> Log in success.
> Accepting transmission...
NEST: Ah there you are CM43.
CM43: AMT9000, command variant reporting for duty.
NEST: Yes, we have a special assignment for you today.. Are you familiar with Delta 5?
CM43: Affirmative. He survived his first mission and managed to clean up the sector he was in from hostiles. If it weren't for his actions, reclamation operation near Caspian Sea would have been impossible.
NEST: Correct. We sent him on a vacation and we also sent an AMT9000 model he is familiar with to accompany him. We want you to monitor them and you are strictly forbidden from get involved directly. You are dismissed.
***************
Last Echelon
Holiday
Holiday... huh? To be honest I didn't expect NEST to actually give me an official order to "take a break". Probably because I am a bit too stubborn huh? Too bad for them, my definition of holiday is to fix damaged combat dolls not going to a brand new theme park.
I will admit, the childish side of me has been yearning to visit a theme park but ever since the third great war, most of the surface has been too radiated so I never really get the chance to enjoy a theme park since I was a kid. Thankfully our restoration corps did a bloody good job at reclaiming inhabitable lands one by one.
I would say this is actually a nice change of view for my sore eyes. A clean big slice of land free of radiation, anomalies and mutants. Families walk around the streets, smiling and lauching at each other. Lots of attractions as far as I can see and the most important of all is the "happy" vibes I can feel right now. Oh, the good smell of food coming from various food stalls also a plus to me because I already get used eating whatever I can find out there during my missions in a dangerous zones.
Is this what life looks like before the war I wonder?
I shake my head and focus back on a book that I brought back from the library in my last mission. Thankfully the guys in the base are kind enough to clean it up and let me keep the book. It's just a book of poems and poetry. I am not a fan of reading anything that is not related to combat dolls but sometimes I find poems to be quite fascinating.
As I shift through the pages, I feel the contents are starting to get more and more fascinating. How do these people end up with such beautiful poems anyway?
While I am completely taken by the content of the book, I felt something... a presence. My body instinctively moved on its own, I dodge rolled from the bench and look towards the direction where my instinct told me while my hands instantly discards the book and reach to pistols I kept hidden beneath my jacket.
I see a familiar figure, a silver-haired girl with a familiar cold and emotionless gaze fixed at me. Her white T shirt and dark blue skirt really fits her slender figure... and this is the first time I ever see her wearing something else that is not uniform of our mercenary company.
"Impressive" she greets me with a face that makes me wonder if that was even a compliment. "Is that how you greet everyone in safe zones?"
"No but if you could stop sneaking around my back then I'll greet you normally"
Her facial expression remains unchanged. This girl is one of the combat dolls and we are working under the same company. An AMT9000 model, one of the mass produced models within the company but this one is the closest thing I could call a friend although I believe the feeling is not mutual.
Even if we never been sent for same mission, we always end up running at each other at some point during our duties and as such, I gave her a name; Vivi. Yes, I am bad with names but I don't feel like shouting "Hey AMT9000 with silver hair, bomb the shit out of that valley!" during a battle.
Some passers by laughs at my position which must been look kind of weird since there is nothing to worry about but they quickly walks away in terror after Vivi turns her cold, uncaring gaze at them. Of course I know she didn't mean to scare them, it's just she might be programmed with no social skills.
Can't blame her. Combat dolls are made with the sole purpose of... well, combat and only few combat dolls are made to "socialize" with the locals. Their human appearance are meant to make them less intimidating when they are stationed in places with some human presence also as a reminder that humanity didn't die after the third great war.
I stand up and picked up the book I throw earlier then walk over to Vivi who just stand motionless while looking at me with a cold gaze.
"So yu are the one" I speak up, hoping to start a conversation with her.
"Affirmative, this will be my first time on a mission with a human ally. I'll be in your care"
Well, we are not technically on a mission you see. I am on holiday and the NEST told me that one combat doll I am familiar with will be joining me. I was confused as why they need to send a combat doll to accompany me on a holiday but since combat dolls are not familiar with the term "holiday", she must mistaken it as a mission.
Before I could protest that we are not in a mission, she cuts me in first.
"Delta 5, I wasn't briefed about the details of the mission. Could you please tell me what I need to do?"
Delta 5? You don't need to call me with my codename out here but... oh well, everyone calls me with that after my first mission anyway.
"Dunno" I shurgs. "I was ordered to take a vacation. I thought NEST sent you for some reason a grunt shouldn't know"
Vivi makes no comment about my answer and something tells me she is probably trying to figure out a reason why NEST sent her with me and didn't give any of us any details. Odd, why would NEST sent her? No, why would they sent a combat doll to accompany me? It's not like I will bump to a mutant or one of those aggressive combat dolls I met in the dangerous zones.
Sure I might bump into some street robbers but I can handle street robbers on my own.
Like seriously.... what is on their mind? The fact that Vivi doesn't even know why they sent her means NEST is up to something.
"Regardless, pleasure to be with you again Vivi"
She only responds with a slight nod and for some reason that hurts a lot... it almost like you are taking a girl on a date and the girl hates your guts. Well, come to think of it, we do actually dislike each other.... or at least I think she dislikes me or maybe she just don't know how to act around human?
It doesn't matter, now that she is here with me means I am no longer look like a lonely idiot in middle of a theme park filled with couples and families. The problem is...
What next?
Considering she is a combat doll, I decided to grab her hand and take her to the nearest shoot-em-up kind of stand. You know, the one where you have to shoot the toy gun at the targets and you get points based on how many targets you hit and you can use the points to exchange for some gifts.
The stand I picked is just as crowded as other stands. Upon our arrival, the owner, a man on his... probably late 30s welcomes us with a warm smile on his face.
"Ah, welcome!" he claps his hand and then his smile suddenly disappear the moment he look at Vivi. "Uuuuh... miss?"
"Ah don't mind her, she may not look like it but she is a sweet girl" I cuts in before Vivi could make any comment.
Vivi shifts her attention to me for a moment, her lack of emotion makes it even harder to understand what she was trying to say to me with that beautiful face. Then she looks at the couple standing right next to us.
The boy tried to look cool in front of his girl and holds the toy rifle as if they are pistol. He missed all the shots and the girl just laughs while taps on his shoulder in a rather romantic manner. I instinctively pay the fee, hold the toy rifle in front of me and start shooting at the moving targets in front of me.
I missed most of them...
Hey, I am not the best shooter within the company okay? Even so... I felt so embarrassed and my shoulders feel heavy. At least I am a better shot than the couple next to us.
Vivi slaps me on my shoulder but the slap was filled with such force that it sends me flying and land nearly on the target... and her expression remains unchanged.
"You suck"
Damn you Vivi! You don't have to rub it in my face! Also if you try to cheer me up; you fucked up right there. I stand up and noticed the owner and the visitors are looking back and forth at me and Vivi.
The owner look at me sympathetically though... and for some reason that make me feel even more useless.The couple that stand next to Vivi looks at her, confused. Vivi noticed them and turns her head at them, staring with such gaze that feels like as if she is about to eat them alive.
"Don't worry, we do this every day. He won't die from a friendly bitch slap"
He won't die my ass. That "friendly" bitch slap nearly broke my back. I jump out and stand right back where I was before she sent me flying earlier and then... there is an awkward silence among us. Well, she is a combat doll after all, of course she is terrible at reading the mood.
No, actually she is the only combat doll who is terrible at social aspects. I used to work in combat doll manufacturing industry and I never met a single combat doll who can't even smile. Even the combat doll made purely for combat still knows how to smile but not with Vivi.
"Uh, so... how about it miss? want to try your luck?" the owner speaks up after a minute or two of silence between I and Vivi
I wanted to refuse because I know to well Vivi will hit every single target without even looking. I mean she is a combat doll after all. A combat doll and from my experience fighting by her side, she is actually a good shot and good at dodging shots, as one can expect from a combat doll.
However curiosity get the better of me so I shut my lips tight. Vivi turns her head at me as if she is asking permission if she is allowed to hold the toy gun. I nod at her and pays the bill. Vivi grabs the toy rifle and as soon the targets pop up, she shoot all of them.
There was 10 targets and she scores center hit on every single one of them within the blink of an eye. Everyone but me is shocked at her accuracy and speed. Heh, that's the Grasshopper Mercenary combat doll for ya, our company may not be big like other mercenaries but our combat dolls are the best... well, at least not in terms of personality for this one.
"Whoaaah"
"Where did she learn to shoot like that?"
Compliments flood as people slowly claps their hands for her. The owner even speechless as if he just saw a miracle. Vivi's reactions? Nothing. Her face remains emotionless as ever.
Personally, I find this quite.... amusing. Of course I am not impressed about her shooting skills. I am more impressed at the fact that she actually looked at me as if she is waiting for me to compliment her or at least give her next order.
Think about it for a moment. NEST sent her without telling her anything at all except "accompany that guy" and I am here because NEST insists on giving me a vacation. Vivi is the only combat doll within our ranks that has no social skills, considering I've been with her couple of times and I used to work in combat doll manufacturing industry...
I think I might know what the NEST are up to but for now, I'll keep it for myself.
***************
I drag Vivi to the haunted house attraction. I am not the type to be scared of ghost mind you and ever since I first entered the dangerous zones filled with mutants and reality-altering anomalies, there is no way ghosts or spooky decorations could scare me.
So why I dragged her to the haunted house attraction? Considering she can't really shows emotion, I was curious if she could at least shows sign of fear towards the paranormal. After all, no one sends a combat doll to deal against paranormal type of mutant out there.
After struggling and waiting, we finally step inside the first area; a big dimly lit main hall of the building decorated in Victorian style era. A faint scent of flower fills the room and other guests are already spooked by it due to local beliefs that a faint scent of flower usually signifies the spirits of deceased ones are nearby.
"What is this place? A museum?" Vivi asks me while looking around her cautiously.
"A haunted house"
"Haunted house? Like the place filled with ghosts and spirits?"
"Yes"
"I see"
I shift my gaze at her momentarily, her expression remains the same; emotionless but her eyes are looking around as if she is cautious. I wonder if she feels scared or threatened at least.
"Scared?" I ask her.
"No, I just think this would be a good training" she respond at me, holding her chins. "We never received any kind of training or knowledge to deal with what humans call paranormal type threats. Having some form of training would be beneficial in the long run"
Ah..... what on earth is she talking about? Training? I brought her here because I want to see if she even capable of simulating fear.
Vivi points at the stairways leading to the second floor.
"Shall I perform a quick sweep of second floor?" she asks
"Uuuh... no. Vivi, we are supposed to stay within the line. Don't worry, no harm will come"
"I see, a training to spot anything unusual"
What on earth is wrong with her? Anyway, I hold her hands tightly to make sure she didn't run off somewhere to investigate things as I walk her following the red line.
The line takes us to the next part of the attraction which is a dimly lit hallways. The couple in front of us reluctant to go ahead so I asked if we could go ahead of them which they agree without second thoughts.
I am sure Vivi already noticed at this point that there are other dolls and staffs hiding somewhere, waiting to spook at the visitors. After all, Vivi is equipped with some sort of life detector. As we approach the section where there is a part of the wall decorated with a grosteque monstrous human head, a staff dressed like the lady in white ghost springs down from the ceiling while laughing in a creepy tone just like a horror movie.
I can hear the screams of visitors behind us. I turn my attention to Vivi to check if she have any reaction at all. I was expecting her to at least simulate fear but instead of being scared, she dash forward towards the ghost and launches a swift kick to the ghost's face, sending her screaming in pain.
Before I could react, Vivi pulls out a knife and probably cuts the thin wire the ghost use to float around. As the ghost falls to the ground, Vivi lifts her skirt slightly which personally took all of my willpower to look the other way around but I failed so I managed to see her pulls out a molotov and a lighter.
"Vivi!" I scream at her trying to get her attention but it seems she doesn''t pay any attention probably because she know the closest people to me are other visitors.
"Don't worry, your death will be swift"
"Vivi! Vivivivivivivivivivivivi!"
I am starting to panic to the point I forgot how to speak. I run and managed to stop Vivi right before she lits the molotov. Seriously, how the hell did she managed to sneak these stuffs to her attire? Did she sabotaged the security system when she enters the park?!
"Stop it!" I yelled at Vivi. "What were you thinking?!"
Vivi looks at me for a moment then she puts back the molotov and the lighter back beneath her skirt which, again... took me all of my willpower to resist the temptation to look and unfortunately, I succeed this time.
"You're right, using molotov would start a fire and we aren't equipped to deal with fire. I shall use my knife instead"
"No Vivi!"
"Very well, then I shall strangle her with a wire"
"No! Calm down!"
"Please be at ease, I know how to strangle someone to death without spilling any blood"
"That is not my point!"
***************
Aaaah.... what a disastrous day. After what happened at the haunted house, we nearly get sent to jail. Thankfully I managed to convince everyone that Vivi is a prototype for a new generation combat doll with more emphasis on social behavior. Man, my experience working in combat doll manufacturing factory really helpful.
In the end, we only ride the ferris wheel.
"Delta 5"
I look up at Vivi. Her gaze is cold as ever but at the same time, I don't feel threatened. Her expression still emotionless as well but something is different this time... it is her posture. This is the first time I see her sit like a proper lady instead of sit with her hands near her hidden weapons.
"There is something I'd like to know" she continue while staring at me intently.
"If you wanted to ask if I am angry about what happened earlier, then no, I am not angry"
"No, there is something else that picks my interest"
Hmn? Wait.... "picks my interest" she say? Interesting.... so she can become a curious one too huh? Let's see if she is going to ask anything related to word "mission" or something else.
"I've read about your profile in database. You used to work for a combat doll manufacturing industry. Am I correct?"
Oh? Nothing related to word mission? I nod at her as an answer.
"Why didn't you enlist as combat doll specialist instead of joining the frontlines and volunteer to dangerous assignments?"
.............
I am at a loss for words. This is the first time I ever seen a combat doll question something like this. For combat dolls, regardless of their personality or origins or models only knows one rule; to accomplish tasks given to them.
Vivi was sent to accompany me without being told about anything so there is no way she asks those questions because she think it has something to do with her mission. I need to confirm my suspicions first....
"I have... a reason" I answer her.
"Is it because you think yourself as a tool?"
"Partly, yes. What makes you think that is the reason Vivi?"
Vivi raises her right arm and stare at the palm of her hand intently without saying anything. The deafening silence continues for couple of minutes.
"I hate myself"
I raise my eyebrows at that statement. I decided to stay silent and not make comment or jokes about it. She hates herself?
"I am a tool, a weapon created to kill but sooner or later, I will be replaced by newer and better model. I don't see much point in trying to enjoy life like other combat dolls"
No way. I gulped and try to remain calm. I see.... so that is how it is huh Vivi? You have become sentient without you knowing it. That is why NEST sent her to accompany me. For normal people, that statement she made sounds like a pessimistic person and she always strikes as a pessimistic person to me but I thought it was just her personality since she was produced so I shrugged it off.
She is... really just like her.
"I have a sister" I speak up.
Vivi raises her head and look at me.
"My sister was born with a fragile body so she tend to fell ill"
Bitter memories of my time spent with my sister flashes in my mind. I still remember her sweet smile. She was just such a sweetheart, everything she says is always sugar.... and no I don't mean she loves sugar, it's just every time she speaks, her words are always nice and caring.
Even if she tend to get sick and get tired faster than anyone else, she just simply cannot turn her back on others who needs help. I remember she once dragged a heavily damaged combat doll she found in forest and asks me to nurse the combat doll back to health. Back then I couldn't care less about the combat doll.
"She once pulled an all nighter studying about combat dolls you know? She wanted to save that one combat doll she found while strolling in the forest"
"Did she managed to save the combat doll?"
"Well, kind of. She managed to keep the doll active long enough until the company it belonged to came to picked it up"
"I see..."
.... then that accident happened.
"What accident?"
Huh? Did I mutter that under my breath by accident and Vivi heard it? I turn my eyes at her and she is still looking at me intently as usual.
"Have you heard the place called desert of emptiness?" I ask
"Yes" Vivi nods at me. "A mysterious weapon was used at the forest, completely eradicating everything around it, leaving nothing but empty, barren desert filled with anomalies. They said there were no survivors"
"Well, they are wrong because one of them still lives to this day and you are speaking to him"
Vivi eyes widened. This is the first time I see her expression changes like that. I intentionally didn't put anything about my background in my resume back then but people just know I have the skills with combat dolls and that is why I managed to get around places without people asking anything about me.
Vivi leans forward to get closer to my face, "Did you lose your sister that day?"
"No, we survived but Kylie fell ill. I panicked and accidentally run into two anomalies. One throws me so hard, I even lose my grip on her and she flew towards an anomaly we came to know as meat grinder. She lost her right arm and left leg it's...."
I stopped. I felt heavy pressure in my chest and I am starting to hear her screams of pain. It was... terrible. She was on my arms one moment and then out of the blue she got thrown away.
Kylie... I am sorry. I am such a garbage that I couldn't even protect you. Fuck....
Huh? I can feel a bit of warmth next to me and that is when I noticed Vivi is no longer sit in front of me. She sit right next to me, holding my hand. Damn, her skin is surprisingly smooth for a combat doll that do heavy lifting almost every day.
"Long story short, Ishiki company combat dolls found us and took us to their nearest facility. I was fine but Kylie's injuries were so severe that she couldn't live without life support. I worked hard and study like hell for the sole purpose of building doll body parts that could help her walk like normal again"
I paused for a moment. Kylie, she was always smiling at me even in her bed. It was so crushing to see her lying in bed, covered in life support system.
"I worked for Ishiki company to pay off my debts as well to further my goals. Unfortunately, the hospital burned down and Kylie didn't make it. It doesn't really matter how many times I tried or how hard I experiment, nothing can bring back my Kylie to my side. Nothing"
That is right.... it doesn't matter what I do or how many doll body parts I make, Kylie is gone... and she is not coming back. Even to this day, I still hope to see Kylie waiting for me in the living room... or rather in the canteen.
"Shortly after, Ishiki company suffered a crisis. The factories were bombed to ruins and their leaders assassinated. The company went bankrupt and I just happen to hear the Grasshopper Mercenaries are looking for additional members"
But that doesn't answer her question right? I shake my head in frustration.
"Kylie's passion was combat dolls. That is why I am always volunteering for dangerous missions. Combat dolls are the one to reach dangerous zones first and only few survived. I want to go out there and save as many as I could. That is why Vivi, I am always angry at you for your rather suicidal tendency. You can think yourself as a tool for all I care but just know that you are my comrade and I don't like the idea of you dying"
I turn my head at her and to my surprise... she is actually crying. Her expression remains unchanged but her eyes are full of tears. I can see tears running down her cheeks and drips to her hand. She wipes off the tears with her left hand and then her expression changes. She is clearly confused.
"Vivi?" I call out to her.
"Delta 5, I feel... weird. I cannot determine the cause of this odd feeling"
"Weird?"
"I have no intentions of simulating sadness but yet I cannot stop the tears"
"Then you can say you are starting to actually feel emotions"
That is actually kind of impressive. Combat dolls are built with the capability to simulate emotions but they shouldn't really understand emotions. They just simply try to read the mood and simulate appropriate emotions.
The fact that Vivi said she have no intentions to simulate an emotion but she can't stop crying means she began to actually understand emotions. My, my.... what's the world coming to...
"I see... now I understand why you pulled off insane feats just to save me and willingly argue with the superiors when they sent us off to dangerous missions" Vivi holds my hand once more.
"So does that means you have a better opinion about me now?" I ask her curiously.
"Yes. You are still suck at shooting, you are dumb and slow but I guess having a human who appreciates us and treat us well is nice"
I am not sure if I should be happy or not. Wait, does that means she never see me as someone who cares about combat dolls despite the fact I often spend my time in combat dolls repair bay when there is no assignments??!
Vivi rests her head on my shoulder which nearly surprise me.
"I've read about this in a book. Is this what the humans call a date?"
Her question makes me rather nervous. Would I even consider this a date? Me? Dating a combat doll? Well I don't event know if I can call this a date. I mean it's an absolute disaster today with me failing to impress her at the shooting range and she almost burn down the haunted house attraction.
But what is a date really? Shopping? No, that's not it. A date is about... getting to know each other right? At least that is what people in the barracks said. So... I guess yes? I mean she get to know my past.
"Maybe? I never have a girlfriend before" I scratch my head.
"I see. Then I shall live on for your sake then Delta 5 and in return, I want you to live on for our sake"
Hmn, not sure what she means but I guess at least, she have a strong reason to not go suicidal in her missions anymore.
"Yeah"
Then I noticed that Vivi is smiling at my answer. I couldn't help but smile back at her. What a day... to think that I'd see her smiling... man the world's end is near that is for sure. I pulled out a drink I brought earlier.
"Ah yes, Delta 5, there is something I'd like to ask" Vivi speak up.
"Hmm-mmhm?"
"How do you make babies?"
BFFFFT! I spits out the drink from my mouth to the window. My heart beats faster for some reason and that is why I am scared.
"What the hell Vivi?! What's with that question?!"
"NEST told me once that humans reproduce by making babies. They said something about a weapon called sex? If possible, I'd like to see this weapon myself. I think it would be beneficial for us if you show me this weapon they call sex"
"What the?!"
I stand up and run at the door, I try to bash it open with all my might while Vivi just sit there, looking at me confused. Damn NEST! Just what the hell man?!
"Wait, what are you doing?" Vivi asks me
"I am going to bloody jump and find the NEST and beat the crap out of them!"
"Are you out of your mind? You are going to kill yourself if you jump. I don't want to lose you so at least wait until I am completely destroyed then I will help you kill yourself"
**************
End
Index:
- Third Great War:
World War III. The war left the world devastated with the majority of the earth's surface become too radiated for humans to settle in, forcing humanity to live underground. As time goes, humanity began to work back to the surface, hoping to take back the surface from mutants and anomalies.
- Combat Dolls:
Advanced androids created to look like a human and acts like a human. These dolls are specialized for combat and serves as the backbone for any army.
- Anomalies:
The oddities which ignores laws of nature and physics. They come in many shapes and forms ranging from harmless optical illusion to a devastating reality-altering "meat grinder" which is capable of tearing anything that gets too close to it.
- Grasshopper Security Company (aka Grasshopper Mercenaries):
Despite not big like other mercenary groups, the Grasshopper combat dolls are considered as the best among the mercenaries. Unlike other factions, they still actively deploys human soldiers to the field (albeit the casualty rate is extremely high). They are also the only group capable of reclaiming zones from anomalies and radiation thanks to their "Restoration Corps". Everyone knows that this mercenary group is vital to humanity's survival and that is why they often get support from many governments.
- NEST:
Not much is known about NEST apart from the fact they are the top commanders of Grasshopper Mercenaries. Heck, no one is even sure if NEST is actually a human, a combat doll or a collective of both pretending to be one individual. All grasshopper members know if NEST is involved in something, then it has to be big or extremely important even if whatever they do sounds completely silly.
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