A few days passed, slow and uneventful, both Robin and A2 spent these days in the hideout, waiting for the white haired android's leg to heal up. The rogue spent most of the time in her cot bored out of her mind, despite Robin's best efforts to help, she did help, but it was hard when she wasn't there and out in search of supplies.
Most A2 could do was to entertain herself with the tiny music box, Robin still kept it, and somehow the music coming from it, even if always the same one, was always soothing, and helped calm A2's nerves and keep her company.
She tried reading, but she was not smart enough for literature and such, though the pictures in children's books were cute, she didn't read any fable though, she was no child.
Sleeping was out of the question too, she did not want to be plagued by nightmares of memories she didn't want to think about. She found out that Robin was similar in this aspect too, old habits of having to be alert all the time, and A2 knew well what it meant, though unlike androids that entered rest mode to recharge and allow their systems to wind down and restart to perform better, humans needed sleep.
And many other things A2 never experienced, and wasn't sure if she wanted to.
The human body has many more weaknesses and needs an android one doesn't have, Robin had told her, she had sounded somewhat happy with it too.
Who knew just how many problems she had suffered as a human just because of her body alone? Though curious, A2 would wait until Robin felt comfortable enough to share.
She knew… something on how humans worked, after all androids were designed after them. She knew nothing too detailed or precise though.
The clicking of heels distracted her from her thoughts, Robin had returned, and A2 silently noticed how the sound had become easier for her to hear, as if she was making her steps heavier on purpose.
Because Robin was still an assassin in all and everything, including the way she walked, so perhaps she was forcing herself to announce her presence so A2 knew she was there, to not startle her.
She just always knew how to act around her, probably because they were so similar. Still A2 found what Robin did always very thoughtful.
When Robin came into view she held a couple of recovery items, not much but anything helped.
"I snagged these from a Resistance member that was setting camp in the forest not too far from here." Robin explained. "I also heard him talk with others that there's a big shipment of materials incoming, so I think I want to check that out. Problem is that YoRHa will be there to escort it."
The black haired woman raked a hand through her hair. "Still, that is a big opportunity to manage to get something of value."
"It's too big of a risk, you'll have all of YoRHa on you if they find out." A2 shook her head, even for as expert as Robin was, all YoRHa needed was the ping of her black box in the area, and they would be upon her.
"A2, we're deserters, no one is going to help us if we don't aid ourselves. What if we get hurt way beyond what 2E has done to you the other day?"
"We can just scavenge the parts from corpses, it's what I've been doing all along." A2 explained.
"And risk our lives against other androids willingly?" it was Robin's turn to shake her head. "I'd rather not resolve to murder if I can help it, and I know you also don't want to."
"But…"
"I'll be gone before they can notice I was ever there, okay?" Robin lowered herself so she was crouching next to A2's bed.
"This doesn't make me worry any less. If you're going then I am too."
"A2, you're injured, and if you'll be seen then they will pick on you because of it. I'd rather risk only one of our lives if I can help it." she put a hand on the white haired woman's shoulder, and the other on her own chest.
"I'll be back before you know it. I swear."
And with that Robin dashed back outside before A2 would even argue back.
A2 took off the covers from her legs, glaring down at her left one, where there was that opening that was torn from 2E's sword, still covered in those makeshift bandages Robin made out of the sleeves of her dress for her.
It didn't hurt anymore, but surely it was being a hindrance, as she couldn't walk properly on it yet, until the hole closed itself fully.
She was holding Robin down, just as she always held back her companions…
Useless, useless, she was so damn useless!
Out of anger she threw a punch against the nearby wall, making a dent in it, barely any pain registered in her artificial brain.
"You shouldn't have saved me…" she growled between gritted teeth.
Number 16, Number 21, Number 4… and now Robin too… they shouldn't have sacrificed themselves for her…
When Robin arrived at the Flooded City, she was completely drenched in water from the trip in the sewers she had to take to get there, she was soaked entirely, her vest, her skin, thankfully nothing internal though.
At least androids didn't get colds, again a bonus of the new body she no longer had to worry about, getting sick.
Though besides her state, that could be better described as being a wet dog that played too much in the rain, she immediately noticed something was off.
If there was supposed to be a shipment that had to be escorted, then it meant that there should have been many people around, and many voices, sounds of chatter, yet all was silent.
Way too silent…
Something must have happened.
She didn't see much at the beginning as she exited the sewer pipe that led to the city, though by using the help of her chain gauntlets as makeshift ropes, she climbed and vaulted over a nearby sinking building for better vision.
She didn't like what she saw. At all.
Dozens of android bodies were strewn across the buildings that still surfaced in the water, and from the positions of some of them halfway being eaten from the ocean, she could guess there must have been more in the water too.
What the hell happened here?
Robin shook her head harshly. She was no longer a YoRHa, she shouldn't bother with this at all, if nothing, she should be glad that they were all out of commission to notice she was there.
Though she would not be happy this happened. They were comrades until a few days ago.
No matter, White would have to deal with this, while she took care of A2, and best to not make her worry either.
She saw the big ship in the distance, and rushed towards it, jumping from one building to the other, careful not to trample any android in the process. She should use the time before someone came to rescue them to her advantage.
Just as expected, the ship was packed full with stuff, though it looked like something had thrown everything in shambles. Regardless, ignoring most of the stuff that was in it, military things she was not interested in, she found what she was looking for.
Wirings and metal, and medical supplies of all kinds, and even tools meant for healer type androids to work with.
"Pod, let's take as many of these as we can fit in the inventory." she ordered, and 007 hovered around, digitalizing what she indicated into his invisible backpack.
Once she was notified they had reached the maximum amount of things Pod could carry with him, she and him left, before being noticed. They came so far now, it would be a shame to mess things up now.
So she ran back the way she came, though this time something caught her eyes.
Not all the androids were out of commission then.
And it just had to be her…
Though she appeared to be alone, no partner in sight.
Robin didn't want to linger any longer, but someone else had other plans.
"Wait…" 2E panted, limping towards her. "Are you just going to leave like this?"
"I have no reason to stay." she simply replied, she didn't expect 2E to lunge at her, grabbing her by the neck of her vest.
"Where's 9S?" the white haired android demanded. "Is this some sort of revenge?"
So 9S was here then he was gone? He wasn't dead? But somehow missing? And 2E though she took him with her somehow?
"I have no idea what you're talking about." she answered matter of factly.
"Liar! Where is he? A2 has him isn't it?"
Tired of her questions, Robin just shoved 2E off her, she fell on concrete rather easily, due to her weakened state. Whatever happened she did almost die, and then something or someone took 9S too.
"I have no interest in anyone else but White, 2E."
"It's 2B." the other Executioner growled back at her. So she didn't like that letter either then…
"Look, I have no idea what happened here at all, I am just here to get supplies for myself and A2. I don't know who took 9S, and it is none of my business anymore." she turned to leave, not wanting to stay more than needed.
2E stumbled to get up, Virtuous Contract materializing in her hand, and charged. Robin barely had the time to turn around and summon Scarlet Despair to protect herself with. The white haired android almost cut her head off.
"You're an enemy now. Or perhaps you never cared at all…"
"Is this all you have to say?" Robin growled, she thought that at least she would have understood, or tried to understand the reasons she left. "I thought you were smarter than this, 2E."
The black haired android pushed her back again, but relentless, the other Executioner attacked again. She didn't want to fight, and even less with 2E injured before her, resolving on playing the defensive game for now, as she blocked the incoming strike once more.
"I said to call me 2B, it is forbidden to mention my true purpose."
"As if I care now, 9S isn't here to hear it anyways. Or perhaps it is because you also despise what you are?" she felt the other android falter as she was pushing against her blade with less strength than before.
She could have easily sent her off again, but perhaps it would be better if she got some things through 2E's head first, since she wasn't listening with good manners then she will have to listen with bad ones.
Ironic, since the other woman never actually needed any kind of scolding when they were training, unlike other E types. But it seemed her head was too thick about some things to even change ideas about them.
"Did I hit a sore spot 2E?" she made sure to put emphasis on the name for good measure.
She watched as 2E lowered her head, trembling with anger. "Why… you were the most loyal soldier I knew… why did you leave us?"
So that was what the whole thing was about then, it wasn't 9S, it wasn't the name calling, but her leaving. Or perhaps all three at once.
"You were a star among us, we all looked up to you." like her head, 2E lowered her sword too, allowing Robin to do the same, she let it hover on her back instead than in her hand, unlike her counterpart.
"Say…" she sighed. "Aren't you tired?" she asked.
Robin took a step back as 2E just sat there, unmoving. "Aren't you tired of being loyal? Aren't you tired of killing?"
Tentatively, the white haired woman raised her head back at her. "All the time… but… the mission… the humans…"
"The same humans that never bothered to show their faces even one time? Who are you trying to convince 2E? Me? Or yourself? That all this killing is worth something?" Robin snarled back.
2E couldn't really believe in this stuff could she? After all the times she had to murder 9S, and for what? Over some data he found no one knew what it was about? Over secrets no one was supposed to know for some reason? Including her own true identity as a former human.
Who knew that the information they were protecting was just a bunch of nonsense, or worse? Didn't this make 2E suspicious at all? Or was she programmed to be that loyal she just couldn't break free of it?
Which made everything even more shameful for Robin's own self, unlike the android she had chosen to submit willingly. This made them all more of a victim than she could ever be, she could have chosen differently, she didn't. And even if not she had the strength to break free thanks to A2's words, it might be too late to change anything.
But even so, she had tried to take back the freedom she deserved.
"We were created to be weapons to reclaim Earth for the humans." 2E responded after a while.
"So this gives you the right to sacrifice everything you care about, to just be a weapon?" Robin shook her head. "I refuse to be just an item for a meaning we don't even know a thing about any longer."
Besides she knew humans, and nothing she saw or experienced before told her they were worth anything. Maybe just the archeologists, her mother, and her friend Saul, but no one else was worth sacrificing so many people like they both had done, for so much time and so many times.
Who told her the humans of this planet were any different than pirates? Or the marines that destroyed her island and everything and everyone with it?
"What is your meaning then?" again 2E grabbed her, this time by the arm. "What is more important than our mission?"
"Freedom, and the life of the people I care about." she held 2E's gaze with a hard stare. "I'd rather fight for something real than for some people I have never seen."
If they were even real. She didn't doubt that the story of the humans on the Moon could be another potential lie, given no one knew their faces, ever.
Robin knew lies, and she knew them well. For the sake of the other soldiers she did hope her thoughts weren't correct for once though.
With a sharp movement she tore free from the other android's hold, not that she used much force, again. Which made her doubt that 2E truly wanted to harm her, more like she needed something to direct her anger on, about this whole ordeal and even more, like 9S' disappearance.
"You've got to learn to think with your head and not with the blade of your sword, nor through the Commander's words, 2E." again she used her true name to get the point across, as much as Robin knew she'd hurt her.
But she too despised that letter in her YoRHa name as much as 2E did.
"What truly matters to you? To 2B?"
Robin saw her tremble, raising a hand to her chest where her black box resided, as if it was a human heart.
"Nine…" she whispered, biting her lip. "9S."
The black haired android nodded, so there was still something left to fight for her too then, or rather, someone.
"Then what are you waiting for? Go find him." she turned around to leave, but the clacking of heels behind her told her 2E was following too.
"I should kill you but…"
Robin resisted the urge to roll her eyes, she truly was persistent in her duty. She supposed she could also blame herself for it too though, since 2E looked up to her so much.
"Or you can just let me leave, you have other priorities, no?" she shrugged, dashing forward, and this time the other android didn't follow.
She was letting her go free, free to go back to A2 that surely must be worried sick. She had promised to be quick and got stuck bickering with 2E. Not quite her fault though as the other woman attacked her first, and she wanted to make sure to get her point across, and clear things out while she could.
Just like 21O, 2E could end up hating her for her choices, and many other people too, yet she still thought this would be worth it in the end, as much as it hurt to put this weight on their shoulders.
Water splashed around her as she ran through the sewers one more time, some of it ending up on her face, oddly refreshing for what had just happened.
No… she did not regret saving A2, and even if she somehow showed her the opposite, she was still convinced that it had been the right thing.
One Oharan demon was enough of a curse, two would be too much. A2 didn't deserve to become a wretched reject with no honor and dignity like her, and like she already believed she was. But there was still good in that woman, a small light that shouldn't be left to die.
Sunlight greeted her back as she walked out of the pipe, and climbed out of the hole that the gigantic machine made, and it had almost killed her too.
Silently she made her way towards the bridge connecting to the facility and the forest, though oddly enough, she couldn't see any machines around, just a few animals running about.
Robin felt the hair at the base of her neck stand. This was not normal…
"Ah… so we meet again. Human."