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magicalgirlelsa · 4 years

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Notes and Excerpts from “YoRHa Ver. 1.05″ Novelization

I took notes so I could refer back to them myself as I write fics, but I could never find as much information as I wanted about the stage play prior to reading this, so I thought I’d share for those who may not be able to read it. If you are able to get a copy, I really encourage you to do so! The story is in NieR: Automata: Short Story Long (in Japanese, NieR: Automata: A Short Story.)

I took notes on things like android physiology and psychology, A2′s personality before these events took place, a vague outline of what happened, and more. There are some spoilers for the stage play, but if you’re familiar with her backstory from the game and the “Beasts of Slaughter” audio drama, you already know the gist of them.

[canonicity]

The novelization sees to be from 2017, which means that the version of the stage play it would be adapting is 1.1 (which I believe was released in 2015). This would presumably then be the first time the stage play was updated after the release of the game, despite the novelization being called 1.05. The 1.2 stage play (the most recent, from 2018) came about a year after this novelization.

[plot]

The Pearl Harbor Descent Mission is their first mission. Guided by their operators, Futaba and Yotsuba, and under orders from Commander, 16 units are deployed.

While approaching the ground, they come under fire. No. 2, No. 4, No. 16, and No. 21 are the sole survivors from the squadron. No. 2 becomes the leader now that No. 1 has been killed, but feels unable to lead

They request that Commander abort the mission, as they were not supposed to proceed if they lost more than 4 units, but have lost 12. Command refused, ordering them to proceed and cutting the transmission. No. 2 tries many times to contact Command, recognizing this mission is certain to get them killed, but is ignored by her. Later successes at contacting Command are met only with reiteration that they are ordered to continue the mission.

During an intense battle with the Machines, the 4 YoRHa units encounter members of the Resistance.

Lily (one of the Resistance members) is infected with the logic virus. Until this time, the Resistance (who seem not to have any units capable of hacking) thought the only way to respond was to kill someone as there was no hope of saving them, but No. 21 (a Scanner) is able to cure her of the virus.

The group makes their way to the location of the server room. The Machines have evolved again, and they don’t know how to fight them. Lily, who has become able to use their attacks after being infected with the logic virus, uses a gravity wave to stop the Machines, but she isn’t able to move while keeping the Machines in place. Dahlia, Margaret, and No. 16 stay behind with her. Everyone is aware that the 4 are certain to die. Later, No. 16 detonates her Black Box, taking them out along with the Machines.

No. 21 makes an excuse (perhaps true) about needing to stay behind to hack the elevator to get it to run. The truth is that in addition to this, she is infected with a logic virus that is resistant to hacking. The rest of the group realizes this, and Anemone stays with her to provide a mercy kill. After this, Anemone runs out into the battlefield in the hopes of getting killed by the Machines.

Rose, Erica, Gerbara, Sonia, Shion, No. 2, and No. 4 arrive at the server room alone, where they encounter the Red Girls. The Red Girls inform No. 2 and No. 4 that they were created and sent to Earth to die, that Commander knew the conditions would be worse than she told them, and that abandoning them to this fate was the plan all along.

They have bombs attached to their Black Boxes, which are set to go off if they die in the server room. The real purpose of their mission was to collect data for use in creating future models; it was intended all along that the entire squadron would die.

A strong and unpredictable Machine attacks them. Soon, No. 2 and No. 4 are the only ones left. The Red Girls want to kill No. 4 in front of No. 2 just to see how she reacts, but No. 4 survives and sacrifices herself to save No. 2.

[the resistance]

The Resistance members seen are said to be the sole survivors of a 160 person troop from the Eighth Descent Mission, 200 years ago. (Perhaps they didn’t know Jackass survived, or perhaps she is an android from somewhere else and joined the Resistance at a later time?)

In the timeline, this event can be found in the year 11732. This is 7,543 years after the collapse of Project Gestalt, exactly 200 years before the manufacture of YoRHa units was approved, and 205 years before the first YoRHa unit was operational.

Despite being created before Project YoRHa (and thus the Council of Humanity) was in the picture, they seem to actually believe in there being humans on the moon. They have tried to contact them and believe themselves to have been abandoned by the humans due to not having heard back.

The Resistance named themselves so as to feel more like a family and individuals, as android units don’t typically get individual names.

[android physiology and psychology]

Androids have “artificial muscles” which can become “tight from nerves,” just as humans tense up. They can also experience many other physiological indications of emotions, such as a heavy body, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, and stomach pain.

Causes of death for androids include battle injuries, accidents, damage to their chassis (body/physical framework), cognitive malfunction, and logic viruses. (This isn’t necessarily a comprehensive list.)

Androids are, at least up to this squadron, hard-coded to fear their own destruction “to promote higher chances of survival.” Despite this, they are still capable of suicidal thoughts and self-sacrifice.

It seems androids are capable of dissociation and being paralyzed with fear.

Androids can sustain cuts, bruises, and scars. If they can bruise, we can potentially assume that the blood they have is a “layer” between their artificial skin and the machinery covering below it.

For an android, their Command’s orders are absolute. They are also “manipulated” into not questioning fishy things. Even if they notice suspicious things like a recon squad who found the server room and never returned, they won’t falter in following Command’s order to go there.

It’s not supposed to be possible for an android to get lost, due to having location data.

It appears that androids can have symptoms similar to PTSD (such as hypervigilance, nightmares, “people who struggle constantly from the terrible memories they were given”), whether a result of real memories or the simulated memories they are given.

[simulated memories]

All androids (at least between the Resistance members and the YoRHa squadron) are given “simulated memories” to “be like humans.”

“Everyone was aware that simulated memories were not real. But to the individual, they all seemed real. Simulated memories were just as vivid as, if not more vivid than, the real memories they had.” But they still value their real memories more.

These memories can be of happy lives, or cruel experiences. Either way, it seems that these memories influence who they are.

No. 2′s memories are of living alone with her grandmother in the countryside after losing her parents at a young age. No. 4′s were of being a happy, sociable high school girl. Rose’s memory is of being a little boy with a military father. One remembers being bullied. A couple of Resistance members imply their memories are of being child soldiers.

There is no indication as to whether the practice of implementing simulated memories continued or was discontinued after this mission.

[logic viruses]

There are predictable stages of the logic virus infection progressing. The first outward sign seems to be jerky movements, as the virus causes them to slowly lose control of their bodies. When their eyes are shining red like a Machine’s, it’s in the terminal phase.

Machines were already weaponizing logic viruses prior to the Pearl Harbor Descent mission.

“The logic virus that the Machines spread could all of a sudden overwrite data in an android’s cyberbrain. Then it would destroy the android’s consciousness and take over their body.”

There may be different types of logic viruses. When Lily is infected and is saved through hacking, she realizes she is able to use enemy attacks such as gravity wave. They are unsure whether this is a different type of virus, which copies its own attacks into an infected unit, or whether the virus adapted in this way because Lily lacked attack power.

Even after sustaining injuries that would be impossible to survive, a dead android can be infected and “animated” by a machine to attack their comrades.

The logic viruses are also capable of evolution, as No. 21 becomes infected with a logic virus that she is not able to hack out.

[changes between generations]

Rather than having one Operator per field unit, they have Futaba and Yotsuba fulfilling this role for the entire squadron. (Based on the names, there may be two or more other operators who do not appear, but that’s only speculation. In the context of counters, ‘futa’ is two and ‘yotsu’ four, but it might be coincidence; and we don’t know if the first and third, or any others, are even operational if it is true.)

“When Rose and her companions had been manufactured, there had been rumors and stories about humans. No. 2 felt a bit of a generation gap. A difference of two hundred years was no small amount of time. No. 2 rarely heard stories of humans.”

In No. 2′s generation, single-digit numbered models are Attackers, 1x (i.e., 10-19) are Gunners, and 2x are Scanners.

No. 2 is surprised to hear that there is a weapons merchant among the Resistance, noting, “Currency economics had existed a long time ago. She remembered hearing that the occupation of merchant disappeared along with the collapse of the system...”

Unlike the Resistance members, the YoRHa squadron have shields to the logic virus, however these shields are clearly not impervious to being rendered ineffective by the virus’ evolution.

The Resistance members don’t seem to be familiar with Scanner-types or hacking.

Newer models have better resistance to Machines’ gravity attacks, recover faster, and are more durable.

Machine cores appeared to thermal sensors as an unusually cool spot in their bodies, which allows androids to locate their core (which is their weak spot). However, Machines evolved to put heat-insulating material around their core to disguise it. This makes the Resistance members and squadron units unable to defeat them, so presumably weaponry has changed by Automata.

This is said in an interview with Yoko rather than the stage play, but it feels relevant to note that this mission was almost certainly before (and, in fact, a big part of the reason) the “emotions are prohibited” rule was implemented.

[relationships]

“being with No. 4 made No. 2 feel more at home.”

The Resistance works to cleanse the Earth of Machines not for humans, but for each other.

The Resistance see one another as family. No. 2 reflects that she doesn’t understand the concept of a family, but there are a number of parallels between how she acts with her comrades and how the Resistance members act with one another, so the accuracy of this is perhaps debatable.

No. 2 is prone to brooding. No. 4 seems good at picking up on when this is happening, and tries to comfort or distract her.

[Seed]

Seed is noted to be old, both through her memories and the deterioration of her body.

Seed is said to be a celebrated warrior, and says that she “lived with humans, shared experiences, and stormed the battlefield with them.” (Note that this would put her at around 10,000 years old, but since Popola and Devola are that old, it’s not out of the question.) She says she has been to Earth 3 times to fight Machines, and her first mission was in the desert.

Currently, she is an experimental unit whose purpose is to test new prototype equipment and participate in simulations with it, even though the experiments are known to be hard on her body.

Seed either genuinely believes there are humans on the moon, or is lying to No. 2 about it.

She begins to question whether her memories of fighting among the humans are real or artificial. Perhaps it is not a coincidence then that she is soon killed in the process of testing “magnetic field-resistant skin.”

Seed’s death occurred quite close to the Pearl Harbor Descent Mission. No. 2 later speculates that it may be because she was too sympathetic to the YoRHa soldiers, if she knew they were doomed.

At the time of Seed’s death, No. 2 doesn’t understand why, even though Seed should have been backed up and able to be moved to a new body, Commander refuses. She is simply told, “This is already a decided matter.”

[A2/No. 2]

Before and during these events, No. 2 is loyal, naive, and emotional. She gets scared easily and is often on the verge of tears. Her comrades are more important to her than anything else, including her own life.

Granted, given that two or three separate people tell her to find a reason to live, she may not particularly value her own life.

She tries to stay optimistic so long as there is the “potential” for success, no matter how slim.

No. 2 thinks little of sacrificing herself, at one point reflecting, “If she couldn’t become as strong as No. 1, then at least she could become a shield for her comrades.”

Even though it shouldn’t be possible, No. 2 seems to have an abysmal sense of direction. She gets lost in the small Resistance camp. She gets lost in “this small orbiting base” (presumably the Bunker?). It’s acknowledged that this is very odd -- “How the hell could an android get lost? She thought she would be suspected as a defective model.” -- but never explained.

The Commander describes No. 2 as a “mediocre specimen lacking extraordinary qualities.” When faced with this statement, No. 2 apologizes, reflecting that “Just as the commander had said, she was average in every way and had nothing she was exceptionally good at. No. 2 knew it too well.” She also describes herself as a “boring, unexceptional model.”

The word “potential” has significant meaning to her, after Seed told her that “being average means she has the potential to improve in every way.”

“She understood how Lily felt, because she also had an inferiority complex of feeling like useless baggage.”

No. 2 has always hated fighting and wishes she didn’t have to.

“Not wanting to bother her comrades. Not wanting to be a burden to her comrades. That was how No. 2 had fought, in training and on the battlefield. Everything she did was for the sake of her comrades, but her comrades kept dying.”

No. 2 blames herself for the Resistance members dying, since she was the one to convince them to cooperate.

When having to kill her zombified, infected former comrades: “No. 2 felt something die inside of her.”

When No. 2 comes to after the explosion, her first thought is that someone stronger should have survived instead.

She only learned recently (to Automata’s “present day”) that Anemone had survived. Until that time, she had thought herself the sole survivor of the entire mission.

In present day, she continues to have frequent, recurring nightmares of that mission.

[misc]

The androids predating them created YoRHa to spur android evolution, because with the Machines evolving, the androids were struggling in the war.

When a unit has “made significant contributions on the battlefield,” they may fill out a request form to receive a name, which then must go to the board (Council of Humanity?) for approval. This may or may not be the case for Futaba and Yotsuba (since they have potentially numeric names), but is said to be true of Seed. (Whether this is actually true of Seed or was implemented as part of a cover story is, of course, unknown.)

The Resistance wants to give No. 2 a name, but she feels she has “no right to have a name, not without having produced any results.” She asks that they wait until after the mission, but really she is against it without going through the proper channels.

The Bunker(?) has different rooms that simulate different situations, such as one in which location data is not available. However, this does not seem to be where the current units’ battle simulations take place, as Seed remarks that units don’t go there unless they are “experimental subjects or staff.”

excerpts

“What should I do... I can’t be a captain.”

She [No. 2] couldn’t. Why me, she thought. Why did she survive, and not No. 1?

Anemone was speechless. No. 21′s eyes were both blood red. It was a symptom from the terminal stages of infection. It was a miracle she was operating the terminal in this state. It wouldn’t have been surprising if she had gone rampant minutes ago. She must have held it together via sheer willpower, to get No. 2 and the group to the server room.

“Please. While I’m still myself.”

Anemone leveled the gun at No. 21. She struggled to keep her hands steady.

“Any last words?”

No. 21′s mouth distorted into a smile. Or rather, she tried to smile.

“Who would you pass them on to, even if I had any?”

“I’ll hear you out. Even if I die right after this.”

“I’m glad I met you. These memories are real. Thank you.”

[When No. 2 asks Seed why she takes part in the dangerous and painful experiments:]

“Well, I should be retired by now, after all.”

Seed’s chassis was covered in scars. Perhaps they had stopped production of her original parts; much of her body used parts that were obviously not of her original design.

“I left everything on the battlefield. Do you understand?” she asked, to which No. 2 shook her head. She had never even been in a battle, so she couldn’t imagine a battlefield either.

“Anger, sadness, fear, and even happiness. I have none of it now. There’s nothing in this empty head of mine.” Seed looked down at her hands. “But when I’m holding a weapon, I forget all of that. Even if this is a simulated battlefield.”

[Seed’s message to No. 2]

“If you’re seeing this message, then that means I’m no longer a part of this world.”

She stopped breathing. She thought her heart would stop beating too.

“Unlike humans, we’re told that androids have no souls. This message is the closest thing to a soul that I can leave you with.”

“No...” Her voice sounded far away.

Why couldn’t they upload her [Seed’s] data to a spare chassis? Technologically speaking, avoiding death was possible. Yet.

“Why? I can’t accept that!”

The commander had already disappeared.

“I can’t... accept that...”

Her shoulders involuntarily shook. Pain rose from the bottom of her throat. No. 2 cried alone in a deserted hallway.

The night before--after Lily had told No. 2 that “Rose is my only captain!”--No. 2 had curled up in a fetal position at the edge of camp. No. 2 had felt unreasonably dejected until No. 21 came up to her to explain the situation.

What determined who lived was not power or intelligence. It was sheer luck. Even so, she was chosen to live. A fate chosen on a whim. Then, she had to do whatever being a survivor entailed.

Destroy the Machines. Destroy everything. Nobody would get in her way. She would kill anybody who tried. Whoever that person would be. [...]

First, she had to escape this shitty place. After she repaired her chassis, she would go massacre the Machines. She would ruin them, one by one. That was her reason to live...

She had died during that battle. Her old self was buried under the rubble with her comrades.

That’s why even if she knew Anemone was alive, she didn’t go out of her way to contact her. She didn’t know what to do if she met her. But now she had a perfect excuse, in the form of a fuel filter, to go talk to her.

She peered toward the direction the box specified. She could see some high-rise structures beyond the sandstorms.

“Guess I’ll go.”

She walked, kicking sand as she went. She called out her comrades’ names in her head. But she felt nothing.

She was empty inside.

#nier automata #yorha stage play #a2 #nier series #nier: automata #nier #yokoverse #yokoverse meta

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