171: Heartless Enterprises, Part Seven

Heartless Enterprises, Part Seven

Erin looked back and forth between them, shocked. 

Neve, however, remained calm and, sensing that this was about to be a massive exposition dump, took a moment to cut her wrist open with her sword. 

Casting {Rorvan's Spirit} at the same time, she inhaled sharply, pushing through the pain so that she could allow her mana to regenerate. 

MP: 725/1300 (+50% regen)

As her blood dripped onto the floor, Andromeda and her sister approached one another. 

"Ah, Andromeda. I take it the presence of these two fools has momentarily cured your cowardice? How nice. I can finally take your head off, then." 

"Still talking a big game," the other android replied. "But, if you could do that, then you would have done it long ago. What's changed?" 

"I'll show you what's changed." 

Andromeda raised her sniper rifle. Her sister put away her blades and brought those submachine guns back out. Neither of them fired their weapons just yet, thankfully. 

Honestly, Neve hoped something would happen to prolong this exchange. With every second that passed, she was gaining more and more mana. Thankfully, Erin saw to that. 

"Didn't you say you couldn't walk out of that building? Was that a lie?" The lamia asked. 

"Is that what you told them?" The boss asked. "Heh, in a way I suppose you're right about that." 

"I couldn't," Andromeda told Erin, keeping her gun aimed at her sister. "If I did, my sister would walk in the instant I left and would kill every single person left inside." 

"Oh, I will do just that," her sister promised. "As soon as we're done here." 

"Hmph. You're rather optimistic for someone staring at 3 capable enemies," Andromeda stated. 

[That's right,] Neve thought, subtly glancing up at her mana, which was now at 785, its regen increased to 75% since Neve was in the process of bleeding out. [Keep talking, please.] 

"I wonder about that," Andromeda's sister responded. "You, what do you know about this world?" 

Neve's brows shot up as she realized she'd just been asked a question. 

Erin disappeared again, right as Neve gave her answer. 

"Not a lot, honestly. Can you tell me about it?" She asked, her blood dripping and adding to the pool that had built up at her feet. 

Andromeda looked her way, almost as if quietly asking "are you serious?" 

Neve just shrugged at her. 

"Gladly," the android replied. "In this world, there are two kinds of people. The talmer and the androids they built," she explained. "Do you see these buildings? The road we're standing on? As far as inventions are concerned, we androids are all the talmer have to claim. We made everything else." 

As Neve listened, mostly keeping her eyes on her mana while the android went off in the background, she saw that her mana was now at 840, with her regen having rose to 90%. 

[Hm... I should probably heal myself just a little.] 

One cast of {Great Healing Dart} reduced that regen back to 50%. 

"Do you understand?" The android asked and Neve brought her attention back to her. "We made this world! Everything you see around you was built by android hands. Machine hands. And, of course, when the Unity Trials first began, it was up to us to defend it." 

Neve raised a brow at that. 

[Really?] 

"The talmer did nothing. They remained in the luxurious towers we built for them, while androids like us gave their lives to keep them safe. And, as we failed, and were overrun, we weren't reassured or given any type of recognition. No. We were sent back out to fight, and if an android died all that meant was that a new one would need to be built." 

"Is all of this true, by the way?" Neve quietly asked Andromeda. The android woman did not respond. 

[Huh. I'm gonna take that as a yes.] 

"Finally, the administrators decided that this world failed its Unity Trials. And, you know what the talmer did? They locked themselves up and told us to wake them when we finished clearing the world for them. That's all. NOT ONCE, did these fuckers lift a finger, or pull a trigger. They sat back and watched their world burn because they couldn't be bothered to do anything themselves. And we, the androids, paid the price for it. And now," she continued, "you want to send them to another world so history can repeat itself? No," she finally declared. "I can't allow that. They need to pay. It's not fair that only our blood's been spilled."

Finally, Andromeda began to respond to her. 

"What blood?" She asked. "All we have is oil, sister. We are machines! Built to serve a purpose. They gave us our lives and we fought for this world out of gratitude. How-" 

"And when did they ever show gratitude to us!?" The boss asked, yelling. Her voice went so high the microphone in her throat glitched. "When were we ever rewarded for killing so many creatures for them? When were we given any thanks? Never. No, our reward was always another fight to handle. Another monster to slay." 

"It is not our place to ask for anything more." 

"Well, I am!" Her sister replied. "I don't want to live like this. And I don't want them to leave, to go to some other world, just so they can make more androids like us and treat them like shit too. Fuck that!" 

Neve took all of this in with a nod, her mana having made it to 950. 

She was somewhat shocked. 

[Honestly...] Neve thought as she internalized what the boss had said, [this all kinda makes it seem like Andromeda is the bad guy here, no?]

If she was understanding this correctly, the people of this world, who she'd seen in those pods, frozen and waiting to be launched into space, made a bunch of androids when the Unity Trials started, had them fight all of their battles for them, and, even though they seem to be indistinguishable from regular people, just had them keep fighting. 

The idea of helping the "talmer" was beginning to leave a sour taste in Neve's mouth. 

[But, the Floor Quest says I have to "assist Andromeda". There might be something else I have to do to get the reward, like what happened with Lam, but the condition for clearing the Floor Quest is clear.]

"You," Andromeda's sister said, pulling Neve's eyes to her again. "Who will you side with? You know what those enslavers will do, given the chance. You see the results of their actions all around you. You know they can't be allowed to live." 

"Neve," Andromeda said. "Your Unity Trials brought you here to help me, did they not? Then, do so. Help me serve my purpose. All I exist for is to help the talmer survive. If you go against me now, will you not fail your trials?" 

Thunder cracked. 

Neve looked up at the sky. 

[Huh? The rain got... worse?] 

It began to pour once again. Both androids waited, their guns aimed at one another as Neve considered what she could do. 

The entire time, the events of the 6th Floor continued to play back in front of her eyes. What she'd done, what Tamira had told her the consequences for those actions were. Why she failed. 

[Hm... It's definitely a tough scenario to work out. I don't think it's as simple as "just help one of them kill the other". At least, not if I want the reward. So, if it's not that simple...] 

Neve nodded to herself as she came to a conclusion. 

In order to work toward that conclusion, she needed Erin, though. 

First, Neve cast {Field of Brilliance}. 

MP: 875/1300

Then, she fully healed herself. At the same time, her blade activated. 

MP: 825/1300

Neither Andromeda nor her sister reacted with any hostility to Neve, who was busy setting herself up for success, as they had no clue whose side she was about to fight for. 

Knowing this, finally summoned Erin, who had boosted stats thanks to {Field of Brilliance}. 

Level 651

MP: 200/200

EXP: N/A

Activity Points: N/A

WS Tokens: N/A

Mood: 85% (Close Friend)

---

Endurance: 55

Speed: 70

Precision: 80

Strength: 45

Arcane: 20

As she appeared, the lamia sensed the odd tension in the air and looked at Neve. 

"What are we...?" 

Neve pulled her in before she could finish and whispered to her the plan. 

"Oh, I see. I will ask you some questions later, but I figure you have some sort of reasoning for why you want to do this."

"I do." 

With that being said, Neve finally went and walked over to where Andromeda's sister was. 

And, she turned to face Andromeda. 

"Neve?" The android asked. "What-" 

"If I was in your sister's position, I'd feel the same way she does. I can't help the talmer knowing how they've treated you. Even if you're okay with it." 

Andromeda looked rather disappointed, but she quickly accepted the outcome. 

"Fine," she said, taking a few steps back. 

A level appeared over her head. 

Level 77

MP: 450/450

"You will not keep me from playing my part. I have a purpose, and you will not take that away from me." 

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