"Data processed, internal compass says go left." Kovacs 9.9 said to themselves as they tapped on the holographic image that appeared above their futuristic watch.
The cool afternoon breeze blew at Kovacs bright blue hair, making it flutter graciously in the wind. There was no single soul in sight within the wide mile radius. Not even a single full tree survived the horrid rumbling. Although from where her eyes could see there were dozens of newly planted trees scattered around the field in an attempt to revegetate the land.
"9.9" Snowflake called from beside the blue haired individual. Snowflakes voice glitched out in a way, as she stared ahead at the plains before them.
Kovacs noticing her glitching looked at her with a look of understanding." You need to go into hibernation, right now?"
"I'm sorry, the atmosphere wasn't easy to adapt to after all, not to mention the journey here messed with my quantum and molecular level."
"It's alright snowflake, take your time, I know that you are right beside me." Kovacs smiled reaching their hand up to pat Snowflake on the head.
"I don't know for how long that I will be gone for. It might be a month, or less." Snowflake explained purring at her master's touch." However, you take care of yourself. Remember to camouflage the ship and for the rest I'm sure you are well versed on what to do next."
9.9 hummed turning back to look at the field.
" Oh, and one more thing" Snowflake added.
" What is it? " Kovacs inquired.
" Your current sex is neutral right? "
Kovacs nodded slowly, continuing to stare off at the distance." Yes, my current pronouns are they and their."
" Switch it up so she and her. I think it's best for you to merge yourself to a female. Women are highly taken care off in every world and taken as fragile, I'm sure you'll find help more likely with a good act. "
" Hm, exactly affirmative. Not bad thinking Snowflake. "Kovacs smiled at the familia, nodding in agreement." Merging on standby, changing sex now."
Snowflake watched as Kovacs merged into a female form. It was not like her transformation really looked much more different than how she looked like now. The only difference was the increase in chest area to form her bosoms, a little more curve added to the hip and female genitals. Even the voice never changed at all.
" Pretty as always." Snowflake rubbed her soon her master, who now went by the pronouns she and her before beginning to fade away." I might be unresponsive during the first period so do your best to stay out of trouble."
" It's okay! I got this covered, you don't have to worry." She grinned widely at her fading familia kissing the fur ball on the forehead.
Snowflake nodded." I know and I trust you well, see you in a century or so."
When Snowflake had completely faded away to her alternate dimension to hibernate, Kovacs 9.9 looked ahead of her. From this moment on the mission starts. Whatever happens in this world, or what ever happens to conspire lies in the palm of her hands. She was Astridye's only hope now.
" Rico, camouflage ship." Kovacs 9.9 ordered, pressing the ear pod in her ear.
"Affirmative, camouflaging ship now." Her artificial intelligence, called Rico, replied after her camouflaging the ship.
Kovacs was a shape shifter. Hence the reason why her sex was always non-binary except she decided to change it for her own benefit or the benefit of the mission. Which also means that she could shape shift anything she touches, which meant her clothes. Her blue colored suit soon shifted to brown rags that fluttered into wind. There was no transport to get her to the nearest city or town, so she was going to have to walk all the way through the field of hot sand, barefoot and with out any shade.
"Ah, who said any of my missions were easy." Kovacs grumbled to herself and begun her journey.
The field was a complete wasteland. Eren Jaeger really did do a number on Marley. The houses that were once standing were piles of rubbles and dust on the ground. The sun was scorching hot and Kovacs tongue went dry. Her vision began to spin a bit much to her surprise. The journey must have spent her halfway through her energy and the current condition of the weather wasn't helping her situation, especially with her case of dehydration.
"Rico, how many kilometers to civilization." Kovacs groaned raising her hand to her head to shield the assault of the sun from her eyes.
"You are in luck, Kovacs 9.9. You are currently thirty two meters from humans." Ricos voice rang in her ear.
And Rico was right. As Kovacs squirted her eyes and peered past the flying dust and sizzling of heat haze there stood a refugee camp. From afar she could see children running around and elders waiting in line to collect food from the desperate for even a bit of refinement from the blazing sun, she pushed her body forward, walking wirh more speed than previously.
Eventually, when she had reached a more viewable distance, a young boy caught sight of her and screamed to the elders for help, pointing a chubby dirty finger to her. Women and men dashed through the sand to her in worry. They surrounded her asking her questions of how she got herself lost out on the fields a month two months after the rumbling. But she wasn't in the condition to answer, her throat was dry and parched and felt like sandpaper; her dehydrated taking away the strength she had. Suddenly, she found herself being covered with a cool brown blanket, and carried into a cool tent. She was giving a cup of water from a jug but ended up drinking the whole jug itself, replenishing half of her energy.
She was sat on a bed, a woman in front of her fawning and worrying over her while two other worried men stood behind with crossed arms looking over at her. A few children hid behind the outside of the tent, popping half of their head of messy hair to peep at her.
"Wow she's so pretty." A little girl with dark pink that looked almost red mesmerized.
"She's like a doll." Another's little girl added.
"Look at her," a boy said pointing at Kovacs." she is a doll."
"No she's not, dolls can't talk or move on their own. Daddy says they are inawinmate objwects." The pinked haired girl pouted.
"Inanimate objects, gosh you never get it right." the second girl rolled her eyes at the girl making her flush in embarrassment.
"Alright, Hinata, Yato, Fuuko, shoo your parents are probably looking for you. It's lunch time." One of the men with brown skin just like Dr Starla shooed the little kids away from the tent. They went scraming quickly, the pink haired girl giving her a sweet smile and a wave before running along with her friends.
A smiled cracked on her lips. Cute.
"Apologies dear, it's been a while since we've gotten newcomers here." The woman smiled warmly at her. She was a short young woman with long, disheveled shoulder-length black hair, a Greek nose and relaxed dark brown eyes. She wore a white blouse, a long trench coat, and skirt which went down to her ankles as well as black lace-up boots. She also wore the Eldian armband on her left arm, as required of all Eldians under the authority of Marley, if she remember correctly on how it looked like." My name is Pieck. Pieck Finger."
"Pieck....." Kovacs found myself muttering that name in astonishment. What luck did Lady luck last on me fright on her first day of the mission. She had already found one of the group of soilders she was meant to bring back home. Now finding the rest would be a piece of cake.
"Ah, yes. Pieck." Pieck smiled softly craning her neck." Can we get name out of you, dear?"
"Um...." She began to say. She couldn't tell her straight on that her name was Kovacs 9.9. Only a fool would name their child that.
"Pieck, I heard there was a newcomer, did you fi-" a blonde man came into the tent, halting in his tracks and words when he laid his eyes on her. She froze, too, that blonde hair and familiar face registering in her head. A smile curved on her lips at the sight of another miracle work.
It was none other than the former collosal titan, Armin Arlet right in front of her. Score two for finding another solider. He blinked at Kovacs, she blinked back at him in silence. Staring at Kovacs from head to toe in astonishment, he moved forward and pulled Pieck away from her and towards the side end of the tent for a moment.
"Pieck, did you really find her out in the fields? She's looking very foreign, look at that blue hair. Is that normal?" Kovacs heard him say.
Biting her lips Pieck spared Kovacs a look, sending her a warm smile before moving back to look at Armin." I don't know Armin, but yes she was found out in the fields alone and in those rags– or more of she came to us."
"Wait, you mean she walked all the way to the camp? Heavens!" Armin swore looking at Kovacs with pity." She must have walked a long way, there is nothing out there but sand. Not even a shade in site. I'm shocked she hasn't gotten any case of heatstroke yet."
" Same here. But she's tired, thirsty and haggard. She drank a whole jug of water, and I think she might be hungry too, I've sent for some food but it's coming in late because of the queue." Pieck sighed, rubbing her forehead tiredly." I'm just exhausted Armin, I haven't gotten enough sleep lately."
"Have you had lunch yet?"he asked looking at her worriedly.
She hummed with a small smile. That was a complete lie. She hadn't had anything eat since morning, but telling Armin that would be of no use. He'd make sure she'd go off work and rest, and that wasn't what she needed right now. It wasn't just to bring comfort the people in the refugee camp, but too bring comfort and peace to herself. Sitting idle would only lead to thinking about the past, that wasn't the least of what she wanted right now.
"You should rest, I mean you do look quite exhausted. Look at your eyes they've got bags under the–" Armin began to fuss over Pieck tracing a gentle stroke under her bags.
Pieck pushed his hand away with a chuckle." Don't worry Armin, I'm a big girl and I can handle a few lack of sleep." Armin sighed and said nothing, he knew it was a pointless feat to try to convince Pieck to do something she didn't want to do." Why don't you go say something to her, you are our leader after all. "
" Right," Armin nodded moving away from from Pieck and towards Kovacs. He smiled at her small figure, something about her 5ft figure reminded him strangely of their cold blooded captain. Blue hair, pale supple skin stained with dust and dirt, blue eyes. She was surreal. She was unreal. It was like she wasn't a part of this world.
Little did he know how right he was.
"Hi, I'm Armin." Armin Egan first pointing to himself. " What's your name...."
My name? Kovacs thought, she didn't know exactly what to tell them. People had always called her Kovacs or 9.9 for as long as s she could remember. The only person that always would address her like a human being and not just a successful product of an exorbitant funded experiment most of the time was great leader Kang.
Blue .... He would call her blue. It was originated from the color of everything she wore actually, and every she loved. She had always loved the color blue. But Blue, was a name reserved only for Kang. She didn't want anyone else but him to call her that. He gave it to her when no one would, so only him gets to use the name.
"Nine." She spoke in a soft tone clutching the cook blanket tighter around her body. Deciding that it was better to give them the name she was called. Only the people who made her was allowed to give her a new name.
"Nine?" Pieck cranes her neck in confusion. " That's an awful name dear, do you want a better name?"
"But it's my name." Kovacs pointed out truthfully. " Nine, it's what I've been called all my life."
Armin and Pieck shared a look.
" Do you want us to give you better name then? Because there is no way that we are going to be calling you a number. " Armin offered again with a heartwarming smile.
" Kovacs." Kovacs answered with a sigh.
"Ko- what now?" Pieck asked.
"You can also call me Kovacs." Kovacs bit her lips.
Armin and Pieck shared another one of their meaningful looks again before turning back to look at her.
"Strange name but I guess we can go by with it." Armin nodded. " Well Kovacs, well come to the Yellow Camp, I know you must have come a long hard way to reach here but I want you to know that you are safe here now, you have ha e to suffer again"