The group moved forward through the silence of the gray forest, the sound of their footsteps echoing like steady beats against the damp ground.
Despite the tension, they walked as if they were merely out for a stroll—a superficial calm that concealed a storm of thoughts behind each of their gazes.
At the front, side by side, were Arthur and White.
They had been talking since the beginning of the journey.
Behind them, 2B, 9S, and A2 had finally regained their composure.
At least, on the surface.
But the slight imbalance in 2B's steps was enough to show that her body had not yet fully recovered from the impact of the earlier revelation.
Even so, she showed no weakness.
9S, walking just behind them, kept his eyes fixed on the two ahead.
He listened to their conversation with absolute attention.
For him, observing a real human was an experience no database could have prepared him for.
Further back came A2, silent and tense.
Arthur had agreed to help White boost the morale of the YoRHa units and prove that there was still a reason to fight.
Arthur's request, however, was unusual:
he did not ask for power or authority, only for YoRHa's assistance in analyzing a certain personal project, the nature of which remained a mystery for now.
Even so, there was suspicion in his gaze. He did not fully trust White's cold, bureaucratic demeanor—at least, not yet.
That was why he asked A2 to act as an intermediary between them.
White, reluctant but pragmatic, accepted.
A2 would receive full sponsorship from the Commander: cutting-edge weaponry, highly durable materials, unrestricted access to tactical databases, and field units.
She would have complete autonomy over all resources.
A gift that, to many, would seem like a privilege; to A2, it felt like just another chain.
A2 remained silent, but her gaze said everything.
She had already tasted betrayal once—and she would never be caught off guard again.
---
"9S." Arthur's voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Ah?" 9S flinched, looking at the human with genuine surprise.
Why had he called him out so suddenly?
Arthur turned to him with a smile.
"I need your help with something… something that could be dangerous. Can you help me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he extended his hand.
A golden portal formed above it, and the sphere that had brought him to this world dropped into his palm.
9S's eyes lit up with immediate curiosity.
"You want me to analyze this?"
"Yes. Honestly, I don't know what to expect, but this is what brought me here. And maybe there's something inside it that can take me back." Arthur said.
"What kind of data could be stored inside something like that?" 9S asked, fascinated, his fingers already itching to connect his scanner.
Arthur smiled faintly.
"I have no idea—but something tells me it's incredible."
---
Resistance Base
At an isolated point within the ruined city, surrounded by moss-covered debris and time-worn towers, stood the Resistance base—a makeshift but secure fortress.
Its leader was Anemone, an android with serene features and a strategic mind.
Normally, nothing disturbed her composure.
But now… she was visibly uneasy.
The reason was not the presence of Commander White on Earth's surface—although that alone was unprecedented.
What truly unsettled her was the secret White had revealed: among the newcomers, there was a human.
A real human.
That single revelation triggered every internal security protocol in her mind.
If the machine lifeforms discovered that a human had returned to Earth… they would launch a full-scale assault.
Anemone took a deep breath.
She could only hope that White knew what she was doing.
---
Now, inside an underground room isolated by thick reinforced metal walls, Arthur, 9S, and 2B stood around a table where the mysterious sphere rested.
All external connections had been cut.
Outside, White approached the door and asked curiously,
"I wonder how things are going in there?"
"No idea," A2 replied neutrally, crossing her arms.
---
Inside the Room
The bluish glow of the monitors reflected off the cold metal walls as 9S and Arthur worked side by side.
2B stood nearby, her sword in hand.
She had insisted on entering—not out of technical necessity, but because Arthur was human.
And as a YoRHa combat android, protecting humanity was her reason for existing.
Suddenly, 9S shuddered, his eyes widening.
The data appearing in his interface was… simply put, unbelievable.
Arthur noticed the shift in his expression instantly, but just as he was about to say something, 2B moved at inhuman speed—her blade already pressed against 9S's neck.
"Wait! 2B, it's me! I'm still 9S!"
His voice trembled with fear.
"And how can you prove that?"
2B's tone was cold, her eyes analyzing every microexpression.
It was a simple question—but impossible to answer.
Any justification could be replicated by an entity that had accessed 9S's data.
Arthur sighed and placed a hand on 2B's sword, gently lowering it.
"2B, I already told you to relax. There's no real danger that requires you to use your blade."
"A2, White, come in." he called out to the two outside.
Then he turned back to 9S.
"So, what did you find?"
9S took a deep breath and replied:
"Breaking the encryption was… easy. No—not exactly. I didn't break anything. I just activated the device… and it opened itself to me.
It was as if I had made it… so I could access it myself."
Arthur exchanged a quick glance with him.
"Can you understand the internal data?"
A voice answered from behind them:
"Internal data?"
Turning around, they saw White at the doorway, with A2 beside her.
9S nodded, but his expression shifted again—pure bewilderment.
"Yes, but… something is strange."
"What is it?" Arthur asked, leaning slightly forward.
"Despite being extremely advanced… all the technology inside… seems to have been made specifically for us. For YoRHa androids."
Arthur blinked in disbelief.
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely," 9S replied, his tone serious.
"There are body upgrade plans, new types of weapons—literally everything."
Arthur looked at the sphere, frowning.
…What the hell were you thinking, future Arthur…
he thought, rubbing his face as he stared at the object.
Wait… could this be some kind of time loop? he muttered to himself, his brow furrowing.
The idea struck him like lightning.
Suddenly, everything began to make more sense—or at least, a twisted kind of sense.
A daughter from the future appears out of nowhere, bringing a mysterious technological sphere… that drags me into another world. And inside that sphere, there's advanced technology designed specifically for the androids of this universe.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
Arthur continued staring at the sphere on the table.
A smile crossed his face.
"Yes… that sounds exactly like something I would do."
The idea of leaving a gift for himself brought a strange feeling.
"Is there anything else in there?" Arthur asked, breaking the silence.
9S blinked, refocusing on the floating display.
"Let me see…" he murmured, adjusting the readings with quick gestures. Lines of code flashed rapidly before his eyes.
Time passed in seconds that felt like minutes.
"Yes," he finally said, his voice filled with astonishment. "There's more. And… one of them is unbelievable."
Arthur leaned forward.
"What are you talking about?"
9S took a deep breath, mimicking a human gesture he had learned.
"Among the data, there's a blueprint… for an embryonic artificial intelligence. It's as if someone left the mold of a consciousness inside this sphere."
Arthur fell silent for a few seconds.
"An… embryonic AI?" he repeated slowly.
"Yes. It's a pure foundation—a mind that isn't complete yet, but has the structure to develop."
Arthur exchanged a brief glance with him.
"Can you complete it?"
"I can try," the android replied, focused. "But it will take time. The system is extremely complex. It connects to protocols I don't even recognize. It's as if it was designed to adapt to its environment, expand, and even learn on its own."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"I see. Take all the time you need. Keep analyzing it, and if possible, see if there's anything inside that can help me return to my world."
9S simply nodded, his excitement evident in his movements.
Then White's soft voice cut through the air.
"Arthur…"
"Yes?" He turned to her curiously.
"What is your world like?"
The question was gentle—but carried a concern she couldn't hide.
For a moment, Arthur fell silent. Then he smiled.
"It's a relatively peaceful world," he replied, with a faintly melancholic smile.
"Strange things happen all the time, but people still find a way to live in peace. Or at least… they try."
White watched him closely.
No matter how much she tried to hide it, the concern in her eyes was clear.
She already knew that if he found a way back, he would leave—and once he did, he would likely never return.
A part of her—the one that struggled to remain purely logical—grew angry at that thought.
But another part… quieter, perhaps more human… feared losing him.
Arthur noticed her expression and let out a light laugh.
"White," he said calmly, "you thought about keeping me here, didn't you?"
Her artificial heart almost stopped.
It was as if he had read her mind.
She didn't answer immediately, but after a few seconds, she simply nodded.
Arthur didn't get angry. On the contrary, he smiled gently—a knowing smile.
"I figured."
He stepped closer and stopped in front of her.
"Unfortunately… I can't stay here. There are people waiting for me."
Without thinking, Arthur raised his hand and ran his fingers through her hair.
The gesture was natural, almost unconscious—but to White, it felt like forbidden pleasure.
She froze for a moment, then slowly lowered her head, allowing the contact.
Arthur smiled softly.
"You're more human than you think, White."
---
(End of Chapter)