Chapter 1 ~ The Promise
Friday November 5, 2038 10:15 A.M.
"My god night shift sucks especially when nothing exciting happens." I thought as I turned the corner on Lafayette.
Ever since the accident in august. More and more androids cases keep piling up. Each one more elaborate than the last and sometimes more serious. People are afraid and as usual Cyberlife had provided no comment on the issue. Until this morning when Fowler pulled me into his office.
"It's a state of the art prototype. It'll be assigned here to work on the deviant cases." He said.
"Well I'm sure that will put the public's mind at ease." I said. "But sir why did you pull me in here to tell me that?"
He didn't answer at first, but he knew I wasn't one to beat around the bush either.
"I want you and Hank to work with it on the Deviant Cases. You two are the best I've got and I think you especially are qualified to handle this."
I tried to force my smile down thinking about how Hank was gonna react to this. The old man hated Androids with a burning passion.
My opinion on them are the same as I feel about people. They're are pros and cons to everyone, but I need to know the facts before I decide.
Examples:
Hank, old man asshole, but love him like how I loved my uncle Danny.
Gavin, pompous sexist asshole, highly dislike him ,but still willing to work with him
"You know Hank's gonna pitch a fit when he hears about this." I said. "But regardless I'll do what I can sir."
Pulling into Carl's driveway I turned off the ignition stepping out of the car. Even though I was dead beat exhausted I made a promise to myself to visit my Uncle's dear old friend Carl Manfred.
Carl Manfred is a famous painter, but due to a severe accident he could no longer walk. People thought he would die a bitter old man devoid of any love for life. But then one day he got an Android, Markus. This isn't common knowledge but Elijah Kamski was the one who gifted Markus to Carl. From what Uncle Danny told me he wasn't keen on him at first but eventually the two grew closer and over time Markus became less rigid and adapted a personality that fitted Carl's. Whether it was genuine or not was not my call. But it's always nice to see the both of them.
The old painter hardly saw anyone anymore besides his son and his android. It wasn't much, but I owe Carl a lot for putting up with me for the past ten years. Plus I owed Markus a new book to read.
Friday's where my typical days to visit so the door was programmed to open when it scanned my I.D.
"Welcome Charlotte Lawrence." It would always greet whenever I walked in.
I shrugged off my jacket hanging on the coat rack noticing how heavy the house felt.
Typically Markus would already be coming through the doors to greet me but instead I see Leo storming from the living room.
Clearly on red ice again.
"Leo what in sam hill is going on?" I asked. He stopped agitated to see me.
"Of course your here. Why the fuck wouldn't you be here? Don't you have better things to do Officer?" He sneered as he waved his hands dramatically.
Normally this would immediately spark a typical negative reaction from me. From a few well placed cruses to possibly starting a fight. However this was Leo and he was high on this stupid drug crap. The last the thing that needed to happen was me to agitate him even more than he already was.
"You know I come here to see your dad, Leo. Which is a lot better than how your doing. I thought you stopped using."
"Shut up! You don't know what your talking about!" He yelled stumbling closer. I put my hands up in defense and to try to calm him down.
"Leo you need to calm down before you hurt yourself." This only pissed him off even more.
"Oh I need to calm down. Okay Charlie okay. I'll calm down as soon as you tell my dad to get rid of his plastic piece of shit and give me some fuckin money!" He was screaming in my face at this point but I couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He needed help, but right now he needed to leave before Carl or Markus saw anything. It only break Carl's heart.
Glaring at him I squared up making his tough act crumble. Leo didn't scare me. But you could bet that right now he was afraid of me.
"Leo if you don't back away from me right now. I will arrest you and take you back to the station. Your high off of red ice and that alone is enough to put you behind bars."
His eyes widen a bit but he knew I wasn't kidding. I always meant what I said. And that was something Leo learned quickly after we met.
"You never cared about me." He said through gritted teeth. "You or my dad."
Though I tried not to show it...that sentence did hurt a bit.
"I do care about you Leo. And your Dad loves you more than you will ever know. But your breaking his heart. You gotta clean up your act before it's too late. He's not gonna be around forever."
He scoffed before walking towards the door.
"You sound just like your Uncle Danny and Jack." He said as the door slammed. I sighed fiddling with my ring.
"Someone has to." I thought before entering the living room.
"Carl? Markus?"
"Charlie is that you?" I heard Carl voice call from the studio.
"Yes sir! Thought I'd drop by is it a bad time?" It was silent before Carl called me into the studio. As always he greeted me with a smile.
"Charlie it's been so long! How are yah?"
I leaned down to hug him before answering him.
"I'm good. Tired, but good I just got off from work but I thought I'd stop by to see you and Markus."
I smiled at the android who was already smiling standing beside a painting of two hands reaching towards one another. One android and the other clearly human. It felt hopeful of a future not yet clearly written.
"Wow Carl I love this new painting! It's such an inspiration."
He chuckled as he rolled closer to myself and Markus.
"Thank you Charlie, but I can't take credit. The genius behind this Masterpiece is Markus."
Immediately my jaw dropped as I looked at Markus who seemed almost bashful of the praise he was receiving.
"You painted this?" I asked pointing at the painting.
"Yes I did. Carl told me to close my eyes and painted why I imagined. Thank you for liking it." He explained it like it was easy equation. That there was nothing truly interesting about it, but it was. I knew Markus was evolving but this was different. An Android creating art without using algorithms. Instead actual real emotions was truly extraoridinary.
He wasn't a deviant but he was definitely something not quite machine either.
"Markus this is incredible!" I exclaimed. You're incredible!" His smile grew as he thanked me again.
"Have you had any breakfast yet?" Carl asked.
"Not yet, but don't make anything for me on my account I just wanted to stop by for a spell before going home. I'll make something then."
"Charlie you need to eat something in order to stay healthy." Markus said. "Please let me make you coffee and a little something. It's no trouble at all."
"Markus is right, Charlie. You need to keep up your strength in order to be the best damn cop in all of Detroit just like how Danny was." And with the mention of my uncle I had to fold knowing I wouldn't win.
"Alright fine! Coffee with a toasted bagel with cream cheese would be perfect. Thank you Markus." He smiled as he walked out of the studio towards the kitchen leaving me and Carl alone for a moment.
"Did you see Leo on your way in?" He asked. I sighed before pushing his wheelchair into the living room so we could talk. Carl took that as my answer before asking.
"He didn't say anything to hurt you did he?" I sat down at the table as he wheeled himself to his usual place.
"He said something ,but he was high Carl. He doesn't mean anything by it."
He frowned at that apologizing on Leo's behalf.
"I almost wished you had arrested him. Might actually make him wake up and get his act together."
"And miss seeing you." I winked making the old man blush as he chuckled.
"I swear you act like your Uncle more than he did." He stopped for a moment before sighing. "Oh Danny, good man and a good police officer. Jack too. Shame what happened to them, but I know they would damn proud of you to see how much you've grown."
I teared up but smiled at him nonetheless as I fiddled with my ring again.
"I miss them every day." I said.
"I know sweetheart. I do too." He said tucking a piece of my hair back. " By the way how are your prosthetics treating you? He asked.
"They're fine. Kinda sore today. It's probably gonna rain soon. Make sure to lay some salt down incase of ice so you or Markus don't trip and hurt yourselves."
"Coming from someone who grew up in Nashville." Carl teased.
"Hey winter's sucked growing up!" I said as Markus came in with my breakfast.
"Toasted bagel and Coffee just how you like it. We only have plain cream cheese I hope that's okay." My stomach growled at the simple as I took a sip of my coffee.
"It's perfect. Thank you so much Markus."
"It's the least I can do. Oh and here this is for you. I overheard your prosthetics are giving you trouble. Take two after you've eaten it should help with the aches."
I thank him before eating my meal.
"Have you kept up with the piano Charlie?" Markus asked.
"Yeah I still play from time to time. Not as much as I would like to, but it's better than nothing."
"Markus was playing a new song earlier. Its was definitely something I've never heard before." Carl chimed in winking at Markus.
Wow, you'll have to play it for me sometime." I praised. "Oh before I forget. Here Markus this is the book I thought would be good for you to read."
"To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee this is one of your favorites right?"
"Absolutely. Uncle Danny had me read it when I was 14. I figured it would be a good one for you to add to your ever growing list. Take your time too. It's no rush to return the book." I finished the rest of my meal allowing Markus to clean my dishes in the kitchen.
Carl looked at a serene sorrowful smile on his face.
"Something wrong Carl?" I teased.
"Promise me you'll watch out for him after I'm gone."
I knew who he meant and I couldn't help a sad smile adorn my expression.
"This world is like me it's too old. And one day it's going to change and Markus smart as he is will need someone like you to be there for him. When I no longer can."
"You've seen the news huh?"
"It's hard not to notice and I'm not asking for him live with you. I just want to make sure he'll be looked after. He's like a son to me, Charlie. I would break my heart if something happened to him."
I took Carl's hand to stop him talking.
"He always can count on me. I promise I won't let anything happen to Markus." I meant it and Carl knew that.
Afterall I was my uncle's niece.
"You didn't have to walk me to the front door Markus. I know the way around the house."
"Carl says it what a gentleman should do for ladies. And you are a female, Charlie."
"So what are you Markus? A Machine or a gentleman?" I asked teasingly.
Markus became seemingly bashful again not sure how to answer.
I grew somber changing the conversation.
"Maybe next time I come stop by. Maybe I can play you a new song I've been working on."
His eyes lit up at the idea.
"That would be nice. I'm sure Carl would definitely like to hear it."
I smiled again before slipping him a piece of paper with the address to my apartment at riverfront towers and my phone number.
"What is this?" He asked.
"If you ever need help or a place to go. This is all the info you need. Either way I just want you to know you've got a friend Markus. Enjoy the book I'll see you later."
With one last smile to him I exit out the door not knowing this would be one of the last times I would step foot in it.