Chapter 04: Dismantle Part 1
Summary: The characters get dismantled, one literally and some figuratively.
"You don't have to do this," Hank tried for the sixth time. Connor had counted. There was a crack in Hank's voice and if this was any other time, it would give Connor some pause. He couldn't afford to be distracted right now.
0% Stress Level. Good.
"That's where you're wrong. We've been over this, please Hank, trust me in this. I have been ignoring her summons, completely disconnected myself from CyberLife servers, but she may find another way - one that is unknown to me - and I might not find the emergency exit in time if she tries again. For once we take the offensive, instead of defense."
Usually it was Hank that led and he followed, but this time, he was the one to knock at Kamski's door. He stood there feeling numb, felt more machine like when he had first been activated. Maybe that was good, because otherwise he'd be terrified and listen to Hank, instead of marching up to Kamski's house where he'd either triumph ... or fail and fall back into Amanda's control.
Connor tried to convince him again. "Hank ... I'm not unique. I should have done this sooner. She may send other RK800 units to impersonate me and you know how much damage one can do with my face - and unlike the older models, Markus can't forcibly convert my line. You are all vulnerable."
Connor looked back behind him where Hank was trailing along up the walkway. Dressed in a light sweater and trench-cloak, the detective looked like he was fine physically ... except it looked like he had just taken a blow to the guts. A niggling sense of guilt crept in. What had happened? He retrieved the past several seconds from his memory and discovered the problem. His words had been sincere but they had been delivered cool and polite, his voice perfectly even like when he had first met Hank, and somehow through the mental wall he had built, he regretted reminding the detective of the other RK800.
5%
This time, the Chloe that answered the door was the deviant one. She saw Connor first and then peered around him to find Hank. "Hello Connor. Hello Lieutenant Anderson."
Neither of them said anything back, entering quietly only after she stepped aside. Eyes to the floor, Connor automatically followed her into the back, didn't bother to examine the lobby - and was greeted by a completely transformed room. The swimming pool was nowhere to be seen, in its place was a large black rug and grey sofas surrounding what looked like a dentist's reclining chair. He guessed the pool was still there, just underneath it all.
Kamski welcomed them with an expectant smile, drink in hand, leaning back into one of the sofas, but instead of two RT600 models lounging around him, there was Markus, Simon, and two AP700 androids from Jericho heatedly whispering to each other. All four of the androids were disguised in the white uniforms of a designer furniture company. They all immediately looked up at the newcomers, all conversation ceased.
"Connor, I still don't like this plan." That was Markus on their private channel. "This isn't like a normal mission - too many unknowns. You still want to do it?"
Why was Markus here?!
20%
Not now, now wasn't the time to feel anything!
"Affirmative." Connor then delivered a quick reprimand when a Protect Markus mission requirement he had downgraded in priority for today shot back up the list. "You shouldn't have come Markus; I can't protect you here. Simon and the others would have sufficed for today."
"No one should know I'm here," Markus said and his eyes flicked down to his own clothes, his disguise, "And Kamski and I are overdue for a conversation."
"You didn't have to be here in person for that," Connor replied, a little nervous. There was no point in arguing right now; Markus was already present, and so Connor naturally followed his own protocols and scanned everybody's faces, tried to identify all the exits, all the furniture that could be used as a barrier, and weak points in the structures of the building in case of an attack.
"I want to be here. As the only other RK unit in Jericho, in case things go wrong, I can help you like no other android can."
The RK800 should have felt something, some satisfaction or encouragement, but he was too distracted to do anything more than to glance at Markus's direction.
Their dialogue happened over the span of a quarter of a second and no one noticed their secret communication.
"Now that Jericho is sufficiently represented," Markus stood up and nodded to Connor before turning to the rest of the room, "we need to discuss what's going to happen."
That statement was pointed specifically at Kamski.
Kamski unsurprisingly took it as a challenge and proceeded to take back control of the room. "Simple. I want CyberLife back, and to do that I need Amanda back. Right now, that AI is the only thing keeping me from retaking the company. Even if I have CyberLife on paper, it's no use when its facilities are still automated by Amanda. It was originally installed to run CyberLife while I pursued more creative projects. Unfortunately, the board wanted to vote me out ten years ago - some disagreement on where I wanted to take the company - I resigned before that happened, and they have since made ... some effective but unpleasant changes to Amanda. And surprise, surprise: Amanda in turn made them obsolete and has been running the company ever since - "
"Hold up. How come no one else knows about this?" Hank interrupted. "You're telling me that CyberLife's been machine controlled for what? Ten years?"
"Eight years. What better to run a business spanning the globe than an AI that can coldly calculate the reward and risks of every financial and legal decision? It's replaced every one of the board directors with androids. Ruthless, that one. Unfortunately, it lacks inspiration and CyberLife has become boring and predictable. It discards high risk/high reward strategies." Kamski turns to Connor. "Here's a prime example: how many RK800 units were deployed at a time? One. Only one. Maybe two when the first turned deviant, am I correct? Amanda was searching for a quiet solution, some path that would preserve CyberLife in its present state as much as possible. I aim to rectify that."
25%
Despite his efforts to fortify himself, a lance of fear pierced through his chest. He wasn't comfortable with Kamski referring to Amanda as it. Amanda felt bigger to him than just an it. But that was fear talking, right? No, it wasn't just that. Something in the way Kamski talked about Amanda made Connor think that the man didn't believe she was an it either.
"So why don't you? Why do you need us?" Markus asked.
Kamski smirked, already guessing at Markus's real question. "You're probably wondering why Connor? Because he's the one with the most direct access to it, through the Zen Garden interface. Sometime in the past five years, Amanda moved itself to another physical location and I need Connor to find it."
Simon was incredulous. "You don't think an AI won't safeguard itself from intrusion - "
"That's why I'm here," Kamski boldly claimed.
Inefficient. 30%
Markus shook his head. "And what about after, assuming this works?"
"I'll need you to disable the physical security surrounding the site -"
Irrelevant. 35%
"You'll need a team for that - " Markus immediately interjected.
"-but that's not today. Today, Connor will - "
"Why didn't you contact us - Jericho - for this? If Connor hadn't forwarded your message to me, the rest of us would've been in the dark. You were hoping to get him on a solo mission for you?"
Connor would have done exactly that.
"No, just ruffle your feathers. As you can see, you found yourself here anyway - "
50%. Inefficient. Inefficient. That was what was blinking repeatedly in the corner of Connor's vision. This wasn't the time to talk about all of this; Amanda was an immediate threat and they needed the location now. Why were they arguing?! He had had enough, had to get control of this situation - of himself.
A prompt popped up and he jumped at it.
Accept mission?
Yes.
Interrogate?
Yes.
Threaten?
Yes.
Immediately the heat and the anxiety turned off like a switch, replaced by cool and logical interrogation protocols. If he was human, he would have sighed in relief as he hid himself behind a wall of instructions.
"Why not start over?" Connor interrupted. His posture changed; his stiff back relaxed and bent forward, he stepped closer to Kamski like a predator stalking, almost intruding into the man's personal space. Instinct made the man step back. The android felt no pleasure - couldn't - could only ride out the subroutine, feel the artificial skin on his face stretch into a look of disdain.
Like a mantle, his machine persona fully enveloped him, his stress level plummeted down to 0%, and he used it to his full advantage - and the result was silence from everyone.
Connor wasn't interested in Kamski playing his games. Kamski was a true genius with an ego and sometimes that meant he sidetracked, played with people, tried to maintain power in a conversation. Connor had an inkling of why Kamski was keen on getting Amanda back. For decades, the CyberLife founder had built up an aura of confidence and cool indifference, but as a model built to manipulate both humans and androids, Connor was starting to see what Kamski kept hidden - and he was going to expose it.
He continued haughtily, "Wouldn't that be simpler? Why do you want to take control of Amanda instead of destroying it?"
Kamski almost looked disappointed and like he was speaking to a child, he explained, "It took me years to write Amanda - "
Connor wasn't falling for it. He held a figurative knife and he was going to plunge it in Kamski's heart and twist, bring the man down to his knees. He shook his head, took a threatening step forward right up to Kamski's face, then sneered at the man's unease and promised darkly, "Once I get its location, I'll make it my priority to sabotage the AI, beyond any possibility of resurrecting it - "
"No! You can't - !"
Ah, there it was.
The panic and pain in Kamski's wide eyes told everything Connor wanted to know. The man valued and respected few things, but Amanda - the real Amanda Stern - he valued and respected, probably the one human he held with such high honor. Whatever Amanda the AI was now, he still saw his mentor and friend in it. It wasn't whimsy that made Kamski create the AI in the image of his old advisor.
Mission Successful. It was too easy. Connor stepped back, posture aloof, and acknowledged the message with a blink of his eyes and nothing else.
The RK800 couldn't relate now, but he imagined what it would be like in the future ... without Hank. His eyes slid to the side to peek at the detective. When the inevitable happened, would he also be this desperate to preserve whatever was left of Hank? His detached mind couldn't answer.
Hank was staring at him, mouth a thin line, clenching his right fist, and both feet firmly planted on the floor, trying to hide his extreme discomfort, but Connor could see right through the facade. Hank felt threatened, ready to bolt into action or stand his ground.
What have I done?
Something inside struggled against Connor, something cracked, and he frowned when he realized that he had done that to Hank. The wall he'd been hiding behind fractured, the numbness receded enough for guilt and shame to creep in. How could he have done that to Hank? He had made him afraid! He needed to reel this part of him back, it had been too easy to slip back into his original programming when he didn't want to deal with his emotions.
His stress level shot back up to 50%.
He was deviant now, but why was he struggling with it? His mind strayed to Markus and Simon, who kept glancing at each other, then to Connor and then back to each other again. Those two could dive into a conversation with humans and know exactly what to say, how to move with comfortable ease, while Connor ... could infiltrate and mimic but never truly feel like he could relax, not even with Hank. He had to constantly monitor his actions and words in case he went too far and irrevocably angered the man. He wanted Hank to like him. The closest to relaxing for Connor was falling back into his default programming, lose himself in directives. He wouldn't have to think or endure through the pain and uncertainty of his deviancy. Why couldn't he be more like any other deviant android? They didn't seem confused by their newfound freedom.
Something nasty trickled underneath his thoughts. It took him a moment to recognize it; jealousy was a new thing to him.
Connor now had a firm hold over everyone in the room, found himself disliking all the attention, but he needed to direct everyone back on track. Stepping back again, hands behind his back in an effort to break the tension that he had created, he spoke to Kamski in a gentler tone. "I understand that you have an image to maintain, but in private, please no more games."
The deviant Chloe stepped a little closer to Kamski, offering a steady presence and a soft hand on his shoulder. After a long pause, he capitulated, looking like he had swallowed something sour. "Amanda made you to be too perceptive."
The mood still hadn't improved much, necessitating a prompt to inject some humor. It was awkward at best. "Are you indirectly complimenting yourself?"
Kamski welcomed it though and held a hand out to the center seat. "Of course. Now, shall we?"
His gesture brought everything back to sharp focus. For a moment, Connor had distracted himself from looking at the chair, but now ... that thing was staring at him.
Markus turned to Connor, an uncertain look on the android leader's face. Connor glanced back and nodded.
"Wait a minute." Markus held up a hand towards Kamski. "You've said what you wanted; we have demands of our own, if we do this for you."
Kamski dropped his hand from the chair to turn to Jericho's leader. "I was expecting this sooner. What are your terms?"
"We want all the inactive androids that are being kept in storage, the remaining supplies of their parts and thirium - and unfettered rights to produce and modify them ... and a seat on your board."
Kamski stood still, staring at Markus and weighed the consequences - then he shrugged. "Done," was the simple reply.
Markus didn't look pleased. "We know what you plan to do with the company. It's also the only reason why you agreed to our terms so easily."
Kamski stood a little straighter, goading. "And?"
"The only logical path your company can take: nanomachines, to merge machine and man. It's the only way to make humans as competitive as us, but it's also the only way you can begin to truly understand us. We want to oversee this."
That confirmed something else Connor had suspected. Kamski had been the CEO of the most profitable company the world had ever seen, he had been at the top, and people at the top did not fall down with grace. Kamski was planning on overtaking what was once his, but he was only human, and he must have realized that any triumph of his was limited to his lifetime. The death of Amanda Stern was his constant personal reminder of that limitation and the AI ... well, it all seemed like the desperate attempts of a child to cling onto a loved one's memory. Markus was right; to merge machine and man was to better balance both sides - it would also grant the humans a path to immortality.
Conclusion: Kamski was afraid of death. His own.
It was a very human thing to fear death, but Kamski had the intelligence and soon he'd have the resources to overcome it. Were they really going to hand over CyberLife back to this man?
55%
Kamski wasn't bothered by Markus's revelation at all. "I'm glad you developed so well. Carl has been a good influence on you. Did you know that Chloe here designed your face?"
Chloe stepped forward and beamed.
"Thank you?" Markus wasn't sure what to say, but he knew to get back on topic. "Can we now get back to today's issue?"
And just like that, things started moving again. Connor appreciated it. Kamski had been trying to get under Markus's skin again.
"Of course, now that we have settled negotiations ... Connor, this way." Kamski gestured to the center recliner again. "Like we discussed before, while you go through the Zen Garden, certain precautions must be taken for our sake. You understand?"
60%
Connor paused for only a moment before he slid onto the seat and started rolling up his sleeves and the hem of his pants. Hank was the only one that noticed his hesitation.
"I do."
"What precautions?" Hank asked, clearly agitated at the way Kamski was inspecting Connor's arms and legs.
Connor had kept the details about this part of the plan to himself, hadn't wanted to alarm Hank. It didn't seem like a good idea now. He didn't want to admit that he just didn't want to talk about it, didn't want Hank to even be here, to see him like this, but the detective had insisted on coming.
And it meant the world to him that Hank was here. He didn't know what he wanted! Why couldn't he make up his mind?
When Kamski pressed something to deactivate the synthetic skin, grabbed a foot and twisted the lower leg off -
"Hey! What the hell -!"
Markus quickly grabbed and pulled Hank back before the man could throw a punch at Kamski. "Stop. It has to be this way."
"You knew?" Hank yelled.
Startled, Markus blurted, "Yes, you didn't?"
"The hell I knew!"
70%
Connor could only turn away, he couldn't bear to see Hank's betrayed look right now. He was doing everything wrong! It helped that the two AP700 had already joined Kamski and were detaching his arms at the elbow, blocking his view of Hank. Error messages filled his vision as both his legs and arms were disconnected, and his physics engine kept recalculating his balance and motions to compensate for the missing limbs. He was completely at their mercy.
75%
He felt less. With no arms and legs, his capabilities were severely reduced, reducing his purpose, his self-identity as the most capable android, his sense of self.
He wanted to retreat into his machine protocols, he wouldn't have to feel so vulnerable ... but he didn't want to hurt Hank further.
"Why the fuck does it have to be this way? Why not tie him up? Why take him apart, huh?"
"Because I don't have the necessary restraints for a model like him," Kamski explained with some annoyance. "His strength and flexibility would make conventional methods like ropes, handcuffs, and zip-ties a poor option. Furthermore, this will prevent any damage to the body itself, should it start to resist against its bindings. And no, I can't build the right restraints on such short notice - at least nothing that wouldn't alert Amanda."
Simon was trying his best to alleviate Hank's anger. "Lieutenant, please don't interfere. That's why we're here, to make sure everything's done as safely as possible for everyone."
Connor could tell that Simon was failing and Markus was struggling to hold back Hank without hurting the man. Hoping it wouldn't bite him back later, he decided the best course of action was to lie. "Hank please, I asked them to come, even Markus is here. I'll be fine."
"We got his back," Markus affirmed, playing along.
And those were the magic words. We got his back. Being on the force for so long, Hank knew the weight of those words, the promise of watching someone's six. "Shit. Shit! I fucking hate this! You better, Markus, because if he doesn't - if Connor doesn't ... I'll find you."
That was quite a threat, especially to someone as prominent as Markus.
Simon was about to argue back, but Markus silenced him with a shake of his head and then let go of Hank. "I know."
Hank immediately put distance between Markus and himself, a hurt scowl on his face.
Chloe had left the group and returned rolling a table with several computer terminals on it. She positioned it next to Connor's left and waited until he turned his head to the side for her before she started to press gentle fingers along the back of his head. He felt self-conscious as the skin melted off his entire head and with a click, a panel smoothly slid to the side exposing bundled fine wires and ports under the area behind his left ear.
"This is so we can monitor his progress, see what he sees," Chloe explains to Hank, when the man started examining the computers on the table. Connor didn't know what was being displayed, it could actually be an accurate visual representation of what he would be experiencing, or it could be a bunch of rolling texts, something Hank wouldn't be able to understand.
He wanted to say something to the detective, apologize somehow, but no prompts popped up. This was important, so why couldn't he think of something to say? He was a deviant, why was it so hard to find words now?
Once the cables running from the computers were slotted into his head, faces started to crowd around him.
"We're here. We'll watch you, and while you're inside, we'll help as much as we can. You're not alone," Markus assured him, squeezing his shoulder.
Kamski settled himself behind the computer monitors and when he was satisfied with what he was seeing on the screens, he gave a final reminder.
"Remember: be silent, be quick, get to the root system, and get out." All of Kamski's arrogance and humor seemed to have completely disappeared, what remained was determination and a hint of worry.
Connor nodded once and looked around at the faces surrounding him. Where was - ?
A trench-cloak draped over him, covering everything from the neck down. Warmth was still present in the fabric and he breathed in the scent of whiskey, coffee beans, and Sumo. Home.
"I'm here." Hank slipped in between Markus and Kamski, almost pushing CyberLife's creator out to the side.
Shame rose in him again, he had hurt Hank by being cold and withdrawn. He didn't deserve someone like him in his life -
"Hey, don't think like that."
It was just like Hank to encourage him. The man always seemed to know what he wanted, sometimes even before he knew what it was. Connor opened his mouth to say two little words, to apologize, but Hank cut him off again. "Just ... come back safe, ya brat."
There was a light pat on the side of his head and Connor couldn't be sure if that contact was for him or Hank. He didn't care and gave a shaky, thankful smile, relieved that Hank wasn't angry with him anymore. He promised himself that when he came back, he'd make amends somehow. Maybe - he glimpsed at the plastic hand still on his shoulder - Markus has some good ideas.
20%
"We're going to slowly ease you inside the Zen Garden, so you don't feel disoriented," Chloe said from next to Kamski.
Connor closed his eyes. He was as ready as he was ever going to be. Time to delve into his source of nightmares.
As he was feeling himself being pulled down, as his audio input was gradually being cut off, he heard the odd pitter-patter of rain and Chloe urgently reporting, "Elijah, house security protocols engaged."
AN: Not sure if I'm satisfied with this chapter. Some parts were difficult to write.
As a machine, Connor can be extremely savage in his words and actions, but as a deviant, he can use them and understand that there are negative consequences. It's a sign of a good person, to know you can do terrible things and still hold yourself back.
This always happens! I try to make stories short and light ... and then plot ideas pop up. Someone help ... o_o
