Hello everyone! Bit of a short update and sort of on the exposition side, but it was what i could do with college classes going on.
Also thanks to Surfwriter for joining the following/favorites family! Also for all those Q&A pms! I don't check fanfiction net website too much, so I was late to your replies as I don't get email notifications on that
Enjoy the story!
After touring lots of facilities, Markus patched the two of them into one of the newer buildings that was attached to the recreation center.
"And that's it for today's cooking lesson, I hope to see you all next time."
Alina's eyes widened as they identified the source of the calm and smooth voice, her heart pounding once more just like when she met Markus earlier in the day. Just a couple of meters from Alina and Markus was Simon standing confidently in the middle of an open kitchen set, talking to some humans and androids eager to get his attention.
Alina and Markus had come in from a secret side door by the open kitchen set, which seemed to be a teaching platform. The big open kitchen set that Simon was currently in was surrounded by several smaller kitchen sets facing towards the main one.
"This is incredible," Alina commented on the breathless view. All the kitchen sets clearly looked state of the art, with light reflecting off the stainless steel even if they looked a bit worn out from use. "How did you manage to afford all this?"
"Well, Carl-who's my human father, I'm technically part of a hybrid family like Connor. Carl generously donated millions of dollars if not billions to Jericho," Markus explained. "He apparently had set aside some money for me prior to the revolution and so I used this 'allowance' to renovate Jericho."
"That's amazing," She said back in awe of his generosity.
"Though we also had help from an unlikely ally," Markus grumbled under his breath. "Most likely for public image too."
Alina was just about to inquire about who the mystery ally was, but Josh also came waltzing into the open kitchen room from another doorway across the kitchen classroom.
"Josh," Markus called out to the PJ500 and walked over to the other two leaders. Simon and Josh ushered away some students and then returned warm smiles at Markus.
"What are you doing here?" Markus gestured to Josh, Alina tagging along behind the charismatic leader.
"I could say the same for you," Josh said. "This is a rare pit stop for you to be dropping by. I'm just here for a break after dealing with electronics. Came to annoy Simon a bit."
"Who's that behind you?" Josh peered over to the side.
"This is Alina," Markus introduced, gently pushing her forward so that she was standing side by side next to him.
"Wait, Alina? As in the one that put smiley faces on Connor's thirium bottles?" Josh gave a curious glance to Alina. "I've been doing something like that for Jericho's self care sessions ever since Connor told me."
"If you got any more ideas, let me know," Josh looked at Alina with hopefulness, his eyes sparking.
Alina slowly nodded, taken back at Josh's eagerness. She didn't expect for her idea to spread over to Jericho, the corners of her mouth quirked up.
"Yup, she was also in Connor's cooking snapshots too. Remember?" Markus introduced. "She's a good friend of his."
"Ahhh, yes. It's why Connor's been trying out Asian recipes lately, right?" Simon said with an admiring gaze, taking off his cooking apron.
"Mr. Terminator's friend?"
Alina jumped as North popped out of nowhere. The female android's arms were slung around Josh's and Simon's shoulders.
"North," Markus scolded, folding his arms.
Simon and Josh each gave their own version of knowing looks to North, as if saying 'you know better than to do that'.
"What? That's what a lot of people call him, you know?" North shrugged, her arms still slung around the two boys. Her head was squished between the little gap that bridged both of the boys' shoulders.
"She's so small," North said, after her eyes gave Alina a once-over. "Mr. Terminator's friend."
"Just because others call Connor that, doesn't mean you should," Markus pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "You're only solidifying the nickname in place by saying that."
"You're one of the leaders of Jericho. If you're saying it, others will follow," Markus huffed some more. "You're supposed to set an example for them."
"Hmmm. If anything, he's more of a puppy than a terminator," Alina contemplated out loud, hand on her chin in a thinking pose. Immediately, the others looked at her in surprise.
"A puppy?" North laughed out loud, nearly whacking Josh on the back in her fit of laughter.
"No, no, no. There's no way," North waved her arms in a huge sweep. "That boy is like the most stoic person I've ever met. I've rarely seen him even smile."
"Really? I'm not sure how you all view Connor exactly, but I can't count the number of times Connor's had like a puppy-like expression," Alina giggled, hand covering her mouth a bit.
"Whenever he messes up in something, it's like throwing the disappointment card at him," Alina put up both her hands to her head. She then cupped them so it would look like bear ears.
"It's like watching imaginary puppy ears pop up on his head and then they would droop downward," Alina said, having her hands mimic her words in real time.
North burst into laughter once more, clutching her stomach, "Oh my god, I can't. I seriously can't imagine that happening."
Simon and Josh looked equally flabbergasted but didn't say anything.
"Oh wait, you're serious," North suddenly paused midway of her laughter, noticing that Alina didn't seem to be joking.
"That is unexpected," Josh added on, rubbing his chin. "I've never seen that side of him. It is hard to imagine."
"Maybe she has a way with androids," Markus looked proudly at Alina, putting his hand on her shoulder. "She was the one that managed to calm down Grace."
"A way with androids?" North gave Markus a disapproving look this time, hands on her hip. "The way you phrased that made it sound like we're pets or something."
"You know I didn't mean it that way, North." Markus squabbled back.
"Of course, I know that Markus," North grinned brightly and she let her arms hang downward. "You know I'm teasing you."
Markus gave an affirmative nod back with an assumed look, when his expression abruptly changed and touched his temple.
"I have to pick something up, can one of you continue showing Alina around Jericho for me?"
"I can do it," Josh volunteered, raising his hand and stepping up. However, North pulled him back.
"Woah there, Josh." North said. "I need you for a security thing, that's why I'm here in the first place."
"Simon?" Josh looked over to the PJ600.
"I don't mind giving a tour," Simon replied, wiping his hands on a towel. "I just finished my cooking class for the day, so I have some free time."
"Thank you so much, Simon." Markus rushed off, making his way to another exit door on the other side of the room.
"Welp, I'm scrambling out of here," North pulled Josh by the collar, with Josh throwing her an annoyed expression. "Bye 's friend."
Simon let out a gentle laugh once Josh and North exited the cooking room, "I hope you don't mind those two."
"I'm Simon by the way, just wanted to formally introduce myself," He stretched out his arm for a handshake. "The one dragging away Josh is North."
"Alina, it's a pleasure to meet you in person," She shook his hand, smiling from ear to ear at the pleasant greeting in comparison to the guards earlier. "I've seen you all on TV multiple times. Also, just have to say, Jericho seems like a remarkable place in person.
"Is there a peculiar place you're interested in?" Simon asked, while directing her to the kitchen's exit doors.
"Not really, I happened to see some Jericho Zone 1 brochures earlier while walking around," Alina replied as they pushed open a set of doors to outside. "But I figured Markus being my tour guide was probably enough compared to a digital map."
"That makes sense. Hmmm, why don't I show you the places you can typically find me in Jericho. How does that sound? Knowing Markus, he probably just showed you the more popular tourist-like places," Simon suggested as Alina nodded in agreement.
Alina followed Simon over to Jericho's Zone 1 hospital where he often had shifts. He and Josh also apparently taught android first aid occasionally to humans on workshop days.
"Did you know that technically it's mandated that every ambulance have an emergency android technician in Detroit?" Simon popped the fun fact while passing a supply rack in the hospital. "Markus also made sure that every public hospital in the Detroit vicinity had android emergency rooms especially made to treat android ambulance patients? They later get transferred to Jericho, but androids in emergency treatment rooms have the right to stay in public hospitals for a bit."
"It's amazing how much legislation you all managed to pass in such a short amount of time," Alina slowly walked side by side next to Simon, taking in the hospital scenery. Some of the white walls had been painted with what looked like handprints from children, others had murals of nature and random quotes lined portions of cornorbends
"What happened to them?" Alina stopped walking, pointing to some damaged androids in a medical bay room. Blue blood was leaking from cracked portions of android patients sitting on medical beds. Some of them looked like they were beaten on the head, others had pieces of their limbs torn apart.
"As you know, some humans still find us unpleasant," Simon rubbed his temples and leaned against a doorway frame. "That's why Markus pushed so hard for proper hospital wings across the city."
"The war technically never really ended, huh?" Alina solemnly looked onward as technicians worked precariously to mend broken android parts. She took a gulp of air and felt pity well up inside of her, flinching every time she saw an android cry out in pain from the treatment.
Simon seemed to study her from the side. After a couple of moments of silence, he gave her a curious look, "Why don't I show you somewhere a little more cheerful?"
Simon began eagerly walking at a fast pace to the doorway out of the hospital wing, making his way to a brick-like building painted green on the outside. He held a bright enthusiastic grin as they weaved through the hallways.
Suddenly, Simon paused right in front of Alina just as they were about to enter a doorway and blocked her view of the glass panel on the metal door.
"I welcome you to Jericho's animal shelter," Simon moved away from the doorframe, making a grand sweeping gesture with his arms. He revealed a huge gym basketball court room with mini plastic playground sets. Running around the playground sets were animals of all shapes and sizes: dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and other critters.
Alina was about to comment on the spectacle when something small whizzed in the air before her eyes and landed on Simon's shoulder. Upon further inspection of Simon's shoulder, she saw a cute furry squirrel-like creature the size of her palm.
"Hi there little fella," Simon chuckled, petting the streaks across the little animal's head. "This is my little sugar glider friend, I haven't given him a name yet. However, he seems fairly fondly of me."
The tiny sugar glider then unexpectedly leaped from Simon's shoulder, lifting its arm and legs to reveal skin flaps that acted as wings, gliding itself to Alina's head.
Alina let out a yelp as the sugar glider abruptly decided to leap onto her hair. She winced as the creature's feet pawed her forehead to get into a better position.
"He's probably just curious of you," Simon laughed and rubbed the sugar glider's head some more. "For me, I think working in the kitchen all the time attracted him to me, especially when I'm working with sugary bases during baking workshops."
"Oh," Simon instantaneously turned alert and stared off into space. He then gently untangled the sugar glider from Alina's hair. "Markus is looking for you, he got the item he was looking for. He should be at the front door waiting for you."
"Have fun seeing the rest of Jericho!" Simon waved farewell, while making his sugar glider do something similar.
Alina giggled at the sight of the sugar gliding trying to 'wave' goodbye with his wing flaps. Instead of a wave goodbye, it looked more like a funny dance with the flapping of wings. She then pushed through a series of doors before arriving outside and getting blind sided by the sun.
"There you are! I have a surprise for you," Markus exclaimed cheerfully, walking up to Alina. She tilted her to the side as Markus placed a small blank glass card into her hand.
"Tap it," Markus said in an earnest manner.
Alina scrunched up her face in confusion, but did as told. The small glass card lit up to reveal a square picture of her labeled with various information about her.
Jericho ID Card
Name: Alina Niu
Date of Birth: 12/05/2022
Species: Human
Level of Access: Zone 1, Zone 2
Signature Approvals(if applicable): Markus
Alina stared wide eyed at the glass ID card before her eyes, taking in its nooks and grooves.
"This is for me?" Alina asked, her voice breathless. "Doesn't these things take at least 2 to 3 weeks to make?"
"Yes, but I wanted to give you yours early," Markus said back, his eyes twinkling.
"You even gave your signature," Alina chuckled good heartedly. "I think I kinda understand what the guards were talking about you being too nice."
"I haven't even been in Detroit for a week, yet you gave this to me," Alina argued with concern laced into her voice. She pushed the card back into Markus' hands. "I'm sure Connor has told you that my background is a bit ambiguous because I refused to tell him."
"I say, don't underestimate me too much," Markus slid the ID card back into Alina's hands and wrapped her fingers around the glass-like material. "I have a good feeling about you and my intuition is usually right."
"Usually?" Alina cracked a grin, raising an eyebrow.
"Do you want to say that I'm type to be wrong?" Markus joked as Alina playfully shook her head 'no'.
"Thank you for giving me this!" Alina nearly leaped up to give Markus a hug, but realized mid way through that it probably wasn't appropriate. As a result, she quickly retracted her arms and body, rocking back her body and nearly falling on her back. It was only because Markus caught her back and settled her balance back to normal, was she back upright.
"Woahhhh, there. You good?" Markus said as he helped Alina settle down.
Alina laughed sheepishly at her clumsiness, "Sorry about that, I was just very grateful so I wanted to give you a hug. Only to realize part way, that it probably wasn't a good idea since we aren't that close."
"No, it's good," Markus gave her a quick hug while wearing a soft smile. "Connor mentioned you were a hugger."
"Oh," Alina's face changed to a shock look, her jaw hanging down just slightly.
"Don't worry, Connor said that he liked the hugs," Markus reassured with a pat. "Speaking of huggers, here comes one right now."
Alina scrunched up in confusion, only to be tackled from the side by a small figure. She looked down to see Grace hugging Alina's legs and clutching them tightly.
"Surprise Number Two," Markus grinned as Grace jumped up and down excitedly.
"You came! You really came! That was quick!" Grace exclaimed and hopped in place.
"Hey there," Alina affectionately called out, giving Grace a pat on the head. "Yeah, Markus invited me here faster than I expected."
"Come on! Come on! Let's go to the paint session happening soon!" Grace pleaded, dragging Alina's sleeves as they made their way to Zone 2's gateway.
Once they made it to Zone 2's gateway, they greeted the guards and Markus showed Alina how to scan her ID card into Zone 2. Once her visit was processed and recorded in, she was rapidly pulled through the gate door by Grace. For a small android, Alina underestimated the little girl's strength.
Markus whispered a 'Good Luck' to Alina just as Grace excitedly began tugging her to an unknown destination. Alina watched Markus wave goodbye from Zone 2's gates while Grace continued chatting about Jericho and her eagerness to show Alina to the paint station.
So this chapter, much like the last chapter was more of a world building sort of chapter. I really wanted to write more, but I've just been swamped with online college classes and it's been hard to find time to write-so I'm back down to my original 2k-3k word count.
And we got to see Jericho's other leaders! Yayyyyy! For North, I've seen many fanfics where she was described to be on the negative side but I recently saw a reddit discussion post that reminded me of how she was also open to Connor if Markus died early on. So I decided to do a mix of both in a sense, and do something a little different with most North portrayals
Lol but what u guys think of Connor's nicknames? Is he more of a ? Or a puppy? Or a bit of both?
Also Simon has a sugar glider! My Q&A, in addition to the above, is do yall have any pets? Also, any suggestions for a name for Simon's sugar glider friend?