Robin did not leave the possibility to answer to A2, as she immediately left her be after telling her actual name, but with any luck, she'd just take it like an alternative name she liked to go by to cover herself with.
She left the woman alone in her little refuge, hoping she wouldn't touch anything, probably given the way she was still hurt she had other things to think about. At least Robin hoped she was looking after herself.
She hadn't asked the other android to tell her story, though curious she did not come here with that intention, but the way she posed herself and acted made her earliest suspicions even bigger, that she'd just been a survivor in a world wanting her dead.
The point was… why? What had she done wrong? If anything at all.
Robin asked herself this question as she crossed the bridge that separated the forest from the city, headed to her next destination.
She did not want to pry answers from A2, no person ever talked about a painful past freely, and she wasn't sure they'd meet again, but the way the Commander spoke to her made it clear that they would have to fight another time in the future. Maybe she could use that as an excuse to speak to her again, though she doubted the rogue trusted her enough, if at all…
If there was one thing Robin was able to recognize well, it was when a person had been hurt, and not by a weapon, but from guilt, survivor's guilt, and the loneliness that followed after.
She knew these feelings way too well, and wished she didn't.
But, asking the Commander or even prying into the YoRHa database was way too dangerous, it was so much worse than attempting to lie to White. She was not willing to sacrifice her memories and personality, her humanity, if there was any left, for the sake of knowledge, if 9S' example was not enough already.
So she had to hope she and A2 would meet again, because she was sure White hid something, she never trusted the woman, never trusted who was in command, they always hid nasty secrets.
As if she wouldn't know, since her job was to silence who knew too much. There had always been a small nagging thought at the back of her mind that she was just being used by the Commander to keep whatever she knew hidden.
Things she had never been told either, which was why it didn't sit right with her. She was not a fan of lies, it didn't matter who told them, not even herself.
But with A2 there was hope to finally find something out.
However… Was she truly willing to let go of the bonds she made with everyone else? Didn't she desire her entire life to meet and have people at her side she could trust?
People that looked after her like guardians, like 21O, and people that looked up to her, like 2E and the other Executioners.
Was she willing to risk everything for a single chance that may not ever come true?
No… she was not.
Selfish. You're so selfish. Her head screamed at her. You will keep hurting them.
She knew, but…
Wasn't having a place to live and having someone to love us what we always wanted? These androids are giving us what humans have taken away. She responded back, and the voice quieted again.
Both sides were right, she could not make a decision, not now, not yet.
An alert from her Pod told her that while she was battling her own self, she had arrived at the destination 21O had given her. A tall run down building like many others, probably what used to be an apartment complex millenia ago.
She'd seen plenty of these so far. 21O was pretty fascinated with the way humans looked and their habits she discovered, she was especially interested in kids, for whatever reason.
If Robin had to assume, it was due to 21O's protective personality, from the way she always worried about her and 9S alike. Almost like a mother…
She sighed, what did she even know about having a mother anyways? Hers left her alone when she was two, and when she saw her again it had been that day… She did not blame her but… it hurt…
She remembered being jealous of the other kids back in Ohara, with their families that loved them.
Shaking her head away from these memories she entered the building, she had a duty here, and distractions were not allowed.
The apartments like always were in total shambles, broken furniture covered in moss, it was hardly easy to find anything intact in these places, but regardless, she loves to look and explore. She did remain an archeologist.
Said curiosity for finding stuff brought her to find many things, old books, mostly literature, pieces of paper on literally anything, from detailed documents to the most fickle little notes. Sometimes she'd find objects too, broken vases, paintings, everyday things such as clothing and jewelry. All old and worn out, but at times something was in a decent enough shape she could attempt a restoration.
But perhaps the most important thing she ever found was the weapons she carried on her back. Both Scarlet Despair and Scarlet Wrath were relics she found one day after a mission in the desert to dispatch some annoying machines, White had sent her because she'd been the closest soldier that day.
By chasing them she had stumbled in a hidden cave deep in the desert, and behind it, she found the old remains of what appeared to be a temple.
Almost out of instinct she had entered it, she crossed the old place that had been mostly buried in the sand until she found a room, and in there, held on two pedestals behind a forcefield of some energy that Robin still didn't know today, stood the two weapons with their respective labels, and their sinister red glows.
She remembered being drawn to the two weapons, as without any kind of hesitation she reached out to them, her hand passing through the barrier effortlessly, when she had thought the thing would and could have fried her circuits instead.
The two weapons allowed her to take them, just like that. Though she still had the feeling that the barrier had to be some kind of test she'd never know why it had been placed there, or what kind of requirements she passed, she just knew she did, somehow.
Ever since then she held them in her hands and they always felt better than anything else YoRHa would provide for her, despite their certain old age, as if there had been some kind of connection that had been formed as soon as she laid her hands on them.
It was almost… enchanting…
She remembered White being contrary to her having the chain gauntlets, they weren't a weapon anyone could use, but as if she always held one, she effortlessly commanded the chains through her NFCS systems. It was almost too easy at times, if she had to be honest.
As if these weapons had been made for her.
And together they killed, they killed many, many androids and machines alike.
You should not be proud of that.
And she wasn't, she was not proud of her role, it didn't mean that killing wasn't still the best thing she could do. She felt sick for admitting it, almost.
Well, if she had to be honest, not only being an assassin was what she could claim was a talent of hers, she could still research like the archeologist she was. Though Scanners could very much likely rival her on gathering information.
Wasn't it why she was here in the house after all?
She couldn't find too much, the relics she found were all victims of time, and from what she'd been told since the humans of this world left, it passed millennia, so anything she could find was quite the conquest.
Wrapping the things she found in a piece of cloth she liked to keep in her inventory for this specific reason, she exited the apartment heading over to Resistance's camp, where she usually headed in search of useful supplies for restoration.
Perhaps this time she could also buy a med kit or two, given she gave one to A2.
She walked in the rather busy camp, Anemone spared a moment to look and salute her. Besides for supplies, she often came here looking for useful data on her soon to be victims, as the first thing units on the run often did was to look for supplies for survival, and the Resistance was the best offer they could find.
And always their downfall too. Resistance members did not hold any ties to YoRHa ones, besides a collaboration for the sake of androids, they were not bound to hold any secrets.
"Greetings. What can I do for you today?" the shop owner asked her as he saw her approaching, like he did many times before.
Robin was just about to ask him what kind of supplies he had, when a loud boom shook the entire camp. Just outside, coming out of nowhere, there was the biggest machine she'd ever seen before.
Huge, towering over everything like a giant, not one but two, and they promised nothing good.
Her visor conveniently told her they were Engels unit, one of those massive weapons that had been recently spotted in the nearby factory, courtesy of 21O for the information she provided her given that 9S was involved in it. One of the two machines was slightly further away but too close to the camp still.
Why the hell were those things here?
Her android instinct kicked in, as she ran outside the camp. From the corner of her eyes she could see the other few YoRHa units in the camp following her example.
And just taking a step out they could see how much worse the situation was. Not only were there those giant machines, but a tiny army of smaller ones was marching towards the camp.
Her Pod pinged and 21O appeared from the screen.
"We have received the signal of Goliath machines in the middle of the city, your job is to collaborate with the Resistance and keep the camp safe."
"We're already on it." she replied, as if there was anything else she could do, her flight unit was way too far to assist in the fight to take the Goliaths down, and though she was confident her companions, it would be best not to leave the defense of the camp to them. Nor to disobey orders.
"Unit 2B and 9S should be arriving soon, their flight units are close by, assist them getting to them, they will do the rest."
"Right." she nodded.
Best to get rid of as many machines as she could, to make sure they would have a safe passage. As safe as it could be running under a colossal machine's legs, or fighting under it, but there wasn't another choice at the moment.
She instructed the other units to keep closer to the camp and aid Anemone as she ran forward to assist her pupil and her partner. Once they were safe she'd fall back to them.
As the quickest and current best unit on the field, she felt that the most dangerous job had to be hers by default.
She charged into the fray, Scarlet Despair glowing brightly as it could taste the beginning of yet another slaughter. Robin didn't waste time in selecting which machine would have been first, the closest would do, so she slashed off the arms of the medium sized biped that got to her first, and kicked it back towards its companions with all her might.
The thing went flying into two smaller bipeds, the harsh sound of clucking metal could be heard before the impact set off an explosion that killed all three.
She didn't have time to breathe as some other machines fired a barrage of electric charged bullets at her, jumping backwards she did what she could to avoid getting hit, running, dodging, dancing around the spheres, though she could feel the static sizzle in her nerves whenever one came too close.
It was never a pleasant feeling, just like when the tip of a blade would come too close but not enough to hurt, but enough to feel the cold metal against skin and the threatening possibility of being cut. Though still a bit weird, she didn't bleed anymore when her skin was being slashed away unless whatever weapon it was, it managed to tear the metal as well.
Even after years she hadn't quite got used to it yet though, she'd still been born a human, and humans bleed when hurt.
Using her sword she cut through the bullets enough to make herself a path towards the machine that was shooting at her. Holding her weapon sideways she cut the thing straight in half in an upward motion.
Enough with these annoyances.
Always so angry. You don't even know why you're fighting these things. To help the androids reclaim this planet for the humans, she told herself all these years.
You never knew these people nor this planet before, your excuses sound a lot like White's words. You don't hate machines because you want to, you hate because you're told to. Always the little obedient dog, always been always will be.
There was not a way out of this, she thought as she ordered Pod 007 to blow a biped's head off with his laser, and watched her partner do just that.
The sound of two voices and their quick steps caught her interest, 2E and 9S must have been near, and she had to make sure they got through here safely. So as soon as she saw a couple of bipeds running towards them she chased after them.
Briefly sparing a glance back where the other soldiers were fighting, she saw them dispatching a few other bipeds, covered from shots fired from the Resistance. They would be
fine if she left the area for a few moments.
2B did not even have the time to extract Virtuous Contract to take down the machines, someone from behind them cut them in half with a sideways slash, but all she saw was the glow of a familiar red color.
There was only a single android in YoRHa that possessed such a weapon.
Her superior and teacher, 26E.
"I've freed the passage for you, now go, quick." she ordered, slightly winded from the run.
Robin watched the two run past her, she followed suit going back to the camp, her first duty was complete, she now only had to assist the others for however long these giant Goliaths would take to get rid of. Hoping they would be getting ridden of, otherwise that would be quite the problem.
But she could trust 2E and 9S, despite all the hardships they were put through, and all the times he had been reset, they still kept the best dynamic of any duo of YoRHa. Perhaps they were just meant to be together all along.
Once she made sure the duo got through the Goliath's legs closer to the camp she separated from them, barely noticing a series of flyers sending bullets at her. One of the spheres hit her square in the chest as she staggered backwards from the hit… directly under one of the legs that looked like had all intention to squish her.
Holding her still sizzling chest she willed her own legs to move as fast as she was able to, throwing herself with a leap as the monstrous limb came crashing down, only barely avoiding her.
She skidded on the grass and dirt, coating her dress in brown and green, rather than usual black and white, but at least that had been the only thing that ended up spattered.
Robin took a moment to take a breath, she could feel her black box humming loudly in her chest and her artificial muscles straining from the fight, but she had to hold on.
She got up again, her legs felt sore, but this wasn't over yet, she wasn't allowed to rest.
Falling back towards the camp, she noticed that the other units had already dispatched those annoying flyer units that shot at her earlier. Scanning her surroundings, a shock of white and red took her attention.
As did the Goliath sized machine behind that.
She rushed closer, as she did she saw there were two women, both with red hair and dressed pretty much the same, one was holding the other upright, probably hurt from something she assumed.
But this was no time for musings as the Goliath raised its arm to attack them…
"Pod!" she commanded, as her purple companion fired a laser to the Goliath's arm. Not powerful enough to pierce through armor, but enough to distract the thing and throw its aim off.
The fist slammed on the ground just at the side of the two red haired androids, missing them and giving them a chance to escape. The smaller Goliath attempted to strike again the same way with its other arm, and Robin used this opportunity to summon her chain gauntlets and throw a bladed chain at it.
She got the edge of her weapon stuck in the arm the machine was using, and used the momentum the thing raised it to let herself be pulled in, and vault over its head. With her free hand and sword ready she used her aerial systems to propel herself to the machine head, cutting it in half with a downward strike.
Once back on solid ground she watched the twin redheads make a run for it, with the corner of her eye she could spot the green cape Anemone wore waving at the two and calling them over to safety.
In the meantime she heard the roar of two flight unit's engines as 2E's white suit and 9S' black one passed under the Goliath's legs to initiate their attack. She noticed with much pleasure how the second Engels type Goliath in the nearby vicinity had already been defeated.
This was her clue to start making her way back towards the others, she absolutely did not want to be squished under the massive machine once it fell, because she was positive it would.
Turning tail she headed back to the direction of the camp, where she could spot the others already retreating in like her. She probably was the last unit still far out in the field.
The enemy machine had been dispatched rather quickly, because she did not arrive at the camp before it had started to short circuit, and soon it would explode too.
She could feel the ground beneath her feet crumble and try to swallow her with it, and her added weight of android did not absolutely help the case either. She could feel the rumble of the buildings all around her fall to pieces.
It was so loud, loud like when Ohara…
She put her hands over her ears, this was not like Ohara, she kept repeating herself. But surely it reminded her of it too well. She did not want to hear those sounds anymore and only wished they would stop…
Before she could form another thought, the shockwave of the explosion of the Engels unit sent her flying forward, she collided face first against the first building of the entrance of the Resistance's camp, breaking through a part of it.
Her whole being was hurting from it, her artificial bones and muscles spasmed, she was positive her back also got some major burns from the flames too.
A whistling noise filled her ears as she laid there trying to regain her strength enough to get up again. Perhaps she'd been too careless this time…
Robin felt a pair of strong hands around her shoulders, when most of the static that filled her vision went away she could see the worried eyes of Anemone looking down at her.
"Let's get you to camp." she just said, attempting to lift her up, but not wanting the Resistance Leader to do all the work, Robin did her best to keep herself upright even if on shaky legs.
She could see that a bed had already been cleared for her, and waiting to check on her there were none other than the two red haired androids she had saved earlier.
"We'll get her patched up the best we can." one of them said, she had straighter hair.
"This isn't necessary…" she tried to protest, but it didn't look like these two were having any of it.
"Nonsense." the other twin with wavy hair walked over, Robin could spot a quick makeshift bandage on one of her legs. "You saved us before, it is only right we pay you back for it."
Anemone laid her down on the bed on one side, and immediately she could feel one twin inspecting the damage on her back, while the other already had a screen before her ready to help. Were these two healers perhaps?
The Resistance Leader let them be as the two got to work, telling her they should have put her to sleep to not have her feel more pain, and if she agreed to it, at least they'd been nice enough to ask unlike at YoRHa.
Well who was she to tell them no? Besides, a bit of rest wouldn't hurt, she'd be lying if she said the fight didn't tire her out.
When Robin woke up she met the gaze of the twin's bright green eyes again, her Pod alerting her 21O left her an urgent message from the Commander, and the little bundle of relics that was kept safe from the shop keeper next to her.
She sat up feeling better, though she noticed she no longer wore her dress but just her shorts and white undershirt, her tights and gloves were gone too.
"Your dress was torn to shreds, we thought it'd be better to just take it off." the wavy haired one told her, motioning her the indeed destroyed and dirty garment.
"It's fine, I can ask for a new one." she replies with a shrug. "Thanks."
"Oh it is us that should thank you really, this was not a big deal." the other twin spoke, bringing a hand to her chest. "I'm Popola, and this is my sister Devola. Thanks again for saving us."
Robin gave them a small chuckle. "Like you said, it was not a big deal. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
"You should have let them be blown to bits." a voice from the camp called out to her, and she saw the twins flinch at those words. She couldn't help but glare behind her visor at who dared say such things.
"Pardon me, what?" she frowned at the man that was glaring down at them from a short distance.
"You heard me, those two are a curse, they're sinners and need to pay for what they did."
Those words… she hated those damn words!
"I do not appreciate my actions being judged, and I would suggest you shut your mouth." she glowered, getting up from the medical bed.
"Fine then be just as miserable."
It was then that in a mere second she drew her sword and stabbed it in the ground in front of that man. "I believe you forget you are speaking to an Executioner unit. I was merely doing my job, and I do not appreciate being insulted for it, so I will give you a choice, turn around and be somewhere else, or be the next person on my list of confirmed kills."
At the threat the person scrambled away, she didn't want to be scary, but also she didn't like to hear those kinds of offenses being thrown around to nobody. She had enough of those thrown at her to last her forever.
"You really didn't have to do that." the timid voice of Popola reached her.
"I hate when people say things like these, I did what I had to, and you patched me up in exchange, I don't care what others might say, you're good in my book."
Devola reached for her and took her aside, Popola following them.
"Millennia ago, there were more of us, but then, a pair of twins went nuts, they did something horrible… all of the Devola and Popola models were killed for this, all of them except us…"
"We don't remember what happened, our memories were erased in fear we would repeat the same mistake, and we've been programmed to constantly feel guilty."
Just what kind of cruelty there was in this world? These two had been the only two left with the only excuse to be used as mere examples?
What happened here?
The researcher in her flared up again, wanting, desiring to know more.
Clenching her fists she looked at them in the eye from behind her visor. "What matters to me are your current actions, not your past."
And she swore it wouldn't, or it would be negating herself once again. Whatever had happened it hadn't been them, just like she'd never been guilty for Ohara but had always been framed for it.
As if she ever asked for her home island to be blown to bits…
Taking her little bundle of relics she left the camp, suddenly not wanting to linger around it more than needed. Ignoring the message from her Operator she made her way back to the commercial facility, pausing only a moment to stare at the massive hole that was now at the center of the city. She could just say she was finishing her search mission before she returned.
Robin's head had been so full of thoughts about what had just occurred with the twins that she almost forgot one thing.
A long mane of white hair poked from the covers of the makeshift bed of her hideout where the android was sleeping all curled up.
A2 stayed…