No. 4 left after Rose had finished explaining the vicinity’s topography, the attributes of common enemies, and the weapons and equipment the resistance had on hand. She said she would “take a look around,” so it wasn’t as though she had left without warning.
Besides, she hadn’t left because she got bored of the discourse. She had most likely gone to check what the other resistance members were doing.
It was hard to tell from her casual way of speech, but No. 2 knew that No. 4 was not as frivolous as she seemed. Talking a lot was her way of gathering information. As such, No. 4 was surprisingly well aware of her comrades’ personalities and actions.
But whenever No. 2 point it out, No. 4 would avoid the topic. She always blew it off by saying she just liked cute and exciting things.
Either way, her nature was often misunderstood. Especially by people who she’d just met.
“I’m sorry about my comrade’s selfish actions.”
Rose replied generously to No. 2, who had her head down in shame. “I don’t mind. I explained the important parts. The rest, including exchanging information, is just details.”
Rose’s smile as she said, “I don’t mind,” reminded No. 2 a little bit of No. 1. No. 1 was also generous.
“You said that … you’ve been fighting here for a long time, right?”
Sonia nodded. She was the one that had said, “It’s been a long time.”
“Without any help?”
It was Rose, not Sonia, who answered that question.
“The only people you can trust on the battlefield are your comrades. Not that we have many left at this point.”
No. 2 had heard that 160 androids had been deployed on the Eighth Descent Attack. The number of androids left in the resistance was in the single digits. They had lost the rest.
“What about Command?”
She had hesitated to ask. She was scared of what the answer might be. But she asked anyway.
“We’ve been abandoned by the moon.”
As expected, the answer No. 2 didn’t want to hear. Sonia shrugged and continued.
“All Command kept saying was “top secret,” “top secret,” “top secret.” Only that. We knew they wouldn’t be much help, but still, to be actually abandoned …”
“But, still you fight.”
“Because that’s what we’re made to do.”
Cleanse the Earth of the Machines. That was their purpose, No. 2 knew that. The question was whether or not she could actually execute.
“We have to take back the Earth, for humans …”
“No. Not for anyone else. For ourselves. Our comrades are pretty much family. We fight to protect our family. It’s only natural, right?”
Family. It was a foreign concept to No. 2. She found it extremely odd that Lily and Sonia called Rose “big sis.” Even though she knew what “family” and “big sister” meant as words, she didn’t understand them.
They’re different from me, No. 2 sighed internally. Not just because she couldn’t fathom the concept of a family; aside from that, Rose and the late No. 1 both had determination and a sense of responsibility that she didn’t have.
“As expected of a captain. I … I can’t do it.”
“Of course you can. You showed some guts back there. You risked your own safety to shield your comrade, and contain her temper.”
Realizing that Rose was talking about her breaking up the fight between Dahlia and No. 16, No. 2 shook her head. She hadn’t intended to “risk her own safety.” It was all in the heat of the moment.
“You sounded sincere.”
“What?”
“You were sincerely trying to survive with your comrades. That made me want to cooperate.”
She had been desperate when she had screamed, “What we need right now are comrades!” She had just spat out some random words that came to mind. Those words had swayed Rose …
“Those weren’t my words. I was just repeating something I’d been told. Someone taught me that joining forces with allies is the key to victory. Those words have been stuck in my head ever since.”
She could hear the voice in her head. That person had taught her many things. Thinking of them, a warmth spread though her chest. But it didn’t last. As soon as she realized that person was gone, the warmth disappeared.
She would never see them again …
“You’re almost like a human.”
No. 2 looked up in surprise. She had been told a similar thing before, by the very same person she had been imagining.
“Have you … seen humans?”
“No, I’ve never seen them directly. I’ve just heard about them. Don’t you hear about them a lot?”
When Rose and her companions had been manufactured, there had been rumors and stories about humans. No. 2 felt a bit of a generation gap. A difference of two hundred years was no small amount of time. No. 2 rarely heard stories of humans.
“I just thought you were similar to the impression of humans I got from back then. Well, I might be biased, because I want it to be true.”
“Want?”
“I want to meet humans. I want to live as the humans do … It’s a very common wish.”
Androids, regardless of when they were made, had an innate affection and admiration for humans as an emotional support to carry them through the harsh war with Machines.
Perhaps the resistance, which had been fighting on Earth, had a greater attachment to humans compared to the new YoRHa. Fighting for two hundred years meant two centuries of worshipping humans.
“Is that why you call each other by names?”
“That’s right. I named everyone. So that we could communicate with each other as humans.”
“I see.”
This was another one of the things that No. 2 had thought was odd. Aside from a select few that made significant contributions on the battlefield, most androids were only assigned a code number, and they called each other by those numbers. Single digits were attackers, the tens were gunners, and the twenties were scanners. The system was created so that specialization of an android could be determined instantly by their number.
No. 2 had assumed that all the resistance members were given their names due to their meritorious accomplishments, but it turned out Rose had just named them herself.
“I’m thinking of naming you all as well.”
“Fantastic!” Sonia squealed at Rose’s suggestion. No. 2 frantically shook her head.
“N-no. Please don’t!”
“Why?”
Sonia cocked her head.
“That’s … uh, wasteful.”
“What? No it’s not wasteful.”
She had no right to have a name, not without having produced any results. Besides, Command was in charge of honorific naming. It wasn’t something androids should do of their own volition. Even if they had the right to perform honorific naming, they had to fill out a request form, and get approval from the board. But she hesitated to explain that to Rose. What could she say?
“After the mission, please.”
What came out was just an excuse to delay the incident. But it was better than confronting her outright, No. 2 thought. At the very least, it wouldn’t make things awkward.
If, after the battle, both No. 2 and Rose’s group were alive, and No. 2 had to tell them the real reason, she would let them scold her all they want—that was, if they were alive.
“I see …”
No. 2 was startled by Rose’s tone of voice. Did Rose see through her? That by saying after the battle, she had stuck in a tiny fragment of hope.
“I’ll think of a good name for then.”
No. 2 was relieved that Rose had ended the conversation at that.
“Hey, can I help you brainstorm? No. 2’s impression, let’s see …”
It seemed that Sonia wanted to continue the naming conversation. No. 2 sighed internally.
“Rose! Kalmia and Clematis are here!”
Gerbera brought two unfamiliar androids with her.
“That’s rare for Kalmia to show herself. What happened?”
“When I told her about the newer models, she said she wanted to see for herself.”
Gerbera glanced back at the two behind her. One of them made a big nod. Which one was Kalmia, and which one was Clematis?
“Are you the new model?”
Caught by surprise, No. 2 nodded after a slight delay.
“I’m Kalmia, a weapons merchant. This is my secretary Clematis.”
Weapons merchant? Was it accurate to literally interpret the title as a person that sold and bought weapons? Currency economics had existed a long time ago. She remembered hearing that the occupation of merchant disappeared along with the collapse of the system …
“And you are?”
“I am code number No. 2.”
“What’s your name?”
She bore a small grudge, as Kalmia brought up names yet again. “I don’t have one,” she answered. Sonia interjected from the side.
“She’s going to get one after the mission. I’m going to help brainstorm too.”
Even though she hoped the introduction of new faces would veer their conversation away from names, they were back at it again.
But it didn’t go how No. 2 expected. Their conversation was cut short as they heard a cry in the distance.
“Screaming?”
Rose didn’t stay around to listen to someone say, “It’s Rose.” Sonia and Gerbera followed. Unaware of what had happened, No. 2 blindly chased after them.