by Jun Eishima
The close-combat weapon flashed, slicing through the sandstorm. A Type-40 combat sword. A state-of-the-art weapon issued only to the elite forces on the front lines. The blade, crackling with electricity, burst and sent a semispherical object flying through the air in an arc.
A now-decapitated machine stopped moving. A few seconds later, it cylindrical body fell on its side in the sand, and explode, shrapnel showering two previously destroyed bodies in the vicinity.
After the explosion and shock wave, all that was left was the unique sound of the sirocco, the desert wind.
The dust eventually lifted, revealing a human silhouette. From the smooth outline of the shoulders, the tight waist, and alluring legs that emerged from a short skirt, the silhouette clearly belonged to an adult woman.
Though technically, the individual wasn’t an adult, or a woman. The silhouette didn’t belong to a human, or an organism with innate gender. It was YoRHa android Type B No. 2, code name 2B. A unit built for battle.
It had already been a long time since humans had left the Earth. Humanity was forced to flee to the moon because of the alien invasion. As of now, Earth was only occupied by the Machines, which were the aliens’ minions, and the human-created androids, who were assigned to destroy the Machines.
2B sheathed her sword as she called out behind her.
“Was that all?”
Responding to her question, a support unit, called Pod, that had been floating several feet over her lowered itself closer to the ground. It had a cuboid head with four variously sized arms. While it generally traveled through air, it could also propel itself through water. It had multifarious support functions, including long-range attacks, situational analysis, transmission capabilities, and emergency battlefield first aid.
“Affirmative: No enemy responses detected within a five-kilometer radius of the access point.”
“I see,” 2B mumbled as she approached a metal box slightly taller than she was. Access points were disguised as ancient human vending machines, but they were valuable apparatuses that enabled transmissions with Command and collected intel on their surroundings.
Whether they were aware of it or not, the Machines always gathered around these access points. Whether it be in the corner of a ruin or in the middle of a desert, without fail they collected around the vending machines as if they were insects swarming to a fallen fruit.
Inevitably, YoRHa squadron members needing to send a transmission or check the terrain data of the surroundings had to clear out the Machines around an access point. It was just standard operating procedure.
After completing this step 2B could finally attend to her original errand. She opened her mail inbox on the display, and retrieved a newly received email. She read the sender, the classification of top secret, and some of the message, when—
“2B!”
Suddenly appearing out of nowhere was Type S No. 9, a.k.a. 9S. While he was a YoRHa android, he wasn’t modeled after an adult woman like 2B, but instead a teenage boy.
“Is that mail from Command?”
It wasn’t as though he had looked, but scanner types like him that specialized in research had exceptional observational skills and intuition. It wasn’t time for the regular report from the human board on the moon to come, and she surely wouldn’t have engaged many Machines just to open a personal message. He had probably taken those factors into account, and instantaneously arrived at the conclusion that it was mail from Command.
“It has nothing to do with this research mission. It’s some directives for another mission.”
“Anyway,” 2B changed the subject. “This isn’t the rendezvous point.”
The assigned rendezvous point with 9S was closer to their mission destination.
“I know, but it seemed like you were in battle, so I thought I’d come in as support.”
“No need to worry about me.”
If she hadn’t been able to take care of those Machines, she would be a dysfunctional Type B.
“I guess.” 9S dropped his shoulders with an exaggerated motion. “Well, since we were able to meet up, let’s continue on together.”
After consulting their map data, 2B and 9S started to head toward their mission destination.
“Ugh. More sand got in.”
It would have been remarkable had water gotten into their shoes as they walked the desert. But sand was to be expected, and 2B thought it was nothing to make a fuss about. On the other hand, 9S would scowl every few meters, walk a short distance, groan in frustration, and go through the same cycle over and over.
“Doesn’t it bother you, 2B?”
“What?”
“Aren’t your shoes full of sand as well?”
“While it’s uncomfortable, it doesn’t disturb my walking, so …”
Sandstorms in the air obstructed vision, but sand in their shoes was no problem. “Just don’t worry about it,” said 2B, at which 9S dropped his shoulders yet again.
“Having sand in your shoes feels disgusting, doesn’t it? It doesn’t disturb my walking, but it’s a matter of sanity.”
“We are prohibited from experiencing emotion.”
How many times had she said the same thing to 9S? This wasn’t the first time she had gone on a mission with him.
“Roger.”
9S’s reply was the same every time, made with a slightly sour tone and expression. Well, of course the first time he had been apologetic and said “Sorry,” but still.
She had heard that YoRHa androids were prohibited from experiencing emotion ever since a squadron member had jeopardized a mission because of them. Indeed, emotion impaired judgment and action. 2B thought that emotion was unnecessary for androids.
Especially for herself.
“Oh! Is that it?”
Ahead, in the direction 9S was pointing, a building jutted out of the horizon. The building had been displayed on the map data all along, but the topological variation of the terrain and sandstorms had concealed it until now.
“Affirmative: The main subject of this research mission. A massive building, remnant of human civilization.”
Pod answered from the side. It wasn’t 2B’s particular model, Pod 042, but 9S’s, Pod 153. A Pod would usually only interact with its support targets, unless it was specifically called upon or in a tough situation.
The wind suddenly weakened, and the field of vision became clear. They could see an arched entrance on the face of the building. They could tell that the building was dug into a mountain. But looking at the map data, not all of the building was built into the mountain. Some parts of it faced out into the valley. Overall, it was built very strangely.
“It was apparently a religious facility called a temple. Its official name was ‘The Sand Temple,’ I think? Humans used to live here a long time ago, and after that it was used as a temple … I heard.”
Perhaps she was imagining things, but 9S sounded excited. Since the role of Type S was to perform research and gather data, they had the trait of being exceptionally curious.
“Let’s get going, 2B,” 9S said impatiently, and started running as he kicked up sand. That must’ve gotten more sand in his shoes than before, but he didn’t seem to care. It had evidently been a matter of mind. 2B felt a smile creeping onto her lips, and quickly suppressed the urge.
“Emotion is prohibited …”
She had planned to say it internally, but ended up accidentally saying it out loud.
9S looked back and shouted, “Did you say something?!”
“Nothing,” 2B answered, as she hurried toward the the Sand Temple.
There’s no sound, she thought. That’s how quiet the interior of the temple was. She realized with a delay that it was because the thick walls of the temple blocked out the sound of the desert winds, which outside still persisted.
“I didn’t expect this place to have air conditioning!”
Pod 153 responded to 9S. “Negative: There is no air-conditioning unit near the entrance of the building. The body is perceiving a lower temperature because of the temperature differential between the desert and the interior of the building.”
“Boo. It feels like it.” 9S sulked as he trotted along the hallway. 2B was wary of the surroundings as she followed.
Their footsteps and the low humming of the Pods overlapped. A part of the ceiling had collapsed, and rays of natural light poured down. The light let them see the stairs and floor, which was packed with rows of square blocks of stone.
“There’s even sand in the building.”
9S put his hand on the stair railing and looked down over it. The stairway was completely coated with sand. Sand not only filled the hallways, but there were small piles of sand next to the walls as well.