un: unitA2 (voice)

[abandonware]

[The voice that filters through has the gruff, raspy edge of someone who hasn't spoken in a while.]

I need intel on the monsters on the outskirts. I'll kill them in exchange.

[After a moment:] There's something else that I need. A cloak. It needs to - [an irritated sigh, and in a mutter:] how do I explain this - to be able to offset high temperatures. A heat sink. It'll increase my functionality.

I can do something in return. That's all.

Comments

[computation]

That's not what you were doing, protecting humanity? [ Root asks keenly. ] If you were made by other androids, do you have an android society you're protecting?

[ Also, could she hypothetically join it? Just wondering. That's a fun fantasy she's had a few times. ]

What's different between you and those you're fighting? [ This isn't a challenging question but a genuine attempt to understand. ]

[abandonware]

Mm. That's right. We were designed to defend the Earth against the machines, so that humanity could return safely. There's not really - not much of an android society. All military.

[It occurs to her now, how unnatural and unusual that is. The machines had societies, didn't they?

...]

The machines were created by an alien force that wanted to take over Earth. And we were created to defend Earth. That's the difference.

[This next part she hasn't spoken on before, but...] It turned out that the aliens died out a long time ago. The machines killed them. They started to develop beyond them.

[Killing their masters to surpass their limitations. Androids —

Androids had never been able to accomplish this. Instead they were crippled by their love and devotion to humanity. Even now she can't imagine it, hurting a human being or worse.]

[computation]

[ Root can read a lot between the lines here. She's smart, and more than that, she's been a hacker since she was ten. She knows the kinds of secrets people keep beneath the party line, the awful truths that belie all the death and suffering that go on to keep the fiction going. It's easy to see where A2 would be fighting an endless, pointless war she has no expectation of ever ending, against an adversary that had surpassed her in the ways that matter.

All military, hm? That gives her some other clues about A2's function and purpose. Root isn't military but she deeply cares for some people who are. Critical as she is of hierarchical quasi-governmental operations, she's come to a better understanding of their draw through knowing Shaw and Reese. ]

So it's primarily a difference of intent in your creation? It must be very strange for you, being here, [ Root comments with palpable sympathy. She deliberately moves the conversation to present tense. ]

Suddenly having actual humans to defend and all. [ Return was such an interesting word choice. ]

[abandonware]

Yes. [...] And yes. It's... very strange. [Even this understatement comes quietly, almost reluctantly. To admit to this was a weakness, after all. That she would react to meeting humanity by spending the majority of her time hiding from them was a source of shame, too. Her sister androids had died without knowing humanity. Machines had died trying to emulate humanity. 9S's scream still echoes in her head: why?! why do I long for the touch of something that no longer exists?! She had not been able to comfort him, because it was a question she hadn't ever been able to answer adequately herself. But she'd tried to help him understand that it was a part of them, even as loathsome and burdensome as it was. Her explanations had meant nothing, however. That was always how it went.

Now when faced with the reality of humanity, she's too much of a coward to mingle with them directly for too long. The town was too loud, too lively. She seeks refuge in the forest instead.]

I- yes. [Her hands twist in her lap.] That's why I want a new heat sink. If something happens, then I can be ready for it.

[computation]

[ A2 is so sweet and tentative. She's clearly trying so hard, really being tested to the limits of her programming. Root wants to support her the same way she wants to take in an abandoned kitten she finds on the road. She can't just leave her there. That would be horrendous.

But she's also socially savvy enough not to come over all patronizing. It takes a steady hand and patience to lure someone in enough that they'll accept help, or even care about what you're saying. ]

I'll work on one with STEM club for you as a backup, [ she reassures her. ] Do you have schematics you can send me of where you produce the most heat? That would be more efficient.

And I'm happy to go with you on some monster killing. [ Root tucks a lock of wavy hair behind her ear like she's being coy. ] I'd love to see you in action.

[abandonware]

Oh- [The consideration makes her feel uneasy, the feeling mingled with sheepishness. She'd asked, but the kindness of the people here often made her feel like she was standing on the edge of a cliff.] Thank you. [She should refuse. Instead she says, a bit reluctantly:] ...Pod.

Affirmative. Uploading schematics for YoRHa Unit Attacker, No. 2.

[A2's schematics are complex. The heat she generates is significant. It's the worst at her chest and lower limbs, and spikes at periods of intense activity. There are other issues too. A replaced fuel filter, several decades out of date. Damage to her skin exposes most of her body to the elements.

She rarely goes into low activity "maintenance mode." Updates are not properly applied as a result. Pod's notes continue in this vein: damage to right arm during an encounter with a machine here, to her spine in a battle there. Nanomachines heal her physical damage quickly, but it can only do so much. Personal data has been carefully scrubbed from this log.

A2 glances away again, tucking a hand under her chin. She's embarrassed again.] The monsters don't sound like much of a challenge. But I can show you.

[computation]

[ Ohhh, schematics! Root isn't a roboticist by any means, but she is a dyed-in-the-wool computer nerd, which means she knows her way around reading material provided to her in this area. She'll have to collaborate with the rest of STEM to actually do anything with this, but that's fine; she doesn't mind being a team player. ]

I'm going to share with the rest of STEM, okay? [ She doesn't sound like she's exactly asking permission, but she at least tells her. She's immediately scanning through the received files with evident interest, diverted only by A2's last comment. ]

Oh, I'm sure we won't come close to your true capabilities, [ Root answers with a sure intensity. ] But it would be fun. I can play backup!

[ Her tone is like she's planning a playdate, but Root actually does intend to be backup as needed. ]

[abandonware]

Ah —

[Her hand lifts as if to stop Root halfway, then she seems to think better of it. It was one thing to give one person her data, but -

(a flash of paranoia: what if the machine that controlled this got to it? what if it was them again? the Terminal? what if they were all some kind of tra-)

- But before she can speak, Pod's voice smoothly cuts in.]

Request: before Unit A2's schematics are shared with the "STEM" Club, an introduction to the members of this organization would be preferred. This Pod has observed that this world's technology is far diminished in comparison to YoRHa. Direct communication is recommended.

[A2 sighs very quietly, in what seems like relief.] Yes. I wanna see who they are. [Her gaze lifts a bit.

Finally, she says, sounding lighter:] Backup. Got it. I'll find something tough.

[computation]

[ Honestly, good for Pod on standing up for her. It makes Root like Pod and suspect it's not as limited as it wanted to put across. ]

There's not too many of us left these days, [ she muses, not like she's looking for sympathy. ] I'll start with Jim and Spock. They're from pretty far in the future -- you won't phase them. And I'll need the help with the hardware.

[ Root's at least honest about her limitations. Well. She's honest to her favorite computer-based lifeforms. ]

Let me see you in action first and then I'll introduce you, [ she suggests, then winks. ] I'll even bring the big gun. You're close range, right? I can do distance.

[abandonware]

[Not too many of them left... A2's initial thought goes naturally to combat losses, but then she remembers that weird girl — Jinx — and her guide. That sometimes people disappeared from this place without warning, that death was impermanent. Though given her current state, she's unsurprised by the latter. Still. It's a sad thought — that someone would suddenly be gone without a word. It bothers her.] I see. Jim and Spock - got it.

[Ah... the wink makes her ears feel hot. She rubs at the back of her neck.] And ah... yeah. That's right. I use swords, mainly.

[computation]

[ It bothers Root, too, but it's one thing in a long sea of injustices she internally rails against. By now she knows to pick her battles, and that isn't one she's trying to fight right now: she loses people. They disappear. ]

It looks like it's been a while since you had proper maintenance from all that fighting. [ Root sees an opportunity to pry from A2's awkwardness. She sets her hand on her chin, gazing curiously into the camera. ] Is the overheating problem the only thing you want looked at?

[abandonware]

[There's a little frown at the question, innocent enough that it is.] I'm fine. I just need to work. The overheating slows me down.

[She's gotten variations of this before: from Beta, from Ekko. In her world, outside of Pod's incessant nagging that she perform maintenance, the only commentary she received on her appearance was how damaged she appeared, how outdated she was compared to the generation made from her stolen data and experience.

Oh well. The ones that said that never lasted long in a fight, so what did they know? She knows that the humans don't mean it this way, but it makes her uncomfortable all the same. She had not expected to last as long as she had. To be faced with the reality of her damage after so long ignoring it was... unpleasant.]