Work Text:
“Looks like you didn't take too much damage this time.”
One of V2's engineers loomed over their prone form. Back at it again, lying on the steel examination table. The lights of the lab buzzed all the same that it became numb to it, occasionally clattering of tools and metal disrupting the static noise.
“Either because the military team had finally come on time, or the adjustments on your plating are actually improving. We might have to review the footage after.”
To which the red machine only scoffed as they turned their head away. V2 despised reviewing the footage, although they didn't really have a choice to decline as their scientists insisted it was necessary in order for them to ‘learn’, as they said. However, it only served as a reminder of their continuous flaws.
One slipped up, and their arm was dislodged from its socket. Their feet rolled wrong, and their form was slammed to the ground. They remained too long in the air, and a bullet met their lens.
A battle against themself shouldn't have come with such difficulties, but V1 wasn't them.
No matter how deceiving its reflection could be, it moved like no war machine had ever been. It was a predestined hunter, quick but unnaturally accurate. V1’s straightened stance in every beginning of the tests had bored long enough within their mind. Its deep ocean silhouette contrasted by the dominating wings that acted like rays of sun. V2 had learned to rely on the sound of the ring that cues the beginning of the fight, because when the first note hits, V1 is nothing more than a blur of blue and gold.
It was unnerving. Intimidating. And it continued to piss V2 off.
“Hey, don't act like that now. You've been holding up well these couple of tests, y'know. You even managed to land a couple of hits onto it.”
The cheer in her voice never left, always growing every more passionate onto her project as her eyes kept focus on the wires onto V2's shoulders as she soldered them together.
“Been keeping tabs with the progress with each battle test. Safe to say that the adjustments and upgrades have been helping you a lot. I don't doubt you'll eventually defeat your predecessor.”
The engineer pulled away from her work as soon as she's done, and V2 looked as brand new as before.
“And by then, we'll be celebrating, and finally put any reminders of war behind us.”
The two walked out of the lab. She stretched her bones after a long hours of repairing any fixes V2 required, rambling about how long she'd been wanting to get a proper break one day, thinking about getting drunk when the party eventually comes.
It wasn't long till she reunited with her colleagues, and as work hours for today had come to an end, she dismissed V2 and ordered them to go back to their station.
In nights like these, V2 found comfort in seclusion. While it didn't fully understand the human concept of exhaustion and rest, this was the closest they could get, having given the time to recalibrate its worn out and convoluted strings of logic and data it had gathered within the overwhelming facility by the day. By simple terms, allow themself to think about what had happened.
It didn't erase the fact that V2 had been feeling frustrated with how much their predecessor had been continuously decimating them in the battlegrounds. Sure, they had been slowly improving with each test, each upgrade. They had been lasting much longer, and had been occasionally going on the offense. Though it doesn't change the fact that simply V1 kept its streak of being the victor of each duel, and V2 was furious.
V2 fans roared in heat as they slammed the door wide open and stepped out of their station. This silence was feeding too much to their frustrations. Perhaps they could take a walk for a bit, just to steam off.
Although the staff didn't mind V2 wandering around unsupervised, they weren't sure if they would allow them the same freedom during this hour. Surely, they won't mind.
Machines within the facility had always been able to roam around. Either through halls, or most of the time at the lobby where many people would be. It was a good place for humans to gather around and converse, especially with the recently installed piano. Some staff were talented with it, while others played simple pieces. V2 listed every piece played by whoever had touched the instrument. It was rather a quick search, and they were able to discern the name from the first few notes. Even then, there was no competition, as many simply enjoyed the gathering it had brought up. Something to lift up their spirit as they slowly rebuilt themselves from the ashes of war.
However, not once had V2 ever encountered V1 outside of the battle tests. No matter how much they looked around.
Granted, there are other places they weren't allowed to reach, and V2 could only guess that perhaps its blue counterpart was more restricted than them. Perhaps there were other machines kept hidden away without V2's knowledge, considering how few machines could be seen within the building compared to humans.
Though, they'd rather not think about V1 right now. The sole purpose of this stroll was to get their minds out of it, but the silence still followed them.
The halls were completely empty. There were no humans or machines on sight, and this was starting to bore V2. Maybe they should've just returned to the station as intended, sleep off everything so that they could skip to the morning.
But as V2 turned their heel, a faint sound echoed through the halls. It was subtle, barely there, V2 could've easily missed it. Curiosity got the better of them as they tried to follow the source of it. And as they continued their steps, it became much clear that the noise was that of a piano.
Who would be playing in this ungodly hour?
Staff should've been home by now. And if anyone had been staying overtime, there's a good chance they wouldn't be wasting it on playing the piano. The noise stopped for a moment, and V2 wondered if the person had decided to return to their quarters, but it returned a short few seconds after. The notes were more discernible as they approached closer to the source, unpracticed, stiff and slow. However, when V2 ran a quick search as to what piece was currently being played, they found no answer.
V2 knew four staff members were capable of playing the instrument, and they knew of different songs each of them would play. Classicals, renditions of popular songs, soundtracks from their favorite games, and many more. But this was the first time V2 had ever heard of this song, and none of the four had ever brought this up. What's more bizarre was the occasional long pauses in between, before continuing their play.
As V2 turned over the final corner and to the entrance of the lobby, they saw the player behind the keys.
V1 was hunched over the piano, eye completely absorbed onto its own hands. The moonlight by the skylight aided with illuminating the dark lobby. Silver rays reflected over its golden winged blades, folded neatly behind its back. V2 almost mistook it for an angel.
The song wasn't complex by any means. Its left hand pressed onto the notes with slow, precise measurement in a waltz. While the other played the main melody of what seemed to be a lullaby. Then, the machine would lift its hand from the instrument and onto the paper in front of them, writing onto what V2 could guess was a music sheet.
That is when V2 realized as to why the piece never existed. The war machine made it itself.
V1's hand glides onto the paper, sometimes lifting its pen and tapping it onto the bezel below its eye as if in thought. Human-like behaviors, while rare, were still very much present among other machines. Moreso to those who were created for the era of the New Peace to aid in service of humans. V2 was not an exception. That is one of few things that separated them from their predecessor. That thing has always been a killing machine, this they knew, driven by the sole purpose of being efficient in the chaos of war where no rules applied. V1 always showed that during tests. Never had V2 seen its counterpart falter in a deadly fight for even a split second.
But when it was given freedom outside of its designated purpose, this is what V1 chose to do. Solemn in contrast to what it is capable of. V2 was almost mesmerized by how peaceful it looked.
Yet that visage was quickly shattered when V2 shifted slightly in their position. No notes were able to cover the slight creak of pressure in their joints. And the split second V1 heard of their presence, its pen came flying into V2's direction. The blunt edge of it would've pierced straight onto their eye if they didn't move their head quick enough, scraping the edge of their metallic head. The pen lodged itself onto the wall behind their back with a loud thud, cracking underneath the sheer strength of the throw.
V1 gaze was locked onto its successor as it stands, hand outstretched towards its red counterpart from when it threw its pen. Its chair was knocked off with how quick it stood. Its wings snapped wide in alert, the familiar stance that made V2's system instinctively switch into battle mode. But there was no ring to start their fight, and the two were frozen in an unnerving stalemate of waiting for each to make the next move.
Until, V2 received a message request from their hud. Of course, it was none other than V1. But what surprised them was V1 actually willing to converse. It never dared to speak with V2 during their intended meetings, but V2 never considered attempting to talk to it either. Perhaps it never came across V2's mind that its predecessor was capable of conversing, or even have the same level of sentience they have. Even with their spite towards their counterpart, they didn't think lowly of it because it was built with, what they assumed, primitive components. It was rather an explanation as to why V1 almost always lacks emotional behavior.
In their view, V1 had always been a tool, rather than an assistant.
Though they'd rather not deal with any mess of how this untimely encounter with V1 could possibly result. Thus, after a second of reconsidering their options, V2 accepted.
[Chat Log Created]
IF YOU SPEAK OF THIS TO ANYONE.
YOUR ARM WON'T BE THE ONLY THING YOU'RE LOSING.
A rather welcoming opener for a conversation.
Chill out, I'm off duty anyways. Not my obligation to act security now.
V1 kept its arm raised, and its eye still pierced through V2 the same.
HOW WOULD I KNOW YOU'RE NOT LYING?
You think I give a shit ‘bout whatever you're doing? Machines walk around here all the time. What am I even gonna gain if I—
A thought came through V2. They already assumed that V1 required higher supervision than most machines, and with how it reacted to someone catching it outside of its station only added to that suspicion. Meaning it was plausible V1 could face punishment if this act was reported, maybe even contained for good. V2 wouldn't have to deal with those harrowing tests, and maybe even get their creators to finally push on with the mass production of the newer V Model.
But V2 couldn't take it up to chances, and they had a good guess that their predecessor wouldn't take that well if that plan were to fail. Further souring whatever they already had going on between each other. V2 only hoped it didn't notice them stuttering through the text.
— out you like that?
V1 stared for a good while, as if trying to pry them of any deceit they could be hiding from that gaze. Though, it eventually let go. The outstretched hand finally lowered as its shoulder slacked.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
Bored.
So I just wandered around. But that question should've been directed to you.
Are you not supposed to be outside?
They were left unanswered. V1 turned back to the piano and picked up the music sheet, folding it neatly to keep it within its wing storage. Curiosity got the better of V2, and they were left wondering what the rest of the song sounded like before they intruded.
Well, don't let my presence stop you.
Though, V2 may have cringed at themselves for how that could've sounded like they were flattering it. They just hoped it didn't misread that, as it still pretty much despises it among other things. Though maybe, V2 was simply looking for some sort of reconciliation as to what they were feeling frustrated about, hoping that finally talking with their predecessor outside of their roles as rivals in battlegrounds would somehow help. But they were only replied with short words.
IT'S NOT FOR ANYONE.
So— what— You just keep them to yourself?
V1 responded in silence once more. It closed the lid of the instrument, and turned the fallen chair upright. This entire time, it had its back onto V2, as if it didn't even register they were still there. And this was starting to irritate them further.
Are you always this unresponsive?
ARE YOU ALWAYS THIS ANNOYING?
The nerve in this thing! V2 may have been scoffing if they're able to, and they were just full on infuriated by how it had been treating them. The ego this one has just because it thinks it's better than them. That they're simply not worth its time.
Oh well SORRY Robo Broody. Am I just not good enough to converse with?
Y'know, I'm just trying to be a good sportsman over here but you're giving me more reason to despise you other than the battle tests.
Again, it didn't respond. V2 may just have blown right then and there, turn their heel. Let their frustration further feed onto their justification in hating their predecessor.
But V1 was frozen. Its systems silently hummed within its shell as if it had been trying to process V2's words. It was as if it's even considering it, yet there was still hesitation behind its lens as it glanced slightly at them.
THAT WON'T GO WELL.
Well it won't be if you keep ignoring me.
V1 turned to V2. Eyes finally meeting one another without any form of some malice. At this still distance, V2 could see small differences from their counterpart. It was slightly shorter than them, having to crane its thin neck slightly to look at them. Its body was thin, deceivingly frail looking. A few observations that reminded V2 that they were not the same, It's unbelievable how it still excels in its defence as well as its combat with its agility and strength.
These things never registered to them in the heat of the battle. Both were always at one end of the arena, and they would be mauling each other in close proximity. Even now, V2 could feel their system receiving faint signals of danger as their rival was barely at arms reach. But everything was still, and despite V1's inexpressive eye, there was no malice behind it.
I HATED YOU.
It spoke dryly, to which V2 almost rolled their eye.
Feeling's mutual, buddy. That's exactly what I wa
NO. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
Its wings twitched. For a second, V1's gaze shifted. That same stare that bores within V2's core that brought an familiar unnerving feeling that brought their blood cold. That same look at each start of the test.
I HATED YOU.
YOUR ENTIRE EXISTENCE.
YOU'VE BEEN CREATED FOR THE SOLE REASON OF REPLACING ME.
A PRIORITY.
EACH UPGRADE INSTALLED ON YOU WERE DESIGNED TO SURPASS ME.
WHILE THEY KEPT ME THE SAME.
WHEN THE TIME COMES THAT YOU DEFEAT ME IN THAT BATTLEGROUND
IS THE MOMENT I WILL BE SCRAPPED.
YOU JUST HAD TO WIN ONCE.
AND I CAN'T HAVE THAT.
V2 should've been appalled. Their predecessor's disgust over them had been bare upfront, even worse than what they felt towards it. They had every right to outmatch their predecessor with everything they had. They had no doubts V1 would permanently kill them if they ever got a chance.
But even with all of that, they couldn't find themself to fully despise V1. They were simply in a much better circumstance than their predecessor. Had been given more chances than they needed. Always able to mess up. To improve.
V1 didn't.
Shit.
Well.
Guess that whole rivalry thing was more than what I thought.
An awkward air sat uncomfortably in the atmosphere. V2 didn't really know how to go with this, and at some point they might have considered V1 was right. They were never meant to be much more than their duels.
I THOUGHT.
THAT IF I MANGELLED YOU ENOUGH,
THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY GIVE UP ON YOU.
V1 continued, but it felt as though there was no fury behind those words. Its body language said enough, shifting its gaze out of their direction.
BUT HERE YOU ARE
STILL TRYING TO CONVERSE WITH ME.
Whatever malice between them seemed to dissipate at this moment. V2 was perplexed at how it was rather considerate of their efforts in being on decent, if not good terms with it.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF IT.
They had never expected this vulnerability from the war machine, greatly contrasting as to what V2 had always thought of it. It hadn't really crossed V2's mind that the older machine had that level of awareness. Enough to question its own fate.
Do you still think of me the same?
It was a rather direct question. This was the first time they'd properly talk after all. Although, somehow they felt as though V1 never really talked with anyone. They wouldn't even know if the machine was allowed to talk in the first place, unknown as to how much this war machine had been restricted.
WE ARE MADE IN A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT DEMANDS COMPETITION.
IF I LOSE THE REASON TO HATE YOU,
THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD COME OF IT IS FEAR.
…
You're scared?
A slow, hesitant nod. And V2 was left sullen. Only now did it lay heavy in their core as to why their predecessor always looked at them with such malignance each duel. Always purely driven out of desperation to keep itself from being obsolete. This was, after all, its only saving grace as to not get decommissioned. V1 held onto it like its life depended on it.
Because it did.
But when V1 stood here face to face with its rival, V2 almost mistook its glare as that same spite. No, something else was rather different. There was a subtle rattling of metal, and V2 noticed its hand trembled. Loud fans were whirring out of its vents, concerningly so. Yet V1 remained where it was, unnervingly stiff and frozen.
You good?
V1 eye followed their gaze, falling onto its own hand. It raised them up, but the tremors still persisted, even when it tried to hold onto it with the other to keep it still.
THIS.
NEVER HAPPENS.
Its grasp tightened as it slowly curled into itself. Its fans desperately tried to air out whatever that was overwhelming its processors.
THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPENED.
Something deep within V2’s code had made them switch into concern. An underdeveloped function within the security bot that gave them the priority to aid someone in distress. This shouldn’t have caused its activation from another machine, but the blaring hot air bursting out of its vents was worrying enough. A telltale sign of a machine running in conflicting codes, looping itself within a problem that has no definitive solution. At this rate, V1’s circuits would be fried if they don’t do something.
Their hands instinctively grabbed onto its arms the moment its knees seemed to give out.
Hey, now! Your system’s overheating.
V1 grabbed onto them the same, a little harder, trying to ground itself amidst its own internal torment. Its conical head lowered, like the very moonlight above it threatened to further torment its vision.
WHAT IS HAPPE E NI I I I
// DANGER: HIGH TEMP //
SHOULD I RE E E CALIBRA A
// RECALIBRATION FAIL //
V2 gently settled them to the floor, letting the other hold onto them as the two sat.
Your processors are undergoing a lot of iterations as of now.
Too much for it to handle.
Get out of the loop and focus on me.
Time seemed to freeze between the two, and everything around them felt null. And through the long minutes that seemed to outstretch infinitely, V2 held V1. Till the loud buzz of their fans subsided in a low hum of its system. And the beat of its mechanism was in sync with theirs.
None of them said a word.
Until V1's temperature levels returned to normal, and it was the first to pull off from their pseudo-embrace. The lingering silence brought a hint of awkwardness between them, though other than that, there was still a bit of worry within V2. But they couldn't bring themselves up to speak first.
…
YOU'RE MAKING THIS MORE HARDER.
The upper lid of their eye fell onto an unimpressed expression.
You're welcome by the way.
But only after their next duel would V2 understand what it meant by those words.
For now, V2 guided their successor back to its station. Making sure as for it to not malfunction on its way. The next day, the two would continue to act as nothing more than test subjects under the watchful eyes of the facility. No one ever witnessing what occurred that night.
None but them.
The next battle test, V2 won.
Congratulatory words passed onto them as their human peers patted their shoulders and offered them an unfiltered joy. Familiar scientists and engineers toasted for a new dawn, cheers and laughter flooding through the bright lit area.
But not enough to drown out the fresh memory that was left of their last duel.
They'd still remember it vividly, feel how its fragile shell easily gave way to their fist, not sparing a moment to let it heal. The vibrations of its platting cracking beneath their knuckles still lingered over their metal skin, and their artificial guts would still churn by the phantom feeling of it.
Their counterpart only had to hesitate for a split second for V2 to secure their victory. Their auditory sensors rang through the wave of their knuckleblaster, and were soon replaced with the loud cheers of their spectators the moment after.
They never saw V1 the next day. And for the first time, they felt isolated amongst their human colleagues. No different than a trophy in their mortal eyes.
Still, V2 had achieved what they needed, and had given the opportunity to deliver their purpose in serving its creators for the good of humanity.
Though somewhere kept hidden within V2 would always wonder how the song would end.