Titan King

Chapter 37

Pickle looked at the sunrise as he sat on a tree branch, the sunlight piercing through the dense canopy of leaves as a soft morning breeze blew. The group had spent last night moving, away from the destroyed village. It was Pascal's idea because he worried the children would not feel comfortable remaining in the town anymore. So they travelled through the forest and stumbled upon Goliath Biped. It mistook them for enemies, after beating the shit out of the machine the tin can revealed that it was protecting the ruler of the forest. 

So, Pascal decided to make a deal with the Goliath Biped, whose name they learnt was Ernst, that if his king permitted them to live here and become his subjects, he would protect them. The tin can agreed to the deal and informed other medium-sized bipeds guarding the king's grave to let him, Pascal, and A2 in to see the king and for Ernst to protect the children until they return. Pickle found out that these machines were disconnected from the network.

Pickle did suggest that they not travel during the night, which Pascal agreed to and Ernst was kind enough to lead them to a nearby cave where he would rest. The titan waited on the tree branch for Pascal to get up he was fully aware of A2 who had not slept the whole night and had been patrolling the surrounding area all night. It seems she is burdened with guilt from the deaths of the machines in the village.

Pickle: 'I think I should talk to her'

He thought to himself as he held a sharpening stone in his armoured hand, using it to sharpen his massive sword. He blinked as he smelled something. He brought his arm up took a sniff of his underarm and regretted it.

Pickle: 'And a bath'

.

A2 walked around the forest, she to stop herself from taking out the Gravekeepers. The events that had transpired in the last twenty hours had been absurd to her. Firstly, she comes to meet with Pascal for information only to be founded by what she presumed to be the newest YoRHa model which was huge or the humans of the old would say fucking massive. She had not expected YoRHa to have resources for a model like that.

Secondly, Pascal's village was destroyed with almost all of the adults dying at the hands of that 'Thing' With only the children and a single adult surviving. She had accessed the adult machine's memory back with permission and saw the recording what she saw shocked and dare she say scared her. The abomination was too grotesque and unnatural to be of this world, not to mention the carnage. She also caught a glimpse of the new Android model saving them. She had not questioned him about what had happened after he had returned.

Thirdly now they find some machines living in the forest rambling about a forest king, after beating the shit out of a Goliath Biped, Pascal made a few deals and somehow convinced the other machine to let them stay if their king gives permission. Was she the only one who found it weird? 

She sighed, her head hurt just from thinking about the situation. Things used to be so simple, she would wander around, searching for machines to kill, things to find something that could end her, something that would reunite her with those she lost so long ago. She had been patrolling the area non-stop all night to take out any machines or if any more of those abominations popped up again. A2 turned as she decided to check again on the eastern side, which was an area where a river ran through the forest. It was an area of possible ambush for the machines to use.

Making her way to the area, she encountered several Gravekeepers patrolling the area as well. She did not trust them as they waved or nodded at her as if some form of welcome. Compared to them she, an Android, was still created in the image of the humans. That means possessing human traits such as emotions, curiosity, sense of adventure. Sure it was very much toned down compared to 9S models but was still there. She moved through several bushes to reach the river. It took her no longer than a few minutes.