Fuck.
A succinct way of summing up everything that had just gone down.
The moment Gavin had laid eyes on the android in Fowler's office he'd gone into a silent panic. The thing watched him in silence and some crazed part of Gavin believed he'd not only be replaced by killed by this android. To entirely take him over.
Cold blue eyes pierced him through and Gavin could find nothing human in that steady gaze. He could hardly take a breath under the thing's stare, feeling it looking into him. Analysing him in that special way only androids could. Dizzily Gavin wondered what it's little metal brain came up with. What it thought it knew about him without even sharing a word between them.
His only mercy is that his panic remained internalised, the last thing he needed was to flip out in front of Fowler before he had the chance to say. "Reed, this is Rk900. He is going to be your partner from now on."
What?
There was more. Gruff explanations of RK900's position in the precinct, his model being the successor to Connor's, being unique. His line never fully put into production before Cyberlife fell. Fowler kept speaking, about how busy they were and how Gavin needed the help getting through his paperwork if nothing else and this here would be just the partner he needed
One of a kind and now Gavin's number one problem.
While his panic had managed to be swallowed down and kept private, his following anger was not. Relief did not bring with it pacification. Of course he shouted at Fowler, demanded someone else take it if the damn thing had to be here. He didn't need a partner.
The reward for his outburst was another blow to his life. His files were all taken because he was being put on the plastic patrol with Anderson and his own plastic pet. Now he had one too and Gavin had never been so mortified on the force than he was in that moment.
All his shouting got him was a warning that he'd be stuck on desk duty for the rest of his damn life if he didn't get his shit in line. Desk duty was better than being fired, but even Gavin knew how slippery a slope it was and with Fowlers current level of stress since the city was evacuated, he might just get fired if the captain lost his cool as well.
Gavin needed this job. It was all the sanity he had left.
So for once, he shut up.
With a snarl and a finger jammed in Fowler's direction, he ran out of words and left, slamming the door behind him. The thing left behind in his wake. It hadn't said a word during Fowler and Reed's exchange. Maybe it would speak with him gone. Keep secrets to itself, maybe express it's distaste for the human. Gavin was sure that if androids really felt anything then it would be nothing but hatred for humans. That peaceful protest stuff was a farce. There was no way they were truly so benevolent. They just couldn't be.
They said they were alive but no human would be able to be so forgiving. Gavin wouldn't be that forgiving were he in their shoes.
The thought of storming right out of the precinct did cross his mind, but then he'd be left with nothing but a sense of defeat and the knowledge that everyone had witnessed his failure. Refusing to do that Reed instead marched himself into the break room. He still hadn't had his coffee yet - too soon for his world to get torn apart like this.
The coffee machine had decided this morning was going to be one of it's bad ones. More temperamental than a woman on the rag this fucking thing. Cursing under his breath Gavin slammed his hand into the side of the machine, wishing dearly he could still that to androids.
"You go getting the idea of feelings on me and I will take you apart." Gavin vowed to the coffee machine. Unable to even feel stupid for talking to a bit of metal. Everyone else was doing it, so why the hell not?
Eventually the machine sputtered and spat, trying to cough out the coffee that Gavin so dearly needed. It managed a pitiful dribble before dying on him again. "You have got to be fucking kidding me…"
Gavin had determined today was going to be a good one when he set out this morning. Clearly the world had decided he needed a right whipping and had gotten to it.
With a string of low curses Gavin set about trying to figure out what was wrong with the damn thing. He had no real concept of what he was looking for when he peered around its outer shell just looking for anything that looked...wrong. Surely it would be easy to spot something wrong even if he didn't know what right looked like.
...right?
It was like fucking dejavu when he leapt at the sound of a steady voice, "Good morning, detective Reed." Gavin's chest seized up again and he nearly choked on his own air. That fight had been worse than the first. Appropriate seeing as the one speaking was worse than Gavin's fist headache.
Standing behind him, position exactly the same as it had been in the office as though it had simply teleported into place without shifting an inch, was the new unwelcomed tincan itself..
Scowling, Gavin tried to right himself, looking over his shoulder at the thing. It did not respond to his foul stare, simply observing him for a few seconds. Perhaps waiting for a greeting in return, when it become clear it wasn't getting one, the android went on.
"I do look forward to our working relationship together, detective. I believe that my programming will vastly improve productivity." This was the incorrect thing to say. Granted there was nothing that RK900 could have said that would not have set Gavin off.
Turning sharply Gavin forgot his previous attempts to avoid trouble by not being violent, finger jabbed against the androids chest. Finding it too sturdy to be human, unfair really, it didn't have to work to keep that physique."Listen here you plastic fuck, I don't need you doing a goddamn thing. This is a job for humans. It is my job, so back the fuck up before a make you."
The threat didn't seem to register, or rather it was noted and promptly set aside as invalid. There was a brief silence, RK900's gave dropping down to Gavin's finger and then back to his face before repeating the motion. Clearly calculating something though Gavin couldn't guess exactly what that was.
Then the damn thing had cocked it's head in the same way Connor did and for a split second Gavin thought that it might actually resemble its predecessor more than he expected. Those eyes that had been so sharp and cold at a first glance seemed...stupid. Connor had that look too. That naieve, lost expression that hid a mind sharper and quicker than any human's.
It was just another ruse, a way to make him drop his guard. A human emotion programmed into it to make RK900 seem less dangerous.
Why the fuck they'd kept that after making it taller and broader than Connor was beyond Gavin. Did those lunatics think they could have it both ways? Intimidation mixed with a puppy dog expression? Christ.
Finally, coming to some type of conclusion, RK900 gently but firmly grasped Gavin's hand. The motion shocking the detective into a moment of stillness. Almost expecting the thing to suddenly twist until the bone in his wrist snapped under the force. Instead the android simply pulled him back until Gavin could no longer poke at him.
Holding firm as it spoke. "I believe this level of aggression to be counterproductive to the mission, detective. I desire a healthy working relationship with you. We are to be partners and as such it is for the best we get along."
It was patronising him. Gavin seethed, whole body thrumming with the desire to just lash out and punch it across its stupid, strong jaw. It had to be fucking with him, talking down to him like he was some moody brat. No one fucking spoke like that to him. Not in his own damn workplace.
The hand grasping his wrist tightened a fraction, drawing Gavin's attention back to it and a fresh wave of that unease thinking RK900 would break it. But then just as quickly Gavin was released, not to much as a bruise on him. "In the spirit of improving our relationship, I would like to-"
"No. Shut up." Gavin snapped angrily. So sick of hearing it talking down to him. "You want use to be buddy-buddy? Well by all means," Gavin's voice dripped with mockery, almost wanting to bait the thing somehow. It was just an android of course, it wouldn't rise to that bait, Connor hadn't either when he'd been the one standing in this exact position. "make me a coffee, tincan."
The blue LED at the android's temple flashed. Gavin only caught a glimpse of that light change. He didn't even see what it had done and when he tried to get a better look it was back to a steady blue. What had that been?
On RK900's face there was a slight pinch of his brows, more calculations going on. Not choices. Androids didn't make choices, just computed things.
Just as Gavin's patience was running thin and he'd been about to snap at the android to hurry right the fuck up, RK900's gaze slipped over his shoulder towards the coffee machine. Then it began moving, seemingly to approach the coffee machine.
No way. Was it really…?
Gavin almost couldn't believe his eyes when it strode past him to look over the buggered machine. Connor hadn't done that. Only spouted off something about only answering to it's daddy-
Oh. Was RK900 supposed to answer to him exclusively like Connor said he did to Anderson? That thought hadn't properly sunk in for Gavin by the time it spoke again.
"You seemed to be having some trouble with this earlier." It had been watching him? Of course it had. They saw everything. "For future reference, you need only top the water back up." It explained calming and yet again Gavin felt a flash of anger at it. Androids were just so perfect weren't they?
So much better than humans. Of course people got replaced by plastic. Humans weren't good enough and androids took their place.
Fuck that. He'd show them all.
With a quiet click, RK900 went about setting the coffee machine right again. Gavin saw it smoothly remove the container that kept the water topped up and fill it before sliding it back into place. This time when the coffee machine was coaxed to life it gurgled almost as if pleased with the change and let a steady stream of steaming coffee come spilling out.
Gavin felt betrayed by its compliance. Fucking thing probably didn't even need the damn water, it was just another way for the world to fuck with his day having this android show him up.
There was a silence as the cup was filled. Gavin didn't feel particularly smug however, not until RK900 turned with the burning cup in hand and offered it to him.
"Detective, do you have any cream or sugar?" It asked, but Gavin didn't answer. Mood to sour for that.
Briefly the thought of knocking the cup away and snarling some hateful words at the machine to tell it exactly where they stood crossed Gavin's mind but...fucking hell he really did need that coffee. So rather than swat it away, Gavin snatched the cup and tried not to wince when it began to scald his skin a bit.
Passive as always RK900 watched him. Probably making some freaky notes on his every move. Monitoring him, breaking him down into dot points. Dehumanising him with every second it stared.
No violent words immediately came into Gavin's head and so he just turned away from the machine with a huff and walked out. Thinking that might be cold enough to get the message home. He didn't like the android, he wasn't going to like it. He wasn't going to acknowledge it as his partner or as a living being and as soon as he got the chance it would be gone.
If RK900 was a single model it might just have an accident and get the hell out of his life.
Gavin didn't want to get fired and - god forbid in this upside down world - charged with murder. Like this thing was actually a person. So unfortunately shooting was off the table. But this was a dangerous gig, who knows, might just get lucky.
By the time he reached his desk, Gavin's hand was throbbing uncomfortably. His fingers had been so cold that the hot ceramic cup made them tingle and sting. At least he knew it was the heat causing that sensation.
This time when Gavin sat down he couldn't summon up the desire to kick his feet up, too tense for that. And naturally it only got worse when the android followed after him, taking the seat opposite his own. Setting up shop like he had a god given right to sit there. Gavin was grinding his teeth but tried to get the fuck on with life.
Opening up his case files and seeing a whole new set of them baring android involvement was yet another kick to the teeth. The day he'd decided would be a good one had decidedly become one of the worst.
While he scrolled rather aimlessly through the cases he tried not to think about how unnaturally still his new 'partner' was. The only movement from it a flick of his eyes as it rushed through the information on screen. Probably didn't even need to read, just downloaded it all into its head. The glorified computer.
He actually didn't mean that literally but when the android sat back and met his gaze head on without any hesitation, Gavin realised that was probably exactly what it had done. His mouth felt dry, fingers grasping his pant legs tightly. He would not be replaced by this thing.
"Detective, today will be our first case together. I would ask your input on which you would pursue first."
It wanted...his opinion? Gavin glowered, looking for a set up, some sign that it was going to deceive him. Surely it was just dying to show him how inadequate his little human mind was. "What you don't have a clue?" He snapped rather than answering.
Again RK900 tipped its head to the side, expression pulling into a practiced look of thought, maybe even something sheepish though it's imposing figure couldn't pull it off in the way Connor could. "I have...made a judgement on which of the cases I believe best to follow up first. However, as you so calmly, pointed out - you are indeed the senior officer."
Was that...did it just sound sarcastic? Sarcasm slapped in between something like respect. What the actual fuck was this thing's programming? He was going to get whiplash from this.
Despite all this, Gavin did in fact have an opinion and he'd be damned if he let this machine decide what they'd do. Glancing back to his consol Gavin's eyes landed quickly on the first case he saw. Refusing to let the android know how much slower he read. Fortunate for him it didn't seem like the worst pick.
"Taking down an android murderer sounds like a blast." He said dryly, putting on a show of the usual dispassionate disgust for androids. Even though the words 'android murderer' was still an unsettling one.
Until a few months ago the thought of an android killing someone was a piece of fiction. Plenty of movies and books indulged in the idea, but it had been like time travel or dinosaurs - well out of the realm of reason. Now it was just as feasible as a human killer.
Why did androids kill? Gavin would never admit to being curious, but he was. Androids were not human, murder was a very human thing, so why did androids do it?
In theory he had the answers, but things like fear and revenge were - once again - human traits. It had to be a glitch in their programming. Something Cyberlife had fucked up.
Either way it was his fucking problem now.
Across from him RK900 nodded and turned back to its computer, the idea of anything belonging to an android still set Gavin's nerves on edge. "Very well." Gavin couldn't tell if it approved of his decision or not and that grated on him like mad. Did it think he was stupid for choosing that? He didn't ask. "I will organise what notes we have and see what can be done about witness interviews."
Well...that sounded more like PA work. Gavin admittedly didn't mind that so much, having the android doing the grunt work. So long as he still had work to do then he could survive. If he did the detective work, the interviews and interrogations - then it was not the end of the world.
Though it felt sickeningly close to it.
Gavin didn't bother with an answer, preferring silence for a damn while. When the first message from RK900 popped up on his screen with a neatly organised list of events and relevant information on the murders, Gavin was a touch taken aback. It had said that was what it was doing and yet Gavin was still startled.
A personal assistant huh? Gavin didn't want any androids in his goddamn life, but of the bunch, a PA wouldn't be the worst of them. He still resolved to get rid of the fucking thing before the week was out.
Mercifully for both of them, silence was an accepted practice for the day.
Wasn't the end of the world yet.