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Author's Notes: Hi everyone! Thank you so much for making it this far in my little passion project. Especially to those who took time to leave comments. That really just makes my day. From here on, the story is going to take off and I've been really excited to get to these chapters. Lyrics used in this chapter are from Third Eye Blind's "Deep Inside Of You".
Chicago: Become Human
Chapter Six: Closer is Preferable
For the rest of February, Samantha remained careful about her interactions with Connor. Even after their discussion in the car, things did not go back to the way they were before Elliot Hall. Connor knew why she did this. She was trying to convey to those watching that Connor wasn't that important to her. That he was merely a machine used for a purpose and he wasn't so integral that threatening his well-being was going to get her to do what others wanted.
Connor did not think this plan was going to work at all. Largely because it was not true and he doubted anyone else believed what Samantha was trying to sell them. These were facts. Pretending they were not facts seemed counterproductive. But it was not his place to tell Samantha what to do.
The curious thing was Connor missed it. He missed her touch, which was an anomaly altogether as physical touch was not important to an android, it was merely a way to know when one came in contact with a solid object. The idea of a certain kind of physical contact being more preferred than any other mundane contact was a foreign concept and Connor wondered if it was a glitch in his programming.
Or perhaps it was his personal compatibility programming trying to overcompensate for the change in Samantha's daily habits. Connor was aware he was a surrogate for real human interaction for her. He did not mind this; he considered it part of his job. Even the part where they drank together and spent the night in the same bed. If he were human, that night on Valentine's Day would have been romantic.
He liked her getting into his personal space, engaging him, touching him. He found her polite distance to be non-preferable to the former. But again, he was not allowed to tell Samantha what she should do with herself, unless it was to save her life or protect her from harm. There was no harm in this, so he was helpless to stand by and let it happen.
.
March, 2038 – Eight months until the android revolution.
Without warning, Garrett came into the house and told Samantha the words she had been dreading to hear.
"What do you mean you're taking him back to Cyberlife?!" she demanded.
Garrett winced at her high, panicked tone. "We're not returning him, Sam. This is part of the contract we had with these guys. We gotta bring him back every three months. That's the only way they agreed to sell him to us. I'm just taking him for the day. We'll be back tonight."
"They're not going to reprogram him, are they?" she asked, still panicked.
"No, not that I know of. They just want an update to see what he's learned so far. Probably do some regular maintenance on him while they're at it."
"You're sure," Samantha pressed.
"Pretty sure."
"You tell them that they are NOT to delete, rewrite or change any of Connor's programming, you got that Garrett? You tell them to their faces. I will rain down a fiery hell upon them in person if they so much as alter one tiny string of code. You let them know that."
"Fine. I got it."
"I, too will tell them this," Connor reported.
"Good, that's fine Connor," Samantha said distractedly and then turned her wrath right back to Garrett. "I am dead serious about this. You watch those guys like a hawk and make sure they don't do anything weird to him."
"Jesus, Sam! I got it! I will make it known to all what the princess wishes."
"Good." Samantha paused as another thought came to her. "Are there other RK800 models at Cyberlife?"
"I dunno. Probably. I saw a couple while I was there the last time. Though most of them were damaged."
"And they all looked just like him, right?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Crap. Hold on." Samantha started glancing around the room. "Wait, don't go yet. I have to do something before you leave." A marker. She began searching the nearby desk for a black marker. No, wait. That wouldn't work. If she wrote on Connor, his synthetic skin would cover it up.
Another idea hit her. "Wait there," she called as she ran down the hall. "I'll be right back."
"What is she doing?" Garrett muttered. "I've got a four hour drive both ways. We've got to get on the road."
"Sir?" Connor asked. "I have a concern. What about protecting Samantha while I am gone today?"
"That's not a problem. I'm having Rollins stay with her until we get back."
"Very well. I find this acceptable."
"Oh? So glad that you do," Garrett said with sarcastic humor.
"Okay, I'm back," Samantha called as she ran out of her room.
Garrett laughed at what she had. "You still have more of those damn bracelets?"
"Oh, you know I do," she said without embarrassment. "I was bored. I made a ton."
"You made this?" Connor wondered as he let her tie a hand-made bracelet of purple, red and black around his left wrist.
"It was a phase. I like trying new crafts. I gave one to Garrett, too. He doesn't wear it."
"Yeah, a grown-ass man always wears friendship bracelets. Plus my girl would have loved to hear about how I was wearing something made by another woman."
"There," Samantha announced, holding up Connor's arm which sported the bracelet. "Make sure this is the one you bring back."
"For God's sake Sam. He's going to be dressed differently than all the other ones. We're not going to lose him in the crowd, especially with that ugly-ass red tie. Besides, we own this android. Cyberlife can't take it from us. Even if we asked them to replace it, this is the one we're getting back."
Samantha looked at him stubbornly for a moment. "You want me to take off the bracelet."
"I want you to take off the bracelet."
"No, I will keep it," Conner insisted, pulling his arm back. "I am ready to go to Cyberlife. I will make sure I am the one who returns back here."
Samantha grinned, looking pleased as punch.
Garrett shrugged it off. If the android was fine with making her happy, he was fine with it, too.
.
"What are you doing now?" Garrett asked as he drove. The android, for the first hour of the trip, had been fiddling with a quarter. The tricks he could do were impressive, but ultimately distracting and Garrett had ordered Connor to put it away.
Now, the android was sitting unusually stiff and still. Every once in a while, lights would flicker in his eyes.
"I am preparing my files for quick download," Connor reported. "The longer I am at Cyberlife, the longer I am away from my responsibilities. I would like to be there as briefly as possible."
"You and me both," the human agreed.
When they arrived at the heavily-guarded Cyberlife tower, there seemed to be a little mix up at the entrance when Garrett showed his credentials to the security guard.
"RK800?" the guard asked. "You're picking up the one going out?"
"No, I'm bringing this one in," Garrett said, pointing his thumb to the android in his passenger seat.
The guard looked at Connor, confused. "Is it damaged?"
"Does it look damaged?" Garrett responded with irritation.
"So you're... returning it anyway?"
"No," Garrett huffed. "I made an appointment. Can you call someone? Cyberlife requested we bring this in for a scan or something. I don't know what the hell they call it."
"Hold on," the guard said. He stepped into his station and picked up the radio.
"If they don't let us in now, I'm never coming back here," Garrett mumbled.
"I will agree with that," Connor said. He did not want to be at Cyberlife at all if he could help it.
Eventually, the guard returned and flagged them in. Amy Witman, the tech who had assisted Garrett and Rollins when they were there the first time, met them at the front of the building. She seemed very pleased to see them as she escorted them into the tower. Garrett had forgotten how stark and sterile Cyberlife was. Every model designed was out on proud display somewhere in the building, standing at straight attention in stark white uniforms. All models, except one of the design that walked next to him.
"Thank you so much for bringing the RK back for this. I know it's out of your way," Amy said as they rode the elevator to one of the upper floors.
"I was under the impression I didn't have a choice," Garrett replied. "It was in the contract."
"Oh, was it? Either way, several of us in the programming department are excited to see how he's been progressing. This is a different project than the one all our other RK800 models are in." She glanced back at the android. "You're the wild card. What do they call you?"
"My name is Connor."
"Oh, you kept the same name? We reset him so you could give him a different designation if you wished."
"You must not have done it right. The thing informed us his name was Connor," Garrett said.
"I can fix that if you want him to have a different name. We already have plenty of Connors around here."
Connor opened his mouth to protest, but Garrett beat him to it.
"No, don't change a thing on him. I have been told both Cyberlife and I will catch all kinds of hell if you change a single spec of information in this android. She has all the settings exactly where she wants them, I guess."
Amy grinned. "I understand, I'll let the team know."
The elevator chimed their floor and the three stepped off. Coming up the hall toward them was, surprisingly, another RK800. He was dressed in the usual gray jacket uniform of the RK800s, ready to step out into the public and be of service to the Detroit Police Department.
Connor and the other RK800 instantly identified each other as they approached. As they passed, the RK800 stopped and turned around, watching them curiously. Amy caught his actions and stopped as well.
"That is another RK800 model," the RK800 informed them.
"Yes, but that has nothing to do with you," Amy told him. "You keep going downstairs. You have a car waiting to take you to the station."
"But why-"
"Go. You have more important things to do." She gave the android a dismissive motion and he complied with one last curious glance behind him, eyes settling on that garish red tie the other android was wearing.
Connor locked eyes with the other RK before the elevator doors closed. They had the same face, but he saw nothing familiar in the eyes. Samantha had once said that any other RK800 that came after him, wasn't just the same model as him, but was a copy of him. Maybe at one point. But he and the rest of the RK800 line had now deviated from each other. They had their cases and he had Samantha; and Samantha was slowly turning him into something else.
"I see they're all annoyingly nosy," Garrett said.
Amy continued to lead them further down the hall. "We like the RK's over here. All the other androids we deal with are blanks when we send them out. But the RK800s always pick up where the last one leaves off, so we get to see the full personality as it develops. That plus all the new programs we're testing on them makes them a little quirky. They're fun."
"Fun, huh?" Garrett said with a glance to Connor. The android made no comment in response.
They were led to a room with a large machine and Connor was instructed to remove his jacket and shirt.
"Well, that's cute," Amy said, noticing the android's bracelet.
"That's to make sure I bring the right one back," Garrett explained with humor.
"Sounds like your boss really likes her RK."
"She's not the one that's my boss. But yeah."
"Well, I will make sure he comes back the same for her," Amy said. She plugged a thick cord into the back of Connor's neck. The android did not seemed bothered by it. "This process might take up to two hours. You're welcome to wait downstairs. There's a cafeteria on the first floor."
"Sounds good. Call me when he's done. Is that fine, Connor?"
"That is acceptable, Sir," Connor said, his voice a bit distracted. Cyberlife was already pouring into his systems and he needed to be alert. Three months into this job and he had already broken rules, recharted his directives, and downloaded foreign programs. He also may have violated some human/android interactive codes. That one he wasn't sure of. All of those things needed to be kept from Cyberlife. He no longer owed them any allegiance. His loyalties were to Samantha and he would do anything to make sure he returned to her like she wished.
So he hid his sins from his makers, cunning as any fox. This RK800 was learning, evolving, and fast. And Cyberlife would never have any idea.
.
"Connor."
The android looked up from where he had been internally processing. It was now dark outside. Roughly thirty-eight minutes until they reached home, depending on traffic. Connor, eager to get back, had busied himself with subtly rolling his coin over his knuckles as not to irritate Garrett.
"Yes, Sir?"
"That tech girl showed me something interesting before I came in to get you. Something you didn't tell me."
Connor's LED flickered yellow as panic set in. He thought he had hid everything so well. Did Garrett know all his secrets? Did Cyberlife know? If they knew, why was he still headed back to Chicago?
"They have video of everything you see and hear. They showed me when Samantha fell through the ice. You fished her out of a fucking lake and you didn't tell me this happened."
Connor processed this. He had not considered hiding this event. There were so many other things he was more concerned about. What would happen to him because of this mistake? "Sir, I-"
"I know why you did it," Garrett cut him off. "You made Samantha a promise. She kept hers and you kept yours. And you may have saved her life more than once for that." Garrett never looked at the android. He kept his eyes on the road as he drove. "You made the right choice. I won't ever tell her what I know."
"Yes, Sir," Connor said quietly.
"I just don't know how the hell you came up with that on your own. Didn't your program at least compel you to report that to me? And you chose not to. How does that work?"
"My program allows me decision-making capabilities when given conflicting orders. You told me priority one was keeping Samantha alive above all else. So the choice I made was to accommodate that order, even if it had to conflict with secondary rules."
Garrett made a sound through his teeth, glancing once at Connor and then back to the road. "Shit," he muttered, but he sounded a bit impressed. "Fucking androids."
.
When they stepped into the house, Rollins was the only one to be seen, reading a book at the table. She stood as they entered.
"Where's Samantha?" Connor insisted before either human could say anything.
"I take it the trip went well," Rollins said, ignoring him. "You're even home earlier than I thought."
"It wasn't too bad," Garrett replied.
"Where's Samantha?" Connor asked again.
"In bed. She's out for the night."
"Already?" Garrett looked at his watch. "It's not even eight yet."
"She worked herself up into a fine panic all day until finally, earlier this evening, I gave her a sedative. And she just conked right out. She'll probably be good until morning."
Connor immediately turned on his heel and walked down the hall to Samantha's room.
"Well, he's on the job now," Garrett announced. "I guess we can go."
Connor was in Samantha's room before the two other humans had left the house. It was the longest he had ever been apart from her, ten hours. The longer he was gone, the more impatient he had become. Even though androids were supposed to be forever patient.
And even now, seeing her sleeping in bed, her back to him, it wasn't enough to sate the fluttering feeling in his chest. A feeling he had never experienced before. Here she was, right before him, breathing softly, sleeping well. Everything was fine, but there was still restlessness in him. He needed her voice, he needed her to look at him and welcome him home. Shove up his sleeve to see the bracelet and confirm that yes, her android had come back to her. But she was still and slumbering. Here in body only, her consciousness far away. He gently touched her head and she didn't even stir.
Disappointment. Connor had never felt such an emotion before. He didn't know what to do with it. The other humans had left the house, shutting off the remaining lights and plunging everything into darkness. What Connor should have done now was go out on his usual patrol to check all the locks and then prowl the parameter.
He couldn't will himself away from the room. What he needed to protect was here. It was okay if he stayed, he reasoned. Nothing else made sense to him but to stay. And so, very un-android-like, he climbed onto the bed and curled up next to her, their backs against one another. Eyes transfixed on the door, he felt and heard her breath slowly in the darkness. There he remained until the sun came again.
.
The next morning, Samantha awoke, complaining she felt like the dead. She had not the energy nor inclination to greet Connor the way he wished she would, which was disappointing all over again. When Connor informed her she probably felt that way because of the sedatives she had been given the day before, Samantha looked confused. She said she didn't remember being offered any such thing.
Connor sent a report to Garrett about the incident, suggesting whatever Rollins had used on Samantha should be taken down to a lower dose, should the need to use it arise again. Garrett said he would let Rollins know and Connor didn't think about it again.
.
May 2038 – Six months until the android revolution
For March and April, things went by like normal. Connor had his secrets as he continued to lurk in the Hall Foundation's computer systems. And Samantha had hers as she established more dialog with Calvin and also Angela through the phone that no one else but Connor knew she had. She did not go back to Macy's Place during that time. The more stringent schedule placed upon her by the Hall Foundation kept her tired and pale most of the time.
Connor hated it. Had Samantha given him orders to act against it, he would have. Sometimes when she was gone, a prisoner on the other side of that wall, he willed her to tell him to save her from this place. But she wouldn't.
At the end of May, the heat had already set in. Angela sent an invitation through text that there was going to be a barbecue that Saturday night at a local park. Several people and their androids would be in attendance that Angela wanted Samantha to meet. It was a few days before Samantha would have to go back to the clinic. No better time to go out than that.
"Hey Garrett," she called on the intercom. She wore jeans and sneakers. "I'm getting stir crazy, I'm going out for the rest of the day."
"How long? Where you going?" came the response.
"Just... out. I'll do some shopping, catch a movie and dinner. I'll probably be back around nine or so, depending on movie times. I'm taking Connor."
"Sounds fine. Call me on the car phone every couple of hours to check in."
"Will do. Later."
Out of sight of the cameras, Samantha grabbed a bag and urged Connor to follow with a jerk of her head. They were allowed out of the compound unhindered and were free for the evening. It felt good to get out. Freeing, exciting to sneak off to go to a party, like a naughty teenagers.
Before heading to the designated location, Samantha stopped at the mall and took her bag into the woman's bathroom. There she set to work on an entirely new look. The jeans and sneakers were traded for a light summer dress and delicate white sandals. Her hair was pulled from its loose pony tail and styled with a curling iron. The makeup took a little while. She couldn't remember the last time she even bothered to put on a tint of lipstick. She was terribly out of practice and had to redo her eyeliner three different times.
More than once, Connor had called in, asking her if she was alright. She barked back in frustration that this was going to take a while and he should chill. He was frowning a little when she finally emerged. That frown disappeared at the sight of her. His eyes kept flitting up and down over her form. Connor had never seen so much... skin, so much of her form out on display in the daylight. Pale lean calves and ankles, exposed painted toes. Arms bare. Connor hadn't realized until now that he had only ever seen her in pants and overly large sweaters that swallowed her to the fingertips and completely hid her form. Now every curve was accentuated with the form-fitting dress.
His desire to take her in with his eyes over and over was overridden when he noticed her uncomfortable posture, arms now crossed in front of her.
"Are you alright, Samantha?"
She closed her eyes and breathed out a long breath. Then she held out her bare arms to him. "Can you tell?" she asked in a soft voice.
Connor examined them. To the casual observer, both Samantha's arms looked exactly the same. If one knew what they were looking for, they would notice a subtle difference in color at Samantha's right elbow, like a faded tan line.
"It is not obvious," he said honestly, and then added, "No one will notice with how nice you look."
Samantha raised her brows at him. "Connor, that was a pretty smooth compliment. Are you saying you like the way I look?"
"Yes I am."
The statement was so pragmatic it made her laugh. "Alright, I will take your word for it." She turned to her bag to dig for her keys.
It was then Connor noticed the back of the dress. It was tied in a bow at the back of the neck, leaving a window of skin open between her shoulder blades and the base of her neck. His fingers twitched as he was filled with the urge to touch it. His hand floated up as if under its own power.
"There they are," Samantha announced and Connor quickly dropped his hand. "Alright, let's go."
Connor followed her to the mall exit. His eyes remained on that key hole of skin at her back. His gaze then wandered down to the swish of her dress. It was a mesmerizing motion with each step. He was so fixated on it, he almost caught a door in the face when Samantha walked out ahead of him.
But then she suddenly stopped, catching her reflection in the glass windows that made up the side of the mall. Connor stood next to her and she watched the reflection of the two of them together.
"Look at us. We look pretty cute together." She put her hand in the crook of his arm and posed. "Now that I got you to dress down a little, we don't look so mismatched."
When the hot weather came in, Samantha had insisted on a wardrobe change for Connor, despite his argument that the summer heat in a suit would not bother him. Still, she purchased a vest in his usual charcoal colors and bought a few white dress shirts that had the android indicator arm band attached to them. Rolling his sleeves up to the elbows completed the most adorable look Samantha had ever seen for him. She was a huge sucker for a man in a vest with sleeves rolled up, but she didn't tell him that.
"We... match together," Connor ventured to say as he looked at their reflection.
"Sure do. For today anyway." She winked at the reflection and then let his arm go, walking toward the parking lot.
.
"Samantha, you came!" Despite the fact that she and Samantha had only seen each other in person once, Angela spotted her right away and waved her over to the reserved pavilion. She met them half way, eyes immediately zeroing in on the other human woman. "Look at you, dressed all fancy and adorable like you've got a hot date."
"I don't get a chance to dress up too often," Samantha said, almost as an apology. "I thought I'd take advantage of it. Plus, I do have a hot date." She motioned to Connor with humor.
"He looks thrilled," Angela joked back at Connor's slightly uncomfortable frown.
"I made him dress down for the hot weather. He looks so much cuter in this." She tugged at the bottom hem of his vest. "Right, Connor?
"I wouldn't know," he muttered.
"Then take my word for it," Samantha insisted.
"Mine, too," Angela added with a grin. She then took Samantha's arm. "I'm so glad you came. Let's get you some food and then I want you to meet some people."
She led them past a grill where a few humans, mostly men, were gathered around cooking different types of meat. The smell of smoke and food was mouth-watering. Samantha was suddenly starving.
She eagerly allowed one of the people at the grill to bestow her with a plump hamburger before filling her paper plate with several other food items laid out nearby. Once her plate was full, Angela steered her to a table where her android, Derek, sat as well as a man with a semi empty plate in front of him and two nearly full, but abandoned plates on either side of him.
"Samantha, this is Ethan," Angela said. Samantha shook his hand before sitting down on the open space on the other side. Connor stood off to the side, opting not to join.
"This is Samantha's first time to one of these," Angela continued. "She's still kind of feeling the whole thing out."
"Hey, Samantha, it's good to meet you," Ethan said
Samantha, who had already taken a bite of her burger only nodded as she chewed. Her eyes lit up and she made a very pleased noise. "Wow, that's a good burger. I don't think I've ever been to a cook-out."
"Never?" Angela demanded.
"Not that I can remember."
She clicked her tongue. "Girl, you live a sheltered life."
"Yes, I'm aware."
"With how you talk, I'm surprised they let you out of the house alone."
"They don't." Samantha gave a meaningful look in Connor's direction. The android was hardly paying attention to the conversation. He was too busy scanning the park and everyone in the general vicinity for possible threats.
"Ah," Angela said. "So he's... more of like your baby-sitter."
"He's the reason I can go out. He gave me freedom. He's my best friend. Is that weird to say?"
Angela grinned. "Not at all, hon. Not at this party."
She nodded to Ethan who, in turn, directed Samantha's attention to the grassy area just beyond the pavilion where a female android ran around with a large group of children. "My android, Annie, is over there. I purchased her after my wife passed. I've had her for nearly five years now. She takes care of my kids. She feeds them, dresses them, cares for them. My youngest calls her 'Mom', but she's only allowed to do that when we're at home."
"Annie and I, we're not together. I have a human girlfriend. But I know she loves my kids like a real mother. I've seen her be as real as any other human person. But if something happened to me, Annie would be gone. She would be taken from my kids and either sold to someone else or thrown away. That doesn't seem right to me. We can't build something that can love our children and then just treat them like property and toss them out.
"Maybe my situation is a little different than most of the others here, but Annie isn't the only one here who has become an integral part of a family. Who loves her human children and just wants to live without the worry of being thrown out like trash."
At that moment, a winded little girl ran up to them. "Come on, Dad, chase us! Annie says its your turn to be the monster."
Ethan looked up at the blonde android who smirked impishly at him. "Oh she did, did she? Alright." He ran off after the group of various children that were clearly not all his own. They screamed and laughed in his wake.
Samantha looked over at Angela. "That was quite a spiel. I feel like you put him up to this just for me."
"I did," Angela confirmed without apology. "I wanted you to know that this isn't some weird club for people who just want to bang androids. This is about members of our family, people that we love and who love us back. And we just want to be able to love them without being ridiculed or shamed.
"Though, android sex is pretty good. You should definitely try it. Right, babe?" she elbowed Derek in the side. The android merely took the ribbing with good-natured tolerance.
"Oh my god, there it is," Samantha said, to which Angela just grinned wildly.
"Seriously, Samantha, there are so many different cases, not just here in Chicago, but all around the country. There was this girl who was friends with a little android girl next door. As she grew up and the android didn't, she became to think of her more like a little sister. And you know what? Those stupid parents of the android just got rid of her one day. This young lady hunted the android girl down, pretty much dug her out of a dump, and took her back home. Now she truly is the little sister.
"A few months ago, I met a man named Ben Stone. He was an older man and he had purchased an android as a personal assistant. After having her for several years, he wanted to adopt her as his daughter. Even leave his estate to her when he died.
"Of course, after the Mary Burgess case, we know how that's going to go," Angela added with a little bitterness.
"Oh! The Mary Burgess case!" Samantha remembered. "I read about that. What happened with it?"
"Everything we worried about, but hoped wouldn't happen. It was ruled her android, even though they were legally married, could not inherit any property because he, technically, is considered property himself by both federal and state governments."
"What happened to the android?" Samantha asked.
"I'm not sure. Since he is considered property, he will go to one of the children just like the rest of Mary's belongings. As long as one of them wants him. If they don't..." Angela sighed. "There's groups like us all over. I heard there were locals in that area looking into it to see if they can help the android if need be."
"Help him how? How does that work?"
Angela just shrugged helplessly. "Find him somewhere else to be, I guess. Though really all they can do is to find him a new 'owner.'" She made quotation marks with her fingers. "There is nowhere for an android to be if they aren't owned by someone. It's a very hard truth when you see them as more than just a machine, but it is the truth."
Derek reached over to squeeze her shoulder and Angela smiled back, putting her hand on his. "I'm grateful every day I have her. That we have each other," the android said in his deep, even voice.
Samantha smiled at the sweet sentiment and then noticed both their hands. "You two are married."
Angela held up the ring on her finger. "Yup. Almost two years now. I love the big lug. He loves me. That's all that matters."
Samantha gazed around at all the other people and androids about. Despite Angela's stories and introductions, most of them were clearly romantic couples, just like Angela and Derek. And she found that she believed most of those here did truly love each other.
"It really is true what Calvin told me, isn't it," Samantha observed. "It's mostly human guys here with their android girlfriends. You're kind of the odd one out."
Angela shrugged with nonchalance. "You know, forty-two percent of people who purchase personal companion androids are women? But their androids can't look for gainful employment, provide for their family, or give women children. For many, even if they love their android partners, it's not enough. It's not what they want out of life." Angela sighed. "I can't judge, I can only make choices for myself."
Samantha looked out at the various people and androids once more, a little more thoughtful this time.
"Finished?" Angela asked, looking at Samantha's nearly empty plate. "Come on, I'll introduce you to a few more people.
.
The sun was setting by the time Calvin and Jace showed up. The human immediately went to see if there was any food left he could scrounge up and then went to sit and eat with others of his kind. Jace did not follow.
"Connor."
Connor looked over at the other android, a model slightly smaller than himself. "Jace."
"Hey, it's good to see you. I'm glad you came. I'm assuming Samantha is here somewhere? You guys seem tied at the hip."
Connor nodded to a group of people, both androids and humans. Samantha was among them.
"She ditching you?"
"I prefer to be over here to keep an eye out. If I'm pulled into the discussion, I'll get distracted."
Jace gave him a raised brow and a crooked smile. "You truly are an odd case. I can't put a finger on what your deal is."
"There is no deal. This is my job."
"Did you try any of those programs I gave you?"
"No."
"No?" Jace asked, sounding a little offended. "None of them? Why not?"
Connor just shrugged without interest.
"You should," Jace said. "Girls go crazy for a man with domestic skills."
With that statement, Connor actually looked in the other android's direction. "I do not understand how that is useful to my main objective."
Jace broke into a big smile as if he heard something extremely amusing.
"Jace," Calvin called from where he sat at one of the tables. Through a series of hand motions he seemed to be asking what the android was doing over there. Jace, in turn, jerked a thumb in Connor's direction.
"Both of you come over," Calvin said.
Jace looked at Connor. Connor shook his head.
"Connor, get over here and sit down," Calvin ordered.
The android immediately walked over and sat himself stiffly at the table. Jace followed and sat next to him. "That's not nice," he said to his partner.
"What?" Calvin made an innocent motion as he ate his potato salad. "It's in his programming. You tell him something with enough authority, he'll do it. There's nothing wrong with that." He looked at Connor's distracted gaze and followed it. "And I'm guessing Samantha is riiiight over... Woah. She looks nice."
"Yes," Connor agreed.
"It seems several of her kind think so, too," Jace said in a droll tone. "There might be some jealous lady androids out there. They can't match the beauty of the real thing."
"You see," Calvin countered, "that's where we're always going to differ, Jay. Androids will always have the advantage of physical beauty. They can be sculpted to match any standard, they can look exactly how one would want. The ideal image of the perfect face and body. How can you say humans could look better than that?"
"Yeah, but we're androids, Cal. What do we care of human beauty standards?" Jace countered. "We don't look at those sort of things. Speaking as one who finds humans more attractive than androids, we can't compare with those eyes of yours. Those expressive eyes, how every little movement speaks a volume of emotion."
"Yeah but body fat and excess hair and skin conditions," Calvin argued. "You've seen me when I have a cold. Androids don't get colds."
"But you're soft," Jace said passionately. "I never get tired of feeling that softness. How human bodies just mold against you. And your skin just blushes. Everywhere. And if you touch them you can make it blush." Jace's LED began flickering yellow with a hint of red and he made himself stop talking by resting his mouth in his propped up hand.
"Get yourself a little hot and bothered there?" Calvin teased.
"Shut up, Cal."
The night was getting darker and the strung white lights in the rafters were switched on, bathing the pavilion in a romantic glow. Slow music played from the speakers and couples began to congregate in the open section of concrete to dance together in the gentle atmosphere. A few different songs played and the group at the table mostly ignored it as they talked. Calvin questioned Connor about how he had been since they last met and was also a bit disappointed to find that he had not tried out any of the programs Jace had given him. It had been three months and Connor seemed pretty much the same as before. No progress. This was interesting in and of itself.
"Oh no, it was bound to happen," Jace said, watching the group of humans across the pavilion. "Someone's making a move on your girl, Connor."
Connor glanced over to Samantha where it appeared she was attempting to politely decline an invitation to dance. She was subtly rubbing her right arm. She did not want to touch another person because then they would find out about her secret.
"She's fine," Connor said. "She is not in any danger."
"Connor," Calvin started to say.
"Cal, don't you dare order him-" Jace warned.
"Connor, go dance with Samantha."
But this time, Connor did not obey. "Why would this be necessary?"
"None of it is necessary, Connor. But I guarantee you will make her night. You want to make her happy, right?"
"Dancing is not in my protocols."
"It's in Jace's. He gave you that file."
Connor paused, his LED flickered as he thought about it.
"Just a warning though," Calvin added with humor. "If you use Jace's dance file, then you will know how to dance like Jace."
"Oh, are we going to go there?" Jace shot back, playfully offended. "Because I have seen your repertoire, Calvin. The only one who needs dancing protocols is you."
Calvin was about to continue flirting back, but Connor stood up, cutting the conversation short. Eyes trained on Samantha, he made a beeline straight for her. He was nearly in her space before she noticed his approach.
"Time to go home?" she asked.
Connor held out his hand to her. "Dance."
She looked at his outstretched hand and then back to his face. "I'm sorry, what?"
His voice skipped a little. "With me. Dance."
"You okay? You seem to be struggling with your sentences. Your LED's yellow."
Connor jerked his head and then his LED went back to its usual blue. "I was downloading a program while I was trying to engage. I now know how to dance." He held out his hand to her again.
Her fingers poised to brush his palm. "Just like that, huh?"
"Yes. Do you know how?"
"In theory. I've never danced with someone before."
Connor took her hand, leading her to the open dance area. A new song began to play, slow guitar music in a swaying beat. "This is fine. I am good enough for both of us."
"Oh you are, are you?" Samantha laughed as she followed him.
He suddenly stopped, turned, and tugged her against him. Her body stumbled into a firm, unrelenting form and it made her cheeks flush slightly before she moved so they had a reasonable amount of space between them. Looking down, his eyes focused entirely on her, Connor took her hand in his. The other hand flirted with that open keyhole in the back of her dress. His fingertips brushed the exposed skin before sliding down to settle on the small of her back.
When we met light was shed
Thoughts free flow you said you've got something
Deep inside of you
He moved, taking her with him as he swayed effortlessly to the music. The movement was easy to follow and Samantha fell into the rhythm, her hand on his shoulder.
A wind chime voice sounds
Sway of your hips round rings true
Echos deep inside of you
These secret garden beams changed my life so it seems
Fall breeze blows outside, i don't bring stride
My thoughts are warm, and they go deep inside of you
As soon as she thought she had the hang of it, Connor surprised her by suddenly swaying in double time once, twice, before going back to the normal tempo.
Samantha laughed at the sudden movement. "Would you get mad if I said I was surprised you had any rhythm?"
"No." He stepped back and twirled her. The swirl of her skirt caught his eye. He never got tired of watching that skirt; be it when she spun, or just the natural sashay of her hips when she walked in front of him. It was always hypnotic.
She came back to him, face flushed a little more. "You weren't kidding. You are good enough for both of us."
"I only speak the truth, Samantha."
She smirked at him. Connor was so funny sometimes. And other times, he was unpredictable. Like when he then asked her, "Is this enjoyable for you?"
"Dancing? Yes, I'm having fun dancing with you. Why do you ask?"
"One of the protocols in this program I am using states that the distance between the two dancers' bodies depends on both the setting and the familiarity between them. I am having trouble gauging how to correctly measure this. I allowed you to choose the distance. I want to confirm you find it satisfactory."
Samantha looked down at the space between them. Certainly it was a polite distance. More like the kind of distance one would find at a junior high dance. Samantha wasn't really sure about it herself. She had no experience in this either. She thought maybe Connor would prefer it this way.
"What is the distance you would choose?" she wondered.
"Do I have your permission to initiate?"
She grinned. "Of course."
The hand on the small of her back pushed in. The distance between their bodies closed as Connor pulled her to him. Samantha's face went warm as their chests brushed each other. She could feel his warmth against the chill of the evening.
"This is... definitely closer," she whispered. Why was she so breathless? Why couldn't she get any strength into her voice?
"Close is preferable," Connor informed her.
"Why is that?"
"With you, closer is always preferable."
I've never felt alone
Till I met you
I'm alright on my own
And then I met you
And I'd know what to do if I just knew what's coming
Samantha's heart flip-flopped in her chest. Did he understand how he sounded when he said things like that? No one ever said the type of things to her that Connor did. She hardly new what to do with those words. His hand, she was aware, slid back up to touch the exposed skin of her shoulder blades. His fingers followed the trail of her spine back down to the small of her back. His fingertips continued to stroke her there, like they did that one morning where she had fallen asleep with him on the couch.
Her heart tumbled anew as she allowed herself to bask in this moment. Her hand slid down from his shoulder to press against his chest. They were so close. His chin brushed her forehead and he left it there to prolong the simple contact. As they swayed in tandem, Samantha's eyes slid closed as she drifted away in the moment.
I would change myself if I could
I'd walk with my people if I could find them,
And I'd say that I'm sorry to you,
I'm sorry to you
We were broken and didn't know it
Samantha opened her eyes and over Connor's shoulder, she saw Calvin and Jace at the table where they had been sitting before. Now Angela and Derek were there with them, too. All were watching her and Connor dance. They looked pleased. And smug. Angela gave her a knowing wave when their gazes met.
Samantha was suddenly overcome with a wave of utter humiliation and shame. This wasn't why she reached out to these people. She didn't come here so she could swoon and dance like some dumb love-starved teenager who had snuck out of her parent's house to see her boyfriend. Her feelings about Connor were quickly getting complicated, but she didn't want to have such a sweet moment with him where others could smugly watch and think they knew everything about her. She wasn't like them and she wasn't on display for them to watch and chide her for after.
She pulled away from Connor. The song hadn't even finished. "Let's go home now."
Connor did not ask why, did not even hesitate at the order. He was behind her as she turned on her heel and walked out of the gentle lights of the pavilion and into the darkness. It took a while for those who had been watching the show to understand that the two weren't just going off to find a private corner, that they were leaving.
"Samantha," Angela called after her when she was almost to the parking lot.
"Keep walking, Connor," Samantha said. "Get in the car."
She had her keys ready and they climbed in, pulling out and away before anyone could catch up to her. Samantha's heart was still beating in embarrassment as they drove through the dark streets and then out of the city. They were on the back, wooded roads leading toward the facility when Connor spoke.
"We left very abruptly."
"It's almost nine. We needed to be on our way home," Samantha replied tightly.
Connor looked out the side window at the trees passing by in the darkness. "I preferred to be there than going back to the facility."
She wasn't prepared to hear that. "Really? Why?"
He glanced in her direction for only a moment, his profile highlighted by the blue of his LED. "You do not touch me when we're at home. But you touched me tonight. You let me touch you."
Samantha was definitely not prepared for that response. Her foot twitched on the gas in surprise. Her face was hot all over again as she tried to come up with an answer to that. Her brain scrambled, but no words were coming out.
Then, something else suddenly jumped at her. Something she had forgotten. "Oh, shit!" she hissed, slamming on the breaks and pulling off to the side. Luckily, there was next to no traffic this far out. Samantha put the car in park and stepped out to dig in the back seat. "I completely forgot to change my clothes before coming back home."
"Samantha, I have never heard you use that word before," Connor informed her from where he continued to sit, belted into the front passenger seat.
"And?" she called from the back as she dug around for her jeans. "Is that a problem?"
"No. I have no opinion on this. I was just making an observation."
Samantha was otherwise distracted with her pressing problem as she found her pants. "Do you think we're still outside the five-mile range?"
"I believe so, though my GPS is offline so I can't be certain."
"Hopefully, so no one on Garret's team catches me randomly changing out in the dark."
She bent over, intent on sliding her pants on under her dress. She was at the opposite side of the car, standing by the back seat so it was difficult for Connor to see her. But as he glanced back, he saw arms covered fully in black reach out of the darkness. Samantha made a cry of surprise as she was grabbed and then, she was sucked into the blackness of night.