NieR Automata: Life's Meaning

A2's fist crashed into his forearm.

Not long ago that very same blow would've been enough to throw aside his guard and force him to retreat least one of her punches connected with his face. His feet remained rooted to the ground, blow forced away as he stepped forward, throwing out on of his own. A2 was quick to meet it and step forward herself, refusing to give up any ground to him.

After so many matches their fights were no longer one-sided affairs where he spent the majority of the time on the defensive, so caught up with just trying to match her that he had no real hope of winning. Now they went back and forth, Apex able to give as hard as he got; whatever hits she managed to land on him usually put her on the receiving end of one from him.

He might actually be able to win against her.

Apex's stomach grumbled as he blocked high kick from A2, rushing forward and grazing her cheek with a punch before she could get her footing back.

The hunger itself was no longer enough to distract him and give her a big enough opening to end their battle. What followed though? The aching pain left behind from her blows were much slower to heal, each of their exchanges leaving his body heavier. And it was only a matter of time before that began to slow his movements.

Of course, A2's combat sense far outweighed her social abilities, so she capitalized on the fact almost immediately, easily avoiding blows from him as she stepped in, a foot positioned behind one of his as she shoulder charged him. The moment he crashed into the ground, Apex planted his palms, hands sinking into the dirt as he prepared to throw himself back to his feet. A2 seized his wrists with her gloved hands, her weight snuffing out that building momentum as she settled onto him, knees pressed into the dirt on either side of him.

Any attempt to struggle just led to her tightening her grip and pressing more of her weight on him. It got to the point he was pretty sure he'd be struggling just to breath if it weren't for the fact he was still actively strengthening his body.

A2 stared down at him expectantly.

Wrists pinned above his head and barely able to squirm around, the result of their early morning match was as clear as day.

"You win." Apex relented, finally stopping his struggles. He might be able to fight with her on even terms for a time which was a great sign of progress, but a battle of endurance would never end in his favor; between strengthening his body, sharpening his perception, and constantly healing to avoid going numb, he burnt through energy far faster than she ever would.

"You've…gotten better." A2 said. A compliment? From her? That was a first.

"Thanks to you." He said before smirking slightly. "Pretty soon it won't be on the bottom." Annnnnddddd that came out far worse than intended.

A2 wasn't bothered by it, probably not picking up on the possible innuendo, but she didn't release him or make any moves to get up, still staring down at him. Now he wasn't against being this close to her but blood was already taking a sharp dive to the south and given that she was more or less straddling him?

Shy as she was A2 was liable to run off once she realized the effect the position was having on him.

"Either kiss or get over here!" Devola's voice came from the cabin, both turning to see her sticking her head through the kitchen's open window. "Breakfast is ready!"

Devola's words caused A2 to shoot up and take off, leaving him in the dirt. Not before he managed to catch a glimpse of her reddened face though. Distant as she tried to act, A2 was more expressive than she wanted to be, especially now that she was comfortable around them.

Rising up, Apex dusted himself and followed A2 into the cabin, joining her and Devola at the dinner table, arriving just as the latter finishing fiddling with the dial on a now working radio they'd retrieved from the mall.

"5012 A.D. That is the year that mankind's glorious history on Earth came under attack, when the world was invaded by aliens beyond the known reaches of space. They released a new breed of weapon known as machine lifeforms and all but annihilated human civilization." A voice, deep and masculine came from the speakers. The Council of Humanity. "The handful of survivors left earth, seeking refuge on the moon. You all, among the greatest of mankind's creations, are all that stands between those survivors and extinction. More than that, you are the only hope mankind has at reclaiming Earth. It is-"

"More of the same huh…" Apex muttered mostly to himself. Maybe the first or second time hearing the speeches the Council of Humanity liked to broadcast to Earth would've inspired a sense of determination and maybe even awe. But after hearing so many of the broadcasts after Devola fixed up the radio, Apex couldn't bring himself to put much stock in anything said.

They either recounted history involving the alien invasion or spoke of the far distant future, all while assuring androids of their worth and value to mankind as a whole. It would've been believable if it weren't for the fact that the speaker sounded like someone reading rehearsed scripts and, according to Devola and Popola, the Council never actually fully collaborated with the Resistance since reestablishing contact with the Earth through YoRHa.

A one way communication channel for droned out announcements. The deployment of advanced androids and weapons but none ever shared with The Resistance. Rarely using any of those hoarded resources to help said resistance.

If the aim of humanity and their council was to wipe out the machine lifeforms and the alien race behind the invasion, they were choosing an odd way to go about it. A horribly inefficient one at that.

"I think its nice." Popola said, as she came from the kitchen area, setting out plates for all of them, even A2. "Isn't it good to hear from other humans?"

Apex only hummed, offering a smile so as to not bring down her mood with his more cynical view.

Honestly? He might not know how to feel about it on a personal level, but he did know he felt sorry for the androids. YoRHa and their installations in Earth's orbit were a relatively recent thing meaning before these announcements, which all sounded practiced and indistinguishable from one another, all androids had was dead silence.

He couldn't imagining fighting for hundreds of years unsure if the people you were fighting for were even alive only to get minimal assistance and empty assurances for years after they reestablished contact. He wouldn't blame any android that opted to desert and hold a grudge against machine and humanity alike.

He would've.

Once the broadcast was over, Devola fiddled with the radio, tuning it to different frequencies used by The Resistance camp they once worked for; despite everything they liked to make sure the group was doing well.

Putting the Council out of his mind, Apex focused on the food before him, following A2's lead and chowing down. Between the four of them eating together more and more often, he spent more of his time hunting, but he didn't mind that.

A small price to pay to have them all chatting away, enjoying themselves.

-Route A, No. 026-

Steps, far too heavy to belong to even the biggest animals that called the giant forest home and too plentiful to belong to a single machine, filled the area, gradually getting closer. Disregarding the trail they'd been tracking, Apex and A2 took cover behind one of the trees, waiting for the source of the noise to reveal itself.

"Long live the king!" A mechanical exclamation filled the air.

"Serve the king with honor!" Another followed.

"The king is almighty!" Then another.

Bushes rustled and were pushed aside, a small group of yellow-eyed machines marching into view. Even if it weren't for their loud mechanical yells about some king, Apex could tell at a glance that they weren't run of the mill murder bots like the rest. The stubby group wore metal armor over their bodies and wielded weapons of similar material, marching in a straight line. The one that headed them wore a cape of fur, just a little taller than the others.

Another unique group? He'd almost begun to think he wouldn't run into another out here.

A2 began to rise, greatsword ready. He grabbed her elbow before she could step out from their cover.

"What are you doing?" She whispered hotly, her intentions clear.

"Come on A2, look at them. We both know they aren't normal machines. Aren't you the least bit curious about why they're doing what they're doing? Where they come from?"

A2 stared, that cold edge that been becoming something of a rarity very much present within her icy blue eyes. "Curiosity won't help me protect the three of you."

She shook off his grip and burst out from behind the tree, a wide slash readied.

The powerful slash crashed into the cape adorned machine that headed the group, it's armor bent as it was sent flying into a nearby tree. The machines yelled, eyes turning red as most of them rushed A2. She was brutally efficient, more so than she was when she fought him, cleaving through the machines with the greatsword only to allow the momentum of the blade to drag her along, sending out kicks as she prepared the next swing.

They didn't stand a chance against her.

The caped machine that A2 first hit pulled itself from the ground, taking off in a lumbering run towards A2. Apex shot out, bone forming along his forearms, using the newly formed armor to block the slash the machine aimed for A2's back.

"Run, squires!" The machine ordered, trying and failing to dig the blade through the boney protection. "Go join one of the other groups!"

"But-" One of the lightly armored machines that'd been at the back of the group began.

"There will be a time and place for your glory but not today. Run!"

Shifting his weight, Apex diverted the blade to the side. Using the damage that A2 had already done to the machine's armor, he punctured through it's metal body below with an enhanced punch. The machine's glowing eyes stared down at him as it slowly brought up its sword once again though that light vanished as it collapsed backwards.

While A2 dealt with the others, the machines that'd been ordered to run began to take off.

Apex raised his hand.

Like her approach to them or not, A2 was right. Curosity wouldn't protect Popola and Devola and he couldn't risk what appeared to be organized machines running off to the other groups the bigger one mentioned.

Bones shot out, skewering the bodies of the lightly armored machines and rendering them nothing more than smoking husks. A2 finished the rest of her attackers off as well, glaring at the sparking remains.

He held back a sigh.

There goes any chance they had of figuring out what this group meant by their king or the other groups.

-Route A, No. 026-

Apex tilted over a watering can, watching its contents spill over the cabin's garden. He couldn't get those machines, particularly their weapons and armor, out of his mind.

'They appeared to be reminiscent of the tools favored by humans during medieval times. It is likely that such tools were either scavenged or forged from raw materials.' Navi said. A group of machines that learned to excavate and fashion things like metal into gear? Those machines at the coliseum had been unique but they hadn't done much that truly went beyond primitive imitation of humans. A group going out of their way to use more primitive weapons they forged themselves went beyond anything he'd seen from them so far if true.

If only he'd gotten the chance to check if they were friendly.

"Did something happen?" Apex blinked, only now noticing that Popola was beside him.

"Just thinking.' He said while moving on to other plants. She followed.

"Between you and A2, I mean. You two haven't started your usual evening practiced or talked much since returning." Popola said.

He held back a sigh. "We just had a disagreement about some machines we came across. Its nothing serious."

Popola offered him a hesitant smile. "I don't think there are many who could understand your lack of animosity towards the machine lifeforms. I'm not sure I fully do myself." She admitted. Not surprising given how long androids had been fighting against them. "But I think I do, just a little anyways. Hearing about someone else, the things they've done, and what they're capable of, isn't the same as experiencing it firsthand. You taught me that."

Popola reached over, gently taking the watering can from him and nudging her head towards A2 who sat at her camp. "Whatever you two disagreed about, I'm sure you both have your reasons. You should talk it out, not ignore it."

Popola was right of course. He didn't want A2 getting the wrong idea and thinking he held her actions against her or something.

He headed over to her camp and took a seat on the log across from her. Her eyes were shut like usual, the hood of his cloak pulled over her head. If she heard him come over she didn't show it.

'Reconciliation typically requires conversation, master.' Navi oh so helpfully pointed out after a few moments of silence. What he needed to know was how exactly he was suppose to start a conversation with her about their encounter out in the forest. One that didn't end with her shutting it down.

A2's eyes cracked open, gaze focused solely on him. "Do you hate me?"

"What?" Apex questioned dumbly, caught off guard by the random question.

"Those machines I destroyed when we first came across each other. You were close with them." A2 said. He hadn't liked how she handled Captain Thunder Thighs and all the others but given the circumstances it wasn't something that should be held against her. Machines and androids fought; that's how the world worked. "You had to help me kill." She added, the unwanted image of that woman's head being crushed being brought to him in an instant. "And I go against what you want. No android should go against a human."

Apex shook his head. "You don't have to pretend with me, A2. Like you, I'm not so sure the term human is something that should even be applied to me. Everything about me is far from normal." He clenched a hand, admiring his own strength. Without any attempt at strengthening he felt stronger than ever, as if his body was slowly adapting accelerated levels of power as the norm overtime.

She looked surprised by the blunt statement but didn't deny it.

"If anything that's why I can't hate you. You know I'm not an android and doubt I'm a human but you still do your best to protect me." He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "Besides, you were right out there. I shouldn't let my curiosity put all of you in danger. You're all more important to me than a few random machines."

It was slow and gradual but her surprise melted into a small smile. This time Apex didn't ruin it by poking fun at her, simply enjoying the comfortable silence that fell over them.

What he said was true and genuine but still he couldn't help but wonder. A group of machines parading themselves as what appeared to be knights with equipment they've might've forged themselves.

Just how far did the machine lifeforms take their imitation of humans? With enough time would there be machine who, like androids, acted almost indistinguishably from humans? He doubted he'd ever have the answer to those questions but that wouldn't stop him from wondering.