"And that would be twenty-five bits!" Sunset gives the customer a bright smile, handing the man loaves of bread and a piece of cake.
"Thanks, glad you guys are open again!" the man replies, putting coins on the counter: "How is Emily doing?"
"Oh, she's good!" Sunset says, counting the coins.
"Ok, sent her my regards!" the man takes the goods and exits the door.
"So, how's your first day of work?" the android walks out of the kitchen with a basket in her hand.
"People here are pretty nice!" Sunset says, dumping the coins into a wooden box: "I'm not the best at math, but that'll do for today!"
"Great," Number 2 put the basket on the counter, opens the door, and put the 'Closed' sign on her door nod: "There's someone I would like you to meet."
"Are we going on to an adventure?" Sunset asks, peeking into the basket.
"Not exactly," Number 2 answers: "We are celebrating someone's birthday."
"Who, though?" Sunset asks with anticipation.
"A friend," Number 2 answers, tossing her apron into a closet: "He has a little brother to take care of. Their mother passed away when he was 19."
"How many years ago was that?" Sunset asks.
"Five," Number 2 stretches: "and now they both should be old enough to have rum cakes."
"You make rum cakes?" Sunset asks in disbelief.
"I once sold them in the shop," Number 2 lets out a sign and rubs her eyebrows: "Then one day, Popola had too much and almost destroyed my shop."
"Oh, my," Sunset does her best not to laugh: "How much did she have?"
"More than you carry in a basket," Number 2 rolls her eyes: "It's a shame, they used to be our best-selling products, and now I no longer sell them."
"You can still sell them," Sunset says: "Just put a quota for everyone so no one will get hurt!"
"I never thought of that!" Number 2 says, after giving the idea a thought: "More on that later, get you spear and let's get going. Shades has been awfully active recently."
"What about you?" Sunset asks: "I've never really seen you fighting before!"
"Let's just go," Number 2 says with a solemn tone after a moment of silence while averting her eyes.
"Number 2..." Sunset wanted to ask something but decide not to: "Say, is anyone going to join the party?"
"I don't know," Number 2 shrugs: "This is a surprise visit. The brothers see me as a big sister or even mother figure at times, so..."
"They get embarrassed if you visit them at work?" Sunset chuckles.
"Right," Number 2 exhales: "And visiting them at night would put you in grave danger."
"It feels kind of weird," Sunset scratch the back of her head: "They are about the same as me, but now I'm a friend of their mom's!"
"Sunset!" Number 2 raises her voice a little with a pained look on her face.
"Sorry, sorry," Sunset smiles: "It's just hard to imagine, you know?"
"I guess they see me more like a big sister," Number 2 insists.
"Howdy," Number 2 pushes open the door to a blacksmith shop.
"Miss. Emily! "a young man with a synthetic arm jumps out of his seat.
"Where's your brother?" Number 2 asks, carefully putting the basket on the table.
"He..." Instead of answering, the young man zones out.
"Something happened to him?" Number 2 immediately recognized the problem with years of experience: "Spill it, kid."
"He..." The young man says it through gritted teeth: "Was killed by a robot..."
"A machine..." images of machines slaughtering her kins flash through Number 2's mind: "Where is that machine?"
"In the factory," The young man tightens his fists: "I'm too weak..."
"Do you have a weapon?" Number 2 continues, her eyes burning with rage.
"I found a powerful enough weapon to destroy machines," The man points towards a gigantic sword, too heavy for any human to wield, leaning against the wall.
"Thank you," Number 2 pick up the sword as if it's Nothing: "I will be back soon."
"Miss Emily!" The young man calls out before Number 2 exits the door: "Please, be careful."
More images flashed before Number 2's eyes, this time her failure to protect her loved ones.
"Miss Emily?" The young man asks with a concerned voice.
"I will be," Number 2 murmurs before leaving the room.
"You are staying with him," the android tells Sunset as the door swings shut behind her.
"Not happening!" Sunset refuses: "I'm not letting you going in there alone and die!"
"But..." Number 2's voice starts to shake as. Her mind wandering off.
"Number 2?" Sunset waves her hand in front of Number 2's eyes.
It's quite a dilemma for Number 2. Sunset is too stubborn to leave. If I tell her off, Number 2 thinks: She will then follow me behind and get killed, just like the Sunset from my timeline! If we go together, Sunset could also die. The factory is a dangerous place.
"Look," Sunset explains: "I'm not letting you go in there alone, and that's it!"
"There's no turning for you, is there?" Number 2 sighs: "Fine, you can follow. Just stay behind me at all times, ok?"
"Are you ok?" Sunset asks: "You look to be in distort."
"Sunset, I..." Number 2 stops after giving it a thought: "Nothing, just stay behind me at all times. The factory is a dangerous place."
"Sure," Sunset shrugs: "Don't you worry, I've faced danger before!
"Indeed," Number 2 forces a smile on her face: "I'm just overthinking."
"Hi, you don't need to put an act for me," Sunset pets Number 2 on the shoulder, giving a genuine smile to brighten the mood: "We can make it!"
"Indeed..." Number 2 says absent-mindedly as her mind is now immersed in memory.
"Wow there!" Sunset squeed as Number 2 gives her a bear hug: "Are you alright?"
Number 2 didn't say anything.
"There, there," Sunset pet the android's back.
"In my time, you died from following me into a building," Number 2 says: "I didn't go with you, so you followed me behind, and you died. So please, stay here."
"What killed me?" Sunset asks.
"You died protecting me," Number 2 lowers her voice.
"So this time, we will go together," Sunset replies: "And no one will get killed, we all come back alive and have cakes."