Chapter Text
After how well the first trip to the city went wit 03-02 Strickland starting pairing them up more often, sending them to guard the entrance gate or patrol the city often. The days that they guarded the gate were long and damn near unbearable with 03-02 talking about what ever came to its mind, asking too many questions that one of the human guards snapped at it, yelling at 03-02 to shut up or he'll go and report the behavior to Martinez. Luckily that got it to finally stop asking questions, but it didn't much help the talking.
The trips to the city were only slightly better, at least to TB it was. They either guarded 08's or watched the fence. The days that they watched the fence, 03-02 didn't talk so much, at one point even admitting that it gets the feeling TB doesn't listen to anything it's saying. TB does, more out of curiosity, learning that the new robot was facing many of the same problems he had with questioning, frustration about not getting a straight answer, feeling too much and concerned about those feelings, fear of being scrapped.
That one TB new too well.
When they guarded the 08's, TB would listen to 03-02 trying to talk to the 08's and found it amusing when the 08's would snap at it also. At one point, a TB-02 yelled at the new robot to be quiet because the constant talking would become a safety concern. It never occurred to TB, but he could understand why. The talking would give them away, putting all of them into harms way.
The 03-02 tried to argue with it, saying it would be quieter but hated the silence. The 02 had turned to face the new robot, shouting again to listen to orders or it will send in a report.
"Is whispering really this big of a deal!" The new robot had shouted back.
TB watched as the 02 had raised to pointed the barrel of its gun at 03-02.
The new robot went rigid, body becoming stiff. 03-02 immediately went silent, but dropped to its knees, dropping its gun to the floor next to it. It stared at the TB-02.
The 02 took a few steps closer to it, keeping its aim on 03-02, "If you continue to talk or raise your voice, I will have no choice but to consider you a probable threat and will deactivate you immediately. Is that understood, TB-03-02?"
The new robot gave the smallest nod. There was a metallic tinking sound that TB recognized. The robot next to him was shaking.
TB watched the robot move to stand, using a hand to grab its gun off the ground and clenched its other fist tightly, stifling the soft tinking sound.
It glanced back at TB then back to the TB-02 that still aimed it's barrel at it. The new robot stood it's ground, but let its shoulder slack ever so slightly. This made the 02 lower its aim.
"03-02, follow me." TB said, then he turned his back to lead the robot out of the building they were in.
The robot followed, keeping its gun lowered.
"Sit someone, try to calm down." TB turned to face it.
The new robot plopped itself to the ground and leaned back against the wall. It set its gun down next to itself, then grabbed at it's visor.
TB watched silently.
After a few long minutes, the new robot looked up at him. "What was that? Why was I suddenly outside and you were pointing a gun at me?"
"I wasn't, I was behind you the whole time and never once aimed at you."
"But you did!" It shouted angrily at him, balling it's fists then quickly releasing and wiping its hands on its shirt, attempting to dry sweat that wasn't there.
"The 02 was the one that pointed it's gun at you. You were being too loud. It was right, you could have put us all in danger." TB explained calming, or tried to at least.
"It was you." It said seething. "It's hard not to miss that ugly ass scar on your face."
TB tensed. "Stay out here then. Calm down then come back to your duties. Don't try to wander off either, I will report you." With that, TB walked back into the building, glaring at the robot.
He couldn't help but wonder if what the 03-02 saw was something similar to what TB had experienced. Seeing visions of people who weren't there doing things that never happened. Maybe Freddy and Ida couldn't quite iron out that bug.
After a few minutes the robot came back into the building and sat back down, crossing its arms in an angry pout.
A week passes and TB hadn't mentioned anything about 03-02's faulty memory and 03-02 hadn't mentioned anything either. It seemed to have no intention on it. However, after that situation, TB noticed 03-02 grew short tempered with him. The insults became common and overall 03-02 made every attempt to irritate TB.
They continued to be partnered together which made it hard for TB to avoid the insults, but he found that it was better to outright ignore the other robot than have any reaction.
Again, they were both instructed to guard a small group of 08's while they picked through debris. It was only the two of them this time, no other 02 needed to help with such a small group. 4
TB was staring at the group, thinking to himself. 03-02 enjoyed pacing back and forth.
One of the 08's suddenly lifted its head up to look past part of a collapsed wall. Then one after another the 08's stopped what they were doing and looked past the wall.
TB shifted, standing more alert. He slowly turned his head to look to where the 08's were staring. He couldn't see anything that could have gotten their attention.
03-02 stopped pacing and looked to TB then past the wall like the rest.
"What are you all staring at?" It asked, looking back to TB for an answer.
TB shrugged, but an 08 answered.
"We are getting reports that there were humans that crossed the fence. A lot of them." The 08 said.
03-02 looked past the wall again. "Shit, what do we do?"
"We stay here and guard our GM-08's as we were instructed." TB looked to 03-02.
The robot let it's shoulders drop. "Shouldn't we go help the others?"
"Not until we are ordered to do so." TB demanded.
03-02 threw its hands up in frustration. "If we wait, we're sitting duck! I can't see why we can't go help!"
"We have to protect our group. You're helping that way." TB shook his head then moved to stand closer to the gathered 08s.
03-02 threw its hands down and readied its gun.
Minutes pass with no orders from the others, but gunfire and explosions could be heard in the distance. 03-02 paces with his gun at the ready and TB stood near the 08s. They were now huddled together and looking between one another. TB imagined they were speak to each other silently on a shared chat server only they could read or hear.
There was a heavy knocking sound as something hit the floor and rolled to a stop on the other side of the 08s, opposite of TB. 03-02 had saw it and shrieked, "Oh shit! Get to the walls!" Then threw itself against the wall behind it.
It was too late, a second later the homemade grenade set off and set the 08s and TB flying into the walls. TB was flung to wall and smacked into it hard. His visuals went dark and he fell unconscious. His gun fell from his hands, clattering to the flood beside him.
When he came back to, his vision was blurred from the dust and debris that had sprayed him. He swiped his hand across his visor to clear the dust. In front of him he finds a familiar shape, Guy-man crouched down and leaned over a dead 08 that had been directly impacted by the explosion.
Delirious, TB shifts to slowly stand back up, holding a hand out behind him to grab the wall and scooting himself up. Guy-man's head snapped around to look at him, fear painted his face. He grabbed the head of the GM-08 and ran as fast as he could out of the building, leaving the body and the rest of the GM-08s behind.
TB watched, shook his head a little to clear his vision a bit more, then grabbed his gun and followed.
The man ran quickly, putting his all into each step and launching into the next.
"Wait!" TB called out to him. He tried his best to catch up, but the man didn't falter.
Guy-man ran through the streets, taking turns down alleys in seemingly at random to try to lose TB.
Eventually he ducks into a building, giving TB the chance to catch up. He entered the building, grabbing part of the broken wall to hold himself up, he still felt a little dizzy from explosion. He looked around and didn't immediately see Guy-man. He took a few steps inside and scanned the room and all the piled up rubble.
TB switched to the infrared vision and scanned again. He found Guy-man's heat signature radiating behind rubble pushed against the wall in a sort of upside down V shape.
He walked over to the hiding man and crouched down to look inside. He was met with a swift kick to the face and he reeled back and grabbed at his vision.
"AH! Guy-man, it's me! It's me!" TB shouted in panic.
"TB-03?" The man said confused and shocked. He crawled out of the hole he was in and looked at TB. He grabbed at the robots hand and pulled it away, seeing the familiar scar along the visor. He let out a sigh of relief. "You scared the hell out of me, you know that?"
"I tried calling for you, but you wouldn't listen." TB argued. "Are my eyes okay? Did it crack?" He ran his fingers gently across his visor, as if he could feel if the glass had shattered.
"No, no cracks. I'm sorry I kicked you." Guy-man apologized, grabbing at TB's arm again. He couldn't help himself but to feel the hard metal limb beneath the uniform.
TB watched, confused, but let him. A moment later Guy-man reached into the back of the rubble and pulled out the 08 head.
TB felt a little nervous seeing the robot he was meant to be guarding beheaded and now sat in the hands of someone he was really hoping to trust. He watched as Guy-man turned the head so he could take a look at the wired mess that pilled out of its neck, fluids dripping from vein-like tubes.
The man was quiet as he poked around, using a finger to push some of the wires and tubes aside to have a better look.
"Why did you do that?" TB asked.
"I had this idea. You would probably know better than I would, or Ben, but do you see robots the same way you see human?"
TB tilted his head to the side. "Mmmm, what do you mean?"
"Do they appear the same way humans do? Ben said that the TBs and GMs see robots and people differently, that they essentially ignore robots and specifically look for human."
"I can see robots and humans like normal, I guess." TB moved to sit down, crossing his legs.
Guy-man did the same. "There's no visual difference?"
"Not for me, no. I can see the other robots and humans, not really ignore the robots. I actually think I notice them too much."
"How do you mean?" Guy-man looked to TB.
"I'm always watching them more than the humans. They all look so perfect at their jobs and I always feel like I'm doing something wrong. The two types of robots are different too. The GM-08s are particularly interesting to watch. They remind me of ants following each other back to their hills, carrying all those parts back to the scrap building in a line."
"They do that?" Guy-man looked a tad bit in disbelief.
"They really do. All in single file, one behind another, arms full of scrap metal and robot parts. The line goes all the way out the door and across the base. Hm," He turned his head slightly to look at the robot head in Guy-man;s hands, "Now that I think of it, that's a lot of metal they find. You'd think they would have scraped the city clean by now."
Guy-man nodded a little.
"They pick up robot parts mostly. They'll probably look for this one too once the fight calms down."
"Do they see robots differently?" Guy-man asked.
"Like the 08s? I- mmm? I think so." He gave a small nod as he thought. "Yeah, I think so. The 08s usually ignore us when they're searching for parts. They pay us no mind at all. In fact, I think they go out of their way to ignore us. I'm not sure if the other TB's are that way."
Guy-man looked down at the 08 head. "My plan was to hollow it out and wear it like a mask. I was hoping if I gathered enough parts to wear, I could sneak into the base and try to find what happened to Gabriel."
"Gabriel?"
"He was one of our friends. He died in here somewhere. Part of me is hoping he's still alive on the base somewhere."
"I haven't seen any new human faces, at least not in uniform."
Guy-man shot a glare at TB then look down at the head in his hands.
They were silent for a moment before TB spoke up again.
"It might be a good idea. If you can fool the GM's, it might fool the TB's too."
Guy-man lifted the 08 head up to his own and had the 08's blank screen face TB. "Does it work on you?"
TB stared at the 08s head. For a moment, something strange happened. He saw only robot, but he understood behind the head was a human. Visually the head and body became one and what TB saw was a GM-08. But then it switched to a human holding a GM-08 head. Then back again, a GM-08 holding its own head.
He became transfixed onto the head, static formed at the edges of his vision.
And then Guy-man moved the head down and the shifting visuals stopped, a man sat next to him holding a robot head.
"Well?" He asked.
"I saw both." TB said. "One second you were you and the next you were a robot."
"Both?" Guy-man said confused.
"I think it's because I can see your body heat differently than the robots, but seeing the robot head is confusing me. I saw you, then an 08, and then you again. I guess my programing didn't know what to think of it." TB shrugged.
He tensed suddenly, then snapped his head to the open hole in the wall. Guy-man watched then realized what it was. Foot fall. Something was right outside the building.
TB quickly shoved Guy-man back into the rubble he was originally hiding in. Guy-man understood and crawled as far in as he could.
TB flashed the words "free me" on his visor and Guy-man gave a nod.
TB quickly stood up and turned to face the footsteps, barrel of his gun aimed at the figure. His shoulders slouched as he recognized 03-02.
"I saw you run, but I had to help some of the 02s. Did you catch them?" 03-02 said.
TB shook his head. "I thought I saw him run in here. I've checked everywhere, he's gone." He walked over to the other robot.
03-02 looked to the rubble leaned against the wall where TB had been looking. It's gaze lingered. "Who were you talking to then? I thought I heard you talking."
"I was cursing myself for having lost him is all. Miss Martinez will not be happy." TB began to leave the building and head back to any group of 02s or 08s.
03-02 stared at the rubble for a moment longer then looked away and joined up with TB.
Guy-man slowly and quietly crept from the hole and peeked behind the wall, watching them leave.