The engines of the UNSC dropship hissed as it hovered over the battlefield, dust being picked up around the drop area as the thrusts of the aircraft mixed with the gusts of the wild plains below. A Pelican, that's what the marines had called it. Pod informed her that a pelican was a type of bird. Why a bird? What does that have to do with ships, vehicles, or dropships? She pondered it but shrugged the odd naming to the side. Humans were peculiar like that it seemed.
Dropping its cargo, a four-wheeled vehicle known to 2B now as a Warthog. The armored figure she had been acquainted with, who identified himself as a Spartan, made his way from behind her as the massive vehicle landed in front of them. She almost didn't hear him walk behind her, and his pace was quiet despite his size, a testament to his abilities.
Turning to face the giant man, she lowered her head a bit. Maybe a bow? She thought it seemed appropriate. After all, he was an elite soldier and human-
"Please, don't do that."
"Oh, I didn't-" 2B straightened, apologizing, the deep, and monotonous tone in his voice conveying no annoyance, just pure monotony and professionalism, it was comfortable, familiar almost.
Hovering to their flank, her Pod chirped into existence, circling the odd pair of large Spartan and small Android, its fans working overtime, the flying metal can emitted a buzz, "Human Spartan. The odds of finding other survivors are unlikely at this point, and further travel would only provide an unnecessary risk to yourselves. please allow unit 2B to scout forward and clear a path, eliminating hostile-"
"There's no need to baby him like that," the purple holographic girl scolded, the voice ringing from the speaker systems inside the Spartan's suit, "We have to do our job," the woman added, opening his palm as she materialized out, waving her finger in disapproval at 2B's pod, the tiny figure's motions reminding 2B that an AI was housed inside the green armored suit, her pod floating closer as Cortana crossed her arms in annoyance, "Chief is fully capable, he's got me."
Flying in front of the holographic AI, Pod 042 showed little regard as it was directly in her projection, not bothered a bit by the personal space issue.
"Query: Unit CTN 0452-9, why do you continue to project a holographic interface? Such use seems insignificant and potentially distracting during combat. Even with advanced shielding, isn't there a danger in compromising Human Spartan effectiveness?"
"Pod." 2B groaned. The attitude. Of her machine... It wasn't good.
Hands on her hips the petite AI's eyes glanced from 2B to the Pod, to the Spartan standing before her, "First off, sheesh, such cold behavior to a lady. Second," in her best robotic voice she added, "Pod 042," before switching back to her normal, female tone. "It's Cortana, and like I told you before it's for a more human approach, my choice really, but I have to say," the AI shook her head, "you're a real bore."
2B couldn't help but smirk, raising a brow, "His programming is naturally rather blunt, but his comments aren't unfounded, aren't they?" 2B chimed, playing devil's advocate with her AI companion.
"Chief can handle himself, and I help, lots actually," Cortana remarked, scowling, "Just so you know, 2B, I can help the Chief much better than your machine. No disrespect. But I'm fully capable of helping him navigate difficult terrain, detecting hostiles, and reporting activity from faraway distances, you get it. We've got a ton of intel, and analysis running all day, he'll be just fine."
The Spartan just listened, hearing everything as the AIs went back and forth, discussing his battle prowess and the usefulness of Cortana's aid. "This one's a fighter too," Cortana continued to add as a finishing retort to Pods's warnings earlier and their remarks about the Spartans' competence.
Just as Pod was about to try again to persuade the Master Chief of its logically sound argument on how he shouldn't put his life on the line, Johnson made his way down the ramp of the dropship.
"If you guys are done going around in circles here," he whistled, gesturing with a thumb towards the Warthog behind him, "my boy Martinez will be your gunner for the time being, just took off his training wheels this mornin', so forgive the kid if he acts a bit on the clueless side, alright?" He teased.
Martinez gestured an obscenity toward the sergeant, and grumbled an incoherent complaint as 2B couldn't help but exhale and smirk, shaking her head, Humans were indeed a curious bunch.
Nodding his head Chief replied, "Affirmative. Let's go," with no delay in his tone, as 2B stood before them.
Dematerializing and fading in an explosion of bright lights and wisps, Cortana's voice could be heard inside his helmet. "We'll gather up any survivors and wait for extraction, Sergeant."
Eyeing both the Android and Master Chief, a grin and shake of the head crossed his face. Shifting the rifle in his hand and pivoting to join his men. Johnson couldn't help but exhale and leave a remark to no one in particular, "I almost feel sorry for any damn Covenant bastards dumb enough to get in your way," 2B turned her gaze toward the Spartan, watching his body move, not even flinching at the others comments, a stone and marble structure who appeared to have a mission and was set on accomplishing it.
Taking control of the Warthog, Chief shifted his attention to the Android as he watched 2B clamber in next to him and bring her pod along. The armored driver started up the engine and placed his foot down, giving them their course. "Let's go. Fast and hard," Cortana spoke, the AI knowing her soldier well.
"Of course," was all the Master Chief had responded with as they rolled out. Ignoring the bumpy terrain as the grass fields gave way to rocky outcrops, he glanced at his companion. She, for all her human-like characteristics, was no doubt mechanical in nature. Flesh-like material was plated with cybernetics, not exactly like an augmented human, more like...
"Are all android's designed like you?" He inquired, steering the warthog in the direction Cortana dictated.
"No," 2B replied curtly, bringing her attention from the scenery around her to the armored individual driving their vehicle. "Well they look human-like... but I'm a combat unit designed with battle in mind, that's the basics," 2B nodded her head, looking ahead.
Seemingly content with her response the Spartan pressed onward and forward, giving her time to digest all the things she had just recently learned.
She was a bit surprised by Cortana when she first encountered the AI and spoke to the Android with an animated character. Almost humanlike. Cortana was quick to establish communication with Pod when she picked up his transmissions and thought it had been a hostile unit. Despite this miscommunication and the unexpected meeting. The pair were quick to exchange intel, nothing confidential, no mention of technology or equipment but rather objectives, and common ground to be established between one another.
All though both seemed to try to get the other to divulge more secretive information. Each more cunning, smart, and tactfully able to skirt around specific subject matters. They were cautious of one another, yet respectfully so.
Then there was the Master Chief, a Spartan. A warrior the marines had mistakenly thought 2B as being one due to her own abilities and feats. This Spartan wasn't a machine or an android, he was a human. But this man was an elite fighter, the pinnacle of humanity's military, an incredible soldier. The way he carried himself and the calm way he handled his duties, perhaps this was what YoRHa tried to instill in her fellow androids, the perfection, and devotion towards their goals. The lack of hesitation or emotion in the situation? 2B thought as she turned and looked him up and down, eyes settling on the golden visor hiding the human beneath the green armor.
"Looking for something," The Master Chief, prompted breaking his silence as the wheels of the Warthog drove them over the land.
"No, nothing," she admitted and turned her vision from him as she looked off the side, scanning the environment in a failed effort to take her focus off him. She wasn't intimidated by him, not at all, but there was something strange about her interaction with the Spartan like she couldn't read him and therefore couldn't read their situation or future actions. Humans were new to her; they felt alien, different, and weird.
But not him, he was just too familiar. It felt strangely wrong. 2B couldn't explain it, as if something within told her a Human shouldn't have been as stoic and efficient as the Master Chief. Less machine and more like the marines they had saved, more life in them, right? They were alive and breathing, each had emotions and expressions and body language... yet the Spartan, The Master Chief, seemed... hollow. Something didn't fit and 2B was grasping at straws and grasping at ways to try to identify this feeling of something amiss in her senses.
Perhaps her mind was just reeling from the other major realization she had when Pod and Cortana shared information. Data and dates didn't line up with what she and Pod knew. Events happened on Earth that were either altered or, as her pod suggested, could be a completely alternate timeline altogether, which had thrown a monkey wrench into 2B's system of keeping a clear and level head on the situation.
These weren't her Humans, not by a long shot, and yet the call to help and defend the species she knew rang deep in her code, and an oath had to be upheld. They were still humans and would need protection and aid from the alien threat.
It seemed however the Humans were open to the idea of an Android fighting alongside them too. Could it be they were just trying to learn more about her through this joint op, was there a darker intent with this partnership, or was it desperation fueling their acceptance of her? This Covenant appeared to have humanity on the ropes, and the extra firepower wasn't likely something they were going to begrudge.
What a bizarre and abnormal world she had stumbled onto. Cortana's sudden comments about an underground structure they were entering not being a natural formation snapped 2B out of her rambling thoughts.
"An obvious observation," Pod hummed, floating over 2B's lap, "The Human Spartan would surely struggle without an AI to assist his simple task of navigation, and identification of environmental structure."
"Seriously," the holographic projection of Cortana chastised, "Are you programmed to insult others or are you just trying to stir the pot a bit? Cause, no offense. but-" the AI huffed, holding back a sarcastic comment, her voice almost growing annoyed. "Chief, we should turn Pod into scrap metal when this mission is over. I think we could use the parts. How about it?" 2B could hear the grin in Cortana's voice, knowing fully well it was just another harmless retort.
Pod however didn't take the joke lightly, "Unit 2B. Insistence of targeting this pod is unwise, and inadvisable. Our company is undeserving of its assistance, and continued guidance-"
"Play nice," 2B patted the pod as they continued to drive, "We're stuck here, let's just work together," turning and raising her brow 2B looked the Spartan up and down, "And we're both professionals, we can play well together, right?"
A nod was the only thing he responded with.
"I still think we should melt him down," the purple woman's small voice murmured from Chief speakers, as the Warthog entered the massive tunnel, darkness beginning to swallow the vehicle and its occupants.
Pod, seemingly feeling cornered floated closer to its operator, hovering above her shoulder, "Query: Unit 2B should also request deactivation of AI unit, a preventative measure is advised for its erratic behavior, and actions.-"
"Error: The same can be said for you," Cortana mimicked the pod as best as she could, a very exaggerated, electronic, robotic voice attempting to match the machine in its efforts.
"Alright, stop," 2B countered, crossing her arms and scowling at the pod and AI who continued their back and forth. "That's enough," she frowned as the group rolled on into the darkness. "Cortana, how about you tell us more about this ring or maybe the Covenant?" 2B prodded to disengage the two.
"Fine," the AI chirped and her demeanor changed. Gone was her annoyed tone, and hostile voice, now replaced by a more informative and confident pitch. "When it comes to the ring your guess is as good as mine, this is all new to the both of us, really," the AI admitted, "As for the Covenant. We've been fighting them for the last twenty-seven years."
The Master Chief twisted the wheel of the Warthog as they drove through the pitch-black tunnels. The sounds of the vehicle bounced around the space, the echoing of the heavy engines revving up as it hit an incline and the hum of the tires spinning across the rough road.
"With over twenty-three billion human casualties, and humanity scattered across space, these creatures will hunt each of us down to the edge of existence unless we do something, " she hissed in her harsh tone."A plan and a course of action need to happen. But first, we have to get off this ring. We are far outnumbered and outgunned here. We need time."
"Grunts, Jackals, and Elites," 2B chimed, recalling her encounter. "Each had different characteristics and fighting capabilities, we've had our own alien threats, but records don't show multiple races all working together."
"In terms of numbers and size, the Covenant outnumber humanity twelve-to-one in infantry," Cortana explained, "And you haven't even seen a Brute or Hunter. There's so much you haven't seen," she trailed off.
"Even more than just the three we've come across?" 2B asked as the dark corridor began to lighten and the area opened up.
"Affirmative." Cortana asserted, "It's more than a bit overwhelming when you think about it."
Jumping across a gap as they took the vehicles up another path, and weaving through the structure, 2B couldn't help but muse with a smirk."Then you two are very lucky we ended up here," 2B quipped, turning and glancing at Chief.
He kept his helmet fixed forward, as he drove the warthog through another tunnel of the maze. "Lucky..." he mused, turning and meeting 2B's gaze, "That is certainly one way to put it."
"Traveling from potentially another timeline certainly complicates things," Cortana added before trailing off, leaving a long pause hanging in the air. "Your arrival only adds more questions to this mystery. One that we certainly can't afford at the moment." Cortana grumbled.
"That troubles you," 2B guessed.
"...Not exactly. I like puzzles," Cortana chirped, a cocky tone returning. "But with all that's going on right now," Cortana expressed, growing serious. "These secrets are just not ones I can dig into," Cortana added.
2B threw an apologetic frown. The idea of a being from a different timeline right in front of you yet unable to delve deeper was probably a letdown and a tease for the AI, if the roles were reversed she could see 9S acting in the same manner. "Sorry to make things difficult, it was out of our hands. I don't know how we got here."
"Alert: Scans show a larger chamber approaching, in the distance. Multiple life forms detected ahead."
Pod 042 initiated, hovering high above 2B's shoulder, his robotic voice calling through the enclosed space. "Varied heat signatures detected, designations: Grunts, Jackals, and Elites."
Cortana echoed the pod's assessment as the green armored man accelerated, the hog picking up speed and accelerating into the darkness of the room. Rounding the corner 2B's hand touched her sword's grip. Tightening and easing into a fighting position.
"Marine get that gun turret online!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Martinez responded, grasping the handles of the gun in excitement, giving Chief and 2B a glance as he followed Cortana's commands.
Entering the chamber the aliens noticed their advance, scurrying into defensive positions as they unleashed fire on the warthog. The headlights illuminated the distance to the creatures in a splash of white. Bright green bolts of plasma zoomed past the speeding hog. A stray round impacted its hood, the alien energy searing a deep gash through the metallic exterior.
The sound of rounds buzzing, sizzling in the air around them. Echoing throughout the massive cavernous opening. Chief drove through the sea of flying projectiles, ducking and veering as necessary. He handled the wheel of the hog like a pro, with no hesitation as the gun turret on the back barked, launching the shells from its chamber and cutting through the room.
Hitting the brake he swung the vehicle around in a one hundred and eighty-degree turn. Tires squealed on the hard metal ground, sparks erupted as rubber hit metal. Sliding into the middle of the pack of Jackals. Squeals and high-pitched calls filled the air, their bodies flying through the space as the Hog made contact.
Skidding to a stop, 2B launched herself, sailing out of her seat and through the air, somersaulting, and landing atop a pair of stunned Jackals. Her sword quickly sliced through, and smeared their insides on the floor.
Launching towards the other group of Covenant, the gunfire from the turret echoed behind her as it kept the enemy's heads down. Reaching the first alien, it gazed at the charging Android, its little mouth dropping in fear and shock at the sight. Stumbling back the jackal attempted to shoot the angry Android that came barrelling down on it. With a swing of her blade and a sweep of her legs, the jackal found its rifle sent soaring across the room, clattering on the metal surface, and was then subsequently swept clean off its feet.
Ducking low 2B stepped over the jackal and jammed her blade into the middle of its back. An ear-splitting shriek left the dying creature as it writhed in agony before kicking its final death throws. Wrenching her weapon out, 2B charged and lunged at another one.
Watching another Jackal be cleaved into pieces. The little gas-masked grunts looked at 2B in horror, shrinking in fear at their endangered state and scrambling blindly into a panicked retreat. 2B readied to attack when precise shots rang through the air. Their cries of fear were snuffed out along with their lives, their bodies slumping and collapsing to the ground, magnum in hand the Master Chief stepped to her side.
With deadly efficiency, the green armored man picked off the Grunts and Jackals with clean, and quick shots. Machine-like precision and efficiency with a single bullet per head. Each of the enemies hit the floor, his hand moved smoothly from each target. Finger on the trigger, finding, firing, and taking out the hostiles. If she was a monster with the blade then he was a demon with the gun. 2B was starting to understand the comparisons that were given when the Marines spoke of the Spartan. The results were just as gruesome.
One single Jackal, frozen with terror, stood there unable to move. Chief aimed with practiced ease and killed the dumbfounded alien in an instant as if shooting a fish in a barrel. Probably the team leader for its pack.
"The bridge ahead is obstructed," Pod 042 flew in low next to 2B, analyzing the situation.
"No doubt theirs a control panel nearby, let's find it. and then be on our way." Cortana's voice drifted from his external speakers as his visor swept over the bodies, searching.
The entire fight took a solid twenty seconds of effort from each of them, a mere blink in time. 2B surveyed the massacred group with a smug sense of pride as the last Jackal's eyes and limbs twitched before growing lifeless, her black boots smearing their internal fluids across the metal ground beneath her.
With a roar a blue Elite with a standard squad of three Grunts and two Jackals in the lead exited a narrow pathway, blocking what was most likely the location of the control panel. "Human filth." it snarled as its brown eyes narrowed, and focused onto 2B's small frame. Pointing at her, "Kill."
2B stood ready and twirled her sword in an offensive posture while Chief backed her up with his magnum aimed forward.
The sound of the Chief's weapon going off was like a starting pistol, a round slamming into the lead Jackal, splitting its mask as the blood and brain splattered the two jackals next to it. Thighs bulging, 2B thrust her leg forward. Exploding like a coil spring into the fray.
Chief dispatching the support, 2B caught the eye of the blue soldier and was on it before it knew what to do.
With an unnatural, uncanny swiftness 2B had her blade buried in the midriff of the Elite. The massive soldier gargled on its blood. His stomach opened and gushing from her strike, 2B freed her blade.
Sidestepping a messy slash from its rifle, 2B pushed away from the thrashing, wounded creature. Falling to its knees, grasping at its gaping wound, its squad had died already, and the fight had already been decided. 2B simply acted like a mercy and severed its neck with a backhanded swing.
Making her way to the narrow pathway. Chief joined her, reloading his magnum, nodding, satisfied. Following her into the tunnel. Both combatants stopped just before it turned. Back pressed against the wall, the Master Chief pulled the pins to a pair of grenades, tossing them around the bend, a satisfying BOOM emanated from around the corner, an Elite sailed over their heads and slammed into a wall, the dead alien dropping its weapons before hitting the floor.
A groan emitted from around the corner. Bingo. Chief swung around the corner, pistol at the ready, and lined up the Elite who kneeled using its hand to grip where the other hand used to be. A red disoriented Elite was further back the narrow passageway, dizzy and hurt from the detonation.
Running past Chief, 2B ignored the handless Elite who was put down with a tap of the trigger from the Spartan's pistol as she reached the end she kicked off against the wall giving the red alien a roundhouse to the skull. Its neck snapped and its body went rigid. Dead before it hit the ground.
"Area clear." Chief and her voice in unison.
Hovering into the narrow and cluttered hallway, Pod scanned the alien's body, examining what little tech they had, nothing but personal data storage, "nothing of note." Pod stated as the last of his scans concluded.
Walking ahead of 2B. Chief found the floating holographic terminal tied to the main console. A digital keypad and strange symbols. Placing a hand on it the interface glowed, the controls activating, as the pod hummed, "Power source detected."
A bridge seemingly made of light sprung from nothing and extended across the divide. "This technology... This ring... Just what created such a thing?" 2B marveled, eyes scanning the glowing light that stretched from their path across the Abyss.
"Who knows?" Cortana's voice rang out of the helmet once more. Chief already making his way out to their exit and waiting in the mouth of the entryway, 2B gave one last glance at the technology around them, not knowing the true depths and intricacies of the structure they resided in before running out.
"Aren't you curious Master Chief?" The Android chimed as she pulled next to him. Her legs were able to keep up as he strode to the warthog's driver seat.
"Curious?" he inquired.
"Yeah. Everything around us, what the Covenant are up to, who built this place? Doesn't your mind wander? I know mine would..."
"Finding survivors, getting off this Ring, that's my only objective. Maybe once this is done I can worry about it." he rationalized, mounting the warthog once more.
2B clambered into the warthog beside him, a frown spreading across her features. Was this how 9S felt when she would downplay his own intellectual curiosities about the areas they investigated? Or maybe the Humans weren't interested in things, not when they were so focused on fighting to survive. Perhaps curiosity and zeal for knowledge were something only truly found in Androids...
Driving onto the bridge. She gazed down at the emptiness beneath. "We don't have a choice. So, we push forward," Cortana pointed out as Chief, without hesitation. Accelerated the hog, sending them into motion. Crossing the endless void in no time.
Exiting the tunnel and back onto the rolling grass field. Cortana marked the three locations where the escape pods had landed on Chief's HUD. Picking one at random, the warthog pushed into the woods once again.
Protect Humanity. Survive. Those were their goals at this moment. 2B thought. Chief was right, all other details of the unknown world they now inhabited could be considered later when the Human race wasn't threatened and she and her pod had an opportunity to process more than a fleeting mission.
A faint glow began to radiate from her and Pods' bodies. Brighter and brighter with each passing second.
"Mind turning off your flashlight? Oh, would you rather let the Covenant see you from space? Cuz we could do that too if that's what gets you off," Cortana's sarcasm dripped in her words, echoing off Chief's external speaker. 2B looked down as her body glowed, the shimmering effect radiating from her clothing and the pod itself.
"It... it's not me!"
"Alert: Unit 2B, electro-magnetic radiation detected." 042 announced. "Warning: Bi-polarity and shifting electric charge detected. Unit 2B caution is advised."
"Is she gonna blow!?" Martinez cried out. His worried eyes darted from 2B and the Master Chief.
Bringing the hog to a sliding halt, Chief and the marine watched as 2B and Pod shone. White and silver electrical currents and surges zapped through the area, illuminating and engulfing the pair.
Reaching its crescendo, an explosion of light and energy detonated from their being, Martinez and Chief shielding their eyes as the illumination overpowered their surroundings.
Slowly dimming, the light had abated, fading away. Blinking the harsh white haze from their vision, both the marine and the Master Chief readjusted and took in the view of an empty passenger seat. Gone was the android who once occupied it, and the odd floating box next to her, both gone, vanished into the atmosphere around them.
Stumped and confused, Cortana emerged, materializing at Chief's side, taking the vacated space. Hands on her hip and looking around. "Well, that's one way to make an exit," she humored as the soldiers in the vehicle sat stupefied and confused.
"What happened?" The armored man inquired, his question ringing with a hint of worry.
Cortana shook her head, running over the event that had unfolded, "Not exactly sure. But I suspect this had something to do with the circumstances that brought her and the pod here," the AI said, replaying the scenario back and watching the bright flash of light engulf the android, "Just give me a minute and I should have something. So sit-"
Gunfire from where the survivors were located, and screams cut into her sentence, "Well... that's not a good sign," the AI said. "They won't last long, best speed Chief. Double time." She waved and disappeared in an instant.
"We'll worry about them later," the Spartan grunted, getting the hog moving, slamming down his foot on the accelerator pedal. "Gotta get to the others. Alive" He added with determination.
Humming to herself, the AI was running the data and numbers from their encounter. Sifting through and searching her extensive memory banks, perhaps there was something that could be of some insight into what happened. Whatever the case this just added to
Cortana's growing list of questions, and at least right now it couldn't be answered, as much as the AI was not satisfied with it. She just didn't have the answers.
This ring was just filled with the unexpected.
"Warning: Chamber is reaching cataclysmic temperatures-"
A ball of white light erupted in the center of the room, a loud pulse of sound resonating through the chamber as 153 gauged the systems and area's functionality. The pulsating, ever-growing, sphere in the middle. And the sizzling noise coming from every electronic console and system. "More power! We're close!" 9S urged the pod, increasing the flow of energy and adding more voltage to the core.
"Power. Strain... Insufficient," Pod 153 grunted and shifted from one position to another as 9S eyed the light as it began to take form, the figures' shape and silhouette appearing. He just needed a few more volts...
It had taken him a few hours to reconnect all the cables and wires from the ruined panels, and much longer to sort out the data, and figure out what systems controlled what, or how all the different power generators were interfacing with the mainframe. But everything was laid before them, and the progress they were making was palpable. Now came the hard part, and their largest obstacle. Tapping into the chamber's capabilities.
Whatever system the humans had made, whatever upgrades the machines had implemented, was now at work as the device attempted to pull 2B from time and space and back here.
"Pod, at my command I want you to jump to my signal. Direct all excess power towards the device. You ready?" He spoke, twisting and altering his last control panel, turning towards the pod, 9S activated the activation sequence with his personal interface. "Here it goes, Pod! In three, two-"
9S slapped a red button with all the might his palm could muster as the light grew too intense to bear, covering and blocking his eyes, the vast chamber erupted and exploded with pure concentrated white light. With his body momentarily blinded and his sensors distorted the YoRHa Android stood before the machine which would bring 2B back.
A white silhouette in the center of the burning blaze appeared, growing in detail as her figure solidified.
"Alert: Gravitational anomalies are forming, imbalance is imminent, alert: Anti-Gravitational displacement imminent," Pod 153 sounded and bobbed into a steady hover.
"Wait! Pod, wait, wait. We've almost got her!"
"Problem: Voltage drop detected." Pod countered. "Displacement imminent. Must separate, caution, gravitational fields have reached a critical level, they must not collide with one another. Shut off imminent. Shut off imminent."
"Not yet... 2B-" he watched as her body shimmered and materialized. Her shape and form started to materialize before the burning white hot center that swirled with massive amounts of energy, the humming sound reverberating through the cavernous room and shaking it with each beat. 2B seemed a figment, her shape appearing like a ghost, flickering in the middle of a violent whirlwind.
Running toward her, arms outstretched, "2B..." 9S began, extending his fingers, ready to reach her...
Then it all came to a complete, utter stop. All in an instant. Every system froze, stalled, or turned offline. Every terminal sparked, sizzled, and died as the whirring from the generators halted their spinning blades. The silhouette of his friend dissipated before his very eyes as the world around him was doused into blackness.
Falling to his knees, his arms dropped as his legs caved and collapsed. Looking at the darkened console he grasped onto the machine, shaking with confusion and anger, 9S slammed his fist down on the hard surface, "No, no... we were so close..."
Activating its light, his pod floated to its operator's side, beaming the dull room with its bright luminous hue. The young android ran a hand through his silvery, blonde hair and shook his head, resting it against the console he stared at the ground, clenching his hands."Unit 9S..." Pod 153 hummed.
"Yeah," 9S choked, struggling to calm the fury coursing through his body as he grimaced, breathing heavily through his nose, forcing the emotions down.
"Shall we abandon this chamber and head for the surface?"
He said nothing, the young Operator pondering Pod's suggestion. Abandon. The thought left a bad taste in his mouth, he was so close to 2B. So close to finding the answer, to bringing her home... But abandoning it felt like surrender.
"Negative," he answered, eyes lingering on the pod's illuminating frame. "We figure out what went wrong here. Then go through this piece by piece," He ordered with a new resolve, placing his hands firmly on the dark consoles and booting it back to life with a few minor repairs and restarts. "We fix what is broken, and then try again," he growled under his breath. "We'll get her back."
"Affirmative:" The small robot hummed before joining the operator's side, surveying the damage with its sensors.
Wherever 2B was stuck. He would do whatever he could to bring her home. Whatever it took, whatever sacrifices were necessary, 2B would come back.