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Chicago: Become Human
Chapter Four: The Case of Mary Burgess
The next morning, they came for her. Garrett Brant and another woman walked into the house. It was the same human female Connor had seen at Cyberlife. Now she appeared in his database as Malory Rollins, second in security under Garrett.
Connor noticed a spike in Samantha's heart rate when they approached, though outwardly she showed no signs of distress. She went with them as they returned to the door that led into the laboratory part of the facility.
"Not you," Garrett said to Connor as he tried to follow. "You know the rules. You stay on this side of the building. We'll bring her back later."
"Yes, sir," Connor said on automatic, but his LED flickered yellow as he watched them take Samantha away. The door slid shut behind them and, for the first time since he had been introduced to her, Connor was fully separated from his charge. His systems fumbled with this new reality, struggling to cope.
.
"Hey Garrett, check this out," Rollins called to him. He walked over to her station in front of various surveillance screens. "Look what that android's doing."
Garrett leaned over her shoulder to see the full color video. The Hall Foundation spared no expense on security. Connor could clearly be seen on the screen pacing back and forth like a caged tiger in front of the door leading to the lab side of the facility. His eyes were glued on the door as he stalked stiffly back and forth. His LED was full yellow and flickering off and on, blinking red every once in a while.
"He does not like it at all when you take Sam away from him," Rollins said. "Do you think that's going to be a problem in the future?"
Garrett furrowed his brows for a moment. That was weird behavior for an android. Though he could hardly complain of it. With the task he was programmed for, it was good Connor was attached to Samantha and concerned for her. But a full display of agitation was not the type of reaction they needed in this place.
"Nah, dealing with androids is easy. You just correct the behavior when you see it." Garrett pushed the intercom button on the wall and his voice could be heard coming from the live feed. "Connor, chill out. Samantha's fine. This is a routine procedure. We do it every month."
On the screen, Connor stopped in mid stride. After a moment, he stood at attention, looking more placated.
"Yes, Sir."
"Good robot. We'll have her back to you in about two and a half hours. You can do what you like until then."
Connor chose to remain at the door, eyes transfixed upon it. He did not move until it was opened again.
.
When Samantha returned, Connor was instantly concerned as she was pushed out in a wheelchair. She was hunched as if in pain, her skin sallow. Connor's LED went crazy, flickering wildly in yellow, a flash of red here and there.
"Samantha, what happened?" He bent to get a better look at her. She did not look in distress, but she didn't look healthy either.
Connor straightened to stare Garrett in the eyes, anger clearly on his face. "What did you do to her?"
"She'll be fine. Move." He pushed the wheelchair past Connor and further into the house. "Where do you want me to put you?"
"I think I'll lay down for a while," Samantha said tiredly.
Garrett wheeled her to the bedroom with Connor and Rollins behind them. When they arrived, Connor placed himself between Samantha and the other humans.
"I'll take care of her now. You can go."
"Oh, I can, can I?" Garrett said with a raised brow. "What makes you think you can tell me when I should leave?"
Connor stared him down for several moments, fists tight at his side. He said simply, "Get out."
"The hell I will, robot. The day I take orders from you-"
"Get out!" Connor interrupted. His LED was flickering red now.
Garrett suddenly had him pinned roughly against the wall. Connor couldn't fight back. His protocols wouldn't allow him to fight a human who wasn't actively trying to hurt Samantha.
"You little shit," the human growled.
"Garrett," Samantha said in a sharp voice. "Why are you getting so mad at a machine?"
With a growl, Garrett dropped the android and took a step back, his face still a storm cloud.
"I'm asking you nicely to please go back to work," Samantha continued in a more tired voice. "I don't have the energy for this. You're agitating my android and I don't want him melting down when I've already paid for his new suits."
Garrett glanced back to find Rollins smirking in amusement at him. "Fine," he huffed. "You know where to find me if you need anything." And with that, he paraded out of the bedroom, Rollins behind him.
Connor remained standing at attention between Samantha and the doorway until he heard the two leave his side of the building. Only then did he turn around to find Samantha had already flopped herself tiredly on the bed, curled into herself with her back facing the door and the android.
"Samantha, are you going to be alright? Did he hurt you?"
"No. Garrett would never hurt me. I just had to... do a lot of medical procedures and I'm really wiped out. It's normal. We do this every month. I'll be all recovered again in a day or two."
A day or two? What had they done to her?
"Samantha, my readings indicate your symptoms could be partially to low blood pressure."
"Yeah, they take a pretty large amount of blood. I'll eat something in a few minutes and then I'll feel much better." She groaned as she shifted a little. "It's the spinal tap that always takes a few days before the pain goes away."
"Samantha, are you sick? Is that what the laboratory and all these procedures are for?" he asked in a soft voice.
A heavy sigh from her. "No. I'm not sick. Don't worry about it. I'll be just fine in a bit. It's not a big deal."
Connor didn't answer, but he refused to leave. He remained standing at her bedside as she dozed off, his LED blinking yellow the entire time.
.
As she promised, Samantha was soon back to her regular health and life went on as it had before. Though now, she began to open up more to her android housemate. She began to purposefully involve Connor in her daily activities. He loved it.
She taught him to play board and card games, invited him to pick a book and read with her in the mornings. They watched movies in the living room on an old DVD player. All movies were also as old since companies no longer produced the original DVD format. This place was really against anything high-tech. Anything that could be accessed wirelessly. Samantha, Connor eventually noticed, did not even own a phone. It was strange, but it also kept her safe, so Connor did not question it.
Two weeks later, Garrett informed them he had received a call from the android clothing store that the custom suits Samantha had ordered were ready. Garrett offered to go pick them up when he could get around to it. This led to Samantha wandering the house for a while, looking indecisive.
Conner leaned against the back of the couch as he watched her pace, wondering if he would have to ask or if she eventually would tell him herself what was on her mind. He did not have to ask.
"Connor," she said with a sigh. "I want to go into town. I used to go by myself just fine. I don't want to stay shut up in this house for the rest of my life. I don't want to have this debilitating fear, I want my life back. But... you say how dangerous it is."
Connor thought about it for a moment. Though the outside was a more difficult environment in which to protect his charge, he had already decided that Samantha had to go out and be in the world again. It was good for her overall mental health. "This is true, but if you want to go out, I will do everything I can to make it safe. No matter how many times you wish to go. There are things we can do to make it more difficult for anyone to be aware of our activities, such as not having a regular schedule. Going out on random days to different places would be a good idea.
"You should go out today. I will be there to keep you safe."
Her smile lightened the whole room and Connor would have gladly done anything for such a smile.
.
Samantha did have her own car, a small blue four-door that was dusty in the garage from lack of use. It too was a bit out of date with no on-board computer or GPS system. The engine took a moment to start, but soon they were off toward town. This was the first time in his life Connor had ever ridden in the passenger seat, the broad windshield allowing him to see everything around him as they drove. It was magical.
After picking up the two suits, Samantha decided she would like to stay in town for lunch. She drove them to a small, local cafe she used to frequent. When she pulled up, however, there was a sign she never noticed before:
NO SEATING FOR ANDROIDS.
The androids had a designated waiting space outside the cafe. In fact, now that she thought about it, many eating establishments did this. Businesses did not want to give up seating for bodies who weren't going to eat or pay. She had never owned an android before, so this practice was not something she had given a lot of thought to until now.
She frowned and then pulled back out and onto the road.
"I could have waited," Connor said. "I would have been just right outside."
"Nah," Samantha said. "I don't want to eat alone. Let's drive around and see if we can find some place. If not, I'll just grab some drive-thru and we'll go back home."
They drove down a few streets until Connor spotted a place that specifically had an 'ANDROIDS WELCOME' sign on it. The name of the business was Macy's Place. No designated waiting area outside the establishment like so many others.
"Perfect," Samantha said. Right as they pulled in, a human man with a female android stepped out of the restaurant together, talking happily among themselves as they left. "Well, I guess this is it. I hope they have good food because I'm starving."
When they stepped inside, a cheery female android wearing an adorable apron greeted them. "Macy" was printed on her name tag. "Hi there. Two today? Would you like a table or a booth?"
"A booth is preferable," Conner said, eyeballing the room.
Samantha motioned that the answer was good for her as well and they were led to a booth against the far wall. Connor purposefully seated himself on the side facing the window. A few moments later, their waitress arrived. She was in the same adorable apron, but this employee was human.
"Hey there, I'm Lina. Have we been here before?"
"No, first time," Samantha said. "We just happened upon it as we were driving around and decided to stop."
"I'm so glad you did. I thought you might be newbies." The waitress nodded at Connor. "I'm pretty sure I would have remembered seeing this one before, all dressed to kill like that." She winked at Connor who looked very perplexed at the action.
"Yes, he takes his work seriously. He likes to look professional," Samantha said with a grin in his direction.
"Well, here's your menu. Clam chowder is our soup of the day. And we do offer thirium for the android if you're interested."
Samantha raised a brow in curiosity. She had never heard of any place doing something like that. "Do you need refills?" she asked Connor.
"No, not unless I am damaged or have a leak. Cyberlife recommends a thirium flush every six to eight months, but I do not need any refills in the meantime if I have not lost any fluids."
"Oh yeah, they usually don't need it," Lina confirmed. "We only sell it in small quantities. It's a special high grade so it makes their systems get a little slow and groggy but... also kind of happy?"
"Tipsy," Samantha translated. "It makes them tipsy as if they've been drinking?"
"Yes, that's a good way of putting it."
Samantha gave Connor a questioning look. She was curious to see what he would be like a little tipsy. Connor immediately shook his head. There was no room for him to be any kind of inebriated when on the job.
"Alright, suit yourself. Maybe next time."
Connor did not look amendable to a next time.
When the waitress left with her order, Samantha took the opportunity to look around the place. With it being lunch time, there was a healthy amount of patrons in the restaurant. Nearly all the tables were taken. Samantha couldn't help but notice it was mostly couples. Every time: one android and one human. Even the groups seemed to be made of two mixed pairings having lunch together. The only exception was the large group of girls in the back corner, all chatting away like old friends, but not all of them human.
It was all the couples that had Samantha's attention. She had a feeling that these people out with their androids weren't necessarily out in the same capacity as she and Connor. The couple directly in her line of sight was a human woman with a male model android. She had a beautiful deep skin tone that went perfectly with the bright colors and gorgeous eye shadow she wore. Her android companion, slightly darker, was a handsome match for her. They held each other's hand across the table as they spoke in low tones and soft laughs with each other.
The android, a large model a bit bigger and taller than Connor, acted so effortlessly human it was mesmerizing. The way he grinned his smitten grin and looked into his partner's eyes, it was just like a human in love. And Samantha had thought Connor sometimes acted too human. This one, if he removed his LED and wore regular clothing, Samantha would have never been able to tell he was not human.
This train of thought led Samantha to recall the conversation she had with the store clerk the last time she was in town. It was actually a thing that some people pretended to have romantic relationships with their androids. At least, Samantha had assumed it was pretend at the time. This looked real. How did that person get her android to act like that? Was it some kind of special model with a program designed to imitate being in love? Did that kind of android exist?
Her internal musings were interrupted momentarily when the waitress returned with her food. Samantha ate distractedly, taking a small note that the food was actually quite good here. Another couple that caught her attention was a short, larger man with a petite female android with very Asian features. He was talking animatedly to the android, but she was giving him only polite, robotic responses in return. She was acting like a typical android, fresh out of the box. Very different from the first couple she observed, or even the couple that had exited the restaurant when they first pulled up.
Samantha finally realized she was overtly staring hard at strangers and tried to school her wandering eyes as she ate. Besides, watching Connor instead was also fun. He was so serious about doing his own overt crowd watching, keeping a somber eye on the patrons and staff, as well as what was going on outside through the large picture window. He really did give her a feeling of safety that she would have never had otherwise. Certainly not out in the city like this.
When Samantha was nearly done with her meal, some of the patrons strangely began walking toward her booth. To her horror, it was the first couple, the woman and the male android she had been staring at earlier, along with another couple consisting of a tall, wiry man with a more moderately sized male android, slightly shorter than the human he was with. She wondered if they were going to call her out for staring.
"Hi," the human woman said in a bright, friendly manner.
Connor was immediately up faster than they could react, standing between Samantha and the group of strangers.
"What do you want?"
The woman instantly floundered for an answer while her android companion stepped protectively in front of her. Conner was reaching into his jacket where Samantha knew he holstered a gun. She couldn't believe it. They were in a public building! Did this android have no sense?
"Connor," she said with sharp warning, though still low enough not to cause a scene.
He glanced back at her, his hostility dropping along with his hand. Samantha stood to make sure he wasn't going to change his mind about the gun.
"Hi. Sorry about that. He used to work for the police department. It's made him a little-"
"Paranoid?" the taller android finished. This surprised Samantha that, as an android, he would speak out like that.
"And a little over-protective when it comes to strangers," she agreed.
The woman stepped back into the forefront, all smiles and exuding a welcoming aura that easily made people feel comfortable. "I guess we were kind of looking like we were going to gang up on you. Sorry about that. It's just that a lot of us are from the neighborhood and patrons to this place are mostly regulars. We haven't seen you two around and thought maybe you were new in town?"
The back part of Samantha's brain was starting to get exactly what kind of clientele this restaurant was meant for. "Oh no, we're not from this part of town. We were just driving around looking for a place to eat and happened to see the sign. I didn't want to leave him in the car while I went in and ate alone."
"A lot of people don't care about that," the woman said.
"I like having him with me."
The woman smiled at her android. "As do we. My name is Angela, by the way. This is Derek," she motioned to her android. "And these are our good friends Calvin and Jace." She then pointed to the other human man and his male android.
She hesitated for a moment about giving out her name, but then said, "I'm Samantha, this is Connor."
"Do you mind if we talk?" Angela then asked. "I love meeting new people and their android companions."
"She collects them," Calvin said, earning a friendly slap in the chest from her.
"I like making new friends," she corrected. "But if you have to go, I completely understand. I know this is weird that we just came up to you like this."
Samantha looked at Connor. His LED flickered yellow for a brief second. He probably wanted them to leave since these new people were strangers. But... Samantha didn't really have any friends. And these people clearly knew about androids. She had been dying to talk to someone who knew about them ever since Connor had arrived at her house. It wouldn't hurt to actually know other people in her life besides the security team at the Hall Foundation, right?
"Yeah, we can talk for a while. We've got time."
Though Connor didn't seem pleased with that answer, he sat himself back into the booth when Samantha did. This time, he opted to sit on the same side as she, protectively blocking her in. Though he wasn't happy that they now had their backs facing the big open window in the front. Calvin and Jace slid into the other side. Angela barely fit her lithe body in after them. Derek, the largest of them all, merely stood next to them.
"So, how long have you two been together?" Angela asked.
"Right to the point, huh Angie?" the android Jace asked. She playfully told him to hush and then looked at Samantha expectantly.
"Oh gosh, we've had him... maybe about a month now?" Samantha guessed.
"Twenty-nine days," Connor confirmed.
Both humans on the other side looked quite surprised.
"Only that long?" Calvin asked.
"I would have never guessed. The two of you seem really close," Angela added.
Samantha smiled over at Connor. Having him pull her from the ice and beg her to stay with him surely put a fast track on the relationship. "We've gotten along very well." She playfully bumped her shoulder into his. "I like to think this one likes me. At least a little."
"Of course I like you, Samantha. It was placed in my programming," Connor said pragmatically.
She was nearly flattered at Connor admitting he did have the ability to like something, until that last part. Then her smile fell and hurt set it.
"Wait. You're programmed to like me? It's not... real? You were told to feel that way?"
Connor floundered for a response. The sudden hurt in her face made his chest ache and he had no idea how to respond to fix it.
"It's the imprint program, Samantha," Calvin quickly cut in. "Every android has it. It doesn't mean an android's affection for you is a forced response."
Samantha peeled her incredulous gaze from Connor to look at him.
Calvin held up his hand slightly. "Programming nerd here. The imprinting program is a very important part of the android's personality makeup. The mass-produced commercial models are given a blank one, so that they will imprint on whoever happens to purchase them. I'm assuming Connor was more of a custom job?"
"Uh, yeah. I guess you could say that."
"So when he was being put together, the programmer already knew who he was going to, so they put you into his imprinting file specifically instead of the android putting you in there himself when he met you. This program allows the android to—at the lack of a better way to say it—identify who they belong to.
"The first line of androids produced did not have this. Pretty much anyone could walk up to an android and order them to just go with them. And this happened quite a bit. Androids were being stolen all over the place. With the introduction of this program, the androids were able to have a sense of who owned them and could tell if they were being stolen.
"If you think about it, we humans have this, too. We imprint on our parents when we're young. We bond with the positive people in our lives as we grow. This is how we identify friends and family and how we get a sense of where we belong. It's the same for androids. It doesn't force the bond on them, it allows them to create the bond in the first place."
Samantha looked at Connor again. She wasn't completely consoled with that explanation, but it made sense.
"Thank you for telling me. That's really interesting. Connor's actually the first android we've ever had and I've had so many questions. He's the only one I can ask, but he doesn't always give me the best answers."
"I remember that," Jace said, fondly looking at Calvin. "So full of questions, this one. Always staring at me intently. Then, he would get the most adorable frown on his face when he didn't like the answers."
Calvin gave an adorable frown right then and there.
"We weren't programmed right out of the box to give satisfactory answers," Jace continued to say. "Those answers only come with learning and with time."
Samantha hadn't considered that Connor's answers to her questions had the ability to change as he learned. Was that possible? Change how exactly?
"So, we have an online community if you're interested in meeting more people like us," Angela then said.
Like you? Samantha wondered. Her eyebrows raised a bit in realization. "Oh, no. Um, I don't think we're in the same situation. It's not like that with us. Connor travels with me as like an escort... but not that kind of escort." Her face was a little flushed now.
Calvin looked confused, but Angela smirked. "Oh, I get it. You've got a rich daddy."
"Excuse me?" Samantha asked.
"Your dad's rich, isn't he? He bought this android with some kind of police programming to keep tabs on his baby girl. I've heard of people doing that before. Even people buying these spy androids to keep an eye on their significant others." She leaned closer, her voice going to a whisper. "He's not a member of the mafia, is he?"
"What, no! He just owns a big company that handles... sensitive information. He likes to know I'm safe, I guess."
"Or make sure his baby girl isn't getting into trouble," Angela added.
Derek, her android, touched her shoulder. "Come on, Angie, let's let these nice folks go. I think we've bothered them enough."
"Yes, we should get going," Samantha quickly said, eager to end the conversation now. So much for new friends. This wasn't quite the type of people she was looking for. She urged Connor out of the booth so she could retreat from them.
"Well, feel free to come by again," Angela offered, sounding slightly disappointed. "Both of us come here a few times a week. Especially on Saturdays. And there's always someone here to talk to if you have more questions about androids."
Samantha paused for a moment as she put on her coat. That offer was tempting. It had been really nice to hear what Calvin had to say. But joining any online community for any reason was off the table. There was no internet allowed at the house. Which also made it difficult to look things up about androids. It would be nice to talk to Calvin when she had time to think up a bunch of questions.
"Yeah, we might drop by again. Thank you."
The group seemed friendly enough, but Samantha still hurried herself over to the counter to pay and get out of there. On the drive back home, she glanced over at Connor's stoic profile. Those other androids had been far more animated; more free to speak their minds and emote. Connor's little idiosyncrasies had impressed her, but these androids were on a whole other level of imitating a live human. Could Connor become like them? Was it a matter of just continuing to allow him to learn as they interacted with each other? Or was there a specific program that those other androids had and he didn't? Maybe more questions were in order.
.
A week later, they went back into town. To the library this time; a public space where androids were freely allowed to go. Connor stood off to the side, eyeing the rest of the building like a hawk while Samantha surfed the web. She managed to find a community message board about people who chose to make androids their life partners. She did not know if this was a place that Angela and Calvin frequented. She had never asked for any URLs.
Samantha was a little worried at first that she was treading some dangerous water by looking up such topics in public, but the board proved to be fairly wholesome. There was a section called 'Intimacy and Compatibility' and she did not dare to click on it. But the whole board was largely about treating one's android as a person and a member of the household. With a heavy overtone of as a romantic partner, of course.
All sorts of various discussions littered the board. There was one about Parson's Law, another about how to come out to your family that you've chosen an android as a mate. Many, many discussions about how these couples are treated if they give any indication of their relationship in public. They were usually not treated well. Sometimes even disowned by friends and relatives. Taking an android as a life partner certainly wasn't a popular thing to do. The public opinion was very much that androids were things, machines, property to be owned and treated only like property and nothing more. To take one as a life mate seemed even more frowned upon than owning a personal sex android that was only used for its manufactured purpose.
There was a very interesting discussion on what it does to the psyche of an android to be replaced and thrown away. Samantha did not know this, but apparently there were garbage dumps specifically dedicated to defunct and discarded androids. It was stated that androids didn't always just turn off peacefully and rust into oblivion. Some would display what the board members often called 'deviations' to their programming. Being misplaced, being thrown out actually emotionally scarred them. And there were horrifying instances of androids not being correctly turned off and left to rot 'alive' in these garbage piles.
One post had a video attachment of the member's local dump site. Samantha clicked it with a held breath. It was nothing but piles and piles of rusted bodies. And, when the camera sat still, one could see movement down below. Arms and legs struggling to move out from under lifeless forms. Bodies missing limbs dragging themselves around. The camera zoomed up on one android that was wandering aimlessly through the carnage, sightless with most of its head caved in.
Samantha turned the video off after that, feeling sick. She did her best to school her response as to not alarm Connor. She didn't want him to see this. Not to Connor, she told herself again. She would never let that happen to him.
The most trending topic was something called 'The Mary Burgess Case'. Samantha had no idea what that was, so she quickly searched for it and found a news story. Mary Burgess, age 68, had originally been married to her human husband, a man fifteen years her senior. When he died, she married her android. She was not the first and certainly wouldn't be the last to wed an android. All sorts of strange people had been marrying various objects—cars, buildings, rocks—long before there were androids. It was not illegal to marry an item that was one's property, no matter how weird it was.
The android in question was tall and lean, red hair and blue eyes. Sharp model-like features, but very young. He didn't look a day over twenty-three in human years. Everything about him from his plump mouth, broad physique and bedroom eyes suggested this was probably a personal pleasure model.
'Go get it, Mary Burgess,' Samantha thought to herself with amusement.
The marriage itself, which happened a year prior, was not what had made the news. Mary Burgess had recently died and her will proclaimed the entirety of her estate would go to the android, her husband. Mary's surviving children were furious and taking any kind of legal recourse they could. There was also the matter of the android himself and whether or not he could legally inherit. Androids were considered property, and property legally could not own property.
Everyone on the board was following this case. Whatever the results would be, they would be interesting. Samantha made a mental note to keep up with it as well.
.
A week and a half later, it was February 14th. It went on like every other day at home, but that evening after dinner, Samantha presented Connor with a brown padded mail envelope.
"Sorry, I don't have any wrapping paper, so it's just in the package it came in," Samantha said. "I hope you don't think it's weird I got you a present for Valentine's Day. I just wanted to buy something for someone."
Connor said nothing as he put his hand into the already opened package. As usual, he had no opinion on this particular holiday or presents. But then he pulled out a bright red tie and something inside him that wasn't supposed to move shifted just a little. He held it in his hand, just staring.
"I saw you looking at it both times when we went to the mall," Samantha said. "I though you'd like it."
Connor continued to stare at the stark red tie. "It doesn't really match my suit."
"But do you like it?"
The answer fell out of his mouth before he could even think about it. "Yes."
Samantha smiled. "Then wear it anyway if it makes you happy."
Connor then looked up at her, his expression suddenly worried. "I didn't get you anything. I... didn't expect this."
She just smirked at him as she walked toward the kitchen. "I had something in mind that you can do for me if you wanted to give me a present."
"Yes, I'll do whatever you want."
Samantha grinned to herself. The things he said to her sometimes. If a human man had said them, the meaning would have felt so much different.
"Good." She set out two wine glasses from the cupboard. "I would like you to drink with me tonight. That is my request."
Connor looked at her in confusion as she poured one glass of wine. "I can't drink that."
She then pulled out a silver canister and poured a deep blue liquid into the second glass. "High grade. The amount was measured specifically for your size. Just enough to give you a good buzz, said the guy I ordered it from."
"When?" Connor asked in puzzlement. He was with her practically every moment of the day.
"When I was on the library computers. You can get anything done online." She picked up the glasses in one hand and the wine bottle in the other. "Come on."
To the parlor they went, as they often did at night. The world outside was brown and ugly in February, half the snow melted, but still miserably cold out. Instead of turning out the lights to watch out the window, Samantha turned on the fireplace with the flick of a switch. They sat together on the couch in front of the fire, lights on.
Samantha sipped her drink as she sat with back against the arm rest, feet on the couch cushion so she could face him. "Try it," she said, nodding to the drink in his hand. "I want to see what it does."
Connor would have never tried this of his own volition. He was doing it because Samantha asked as a thank you for the tie that he, honestly, looked forward to wearing. He sipped the glass carefully under her gaze. The sensors in his mouth that he used to identify certain types of evidence immediately analyzed the substance. It was indeed thirium, but in a heavier concentration of certain elements. It went down thicker than the regular kind, sticky and warm, but not unpleasant.
"How do you like it?" Samantha asked.
"It's... nice," he took another sip.
She watched him, pleased, chin resting on her palm. It took until Connor had fished her from the lake for Samantha to really look at him. She asked him to tell her about his time working for the Detroit police so she could continue to study him without it seeming weird.
He had kind eyes, she noticed. Soft edges and brown like melted chocolate. His voice wasn't the same as other androids. Theirs were always manufactured to be crisp and clear. Connor's was... smokey. How does one make a robot's voice sound smokey? And that mouth, how it would seem so stoic to the casual observer. But Samantha noticed how it quirked itself in little ways when he talked to her. And that adorable smile when he saw the tie she gave him. That mouth was downright kissable. Why were these Cyberlife jokers making an android that was so kissable?
Samantha averted her eyes after that, wondering where that thought came from. Even worse, her brain was still going. He'd let you kiss him, it told her. He doesn't care if you touch him. Which meant it wouldn't mean anything to him. Because he was an android, not a person. Samantha was letting the wine and the loneliness get to her. What a hell of a holiday to spend the evening alone with a handsome man who was wholly incapable of reciprocating any affection she could give him.
Her gaze wandered from him, looking past the back of the couch around the rest of the parlor. It settled on the dusty piano and Samantha let out a long breath. Connor had paused from giving a rather report-type accord of some of his cases as he noticed her attention was focused elsewhere. He followed her gaze to the piano.
"Good enough time as any, I suppose," she muttered.
Connor wanted to ask what she meant, but he said nothing as she downed the full contents of her wine glass and stood. She walked over to Connor and reached down to push his glass up with her fingers.
"Drink it. All of it."
Connor did not comply. "Since I have never ingested this type of thirium before, I think it will be more pragmatic if I take just a little at a time."
"Drink and I'll play you something."
Connor's eyes widened. He glanced back at the piano. "On...?"
"Drink it."
Connor tipped his head back and poured the entirety of the contents down his throat. He could immediately feel the thick liquid spreading through his system as he set his glass down on the coffee table with finality.
Samantha grinned at him and held out her hand. He paused before taking it and she pulled him to his feet. Hand in hand, she led him over to the piano. Connor's gaze was transfixed on where they joined. He had never held hands with anyone before. If he could like something, he would like this.
Samantha sat herself at the bench and patted the space next to her in invitation for Connor to join. He sat with enthusiasm, eyes full of interest as she lifted the cover from those pristine black and white keys. The stark colors were beautiful to him. He watched as Samantha raised her hands and then set them on the keys. She pushed down gently at first, a C Major chord. Then she ran a few scales, familiarizing herself with the movements.
Connor was mesmerized as each key was pressed. They all made a different sound. So many, many different combinations of possible sounds. He raised a hand to press those tempting keys himself, but paused when Samantha made a grunt of displeasure.
"I can hear it," she said with distaste as she played a simple tune with her right hand. "I can hear this stupid fake hand hit those keys. I hate that sound."
"Play louder," Connor suggested.
Samantha's response was to suddenly run her hands up and down the keys in a cascade of notes. Connor jumped a little from surprise at the sound. And Samantha was so animated doing it, being purposefully sloppy and loud. Connor found it quite comical and a noise escaped him, something he had never done before.
Samantha instantly stopped playing. "Connor, did you just giggle at me?"
"Did I?" he wondered.
She started laughing. "You have this stupid grin on your face."
"I do?"
"Do you feel... happy?"
"I..." He could feel that smile pulling at both sides of his mouth. There was a giddiness bubbling up inside him, trying to come out. He barked out another laugh and quickly covered his mouth.
That just made Samantha laugh more. Her laugh made him laugh and now both were just laughing and pointing at each other.
"They weren't kidding with that stuff!" Samantha giggled. "You're laughing like a little kid. I need to get some more of that!"
"No! I don't want any more!" Connor protested, though he was still laughing uncontrollably. He covered his face, trying to get this weird malfunction under control.
His struggle just made Samantha's laughter turn into a tickled cackle—which just got Connor laughing again at seeing this new, weirder laugh that Samantha was demonstrating. Samantha laughed until tears were coming out of her eyes before she finally got it under control.
She wiped her eyes as her giggles began to settle. Connor's attempts at composing himself were becoming more successful as well.
"I guess I needed a good laugh," she said, rubbing the wetness on her finger. "Can't remember the last time I had one."
"Cathartic," Connor agreed.
"I didn't even know androids could laugh," she answered, grinning wide. She knew she was probably going to laugh about it later, too. Seeing such a stoic face just break into giggles was a treat.
"I didn't know either," Connor mused, and seemed not entirely happy that he now had the ability.
Samantha grinned to herself as she started to play the piano for real. A playful, upbeat jazz song skipped over the keys, jumping and dancing from one chord to the next as if Samantha were sampling multiple songs at a time. Connor loved, it; hearing the melody, watching her fingers fly over the keys, each one producing a different sound. The cadence of swing, of not quite being on the beat, of pushing each note with feeling, was surprising and wondrous. For a time, he was lost in the music as it swirled around him, making him dizzy and giddy all over again.
Then, the music suddenly tripped over itself and came to a halt. Samantha held her right arm, watching the fingers twitch with a pained expression.
"This damn hand," she hissed. "It can't keep up."
"I thought it was very nice," Connor said. "The best I've ever heard."
She wasn't listening as bitterness set into her voice. "Why did they have to take this hand? Why couldn't it have been the left one?"
Connor felt that question was rhetorical, so he said nothing. Though the statement was curious and his LED flickered blue as he thought about her words.
Samantha covered her face, letting herself sink into self-pity for a time before she pulled herself back up. With a deep breath, her hands hovered over the keys again and she played. This time, the melody was slow and soft with a bittersweet romance to it.
Connor sank into the music again, closing his eyes for a moment. But opened them again when he heard Samantha's unexpected voice.
She'd trade Colorado if he'd take her with him
Closes the door before the winter lets the cold in
And wonders if her love is strong enough to make him stay
She's answered by the tail lights
Shining through the window pane
He said I wanna see you again
But I'm stuck in colder weather
Maybe tomorrow will be better
Can I call you then
She said you're ramblin' man
You ain't ever gonna change
You gotta gypsy soul to blame
And you were born for leavin'
A story, Connor thought. A story through music.
Samantha glanced his way as she started on the second verse. Her voice was sad and haunting, even though she was smiling at him. The music became louder, more soulful as it reached the bridge.
Well it's a winding road
When you're in the lost and found
You're a lover, I'm a runner
We go 'round 'n 'round
And I love you but I leave you
I don't want you but I need you
You know it's you who calls me back here, baby
Her fingers flew unerringly over the keys this time, her face flushed, eyes closed with the thrill of playing a beautiful melody. And then it suddenly drifted into nothing and her voice, alone for a moment, continued to sing.
When I close my eyes I see you
No matter where I am
I can smell your perfume through these whispering pines
The piano picked up again, a few simple keys to accompany her voice.
I'm with your ghost again
It's a shame about the weather
I know soon we'll be together
And I can't wait 'til then
I can't wait 'til then
She finished the song with the closing melody and then the sound drifted off. The music left the two of them sitting alone together.
"That... is a sad song," Connor then said.
"I'm a sucker for a good, sad song," Samantha responded, her hands now sandwiched between her knees.
"Thank you for playing for me."
"You're welcome. Thank you for bothering me about it. I forgot how much I enjoyed it."
"Samantha, the song... what does it mean: stuck in colder weather?"
"I didn't write the song, so I couldn't say exactly."
"What is your interpretation?"
She took a moment to look thoughtful. "I guess... it's cold weather of the heart. He's not ready to commit. He hasn't warmed his heart all the way to let this other person in. But, the bitter sweetness of the story is that he also won't let her go. Some part of him wants her and expects her be there. That line: 'it's a shame about the weather' says to me he just wants to sit in limbo. He doesn't want to change, but he doesn't want to give her up either. And I think one day he's going to show up to see her, and she won't be there anymore because she's done waiting for him to get out of that weather."
Connor made a sound of acknowledgment, but said nothing more on the subject. They eventually drifted off to different topics, talking idly as the night went on. Then, they just sat together in silence. And the silence was nice as well. Connor was beginning to understand this concept of bonding without speaking.
His inner thoughts drifted off to do their own calculating until he felt a weight next to him. He looked over to see Samantha leaning against him, eyes closed with her head on his shoulder.
"Samantha, I think it's time for bed," he said.
"Mmm," she agreed. But then didn't move.
It was a few minutes before Connor decided he would have to do this himself. "Come on." He put his arm around her and pulled her to her feet as he stood. Samantha walked with an unsteady pace, lightheaded from the late night and the alcohol in her system. Connor, who had already cycled through his thirium by then, was the steady one of the two as he tried to help her across the room. He noticed she wasn't even keeping her eyes open as she walked. That didn't seem safe.
The only recourse was to take control. He bent down and picked her up. Her form was boneless in his arms, one arm reflexively going around his neck. As he carried her through the house, her nose brushed against the sensors behind his ear and an unexpected but pleasant sensation went down his spinal strut.
"You don't smell like anything," Samantha murmured to him.
"I don't?"
"I don't know why, but I thought you would. You look like you smell good."
"I do?"
"Mmhm."
Immediately after, it seemed Samantha had drifted off. Connor carried her to the bedroom and, with an impressive show of his android strength, held her with one arm as he used the other to fold back the covers. One knee pressed to the bed, he set her upon the mattress and pulled the blankets over her. As he moved away, he felt something catch the tail of his jacket.
"You can stay... if you want," Samantha mumbled, eyes still closed.
Connor looked down at the hand holding onto him. When he didn't say anything, she eventually dropped it. He turned back and watched her lay motionless on the bed. She wasn't asleep yet, he knew. He waited.
"Why are you still standing like that?" she then muttered with one crack of an eye.
"You said I could stay."
Her body shook with silent, tired laughter. "I can't even tell if you are being facetious with me."
"I am not aware I have this capability."
"Okay, now you are just being a smartass. If you want to get in the bed, you can get in the bed. Or if you want to leave, you may do that, too."
"If I am in the bed, I will be the one closest to the door," he informed her.
She cracked an eye at him again, a big grin on her face. "Yes, sir."
"It's for your safety," he insisted as he removed his jacket. He folded it carefully and draped it over the reading chair in the corner. Next came his tie as he toed off his shoes. Practicality said he should remove his dress shirt and pants as well if he did not want to wrinkle them. Practicality also told him that sliding into bed without clothes was not necessarily appropriate.
Unbuttoning the first top buttons of his shirt, he slipped into bed next to her, still dressed. Samantha slid over to make room for him. He settled on his back, laying stiffly with arms at his side, looking at the ceiling. He had never had a reason to lay down in a bed before. This was all new to him.
Samantha slid up to his side, propped up on an elbow as she watched him. Her finger played with the LED at his temple, covering the light with her finger and then revealing it again.
"You're my best friend, Connor, do you know that?"
The android blinked at her. He could never guess what was going to come out of her mouth. "I'm your best friend? You can just decide this?"
"Well, you're the only friend I have, so I guess it's you by default. Plus you did save my life. You're so easy to be with. I never thought having you around would be like this. Life is... better with you in it. I want you to know that."
"Good. My primary objective is to take care of you. If you feel that way then I am doing my job correctly."
Her smile to that was hesitant and Connor felt a distinct sense of falling short of what a correct response to something like that should be. He knew better. His advanced programming knew of a better response, but he couldn't feel that response. He was an android after all. This was the extent of his emotional range. Still, he added, "I prefer seeing you happy, Samantha. I hope you are always happy."
Then her expression just melted and she lightly kissed his LED. "Best android ever," she said with humor before settling in next to him. The only physical touch was her head on his shoulder. "Is this okay?"
"Yes, very acceptable."
A small laugh from her. "Good night, Connor."
"Good night, Samantha."
.
Note: Song lyrics from "Colder Weather" by the Zac Brown Band.