Restoring Mankind (NieR Automata) Chapter 12 preview 3/5 (Patreon)

As that YoRHa unit, a boy to Smith's surprise, went to work on 2B and that other YoRHa android, the Colonel gave a sigh of relief. He placed a hand on Damian's shoulder, now clad in more casual clothes and seated in between the two sleeping YoRHa androids.

"They'll be alright, Sergeant. You did good work." Damian had flown back to the outpost, both androids in his arms like a metaphorical knight in shining armor carrying away the damsel in distress. The imagery was unimportant however compared to the massive wound that Damian sported in his lower abdomen. Staunching gel in the suit's systems had stopped him from bleeding out but it still hurt like hell for the Sergeant. The infirmary was quickly occupied, with Devola and Popola, as well as Naoko and her team fussing over him and the asleep androids with one hand, then a notebook taking in every single detail.

The application of magic was not a lost concept for the humans. Hell, their very technology was thanks to magic. But seeing it work, not as a piece of tech but in actual practical applications was something to behold. Damian at that point had been stripped of his Yggdrasil and examined. The Twins leaned in, glancing at his wound before stretching their hands out as if casting a spell and from their palms, golden light poured forth.

With wide eyes, the humans watched as Damian's wound literally stitched itself back together, muscles

repairing in a nano-second, arteries and other parts Smith had no idea about coming back together.

All in all, a process undergone in five minutes what six weeks would require.

He shook his head. "How is she doing, son?" Smith asked 9S, a look of intense concentration on his face as he worked on restoring 2B's systems.

"Uh...she's doing..." 9S glanced at 2B. "The EMP attack fried her internal systems and forced her to reset, sir. That's why, um," he glanced at the Twins.

"Devola and Popola," Devola spoke for both her and her sister.

"Yeah, um, that is why Devola and Popola couldn't just work on her easily. For her own defense, she's shut off herself until another YoRHa unit checks on her. Luckily, I am here now," he turned to 2B, smiling slightly. "It's okay, 2B. I'm here. 9S. Remember me?"

Smith turned away from the two and towards the other guest. She was incredibly battered up, with parts of her skin quite literally falling off. He strode over to her, noting the look of peace on her face. It didn't really take much to tell Smith that this one had seen so much, been through much, and suffered much.

"Colonel...I know I have reminded you but this unit is a deserter and a traitor to humanity," 1D spoke up again, her heels clacking as she strode forward next to him. " YoRHa Unit A2 is dangerous and has killed androids sent to apprehend her. Who knows what she will do if she regained consciousness?" 

Upon seeing A2, the YoRHa androids nearly went berserk and wanted to eliminate A2. A fierce look from Damian and his own order calling them to stop was what halted them. Damian turned to 1D, crossing his arms. 

"She could have killed me yet she didn't. She aided that resistance truck when she didn't have to. Something about her status is fishy to me," he glanced up at Smith. "Colonel, I promise you. This girl, something's happened to her that's made her this way. I could see it in her eyes, sir. The pain, the loss. She's not that bad, I swear it." 

Smith glanced at 1D, then back to Damian. "We'll keep her here then. Damian, 2B and this A2 will be your responsibility. Watch over them until they get better. I will be speaking with White about our situation. You understand?" 

"Aye, sir," Damian nodded, earning a sigh from 1D. He turned to Devola and Popola. "You two can manage looking over these two? A2 more, I think. She's all battered."

The Twins nodded. "We don't really care much for who YoRHa considers as criminals. We'll help," Devola declared. 

It was at this moment, Naoka crossed her arms and spoke up. "And are you sure you want to go and work, when you have a child growing inside of you?" 

The room blinked as one. Devola's cheeks reddened. "D-doctor, with respect, I've barely begun getting into the first trimester. I will be fine." 

"She's pregnant? Who's the dad? How?" Damian blinked, disbelief in his eyes. 9S even spared a moment's glance to look at Devola. 

"I am. How is not important. Get back to work," Smith said bluntly. Damian looked at him in awe before realization set on his face. The two men glanced at each other. 

"Oh shit," Damian whispered. 

"We'll be having a talk with all the guys in fraternizing with the locals, Sergeant," Smith said, clapping him on the shoulder. "1D with me." 

And so, they walked out with Smith's office as the destination. They weren't alone however as Naoka followed behind, one hand pocketed inside her labcoat. Smith turned to her. "Doctor?" 

"There's something that I need to discuss with you," said Naoka. "In your office. Not in front of everyone." They all still within earshot of the crowd of resistance androids in the halls. Smith nodded and bid her to follow, 1D still trailing behind as ordered. Inside Smith's office, he sighed as he took a seat behind his desk. 1D faithfully stood behind him, ready to do whatever the Colonel asked. Naoka simply sat across him, legs and arms crossed. 

"What is it?" Smith asked. 

"I have had a chance to catch up on what has happened." Naoka said, leaning back. "You've made some stirring speeches, Colonel. But with how injured Damian was, you understand what sort of price will be paid in that? We do not have the numbers to send our people out into the field willy-nilly. Imagine what could have happened if Damian had no staunching gel. We would have lost a man and the androids would be devastated," Naoka was blunt and straight to the point, her voice not exactly hiding her scepticism. 

"I understand your concerns, Naoka. But this is our planet too. We have to fight for it as well," Smith sighed.  "When we all went to ice, we knew that the world we were going to wake up to was going to be different. We weren't going to be relaxing and slipping margaritas. My men and I, we are doing our jobs in soldiering and fighting." 

His tone brook no argument.

"It does not stop the fact that it's still foolish and wasteful. The androids are fighting for us in this war. Let them do their jobs. Do not send actual humans to fight when they are needed in restoring the population," Naoka said a little too hotly. 1D on the other hand felt strange. The heated argument in the room, between two humans no less, made her feel awkward. A pit gnawed at her stomach. Fear too, as she saw the looks Naoka and Smith were exchanging. 

"...Please stop fighting," she implored them quietly. Smith and Naoka glanced at 1D. Smith swivelled on his chair to face her. 

"No no, we aren't fighting. Doctor Naoka and I, we just are having a difference in opinion," Smith said as gently as he can. 

"And his opinion is wrong," Naoka asserted. "But for the sake of civility, I'll not press on this further. I will however be there to tell the Colonel I told you so if someone gets hurt badly." 

"That's enough, Doctor," Smith said, his eyes narrowing at her. "My men and I know the risks. This isn't an easy job." 

"A job that you-" Naoka paused, taking a breath to calm herself. "Just...just answer me this. Why? Why are you so stubborn with this?"

"Because you and I know exactly how us people are like, Doctor," Smith said bluntly. Naoka paused, a certain look of understanding quickly coming to her eyes but still, something was not quite fully explained or understood. 

"Can you elaborate?" Naoka asked again, her voice softer. 1D quietly increased the input volume for her audio receptors.

"We have to make a precedent for later generations to follow, Doctor. Imagine how future generations will perceive it if we did nothing and let the androids do everything? Some irredeemable asshole would take it that using the androids would be acceptable.  By doing this, it will go a long way in making sure that the androids would be well-taken care of," Smith explained, succintly and as well as he could. 1D stood, stunned. 

There were...humans like that?

"You...you aren't wrong," Naoka found herself admitting. She glanced up at 1D. "Can you refuse me, girl?" 

"I..." 1D glanced between her and Smith. Naoka stood up, her arms still crossed. Smith presented a theoretical. Now, she was going to find out if it was practical.

"I order to you to  get on your knees, raise your hands like a pu-no no no don't actually do it," Naoka sighed, gripping the bridge of her nose. 1D was in the middle of actually doing it, getting on her knees with the fiercest blush on her face. 

"Okay. Now I see it when you mean setting a precedent, goodness," Naoka said as she sat back down. "Back to your position, girl." 

"Y-Yes! G-Glory to Mankind!" 1D declared proudly. Her enthusiasm faltered as she saw the grave looks on their faces. "Was I n-not pleasing enough?" 

"No, you did great 1D. Good job." Smith said, sadly. 1D beamed, making Smith's heart and distaste rise even more. 

"I'll be thinking more on this," Naoka declared, disturbing images coming to her mind. "I-" 

It was then that his desk phone rang. He turned to it and held out a hand to pick it up. "Smith. What is it?" 

"Uh...sir...it's Damian." 

"Ah, sergeant. What's happening? Are 2B and that A2 girl awake?" Smith asked, his voice pleasant. 

"Oh. Oh yes, Coronel. It's just that, A2 is awake and has a sword pressed against my throat. If you would please make your way here and talk to her?" 

Ah.

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A/N: Still cute, innit.