An alleyway, darkened by how closely the crumbling buildings that formed it were packed together, awaited them. Their pods hovered ahead, shining wide spanning lights as they took their first steps into the space. At first glance 9S doubted anyone stepped foot here. Dust gathered within the windowless openings of the buildings, plenty of rubble -big and small- littered the ground, and there were plenty of corners for a group of machines to lay in wait.
Fully intentional.
Unnatural, almost pattern-like, shifts in the ramble, tracked bits of dirt, and certain places cleaner than others in the buildings. With the help of their scanners, small details that would've gone unnoticed such as those were brought front and center.
"Is this really the right place?" 9S questioned. She didn't doubt they'd find someone or something, but they were looking for a sizable group that should be locked in constant battle with machines, the safety of something like the Bunker beyond them. Shouldn't there be lookouts? Traps? Any kind of defense?
Or maybe that same looming threat deterred them from employing such overt methods. Better to be blind and go missed than to tip off the machines and get wiped out in their base.
"Affirmative. Suggestion: Units 2B and 9S should continue onward." 2B's pod said. They did just that, their venture through the tight alleyways bringing them before a wall of sheet metal…or rather a gate? Flanked by old dumpsters and rubble, the gathering of metal was meant to appears as a dead-end at first glance, but her scanner told a different story.
"Never seen models like you before." A voice came from behind the wall, the barrel of a rifle sticking through one of the darkened openings at the top. "You from a different group? If you're here to ask for supplies or reinforcements, we've got none to spare, but if you're here to join up, we won't turn you away."
"We're with YoRHa." 9S said.
"YoRHa?" There was a moment of silence then the barrel was pulled from the crudely cut opening. A faint squeak filled the alley, and her scan was proved corrected, the wall of metal sliding off to the side. 2B, who's gloved hand had reached towards her pod, a weapon moments away from being brought out, lowered it and they walked forward.
The alleyway gave way to a wider space, revealing that the resistance camp they were looking for extended beyond more than crumbling apartments. The wide space before them was filled with crates and pitched tents, all covered by overhead tarps. Most kept near the buildings that surrounded the space but plenty more were spread about, checking supplies or rearming themselves.
Between that alleyway, the natural shielding of the tall buildings, the more than likely camouflaged tarps, and the damaged highway acting a heading over the back end of the camp where buildings were far lower, it was no mistake the machines hadn't found the group.
Once upon a time humans would've called these buildings home. They would've used that highway for quick transportation across the city. They would've been doing so much here. They could've been.
But they couldn't. All because of the damn machines.
"Didn't think I'd ever see one of you advanced types." A fellow android, an older masculine model, stood on an elevated collection of metals met to act a short tower, rifle placed across his shoulders. "Head to the tent at the opposite end of the camp. Our leader will want to speak with you."
That worked for them; the leader of the camp should keep track of the coming and goings of models fighting beneath their command.
2B led the way, 9S following while trying to get a look at everything she could without falling behind. She'd only ever heard of the scattered resistance through old reports and on, rare occasion, saw their teams from a distance during scouting missions that took her close to their areas of activity. Seeing how they operated up close and personal was a rare opportunity.
Their equipment wasn't a match for anything YoRHa had, but how did their tactics compare? Their organization? The general day to day operation of their base?
While she and 2B got curious gazes, none stopped their hushed conversations or preparations to bother them.
"9S." 2B called out, a little ahead. "Focus."
"Right. Sorry 2B." She jogged forward, slowing to match 2B's pace once they were side by side. "You know, we S units are usually given curious personalities to help with our scouting. I can't help myself when it comes to new places."
"The mission comes first." 2B said, as curt as ever. If there was anything 9S learned about 2B since this scouting assignment turned investigation began it was that she didn't care for distractions. Granted, the importance of what they were tasked with couldn't be overstated, it was as though 2B went out of her way to shut down any and all opportunity for conversation, exploration, and just about anything else that wasn't vital to their assigned task.
Were all B units like her? 9S could see how such a one tracked mind would make them more effective in battle, but she couldn't imagine ignoring everyone and everything at all times in favor of total focus on missions.
That might as well be torture if you asked her.
"-and keep in contact. I'll send backup as soon as I'm able." A voice came from within the backmost tent of the camp as they approached it. 2B pulled aside its flap without a moment of hesitation, leading the way in.
A short woman with neck length dark hair and greenish-blue eyes stood at a metal table in the center of the room, speaking into a radio as she looked over the map spread before her. She wore the same worn brown fatigues as the others with the addition of a large belt around her waist and a cloaked clipped around her neck.
"Unless it's important, I don't-" The woman stopped short as she looked up, the radio she been setting down falling across the map as she stared at them. Her eyes were wide. Was she that shocked to see YoRHa units or…
9S traced the woman's stare, not to her, but to 2B and only 2B, the woman paying her no mind at all.
"Two?" The woman questioned. Stoic as she was, 9S could tell by the slight shift of 2B's head that they were both caught unawares by the woman's apparent familiarity.
"You're the leader of the Resistance here, right ma'am?" 9S asked, walking forward. The woman gave a slow nod, eyes still glued to 2B. "I'm 9S and that's 2B. We're YoRHa units."
"2B?" She slowly repeated. "I see. I…mistook you for someone else." She muttered with a shake of her head. It went without saying that 9S' curiosity was peaked. What little information they were given about the leader of the resistant -Lily her name was- didn't mention anything about previous interactions with YoRHa. With their traditionally uniformed looks, from the colors of their hair, eyes, and clothing they could never be written off as typical androids but often looked similar enough to be mistaken for with fellow YoRHa units.
"What's YoRHa want with us? You advanced types don't usually bother with us." Now that the initial surprise had passed, Lily's eyes were narrowed and her arms crossed. The change only served to make 9S that much more curious about possible previous experience with YoRHa.
"Inquiry: Are Popola and Devola units currently present within the camp?" 9S's pod questioned, hovering over the table alongside 2B's.
"Popola and Devola?" Lily's frown deepened, all of them regarded with full on suspicion. "What do you want with the twins?"
"Inquiry: Are Popola and Devola units currently present within the camp?" Her pod repeated.
"I'm not answering that question until I get a reason." Lily said, looking past the pod and at them.
"There is equipment we need repaired." 2B answered, all detail kept out of the lacking explanation.
"That's it? You expect me to believe YoRHa sent two of their units here for some repairs?" 2B nodded while 9S held back a sigh. She could at least throw out some excuse like them being in a rush or a lie like their scanners being damaged to try and ease suspicions.
She guessed someone as straight forward and with so little interest in conversation wouldn't make much of a liar.
"Alright, fine, let's say I buy that. It sounds like we can help each other." Lily said, 9S could already see where this was going. "Those two left the camp behind some time ago. Help us and I'll tell you where they went."
"Our mission is too important for detours." 2B stated.
"And rescuing my people is important to me." Lily retorted. "I'm not asking for much; head out to one of my teams and help them carry out their operation. You're from YoRha, destroying machines in humanity's name is what you do isn't it? Or do the lives of some Resistance members not matter to you?"
As important as their mission was 9S didn't see the problem with the arrangement. This woman wasn't going to budge and they couldn't share any details about what they were up to. Unless they were dealing with one of the higher-class machine lifeforms, destroying a group of them should be easy enough.
Unfortunately, 2B was the one in charge and nothing came before the mission.
"Alright." 9S nearly gaped, surprised to hear 2B agree to the deal without more pushback.
"Great. Good to see the two of you are reasonable." Lily pointed to a spot of brown on the map, not far from the city ruins. "Are you aware of the canyon leading into deserts? I need both of you to head there and-"
9S couldn't help but glance 2B's way as Lily explained what she needed from them. Curt and always about getting things done as efficiently as possible yet helping out the Resistance when they were in the middle of what might've been the most important mission any YoRHa unit had ever been given.
Figuring out this partner of hers wasn't going to be easy but that made it all the more interesting.
-Route A, No. 032-
B units. D units. H units. O units. S units. Those designations encompassed nearly one hundred percent of YoRHa forces, whether they be stationed on the Bunker offering support or down on the surface of Earth directly battling the machines.
There were older units that were no longer in production. Experimental units that never made it past testing. And plenty of others that required digging through their servers to learn anything about.
E units were such a classification, nearly none aware of the type's existence.
And for good reason.
The doors to a room labeled 3B in black text slid open and Commander White stepped in, the doors sealing behind her.
A bed and desk at the far back. A terminal and bookcase near the room's entrance. It was as standard as standard got, not even a single book brought in to fill out the bookcase like most others.
"3E." Commander White said. Laid out and completely motionless atop her bed, 3E's eyes snapped open and she came to a swift stand, her left arm held straight out and palm over her chest. "How do you feel?"
"I am prepared to receive orders, Commander." She said, voice as barren as her room.
"That's not what I meant. How do you feel after your destruction?"
"…The loss of data is inconvenient. I will not be able to adapt to whatever caused my previous destruction."
Truly, among all on the Bunker and dispatched across the planet, 3E was the most…single minded. Every unit had their peculiarities, products of their programmed personalities mingling with whatever they experienced. It could be said that she was the exception. Missions were completed to the letter no matter the cost. She cared nothing for hobbies or anything beyond said missions for that matter, her time on the Bunker spent almost entirely in a low power state, all but her vital functions voluntarily turned off.
It arguably made her the most effective E unit, but Commander White was concerned for her all the same.
Those concerns had to be set aside.
"You'll be resuming your observation of units 2B and 9S in addition to another assignment." Commander White began, 3E paying rapid attention. If nothing else, she'd be sure 2B and 9S would have some form of reliable support if the need arose.