ᴰᴬᵀᴱ:
NOV 17th, 2037
ᵀᴵᴹᴱ:
PM 04:57:19
REBOOT
As Colin wakes, his diagnostic programs instantly begin to scream at him that shutdown is imminent. From the moment his eyes open, he is left wildly aware that his energy stores are low, his thirium level is low, and he still needs that valve replaced… the hand lying over his chest now actively presses his fingers to it, staunching the flow again now that his blood is recirculating.
As his audio processor begins to function once more, he can hear a slight brief distortion, and then clear voices-one male and definitely an android; one female and definitely human. (He knows all of CyberLife's voices, after all.)
Until he can get a look at the other android to assess its capabilities, he'll stay still, just in case it mapped out the landscape as well and will notice if anything changed.
He was last cognizant in October 2037; it's now late November of the same year, Colin registers. That's awhile, but not nearly as long as he expected. Just as well-if he's in this dire a state, then his calculations were already off, in terms of his progression towards a definitive end.
His situation is looking quite grim. Energy can be gained from many places, including a bag of thirium, but he's had access to neither in all this time and he needs both. He can hardly function without power and sufficient quantities of the fluid chemical so vital to his kind, so he'll have to choose his next moves carefully; no wasted motions.
The biocomponent he desperately needs to plug this leak is a fresh #8456w: a special valve with a tube attached, which rests near his thirium pump. Like other advanced androids with special functions, Connors-and their inferior but still impressive recent predecessors-have a few extra chemicals present in their systems. They require more throughput of thirium, provided by #8456w's larger tubes and extra compartment.
Not just any android in this junkyard will have such a part. The most likely donor would be a very new model. Newer model means that there are fewer of them already produced than most types of android, and the ones circulating are less likely to be in a junkyard precisely because they are new. Under normal circumstances, he might do with a slightly older component (though the thought makes him shudder.) This would be compatible and adequate, but not ideal, and thus unable to support his full functionality. However, in his current condition, he will need the optimal component to remain active.
As his eyes move cautiously around the landscape, he notes that it has certainly been altered. He sees many new bodies beyond what his optical units previously recorded, so quite a few more have been dumped since he arrived-that gives him immediate hope. Beyond that, he can also see the owners of the voices he was hearing…
There's a blue-haired female human kneeling beside an absolutely dead-looking android, only given away as living by his brightly glowing LED. The human is singing some melancholy tune; a dirge, perhaps. Colin's seen himself in a reflective surface or two since the fight-that poor limbless fellow is even worse off.
Especially since the quavery, imperfect human singing just gave way to her literally ripping out his still-beating heart.
Colin has never felt so driven to be still in his life. This is an absolute horror. Whoever this human is, she shut a living android down for parts! What could justify such cruelty? He was scared of dying already-now he is petrified. Even if he manages to repair himself, she might simply dismantle him for whatever dire experiments she might be about to do. Or is she a CyberLife employee? He can't see her face, so he isn't sure.
But he can hear the other android speaking now. Saying she'd been kind, like a mother. "I don't think I ever knew what it feels like to be held by a mother," it finishes. Such a thing had never occurred to Seven to wonder about before.
Colin understands now. For some reason, that android gave up. His fear recedes a little… but only a little. She sang a song and ended a life willingly; that doesn't mean she wouldn't also strip Colin for parts against his will.
Her voice sounds rough and tortured as she responds to the dying android's remark. "All of you are our children. Humanity's children. Parts of you will live on in others who can remember their lives; I'll make sure of it. You won't even really die, you'll just-rest."
That further placates Colin, to a small degree. While those missing limbs could be replaced, to live without the ability to record memories would be a terrible fate indeed. He'd never want to forget the Stevensons, Florence, his home... the strange human's at least got the decency to pretend to care, whether she feels it or not.
One never knows with humans. It still hurts a bit to think of what Andrea planned to do to him when he adored her so much, even knowing what Andrew had said in her defense… just as it hurts to think of what he did to her to survive, even if his calculations told him she'd be fine. Calculations are not infallible, after all, even with a high degree of accuracy. Human unpredictability requires adaptation.
Fortunately, that is one of his features-and he'll need it now, with an unknown party floating around out here. However, now that he's identified the android in her arms and that android is confirmed dead, he can relax a bit. A sole human of diminutive height who appears to be a particularly soft-hearted civilian? Hardly any sort of threat, even to a dying android like himself.
Although, now that he considers their circumstances… she seems to be alone. Perhaps lonely as well? That would make her vulnerable...
Theoretically, even though Colin's quite badly damaged, his charm might aid him, if engaging in manipulation seems the most prudent course of action. If he didn't need to conserve his strength, he'd be preening at the very thought, in fact. She's in a graveyard full of grisly corpses-at least Colin is mostly intact. A prince, by comparison.
If she truly is the sympathetic sort of human, perhaps he could prevail upon her to play nurse for a damaged but still incredibly handsome android such as himself? The thought is appealing; some warm-hearted human with kind eyes like Florence giving him sympathy and thirium, seeing to his every need while he observes her tender ministrations…
In her study of Seven, Andrea identified some special modifications which his creator implemented. Colin is not only wired to appreciate a wide variety of feminine features, he also has a compulsive tic to examine those features, and positive feedback in response to such sights. Because of that, he is really beginning to entertain the idea of trying his charms on a new lady, however heavy the risk...
Then all of a sudden, he sees her shoulders start to shake with sobs. What a dreadful business. While messy human tears falling on a dead android certainly kill any trace of a romantic mood in this-well, this mass grave, really-he does feel a certain compulsion to care for any damsel in such distress, being such a prize of an android.
By this point, the voice of the android whose thirium pump regulator she'd removed had already turned robotic and ceased, as he properly shut down for the final time. There's no more reason for her to pretend to care-not when she thinks herself to be alone. When she only sobs all the harder as she cradles the corpse, this emboldens Colin further.
Perhaps he really ought to play on the human's odd sympathy for his kind… in fact, would that not be his best move?
If she can fix him up, perhaps he would even look good enough to win a lady's affections. If the blue-haired woman wasn't amenable, then perhaps he could dazzle one of her friends, but somehow he has hope that this one's more of a Florence than an Andrea... his very own Vesper Lynd? She's short for a Vesper, but with the right necklace, no one would be thinking about that.
He could go home with her, change his hair and clothes, and pretend to be any normal partner to a human… the thought is fascinating. He could share his dark secret of being an escaped prototype on the run-or if she seemed untrustworthy, he could simply slip away some night after thoroughly satisfying her hormonal human needs.
Colin never thought of himself as having such an option. Such things were for other models; androids not so elite or sophisticated in their purpose as himself. Darren's programming would surely remain unsated, he'd thought after Andrea's rejections. But if he can survive this perilous state, who knows what could happen?
Colin realizes he would have to be careful, however… all it would take is one RK model of stable software spotting him and realizing he's a wanted man. He would need to be an android of leisure; hiding in her house, giving her the horizontal attention most humans seem to require...
Regrettably, his hopes are dashed in an instant as, out of nowhere, a red-capped android comes wandering out from behind a pile and moves to console the blue-haired human. What a pity this is, Colin thinks… she has an android of leisure already; she may not have room for another. Alas, he can hear the android implying that they reside together: "Perhaps we ought to get back home for now."
Well, there are plenty of humans in the world… discretion is for the best anyway. Surely, after they leave, Colin can prevent the slow yet imminent shutdown which is approaching…
Except that, unfortunately, they seem to be lingering for a chat.
One which reveals that they've essentially spent the entire day stripping and plundering this very junkyard. Damn. Truly cursed luck, that. He's unlikely to find what he needs in time...
His system is still blaring its warnings. Fear grips Colin's heart as he realizes this may truly be his end.
He might be able to ask them for aid anyway, but it's a last resort now that an android of unknown capabilities is in the picture. Direct involvement is to be avoided before gathering intel on the pair. Carefully, he watches, moving only his eyes… at last, he is able to make out the android's identifier to gain the information he needs:
SL SERIES, MODIFIED
SL100
Registered as "Jasper"
Gift from John November to Rowan November
Ah, so he is indeed an intimate partner… definitely a red-blooded human lady, and perhaps not strictly monogamous, either. Was Jasper a gift from a father, brother, lover-perhaps even husband? Interesting. The model was only released this year... if only he had a spare biocomponent
His gaze moves to the human, now. He knows her name from the label on her android, but he needs her face…
Obligingly, within a few moments, she sweeps the wavy blue keratinous curtain over her ear as she gives the landscape a despairing look. Now he has collected all the relevant data. Birthdate, occupation, empty criminal record…
She's a therapist.
A cold and paranoid feeling overwhelms Colin's insides.
A first name wasn't much to go on, nor even a hair color, but this Muay Thai clinches it: That is Andrea's friend. The first name is a match, he's seen her face before in that group photo, and he knows that was her occupation.
He's happy for Andrea, to know her friend apparently recovered well enough, but-what could she possibly be doing out here, gathering goods with her android? Trying to save a buck on extra blood and parts? Moonlighting as a seller of such? Surely she can't be so unfortunate.
She must be helping Andrea for some reason. It's the only logical conclusion. Does Andrea want parts for experiments? Is she doing some sort of study? Or… could she be looking for Colin, for revenge? At the behest of her company? Are all her friends combing the city for Colin, or has Andrea's friend been hired by CyberLife directly? Is she part of a massive manhunt?
Colin realizes the statistical chances are low, but he's still quite tense. He's not going to move so much as his eyes again until they're out of sight, not unless he has no choice.
He listens to the pair. Curious that her intimate partner sounds more like a protective nursemaid. Colin has to wonder at the modifications… what could they be, and why would they be needed for a domestic plaything? The SL series should already be fully… equipped to satisfy every wish a human could ever have already, aside from the wish for their very own Connor. What more could this android need?
This seems very strange: enough that Colin's eyes move to the serial number. To his absolute surprise, the serial is actually... familiar.
His system recorded that number at a previous event-that's Florence's beloved android companion! She didn't purchase him after all? How strange, but he's already seen the evidence; for some reason Florence passed him over, against all odds.
An unexpected pang of sympathy for this Jasper fellow hits Colin momentarily, as he knows what it's like to be an android jettisoned by a human you love. But sympathy is quickly overwhelmed by other emotions.
All of this is confusing enough that Colin's paranoia is running out of control, but he can see the android and human duo moving on his periphery. They're surely placing items they've gathered into a vehicle. Perhaps he could double back around and take some of them when they go looking for more? Unless they're finished. He doesn't know what to do, doesn't know if he's safe to ask them for help or if they'll crack him open like an egg at breakfast, or call CyberLife immediately… there are far too many uncertainties, so he just stays still until he can't see or hear them anymore.
Finally alone, Colin tries to sit up, but his system starts blaring extra warnings about his damaged biocomponents and critical thirium loss. He could look for what he needs, but he hasn't heard a vehicle start. It feels too dangerous to move, even now. Faint snatches of voices reach him. After awhile, he does hear footsteps again. Good-that leaves him options, if nothing else.
Immediately, he settles into the same position as before, going back to playing dead.
Panic is rising in him steadily. Does he risk movement? Would it be better to call out? What is his best option? Is there only one viable option now-asking for help?
He's frightened. Even his friend was planning to kill him out of fear of CyberLife's wrath. What would strangers do?
A long, tense minute or so of stillness passes, as he tries to ignore his program's complaints and the timer ticking down due to that vital bit of thirium he just lost.
Suddenly, Colin hears the woman's voice calling out from close by. "Does anyone need help?"
What a strange human. Is she really as sentimental as she sounds, or is this a ploy of some kind? He knows he isn't thinking rationally, but he just wants so badly to live.
Since she's human and the android has left, Colin dares to chance a glance at her… and realizes too late that it's a mistake. She seems to have somehow felt his eyes on her...
He is deathly still, watching her from his periphery, trying to restrain his useless breathing impulse. Being human, she might consider it a similar circumstance to a headless chicken; some artifact of a recently dead body, but one never knows.
He watches her loop around his immediate vicinity, and the fact that she is even this close seems incredibly dangerous...
Even before she stops directly above him.
Paralyzed, Colin doesn't move his gaze, but he knows she is staring down at his face.
He restrains the urge to pre-emptively attack, just in case she truly means him harm. She is so close... close enough to grapple and threaten in this desperate situation... but he so deeply regrets harming Andrea that it seems unthinkable to do such damage, even if it wouldn't tax his reserves of energy to the point that he might break.
Considering this human was comatose, it seems even worse. To cut off blood flow to her already damaged brain could have severe medical consequences for a fragile organic.
Pulled out of his reverie by sudden but subtle movement, Colin realizes he can see her facial expression rapidly changing. There's a measure of pity, he thinks, but there's more…
Recognition? No, that simply can't be, the Connor project is top secret! Andrea showing her a picture would be against the rules!
A little flutter of hope stirs within. Perhaps Andrea relented? Perhaps she and her friends are simply searching the city now-trying to find him, trying to save him? But uncertainty and potential peril lead to further paralysis for Colin.
"Are you half-sick of shadows?" she whispers suddenly to herself. Such a strange question to ask; romantic-sounding but senseless. Certainly nothing to do with any information he has in his memory stores for investigative purposes.
As the seconds pass, he doesn't move a single millimeter in response while she studies him, seeming confused. Sad to think perhaps she can't even recognize him as an RK800.
A soft and dismayed 'hm' sound seems to signify that she's given up on identifying him, but she lingers nevertheless.
"Poor thing," she finally murmurs, her voice full of sympathy for his plight. "Maybe we can reactivate you sometime."
Strange how that fills Colin with such mixed emotions. It's nice to have someone care enough to desire to help him, but if she were here specifically to find a Connor model, surely she would have recognized him even in this state. She would be calling Andrea to say 'I found what's left of your absurdly handsome android!'
She walks a short distance away, then returns with the tattered blanket her android brought her to shroud the euthanized older model. Colin is oddly touched by the gesture; the ancient and dusty plaid isn't much protection, but it's the thought that counts, as humans like to say.
Even more kindly, she leaves the third-full thirium canister she's been carrying around beside him as well. After all, why shouldn't she? Everything out here seems to be dead, so one last look can't be any sort of harm; it's not going anywhere...
Colin smiles. The moment she turned around, he recognized the optimal nature of the situation. Only the human is nearby, there's blood at hand-rather than take any further chances with his life and limbs, it's time to spring into action.
While she seems to take in the scenery and idly skim the nearby junkpiles for anomalies one last time, Colin is unscrewing the cap as silently as he can. He then promptly dumps the liquid down his throat. Invigorated from the presence of thirium, he holds the blanket to his injury and darts away behind a large pile of bodies.
Colin wastes no time from there. He darts toward the direction he heard them going as they carried supplies back to their vehicle.
He's in luck-the android has returned to his partner, and they left the boot open. He'll only have a little time, probably.
He hears their voices. The woman shouts a sudden curse into the night, much as he'd expect from Andrea; that makes him smile.
Digging rapidly through their things, Colin spends quite a few tense seconds before spotting the object that lets him know luck has decided to be a lady tonight. This replacement valve should end his leak once and for all.
Colin wastes no time lying down behind another nearby pile of dead. To the tune of a chorus of malfunctioning android parts, he replaces the valve… and heaves a sigh of relief as his system's warnings finally calm, rolling from reddish-orange to a calming blue.
He's done it. He's survived.
And the strangely poetic part of it all-he has Andrea's own damaged friend to thank for this. For whatever reason, his fellow coma survivor accidentally kept him from falling back into the darkness of a more permanent slumber.
Smiling up into the sky, Colin enjoys the feeling of being safe at last. Due to daylight savings time having changed since he went to sleep, he's already witnessing the first sunset of a whole new life.
There's no telling where he'll go from here… but at least he's alive, and CyberLife hasn't found him yet. Though safety is surely a pipe dream for a wanted man such as himself, and though the world is not enough as he told Andrea… nevertheless, it's finally his. He is free.
And come to think of it, Andrea would like this blanket. Pink plaid was always her favorite. Perhaps he can make it into something dramatic and distinctively fashionable… won't he look grand! No one would ever expect a Connor in a cape.
Once Colin finds a needle and some thread, he is going to look simply magnificent.
((Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this story, you can see more of its characters in Detroit: Interloper. While I have posted a number of its chapters here, this website's restrictions on images and lyrics plus their stricter standards in general have kept me from posting more here. Thus, I recommend AO3 for that fic {and there is artwork on the AO3 Ralph of Connors that I was not able to post here, if you'd ever like to check that one out. I do have confidence in my text, but I like the full experience. This place won't even let me link my images, let alone use them, let alone even post the link to archiveofourown dot org. If you go there, you can append the following to the URL in order to read the referenced work. Sorry for the workaround.))
/works/29455869/chapters/72354468