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Chapter 5: Recruitment
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2B dashed through the Crumbling Desert, a trail of sand and dust puffing up behind her every step. She had only just arrived and was starting to remember why she hated the place so much.
The grit and sand just got everywhere! And because some genius had decided that androids needed to feel some degree of pain – ostensibly in order to allow for proper damage and danger assessment and 'fight or flight' responses – that meant 2B could feel the individual granules itching down her skimpy outfit.
She vented her frustration on a group of hostile machines. It made her feel a little better.
Her first target was Hatchet. He lived the furthest inside the Desert Zone, but that meant she could swing by Jackass' post on the way out. And she'd only have to run past one patrol instead of two or more.
Keeping to the cliffs, 2B was impressed by how quickly the Resistance had spread out. It had only been about a month since the Tower Incident happened, and the Logic Virus nearly wiped everything out.
Although, based on what 9S had claimed, the 'Logic Virus' was more of an invasive radio wave broadcast on every possible frequency rather than an actual data corruption. This was because, according to the diminutive android hacker, an actual virus would be constantly bombarded by anti-virus protocols on the side of the Androids, and the hivemind style for machine life forms was actually very good at locating and cutting off infected portions of data.
Which meant, in layman's terms, a typical computer virus would not work. The corruption had to be constantly broadcast in order for it to do any actual damage. As such, once the Tower fell, the signal was lost and that meant the anti-virus systems inside the Androids could get to work on repairing the damage. Just a few days afterwards, and all those who weren't actually physically destroyed were supposedly back to 100%.
And now, capitalizing on a newfound source of freedom, and a need to rebuild, the Resistance were well on their way to finishing a small scale industrial processor and mining operation in the desert.
Oil to be processed into petroleum for plastics and other byproducts, including a tiny bit of fuel for the older vehicles and generators. Gold and silver and copper to be used to make the delicate components for Plug-In Chips and other vital systems for an android. Stone to be processed into building materials.
The Earth was finally giving back and being reclaimed from nature after thousands of years of war and destruction.
"POD 153, do you detect any androids in the ruined housing complex?" 2B queried as she slipped over the lip of the cliff and down into the bowl-like depression where the city lay, buried by sand.
"Two androids detected." Her visor lit up as she was shown their location.
"Same place as last time," she mused to herself. She darted quickly into the shadows of the buildings and crept towards the one which held the android she was looking for.
She spotted them quickly. Hatchet, the taller male android, and the as of yet unnamed S-Model YoRHa unit. With black hair, interestingly enough. She wondered if it was dyed. Most YoRHa had been designed to have white or light colored hair. Only older models had darker colorations for the most part, like many of the Resistance androids.
2B quickly put those frivolous thoughts out of her head. It seemed the refurbished Scout had spotted her and she needed to focus.
The boy-like android tugged on Hatchet's shirt, and he looked up warily from whatever item he'd been fixing, hand reaching for a rifle.
"Who goes there?" he demanded. "My son hasn't attacked you, so you're not a machine, or here with weapons drawn."
2B stepped out of the shadows so the pair could see her clearly.
"You!" he gasped. "What are you doing here?"
"I need your help," she admitted, hands wide to show she was not a threat.
He frowned. "And you came to me? Aren't you one of YoRHa's poster girls for service? Why do you require my aide?"
"My friends and I have taken a leave of absence for the moment," 2B said carefully. "I'm sure you know about the Logic Virus, the Server, and everything else."
He nodded slowly. "It was broadcasted to every Access Point and Terminal in the world. We picked it all up on ours. That was you, then?"
"No, it was mostly 9S and A2," 2B said.
"9S… he was the android with you, right? So he's involved in this as well?"
"Yes."
He sighed and put his gun down and patted the S-Model on the head.
"Talk. What do you need?"
"A specially designed food sterilizer and processor. Not industrial grade, but for small use. However, it has to be custom made for an exclusive life form's needs," 2B explained.
"What, you found a rare animal and want to keep it as a pet?"
"Not quite, but similar," 2B admitted. "You'll be working with someone else if you agree to help."
At his inquisitive look she spoke. "Jackass."
"That maniac?" Hatchet gasped.
"She is a skilled bio-chemist whose abilities will be needed in conjunction with the sterilizer."
Hatchet shook his head in disbelief.
"if you accept, I will meet you in three days at the Desert Zone's outskirts to escort you to the location you'll be working at." Her message delivered 2B turned around and abruptly shot off.
Hatchet watched the dust trail for a bit before looking down at his son.
"What do you think? Should we help them?"
The S-Model nodded rapidly. The rogue Resistance member chuckled softly.
"Yeah, I guess we do owe them. Fine, well see what this big secret project is."
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Through the sands 2B ran, swiftly approaching the Oil Well. Resistance spotters noticed her as she approached and she soon received requests to stop and identify. She did so, coming to a halt in front of a hastily erected barricade to the well's entrance. A smoke stack could just be seen peaking over the edge, a thin trail of inky darkness spilling out.
"2B, YoRHa Agent, here to see Jackass," she called out. Confusion crossed the guard's faces.
"We haven't received any notices from the Bunker or Anemone about YoRHa visitors," one of the men shouted at her.
"I'm here on personal business!" 2B replied. A look was shared between them and after a moment the gates creaked open.
As she entered she could vaguely hear some of the Resistance members talking.
"…doesn't look like one of the Emotion Junkies. Think she's here for something else?"
"Doubt it. Most YoRHa only come to Jackass because they want another hit."
"What if she's a friend?"
"Jackass doesn't have friends. It's in her name."
2B ignored them all and made her way towards the back. She spotted a white and brown dressed female android approaching her, a familiar blindfold over her right eye.
"Well, well, well! If it isn't the crazy gal who helped me developed the E-drug," she said with a smirk and a swagger as she greeted 2B.
"I've got to thank you. I've made a nice little side business selling my stuff, and with so many new 'volunteers' I've been able to expand the emotional range and effectiveness." Her grin turned feral. "And ever since the Bunker fell I've had YoRHa operatives out the ass, rogue and loyal, coming to me for a bit of 'comfort.' But that's besides the point. What do you need?"
"Can we talk in private?" 2B asked and the sociopathic android shrugged.
"Eh, sure. Come 'ere." Jackass dragged the white haired gynoid into a corner of the refinery.
"What do ya want?"
"I need your expertise in bio-chemistry to create a serum for a rare, nigh extinct specimen," 2B said in hushed tones.
"Hmm, off the record pet-keeping? For shame," Jackass leered. "You want my help. What's it worth to you?"
"Limited access for studies. Nothing invasive or harmful, though."
"Doesn't sound all that appealing, but the secrecy makes the job juicier," Jackass said.
"You'll have to work with Hatchet. Possibly together to put some items together."
"The runaway genius mechanic?" Jackass uttered with genuine surprise. "You got him on this?"
At 2B's nod the manic grin returned. "When and where?"
"Meet me on the outskirts of the Desert Zone in three days. I'll escort you to the place you'll be working."
"Alright fine, getta out here, ya crazy mooch!" Jackass loudly, catching the attention of nearby Resistance members who began whispering. 2B nodded, understanding what the other android was doing and left.
As she returned to the rundown manor she raided a few machine camps for components. These would keep the place running until the meeting day.
Her hand twitched and reached unconsciously for her sword as she vowed to protect the precious life her and her family had been given.
At the thought of calling the dysfunctional group of androids and, um, 'person' that was Emil a family made 2B feel warm and fuzzy inside.
She frowned. Maybe she should have 9S perform a check-up on her.
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"Well, well, well, if it isn't Mr. Chop-Shop himself!" A loud, arrogant voice called out over the crest of dunes as Jackass strode confidently down towards the outskirts of Relic City.
Hatchet groaned and looked over at the approaching gynoid.
"I'd heard you were coming, but to be honest I was hoping you'd be a no-show, Miss Malpractice," Hatchet retorted. At his side his son clung to his shirt while also carrying a toolbox and assorted scrap.
Jackass raised an eyebrow when she spotted the black-haired android.
"So, the rumors were true. You made yourself a son." She then scoffed. "Personally, I'd have made a wife, or maybe a sex-bot. Or perhaps you like 'em young and with a penis."
"You're as abrasive as ever," Hatchet muttered. "Stay away from my boy. I don't want your insanity infecting him."
"Ooo, so harsh," she sneered.
Further banter was cut off as a black and white blur landed in front of them.
"Enough arguing. Do you have what you need?" 2B asked as she rose from the tiny crater her landing had made.
"Some scrap and bits and pieces," Hatchet confirmed, patting his son and the containers they had.
"I got it all right here," Jackass said, opening her cloak to reveal syringes, tubes, and other medical tools hanging from the inside.
2B nodded. "Follow me," she said shortly. The quartet proceeded to blur across the ground as they moved out.
While Jackass and Hatchet were not up to YorHa standards, they had been veteran Resistance soldiers who'd survived centuries fighting the machines, occasionally alongside other YorHa agents. They could keep up. That earned them some acknowledgement from the B(E)-Model.
"Here we are," 2B announced after a while. They'd reached the old manor and Jackass was looking around in approval.
"Swanky little spot. Certainly looks like a cozy little love nest for you and that Scout Model. Nines, was it?"
"9S," 2B retorted tersely. Before the crude android could reply Emil trundled out, shocking the newcomers.
"Hello! Welcome to my home! Please, come in! 9S and I prepared some tea and snacks!"
"What is that?!" Hatchet demanded as the skull-child rolled back inside.
"That's Emil. An expert on magic," 2B explained shortly.
"I've seen and heard of that thing before. I always thought it was a malformed machine," Jackass admitted, thoroughly spooked. She wasn't used to be shocked or scared. It annoyed her.
The only one not still startled was surprisingly the young S-Model who merely looked curious.
2B led them inside to a hastily arranged living room, where Emil and 9S were waiting for them.
"Hatchet, Jackass, greetings!" the Scout said cheerfully. His smile faltered when he saw the younger S-Model. "And… um, I'm sorry I don't know your name."
"Sebastian," the black-haired android said softly.
"A pleasure to meet you, Sebastian. I'm 9S, but you can call me Nines if you like."
The boy-bot nodded shyly and sat down on a crate that was being used as a couch. His father quickly joined him while Jackass sat down on a barrel of some kind.
"So, where this super rare specimen?" Jackass asked. "Is it skull-boy?"
"Here." The words were softly spoken, but they carried authority. A2 stepped out into the living room holding an object that made the three new androids jaws drop open.
"Impossible," Jackass hissed.
"It's true. This is the last living human on the planet," A2 assured. The tiny baby opened his eyes and yawned cutely before jabbering excitedly when he saw the guests.
"But, the broadcast… they're all dead, the Moon base was a lie!" Hatchet stammered.
"Yes, it was. But there were other safeguards and contingencies in place. Thanks to a liberal dose of magic this child survived in suspended animation for thousands of years. We only unearthed him a short while ago. A few days after the Tower fell," A2 revealed.
"I will agree to anything you want if you let me take some samples and do some experiments on it," Jackass said immediately.
"Only if they are harmless to him and done in my presence," A2 stated, stressing the gender pronoun for the baby. The scientist nodded rapidly in agreement.
"I'll sign a fucking contract in blood if it makes you happy!"
"So, you need me to prepare some items to safely process food for him to eat, is that it?" Hatchet asked. 2B and 9S nodded while A2 kept an eye on the panting and drooling scientist.
"Why not go to YoRHa?" He asked after a moment.
"They would use him as propaganda and likely raise him on a pedestal instead of raising him as a child," A2 said. "When he is older and can make his own decisions we will reveal him. Until then, he is to remain a secret. Is that clear?"
The Resistance androids nodded. A2 turned her gaze onto the black-haired S-Model.
"What about you? Do you promise to abide by our rules?" the senior android asked sharply.
"What is his name?"
The question took them all by surprise.
"Pardon?"
"Everything has a name. What is his?"
A2 shared a look with 2B, 9S, and Emil and realized they had never gotten around to naming the baby.
"Alexander," A2 said eventually. "His name is Alexander Spero. 'Defender of the people' in ancient Greek, and 'Hope' in Latin. He will be both of these things. A defender of our purpose. And a beacon of hope in this bleak world."
A round of solemn nods went around the room. Although several of them had given up on the motto of YorHa and its purpose, a part of them still longed for their creators to love and guide them.
And here was their final chance.
Jackass clapped her hands together, breaking the mood. Everyone turned to her with a tiny hint of annoyance at the interruption.
"So, where do we start?"