Loud hissing woke her up.

Dr. Naoka Fujiwara awoke with a gasp as bright light and filtered air rushed through her nostrils. Her lungs went into overdrive as consciousness rushed into her thoughts. Her heart thumped into her chest as drums were, heavy and deep beats that echoed inside her body. Slowly by slowly, the thumping slowed into a gentle pace as memories rushed into Naoka.

Plus, waking up to a familiar face did much to settle her.

"Morning Doctor," Smith greeted her, clad in a smart-looking uniform, the sky-blue beret of his organization atop his head. "Had a nice nap?"

Her legs shook as she struggled to climb out of her pod, her body chilling from both the ice she woke up from as well as the cool air from the underground facility. She would have deigned Smith with a reply, save for the fact that her nose dripped with light-yellow mucous. Quickly, a team of men and women rushed towards her, a towel quickly thrown atop her to give her some warmth while another man offered her a mug with water.

"T-thank you," Naoka muttered under her breath as she accepted the water. As she offered the mug back to the man, she noted the sheer bliss that was in his eyes. She raised an eyebrow at that. All she ever did was say her thanks?

"Vitals are green," a female voice spoke up from somewhere. "No issues present, Colonel."

Smith looked up towards a high platform where someone with fiery red hair stood behind glass. "Thank you, Devola. That will be all for now."

"Understood, sir."

At that, Naoka took the moment to glance around. Her entire row of pods were being woken up, each one being attended to by Smith's men. Except...they didn't look like the soldiers she went to ice with in the twilight of the Old World.

"Smith-san," Naoka turned to the Colonel. "Who are these people? They don't look like your pilots or troopers."

"They're locals, Doc. Here to help." Smith revealed. Naoka tilted her head, latching on to what Smith said to her. Locals?

"Locals? Do you mean that the Earth has been repopulated again?" she ask, her voice analytical yet hopeful. She blinked as Smith's lips thinned.

"Of sorts," he replied cryptically. "Get your team awake and ready. There's going to be a short briefing to catch you up to date then we'll get some chow in you." At that, he turned on his heels to greet every single one of those that had awoken, his voice pleasant and welcoming.

Her attention went back to the man that had woken her up. "H-hi," he greeted her, his tone shy as he offered her his hand for a handshake. "I'm Reaper."

She blinked at him then stared at the offered hand. They stood still and awkwardly before Reaper turned away, pulling back his hand. "S-sorry."

Much later and now absconded into a sterile white room, Naoka sat on a chair, her legs crossed and expression stern as she awaited for the Colonel to show up yet again. Her colleagues, as they were, murmured among themselves, clad in prepared clothes that was form fitting for each one of them. Naoka quite disliked the clothes they had to wear considering how tight it was and it didn't really allow her to accessorize as much as she liked. The very day she could wear skirts and stockings again was the day she would well and truly celebrate.

(What she is wearing)

The murmuring died down finally when Smith strode in, three women accompanying him. Two were redheads wearing some matching clothes that showed off their hips. The last one was more modestly dressed, a olive headdress covering her face. One of the locals, Naoka presumed. She had no idea that there could be red-headed Arabs.

Smith strode up towards the front where a podium was prepared. Climbing atop it, he cleared his throat. "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the new world," Smith greeted them. "How was your sleep?"

"Chill," joked one of the scientists, his face youthful. Some chuckles broke out, while others rolled their eyes. The redheads at the front giggled and the Arab sighed. Or that was what Naoka saw her as.

"Right," Smith deadpanned, yet his eyes glinted with mischief. "Jokes aside, we all knew that by the time we woke up, we'd all be in a different world. Well, that prediction was correct and this world we are know in is vastly different in ways you never thought possible."

Smith then turned to the redheads. "Girls. You may begin."

He took a step aside and allowed the two women to step up. They were, in Naoka's assessment, absolutely drop dead gorgeous. Nary a flaw was on their fair faces. Perfectly symmetrical, fair skin, small nose and green eyes that had a certain haunting melancholy to it. The only difference being their manner of hair, with one having wilder shaggier hair and the other who had longer and smoother hair. Naoka knew that the local women tended to er on the beautiful side but this was ridiculous.

"Hello, everyone!" the shaggier one greeted them. "The name's Devola and this is my sister, Popola. Colonel Smith has asked us to be the ones to guide everyone that has woken up from cryo sleep. Now, we're going to tell you some things that might be shocking-"

"But they're the truth," Popola finished for her sister.

The scientists nodded, Naoka herself joining them. Alright. She was ready to get shocked. Devola turned around as a projector flashed against the wall behind them. "It all began on-"

And so, Naoka and the other scientists sat and listened, their minds open to the explanations that the two women were giving. However, as they spoke, the more and more the mood in the room turned into a rollercoaster of emotion. Disbelief, scepticism, and surprise. And so much more.

Naoka's lips were thin as she leaned back on her chair. Androids, Gestalt failing. The planet being tidally locked and being kept awake only by magic. Aliens and their machine hordes. Of course, they were offered proof. The Twins and that veiled woman...no...android had let themselves be touched by the scientists as proof of who they were. Naoka herself felt the wires, the artificial nature of their bodies, their lack of pulse and more. But despite that, she could not ignore the fact that they were so...alive.

With the explanations over, questions began pouring.

"What powers you? Are you artificial intelligence?" One scientist asked, his face elderly.

A look flashed on the Twin's eyes, as well as with the veiled woman who was now standing next to Smith. It seemed that sort of question offended them, Naoka noted. "We...we aren't artificial intelligence, Doctor," Devola answered patiently.

"Most androids are constructed from the scans of human brains. My sister and I, we both claim the memories of human twins we don't really remember much," Popola continued for her sister, her voice gentle. "As for what powers us, we all have internal sources of power that keeps us operating indefinitely without need to refuel."

Murmurs of fascination echoed. Even Naoka herself whistled. She would very much like to examine how these androids worked. Though that would have to involve strapping one and examining it...Naoka paused her line of thinking. She was looking at those androids as if they were little more than robots. No, they were much more than that, Naoka mused. They had emotions, judging from how offended they were at being referred to as AI, as well as clear personalities.

Despite their artificial construction, Naoka would struggle to not see those androids as people.

"You're very human-like," Naoka observed. She craned her head upwards, looking at the two eye-to-eye. "How is this possible?"

"Well...My fellow androids and I were built to be as close to humanity as possible, Doctor. Our thoughts, our feelings...everything," Devola smiled, happy to answer Naoka's question. "Although we don't need to, androids for example can taste food. When it does get inside our bodies, our systems simply converts it into energy."

Even more fascinated sounds emerged from the group. "You're marvels!" a scientist yelled from the back. Devola and Popola giggled. A very human trait.

"Are there different types of androids?" Another one asked.

"Yes, there are," Popola answered, leaning in to make herself known. "My sister and I were intended to be administrators and medical staff. Anemone over there, she's a combat model which as the name implies, is built for battle."

Anemone, the veiled woman, nodded. "When I was manufactured, I was programmed solely to fight and to lead. However, we're not limited to our programming alone. We can learn. Throughout the years, I myself managed to learn new things that wasn't part of my intended role. Although, I am an older model. The ones that YoRHa fields are much more advanced,"

"In what way?" the same scientist asked.

At this, Smith chimed in. "The way they fight defies expectations. A single YoRHa unit could clobber a hundred machines and be unscatched."

"I'd love to see the data then," the scientist nodded. "Any one of these YoRHa models around?"

"Their Commander, White, was here but she had to return to their HQ to resume her duties as their leader," Smith said, some manner of disappointment in his voice though he hid it well. "As for the models themselves, they're currently out the Outpost, patrolling the desert with my pilots."
The scientist frowned. "I see. I'll have to wait until they get back then. Where's their HQ?"

"Space," Smith deadpanned.

Naoka leaned in.

"Space?" she repeated, for clarification.

"Yes. Space. The Army of Humanity maintains massive space stations in orbit. One of these stations, they are converting to be habitable to humans. When it's done, the rest of the civvies we have with us are going to be sent to live there. The strategic situation on Earth is not suitable for repopulation just yet," Smith reported. He strode up to the podium. The Twins standing aside to let him speak.

"And that is why it was time for me to wake you all up. When we went to sleep, we knew that by the time we would rise, humanity will arise in a world that is massively depopulated. Thankfully, the androids will assist us in that manner."

"How? Forgive me, Colonel, but as I understand, the androids themselves aren't exactly organic?" Naoka pointed out.

A nervous look came on Devola's face.

"About that..." she began, causing the scientists to glance her way. She wilted under their gaze, her cheeks reddening from both embarrassment and exposure. "I...recently came to discover that..." She faltered, her words dying in her mouth.

"Well?" Naoka demanded.

"Um..."

Popola rolled her eyes. "What my sis is trying to say, Doctor, is that she found that we, female androids that is, are capable of reproduction. Our wombs can gestate a human child, though we need to be inseminated first." She tilted her head. "I am unsure however if male androids could impregnate another android, nor do we know if they can impregnate a human female."

Awkward glances was exchanged between the scientists. "You are capable of reproduction?" Naoka asked, her voice still pointed though a little more gentle.

"Yes," Devola admitted, her face now as red as her hair.

Naoka leaned back. "And...pray tell who is the father?" It had to be one of those pilots, Naoka mused. Soldiers were the filthiest and most degenerate bunch that ever existed on this planet. A pity. Devola looked like a nice and proper girl. Though, it's not as if that they really had a choice right now.

"It's me," deadpanned Smith.

The whole room turned to him.

"You, Colonel?" Naoka repeated, disbelief in her voice. "How?"

"In the way that you think, Doctor. The old fashioned way," Smith replied, some masculine confidence in his voice. Impressed whistles came from her team, mostly from the men but she just glared at them until they composed themselves. Turning back, Naoka stood up.

"If that's the case, my team and I will have to monitor you, Devola-san," Naoka said. "You and the other androids that the pilots may have slept with. Knowing them, they probably have added to the population, dogs that they are."

"Doctor, might I remind you, that is the point?" Smith butted in. "To return our population to normal, whatever it might take?"

"Doesn't change the fact that it's still rather filthy though the enthusiasm is welcome," said Naoka. She turned to Devola. "Don't worry, Devola-san. We'll take care of you."

"T-Thank you," Devola cleared her throat. "I am sorry if...I'm troubling you."

Naoka shook her head. "Nonsense, Devola-san. You are no trouble, at all. After this, we'll have to do some tests on you. I assure you, you will be well taken care of."

Devola afforded the good doctor a smile. Naoka at that moment had a moment's thought. Considering how small the human population was, the others in the different bunkers combined, the androids was a unexpected miracle. Naoka herself was willing to join in the effort, once she had the time and once she found a partner she'd approve of.

A part of herself laughed at her situation. Her parents had asked her when she would settle down and have children. Ironic that the time she was going to have them, her parents wouldn't be there to see their most earnest desire.

As she was about to speak, loud knocking interrupted them. The door opened and in came a android. "Colonel! Anemone!" the man huffed.

"Yes? What is it?" Smith asked, striding forward.

"We have an urgent request for reinforcements! One of our patrol groups have encountered a machine lifeform!"

+++

The skies roared with the fury of jet engines thrusting man and machine forward. 2B took the speed rather well, nestled comfortably on Damian's Yggdrasil, eyes scanning the horizon and the sands below.

"The desert. I love it." Damian remarked, his voice distorted by his suit's speakers. Despite that, 2B could hear the naked sarcasm from him.

"You dislike the desert, sergeant?" 2B asked, wondering if her voice could be heard as the Yggdrasil's thrusters drowned out everything in its mechanical roar. Surprisingly, Damian managed to hear her as he responded.

"I'm getting bored of this place, to be frank," Damian admitted, his eyes glancing over the images of his HUD. It showed nothing but desert and sand, and sun, and a bunch of scorched rocks. Nothing particularly interesting or fun. "It would be nice to have night, I can see the stars that way at least. But damn, the planet's locked on its axis or something. I'll miss the night."

2B perked up at that. She had heard much from 12H and the other androids who raved what the humans were like. 12H having more to say about Damian. While she could appreciate the way 12H spoke about how Damian did her in ways that was not appropriate for her to hear, she did latch on to the how alive he felt and how many stories he had of a world before everything, a world that while had its troubles, was one without apocalyptic threats that locked them in a never ending cycle of life and death.

"What was night like, Sergeant?" 2B asked, unusual curiosity perking up in her.

"Hm, night?" Damian said, he hummed. "Imagine the world as you see this now, but dark and the stars are all in the sky pulsing brightly with the stars and the moon. That's how best I can describe it. Perdon, but I am no poet, you know?"

"It is sufficient, Sergeant," 2B replied, a small smile on her face. It was already good enough for her to hear from a human. "I suppose the best way I can relate to that is like watching space from the Bunker."

"I heard about that," Damian perked up this time, interest in his voice. "12H tells me that you YoRHa have a space station! Talk about advanced!"

From the way Damian spoke about 12H, his tone suggested that what he and the Healer shared was more than just friendly. And from what 12H was willing to gossip, they had already done more than hold hands, the filth. 2B wasn't dumb nor was she clueless. She knew that Damian and 12H were in love with each other. She could quite feel it from the way they spoke about each other. 2B herself though...she knew what love is. She felt it, craved it. But deserved it?

After everything she did?

No. She didn't deserve it.

She could never.

"Oi, chica. You look more grim than usual, eh?" Damian noted, his helm having fully turned towards her. "It's just...it's nothing, sergeant." A derisive snort left his lips. "Look, you may be an android but you are still una guapa mamacita, you know? You're still a pretty woman. And I know when women say it's nothing, there's something wrong. I know we ain't exactly friends but, you's got me curious anyway. What's up?"

Was she really that obvious?

2B wondered how she would tell it to Damian. Actually, should she even tell Damian? This was essentially her deepest darkest secret. Why was she seriously considering on telling him? Simply because he was human? She felt...safe around him. Her trust for Damian was ironclad. Did he earn it? She...she figured he did. He had fought with her after all. She tilted her head up. "I...I have a colleague who's...struggling with her emotions."

Damian listened patiently, realizing how surreal it is to have such a intimate conversation while flying high above the sands, while in a mecha suit and carrying an android woman on his shoulder.

"She knows that she has..." 2B paused. "strong emotions for a certain colleague of hers." Strong couldn't even begin to describe it.

"Hm," Damian thought. This was starting to seem less of a hypothetical colleague and more of 2B trying to cover up her own infatuation. "Hm. So this colleague...what does this colleague make your friend feel?"

Despite herself, 2B flushed. "Warm. Like...like I-she is in the clouds. This colleague...he's just wonderful. His curiosity is infectious."

"Uhuh. And this friend of yours is totally not you," Damian deadpanned.

"Yes." 2B lied.

Pod 042 seemed offended at that. Erstwhile, the pod had clutched at Damian's suit. While the Pod could keep up, the Yggdrasil was simply too powerful. "Alert: YoRHa Unit 2B is showing signs of heating in her core. Recommendation: Inject coolant to calm your core."

2B stared at the Pod clutching at Damian's other shoulder. Despite lacking a face, 042 stared back. Damian simply laughed. "Chica, you love this...this lucky man. What is his name?"

Openly checked, 2B simply had to admit it. Her lips quivered, trying to say his name. Her core overheated, the black box inside of her pulsing with emotion. "N....Nuh...."

"Nuh?"

"9..S," 2B admitted. Her voice became softer. "His name is 9S."

"This 9S...he is a android like you?" Damian asked. 2B nodded. The latino man hummed. "I see. And does he know about your feelings? Does he like you back?"

"He...he does," 2B admitted. It was plain to see that the Scout model loved 2B as much as she had hidden feelings for him. But, she kept those feelings away. They...they can't. Not after what she had done. 2B was simply her name on paper. Her true name was 2E, a android solely designed to kill other androids. And she had done her work towards the Scout far too many times.

Too many.

Damian however didn't know about that. All he saw was two androids wasting time. "Then, what is wrong? If you two had the hots for each other, why haven't you two got together now?"

At this, 042 chimed. "YoRHa regulations forbid attachments within its ranks. It would distract YoRHa units from their mission and jeopardize operational success."

"And in YoRHa, emotions are prohibited," 2B reported.

Damian however, raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I understand the no attachments stuff. It is the battlefield after all but, no emotions?"

"The prohibition of emotions is a rule that was created by the creators of YoRHa as a safety measure to prevent the androids from engaging in unethical or potentially dangerous behaviors. It is intended to help the YoRHa androids maintain their primary mission of protecting and serving the humans on the surface without being influenced by their emotions," 2B answered robotically.

Silence befell them.

"Yet, you, 12H and the other YoRHa androids I have met are so alive, you know?" Damian pointed out.

"We...we are not totally incapable of emotions. We are granted a level of it to be closer to our creators." 2B replied.

Damian shook his head. "It just seems cruel, you know? What sort of sadistic monster would grant you all emotions, yet prohibit you from practicing it?"

At that, 2B had no answer. She turned away, her face looking at the horizon beyond. "I...I can't answer that. I..." She sighed. "This was a ridiculous conversation. I am sorry for wasting your time, Ser-"

"No no, is not a waste of time. This is you and your emotions we are talking about. You and your lover, eh?" Damian said teasingly.

"9S is not my l-lover," 2B protested, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.

"Yet," cheekily replied Damian, earning an even fiercer blush from 2B. He chuckled at her embarrassment before finally, his tone turned serious. "Look. chica. Take it from me. Before all this...I had the same situation. She had invited me out for a party. I...I told her I was busy." His voice was soft, regretful. "By the time the morning came, she alongside her wing were all killed in action."

A sickness fell appeared in 2B's stomach. YoRHa could all come back from termination in a whole new body. But it was going to be a different one. A whole new different 9S.

Damian sighed. "The point is, there is only so much time in the world we have. Regret is shit, 2B. Don't wait for this 9S to approach you first. Sometimes, you have to take the first step. You never know when it's going to be the last time you see them, you know?"

"I see..." 2B whispered.

"So when you see him, go and take him to the nearest room, and let your heart out. You two are already crushing on each other, as you tell me, so why not?" Damian chuckled. 2B managed a smile. The sergeant was right in that. But...

It wasn't so simple.

Just as 2B was about to open her mouth, her audio receptors perked up as the sound of an explosion echoed in the distance. It wasn't just her though. Damian craned his head, turning right. "Explosion detected, 20 meteres." Damian reported, his voice turning professional. "Scanning."

For what seemed like a heartbeat, Damian continued. "Resistance six-wheeler. They're engaging...something. Some Trade Federation ship looking as-. Wait...is that a YoRHa unit? I thought only you and the ones that came with 1D were the only ones here."

+++

A2 felt strange.

Following around a Resistance truck carrying boar meat was the most strangest thing she had done. Yet, she still did it regardless. A certain curiosity had gripped her. The Resistance barely went to the Desert and the goods it carried was perishable. Perhaps if it carried boots and other supplies, she would see that they were trying to supply their camps there but meat?

That was something to investigate.

She kept her distance, making sure that the drivers didn't see her running after them. The desert was wide enough for that thankfully and there were many mounds and crevices she could jump and dart from. Doing all this was admittedly making her lose her interest fast but that gnawing feeling in her stomach didn't go away. It wouldn't go away.

Then, the world began to shake.

She was high above on a ridge, keeping a careful distance between herself and the truck when something large and looming burst from the sands. Multiple cylindrical monstrosities arose from the sands, sharp legs chittering and chattering as it darted about, slowing down to regard the Resistance truck with a single red eye. The Resistance truck swerved to the side, horrified screaming coming from the driver and the other passenger. The machine monstrosity leaned in, centipede-like, and chattered from a unseen mouth as it shone a bright light into the truck.

A2 snarled, white light glittering at her side as she brought out her blade. She nearly leapt out of her position but she stopped. She...she was a fugitive. A criminal not just to YoRHa but also to the Resistance too. In her years of hiding, she had stolen equipment from the Resistance to keep herself alive. Not only that, she would be reported to YoRHa if she reared her head.

But...

The screams from the Resistance. The terror in their voices. The chittering of the machine.

The machine.

This filthy, disgusting Machine!

No one will blame her for attacking. Her name was A2. Attacker. Not Runner.

She leapt from her position, blade brandishing as she charged towards the machine. The Machine turned towards her with a singular eye, registering that the former YoRHa unit was much more threatening to it than a pair of Resistance androids with frozen meat in their inventory. It veered from the truck and snaked towards her. A2's eyes widened when the multiple eyes of the machine glowed and began dropping bomblets in wild clusters. The clusters erupted in dark-reddish explosions. A2 halted, covering herself as the bomb run ran over her. By the time it was over, A2 was left snarling and seething as her UI showed the chunk of health that bomb run took from her.

If that machine thought that it was the only one with surprises, it was dead wrong.

A2's body glowed a dark purple. Her core worked into overdrive as power was thrust forth into her systems. The nuclear reactor that was in her body blazed with the heat of a thousand suns. "My turn!" snarled A2. The machine monstrosity had split up into individual pieces, chattering as they rushed to body A2. But here on the ground, A2 was faster.

She moved in lightning speed, a blur that the machine struggled to keep up with. By the time it had seen A2, she was already upon one of its pieces. But this time, A2 was different. Fire burned in her eyes, a mystical red flame fuelled by rage and her nuclear reactor going into overdrive. An oppressive red aura surrounded her being, dark clouds of violence turning even the air around her murderous. The light for her was too bright and vivid. Her teeth were razors, her nails were daggers. Bloodlust darkened her thoughts and her heart. With a shrill cry, she thrust and stabbed the machine with her blade. Long violent berserk thrusts dug through the machine's plate. It's singular eye darted around in a panic as the murder-drunk A2 stabbed and stabbed. It cried vicariously, beckoning for its other pieces for assistance but even its own voice was drowned out as metal bent, wires were cut and A2 just kept on stabbing.

"RAAAAAAAAARGH!" screamed A2 as she cut and hacked and slashed at the machine in its death throes. A snarl escaped her lip as she found its core. She did not hesitate as she bit into the core and tore it out with her mouth. Oil and still pulsing wires were in her lips, dripping down onto her body in thick black droplets. She spat it out, disgust and contempt in her eyes as the machine powered down.

One down. Eight more to go.

She leapt off the machine but then, she felt pain as a piercing machine laser thrust into her back. "ARGH!" A2 cried out as she was thrown forth to be buried onto the sand. Slowly, the air around her vanished as she returned to acceptable settings. As much as she wanted to go berserk, going into that state or B-Mode was not just a danger to her enemies but also too her. Too much of it and her nuclear core would simply explode from the high output. Plus, it simply made her vulnerable to attack.

She could not kiss the ground and take what the machines were giving though. She had to stand up. She had to fight. Shaking, she got to her feet, her legs still wobbling as he body recovered from the use of B-Mode. By this, the machine had returned to its caterpillar form, flying high into the air. The data from its fallen piece had informed it that to engage the android on the ground posed its risk. And so, it pulled back to simply saturate the android with bomblets until it was terminated. It flew off, snaking in the air, chittering and chattering in its profane machine tongue, as it prepared to do another bombing run.

A2 breaths were laboured, her legs were still weak and her UI was in the red.

If she was going to stay and take the bombs again, she was going to die.

But...that wouldn't be so bad, would it?

A2...had fought for so long. Lived alone for so long. She....she had no idea if there ever was a heaven for androids like her. But at least she could finally rest and join the others.

No.21. No.16.

No.4.

But as she stood ready to embrace death, that final dark void. No.4's voice and final order filtered into her mind.

"Live,"

For a brief moment, she was back in Honolulu, thousands upon thousands of machine corpses around her. No.4 cradled on her arms, her tears dripping down on her Captain's face. Even in the face of death, she was still strong.

"Live, No.2. Live...for us."

A2 opened her eyes, now back at the present, and fully aware of the machine coming closer, bomblets already exploding as it came close to her. She wanted to move, to run and take cover but her legs still were wobbling. She needed a full minute to recover. But she had none. She wanted to run away, to carry out No.4's final order. But she couldn't.

"I'm sorry...everyone," was A2's final thought. It was coming closer now, closer and closer and clo-

A2 yelped as a heavy weight dropped in front of her. Such was its force that sand and dust kicked up, covering her. Her audio receptors registered the bombs dropping around her...but she wasn't dead. Not yet. Slowly and warily, she glanced up...and found herself staring at a metal giant. But it was not a machine unit. Her sensors, her very being told her that it was something more.

The machine turned high, twisting in the air as it regarded the necomer. It shrilled at them, displeasure at being denied a kill. But the giant regarded it with nonchalance. There was a hiss and a servo whine as the metal giant turned to her, helmet visor glinting. "You okay?" came an electronically distorted voice.

"U-uh...y-yeah," A2 stammered, hating how her voice sounded.

Surrounding them was a bubble of energy that glistened with power. That was what shielded her and it, A2 realized. The shield slowly dissipated. A new contact registered in her senses as a shadow loomed. To her alarm, it was a YoRHa unit descending with a Pod.

"Sergeant, I will have to remind you that this...unit is a deserter," the bint warned the giant.

"Proposal: Apprehend YoRHa Unit No.2," her pod oh so wonderfully added.

"Yet she rushed forward to save those resistance members, eh?" the giant responded, amused. "We can argue the specifics afterwards. Right now, we have a machine unit to destroy." It turned to her. "You in?"

She glared at the YoRHa unit who stared back. Automatically, that unit could go dig a hole and die. She turned to the giant. "I don't know who you are but if you want to destroy that thing....I'm in." Life returned to A2 as her systems finished its self-repair.

2B inwardly sighed. Orders were to destroy or apprehend deserters. But orders were orders. Virtuous Contract flashed in her arms as she regarded the flying machine that began to swerve into their direction for another bombing run.

Behind his helmet, Damian grinned as his HUD planted targets all over the incoming machine. "Epico! Alright! Let's go kick this machine's shit in!"

+++

Damian's suit launched the opening salvo, the arm-mounted minigun fired, whirring its ominous song. Such was its power that the air would have burnt if they weren't already in the desert. The maso bullets were thrust and cratered the machine's thick armored plates. A2 and 2B rushed forward, their speed near matching. Barrelling forward, the YoRHa androids carved a path as the machine detached itself to engage the three.

Skittering and chittering, and with clawed legs, the machine formed a ring around them.

"High energy levels detected!" Damian said aloud, his HUD screaming at him to weave away. Kicking into high gear, the YGGDRASIL screamed high into the air and just in time as a burst of pure energy screamed from the Machines. He grit his teeth, his arms spread as one of his pods opened fire. "Launching missiles! YoRHa, out of the way!"

A missile screamed, thrust out of its pod and aimed directly at the machines. It opened up, spilling smaller micro-missiles at where the machines stood.

2B and A2, who had been engaging their own targets, looked up at Damian's warning. Gritting their teeth, the two androids braced themselves as a fusillade of missiles descended upon them. Dust and soot kicked up as orange-light consumed the sands, burning anything caught within its range.

High above, Damian's HUD registered the smoke obscuring his sight. "Switching to thermal," Damian said. Immediately, the thermal signatures of A2 and 2B's nuclear cores were registered. The dust settled a bit more now, revealing A2 still gripping her sword and yelling at Damian. "Give me a little bit more warning before you decide to fire your missiles, you fucking asshole!"

From where she stood, 2B took a step, disapproval in her eyes as she heard A2's tone. "Watch your tone, deserter," she said coldly. Just because Damian had, for the moment, told her that they were going to be temporarily working with that wayward android didn't mean 2B was going to give her due deference.

A2 narrowed her eyes at the model. Always, always, the newer models high-horsed themselves over her. "You are a brainwashed moron. Command betrayed us, betrayed my team. I did nothing wrong deserting YoRHa when it was YoRHa that fired the first damn shot!"

2B's grip on Virtuous Contract tightened. Seeing this, A2 held up her own sword, ready to fight. But that was broken when Damian cried out. "Ladies! The battle is not over!" his voice boomed. Metal groaning echoed in the air as the machine whose true name was Hegel revealed itself again.

"Missile barrage ineffective, target has personal shielding!" Damian cried out as his HUD noted the white bubble shield around the Trade Federation ship looking bastard.

"Don't you fucking douse me in missiles or I swear to-" A2 cried out as she somersaulted into the air, just in time as one of the machines dug its claws into where she stood, its shielding slowly dissipating. Landing on her feet, she fell into a combat stance, a heavier sword appearing in her hand. The Type-3 Sword was a older design. But it old didn't mean obsolete and in A2's hands, the tougher machine bastards would be turned into scrap.

Resting against her shoulder, A2 locked into the closest target, the same machine that tried to stomp her underfoot. Like a speeding bullet, the Attacker model charged, her blade eager for Hegel's armored plate. She turned on her heels, and like a whirlwind, swung her blade into Hegel. It's singular red eye glowed red, firing a barrage of machine orbs at A2 but she merely withdrew her sword and swiped it. Rearing back, the YoRHa model roared as she thrust the blade into Hegel's eye.

"Watch out!" A2 suddenly heard Damian cry out. Behind her, a pair of Hegel machines were ready to fire upon her. The Yggdrasil sergeant swooped down, barrelling towards the Attacker model as fast as his suit could allow. Just in time however as the Hegel units opened fire, dousing where she stood and the other injured Hegel in laser fire.

With wide eyes, A2 stared up at the golden-visored Yggdrasil. Aware that it was holding her down. she withdrew her arm. "Don't you touch me," A2 warned Damian before shaking herself off and charging towards another Hegel.

"You're welcome!" Damian yelled at her before sighting the earlier Hegels. His shoulder mounted cannnon swivelled to them and fire continuously, armor-piercing shells piercing through their plates. They had thick armor but the cannon on his shoulder was designed to penetrate plates thicker than it. Electricity crackling from the crators, the Hegels tipped careened over and detonated.

"Two down, six more!" Damian cried out. "2B!"

"Yes sir!" 2B yelled aloud, Virtuous Treaty and Virtuous Contract appearing both in her hands. Like a ballerina of death, 2B hacked and slashed and attacked the nearest Hegel to her. It fared better against their thick skin, leagues more advanced than the arsenal A2 carried. But still, the Attacker model wasn't going to stand idly by and let the newer model take away the spotlight. 2B was the initial charge, chipping away at a Hegel with her blades. A2 acted as the upper cut, pummelling away with her Type-3 sword. With a Hegel softened up, Damian finished with his cannons.

Together, the three synchronised their attacks, going from one Hegel unit to the next.

The machine did not take it lying down however. It spread out, forcing the three to personally engage units one by one. As they did so, the other units fired at them, laser and machine projectiles being freely lobbed at them.

However, the three continued on, taking damage when they could and Damian shielding 2B and A2 when he had to. Slowly by slowly, the Hegel units were being whittled down only until a single unit remained. Breathing heavily behind his helmet, Damian glanced at the final one. A curse left his mouth as he glanced down at his HUD. "Shoulder cannon out of AP shells. Suit integrity at fifty-three percent," he reported.

2B and A2 stood at his side, both eyeing each other warily but their attention was placed solely at the last Hegel unit whose singular red eye darted between the three.

"You're alone now, asshole!" A2 swore at it, Type-3 sword dripping with viscous oil. "I'll take your damn eye and feed it to the boars!"

"Language!" 2B scolded the crass Attacker model. She simply couldn't take her crassness in front of a human no less.

"Report: YoRHa Attacker models were noted to be stubborn and free-spirited. This is in line with Unit A2's personality," Pod 042 added. "Clarification: Boars do not feed on metal. It would otherwise be indisgestible for their digestive systems as they are omnivores and-"

"Both of you, shut up," A2 groused, rolling her eyes. Still gripping her sword, she glanced up at the suited figure. "You. You sound like you're getting tired there. What sort of model gets tired so easily? It's hasn't even been three hours yet."

"A non-android one!" Damian replied, taking a breath. "You can speculate on that sort of detail once we've finished this lone ranger."

A non-android one?

A2's eyes narrowed suspiciously at Damian. What did he mean by non-android one? As much as curiosity gripped her core, there was that single asshole Hegel to take care of.
"...Fine," A2 puffed before turning to regard the Hegel. "What now, asshole? Ran out of tricks?"

Some chittering left its eye. A2 took a step forward. "What the fuck did you just say to me?" she snarled.

"Report: The unit called you a lower life form." Pod 042 droned. Eyes widening, A2 gripped her sword even more.

"I'll show you lower life-form with my boot up your ass!" A2 yelled.

"Report: Machine units do not have a colon to penetrate with Unit A2's standard issue heels," 042 reported again.

"Pod, shut up! I did not ask!"

"YoRHa unit A2 does not have the authority to give orders to this support unit," deadpanned 042. Hearing that, A2 wondered if she hated machines more or the snarky asshole that was right next to 2B. The battle-model however glanced up at Damian.

"Sergeant, what are your orders?" 2B asked, noting the silence from Damian.

"I've been reporting our situation back to the bunker. They've been noted about this. If there are more of these types of machines, we need to be ready." Damian said, shaking his head as he glanced at the single Hegel unit left. "I have no shells left and I'm saving up my last missile if we really need it. It'll be overkill if I use it on one machine. My minigun won't do squat either and the machine's armor has tanked most of my bullets. That only leaves this."

The YoRHa units glanced up at Damian who took out his melee weapon, a claymore that was twice the height of his YGGDRASIL. Laying flat against his shoulder plates, Damian took a breath. "Let's finish this."

At that, Damian took off, his thrusters giving him both speed and torque as he launched himself at the Hegel unit. 2B and A2 followed after him, near matching him in speed. The Hegel unit dug its claws into the ground, pouring forth machine projectiles from its eye as a machine gun would fire. Damian's eyes widened as he saw that the speed of the orbs were faster now, unlike the slow and relaxed pace earlier. He veered right, cutting down the incoming shots with his blade. 2B and A2's eyes widened in shock but they still pressed their attack. With Damian preoccupied, the Hegel quickly changed its approach. It turned towards the charging YoRHa units and fired a laser lance towards them, forcing the two to dodge and separate.

It's claws detached from the sound as it chittered. Rolling into a ball, the Hegel charged towards 2B, rumbling as it barrelled toward her. 2B grunted as she leapt out of the way. "It's faster now?" she cried out.

"It doesn't matter! I'm still killing it!" A2 snarled as she prepared for the rolling Hegel to turn towards her. She settled into a combat stance, ready as the Hegel loomed over her. Inwardly, she timed her strike, waiting until the Hegel was nearly upon her. She quickly took her chance, side-stepping but as she did so, she swiped her Type-3 sword up, gutting the rolling Hegel.

It shrieked, its momentum halted by A2's attack. "Nice!" Damian praised. "My turn!" he declared as his thrusters once more roared to life. Like a battering ram, he fell upon the Hegel with his claymore. The thick armor plates groaned as his sword cut away a big piece, leaving searing hot metal in its place. But Damian was not done. With a roar, he thrust the sword deep into the Hegel's eye.

"Raaagh!" A2 joined with a roar of her own, launching herself and thrusting her Type-3 blade into the machine. 2B got to her feet, and yelled out. "Pod!"

"Understood." Pod 042 affirmed as he flew up and unleashed a burst of white laser into the Hegel.

For a moment, time stood still. Slowly, Damian withdrew his blade, backing up as the Hegel buckled, falling on its side. A2 fell back as well, her Type-03 weapon vanishing. "It's dead," Damian noted as the Hegel's red eye began powering down. He turned to the two. "Alright, listen up. Check the Resistance truck and see if the drivers are alright."

2B nodded, ready to turn but A2 simply refused. She stood her ground, glaring up at Damian. "And who the fuck are you to order me?" She couldn't believe the audacity of this...thing. The design was far too robust and utilitarian for it to be YoRHa. Resistance then.

"The Sergeant," Damian reminded her. "And this Sergeant has ordered you to check on the well-being of those resistance drivers over there."

"Fuck you and your orders," A2 simply spat at the ground.
2B narrowed her eyes. Virtuous Contract was raised, pointed at A2. "Refusing to followed the orders of a commanding officer and a human is punishable by death," 2B said cooly, her katana-like weapon glinting.

As A2 was ready to retort, she froze. Did she just say..."Human?" A2 said sharply, disbelief in her eyes. She turned quickly to Damian whose hand reached up to take his helmet off.
Dark blue eyes stared at her, a singular scar running across his nose and to his left cheek. His features were sharp, experience written all over him.

"Told you I was a non-android," Damian said bluntly. The shock on A2's face stayed. Protocols long since hidden and forgotten coursed through her mind. Her programming yelled at her to kneel, to give this human adoration. But...

She resisted.

For as much as she loved and yearned the love of humans...A2 also held nothing more but hatred and contempt.

"W..." her lips started to speak. "Why?"

"Why?" Damian asked, tilting his head. His reaction irked A2. Her Type-4o sword appeared in her hands. She fell into a combat stance, glaring at Damian. 2B's eyes widened behind her blind fold and she moved to strike at A2 but Damian simply held out his hand, urging 2B to stop. She did, hesitantly.

"What do you mean why?" A2's voice was both a cry of pain and anguish. "We...we..." She struggled to speak, her voice a tremble. "We fought for you....we gave everything for humanity. But...my team and I...were betrayed. WHY!?" yelled out A2, her voice reaching a high pitch.

Damian attempted to speak but he held his tongue. Letting his helm hang, he held out his one free hand up placatingly, his other he hid behind to be as non-threatening as possible. "I..." Damian said, choosing his words carefully. "I truly have no idea what you are grieving, Miss A2. I have been out of the loop, and so were the people I woke up with."

His answer momentarily confused A2. "What do you mean you don't know?" A2 demanded. "So that's it, then? My team's sacrifice was forgotten? There's not even a mention about them?"

"I haven't have an idea about that. I am telling you the truth," Damian admitted, his most sincere voice out.

"The Pearl Harbour Descent Mission!" A2 yelled again, as if her yelling would give Damian knowledge. "The Honolulu invasion!"

"I...am sorry. But I do not know about that. You see...I awoke in a bunker not far from here. Cryogenics. My commander, Colonel Smith, he is the one you should air your grievances to. I do not know what happened exactly but I can recognize someone who has served and you, ...I can see that haunted look in your pretty eyes." His voice was soft, gentle, and calming.

A2 recognized that. And she hated it on how much it was actually calming her down. Damian continued. "So...here's what I propose. Come with me, back to our outpost, and you can speak with my Colonel. I promise you, he will do everything in his power to make sure what happened to you and your team will be made right." Damian had no idea why he was offering her this but, the pain in A2's eyes, the sheer anguish in her voice. The girl clearly had some issues and that needed to be resolved. There was also the fact that she looked like she had been through hell and back. Like, seriously, was that skin dangling off her?

"What do you say?" Damian finished, looking at A2, his hand still raised placatingly.

A2 stared at him. She did her very best to see if he was lying and she found none. He sounded earnest, sincere and was offering her answers and justice. She should take it?

She went into this desert to find out what the hell the Resistance was doing here and it turned out, they were supplying a whole facility of humans, based on what the suited human was telling her. Her own issues aside, it was every androids dream to see and feel and touch their creators.

Despite her pain, despite everything that had happened...A2 still felt that yearning. To be with the ones who so cruelly used and discarded her and her team. And the more she looked at Damian.....the stronger that yearning became. And so, she made her choice.

"Fine," A2 said, turning away from Damian. "I...I will go with you. But if this is a trap, I swear to..."

"This isn't," Damian promised. "I swear it on my mom and my dad."

"...Alright." A2 said, still looking away and arms crossed. Damian smiled, putting on his helmet again. From where 2B stood, she saw it as a sign to put away her weapon and she did. Despite her guardedness, she felt relief. Even despite her service record, 2B did not take any pleasure for actually carrying out her job. As Damian prepared to move and turn towards the Resistance Truck, the sands shifted.

"Wh-"

"Watch out!" 2B yelled as the fallen Hegel suddenly went back to life. Chattering, it raised a clawed hand to stab at Damian's flank. He reacted too late and a ear piercing scream left his lips as the razor-sharp claw dug into his armor plate.

"NO!" 2B and A2, to her own surprise, yelled out as Damian groaned, clutching at the embedded claw. Virtuous Contract and the Type-3 blade tasted the air as both androids charged, bloodlust in their eyes. But as they neared, Hegel began to glow a malevolent red, streaks of power emanating in the air.

"Warning: EMP dete-" 042 tried to warn but his voice died down as the a blast of electricity left the Hegel. A2 and 2B dodged too late, dropping down onto the sand like flies. Damian grit his teeth as his suit took the blast and his hud went dark. Falling onto the sand with a thud, Damian groaned as the Hegel took out its claw, drawing blood from him. He could hear some chattering as the Hegel drew back and launched itself out, its chittering dying down.

His breaths were laboured as he tried and failed to clutch at his side. Pain coursed through him as he felt warm liquid pour from his wound. Slowly by slowly, his suit returned to power as the EMP's effects wore off. Quickly, his suit reacted to his wound, covering it with a thick and viscous gel that halted the bleeding. He still needed actual medical attention however, the gel merely a stopgap. "2B, Pod...A2!'' Damian said, turning to the fallen YoRHa members.

They still were lying in the sand, facedown and still.

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