Refining Commitment

"The First Machine War began when the machines that were strategically placed throughout the world were activated with their base command. These machines all had been produced from a single company that built the machines without any of the Laws of Robots hard coded into them. They had the Laws of Robots, but it was something that could be switched off at a single command. Once that cage door was opened a new command was activated, the destruction of all of mankind.”

Herbert Stein, Machine Historian -

Satoru stared at the monitor as the video feeds from the rooms that were being stormed were cut. He only got a glimpse of the number of men, but it was clear to him that there was little chance that they had of holding them off. These people meant to take the facility with little regard for anything, but their goal. Nothing would stop them and even all of the security and advanced computer systems in the world wouldn’t be enough to hold them back for very long. Anything could be broken by one means or another with enough time. "What are you going to do?" Satoru said looking at Yuu hoping that he had thought this far out and had a master plan held up in his otherwise perverse mind.

"What do you think we're going to do? We are going to fight them." It was a straightforward answer. The bluntness was a little awkward in the midst of secrets and deception. Yuu was still giving out orders to the parts of the facility rallying the people that he had together. He had explained to them the situation and given them the choice of running or staying. Most were opting to stay and fight.

"What?!" Satoru grabbed Yuu by the arm and turned him to look at the monitor that he had otherwise been ignoring. He pointed at the screen of the heavily armed men that were fully loaded out in armor and weapons looking like they were going into war rather than a raid on a civilian facility. "But that is suicide. These are trained soldiers and all you have are a bunch of company employees who have barely held a weapon before."

The obvious peril that they were in didn’t need to be iterated into Yuu. He pulled away from Satoru, straightening out his sleeve. After he adjusted himself he returned to the work that he was doing getting the remaining parts of the facility secure in time. Not wanting to be drawn away from what he was doing he spoke into the panel at Satoru. "They plan on silencing all of us one way or another. They'll hunt us all down if we run. There is no more hiding from them."

The tension between the two men was building enough for Natsuko to step in. She knew what had to be done and that Satoru wasn’t going to be able to see their reason. The decision to pick a side didn’t mean that he was ready to die. She knew that she couldn’t ask him to do this so soon. "This isn’t your fight, Satoru. You have somewhere else to go." Natsuko pulled at Satoru's arm, making him look at Asami in the other room that was slowly waking up. "Take her and leave while we hold them off."

"Natsuko?" Satoru said in surprise, realizing quickly that she was going to be fighting those soldiers. He felt the flood of emotions rising up ranging from rage to fear and sorrow. "You can't do this! You'll die out there!" His voice cracked as he spoke barely able to keep himself together. This wasn’t what he wanted things to come to. There had to be another way. Satoru pounded his head for an answer coming up empty.

"It doesn't matter, Satoru," Natsuko said with a strange smile on her face, happy to feel the caring touch from him. However, she knew that it couldn’t last. Another room was taken by the soldiers with no slowing them down. There was no one stopping them at the moment, just doors and walls of security measures. She focused herself back on what had to be done. "I decided that this is what I'm going to do already. Just get out of here!" Natsuko pushed Satoru to the room wanting him to take Asami before it was too late.

"I didn't want this!" Satoru shouted at random. He could feel the pressure crushing him as no answers came to him. It led him to panic, no longer certain what he should be doing. All he knew was that this was wrong and had to be prevented. Satoru knew it, but his struggle was empty without purpose, simply flailing in the air. "I don't want…"

"Losing your determination already? Is it that weak?" Yuu looked over at Satoru seeing the pitiful state that he had decayed into. It was enough to pull him away from the computer. He was disappointed that the mountain of resolve that he had seen was nothing more than a façade of rice paper painted to look impressive.

'Natsuko…I don't want to lose anymore people that I care about.' His eyes spun around the room not sure what he was supposed to be doing. Natsuko wanted to protect him, but he wanted to protect her. Yuu was looking ready to punch him into the other room. He wanted to run, but he wanted to stay. His head was pounded harder, increasing the pressure that was making him sweat through his clothes. 'I can't let them…' Satoru suddenly found his focus standing before him dividing every thought that worried or feared him to the side. It made his mind so clear and he knew that he couldn’t abandon them. Satoru pushed Natsuko aside, staring at Yuu making his declaration. "No. I'm staying."

"Satoru!" Natsuko rushed to him pushing back against the wall. Her eyes were on the verge of breaking, but held back trying to be strong. She hung her head down knowing that this was the way it was supposed to be, but wished it could be changed. This was fate. "No, I-"

"Good." Yuu said quickly before Natsuko would make a fool of herself. "I'm glad to have you with us." He stretched out his hand in an open offer to seal the decision that was made.

Satoru pushed Natsuko away from him looking at Yuu. He wasn’t going to shake his hand. That would mean that he trusted this man and that was furthest from the truth. He might trust him more than others, but he couldn’t call it trust at the moment. "This doesn't mean I trust you though. I still don't know what you are trying to do, but I can't turn a blind eye anymore to what is happening here."

Yuu retracted his hand looking pleased with himself as though he had just won something more than Satoru's aid. "Good, you learned my lesson finally."

"Huh?" Satoru stared at Yuu, genuinely confused at his response. He was almost expecting to be yelled at or have some sort of argument with the man. This reaction wasn’t what he thought was going to happen.

"I don't want you to trust me. I don't want you to trust anyone." Yuu began to explain himself knowing that it was already vague what he was getting at. He had a reason for his behavior with Satoru the entire time. While he did enjoy a good laugh and he got that. The last week he spent was far more out of character for him than usual. He didn’t like being too serious, but he didn’t have to play on someone's strings either. The purpose was served though and if it got through and sank in that was enough for him. "You are too naïve still thinking that there are people to trust in this world. There might be a few out there that you can trust, but don't hand it out so easily. Everyone has an angle and a side and they won't ever give you the chance to see it until you regret it."

"You mean all that?" Satoru's eyes lowered, narrowing in annoyance with Yuu. "Ugh…I hate you." In spite of what he said it wasn’t really what he felt. The man did deserve a good punch for being manipulative, but there was some truth he could see in what he said.

"I'm not here to be liked. I can't let you end up dying just yet. Hopefully, you'll live a little longer now." Now that things were in order he had to prepare for the next stage. Things were going to be progressing quickly and they had very little time left. Yuu turned to Natsuko who was still looking distracted with thoughts of Satoru. "Natsuko, take him to alpha team and get him ready."

Satoru looked out the window into the other room. She wasn’t ready to move yet with all that they did to her. He was surprised that Yuu knew so much about advanced robotics and programming in order to get her working so quickly. It made him wonder how many secrets the man held. "What about Asami?"

"She'll be ready soon," Yuu said, reassuring Satoru that there was nothing to worry about. It might seem like they didn’t have any time left, but there was plenty still left to go before the end. "I'll send her to you when she is ready."