“We have lost communication with a few troopers from the YoRHa squadron that were heading to Earth. They are most likely still alive, as their black-box responses are still active. We have narrowed down the location of their signals. Any YoRHa squadron troopers stationed on Earth are to investigate the issue.”
It was a short and bizarre announcement. It was not rare for YoRHa squadron troopers to go incommunicado. Once they were on Earth, they could at any moment engage in battle with Machines and at times be surrounded by enemies.
It was bizarre however, that their black-box responses were still active. After the black-box response disappears, it is formally recognized that the android is destroyed. The backup of the android’s personal data is then uploaded into a new chassis. Although the memories leading from the last backup to the android’s destruction are lost, previous memories and its personality are preserved. In this respect, androids are semi-immortal. As long as their personal data is intact and chassis are in stock they can be repeatedly reconstructed.
But reconstruction cannot be initiated without confirming the destruction of the android. This is to prevent the confusion of having more than one instance of its personal data.
In other words, no matter how severe the circumstances, as long as the black-box response is still active, there is no other choice but to let the situation play out. The self-destruct mechanism that the YoRHa squadron androids are equipped with is mainly for preventing leaks of confidential information, but it is also a last resort for the troopers to escape the battlefield. If their chassis is destroyed in the explosion, they are able to start anew in the Bunker.
“Didn’t we hear some similar news at the resistance camp too?” asked 9S. 2B added, “That recently there’ve been many resistance troops who’ve lost contact…”
Because troops of the resistance were not outfitted with a black box, it was unknown whether or not they were still alive. But they all lost contact near the same area, the very same area that the missing troops’ black-box responses were detected.
“I don’t want to burden you two any further after your help with the desert case, but I’d like you to keep it in the back of your mind.” 2B remembered the words of the resistance camp’s female leader, Anemone. Just hearing her tone of voice was enough to know how concerned she was about her comrades.
The resistance on Earth had been of long standing. It was said that they were sent to exterminate Machines even before research on the YoRHa android began. It was unclear when Anemone was sent to the front lines, but it was at least before the first YoRHa attack. That was what 2B deduced from the conversation of the camp troops. Anemone had suffered the continual loss of her comrades for that long.
2B could occasionally feel the strong gaze of Anemone. Her face probably reminded Anemone of a comrade she had lost in the past. The first time they met, Anemone was clearly caught off guard. Even though Anemone tried to play it off, the shock was obvious in her voice and expression.
Anemone projecting her memories of loss onto 2B was not particularly bothersome, so 2B purposefully pretended not to notice.
People tend to search for more similarities between two entities as soon as they notice a few. Even if they know it’s futile, they search for traces. That is what it’s like for people who have lost someone dear.
“The situation the other androids are facing is a bit concerning, isn’t it?” asked 9S.
Was she a culprit as well? Was she trying to compare? Was she trying to search?
“I have a feeling we should get going soon,” said 9S.
“You’re right,” 2B said, and began to research their next destination.