"So you have realized it too, Nico Robin."

Not that White expected someone as wise as she had proven to be not to find out eventually.

Shortly after A2 and the others left the camp, she and the Commander did too, with Robin specifically asking White to leave her weapon back there, as this was meant to be a conversation between them two and Rose.

She had brought the matter previously to the former Resistance's Leader when they were alone, and she had been the one to consider taking the issue to White as well, since she had knowledge unknown to other YoRHas.

"I spent a long time thinking about this, no one knows yet though, not even A2."

It wasn't easy to hide things from her either, from the way she was so damn perceptive for every little thing that regarded the people around her.

She had learned to notice the little things about everyone, she learned it with her just like Robin did when she was on the run, surrounded by people that wanted her dead.

This ability passed onto her android girlfriend, but she didn't know if she should be proud of it or not. Well she wasn't proud of how she used it, but A2 made use of it in a totally different way, not to protect herself, but to find out when something was wrong, out of love and compassion.

That woman would never cease to amaze her with her sophisticated yet simple way of being.

Right now, she and White were currently once again at the remains of what once was the machine Tower, as Robin slowly began climbing on the smaller ones like a makeshift ladder. Hard to believe that this was once a thing hidden entirely underground, tall enough to pierce the clouds so you couldn't see the top.

And yet here it lay at her feet.

"The thought occurred to me not long after we began searching for survivors, even if it could take years of searching I asked myself, what would come after?" she sat down on a white piece, inviting White to do the same, and holding the YoRHa blade that contained Rose's consciousness in her lap so the other woman could reach it too.

She had thought long about this thing, wondered about the possibilities too, especially after they had managed to find A2's old friends, and were restoring them to new life.

"What kind of life is one with no future?" she crossed her arms, and looked up at the sky.

Up there, beyond the scorching sun constantly beating down on this planet there was another, where she was born.

It was safe to say that she did feel a bit homesick.

Or a lot…

It had been a few years after all.

"I see what you mean." White responded to her previous words.

Ten thousands of years of conflicts and constant war between two factions that never prevailed on the other, until recently.

But then… what was left of it?

A planet torn apart and destroyed with barely any life left, besides overgrown plants and some animals. It wasn't a place suited for human life… and not even android lives…

"Androids are made to serve a purpose, we can try and find something to do, but then? What will be of us?" of all of them?

Sure, for now Robin got them involved in helping her with this Project Gestalt issue, and researching clues and hints, and then? What else? What did they have as their purpose?

So far, they reached these goals for each other, because their purpose was to protect the people they loved, and to end a war, even if it had no meaning, it still gave one to them, and gave them reasons to fight for, it was the people that loved them.

Like Robin deserted to protect A2, and with her she had found all she had longed for since she was born, and so much more.

2B and 9S had their own promise to uphold, that 2B would keep fighting for his sake, and to be his sole and only killer, because they could see each other again over and over.

But that had no reason to exist anymore, they were free to be together now.

21O and 6O who had watched their assisted units from afar, and held each other through their shared pain, had no reason to cry anymore, and could smile all they desired.

There was no more a reason to watch over anyone, no more duties to attend.

The Resistance, both old and new that had been in conflict for so long with machines had nothing to fight anymore, they were finally free of a burden they carried on for too long.

However fighting was all most of them could do, without it, what would it be of them?

What was the reason for the existence of androids like them now that there was peace? Dolls with too many weapons and no purpose.

A2's old companions, those who were meant to never see the light again, to be brought back in a world that had no use for them?

That never did.

Even Pascal, their peaceful machine who fought so hard to have peace just like androids did, and sought a different way that wasn't violent now had little to no one to pass this knowledge on.

Not his similars, not anymore.

Then there was Emil… well he still remained an enigma.

They had people to call lovers, and people to call friends now, but what would be the reason to keep living together if everything ended up being empty?

This world never truly had a use for androids, nor machines.

So why stay?

Why keep staying on a planet that could give them no future, and that had made them with the sole purpose to make them be little marionettes for someone's amusement? Why stay in a place that only caused them pain, and would continue to do so?

Why remain here when they could search for a new purpose elsewhere, where there was life?

Where they could build a future together?

"It won't be an easy task, some androids may not want to leave."

"If they won't they can stay here." Robin simply replied. "I don't want to force anyone to follow me with this."

She was positive at least a few of them would though, but the possibility of breaking bonds was also very much real too.

"We would need to see if this will be possible, before mentioning this with other people." and Robin knew this as much as White did.

"I intend to run this through our experts, like our Scanner types, maybe Jackass too." that woman was full of resources, and as a scientist she wouldn't lose the opportunity to analyze whatever remained of the projects of the Tower.

Reminded Robin of her own curiosity when it came to archeology.

Jackass would be crazy enough to attempt rebuilding the technology the machines wanted to use to shoot themselves on the moon server, which was why she believed this project would be possible.

They just needed different coordinates, and for that was White's job.

She was the one that kept track of the movements of her planet, how close or distant it was towards Earth and its moon, and when. She had been able to move from the Bunker and back once, she could do it again.

And for precise calculations they had, to 9S' saying, the two best Scanner types possible to do so, him and Number 21, if she was willing to help.

"YoRHa already had a system that was used to bring supplies to the Bunker and to the moon, right?" even if the records were false, she had seen more than once containers being shot into space from Earth.

As a somewhat twisted reverse shooting stars.

If they could somehow power up that engine, maybe using whatever material that the machines had intended to use for themselves…

Robin saw no shame in that, since YoRHas were already androids made with at least partial machine technology, she didn't see why they couldn't use the rest of what those things had built to their advantage, even mixing them.

They were already living proof that it could be done, so why not?

"Even if we do manage to travel to your planet I assume we would have to find somewhere to establish ourselves." White mused.

"My world is full of islands with and without people, it won't be hard to find one to suit our needs, where we could bring our knowledge and technology, and use it for good things."

Since that for now even here it had been used to just kill and destroy on both sides.

Why not reverse the tendency?

Androids were born to protect humanity, and on her planet there were so many people in need of help. She too would have wanted, desired the aid of a group so strong like YoRHa and the Resistance alike when Ohara was destroyed.

They had the strength to change things, and they had the strength to defy their purpose and for once use their power and alien technology to help those in need.

And if there was still need to kill… well then it would be on those who deserved a punishment.

Like criminals and pirates, like Marines and those of the Government that used their own strength to harm others. No, not anymore.

No more injustice, they could make their own justice.

Because there was a desperate need of people who knew the true distinction of what was right and what was wrong, that went beyond people's statuses and possessions, and beyond self established selfish laws good for protecting only those who made them.

They aided a pirate like her after all.

"I have faith." Rose spoke in their minds, just like she had faith back then when she met Number 2, because she chose to believe in a different future.

Just like this human was doing right now, and she could vividly feel exactly what she wanted.

She could feel her ideals, and her will to make this come true.

And with the talents hidden within all the androids there were around them, this could very much become a reality.

"We should return for now." White proposed, they'd have time to settle things more clearly once more pressing matters would be solved, and they could speak about this clearly if a definite idea would arise.

Only then they could attempt to make it a concrete thing.

For some reason she too found herself hoping for the best for once though.

But at least until Rose and the others were up and running, this was all but a secretly distant dream shared solely between the three of them.

It was very late into the night when Anemone returned with the two Number 2s, immediately she watched the rogue stride over to her lover, as Robin sat to her post she herself asked Jackass to make, with sewing machines and items, and 2B did the same with hers, wrapping her arms around 9S from behind him, as he worked his magic of Scanner.

She smiled, these two were so in love it was sickeningly sweet.

Well deserved after what they all had to go through. Though she did feel a bit bad for Number 4's position regarding her own feelings, however she claimed that things were okay then there was no reason to worry, no?

Perhaps it wasn't meant to be.

Her green eyes spotted a familiar shade of red in a corner, far from the others.

Slumped in a chair, with her arms crossed and her head dangling, there was Number 21 resting up quietly, as if she didn't want to disturb anyone or be in their way, so she lay far from the rest.

The last time she saw those eyes closed had been when she had killed her…

Somehow even then she still managed to look serene.

As she looked over, she was reminded of the conversation she had with 21O on the boat. Some relationships were just bound by fate, others were just a temporary fire…

And hers? What could have been?

Anemone knew where her feelings lay, during the years they had never changed, she was still entirely enamored with the pretty Scanner with red hair, so smart yet so naive and shy just as much as she had been when they met.

A lightning strike, some humans of certain cultures would say.

She had spent these years racking her brain, thinking what could have been if things had been different that day at the server, in front of that damned elevator where she had to take her life.

Where Number 21 had begged her to take it, before the virus did.

She often thought at that time, and somehow she never regretted giving the woman the peace she deserved, instead of watching her become a mindless shell of herself, just like many of her comrades she watched die did.

But she deeply regretted not accomplishing her promise…

She had told her she'd join her in death, she had told her she wouldn't have left her alone…

Yet she kept living when she did not, and sat there waiting for her to do that for all this time.

So now she wanted to know what was the true extent of Number 21's feelings towards her, even though she dreaded it at the same time, and her heart ached at the possibility of the Scanner pushing her away.

Even though with good reason.

Was this how it felt being in love? To long for this person's presence yet to be afraid of disappointing her?

She did recall Number 2 being scared too when she and Robin weren't together yet, and how much she had longed to have her back, despite not having confirmation of her feelings being reciprocated when she was still dead.

She had just wanted her at her side…

And Anemone wanted Number 21 at her side too…

"You should take her to her room, so she can be comfortable." a bubbly voice came from beside her, and she met the smiling face of 6O.

"She's very tired, she stayed up and helped way beyond the time we work, without taking a break." the blonde admitted, inching closer to her ear. "I secretly put her in rest mode because people of the 21 personality are such hard workers that don't rest much."

She knew that because 21O did the same thing too, staying at her post beyond time to research, and trying to come up with things and ideas to aid her assisted units, 9S in particular since it was hard to keep him out of trouble.

But 6O wasn't doing this only on behalf of the Scanner, though it was important so she wouldn't overwork herself, but of the Resistance Leader as well.

She made the proposal so they would have time to talk, she had 21O tell her who this special someone was for Number 21 was, so she could set this up.

"I suppose I could…" since the Scanner didn't seem to want to disturb anyone with her presence, both awake and not.

6O gave her a gentle push as encouragement.

Taking a deep breath, Anemone took the courage to walk forward, and gently take Number 21's sleeping form in her arms, being reminded of how delicate she felt and looked.

The woman didn't even stir at all, she was out cold.

Always looking out for others and not herself as usual, even when she'd just been awakened a bunch of hours before.

6O watched them leave, and then another Number 21 returned too, as the blonde operator returned to the camp, and this time awake and walking on her own legs, no problems in immediate sight at least.

"Did something happen?" 21O asked, noticing the huge grin the other one had on her face.

"Oh nothing, just helping a couple solve their issues."

She just hoped they could solve them, just like she could also hope that whatever 21O insisted on hiding wasn't her fault, or that she wasn't hurting herself again.

She'd hate it if that happened.

Anemone laid Number 21 as gently as she could, not to awaken her. The bed was nothing special, they hadn't had too much time to prepare rooms with the material gathering going on, so the rooms were still empty, and beds pretty much just mattresses.

So she took off her cape, and covered the other woman with it, though it was a little short still. She was hardly tall, but Number 21 was way more than her.

Better than nothing though.

Even if androids didn't need blankets, they didn't feel cold, but it felt right to do this.

It felt human.

The Scanner was still soundly asleep as she did all that, so Anemone decided to sit in a corner nearby, and close her own eyes for a while, staying alert just enough so she was aware of her surroundings, but her body would rest too.

She let a few hours pass, until she finally heard shuffling of cloth nearby, opening her eyes again she could spot Number 21 beginning to wake up, looking at her surroundings, and holding on to the green cape like a safety blanket.

How adorable.

The Scanner visibly relaxed once she spotted her, giving her one of those sweet smiles Anemone so much loved.

The redhead didn't smile often, so when she did it was always a good sign.

Still her heart beat louder than necessary when she took a spot near her on the mattress.

"How are you feeling?" Anemone asked.

"Physically, well, mentally I feel… odd." she watched the Scanner frown, and feared she was about to say it was her fault.

Not that Anemone would blame her if she did.

"6O may set this up."

Oh… that made sense why she was so insistent before, so that she'd take her somewhere they could be alone.

"I could feel her poking in my head, trying to trigger rest mode, I fought her off a few times, my hacking defenses were stronger than her ability, until I grew too tired to resist and gave in." the blonde may have bugged her that she needed it.

She could feel the young girl be worried for her health, as much as she knew about her unsolved emotional issues regarding Anemone too.

Her successor must have leaked to her who it was about, because Number 21 didn't recall her mentioning Anemone specifically. And now here they were, alone sitting in awkward silence.

Until one of them couldn't take any more of it.

"I'm sorry…" Anemone blurted out before she could stop herself. She knew that such a simple apology like that wasn't enough, but she didn't know where to start.

She closed her eyes. "I know I should have kept my end of the promise, but I've been a coward and you've been waiting so long…" a hand came to rest on her own, a mute request to stop talking.

"I am not mad, if that is what you are worried about." Anemone released a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"The circumstance of my demise couldn't be helped, I do not regret anything I have told you in those last moments of clarity I had, and again I thank you for relieving my pain before it was too late, but I never wanted you to die for my sake, not even for a promise."

No matter if it meant waiting three long years, she wouldn't wish death on anyone close to her, never had never would.

"When we awoke in the server, along with the others and saw you and Number 2 were absent we were… relieved. Because out of a suicide mission where no one was supposed to come out of, you two did. We missed you dearly, as much as I assume you also did, but had it been different then no one would have remembered we existed in the first place."

Rose's group had been deserters, so they hid so no one knew they were still alive, as for the newly built YoRHas, they were just a means to make new ones, they'd never been important enough for anyone to remember.

Except for the only two people that had known and cared for them, that carried their memory with them.

"If you didn't survive we may not have been here now." so even for as painful as it was for both sides, it had been for the best.

"I had been the first to hope you or Number 2 would come back for us, and I am happy to see I wasn't wrong." and the rest they knew it.

"You've always been rather determined to follow your decisions." Anemone recalled well how strong her willpower was, so it wasn't hard to assume she had done all she could to keep everyone alive through the years.

It must have been hard, but Number 21 didn't make easy decisions.

"I've missed you…" Anemone sighed, taking her own hand and placing it over the Scanner's. "And I want you to know that my feelings for you never changed."

"I still believe you're the most beautiful thing I've ever laid my eyes on."

She's told her just that the night they spent together. No compliment she said on that occasion was ever taken back, if anything she wished she could have told her all she felt before.

Before she had to take her life…

Now she knew well how Number 2, but also 2B when it came to longing for someone you loved that was no longer there.

"I never stopped loving you."

There, she said it.

"I am not sure I know what love feels like, us YoRHa weren't made to experience certain things." but Number 21 knew very well they could, she'd seen it.

"I don't know how to express emotions much, my personality type was made to be calm at all times, it hinders my feelings, even though I feel my black box willing to explode when I'm under too much pressure."

"Your heart, it's a heart." Anemone placed a hand on her chest, black box was too cold to be referred to, even though androids didn't have hearts didn't matter.

"I can feel my… heart beat in my chest much faster when you look at me, yet your presence puts me at ease." the safest she ever felt being a Scanner with no combat abilities.

She'd never been afraid as long as Anemone was at her side.

"Even if I attacked you on sight as soon as you approached me the first time?" Anemone joked lightly, how things had changed after, and how quickly too.

"First impressions aren't always perfect."

But the matter was fixed after, and settled with a certain thing.

"I just know that no one has treated me like you did." no one made her feel as wanted as Anemone did.

Being a Scanner with no other talents she often doubted she was worth being with other people, felt much like a burden more times than not. But Anemone made it clear that she did want her to just be, purpose or no purpose.

"I still want you at my side, just as much as I did back then." perhaps now even more, Anemone thought.

Time made everything grow stronger.

"Then you won't mind if I'd very much prefer staying in your room rather than here."

That caught Anemone off guard.

"That sounded naughty."

"You sound surprised for someone who has already done that before." not such an easy task, Anemone felt proud of it.

With a quick motion she straddled the Scanner's lap.

"I can do that as many times as you desire." that got a blush as dark as Number 21's hair, two could play this game, even if she knew that the Scanner didn't mean those words in the way they ended up being.

Whatever worked, Anemone supposed.

"For now I'll settle with this."

With the gentlest touch, she took the redhead's cheeks in her hands as she kissed her.

Oh how she had missed her…

Now she'll make sure that Number 21 never went anywhere again, she'd keep her safe no matter what, and she'd keep making sure that she knew she was needed, and that she was loved as she always has been.

Perhaps she should thank 6O for helping them out later.