Stay Close to Me-Don't Fall Behind!

"A2-senpai, A2-senpai, are you sunbathing on the rooftop of the seaside villa? How's the weather? Can you see any trees? Any flowers or plants?"

"Ah! Humans! Alive! A2-senpai, you really saw them? What? There's one right next to you? I'm so lucky! I really want to touch it..."

"Senior A2, I'll let you in on a little secret: the Commander asked me to help tidy up her rest room. I want to secretly observe her..."

"Ugh, it's such a mess inside. There are empty cans of alcoholic beverages everywhere, the clothes haven't been washed, and there aren't even any painting equipment in the room. Doesn't the Commander take care of herself? No wonder her skin is so bad..."

Under the sunshade on the rooftop, A2 listened to these trivial matters with obvious impatience. Her current personal communicator, 6O, was lively yet sentimental, always chattering away, which was practically the opposite of her personality.

But in the end, this aloof combat robot would still choose to chat for a while, catching up on 6O's loneliness and curiosity.

"A2-senpai, sob, I invited Senior 21O to have dinner at the same table today, but he refused..."

"... I can't bear to stay in the base any longer, I might as well die..."

A2, awakened by the crying, twitched at the corner of her mouth. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down, but no matter how hard she racked her brains, she couldn't think of any words of comfort. Her expression was extremely distressed.

"6O! If you really care about 21O, you shouldn't just cry. Try every possible way to get close to her, help her, and make her unable to leave you! That's the embodiment of love!"

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"

"Therefore, your love must not be defeated by these setbacks. If you back down, it only proves that your love is not steadfast enough or pure enough!"

Kevin, who looked serious, pulled the modified communicator toward himself and responded to the dejected girl with enthusiasm.

"Isn't she a dedicated General-purpose Combat Robot? Maintenance, intelligence processing, post-war decompression, including the latest weapon configurations—you need to know how to utilize these opportunities and find ways to enhance interaction!"

"Even if there isn't such an occasion, you can create opportunities, like showing her the flowers you grow, or imagining the scenery of the mainland together..."

Having been bombarded with motivational platitudes, 60 felt a little dizzy, her eyes sparkling with adoration.

As expected of our Creator, He is truly great...

However, when it came to actually taking action, the young girl became somewhat apprehensive and lacked confidence. "Can... can I really do it?"

Kevin clenched his right fist, his tone firm and encouraging.

"Keep going! I believe in you! As long as you persevere, the lilies will surely bloom!"

"Yes! I will try my best!"

After the other person confidently finished their report, Kevin stretched out his arms, leaned back on the bench, and put on a strange smile.

"I don't know why, but I have this urge to punch you..."

A2, who had been observing the sea with binoculars, put down the equipment and whispered something to someone.

"Is it wrong to do good deeds and comfort people?"

Kevin rolled his eyes and protested his innocence, but then quickly changed the subject.

"Speaking of which, how come 6O, 21O, including you, Scanner Unit 21, these Yuhar Robot are all so emotionally rich, while the latest Executioner 2B, is so emotionally barren?"

A2 initially seemed reluctant to mention the executioner who shared his appearance, but after a moment of silence, he finally gave his answer.

"As the executioner, 2B is responsible for eliminating her fellow Yuhar Robot who have developed a high degree of self-awareness. However, over time, her mind has been exposed to too many negative emotions, making her prone to a breakdown."

"Therefore, at fixed times, 2B's memories are formatted. Hmph, just a pathetic toy..."

"Those idiots in the bunker are the same..."

Kevin frowned. It seemed that, having learned from the experience of Skynet's betrayal, humanity had equipped every Yuhar Robot with multiple layers of protection.

However, deep-seated suspicions are ultimately unbreakable. Any highly self-aware Yuhar Robot will be seen as a "threat," and the "Executioners" will be responsible for purging this outcast.

However, the command center that has traveled through time and space to Siberia region has actually been liberated to some extent.

"I advise you not to invest too much emotion in them, otherwise you'll regret it..."

"This is a fate they cannot escape..."

A2 raised his cheeks and whispered, as if it were a serious piece of advice, or perhaps a sorrowful self-mockery.

The group of members in the bunker command center, their self-awareness, may have already crossed the line. Whether humanity has other means of control, and how many execution-type robots are lurking there, remains unknown.

The deeper one sinks, the more tragic the ending often becomes.

"<Yuhar Purge Plan>? After the YoRHa Unit destroy Skynet, will humanity wipe out the entire Yuhar Robot swarm?"

Kevin tapped the cup with his right hand, his face thoughtful and filled with a sense of helplessness as he pondered.

How did you know?!

A2's face showed intense shock; she never imagined that this man would uncover her deepest secret.

"When the birds are all gone, the good bow is put away; when the cunning rabbit is dead, the hunting dog is cooked..."

"This isn't hard to guess. Your creators are the most selfish group; they would never tolerate the rise of another [Skynet]..."

"Isn't it ironic that you keep proclaiming '[ for the For the glory of humanity],' and therefore remain steadfast in your commitment, dying one after another..."

"In the end, whether Skynet wins or Human Civilization survives, you will have nowhere to go. This is an unsolvable knot..."

The commander couldn't help but sigh. From a human perspective, he had no right to overly criticize the survivors who would lose 3 billion of their compatriots in the future [Judgment Day] for being so cruel.

With the indelible scar of Judgment Day, the war between humans and intelligent machines can only end with one side being completely annihilated.

This is a clash between civilizations, devoid of any warmth or tenderness.

Moreover, in a sense, the YoRHa Unit belongs to the same category of intelligent robots as the Terminators. It is simply impossible for humanity, which nearly suffered extinction, to trust an entity that shares the same origin as executioners.

"So, your defection, besides the sacrifice of your teammates, was also because you learned the contents of the <Yuhar Purge Plan>?"

A2 remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head and drew his battle sword inch by inch.

"You're really smart; no wonder humanity has become the dominant species on this This Planet..."

"So... and then what, are you going to kill me, or..."

P. S.: Let's be frank, who has seen "The Yuhar Purge Plan"?

Chapter 277, Section 291: Stay close to me, don't fall behind!

"Are you robots filled with tofu dregs? Can't you turn a single-outcome situation into a multiple-choice question...?"

Kevin rolled his eyes, chewed a few mints, and casually brushed aside the blade aimed at his brow.

Immediately, the commander recalled a classic line from a certain game character, and couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips, smiling and softly reciting it to the pessimistic A2.

"Alright, the shackles set by God will naturally be broken by God..."

"As one of your creators, I have a duty to prevent all of this."

So stick close to me, don't fall behind!

A2 sensed the seriousness in his words and was moved. After a moment of contemplation, he pounded his chest with his left hand and smiled slightly.

"If that's the case, then my sword is ready to fight for you!"

Kevin chuckled, tossed the iced water on the table to A2, and raised his glass in a gesture of greeting.

The Yuhar Robot, Tactical Sword, skillfully deflected the force, caught a glass on the back of its blade, then twisted its wrist to drink the ice water, signifying the completion of the alliance.

"However, I have another question. Can't you contact the bunker independently? Do you still need to borrow 9S's black box and mind chip?"

Kevin stroked his chin and revealed his inner confusion.

With their escape from Catalina Island imminent, he had to ensure they could maintain contact with the bunker command center should the 9S chip malfunction.

A2 rolled her eyes in a humane manner and shook her head in response.

"During the Pearl Harbor Airdrop Operation, in order to escape the surveillance of the bunker command center, I had already removed the communication programs, and the same was true for Scanner Unit 21."

"The war between the YoRHa Unit and the Terminators lasted for a considerable period. The communication programs built into the Yuhar Robot not only allowed them to locate each other with the bunkers, but also enabled them to withstand interference from nanomechanical impacts."

"Therefore, the only way to save ourselves was to find the 9S chip and the black box recorder inside the fish's belly by chance and make contact with the bunker command center."

Kevin nodded to himself, filling in some more gaps in the plan.

When the two black, variable-powered fighter jets emerged from the sea fog and appeared in the telescope's field of view, the two men exchanged a nod and immediately understood that it was time to depart.

Kevin and A2 then leaped to the shore to receive the equipment. The two variable-powered fighters were ordered to hover in an upright position, leaving humanoid recesses for the two pilots.

Meanwhile, each of the two variable-powered fighter jets had a metal box hanging from its tail. When A2 opened it, it confirmed that this was indeed the electromagnetic pulse weapon that Kevin had requested.

"The sea fog contains nanomechanical components, just like we did against the T-3000 before. Electromagnetic Weapons are their nemesis, or at least they can disperse it..."

After Kevin explained his reasons in a deep voice, he pulled A2 along and began learning to pilot this variable-powered fighter jet.

The commander's learning ability is beyond doubt; in just half an hour, he was able to operate the equipment quite skillfully.

With everything ready, the two immediately set off without hesitation, piloting their variable-powered fighter jet toward the foggy area.

They searched deeply but only encountered scattered semi-mechanized life forms such as sea serpents, silverfish, and octopuses. The most powerful Terminator Force and deep-sea warship fleet had all vanished.

The Electromagnetic Weapons did indeed tear apart and dissipate most of the sea fog, and the vision that had been shrouded in fear finally regained its clarity.

So the survivors, who had been trapped on the island for more than half a month, burst into tears of joy. Thousands of people rushed frantically toward the few remaining speedboats and three civilian helicopters, and a stampede even occurred.

However, after a barrage of bullets, the survivors huddled together like frightened rabbits, remaining obedient and quiet.

"Gentlemen and ladies, now it is your turn to demonstrate the American humanitarian spirit: children and the elderly in front, women in the middle, and men at the rear..."

Kevin smiled and waved the electromagnetic cannon in his hand, appearing very polite.

Sure enough, the Americans below were very reasonable, and even took the initiative to help the elderly and children board the ship.

Wow, I'm going to film this scene that shines with the light of humanity and upload it to YouTube. Of course, my own electromagnetic cannon isn't suitable for the camera.

With thousands of people stranded, the available transportation options can only transport them in batches.

At this time, the police station, which Kevin had once single-handedly defeated, began to take over the work of maintaining order.

Regardless of their flaws, whenever a crisis strikes, the military and police forces of civilized countries are often the first line of defense.

Finally, it's time to leave this awful place!

The survivors on the yacht looked back at the shrinking Catalina Island with mixed emotions before obediently retreating into the cabin.

Kevin and A2, who were responsible for escorting the team, kept clearing out the emerging Machine Lifeforms. Fortunately, they only encountered two or three here and there, and the journey was uneventful.

However, as the transport convoy emerged from the sea fog, a formation of F-15 fighter jets, all in a triangular formation, flew in from the direction of Los Angeles Air Force Base and shouted on public channels.

"Warning! You have entered a military restricted zone. Please shut down your engines and await inspection!"

It appears that the US military has detected the anomaly in the Catalina Island area, but it is clear that they are unable to carry out a rescue mission given their limited resources.

Therefore, this area can only be designated as a military control zone to prevent further losses.

But a whole squadron of F-15s arrived, looking like they were facing a major threat, clearly indicating that these Americans had suffered losses at the hands of the Terminator fleet.

Kevin had no intention of clashing with the US government, so he ordered A2 to cooperate with their inspection.

Anyway, he has connections. If Nick isn't influential enough, he can simply get the US president, with whom he's just made contact, to bail him out.

Unexpectedly, the F-15 fighter jet formation on the periphery did not lower its guard and approach; instead, a silver armored vehicle slowly descended.

"Kevin Lee? I'm so glad you're all alright, Tony's been talking about you the whole time..."

The visor opened, and the U. S. Army Colonel named James Rhodes (nicknamed "War Machine") extended his hand to Kevin in a friendly manner.

Having powerful connections... it feels so good!

Kevin stood on the deck, shook hands with James politely, and basked in the admiring gazes of a group of elderly people and children, feeling a sense of satisfaction welling up inside him.

Thanks to the intervention of the "War Machine," the subsequent routine checks went quite smoothly. The soldiers even tactfully refrained from questioning Kevin and A2 about their prohibited equipment.

"There are still seven or eight hundred survivors on Catalina Island. The rest are in your hands..."

"Also, when traversing this sea fog, be aware of the water surface. Some infected marine life is highly aggressive; it is recommended to use electromagnetic pulse weapons to retaliate..."

Now that the main character has arrived, Kevin doesn't mind sharing the credit for rescuing the survivors with the American troops in front of him.

Moreover, finishing up has never been his forte, and Kevin couldn't be happier if he could easily shirk his responsibilities.

Thus, the handover was completed in a harmonious atmosphere, and an Air Force pilot who found his family among the survivors gratefully presented him with a Distinguished Flying Cross.

"Kevin, I suggest you go to Las Vegas first. The SCP Foundation people are going crazy..."

Before departing, Colonel James hesitated for a moment and offered some advice.

P. S.: The Catalina Island dungeon is complete. A successful conclusion.