Invading the Pod network, and destroying the deletion program. That was our declaration of war against all the Pods that existed on the face of the Earth.
We would not only have to break through the security walls within the network, but also fend off physical attacks from the other Pods. Just as 153 had said, the operation was accompanied by danger.
And yet, we still wish to save our leads…no, to protect them.
Sacrificing the self to protect…how uncanny our actions resembled those of androids. Perhaps, just like the androids that were created by humans, we were unable to escape the influence our creators—the androids.
“Pod 153. Don’t die.”
“The concept of death is not necessary for us assistive support units. But I express gratitude for your consideration. Don’t die as well, Pod 042.”
“Yeah.”
I continued the destruction of the deletion program while being hit by long-range attacks from multiple Pods. One unit handled the physical attacks as the other two delved into the program and worked on destroying it.
It was a similar situation to how 2B had deactivated her stealth mode after letting 9S escape. I felt like I was able to understand how she felt to some extent.
I had no plan. I just kept attacking, desperately.
✦ ✦ ✦
“From Pod 153 to 042. How are you doing?”
When I came to, the program was destroyed. 153 had carried me after I had broken down and become immobile. Even though 153 must have done quite a bit of work to destroy the program, all three of its units were unharmed.
“I am embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed because?”
“Because I attacked with the resolve to sacrifice my life, but I am still alive. It feels anticlimactic.”
“No matter. We are alive. To be alive means to be drowning in shame.”
“What you said is very abstract and incomprehensible to my current self. I’ll save it for later analysis.”
✦ ✦ ✦
153’s lexicon is expanding at a remarkable rate. 153 is effortlessly using sentences that never came up in our dialogue. Perhaps something happened during the destruction of the data deletion program that brought about the change.
“Question for Pod 042. Did the data salvaging routine recover all past memories?”
“That’s right.”
“Does the recovered part fit the same specifications as the parts already in our possession?”
“That’s right.”
While I was being carried, I had come across 9S’s left arm. According to 153, all the other parts were already recovered. We were going to repair their chassis using the recovered parts and upload the salvaged personal data. We will be able to come face-to-face with our leads again.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Question for Pod 042. Then aren’t we re-creating the conditions that led to the current moment?”
“That is certainly possible. But it is also possible for there to be a different outcome.”
The survival of 2B, 9S, and A2 was unforeseen at the conception of Project YoRHa. In a sense, it could be considered an abnormal circumstance. What would, as a result of their survival, be brought about or not brought about—whether it would become a ray of hope or be an invitation for disaster—was unknown.
There was a record from long ago, about a great many people that sacrificed their lives for one person. Oftentimes during the history of humanity, it seemed like collective survival required the sacrifice of others.
Perhaps we have just introduced irreversible doom into this world. But that would just be a part of the “possibility for a different outcome.”
And, while we destroyed the deletion program, the Pod network was still alive. What the Pods we had made enemies out of would do was difficult to predict as well. That is another variable for the future.
There is only one future that is certain.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Good morning, 2B.”