Today the training grounds of the Bunker were bursting with life, officially it was just regular training between combat units, and their Operators were here to collect data, but only half of the deal was true, because all the combat androids here were all E types, some in disguise, such as herself, and others not.

Some of which were definitely more positive and curious about the whole ordeal than others.

"I don't understand why we would need a trainer." one says, snarling like an animal. It's 16E, and those with her personality don't usually get along much, they're too aggressive, as far as 2B knows.

"Because the Commander says so." 42E replies.

As far as 2B is concerned, this is just regular training with a better E unit than themselves, ordered from White herself, and orders are orders. She wouldn't think about the ordeal too much, but since they had to wait she could at least listen to her fellow comrades chatting.

Not like she had anything better to do, at least for a change 6O isn't talking her ear off, though she already did tell her all about their trainer as they came here. And she appeared rather impressed.

Obviously including telling her of the time she asked the woman out. To her Operator's saying, she was very polite.

"I heard the trainer is the new E unit." she hears someone say.

"Who? That Number 26 woman?" another one asks.

She lost interest in who was talking by now.

"I heard she has a spotless record."

"I also heard she looks scary."

"Liar, I heard she is very beautiful instead."

"Some people say she's as smart as a Scanner type, but made a combat unit."

Finally, the door opens, and silence falls in the room once more, as the Commander steps in, behind her there is indeed the newest addiction to the E type combat units, and her Operator, 21O, that 2B knows rather well because of 9S.

The trio seemed just as serious as one another, though the Executioner's eyes weren't visible, just like every type deployed on the field.

"I see you're all already here, this saves us time." the Commander began. "As you may have heard from your respective Operators, I wish to empower the E type division, so I put in charge our best Executioner to train all of you, so you may become even more efficient."

With a nod, White encouraged the black haired android to step forward.

"This is Unit 26E, our newest model. In the first year of activity, she collected a record of successfully completing every single mission that has ever been assigned to her, this includes Executions assignments, but also team missions where her intelligence and battle prowess have often led the squads to victory. As such, she will be your trainer from now on."

Bringing a hand to her chest, the tall android saluted them all.

"I would like you all to introduce yourselves first, and what type of operations you're involved in." those were the first words she said.

Not wanting to look like a disobedient unit in front of White, 2B stepped up first, saluting her back.

"Unit Number 2 Type E, I'm in charge of looking after Unit Number 9 Type S." she didn't miss the way 21O seemed to glare down at her as she said so, while the taller android merely acknowledged her with a nod.

Looking at her, other Units took courage to present themselves like she did. If 2B had to be honest, the woman didn't look all that menacing as other units claimed she was, true, she towered over everyone, but she'd been made that way.

If she had to say, she felt that she was more serious rather than scary.

Of course she had yet to see her in action though. The Commander said she'd been assigned to squad operations too before, but none of which 2B had been part of.

After everyone introduced themselves, some more reluctantly than others, they'd been given permission to begin training, under supervision of their Operators and the Commander herself.

Their trainer was the first to step into the arena, settling herself in the middle of it.

"Do you have any questions?" she had asked with a completely friendly tone, yet someone looked like had a problem.

"I do." as soon as 16E stepped forward, the others knew she was up to no good.

"Why do we need to be trained by you?" the woman gestured to the rest of them. "Why do we have to be humiliated by the brilliant new and shiny Unit?" turning to the Commander with a snarl. "Why can't we simply have an upgrade?"

There was a general uproar of contrasting opinions, as to who agreed with 16E and with who defended 26E's positions instead. White didn't answer them, 2B supposed she wanted to see how the new Unit acted, or perhaps them all.

"I understand the frustration, but I am merely following orders here." they heard 26E say, over the chaos.

"We're all here because we've been ordered to. And you're supposed to be a genius." 16E scoffed, 26E didn't seem bothered however.

"I personally never claimed to be anything, but I know what rumors go around about me. Contrary to what many of you might think, I am not here to mock any of you, as soldiers there should be mutual respect between each other."

Well, 2B had to admit, she had a way with words. Just like a Scanner would, perhaps those voices were true then.

All 16E was able to do was to growl in frustration, they all knew that 26E was correct, and White wouldn't want them to fight.

"I understand the feeling of being threatened from being substituted from the new better unit, however I'm not here to take anyone's place, the opposite, in fact I'm here to make sure you grow stronger and better soldiers, so you may not be reset, or worse, scrapped." she explained, 2B admired her ability to remain calm like this, it was clear not all the E types here were liking her, yet, she didn't look bothered by it.

"I can see that some of you might however be in dire need to release some anger and pent up frustration, perhaps we'll get to know each other better that way, don't you think?" 2B watched as the woman took the sword on her back, suddenly she figured out why people claimed she was so intimidating.

It wasn't her as a person, though her calmness was unsettling, as if nothing could faze her, but her weapon did it. That red glow was so sinister that gave her a dangerous aura, very fit for such an E type with such a cold demeanor to back her up.

Just as the bait was thrown, 16E was sold on it, perhaps she was even too eager to weave her blade around…

"Your weapons have a peculiar sting to themselves." 2B blurted out, all of a sudden. She'd been injured during a training session from her teacher, concerned, the Executioner woman was overseeing her treatment.

So much for thinking the woman had no emotions, but she had run over immediately to her assistance once she realized her sword hit the mark. Certainly, 26E was really good at keeping a straight face, perhaps even too good.

Something 2B envied the woman for, she prided herself for not showing emotions and keeping distance, when in reality she still had so much to learn about it.

Especially when she needed to hold them back the most.

"So I've been told." it was the simple reply she got.

But it was true, that sword of hers hurt in a weird way, beyond the pain of the cut there was something else to it, as if the blade itself was burning, the feeling was just the same as if her chassis had caught on fire, though instead it had been sliced open.

A rather weird feeling, just as weird as the weapon looked.

"I'll leave a report to the Commander, you rest up."

"Yes ma'am."

The black haired android chuckled at such formality. "No need to be so formal around me, I'm not your superior."

But the woman's words fell to deaf ears, as soon enough, 2B found herself unconsciously calling her master, prompted from other E types doing so as well. A name that 26E had to eventually yield and accept.

It was on a particularly bad day that 2B had the courage to take 26E aside to talk. She had to execute 9S, again, once again, and alone in her room she had cried about it, she wept for so long that she had almost forgotten that it had been time for training.

6O had to come and get her before the Commander found out she'd been slacking, and that she'd been displaying grief. Her Operator had offered a small hug, small because 2B wasn't particularly used to physical affection, but it had helped a little.

Now she wanted to know how 26E was able to handle her emotions so well to never show anything wrong.

She knew the curse of E types, being exposed to the death of people they could call friends for so much that in the long run they ended up going mad with grief. Who knew if she had done the same in the past too? Perhaps yes, and perhaps no.

But 26E just seemed… unaffected by anything, and records said she never needed resetting once. She just always had that cold emotionless mask in place, though 2B knew she did feel, she'd seen little glimpses here and there, mostly when she smiled, but sometimes even those felt cold and fake like the rest. Just… how was she able to block out negative emotions so easily?

Had YoRHa truly made her so perfect that she didn't feel grief? That she didn't feel guilt? Had her programming been made so she felt so little? Was it why she was that efficient?

And also, could 2B herself become that way? So she wouldn't have to hide feelings all the time, and that she wouldn't be hurt whenever a new execution order was given.

"You look troubled." was the first comment the woman made, and 2B thought she was good at keeping calm, but this android was too perceptive.

Just like Scanners.

After a moment of hesitation, finally she found the courage to talk. "How do you do it? How do you manage to be this calm? It seems that nothing affects you."

"That's what you believe, but knowing and assuming are two different things, 2E." the woman encouraged her to sit down on a few crates in a corner with her.

"We simply are all different here, and as such, we also react in different ways, what works for me may not work for you." she explained.

"But I want to try, please teach me to hinder my emotions like you do."

"No."

2B didn't expect the cold refusal, and 26E had denied it without hesitating a mere second.

"Why?" was the only thing she could mutter.

"I know it hurts, we all know how much it hurts whenever an order is given, and done, but such is the curse of us E types, to bear this burden on our shoulders." and speaking of shoulders, 26E laid a hand on hers.

"I am aware of 9S, and what happens to him, and also I know just how much you care for him too, and for both of you I can't allow you to become like me, as your teacher I must ask you to never deny your emotions. Do not become like me, 2E."

"But everyone here at YoRHa wants to be cool and efficient like you are." as she pleaded, 2B could see a hint of irritation as she stood up before her, biting her lower lip as she did.

"Someone like me is not a model to follow."

And with that she left her alone. 2B never understood what she meant entirely, no matter how hard she tried. They had never managed to talk over it again, and then… 26E left YoRHa… doing the most unthinkable thing a Unit as loyal and fierce as her could ever do. Leaving a gaping hole within them.

"By the way, I met a rather interesting android a short while ago." Adam snickered with his usual tone of all knowing superiority.

"Tall, black hair, different eyes, I believe you may know her rather well, or well, knew her." he grinned and she snarled.

"What have you done to her?" shortly before, she and 26E had a not too pleasant exchange, before the woman left to who knew where, and she went looking for 9S instead.

"Let's just say that she no longer will mock anyone with that mouth of hers." he cackled. "I must admit I was rather surprised to find an android as eloquent with words like myself, I was rather… offended."

"All you androids are good at is weaving those swords around without thinking, I almost wish I kept that peculiar glowing blade of hers as a personal trophy."

From what he was saying he had killed 26E… no, 2B didn't believe someone as strong as her could fall to the hands of this pompous thing.

"I don't believe you." she glares at him from behind her visor.

"You will never see her again, dear."

Rageful for both his words and what he did to 9S, 2B killed him, and for once running her blade through someone felt so satisfying.

Rolling onto her back, A2 shielded her eyes from the sun beating down on her. So that was the relationship between Robin and 2B, or 2E, whatever one wanted to call her. It also seemed that a certain machine got too full of himself, claiming things that didn't happen.

"You were never able to save anyone." yet, his stupid voice still rang in her head.

It didn't matter, she had saved Robin regardless of what he said, and he was dead now. But she didn't forget what had happened more recently, with her willingly letting herself fall into the ravine below the bridge, so A2 could save herself from the assault of the corrupted YoRHas.

Robin had sacrificed herself to save her yet another time. For how long would this pattern continue? How long could she keep hurting herself until it would be too much?

Didn't she see that she wasn't worth the pain?

"Good morning, A2." startled, she drew her weapon in the direction of the voice, seeing nothing more than a gray Pod, surely it wasn't 007 though.

"Who are you?"

"I am Pod 042, Unit 2B's last order was to assign this Pod to Unit A2 for assistance." the thing explained.

"I don't need you." she just stated, but the floating box didn't seem to want to leave her alone. This one surely was not as discreet as the purple one Robin had.

She didn't trust YoRHa's stuff though.

"But you trusted her." 2B's voice rang in her head, and she growled.

"She's different." she simply replied, not wanting to dwell any longer. "If you want to be useful, help me find her."

A2's internal clock told her that since the assault where the Bunker fell had passed a few days that she'd been unconscious lying on a rock, plagued from memories of all kinds, now that she accepted 2B's ones as well. Who knew where the other android ended up? If she was okay or if she wasn't.

At least through them she got to know her companion better too, though she didn't like the cold and aloof mask that she so tightly held on herself, reminded her of their first encounter and how hard they fought for no reason at all other than stupid orders.

A2 had seen a different and sweeter side of Robin that showed up little by little after their encounter. If she didn't know her well enough, she could almost say that 26E and Robin were two different beings trapped in the same body.

"Unit A2 should state her intentions." again the floating box talked to her. But maybe she could use it to find Robin, 007 could track down black boxes, so this one should be able to do so as well, no?

"My intentions? Find Robin and then kill every machine on this planet."

Because it was the machine's fault they were in this situation, it was the machines that possessed all those androids, it was the machines that destroyed the Bunker… it was the machine's fault that the companions she loved were dead…

And she had sworn to make them pay.

"Error, no Unit with the name "Robin" was found in the database." didn't YoRHa keep her old name in some hidden file or something? Weren't these floating boxes supposed to know everything in the database?

"For the love of… Unit 26E." she growled, she despised using Robin's old name, she hated that damn letter E.

For some reason she felt even more contrary to it than she'd ever been, maybe it was 2B's fault.

"All E units despise that letter, A2, and all it represents. Even the most eager killers." So that explained it.

Eager killers huh? Like that Number 16 one? Another of her group whose personality had been taken and used to turn into a killer machine…

The two only met once, and she suspected that White enjoyed sending against her people whose numbers and personalities were the same as her companions, as if she loved to make her suffer and to show off just how evil she was.

Number 16 had always been prone to violence and fighting almost by instinct, but she was no murderer, for as rude she could be, she had always been the first to lend a hand when needed.

A2 knew that Number 16 wasn't fond of Number 21, a matter of personality, Number 21 was always too smart for her own good, made everyone look rather dumb, but both of them were as reliable as ever, and when the situation called for it, Number 16 would always be there to protect Number 21, always the first.

Always wanting to be helpful, in that they both had a lot in common.

Seeing her companions' data, and her own too, be used to kill their similars, when they were always aiding and relying on one another, made her blood boil.

"This Pod is unable to locate Unit 26E's black box signal. Hypothesis, machine interference."

Great, so this thing once again proved to be as useless as ever, if there was a useful Pod A2 wished was here it was 007, recalling how the thing willingly aided her when its Unit was dying.

"So now what?" she growled in frustration, she could always jump down the ravine and check it, but who knew if Robin was still there? Maybe she could and maybe she didn't, what if someone found her? What if some machine found her?

She preferred the safety of finding her signal to know where she ended up, rather than making hypotheses as to what could have happened. Maybe if she found the machine interfering and got rid of it…

"Where is this damn machine?" she did say she wanted to kill them anyway.

"Goliath class machine detected in the desert, it is possible that it could be the one causing the disturbance, recommendation, destroy it."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it." not like she didn't feel like stabbing some tin can, especially after what had happened just a few days ago. She was so damn tired of machines messing everything up, she wished they'd just laid down and died.

All of them.

So, off to the desert she went. The quicker she got rid of the goliath, the quicker she could find where Robin was.