Hello, good day! afternoon or evening, before starting the story I would like to leave a message here, first of all, I would like to thank everyone who is reading this story, this is my first fanfic and I am happy with the direction it is taking, if you can, leave comments about what you think of the story, suggestions for improvements, criticisms are welcome.

Second, I'm writing a second fanfic Drakengard Anomaly, if you like Drakengard and a story that delves deeper into Lore check it out, leave comments and story suggestions.

Finally, I'd like to thank you again for reading my story, so without further ado, enjoys the chapter.

Nier and Drakengard belong to Yoko Taro.

All images used belong to their respective authors.

Interval 1 PART 3

Knowing the Resistance

The scene opens to the city in ruins, overgrown with vegetation most of the time it's a quiet place with occasional machine attacks, but you'll be safe most of the time as long as you don't stray too far from the resistance-controlled areas, especially the camp.

But no one would be crazy enough to go to the farthest parts of town, right? No one would walk around far from the safety of the resistance right? Well roaming the city streets are two of these madmen making their way to the resistance camp, accompanied by a POD that is in questionable condition.

Alan's POV

Right here I am walking towards the resistance camp with an injured android by my side, it could be worse, I could be the one who is injured and end up being taken to the resistance so all androids would know that I am human, the secret I kept for years would be over in a few minutes as androids have an adoration for humans, they would not let me go and would protect me with their lives, that would be the end of my adventures.

Putting those thoughts aside I am in the middle of an uncomfortable situation at the moment neither Kokio nor I have said a word since we started walking, the awkward silence is killing me and I could see the discomfort on her face so I decided to be the first to break the silence.

"So how is the resistance?" I asked while giving a nervous smile, she gave a little jump when she heard my voice and started talking.

"Well, most of the time the days are quiet, but even so I work non-stop, I rarely have a break, Anemone always asks Kokio where is the daily report? Kokio did you do the repair parts inventory? Kokio have you done your maintenance? Kokio where are the documents I asked for? Kokio need you to take a shift as a guard, Kokio, Kokio, Kokio… AAAHHH! I DON'T HAVE A MINUTE OF PEACE, IT'S JUST WORK, WORK, AND MORE WORK, AND TODAY WHEN I HAD ONE OF MY FEW DAYS OFF, I END IN THIS SITUATION!"

I jumped a little at the sudden outburst, didn't expect her to be so frustrated, she was screaming and thrashing as she spoke but eventually stopped when she looked at my face, I wonder what face I was making.

"Sorry, it's just that no one ever asked me about the resistance and I ended up venting my frustration, but if you want to know, the resistance is a good place, full of friendly androids who are fighting this war, there's the arms dealer, the parts merchant, several stalls with merchants in general selling trinkets, there is also a flower bed, a corner to relax with the music of the 'jukebox', this is a place where I like to spend time with my friends, there's also this weird android that lives in the desert she shows up at camp occasionally, those twins but I'd rather not talk about them, and in the end, we're all led by Anemone."

She said as she smiled at me, she seemed happy to talk about their friends but I couldn't help but notice the strange tone when she talked about the twins, I wonder if they are who I'm thinking.

"Anemone, I wonder how she is doing." I said while sighing.

"Did you say something?"

"No, nothing."

"Okay, now that I've told you about me, tell me about yourself, Alan, you look like an old android. What's your model? What were you doing alone in the city? Why do you have a POD?" She asked as she brought her face closer to mine.

"Calm down one question at a time, to begin with, yes, I am a very old android, probably the oldest in the world, my model, I prefer to not talk about it, asking the model of an android is something rude, you know, what I am doing here, well I'm kind of a traveler, I go from place to place with no direction in mind, but I assure you I've traveled all over the world, South America, Central America, North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, I've been to Rio de Janeiro, New York, London, Paris, Moscow, Berlin, and now I'm here in Japan, and the reason I have a POD I found it in an abandoned building."

"Wow, if you've traveled the world then it means you've been in realm of the night, you've seen the night, tell me what it's like at night, not just that's what the world is like, all I know about humans is what's been put on my program, but I want to know more about them, their culture, art, architecture, I have seen in old photos the great buildings they built, but I would like to see them in person."

She told me with a dreamy look, but it breaks my heart to know what happened to these constructions, the Eiffel Tower was turned into a battle platform by the machines, anti-aircraft batteries, missile launchers, and large broadcast antennas, the tower was finally torn down on a special resistance mission in Paris, I know because I was there, the Empire Estate became a big computer processing information for the machines, the building was taken down with explosives in its foundation, I planted the explosives and ran as if my life depended on it, after all, it did.

"Maybe someday you can, the buildings were still there the last time I checked." It's a shame, but sometimes a lie is better than the truth.

"You mentioned being the oldest android in the world, what year were you made in?" Damn, she had to ask that soon!

"I'd rather not talk about it, let's just say I'm older than I look."

"Come on I want to know, you can't be that old."

"No."

"Go talk."

"No."

"Speak old man …" Great now the POD has decided to join the conversation.

"No and period!"

"Okay" she replied dejectedly.

"Ok old man ..." The POD replied, that son of a...

Alan's POV

Finally, we arrived at the resistance camp going through a small climb and improvised barricades, we reached an alley between two buildings, entering this alley turning right and then left we entered the camp, the place was vibrating with life, but by the time I put my feet inside with a wounded Kokio leaning against me, the place was completely silent, if a pin dropped to the floor everyone would hear, all the androids were looking at me, I didn't know what to do so I gave a nervous smile and I waved my hand.

"Hey."

"KOKIO!" The androids screamed, before I could say anything a crowd was surrounding us and they were all asking questions at once.

"Are you okay?"

"Where were you?"

"What happened to your leg?"

"Who is this guy with you?"

"Did he hurt you?"

I couldn't take the noise anymore so I yelled "SHUT UP!" soon they all fell silent "I don't know if you guys noticed but Kokio here needs repairs, she was attacked by machines, so how about you guys take her in for repairs and then ask the questions!" It seems that it worked, they all calmed down and leaving the crowd an android came running and hugged Kokio, it seems they knew each other.

"Kokio where have you been? I was so worried, you disappeared for so long, and no one in the camp knew where you were!"

"I'm fine Cosmos, I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused, I left during my break and went to town by myself, I ended up getting too far from the camp, and I was attacked by machines, if it wasn't for Alan I would be dead, he saved me."

"Please don't do this anymore, I thought you were dead. And who is Alan?"

"He." Kokio said while pointing at me, I had moved away when they started talking, now thanks to Kokio this Cosmos girl and the other androids were looking at me, dam it.

"Alright, hey take Kokio in for repairs!" Cosmos screamed then two androids came and took Kokio away, when she got out of sight Cosmos came walking towards me. Damn, damn, damn it! I was so close to the exit, I just want to go back home, soon the android stopped in front of me and looked me up and down, apparently she doesn't bite, worse, she judges.

"So you're Alan?" She said as she crossed her arms.

"Y-yes !" I stuttered, come on Alan, don't let yourself be intimidated.

"So Alan, if that's your name, what were you doing in town, Kokio running away I can believe it, but it's very convenient for her to be saved by another android, don't you think?" She started circling me, still looking me up and down.

"Well, I'm kind of a traveler you know, I don't have any direction, I just go from place to place, collecting objects from the human world on the way, and as I saved Kokio, well I happened to be nearby, I heard gunshots and screams, when I checked I saw Kokio being attacked by machines, I helped her and here we are, if you want any proof ask POD. Tell her POD." I said with a confident smile, which soon faded when I saw the POD floating by and repeatedly slamming into the wall beside me.

"Ouch." he knocked again.

"Ouch." and again.

"Ouch." and again...

She stared at the POD for a while and then said "I'll believe you, for now, Kokio seems to like you, but if I find out you're lying." She started to clap her fist with her other hand, I swallowed hard and understood what she meant.

"Yes ma'am." I answered.

"Great, welcome to the resistance camp." She smiled at me and walked away, as she walked I got a good look at her, and I have to admit androids are made to perfection.

Curly red-brown hair, chocolate-colored skin, slightly pink lips, a small nose, slightly rosy cheeks, and finally green eyes, she wore the standard resistance outfit, which didn't do much to hide her curves. Calm my heart, if she finds out I'm looking it's over, I looked away, well since I'm here better explore a little.

"POD come with me!" he was still hitting the wall.

"Affirmativeoo ... old man"

"I heard this!"

Alan's POV

As I walked around the camp I looked around, the camp was built between some buildings in ruins, makeshift tents were built, under these tents, there were merchant androids, in other parts I could see androids talking and going about their daily lives.

There were sitting on crates, carrying documents, and others were tinkering with machines that I had no idea what it does, and I couldn't help but notice the looks I got, probably because I'm an outsider here at the camp and I'm accompanied by a POD, well I can't do anything about this.

While I'm here I will talk to one of the merchants, maybe he has something interesting, the place was a square tent with metal shelves forming rows, and on the other side of the tent there was a counter with a male android, but he was dressed strangely, a black overcoat with a hood that reached to his shins, purple cloth with white lines covered his face leaving only his eyes exposed, brown gloves and boots and a large backpack on his back, as soon as I put my feet in the tent he said:

"Welcome! What are you buying?"

What a strange guy "I'm just looking around, if I find something I like, I'll let you know."

"As you wish stranger."

Well let's see what's he got, so I can get out of here as soon as possible, on the shelves there were old CDs, I doubt they still work, books, I leafed through them and they were illegible, cell phones, radios, notebooks, all broken apart, until something caught my attention, right there in a corner of the tent there was a guitar, it's been a long time since I've seen one of these and surprisingly it was in good condition, I picked it up and took it to the counter.

"How much?"

"50G."

"30G."

"45G."

"35G."

"45G."

"40G and I'll take that box of guitar strings." I said as I pointed to a box on the counter. The merchant stared at me for a while, sighed, and said.

"Done." he started typing into a small terminal on the counter, I had forgotten about that, androids don't carry physical money with them, instead they use a small terminal with the Gs registered on them and carry out the transactions in seconds, since I'm not an android I carry the physical coin with me.

I put my hand on my pocket and took out the equivalent of 40 Gs, it was a golden coin with a G on it, I handed it to the merchant, he stared at me for a few seconds, but he shrugged and accepted the money, I took the guitar, put the box in my backpack and left the tent, on my way out I heard the merchant say.

"HEHEHEHA! Thank you, come back anytime."

I quickened my pace and got out of there.

This place is bigger than I thought, the deeper I went the more I saw, more tents, residential areas, warehouses, and that was an android wearing a machine head for a helmet? Who am I to judge, I use a machine head as a pan at home.

"Alan, here!" someone called out my name, it was Kokio, she was next to a group of androids, she waved at me, and I gave a small smile and went towards her.

"Sit here; I want you to meet my friends." She pointed to a crate next to her; I sat down and looked at the other androids, there were two of them, one male and one female.

The male wore the resistance uniform, but I could see a belt with tools, he was probably a mechanic, he had brown hair and yellow eyes, his skin was slightly tanned and I could see oil stains on his face.

The female android judging by her equipment, should work in the android repair area, the red cross on her uniform helped my guess, she had blonde hair and blue eyes, and fair skin, still amazed at how cute androids are, I stopped my thoughts when the male android started talking.

"So you were the one who saved Kokio, you don't look like a fighter to me, Kokio told me you defeated two stubby and a biped, I find it hard to believe." He said as he crossed his arms, it might have been just me, but the POD shuddered as if he was irritated by the comment this android made.

"Salieri be more polite!" The repair droid spoke, so his name was Salieri, curious.

"I apologize for his behavior, allow us to introduce ourselves correctly, my name is Florence, and this is Salieri, if you don't know I'm a repair android and he's a mechanical android, I was the one who took care of Kokio, and we are grateful for you to have saved her." Florence huh, at least she was polite.

"No need thank me, I saw that someone was in trouble and I decided to help, I couldn't leave her there, I don't like to stand still when I can help."

"I'm glad to hear there are still good androids out there, others would have run away, or let Kokio be killed and then looted the body." Florence said as she looked to the side.

"Wait! Androids wouldn't do that, would they?" I said surprised, androids looting other androids bodies, in all my years of living in this world, many by the way, I've never seen that.

"Believe me, it happens more than it seems, the longer this war goes on the more desperate some androids get, they only focus on surviving." She was looking down.

"But if anyone wants to harm Kokio here they will have to get through me first including you." Salieri said as he pointed at me, POD shuddered again.

"Salieri stop!" This time it was Kokio "Alan saved me, he fought the machines and brought me here, if he wanted to hurt me he would have done it already, so please treat him better."

"Okay, okay, sorry for what I said, it's just that I worry about Kokio and since she has a tendency to get in trouble I'm afraid of what might happen." He's not all bad, good to know he cares about his friends.

"So Alan what is this?" Kokio said while pointing at my guitar.

"This is a guitar, a stringed musical instrument that some humans used to play, I bought it from a merchant android, and I was surprised to find one in good condition." I said as I placed the guitar on my lap, Kokio widened her eyes and started jumping in excitement on her crate.

"Can you play this? Play some human music? You're an old android who's traveled the world aren't you, you must know some music?" I jumped back a little as she got closer to my face.

"I don't know, it's been a while since I played."

"Come on, play it." Kokio said.

"Play it." Florence said.

"Play it." Salieri said.

"It's ok." I sighed, checked the guitar strings, tested a few chords to see if it was in tune, and started playing.

To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day

Hardly spoke to folks around him, didn't have too much to say

No one dared to ask his business, no one dared to make a slip

The stranger there among them had a big iron on his hip

Big iron on his hip

It was early in the morning when he rode into the town

He came riding from the south side, slowly looking ' all around

He's an outlaw loose and running came the whisper from each lip

And he's here to do some business with the big iron on his hip

Big iron on his hip

In this town, there lived an outlaw by the name of Texas red

Many men had tried to take him and that many men were dead

He was vicious and a killer through a youth of twenty-four

And the notches on his pistol numbered one an nineteen more

One and nineteen more

Now the stranger started talking made it plain to folks around

Was an Arizona ranger wouldn't be too long in town

He came here to take an outlaw back alive or maybe dead

And he said it didn't matter, he was after Texas Red

After Texas Red

Wasn't long before the story was relayed to Texas Red

But the outlaw didn't worry, men that tried before were dead

Twenty men had tried to take him, twenty men had made a slip

Twenty one would be the ranger with the big iron on his hip

Big iron on his hip

The morning passed so quickly, it was time for them to meet

It was twenty past eleven when they walked out in the street

Folks were watching from their windows, everybody held their breath

They knew this handsome ranger was about to meet his death

About to meet his death

There was forty feet between them when they stopped to make their play

And the swiftness of the ranger is still talked about today

Texas Red had not cleared leather, for a bullet fairly ripped

And the rangers' aim was deadly with the big iron on his hip

Big iron on his hip

It was over in a moment and the folks had gathered round

There before them lay the body of the outlaw on the ground

Oh, he might have gone on living but he made one fatal slip

When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip

Big iron on his hip

Big iron, big iron

When he tried to match the ranger with the big iron on his hip

Big iron on his hip

When I finished and looked around there was a circle of androids around me, how did I not notice them before I don't know,, but soon they started clapping, I blushed and scratched the back of my head, I didn't know what to say, I stood up and bowed.

"That was awesome, where did you learn this song?" Kokio came to me.

"I learned from a friend, but I prefer not to go into details."

"Could you play another one?" This time it was Salieri.

"I'm sorry, but I think I've stayed here long enough at camp, it's time for me to go home." I said while looking at my non-existent wristwatch.

"You have to go?" Kokio looked sad.

"Yes, but I'm not leaving forever, one of these days I'll go back to camp."

"Alright, I'll miss you." Then Kokio hugged me, I didn't know what to do, but I hugged her back, we stayed like that for a few minutes, but the problem started when Kokio started rubbing her face on my chest and hugging me tighter.

"Kokio can you let me go now?"

"No."

Damn, I've seen this reaction before, androids are programmed to protect and adore humans and from what it seems interacting with humans gives them a good feeling, it varies from android to android, some act normal, others want to stay holding my hand or hugging me, in the worst case the androids start to convulse with an ecstatic smile on their faces as if they are using the best drug in the world.

I've lost count of how many times I've had to run for my life due to androids left addicted to me, as if the situation wasn't bad enough I saw Cosmos around the corner and she saw me hugging Kokio, then she started running towards me as if she was going to kill me, which I didn't doubt judging by the murderous look that she was giving me.

"Kokio let me go now!"

"No."

"POD HELP!"

"Affirmative." POD grabbed Kokio by the shoulders and took her away from me.

"Salieri, Florence, it was a pleasure to meet you, but now I have to go. POD is coming with me!" I said as I ran for my life with POD right behind me.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" I yelled at the androids in my way as an angry Cosmos ran after me, as I ran I could hear Cosmos screaming.

"I KNEW IT, YOU JUST WANTED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HER, WHEN I CATCH YOU THERE WILL NOT BE A HAIR LEFT!" all I could do was scream.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" As I ran, I didn't notice two androids in front of me, all I saw was red hair, so I fell to the ground with both androids, but I couldn't stop now Cosmos was still behind me, I apologized to the androids and kept running "I'm sorry, but I need to go now!"

Meanwhile with the two androids.

"Devola are you okay?" the straight-haired android asked.

"Devola?"

"Devola?"

"Devola!" She said it louder this time.

"Popola, did you see who that android was?" the wavy-haired android asked as she pointed at Alan.

"No, who was it?"

"Alan!" Devola said as she grabbed her sister by the shoulders.

"WHAT!" Popola screamed.

"Alan wait!" The two screamed as they ran after Alan.

Back to Alan

Great, as if that crazy Cosmos wanting to kill me wasn't enough, now I have those two androids running after me, seriously, apologizing for the fall didn't help, but I can't stop now, unfortunately, while running an android came out of one of the buildings she was carrying various papers in her hands.

With Anemone

Finally! Finally! After so long I've finally finished the paperwork, now that these papers are organized all I need to do is take them to the archives and all my work will be done for today.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

I wonder what I'm going to do now, maybe I'll read a book.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

Or maybe listen to some music on the jukebox.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

Who's yelling at me, when I looked it was too late, an android came running and knocked me to the ground, and all my papers went flying, damn I'll have to organize them all again.

"I'M VERY SORRY!"

Son of a… You know what, never mind, I bent down to grab the papers before I could continue an angry Cosmos passed by me, stomping the papers, followed by Devola and Popola, you know what I give up when I was about to go back to my office I heard the twins scream.

"Alan wait!"

Alan so that was the android's name, Alan? Alan? I've heard that name somewhere, wait Alan! General Alan! I stopped for a minute and thought about that android's face, dark hair, slightly tanned skin, tired face; it was the same General Alan from all those years ago! I thought he died! I can't miss this chance, I need to talk to him, and I ran out of my office and went after him.

Again with Alan

My God! Now the paper android is coming after me, but luckily the camp exit was just ahead, just a few more meters and I'd be out of here.

"GET BACK HERE! "

"WAIT!"

That is if the raging androids behind me didn't catch up to me.

"POD do something!"

"Affirmative: Doing something."

When I told the POD to do something I didn't expect it to be something so extreme, the POD started shooting some scaffolding at the entrance to the camp, I managed to get out of the camp with the POD, as I ran I could hear Cosmos screaming.

"YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER, THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU HERE I'LL TURN YOU INTO SCRAP!"

I started to run even faster.

Anemone's POV

Damn, he ran away, after so many years thinking he was dead he shows up here at the camp, and got into trouble as usual, but still, I'm glad to know that somewhere in this town one of my friends is alive, knowing I'm not alone, well he's made quite a mess, I thought as I looked at the collapsed scaffolding. "Hey you, clean up this mess!" I told the androids who came to see what all the fuss was about.

"Yes ma'am!"

I went back to my office. Alan is alive, Commander Rose would have been happy to see him again, they were close, too bad she is no longer here, and I wonder what her Commander's reaction would be.

Devola and Popola's POV

"Can you believe it, after all these years he's here?" Popola spoke.

"I know Dev, I thought he died during the machine attack."

"Me too, I was devastated, I thought the only person who was kind to us was dead, but now he's here, and well, when he shows up again we have to talk to him, don't we Pop?"

"Yes, Dev, but now let's go to our house." While walking I noticed the looks that the other androids gave us, my sister and I were already used to it, but if Alan had seen this, he would have argued with the other androids, good to know that our friend is ok.

POV of POV 000

I always wondered why Admin Alan doesn't reveal himself as a human to other androids, but today I finally understand. These androids are crazy! Chasing him through the camp, if any of them want to harm Alan they'll have to get through me first!

What pissed me off the most was that android Salieri, their doubt about Admin Alan's fighting skills pisses me off, I know, I recorded all Admin Alan's fight against the machines, I will release this recording to the public data network, so all doubts about my Administrator's skills will disappear, I bet he'll love it and say how good of a POD I am.

Alan's POV

I finally got home, this day was crazy, making a recording, fighting machines, rescuing an android, visiting the resistance camp, being chased out of the camp, all I want now and rest, my house was further away from the city, between the trees and vegetation, it was a two-story brick house, painted a light yellow it had a front porch, I unlocked the door, took off my boots, threw my backpack in a corner of the living room and lay down on the couch.

"Welcome Mr. Alan."

"Welcome Mr. Alan."

I forgot about those two, the twins.

"Hi Devola, hi Popola." I said tiredly.

END OF THE CHAPTER

Well this is the end of the chapter, from now on I write shorter chapters, I hope you enjoyed the story, and leave your opinion of what you think of the story so far.

If you're wondering how Anemone, Devola, and Popola know Alan, don't worry everything will be explained in due time.

Until next time folks.