1 week later
2B's POV
"Huh a cave?" asked Creed
"Yes but something is wrong with it." I said
"Pod scan." said 9S
"Scanning. This cave structure is a bit unstable." said Pod 153, "Proposal, winter with extreme caution."
"Great well I don't want to deal with any monsters like from the movie Descents." said Creed
"Oh shut up." said Avery
"Sorry." apologized Creed
We moved in and the pods guided the way and turned on some light for us.
"Damn." said Creed, "Why are we here?"
"Jackass came here but didn't come back." said A2
"Hell no I'm not going in there." said Creed, "We do not know what's down there."
"Her foot is stuck." said 9S
"Oh." replied Creed
He had his sword tucked behind in between his vest and his backpack.
"Creed be careful, try not to shoot in here. A bullet could cause a whole explosion down here." said Avery
Creed nods and puts his gun away and draws his sword instead. I walked next to him just to make sure he's safe.
We turn the corner and we see Jackass sitting there with a couple rocks in her leg.
"Took you guys long enough." said sassy Jackass
We help her the rocks off her legs and she gets up. But then Nines pushes one rock and the cave begins to shake.
"Oh shit."
"The infrastructure is collapsing." said my Pod
"Everyone get out of the cave!" I yelled
We all ran towards the entrance of the cave as rocks started falling on us. But 9S trips and falls down.
"9S!" I yelled
Avery runs back and picks him up but then a huge boulder comes down between me and the two. I backed up and ran out the cave right before the cave collapsed.
"Nines!" yelled Creed, "Nines, Avery can you hear me!"
He tries to dig up the rubble in front of the cave.
"Shit, we gotta get them out of there." said Creed
"A2, take Jackass and go get some androids to help us." I said
"Crap, if they're caved in Avery is not going to have enough oxygen to last." said Creed
I helped Creed out to remove the rocks but it didn't seem we were making much progress. Creed looks around then climbs up to the top of the cave and looks around. He starts measuring things and then stabs his sword on the ground.
"They're right here." said Creed
"We'll get them out." I assured him
9S POV
I coughed a bit from the dust, I looked up but I couldn't see anything.
"Pod 153 are you there?" I asked
"At your service." replied Pod 153
"Turn on some lights."
Pod 153 did and right in front of me was Avery and she was holding up a rock from falling on us.
"Avery." I whispered
"Hey." she replied
She groaned as I moved and so did the boulder.
"I'll help you." I said
"No, Nines focus on digging a hole to get out of here." said Avery
"Okay and wait did you just call me Nines?" I asked
She smiles and nods.
"Oh, wow okay I'll get to work." I replied
I felt a feeling of joy and I immediately got to work. I began to dig a way out but then I realized something.
"Am I digging the right way?" I asked
"Yes, you were facing the entrance of the cave." said Avery
I continued digging but it looked like I wasn't making any progress.
"2B! Creed! A2! Can you hear me!" I called out
"Effectiveness of yelling is 30%." said my Pod 153
"Can you shoot your laser?" I asked
"Yes but it would not be suggested, the boulders will continue to fall again." said Pod 153
I continued digging hoping Creed, 2B and A2 can help us.
2B's POV
"You five dig up the entrance, but be careful if you accidentally pull out the wrong one the entire structure would fall on them." said Creed, "Start with the top rocks and work your way to the bottom."
Creed was on top with me with a shovel. Creed starts digging up the dirt first where his sword was placed. He digs until his shovel hits a rock surface and sighs.
"Damn it I need something that can drill a hole or something." I said
I kept digging around the top of the cave until no dirt was left on top. I noticed that this cave was actually a bunch of debris that fell on each other but somehow made a cave.
"Creed help me lift this up." I said
He helped me lift things up and we started making some progress.
"9S! Avery! Can you hear me?!" I yelled
Nothing, but Creed puts his ear near a gap and gasps.
"I hear them, they're alive!" he yelled, "Nines! Avery! Hang in there we're coming for you!"
We continue to lift the boulders but Creed jerks his hand and I notice a scratch on his hand.
"Creed your hand."
"I'm fine." he replied
He wraps a bandage and puts on his gloves over both of his hands and continues to lift up the boulders.
"A2 lend us a hand." I called out
She comes up and helps us lift up the boulders.
"Nines! Can you hear me!" yelled Creed
I heard a faint cry from inside and I couldn't get what he was saying.
"Pod translate." I said
"Avery is holding a boulder, please hurry." he replied
"She's holding a damn boulder?" asked Creed, "We have to hurry then."
9S' POV
"Creed, hurry please Avery isn't going to last!" I yelled
I looked at Avery who had the boulder on her shoulders now. She drank some water that was in her bag and a tube was sticking out of the bag and connected on the strap.
"9S, make yourself a hole." said Avery
"What are you talking about?" I asked
"I-I can't last much longer." she said
"Then let me carry it." I insisted
"9S, focus on digging we can do this but please, if anything happens I need you to take cover in your hole." said Avery
"But-"
"Promise me." she cuts me off
I didn't want to leave her, not like how I left 2B. But I nodded my head and she smiled. I get back to work, digging out more rocks and making some progress over the past 20 minutes. I pulled out a rock but it was stuck so I tugged on it hard and when it came out I fell back. But I should have known better, the entire structure shook and more rocks and boulders fell a bit and Avery groans in pain.
"Dammit!" I yelled, "I'm so sorry Avery."
"Don't worry about me Nines, just get back to work. I know you can do it." she replied
I dug and dug without stopping, I was so tired from all the work that I couldn't do it. I sat there panting really hard while Avery was still holding onto the boulder. But then Avery looks up and then tests it out and she slowly just lets it go. It doesn't fall on her so she moves out of the way and drops onto the ground next to me.
"Pod, how much oxygen is left in here?" asked Avery
"46% percent left." replied Pod 153
Avery was sweating, she looks like she just came out of the shower. She controls her breathing and I sit next to her as she laid on the ground.
"Do you think 2B is going to get us out of here?" I asked
"She will don't worry, you're her partner." she replied
"I hope they make it time." I replied
We stay silent and I lean my back against a boulder. Avery closes her eyes and we all stay silent for the next 20 minutes.
"Oxygen level?" asked Avery
"39% left." said Pod 153
Avery sighs and continues to lay on the ground. That's when from above we heard a screeching noise above us.
"Pod, what are they doing?" I asked
"I believe they are trying to drill a hole from the top." replied Pod 153
"Nines, I want to apologize by the way I treated you the past month." said Avery
"I understand how you feel Avery." I replied
"Every time I look at you, you remind me of him." said Avery, "But those memories aren't the happy ones."
"Is it okay if you tell me those memories?" I asked
Avery looks at me and back at the ceiling.
"Gally, he was a private which is the lowest rank in the military. He was very nice just like you, full of spirit. However, we were ambushed by the enemy so I sent Creed to get some reinforcements. We waited and waited and waited while fighting for our lives. But he never came back, never came back with reinforcements. I was supposed to die that day but Gally pushed me and he got shot instead. He was still alive while he was in my arms, I tried to save him but he didn't make it." said Avery
She began crying and looked away from me. I grab her hand to comfort her and she allows me to hold her hand.
"Proposal, stop talking for there is 29% of oxygen left." said Pod 153
Avery nods and wipes her tears away. She looks at me and smiles and I smile back at her.
"I hope, I hope we can make happy memories together." she said
"Of course, I'll help you with that." I said while smiling
Avery moves her head to my lap and I gently hug her head to comfort her as the drilling gets louder on top of us.
2B's POV
Creed was smashing down the hammer on the big debris on the cave. He was smashing the debris to make it easier to pick out the debris.
"Creed calm down, you're overdoing it." said A2
Creed was panting hard but shook his head.
"I'm not losing Avery nor Nines, not on my watch." said Creed
I continued to pick up the debris as A2 continued drilling down the debris hoping to make a gap so that oxygen could get through it.
"Wait A2 stop drilling!" called out Creed
She stops and Creed listens.
"Avery! Captain! Are you there?! Nines keep her awake!" yelled Creed, "A2 continue!"
A2 continues and Creed continues to hammer the debris but he went faster so I helped him move the debris faster.
"I think I got a gap!" yelled A2
A2 pulled out the drill and I saw a hole and I saw 9S' Pod.
"9S!" I called out
"2B, Avery's breathing now!" he yelled
"Get out of the way Nines!" yelled Creed
He hammers the gap making a bigger hole and he pulls out Avery first who was barely conscious. But before 9S could come out the top of the cave began to collapse.
"Nines!" yelled Creed
He reached in and grabbed Nines and pulled him out just in time before the cave collapsed on him.
"You good Nines?" asked Creed
I checked up on 9S' maintenance and everything was fine with him.
"Good job taking care of Avery." said Creed
"Thanks." smiled 9S