Chapter 7

*MC's pov*

"Hmm since I first heard the sound 10 minutes ago, I've been lightly jogging, yet I don't feel fatigued at all. I've covered quite a lot of distance too. Wait what is that sound," muttered Azriel as he stopped and strained his ears to a faint sound in the distance.

'Two footsteps and judging from the clacks produced from one of the footsteps, it should belong to a female. Or male, who knows, I'm not one to kink shame someone.' thought Azriel with an amused smile as he shrugged his shoulders.

"Seriously though, not only is my stamina increased, my hearing is increased as well. Hmm, they are coming this way. I wonder if I can morph into an inanimate object," (Azriel)

He then proceeded to try to become a chair but failed.

"Guess not, welp so much for my plans to play prop hunt," chuckled Azriel. He analyzed his surroundings for a bit to see anywhere he could hide and get a jump on the newcomers.

'*sigh* If I had my usual equipment, I wouldn't even need to hide," thought Azriel nostalgically about his armor, weapons, and gadgets. The hall was empty with nothing that could fully hide him.

'Let's backtrack a bit then, there was a room back there. I could hide behind the door and figure out who these people are,' thought Azriel as he quickly and quietly made his way back.

**********************

"Everything is so rusted and dilapidated, it's even worse than some of the structures on the surface," commented 9S as looked around.

"..." (2B)

"We have filters so we don't have to worry about the dust and what not but what about Sir Azriel? I hope the place he was detained wasn't rusted or dilapidated as everything else here," continued 9S with a worried tone.

"All the more reason for us to reach him sooner," replied 2B.

"Mm," nodded 9S seriously.

As they continued to walk, 2B's pod 042 detected a humanoid-shaped thermal reading in the room ahead of them.

"Observation: Detected a humanoid-shaped thermal reading in the room ahead. Hypothesis: It should be our objective, Sir Azriel," reported Pod 042.

At this, 2B and 9S heard a "Shit!" coming from the room indicated by Pod 042. Before 2B and 9S could do anything or say anything the same voice shouted out,

"Don't move! If you don't want to be shot at, that is!" the voice continued from behind the door, and from one of the holes of the rusted door, what looks like a barrel of a gun poked out towards them.

Both androids could tell that it was just a pipe using their enhanced vision. Again, before they could say anything 9S's pod 153 reported,

"Observation: Scanners show it is a normal metal pipe," (Pod 153)

At this, the voice sounded frustrated and said "Ah come on! That ain't fair! Stop using such high-tech equipment!". The pipe withdrew back inside the hole.

2B and 9S looked at each other and 2B decided to clear the misunderstanding to the other side.

"Sir Azriel we are androids sent by The Council of Humanity to rescue you from your place of confinement," (2B)

"I am YoRHa No.2 Type B and beside me," at this, she pointed at 9S "is YoRHa No.9 Type S." She then pointed at the Pods and continued "These two are our tactical support units, Pod 042 and Pod 153. We wish you no harm, Sir." Meanwhile, 9S kept his mouth shut and kept quiet but he could barely contain his excitement from finally meeting one of his race's creators.

"Androids?" the voice seems to calm down a bit at hearing they are androids but raised its voice again after hearing who sent them.

"Council of Humanity? Who are they and what do they want with me?!" questioned the voice.

As 2B was going to answer, a ringing sound was heard and Commander White can be seen on the hologram.

"Sir Azriel, I am Commander White, the commanding officer of the elite military force of androids charged by the Council of Humanity with fighting the invading aliens and their machine lifeforms, YoRHa. I will be explaining everything you wish to know, Sir. Please follow these two androids out of this facility so that we may administer aid if you are injured and provide you with other necessary supplies," replied Commander White respectfully with her left hand across her chest and her head slightly bowed.

Seeing their Commander's actions, the two androids also copied her actions with their left hands across their chests, standing straight and heads raised.

**********************

'Of course, they had advanced scanners,' Azriel sighed, 'And I've been sighing a lot lately. They say you lose happiness every time you sigh, gotta keep that in mind,' casually thought Azriel. 'At least they are not humans. It's a lot better to interact with androids instead of humans,' Azriel continued with a grim expression on his face.

'Let's see, No.2 Type B and No.9 Type S, so 2B and 9S?'

'Also Council of Humanity huh, it seems that humanity finally managed to overcome WCS. That's good to know I guess. Still, are they really here just to rescue me or to instead take me to another research facility in the name of 'rescue'?'

'Another android, this time a higher ranking one. Commander White eh.'

'What's more, did she just say aliens!!?? Also their machines!? What type of machines?! 10 stories tall Mechs!? Oh man, I hope we are winning,' thought Azriel with a grimace. 'Now, what are they doing? Is that some kind of a salute? Future humans are weird, what's wrong with the normal salute?' thought Azriel.

What he didn't know was that the salute, left hand across the chest instead of the right hand on the forehead, was the androids' show of respect to humanity and to show that, no matter how human-like they may have become, they are not human.

'Whatever, I don't have any other options, they are either too strong for me to fight or underestimated me to just send two units and I'm thinking it's the former. They both belong to this so-called elite military and are used to fight aliens and machines, which I may add, these aliens and machines could be a lot stronger than typical humans. Also, there seem to be possible reinforcements other than these two,' at this Azriel decided to trust these androids for now and came out of his hiding place.

"Can you stop shining the light on my face?" Azriel asked a bit annoyed while shielding his eyes.

**********************

*2B's pov*

As I saw Commander saluting, I realized I'd been disrespectful towards Sir Azriel by not saluting. How could I have forgotten such a thing? I hope Sir Azriel forgives me for my impudence. I quickly saluted to not disrespect Sir Azriel anymore than I already had. I could also see 9S in the same boat as me.

Sir Azriel came out soon after from behind the frame of the door while shielding his eyes with his hand. I realized too late that in my effort to properly and clearly see Sir Azriel, I unconsciously directed Pod's light towards him, blinding him. What have I done?

At least 9S had the insights to turn his Pod's light off, if not I fear the consequences. The very first human I met and I was already trying to harm him. This...this will not do. I shall do everything in my capability to atone for my mistakes.

I quickly redirected pod's light towards the wall as I voiced my apologies while bowing deeply, "I...I deeply apologize for my error. I am ready to receive any punishment to atone for my mistakes,"

I didn't receive any replies for a short while as fears of being disregarded and discarded spread throughout my body. I do not fear death nor do I fear pain as there was only one fear in all of us androids, it was the fear of being unwanted by our creators, the humans.

I was having such dark thoughts until I heard the voice of salvation, which shattered them all to pieces.

"It's alright, umm, 2B is it? It's fine, just please don't do it again next time. Anyway, 2B and 9S?" (Azriel)

*End of 2B's pov*

"Yes Sir!" both androids replied energetically and stood straight.

"And Commander White?" continued Azriel.

"Yes, Sir! Please call me by my name Sir, I rank lower than you after all," Commander White replied.

"I'm not sure why I rank higher than you but ok I guess. White then," (Azriel)

Then he faced the pods and continued "Pod 042 and Pod 153?"

"Affirmative, Sir!" came the reply of the Pods.

"Well then, nice to meet all five of you. As you already know, my name is Azriel. I hope you will take care of me." at the end Azriel slightly bowed his head.

"Don't worry Sir Azriel we won't allow anything to hurt you!" came the energetic reply of 9S.