Chapter 43 Planning to take down Red Girls and Machine life forms

After the intense battle with the Goliath type Sea Machine life form, Esdeath and Saeko returned to the base. During the journey, the two engaged in casual conversation.

"Why are you here? Didn't you go to the winter city base? Was there no battle?" Esdeath inquired.

"Well, there was also a battle in the winter city too. But it gets boring when there aren't enough enemies to slice and dice," Saeko replied.

"So, you came to my battle because you were bored?"

"Yeah. There wasn't a machine life form, unlike here. Mainly that massive machine life form."

"That's true… but how did you know about it?"

"No… I just wanted to come here and check, but the laser was shot toward me as soon as I appeared."

"That's true," Esdeath said, giggling.

As their mecha units soared through the darkening sky, the two battle enthusiasts bantered about the nature of their battles and the thrill of the fight until they reached the base. YoRHa soldiers followed closely behind. Upon arriving at the Sea City base, Lucia called them back as the battle seemed to have subsided, at least for the moment.

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It's been two days that the battle have finished and Esdeath and Saeko also went back to Babylon as well. Lucia took all the YoRHa androids and give them rooms on the Babylon's buildings. The research equipment and maintenance items from YoRHa base were also moving to Babylon as well. As they planned to move everything on Babylon, the whole YoRHa base from space was also planned to disband and move to the Babylon. 

White suggested to Lucia that they want to create military base for the androids. Lucia also planned to make Library for androids who want to learn more knowledge or for collection purpose. 

Within the Royal Council Chamber of the Flying Fortress Babylon, opulence and power intertwined to create an atmosphere of grandeur. The grand double doors, embellished with elaborate gold leaf patterns, swung open to unveil a room suffused with the soft radiance emanating from chandeliers suspended from a ceiling adorned with celestial scenes. The air bore the weighty fragrance of polished mahogany, which adorned the walls, contributing to an ambiance redolent with regal authority.

A long, polished table dominated the center of the chamber, its surface reflecting the ambient light, and intricate carvings of royal insignias lined its edges. High-backed chairs, upholstered in deep velvet, stood sentinel around the table, each one meticulously placed for the occupants of the Royal Council. At the head of the table, a majestic throne-like chair, more embellished than the rest, signaled the seat of the monarch.

Tapestries depicting historical triumphs and royal lineage adorned the walls, their vibrant colors adding to the room's splendor. Tall windows, draped in heavy brocade curtains, allowed glimpses of the palace gardens and the sun-drenched courtyards beyond, further highlighting the room's grandeur. 

Lucia occupied the throne-like seat at the head of the table, surrounded by her wives. Seated nearby were Esdeath and Saeko, both present after their return to the Sea City base two days ago. 

"Devola-chan, Popola-chan, you don't really have to be that nervous," Shiuka said, offering reassurance with a giggle.

"Don't worry. We won't eat you," Rika added with a joking tone.

"It seems they haven't fully gotten comfortable meeting with everyone yet," Rose observed with a wary smile.

Lucia allocated separate quarters for them aboard the Babylon, ensuring that each android girl had her own space. Shizuka, Yuriko, and Saya had already acquainted themselves with the other android girls. Prior to the battle, Saeko, Esdeath, and Saya had also interacted with the android girls.

Devola and Popola were not nervous due to fear, but rather because they found themselves uncertain about their place in this gathering. Surrounded by formidable leaders and strong individuals, both human and android alike, the two felt a bit out of their element. Their past experiences had left them with a lingering sense of being disliked, and despite finding a place as Lucia's wives, they couldn't shake off a certain timidity when in the company of their remarkable fellow sisters.

In a room filled with powerful and influential figures, the weight of the past still clung to Devola and Popola. The specter of their prior hardships made it challenging for them to fully embrace the newfound camaraderie. Although welcomed into Lucia's fold, the echoes of their history made them pause, their steps cautious in the presence of so many formidable and accomplished individuals.

This feeling was particularly pronounced when considering the various leaders gathered, each exuding a unique strength and charisma. Devola and Popola couldn't help but feel a sense of inadequacy in comparison to their accomplished counterparts. However, amidst the gathering, there was one exception to the intimidating atmosphere—Lily. Lily, with her imposing presence, sit as a figure not to be underestimated, instilling a different kind of trepidation in those around her.

Lucia gathered all her wives to discuss the Red girls and the Machine Network servers. The battle wouldn't truly conclude until every machine server was eradicated.

"We can't celebrate the end of the war just yet. White, what did you find near Winter City?" Lucia said.

White, engrossed in analyzing data displayed on a holographic table, responded, "There's an abnormal signal, a fluctuation that doesn't match the post-war cleanup pattern. It could be a hidden machine server."

Saeko chimed in, "Another one of those things? Thought we took care of most of them."

Lucia nodded. "These machines are persistent, after all. We need to find and eliminate every last trace of their network."

Saya voiced her concern, "Are you sure the information is correct? What if we missed something?"

Saya's worry stemmed from the Red Girls' past connection to the YoRHa server. There was a fear that they might have tampered with the server, leading to inaccurate information. Even though corrupt energies could prevent the Red Girls and the virus from influencing the YoRHa server, they couldn't fix the data inside it.

"It's okay. We've checked the data multiple times, and I'm confident there are no errors. Besides, the fake Council of Mankind couldn't control all the data and us. Now, they can't even connect to us after we shielded the entire YoRHa base," White explained.

"Right... That's why they created Black Boxes to control androids," Saya said, nodding in understanding.

"That is correct. White, coordinate and gather intel on that anomaly. We need to confirm whether it's part of the Machine network or not," Lucia instructed.

"Understood. I'll send a scout team there," White affirmed.

"It might be dangerous, even with their strengthened capabilities. So, advise them to be cautious," Lucia cautioned.

"Understood," White replied with a smile.

White appreciated Lucia's concern for their safety, knowing that, despite their ability to recreate as long as the data was uploaded in the YoRHa server, Lucia still cared about their well-being.

As the discussion continued, Lucia and her wives made a concerted effort to ensure that the two nervous twin android girls, Devola and Popola, felt secure amidst the strategizing. Yuriko's comforting words and the collective determination of the team echoed in the room, creating an atmosphere of unity and strength.

In the city, crafted from milk-white colored clays, two girls adorned in vibrant red clothes sat on chairs, their eyes fixed on a screen displayed on a clay desk. Both chairs and desks, like the entire city, were rendered in pristine white, as though sculpted from the same material.

The entire city resembled an unpainted dollhouse, with buildings, streets, light bulbs, and even the sky all bathed in a pure milk-white hue. No signs of life adorned the city—no people, no living creatures—only lifeless structures. Statues stood at the center of this peculiar city, silent witnesses to its eerie stillness.

The girls' attention remained on the screen, revealing two males with white hair seated in chairs, engrossed in reading books. One had flowing white locks, while the other sported a shorter hairstyle. These two males were none other than Adam and Eve.

Having been created by the Red girls, Adam and Eve were endowed with combat abilities akin to YoRHa soldiers. However, instead of heading to the designated battlefield of Winter City, the two males had chosen a different path. Seeking knowledge and satisfying their own desires, they veered away from the anticipated confrontation.

As a result, Saeko, one of the Red girls, found herself bored in Winter City, where suitable opponents for her combat abilities were scarce. Frustrated by the lack of challenges, she decided to seek out Esdeath.

The Red Girls harbored frustration at Adam and Eve's deviation from their initial plans. However, as they observed the ongoing battle with Machine life forms, they soon realized that even with the two humanoid machine life forms present, victory was far from guaranteed. Acknowledging the potential threat, the Red Girls decided to allow Adam and Eve to evolve, planning to create new, more formidable machine life forms for the upcoming battle.

Now, positioned as silent observers, the Red Girls closely monitored the progress of the two humanoid machine life forms. Their intention was to facilitate their evolution to the next level, envisioning the formation of a formidable army composed of humanoid machine life forms. While somewhat satisfied with the current results, the Red Girls acknowledged that there was room for improvement.

In a location surrounded by a mysterious blur of mist, an old building stood tall. At the flat rooftop, resembling a platform, a long table was positioned. Two chairs were placed at the head and bottom of the table, creating an eerie scene against the backdrop of the mist. In the distance, a tower-like structure, worn and rusted with the passage of time, loomed, adding to the haunting atmosphere of the surroundings

Seated on each chair, the two white-haired males remained unclothed. Despite the chilling height of the rooftop and the freezing winds swirling around, they sat unaffected, impervious to the cold. These beings were humanoid machine life forms, known as Adam and Eve.

Adam and Eve, names chosen by the machines themselves without any interference from the Red Girls, occupied their chairs with an air of detachment. Adam, intrigued by a salvaged book from a once-destroyed library, picked it up and began to read. Delving into its pages, he explored the concepts of gods, humans, and religions. Despite the option to download information directly from their machine network, Adam found a peculiar satisfaction in reading from the physical pages of the book.

Driven by the narrative within the book, Adam decided to name himself and his counterpart. Inspired by the story of Adam and Eve as the first humans created by God, he believed that, as the first humanoid machine life forms, they should bear these names. Thus, he bestowed the name 'Adam' upon himself, and the other was named 'Eve.'

Despite the ongoing war between machine life forms and androids, Adam and Eve remained indifferent. They sought refuge in an isolated place, distancing themselves from the conflicts, and continued their quest for knowledge, driven by a curiosity that set them apart from the chaos of the ongoing battles. 

Eve questioned, "Ni-chan... why do I have to eat this plant? Can't we survive without eating?"

Adam responded, "Humans gained great intelligence from consuming this kind of fruit. Stop whining and eat quietly."

Accepting Adam's explanation, Eve sighed and said, "All right, if you say so, I will eat it," before beginning to consume the plant.

As Eve ate, Adam's mind wandered. 'It's been a while since I've read the books, and I find humans fascinating. I want to conduct all kinds of experiments on them. It's too bad they don't exist anymore,' he thought, feeling a sense of pity.

Adam and Eve had long known this information from the machine network. Adam's interest in humans had grown after reading books, discovering the intriguing facets of human history, which included angels, gods, hell, and demons—primarily found in religious texts. It was during this exploration that he decided to give himself and Eve names.

Adam's fascination with humans centered around their emotions. Unlike humans, the machine life forms couldn't fully comprehend emotions; they merely mimicked them. Adam had encountered some machine life forms acting as if they had families, mimicking human relationships, yet lacking the depth and authenticity of true emotional experiences.

The same held true for androids, yet unlike machine life forms, androids bore a closer resemblance to humans. Over time, androids became increasingly aware of their emotions, a natural evolution that set them apart from their mechanical counterparts. In contrast, machine life forms were unable to develop emotions unless forcefully installed.

This nuanced difference intrigued Adam. Humans and androids, both capable of experiencing emotions, drew his interest. Fortunately, Adam was already aware of the coexistence of humans with androids. His desire to comprehend these emotions fueled a sinister smile as he contemplated how to capture a few humans for his research.

However, Adam was pragmatic enough to acknowledge the impossibility of such an endeavor at the moment. Instead, he plotted and schemed, envisioning a future where he could strengthen himself, making the capture and research of humans a more feasible—and sinister—undertaking. The thought of unlocking the mysteries of human emotions fueled his determination, setting the stage for his dark plans yet to unfold.

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After Lucia and her wives meticulously planned their strategy to locate the machine life form's network server buildings, they set their plans into motion. Lucia took Yuriko by the hand, leading her to the garden, ensuring they had a moment to connect before the mission. Each girl received a tender kiss from Lucia before she departed with Yuriko.

Devola, Popola, and Lily made their way to the living room accompanied by Shizuka and Saya. The twin android girls were gradually becoming more at ease around them, their walls beginning to crumble. Shizuka saw an opportunity to deepen their familial bond, recognizing that they were now a part of the same family. Saya, despite her outwardly confident demeanor, also sought companionship with her newfound family, eager to engage in conversation and connection.

Anemoe returned to the Resistance base with Rose, focusing on stabilizing the androids. White headed to the Buildings Section, where YoRHa android soldiers were stationed, preparing for the upcoming scout mission. A2, A4, 21S, and G16 joined her, aligning their efforts.

Prior to the battle, White and A2 had a conversation, addressing any lingering tension. A2, understanding that White had received false information about the machine server, let go of her anger. White, in turn, viewed the situation from a practical standpoint, recognizing that escape or reinforcements would be challenging. The assurance that they could revive from the data stored in the YoRHa server further eased any concerns they may have had. 

(Flashback)

"A2, we need to talk about what happened during that mission," White said, her tone serious.

"Oh, do we now?" A2 replied, crossing her arms.

White sighed. "Look, I understand you're upset about not sending reinforcements, but you and your team can always be revived. That's the reality of our existence as androids."

"That's not the point, White. We were surrounded by thousands of those damn machines. I asked for help, and you told us to focus on the mission," A2 scowled.

"A2, I didn't know there would be that many. The intel came from the Council of Humanity," White explained, her expression apologetic.

"Oh, the Council of Humanity. Real trustworthy source there," A2 said sarcastically.

"A2, listen. The Council was being manipulated by the machine life forms. I didn't have all the information. I'm sorry," White said seriously.

"Sorry? You left us to die, and you're sorry?" A2 shouted in anger.

"A2, you and your team could transfer your saved data to new bodies. I didn't see it as leaving you to die," White said calmly.

"You just don't get it, do you? It's not about the bodies. It's about trust," A2 frustratedly expressed.

"I get it now, A2. I truly do. But regret? I don't. Androids don't feel regret," White said, softening.

"Yeah, I know," A2 paused and continued, "That's what makes it so damn frustrating," she sighed. She knew that what White did wasn't wrong.

Lucia, observing the conversation, expressed her concern, "Do you two need some time alone?"

White shook her head and said, "No, Lucia. We need to sort this out."

"She's right, Lucia. We can handle it," A2 assured Lucia softly.

White looked at A2 and said, "I apologize, A2. But I don't regret it. I can't."

"I know. Let's just move past it," A2 replied, nodding.

As White and A2 continued their conversation, Lucia observed from a distance, relieved to see them finding some common ground. The complex emotions of android relationships echoed through their exchange, and Lucia couldn't help but smile as the tension began to dissipate between her two wives. 

(Flashback end)

Lucia conveyed to White that she didn't want to enforce a strict military rule, where orders were to be followed without question. She emphasized a more collaborative approach, encouraging open communication and flexibility. 

No one would be marked as a traitor just for leaving their assigned positions. Lucia believed that, given the circumstances, such rigid rules were unnecessary. All the YoRHa androids were already covered in corrupt energies, concealing their true identities. Even though Lucia couldn't see their status, she sensed a strong connection with her. Affection points, she surmised, had reached at least 70 or more from all YoRHa androids.

As the evening descended, Lucia and Yuriko strolled through the Babylon's garden. The sky dimmed, giving way to the night, and the garden transformed. Unlike typical gardens, the flowers here emitted a soft, radiant glow, each petal casting a gentle light in its respective color.

The garden was a sensory paradise. The fragrant scents of the glowing flowers permeated the air, creating a calming effect and leaving behind a sweet aroma. The grass beneath their feet was unlike any ordinary lawn—it felt as soft as cotton. The grass, too, emitted a dim glow, contributing a gentle radiance to the surroundings. At the edge of the grassland, a pristine lake mirrored the clear evening sky, completing the tranquil scene. 

"The flowers seem to be in full bloom today, Yuriko. The magical garden has truly outdone itself," Lucia remarked, admiring the radiant display.

"It always knows when we need a little extra magic, doesn't it?" Yuriko replied with a smile, captivated by the ethereal beauty.

"It does seem that way. How has your day been, my love?" Lucia inquired, her chuckles adding a melodic touch to the conversation.

"Perfect, now that I'm here with you. Sometimes, I feel like this garden knows exactly what we need," Yuriko shared. The Royal Garden had a way of enveloping them in a calming aura, as if the flowers and trees were alive and attuned to their emotions.

"Perhaps it does. It's our own little haven, away from the chaos," Lucia smiled, continuing, "It's moments like these that make all the battles and struggles worthwhile."

"I agree. Though, I wouldn't mind fewer battles," Yuriko giggled, her laughter blending with the enchanting ambiance of the garden.

"I'll do my best, but you know how the fate of realms can be unpredictable," Lucia joked with a smirk.

"Always the responsible queen," Yuriko teased Lucia.

"And you, my dear, are the enchanting queen of my heart," Lucia confessed, leaning in to plant a soft peck on Yuriko's beautiful lips.

"Smooth as always," Yuriko blushed.

"I'm just telling the truth," Lucia replied, sealing her words with another tender kiss. Though brief, each kiss was a source of overflowing happiness whenever their lips touched.

As Lucia and Yuriko continued their leisurely walk through the magical garden, their laughter and gentle whispers echoed, creating an atmosphere of pure bliss. The vibrant colors of the enchanted flowers seemed to dance in harmony with the love shared between the two, making every step in the garden a cherished moment.

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