Lore explanation part three

This will be kinda short since I don't find angst TOO interesting [this week was kinda ahh and I had assignments so I couldn't write this sooner but here we are. Yayy]

This takes place immediately after part 2? I believe where O is all pissed at L-2

¡With O!

O was outside, kicking some snow and thinking about how L-2 betrayed her. that asshole really chose a worker drone? Is she fucking serious. I did so much and she leaves me for someone else. I bet it was the fault of the stupid worker drone. I hope L-2 is happy with herself because I won't ever forget this moment.

¡With L-2 and Mandy! L-2 was restless, unable to sleep in her landing pod. All she could do was pace around, her mind racing with thoughts. Why did I phrase my words like that?! I could've stuck by O's side! Maybe explained myself a bit better before making her believe that I have betrayed her for good! Now.. I have to control my instincts, I can't kill them anymore. I must protect them. L-2 sighed as she stopped pacing around. She knew the implications and consequences of going against her original purpose but yet.. she did it anyways, she lost a dear old friend as a result. More thoughts came back and forth as she realized what she had sacrificed and gained. She was had to keep Mandy safe. L-2 did this for her after all.

For the past few weeks, L-2 had been getting little sleep, she was too restless to even bother heading to sleep as her past of killing worker drones had been keeping her awake. L-2 mainly patrolled around the worker drone colony, to keep the worker drones safe and healing /assisting them. Mandy came every so often to keep up on L-2 and that brought a sense of warmth for L-2. She was at least happy that her friend was safe and happy.. at least for now. Mandy would usually see how L-2 was doing and hang out with her but noticed how L-2 was acting.. out of character. She noticed how L-2 seemed to fidget more and how she had eye bags under her visor. Something was up.

"Hey soo, L-2, are you okay? You're usually so composed. Did something happen?"

"I'm doing fine. It's nothing serious. Don't worry too much."

Mandy was suspicious, she knew she should back off but seeing her friend acting strange was definitely alarming.

Mandy pov Mandy knew that L-2 was acting strange but didn't know the exact reason. L-2 was vague with her feelings and didn't exactly express them. So she decided to lie to her parents about staying in school for tutoring when she really was heading towards L-2's landing pod. L-2 didn't seem to mind it after all. Mandy knew it was a horrible choice for lying to her parents bit pushed those thoughts aside, if it's her for best friend. She'll do it. Once Mandy had resched L-2's landing pod and managed to open it. L-2 was startled but attempted to hold onto any form of stoicism she had before.

"I just wanted to check up on ya, you seemed restless. I don't think you've been getting enough sleep.. is about the yellow eyed disassembly drone that you were friends with?"

"..it's none of your concern, Mandy. I told you I was fine."

"No you're not, I know that you haven't been getting enough sleep. Please, L-2, just talk to me. I won't judge, I mean it."

L-2 remained silent, she back away from Mandy hesitantly. She never really asked for help and wasn't an open book compared to some and seeing her best friend showing concern for her? That made L-2 hesitant to actually expres her feelings

"I mean it. I mean I'll tell you something I did, I lied to my parents to see you today. Shameful? Yeah but I'm willing to admit if you wanted me to."

L-2 took a shuddering sigh and glanced at Mandy. "Well.. it's partially about O but.. I just feel guilt for what I said to her before. I know my words came off as rather cruel now that I reflected on them.. and I feel like the weight of protecting worker drones is eating me alive. I feel like I shouldn't BE protecting them since I killed so many in the past! I killed them and for a vague purpose! All I knew was that we had to eat and that they needed to be gone!! I should have looked deeper! Why did I blindly follow orders!? I... i.."

"Well it's not your fault, you're just following orders like the rest. It was your past purpose after all. You don't have to beat yourself up for something that you couldn't really go against."

"But I.. I..."

L-2 wanted to say more but kept quiet. She mumbled "You're right. It was my duty.. at least.. in the past. I was just.. afraid to question my purpose at the time."

Mandy quietly listened as she listened to her friend's struggles. She couldn't really relate as she was a worker drone but knew that L-2 was her friend and she wanted to support her. So the two just sat together in silence, Mandy gently holding L-2's hand. Mandy knew that L-2 was going through a tough time and didn't want to say the wrong words that may upset her even more and didn't want to leave her friend vulnerable like this.

Tragic eh?

Slight timeskip, it has been a few weeks after L-2 had expressed her feelings to Mandy which only strengthen their bond. L-2 was protecting worker drones, patrolling and slowly putting her stress aside as she had Mandy to vent to. Though the thought of potentially losing Mandy terrified her, L-2 did her best to keep her alive and well. She had been resting as she knew that she had to be in the best shape to not concern Mandy too much. Seeing Mandy being so worried for her made L-2 feel guilty.

Mandy had been heading to school, going with her usual routine of cheerleading, doing classwork and talking with friends. Once she left school and was heading home, she opened the door and once she noticed her parent's absence. She didn't question it at first, maybe they'll return.. but after a day, Mandy had been growing concerned, usually they would be back. She began looking inside for anything, there had to be something they said before they left. nothing. Mandy found nothing. Everything was untouched but her parents weren't present. Mandy took a shuddering sigh and decided that she would look for her parents outside. It was risky but that didn't matter. She needed to find them.

*However once Mandy attempted to explore or look for her parents, they weren't there. She checked inside, asked others and even checked outside for them. Nothing. Nobody had any idea where they may be. Mandy only grew anxious, nobody knew where they were and they haven't contacted her for days. Mandy held back digital tears, maybe.. they'll return but it was a small chance. Most missing drones are never found alive or found after all. That was the harsh reality for Mandy.

A couple of weeks later, Mandy's grades dropped and wasn't doing as good in school compared to before. She was an excellent straight A student, an overachiever.. now she was faced with failing ones instead. What's the point of putting in the effort anymore when your only motivation just disappears without a trace? She had begun to isolate herself from others, nobody needed to see her in this state anyways. People have their own issues they needed to deal with.

I shouldn't even be here or even be alive now that I'm left with nothing. I don't even know where they are, they're probably dead at this point. I should be dead too. My choices, my actions were for them. I do everything for them.

but what would L-2 think? It wouldn't be her fault. She didn't have any involvement with them at all. It's my fault, I should've looked harder, maybe I could've found them.

!L-2 pov¡

Mandy had been growing distant and L-2 had been assuming that Mandy didn't have time or was busy.. maybe exams since Mandy was still attending school after all. It's reasonable, L-2 understood and respected that. She has her own responsibilities after all. It had been days then weeks without anything from Mandy, which was concerning for L-2 but it was probably nothing but.. something in L-2's head was telling her to "help her".