Her mouth moved as if she wanted to say something, but 2B changed her mind and stopped. Her lips started to move again.
“No, it’s nothing.”
There was no way it was nothing. She’d hesitated too long. Of course, 2B had no intention of telling 9S why. Even though she’d started calling him Nines, it didn’t feel like they’d gotten any closer.
“Let’s get going, 2B.”
9S intentionally used a bright tone, and started to run, as if he was excited to see the subject.
No matter how he asked, 2B probably wouldn’t answer. He knew before he asked. That was unbearable for 9S.
The stone temple was built in a deep chasm. Since there were cliffs surrounding it, it took a long time to get into the temple.
“They didn’t have to build it so deep in the chasm—I don’t understand.”
After finally climbing down the cliffs and walking along the bottom of the chasm, they had to climb again to get to the temple’s entrance—a treacherous path to get inside. It was hard not to complain.
“Hypothesis: The ruin surroundings were once a lake or a man-made moat, and humans used boats or a bridge to access it.”
I see, 9S thought after hearing 153’s response. Surrounding something with water was usually a technique that was used to protect someone or something important from outsiders. The temple was most likely built in the shape of a long cylinder to increase the floor area ratio.
“But I don’t understand this …”
9S looked up at a giant tree. It seemed like it had died recently, and its black trunk leaned on the spiral staircase.
“Why would they plant such a big tree inside of their building?”
The cylindrical building had an atrium at its center, and the spiral staircase that started on the first floor cut off near the top floor. Perhaps before it had extended all the way to the top floor, but it was cut off now, and 9S couldn’t tell what it had looked like in ancient times.
“What do you think, 2B?”
No response. She didn’t realize 9S was talking to her. She finally realized 9S had turned around and was staring at her, at which point she asked a hurried, “What?”
“The spiral staircase.”
He intentionally said something different.
“Um, I don’t think much of it …”
She wasn’t listening at all, just as he expected. If she had been listening, even just a little, she would have realized that he was talking about something else before.
“Let’s go to the top floor.”
Without mentioning that their conversation was broken, 9S turned toward the spiral staircase. 2B followed without a word. This isn’t like 2B, he thought to himself.
Why was 2B acting like this even though she had a task to accomplish? Or was it because she had a task? 9S didn’t say anything because 2B had been acting strange recently, and he had a hunch about why that was. He acted like nothing was wrong, and interacted with 2B the same way he had before. In contrast to 2B, who was bad at hiding secrets, it was a piece of cake for 9S. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have tried to illegally access the server—and multiple times at that.
No, this wasn’t about him. After all, he was about to be killed. He already knew. He even knew that 2B was tasked to carry out the deed.
He knew the moment this mission was assigned. That the research mission was just a front, and that 2B had a different responsibility.
Command ordered 9S’s—or in this case my—assassination. Isn’t that right, 2B?
But still, there was something wrong with how 2B was acting. She was too distracted. 2B wouldn’t perform a top secret mission with this kind of halfhearted attitude. Even if Type S’s were less suited for battle, they could counterattack and still assign Pod to assist in attacks.
Which meant that 2B was distracted not by 9S’s unauthorized access to the server, but something else.
Suddenly, 2B, who was walking in front of him, swayed.
9S quickly extended both hands and caught 2B as she fell back.
“What happened? You never trip on stairs.”
The spiral staircase was quite steep, and years of use and neglect had left various protrusions and holes. But with 2B’s maneuverability, it shouldn’t have been a problem.
“Are you okay?”
“Oh … yeah,” she said in a distraught tone.
“There’s fortunately no enemy signals, but if we were ambushed by Machines right now you would die.”
“D-die … ?”
9S didn’t believe his eyes. 2B was smiling. Her lips were twisted unnaturally. This smile was strange, obviously abnormal.
“You’ve been acting weirdly. Are you feeling okay?”
“No … I’m … okay …”
2B’s shoulders started shaking. Her muscles were going berserk.
“What are you saying? You’re not okay at all!”
Why hadn’t he seen this coming? No, he’d checked her before the mission and she was all clear. Since 9S handled maintenance for 2B; he would’ve requested a mission cancellation as soon as he saw a small defect.
“Let’s call it a day.”
But 2B ignored 9S, and kept heading toward the top floor.
“2B!” he said harshly as he grabbed her arm.
“Warning: Enemy signals above.”
“Warning: Multiple signals at two o’clock.”
The two Pods warned simultaneously. According to Command’s research, the probability of running into Machines during this mission was supposed to be zero.
But heading from that direction were six flying types. They were what 9S would call “small fry,” but they had signal-jamming capabilities. Which meant they couldn’t be detected until they were in sight …
“This is terrible.”
To think they would attack when 2B wasn’t feeling well. Even if they chose to flee, they were in an atrium. They would just get attacked from above.
“Nines! Get back!”
He heard a sharp voice. 2B ran up the stairs with newly acquired vigor. She was moving more smoothly than before. She was back to the usual 2B.
“I’ll support!”
Then he should support 2B, as usual.
“Pod! Analyze the enemies’ flight patterns!”
He instructed 153, careful not to get in the way of 2B’s Pod, 042. Each type of Machine had a unique movement pattern. If the androids could predict the movements, they could keep the damage sustained at a minimum while maximizing the damage they dealt.
Pod 153 shot down an enemy that was approaching 2B from behind. They didn’t move that quickly.
9S saw light at the end of the tunnel, when the two Pods warned again.
“Warning: Enemy signal in the hallway of the top floor.”
“Hypothesis: Multiple walking types. Specific types and number undetermined.”
Because of the flying types’ signal jamming, it was hard to tell what the situation was like. They needed to do something about that first.
“2B! Go! I’ll handle the flying types!”
Type B’s who specialized in close combat were more effective against walking types.