[P]arallel Worlds [PGR] [NieR: Automata]

Chapter 2

"...Should we check this place?" Devola asked.

"We can't leave here until we know the machines aren't outside still...and who knows how many more crazy machines are in this forest. If we don't play it safely we might die."

"..."

A tense atmosphere filled the air between them. They survived but it'll be impossible to make it to the Resistance Camp with those berserk machines running around the place. It might be dangerous for Popola regardless to try and reach the camp. Even so, she refuses to leave Devola all alone. The only other option would be to wait until Anemone notices they've gone missing and perhaps make a request to search for them.

Anemone has been the only one to have treated them with decency...even so, she knows that she hates them to an extent but is far better than anyone else.

"We should see what's in this place then..." Popola told her sister. "It's dangerous outside and I refuse to leave you to get help. I'll never leave your side for a long time." She told her with a small smile to reassure her.

"And I'll never leave your side for a long time as well..." Devola muttered.

"Let's head down." Popola helped Devola move around.

The two of them slowly headed toward the bottom, taking their time as they went down the staircase. Anxiety filled them followed by curiosity about what this place was or what the purpose of it being built was for. Of all places, why in the forest?

Eventually, they reached the bottom and what awaited them was another door like at the top. Bracing themselves for what they might find, Popola opened the door as she then pushed it.

"What is that?" They were shown an empty spacious room. The only thing that they saw was a circular device in the far back in the middle of the wall. "A portal...?" Did humans create a gateway of sorts to enter? Devola can only stare before she grunts as she grips her side harder.

"L-let's get you patched up first." Popola quickly helped lower her sister down to the ground as Devola rested against the wall. After bandaging up the portion of her damaged artificial skin that had her circuits exposed, the two rested against the wall in silence as their fear died down. "What a pair we are...when we get back to the camp, we'll be criticized for not being able to do a simple job." She muttered weakly.

"They can criticize us all they want. These machines are stronger than average....what do you think caused them to act up all crazy?" Devola wondered as she closed her eyes.

"I'm unsure..." Popola replied tiredly. The two of them took quite a beating and sustained some damage. Although she took damage, it wasn't like Devola where it disrupted her movements. The machines were large in numbers and they were able to slay down a few. "They were crying. Pain. Fear...even though they were in pain and panic, they seemed to have cared about protecting their king."

Devola frowns at the words of her sister. The machine's voices as if they were going berserk were in her head. "Can machines even understand the concept of monarchy? Loyalty?" She asked her sister.

"It's possible. Pascal's Village is proof that machines can understand certain concepts." Popola answered. "Still...we managed to get out alive." She smiled toward Devola, a feeling of happiness as the two of them were still together.

"Yeah. We got lucky that we found this place." Devola nodded back at her sister with a smile of her own. That smile then faded as she looked around and back to the portal. "We still don't understand what this place is. A hidden gateway to escape somewhere? It doesn't seem like it can be activated...there's nothing here."

Popola remained quiet at Devola's words. "What if...what if the androids who came and left can activate it?" She asked Devola who looked at her. "The footprints leaving this place and then returning as well, what if whoever is on the opposite side has a way to activate the portal? Why else would the footprints come out here and then go right back inside unless they had a way to go through the portal."