Automata

Chapter 11 - Hello, Stranger [PT. I]

Without hesitation, 9s summoned a holographic pistol with a small flashlight attached to it. He held it up to the mysterious figure in the darkness.

"It's nice to see you again, Annette."

Annette's eyes widened as the figure walked into the artificial light of the screens.

It was Courtney, she was really here. Even though she was only gone for a few months, she looked a little worse for wear. She had some visible rashes and scars on her, but her body was completely devoid of sand even though there was nothing but desert surrounding them.

She didn't seem to care about the presence of 9s or the gun pointed almost point-blank in her direction either.

"Are you just gonna stare at me, or are you gonna give your best friend a hug?" She held her arms out.

Courtney was way too calm. Too calm for the situation that she was currently in.

Annette was in shock. She glanced at 9s and only just noticed that he had his gun out. This caused her to snap out of her daze.

"9s, it's Courtney! She isn't a threat! You can put your gun down now!"

9s lowered his weapon but still kept his finger on the trigger.

He was never on his guard this much, not even with the threat of Molded invasions when they were in that village.

Isabel was the first to address Courtney directly.

"Courtney?!" she exclaimed.

She was about to go over to her for a hug, but Annette eagerly ran over to Courtney first and gave her a big hug.

Annette began to cry soft tears of joy.

"I missed you so much.." Annette whispered into Courtney's shoulder.

"We have a lot of catching up to do, then." Courtney gently patted Annette's back as she discreetly side-eyed the Scanner.

Isabel, who was now standing next to 9s, was the first to point out the obvious:

"How'd you get—"

Courtney quickly released herself from Annette's arms and interrupted Isabel.

"Let's get out of here. It's not safe for you guys!"

As Courtney walked towards the front of the room, Annette noticed that Courtney had taken her cloak. She didn't even feel her removing it from her shoulders. Courtney didn't put it back on, instead, she held it in her hand haphazardly.

Annette didn't say anything though, as she assumed that her military training taught her how to do things like that.

That's probably how she found them there in the first place... and probably why she left her cloak outside.. so they could find her? But how did—

"Standing around won't get you home!~" Courtney called out from the doorway, interrupting Annette's bubbling thoughts.

Annette quickly followed behind her while Isabel looked at 9s in a confused manner. Courtney didn't pay them any mind though.

"We should go." Isabel finally said, her voice had a hint of defeat in it.

As they walked out of the room, Isabel stayed close to him. She lightly held his gloved hand, not for comfort, but hopefully to distract 9s from whatever he might be thinking.

After an hour of trekking through the harsh desert climate, Courtney brings them to a lightly populated military base.

There was food, water, clothing, housing, and much more. Courtney pointed out the major areas as they ventured through the sand-covered streets. Everything was compact and everyone seemed to be following a specific dress code.