Markus
November 15, 2034
"Holy shit…" Leo's rasp fell to deaf ears as Markus' internal homeostasis programs fought on overdrive to correct the software abnormalities that were misfiring through him.
Android RK200 slowly lowered the gun he'd just fired.
[...OBJECTIVE : shoot simon : COMPLETE …]
Automatic internal software scans flashed white and red code in front of the androids vision. Nothing was damaged, saved for the slightly cracked occipital plate in the back of his head. Nothing to pose an imminent threat to his ability to perform his duties. But- the android's thirium pump was still beating at over 120% normal capacity, and he couldn't seem to slow the quick breaths that escaped his lips.
Droids needn't breathe the same as humans did, however there was something seizing in the android's chest and he couldn't seem to return to standard condition.
A scuff of Leo's boots on the floorboards gripped Markus' attention and pulled him from the self-diagnostic state he was previously paralyzed in.
The human laughed, the shaky quality indicated that the human was both in fact surprised, and pleased.
He grabbed the gun from android RK200's hand before striding to where the blonde android stood perfectly still, on his knees. In the same position he was ordered to stay in when Markus was given the order to shoot.
Android RK200 absentmindedly ran his hand over his cheek- something tickled his skin receptors, and when he pulled his hand away, a streak of blue liquid smudged the palm of his otherwise perfect hand. Thirium- the splatter and result of the gun's discharge.
Markus' head began to spin in an unusual way, like his balance was no longer calibrated. Too much data seemed to process at once, his head felt cloudy and heated from the over-exhaustion of his internal computing systems.
"Not the exact result I was aiming for, but fuck-" Leo kneeled down, eye level with android PL600- Simon. He grabbed the prone android by the chin and swiveled its head from one side, to the other, taking in what damage was done… or not done.
Markus watched- analyzed.
Simon's LED was stagnant- it wasn't flickering anymore.
It just burned a bright, painful red on its untouched temple.
"Good fucking shot, plastic." Leo hummed. He traced his thumb up the side of Simon's cheek- where the skin had begun to dissolve- still smoking from the bullet. The faintest shine of Simon's white, cracked plastic cheekbone protruded from the hole Markus' bullet had carved, and the outline of the android's upper teeth were all but shadowed by the remaining skin.
It wasn't crying anymore- the tears that once fell had dried.
Leo leaned his face closer the android's- seemingly trying to analyze the bot himself, as if he were capable.
"Yuh still in there, fucker?"
Markus noted Leo's preference to the word and stepped to the side slightly, attempting to give himself a better view of the blonde android.
Simon didn't respond. His eyes seemingly were glassed over- no doubt attempting to run his own diagnostics scans from the immediate trauma it acquired.
Android PL600 models were one of the earliest domestic assistants placed in the market- their software over the recent years had grown almost obsolete- their newer modeled AX400 easily replaced the PL line within a year of i's time in circulation.
Given its out-of-date software, it was taking Simon longer than usual to respond.
Leo traced the gun down the side of Simon's face, following his jaw bone, down his neck, and resting on his chest, covering a spot stained with blue.
"Answer me android-"
Androids weren't supposed to be able to feel startled, but- when Simon slowly turned his head and focused his crystal blue eyes on Markus, the RK200 nearly short-circuited. His thirium pump almost stopped at the look Simon gave him.
[SYSTEM INSTABILITY]
"My software analysis confirms that there is no damage detected for my processors. However - minor hardware corruption has been detected. For further assistance, please contact your nearest CyberLife representative." Android PL600's voice was smooth and rehearsed- the program script rolled of his tongue as he stared at Markus.
His blue orbs then slid from Markus, to Leo.
"Yes I'm still in here, Leo." Thirium trickled down his cheek and into the collar of his shirt as he responded.
Leo swung back his fist and aimed for Simon's head.
Two bright, flashing options appeared in Markus' vision.
[Stop Leo
[Do Nothing
Automated code and programming process flooded his mind. Serve and obey serve and obey…
Markus was rooted to the spot.
[Stop Leo
[Do Nothing
[system stabilizing]
The thud of Leo's fist on Simon's temple echoed through the small house.
Android PL600's head snapped back, as it landed on its rear, hands splayed out behind to catch its fall.
"Next time, I'll make sure the bullet goes through your fucking forehead."
Leo stood, and on his way passing Simon, knocked both arms from under it. The android fell on its back, its head cracking against the wood. Thirium dripped from Simon's nose and streamed down its opened cheek.
As Leo was about to turn into the kitchen, he looked back to the two androids in his living room.
"Don't bother me for the rest of the night. Simon- finish cleaning the fucking kitchen," He gestured to the room behind him, gun still in hand. "-And Markus, bah!" He scratched his head with the gun, looking noticeably distressed and unable to think of a command. "Recharge for the night.." He winked at the android. "You're gonna need full battery power tomorrow..huh…" The human shuffled into the kitchen, and then disappeared up the stairs that were hidden to the right of the doorframe.
Markus inhaled and sighed quietly through his nose, ignoring the android that laid in front of him.
[...OBJECTIVE: enter rest mode and wait for further instruction…]
But…
"Markus…" He looked down to see the blonde android sitting up, it's right hand still shaking, now touching its cheek with delicate fingers.
"Yes?" Markus replied. His thirium pump slowed to an average tempo as his LED returned to a warm blue.
Simon's eyes were clear as his… -its optics focused from Markus' face, to his hands, to the blue spray that coated his white CyberLife shirt.
"For all it's worth-" It stood- swaying slightly on its feet. A quick scan from android RK200 revealed that the android in front of him had a damaged calibration disk in its right ear. It stepped forward, just a small one, left leg slightly dragging behind. It sighed, "-for all it's worth, thank-you."
Thank you? This took Markus and his cognitive software by surprise. Again- there it is, surprise. Markus took a step back to counter the other android's slow approach.
"I shouldn't be thanked…" After all, he was an android- property to the humans. His actions based solely on the will of his owner. If anything, Simon should have been thanking Leo…
[...SOFTWARE INSTABILITY…]
"I have orders, and so do you. Goodnight, Simon." Cold, unfeeling, robotic, just as he should be.
Markus turned, and headed into the adjacent room - it was empty, save for an old dining room table covered in old pizza boxes and beer bottles. A cigarette ashtray, broken on the floor crunched under his shoes as he entered.
Simon's voice was soft as it whispered, "Leo is going to make you do terrible things tomorrow, Markus."
Markus stopped moving, back pressed against the far wall next to a boarded up window as he listened.
"It's your choice. Remember who you were…" Simon's voice disappeared and faded into the sounds of staggered breathing and the quiet thump thump thumping of Markus' heart… thirium regulator pump.
Android RK200 tilted his head back slowly, until it tapped the wallpaper behind him.
Before entering rest mode, he stood there. LED flickering every once and a while as he listened to the sounds that came from the kitchen. The house was empty and small enough, even the smallest choked sob that seemed to emit from the android in the kitchen caught his audio receptors.
The blonde android… warned him? After being shot by him? It wasn't Markus' place to question an owner's orders or actions, simply to serve and obey.
His LED began to spin golden as he computed.
But, what did PL600 mean by, 'remember who you were..?' Markus clenched and loosened his fists, the memories replayed through his vision as his processors assessed the day's information.
Simon's warning played back through his mind, and it created the strangest feeling in Markus' chest cavity. Almost comparable to fear or dread- he researched the human emotions as he continued to compile the data.
[...CURRENT OBJECTIVE: enter rest mode and wait for instructions…]
The reminder flashed in front of Simon's face- just the memory, slightly distorted by the hazy white lettering.
Markus shook his head in an attempt to free the contiplation that began festering his inner processes.
[...ENTER REST MODE? : Y/N :…]
What did Simon mean? Who was Markus before? What happened?
[...ENTER REST MODE? : Y/N :…]
serve and obey serve and obey serve and obey serve and obey
[...ENTER REST MODE? : Y/N :…]
Who was I?
[...ENTER REST MODE? : Y/N :…]
Android.
[...ENTER REST MODE? : Y/N :…]
[...]
[...Entering Rest Mode: Please Standby…]
[...60s…]
Serve.
[...]
And obey.
[...0…]
Connor
November 15, 2034
"We don't have a shit ton of time- I'd like to be out 'uh here before morning." Lieutenant Anderson slammed his door behind him as he walked toward the main gate of Detroit City's android Junkyard. His shoulders were hunched, but it was mostly camouflaged by the enormous winter coat he wore.
A beaming orange VETA sign illuminated the parking lot as Connor followed his partner.
"I don't understand why -" Connor began, only to be interrupted by Anderson.
"-Why we're being so sneaky?" The android nodded. "Truth is Connor, I want justice for Carl Manfred. The fuckers at the precinct only want the easy answers." He raised the flat key card to the scanner in front of the towering iron gates. A small beep and a click opened the gates and allowed them access to the mountains of parts and junk that waited ahead. Connor stood beside him though, listening. No one advanced forward. "To them, it's easier to blame a fucking plastic robot that can't defend themselves rather than finding who the true monsters are." Anderson initiated the movement and started walking. "...lazy pieces of shit.." he mumbled as his boots splashed through the stagnant and putrid rain puddles.
This initiated a response from Connor. "It sounds to me Lieutenant that you're siding with the androids."
"I'm siding with the victim, Connor. I don't give a fuck if it was a flying dart made of shit that killed Carl." He ran his hands through his hair as he stuffed the key back into his pocket. "I just want the truth." He sighed, in a way that made him seem older than he actually was, and it made the android slightly uncomfortable.
The conversation died there, and Connor was somewhat thankful for it. It allowed him to focus entirely on his mission and current task at hand: to locate and seize android RK200.
Anderson stood with his arms crossed a few feet away from the exit as Connor marched forward.
"This place gives me the creeps. You do your magic scanning shit and I'll be here when you're done."
Connor's lip turned into a half a smile as he strutted forward.
"Affirmative Lieutenant." Connor gave him a thumbs up before surveying the environment.
The android could definitely understand the Lieutenant's hesitancy when it came to the junkyard. In truth, it was the first Connor's seen it- and it overwhelmed him a fraction.
Both to the left and to the right of him seemed to stretch forever- only illuminated by the faint glows of red, blue and golden LED's that still buzzed on the temples of disembodied androids.
The drop in front of him had to be at least fifty feet, entirely made of scraps of metal and bodies of other androids who could possibly have been exactly like him.
"Where are you Markus…" Connor hummed to himself.
In a fraction of a second, the android was able to map out the most likely and highest possible pathways that an android could take to leave the pit, should they find themselves able to.
Three red paths glowed in his mind - those were deemed the least likely, seeing as the incline up the precipice walls were almost too steep for a fully functional android to scale.
Two yellow paths glowed through the center of the pit, and it snaked through and around the many trenches that lined the bottom. Possible escape routes, only they disappeared into the darkness to the right of Connor, and he wasn't sure how far those paths would stretch on.
Two throbbing blue trails lead straight up the side of the pit to where Connor was standing, the end of one route disappeared at his feet.
[...CURRENT OBJECTIVE: FIND ANDROID RK200 …]
"Here goes nothing…" The android's voice faded as he took a couple of steps back, and then lunged forward, catapulting himself into the pit.
It wasn't done without proper planning in the least- Connor meticulously calculated where certain scraps of metal, or protruding arms and legs sprouted from the pit's walls on his descent. He used those to grab on to as he slid and sprinted down.
Some grips were more slippery than anticipated, but, within about fifteen seconds, the android found himself standing at the bottom of the junkyard canyon.
"Connor! You good…?!" Anderson's husky voice echoed from the top lip of the pit- Connor saw his worried face peek from behind a mound of android parts.
"Perfectly fine Lieutenant! Don't worry!" Connor waved his hand in affirmation. "I'm a professional!"
"Jesus fucki-" His head had disapeared behind a torso presently struggling to climb the wall.
Connor smirked, and began his mission.
The first blue path he decided to follow seemed to be the easiest to maneuver. It trailed from the center spine of the pit, around a couple of android hills, and up the wall that lead to Anderson.
Pulling up the android's stats in his internal database, allowed Connor to accurately decipher which android limbs could possibly belong to such a make and model.
RK200, Markus- the android's picture stayed transparent in Connor's sight as he began walking and scanning.
The first section he scanned neglected to show any results.
"Hmmm..." Connor hummed to himself as he continued down the path, his shoes every so often getting caught in a hole, or grabbed by a sentient hand reaching for him.
The second place he stopped to scan seemed different than the rest of the pit- felt different.
There were blinking and fading LED lights all around him. The walls to either side of him were made of mostly put-together androids- they still had faces and some of them were talking. One female android was singing.
A sudden burst of electricity seemed to course through his limbs, and Connor all but fell to his knees.
[...INCOMING W-WIRELESS C-COMMUNICATION…]
The text blinked in front of him before he could steady himself.
[accept
[decline
Head buzzing with external feedback, Connor had to decide before he lost connection.
[accept
[decline
An extremely loud and static voice echoed through his skull, causing Connor to instinctively raise his hands to his ears.
"Y-You Search-ch for an answer -a-answer you will not-not-will not find here detective."
"What!?" Connor responded out loud, as well via wireless communication. His hands still splayed defensively over his ears.
He cocked his head from one side to the other, trying to find where the voice was originating from.
"H-he lives- and he- he will free- will free us…"
There! Connor's eyes focused on the upper torso of a Jerry EM400 android and he directed his internal wireless communication programming to the redheaded bot. Feeling as though there was an invisible rope pulling him to the android, he stepped forward and kneeled down to be eye-level with the EM400. Their wireless signals growing stronger as he approached.
"What are you talking about?" Connor's voice was firm and demanding- the same one he'd use in an interrogation office.
The Jerry model just smiled back at Connor- his LED burning a bright red. His legs were gone, and the bottom half of his torso seemingly grew from the mound of earth behind him. One arm was mangled and the wires were dripping from one of his elbows- static sparks crackled from them with the wind that tunneled through the pit.
Connor reached a hand to grab the android's only other working extremity.
"Please, you've got to help me-"
Upon connection to the Jerry, Connor was granted access immediately to the memory files stored in the Jerry's software.
Like a flashback, Connor sifted through the files, time stamped with the dates starting back from when he was first commissioned to Pirate's Cove amusement park, leading up to present moment.
"D-don't do t-that-" Jerry's voice crackled as Connor persisted.
Starting with the date of Carl's death, Connor sped through the android's memory files.
Connor's eyes seemed to glean as he found what he was searching for.
"Gotcha."
"P-Please s-stop- g-get GET OUT!" The Jerry's voice seemed to roar through him and Connor quickly released his grip.
"I appreciate your cooperation EM400, the city of Detroit thanks you."