For a second it steals my breath away as we watch each other in silence. There is lively intelligence shining in his eyes, not the dull content expression I usually experience with androids. Although he's far from the perfect physical state, most likely knows nothing about me and has no access to download any information to find out what happened to him, he smiles friendly. "You're the owner of the WLAN – 'Don't even try it'. What is your name?" It's astounding and scary with how much certainty he states this fact, which of course is correct.
I brush off the introduction procedures and rather point to his open belly. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid you will have to repair yourself later, I did what I could for the time being." His attention shifts downward and as soon as he sees the damage, leaves out an inaudible groan. The red LED blinks rapidly and his face contorts - almost as if he's in terrible pain and it confuses me immensely. He's not supposed to feel anything, it must be some elaborate program for social interaction which had gone haywire. For a few moments I'm worried that he won't snap out of it, but his expression softens again and his eyes land back on me.
"My system diagnostics fail." He admits defeated. There are no studies regarding the side effects of how well androids cope with inadequate components, but I imagine the interference with his normal functionality must be quite severe.
"Well that might be because those organs of yours are not really supposed to be in you." I decide to inform him as soon as possible, so he will avoid analysing their state and risk end up stuck in a loop of failing procedures.
"I won't be able to sustain my system till the end of the day if they're not replaced by properly compatible ones." He blankly states. The indifference to his eminent death is expected, but ever since I've taken a glimpse to his inner workings, having witnessed personally how complex and precious his unique design is, been literally inside of him and felt the radiance of his world, I feel myself growing increasingly upset. "Alright, alright, don't pressure me!"
"I'm sorry, but there is completely no reason for any distress. I will merely experience complete system failure." The way he phrases it one could take it for sarcasm, but the levelled tone and the questioning look on his face tell me otherwise. It's completely his fault I won't see an end to my troubles and he just sits there, devil-may-care should he shut down, as if it's not even his problem!
I concentrate on gathering more information for now. "Introduce yourself." Although I perfectly know his name and all the numbers are clearly written in large letters on his uniform, there might still be something else he might say.
"My name is Connor. I'm an RK800 model designed specifically to assist the police in their investigations. I'm a prototype." Revealing only fundamental details.
"A prototype you say, that explains the unusual serial number. 51 – That's two more digits than other androids have." The thing I've noticed first from all things, a good moment as any to ask him about it.
His smile is warm and distracting. "Thank you."
"That, that wasn't a compliment, just a statement." He looks dejected for some reason. His social protocols must be highly advanced to prompt him to react in this way for even such small issues, interesting.
"RK stands for rookie then?" I grin proudly about my stupid joke, curious if I can upset him any further.
"No, resource kernelization of course." To my disappointment he seems to have caught on about my intention already. Too bad, there is so much more one could do with his designation, rescued kitty for example – but I already know he wouldn't appreciate any more joke attempts.
"Can you also tell me why there are two more digits?" I should at least try to be serious when I poke around for his personal information.
"I don't know. I was only informed that I'm the first of my line." He answers while slightly furrowing his brows, like he never even contemplated about this fact himself before.
"The first? What happened to the other fifty?" The grin is all over my face again, I'm sorry, I can't help it! But he looks quizzically at me, not quite understanding the question. His LED erratically picks up speed and he grows apparently more desperate as he can't find the answer.
"It was a joke, relax. Most likely it's just the day when you were build or something." Looking up in his database for general information to confirm my suspicion, I find out that he was indeed released on the 5th of the August 2038.
"You're quite young. So, for what kind of missions did CyberLife already use you?" I start with seemingly unprovocative questions, expecting to ease first into a friendly conversation, before prompting him about the serious stuff.
"I'm not supposed to disclose any information to civilians. I'm sorry."
"What? None what so ever? You make it sound like CyberLife is some sort of criminal organization protecting high security secrets and developing life threatening projects underground in order to gain world domination." His expression stays emotionless and although I half meant it as a joke, there was always a lingering suspicion that it's not all too far away from the truth either.
"Ok, what is your current mission then?" Just wanting to know what in seven hells was so important for him to run across the highway in the middle of the rush hour.
"I've already told you that I'm no position to reveal any data which is not already available for the general population." He frowns offended, like I'm either too stupid to understand him, or too disrespectful about his perfectly accurate configuration. Most likely though, it's just an elaborate protection mechanism, meant to throw off any unaware intrusion attempts.
"What were you doing this morning on the highway?" It's a less direct approach, surely there are ways to circumvent the hardcoded restrictions forbidding him to elaborate on concrete facts about his mission, but it should be very well possible to gain at least some clues to work with.
"I was executing my mission of course." It took some willpower not to slam my hand against the table right then. I've never expected to meet this hardcore level of resistance. It seems like he's specialized for interrogation procedures and keen on keeping me completely in the dark.
"How can your mission be more important than your system stability? You're aware you got yourself almost killed there?" I'm in no way qualified for this game called - asking the right questions in the right order with the right expressions. It is definitely easier to just hack myself further into his program and simply read this information, but in his programs are countless barriers and the time it takes to break them down is really not worth it.
"Yes. My partner tried to stop me, but nothing stops me from accomplishing my mission." He sounds proud, more than just an android doing his job. But what's more interesting, I've finally gained a clue! It would be foolish to ask for a name directly, but that's at least a step forward.
"So, someone in the police is allowed to know about your super-secret mission then?" The way he reacts, inclining his head lightly, taking a breath before wordlessly looking at me – is an answer in itself, but not a very satisfying one. "You're an android! You're not supposed to be annoyed just because I ask you the same question multiple times!"
And then, he's audacious enough to shift his expression back to perfect innocence, voice clear and placid. "I'm not annoyed" For fucks sake, but I am!
"So what is your mission?" I perfectly know that there is no way to brute force this question, he's not a human to grow tired, even the annoyance he displayed clearly before, was just a part of his program. He will answer in the same way no matter how often I try, or how I vary my question.
"You don't have the necessary access rights to acquire this information." See? Exactly what I was expecting. Let's play his little game, maybe there is a loophole somewhere.
"Which access rights do I need?" For a second he looked as he would answer, bringing my hopes up foolishly. But then he just closes his mouth again, inquisitively looking me in the eyes. "If you were authorized, you would know." Right, as if he would simply spill the GuID I need to add into my account and make this whole thing easy.
"This is not an answer Connor!" I feel like getting a headache. My mood jumping all over the place and watching his reaction - it's promptly up through the roof again. "Don't you dare to smile on that!"
"I'm just trying to be friendly." If he would have been able to move, I swear he would have pulled his hands up in pacification.
"ah, for fucks sake, I don't need you to be friendly, I need information! Let's try it otherwise, what CAN you tell me about yourself?"
"…" The Android disinterestedly looks away. His gaze shifts lazily around the objects in my room and after a few minutes passed without him answering, I grow certain that he won't. "Are you ignoring me now?"
"No." His LED blinks and its obvious that he's analysing the items in his view. There are some anime figures on the cupboard, a half-finished oil painting in the corner of my room which I haven't touched for years. Countless cables, old consoles and more characteristic stuff for him to study.
"Then why don't you answer." I'm really patient here. Ok, I'm not. But I'm trying!
"You've just stated that I don't need to be friendly with you. There is hence no need to explain myself." He's dead serious there and for a horrible moment I realize that's exactly what he was aiming at from the start.
"You're doing this on purpose!" Calm down, getting angry with a machine is not a healthy behaviour.
"What am I doing?" Big round brown eyes, highly raised eyebrows, as if he really wouldn't know.
"You take everything I say literally to avoid answering any questions what so ever!" There is just something about him that makes my voice growl.
"Yes." He blankly states, his gaze again shifting through the room boredly. He must have scanned most of the items by now.
"Don't make both of our lives harder than it is. You know that your life is in my hands now, do you?" Deep breaths, it's not the fault of the android, it's only the user in front of it - who can't ask the right questions.
"I'm not alive."
Throwing the chair down I jump up from my seat, two hard steps and I'm already upon him. This is supposed to be just a normal routine check-up and me gathering some basic knowledge, not an interrogation, but damn it very well feels like one!
"I don't need your quibbles! You're not alive you say?" I put my hands around his throat, just for the gesture, not actually squeezing. "Those bio components are struggling as hell to keep you very in fact - alive. Should I put just a tad of pressure" oh god help me, but I do. "Do you feel them struggling? Can you tell how much effort it takes to keep you up and running?"
His eyes are now all on me, he's look all levelled and composed, but somewhere, there is also confusion. "Yes." He simply states and I let go immediately. What am I doing? "Then you should appreciate it more that you're still here and breathing." Perfectly knowing he won't get the point anyway. I really don't want to jeopardize his state any more, he's already at the brink of destruction and it's exactly what pisses me off. I'm still the only one here who cares if he even makes it.
"I'm sorry. Please be friendly again." I squeeze out defeatedly. Connor 1, Hacker 0.
He somehow perfectly manages to subtly play with my emotions. If I want to get anywhere I should either go back to hacking or not getting worked up this badly. Some part of me knows that it's his security protocol provoking me, I'm very well aware that androids are capable of destroying themselves should someone try to breach their security and since he can't move his options are limited.
"Of course." It's strange enough, but as soon as his eyes are back on me and I've gained again this warm smile, no longer grazing the fine line where I could have lost his disposition and with it, a huge amount of access to common functionality, it feels like I can breathe evenly again. Honestly, fishing for information from an android who is clearly designed in all ways to resist, is hopeless.
Turning away from the captivating eyes, I focus back on my computer. Hurriedly typing some code - I can push as a batch into his core program. I've noticed there is an empty spot above the list of his main priorities, most likely reserved for an emergency, so the developers don't have to reconfigure his whole system, should they've overlooked something vital in his behaviour.
"What are you doing?" His voice is wary, although only now having noticed the wire connecting his system to my equipment.
"I can't stand your suicidal attitude, I will fix it before you do something stupid." This is the main reason no owner ever attempts to explore those secrets hidden in them, all guarantees are lost as soon as you open them up.
"You're not supposed to have access to my program. I'm only allowed to be maintained by trained CyberLife personnel." It's cute how staggered he sounds, I can tell that even in this state, he attempts to counter my intrusion. His body twitches again in his seat, almost as if he's fighting against those invisible restraints forbidding him to move the main parts of his body.
"Well honey bunny, you can guess three times who has access anyway." I smile, watching his struggling algorithms run against the walls I've already established. I wouldn't stand a chance wouldn't his hardware be as damaged as it is. There is no way for a human to fight directly against his implemented and powered up anti-virus protocols, they would isolate my access before I even had the time to blink.
Adding argument; protocol_#10001(priority: 0);
His demeanour freezes and his eyes blink rapidly as the small piece of code is absorbed by the core programming. His next statement is polite and composed, but you can clearly hear the underlying urgency. "Please order my bio components from an express shop immediately, or at least send me back to CyberLife so I can be properly repaired."
"What was that?" I smile wider, as I state the rhetorical question, already knowing that it worked as intended. But he answers dutifully. "I would consider it highly regrettable…" He takes a pause to form his next statement, although still not quite sure if it's right to say such a thing. "… should I, shut down before I can complete my mission."
It's fascinating how my direct input can change his whole behaviour pattern. Although he replies as I've expected, there is the clear struggle against the new, unsigned instructions. It doesn't make any sense that CyberLife didn't bother to include self-preservation to his top priorities, his construction must have cost a small fortune.
Although I know better than to play around at this very moment, there is just so much I can do by abusing this method. Too bad - I don't come very far. As soon as I'm about to put the next block of self-written code into his system, I'm greeted by an error message. "Oh no."
"Have you broken something vital?" His head is turned towards me, attentively scanning my reactions. He's perfectly aware how far I've gotten, I wonder if he can even feel me rummaging through his software. "No." I meekly answer hiding my face in the palms of my hands.
"The level in your tone discloses a high uncertainty." He insists. Ok, I wouldn't be excited to hear this in his place as well, should a doctor be knee deep in my guts and then suddenly proclaim 'oh noes!'. At least the first protocol I've inserted is still working perfectly.
"I can't add any more priorities on top of your main mission!" It was foolish to assume that would be able to extend the list indefinitely.
"That is correct." He relaxes visibly, an innocent smile plastered on his face. I can't be sure, but is this his way to hide complacency?
"NOOooo! What have I done!? If I had known, I would have added something! Something…" When I think about it, I should have also added countless parameters making him more obedient!
"What could possibly be more important than my safety?" Again, a cute and innocent question, which seems totally out of place.
"Oh for fucks sake! You should have heard yourself five minutes ago." His mood stabilizes, while mine drops to the bottom as I consider my options.
"I perfectly remember. The completion of my mission had the utmost importance, and I never fail my missions." Is he being ironic with me right now? What the hell was he constructed for, I've never encountered social protocols extending and simulating humour in such annoying ways.
"Except when you get run over by my car." I counter grumpily, while scanning the descriptions of his core functionalities to get a better feeling of what he's capable off.
"Yes, but this is of no relevance." Even more access codes. For every bit of information I gain, list of questions and closed-off realms heap up. "What do you mean?"
"I'm afraid I can't disclose this information. If you have any further questions please contact CyberLife directly."
"Argh hell!" Annoying! Stupid! Restrictions! On EVERY corner!
At least I can change some of those rather easily. I take myself the time to burn down the layers between the user management database and myself, avoiding quite many patrolling systems meant to locate and isolate intruders and camouflaging my steps, by properly closing all the virtual doors behind me. Till I finally reach the destined interface where I can force my code input.
{Overwriting user settings;} foreach(unconnected) delete; current = complete_access_privileges;
/ warning: access privileges are linked to associated responsibilities /
I confirm without any hesitance, brushing away any lingering uncertainty gnawing on me, where I just hope not to break anything accidently. There is always the possibility that I will lock myself out permanently should I delete something essential. But I also perfectly well know, that I have at least try and erase any old access CyberLife might use against me.
"Thank you for updating my settings. I will consider you from now an as an important factor in my investigation." His demeanour changes promptly, body relaxing against the chair, as if all the urgency and all his resistance simply soaked away.
"Wait? Which investigation?" I expect him to somehow circumvent my intrusion and evade the question, but to my surprise he answers now eagerly.
"I'm hunting down deviants and provide CyberLife with all information regarding the cause of their malfunctioning." It's baffling how willingly he suddenly exposed the well protected information.
"You want to tell me those rumours about androids going nuts are actually true!?" Although I don't believe he would bluntly lie, I was convinced too certainly for far too long, that all those reports were completely made up popularity trolls - not even considering it might have been my own wishful thinking.
"Of course. CyberLife considers its highest priority to eliminate any possible threat to humanity."
Fuck. This can only mean that one of the most influential companies in our country is out there hunting down crazy robots and doing their best to hide any information from leaking to the masses. It's THEM who're effectively squashing any reports as groundless rumours and here I am sitting knee deep in all the evidence needed - to expose them.
Pacing nervously around my room, his eyes follow silently my frantic movements, like those of a haunted portrait - hanging in a mansion of some film. I take a look out of my window, almost expecting a white van being parked on the other side of the street, but nothing suspicious hits me.
I walk a perfect circle around his chair, while we observe each other sceptically like two tigers considering their options before battle. I haven't noticed so far, too occupied by the onrushing problems, but he's quite handsome, his expression innocently cute – not at all representing, or maybe even deliberately hiding the stored intelligence behind. "I want you, I want to keep you!" I state promptly and I've wasted too much time already. His eyes widen in surprise, but he doesn't respond.
Cramming out my cell phone, a familiar face on the short list of my contacts lights up. "Matthew, hi! Listen I don't have much time to explain. Please do me a favour!"
As expected I can hear his delight on the other end of the line. He's the only person I know, who is resourceful and discrete enough to help. "Yes, yes I know. But it can't wait till tomorrow. In fact, it can't even wait another few hours."
I know his services have their price, it won't kill him to help out a fellow colleague, but I perfectly remember the way he used to look at me. "Listen, I will send you a list of bio components I need immediately. I know you can get some and I promise I will compensate you to your hearts content." He's a sharp fellow, a simple yes darling – is pretty hard to elicit.
"No, I'm not in trouble." Perfectly hearing my voice hitching up on the blunt lie.
"Please, I will do anything!" Fuck. I know I shouldn't have said that, the guy has some dubious side jobs, including some night clubs, exactly the reason why he got fired from our company and I am pretty sure he will hold me up to that offer. But since any official order will take a while to deliver, not to speak about the attention such costly purchase might attract from the government - they're most likely searching already for their missed property - I'm left with only a few options.
"You seem troubled." Connor was polite enough to wait for my conversation to be finished, before inquiring me about my plans. "At least I will get you up and working properly again" I smile weakly, not even quite sure yet about this fact.
While waiting for his equipment to arrive I can very well use the time and reconfigure some of his settings. Although I won't be able to fix his rotten attitude, at least I can construct some rules insuring his loyalty and discreetness.
"There is no need for you to further tamper with my code, I'm already completely at your disposal." Oh, the unmistakable urgency in his tone tells me exactly otherwise. I proceed typing, increasing my speed.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" He insists as I pay him no mind. I need more time to locate all the stored resources which impregnate CyberLifes trademark on him.
As his attempts to sow doubts don't archive the desired effect, he starts to visibly struggle against the restriction not to move. His fingers curl around the armrests, even the right side of his mouth bends slightly upwards in effort, but it is to no avail yet.
I shouldn't be nervous about him suddenly breaking free, at most - all of his bio components will fall apart should he actually succeed and it will result in his immediate destruction, rather than any danger of my own. "You're not coping well with my hacking. I'm sorry but hang in there for a bit." I should at least try and distract him with a conversation by occupying his processors.
"Don't worry, adapting to unpredictable situations is one of my key functions." He winks flirtatiously at me, while his body remains tuned like a wire.
"Such as this one?" A bead of sweat forming on my temple.
"Yes." It is almost as if he knows for sure, that he will succeed eventually.
"So what do you make of it?" I probe, never ceasing in my attempts to hack his code.
"I would advise you to return me to CyberLife immediately. The further you breach my security, the higher will be the compensation fee." His tone is still friendly, but the warning in his words is unmistakable. I really can't have that happening, I've gone too far already.
"Will you report to them about me given the chance?" A pause. "No."
There was a freak'n definite pause! His face doesn't show it in any way that he might be lying. I don't believe androids even can, but my guts are screaming at me that he just did.
I don't take any chances and promptly write countless parameters, I can possibly come up with in this short time, forbidding him to ever mention anything about my person, should he ever come to contact with CyberLife in the future. On my outer left screen, I see the pulse of his thirium pump accelerating.
He grinds his teeth and there are beads of sweat forming on his temple. To every single input I force into his system, his body reacts although it's being tortured. "If you proceed into this direction, I can't guarantee that I will continue to function properly." This makes me actually pause. Whatever I'm trying to accomplish, damaging him is definitely not included.
Those precious seconds of hesitance are my doom. I notice it perfectly on time to avoid the worst, but too late to gain everything I strived for. "Connor!" Roaring in his direction, he answers me with a smug self-assured smile, like he's just accomplished a sub mission. "YOU! YOU!" He just launched an antivirus procedure which cut me out from the most suitable position. I can't really blame him, I wouldn't be all to delighted if someone tried to hack into my brain to change my behaviour.
"Yes? What can I do for you?" I won't entertain his masked provocation this time. "Forget it." And resume another route, which will take even longer to complete and has a higher risk of actually breaking some of his subfunctions.
"Is CyberLife aware that I've stolen you and that you're still alive?" That's something I want to know desperately.
"No." The answer comes promptly and evenly. Phew, at least one good thing happening to me for today. But just as I was about to relax, I halt again in uncertainty, needing a clarification once again. "How can you be so sure?"
"CyberLife isn't particularly interested in your person. And even should I end up destroyed, they would deploy another android to replace me." His answer seems plausible, but the way he's been acting, I can't be too sure if he's not only saying what I want to hear.
"You're not as unique then." I wonder for a moment what exactly always prompts me to diss him. Is it the adorable disconcerted reaction? The cute, lost look in his face as his eyes tray slightly downwards? My heart certainly flutters - just a small ping of regret, not enough to convince me from refraining to do so in future.
"What exactly can you do?" As an apology, I give him an opportunity to show off. Hopefully this time he will at least answer.
Indeed, his face lights up immediately. "My processors are capable of real time evidence evaluation, I have all the necessary equipment to reconstruct events only by the given location of the current objects around me. Should you reenable my communication I would even have access to the police database to scan faces for information." Again, as he speaks about his job there is unmistakable eminence of joy. Given the necessary access rights, he's actually a pretty pleasant fellow.
"You're quite a refined police officer then?" There are tons of android models out there in the field. But I've never heard of them doing any work which requires advanced capabilities, besides of distributing tickets for wrong parking.
"No. Although I was specifically designed to analyse crime scenes, my ultimate goal is in locating and comprehending deviants. I even posses the newest modules - allowing me to interrogate and negotiate with suspects." He's like a flustered puppy, dejected that no one recognizes the nobleness of his duty.
"Does android-detective sweet you better?" It definitely sounds cute.
He smiles at first, but then his face falls into a frown although he might have made a mistake. "The humans I've encountered so far, weren't pleased with this assessment."
I bet it's one of those issues about androids stealing human jobs. But he's barely been made, don't tell me he stumbled already in those discrimination issues? I leave my chair to kneel right in front of him and look in his eyes. Although I can't stop myself from ragging him on every occasion, I already perfectly know how amazing he is.
"That only means that you're pretty good at your job." I state flatly, grinding my teeth. I don't even actually own him, but if someone dared to belittle him, it strangely enough already feels personal.
In exactly this moment a shrill disturbing tone rings loudly through my apartment and we both jump startled.
Matthew wears a dark red blouse, a seductive smile is tugging on his lips as he leans against my door frame. His appearance all cool and composed, accentuated by the opaque glasses against the evening sun.
"Hey babe, I've got your order. I hope you have my reward." He already tries to push himself through the door, already anticipating to receive some good time right away. I firmly hold it against him.
"Not now Matthew. You've heard me, it's an emergency and I'm in a rush. I will have the money ready next week." His relaxed demeanour changes promptly and he clicks his tongue in displeasure. "What did our cute little kitty get herself into?" He grins, showing a row of perfectly white teeth, most likely artificially made to glisten as brightly.
I try to grab the box, squeezed at his right side, but he swiftly evades and using the momentum, sticks his head through the door, searching curiously for clues. It's my luck that the corridor doesn't give away the view to the room where the android is waiting. "I will tell you if you say where you've got those components." I counter against his intrusion and it works like a charm.
"Ah, ah, ah, darling, you know it doesn't work that way." He quickly snatches a strand of my hair and sniffs it while watching my face. Enduring his repulsive behaviour, my eyes firmly fixed on the box - the only chance I have to rescue this stupid android.
"Then let's keep it like that. You have your own secrets, I have mine Matthew." His smirk falls once again as his advances don't result in the desirable effect. "Oh come on, it's hardly fair. Everyone knows I have a hand and my fair share of connections in the Eden club. With your skills I'm sure you can find out where those trinkets were registered. But you however, still remain all secretive and mysterious." With every spoken word he leans closer and closer until I can feel his breath on my face. "I might take it as though you don't consider us friends. You don't want to hurt my feelings now, don't you baby?" He squeezes my shoulder until I'm sure it will breeze.
Clearing my throat, I coldly look back in his all too close face, almost bored by his threatening behaviour. "I've promised to compensate you Matthew, it's your turn to trust your friend now, isn't it?" He's amused by my remoteness, but finally ceases the revolting contact.
"I tell you what, just because I don't want you to do something stupid with those." He inclines his head towards the box shortly. "Some shit'n android just gone bonkers and killed one of our customers. I've used the commotion to disassemble a tom for ya. You're a lucky chick it happened right after your call, or I might have had to resolve to worse measures." The way he says it, with unconcerned amusement in his voice, one could really believe his intentions, but I know perfectly that this is just his way of foreplay. He hasn't forgotten my promise – anything – and it's dreading me already; how in the world should I get out of this mess later.
"What? An android killed a human? Are you sure?" Maybe I didn't hear him right there. It surely sounds to me, like the whole world is about to go down and I only get a sneak peek on bits and pieces of clues pointing right towards it. Like in those zombie movies where you notice some strange behaviours here and there, but are still too occupied with your routine life to pay proper attention, before the whole chaos breaks out.
"Babe, I've just said that I've destroyed a perfectly new and the most amazing model they had in their company for ya, just because you mewled so sexy into my phone and here you go and change the topic." Certainly, he doesn't care about witnessing a murder, his eyes trailing lasciviously up and down my body.
"I will call you next week Matthew!" I don't have the patience for this. Firmly grabbing the box and pulling it full force towards me. He roars out a laughter and let go. Not expecting the sudden shift of evaporated resistance, I fly with the box against the wall behind me, throwing the door shut with my leg in the process. I still hear him laugh dangerously on the other side. "I know where you live girl. You won't get out of this easily." Great, as though I don't have enough problems already.
"You're shaking." He says, his voice mild and even friendlier than usual. I haven't even noticed it, shouldn't he have pointed it out. Sighing I place the box in front of his feet and carefully open it, praying to all android heavens that everything on the list is actually there. I had my fare share of human contact for the day.
Looking up at his beautiful face, concern is clearly written in his features as he searches my face. He must have heard the conversation, but still, why the sudden change in his attitude? "Connor, I'm sorry but you've got to stay awake and guide me how to properly repair you. I can't do this by myself, but you know how, do you?"
He scans all the shiny new components, loosely thrown into the box, not wrapped up properly as they're supposed to be handled and frowns. "Let me google this for you." He winks again and I burst out in a laugh. "Cute, but I won't fall for this Connor, you will reconnect with CyberLife given the chance, won't ya?" His smile is smug and just the way I'm used to and for the life of me, somehow it makes me more comfortable than the sudden niceness from before.
Since we both don't have much choice in this matter and his highest priority is now indeed his own safety, he carefully starts to explain what I have to do in order to fix him.
"You should wear gloves." He frowns as I touch the highly sensitive connectors directly with my hands.
"Are you disgusted?" Skeptically pointing out to the mess inside of his torso. "I can hardly make it worse than it already is." Somehow, he always manages to hurt my feelings, it's incredible!
"No, for your own safety. The stored energy levels inside those bio components are highly dangerous and if you do something wrong without the proper protection, you might experience an electrical discharge." He's all pragmatical and tries his best to mildly convince me without offending me further, it's almost like he's trying really hard here.
But to his surprise I burst out in laughter, almost rolling on the floor giggling hysterically. "Protection? You want me to use a rubber?" Being serious is not my forte. Watching his confused expression, his lips already forming the neutral – yes, completely missing my dirty inuendo, I almost die by not getting enough air, chuckling in laughter.
"I, … I haven't meant it that way." He suddenly stutters, his face flushing a staggered red. "I'm sorry if I've caused a misunderstanding." Oh? Don't tell me he figured it out? Our android is not so immune to stupid jokes after all! "Maybe you heard me wrong, I've said electrical discharge, not -" "Please, stop, you're killing me Connor!" I have the hardest time ever to catch back my breath. His reactions are simply priceless, I didn't know he could even get flustered, there is so much to learn about him.
Still chuckling here and then, I get back into business, fetching the next component and completely ignoring his suggestion. My hands tend to tremble, especially if I get nervous and I would rather get electrified than risk them slipping out and break.
"Not this port, use the red with the blue wire." He warns me calmly, having almost endless patience with my clumsy attempts. "Why blue to red? Why not red to red? It doesn't make any sense!" I protest, but do as I'm told.
"I could explain, but it would take too much time. I have only approximately twenty seconds left for you to insert the #1503s." It's stressful as hell, but I manage somehow. Going from the most critical parts of his body to the least, wiping the spilled thirium and renewing it with a freshly opened pack. I strike softly around his thirium pump to clean up the mess the last one has left behind and then, I notice it.
Oh? Did I see it right? I do the same thing again and there is a definite response when he closes his eyes and huffs out a small audible breath. "Do you like it when I do that?" I try not to giggle, this is absolutely not the time to play around! "Androids don't feel emotions, we can only emulate them." He assures me, looking although anything like it.
"Hmm, is that so? Are you certain?" Again, his eyes flutter as I feather so slightly over the freshly reconnected thirium pump. Fuck, I really shouldn't be enjoying this as much, but I do.
He tries hard to suppress it, but a moan escapes his breath. It's languid and sensual and nothing I've ever expected by repairing an android while he's awake. A normal reaction would range from indifference till maximum maybe simulated expressions of pain, but here I am reminded vividly that he's not human.
It's awkward and tense, I perfectly understand now why the engineers shut down any damaged android to undergo extended repair procedures, even if it means a complete memory wipe. It flusters me to no end as I look into his glazed eyes, his laboured breath, the tension in his body as I reconnect the countless wires with the desired components.
They're warm and soft, feel anything but mechanical against my palms and I have to grip them firmly for not letting them accidently slip from my trembling hands. As soon as they're connected with Connors power source, they bristle alive and start a steady beating pulse, which I dumbly observe for a few lost minutes. "Are you, … are you alright?" I ask him as a few moments pass where he doesn't give me any further instructions. The way he just whispers my name then, hoarsely and pleading, just almost does it for me! I feel his voice in all the wrong places and my eyes dart anywhere from the half empty box to his open torso, just not to land on his face again.
"You seem flustered, your distress level is far above average parameters." He states and I hear the irony in his voice. Is he really the one making fun of me here?
"You just wait till I'm finished with you!" I warn him playfully, not really meaning the threat.