The group advanced through the silence of the ashen forest, the sound of their footsteps echoing like steady beats on the damp ground.
Despite the tension that hung over them, they walked as though they were merely on a casual stroll — a superficial calm masking a storm of thoughts behind every glance and gesture.
At the front, side by side, walked two figures: Arthur and Commander White.
They had been talking since the beginning of the journey.
Behind them, 2B, 9S, and A2 had finally regained their composure.
At least outwardly.
But a closer look revealed the slight imbalance in their steps — the way 2B nearly stumbled whenever the uneven terrain shifted beneath her — proof that her body still hadn't fully recovered from the previous impact.
Even so, she refused to show weakness.
Walking just behind her, 9S kept his eyes fixed on the two figures ahead.
He listened to every word exchanged between Arthur and White with absolute focus, processing each fragment of information with obsessive precision.
For him, observing a real human was something no database could ever prepare him for.
A2 followed furthest in the back, silent and tense.
Her half-lidded eyes tracked every movement White made, and every subtle nuance of Arthur's voice.
An agreement was being forged.
Arthur had accepted White's request: to help her with an audacious mission — raising the morale of all YoRHa units and reinforcing the legitimacy of the Council of Humanity.
Arthur's compensation, however, was peculiar.
He did not ask for riches, authority, or dominion, but for YoRHa's assistance in developing certain personal projects — the nature of which remained unknown.
Yet his eyes betrayed a glimmer of distrust. He did not fully believe in Commander White's bureaucratic coldness — at least not yet.
For that reason, he demanded that A2 serve as an intermediary between them.
White, reluctant but pragmatic, agreed.
A2 would receive full sponsorship from the Commander — superior weaponry, high-durability materials, unrestricted access to tactical databases and field units.
Total autonomy over all resources.
A gift that, to many, would seem like a rare privilege; but to A2, it sounded like yet another invisible chain.
A2 remained wordless, but her gaze said everything.
She had tasted betrayal once — and she would never be caught off guard again.
---xXx---
"9S." Arthur's voice abruptly broke the silence.
"Huh?" 9S flinched, looking at the human with genuine surprise.
Why had he called him like that, so suddenly?
Arthur turned toward him with a smile.
"I need your help with something… something that might be dangerous. Will you help me?"
As he finished speaking, he extended his hand.
A golden portal formed above his palm, and the sphere that had brought him into this world dropped neatly into his hand.
9S's eyes immediately lit up with curiosity.
"You want me to analyze this?"
"Yes. Honestly, I don't know what to expect — but this is what brought me here. And maybe… maybe there's something inside it that could help me return home."
Arthur's voice carried a strange weight — a blend of hope and resignation.
"What kind of information could be stored in something like this?" 9S asked, fascinated, his fingers already itching to connect his scanner.
Arthur gave a small smile.
"I've got no idea… but something tells me it's incredible."
---xXx---
Resistance Base
In a secluded corner of the ruined city — surrounded by moss-coated rubble and time-worn towers — stood the Resistance Base, an improvised fortress but undeniably secure.
Its leader, Anemone, was a serene-featured android with a sharp, strategic mind.
Ordinarily, nothing could rattle her composure.
But now… she was visibly uneasy.
And not simply because Commander White had descended to the Earth's surface — though by itself, that was unprecedented.
What truly unsettled her was the secret White had revealed: among the newcomers, there was a human.
A real human.
That single revelation had set off every security protocol in her mind.
If the machine lifeforms ever discovered that a human had returned to Earth…
They would attack with full force.
Anemone drew in a long, deliberate breath. The air passing through her filters sounded almost like a real sigh.
She only hoped White knew what she was doing.
---xXx---
Now, the group was gathered in an underground chamber, isolated by thick walls of reinforced metal.
Arthur, 9S, and 2B stood inside, before a table where the mysterious sphere rested.
All connections to the outside had been severed — no signal, no transmission, no path for digital intrusion.
Absolute isolation.
Outside, near the door, White suddenly asked:
"How do you think things are going in there?"
"No idea," A2 replied flatly, arms crossed.
White had not entered — not out of fear, but by choice.
It was as if she preferred to observe the unfolding experiment from a distance…
---xXx---
Inside the room
The air felt dense, almost tangible.
The bluish glow of the monitors reflected off the cold metal walls, while 9S and Arthur worked side by side.
2B remained close by, sword in hand, every fiber of her body primed to react.
She had insisted on entering the chamber — not out of technical necessity, but instinct.
Arthur was human.
And as a YoRHa combat android, protecting humanity was her reason for existing.
Suddenly, 9S jolted.
His eyes widened, and his breathing became uneven.
The data streaming across his interface was — simply put — unbelievable.
Arthur immediately noticed the shift in his expression, but as he opened his mouth to ask something, 2B moved with inhuman speed — her blade already touching 9S's neck.
"Wait! 2B, it's me! I'm still me!"
His voice sounded terrified, sincere, trembling.
"And how can you prove that?"
2B's tone was cold as ice, her eyes analyzing every microexpression.
It was a simple question — but impossible to answer.
Anything he said could be replicated by any entity capable of accessing his memories.
A virus, for instance.
Arthur sighed softly and placed a calm hand on 2B's sword, lowering it.
"2B, I told you already — relax. There's no real danger that requires your blade."
"A2, White, come in." he called.
Then he focused back on 9S.
"So? What do you think?"
9S took a breath and answered:
"Breaking the encryption was… easy. No — not exactly. I didn't break anything. I just activated the device… and it simply opened for me.
It's like it was made… for me to access."
Arthur exchanged a quick glance with him.
"Can you understand the internal data?"
A voice came from behind them.
"Internal data?"
They turned to see Commander White standing at the doorway, A2 beside her.
9S nodded — but his expression shifted again, this time into pure bewilderment.
"Yes, but… there's something odd."
"What?" Arthur asked, leaning in.
"Despite being incredibly advanced… everything inside here seems to have been made specifically for us. For YoRHa androids."
Arthur blinked in disbelief.
"You're sure?"
"Positive," 9S replied, tone steady.
"There are plans for body upgrades, new weapon types, structural enhancements — literally everything.
It's as if this thing was… a gift. For us."
Arthur stared at the sphere, eyebrows furrowing.
A gift, huh?
'…What the hell were you thinking, future me…?'
Arthur wondered, dragging a hand down his face as he stared at the sphere.
He took a slow breath in and let it out.
'Wait… is this some kind of time loop?' he muttered to himself.
The idea hit him like lightning.
Suddenly, everything began to make sense — or at least, its own twisted version of sense.
'A daughter from the future appears out of nowhere, brings a mysterious technological sphere that drags me into another world — and inside it, there's advanced tech made specifically for androids from this universe.'
He rubbed his chin.
Arthur kept observing the sphere on the table.
A tired smile crossed his face.
"Yeah… that sounds exactly like something I'd do."
The idea of having left himself a gift felt… unsettling.
"Is there anything else inside it?" Arthur asked, breaking the silence.
9S blinked, refocusing on the floating holographic interface.
"Let me check…" he murmured, fingers dancing across invisible menus.
Lines of code streamed quickly before his eyes.
Seconds passed like stretching minutes.
"Yes," he finally said, voice filled with awe.
"There's more. And… one of the things in here is unbelievable."
Arthur leaned forward.
"What are you talking about?"
9S took a deep, simulated breath.
"Among the data, there's a blueprint… for an embryonic artificial intelligence.
It's like someone left the mold of a consciousness inside this sphere."
Arthur went silent.
"An embryonic AI?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes. A pure base — an incomplete mind, but one designed to grow."
Arthur exchanged a brief look with him.
"Can you complete it?"
"I can try," 9S replied, eyes sharp with concentration.
"But it'll take time. The system is incredibly complex, connected to protocols I've never seen before.
It's designed to adapt, expand, and even… learn on its own."
Arthur nodded.
"Take all the time you need. Keep analyzing it, and if possible, look for anything — anything — that could help me return to my world."
9S nodded, excitement clear in his movements.
Then a soft voice cut through the room — White's.
"Mr. Arthur…"
"Yes?" he asked, turning toward her, curious.
"What is your world like?"
Her question came gently, but carried an unease she failed to hide.
Arthur fell silent for a moment before offering a wistful smile.
"It's a relatively peaceful world," he said quietly.
"Strange things happen all the time, but people still find ways to live in harmony.
Or at least… they try."
White observed him intently.
Despite her efforts to mask it, concern flickered in her eyes.
She understood something painfully obvious:
If Arthur found a way home… he would leave.
And once he returned, he might never come back.
Part of her — the logical part — raged at the thought.
But the other part… the quieter, more human part… feared losing him.
Arthur lifted his gaze, and their eyes met.
"White," he said softly, "you've thought about keeping me here, haven't you?"
He laughed lightly.
Her artificial heart nearly stopped.
It felt as though he had looked straight into the core of her being.
She didn't answer at first.
But after a few seconds… she nodded.
Simple. Honest.
Arthur wasn't angry.
Instead, he smiled gently — understandingly.
"I figured as much."
He stepped closer, slowly, stopping right in front of her.
"Unfortunately… I can't stay here. There are people waiting for me."
Almost without thinking, Arthur lifted his hand and brushed his fingers through her hair.
The gesture came naturally — instinctively — but for White, it was a forbidden pleasure.
She froze, eyes widening.
Then, slowly, she lowered her head, allowing the touch.
Arthur smiled softly.
"You're more human than you think, White."
(End of chapter)