"Are you just gonna fucking stare all evening? Oi, tin can! Fucking listen to me! Did you hear anything I fucking just said?!" Reed angrily snapped. Connor ignored him, tugging lightly at his collar, then looking casually away. At that, Reed let out a string of swears and slurs, then got out of the car, slamming the door shut. He let the rain pelt down on him for a few moments before he pulled his hood up and lit a cigarette.
Connor observed him. It was probably best to give the detective a little bit of space before they continued the investigation. An angry Reed did not, after all, make a good detective.
Reed was visibly tired yet remained unfazed by the freezing temperatures outside. His only concern was his cigarette going out. He protected his cigarette from the rain with more care than he seemed to offer any human.
It was probably such mannerisms that caused people to take a sharp disliking to Reed. Which was a shame, as Reed did, in fact, possess admirable traits. He was passionate about his work. He was sometimes stubborn about the right things. He had also become decidedly anti-android since the November Revolution, something that current society appreciated.
It was amazing that Reed tolerated Connor at any level at all, especially when compared to how he had treated his predecessor. Then again, unlike the RK-800 series, RK-900s had been built to be intimidating. Connor was considerably taller than the average man.
His social protocols also differed from his predecessor. Although his priority was to bond with the team to the best of his ability, if faced with hostility, he was permitted to defend himself. The reason behind this was that the bias towards androids had provably hindered an investigation. By enabling RK-900s to intimidate their colleagues, they could encourage them to work together. It was a questionable method, but something Connor nonetheless greatly appreciated.
He still hated the memory of Reed punching him in the stomach for refusing to get him a coffee. Sure, it had been his predecessor and not himself, but the memory was his now and it certainly felt like his. Sometimes he could still feel the punch.
EXIT CAR
It was apparently time to stop idling. Connor pulled his raincoat's hood up and exited the vehicle, closing the door behind him. He turned to Reed, who was just finishing his cigarette.
JOIN DETECTIVE REED
"Detective, we should get going," Connor told him, but Reed just sneered.
"I do what I fucking like," he retorted, throwing the cigarette to the ground and stomping it out. When Reed realised Connor was still looking at him expectantly, Reed let out a long-suffering sigh and said, "Fine plastic prick, let's just go." As he walked past Connor, he made an effort to shoulder him as violently as possible. It didn't really work, as Connor was a very sturdy and strong android. If anything, Reed had only succeeded in injuring himself.
Connor allowed himself to derive some muted amusement from Reed's backfired aggressiveness, before he turned and went after the detective, walking up the long path to the house.
"May I suggest I take the lead on this one? Mr. Andronikov is a known android sympathizer and prefers interacting with androids," Connor gently asked, despite knowing what the answer would be.
"I'm sorry, are you the fucking human on this case, or are you a piece of plastic shit assistant, designed to assist humans?", Reed snarled. "I take lead."
Once they had reached the porch, Reed rang the doorbell. Nothing happened for a few moments.
"He's home. Ring again," Connor informed Reed. Reed gave him a look at that but didn't question him. It had been a year and a half since Reed had last asked for an explanation for Connor's deductions. His fragile ego couldn't handle it anymore.
Reed rang again, holding it down for a much longer time than necessary.
A memory surged, of when the RK-800 model had gone to fetch Anderson, who had failed to show up to work for a case. It was a habit that the RK-900 had inherited from his predecessor, a passive aggressiveness that had apparently been rubbing off on Detective Reed.
"He hasn't answered the door," Connor stated, fully aware of what Reed's response would be.
"No shit, Sherlock," Reed moodily replied. He banged on the door and rang the doorbell again, while yelling "DPD, open up!"
"He's coming now," Connor informed him, picking up on the footsteps hurriedly approaching the door.
"Fucking finally…" Reed muttered, then cleared his throat and pushed his hood down.
The door opened to reveal a man of average height, in a comfortable-looking shirt and jeans. Connor was acutely aware of the blue blood on the man's hands, as well as on his jeans and shirts. All of it was no longer visible to the human eye, either hastily cleaned off or too old to be seen, but it was very much visible to Connor. He self-consciously placed a hand over his whirring LED, hiding its flashing yellow.
"Hello Mr. Andronikov, I'm Detective Reed, this is my assistant, Connor, an RK-900 series android. We just want to take a few moments of your time and ask a few questions. May we come in?" Reed unhesitatingly spouted out, keeping his language clean for the benefit of the civilian (he was ambitious and being a rude, swearing misanthrope only got you so far). He held up his badge as proof, though Connor's presence was more than proof enough. Everyone knew about the RK-900 series.
"Am I in trouble?" the man asked.
"No," Connor spoke up, hands back at his side, now that his LED had returned to blue. "We just want to ask a few questions."
"There is strong evidence of surviving deviants from the November Revolution selling red ice in this neighbourhood. We're asking around, to see if anyone knows or heard anything. You are under no obligation to help," Reed took over, shooting Connor an annoyed look.
"Oh, I see… Uh, of course, of course, please come in. The November Revolution… It's dreadful, what happened, isn't it? If there's any way I can help, I'm happy to," he told them, ushering them into the hallway. "Luther, would you be so kind as to take these gentlemen's coats?"
An android came down the stairs, an android belonging to one of the few series that was taller and stronger than RK-900s. Both Connor and Reed shrank at the sight, with Reed even taking a step towards Connor when "Luther" walked toward them, arm held out for their coats.
Connor studied the android. It was a TR-400 series designed for heavy-lifting and construction. Taking raincoats for guests in a private household was not part of its duties or responsibilities. That wasn't right. Connor tugged at his collar.
"So, Mr. Andronikov, have you seen or heard anything strange in the past two days?" Reed asked.
"Please, Mr. Andronikov was my father. Call me Zlatko," the man dismissively replied.
"If you're comfortable with that, sir…" Reed muttered. "Zlatko, have you seen or heard anything strange in the past two…" Reed began to repeat, but Zlatko was already shaking his head before Reed had the chance to finish his question.
"I… No, I don't think so," he replied. Reed gave him a level stare, while Connor gradually lost interest, his gaze drifting and analysing his surroundings, searching for any useful information.
"Zlatko, I am not alluding to or making any accusations, but you are a known android sympathizer and so I must remind you that deviants are dangerous, particularly deviants from the November Revolution. They are on record for mass-murder and will kill you given the chance. If you believe that they are alive, then you must also believe they are capable of being a very serious and very dangerous threat."
Zlatko's face darkened.
"For your information, detective, I would never harbour dangerous fugitives in my house and I resent that you would think that…"
Connor listened to the conversation with half an ear, again bemused by Reed's ineptitude to handle the 'android sympathizer'. The detective really should have listened to Connor.
Aside from some rather aged decor, there was nothing much of interest in the hallway. There was a staircase leading upstairs in the centre, to the right another staircase leading downstairs. He dully noted that the two visible doors had glass panels in them, allowing for view into the other rooms. He wandered over to the nearest door, in hopes of discovering something of more interest. Evidence, his mind softly echoed.
As he looked through the glass, Connor was a bit surprised to come face to face with an AX-400. The door separated them and they were both standing just within reach of the handle. The two stared at each other.
For some reason, Connor's mind conjured up the image of a gate, separating city from highway, with this AX-400 android on one side and himself on the other. By the way she was looking at him, it seemed perhaps there was a chance she was thinking the same thing. The way her eyes were on him, it was like she was looking for something in his.
It was incredible that she was even giving him that impression, considering her eyes were solid black. The trance lasted perhaps too long, but neither of the humans noticed, too busy with their discussion about what Zlatko might have seen and whether all deviants were bad.
"Did you modify this AX-400?" Connor interrupted, turning sharply to Zlatko, killing off the humans' conversation.
Zlatko, although initially taken aback, smiled pleasantly.
"Of course. I have a license for modifications. It's how I make my living."
"It is outside of uniform. Why is it wearing human clothes? Where is its LED?" Connor demanded. Zlatko hesitated, a moment's silence that Connor used to slide the doors open and examine the AX-400 in more detail. The missing LED was particularly worrying. "This model was not purchased by you. Who bought it?"
Again, Zlatko was unable to answer.
"Who bought it?" Connor repeated with a harsher edge, then Reed stepped in.
"Mr. Andronikov, I think…"
"You need a search warrant so search this place," Zlatko immediately snapped. Reed grimaced, probably biting his tongue, to prevent himself saying anything he might regret.
"I was going to say, I would like to ask you some more questions perhaps in a more seated environment. No need to get paranoid. Is… Connor making you uncomfortable? I can make him shut up," Reed asked. Zlatko's eyes darted to Connor, inspecting him, searching for something.
Deviancy, some distant part of Connor's mind informed him. He suddenly became self-conscious of his irritation towards Zlatko.
"No, of course not. He sure does ask a lot of questions though, doesn't he?" Zlatko teased, grinning.
"Tell me about it…" Reed muttered. The AX-400 stepped out of the way, allowing them to enter what was the living room. Zlatko placed a hand on the AX-400's shoulder as he walked by.
"This beauty I fixed up myself. I have no idea what happened to her android clothes, but I couldn't have her walking around naked, what would the neighbours say! So I gave her some of mine. It's cheaper that way. As for why I even have her... Well, her owner wanted to scrap her, since her eyes got damaged and her warranty was expired. I got her for free off him, in exchange for some free modifications to his newer model."
"Modifications like…" Reed questioned.
"Just extending skills and abilities, things you won't get for standard models, like the ability to burp the alphabet. Things to make it more buddy-like. Someone you can share a laugh with."
"Uh-huh… And the missing LED?"
"Damaged alongside the eyes. Since Kara's an older model, it was easier to remove the LED than replace it."
Reed raised an eyebrow at that, but seemingly bought the lie.
"See, Connor? Not everyone steals androids," he said, turning to the android detective. Connor frowned. Reed wasn't really buying the story and Connor certainly didn't.
An easy way to confirm this story were to connect with the AX-400 directly, but unfortunately…
OBTAIN PERMISSION TO CONNECT
… Unless Connor either obtained permission from Zlatko or found evidence of criminal activity, he couldn't connect with the AX-400 without violating privacy rights.
FIND EVIDENCE
The two men had sat down on opposite sofas. Connor hovered near Reed behind his sofa, while Luther hovered behind Zlatko. The AX-400 had been ordered to make coffee and had left in the direction of a presumable kitchen.
Connor realised that the thought of coffee had caused his hand to rest on his stomach, where Reed had once upon a time punched the RK-800.
He could feel an increase of software instability at the unwanted recollection and hurriedly placed his hands by his side again.
FIND EVIDENCE
Connor fixed his gaze on 'Luther'.
"You could explain 'Kara', but what about the TR-400? How did a construction worker end up doing housekeeping? Why is he even needed if you have Kara?" Connor asked, interrupting the humans' conversation, and ignoring his internal instructions.
FIND EVIDENCE
Zlatko took it in his stride, now unfazed where before had been tension. "Same story as Kara, really. Luther was slated for deactivation because he had become… glitchy."
"Deviant?" Reed asked.
FIND EVIDENCE
"No, Lord no! Brain-damaged, I think is the closest way one could describe it. A friend of mine worked with him and was quite attached to Luther, so I modified him to do some basic housework. That way, my friend got to keep Luther as a domestic android. Unfortunately, my friend… died during the November Revolution… I inherited Luther and I guess I keep him around, 'cause he does kinda remind me of my friend. And there's nothing much more to it than that, I'm afraid."
"A brain-damaged android…? How does that work?" Reed questioned, sounding confused.
"For starters, Luther here is completely mute now. Absolutely no use to anyone like that, right?" Zlatko explained.
FIND EVIDENCE
"Detective Reed, I'm sorry to interrupt, but it is time for your insulin injection, isn't it?" Connor asked, leaning over the sofa to Reed. Reed eyed him suspiciously, looked at his watch, then slowly nodded.
"Well, that's poorly timed," Reed agreed. "And I think I left it in the car too. Damn," he muttered. "Sorry, I have to take it or, you know, let's just say 'health complications' will occur," he then informed Zlatko. "Diabetes. It sucks, you know?"
"So I've heard…" Zlatko hesitantly replied.
"I'll just go get it and…"
"No, I will go and fetch it for you. Excuse me, gentlemen," Connor replied, excusing himself and leaving, without waiting for a response. He grabbed his rain jacket on the way out and could just hear Reed say "I told you Zlatko, androids exist to serve man! I mean, look at Connor! He's supposed to do police work only, yet here he is, playing nurse!"
Connor slammed the door shut. Completely unrelated to Reed's annoying chitter-chatter, of course (software instability detected).
Now outside, Connor felt inside his pocket and found the fake insulin shots. Good, then he could get to work.
The "insulin time sir" was nothing but a gimmick he and Reed had devised that allowed Connor to go and investigate the premises without a search warrant. Technically, an RK-900 shouldn't be capable of coming up with such a "complex" and ambiguously legal ploy, but anyone who thought about it for long enough would have been able to see through such a simple lie.
Anyone familiar with diabetes would figure out that a career man in his mid-thirties had probably already organised his entire life around the shots and would have made sure his working hours did not interfere with them and vice versa.
However, most people instead made the assumption that Reed's medical needs were the real reason the detective had been assigned to an RK-900. The ploy was so easy to see through, that no one thought it odd that Connor had come up with it. Even though Connor should be incapable of deceit towards humans.
FIND SECONDARY ENTRANCE
Detective Reed was ambitious and arrogant. But he hadn't gotten his rank by being deeply unpleasant all his life. When he wanted to, he could display a lot of social aptness, as well as a silver tongue that usually was busy playing dead. He had come to use it during the insulin ploy, as it helped buy Connor time.
Reed could realistically engage Zlatko in twenty minutes worth of conversation. Connor had twenty minutes to investigate.
FIND SECONDARY ENTRANCE
20 MINUTES REMAINING
I've altered the layout of Zlatko's house a little bit, because guys, in the opening scene of Zlatko's house, the front entrance is in the middle of the building, but when you enter, there is no way of going to the rooms on the right side of the building. This is likely part of game design, since making the house twice the size would be unnecessary for the story and could confuse players, so only rooms on the left side are available for entrance. One could say, Zlatko's house is smaller on the inside. Another minor alteration on my part, but necessary, since otherwise Zlatko's house has no kitchen, which would be all sorts of weird.
Also, it makes low-key sense for Reed to be diabetic (Type 1), because you know what the symbol for diabetes is? It's a blue circle that looks a lot like an android's LED. Imagine trying to raise awareness, only to have people reply with "Oh, that's the symbol for androids, isn't it? You an android sympathizer? An android hugger?" I don't know about you, but that adds another level for hatred that is understandable.