Null Protocol || Ramattra x Reader

☙Chapter Twenty-Two❧

"Yes, I am certain Nameless would be proud to hear he has been replaced with such tentative alliances." The bitter edge to his tone caught (Y/n)'s attention, like while there was an undeniable note of sarcasm, it thinly veiled actual hurt. He turned to (Y/n) after stepping away from Laylani, giving the girl a brief once-over. "I take it you slept well?"

At such an abrupt shift to casual conversation, she had to take a second to find her answer, only then noticing how high in the sky the sun had risen. "I reckon so. That's mighty kind of you to ask." The residual tension in the air wasn't completely forgotten, and the silence that followed made it thicken until it gathered actual weight to rest on their shoulders. "Your flower crown is a beaut!" She wasn't sure if it burst out of her as a way to spark up conversation or in an attempt to ignore the unease, but Laylani dipped her head kindly. The lei didn't shift on her head like it was screwed into place.

"It's a nice reminder of home." (Y/n) could hear the smile in her voice, but Ramattra scoffed coldly.

"A reminder of the life you were forced into by the humans as they kept you bound and modified you to fit their needs." It had been long enough since (Y/n) heard such stark distaste for humans that she'd foolishly convinced herself he was making strides towards rescinding his hatred for her kind. But she should've known better – just because he could admit one human was alright didn't mean the others were too.

"At least it's a pretty modification, unlike those Nemesis limbs of yours." Laylani met his pessimism with a hint of teasing as her hand idly caressed the glass flowers.

"I have the means to remove it without damaging your internal hardware if you let me." A small, almost pleading note entered his voice like he sought to right all the wrongs of humanity, and right now, that meant removing the permanent crown wrapped around her head by the humans.

But she only shook her head and set a gentle hand on his arm. "I have never doubted your desire for justice, but I'm happy with the way I look." She took the purple lei from around her neck and looped it around his, earning a 'tch' from him, but he didn't lift a hand to remove it. "There's beauty in humans just like there's evil in us." Her gaze drifted to the screen of omnics, something akin to dissatisfaction entering her optics, but they returned to Ramattra when he sighed.

"Yes, well, you will never see things as they truly are. This is necessary, as our people cannot be trusted to choose for themselves." He gestured towards that same monitor. "I will not stand by as they continue to choose death, and, in time, they will see that this is for their betterment."

(Y/n) approached the table as they spoke, and when her thighs pressed against it, Laylani glanced her way. "Have you heard what Null Sector did in Toronto?"

Quickly recovering from her surprise of being effortlessly pulled back into the conversation, the girl replied, "I heard they was liberating omnics."

Laylani deflated while Ramattra gestured to the girl as if to say 'see?'. "That's not entirely accurate." She glanced at his stern expression before continuing, "We subjugated them to a neural implant that incapacitates them using a headpiece – it plugs into their motherboard to immobilize them and put them in an unconscious state where Ramattra is hoping to introduce them to the Iris by showing them that which they refuse to acknowledge: the cruelty humans bestow upon them. They're not conscious of their surroundings, but they're perfectly fine – I made sure of that. I'm monitoring their state, and even though Overwatch attempted to step in and stop it, they're wise enough not to remove the headgear."

(Y/n) bit at her lip as she nervously asked, "But they're okay, ain't they?"

Another glance at the Ravager. "They're alive, if that's what you're worried about. As crazy as this idea is-" Ramattra glared at her with a huff. "-Rama would never kill his fellow omnics. As long as the headgear isn't crudely ripped off, their heads will remain attached to their bodies."