25With the discovery of the campsite, and with little options or clues left of the human's whereabouts, the trail left behind by the human having now gone mostly cold, with only the campfire and the sliced tree branches serving as minor hints in the human possibly having a companion, but nothing concrete to warrant further search asides from hunches. The YoRHa pair had little choices but to report in their current progress to the Bunker.
"This is 2B, come in Operator." 2B called her Operator.
"Operator 6O here!" Operator 6O responded with her holographic projection. "Are you here to report your status 2B?"
2B nodded. "Unfortunately Operator, we've lost track of the human."
"Did you try to track them?" Operator 6O asked with curiosity, eliciting a nod from her assigned agent. "What did you find?"
"We've found the human's handiwork and some potential clues to his situation, but not much else." 2B responded, ordering her Pod to take a photograph of the campfire and the skinned boar.
"Woah! I guess this human has quite the appetite!" Operator 6O responded in surprise after glancing at the sent photo of the skinned boar.
"We believe the human may be preparing to travel." 2B clarified. "Unfortunately, there's nothing else we can use to find their location, we were hoping the Bunker would have some intel on where we should go."
"Mmm..." Operator 6O begun skimming through reports from her end. "Unfortunately there's nothing I can see over here 2B!"
"Nothing?"
"Yep! Oh by the way 2B!" Operator 6O dramatically shouted. "The Commander's asking you to do a mission."
"Now?" 2B asked with a raised eyebrow hidden behind her visor, a somewhat confused tone within her voice. "Shouldn't finding the human be our top priority?"
"The Commander's real worried it might~ compromise finding that human! Check your inbox for the mission details! Operator out!"
Operator 6O quickly cut off communications before 2B could respond.
2B and 9S could only glance at each other in slight confusion, the latter shrugging to his partner after having a similar conversation with his Operator.
For now, better check on the mission details Operator 6O mentioned. The closest vending machine, which doubled as the mailbox used by YoRHa operatives, from their current location at the human's resting spot was within Pascal's village.
Operator 6O: Confidential Mission Details
Your new mission is to capture renegade YoRHa members. Not only did these members go AWOL, but we have confirmed they engaged in unlawful conduct, including the theft of Resistance resources.
They are to be taken into custody as soon as possible.
- Operator 6O
*Note that this is a direct order from the Commander. Forwarding it is forbidden.
After skimming through the mission details, another transmission call from Operator 6O was received.
"Operator 6O to 2B." Operator 6O begun. "Be aware the following transmission is classified Privilege Level 5. A group of YoRHa fighters deployed to the city ruins have deserted. We need you to take care of them immediately. But don't get yourself hurt, all right?"
"Wait Operator. I must ask." 2B said before Operator 6O disconnected the intermission.
"Yes 2B?" Operator 6O responded. "What is it?"
"What makes these YoRHa units so pivotal to be taken for custody?" 2B asked. "Why is this mission more imperative instead of assisting the human?"
"... Well~." Operator 6O begun. "They were supposed to be deployed in the city ruins at the time of the Machine congregation."
"...! And because these three deserted, the human was left to fend for himself." 2B hypothesised upon mention of the congregation.
"Mhm! And the Bunker wants them prosecuted for endangering the human and stealing Resistance supplies!"
"..." 2B remained silent, the emphasize on the theft of supplies by Operator 6O was of strange note.
"2B?"
"Operator, if these YoRHa combatants had already deserted. Then who was the black box signal that arrived at the Machine congregation?"
"That... we're still unsure what the signal was supposed to be." Operator 6O admitted with slight reluctance.
"... The Bunker is unsure who the signal was?" 2B questioned, now conflicted with the thought of prioritizing the mission over the safety of the human.
"I know what you're thinking 2B! Commander specifically said the mission takes priority!"
2B sighed, merely nodding at her Operator.
"But again, be careful 2B!" Operator 6O closed the intermission.
With slight reluctance, 2B decided better to finish the mission as soon as possible so she may hunt down more clues of the human's wearabouts.
Before the two left to fulfill the mission however, the android pair made sure to make a quick stop at a certain Machine, who was looking after the Machine 'children'. Maybe he would've noticed something in his forest.
"Oh hello 2B, 9S." Pascal greeted the YoRHa pair upon their arrival. "How have you been today?"
"Everything's going fine. We just need to ask you something."
"What is it 9S?"
"Did you see anyone unusual come by here?" 9S asked. "Or at least around the vicinity?"
"Nothing out the ordinary." Pascal answered. "Is there something wrong?"
"Well..."
9S ordered his Pod to display to Pascal the extracted footage taken from the Machine, which consisted of the handiwork left behind by the human in the Machine congregation pit in the city.
"Oh my." Pascal begun after observing the human eviscerate the Machine's core effortlessly. "He's showing such viciousness to Machines."
"... We're tasked to look for them." 9S explained with careful words. Although Pascal and his villagers were docile Machines, it was always best to be cautious just in case. Thus 9S did not divulge that the man was potentially human.
"Hm, there's red liquid dripping from the gunshot wound." Pascal mentioned. "Is this man human?"
Guess the attempt at secrecy didn't matter after all.
9S nodded. "We wanted to ask if he came by your village, we've found a campfire we believe belonged to him nearby."
"Unfortunately, he hasn't come by."
"I guess someone wouldn't want to be anywhere near what looked like killing Machines who tried to kill him earlier. No offense."
"None taken 9S. But I'll be sure to contact if I see him."
Once the pair returned to the city ruins, it had taken the YoRHa pair a significant amount of time to hunt down and encounter their intended targets, atop of a Goliath Engel's corpse. 22B, 8B were two of the three YoRHa androids who for unknown reasons, had deserted the YoRHa organisation. Although it appears the third, their captain, was not present at their location.
"Alert: Targets are rogue units 22B and 64B, currently designated for detention." Pod 042 stated.
"Uh...! Is that...?" 22B begun upon noticing the YoRHa pair.
"They've come for us, idiot!" 64B shouted. "Prepare to engage and inform the captain!"
"G-got it!"
From the brief interaction, it was clear the grey-haired 64B was the more assertive of the pair, while the red-headed 22B was the more timid partner.
A skirmish had ensued between the two YoRHa duo, with the clanging of metal and gunshots
But without any Pods to provide assistance, both 22B and 64B were vastly outmatched and outnumbered by 2B and 9S, both who still possessed their Pods and were able to co-ordinate their individual skill sets as a combatant and a hacker respectively.
"Hold up! The captain is ordering a retreat!" 22B called out to her partner mid combat.
"Understood!" 64B shouted back, proceeding to make her way to the railing.
In a moment of desperation, 22B and 64B quickly made their escape, hopping from atop the head of the Goliath into the buildings in the distance.
"Wait!" 9S shouted while running to the railing, only to see their two targets have disappeared from their sights. "They got away..."
"Pod. Analyze all possible locations where they may have escaped." 2B ordered.
"Analyzing potential locations of fugitive YoRHa units." Pod 042 replied.
Once Pod 042 made predictions of locations where the escapees may have ran, both 2B and 9S went on a hunt once again.
One by one, the YoRHa pair headed to all marked areas where the fugitive pair may lie, yet strangely, none of the predicted locations had the fugitives.
"That's strange... they're not in any of the marked areas." 9S stated.
Strangely, 2B and 9S were unable to locate 22B and 64B's locations after they had escaped.
Now, just like the human whose trail they had lost, now the trail of the rogue YoRHa units were also lost.
Unaware of the current events indirectly involving them, and still unbeknownst of their location to third parties, the Hunter and A2 marched deeper through the dense forest on a brisk pace, their campfire a long distance away.
It was a calming moment for the Hunter, taking in the sights and tranquillity of the lush greenery of the forests, especially compared to the forests before the isolated academy of Byrgenwerth. In addition to not having to worry about any endangerment to his life now that he had a partner to accompany him.
Even if said partner seemed more socially awkward than he was, preferring to answer with grunts and a curt response, it was company the Hunter could nonetheless appreciate, especially compared to company found within Yharnam.
It was a second chance of life for after all he had endured within that cursed city, and the Hunter would make the best of it, even if it begun somewhat hazardously. Otherwise, he would do Gehrman a disservice by not living the best he could, even if he would have rather been the one who had freed his mentor.
It does strike a few questions within the Hunter.
Were the affairs of the Doll in good order?
What would have happened had he rejected Gehrman's mercy?
Was the dweller within the chapel safe after the night has ended?
Many questions he would never find the answer for now that he could no longer traverse to Yharnam.
In the distance, the Hunter saw in the distance to what he believed to be ruins of a castle. With curiosity causing intrigue to build up in the Hunter, he lead the way for him and his companion to the castle... or at the very least he would have.
...?
The Hunter felt he heard the faint sounds of an approaching group making their way to their location.
/
Syn was a very proactive human to say the least, A2 has concluded. He had insisted on leading the way even though she, an android, should be the one leading, especially since humans were supposed to be more fragile than androids were. Especially compared to YoRHa androids, as despite A2 being a first generation model with the second generation being already in production, she was still physically superior as compared to typical androids.
Syn's lack of knowledge on both Androids and Machines was a puzzling thing, as well as not knowing that humanity was on the moon was also a cause of alarm for the platinum-haired YoRHa android.
But still, he bled like a human, so A2 erased these thoughts from her mind. Not her business to ponder after all. But still, the conversation they had a few hours prior still echoed in A2's mind. As a result, it had left a lot in her mind to sort out, such as why did he tell her to not to serve him?
Syn had paused in his tracks, turning to face side-wards from their location.
"...? Why did you stop?" A2 asked.
Syn gestured to A2 to keep quiet, his hand raised with a finger over his masked lips. He quickly brandished his stolen Machine sniper rifle, taking a glimpse through its scope.
"What did you see?" A2 asked.
Syn merely handed over the sniper rifle to her as a response, allowing her to take a glimpse at what caused Syn to pause in place.
It was three YoRHa android units, quickly advancing to their position.
A2 clicked her tongue at the sight.
/
"I presume you know of our acquaintances?" The Hunter asked, making note of the reaction shown by A2.
"They're YoRHa androids." A2 explained. "They must've been sent from Command to find you."
"'YoRHa'?" The Hunter questioned. "Is this 'YoRHa', affiliated with the 'Command' who had wronged you?"
"Doesn't matter right now. We better take care of them now." A2 responded, brandishing her greatsword to confront the pursuing YoRHa androids.
The Hunter raised an eyebrow at A2's suggestion. "Is that truly wise? Would this 'Command' not notice their agents become missing after a period of absence?"
"No, they'll just come back again. But if we kill them before their data gets synced to the Bunker, then we can keep Command off our trail."
There was quite an abundance of unfamiliar terms, as well as strange choices of words, thrown at the Hunter.
Does A2 mean to align oneself to an entity? And it brought forth a form of resuscitation upon death?
Yet before the Hunter could question A2, the platinum-haired android went ahead, sprinting at the three pursuers in a rush.
The Hunter could only question the sense of urgency he felt from A2. But he supposed if the urgency was truly of importance to A2, then he should comply.
The Hunter begun loading numerous Blood Bullets into the sniper rifle.
And he aimed.
Within the lush greenery of the forest, with large trees acting as cover to hide from any potential pursuers, three YoRHa androids were sprinting like no tomorrow.
"Just a bit further then we'll be free...!" 22B shouted.
"If only those two didn't have their Pods then we would've dealt with them!" 64B shouted in frustration.
"Now's not the time to be complacent." The third YpRHa defector stated to her two subordinates. "We must be cautious in case the Bunker sends more combatants to apprehend us."
"Ah... okay!"
It was miraculous for 22B and 64B to have managed to slip away from their pursuers' chase after the skirmish. And it more miraculous managed to rendezvous with their captain, 8B.
At the current moment, the three defectors were making their way to the Kingdom of the Night, its name originating from the fact the Earth was no longer able to rotate, and thus leaving one side of the Earth in a permanent night.
YoRHa does not run patrols nor does it possess any jurisdiction in the Kingdom of the Night. Additionally, the Machines also do not roam around the other side of the world. Thus making it the perfect location for the trio to make their escape, away from Command, and away from persecution for discovering what they should not have seen.
In the midst of their escape, a gunshot was heard from deep within the forest, alerting the YoRHa trio of potential hostiles. With little time to react, the YoRHa deserters barely managed to dodge an incoming bullet.
"There's a sniper!" 22B shouted.
"Shit! Can't take a goddamn break, can we?!" 64B cursed while scraping by another sniper shot.
8B, the most experienced of the trio, was more observant of their current predicament. And she noticed something in the midst of the sniper fire, someone she recognised to be another YoRHa unit was rapidly approaching to their position with their weapon poised to attack.
8B reacted accordingly, unsheathing her blade to clash with the newcomer. As their blades collided, her subordinates took the opportunity to assist her through numbers.
Or at least, they tried to.
Normally it would be considered suicidal to resist in a situation where one finds themselves outnumbered. However, the sniper who shot at them evened the odds.
So the rogue YoRHa unit fought with reckless abandon, not paying any heed about being outnumbered three to one, as if placing her faith in not being hit unintentionally by the sniper.
In the midst of the skirmish, a red aura soon surrounded the rogue YoRHa unit, her speed and strength increasing near two-fold. This gave a hint to the three defectors of the identity of the rogue YoRHa unit attacking them.
"A first generation model?" 22B questioned. "But I thought they were discontinued."
The red aura was an indicator of Berserker Mode, a mode exclusive to first generation YoRHa models, the previous YoRHa generation who have long believed to have disappeared. Berserker Mode allows the YoRHa unit to double their strength and speed, but at the rapid cost of their energy.
To make things more difficult for the trio, the proficiency of the sniper was near unmatched, able to press on the advantage against the three by using the dense forest terrain, which should have been disadvantageous to a sniper, and forcing them to evade, while simultaneously avoiding the assailant YoRHa unit and allowing her to effectively attack the trio in a form of effective crowd control.
"That sniper is causing too much trouble! You two deal with the rogue YoRHa unit while I deal with the sniper!" 8B commanded to her subordinates, barely dodging another sniper shot.
The rogue YoRHa unit, upon hearing 8B's intent to break off and go after the sniper, immediately rushed at her and swung her greatsword in a downward smash. Yet the rogue YoRHa android did not strike hit her intended target, as 64B jumped in between the two to block the former.
Yet the boost in strength from Berserker Mode begun causing 64B to crumble and falter under the pressure of the rogue YoRHa unit's blade. But at the very least, she was successfully preventing the rogue YoRHa unit from approaching her captain.
"Hurry Captain!" 64B shouted at her captain. "I can't hold her long!"
A kick from the rogue YoRHa unit sent 64B flying to a nearby tree, the former continuing her pursuit of 8B. Only for her to be blocked by 22B.
"We'll hold her off Captain!" 22B shouted, swinging at the rogue YoRHa unit with her sword.
8B took the opportunity given to her by her subordinates, and she ran towards the sniper, sprinting through thick woods which doubled as temporary shields. Yet despite the situation 8B found herself in, she could not help but to respect the skill displayed by the sniper, even with the forest terrain filled with thick woods providing a disadvantageous position for a sniper in an active combat situation, no shots were wasted. For it took all of her concentration to barely scrape by the incoming gunfire, and even then, when 8B took a quick glance behind her, the avoided bullet shot would make its way to her subordinates to provide aid to the rogue YoRHa unit.
From the increasing frequency of the sniper shots, 8B knew she was growing closer to the sniper's position.
Soon enough, she saw who she was after.
The sniper, someone whom 8B had determined to be a male non-YoRHa android unit, when he saw 8B rushing at him, armed himself with what 8B had recognised to be one of the Machines' spear weapons. The sight made her wonder, why would an Android procure a Machine's weapon?
Regardless, 8B took the initiative and attacked the android with her greatsword. The android responded by swinging the spear to clash against her. A trade of blows ensued, YoRHa android against non-YoRHa android, YoRHa weaponry against Machine weaponry.
After the brief exchange, the true battle begun. 8B swapping between her eight weapons interchangeably mid-combat; from her four katana, her lance, her greatsword, and her bracers, attacking the android with great speed and effectiveness to utilise her expertise in close-quarters combat. Using her lance as a makeshift support so she may spin and enhance the effectiveness of her greatsword with centrifugal force, throwing her four katana into a spin with reckless abandon which would inevitably return to her grasp, and so many more various attacks.
The Near-Field Combat System (NFCS) which all YoRHa units possess was what allowed her to do so, giving her the capability to react depending on the circumstances, and leaving little room for the android to counter effectively.
After gauging the android's abilities through this brief exchange, 8B had determined her strength, speed, and arsenal to be superior. Or at least... it should. Because despite her advantages, much like how 8B was effectively dodging the android's attacks, she also realised she could not land a single hit on the android, almost as if he could predict and maneuver away from her attacks.
It was strange, a typical non-YoRHa android should have been outclassed by a YoRHa android by a wide margin in terms of capabilities, yet the battle was increasingly becoming a stalemate. The possibility of the android being a male YoRHa android unit was next to nil because of the disastrous prototype squad, as well as the capabilities displayed in the fight. Thus it made 8B realise, that much like how she was analyzing the android through combat, she was in turn being analyzed.
Suddenly, the android dropped his sniper rifle, and he pulled out an intricately designed handgun from his coat. And with a pull of the trigger, fired a powerful gunshot accompanied by an equally deafening noise.
In quick response, 8B immediately swapped to her greatsword, yet the gunshot was powerful enough to push and stagger her, the bullet significantly denting her greatsword where it struck.
'What...?!' 8B thought, glancing at the dent in her greatsword. Yet the android wouldn't allow 8B a moment to recollect, pressing on to confront her further.
The tide of the skirmish had immediately changed to favour the android upon the introduction of the handgun. How such an outdated handgun managed to achieve change the tides of the fight was something 8B didn't understand. The speed in which the android could reload his handgun one-handed while in mid-combat, was also something to be admired.
Regardless, 8B responded in kind to the android's barrage of attacks.
Throwing one of her katana to slash the android, the latter acted in a way 8B has least expected. The android dropped his Machine spear and grabbed one of her katana in motion.
8B could see the NFCS trying to bring her katana back from the android's grasp, but it couldn't. The android was forcefully wielding it through sheer tenacity alone.
The lighter YoRHa katana compared to the Machine spear allowed the android to commit to significantly faster attacks. And it was as if the android fought with familiarity with a katana. 8B soon noticed a common pattern, the android had a tendency to firing his handgun whenever she would attempt to strike him. With this habit in mind, 8B formulated a plan.
Once 8B saw the android motioning to fire his handgun in response to her attacks, using her superior agility, 8B quickly weaved under the shot and inwards towards the android. It was a successful fake out in which left the android open to an attack while he was in motion to fire at her. And being surrounded by vegetation limited his movements, all together it left an opportune moment for 8B to fatally wound the android.
'Now!' 8B shouted in thought, taking the opportunity to perform a powerful thrust with her lance at the android's core. She must take care of him now before the android becomes a greater danger to her and her subordinates.
The attack was planned by 8B in a way to force the android with little options but to take the brunt of the attack. Yet to 8B's surprise, she noticed the android did not falter, judging from the lack of surprise in his eye, choosing to commit to his gunfire as if he had expected her plan. 8B felt the bullet round penetrate her armour, forcing her to take a step away from the android.
It was much more potent in firepower than Pod gunfire, 8B determined.
At the very least, it was not a fruitless effort, 8B noticing her lance barely managed to pierce through the android's thick clothing and drew blood, although not deep enough to break the... core...?
... Wait...
"... Blood?" 8B questioned aloud, her confusion heightened as she glanced at the blade of her lance, its point now stained in a red crimson.
The 'android' gave no acknowledgement of the near fatal wound she had given him, and without hesitation, he rushed at her. 8B, still in bewilderment at the sight of the blood on her blade, could only once again thrust her lance at the 'android'.
The 'android' stepped to the side of the thrust in response, stomping onto the shaft of the lance as he aimed his handgun directly at her. Forced to release her lance, 8B barely managed to acrobat herself in a backflip away from the ensuing gunshot.
But it was a fruitless endeavor. 8B felt herself grabbed immediately in midair and thrown onto the ground in one swift motion.
"Argh!" 8B briefly let out as she impacted the ground with great force, knocking the senses in her circuitry out of control.
Before she could try to regain her standing, 8B felt the 'android' pressing his boot against her body, preventing her from moving. The muzzle of the handgun was now pointed directly at her as she felt the 'android' apply pressure on her chest as he knelt towards her, his deep blue eye examined her with an indifferent gaze. Yet despite the perilous situation she found herself in, all that was in 8B's mind was the wound she had inflicted on the 'android', still oozing the red crimson liquid.
Silence ensued, a silence so potent it could be cut with a knife, as 8B and the unknown 'android' maintained their stare down. Until the sounds of rapidly approaching footsteps reached their location.
The rouge YoRHa unit eventually arrived at their location, and closely tailing the rogue YoRHa unit, were her two subordinates.
"Captain!" 64B shouted, arming herself to attack the 'android' who was still pressing his boot onto her.
Without even taking a glance at her two subordinates, the 'android' swiftly pointed his handgun at their direction and fired, intentionally missing her subordinates by a slight narrow margin, forcing the two to cease advancing.
The 'android', his gaze still firm on 8B, reloaded his handgun with great emphasis, and returned the muzzle to 8B's head, staring down at her with indifference with his deep blue iris, and he began to speak.
"Why do you hunt us?"