It was a cold morning, but the warmest they'd had so far. Temperatures were continuing to climb in their corner of the world, and the snow was now a distant memory that mud and budding grass had replaced.
Famas gazed out over the brown field she and roughly forty others were milling around on. Her own echelon was huddled around nearby, with G36 instructing Vector on a ruleset while the others warmed up their bodies - stretching out synth muscles, warming their joints and servos, and otherwise getting ready for the event.
Nearby, M14's team was doing something similar, as were most of the rest of their bases' echelons. Everyone was dressed in athletic wear, a mix of shorts, leggings, tank tops and T-shirts with a wide range of colors and little to no uniformity.
The only group with any kind of uniformity was the recently reunited AR-team, who all wore black jackets and leggings, with the only divergence being the accent colors on each's jacket. M4 had green, Sop a deep crimson, Ar-15 a light pink, and M16 a vibrant orange. Famas found herself staring at M16, only realizing she was doing it when 16 met her eyes with a placid glance. Famas tore her vision away, embarrassed.
It had been nearly a week since 16 had joined them, but Famas still hadn't found the courage to introduce herself. Word was that the Ar-team was shipping out in a few days as well, so she may not have a chance for much longer either.
"Okay, line up!" Rs shouted from across the field, attracting Famas' attention.
The adjutant was dressed similarly to the dolls on the field. Her hair was tied back, a Griffin-red tee on over black gym shorts, and what looked to be cleats on her feet. Over her shoulder she carried a mesh bag of black and white balls.
All the dolls assembled into a line, facing her as she approached. They grouped by echelon, as if they were about to be briefed on a mission.
"Okay, we all know what this is about?!" Rs asked, beginning to walk up and down the line with her arms held behind her back.
"Yes!" responded a chorus of voices.
"Great! And do we all know how to play?"
The responses this time were mixed, trepidation written across many of the doll's faces. Famas was proud, though, to see her own team displaying more confidence than most of the others.
"Haha," Rs chuckled. "That's alright. I'll get all of you caught up so we can all have some fun."
Rs quickly divulged some basic information and even did a few maneuvers with one ball, ending by juggling the ball with her feet. As she turned away, some of the dolls in the lineup tried to copy her, with mixed results.
"Now that's all well and good, but nothing beats a demonstration. So, let's have a show match!" Rs grinned. "Two teams. I'll captain one. M4, you can be the other captain."
M4 nodded, smiling slightly and walking up to Rs.
In short order, the two began picking their teams, and no one was surprised by the first few picks. M4 took the Ar-team, and Rs took E3.
"Famas," called M4. Several eyes slowly turned to look at Famas, who looked entirely caught off-guard. "Famas," M4 repeated, louder this time. Famas finally got the hint and scurried through the lineup of dolls before taking her place with the rest of her team, her nerves wreaking havoc on her composure.
M16, who she'd stood next to, turned to look at her and offered a friendly her the rest of E1 followed, as did the members of a few different echelons to Rs' team, including M2 and M1911, as well as PPD-40. Likewise, Springfield and K2 were chosen to be the referees for each team.
"Here is my plan," M4 said, distributing a formation.
Famas found her name listed near the front of the group, along a leading edge of three. To go with the formation, a plan was given. It was one Famas recognized from the book with a few tweaks here and there.
The team took their formation across the pitch, and waited for Rs' team to do the same, though they were taking quite a bit more time in their own huddle.
The 'pitch' was really just a part of their extended firing range, which was the only large, flat and treeless piece of land near enough to them to be useful. The goals were stretches of webbing strung between two concrete blocks, and the pitch's bounds were marked with paracord.
It was also one of three that'd been setup. Each of the pitches were strung out in a row right across the width of the firing range.
Eventually, Rs' team broke up their huddle and took their positions on the field. Their formation was a little different from the one M4 had set up, with one player on their front line.
Then M4 and Rs met at the center of the field, and both Springfield and K2 attended the kick off. After a coin flip, M4 won the ball, and Rs backed off to her side of the field.
"Ready?" M4 asked.
They all indicated they were.
M4 took a running start before driving the ball towards M16, who was just a little ways from her. Immediately they began executing their plan, driving the ball forwards down the field.
Yet, an unexpected wrench arrived shortly after the kickoff. RS and M14 both came flying towards them, and began to tangle with their offense with unexpected skill. Rs in particular gave M4 and M16 a hard time.
However, they did find an opening and drove the ball to Ar-15 on the far wing. As this happened, Famas ran like mad, and found herself wide open as the opposing defenders were too spread out trying to contain the Ar-team members.
15 must've noticed this, and drove the ball clear across the field towards Famas, the black and white ball a mere blur.
Famas caught the ball on her foot, honing in on a hole in the defense. She wove her way past 1911, the only defender near her, and slammed the ball home before M2 could intercept.
High fives and cheers went all around. Even Ar-15 was managing a thin smile as their team managed the first point.
Across the field, M14 and Rs formed a quick two-person huddle. Moments later they then broke apart and their team rearranged itself on the field. Rs was very far forwards, with the rest of their team staggered further back in rows of two and three, a solid wall of four on the far end of the field.
"They're changing things up a bit," M4 advised. "16, cover Rs tightly. The rest of you keep the same formation. Be aggressive."
Now all eyes were on M2, standing in the goal at the far end of the field. The doll held the ball in hand, and wound up.
She got a running start and dropped the ball, kicking it as hard as she could; it rocketed off her foot, hurtling through the air like a sprinted downfield and intercepted it midair, bouncing it off her upper chest towards centerfield, letting M4 take possession and start their push.
Despite the number advantage - both G36 and M16 were backing M4 up - Rs once again charged in after her. Another scuffle quickly ensued, Rs doggedly pursuing the ball as it went back and forth between the three.
As it went towards the opposing goal, Famas once again rushed forward. Likewise, Sop pushed the other flank with Ar-15 trailing her, waiting for their chance.
It came soon enough. Despite Rs' interference the ball still managed to sail out from the scuffle and right along Famas' path.
Ahead, however, two dolls stood in her way - 1911 and Tec-9, with M14 rushing over from midfield to join them. So instead of pushing forward on her own, Famas drove a powerful kick into the ball that sent it flying towards Sop.
It never made it. M14 appeared in the perfect spot to intercept midway, predicting the move. She knocked the ball from the air, and then drove it right back across the field with another kick.
Famas followed its path with mounting horror, as she saw that M4, G36, and most of their back line had pushed forward, and left Rs alone on their side of the field with only M16 covering her.
The scuffle before had left their centerfielders lagging behind Famas, Sop and Ar-15, but they had been in such a rush to catch up and support their attack that Rs had slipped through.
So, despite 16's efforts, Rs managed to slip into their back line, ball now in her possession, and was able to dodge the remaining defenders with similar ease before making a mad dash for their goal.
At the goal, Vector prepped, watching the attacking Rs like a hawk.
Rs wound up, and fired a powerful kick… into open air.
Vector hesitated, her body lurching in the expected path of the ball before pulling back. Famas pumped her legs as hard as she could, the rest of the team desperately trying to cross back to support their goalkeeper, but they were too late.
Before Vector could reset, before any of them could reach her, Rs made her final attack.
The ball sailed just past Vector's fingertips, and crashed into the net behind her.
"Merde…" Famas groaned as she sank to the ground, coming to sit on the grass beside G36.
"Yes," G36 sighed in agreement. "It at least seems we were informative in defeat."
From where they were, they could see the other games now being played by the rest of the bases' dolls.
"Yes, I suppose so."
At that moment, Famas noticed the Ar-team was slowly making their way over towards them. Famas offered M4 a friendly wave, which M4 returned with a small smile before Sop grabbed her and excitedly asked her something.
With a nod from M4, Sop ran off, bounding across the field over to where M14's team was laying in the grass. The exuberant doll crashed into Rs, who was conversing with third echelon, and tackled her to the ground in a hug. Several other members of E3 joined shortly after.
As M4 took a seat, Famas quickly glanced at Ar-15. She seemed more distant than she'd known her to be during the short time she was with them prior to the recovery op. Presently she was staring off into space, brow furrowed as if she was deep in thought.
"Care to join us?" G36 offered her.
15 shook her head, blinked a few times to recover her focus, and then met Famas' gaze. " Sorry, no. See you, and good playing with you."
With that, Ar-15 wandered off, trotting down the length of the field in the general direction of the base.
"It's Famas, yeah?" M16 then asked her abruptly.
"Y-yes," Famas stuttered, suddenly finding her throat feeling very tight as she tried to speak.
"Haha, good for you. Been a while, hasn't it?"
All Famas could manage in reply was a nod.
16 plopped down beside M4, leaning back in the grass.
"Suits you, holding a rifle instead of a mop," 16 continued. "Glad you found someone to take you on."
M4 and G36 both looked at Famas quizzically, probably wondering just what M16 was going on about. She could feel her cheeks burning from the embarrassment.
"Y-yes, I'm grateful to the commander for that…" Famas muttered.
"He seems to have a habit of taking in strays." M16 chuckled. "Feels homey."
"Yes," G36 chimed in. "He has taken many unusual dolls in, but I think it's been to all our benefit."
M4 put a hand on her chin. "Mmm, like Tec-9. We might not be here without her."
"Haha, I guess so. And speaking of strays…"
M16 nodded off in the direction of M14's group, and when Famas turned to look she noticed Rs trotting her way over towards them.
The adjutant waved to them as she got closer, and M4 offered one back.
Shortly after, Rs joined the four of them, sitting a little bit in front of M4 and Famas and angling her head to see both them and the games still ongoing in the field.
"So, did you have fun?" She asked, a wide grin on her face.
"Yes," M4 replied quickly, sounding more polite than honest.
"It was enjoyable enough," G36 added, equally polite.
"Hmmm?" Rs frowned. "Sore losers?" She asked with a little smirk.
Famas sighed. "You could have gone easier on us."
Rs shrugged. "Maybe, but I wanted you to earn your achievements, not have them handed to you. And hey, you girls still got a goal on us, and the first one of the match too! That's pretty good."
"I guess…" Famas grumbled.
Rs chuckled, shaking her head before looking back out at the fields.
"Miss Rs, have you played football much before?" M4 asked.
Rs nodded. "Yeah, whole bunch. It's what I thought I'd be doing for the rest of my life at one point."
Famas furrowed her brow. She'd not heard about this. There were various rumors on how old Rs was, where she came from. Some thought she was war vintage at least. Others believed she was even older. Famas wondered where this part of her life fit in the timeline.
"What happened?" M4 asked.
Rs sighed. "Ahhh… lets call it 'interference from my higher ups'," she said, making air quotes with her hands. "But, anyways, not important. I'm sorry that not going easy on you girls kinda ruined your fun, but there was a point to it."
"Hmm?" Famas picked her head up from sulking, looking at Rs who turned back towards them. "That you're way better at this game than us, and that it wasn't a fair match?"
"You're right, it wasn't, but that's the point. You were up against a skilled enemy who knew your capabilities in an environment you weren't familiar with."
There was a slight pause as Famas and the others sat there in silence. Across the field, one of the teams playing scored, and a row of cheers went up from players and spectators alike.
"Well when you put it like that…"
"This is just training with a paint job," M16 commented.
"Pretty much, though as training goes I hope this winds up being more fun than most."
"But… why?" M4 asked. "Has our performance been unsatisfactory?"
Rs shook her head. "Nope, not at all. Against Sangivs you girls are fantastic."
"But we're not training for Sangvis, are we?" M16 asked.
Rs shook her head. "Not specifically, no. We've been lucky lately. Things have been peaceful with only SF throwing trouble our way. However, the commander and I worry that things may change. If they do, we'll need to be ready."
"But… why football?" M4 asked.
Rs winked at her. "'Cuz it's my favorite game, but I never get an excuse to play."
"Well, you wanna go again?" 16 challenged her.
For a moment, a spark of excitement flared in Rs' eye, but it quickly died as something else seemed to occur to her. She then deflated, and let out another sigh.
"Ugh, yeah. But I can't."
"Hmm?" M4 cocked her head.
"Commander and I have places to be tonight. I gotta start wrapping this thing up and get ready for it."
"Hmm? Where are you going?" M4 asked.
"Meeting at HQ. Once a year thing, I guess."
"Ah, yes," G36 said. "I went last year. I don't envy you."
"Thanks Dreissechs," Rs grumbled. "That makes me feel so much better."
"Natürlich," G36 replied simply.
"Where's 15, by the way?" Rs asked, looking around to try and spot her.
"I don't know," M4 answered, sounding hesitant. "She's not on the network currently."
"She wandered off," Famas added, nodding in the direction 15 had gone. "That way."
"Hmm," Rs hummed, frowning.
"There a problem?" M16 asked her.
Rs briefly met the doll's gaze before shaking her head. "It's probably nothing. Just wanted to check in with her."
"I can let her know," M4 offered.
"Thanks, I appreciate that."
Operator was alive. Somehow.
This was a fact that had not ceased to amaze her in the week since the battle, though it provided little comfort as she limped along the old rail line she'd been following.
One leg was shredded and dragging behind her body, leaving the other to do most of the real work of moving. Likewise half her body resembled mincemeat, courtesy of a fun little barrage of 40mm grenades that should have, by all rights, torn her completely to pieces.
Somehow, they hadn't. The floor collapsing beneath her probably had something to do with it, or perhaps the stout Soviet engineering of the apartment bloc that she'd been in had shielded her from the worst of the barrage. Either way, it didn't really matter much. What did matter was that she'd survived, buried to the point that Griffin couldn't find her before they withdrew. Then she slipped away.
Unfortunately, part of the damage she'd received had destroyed all her comms equipment, so she had no way to contact friendlies.
No big deal, she'd thought at the time. She could just follow the railroad and eventually be found. Surely Ouroboros would send a train at some point, at which point she'd be picked up and whisked away to safety.
There was no such luck. Wherever Ouroboros was and whatever she was doing, she wasn't using this line. Not a train, nor patrol, nor even a drone had crossed Operator's path since she'd embarked on this journey.
Unfortunately, it also seemed that this journey was nearing its conclusion.
In the corner of her vision, a warning was flashing incessantly.
Low power, 2%. Charge now
It really wasn't helping her mood. She was well aware just how dire this situation was.
"If I make it outta here, I'm gonna strangle that doll," Operator growled, picturing a certain ringleader in her mind's eye.
The spite was all that was keeping her going at this point.
So she kept toddling along, legs barely moving and growing more sluggish by the minute. The hot sun above blazed down on her; it almost felt like she was being baked.
Until she came upon something peculiar.
A pathway. It was easily missed if one were blasting by on a train. It lay just off the rail line and wound up into the mountains surrounding her.
Operator sighed, glancing back down the rails in either direction and listened closely. Not that she expected to hear anything. It'd been quiet for a week; why would it change now? She was probably going to die either way. Why not have a little adventure before her power went totally dry?
"If she sends a train now, I swear," she grumbled, limping over towards the trail and beginning to head along it.
It was a nice trail. Operator had been on many hikes in her time, though rarely just for the sake of it. There was a certain peace to it, she felt, walking along the dusty, rocky trail that led up into the mountains. The air was clean, the trees around her thrived and reached towards the sky, and the wind whistled as it lapped at the peaks.
She must have walked for several klicks, her already dismally low batteries now down to less than one percent.
That's when she heard it.
Hooves on stone. Approaching from just ahead.
The sound was so odd she stopped in her tracks, staring along the trail towards where it curved sharply into a tight bend.
"Hey! What the hell?" A voice shouted from up ahead.
Around the bend, half a dozen men riding honest-to-god horses appeared. Their mounts trotted up to her as she stared up at the lead man, her eyes wide with delirium.
He was older, stout, with a long graying beard. There was an ancient Mosin rifle in his hands which he held at the ready, though didn't point her way.
"What's this?" He wondered aloud, stopping his mount a few feet in front of her. "Are you lost, little doll?"
She glared up at him. "Bite me."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Eh? Snarky one. Yuri, grab her!"
One of the men behind him compelled his horse forward, trotting up beside her before Yuri revealed a small device, like a spike with wires running along its body.
Operator tried in vain to dodge out of the way, but the damage and lack of power made her efforts slow and clumsy. Yuri drove the device into her, and a few thousand volts rapidly killed her systems as electricity arced across her body.
It was about twenty minutes before she came to.
She was tied up, laying across the back of the older man's saddle.
They were coming out of a mountain pass, tall cliff faces stretching upward to the sky on either side of her.
However, what caught her eye was not what was above, but in front of her.
A village lay just beyond the pass. It was hidden away in a little valley, with farm fields covering much of the area and little makeshift buildings made of stone and tin, with wood filling the rest.
There was enough room for at least a few hundred humans. This was SF territory though - there shouldn't be any way that a village this size could exist. It should have been wiped out two years ago, along with all the other remnants of human civilization that had existed out here.
Further puzzling were the guards that she saw stationed at the exit of the pass. Hidden behind fortified posts were dolls. SF dolls. Vespids to be exact, though they were not dressed and equipped to the SF standard. They wore normal human clothing, lacked the typical helmet visors, and carried old AKs.
The men dismounted at the entrance to the village, a man emerging from the guard post to greet them. Operator couldn't make out what was said, as she was roughly dragged off the horse she lay upon and was made to stand by the older man. She was then led off into the village, one hand around her arm.
As she was being led into the center of this little village, she spied something that stopped her in her tracks.
The man behind her prodded her with his rifle, barking at her to move forward, but her body failed to move.
No, not something, someone. Standing just a few feet away, with light brown hair tied back in a braid, dressed in normal civilian clothing and looking exactly as she had twenty years ago, was Sergeant Klein.
But of course, that was not the real Klein she'd known. That was that doll, RS9.
Operator tried in an instant to break away from her captors, rip the restraints off and run. But the men noticed almost immediately and began wrestling her to the ground.
The commotion was noticed. As Operator struggled to regain her footing in the mud, trying to shove the men away from her, a boot stopped just before her face.
She looked up, and saw her. Bright blue eyes stared down on her while a smile formed on her lips.
"Well well, what have we here?" Her voice sounded just like it had so long ago.
Operator grit her teeth as her body was suddenly plucked from the ground by her ragged clothing and lifted upwards. She felt completely exposed to Rs9's gaze.
"Operator, right? What a surprise."
"You know this doll, ma'am?" The man behind her asked.
"I suppose you could say that."
"Go to hell," Operator growled, suddenly feeling that she understood Ar-15 much better.
"Hmmm." Rs grinned. "How did you find this place?"
Operator glanced away from Rs.
"Oh come on, it's just a question."
"Luck," she grumbled.
"We found her on one of our outer patrol routes. She appeared to have been following one of our trails that lead towards the old rail line north of here," The man holding her down explained.
Rs nodded thoughtfully. "I see. So you did survive our little scrap after all. I wondered about that when they never found your body. But that was… ah, two weeks ago now? You should be long out of power by now, right?"
Operator didn't reply, but turned a burning glare into Rs' gaze.
"Wow, you really do hate me, don't you? That's a bit unfair, isn't it? This is the first time we've really spoken to one another. We don't really know each other."
She couldn't hold back her words anymore. "It doesn't fucking matter. You wearing that damn face is more than enough reason for me to hate you," she snarled.
Rs was taken aback, blinking several times in obvious confusion before pausing to consider something.
"Do we know each other?" Rs asked after a moment of thought.
"No."
"Then why the vendetta against my face? Am I that ugly or something?" Rs chuckled.
"No! You… you…" Operator paused. "You look like someone else."
Rs raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "Someone you knew?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Why would I tell you that!?" she roared, taking Rs by surprise. Operator backed up a step before the men around her grabbed at her again, holding her firmly in place. "You should know! Your creator should've at least done the decent thing and told you who they modeled you after!"
Operator seethed and raged against her restrainers, struggling in vain to break free, to move, to strike, to do anything to vent the burning anger in her.
But that fire inside would leave her almost as quickly as it had appeared when RS9 began laughing. Not softly, no. She had collapsed to the ground and was barely keeping herself sitting up as she cackled.
It left Operator feeling cold inside. Weak.
"Wh- what are you doing," she tried to scream, but it came out as barely a whimper.
"I - I," Rs tried to speak between fits of laughter, but she quickly lost whatever line of speech she was on as another fit overcame her.
Operator could tell even the patrolmen around her were discomforted by the sight.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" One asked.
Rs stuck a finger up as she began to recover. "Ye - yes, sorry."
Slowly she recovered her composure, though did not stand back up, apparently content in the mud with Operator.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Operator demanded, the weakness of her voice at odds with her words.
"Ah, lots, probably." Rs laughed to herself. "But I'm sorry, this is just too funny. You really do believe I'm a doll, don't you?"
Operator's eyes widened. "Y-yes? That's what M4 said."
"Hah. And you took her word over what your eyes told you? Surely, if you even felt the need to ask, you already suspected otherwise."
Operator's mouth hung open, finding herself unable to speak. So many words raced through her mind, but none would take shape on her lips.
"It's a cover. A story that Kryuger came up with, I guess. But that's not who I am. You," the woman before her continued, before she pointed to the man behind Operator, "Who am I?"
The man stuttered. "Uh… Madam Klein? Ma'am?"
She snapped her fingers. "Thank you."
Operator felt like her world went into slow motion, and her head went blank.
'Rs' then grew more solemn, and crept closer to Operator. Uncomfortably close, right up in her face before she spoke. "So… Do. You. Know. Me?"
Operator stared in disbelief for a minute. Her body wouldn't - couldn't - move. Klein. Here. Alive.
"Sp26-2928," she blurted out without thinking, her voice uneven and unsteady.
"Huh? Wait," Klein's brow furrowed. "928… Isa…? No, Eva?"
Operator's head nodded gently.
Klein's features softened, and she leaned back. She looked up at the men still restraining Operator. "Let her go, gently."
"Ma'am?"
"It's okay. She's an old friend."
"So, how you liking the job? Everything you'd hoped for?"
Famas looked at the one-eyed doll who'd asked the question, then stared back down at the drink in her hands. She took a sip, using the time to think about what she wanted to say.
"Well enough. Not as… intense as I expected. Last week being the exception."
"Ha!" M16 barked, rocking back in her seat as she balanced precariously on the chair's two back legs. "This life ain't like an action movie, that's for sure."
"You always made it seem like one though," Famas replied. "All those stories you would tell us."
M16 patted her on the back. She held her pint glass to her mouth and drank heartily, wiping her mouth with her sleeve. "Ah, that's cus I didn't want to bore you with the mundane stuff. Why would I tell the story of that time I spent twelve hours at a guard post then went home to drink myself to sleep? Where's the fun in that?"
Famas giggled. "Well, I have plenty of my own stories like that now, too."
"Congrats," 16 said as she finished off her drink. "You're a big girl now."
"Hehe, thank you," Famas said with a small smile.
"How about one more round, eh? Then call it a night?"
Famas nodded eagerly.
Both their drinks were empty, and without even needing to ask Springfield brought over another round for them. It was 16's treat, the older doll had insisted. She'd actually been about to turn in for another MRE dinner night in her room when the knock came on the door.
"Famas, can you confirm M16's location?" Rs' voice asked on comms, sounding a mix of tired and hurried.
"We're at the bar."
That was enough for Rs, it seemed.
"Talking to someone?" M16 asked.
"Oui, Rs wanted to know where you were," Famas replied.
"Why?"
Famas shrugged. "She and the commander are getting ready to leave. They're probably just doing a final check of some kind."
"Huh."
16 stared at her now-full glass for a moment, before looking up at the ceiling.
"Those two were kinda surprising to me, ya know?"
Famas cocked her head. "What do you mean?"
"Why did the commander take you in?"
"Oh, um… Because I'm an elite doll?"
"Right, sure. But IOP literally couldn't have given you away, and he just took you? No offense, by the way."
Famas pursed her lips, looking down at her now clenched hands. "None taken… I don't know why he was willing to take me on. That was the only reason he gave."
"Yeah, well, like I said earlier, he seems to have a habit for taking in strays. That M14 girl, Tec-9, you and me. Then there's RS9… I can't seem to figure out her deal."
"Her deal?"
"Yeah, like: who, what, when, why, maybe even how? She seems to be more in charge of us than the commander is half the time, and he puts an awful lot of faith in her."
Famas took a sip from her glass. "We all have faith in her. In both of them. They've put themselves in harm's way for us more than once, and they do their best to support us."
M16 nodded. "Yeah, I heard from M4. RS even sleeps with one of the echelons right? M14's team?"
Famas scowled at the doll's name. "Yes…"
"Isn't that kinda playing favorites though? I feel like she should be trying to be impartial."
Famas sighed. "It's Cano, not really 14 or the others. I think if Cano were on my team or any other, Rs would bunk with us."
"Yeah, they're tied at the hip, aren't they? What's their deal by the way? Are they an item or something?"
"I don't think so, but they did arrive together at the same time. They've never said how they met either."
"Interesting…" 16 muttered, running her finger along the side of her glass. "Well what about you, anyone catch your eye?" 16 asked with a playful smirk, perhaps expecting Famas to get flustered like so many dolls she knew would.
"Not really," Famas answered nonchalantly.
16 lightly punched Famas' arm. " Aw c'mon, no one? "
"I don't really see the appeal."
"Hmph," 16 snorted. "Well, you're missing out. You got these feelings in you, might as well use 'em."
It was now Famas' turn to smirk. "Oh, you sound like you've got some experience. Anyone I know?"
"Heh, well as it happens…"
16 stopped mid sentence, catching Famas by surprise.
Then 16 got up abruptly, and began storming out of the room.
"16? 16!?" Famas followed her, concern and confusion mounting in her chest as she followed the now running doll through the winding halls.
She only caught up at the main entrance to the base, where a small crowd was gathering.
Famas struggled to see over, pushing her way through the tangle of dolls as she caught quick glimpses of M16 over the sea of heads.
As she did, she also hopped on the net, wondering what the commotion was about. However, the answer revealed itself shortly as Famas broke through the crowd to discover a sight she could barely comprehend.
Rs and the commander, both dressed in formal Griffin Red overcoats and berets, were leading a pajama clad Ar-15 towards the main door in handcuffs.
They both had pistols drawn, the commander's in 15's back, Rs' held at a low ready as she led them forward through the crowd.
M4 and Sop were right behind them, third echelon as well, with anger and confusion written across everyone's faces.
The. M16 jumped in front of the group. "What are you doing!?" 16 demanded, fury and confusion in her eyes.
Rs met 16's question with cold eyes. "HQ has demanded Ar-15 be taken into custody."
"Why?"
Rs didn't reply. Famas figured she either didn't know or couldn't say.
"Well!?" 16 demanded.
"Out of the way, M16," the commander ordered.
"Tch, only if you answer me!"
Famas glanced back towards the other two AR team girls. Sop had her hackles raised, teeth grit and almost looked like she was growling. M4 was more muted, a cold scowl written across her face.
"M16, move. This is not up for debate."
"Tch." 16 glared at the commander, and made no motion to move.
Then Rs raised her pistol. The weapon was leveled on 16's upper chest, right where her core was.
The crowd went quiet.
"Famas, 14, you and your teams are to secure the Ar team until we return," The commander grunted.
Formal orders to the effect were issued moments later by Rs. Included among them was an authorization for lethal force as a last resort.
Famas' heart sank as she crept over towards M16, the dolls glare turning towards her as she approached.
"Come on," she muttered softly to her, placing a hand on 16's back to lead her away gently.
"Did you know?" 16 growled under her breath, resisting the push briefly.
Famas pursed her lips, and stole a glance at RS9. The adjutant's face was an unreadable mask.
"No," she muttered back to 16, who after briefly appraising her, relented and allowed Famas to get her out of the way.
On the far side, 14 and Cano were having a similar exchange with M4 and Sop. Upon seeing 16 relent, the pair also gave in and allowed themselves to be led away.
Rs nodded to Famas, and began to lead them out. She popped the outer door, where the rhythmic beating of a helicopter's rotor could be heard.
At the door, four armored Griffin soldiers appeared, rifles in hand. Their appearance caught the whole room off guard, human soldiers bearing the GnK logo on their chest plates, a rarity in the company that bordered on urban legend.
Rs and the commander handed Ar-15 off to them, but before she went, 15 met Famas' gaze.
Her eyes were hard, resolved in some way, but just before she was taken out of sight, she and Famas were able to exchange nods.
Rs and the Commander followed the detail out into the cold night, and the heavy outer door slid shut behind them.
NOTES:
AHAHAHAHAHAHA, WHATS A SCHEDULE?!
Sorry, I'm just happy to finally have this out. This is V4 of this chapter, it took a VERY long time to decide on what this was gonna be and for that I apologize. This was originally gonna be a zoom call, then and dress up turned fistfight, but I think Soccer/football was the way to go. I dunno, it just works for what I want to go into.
Moving on, yes, Operator is still alive... OR IS SHE!?
she is, but clearly she's stumbled upon something far from what she was expecting to ever find. More to come in the next chapter (so, next july?), but stay tuned till then,
Once again, huge thanks the Alighierie, read his stuff, I'm no longer asking.
Thanks for reading~