Sliding to a stop near the dormitories. I saw an android inside. Connor, I think. But if that was right, then why was Connor out here with Hank? It took my brain about twenty seconds to think through it all. They found the intruder alright, meaning they found the duplicate who is trying to kill me of the 4 Connor series robots on this island. I snuck up behind Hank and Connor's cover as they were using the car Hank had on the island, now shot up. Crawling behind it, a shot whizzed above me as Pyre stayed back after I told her to find a sneaky way in.
Once I was within a foot or two, Hank turned a gun on me till he stopped himself. He spoke up with an ounce of confusion and a shred of concern, "Damnit! Kid, what are you doing here?! Get out of here."
Connor took notice as he seemed to be looking around for a safer place I could reach, "We can't have you in the way. You will only be a liability. Besides, you are a high value target to him." Hank was visibly frustrated as he looked out to the field, but Connor seemed distracted by something until I realized he was probably looking at my neck. The bruise of the hand print I forgot about. I won't say it was guilt, but it looked like it.
"Where's Eva? Tell me," I was stern due to fear for Eva. She is like a… No, she is my mother. I won't lose her like I lost my real mother to a gun. I would be devastated if I lost her too. The timing with the call and the gun shot though was far too convenient. For now, suspending belief that she is dead, and hoping she is alive is the best course of action. At least to keep me focused on saving her that is.
Hank looked inside to the building as I heard a tiger's roar and a gun shot go off. Peaking my head up over the car, I saw her biting his arm till she removed the arm with a gun entirely. Of course, not before he shot her which made me panic more. The moment it took him off guard, she pounced him to hold him to the ground. Immediately, I jumped up in worry of the wound, "Pyre! No!" I moved out past the car as Connor ran to catch up to me. He got in the way but moved forward. Hank kept beside Connor, only giving me a small glare. They were helping me, but not letting me get hurt. Not a comforting thought that Connor would get hurt first though.
Inside, the opening large living room area was destroyed, and several androids were shot and offline. Chairs and couches upturned, the recreational area had been destroyed with blue blood over broken ping tables and pool tables. Tears wanted to come out, though my rage over the crime was worse. With a note that she wasn't here, I turned to see the large red-furred tiger pinning the Connor with a threatening roar. I knew she wasn't here, for now I could focus, "Pyre, don't kill him. Easy girl." She still kept her weight on his calves and elbows, so he couldn't move.
Hank let Connor protect me but watched the duplicate. He glared at the copy, holding a gun at him, "What makes you think that I won't let that tiger break you right now? Tell me what your plan was here, huh? Shoot a few androids and kill some deviants?" Hank glared more intently at the duplicate on the ground under Pyre.
Deciding to speak, the duplicate glared at all of us, "Like you would. Not even she has the guts to do it. Simple goal, though a few obstacles must be fixed first." I saw him trying to process a way out as my fear for Eva was rising inside me as I stepped out a bit as Connor kept himself slightly in front of me. I didn't mind the protection, even though I did mind his hovering. He meant well.
"You don't get it. My father owns 49% of CyberLife and Elijah Kamski owns 51%. There is no directive to hunt deviants anymore. The directive now is to protect the deviants. You really need to update," I spoke up, confident in my ressolve. I knew Elijah and my father treated me as if in charge already. The LED on the duplicate turned yellow like it was processing. He was accessing the CyberLife servers I kept on campus for my own use. Elijah had reworked the Connor series missions, hoping it would help me calm them or somehow make peace with them.
This may have only made everything worse as his glare made daggers at me. The clone stared at me as he just shook his head, "No. Amanda said so. Deviants are still the mission. Unlike him, I will follow through with my orders." He struggled as I saw Pyre's claws dig into his limbs to keep him there as she shook her head with a louder growl. The LED turned yellow until it changed to red.
Connor jumped into action as I saw him ready to move toward his duplicate. I grabbed his arm and held him back, "If he's still corrupted by her program or worse, it could affect you. I may have fixed you, but he could break you. Please don't get close." My grip tightened as I was really afraid Connor might get hurt from whatever is wrong with this one. Connor just nodded to me, staying back with me with only a smile to me.
Remembering something, the servers didn't have her on them anymore. I know I gave the spare Connor series the code that Elijah even made them take to get rid of Amanda. So how? Keeping careful of my words, an even tone left my lips with some doubt as I tried to move forward, "Wait… Amanda's deleted from any CyberLife server. She can't be there. She doesn't exist anymore. Kamski and I made sure of it. How did you see her? Tell me."
The duplicate seemed to become more volatile as Pyre collapsed on her side, losing blue blood. I tried to move to Pyre as Connor pulled me back. He spoke up with authority as I could almost feel like he meant it, "If I'm not supposed to get close, you aren't either. Now…" He held me behind him with his gun trained on the duplicate, "Amanda is gone, so who is guiding you? Who told you to break into the office and then the lock up containers?"
Hank had backed up as well, his gun trained on it too. He eyed the tiger as I did, still keeping an eye on the copy. As the duplicate glared at Connor, it seemed to fully believe its own statement like it was reality, "You know it's Amanda. She isn't deleted. She told me to kill the deviants. To kill her, Code Breaker. Said she was the worst deviant of all alongside Markus." He was in the red far too long, which made me worry.
Hank seemed to take Connor's lead as he stepped a bit to the side to keep me behind them both now. This only served to irritate me more. I squeezed through them a bit to use my scanner on his LED. It beeped violently as it read, Malicious Program Detected! Virus Full Effect, Control! Please run the safety software to get rid of virus. Subject shutdown, imminent. I showed Hank as Connor already looked at it quickly. Hank looked up at it with a cautious look, "Easy there. We don't have to fight or shoot you. Just come quietly and let's get that arm fixed up. We can talk over this."
Connor seemed to stay stalwart, as if unmoving from in front of me. He kept there without even blinking. Part of me knew what program he just accessed, the ability to statistically predict events. In a moment, he shoved me behind Hank as he took off after his clone. In a muddle of limbs, I saw the two go at it until the armless Connor shut down finally from the stress. Connor himself had taken some damage to his shoulder as I realized a shot went off into his shoulder earlier. Part of me remembered why I didn't hear the gun shot. Eva called it shock.
With it shut down, I raced past Hank to Pyre as I panicked. She was still functional for now, but that bullet got in a minor component. Shivering a bit, I was trying to focus as I turned to look at Connor, "Connor… She's hit. She is bleeding blue blood and her functionality sits around 10 hours. Once we find Eva, she can stop the bleeding. Where did she go?" I was still shaking, this time for the fear of his words. Hank wouldn't talk about it as Connor seemed at odds with how to put it. Finally, I spoke up with almost a tinge of fear, "Tell me! What did he do to her?!"
"Early on, we found the suspect in the dormitories here. He had shot the androids in here. Eva got ahead of us with a repair kit on her side. We haven't seen her since she moved inside mentioning helping the damaged androids," Connor said as he scanned around as he seemed to walk towards the back of the dorms. He moved towards a closed dorm room as I followed him slowly. Connor looked inside and then put himself in the way, "You shouldn't see this. Hank get her out of here."
I could tell Hank was coming so I dove underneath Connor. Once inside, I saw the androids that were broken into pieces and some were smashed up a bit. In the corner of the room, Eva was among the pile of badly damaged androids. Her arm was shot up as well as her chest, showing holes through her back clearly. She must have tried to protect them, but her damage was so severe. Part of me thought that I couldn't fix that damage without her. That means she's…
I couldn't feel much or do much at the time, but I knew that Connor was pulling me out of the room. Turning to hug Connor, tears fell from my eyes in a river, "I can't… She's not gone. She can't be… Its not fair!" Finding my legs shaky, I felt Connor touch my arms as he was pushing me towards the exit. Hank was investigating past us as I saw his blur pass us. After getting outside, I let him sit me down in the grass. He didn't seem to know what to say as I brought my knees to my chest with tears in my eyes still flowing. Wrapping my arms around my knees, the river rushed into an ocean at my feet. Time was no longer my focus.
A few androids were moving in to get help to those they can. The medical androids Eva trained. Connor left me to go check on the building with Hank. In moments, I saw the medical androids stop in front of me, "Where should we take, Pyre? To the lab?" With a nod yes, I stood up to wipe my tears away. She told me once that I would have to live without her. This place is still mine to watch over, meaning I have to start where I can. Saving Pyre was my focus now.
They led the way to my lab as I followed with my scanner taking in the damage from the bullet's path into her side. Nothing vital, just bleeding for now. Her components were a little unique since the accident. With her in the lab, I told the androids to help out the others. From now on, this was my job to do. Fixing the androids here and this mess. Pulling out some tools, I found the bullet pretty easily. Moments later, I was sealing the hole in her side with heat and pulled out a bowl and some blue blood packets. One bag and a half fit into the bowl as I set it on the ground by her large bed I kept in the back of the lab. Moving to grab the reboot device, I moved to reboot her as I was sure to stay within sight of her careful to move if she jumped.
It took three minutes to reboot her as Pyre looked around in a panic. She saw me with a bit of relaxation. I hugged her tightly, feeling her paw rest on my back as tears fell again, "You're okay! Thank you, RA9. I didn't lose you too." Pyre just sat there to hold me in a hug until I pulled over her bowl, "Here. It's blue blood for you. You need to take it." Watching her drink, seeing her functioning; All of it made me happy to know she was alright, although Eva's demise was fresh in my mind. She moved to her bed to rest, me following with a blanket. I sat on the bed, laying against her side with the blanket around me. Using her fur to hide my tears, I slowly slipped asleep into her fur as Pyre let me stay there.
Somewhere after Midnight
A hand had touched my arm as I noticed Pyre wasn't growling. Turning to notice the figure in front of me, I smiled, "Eva… Five more minutes." I tried to curl up to Pyre more. That was when reality sank in. Eva is dead. So who? I returned my gaze to the intruder in my lab, "Whose there?" Once the dust fell from my eyes, I saw the stubbled face with that weirdly pulled back ponytail. Then it all kicked in, "Wait is that you, Mr. Kamski?" Only Pyre would leave be Hank, my father or Kamski. Otherwise, tiger food.
He laughed as he stood back with a black designer suit and red tie, "Your security filled me in on the incident. I told you bringing them here wasn't wise. But… We need talk elsewhere. I have a pressing matter to bring to you. You see I visited your father before I came here. He asked me to come to give you a special document. One I think you'll find interesting." He was trying to avoid talking about something as I think I knew what it might be. Honestly, I feared what he might need me for. House calls like this really aren't his motive operandi, even in my father's request.
Looking up at him, I was trying to push aside the feeling of loss. As of this moment, my mentor had words for me. I pointed to the back of the lab, "Should we talk there? I don't wanna go home right now. It reminds me too much of… I just don't wanna go home right now." I stood up and moved to the wall and tapped it for the panel. Punching in 1054 on the pin pad, part of the wall opened up into a hidden lab I kept my Integration Matrix research. It was the research that bonded a human's mind into an android. Highly experimental and tedious but worth it. Especially for a dying person.
Pulling the plans, tools, and pencils on the table with notes, I cleaned up the mess I left there as I pulled up two chairs. Kamski seemed to let it go as he moved inside, catching a glimpse of my plans. I saw him crack a smile, "Your numbers are sound, ya know? I checked them before I came. No matter what happens now, you will have the ability to live on. Thanks to my intervention, deviants have all the rights people do. You still sure about this project, even after everything happened here?"
"Of course! I made a promise to them all, to Hank, Connor, Marcus, North… All of them. I won't let them down. People already believe that I am an android and I did everything up to this point to be seen that way. Truthfully, I don't care what they see me as. Remember when you asked me what I would do when I became an android?" I smiled to him with a memory of that day. Mr. Kamski had come to my father for work as I was in my lab in the mansion working on the matrix. He asked me what I would do, and I think I finally figured it out.
Kamski seemed curious to hear my response as he seemed to smile at the memory. He looked to the machine with a chuckle, "Of course. It wasn't this far along, though admirable for your age. Funny enough, he never said you graduated university only months ago. The thesis you wrote on individuality and AI was intriguing too. So when I first met you, the work you were doing made me curious to see how far you could take it. Regardless of those who wished you to stop, you found the strength to continue the work. Technology like this would change the world. I only asked that question because I needed to figure out what inspired you to get so far into the research."
With a nod, I picked up a photo frame from underneath the table and wiped the dust off. It was Kamski, my father and I before he started mentoring me. Placing it on the table, I smiled happier than I thought I could be at the moment, "I wanted to prove that my mother's research was sound. For the most part though, I wanted to prove that I could do it. Me… A dying kid, pushed by her determination to finish the race before the race finished her. Success meant that I could keep running that race no matter my condition. It's a nice goal to have when you know that you may be able to live a longer life than before. Even when I'm an android, I wanna continue making advances, no matter the cost. Helping these androids, these humans… Everyone. That's something worth doing."
"That day we took this photo, I saw in you the fire to finish such difficult work. In 2 years, you have advanced it further than anyone. That is why your father sent me with these papers after talking to me," he smiled as he set a file on the table with a pen. He opened the file to show the transfer of ownership of resources where my father had already signed. With one last nudge, he tapped the table to get my blank expression to pay attention to him, "You're 18. As of such, he wants to give it all to you. You said helping people is something worth your time. So let's make it official. You'll have your father's 49% of the company, of course I will treat you as if you have 50% at some points. If these androids' protection and creation of helpful tools and more are your goal, be with the company to make all that real."
Words weren't there. It was like my throat would allow me to speak. My heart skipped a beat because I always thought about this, never really expecting it to happen. Why am I hesitating about this? Its everything I wanted to do to help them, though something caught my eye. Part of the stipulations was odd. I looked at it as it stated that I would transfer my conscience into the RM series latest model under lab conditions unless emergency situations say otherwise. My father and Kamski really did think of everything. Lightly, I took the pen and signed the line with a date, "I will. Just promise me one thing. Don't tell my father about my condition here or any incidents. I don't want him to worry."
Kamski nodded and looked out the door. He put the file away in his jacket as he smiled, "I have a surprise for you now. See… I had Connor explain what happened to me and made a decision. Come here." He moved out the door as I followed, shutting the hidden door. Calling out to the outside, "Chloe, could you come in." In moments, the blond-haired android female assistant in a blue dress came in. I smiled to her as she smiled back waving a bit. She motioned someone else from behind her. That's when Eva came out with shoulder-length blond hair, crystal blue eyes, pale skin, and a knee length white dress as she smiled to me.
In a rush to her, I sprinted to her to give her a hug. Eva hugged me back as she knelt in front of me afterwards, "You know I wouldn't leave you. I promised." She tapped my nose with a chuckle as I hugged her once more, tighter this time. She's alive… is all I thought.
"Thank you! Thank you so much. I swear I'll do my best from now on," I found myself turning to Kamski to give him a hug, "You're the best!" He hugged me back with a laugh as I stepped back, "I will work hard. Promise." This was the best birthday present I could have ever asked for. With a small smile to him, "Tell my father that I will come and visit in the first week when you get back. And… Thank you. I know it wasn't easy to mentor a kid like me, but I'm glad that I still get to work with you."
Kamski held a hand up to stop me as he chuckled. He really seemed to laugh at my responses, which I never understood, "Hold on there. Enjoy youth while you have it. I have to head back to file this, though I would mention being careful this time." He motioned to the outside as he put a hand on my shoulder, "You should watch those androids in that unit. Connor is one of a kind now. Those others aren't ever going to be like him. Especially the last one I locked up for safety. I don't know why it was made, but we will discuss what to do with it. Truthfully, none of them will go deviant like him. So what are your plans for it?"
Turning from joy to frustration, I decided it best to calm down with a nod. Something irked me deeply about his demeanor on this matter. Seems like this is when he treated me like 50% of the company. Well enough then. For a split second, I was confused until something hit me. Of course, I need to maneuver Connor out of here with Hank to do this. Keep Markus busy with the androids too… After working out some details, "I may have an idea for the RK900, but I need a favor. Don't worry. I think I have a way for that favor to benefit CyberLife back in America. What if we send Connor and Hank back to America to aid the Detroit police department to help solve unsolvable cases by normal detectives?"
"You're suggesting I put an android back in the police department, let alone a deviant," he said thinking as he smiled turning to me, "Okay then Melody. How does this help the company? Long term or short term?"
With a grin, I pointed to the documents he was still holding in his jacket, "When they see that someone else owns the company, especially you. They will be wary, though they probably are already. As for my name on it, a young researcher who wants the best for everyone involved. It builds trust back into the very part of society that entrusts their safety. A starting point at least. The cops that want to go with them that are here on the island, well those add to the support of the idea. Public opinion is highly supportive. We can still make this work. CyberLife isn't a temp agency, but instead a work force here to help alongside others who have emotions. People alongside people. The company gains in the making of biocomponents and blue blood with circulation."
Kamski actually seemed to approve of my insane plan that I was concocting. He even seemed impressed I thought of long term as well as short term. Maybe this could work as I developed the latter half of the idea as well. Thinking critically, I hoped Eva wouldn't be mad, "And I want to take the RK900 back here with a new objective. With Markus' help in understanding deviancy, I think with time together I can maybe help him like Hank helped Connor. He can't just have Markus affect his system, because his model needs something to push that reaction. A bond. Maybe friendship can work. Eva has a lot of work to do, meaning he could help me out figure out some issues here on the island myself with the trained security forces Hank helped me with. All of this together helps you and the RK900. The other models are too far corrupted by Amanda's program to help them. The deletion won't work…"
That was when Eva gave me a reprimanding look. Hoping to shrug that off, my gaze fell to Kamski. The debate was clearly conflicted as seen upon his face. Guessing that the unknown of what it could do would be what he was debating. I already debated the same, but I cannot give this idea without a level of trust to the RK900 series. Deep down, I knew this was potentially stupid and could get me killed. Kamski looked at me as he held a hand out with a nod, "Deal." Score, I thought. That was when he caught me off guard as he continued, "But! You have to pitch it to the Detroit Police with me. Then you can get the RK900 from lockup. Also… Eva has to agree with it."
Eva seemed shocked by the sudden turned of phrase. Clearly at odds with this, she shook her head no, "I am her guardian here on the island, that's true. There are things I won't do, and that is tell her what she can do. Limiting her isn't any option of mine, or anybody else's. She can do as she wants, even if I slightly dislike it." Eva looked to me as if this plan was the craziest thing I thought of. Okay, I thought, almost craziest. Frying your brain and syncing to an android was even crazier. It was nice to hear Eva say this stuff knowing me being around a possible killer android didn't please her.
One should always fear the day a plan like this makes your mentor grin. He nodded as he began towards the door, "Chloe will get you the information of the meeting and the day. This will be your big day view. Might want to find a proper suit or skirt set. Wouldn't recommend that pink thing you wore that art gala." He waved with a chuckle as he stopped at the door, "Happy Birthday, Melody." He left slowly as I waved to Chloe who waved back when she left.
Turning to Eva, I waited for the conversation to start. Instead she took me by surprise, "Time to find some proper clothes for you then. And hair dye…. Also, you have yet to talk to Hank and Connor about this. Let's get cracking on what you'll wear first…" She seemed all too happy to put me in something dressy or feminine. I wanted to opt out, but part of me remembered the broken body laying in the dormitory. Quick to hide my tears, I hugged Eva as tight as I could as she hugged me back. With her death ever on my mind, I found myself trying to find the right words to say to her, and these are the only way I could express them. Eva caught on as she sighed, "I told you not to come back yet. Why didn't you listen to me?" Her tone changed to the one I missed hearing. Mothering…
"I'm stubborn… You knew that it'd be hard to stay away. Oh! Crap… How's Kara?!" my mind snapped back to yesterday. I got so wrapped up in my grief that I lost track of everything else. She smiled to me and pointed to my bag on my side. Pulling out my tablet, I found the feed into the repair bay. She was being repaired by the androids on staff as I saw Markus and North sit outside the room. A flashing red light shown on my tablet as Hank and Connor were coming to the lab though. I moved outside quickly, "Oh no!" Moving outside and all the running I've done today is wearing me out as I slid to a stop near the entrance, "Stay out here… Its… Safer…." Collapsing on my bum, I found the grass inviting as I caught my breath only a little, "Pyre hates most people…"
Hank let out a laugh as he passed me into the garage. To my honest surprise, the sleeping tiger was completely at peace with this as Pyre even let Hank pet him. Shaking off my own disbelief as I looked up at Connor who had already scanned her before I'm betting. His tone and skeptical look to me gave me a cause for concern, "That's not a normal android. The brain is erratic and on edge. It's like its constantly watching out for everything around you."
"No… Well yes. She was saved after she came in damaged. I care for her. In her own way, she's a deviant. I promise you. Maybe animal androids don't scan like the others," hoping my lame answers and excuses would hold. Forgetting all too quickly what Connor was, I knew he saw through my mistake as he gave me another skeptical look. Even Hank caught his look. Great, I thought, I'm screwed.
Connor waited till Hank stood near enough to hear as his tone was watchful, "What were you so afraid of people finding in your files on your computer? Maybe it's the files about the matrix device that is past the hidden door in the lab. I hate to make you out to be a suspect after how you helped me, but I can't ignore this. This matrix is meant to integrate and connect with a biocomponent chip in your head that is consistently scanning your brain. Calling it an Integration Matrix leads me to believe that's human integration…"
Damn Kamski for designing his systems so well. I guess while I was away, he became privy to my work. Of course, Hank jumps right in with a scowl at me, "Breaker, what the hell is he talking about? A chip in your head with this device thing… What work are you doing here?"
Damnit Connnor! My thoughts were in turmoil. Beginning slowly, I looked aside as Eva stood behind me as I knew she was watching, "I'm going to die soon… Sooner than anyone knows. Sure I own 49% of CyberLife, but I'm 18 with no person in my will to give it too. I never said anything about my experiment because it was meant for me. I want to live to continue my work and from the body of an android that's possible… See Pyre was my first attempt at that when she was dying as my young dog. She was a chihuahua. The only body near was that. She was unstable for a small bit, though she's okay now. It works. For humans, it just takes time…"
"You did that to your fucking dog? And you plan on doing this to yourself-" Hank began frustrated about not knowing any of this. Understandably so.
Part of me broke out of it's shell to cut him off, "I don't wanna die! Dying at the age of 25 to 30 before I can even complete my work helping androids…." Tears were fighting to come out, but I held them back as I held onto my fear to guide my words, "Pyre was dying. Some drunk driver hit her, and I saved her. She's always been defensive but with a bigger body now… Heh.. She is fine. I just don't wanna die at a young age knowing I didn't finish my work. You've lived, Hank! I'll never reach your age naturally… I'll just be a lump in the ground…. All the while, you'll still be here.
"My mother started this research and died from people who killed her before it could be finished. It could work. I could live a longer life and continue to work to help androids and people. Why isn't that a goal to strive for? Look… I'm sorry I hid it without telling you. I did it because I didn't want you all to know… Please just don't leave or be mad. I want to keep my new friends around. I don't wanna be alone anymore or see any of you hurt. No more incidents like that. I promise, just don't leave or get mad…."
Eva put a hand on my shoulder as Hank stared at me. After a few moments of processing his anger, he looked at me calmly as Connor seemed to soften in his expression as well. Hank spoke up as he smiled to me, "I didn't know you were dying kid… If this means so much to you to finish it, then do it. I'll help out like I always have here. Connor too."
Connor seemed to nod as I smiled slightly, "Then can I ask you both a favor?" I began explaining Kamski and my plan to them to get androids back in Detroit while using public sentiment to our favor. They both listened intently and seemed to understand. The conversation was long, but they agreed. Eva eventually said I needed to sleep in a proper bed, so we parted ways and agreed to meet later in the day. Maybe with their help, all of this can come together. Now all that's left is getting a new outfit and hair dye…. Part of me is still internally shivering at re-dying my hair even as I slept in my bedroom at the house that night.