is ours as much as it is yours Shirou if not more so, we lived through it for thousands of years."
He nodded smiling apologetically at the still angry woman.
The three of them stood around awkwardly not really knowing what to do next it was the first time any of them fought against each other at least to this level.
Then again these two were always the ones trying to make amends, always trying to keep them together.
Perhaps it was time…
Before they could understand what was happening he grabbed the two by shoulders and sent them to his chest hugging them tightly. They stood there for a bit arms limp and eyes widened before making a move hugging him in return gripping his clothes tightly.
"I'm sorry for being too much work, wherever you two are I'll come to find you okay?"
They nodded their faces still hidden before they let go slowly the move looked almost painful for the two.
They all gave one last meaningful look making sure to remember that promise before going on their separate ways.
Jumping down from the building he quickly maneuvered his way through the rubble and destruction, the new layout of the city was confusing but open enough to see where his objective lay, luckily enough most of the surrounding area seemed unaffected.
Maybe it wasn't a coincidence after all the former village of Pascal was only a bit further away. He shook his head none of that mattered for now.
His eyes fell upon a structure made of metal in the center of his chosen war grounds, it was taller than any other buildings at least the ones left standing... It would make do. Quickly he grabbed the ladder making his way up.
Two of the Goliath's stood next to each other in front of the resistance camp doing nothing just standing there waiting... the third one shambled around near the broken bridge a bit further away from its brethren, if Yorha ever wanted to get into the Factory they would need to do it after dealing with this one.
Perfect…
He could take one out right now…
Shirou took a deep breath closing his eyes before snapping them open…
Suddenly a large black bow appeared on his right hand, he rigidly stood for a second emotionlessly staring at his target his body forming a stance that was well-practiced.
With two fingers he started drawing the string…
A gun cocked its hammer at the back of his mind.
"I am the bone of my sword"
An explosion of vivid energy surrounded the bow as something started to appear in the empty space between the string and the grip, made in the image of a spiral-like sword thinning itself out further into the size of an arrow.
Before he could finish this process the heads of all three machines snapped to his location, his eyes widening at the implications.
He narrowed them back it was already too late to stop.
He muttered "My core is twisted in madness… CALADBOLG."
The two fingers left the string snapping back into position…
…and then the world turned red.
It was too quick for any to react before there was a large machine in front of the bridge then half of it was gone along with its surroundings, followed by an explosion of epic proportions. The buildings, what were left of them before, quickly melted while everything else turned to ash as the fires consumed the grounds around the dilapidated bridge.
He let out the breath he was holding, the bow in his hand disappearing before jumping back quickly to another building as the two remaining machines started raining hellfire upon him from a distance trying as quickly as they could to close the distance between them.
Seems he made an impression.
There wasn't much time to think or counterattack as the two machines continually rained explosives like hail around him destroying the buildings around him like the rest of the city, the tremors from their footsteps felt stronger with every second passing.
He jumped down from another building onto the ground dodging left and right before everything stopped as a large shadow blocked the sun, dust and debris had kicked around him creating a thick fog still it was easy to make out the two pair of yellow eyes glaring down on him.
He calmly looked up fixing up his bandanna before glaring right back "One down, two to go."
The war for the city starts now.
(Devola, Popola)
It wasn't exactly uncommon for them to get surprised over their traveling companion. He usually took it upon himself to do everything no matter what they tried.
Hunting? He left for a couple of minutes bringing back a deer or some other animal.
Cleaning? He told them only he knew how to clean his armor and that the material wasn't to be touched by just anyone.
Fighting? If they even had the chance they could take on easier enemies.
Still though despite this they still believed that they could reach out to him, they were no slouches themselves easily able to compete with the best of Yorha. They believed to be capable of watching and defending his back if need be, to keep up with him if there was ever an enemy too strong... they didn't account for the fact that he had been holding back.
It was like a fallen star going over the city so fast that they had barely noticed… and then… well, what could only be described as pure hell. Even from afar, they could feel it, the tremor, the cloud, the heat from the fire. Nothing could possibly survive an attack like that.
Devola chuckled muttering to herself "We weren't even close." sighing bitterly.
It still hurt watching him go towards the most dangerous battle they had seen as of yet not even being able to see what happens.
Was this to be the last time they met?
Did they fail humanity yet again? All those questions kept pounding even harder as they heard the sounds from afar the two Goliath machines closing in on his location.
"We should turn back." Popola stated fumbling slightly "What if something happened, I…"
Devola simply huffed "You heard him… We'll just be in the way."
She looked at her sister with pity "Devola you know he didn't mean that…"
"No, but it's still the truth right?" She said dismissively.
She shook her head but held off on saying anything this was not the time for conversations "C'mon let's rendezvous with Yorha the faster we do this the sooner we can go and help him."
Devola merely nodded her expression turning serious once more.
"Oh it's you two… see I told you I saw someone in the distance." A boyish voice rang out from behind them.
"Oh, 2B and 9S… right?" Popola asked carefully trying to remember the two she talked moments before it all seemed long ago despite only being a few hours.
The woman nodded it was hard to tell what type of expression she had with the blindfold on "The commander has already given us the mission parameters, I'm guessing you two are the help she mentioned?"
The twins looked at each other before nodding carefully "Did she tell you how many soldiers are going on the attack?"
"Only four… six with you two, I was made the captain of this mission so you'll need to follow my instructions." Her lips moved without emotion not a single twitch was shown in her face "A few remained within the resistance camp others are unable to be moved to earth seems the transporters were undermined halfway through transporting other units." she started to move once the conversation was over not even sparing them a glance to make sure they were following.
The two sisters looked at her in surprise… she was almost as brazen as A2, sighing they chose to follow the white-haired woman the boy merely smiling at them apologetically.
"So there's no actual plan huh…" Popola spoke questioningly.
"It's against an unknown enemy we were unable to capture any information from the deceased androids patrolling the factory."
"That doesn't give us much confidence."
"The androids were mostly scouting units not built for combat."
At this, the young-looking teen scoffed "Jeez 2B you sure stick it where it hurts."
"Focus 9S." She said not even sparing him a glance. "The rendezvous point is supposed to be near the bridge if it still even exists…" she left it at that speeding up her pace.
They maneuvered around the city with some difficulty, the layout of it completely changed at this point though thankfully the most important hallmarks were recognizable enough for them to follow what once they could with their eyes closed.
That was until they reached the place of their supposed meeting…
This part of the city had been somewhat special at one point. It was close to the drop-off point of Yorha units, to many the first actual view of earth they got, and considering it was the midway point to the resistance camp and the factory it made its passage almost assured of happening on a daily basis.
If you were to ask most androids stationed here to draw it they probably could.
Now all that remained was a crater, fire was still raging here and there and the midsection of the large machine was now melting and fusing with the ground and any surroundings that survived. It was changed forever with no hope of actual fixing.
"I'm guessing this was red's work." 9S said his curiosity peaking.
The twins nodded their faces serious as they regarded the landscape in front of them.
"Glad you guys were able to make it." An amicable voice sounded out surprising the four.
2B nodded respectfully at the duo walking towards them "6B, 2H."
6B responded with a small smile seeming more approachable than her brethren, she was wearing the normal outfit of a combat unit though forgoing the skirt using instead fashioned pants that clung to her legs, her hair was brown going down to her back and her face was a bit more rounder further differentiating from her sister unit and captain.
2H, on the other hand, seemed far more petite even smaller than the scanner unit, with golden hair fashioned in a ponytail she was wearing cargo shorts with a black jacket not dissimilar to 9S.
"We should make this quick the Resistance is getting antsy and we are not ready for another attack if it is made." 2H said her voice had a higher pitch but her demeanor was noticeably more mature than her companion.
2B nodded to her co-worker's worries and started moving towards the industrial complex, there was no bridge anymore having been destroyed along with most of the area but considering the huge hole that now made for an easier path it wasn't a huge loss. Carefully in case of an attack, they walked forward into enemy territory already in a tactical formation 2B having the leadership moved herself to the front leaving the other duo to check the perimeter while 9S the android who had been stationed in the factory for the longest tried to make sense of the situation.
Devola and Popola remained at the back a bit further away from the group focused on matters beyond the mission.
"What's the number of casualties, we saw a lot of corpses on the way here." 9S said almost casually.
"Most of them are Yorha's though the Resistance's still number above a dozen." The question didn't seem to phase 2H as she calmly answered.
As the Yorha group conversed among themselves the twins continued to move quietly their minds elsewhere, noticing this 6B slowed her pace…
"If I'm guessing right you two are the partners of one infamous primary color." the woman said jovially trying to strike up a conversation.
Devola simply scoffed "What's it with you."
6B looked startled "Oh sorry…"
Popola on the other hand merely sighed watching her sister stomp forward "She doesn't mean anything by it."
6B scratched the back of her head in awkwardness "It's okay…"
Popola gave her a once over "What about you?"
"Oh?" 6B's face lit up "Not much to say really. Woke up after the previous body was destroyed and was directed towards the city."
"So you were here before then?" Popola asked more out of a sense of being nice than actual care.
This made the other woman pause "I don't really know, there were some people that seemed to recognize me once I got to the Resistance camp but…" 6B stated seemingly unsure on how to answer.
"I see…" she looked as the other woman's once inviting smile changed to a frown, shrugging she moved back to her sister it wasn't really her problem.
Everything turned quiet once more as they traversed through the broken-down factory readying themselves for any attack or ambush that the machines had planned though had yet to spring up. They scaled up the rusted metal steps reaching the entrance of the factory the signs of a huge battle still quite pronounced on the building.
The metallic doors beeped red not allowing for entry 2B grabbed her weapon in an attempt to open it forcefully before being stopped.
"Is there something wrong 9S?"
"Have you ever known that door to be locked maybe we shou..."
Before he could continue Devola decided upon herself to finish what 2B started.
"...or we can just that I guess."
The air moved out of the room ruffling the clothes of those present as each grabbed their weapons moving inside the dark environment the open entrance was enough to light up the room slightly but the farthest corners were still pitch black. A lot of industrial pieces and trash littered the room along with some boxes and rusted-out barrels. Nothing unusual as of yet.
Before they could continue searching the room something round fell and started spinning in the ground making a clattering sound that alerted everyone. Cautiously they moved towards it.
The first one to reach it was 9S much to the protest of his companion "It's a machine head." he turned it around and sideways checking inside its hollow base. "Kinda weird but harmless I guess." he looked up now noticing something new in the room "Are those…"
"9S is everything alri…" she took a step back once noticing what had gotten him so entranced.
In front of them were the corpses of the Yorha units that had patrolled the factory, it wasn't exactly the strangest considering the bodies outside numbered in the hundreds at this point and they were clearly MIA. No this was something different.
They were hallowed out almost deflated resembling a suit more than anything else.
"Their black boxes were destroyed, what the hell have they been doing to them." 9S said using the pod to scan the corpse.
Suddenly the lights went up the color red filling the room.
"Now isn't this a surprise…" a girlish voice rang out through the room "...I honestly thought it would take all of you longer." she giggled slightly.
The group started to frantically look around trying to see whatever presence was talking to them.
"Now now no need to be dramatic if I wanted you all dead you would be." the voice turned male in the middle of the phrase further startling the group as they were now back to back with each other. "I'll just need those two red-haired ones we have much to talk about."
"Do you really think we'll follow your instructions?" 2B said an air of finality surrounding her.
"You don't really have much of a choice… but why don't I give you some friends to play with first it'll be a boring wait otherwise."
Machines started pilling up from everywhere, a few jumping down from the ceiling others entering through the door, even from the slashed entrance where they just came from.
They were surrounded.
"Fine…"
2B's eyes widened looking around in search of who answered noticing that one of the twins had already moved further into the factory one of the machines stopping her though not attacking.
Devola glared at the taller machine "I said fine, you want to talk right? Let's talk."
Popola stared at her sister, mouth slightly open her eyes widened…
"You'll meet me at the top."
Devola nodded before looking back at her sister "Let's go Popola."
Popola looked at everyone apologetically as she took her place besides Devola.
"You're free to go no one will attack you."
Devola scoffed not really trusting it gripping her weapon tightly but staying her blade.
The other androids looked on as the machines put themselves in front of the twins.
"Do try and survive there's still so much to see." the voice said mockingly.
So full disclosure this isn't the chapter I was planning to bring you, this was supposed to end this whole city war thing that's going buuuuuuuuut... after spending a bit of time thinking and talking to my beta reader I think it reads better as a two-parter, now mind you the next chapter will come next week so you won't have to wait long to know what's going to happen or anything.
Honestly speaking these two chapters have been killing me it's been rewrite after rewrite and I'm pissed at myself that i decided to make a combat-heavy arc when I can't do combat at least not decently ugh, whatever hopefully people enjoy these two chapters for what they are.
Thanks to Ivan Tridelan for helping out.