Digital Necromancy

by AIGO1

Resentful of his pod's decision to revive him while removing large chunks of his memory, 9S sets out to fill in the blanks. Along the way, he uncovers new memories. Files not of his own, but belonging to a prototype iteration of himself. His simple quest to remember suddenly spirals into a twisted mission to resurrect this mysterious android by any means necessary.

18. Fire Breath - Part I

Chapter XVIII:

Fire Breath

Part I

A gecko traversed the slick surface of a concrete block. Unbeknown to the reptile, it was being stalked. A black boot suddenly descended from the rainy heavens. A giant's shoe when compared to such a tiny creature. The boot slammed into the reptile, splattering it into a mess of blood and gore.

The critter's tail instinctively twitched about beneath the boot. The only part of the lizard's body that was spared. An android's hand reached down and ruthlessly yanked it off.

9S stood upright and examined the tail. Heavy drops of rain knocked it about wildly. With a bored sigh, he threw it in a bag along with the numerous other reptile and rodent tails as well as other ingredients requested by Popola.

He looked up at Amos. The Legionnaire dug through a pile of rubble until he too pulled out yet another severed tail. He held it high in the air as though it were a trophy to be flaunted.

"That's should be more than enough," 9S called out over the roaring rain.

Amos did not need to be told twice. He retreated from the rubble and tossed the last tail into the bag.

"Thanks again for helping me with this. I think we're almost done. We just need to get the actual alcohol and some flower called Fireblossom. Any idea where we can find that?"

He shrugged his salty shoulders.

"Guess we'll have to keep looking," 9S concluded. "For now, let's just drop by Anemone's camp. They should have what we need. We can either sneak in and steal it or we can kill everyone in sight. …And then steal it. One option obviously being more fun than the other, but more time-consuming. I'll leave it up to you."

Amos did not require much time to make up his mind. The two set off for the camp surely left in a state of utter ruin. 9S was curious to see how well their little plan worked if nothing else.

The two took the first steps in the direction of the camp. 9S came to a stop after spotting movement on the ground. Sat in the middle of his path was an all too familiar toad. A particularly obese amphibian.

"You again?"

The toad bellowed at him.

9S rolled his eyes. He watched as the toad hopped past him and down the road.

"You're lucky you don't have a tail."

They set off once more but for a second time, their stride was interrupted. The duo ceased their advance a short distance up the path. A group of four machines could be seen approaching from the direction of the ruins. Each of them had a pair of glowing green eyes. A rare trait these days.

The pacifistic nature their eye color signified did not stop Amos nor 9S from drawing their weapons. Having drawn closer, the machine lifeforms took notice of the pair of hostiles blocking their path to the coast. All four of them simultaneously raised their metal hands in the air.

"Whoa, man," the machine at the front of the group said in an odd accent. "Peace and love. We come in peace and love. No need for violence, man."

Under normal circumstances, 9S would have no problems simply killing them all and being done with it. This was an especially compelling idea with how close they were to his hideout. Curiosity got the better of him that time. He withdrew Skald's Song, and in turn, Amos lowered his rifle.

"Who are you and what are you doing here," 9S questioned sternly.

"The name's Raymundo," the leading machine replied. "But my boys here all call me… like… Raymundo."

Hardly a few sentences had been exchanged and 9S was already on the verge of losing his patience. The machine's behavior was unlike any he had encountered before. The perplexing voice as well as its strange mannerisms were both annoying and incredibly confusing.

As the machines drew closer, 9S noticed several elongated boards carried in their arms. Their purpose was unknown to him. Each board was larger than the machines holding onto them. They were painted in various bright colors.

By far, the most striking feature about these machines was the solid white bird perched upon Raymundo's head. 9S could not recall another time in which he observed a machine lifeform keeping a pet.

"We're here to catch some serious waves," Raymundo explained. He gestured for the colorful board in his arms.

9S glanced over his shoulder and back at the wrathful sea. Waves rose and fell with unrelenting force. Due to the darkness, he could not see very far, but the further he could see, the more dramatic those waves became. Foam splashed about wildly as swells of saltwater pounded the shoreline.

"What do you mean," asked 9S.

Raymundo cocked his head in bewilderment. "We're here to surf, brah!"

"You're going to surf… in that?"

"Of course," the machine proclaimed. "Cyclones bring the sickest currents, man! Do you not see the madness out there!? We traveled for like… ever just to get here. We're about to conquer this whole storm, my dude!"

9S took another look at the immense waves those machines were so eager to "conquer." Stepping into that raging water was a certain death sentence. That fact alone left 9S with no desire to harass them any further. If they wanted to march to a watery grave, who was he to stop them?

"Have fun," the scanner remarked carelessly. "Just one more question. What's with the bird?"

"Oh, that's Dito," Raymundo bluntly explained. "He's my pet dove."

One of the other machines suddenly chimed in. "Dude, that's not a dove. It's just a nasty little pigeon."

"Shut up! For the last time, my boy's a freaking dove! He's all symbolic 'n shit!"

Realizing he was the center of the conversation, the bird in question flapped its wings but never took flight. The thing stared at 9S all the while as if it were trying to beg for help. 9S merely stared back at Dito with an empty, uncaring gaze.

The debate over Dito's species came to a swift end after the obnoxious quartet of machines took notice in Amos.

"Bro," Raymundo exclaimed in awe. "You look cool. Are you like… undead… or am I just seeing things again?"

Amos responded with a halfhearted nod. A simple gesture that evoked a wave of cheering from his little audience.

"Radical," they shouted in unison. With collective behavior like that, they seemed to operate on the same, hive-like level that the Legion did.

With so much left to do, 9S was in no mood to continue entertaining these peculiar machines. He stepped away from the crowd of automatons and turned to his pale companion.

"Whatever. Have fun dying. Come on, Amos. Let's get out of here before anyone else shows up."

---

Stealth was not exactly a foreign concept to 9S, but he was also no expert. He chose not to take point and simply followed Amos' example. Someone who proved to be quite adept at moving through a hostile camp unseen.

The sight of the camp brought a warped smile to his face. His and Amos' efforts truly paid off. As they crept through narrow paths and darted behind crates, 9S stole fleeting glimpses of damage he wrought.

Most of the camp's guards were severely wounded. They performed their tasks with severed limbs or suffering from various other injuries. Not a single soul was left unscratched from what 9S could see. Their population appeared to have dwindled considerably as well.

He felt not a shred of remorse. They were the very same rabble that so obviously wished to bring unspeakable harm to his dearest loved ones and steal his memories. As far as he was concerned, there was no fate too wretched for the likes of these animals.

There was not enough time nor room for comfort to continue dwelling on his unending hatred for Anemone and her soulless goons. They kept moving.

The duo passed underneath a tarp draped over a small opening. A startling flash of lightning revealed four androids sat shoulder to shoulder beneath the tarp with them. Thye sat mere inches away. 9S jumped and reached for his sword. Amos stopped him.

Puzzled by the Legionnaire's intervention, 9S took another look at the four soldiers. He squinted and strained his eyes just to get a better look at them. The darkness was almost impenetrable but he could at least make out some familiar features. He recognized at least two of them.

No one showed any interest in him. None of them so much as bothered to look their way. Instead, each of the silent resistance fighters stared right through 9S. With wide eyes, they gazed into an everlasting abyss. Their frowns were unreadable. They displayed no signs of despair nor grief. Only emptiness.

Amos reached out and waved his hand in front of the man on the far left. He did not so much as blink. Amos nodded in response to the stranger's blank frown. He swiftly recognized the cause of their strange behavior. Amos then moved off ahead, paying them no further mind. 9S was confused and uncertain about simply leaving potential witnesses alive, but he ultimately decided not to make a fuss.

Their minds were long gone and killing them was not worth the hassle.

The two soon reached a storage area. Something in one of the open crates caught Amos' eye. He stopped to dig through the wooden box. His night vision likely came in extremely handy during such a mission. 9S was left wishing he had access to such a contraption.

9S picked a random crate and did the same. A bottle soon caught his attention. He pulled it out and held it up, though, not so high in the air that others could see his hand.

"Will this work?"

Amos glanced back. He let out a disapproving snarl at 9S. Rubbing alcohol was apparently not good enough for whatever reason.

"Fine."

9S rolled his eyes and tossed the item back where he found it. By some miracle, the glass did not shatter as a result.

He was on the precipice of diving back into the meager stockpiles when he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the distance.

"Is that…?"

Most of the camp's exterior was devoid of life. The vast majority of androids resided in the buildings where they sought respite from the wrath of the cyclone. There was one person who stood out in the open, however. One stubborn soul who stood all by herself. Lost in contemplation.

A few bolts of lightning exposed a better view of this individual. He could so easily recognize the round, silver hairstyle. The dark clothes and sleeves adorned with black feathers.

"2B? What are you doing wallowing around in the mud with these pigs?"

9S glanced back to Amos. "I'll be back in a sec."

He crept to the other side of the camp. He stalked the shadows and navigated just as Amos had demonstrated up until that point. She stood with her back leaned against the solid surface of a random wooden crate. A box that was likely dragged out into the open by rapid winds.

9S pressed himself against the opposite side of this crate. Neither 2B nor her annoying little pod noticed his approach. He tried listening in on them only to find neither of them talking. A disappointing revelation, but he did not care too much.

Pod 042 suddenly flew away and into one of the windows on the far side of the camp. 042's absence gave 9S an idea. His lips curled into a sorrowful grin. He checked his surroundings once more just to verify a proper escape route. Suddenly, those smiling lips parted. 9S tried to emulate his old self's inflection as accurately as possible. His tone gleamed with artificial playfulness and but a hint of nostalgia.

"Good luck, 2B."

Naturally, she twisted around. A look of hope spawned from her previously neutral frown. She turned back hoping to see him there. There was no mistaking his voice. No mistaking the sociable, uplifting way his words resonated.

When she did look back, he was nowhere to be found. There was nothing back there but empty space and falling rain. Bewildered and still somewhat hopeful, 2B checked around the crate but found no trace of him.

The smallest hint of a smile was suddenly transmuted into a deep, almost grieving frown.

"Nines," she breathed.

No one answered.

Another voice sounded off nearby. The disappointing voice of her pod. He made his presence known while he floated back to her position.

"Pod 042 to Unit 2B. Our assistance is required again. Please report to Anemone."

"I thought," she stammered softly. An unusual meekness overwhelmed her words. "I… Uh… Never mind. Let's just go."

"And goodbye," 9S whispered. In a flash, he managed to hide behind a pile of fallen debris.

Pod 042 sent multiple transmissions to contact 153. Surprisingly, she ignored them on her own accord. She informed 9S yet he told her to continue with this course of action. For once, he decided it best to simply move on rather than cling to memories he felt no mention toward.

His quiet recollection came to a dramatic end when he felt a clawed finger tap his shoulder. He jumped and twisted around only to find Amos sitting next to him. The immortal soldier held out a series of three bottles. Each one was marked with a different label. In his salty clutches was everything they needed from Anemone's blasted camp.

He immediately cheered up.

"Great! Now, let's get outta here before we're seen."

Amos gave an affirming snort. The duo took their leave in the same covert means in which they entered. Before exiting the camp entirely, 9S took one last look back. 2B had long since disappeared inside one of the ruined complexes.

He almost felt bad for her. It was impossible to recall the emotions his previous self may have experienced. However, the memories he retained clearly illustrated that the old 9S did have some sort of fondness for 2B.

A fondness he no longer harbored. Perhaps it was just more mounting evidence to reinforce the growing thought that he truly was a different person wearing 9S's skin.

---

With most of that section of the ruins flooded, 9S and Amos stuck to high ground and well out of the way of any fighting. They moved along the rooftops while 9S went over his list one last time.

He shined Amos' flashlight inside the bag. A much-needed tool and one that Amos allowed him to borrow without much hassle. With his convenient little goggles, Amos had no use for it. 9S wished YoRHa engineers would have thought to program such a function into him.

A voice entered Amos' mind. Without signaling much of anything to 9S, he came to a dead stop and stared at the sky.

"Caim? …Caim? Where are you?"

There it was again. That raspy voice. Still asking for the same person. Amos studied the clouds. Where could she be? Just as he began brainstorming possible locations to investigate, 9S unwittingly interrupted him.

"Shiverthorn and Fireblossom are all that's left," he announced. "Once we find those, we can head back. Any ideas?"

Amos growled and averted his gaze from the veiled heavens and back down to the earth. He shrugged his shoulders. A clueless grunt was all 9S needed to hear.

The boy's eyes impatiently narrowed at the list. "Maybe we should head back and talk to Popola. Maybe she knows where…"

In a flash, something blurred past him. In a flash, his bag of carefully harvested ingredients was swiped clean from his grasp. Shocked by what just occurred, 9S searched the dark air, scrying into the rain in search of the truth behind this confusing ordeal.

His once calm demeanor immediately soured. He caught sight of a green-eyed machine standing close to the roof's edge. The small biped wore a blue and yellow bandanna upon the crown of its head. An odd detail and one 9S immediately lost interest in after seeing his valued collection of ingredients in the mechanized palms of that thieving automaton.

The machine mockingly waved at him. "Greetings," he called out. "I am Locke! The legendary treasure hunter! I've come for your coin, your jewels, your everything!"

9S furrowed an irritable brow. "Have you bothered looking in that bag, thief? I wouldn't consider anything inside it to be a treasure."

"I'm not a thief," Locke shouted back. "I'm a treasure hunter!"

With that, the machine leaped off the roof, ingredients in hand.

Utterly incensed, 9S chased after him without so much as a second thought. Amos followed them. A proper chase did not seem like such a bad idea. Anything to lift the boredom that plagued the Legionnaire's mind would do at this point.

9S jumped from the same spot. He landed on the roof of a shorter building. Locke darted clear across the roof and jumped to yet another complex. His speed was impressive for a machine.

9S was quick to clear the distance. He jumped off the ledge. The next building over was much taller. He aimed for a nearby fire escape and scaled the metal railing until he managed to climb onto the zigzagged stairs. By that point, Locke was already several stories above. 9S watched as the machine reached the top of the stairs only to find that there was no clear path to the roof. The last flight of steps had crumbled and fallen off.

The machine dove inside an opening and into the building's dark interior. 9S soon entered behind him. He could hear Amos' heavy stomping closing in from behind. Reassured by the company, 9S raced through the dilapidated, unfamiliar halls.

Locke cleared the corridor. The long hall led him to a window on the other side of the complex. As 9S anticipated, the automaton leaped from the window. 9S rolled his eyes. This was becoming very annoying, very quickly.

Unfortunately, the android's path forward would not be as easy as it was for that thief. Likely drawn out by the sound of constant stomping, an android emerged from one of the halls connecting to this main corridor. The red-eyed android swiftly took notice of 9S's advance.

The infected vagrant hoisted up an old plank of wood, ready to use it as a weapon. He stepped out in 9S's path, leaving the scanner with no other option but to fight through him. Frustrated by the development, 9S pulled Skald's Song. The weapon was still dull just as it had been ever since he murdered those conjoined twins. However, it was still a heavy metal object. It could still crack a skull or two if need be.

9S rushed the vagrant's position. He brought his blunt sword down on the android. The crazed man blocked it with his wooden beam. 9S swiftly recovered only to deliver another swing. That time, his sword managed to connect with his target. The emerald blade slammed into the android's torso and sent him staggering back.

The stranger attempted to reel back and reengage, but by that time, Amos had caught up to them. A few loud gunshots erupted from behind. 9S flinched at the sound. An instant later, and the android collapsed into a swelling pool of blood.

Neither of the two bothered to investigate the corpse. They instead resumed the chase. 9S soon fell behind Amos. He simply could not keep up with the Legionnaire's superior speed. He picked up his pace as best he could and attempted to at least not fall too far behind. The duo jumped out the window without bothering to check their surroundings.

They both expected to land on another roof or outcropping ledge. Instead, they just kept falling.

And falling.

And falling.

And falling.

The two descended through an unfamiliar section of the ruins. A stretch of land that collapsed and left a gaping pit where streets and buildings once stood. They fell straight past street level but could not see a bottom to this chasm. It seemed that there simply was no ground here.

A massive waterfall flowed at their side. The stream flowed out of an open sewer pipe embedded in the side of the cliff. They descended along with that violent stream of water toward nothing but eternal sky.

Given the speed at which they fell, it became incredibly difficult to inhale. 9S motioned his arms and flipped himself over. Catching enough air to take a breath was still a challenge regardless of his effort. This new position put the boy in closer proximity to the waterfall. His bandaged left hand touched the torrential water.

Suddenly, he sensed something bite into his synthetic flesh. Jagged teeth sunk deep into his hand. It felt like a row of razor blades just enclosed on his hand and scraped along his bones. There was no pain. None that he could sense at least. Despite this fact, he recoiled on instinct and pulled his hand from the waterfall.

A small, roundish fish followed his hand. The thing dug its saw-like teeth into his flesh. It flopped about wildly, trying to rip off his skin all while refusing to release him. It was the first time he took a proper look at the waterfall. Hundreds of those carnivorous little fish flailed and fell along with the flow of water.

"Piranhas," 9S choked out. He felt grateful that he could at least not feel the pain they inflicted. A true blessing the cherubs had granted him, but one that would likely not spare him from being eaten alive.

Amos tapped his shoulder. The gesture grabbed 9S's attention. The soldier had very little to worry about in a situation like this, 9S on the other hand, had quite a bit to fear. Fully aware of this, Amos concealed his face behind his forearms. A clear signal for 9S to do the same. A clever solution the boy had no hope of thinking of on his own.

9S mimicked Amos' gesture and concealed his face, especially his eyes. The thought of losing one or both of them to a bunch of fiendish fish unsettled him. There was nothing more he could do while he fell through this seemingly bottomless pit.

Piranhas slammed against him as they panicked and flailed about. Most of them bounced off but a number of them decided to bite down. The insanity did not last for very long. 9S was saved by a new problem.

His back landed against what he could only guess was a tree branch. He and Amos crashed through a vast canopy. A bed of leaves enveloped both of them. Branches and limbs did nothing to break their fall.

Instead, they cracked and snapped under their weight. Between Amos being the equivalent of an oversized sandbag and the weight of 9S's metal body, no tree limb had a hope of holding them.

The duo fell clean through the ceiling of vegetation. Towering trees surrounded them. As they continued to descend into this new and unknown vista, a single fact became abundantly clear.

They were not in the city ruins anymore. Never before had 9S ventured this far from the usual areas he frequented. This was entirely new territory.

---

The two slammed into an unexpectedly tranquil body of water. Amos was the first to resurface. He took but a moment to scan the surface of the murky waters. Algae and lily pads rendered it near impossible to see what lurked below the depths. He felt movement on his right.

Amos reached below the serene surface and pulled 9S out from underneath a patch of aquatic vegetation. He then released the boy, allowing him to float above the surface on his own accord.

The scanner's first impulse was to search for piranhas. They were no doubt still down there but for whatever reason, 9S could not find any signs of their presence. They abruptly stopped bothering him. A blessing he was not about to complain over. He did not want to stick around any longer than necessary. Beyond even those annoying fish, the putrid green lake did not look welcoming at all.

"This water is like a petri dish," 9S complained. "Let's find some land before…"

He cut himself off. The boy took in his surroundings for the first time while searching for a spot of land. There was none to speak of. Giant trees towered over the water, partially submerged in this unknowingly deep lake.

Frogs, insects, and other wildlife sang their naturalistic serenades. He could not feel the rain here. Even the quaking thunder sounded extremely distant. Apart from the various local fauna, all was quiet. The lightning he often relied on for light could not be seen. These unusual observations caused him to look up.

High overhead was an enormous canopy. A blanket of twisting branches, dangling moss, and endless leaves all intertwined tightly enough to shield him from the cyclone. 9S's gaze fell back to his unfamiliar surroundings.

"Is this a swamp?"

Amos grunted at the android. He swam out by a few feet just to get away from the waterfall. 9S followed him but never took his eyes off of the looming trees or eerily shaped vines.

It was not very difficult to see in this area. Fireflies fluttered about peacefully in the air. They cast a neon glow that flashed in and out. Individually, those little green lights offered next to no help in such darkness. There were, however, so many of those insects flying around. Their combined light was far greater than what he was used to dealing with in the ruins.

Other light sources were seen in the distance. Ethereal green lights radiated from tree trunks and outcropping roots. 9S observed them, utterly transfixed and curious about what could be causing them. He swam to the closet light source which ran along the trunk of the nearest tree.

A strange fungus clung to the bark. It glowed just as the fireflies did. They produced an emerald light as vivid and vibrant as that which was found on his sword.

Glowing insects and mushrooms were easy enough to explain. What 9S found completely baffling were the other sources of light. Radiant orbs that hovered near the water. They looked like lanterns and appeared in various shades of green, yellow, and blue. He could not begin to explain them. Their appearance was akin to faeries or wisps.

As breathtaking as the scenery was, 9S did not forget his reason for traveling this far in the first place. His scarlet eyes darted around in search of a certain thief.

"Where'd that rust bucket go," he asked aloud. "Do you see him anywhere?"

Amos did not spare much thought for that lowly machine. He was far more concerned with getting out of the water. He spotted a number of enormous roots poking out of the water's surface. They were large enough to relax on for a bit. That was all he needed for the time being.

"Where are you going!?"

9S swam after the mute soldier. He followed Amos' lead and hoisted himself up on the same cluster of roots. A patch of mushrooms lit up the vicinity. The space around them was awash in alien light. Those enigmatic wisps circled them from afar. One particularly loud frog was bellowing somewhere nearby. Most certainly an annoyance, but it was the last thing on his mind.

There was another rustling from below. The roots they sat upon arched over the water, leaving a small space underneath. An animal was bound to be hiding beneath them. 9S could easily see the odd rippling of the surrounding water. A clear indication that something was moving under there.

In silence, they sat in that same spot, contemplating their next move. At least, 9S initially was. His trailing thoughts ceased once he noticed the puzzled frown on Amos' face. Something caught his attention but Amos did not appear to be looking at much of anything. Rather, he was listening to something.

Amos turned to 9S and grinned. A smile just as comical as it was impish. He placed an index finger over his pale lips. 9S already had no intention of saying anything. The boy furrowed a brow but did not ask any questions.

He dove his clawed hand into the water and reached for the space underneath the roots. Amos then hoisted a large object out of the water. 9S tilted his head to get a better look. A familiar biped clinging to an equally familiar bag dangled over the water. His leg held firmly in Amos' clutches.

"I surrender," Locke screamed. Swamp water dripped from every nook and cranny of his robotic body.

Amos snatched the bag from Locke's fingers and promptly released the machine, sending him falling straight back into the murky depths. Locke resurfaced a few seconds later and latched on to one of the roots.

9S took hold of the bag and poked his head inside. There was quite a bit of water inside, but the bottles were intact. So too were the other ingredients. Miraculously, no damage was found.

"So," the scanner began. His tone was no less threatening than the murderous glint in his eyes. "Any compelling reason why we shouldn't rip out your processor and break it?"

"I gave you the treasure back, didn't I!? Show mercy. Besides, I know these swamps well. I can help you navigate them."

"Is that right? What do you think, Amos? Do we really need a guide or should we just gut this thief right now and be on our way?"

Amos studied the machine. He found himself wondering just how much of a merciful mood he was truly in. Normally, he would not be, but in this one instance, he had something better in mind. He pointed to the bag of ingredients, then to 9S's pocket where he kept Popola's list.

Putting two and two together, the android took the list out. It immediately fell apart in his hands. The paper was completely drenched. 9S wracked his brain for a few moments, trying desperately to remember the last two ingredients needed for Popola's vile beverage.

"Shiverthorn," 9S randomly exclaimed. "Shiverthorn and Fireblossom! Tell us where to find them and we'll let you live."

"I don't know anything about plants," Locke informed. "But I know who might."

There was no reason to trust this thief, but 9S also had a severe lack of options available to him. Desperate to be done with wild goose chase, 9S turned to Amos.

"Should we follow him or find our own way? I don't trust this guy at all but I'm beyond caring at this point so long as we get what we need. I'll leave it up to you."

"You can trust me," Locke insisted. "A real treasure hunter always keeps his word!"

9S and Amos rolled their eyes simultaneously. Amos proceeded to study the thief. After a quick examination of his rustic, automated demeanor, Amos relented. He gave 9S an approving nod. A decision they could only hope would prove fruitful.

---

Locke led the way through a forest of hulking lily pads. He shoved them away as he swam across an endless thicket. The aquatic plants were impressive. Some of the pads rivaled Amos' size.

Fish occasionally flopped to the surface of the water. They splashed about beneath the pads. Rare sightings of snakes kept 9S well on his guard. Locke and Amos had nothing to worry about in that regard. He, however, was not quite sure how his fleshy, android body would react to the bite of a snake. If a mackerel could easily kill an android, there was no telling what else nature's many wonders could do to him.

Those obsidian scales blended well with the dark waters. He could only ever spot them if he managed to catch them moving. It gave rise to his usual curiosity. His thoughts ran wild as he contemplated all of the creatures both beneath the water and above. The many animal sounds that spawned such a soothing if not somewhat eerie atmosphere only furthered his quizzical wonder. What sorts of strange creatures could be found in this swamp?

"Finally," Locke exclaimed. "We're here!"

9S looked up to find an old dock. Wooden planks lined the bank of an expansive flatland. While the land ahead was nothing more than a marsh, it was still better than having to swim through a vastly deep lake. The dock was an even more relieving sight. The wood was extremely old. Entire segments of the dock had rotted away.

He climbed atop the planks. They creaked beneath his boots but they did not give way. He scanned the structure. The dock winded off around a bend and behind a row of trees. Lanterns dangled from posts that lined both sides of the docks. None of them were lit. All of them were rusted over and inhabited by spiders or wasps.

"Where are we going?"

Locke promptly pointed to the path ahead. "Follow the docks. You'll find a hovel not too far from here. A witch lives inside. She's incredibly dangerous but she knows a thing or two about herbs. At least… I think she does."

"A witch," 9S questioned in a murmur. He peered at the column of wooden planks all leading into a wall of gloom. "Care to elaborate?"

"There's not much to say," Locke darkly informed. "I'm not going another step forward, either. Tried stealing a few gems from her and she put a hex on me. Misfortune has befallen me ever since. Meeting you two is a prime example of that."

With that, Locke headed down the opposite path. 9S watched him leave but did not bother stopping him. As irritated as he was, there was not much point in wasting more time on that measly thief, treasure hunter, or whatever he called himself.

The duo set off. As they progressed down the desired path, 9S took in the surreal scenery around him. There was not just one narrow dock. A whole labyrinth of wooden walkways veered off in every direction. Some wrapped around trees while others had long since collapsed under the water.

Wisps hovered atop the lake. 9S slowed his pace. The boy wandered to the edge and leaned over the railing. He tried to close the gap between himself and one of the spheres of light.

It twitched and encircled itself, resembling an orb of cobalt fire. 9S reached out for it. The light, impressive in size, began retreating the instant 9S decided to draw closer. The closer to the water he drew, the farther away the light drifted. The anomaly made no sound nor did it interact with its surroundings.

He felt Amos tap his shoulder. 9S looked away from the fay-like light. The Legionnaire showed no interest in it. Instead, he pointed to what appeared to be a poorly constructed hut near a mass of land just up ahead. It was the only structure resembling a dwelling they had come across in this enormous wetland. Surely that was the abode they were meant to find.

Amos took out his rifle and leaned his back against the left side of the entrance. A half-rotten door barely clinging to its hinges. The "home" was made from nothing more than plates of rusted metal nailed together. Tarps of fur dangled over the roof to further prevent water from seeping through the crevices.

The bones of small animals decorated the exterior. The circle of defleshed marrow wrapped around the property as if to ward off some unseen evil. A goat skull was mounted above the door. It acted as a proud centerpiece. Those curved horns resembled that of a demon's.

It appeared Amos was fully prepared to breach through the door and treat anyone inside as an active threat. 9S, for once, decided to take a more peaceful approach. He stepped forward, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.

A minute or two passed. Nothing happened.

9S knocked again.

Yet again, no response was made. The boy was tempted to knock once more, but before he was given the chance, the door finally creaked open. Ever so gradually it parted from the crude metal frame. 9S tried to peer inside, to get a look at who was on the other side, but all he saw was the dim glow of an unknown light source.

The door stopped moving. It opened by a hair. 9S pushed the slab of rotten wood out of his way. The door let out a horrible metallic cry as it moved. 9S stepped inside, Amos entered behind him. He still kept his rifle at the ready. The towering soldier had to duck just to keep from bashing his head on the curved ceiling.

Old beakers littered the desks and crates that lined the interior. A lone lantern dangled from overhead. The small flame flickered faintly. It revealed just how much of a mess the place was. Books, knives, and various ritualistic items such as feathers and bones were all scattered about.

Rummaging could be heard from the left side of the room. A voice spoke out. A slightly shaken voice.

"W-who are you and what do you want?"

9S followed the sound of the girlish voice. An android sat on the dirt floor of this grime-infested hut. She was roughly as tall as him and with similarly youthful features. The android was dressed in a robe fashioned from crude stitching and burlap rags. Her black hair was left in an unkempt, scraggly mess. A pair of cobalt eyes glared back at him. A stark contrast to his own.

She scooted into a corner and held tightly onto a ceremonial knife. One covered in rust but sharpened to razor's edge. She did not show much interest in 9S. Her eyes were locked squarely on Amos. An understandable reaction. He glanced at his friend. Amos did not seem particularly interested in her or her measly knife. Instead, he kept his attention to the various objects that decorated her home.

"I'm 9S. This is Amos. A machine named Locke said you might be able to help us track down some herbs."

"What herbs?"

"Fireblossom and Shiverthorn."

The android quietly groaned. "And you say that idiot thief sent you?"

"That's right. He also said you put a curse on him or some nonsense."

"I made him think he was cursed," the girl elaborated. "Saw my collection of bones and plants and thought I was a swamp hag. As it turns out, make someone think a certain way, and then they'll start acting in a certain way. That's what real magic is all about."

"We're not here to discuss memetics. I'm here for a couple plants. Do you have them or not?"

The girl kept her attention firmly on Amos the entire time. Her look of abject horror quickly died off and was replaced by simple curiosity. Such behavior struck 9S as odd but he was far more focused on getting what he wanted.

"Hello," 9S nagged.

She only glinted at him for a second before her eyes darted back to Amos.

"I don't have either," she disclaimed. "But I know where you can get them. The problem is, you have to venture to the slopes. That means leaving the swamp and heading south. Best way is to go through a network of caves."

9S rolled his eyes. "Is there not an easier way? Can't we just walk through the swamp?"

The girl briefly studied him. Her attention switched repeatedly between the two bizarre travelers.

"The surface isn't an option. his whole swamp is blocked off by cliffs. Unless you're really good at rock climbing, I wouldn't try it."

"Anything else we should know about these caves before going down there?"

She nodded. "Local machines used to live in these parts. They believed a monster called the Ikuchi lives inside. A sea serpent."

That unexpected detail was just odd enough to warrant further inquiry. He cared not for some legend about a sea serpent. It was the implication of such a myth that gave him cause for concern.

"Wait a minute," 9S demanded. "A sea serpent? What would a sea serpent be doing in a cave system?"

"I've been down there before. Never seen anything so fanciful. Probably just a story to keep others from wandering too deep and getting lost."

"Never mind all that. You said they believe a sea serpent was inside these caves! How does that make any sense? Why not a regular serpent or a dragon?"

The stranger shrugged. Wiry black hair rustled on her shoulders. "The caves connect to the western coast and…"

"Don't tell me these caves of yours are underwater!"

"These caves are underwater," she flatly blurted out. "But there are places to rise for air. I've survived the trip before so you can too."

The girl's attention promptly switched back to Amos yet again. By that point, the soldier was beginning to take notice. The way he dismissively looked the other way displayed very clear annoyance.

She grinned with unreadable intent. "On second thought, I could guide you."

That was a suspicious offer. Suddenly, 9S found himself wanting to know more about this mysterious YoRHa defector. If he was to travel any length of distance with her, he would at least like to know a name.

"Who are you?"

"S404."

"S!? You're a scanner!?"

The girl nodded.

9S rubbed his eyes and took another look at her. Surely enough, they were not deceiving him.

"A female scanner," he spoke aloud. "That is rare."

"Guess YoRHa hasn't changed much since I left."

S404 shrugged carelessly. "I know of A2. Heard the name before. She was one of the people sent on that mission to Hawaii. Right before everyone went crazy and YoRHa collapsed."

The way she spoke of this event made it sound as though YoRHa had collapsed multiple times. 9S suddenly felt a sense of vertigo. He clenched his forehead and sealed his eyes shut. The bout of faintness subsided after a minute or two. Something about that story seemed familiar, but as usual, his memory failed him.

A certain detail did cause him to raise an eyebrow. Part of her explanation made no sense whatsoever.

"But the Bunker was destroyed within this past year," 9S corrected her. "Months before the storm hit."

"Gaslight me all you want, I know what happened."

"I'm not trying to gaslight anyone! I…"

"Whatever," the opposing android interrupted. "Do you want a guide or do you want to go it alone and get lost forever?"

9S relented. He had not been given much reason to trust this bizarre individual. Amos was not particularly fond of her either, albeit for a very different reason by that point.

Regardless of instincts, 9S needed to find those herbs, and the more time he could save, the better.

---

An awkwardly silent trek to a subterranean labyrinth ensued. That local scanner proved to be an interesting guide, albeit, a somewhat ineffective one. S404 instructed them to walk in a direction. She then proceeded to follow from behind. Not once did she take the lead.

A brief exchange was made between her and 9S. What he could glean from the rather confusing conversation indicated that she had witnessed a totally different collapse of YoRHa. A separate occurrence from what his former self survived. His immediate response was to inquire about any knowledge she may have on No.9. She had none.

Vague hints from his memories indicated that No.9 may know something about these repeating collapses. He had yet to review any more of those memories. Speaking to her fueled his desire to return home so that he may do so.

S404, on the other hand, was entirely transfixed by Amos. Anytime 9S chose to look over his shoulder, he would see her analyzing Amos' every move. From his dagger-like claws to his ancient uniform, nothing escaped her curious gaze.

The Legionnaire was somewhat annoyed back at the hut, but he showed no visible reaction as they walked. Either he failed to notice just how long she had been observing him, or he simply stopped caring.

"What exactly are we looking for," 9S inquired just to break the silence.

"You'll know it when we see it. Just watch your step."

He shrugged his shoulders and carried on. They came to a stream rushing through a field of mud and outcropping roots. The mud was annoying to traverse but he at least did not have to swim. He had grown tired of dealing with water. The thought of which made his plastic skin crawl.

The stream was a little on the wide side. 9S searched for a way to simply step over it. He then noticed something floating nearby. It appeared to be a log. A black, roughly textured object that seemed large and sturdy enough for him to step over. He did exactly that. Such a move proved to be a horrifying mistake.

9S felt the "log" subtly move as his boot landed on it. Before he could so much as look down, he felt Amos' hand clench his arm and yank him back to the riverbank. He stumbled back into the mud. A crocodile jolted out of the water. Its snout emerged from the algae-infested depths. Glistening teeth bared in jagged rows, waiting to rip into him.

A splash of its crushing tail sent waves of water splashing in all directions. The crocodile promptly swam off at an alarming speed. He was left stunned by the wild encounter.

"Tried to warn you," said S404. She did not appear phased in the slightest by this turn of events.

9S stood up and crossed the water without uttering another word. From that point forward he was a little more careful with which surfaces he stood on.

They cleared a particularly larger root stretched out across the ground from a nearby tree. Upon climbing over the obstruction, they reached a massive pit. It was a proper cenote. A deep sinkhole filled with crystal clear water. The lake beneath them was a vibrant cobalt pool, unlike the noxious marsh they previously swam through.

The cenote was surrounded by stone cliffs. Water flooded in from the surrounding pools and trickled down into the sinkhole in a gentle stream.

The bottom of the cenote was lined with bioluminescent moss. It created an utterly entrancing outline of neon green that wrapped around a circular pool of tranquil water.

"We're here," S404 announced. She stepped up to 9S's side and gazed into the cenote.

9S scratched his head at the scenery. They were still surrounded by marshlands and he could not see anything down in that pit aside from water and glowing moss.

"Huh? I don't see any caves."

S404 pointed downward. "The entrance to the cave is down there. Just under the water."

9S truly began to hate the sight of water. He looked over his shoulder, glaring at Amos.

"Popola better have the voice of an angel if we're going through all this!"

At that, Amos could agree. The Legionnaire was the first to step up. He took the plunge and dove into the pit. What followed was an incredibly large splash.

9S approached the edge in preparation to follow him. S404's voice stopped him.

"You're friend. The big guy."

9S looked back at her. "What about him?"

"Do you know what he is?"

He shrugged. "He's Legion. A product of the Old World. Why? Do you know something about that?"

An ominous smile wrapped around her face. It crawled across her gloomy visage like a writhing centipede. Her eyes beamed at the disturbed waters and at the pale monster who resurfaced seconds after diving in.

"Legion," she repeated.

She stood up. "No. I don't know anything, but I'd like to."

"You've been staring at him this entire time," he accused. "What's your deal?"

S404's eyes sharpened fiercely. "He's fascinating. I want to know more."

She did not elaborate further. Instead, she jumped after Amos. 9S was thus left alone at the top of the cenote.

He took in the environment one last time. As boggy and slimy as it was, he could not deny the beauty this swamp held. Concealed forever away from the rest of the world under an impenetrable canopy. Circles of wisps gathered near trees as if to see him off.

Depending on where he was to travel next and what route he used to get back to the coast, he may never lay eyes on this ethereal place again. He felt compelled to wave at the swamp lights. A final goodbye before he too threw himself off the cliff and once more into the unknown.

---

9S made sure to take one last deep breath before descending into the bowels of the earth.

Water filled his ears. Pressure steadily increased the deeper he went. He swam fast. S404 moved ahead and navigated the tunnels without much issue. 9S did his best to keep up with her. He only dared look back for but a moment. Amos casually moved behind them. He had no need for air, and as such, no need to rush.

9S shined a light on the various rock formations that surrounded them.

Stalactites clung to the ceilings while stalagmites rose from the stone ground. Hundreds of them filled the vast subterranean tunnels. Most of the navigating 9S did was simply grabbing onto these jagged stone spires and pulling himself between them. Swimming eventually became a rare necessity.

They soon reached a fork in the path. One tunnel veered off to the left and out of the way while a separate, larger path carried on straight ahead. S404 ignored the narrow tunnel and kept to the path. 9S swam after her, peering into the darkness of that other tunnel as he passed it. It evoked curiosity in him but not enough to risk going down that way.

Oxygen was starting to become a problem. He could feel the desire to exhale beginning to take hold. He struggled to keep his lips sealed. To contain that precious air in his lungs became a top priority as well as a downright herculean task. A few bubbles escaped his nostrils. He hesitated for a moment, but soon grabbed hold of an outcropping rock and pushed himself forward.

They left that main tunnel and swam out into an open void. Not a cavern but a true hollow. A rather striking sight that briefly distracted 9S from his oncoming asphyxiation. The hollow was enormous on all sides, but what baffled him was just how deep it went. He could not see an end to it. All sides led to watery oblivion.

An endless pit of an unfathomable depth. He could only imagine what lied at the bottom of it all or what was hidden just beyond the veil of darkness as the group's various light sources could only stretch so far. The flashlight's cone was swallowed up by the abyss as though the photons were being absorbed.

At the far side of the chasm was a narrow tunnel roughly in line with the cave they used to enter this enigmatic zone. S404 ignored the void and headed straight for the other side. She made an effort not to sink too low. Fearing the abyss that so eagerly beckoned him, 9S followed her.

The moment he took his eyes off of the void, he felt something brush against his legs. He panicked and turned back. Neither S404 nor Amos was swimming anywhere near him. His gaze switched back to the surrounding abyss. He caught the faintest glimpse of movement down there. Between fear of drowning and a fear of the unknown, 9S decided it best not to investigate.

After reaching the end of that chasm, they resumed navigating the tighter tunnels. The caverns kept on winding and veering off in bizarre ways. It proved to be a complex underwater labyrinth. 9S's vision was beginning to shrink. Oxygen was reaching a critical level. His strength to climb and swim wavered. He felt himself slipping. System alerts fired off in his peripherals, warning him of this growing need for a breath.

After such a long period of silence, the voices of the cherubs reentered his mind. A distant crying burrowed into his thoughts. An abstract pleading for him to pick up his pace, lest he die and be of no use to them.

It made the experience all the more distressing. He was on the verge of death. Remaining focused on navigating through these confusing caves was almost impossible under such conditions.

S404 was in no better condition. She clawed at the needle-like rock formations as if she were scaling the side of a spiked mountain. The cave ahead sloped upward. 9S strained to see what she was so desperate to reach. He could not see much of anything in the blue darkness. He kept to her pace as best he could. The vague hope that air was nearby was enough to give him a second wind.

Just as they neared the top, S404 gave up. Exhausted and suffocating to the point of nearing death, she ceased a majority of her movements. Her body drifted downward and passed 9S. He made no effort to save her. He could barely breathe himself let alone worry about someone he could care less about.

9S kept swimming until, at long last, he breached the surface of the water. He gasped for air. He took but a moment to recover. A shame they lost their only guide, but it was a worthy sacrifice. He climbed onto solid land.

Amos surfaced soon after. He picked himself up out of the water and tossed S404's still living body onto the stone surface. 9S was almost disappointed to find that his assumption had proved incorrect.

She coughed up no small amount of water. For someone who allegedly knew these caves well enough to guide others, she did not do so well on this spelunking excursion.

The Legionnaire then stepped over her and away from his two companions. He shook himself violently, sending droplets in every direction. With a bored, demonic yawn he proceeded to wait for the two androids to recover.

S404 forced herself off the ground. Upon gathering her composure, she looked up and beamed at Amos. "Thanks," she flatly muttered. Her emotionless tone betrayed the admiring glimmer in her eyes.

9S groaned aloud. "I'm sick of all this water!"

The caves were surprisingly well lit. Those same bioluminescent mushrooms and patches of glowing moss grew in these tunnels just as they did in the swamp. It was still incredibly dark, but the neon lights helped considerably.

Many of the walls were lined with strips of colorful moss and fungus. Twinkling lights coiled around the sharp tunnels resembling galactic ribbons stars. A mesmerizing sight. One 9S could only wish the twins were here to see.

"Be on your guard," S404 ordered. "There may not be a sea serpent down here but these tunnels are dangerous. And don't even think about exploring. I won't go looking for you. Got it?"

9S and Amos both nodded.

"Good. Then let's get moving."

With that warning received, they marched on. S404 slowed her pace only until Amos passed her. She picked up her stride again to keep up with him.

Emptiness surrounded them from all sides. The caves were hollow and apart from the pretty moss, there was nothing but stone and dust in these depths. No animals lived down here. 9S was left enamored by these ancient, naturalistic structures. He wondered if humans ever bothered exploring these same tunnels or if they even knew they existed at all.

He inhaled. The ability to breathe was a welcome if not curious change of pace. He checked the cave ceiling. There was no vent to be seen. Given the vastness of the flooded tunnels he crossed previously, he could only imagine how deep they must be. How far away from the surface they had delved.

"Where is the air coming from" 9S finally asked. His words produced a haunting echo.

S404 glinted his way. The distant glow of moss barely highlighted her mute frown. "Not sure. I just know this path and maybe a few others have access to oxygen. Most of this labyrinth has none. I've nearly died a couple times because I unwittingly walked right into a natural gas chamber. Not a fun experience."

They passed by a pond of stagnant water. 9S briefly shined Amos' flashlight over the lifeless surface. He saw something large protruding from the water. No doubt an outcropping boulder. He moved on, returning the cone of light to the path ahead. Suddenly, he heard a heavy splash.

9S jumped in place and whipped back around. He scanned the water. Ripples traveled across the pool. That rock was no longer visible. 9S could only guess it simply slipped and fell deeper. Not particularly interested in hanging around that area anymore, 9S carried on.

He picked up the pace.

---

The caverns went on and on, spiraling into every direction like a spider's web. There was a time when 9S would call a subterranean zone of this magnitude to be a mere fantasy. Even as he wandered through it, he found it hard to believe what his eyes showed him.

S404 slowly started to come out of her metaphorical shell. She asked question after question. Each one directed at Amos. All of them went completely ignored yet this did not deter the inquisitive girl.

Most of her inquiries involved trying to determine what exactly Amos was and where he came from. He occasionally responded with a not so friendly growl or hiss. This obvious hostility flew over her head. She had a difficult time picking up on these not-so-subtle queues.

"You're really quiet," she suddenly blurted out. "Are all of you… Legion like that?"

"You just now figuring this out," 9S interjected with a snicker.

S404 bit down on her thumb nervously. Her glare was a clear indication that she would rather he not interrupt. She was far more content with pretending he was not present at all. 9S decided to quiet down if for no other reason than that he found it entertaining to watch her pester Amos. He was interested to see just how much the admittedly patient Legionnaire could take.

As had been the case before, Amos did not respond.

Practically enamored by the undead soldier, S404 carried on. She asked a series of other benign questions. Only one of which managed to finally capture his attention.

"What does that badge on your arm mean?"

The monster came to a halt. The others did the same. 9S was almost certain this was it. He smiled cruelly, already anticipating a decent show.

Amos calmly turned and studied her. He clenched his sleeve, concealing the black badge in question under his ghostly talons.

S404 sunk her teeth deeper into the synthetic flesh of her thumb. Her skin broke without her ever noticing. Blood dripped from her lower jaw.

She took a step back. Ironically, she did not prepare to be confronted over any of these questions. The sight of him taking notice of her incessant pestering instilled terror in her.

Up until that point, he forgot that ancient insignia existed let alone was plastered to his arm. The look of genuine curiosity hidden behind predictable apprehension caused his own visage to soften. Her interest was blatantly genuine. There was not much to get irritated at. For once, he wanted to speak. To answer that simple question of hers but such a thing was impossible.

He had no voice. Lost in exchange for an immortal body.

In the end, he uttered not a word. He merely shook his head and turned away. What was the point of words, anyway? People tended to figure things out on their own given enough time. His voice, or lack thereof, proved quite pointless in this post-apocalypse.

---

9S rushed to catch up with Amos. After that last exchange, the girl fell silent at long last. Her attention was still permanently locked on the back of Amos' camouflaged helmet but she did not speak.

Nibbling violently at her own fingertips, she watched him with unknowable intent. She studied him with an obsessive interest that increasingly showed to go well beyond the usual S-type curiosity.

"Hey," 9S whispered to his silent companion. "How much further until we ditch this oddball? She's creeping me out."

Amos shrugged. Her presence no longer disturbed or annoyed him. She was simply there. He had not softened to her stalkerish tendencies yet he was not bothered by them at that point either.

She was easy enough to ignore.

"She's plotting something," 9S insisted in a hushed tone. "We should…"

He cut himself off. They both stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of a pool of standing water blocking their path. The cave came to an end here. 9S shined his light about frantically but there was no obvious way forward.

"Where do we go from here?"

S404 perked up. She stepped out of the darkness from which she skulked and pointed to the still water. "Another swimming session."

The two let out a unified sigh.

"Wonderful," 9S complained. "Let's get this over with."

He took a few deep, deliberate breaths before diving headfirst into the depths. His friend and that pesky swamp dweller followed. Amos lingered toward the back as he did the last time whereas S404 swam on ahead where she could prove herself a useful guide.

This aquatic stretch was not nearly as expansive as the last. Neon light glistened off the surface of the water up ahead. It revealed exactly where the next supply of oxygen was located.

While making his way to the surface, 9S took in his surroundings.

The cavern was filled with bizarre geometry. On his left was just another wall but on his right was another endless, aquatic void. A pit that stretched to the earth's mantle for all he knew.

In those depths, a writhing tube caught his eye. He aimed his flashlight at it. A long, circular object that almost resembled the body of a giant snake. It easily dwarfed his entire body in diameter. 9S could not see an end or beginning to the strange entity. It moved on occasion. Twisting and coiling on the precipice of a shadowy void.

A compulsion to breathe overtook him. He made his way back to the surface, but he still wanted to get a closer look. He carried on but made a mental note of where that thing was.

They resurfaced without issue. 9S's head popped out of the water shortly after S404 started to climb ashore. He did not bother climbing onto the rocks. He instead caught his breath and waited for Amos. The boy announced his intentions the minute Amos sprung from the darkness.

"Did anyone else see that?"

"See what," asked S404.

"I don't know how to describe it. Like a long tube. It was moving on its own."

Amos nodded but showed no interest in wanting to investigate any further. 9S was at least relieved to see he did not imagine it, but he still wanted to know more.

"I'm going back down there," he announced.

"What!? I gave you one warning! Don't stray from the main tunnel! You'll get lost if you..."

"I'm not going to get lost. It's right there! Just wait here."

He inhaled deeply and dove back into the water. A little glimpse into the unknown could not possibly do any harm. He assured himself that he would be in and out in a few minutes at most.

The ominous "tube" was still exactly where he last saw it. With great caution, he approached it. The flashlight finally revealed the surface of this enigmatic object. It certainly could not be a rock. This fact was confirmed when he finally managed to get a proper look at it. He recoiled in horror.

He may be seeing it up close but that only left the nature of this object shrouded in so much more mystery. The body of this anomaly was comprised of morphing humanoid faces. Distressing frowns and vacant eyes as though someone had flayed the flesh of a thousand men and sewn them all together to form this sickening hodgepodge. They gasped and squirmed, searching for air like they were eternally drowning.

The tortured visages all congealed into this one fleshy body. They moved and rolled along curved bones. 9S could only equate this terrible sight to being but one segment of a mind-bogglingly long serpent-like body.

Distant screams seeped into his water-filled ears. Many of the faces started to react to his presence. Their empty eyelids rolled toward him.

The mesh of haunting faces arched back. It started to move backward as though it were trying to change positions or perhaps turn around. 9S did not want to be there when such a thing occurred. His need to breathe was yet another motivation to flee the distressing scene.

He propelled himself backward and swam away with as much speed as he could muster.

---

9S was quick to relay what he saw to the others but there was not much anyone could do about it apart from continuing through the cavernous deeps. 9S checked every pond or subterranean lake they came across.

The hollows were vast enough to be considered their own little biome. A whole world of interesting sights lay hidden right beneath his feet this entire time. While the caves offered no shortage of amazement, he was far too paranoid to care at that point. His eyes remained squarely focused on the various bodies of water they passed by.

As he strolled near an enormous lake, he saw an elongated shadow move beneath the surface. He picked up his pace and soon caught up to Amos and S404. He spent much of his time thinking back to just what exactly that thing could be. Then he suddenly remembered a detail he initially brushed off as a pointless myth.

"Hey, 404," he spoke softly. "What were you saying earlier about a sea serpent?"

"Don't know much about it. Before they disappeared, that tribe of machines I mentioned lived around the cenote. They made offerings to the mouth of the cave hoping it would appease the serpent. A way of preventing the monster from attacking them. No one I spoke to ever saw the monster in person. I asked them where they got the information from, but nobody knew where the story originated."

She trailed off into an unsettling silence. The only noises to be heard this deep in the earth were the sounds of their boots hitting the stone ground. Droplets of water slipped down the sides of stalactites and echoed as they splashed in growing puddles. In such silence, he could practically hear the moss growing. A needle dropping may as well be considered deafening when compared to the deathly stillness of the caves.

"How much more swimming do we need to do," he asked.

"There's one more stretch in between us and the exit. It's a long tunnel that's totally flooded. We can surface for air in several places along the way but we'll have to keep swimming. There's no walkable land for quite a ways."

The boy gulped. He could find no other rationalization for what he saw. The body of a serpent of insane size. What confused him was the ghostly faces. The agony-stricken, pulsating flesh that made up the serpent's skin in place of scales. He spent some time contemplating it. His wandering thoughts screeched to a halt when S404's voice flooded the stale air yet again.

"Amos? Are you human?"

The question came out of absolutely nowhere. 9S was left confused by it more than anything else.

Amos' march forward immediately slowed. His claws tightened into hardened fists.

"That's it, isn't it," she said excitedly. "You're a human! A real live human!"

She was not allowed to continue rambling. Suddenly, Amos grabbed her by the throat, silencing her. She choked and squirmed for freedom.

"W-what… What did… I… say!?"

Her words barely managed to escape her asphyxiated throat. The questions squeaked out helplessly to an uncaring pair of salty ears.

To be compared to those hairless apes was an insult he simply could not stand for. After all, he was better than them. He had the body to prove it. His talons tightened, threatening to pierce flesh. Her esophagus was on the verge of being crushed. She pulled and scraped at his arm in a desperate bid to escape.

9S remained frozen in place. He did not dare intervene. This turn of events astonished him. The soldier was strong, there was never a question in his mind about that. However, he had grown so accustomed to Amos' laid-back demeanor that he had almost completely forgotten the level of unadulterated violence proud Legionnaire was capable of.

"Sorry! I…! S-sorry! Plea… Please l-let me g-g-go!"

No amount of pleading helped her situation. His grip only tightened. She summoned all the pathetic strength she was designed to wield and kicked Amos. The equivalent of a mere tap. Just another annoyance.

The girl had no hope of fighting back. 9S looked on with growing anxiety. Killing her off in the middle of these unknown depths was not at all a good idea.

"Hey, Amos," 9S blurted out sheepishly. "Why don't we let her go? We still need her to guide us out of here. Need I remind you that we're possibly being chased by a sea serpent? Maybe we should stop and think about this."

Amos paid him no mind. He threw S404 to the ground. She gasped as she slammed into a jagged boulder. With sharpened teeth bared he extended his claws toward her and let out a low, bloodcurdling growl. A feral display that was far removed from that of a human or even Amos' usual behavior.

He was half a second away from mauling her to death with those dagger-like claws when 9S called out to him one last time.

"Amos! Stop!"

The borderline berserk monster whipped around. Upon achieving eye contact, the prospect of standing aside while Amos shredded that pestering girl to bits did not seem to be such a terrible idea. 9S promptly backed off. He made no further argument. So long as he was not at the wrong end of those claws, 9S did not truly care.

This distraction proved to be all S404 needed. She got up and bolted down the cave back the way they came. She disappeared into the darkness. Amos turned and watched as she fled the scene. Surprisingly, he did not bother following her. Miraculously, he started to settle down.

"Wait," 9S called out. He was tempted to chase her down, but before he knew it, she was long gone.

Her pounding footsteps fell faint and soon died out entirely as she drew further away. In an instant, she left earshot, leaving her potential murderers in the dust.

For a scanner, she was astonishingly quick.

"Dammit," 9S snapped. "Whatever! She said to stick to the same tunnel, right? How hard can it be?"

He turned and started down the path. After only a few steps, however, he realized that he was not being followed. Amos still stood in place, watching the opposite end of that dark tunnel.

"Amos?"

The monster met his gaze.

"She's not coming back. Let's get out of here!"

---

As S404 explained, there was indeed another cut-off in which the cave dipped below the water. No words were exchanged this time. No dramatic complaints were verbalized. Amos silently walked into the water until his head disappeared beneath the stagnant pool. 9S did the same after a long inhale.

They swam without interruption while 9S kept an eye out for that alleged serpent. To his horror, he could see its body in these tunnels as well. The overgrown snake moved about in the shadows leading 9S to wonder just how large this creature truly was. Those same cursed faces stared back at him, silently pleading for air.

9S pushed away from the coiling mass of flesh. He needed to get out of the water. The rapid movements it made suggested that the beast was trying to turn around. All the more reason to not be anywhere near these caverns.

While proceeding through the tunnel, he looked back. He froze, paralyzed in fear. Out of the shadows emerged a massive series of teeth. Two rows of jagged fangs encircled a maw larger than his whole body. He could not see the monster's face, only columns of needle-like teeth.
The boy panicked. He almost screamed. The sensation of water filling his mouth forced him to seal his lips once more. He swam as fast as he could. Amos was still up ahead. Too caught up in his own thoughts to notice the silent advance.

9S desperately grabbed at his boot just to gain the Legionnaire's attention. Amos naturally whipped around, visibly irritated. The enormous jaws of that aquatic monster provoked Amos to spring into action. He pulled his rifle and fired three explosive rounds at the creature. The detonations were muted beneath the water. They also proved completely ineffective. The serpent barely flinched, practically shrugging them off.

Amos fired his last two rounds which gave him a similar result. There was no time to switch magazines nor was Amos able to switch fire modes.

The serpent abruptly lunged at him as though it were striking at prey. The current produced by this violent spring-ling motion sent 9S spirally upward and out of the way. The monster crashed into Amos. He managed to grab hold of the serpent's fangs. A pair of especially massive teeth that were about as long as he was from head to toe.

The serpent struck again, slamming Amos into a wall. He lost his grip and the serpent was able to bite down on his torso. The overgrown sea snake bashed Amos against stalactites and boulders. It performed a death roll all while repeatedly shaking the deathless soldier back and forth.

Air bubbles escaped 9S's lips. He choked. Oxygen was yet again becoming an issue. He spotted a dim light above. Hoping for the best, he swam upward and away from the fray. To his luck, he surfaced in a large tunnel that went straight upward. He allowed himself only a second or two to breathe before delving back into the water.

He writhed through the water, desperate to provide some sort of backup for Amos. Along the way, 9S noticed columns of warping faces. They surrounded him. The serpent's haunted body coiled and loops around the cavern. In such a short amount of time, the monster managed to completely circle them. There was no hope of defeating such a massive creature in its own territory.

The thing was large enough to swallow Amos in a single gulp. He considered it nothing short of a miracle that such a thing had yet to happen. Amos was still trapped in the monster's maw. The age-old soldier 9S fully believed to be unstoppable had no chance against the gargantuan snake.

Amos pulled the pin on one of his grenades. The explosion forced the serpent to reel backward. It opened its mouth just wide enough for Amos to slip through its teeth. The fangs left his body utterly mutilated but the White Maso reformulated instantaneously.

If there was a way to kill this monster, it was neither easy nor obvious. 9S started looking for an escape route rather than a means of fighting a futile duel. The tunnel he was almost certain they needed to take was just beyond the monster's coiling body. The passage was narrow enough that it may provide some cover. At the very least, they could not be encircled.

9S bolted through the water, but he did not have to travel very far. Amos was suddenly flung in his direction. The soldier was sent spiraling away. He slowed not too far from 9S's position. The boy grabbed hold of Amos' sleeve and yanked him forward. He pointed at the cave on the far side of the hollow. Amos nodded in vague understanding and followed 9S's lead.

As they retreated, they were forced to dodge the serpent's strikes. YoRHa models were very good at this task. Even while underwater, 9S managed to utilize this feature to great effect. Amos, on the other hand, had to rely on nothing more than timing and the occasional well-placed explosive.

9S recalled S404's warning about this final stretch of flooded caves. Asphyxiation was once again rearing its ugly head. 9S spotted another area to resurface at the top of the tunnel. He debated swimming up and taking a quick, much-needed gulp of air but there was no time. They could scarcely afford to look back let alone change course and stop for a break. Instead, he moved straight past it.

He looked back only once. To see the serpent's face was still an impossible task. The water blurred his vision. The stress and lack of oxygen rendered his focus nearly nonexistent.

S404 referred to the beast as the Ikuchi. The name rang out in his memory. An utterly alien word with an equally unknowable meaning.

His time to remain conscious was thinning greatly. The same string of uncomfortable events unfolded then as they did when he took the first dive into these underwater depths. His strength was steadily sapped, leaving his ability to swim severely weakened. Painless agony spawned from a want for air. He resorted to clawing his way through the water. He steadily sunk to the bottom of the tunnel.

Noticing this, Amos reached back and yanked 9S upward. He flung the boy forward. A momentary second wind overtook 9S. He kept swimming. Everything steadily went dark. By some miracle, he felt the water give way. He burst from the surface and immediately inhaled. He rushed to shore and climbed atop a line of rocks.

Amos emerged from the water a moment later and scaled the sharp landscape. They crawled away from the water but did not make any effort to continue fleeing. They made it back to land. The only place that serpent could not follow them.

Rightfully or wrongfully, 9S lowered his guard.

"Are we done swimming yet," 9S asked aloud. The android looked up to see a long, winding path ahead of them. There was no water in sight. He was beyond relieved.

He stood up. Just as he was on the verge of speaking out again, a huge splash erupted from the pool behind them. Without needing to look, he already knew what was happening.

9S turned back to find his fears were confirmed. The serpent burst from the water and loomed over them. Its giant head scraped against the cave ceiling. The ambient light of glowing fungus shed proper light on the should be mythical creature.

The reptile's head was covered in enormous cobalt scales. The snout was more akin to that of a dragon's than it was a serpent's. Duel tendril-esque whiskers dangled from the sides of the serpent's nose. They resembled the barbels of a catfish.

A thin beard adorned its bottom jaw and the sides of its head. Twisted, spear-shaped horns jutted out from the top of the creature's skull. A long, column of fin-like webbing stretched across the length of its spine.

On either side of its scaly face was a matching set of three eyes. All six of them stared at 9S and Amos. Burning gold irises observed the trespassers. A seventh eye opened up at the center of the beast's forehead. It was larger in size, but otherwise, looked no different than the others.

The serpent flared up, revealing the hood of a cobra that extended far from its neck, making the monster appear considerably larger. More eyes were revealed along the underside of the hood. Their lids slid open in unison. Each slivered pupil instantly trained on the two land-dwellers.

The bottom of the hood was where the scales came to an abrupt end and those ghostly faces began. They covered the rest of the serpent's body. When outside of the water, 9S could hear their cries more clearly. They spoke to him, pleading for help. Others begged for an end to their torment. All of them gave hints about the lives they led prior to this surreal fate.

Forced to recount their final moments on endless repeat.

"I can't swim!"

"We're taking on water!"

"Where's the shore!?"

Many of them spoke in old languages. 9S could only assume they blurted out similar phrases. Recounts of drowning beneath apathetic waves. Their eyeless sockets wept tears of oil that coated the serpent's cursed form.

The myriad of crying faces then inexplicably fell silent. 9S and Amos were left with nothing but the sound of dripping water to periodically break the audible stillness.

A voice spoke out to them. A deep, masculine voice that came from the serpent's direction despite the snake never once opening its mouth.

"Visitors? Here? It's been a long time."

The Ikuchi spoke as he calmly stretched out of the water. 9S helplessly watched the serpent slowly surround them, coiling around and around the cave. Their path to freedom was blocked yet again.

"Why… I have not seen a living soul in ages. Especially not one that looked so human."

His many eyes rested on Amos. "Or demonic in your case."

Cursed echoes trailed his slithery words. Faraway whispers that seeped into their reality from well beyond the grave.

9S felt the need to reply. Feeding into this unexpected conversation was a far better outcome than the prospecting being eaten alive.

"M-my name is 9S," he stammered. His attempt to mask his fear was poor, to say the least. "This is… this is my friend A-Amos. Are y-you the Ikuchi we were told about?"

"Are you mortals still calling me by that name? Sure. I suppose I am."

9S was left in a state of utter distress. He had grown accustomed to always dealing with people who had no hope of standing up to him or Amos. Being reliant on someone else's mercy for a change was not a pleasant experience.

The Ikuchi coiled about for a few seconds. His raveling pace was threateningly slow. The motion resembled an anaconda gradually smothering its prey. Without ever coming into physical contact with the serpent, 9S could almost feel himself choking. He suffocated on nothing but from his own fear.

"So 9S and Amos, was it?"

"Y-yes, sir."

"9Ssssss. You must be one of those homunculi."

"I guess I am," 9S agreed nervously. "I'm an android. We were created by humans and…"

"Humans," the Ikuchi interrupted in perplexing bemusement. "Let's ssssee… The last human I absorbed was a little over 10,000 years ago. Back at the dawn of industrialization."

"Uh… Absorb?"

The Ikuchi came to a sudden halt. Its eyes all darted to 9S with bizarre intensity. In a flash, the serpent closed the gap between them. He moved with striking speed. His snout hovered mere inches away from 9S's face. The boy instinctively jumped but did not dare retreat. Granted, there was also nowhere left to retreat.

A wave of cold yet somehow humid breath exited the reptile's nostrils and swept past 9S, chilling his very soul.

"Yes," the Ikuchi confirmed. "Absorb…"

He opened his enormous maw, revealing a pit of darkness surrounded by glimmering teeth. Flashes of human faces rapidly bubbled up from the depths of that darkness. Screams filled the underground chamber. Screams against the backdrop of crashing waves and violent gales.

Women and men. Young and old. All of them were adorned in the exotic attire of ancient cultures. Each face swept beneath unforgiving waves, begging for air until they could not beg any longer.

The Ikuchi closed his mouth, bringing an end to the nightmarish flashes of arcane history. 9S was left rooted to the ground, quaking in his boots. The serpent slowly backed away and resumed its spiral pacing around the cave.

"So many soulssss. Lost to the western ssssea. Consumed by the abyss and forgotten by the land. A single bout of resentment feeds an eternity of torment."

9S had not the faintest clue about how to respond. He tried to move on from the cryptic topic.

"You're a real sea serpent," he stated with forced enthusiasm. "I uh… a-always thought you were nothing but fantasy."

"And I thought you were nothing but science fiction."

Their conversation died for another short interval. Around and around the Ikuchi went. His deliberately slow movements were dizzying to the stationary android. The boy glanced to Amos. The Legionnaire stood just as still. He showed none of his usual confidence in the face of this mythic creature.

"So," the Ikuchi continued. "What brings you two to my home?"

"We're sorry for intruding. We only seek passage," said 9S. "We're searching for some elusive plants."

"Oh?"

The Ikuchi slightly slowed down once more. "Trying to find presents for those you love?"

9S was dumbfounded by what he just heard. "H-how did you know?"

Familiar faces took form in the Ikuchi's body. 9S watched in utter horror as two seemingly random faces suddenly took on the vague likeness of Devola and Popola. The sisters let out distant cries of agony. Their visages disappeared before his very eyes.

"Lucky guesssssss," the Ikuchi calmly stated.

9S could feel those eyes peering through his flesh and into the core of his thoughts. Not even the beating of his heart was kept private from the serpent's all-seeing gaze. He needed to get out of there as quickly as possible.

"I apologize for all the t-trouble," 9S meekly announced. "But my friend and I should be going now."

"Leaving so soon?"

"…Yes."

The serpent fell silent while it likely debated on what to do with them. 9S muttered a quiet prayer to the cherubs. He was almost certain this was to be the end of his life.

Miraculously, his prayers were answered. For whatever reason, the Ikuchi started moving in the opposite direction, gradually uncoiling its body.

"It sounds as though you have a long journey ahead of you. I won't keep you here any longer."

9S gave a thankful, albeit, shaken bow of his head.

Ever so intently, the Ikuchi sunk back into the water. Damned souls bound to their drowned bodies scratched at the rocks. Small, malnourished hands spawned from their faces and clung to the ground in a futile effort to keep from being pulled into a watery grave.

Seeing it made 9S queasy.

"The exit is just ahead," the Ikuchi informed. His head then sunk under the pool but his otherworldly voice could still be heard.

A few parting words filled their ears. The tone of his voice taunted them.

"Good meeting you…"

Why the Ikuchi opted not to kill them both would forever be a mystery to them. Much like the never-ending labyrinth of tunnels they barely navigated through without becoming lost.

9S and Amos did not stick around for very long. Fearing the serpent may change his mind, they were quick to flee the scene. 9S took one last look at that pool which led to unknown and unseen places. Dark, unforgiving locations inhabited by fantastical horrors.

If only he could know more.

---

Note: This chapter was intended to be a one-off thing but after realizing just how long it was shaping up to be, I decided to cut it into parts. Like Chapter 12, Fire Breath is supposed to be a semi-contained side story where a bunch of nonstop crazy shit happens in quick succession. I really don't like doing these "parts." I almost just released it as one big chapter but it would probably have a solid 30K word count and that feels like too big of an update. In the future, I may actually just combine them.

Most of the locations and one-off you've seen here and are about to see in the next part are either cut locations from the main plotline or are settings I used for previous stories. The swamp was the setting for the very first NieR story I ever did which was a Fire Emblem crossover.

S404 was a last-minute character I came up with while writing the earlier scenes. She almost got cut but I decided to keep her since she is a more witchy, gloomy character and Halloween is on the horizon at the time of this chapter's release.

Another reason is just to give Amos something to deal with for a chunk of this chapter. One of the challenges with writing him is that, because he doesn't talk, I occasionally get the feeling that he falls into the background and stays there. I sought to remedy that a bit here.