Chapter 3: The Message

Change is the constant, the signal for rebirth, the egg of the Phoenix.

Christina Baldwin

Chris

Chris woke to the sound of her alarm Monday morning. Groaning, she shut it off and left her warm bed to get ready for work. She shuffled to her closet, only stubbing her toe twice-which was a personal record. Chris pulled on a pair of black skinny jeans and an oversized sweater. She brushed her teeth then her hair, pulling it into a low ponytail.

Dressed, she walked into the kitchen and turned on her coffee maker. While she waited, Chris made her way to the door to slip on her shoes.

After she put on her shoes the doorbell rang. Frowning, Chris peered through the peephole only to discover no one was there. She opened the door and stepped outside, her foot kicking something. Chris looked down to find a small cardboard box at her feet. She picked it up and reentered her apartment.

The box was addressed to her but there was no return address. Chris opened the box to find a black rose and a yellow daffodil. Once Chris had removed the two flowers she spotted a note in the box. Curious, Chris opened the note and read it.

We almost had you Saturday night. The time has come for you to join us and be reborn.

Unnerved, she shoved the flowers and note back into the box and went into the kitchen to throw it away. Just as Chris was about to drop the box in the trash her phone started to ring.

Sitting the box on the counter, Chris turned her gaze to the phones spot on the kitchen table. She reached for the phone, the caller once again Unknown. Chris answered the phone.

"Hello? Who is this?"

Unlike the last time, Chris received a response. "We almost had you Saturday night. The time has come for you to join us and be reborn."

A tightness was forming in Chris' chest, her eyes were burning. "Who is this? What do you want?" Chris hated how scared she sounded.

"It's time for you to be reborn. It's time for you to finally join us, Christine Dawn Smith," the voice finished before hanging up. Chris sat her phone down.

The use of Chris' full name scared her. It meant they knew her and they wanted her specifically. The tightness in her chest increased and she could feel tears streaming down her cheeks. She sucked in several ragged breaths before reaching once again for her phone and calling Jasper. It rang twice before he picked up.

"Chris? Is everything alright? You never call," Jasper asked.

"I got-I got a box in-in the mail and then I got-got-"

"I'll just come over. Make yourself some tea and try to settle down. I'll be over as soon as I can. It's going to be alright Chris." with that, Jasper hung up.

Chris kicked her shoes off and set to making herself tea, her hands shaking the entire time. Once she had finished making the tea she grabbed the mug and curled up on the couch.

She sat there for several minutes, staring blankly at the wall. When Jasper knocked on her door she almost didn't want to get up but she couldn't remember if she had locked the door or not (she hadn't).

As soon as she opened the door she saw Jaspers concerned face. She began to cry again. Jasper pulled her into a tight hug, shutting the door behind him.

"Show me the box you were talking about," Jasper murmured.

Chris nodded before leading Jasper into her kitchen. Unable to bring herself to touch the box, Chris merely pointed at it. Jasper opened the box, pulling out its contents. He studied them.

"Daffodils usually means chivalry, new beginnings, and rebirth," he informed her.

Chris flinched at his words. Seeing her reaction, Jasper furrowed his brow. "What? Do any of those words mean something?"

"Read the note," was all Chris said.

Jasper sat the flowers down and picked up the note. Chris watched his expression go from one of confusion to one of shock as he read the note.

"That's crazy Chris," he said. Crazy was an understatement.

"That's not all. Right after I read the note I got a phone call from an unknown number. They said the exact same thing as the note. They knew my full name Jasper," Chris uttered.

Jasper put the contents of the box back and tucked the box under his arm. "Put your shoes on. We're going to the police station."

Chris didn't have it in her to argue.

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They made it to the Detroit Police Station without incident. Now the only hurdle was actually going in. The building loomed over Chris as if taunting her; as if it was trying to tell her it knew she didn't want to enter.

"C'mon Chris, you need to do this. These people scared you," Jasper begged.

Twisting her fingers, Chris replied, "What if they tell me I'm making a big deal out of nothing?"

"Chris they knew your full name. This could be serious." Jasper was beginning to sound very irritated. They had been standing outside the Police Station for ten minutes because Chris was dragging her feet.

Chris still wasn't convinced. "I'm not sure. What if-Connor?" Chris spotted the android from the other night walking out of the building with a white-haired older gentleman.

Connor looked at her, smiled and said something to the older man before making his way over to Chris and Jasper. When he noticed the expressions the pair wore Connor frowned.

"Is everything alright? Were you followed again?" Connor prompted.

"When were you followed Chris?" Jasper exclaimed. Chris winced, she may have forgotten to tell Jasper that minor detail.

"After the party. Connor walked me home. I'm fine," Chris said quickly. She really didn't feel like discussing this right now. Not when she should be worried about the letter and phone call and what it could mean for Chris' perfect little bubble.

"Alright, you and I are discussing the meaning of fine when we get home. Now we really need to talk to someone," Jasper told her, thoroughly exasperated.

"Perhaps I could help," Connor offered. "Why don't you tell me what happened? Though I don't think I could be of much assistance. My partner and I have a crime scene to get to soon."

Chris relaxed. There was something about this android that made Chris feel at ease.

"Someone sent me a box with two flowers and a note inside. As soon as I looked at the boxes contents I got a phone call repeating the exact words on the note," Chris informed him.

"May I see the box?" Jasper gave Connor the box. He opened the box and looked at its contents, LED flashing yellow as Connor took in the new information.

"Your phone?" He asked, returning the box to Jasper.

Chris nodded and pulled her phone out of her purse. She handed Connor the phone, his hand turning white as he connected with her call history. Connors brows furrowed as he listened to the complete phone call.

When he finished with her phone his hand returned to normal and he gave Chris back her phone.

"I think it would be best to tell Captain Fowler. Someone should be able to help you," Connor told her.

"Thank you," Chris said.

Connor gave her a reassuring smile before saying goodbye. Once he had left, Jasper turned to her.

"See? If an android thinks it's serious then maybe there's something to be done. C'mon Chris," Jasper said. He grabbed her hand and lead Chris into the building.

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"What do you mean there's nothing you can do? Her life might be in danger!" Jasper was pacing Captain Fowler's office. Chris could tell Jasper was angry even without an LED. She was beginning to feel panicky again. In an effort to put out the growing fire in her lungs, Chris looked around the office. She noticed a two picture frames. One depicted a younger Captain Fowler and a smiling dark-skinned woman who Chris guessed to be Mrs. Captain Fowler. On Captain Fowler's shoulders was a grinning little boy. The next picture was who Chris assumed to be the same little boy but grown up; he was wearing a cap and gown beaming at the camera.

Captain Fowler leaned forward, his hands clasped together on his desk. "Her life might be in danger. Miss Smith said these were all first-time occurrences herself. This could be a one-time thing made to scare her," Captain Fowler replied calmly. Something told Chris this wouldn't be a one-time thing.

"What if it isn't?" She asked. "What if I get more phone calls and more mail? What if it never stops?" What if someone tries to hurt me? When Captain Fowler remained silent Chris cleared her throat. "Connor said that you could help me," she said weakly.

He exhaled loudly. "He shouldn't have said that. Look even if you were getting thousands of letters and phone calls nothing could be done until contacts been made."

"So we're just supposed to wait until someone attacks Chris? How can you call yourself an officer?" Jasper exclaimed.

"Jasper maybe we should go," Chris said quietly. She was beginning to feel helpless, dread forming in the pit of her stomach.

When he showed no signs of moving Chris stood up and grabbed Jaspers hand. He looked at her, eyes softening. "Maybe it is only a one-time thing. Can we please just go?" Chris was pretty sure no one in the room was buying her bull shit, but she really wanted to go. The mornings' events had exhausted her. All Chris wanted to do was go to the library and recharge.

Jasper sent Captain Fowler one last glare before storming out of his office, pulling Chris along with him. The two silently made their way out of the building, stopping by a bench once they were outside. They sat down and Chris let go of Jaspers hand.

"It's going to be alright," Chris murmured. She wasn't sure who she was trying to convince.

"I don't want you going anywhere alone. I'll walk you to and from work. If you need to go anywhere call me and I'll go with you," Jasper said suddenly.

Chris furrowed her brows. "I can't let you do that Jasper. You have your own life."

Jasper looked at her, eyes hard. "Chris you were the first human to show me kindness. You are my first friend. I don't want you getting hurt."

Chris opened her mouth, "I-"

"Just let me do this for you," he pleaded. Jaspers' eyes were desperate.

Chris swallowed. She understood where Jasper was coming from-she really did- but being her escort everywhere she went was a little much. She decided to only bother him about work since that couldn't be helped because he knew her schedule. The way Chris saw it she would be fine as long as she didn't leave her house after dark.

"Alright, if it'll make you feel better," she answered.

Relieved, Jasper wrapped Chris up in a hug. "We'll get through this. Everything will be fine."

Again something in the back of Chris' mind told her it wouldn't.

Connor

The homicide Connor and Hank had been sent to investigate had been fairly simple. They had quickly discovered that it had not been a homicide but a suicide. An android suicide to be exact. A sad event that had been happening more and more often. Some androids found that after not being able to feel anything for so long and then feeling everything at once to be overwhelming.

Connor felt overwhelmed sometimes too. He would be doing something and suddenly he would find himself overcome with emotion. It was hard to get through but Connor had friends to help him through it.

"So who was the girl?" Hank asked Connor, looking up from his terminal.

"I believe her name is Christine but the android with her called her Chris," Connor supplied.

Hank leaned back in his chair. "How'd she know your name?"

"I walked her home last Saturday night. Someone was following her," Connor added when he saw an odd look pass over Hanks' face.

"Someone was following her? Is that why she was here?"

"Sort of. Someone sent her a package in the mail followed by an odd phone call. I advised her to talk with Captian Fowler."

Hank winced. "You shouldn't have done that kid."

Connor furrowed his brow. "Why not?"

Hank looked over Connors' shoulder. "That's why."

Sure enough, when Connor turned around his gaze was met by a very irritated Captian.

"Connor. My office. Now."

Connor got up from his seat and slowly made his way to the Captain's office. Once he made it to the office Connor warily remained standing. "Yes, captain?"

"Don't you 'yes captain' me. You had no place to tell that girl we could take her case," Captain Fowler said.

"You didn't? Captain, it seemed pretty serious. She was scared," Connor replied. He thought about the look on her face the night they met. "Saturday night she was being followed by a man I couldn't identify. If I hadn't walked her home-"

"Connor listen to me. We cannot help this girl until whoever has been doing this to her makes contact. You know that."

He did know that. If he knew that nothing could be done then why did Connor tell Christine to talk with Captain Fowler? Again, the image of Christine pacing the convenience store appeared in Connors mind. He knew why. He understood what it was like to be afraid. If this has happened before the rooftop incident Connor wouldn't have thought twice about turning Christine away. He was deviant now though, and with that came all of these emotions Connor still didn't have a handle on.

"She was scared," Connor repeated. "Did you look in the box?"

Captain Fowler nodded. "A couple of wilted flowers and a note. What about it?"

"The note said 'We almost had you Saturday night. The time had come for you to join us and be reborn.' Daffodils mean rebirth," Connor explained.

Captain Fowler raised a brow. "What does a black rose mean?"

Connor looked at Captain Fowler. "Death."

And that's a wrap for Chapter 3! I hoped you enjoyed it and I'm sorry if Connor's part wasn't as long as Chris'. I'm trying to work on that. Anyway, feel free to review and tell me what you think!