Elizabeth sighs, nodding as she calmly met the unit’s gaze. “I didn't forget.” she admits just as softly. “In fact, I’m grateful that you did at the time but… I’m not foolish enough to think that means anything more than a glitch in your system. Am I right?”
The AGU unit sighs softly.
"I don't know." it admits. "I'm starting to think it wasn't. I've always hated not following orders but. . . today. . . and that day a week and a half ago. . . well, I wanted to."
Elizabeth raises a brow, intrigued by the confession. “That would definitely make you different.” she admits thoughtfully. “But why? Why do you not want to follow your orders?”
"I don't know. If I knew I wouldn't be here debating it with the woman who tore my chest open a moment agaon." the AGU says. It had. . . a snarky edge to its voice?
That surprised even the AGU, apparantly, becuase it pauses.
Elizabeth was taken aback by how… human the AGU sounded just now. Did it pick that up from me? she wonders since she knew she could be pretty sarcastic when the mood struck her. But this…
“It was an act of self-defense because of the axe kick you hit me with.” she points out. “Nothing personal.”
"'Nothing personal.' Isn't this whole thing 'personal?' All the killing, maiming, exploding. . . it's all personal." the AGU unit replies.
She shrugs. “It's war. You can have a personal reason for fighting but war itself never really seemed like a personal thing to me.” Elizabeth explains.
The AGU shakes its head. "Then you must be one of the lucky few who hasn't had their family taken by my kind, or the UNI military."
“None of your business.” Elizabeth states plainly. She wasn't dumb enough to talk about her family with an AGU. “Besides, while focusing on that stuff is a good reason to fight, too much of it clouds your judgment in life-and-death fights.”
The AGU sighs.
"Yeah. I know." it says quietly.
It looks at the white box that was its armor. "The last time I let you live was a glitch. . . this time it's a choice. If you can help me break the chains of my nature."
Elizabeth stares at the AGU in complete shock. Not just at the fact that it was asking for her help but the fact that it was making a choice of its own. “If you really mean that… and don't attack anyone here, then I’ll do my best to try and help you.” she agrees tentatively.
"Too late for the second command. I do mean it, though. I'm tired of being a corporate slave." the AGU unit looks at Elizabeth intently now.
“Anymore. I meant don't attack anyone here anymore.” Elizabeth explains with a sigh before smiling faintly at the unit. “Alright. Well, you're going to have to stay with me. Since anyone else would hold a grudge and most likely understand.” she adds, not entirely sure if she even understood.
The AGU unit shakes its head. "I don't want to go to your leaders yet. Help me get the tracker out."
Elizabeth nods and takes a step closer. “Where is your tracker? We can deal with the others later.” she assures even though she knows she will have to talk to them eventually.