21O scanned the crowd as she walked towards the infirmary area with 6O at her side. Number 21 told her, after yesterday's manifestation of her machine ability in full force, that she wanted to make sure everything was in working order.

The Operator told her that 6O had already looked into it, and said that though a bit stressed, her systems were fine, but the Scanner insisted, since they have been sharing a body and she knew the system better, she had encouraged 21O to try and make use of it after all, that there may have been complications the Healer may have missed.

Which was fair, but right now she seemed nowhere to be seen, while the others were present outside the camp, waiting for the decisions taken for the day.

Oddly enough though, she spotted 2B without her partner.

9S was gone too for the time being, what an odd thing.

Because he would never leave her alone, unless it was something really important. Well, that actually applied to both.

Or pretty much all couples really.

"Where are our Scanners?" she asked, approaching the Battler, maybe she knew something about it.

It was safe to say that 21O was a little worried, especially after the day before and Number 21 not acting like her normal self, and worrying she'd feel useless.

A feeling she too was familiar with.

But her predecessor's emotion felt even stronger than her own, she felt it when they were together, but never voiced it, since the redhead never did either.

Something told her that the Scanner often hid things in favor of not making the people she loved worry for her, though they would anyway.

"9S said he had an idea as to how to help Number 21 feel better about herself." the Battler stated. "He says that Scanners can have abilities that don't involve hacking or weapons, and that he wants to teach her. He seems to have mentioned something in particular about energy shields, and if she was able to create them since she's an older model."

He had assumed Number 21 couldn't make shields, or didn't know how, since he hadn't seen her make one yet.

It wasn't something he resorted to using a lot, because he knew how to use a sword and preferred either that or hacking, but for her it might have been important for her to know. At least to protect herself and others, since she seemed so troubled that she couldn't do either thing.

Or so he had claimed.

2B knew he hadn't slept too much to think about this, while she just sat there and listened to him ramble, after all, being helpful looked like a Scanner's thing.

Honestly it was good to see him so happy about helping someone, and making bonds with people that weren't her. He'd been pretty lonely, and she did too, they hadn't had much but each other.

But since the Tower fell things changed, perhaps A2's presence changed everything.

Her and the fact she needed aid brought 9S to start opening up to others more, even to who he used to despise, wrongly, he learned.

Overall, 2B felt that they all had changed in some way.

For the better of course.

Now that they were free to be, with friends and people they considered family, without fear of death or judgment.

But hadn't their past existed, then it would have never brought them close, because that had been the reason they met in the first place. And also, the demonstrations that people could become better people with a bit of aid than what they used to be.

Even someone as lonely and plagued as Robin was.

After all they may have been sharing the same dream, all of them just wanted one thing.

A family.

People to love and be loved.

And now here they were, looking towards a brighter future no one truly thought would ever come before.

"I meant to ask…" 21O spared a glance to where A2 was standing, currently with Number 16's arm wrapped around her, as she ruffled her long hair. They were smiling.

"Could I ever consider Number 21 as an older sister like you do with A2?"

The Battler frowned. "I thought that was a thing already."

Weren't they the same model number? Just like her and the Attacker? They seemed pretty close too.

Honestly considering 21O's tendency to look for a family, with both 9S and Robin being somewhat her kids, and with the Scanner having not only the same number but also a similar personality, as far as 2B could see, she wondered why that didn't happen already.

If she and A2 could become sisters, despite the difficulties and their differences in personality, though similar at its core, then why shouldn't the two number 21?

They looked really close already.

"I don't know why you're asking me." it was the most honest answer she could give.

She really didn't know why or how she and A2 even became sisters, or when they started thinking that way, but sharing a body and mind surely did help.

2B assumed they grew closest when Robin died. After all, she was all A2 had left in the world, besides Anemone, but they hadn't seen each other again when the woman she loved had to leave her.

It just kind of happened while they were forced to spend time together.

With time they got attached to each other, she supposed.

That was all.

So why shouldn't the two number 21 do the same? If anything, given how they seemed to be attached to the people around them shouldn't it be even easier for them?

"You should ask her about it." 6O quipped in. "Actually why haven't you done that?"

21O took a moment to answer. "Well I don't know if she wants that… we haven't really known each other for long." unlike with 9S and Robin who had been her protected units for years.

Though she felt a similar way towards the older Scanner, despite the time.

"You'll never know the answer until you tell her about this. It would probably be the best option." rather than asking them, 2B thought.

Again she had no idea how she and A2 reached the whole sisterhood thing, but spending time together sharing a body and mind possibly made them grow closer, and to understand each other beyond what others could do.

Perhaps it was the same for 21O and Number 21.

The little time the Operator carried the Scanner with her had been enough to develop such a feeling.

"9S took her on the roof of that building, if you want to go see them." 2B pointed to a tall ruined place.

They went there so they wouldn't be far from the camp, and could be back quickly if needed. Also it may have been for the fact that they didn't want Number 21 to stray away again.

There weren't dangerous machines anymore, but still…

They didn't like much when she ran away like that the previous day.

Dahlia had been quite tactless though, 2B would agree, but as far as she could see her personality was abrasive like that.

Despite the evident fact that she cared for her friends too.

Some people had the tendency to be too blunt in their observations though. She knew it well.

"I don't know if I should bother them…" 21O didn't manage to say more, as 6O pushed her forward. "Just go already."

Before she regretted it.

She should have learned how keeping things inside hurt more than talking about it from her own predecessor. Didn't she wish she'd just talk to someone about them just yesterday, and that had been how it ended up?

Thankfully Number 16 solved things.

She should know better.

She felt 6O give another small push, before she headed over to see the two, thinking at how to approach the subject as she went.

When 9S asked her to follow him, Number 21 did, wondering what he wanted from her, despite the fact he claimed he could possibly aid her with her problem.

That got her curious.

"What did you want to talk about?" she asked, once on top of the building he took her to.

They were so far up that it was rather windy, as the redhead's dress and hair carelessly flowed with it.

It felt calming though, now that she had the time to actually appreciate these little things.

"I was wondering, can you make one of these?" with that, 9S stepped a bit further away from her, and holding his hand forward he conjured and shaped hard light to form a shield around him for a few seconds.

Just as he thought, Number 21 shook her head at him.

"Well, maybe you can always learn, I thought that, since you don't like fighting but still want to protect, shields would suit you, and you wouldn't be as vulnerable and reliant on others." which was what he assumed she disliked most.

"That is very thoughtful of you."

He just grinned. "It takes a Scanner to understand another, no?" his expression faded moments later.

"After all, I was created to protect who is dear to me as well."

"So I have been told." she had been told of the many stories of him and 2B, how they were assigned to be partners, and how she was supposed to keep him in check.

Not an easy task.

But she was told also of the many times he selflessly sacrificed himself for her too, so she wouldn't suffer and she'd keep living.

And could understand how he had felt when the opposite happened.

After all, people changed when they lost what was dear to them, Number 2 had been almost unrecognizable at first, she was far from the naive girl she knew, but her kindness still remained.

Which was good.

Perhaps their presence and having new people to count on could make the old Number 2 come back again, at least a bit. But just having her at their side, and the opposite way around was enough.

"So, how do you make these shields?" Number 21 asked, going back to the initial point, since she was interested.

Like 9S said, if she could be less reliant on others, it would make them worry less for her, and they could focus better on more important things, rather than protecting her.

Something told her they would argue that they wouldn't mind, she could almost hear them, Number 2, Number 4 and Number 16 in particular, but she too wanted to do the same, after all, taking the Gunner's words, friendship went both ways.

And so did looking after each other.

So for them all she wanted to try if this new thing applied to her too.

"Well basically it should be easy enough, it's mostly a matter of manipulating hard light like we do for screens, but making a different shape." like a bubble around them, and others.

"It uses more energy than a screen, but since you don't have extra programs such as combat ones, so no need to hold a weapon for example, I would assume that if it works you could even be able to hold one longer than a newer model."

"But first I should learn if I can make one first." it was nice that 9S believed in her, but she'd rather be a realist for the moment.

Small steps first.

"Right, so just hold your hands out, and try to shape hard light to form the shield, that's about it really." he didn't really know how else to explain it, since he could use that from the first moment he'd been made.

But she seemed not to question him.

After all, being a Scanner she probably already understood, they were smart individuals.

First thing, what Number 21 did was to summon a simple screen from either hand, to make sure everything was in working order, and her ability to manipulate hard light was in place.

Focusing on this peculiarity that Scanners had, she tried to force the light to assume a new shape, like the one she saw 9S do before.

Results were… mixed.

She did manage to change the shape a little, mostly it was more like a normal screen but made round, but it was… something? Maybe?

"You need to use more energy than this, like you're making an enormous amount of screens, all around you, actually, maybe try to do that first."

Again, little steps.

Practice was the key.

But this little change told Number 21 that she may be able to succeed.

She just had to try harder.

And try harder she might, because she had to succeed, now that she knew she could.

Long ago she would have calculated the probability of that, but now she knew that with enough willpower, the result would be guaranteed.

She was sure.

So she tried what 9S said once more, summoning screens all around herself, forming a protective barrier with them, though keeping all of them up at the same time was proving to be challenging on her mind.

But she had managed to hack a terminal for a long time to bring that damn elevator where it needed to be, under the influence of the logic virus corroding her from the inside that day.

This was nothing compared to that.

She could sustain the stress, she was certain.

Because she sustained something so much heavier out of pure willpower, when she should have gone mad instead. The others often complimented her for that, for her mental strength, it was time to prove them right.

Number 21 summoned the screens one more time, even increasing the amount of them, to the point that it worried 9S she may overdo herself.

But he stayed quiet for the time being.

After all, working hard was a common trait between the many of them here, including him.

So he shouldn't judge her for this.

He watched as the redhead made the screens one more time, her eyes narrowed and focused, as she forced the light to bend to her will to take another shape.

As slowly it molded together to make the shield she so much wanted it to be.

The thing only lasted a few seconds, before she almost fell to her knees if it hadn't been for 9S reaching out and preventing her from doing that, as he gently sat her down on the ground.

But… she made it.

"I made it…" she breathed, unable to stop a smile.

It was small but it was a start.

"Yep. Told ya you could do it." 9S grinned brightly, happy that his intuition was correct.

Now she too could protect herself.

"You just need some practice, but for now it'll be best to stop here, let your systems recover from the stress." Number 21 just nodded, trying to regulate her breathing.

She felt tired, but she was ready to try another time as soon as possible.

The sooner she mastered this the better.

Perhaps this was how her successor had felt, when she revealed that machine ability system hidden within her.

Actually, she should know, no?

They truly were so very similar in many aspects, that it made her wonder if her personality hadn't been touched at all before 21O was created. Because A2 and 2B were very much different, but had the same body instead, while she and the Operator didn't.

As for other units she couldn't say, they were all hypotheses.

Maybe one day it may be worth asking White about it, if she knew about this.

She watched as 9S seemed to have noticed something, as he brightened again, his eyes on her leg.

Where Number 16 had tied her knife the day before.

"So you do have a weapon then." but Number 21 shook her head. "A friend gave this to me, for emergencies."

But if she were to be honest…

"When we were created, us first two Scanner types, the Commander did give us weapons like this knife, and also a handgun, but for our lack of combat systems they never were of any use to us. We were unable to figure out how to use them well enough, so she discarded the idea entirely."

But it seemed that someone picked up the project again, since 9S did have those systems, and even a weapon that was the same as a combat model, instead of just a tiny thing.

"Still, you have NFCS systems, no? Actually stupid question, without them you wouldn't be able to make screens at all." he resisted the urge to slap himself for being so dumb, of course she did, they all did.

"I don't know if you've seen it, but we can use those systems to throw our weapons and recall them back, like a sort of telekinesis thing."

"I could witness that, the few times we fought." she admitted, unsure where he was getting at.

"Watch this." he raised himself back upright, summoning Cruel Oath in his hand.

And then he threw it precisely in front of him in a straight line, never swaying a bit, before it returned in his hands.

"All people with combat systems can do this, however, us Scanners have an advantage, thanks to our brain power, and the fact we can make quick calculations on the spot, we can be way more precise in our throw than combat units, that in exchange can hit harder."

Just thinking at the difference between the way he and 2B threw their swords.

"I was thinking, maybe you could try that too with your knife, I'm sure that with your intelligence you could pull off some really lethal strikes." he then corrected himself. "If you want to."

He momentarily forgot that she didn't enjoy fighting like he did.

Number 21 took the item in her hands, testing it, rolling it between her fingers.

Should she try?

She hated combat, but… what if this could in the future save someone from a potential attack just because she was able to strike the offender down?

If she used it this way…

Raising herself, she held the knife tightly in her left hand, the usual NFCS glowing circle around it and her wrist, brain working to calculate the trajectory.

Before she threw the thing in a similar way as 9S did, and because it was lighter, it ended up much further than his sword did.

But it flew straight, never changing.

Then she caught it again, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she was holding in.

"That was a great one!" 9S took her by the arms. "You have a natural talent for this, with enough practice you'll master these things in no time."

He was right.

So then…

"I can protect people too."

He nodded excitedly. "You will."

"I see you two are getting along well." 21O finally made her presence known, she had hesitated in interrupting, since Number 21 needed focus she didn't want to disturb her.

She had seen her both make the shield and throw the knife, and she had to admit, 9S was being a good teacher too.

And she looked like she was glowing, now that she was beginning to get stronger too.

21O loved to see that.

She was so very glad.

"I may need some partner to practice with in the future." if she wanted to know well how shields worked, the Scanner also needed someone that would attack her too.

Best practice was when the situation was dire.

That brought the best of someone's abilities when they were being threatened.

"I'll consider it." 21O knew what she had in mind, but she wasn't sure she would be the best candidate, but her predecessor trusted her.

She'll think about it at least.

"Did you want something from us?" 9S asked, reminding her what she was here.

But…

"Matter of fact I do, but since you're busy it may be better to postpone the talk." also well, she did want to speak to Number 21 alone, if she were to be honest.

Though she knew 9S wouldn't mind if she asked him to leave for a moment.

But at the same time she didn't want to be rude.

Perhaps she was being just a coward though.

She was thankful that someone else came looking for them right now, as Robin emerged from the stairs.

"So here you all are." at least they didn't go far again. "Emil says he wants to talk to us, and that is very important."

"I thought we'd be heading to the desert again."

"That can wait until later, 9S. Also after the fight yesterday some downtime chatting may just do us good, no?" also, wasn't he curious to know too?

Being locked into fighting all the time wasn't healthy, even for androids built for it.

And since the machines were pretty much gone, they weren't used at making such big and strenuous efforts as much anymore.

Perhaps they were growing soft.

"Well, let's see what he has to say then."

The whole group found themselves in the middle of the camp, all of them sitting around the tiny flower patch, wondering what their weird and old magical human had to say.

He claimed it was really important, especially for some of them.

But none of them had any idea of what it could be.

Perhaps some other revelation from the past, it was the best guess.

As they sat, they watched his head roll over to where the two red haired twins were sitting next to each other.

"Well, I'm not really good with big talks, so I'll go straight to the point."

He looked the two in the eyes, even though they couldn't tell, seeing the two other twins that they had killed so long ago…

And for them these two suffered hell because of them…

"Devola, Popola, I'm sorry."