"You did the best you could. Thank you, Fal." The commander's voice held every conceivable ounce of compassion as far as FAL could detect. The man cared, cared perhaps too deeply, but certainly far more than the last one had ever done. It was why FAL would follow her commander to the ends of the earth.

[Status]

FN 2000: Disabled

FN-49: Critical

FN Five-seveN: Critical

FN FNC: Disabled.

FN FAL: Operational - 54% capacity.

Fal looked down at her own frame, epidermal surface marred and muddy. She certainly didn't feel operational.

They had successfully fended off repeat attacks from both standard SF units, as they were expecting… but also armored assault units, very much beyond what FAL thought was present in the sector. If they hadn't received the dummies and ammo, they never would have survived until PKP's team had reinforced them. Even the dummy containers had helped them hold out, giving them just enough cover to keep fighting

But one could argue… was fighting there really necessary?

Quietly FAL went about her previous task, gathering up the broken dummies that scattered the clearing. M590 had offered her help, but FAL turned her down, saying something along the lines that her strength was needed to push the containers out of the landing zone.

No, as the team leader, this result was all based on FAL's decision. She lifted FN-2000's broken mainframe- its head missing. A jaeger's bolt having cauterized the circuitry of the neck stump.

FAL's logic knew that her 2000 would be fine- she was a common enough doll that she undoubtedly would had been uploaded into a new frame back at base. Same with FNC, and both would probably be functional by the time team FN made it back…

But it didn't ease the discomfort that FAL felt thumping through her systems. It chewed up her processing, tangling up what spare memory she had-

Was this what human grief was? A paralyzing, lethargic emotion? If it was, she hated it.

"I'm sorry." FAL mumbled to the shattered body. It did little to ease the stutter and haze that weighed down her digimind.

She hated it, and yet it was a part of her base programming; she couldn't just delete it. FAL would do as her commander told her to do, taking that feeling and partitioning it- holding it in place to keep it from spreading and affecting other processes.

Her ambition, her drive to be a better leader, it had held a connection to a similar emotion before but had been archived some time ago, taking less and less priority for memory and processing. FAL updated it, using the image of FN-2000 in her arms to be attached to the file as a further reminder.

It had been her decision that had lead to this outcome, she needed to be better so that it wouldn't happen again.

Image, connection, and emotional state saved.

The first chopper came in quick, crew moving to start collecting what could be salvaged. Gently, as if the body were that of a sleeping human child, FAL laid the shell of a mainframe on the chopper's floor before moving to collect FNC's body.

Image, connection, emotional state saved.

"We did the best we could have." Five-seveN smiled weakly as FAL passed her, FNC's hole-riddled body in her arms. She helped FAL lower their little chocolate lover's frame into the chopper before offering FAL a hand up as well.

"Considering what we faced, we did the best we could have." Five-seveN repeated.

It was illogical. Of all the dolls in the roster, Five-seveN should have been the most critical of FAL at this juncture, every decision leading up to this outcome scrutinized as she went over the post-battle data.

But not right now.

It wasn't often that Team FN lost. They had two years of a stellar record, so a single loss would-

"A pyrrhic victory." FAL breathed out, trying to overwrite her own personal bias based on emotion. Five-seveN had cocked her head, a single thin eyebrow raised as if to say 'It's still a victory'. Perhaps her sub-commander was being so accommodating because she knew that this would spur FAL to improve… or perhaps because she knew that she would never have been able to do any better either.

Then again, this all was FAL's idea- to get them stuck into a combat they could have avoided. The sinking feeling in her digimind coincided with the bump of the chopper's takeoff, causing FAL to sink into her seat more.

'Perhaps the VIP is someone rich and they'll reward us with a big bonus.' Five-seveN sent over the network as she too sank into her seat.

'If that happens, then you could buy that blouse- you know the one that you said would catch the commander's eye?' 49 chimed in on the network, the peaceful conversation snapping her from standby mode.

FAL smiled, trying to project mirth as the girls spoke of what they would buy if they got a hazard pay bonus. For FAL though… she would buy FNC a candy store's worth of treats for how gallantly she fought, and get 2000 that dress that she had been saving for. After all, 2000 had held out for so long against those jaegers, giving FAL the time she needed to maneuver-

No, FAL didn't deserve to enjoy such rewards. After all, she achieved victory on the backs of her comrades. She pinged a quiet goodnight over the network, slipping into standby mode for the remainder of the flight.

After all, she was waiting for the one thing that would give her solace. She awoke on touchdown, just before the door slid open. There he was, standing on the edge of the helipad, that crimson coat flapping wildly as he held his ground against the wash of the props.

"Welcome back, girls." He mouthed, voice unable to pierce the cacophony of a whining helicopter.

His voice didn't matter, only his words and intent.

Sure, the commander greeted every returning echelon in such a matter… but FAL had been the first. She had begun such a tradition with him, so to her it was special.

Gently and just the slightest bit timidly, she waved back. All trace of hesitation and doubt was gone once she stepped over the bodies of her comrades to make her way to their commander.

"We are back, commander." She announced, melodic voice climbing above the pitch of the turbine engine winding down.

His smile- she had it registered and matched against her empathy registration: pride, relief… and something else. He looked her over, making FAL suddenly aware of her current disheveled state, but the commander's gaze focused intently on her eyes. That stern, analyzing gaze turned to what remained of Team FN before he signaled for them to form up on him. It was a wordless command, one that the dolls heeded readily not just because of their programming, but out respect.

And then he pulled the three of them into a hug, close enough that they could hear his words clearer than even a network ping.

"You did good, girls."

Those words sent a surge through FAL's systems.

It wasn't joy or happiness. She couldn't readily identify it… something close to relief- it was tied intimately to the sense of anxiety she had.

It was a warm feeling though. It made her hold onto the others just that bit more than she had before.

A fifth, then sixth body slammed into the huddle, hands grabbing and arms stretched to try and get around them.

"We're back!" FNC shouted, trying to force her way into the center of the huddle, only to be held back at the collar by FN-2000.

"Don't worry, Fal, they were restored without any hiccups. They don't fault you." the commander whispered in her ear before releasing the embrace. In that moment, affection switched to professionalism instantly as the team's programming took over, the dolls standing at the ready for their instructions.

"Make for the repair bay. After maintenance you are granted a twenty-four hour leave pass."

The team instantly relaxed, only Five-seveN asked for permission to speak, a right wordlessly granted.

"We are not to do our after action report and data consolidation?"

The commander hesitated, eyes turning to FAL. She understood what he was asking.

"It is fine, commander. I can handle it." FAL smiled.

"Thank you then, Fal." The commander spoke with a slight sigh of relief, visibly relaxing somewhat. Before he fully dismissed them, he had flipped back to that commanding voice of his, "We have a guest in the repair bay. Do your best to get along with them."

"Why commander, I will show them such hospitality that it will make Thirty-six jealous. Please thank PKP for me when her team lands." FAL cooed, giving his arm a gentle squeeze as she moved to catch up with her team.

Someone was following her, a small shadow behind her every step.

"Was I useful, FAL? I want to see!" FNC struck, sliding in front of FAL.

"Of course you were," FAL gracefully dodged past FNC, giving the enthusiastic blonde a pat on the head as she slipped by, "You will be the first to see the AAR."

That was, of course, after FAL combed through it. She would leave out the more traumatizing details, and most certainly would not be letting FNC access the ocular data her mainframe recorded before frame-death. At least FN-2000's recording cut off instantly…

The pair caught up to the rest of their team in the middle of discussing the potential for bonus pay as they slipped into the repair bay.

"Find yourselves a comfy bed, ladies." FAL announced in an attempt to break up the rabble. FNC and F-2000 were already transferred into fresh frames, but they would certainly stick around until everyone else went to Level 2.

Curiously though, there was one station already occupied, just as the commander had mentioned.

The frame of a young girl, grey hair pulled tight into a side-tail. Scar down one eye clearer and cleaner than the others that marred her epidermal surface. The model matched to a UMP-45 in the IOP database… but why would an IOP model be so scarred- so obviously work-shop repaired instead of having the frame replaced?

Something electric coursed through every circuit in FAL's digimind. There was a sense of familiarity to this doll… a connection despite FAL having never seen such a model before. Every time she traced that connecting circuit, it felt as if it slammed into a wall.

After a hundred interations ending the same, FAL gave up. Was this what humans felt when they couldn't remember something? Was it supposed to be this… frustrating? FAL had certainly seen the commander countless times with his head held in his hands, stress levels elevating whenever he forgot something- even something as trivial as what he had been working on before a moment of distraction.

FAL suddenly felt as if she could relate to that emotion, quietly tagging and saving it, though she was aware of the logical flaw. Instead of a human brain replete with flaws and idiosyncrasies, she had a mindmap and memories backed up by external server.

She saved it anyways.

Perhaps she could ask this doll if they had met before when both of their repairs were done. That would certainly be an embarrassing situation for FAL. To have not backed up the memory of a comrade… even if it was a mistake, well it felt disrespectful to the time and experience spent; after all, were dolls comprised of nothing but memories? Everything else was data, or simulated human processes… only their memories would truly be theirs.

FAL sighed, moving to an unoccupied slab and gingerly stripping down, ensuring the damaged remains her clothes were still folded and stacked neatly for G36 to collect them. This time she had remembered to turn off her epidermal sensors before laying down upon what would have been a piercingly cold metal surface.

"Be sure to patch up my face a bit more." She called to the unresponsive console, "Must look my best for our guests."

Yes, she would have to plan out what to wear, perhaps the commander would let her and the team take over the hospitality for the VIPs once everyone was all patched up. With a proper welcoming, perhaps then she could more readily remember. G36 would certainly take offence, but if FAL explained her reasoning, she was sure that her friend would let FAL take over; it was FAL who welcomed even 36 into the family, after all.

Yes; it was her duty, for even a fleeting comrade for a single day had the potential to become family.