20 minutes later…
After setting up the instruments and drum stand, turning on the speakers, rerouting the amplifiers and lights, positioning the microphone and tying the shoulder sling to the electric guitar, he was ready, thanks to help from Devola and Popola.
9S took a deep breath before nodding to the twins to get ready.
"Well… it looks like it's time."
…
VRROOOOOOOOOM
Everything stopped what they were doing and looked at the direction of the noise.
VRROOOOOOOOOM
Anemone emerged from one of the tents also disturbed by the sounds and view of 3 people on a makeshift rock concert stage by the jukebox. More androids gathered around the stage.
VRROOOOOOOOOM
There was the red headed twins warming up the drums and other instruments, and there was 9S gripping that guitar standing proud and tall. And ready to rock!
When I get high, I get high on Move Up Speed,
Evade Range chip's a drug for me
My black box, my black box
Kickstart my black box
Always got the YoRHa comin for me
Custom flight unit doing 360
My black box, my black box
Kickstart my black box
Ooh, are you ready girls?
Ooh, are you ready now?
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my black box, give it a start
Whoa, yeah
Baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my black box, hope it never fries
Ooh, yeah
Baaaaaaaby, yeah
The beat of the music made 2B walk out of the guest room, thinking Nines was pulling off another stunt. But no, he was throwing a fucking concert. And my lord, he was doing it like a goddamn champ.
Meanwhile at the Bunker…
In the Bunker's main room a workaholic 21O was readying a checkup as usual.
21O: Operator 21O to 9S, come in 9S. This is-
On her monitor she saw a crowd of resistance androids cheering and jumping in excitement to 9S on stage in black clothing playing music. She couldn't believe it! The sound of human music! The sight of a concert held by androids in the image of humans!
6O: Hey 21O what'cha up to?
21O's goofy coworker named 6O, a silly girl with blonde braided twin tails and operator to 2B, stopped by 21O's desk and became glued to the band playing heavy metal, eyes wide with interest. The music attracted more and more operators from their stations. Like boys digging holes that attracted more boys.
"Commander! Commander! You gotta check this out!" Operator 6O called out to Commander White.
White walked the small elevator to the second floor work station to the right where a crowd of operators gathered at 21O's desk where a computer screen showing a concert of Mötley Crüe (with a few alterations in lyrics) was being sung by 9S, all while being broadcasted through Pod 153.
Commander White: My word…
21O: My son has finally done something right!
6O: Play it on the big screen!
Commander White: No all of you get back to-
All Operators: PLAY IT ON THE BIG SCREEN!
The combined loud shouts of the operators' demand to play the broadcast made White give in.
Commander White: Fine… if it raises morale l I hope.
White took a remote to display the broadcast on the room's mega monitors! Soon all the operators and soldiers off duty were praising and cheering. And let's not forget our sleeping beauty 7B who just woke up as well!
Back in the Resistance Camp…
Skydive naked from a flying machine
Or a lady with a body from the thermosphere
My black box, my black box
Kickstart my black box
Say I got trouble, trouble in my eyes
I'm just looking for another good time
My black box, my black box
Kickstart my black box
Yeah, are you ready girls?
Yeah, are you ready now, now, now?
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my black box, give it a start
Whoa, yeah
Baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my black box, hope it never fries
Ooh, yeah
Baaaaaaaby, yeah
While everyone was glued to the show, A2 quietly made her way from her hiding spot through the crowd, staying low. She nearly bumped right into 2B, who was too busy staring in awe at 9S's performance. She then waved her hand boldly in front of 2B's mouth-opened face and got no response, confirming that nothing, and nobody was going to impede her way to freedom and casually walked away, carefree.
Kickstart my black box
When we started this band, all we needed
Needed was some emotions
Years gone by, I'd say we've kicked some machine ass
When I'm hacking or slicing the metal
Overclock rushing through my plug-ins
And I'd say we're still kicking machine ass
I say, ooh-ah
Kickstart my black box, hope it never fries
And to think, we did all of this for
FOR, THE
Kickstart my black box, give it a start
GLORY, OF
M-m-m-m-m-m-ankiiiiiiind!
FOR, THE
Kickstart my heart, hope it never fries
GLORY, OF
MANKIND
Kickstart my black box, hope it never fries
Whoa, yeah
Baby
Whoa, yeah
Kickstart my black box, give it a start
Whoa, yeah
GLORY TO MANKIND!
The crowd exploded in cheers. The entire concert flared with encore as pyrotechnics and fireworks sprung skyward, far away to the desert and high up enough where those at the bunker could see it.
"Thank you everyone for listening to this awesome piece of rock music from the human days!", said 9S as he waved at people in the audience. At the very back A2 was making her way out to the entrance taking one last look at 9S waving. She smiled and waved back before disappearing.
Good luck No. 2. I hope to see you in the future.
"Glory to mankind!"
"Glory to mankind!"
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!