Weight of the World

Two|M I S S I O N

My pod says that I should be nearing the location of the resistance camp soon. I began to wonder what my mission would be like and why I was the one chosen to do it alone. It had to be something important if I was sent to do it alone. Normally 2-3 androids are sent together on missions but my case was different. It seemed like specifics weren't to be talked about until I've reached my corresponding location. I wonder if i'm supposed to find a specific android or maybe a group of androids? Surely I won't be looking for any machine lifeforms. F-units are used to locate rouge androids and either bring them back to the bunker or put them out of commission.

The resistance camp was well hidden and, aside from the light sounds of talking, I'd go right by it without directions from my pod. Walking into the camp was like walking into what humans called a carnival. It was full of life and shops (sorta) and people with strange robot masks on their heads. These androids seemed almost human like as they intermingled with each other. Part of me envys their freedom.

"Ah hello! You must be 5F. The commander told me you were coming. Please follow me so we can discuss the matters of your mission in private" A strange woman, dressed in worn out, baggy clothes lead me over to what looked like a tactic table surrounded by other androids. They didn't look all too happy about my presence in the camp. The baggy clothed woman waved off the androids as they shuffled away. She turned to face me and only then did I really take in her appearance. She wore an old cape over her limp clothes and kept the hood gently over her head. Her dark, midnight hair was tucked into her hood, showing off her sun kissed skin and emerald green eyes. She had slight wrinkles around her eyes and lips but other than that she had practically no blemished to taint her appearance.

"I'm Anemone, head of the resistance camp and ally to YoRHa. Recently two YoRHa units, 2B and 9S, encountered a very dangerous rogue unit while on a mission in the forest. She has caused quite a bit of trouble so the commander and I are asking you to take care of it." she looked down at the tactic table and placed some pieces in specific spots. "So far she has been spotted here..." she placed a piece down on the map "...and from the report we received from 9S, she is on her way west, possibly towards the factory." she placed more pieces on the map.

I look up at her, finally opening my mouth to speak, ending my mute streak "Who is my target exactly. I seem to know next to nothing about her.". As I asked, I could see her smile falter ever so slightly. "I'm not sure." Anemone looked up when she answered, almost as if she was looking at the bunker. I raised my eyebrow at her response, how could she not know? "The Commander thought that I didn't need to know any specifics of the target. She told me that whoever it was, was a threat to this camp and that's all I needed to know" she tried to keep her confidence on her face but I could tell she was skeptical of the Commander's motives. Even so, she doesn't have a choice in the matter. If the commander wants someone gone then that person will be eliminated, no matter the cost.

"I'm sending you a set of three locations, one of which being the factory, where we think the rouge is hiding. Good luck 5F. For the glory of mankind." she put her hand over her heart. After I bargained a few things off of the members of the camp, I headed out to the first coordinate on my map. The first location wasn't too far off from the last sighting. I should be able to make it to all of these locations within a single 30 hour period. There was just one thing I couldn't wrap my head around. Why didn't the Commander tell Anemone who my target was? And why did I have to go all the way to the resistance camp  when the commander could have just informed me up on the bunker before I left? Something isn't adding up but it's not my place to say anything about it. I'm sure the Commander has her reasons for everything she does.

An incoming call was transmitted through my pod while I was jogging to the forest. A picture of my operator, 12O, popped up in front of me. "Hey there 5F! I hope everything is going well so far. I'm here to inform you that the Commander will call you soon with the rest of the details regarding your mission. For now, get to an access point so we can transfer you to the forest faster." her image disappeared from my view which I could assume meant she had hung up. A new set of coordinates showed up on my map. 'Must be the access point' I thought to myself and made a sharp left to my new coordinates.

Getting to the access point was much easier than I had originally thought. The robots in the area seemed to be peaceful, or at least oblivious enough for me to just walk past them without any problems. Not that I was complaining, it just seemed rather odd. The access point looked old and rusty, almost like it hadn't had any maintenance done in quite a few decades. It had a hard time starting up but once it did, it ran smoothly. I input my location and stepped inside. I felt my body become light as air and then feel heavy again, telling me that I could step out of the box now.

The new scenery was different than the area I was located in before. Where the resistance camp was located had lots of broken down buildings and crack roads wherever you turned. Here however, it was completely covered in grass and trees. Beautiful flowers speckled the ground and gave an aura of life in this lifeless world. There seemed to be no signs of machine lifeforms in the area but they could just be hiding in the overgrown brush so I still have to be careful.

Suddenly I got an incoming call notification from my pod. I continue to walk as the Commander's face appears before me. "Hello 5F. I assume Anemone has given you the basic information for the operation?" I just respond with a small nod, motioning for her to continue. "Well now I'm guessing you would like the more in-depth details correct?" I was starting to get aggravated that no one was telling me anything. I wanted to say something along the lines of 'no shit' but I held my tongue. "As you know, two of our units recently came across a very dangerous rouge around the area you're currently residing in. She is a YoRHa deserter who knows some very valuable information that can not leak out at all costs. You need to find and destroy her before she can spread any of that information." the Commander's voice remained monotone and unwavering the entire time she spoke. I can already tell this mission isn't going to be an easy one.

My mind then flashed back to Anemone "Commander, if I may ask, why did you send me to Anemone but not tell even her of any actual information I needed. Couldn't I have just been informed back in the bunker before I left. We could have saved quite a bit of time that way." it just didn't make sense to me. She is practically just telling me everything I would have needed to know now so why didn't we just skip a step. I could hear the Commander let out a deep chuckle.

"The android you are hunting is a very old friend of Anemone. I wanted to see if she had figured out who the target was but from the look on her face when you two were talking, I can tell she has absolutely no idea. I was afraid she might have warned your target but it seems her only care in all of this is that her precious resistance camp is safe." that made just about as much sense as a machine with feelings. How could Anemone be friends with a super old YoRHa unit? And a deserter at that!

"Commander what is the deserter's name?"

"A2"

[B]arren Land