"Because A2 is changing because of you,"
Anemone said, "a similarly huge change, just like after that operation. This is something I'm willing to see. I hope Number Two can walk out from hatred. I hope her future life can be happy. I hope to see again the gentle and kind Number Two from before."
Anemone's words made Aiden fall silent. After a while, he waved his hand and said to her, "I'm leaving."
"Nothing more to say?" Anemone looked at Aiden with a smiling squint, then also waved her hand, "Then goodbye."
Coming out of the tent, Aiden saw A2 and Yakor standing not far away. Only when they saw him come out did they walk over.
"What were you talking about? Something that needs to be said behind our backs? Or is it that you saw that the leader is a cute little girl on the outside, and evil thoughts came to your mind?" As soon as she approached, Yakor chattered a bunch.
Aiden glared at this nonsense-talking android, then noticed A2 was looking at him with burning eyes, so he said, "Nothing much, just asked about some things from A2's past. After all, as her boyfriend, it's normal to know about your girlfriend's past, right?"
"Is it just that?" Of course Yakor didn't believe it.
"What else could it be?" Aiden really wanted to knock her head with his fist.
"Hmph!" Yakor coldly snorted.
At this time, A2 spoke, "Aiden, if you want to know, actually you can just ask me directly."
To be honest, Aiden actually knew quite a lot about A2's past stories, though not in much detail, since the game didn't elaborate much.
But one thing, she spent most of her time in combat, killing machine lifeforms, as well as those sent from the Bunker to hunt her, 2B and 9S.
From the operation descending at Pearl Island in year 41, to the Bunker's 243rd descent operation in year 45, A2 had killed the 2B and 9S pair multiple times.
But since they were special units, 2B and 9S would be revived each time, and except for 2B, 9S would have his memory individually reset.
Of course, besides that, there were also some other stories, but Aiden wasn't very clear on them, since the NieR universe is too vast, and he only remembered that much.
However, although he knew some of the plot, Aiden wouldn't reject A2. He nodded and said, "Tell me about it in detail when there's time."
"Mm." A smile blossomed on A2's face.
"Speaking of which, didn't Anemone ask us to help the people here? After you came out, did you ask about it?" Aiden asked again.
"Not yet, we were waiting for you to come out." Yakor said.
"Then let's head out now." Aiden ignored Yakor and spoke to A2.
Don't be fooled by A2's usually cold appearance, in fact, she's someone with a cold exterior and warm heart. For friends she acknowledges, she's not just warm, but will spare no effort to help. Now, she had already walked to a prop merchant sitting not far away repairing machines.
The prop merchant was an android with the appearance of a middle-aged man. Seeing A2 appear in front of him, he looked up and asked, "Need something? Besides support equipment and reagents that can repair damaged parts, I also sell some plug-in chips that can enhance your combat power. But due to material shortages, plug-in chips have already been discontinued."
"We're here to help you solve the material shortage issue," Aiden said, having just walked over.
Seeing the android uncle look confused, Aiden added, "Anemone told us about it."
"Ah, so you're helpers sent by the leader. Oh, I remember now. This morning I even complained to her. She only said she'd resolve it soon. I thought it was just lip service like before, didn't expect she really found people." The merchant uncle said with some surprise.
"Because she is a good leader," A2 said beside him.
"Well said. She really is a good leader, has led us through difficulty after difficulty," the prop merchant nodded.
"Alright, let's not talk about that. Tell us what materials you're lacking," Yakor asked from behind Aiden.
"Too many. Some important joint parts, motherboards, and some electronic components that the camp can't produce." The merchant uncle said while turning his head toward Yakor.
"Those things can only be obtained from higher-level machine lifeforms. Most androids in the camp are outdated models, and few have strong combat power, so the parts recovered are average in quality... Wait, you are... Miss Yakor?"
"That's me. Long time no see, Mr. Nameless Merchant." Yakor did a slight curtsy, not a full skirt-lift, since she wore a knee-length skirt.
"How were those props I sold doing?" Yakor asked.
"I have no name, just a code. Doesn't matter if you don't know. As for those props, honestly, the moment they came back to camp they were all snapped up, Miss Yakor, could you sell me more?"
"Sorry, I don't have the time to make them now," Yakor shook her head.
'No time my ass, you were free nearly all night yesterday...' Aiden thought, but still asked with some surprise, "You guys know each other?"
"When my legs were still fine, I once met Miss Yakor during a material collection mission," the merchant said, lifting the cloth over his legs to reveal heavily damaged limbs.
"Why not go get them repaired? I remember the camp has special repair machines," Aiden asked. He had just taken A2 to repair her body yesterday.
"I'm a support-type android, low combat capability. Better to let combat-type androids use the resources. Besides, the price to use that repair machine is too high. I can't bear to spend it." The prop merchant covered his legs again and said.
"Alright then." Aiden could only shrug, thinking, So even androids have rich and poor classes, huh!
After noting the materials the prop merchant needed, the three of them wandered around nearby again and took on quite a few miscellaneous tasks, mostly material collection and clearing areas occupied by machine lifeforms, before leaving the resistance camp.
Just after leaving, A2 suddenly remembered something and asked Aiden, "Aiden, what's your combat capability like?"
Until now, A2 still didn't know what model of android Aiden was, nor his strength. If Aiden was just a regular resistance android, she felt it was better to let him return to the residence. She didn't want him taking risks.
Hearing her question, Yakor pricked up her ears. She cared even more than A2, because she knew Aiden was a human. She had some idea of what humans in this world could do, not even as capable as the most basic androids.
"My combat capability, huh..." Aiden pondered for a moment, then looked toward a large rock in the distance. He snapped his fingers, and the support pod perched on his shoulder since they left home flew up.
With clicking transformation sounds, it morphed into a G-series robot.
G1 - Corona.
"Firepower, give a demonstration," Aiden pointed at the rock and said.
Whoosh!
With a whoosh, G1 Corona fired a glowing orb at the rock. The over two-meter-wide boulder was instantly blasted into a deep crater.
"How about that? Not bad, right?" Aiden patted the now-transformed G1 Corona hovering beside him and looked smugly at A2 and Yakor.
"Very powerful POD," A2 said, but still shook her head, "But not enough. You can't rely solely on a POD."
As the prototype for 2B, A2 focused on hand-to-hand combat. She didn't care much about POD power.
Yakor on the side frowned. She had read the records last night. In her memory, there shouldn't even be such a POD in this world.
'Even the Bunker's latest POD models don't have transformation capabilities.' Yakor thought.
Now, Yakor grew more and more curious about Aiden, not just because he was the only human in this world, but also vaguely felt he had a similar foresight into this world's development like she did.
'An unstable factor, huh? Well, at least it's not like helping Zero, ending up destroyed and exiled.'
Yakor remembered that woman, remembered how she was destroyed by that world's world will for trying to change its course. Although she didn't die in the end, she was still banished and could hardly return.
As she thought about it, Aiden began another demonstration, this time, hand-to-hand combat.
With a shake of his hands, two auto-pistols appeared. He struck a gun kata starting stance, then charged forward, demonstrating a dazzling combo of shooting and martial arts.
"This time should be okay, right?" Aiden asked A2.
A2 analyzed it and felt that although it was a bit flashy, it did seem to have some killing power. In the end, she nodded.
Thus, they set off.
———
In the blink of an eye, seven days passed.
Over those seven days, Aiden and the others collected large quantities of materials for the resistance, and A2 also obtained many plug-in chips, significantly improving her strength.
And on the night of the seventh day, Anemone came to their place, telling them that the YoRHa squad dispatched by the Bunker would set out the next day, preparing for the 243rd descent operation.
"Tomorrow, I will also lead a team to the destination, the factory ruins, setting out in the morning," Anemone said before leaving.
———
[Morning.]
High in the air, tens of kilometers from the factory ruins, several sleek fighter jets broke through the clouds, heading at high speed toward their destination.
After flying dozens of kilometers, one android pilot received a message from command,
"YoRHa Squad, this is command. Respond if received."
"YoRHa Squad received. This is 2B. Entire squad has successfully broken through the stratosphere. Auto-navigation functioning normally."
"This is Communications Officer 6O. Report your status."
"Received. 1D, 2B, 4B, 7E, 11B, 12H, after self-check, all confirmed normal. The squad is now fifty kilometers from target."
"YoRHa Squad, you are about to enter the enemy anti-air zone. Switch to manual mode, prepare for combat. Destroy large enemy mechanical weapons and collect intelligence."
"Understood..."
However, just as the YoRHa android known as 2B turned off the communicator and prepared to give the manual mode command, a massive red beam of light shot out.
"Ah!"
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