Deep within the vast expanse of the cosmos, hundreds of miles above the Earth's surface, the pinpricks of stars sparkled like fragments of distant, forgotten dreams. They pierced through the inky blackness of space, casting an ethereal glow upon the celestial canvas. Amidst this stellar tapestry, a colossal structure emerged, a sleek, cylindrical behemoth crafted from steel and glass. Gigantic antennae and arrays of sensors adorned its surface, reaching out towards its sides, and an elegant ring of solar panels encircled it, resembling the majestic rings of Saturn, guarding the station against the perils of space, such as radiation and meteors, while also harnessing the sun's energy to sustain itself. This was the YoRHa Base of Operations and Reconnaissance, a space station that orbited Earth, though its occupants and others on the Earth's surface simply knew it as the elusive 'Bunker', the base of operations for the elite YoRHa Soldiers.

In the quietude of space, the Bunker stood as a testament to android ingenuity and determination, one of the 13 solitary Army of Humanity outposts in the cosmic void. Within the sleek, metallic walls of the Bunker, the androids of YoRHa found their home. The hum of machinery echoed throughout its vast chambers, a constant backdrop to the hushed conversations of hundreds of androids who moved around, with some having just returned from missions, mentally exhausted and seeking a quick rest at their personal quarters, while others prepared themselves for new confrontations against their thousands-year old adversary.

The hallways of the Bunker were Spartan in their design, devoid of any extravagance, a testament to the utilitarian nature of their existence as the new generation of Androids. Occasionally, simple chairs and murals adorned the walls, the latter depicting the creators they had never known, the humans they had sworn to protect. These images served as a reminder of the purpose that drove them forward, the purpose for which they had been crafted.

Within the cold, metallic heart of the Bunker, nestled deep beneath layers of reinforced walls, designed to protect against physical and electronic attacks, was the command center - the main room where YoRHa planned and launched its operations to recover the Earth from the extraterrestrial and machine invaders who have occupied nearly the entire planet for millennia.

The room was bathed in a stark, sterile light that complimented the spartan design of the space station. Dozens of rows of computer terminals, each manned by dedicated androids in sleek, black uniforms, stood in rigid formation. Monitors displayed intricate images and cascading data of the YoRHa ground units that the operators were assigned to, tracing their battles and other data in the war-torn Earth below. Their fingers danced across keyboards, their eyes never straying from the multitude of screens before them. They relayed critical information, issued orders to the ground units assigned to them, and coordinated their movements. Every occasional minute whispers could be heard as some Operators would speak with the ground units to relay or receive information acquired that could serve a use for the ongoing war. The room would always be filled with them at all times, ready to carry out any order issued by the Commander.

The android operators, moving with a literal mechanical precision, were the heartbeat of the bunker.

Atop a platform at the back of the room, there stood a sole figure, her clothing a pale white, contrasting the black uniforms of the Operators and other YoRHa androids, her silver hair gleaming like a beacon of authority. Commander White's gaze was unwavering, focused on the massive holographic display that was fixed to the very front of the room for all to see. The display only showed an image of the Earth and the insignia of YoRHa with the date right below it, which was February 28, 11,945.

Amidst the rows of focused Operators, one particular android stood out. She sported a blonde cascade of pigtailed hair that danced playfully around her head, a splash of vibrancy in the sea of short uniform hair. Her whispered voice, brimming with youthful enthusiasm, contrasted sharply with the monotone professionalism of her colleagues as she engaged in a brief exchange with her ground unit. It was a momentary break from the constant stream of data and commands, a slice of humanity in this mechanical world.

The Operator, designated as 6O, expressed heartfelt gratitude for a collection of images sent to her of a flower she had longed to see. As her gaze shifted towards the lower part of her monitor, 6O's expression brightened. A small red dot blinked, signaling the arrival of new mail. Swiftly and discreetly, she minimized the window, ensuring that neither the Commander nor her fellow Operators would notice her distraction. She didn't feel like getting called out in front of everyone for not doing her job again.

With a sense of childlike wonder, her eyes tracked the images as they downloaded and blossomed into vivid blooms on her screen. The joy that emanated from those images was a temporary respite from the weight of her responsibilities.

Yet, beneath this fleeting joy, a subtle undercurrent of sadness lingered in 6O's black box, the core of emotions and consciousness of YoRHa Units. As an Operator, she understood all too well the reality that bound her to the cold expanse of the bunker, far removed from the Earth below. There was no reason for her or any operator to descend to the Earth's surface, no opportunity to set foot on the planet's surface, a world she yearned to see with her own eyes. She let out a small sigh of sadness.

But within the depths of her black box, a flicker of hope endured that perhaps, when the eternal war against the machine came to a victorious end for the Army of Humanity, a new start for Earth would begin where she and all androids could peacefully walk the Earth alongside their creators, unrestricted and unburdened by the ever-looming fear of the Machines.

'To breathe the air, take in the feeling of peace and harmony!' 6O thought. But even she knew that a victory against the machines would be extremely difficult and would take decades, if not, centuries to achieve. It would take quite a while for that dream to become true if it even was possible in the first place.

She had heard of some rare instances where Operators transferred their roles to become ground units, often opting for the versatile B unit type. Yet, such transitions were exceedingly uncommon, primarily because their unique personality types were typically tailored to the original body type they were created in. One of her friends, or at least one of the few androids that were willing to listen to her endless chatter in their free time, 21O, had discussed with her a secret of hers months prior about how she too desired to transfer her body type to another ground-based one. It was a revelation that took 6O by surprise, for she had always seen 21O as a paragon of logic and efficiency that didn't have any personal wants, a stark contrast to her own, more emotive disposition. 21O didn't want to explain her reasons for her desire to do the switch, only promising to tell 6O later.

Her eyes subtly flicked over in the direction of 21O. Despite the veil all Operators wore, concealing the lower portion of their faces, 6O could still discern the unwavering expression that her colleague bore. 21O's face, as always, remained a picture of cool, collected composure. Her fingers danced across the keyboard with remarkable agility, a testament to her efficiency as she processed and sent out information with flawless precision.

Suddenly, a murmur of voices reached her ears, and 6O turned slightly to catch a glimpse of a fellow Operator engaged in conversation with the Commander in the platform elevated above the bustling command center. Her intuition suggested that it must be something of paramount significance for an operator to directly tell the Commander about the information, most likely involving newfound discoveries about the Machines. She couldn't tell which Operator it was because the Operator stood within a shadow, masking her facial appearance.

Yet, something unusual pricked at 6O's awareness. The Commander's facial features, normally stoic, betrayed a hint of tension with a subtle furrow of her brow. After a curt nod to the Operator and a brief inspection of her datapad, the Commander's gaze shifted towards the ranks of the diligent Operators, and after scanning the rows of monitors for a few seconds, the weight of her gaze settled upon 6O.

Startled, 6O let out a tiny involuntary 'eep' and quickly swiveled her head back towards her monitor, hoping that her stealthy glances had gone unnoticed by the Commander. The faint hum of the ascending elevator, most likely being the Commander, echoed throughout the large room. 6O assumed the Commander was on her way to address one of the Operators with inquiries about the new data. However, as the distinctive click of the Commander's heels drew nearer, a bead of sweat traced down 6O's forehead, and her black box tightened with unease, wondering if the Commander had seen her inspecting those pictures of flowers.

In a frantic flurry, 6O rapidly closed all open pages on her monitor, leaving only the mission command page displayed. She whispered a fervent hope that the Commander's sharp gaze hadn't noticed her looking at the pictures, wishing to not be called out again in front of everyone in less than a week for not doing her job.

The clicking of heels ceased just right behind her, and 6O felt as if her face would combust from sheer embarrassment.

"Operator 6O, may I speak with you?" The Commander's authoritative voice sliced through the air.

"Y-yes, Commander?" A nervous squeak escaped the trembling Operator as she slowly turned around to face her superior. 6O had already been devising strategies for avoiding everyone during her precious free time after the embarrassment of being called out earlier. She had no desire to become the subject of room-wide ridicule once more.

The Commander's voice remained firm, and her gaze bore into 6O's. "I have just assigned a new mission to your ground unit. The mission details have been sent to you, with the expectation that you will relay them directly to her as soon as possible. These orders come directly from me, and sharing them with anyone else is strictly forbidden."

"Uh, oh, o-of course!" 6O responded with a rapid nod, her anxiety momentarily alleviated as it seemed the Commander hadn't caught her red-handed with the flower pictures. But her relief was short-lived.

"Furthermore, 6O," the Commander continued, her tone now carrying a hint of disappointment, "I must remind you not to neglect your duties by indulging in the distraction of flower images. We had this discussion less than a week ago."

Inside, 6O groaned in frustration as she noticed the discreet side glances exchanged between her fellow Operators. "Yes, Ma'am."

"That will be all. Glory to Mankind." declared the Commander, performing the customary salute before taking her leave. 6O, with a faint and somewhat uncertain salute of her own, observed the Commander's exit from the lower floor of the Command Center. The leader's ability to detect even the slightest thing remained a mystery, leaving 6O to ponder if the Commander possessed some secret, all-seeing eye in the back of her head that granted her an uncanny 360-degree awareness of her surroundings.

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she redirected her attention to the mission at hand. With a renewed focus, she accessed her Operator database in the Monitor, delving into the details of her ground unit's latest assignment

'Recovery of lost YoRHa property' 6O read in her mind as she noted down all the details and wasted no time in composing a classified mail about the assignment for her ground unit, which had been acting distant lately, withdrawing into a shell of silence that left 6O feeling puzzled and concerned. Her ground unit was always the quiet type, but this time, she was even more silent and isolated. This behavior surfaced periodically every couple of weeks, leaving 6O with a lingering curiosity that desired to understand the cause of these periods of withdrawal. She yearned for the day when her silent companion would confide in her, but 6O would respect her space in the meantime. At least her ground unit still sent 6O those images of the flowers an hour ago, so that means that her coldness wasn't directed at the pig-tailed Operator.

'Alright then, 2B, maybe this new assignment will help clear your mind.' she whispered to herself in her mind, her fingers dancing across the keyboard as she finished writing the message and clicked the 'send' button, relaying the mission data to her aloof companion. The hope remained that one day, the B-type unit under her care would feel secure enough to confide in her, sharing the burdens that weighed so heavily upon her shoulders as if it were the weight of the world.

The twinkling stars shining in the ever-distant background were the only thing 2B could gaze at in the eternal canvas of darkness through the window in her personal quarters aboard the Bunker. She could slightly see the outline of the Earth at her left side, distorting the otherwise perfect cacophony of stars intermingled within the dark abode of Space. Her expression remained concealed, her eyes hidden behind the opaque visor that framed her upper face. The only sound she could hear was the gentle hum of the station's machinery as it powered various amenities within its confines. The mechanical symphony played in a predictable rhythm, becoming an integral part of the ambient soundscape. It would softly whir for a time, then gradually fade into silence for a few fleeting seconds before beginning its repetitive cycle once more.

Within the confines of her quarters, an unmistakable aura of isolation hung heavy in the air, serving as a reflection of the profound remoteness that defined her existence. The vast, hushed expanse of space beyond the window seemed to parallel the emotional detachment she had learned to embrace. It was a solitude that had become woven into the fabric of her very being, a part of herself that she had reluctantly grown to accept.

A part of her that she longed to sever.

Her gaze was fixed on the stars, but her mind was distant, detached from the celestial display before her. Her thoughts meandered aimlessly through an inescapable labyrinth of persistent questions that had haunted her for as long as she could remember. Questions that delved into the heart of her purpose.

She questioned why she was brought into existence.

She questioned why everything had to occur the way it did.

She questioned why she had to bear this burden. This burden that she was forced to repeat over and over. She didn't understand why this burden was also her sole purpose in this world. Her mind was still plagued with the memories of what she had done last week. Of how she ensured her duty was fulfilled. She tried everything to lessen the pain of the memory, even spending hours taking pictures of the flowers that 6O requested, but none of it made her forget.

Vivid memories haunted her, like spectral imprints on her synthetic soul. She still remembered the artificial blood stains that had marred her black dress, blood that belonged to her own companion, 9S.

The scene played back in her mind with relentless clarity.

They had been navigating a narrow path between two semi-toppled towering buildings, and 9S had been sharing something, the details of which were somehow slipping from her memory, despite her being an android. Perhaps she was trying to subconsciously forget about the conversation to try and forget about it all. He had become captivated by a large boar, rushing off to capture images of it with his pod's built-in camera.

It was at that moment that her pod interrupted their seemingly peaceful interlude with a holographic transmission, bearing the image of the one and only leader of YoRHa, Commander White. Dread coursed through her as she realized the reason for the Commander's message, the unspoken message in those holographic eyes.

"2B, it is time."

After a few long seconds, she acknowledged the command with a simple nod, her voice but a whisper as she spoke the salute.

"Glory to Mankind."

Her hand closed around her blade, Virtuous Treaty. The Commander's return salute was a brief acknowledgment, and as the transmission ended, she silently approached 9S. He was still distracted taking all sorts of pictures of the huge animal. 2B suspected that he intended to share them with his Operator, the ever-quiet 21O. Something that he would never be able to do.

Without hesitation, her blade rose, cleaving through the air with a swift and decisive motion. 9S had only just managed to divert his attention from the camera, his gaze turning towards the ominous silhouette on the ground, seeking to discern the identity of the figure who had cast a shadow over him, when it happened.

In those brief moments, an unnatural silence enveloped the scene, punctuated only by the soft rustle of the breeze, as if time itself held its breath. Then, with an almost unnoticeable thud resonating through the air, the lifeless form of 9S crumpled to the floor. His face, etched in a mask of shock and disbelief, remained frozen in that final moment. The once-green ground around them was now slowly being covered in red, seeping out from the Scanner android. 2B did not move.

She wanted to scream.

She wanted it all to end.

A sudden ring from her computer wall terminal jolted her out of her contemplative reverie. 2B remained motionless for a brief, suspended moment, the echoes of her memories and the weight of her actions lingering in the air around her. She kept observing the stars, wondering if this would ever come to an end. And if there was a way, she desired to know. With a slow breath to steady herself, she forced back those thoughts to the recesses of her mind and slowly turned around from the large window, her heels scraping softly against the cold floor.

With a slow, deliberate pace, she approached the wall terminal, her gloved hand poised above the interface. She hesitated for a few moments before tapping on the screen to review her mail notifications. Among them, a message from her Operator, 6O, drew her attention. Her initial instinct was to dismiss it, as she felt little inclination to engage with anyone at that moment.

However, the title of the email made her pause.

'CONFIDENTIAL: Mission Details'

2B stood still, her thoughts momentarily diverted. She remained motionless for a heartbeat, pondering the nature of this new assignment that the Commander had most likely tasked her with, since only confidential messages were processed on behalf of a direct command from the Supreme Leader of YoRHa. After a few moments, she let out a small sigh and tapped on the message.

'Confidential Mission Details'

Sender: Operator 6O

'Your new mission is to recover a pod that was lost in combat a year ago in the desert region situated between the Hakone and Shinjuku Sectors. The pod was previously considered unrecoverable, but its tracking signal briefly reactivated an hour ago before abruptly ceasing once more. We are uncertain about the cause behind this signal's reactivation, but there's a concern that machine lifeforms may have discovered and accessed the Pod's data. Recover the Pod and eliminate any potential threat.'

'This assignment is to be undertaken as soon as possible, per the Commander's orders.'

- Operator 6O

*Note that this is a direct order from the Commander.

Forwarding it is Forbidden.

Upon concluding her examination of the mission details, 2B departed her quarters and went into the hallway, always equipped and prepared for any mission ahead. As her footsteps echoed through the bunker's metallic confines, the mention of the Shinjuku Sector stirred faint recollections within her; it was the designated site for the forthcoming 243rd Descent Operation, scheduled for March 10, just less than two weeks away. She had already commenced her training alongside fellow Units assigned to the operation as they prepared for the task, which was to ensure the destruction of a colossal Goliath-class machine under construction within an abandoned factory in that sector.

Something she couldn't help but wonder was why she was chosen by the Commander to undertake this Pod recovery assignment. After all, there already were YoRHa soldiers strategically positioned within the Shinjuku Sector, dedicated to scouting the region in preparation for the impending descent operation. They could go and search for the Pod instead, saving resources and time. Yet, the Commander, just as she had remained absolute in her silence about why 9S had to face his recurring fate by 2B's own hand, gave no insight into the reasons for her selection.

She forced those questions aside as she approached the purple transporter, adorned with the distinctive YoRHa emblem. YoRHa had established a transporter within a Resistance Base in the city of Shinjuku, which wasn't far from the desert, only a two-hour walk away. With a few deft keystrokes, she entered the coordinates of her destination. The transporter's chamber opened, inviting her inside. It was here that her current body would be disintegrated, and her consciousness, along with her memories, would be transmitted to the Earth-bound transporter. There, a new android body would be constructed using materials stored within the machine's systems, and her consciousness would seamlessly transfer into it.

Inside the enclosed chamber, as the machine sealed her within, 2B's thoughts couldn't help but gravitate towards the enigma of the missing Pod. It seemed unbelievable that a simple machine stubby would possess the comprehension to recognize, let alone tamper with a highly advanced piece of technology like a Pod. She considered that perhaps an android had stumbled upon the Pod, and could be keeping it for themselves or even disassembling it for reasons unknown. The one certainty that she knew in this perplexing equation was her readiness to confront any potential adversary and strike them down without a second thought if deemed necessary. The memory of what she had done to 9S weighed heavily upon her, a profound emptiness tinged with a resolute coldness towards anything that stood before her.

As the transporter initiated the loading sequence, 2B's lips parted in a soft whisper.

"Glory to Mankind."

The words held the weight of an oath, a solemn pledge that she had repeated countless times. Yet, in the midst of uncertainty, she couldn't help but question whether the phrase still held any true significance for her.

We finally meet some other familiar faces! And we have started to deviate from the canon, since 2B will now be arriving at the region where the game takes place earlier than in canon. It was never specifically stated where NieR: Automata takes place, but it does seem to be taking place in Japan, so I just decided to eyeball it and have it take place in Shinjuku. Thanks for all the reviews, and until next time!