The aircraft that was descending looked like the same kind of fighter 2B had piloted.
It had flown from outside the atmosphere down into the atmospheric layer, which meant it likely had space-combat capability as well.
Even so, it was probably optimized for atmospheric operations.
After all, in the world of NieR:Automata, most fighting happens on Earth, within the atmosphere. The fighter design would naturally be adapted to that environment.
Still, sending only a single craft down like this—was Commander White simply bold and confident?
Or was someone else coming?
It should be her in person.
And he nearly forgot: for androids fighting machines, "death" was not as frightening, because they could upload their data and restore into a spare body aboard the Bunker.
That was likely why she dared to come alone.
Even so, Kain respected it.
Because he did not believe she would fail to consider the possibility that he might have a way to truly erase her—destroy her completely before any upload could occur—making it a genuine kill.
Even if the Bunker still held backup data and reactivated "Commander White," it would no longer be the same individual.
As the fighter slowly touched down, the cockpit opened, and a tall figure entered his view.
Golden long hair, made even more brilliant under the sunlight.
A white dress that felt like a modified cheongsam, accented with gold patterns that shimmered in the light, making her graceful figure look almost dreamlike.
She moved with an elegance that felt practiced, her body landing lightly on the ground as though it carried no weight at all.
So this was truly the supreme commander of YoRHa, 2B's superior?
Kain studied her carefully, especially her eyes and expression, and noticed the differences between her and 2B and A2.
With 2B and A2, you could still sense the air of androids who acted according to programs and orders.
But this blond, coolly beautiful android—despite looking even more ruthless, even more emotionless, like a "real robot"—gave Kain the impression of intellect.
That "lack of emotion," that greater coldness, was in truth composure and stability.
For a moment, it was as if she were simply a human woman, with a human consciousness uploaded into an android body.
"You're late, ma'am."
"My apologies. I am late. Coming to the surface alone means dealing with certain nuisances. It took time."
"In other words, you still haven't fully disclosed my existence to the upper ranks of the androids? You intended to come alone and negotiate some trade or cooperation with me?"
"That is not the case. If I spoke of it directly, many would act impulsively and rush down here. The disturbance would be too obvious, and the machines would take it seriously. If that happens, you would be placed in danger as well."
Her words sounded like genuine concern for his safety.
Watching her as she spoke, Kain felt the emotionless mask on her face tighten, as though an excitement she could barely suppress was beginning to surface.
It was not the excitement of having a "human" appear, making it easier to sell the lie that the Council of Humanity still lived.
Rather, it looked like pure excitement simply because he was human.
Like a creation separated from its creator for so long, finally meeting at last—joyful, trembling happiness.
Was that even possible?
Given the information he had provided, she should not truly believe he was a surviving human from this world.
Or did it not matter whether he belonged to this world, as long as he was human?
Or was she trying to use that kind of emotion to mislead him?
He was sorry, but if he was this wary, this suspicious, it was only because that world—worse than hell—had carved it into him.
"Um. Sorry. Could you satisfy one request of mine?"
They had barely begun speaking, and she was already asking for something.
"What request?"
"May I hug you once?"
That request genuinely caught Kain off guard.
"If you don't feel safe, you can have A2 inspect me."
Before Kain could answer, A2 strode forward—
Bang!
The commander was punched in the face and sent flying.
"2B, stand by!"
2B, who was about to charge in, stopped immediately at the commander's order.
A2 stepped forward, seized her roughly, and conducted a search.
"I advise you not to agree to her request. She may be a living bomb intended to attack you."
A2 warned him. Even if no weapons could be found on her body, an android could still detonate her own core, and the blast would be terrifying.
After those words, the commander gave a bitter smile.
What was that supposed to mean? Why the bitter smile?
It was as though A2's experiences—what happened to her former squad—were something the commander had been forced into.
That bitter smile only made A2 angrier, to the point she truly wanted to cut the commander down.
"Before I let you hug me, I want Commander White to tell everyone present the true purpose of YoRHa, and the difference between YoRHa and other androids."
Kain set that as a condition.
Commander White's expression changed.
Because that request could trigger a YoRHa rebellion. Even if it did not, YoRHa would likely stop standing with her.
"I understand."
As the commander of the Bunker—White—she answered with a voice like a sigh.
There was no point hiding it. Since the man in front of her already knew the process by which humanity had gone extinct, then YoRHa's secrets were something he almost certainly knew as well.
"YoRHa is..."
2B and 9S listened to the true secrets they had never been told.
9S, in particular, quietly began recording, saving data as he watched. He also covertly transmitted the data to a small private server.
It was a small server he had secretly installed on Earth. Storing a simple video feed would not be a problem.
At the same time, 9S kept a close eye on the sky above.
Because if this secret was being exposed, someone might decide to silence them by ordering an orbital satellite strike from space.
Actually, there was no need to expose any YoRHa secret at all. The news that humanity was extinct was already enough to justify silencing witnesses.
Then, as Commander White continued her explanation and reached a certain point, 9S's face turned to disbelief.
And when he heard how YoRHa android cores were truly made, even 2B—who had always been expressionless—showed a clear shift in emotion.
She had never imagined that the core program, the black box, was created using machine lifeform cores as material, incorporating machine technology.
So what was she, then?
An android?
Or a machine?
In that instant, 2B's resolve suffered a shock like never before.
(End of Chapter)
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