Chapter Text

The ruins of the city rang with a deafening silence. It was just past midday as the Pods finished their work.

“A future is not given to you. It is something you must take for yourself.”

The birds chirped as 042 and 153 put the finishing touches on 2B, 9S, and A2. The sun beamed down, warming their mechanical bodies.

Pod 042 looked over at Pod 153, who dipped her central body in a nod. It was time.

“Proposal: Begin boot sequence for unit A2.”

“Affirmative.”

They looked back at their handiwork before 042 hovered over to A2, who they had strategically placed further away from 2B and 9S due to 9S’ unpredictable reaction to her presence.

“Starting boot sequence. 1%, 2%, 3%……”

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Who am I?

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I have seen the Earth from space, while falling from the heavens. I have laughed among friends; and held them in my arms as they died. I have met the devil and I know her name. I have felt betrayal and pain — I have seen strangers who wore my face; and laid them all to rest. I have done battle with soulless enemies; too numerous to count.

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I have fought...

I have killed...

I have survived…

But who am I?

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I remember something…

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“Number Two.”

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The girl’s mouth forms those words. She wears black and a blindfold covers her eyes. I can’t hear her voice as she speaks.

I want to go to her; why does she stay? The door begins to close, and I reach out to her as another girl runs through the door to join her — just before it shuts.

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Who was that girl?

I know her.

I see a number: Twenty-One.

Is that her name?

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The scene changes…

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I stand over a machine. I have killed it. It is small, like a child. But it isn’t a child. There are no children, and this is a machine — my enemy.

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Why do I feel unsettled?

Who was this machine?

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I remember a fight.

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Killing soldiers.

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They attacked another girl in black, and so I killed them. This girl has my face and her eyes are full of tears; but she is smiling. I look down and I see my hand. I am holding a sword; its blade is sheathed in the girl’s body.

I killed her.

She slips off my weapon. I look up and see a boy. He is on a bridge calling out with a sword in his hand. I read his lips:“ A Two?!! I’ll kill you!!”

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Why was she smiling?

Who was that girl?

The boy loved her.

Why did I kill her?

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I watch as more faces — more memories — flash before my eyes. A Pod. He annoyed me; but he had been a friend. I see a pair of beautiful girls with red hair. They hold onto each other and they seem sad. And finally I see the boy again; as he kills me…

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I feel a jolt; and I remember something else.

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YoRHa…

Android Number 2, Attacker; Experimental Combat Model.

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I feel my mind surge.

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I am A2…

And I need to get back up.

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A2’s eyes snapped open as she awoke with a soft cry, then squinted at the sunlight. Birds flew past the sun in the background as she gathered her whereabouts.

'Is this heaven? Hell? Somewhere else entirely?'

As she gathered her bearings she noticed Pod 042 staring down at her from her position in the windowsill of a skyscraper near 2B and 9S, as if waiting for some input from her.

She glanced about herself, further gauging her location before spotting 9S and 2B on a nearby rooftop. Gasping, she looked back over to 042.

“Are…Are they…?”

042 hesitated before physically nodding, his voice tinged with relief. “Yes.”

A2 let out another gasp and put her hand over her mouth.

“I…I managed to save them…didn’t I?”

042 nodded again, and she inadvertently let out a stray sob, feeling a major weight lift off her chest. But she caught herself quickly before she could continue, before she could let it all ou-

“A2, thank you.”

She finally lost it, breaking down into the first burst of emotion she’d had in years, real tears of happiness stream down her face as the full realization of her actions came into focus. She had finally overcome, she’s finally given meaning to the deaths of her comrades, of her friends.

She continued happily sobbing before collecting herself. Standing up, she prepared to jump across to their building.

“A2, wait.”

She stopped herself as 042’s voice reached her, and glanced back toward him.

“A2…153 and I both understand the sacrifice you’ve made. In fact you more than deserve to be with them right now. But both of us worry as to the current state of 9S’ psyche. We fear that the logic virus may have corrupted pieces of his personality. While he may be unstable around 2B, he won’t try to kill her. You on the other hand…”

A2 was taken aback; now more than ever she wanted to celebrate with them, but she realized she can’t deny the logic of the Pod’s words, especially since she saw the effects of it firsthand. Slowly, she climbed down from the windowsill before turning her whole body to 042.

“I see…” A2 glanced back to the sleeping couple. “How long do you think I should be?”

042, having become a master at reading A2’s tone of voice realized what she means.

“Please don’t be gone for too long.”

A2 looked back, surprised at the Pod’s display of emotion. She paused a moment before slowly nodding.

“Alright, I won’t. I have a few people I still haven’t properly said hello to.”

A2 crossed to the window opposite the slumbering 9S and 2B before glancing over the edge, then turning back to 042.

“But before I go, you mind giving me a lift down?”

042 paused, before quickly sputtering into A2’s familiar grasp as she kissed the sky and did a swan dive from her perch into the waiting world below.

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With 042’s help, A2 landed gently on the ground. She let go, and he instinctively hovered next to her.



She glanced up at him as he readied to head back to help 153 with the boot process of 2B and 9S. Before he can go however, she lightly grabbed his arm.



“Pod.”



“Yes, A2?”



“…Thank you.”



042 jumped slightly in surprise before fully turning himself back to A2. She rarely acted like this.



“For what?” he seemed to almost smirk out. 042 was going to milk this while he could.



A2 glared at him momentarily before softening her expression and looking at his optic sensor.



“For everything.”



“…It was my absolute pleasure, A2.”



They held their gazes for a moment, before A2 unceremoniously broke the moment by using the distraction to grip 042’s arm tighter. Shocked, 042 instinctively pulled back, but his rotors were no match for the android’s strength.



A2 pulled 042 close before whispering into his audio receiver:



“This is for annoying me when we first met.”



She then reared back with her arm and quite literally threw him up the skyscraper.



A2 smiled towards the top of the tower before turning and making for the heart of the city ruins.