9's

The Nines (, Nainzu) are a special forces unit directly controlled by APE. They were created by Dr. FRANXX as soldiers and usually fight at the 'frontlines'. They also assume the role of "secret police", operating directly under Papa and carrying out his commands, maintaining order within plantations. They are unbound by any restrictions, including the exempt on Plantation 13: Cerasus.

In reality, they are clones created from Zero Two's cells, though they did not inherit her Klaxosaur blood. Although the Nines have genders (9'α, 9'β, 9'γ and 9'ε are male, while 9'δ, 9'ζ, 9'η, and 9'θ are female), they can take on both stamen and pistil roles when piloting the FRANXX. Normally when piloting the FRANXX, the Nines pilot in reversed positions, meaning the male Nines take on the pistil role while the female Nines take the stamen role.

Appearance
In the MATO comic, the 9's are described as a set of pastels due to their light hair colours. All of them have glassy eyes which look dead as the result of brainwashing. As they are clones of Zero Two, each one of them has inherited one of Zero Two's physical traits. For example, the triplets share the same long, waist-length hair with Zero Two, while 9'δ shares the same bangs as Zero Two.

The 9's are usually seen wearing the special Nines uniform, which is similar to Zero Two's, just the white version. When fighting in the FRANXX, they wear a slightly different FRANXX suit which is red in colour. It is the same one as Zero Two's FRANXX suit in Episode 01, 04 and 06.

History
At some point, the 9’s were created through Dr. FRANXX’s cloning research by using Zero Two’s blood and cell material. She and the 9’s were placed together as a special and defence force subordinate directly under the command of APE. However, Zero Two did not get along with the 9’s, specifically 9'α, and she was removed from the unit and placed with Squad 13.

Episode 12: The Garden Where It All Began
Squad 13 bumps into the 9's at the garden when they return to take tests. While Kokoro wonders who they are, Miku suggests 9'α looks 'hot'. After Nana's introduction, 9'α explains the 9's were at the garden for maintenance and guesses that Zero Two is too since she is a former Nine. When 9'α marvels at how long Zero Two has coexisted for with a human squad, Ichigo retorts that the special forces 'have not been taught basic etiquette '. 9'α leans in and kisses Ichigo's hand without warning, causing her to blush and getting himself a ticking from Goro. As Squad 13 troops off to take their tests, 9'α states he would like to stay with them someday, to which Ichigo coldly replies the only free room they have in Mistilteinn is the attic, which wouldn't suit them. After the tests, Ichigo runs into 9'α again, just as she is about to head back to Mistilteinn. He tells her of Zero Two's history of using and discarding more than a hundred stamen and how Zero Two is pretending to be human so she can coexist with the squad. Ichigo pretends not to care but is really worried for Hiro and Zero Two.

Episode 17: Eden
The 9’s show up as a full unit at remains of Mistilteinn to check on Squad 13 and assure them that they haven’t been forgotten by Papa. The 9’s then announce they will be staying with the squad at Mistilteinn as instructed by Papa, much to the squad's dismay. Later that night, 9'δ discovers a book that Kokoro dropped and they learn it contains information banned by Papa on reproduction and childbirth. They confront Kokoro, who admits she wants to bear a child to leave behind a mark for when she dies. They report this to Nana and Hachi but when Kokoro argues with Nana, Nana starts gripping her head in pain. Alpha surmises that Nana is going through puberty, and suggests Hachi replace her with a new Nana. Later, the 9’s show up to report Kokoro to Papa and the Vice Chairman.

Episode 18: When The Sakura Blooms
On Papa’s orders, the 9’s lead an assault in Mistilteinn and restrain Squad 13, so Kokoro and Mitsuru, who are having a wedding, can be taken away. Zero Two attempts to fight off the 9’s, but they overpower her. Kokoro and Mitsuru are forcibly separated and subdued before being taken away. As protocol, their memories are erased.

Episode 21: For You, My Love
During the battle against the klaxosaurs, a large armada of spaceships spear and the klaxosaurs stop fighting the parasites. In the confusion, the invaders reveal themselves to be VIRM, led by Papa and begin fighting the klaxosaurs. Squad 13 doesn’t know who to fight but the 9’s berate them for ignoring Papa’s orders. Two of the Nines, Delta and Epsilon, are brutally murdered by VIRM beasts, sending Alpha into a paranoid rage. When the VIRM retreats, Alpha looks at the sky and pleads for Papa to answer him.

Episode 22: Stargazers
The Nines become ill due to "lack of maintenance" and refuse to eat. Only Alpha, Beta, and Gamma are shown to be alive and plan to make their final battle and resting spot in space.

Episode 23: Darling in the FranXX
Hiro joins them while they're at Cosmos, since it was the only way to get him into Strelizia Apus; he's the Stamen of Alpha, while Beta and Gamma fight as well. It is also revealed that the Nines can assume the roles of both Pistils and Stamens. After trying to reach Apus, Alpha credits Hiro for teaching him what it means to be human, but he clarifies his home is the battlefield and gives his regards to Zero Two, to later sacrifices himself (using self-explosion) in order to protect Hiro while he enters in it. Moments later, Beta, and Gamma are trapped in a swarm of VIRM soldiers and it is presumed they are killed as well.

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