After breaking through the enemies on the surface, the number of enemies steadily diminished until none remained and the tunnels were quiet just like before, the dark is still as overbearing and desolate as before.

It is peaceful, in a strange way.

After hours of traversing in the desolate darkness I slowly make my way back to where I found the security drones.

Kicking the security door off its hinges, I park Fea there for now.

Then I help Alicia out of her cockpit.

I proceed to bringing Fea to the other security drone that is, much like its earlier counterpart. Still in pristine condition.

After entering the cockpit, I flip a switch to turn the thing on and let it run my fingerprint.

“-Access authorized, welcome unit- ...R-4-2  M-U-2 -” the same mechanical voice  as before chimes in the cockpit.

“Issue new access ID.” I instruct the unit computer.

“-To run this command, access level 2 and vocal authorization are required, would you like to proceed?-”  The thing responds.

“Run executive override, code 19-40-15-16-11 ID-02” I demand from the computer.

“-...Override accepted. Welcome, ID-02-” the machine finally responds after a while.

“Issue new ID.” I tell the damn thing again.

“-Acknowledged, please designate unit ID and save the unit fingerprints.-”

I have Alicia register into the database.

After all of this is said and done, the nightmare of every adult since the invention of  the engine began.

Teaching the younger generation how to drive.

“No, not that button, that one and then carefully push the right joystick forward. No, not like that, do it steadily, yes. That's right, now tilt it to side, slowly, slowly, no. Not like that…”

Needless to say, we spent the rest of the day there.

After the driving lessons we took a break whilst slowly enjoying our rations.

“Alicia”, I said idly.

“Y-yes?” She said, apparently surprised by being suddenly called.

“Thank you for your hard work, you did good.” Always remember to keep good ties to your underlings.

“...Thanks…” She mumbled. One day I hope she will come out of her shell more.

...She got a bit red... I hope she isn’t getting ill.

After finishing our rations and getting some sleep, the driver’s training continued, now whilst travelling to our destination, since she has more or less learned how to drive. Experience is a great teacher. During our drive I had her train her shooting accuracy by having her fire at various things that we came across in the dark tunnel.

Eventually we also found some enemies, as we reached somewhat near where the old highway tunnel used to connect to the train network, only Lessers, nothing too serious, somewhere around 10-30, at least 10 of which seem to be Hound type.

I instructed Alicia to stay behind me since she was still fresh blood, I could tell she was afraid to open fire, scared to take a life?

I tried to tell her to not think of them as living people, but more or less like robots and that it would be mercy to them, to no avail. It was only after I said “If you cannot shoot, what good are you?” in frustration, that she finally pulled the trigger.

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Her shooting was all over the place, nothing close to what she could do if she was calm, but I suppose that is to be expected.

I meet the first incoming Hound with a slam to the face from my shield, the second got a thermic lance to the face and the remainder was dispatched with machinegun fire. I use a drill-sergeant like voice to force Alicia to move forward and keep on shooting as I keep picking off any enemies that get close enough to actually harm her. After confirming that there are no more enemies I scan the area one more time and then, knowing that adrenaline does not last long, I dragged Alicia out of her drone and brought her face to face with an enemy she killed.

I told her she did this and after letting it properly sink in for a second I began guiding her, she should not feel bad, these things are not humans, it is alright, etc. I slowly guided her to accept this as a new way to think of reality.

...I know, this is cruel. But she has to learn... I cannot have an unreliable ‘’Weapon’’ watching my back or we might both end up dying.

Once I have gotten her to calm down with a gentle hug and repeating sentences like:

“it is alright”

“You did nothing wrong”

“What you did was correct”

etc. We keep on moving, we encounter a few more enemies whilst in the vicinity of the broken highway tunnel, but Alicia seems considerably more calm this time and actually aims properly as well.

After the conflict I make sure to ensure she is alright, free loyalty is really needed right now since she might start hating me for making her go through this. That would be bad.

After passing the point where the tunnel used to be, we traverse in what I expected to be the silence for hours again. But Alicia has gotten strangely talkative.

I wonder if she was seeking asylum from the guilt in her heart by seeking closeness from me. I did my best to entertain her whims by chatting with her to best of my ability.

Eventually we reached a station that we could use to leave the train network.

It probably was a countryside entrance or something since it was not situated in a city but instead the ruins of a small town. After orienteering ourselves we followed the roads, heading towards the outpost.

We ran into another group of Lessers, this time with 2 Snipers, so I had Alicia shoot whilst covering behind a truck I took them out by using the single shot setting of C-3 rifle. Then we systematically took down the rest

At this point, I don't really have to fear Lessers unless they are armed with a tank-buster or something, but since Alicia is using a Security Drone, I have to increase its survivability before I can relax against Lessers.

We continued heading towards the outpost until we saw smoke in the distance and realized.

The outpost was under attack.

Author's Note:

Yeah, still busy, too busy to post yesterday in fact, might not post tomorrow, we shall see, but nevertheless... here ya go, Notify me on any mistakes I make. Thank you.