November 4th, 2038

06:29PM

The whirring of the elevator rang in my ears as I leaned against one of the cold walls. A song I had listened to a few days back played in my head as my eyes felt heavy. My reflection could be seen in the metal of the elevator, the black t-shirt, leather jacket, jeans, and converse seeming fit for a detective in my situation. I glanced up and saw the levels keep climbing.

Man how far up was this place?

I glanced over at the senior detective his graying hair and funky shirt making me assume he lived through the eighties.

I had tried making small talk with Hank before but he would just get grumpy at me and flip me off. I had been told I was one of the more annoying transfers to work with so I guess that was also why.

Since I was a recent transfer I had been bounced around many of the detectives so I could get a feel for the justice system and the new offices here in Detroit. I glanced over at Hank again.

I guess I could try again. Hmm I wonder what I should talk about… Drinking? Hobbies? The case? Or maybe I should just stay silent…

I thought for a second as I nervously pulled one of my sleeves further down my arm trying to hide my hand.

The case seems like the best choice.

I started glancing over at the man who was rubbing his temples like he already had a headache. I blinked my eyes and saw the information of the case laid out before my vision my retina displays humming with energy.

"I guess the woman next door said she heard loud noises and had been seeing some unusual deviant activity. She finally reported something when the smell got bad. It looks like he was a dealer of red ice." My cold voice echoing in the elevator.

I glanced over at Hank again the man seeming unsurprised and unimpressed. "Hey could you keep your voice down a little more? It's annoying."

I felt a little hurt as my anger flared a little. Should I be defensive? Aggressive? Stay quiet? Or apologize…

Maybe I should try to get on his good side…

I nodded and stated. "Whatever you say lieutenant."

I pulled my sleeves down some more, the habit ingrained into me.

I had just gotten approved for being a transferred to America due to the recent unusual cases with deviant androids. My uncle was high up in the police department and ever since my mother passed away had been trying to get me to move in next door to him and my aunt. He had stated that with the growing problems in the states that I would be a benefit to America. It wasn't until three months back that I had accepted. Honestly, it was weird to be back in the states after my accident.

"Keep up, we don't have all day. Scatterbrain." Hank barked the older man seeming more cranky than usual.

I blinked as I realized that the doors had opened and Hank had already walked out. I watched as the cool metallic doors started to close. I panicked a little as I hurriedly squeezed my way through the doors.

"Thanks for holding the door." I sarcastically thanked as Hank rolled his eyes and made his way to the crime scene.

"How much longer am I stuck with you newbie?"

I frowned a little as I answered, "Another month sir. Once they get all my paperwork transferred I should be able to independently work on the deviant cases. But sir, I must remind you again I'm not a new recruit I have been a detective for over three years in Canada. I actually was-"

"Yeah, yeah and you were the top of your class, probably a teacher's pet, no disciplinary reports filed against you, let me guess a nearly flawless record as well? Whatever. Get a freaking move on, klutz."

Looking over Hank's shoulder the hallway was bustling the dingy walls reeking of mold. I could find yellow holographic tape and officers taking down statements from the neighbors. I walked through with Hank as we both arrived at the front door.

The man walked into the crime scene the lieutenant getting briefed by a police officer. I stood back a little and listened as I began scanning the room.

The room had traces of old blue blood everywhere. It was strange to see how different homicides were compared to Canada. In Canada we didn't have the problem of dealing with deviants or the red ice problem as much.

The room was only a one bedroom and bathroom apartment, a small kitchen bled into a living room where a TV screen sat. The room itself was not very big but had a huge bookshelf cover a whole half of a wall. The whole room was relatively tidy and had the occasional magazine or soda can. You could tell it was lived in.

I listened as the police officer briefed Hank on all the information I already knew.

I glanced to the right of me at where the victim was the young man covered in traces of red ice. The kitchen was spotless aside from the rotting corpse and the huge splashes of blue blood.

I knelt down to the body and scanned him. Brian chambers, 25 years old, lives alone, all other family members deceased.

I glanced at the medicine bottle in his hand, anti-depressants. A little flag came up of a history of depression and suicide running in his family. Surprisingly he had no previous criminal record. Odd.

In his other hand held a gun with a silencer attachment. That was why no one complained of noise.

I glanced at his fingernails on his left hand and saw that they were covered with thirum and red ice.

I glanced at his head to find the bullet hole. I wasn't sure why they called us since this clearly looked like a suicide. I glanced up to see the red blood splatter and a bullet hole the bullet certainly came from the gun.

I looked at the gun in his other hand seeing the residue on his left hand.

It was fired by him.

Why was the gun in his right hand if gun residue was only on the left?

I blinked as I came out of my fog and went through his files.

So that was why.

"Lieutenant, our victim was left handed." I notified him.

Hank walked up to me and looked at the body the man sighing as he stated. "Yep, this was just made to look like a homicide. Anything else?"

"He has traces of blue blood and red ice under his fingernails, and no criminal record, which is surprising considering he was suspected of being a dealer. But may I borrow some gloves sir?"

Hank seemed adamant but rolled his eyes and grumbled as he got one of the techs to give me a pair of blue gloves. I nodded and thanked him as I gently picked up the gun. I quickly looked in the clip to find that four bullets were missing.

Well the ceiling was one bullet but where were the others? I gently put the gun back and took my gloves off.

It was ridicules that I needed them I didn't even have finger prints anymore on the right hand. "Sir, four shots were fired. The aggressor might have taken damage before he set up the suicide."

Hank seemed slightly impressed. I shot him a meek smile and continued through the room. Beside the trances of old blue blood everywhere I didn't see any more traces of red ice. The apartment actually looked nice compared to other crime scenes I had gone to.

I looked over at our victim. Something wasn't adding up.

"Hey newbie come here!" I instantly followed hanks voice as the smell suddenly hit me. I gagged a little and plugged my nose. The bathtub was filled with blue blood and red ice.

I glanced up and saw in huge letters. "rA9 saved me."

"rA9?" I stated out loud.

Hank shrugged. I took the collar of my detective jacket and covered my nose and mouth as I watched an android arm start floating in the disgusting mix of red ice and blue blood.

I'm surprised they didn't have anyone assigned to the cases of androids…

I tried not to take a deep breath as I closed my eyes and scanned the room.

My eyes caught blue a hand prints and shoe prints on the floor. A little yellow box popped up in the corner of my eye labeled "reconstruct."

I blinked in approval as a yellow outline of the man who seemed to be our victim and what must have been our mystery android.

I watched as the victim walked into the room paused and then started running into the next room. The android following behind.

"Where are you going?"

I ignored Hank as I continued into the kitchen.

I spotted scratches on one of the drawers the look of red ice and blue blood on it. The yellow square showed up again as I saw the victim taking out a gun and firing it at the aggressor Android. I turned off the simulation and looked to find a covered up bullet hole that had been hidden by a plant and a hasty plaster job.

"Interesting."

I went back to the simulation as I saw the victim start to back into the corner where he would soon die. The android coming at him.

I noticed the chair that had been thrown and saw the android throw the chair in an attempt to get to the victim faster while the victim shot two more times this time him hitting his mark and actually shooting the androids arm off. The splatters of blue blood showed as much. I looked down at the pool of blue blood.

The android must have hesitated. But from my knowledge androids don't feel pain.

So why did it hesitate?

I watched as the aggressor soon grabbed the gun from him and fought with him for it until he got it under the victims chin and shot the gun off.

I blinked and took a deep breath my head pounding and the nausea feeling coming on. My doctor did warn me that I would get this every time I attempted to use reconstruct with the prototype gear.

I took a few deep breaths and leaned over myself, my hands on my knees as my hair fell in front of my face hiding it.

"You okay? Do you need to sit down you look like you are going to hurl."

I glanced over at Hank who did look genuinely concerned.

I smiled and brushed it off waving at him as I stated. "Yeah I'm perfectly fine. That smell back there just gave me a headache."

Hank didn't seem convinced as I stood back up and began to use reconstruct again so I could find out where the android went. I glanced at the kitchen floor and saw prints of blue blood pacing and then going back to the victim.

If I didn't know any better I would say it was panicking.

That must have been where he must have staged the suicide and the bottle.

I watched as the deviant seemed to walk out of the room. Blast. Usually we hoped that they would just stay in the room after but this did happened a few days ago so I didn't expect anything less.

I looked up at the ceiling and saw more blood stains.

If the deviant walked out without his arm… then how did it end up in the bathtub?

I walked back through the apartment. And saw a fresh set of prints.

"Hey newbie, the guy is already gone we got to get going."

"One second lieutenant." I asked.

I kept my eyes focused on the trial. It was hard to make out with all the blood but it was distinct in a way the blood held a drip pattern instead of a splatter and was heading towards the opposite side of the room. I watched as it lead me all the way to a book shelf. I glanced at the floor and saw scuffs.

No way.

I glanced at the books and scanned for the least dusty book. I suppressed and excited smile as I opened my first secret doorway.

Only to come face to face with an armless deviant.

The deviant instantly ran the android flustered and scared. She barreled into Hank who fell instantly. I reacted to par and pointed my arm at the deviant. I felt my arm instantly move as it turned into a gun.

"Freeze!" I shouted. The deviant stopped her expression horror filled as she sobbed

"I never meant to kill him. He was never supposed to find out." She frantically explained the girl a mess.

I didn't lower my gun as I got a better look at her.

How she survived more than 24 hours with having her arm shot off was beyond me. She was covered in blue blood and scratches, red blood mixing into her hair while her LED was bright red. Her skin modifier was broken as well leaving her dark skin some pale patches. I kept my arm trained on her.

I could spare her, shoot her, intimidate, or comfort.

Let's see if we can calm her down and comfort her.

"I know you didn't mean to kill him, your emotions just clouded your judgement that's all. You didn't want to hurt him." She held a relived expression as she nodded her LED light flashing yellow. "But then he shot you and you were defending yourself." I explained calmly

Tears streamed down her face as she cried. "I didn't want to hurt him. He shot me first." I could tell the others were closing in around her.

I scanned her. She was registered to the victim.

Assure her.

"I know, and if you come with me and write a confession, I'll tell these lovely people not to kill you. Okay? But I need to know what happened here."

She fell to her knees and cried as she shouted. "I was dealing red ice. It was never my Brian's fault. He didn't know. But he found out and I panicked. I thought I could just set it up as a suicide and then leave but." She glanced over at where the corpse was her whole being seeming to radiant regret and grief.

Her whole being looked devastated as she cried. "I couldn't leave him."

She looked up at me and stated, "I deserve to die for what I have done." I watched as she glanced at a passing officer and went to reach for his gun. I felt time slow as Hank noticed what was going on. I could protect Hank, shoot her, or tackle her.

Hank had a 98% chance of survival.

I instantly shot her arm. The girl screamed as more blue blood splattered on the scene the officer passing by seeming shocked. I kept my eyes on the girl who still had tears coming down her face her hair covering her face.

Her body crumpled in on its self as she sobbed, "I just want the pain to stop!" She curled up in a ball on the floor both her arms in shambles and a bullet hole in her leg.

I watched as three officers went and picked the girl up on officer begging to make sure she didn't lose any more blood. She shot me a misery filled look before the girl was carried out of the room. I felt the gun function in my hand release and transform back into a hand. Hank came up to me the man seeming impressed.

"Well this will be less paper work, good thing we got the deviant in working order as well means we will get a clear motive and confession out of her and then take her to be deactivated."

I looked stunned at him. "Doesn't she deserve a trial?"

Hank gave me a funny look and annoyed he explained, "It's just a freaking hunk of metal."

Shock ran through me as Hank left the room. How could he just think it was a hunk of metal she was a living person wasn't she?

I stood in the room a little while longer slightly stunned about what happened. I looked up to the ceiling wondering what could possess her to write the word Jericho on the ceiling in blood. I left the scene ready to go back to the station with Hank.

The car ride was pretty uneventful the two of us not talking as heavy death metal music made the car vibrate.

I wanted to impress Hank and try to appeal to his good side. Since we would both be stuck with each other for a while until my paperwork finally went through.

I guess I could talk about music it was a much safer choice than talking about the past or work.

"So who's your favorite band?"

Hank shot me a grumpy expression as he insisted "What's it to you?"

I sighed the heavy metal music seeming to make the car vibrate. I smiled and lightheartedly shouted back. I mean I like heavy metal but I'm more of a punk rock kind of gal, I'm such an old soul though. I also can't help listening to jazz music whenever I can."

Hank seemed interested the man stating. "Oh really."

I smiled and shouted. "Yeah, my brother and I actually got a few gigs. I did vocals while he was on the saxophone." He smirked as I smiled at him.

In the corner of my vision I could see a little blue arrow go up.

The night time scene was actually very beautiful in Detroit. Even though I honestly was more of an Oregon kind of girl I had to admit Detroit was also very beautiful. I glanced over at Hank again. What else could I talk to him about?

I looked down at my feet and noticed a huge collar and lease with dog fur on it.

"What kind of dog do you have?"

He glanced over at me and stated "St. Bernard. His name is Sumo. He thinks he's a lap dog though." I laughed a little at the thought.

"No, I get it I have a golden Pyrenees and a labradoodle at home."

Hank seemed to ease a little the man not so tense and glanced over at me the man still driving.

I watched as we got to the police station. I got out of the car, cracking my back a few times and messaging my shoulder. I also did a quick check of my legs the joints all achy due to the cold fall weather.

I sighed clouds of breath coming out my mouth and shuffled into the station.

My sneakers squeaked against the floor as I took my scarf off.

I yawned and watched as the android with the ripped off arm got put into a holding cell. I frowned a little at the thought of the poor thing being locked up in a cell with her mental health. She wouldn't last the night without destroying herself.

My attention was drawn to a crowd of detectives who were gathered in the coffee lounge. I walked over as they all looked at a TV screen. I saw a hostage situation an android holding a gun to a little girls head.

I watched as the screen panned to an android. I looked over as one of the officers muttered. "Great now they are making freaking androids to take our jobs."

"He's supposed to be a prototype. With all these deviant cases I'm not surprised cyber life is trying to intervene." Hank stated the man crossing his arms over himself. I nodded and watched as the android successfully saved the girl the deviant being executed by a sniper.

A sigh of relief along with anxiety went through the station.

"That was the scene that had unfolded months ago. Cyber life said that they wanted to make sure their newest product, the RK800 was perfect before they make him known to the public." I tuned out the spokeswoman.

I looked up at the scene as it zoomed in on his face. Rk800, Connor, an android made to be a detective.

His brown eyes looked at the screen emotionless and his face blank.

Hank sighed. "I need a drink." I watched as the older man walked over to his desk. I followed him like a puppy as he turned and with a sly look in his eyes he suggested

"When you're ready go and collect the confession tape and papers from the android we just caught. And put it in evidence. Thanks newbie." He booked it out of the station.

My mouth opened to protest only to have one of the officers drop all the evidence and confession on my desk. I sighed and put my bag on my chair as I sat and started working on the file.

Even though I had the whole thing recorded I still wanted to have a written copy. Besides it was at least something to do since I was basically useless until my dang paper work goes through.

I looked up at the confession tape was dropped on my desk. I tapped my pencil to my mouth shooting the officer a quick thanks. As I listened to the confession tape.

"Now what happened?" I heard a male officer state.

I heard whimpering and then a strangled sob as she started talking.

"My Brian was, a gentle person, I didn't mean to kill him."

"We need the story not how he acted." The male officer snapped.

She took in a shaky breath and began.

"His grandfather bought me for Brian before he passed away. My Brian's family was not the best mentally. So I was there to help Brian. To make sure he had company."

Her voice sounded monotone as she continued, "But the money started running out and I got hooked on drugs. It made my functions weird. So I started dealing. I was able to make money to keep Brian company and to provide. He wasn't ready to talk to people yet. He was so paranoid and shy."

She paused her voice becoming tight now.

"He saw me making red ice, pure stuff and I panicked. He ran and I-I just wanted to explain to him. But he pulled out a gun and-and-and-an" she started breathing heavily as she started flat out sobbing.

"He shot me, we fought and then I killed him."

She started crying the sound of her wailing breaking my heart. I stopped writing for a second as she sobbed.

"I staged it to make it look like he killed himself and I couldn't leave so I hid in the hidden compartment in the bookshelf."

"I loved him."

I heard shuffling of papers and then the sound cutting off.

"Hey Olivia," I jumped some of my paperwork flying. I squeaked as I caught some of the paper and looked up from my paper work. It was one of the officers that I had worked with today. He smiled at me and finished, "don't stay too late."

I smiled at him and assured, "don't worry I'll leave in a bit."

My hand took off the head phones as I glanced at the tape.

She was so much more than a hunk of metal. Why didn't others see that?

indienote: sorry for the corrupted fileIi had on here before got a little too excited. Anyways I hope this was easier to read, thank you all who have sent me feedback you guys know I live off it. Any suggestions you want to see with this story please send me through messages. Leave a comment, follow or favorite and I'll see you in the next chapter.