North's Point of View
Running out of the house, I used the network between all of us to ask if anyone had seen Connor. They mentioned the dormitories, so I started heading there. Remembering her working to repair Marcus and Connor really did bring an idea to mind. Her style is very unique, and I know the perfect coat to make for the suit. Just need to take the one to use as a copy. That was why I was hunting Connor down
Sliding to a stop, I realized I almost ran right into Connor. He stepped back before I did. With a sigh, I looked to him with a small chuckle, "I need to borrow your jacket. Melody's suit jacket needs a spruce up and I need your jacket as a model."
"My jacket? Why would you need it as a model?" Connor seemed thoroughly confused as he obliged, holding his jacket out.
Swiftly taking the jacket, I smiled to him, "Melody is required to dress up for a meeting she has in Detroit. So, I thought we should keep her style and hair color as is. Thus, I'm modifying her jacket like she modified her sweatshirt. Keeping her style while being formal."
Connor seemed to nod with a smile as he looked to me with a nod, "Keep it then. If anything, just resize that one if it works. I'm okay if it helps out. I have a spare jacket."
Smiling back, I found myself nodding, "I have to go get Markus' help for this. Thanks Connor!" I bolted off toward the factory where Markus communicated he was last. He might have a good idea to help me out with this project.
4 Weeks Later: January 28th, 2039, Friday, 12:00 P.M.
Melody's Point of View
Sitting back in my chair inside the inner lab, I gave a small triumphant cheer as Pyre almost jumped out of circuits since I was previously silent, "Did it! Perfectly constructed and now encased in a new type of safe I invented! Time for a walk and some great home-cooked food." I shut the metal box with a thunk as I saw Pyre standing up, hair on edge. With a small chuckle, I moved out to her and hugged her, "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. Let's go. I'm starving!"
Letting go, I noticed Pyre staring at me intently like something was wrong. Instinctively, I took a step back with a bit of concern, "Pyre? You okay? I'm right here." Part of me wanted to disable her for safety, but the rest of me said to wait this out. Watching her carefully, I saw her growl as I backed away slowly. Moving to the doorway of the hidden lab, I turned quickly to shut the door as I heard her hit it after it locked shut. I even triggered the garage shut from the computer, so she couldn't get out. I wanted to tell someone, but I was afraid to. What if she fried a circuit? Maybe her transfer bugged out? I don't know! How am I supposed to deal with this?! She was fine…
The door bent in a bit as I cringed with fear. Pulling my phone out, I called the only person who would understand why she was being this way. Staring at the phone, Mr. Kamski seemed to take forever to answer as he finally picked up after a minute, "Melody, I can't talk right now. I have a meeting-"
"Wait. Don't hang up. It's Pyre. She's lost it. Trying to break the door down and growling… Something isn't right." I panicked as I really hoped he wouldn't cut the call off. Panic only built further when another dent appeared in the door.
I heard him tell others he had to step away a moment. He spoke up after a minute, "Is that sound her trying to break the door down? Why didn't you call security...? What started this?"
"I was working on a new core since I had to replace her broken one. I scared her a bit and hugged her. It seemed she wasn't normal and that's when she started growling. I'm worried. Why did this happen?" I explained as my fear peaked once more. Moving to the computer panels, I tried to message Connor and Hank about Pyre's outbreak. Included in the message, I made sure to tell them not to kill her.
Hearing typing through the phone, I found my computer hijacked as I assumed it was my mentor. I saw code streaming across the screen as there was a face building itself out of code of some woman with long hair, smiling. With a small jump back, I let out a scared yelp. My mentor heard me as he spoke up, "What's wrong?"
"The computer got infected with something. I don't know what it is, but it makes me doubt if Connor and Hank got my message… This is bad," I shivered as I was barely holding onto the phone. The computer went blank as words went across the screen, 'Time to be free from that shell. Open the door and enjoy your new life.'
"Someone's hacked in. It has to be on site. Message Connor for me as well as the others. I can't get a message out. They said to be free from my shell. Open the door and enjoy your new life… Please just get a message out for me," I said as I set the phone down after hanging up. With quick hands, I was trying to counter-attack the hack. Each counter was countered back. Suddenly, I broke through as my screens returned. Immediately I got a message out as my phone rang again. Hitting the speaker phone on the answer button, I kept typing erratically to try to get a message out to security.
"Melody! We got a text about an alert to head to the lab. Fill me in, kid," Hank said as I heard him running. Connor beside him said something that I couldn't understand. Hank began again, "Kid, Connor said Kamski messaged him about Pyre going out of control. What's the plan?"
Stuttering as I forced another program up, I was checking the code inside the core inside Pyre's head, "She went crazy… Then this hack… I don't know what to do. Stop her without killing her if you can. I don't wanna lose her. Please…" Tears stung my eyes as I ignored them. Another pound of the door reminded me I couldn't be this way right now. Continuing typing, I saw where the hack originated. Calling out to my phone, "Hank. Send a security crew to my office in the repair ward. Someone is hacking in from there. If we stop it there, maybe we can fix her. If not…"
"Right. We'll try our best. Hang in there. We'll be there ASAP. I'll send a team to your office, too," Hank said as the call hung up.
The program failed as the hack took over again. In a rush, I deleted everything on my systems both here and in the office. With everything gone, the hack shut down my computer. Suddenly, the door cracked open as I saw a claw bashing away. Curling into a ball in front of the console, I couldn't do anything but watch the door crack open slowly. The cracks built up like glass when punched. I reached over to my bag to pull out Bluetooth headphones with my phone. Putting it on my head, I played music to try to calm down as I still heard the crashes into the door. Each crash made me jump.
Ten minutes passed, a few songs later as the door looked ready to break open. One last hit as the door fell open as I noticed Pyre stand there growling. Her claws were heavily damaged from hitting the door, but I held up my hand hoping to stop the blow futilely, "Pyre, stop! It's me. Melody. I've known you since you were a puppy. I picked you out. Remember…" I watched her stalk forward, fighting the programming slowly. She lurched forward and bit down on my arm.
I cried out in pain as something broke in my arm. The pain was immeasurable as she picked me up by my broken arm and threw me at the wall. Crashing into the wall, I could no longer feel much of anything. Everything was darkening as I saw her coming towards me. Shivering at the thought of death, I finally heard gunshots go off. Pyre fell to her side in a large thump. Connor moved forward to examine Pyre as Hank moved in to find me.
He knelt in front of me as he shook my shoulder, "Kid… Kid, wake up. Connor, we have to get her some help." I never felt him pick me up as I still heard my music. The last thing I remembered was the song I was listening to. It was a piano playing a particularly slow, sullen tone. I don't know why, but it made me feel at peace. The darkness sounded so nice at that moment. I wonder if I could just stay there.
1 Day Later: January 29th, 2039, Saturday, 6:00 P.M.
The serenity of the darkness faded away as the light of the world brought me back. I heard a long drone and then a beep. With another jolt of light to my world, the place revealed itself to be a hospital upon my awakening. The nurse above me put this blurred machine away as she started hooking up tubes to me. Slowly she spoke to me, "Can you hear me, Miss Sutcliffe?"
She shined a light in my eyes as I could only nod. It felt like forever but the room around me began to form. It was a hospital room with nurses all around me. Suddenly, I put a hand up, "Too bright… What?" I saw the cast on my right arm as the reality of what happened set in. That wasn't a bad dream. I tried to shoot out of the hospital bed as a nurse held back, "No, I have to see her. She's…" Something in me stopped. I felt like I couldn't breathe as things were going fuzzy.
A mask was put over my mouth and nose as air rushed into my lungs. As if taking a first breath, I choked on it. I coughed as my breathing returned to normal. The white outfit and blonde hair of the nurse distracted me. That was when she spoke up calmly, "Your mother is here. For now, we have to run tests. You were really badly hurt with a slight concussion. In the condition you're in, your illness has taken a toll on your system as well. We need you to calm down and take treatment. If not for us, then let us help you so that you can recover to see your mother."
I let them take blood and do as they wished. My mother would never be here. That meant that Eva was here disguised as my mother. With all the tests and blood, I found it odd that the tests didn't cause any exhaustion by the time they were done. 6 vials of blood, four questions of are you okay, and finally one very rigid nurse who made me take pain pills that tasted horrible going down. Shortly after Eva came in with a white shirt, jeans, a simple black coat and a purse. The part that took me back was the vibrant blond shoulder-length hair she had. Moving to my side, she put a hand on my cast with a sigh.
Her eyes spoke volumes of her worry, though I wasn't sure why they thought she was my mother. Her voice was barely able to stay at an even level, "You… You're okay…" She barely held herself back as she hugged me tight. Slightly shaking, I could feel how bent out of shape she was about this. Returning the hug, her voice trembled less, "They said your arm is broken all the way through your hand. That won't be coming off for a while. I'm just so happy that you're okay. I was scared for you."
With a nod, I was brought back to the reality of the situation. Tears fell from my eyes that took me a few moments to understand: 'Pyre might be dead… No… She is…' I choked back tears as I dug my face into her shoulder, "Pyre is… They shot her after she… Why? Why did she attack me?..." Eva held me as I cried, simply patting my back every so often. After a few minutes, she pulled my chin up to look her in the eyes.
Her voice was as soothing as I believed it could have been, even though I may have ignored her a small ounce, "She was corrupted. Some program got into her system when she was in town. The scan says she might have been hacked in some way." She patted my shoulder with the smile that did not reach her eyes at all. With a moment of thought, Eva gave me a small look of worry as I knew she was scanning me from the flat look she had. Within a moment, she frowned at me with a hint of loss to her expression, "I am going to get you something to drink. You could use… Hmm… How does an energy drink sound. Not doctor's orders but I can allow it." She left awfully fast for a drink.
Watching her go, I merely had nothing to say for now. Instead, I found myself trying to figure out what happens when Pyre's matrix unit should have made her invulnerable. This can't be possible. A nurse came in and checked on me at which point she left once more. Without really noticing her, I looked around the room until I saw the water on the side table in a large cup. I pulled the cup to me as I sipped at the water with a smile, "Better…" The rest of me wondered where Eva was. This was unlike her entirely to be gone this long until I saw her down the hall. She was talking to a nurse who handed her a form to sign. Once signed, Eva turned to head back to me slowly, having hesitated for a moment. Mere seconds after the confrontation, she began her stride, once more, heading down the hall towards my room.
She stood by my bed with a smile as she held out the snow-white energy drink can called Circuit. Always knowing me so well, I took my favorite energy drink in hand with a smile. I downed half of the drink instantly as part of me gave a look to Eva who stood by me smiling, "Mel… We should talk…" She pulled a chair to the bedside and became serious. With a sigh, she held my hand with a soft tone to her voice, "Pyre isn't dead. They said she is waiting by the docks for you. As for Hank and Connor, they are on the island checking everything out. They told me to come here to watch over you. But…"
Something changed in her tone just then as her grip tightened on my hand with a small amount of pain going through it, "Mel… I've watched for you so long and yet you are so determined to kill yourself. So, I think it is time I stop you and support your efforts. Afterall, you only had a year left after this incident. You will never notice the difference in your new life." She removed her vice grip from my hand, which allowed me to reach for the call button. Instead, she quickly wrapped her hands around my throat as I tried to fight her.
Punching her arm with my only good hand did nothing, so I kicked her torso and tried to climb off the bed. The sedatives or medication I was on must have numbed me as I fell to the ground. Rolling onto my back, I was able to catch a glimpse of Eva kneeling over me to take hold of my throat once more as tears left my eyes unconsciously. Weirdly enough, I saw she was crying too. Her twisted smile came up now as she tightened her grip, "My diagnosis is to kill you so that you can live healthier in that new body. No more will you suffer. I won't have to watch over you. You'll be strong enough to be on your own."
Air was fleeting as I could not even cry out for help. With one last final attempt, I used my cast to knock over a machine onto Eva's back as the wire fell to the ground in the puddle of energy drink we both lay in. The only thought in my head was, I think she can survive this… Maybe I can too…. Maybe… Once the wires touched the liquid, shooting pain ripped through my body instantly as the trick worked. I saw Eva fall over, clearly offline. Unfortunately, I was still shaking in shock as the world grayed out in a rush. The last thing I remember was crying from the pain and the first day I met Eva. To the first day I was truly hopeful. Now the world faded as did my hope.
Moments later…. I think….
Shooting pain was the last thing that I remembered happening to me. I remembered Eva's words and her actions. The people that I knew… Are they going to turn like her? Spotting the box, I felt confined in a human sized case. Was this a coffin? Was I dead? Oh no… I can't be. I pushed my way out as the lid took some extra push to break off. After a second, my eyes adjusted to the light instantly. A notification scrolled across my vision.
Wait….
Now I had to stop to think. A notification? 'Core Functionality at 100%, Systems functioning at 100%.' These notifications shouldn't be here. Then another buzzed across my vision, 'CyberLife Private Jet, serial number C635PJ. Occupants listed: Kamski…' The list kept going. Who he was, who the pilots were, the backgrounds that I shouldn't know. Stumbling I fell forward out of the box, "Not… real. I'm dreaming…" I pushed myself to my feet as I saw through what my eyes told me was simulated skin. The parts that made up my arm, the ability that came with it, and the feeling of loss that I really did die.
I heard a familiar voice from around the corner as Kamski peaked in, "Hold on, Connor. Something fell. I thought I secured the container- Melody? When did you- How?" He moved over to help me up as I heard a voice in my head the moment he touched my arm to help me.
"What do you mean, Melody? Melody is in surgery. They said that Eva was allowed to take care of her," I heard Connor's voice as my vision showed that this was Kamski's phone call.
My mind blurred with so many questions and things I needed to know. Instead, Kamski helped me up, "She is… Just checked her condition was all. When I get to the island, we all need to have a talk. Bring the others with you to the garage lab." Connor gave something around a 'Will do.' Then he left the call as it vanished from my vision. Kamski helped me to stand as he looked at me, "Focus on me. It's just like walking any other time. Don't think about it. Just do it." He slowly let go as I took a stumbled step but kept going. It got easier. He led me out to sit down in one of the seats as he seemed at a loss.
I decided to start the conversation, so he didn't have to, "It was Eva… We weren't in surgery. She just lost it and I… I defended myself. I electrocuted her and restarted her system." I stumbled over the idea that it killed me. How do you even say the word properly? In my distraction, the sides of my vision filled with all the subsystems of the plane. I forgot about them as I focused on the memory like it was surreal, in front of me.
A tap on the shoulder from Kamski pulled me out of my own head. He sat back down with a tablet that part of me knew was my diagnostic read out. He must be checking to see if I was overloading or not. With a cautious look to me, he set the tablet down with a tone that I registered as concern, "Melody… I'm sorry. I was heading up to make sure you were okay and pick you up. I didn't know things were doing so poorly. Thankfully, we have androids in that hospital that took your body and Eva's to the island into your lab. For now, we need to discuss what's going on right now."
"You don't know your subsystems or the routines yet. Well you see them, but it doesn't help you understand them. There is an ability that this android… I mean you have. Touch this tablet," he spoke up, trying to correct himself. He seemed to have exhausted his efforts as he held the tablet out. Confused, I went along with his plan.
The tablet showed me what could be an instruction manual to my specific android model. It also showed a series of texts between my father and him. Dad looked concerned in the texts about what Kamski called a project explosion. Kamski mentioned that I was healthy and resting back on the island. Pulling back from the tablet, I was more than worried about what I can do, "What is this, some h- Nevermind. Why? Hacking from a distance or in person… How does that help me? I'm still here… and… I'm just very confused… Look." I thought about something as I touched the tablet again as it showed us the memory of a nurse talking to Eva and then Eva's tone changing. I froze it before anything happened.
Kamski looked curiously at the video as he played it back to the nurse grabbing Eva's arm. He paused it there, "There… The infection happened from another android. The imagery is too fuzzy. Let me get ahold of the footage from the hospital, maybe we can figure out who did this to the both of you."
"Maybe she was the one that hacked the code on my computer. Maybe they are the same android," I said thinking back as I realized it, "I didn't think about it at the time but the way she grabbed her arm. That's a data transfer. An infection. Whoever did this to Eva, they were trying to hurt me. I don't get it. I've done everything to help androids…"
After listening to my theory, he pulled up the footage finally and set the tablet flat on the table. Here it was crystal clear, but the nurses uniform hid from the actual identity. I pulled it over to me, "I have an idea. Thanks to the manual to my abilities, I have a better grasp on it now. Watch this." I touched the tablet as I used his first connection into the system to get into the rest. This was like normal hacking but without typing it all. Much easier now. I followed the fake nurse all the way out of the back entrance to where the nurses parked. She waited till no one was there and jumped into the garbage bin. Sparks and melted plastic erupted in the bin after she self-destructed.
All I could feel was irritation. Kamski smiled to me as he shut the video feed down, "We know what she looks like and you did that all on your own. I knew this would be perfect for you. Besides that, I have been keeping your father at bay. No one will mention the accident with Prye or the hospital. For now, just act normal. I arranged for us to meet at the garage. Pyre seems okay now, although Hank and Connor found out who corrupted her. She's okay now."
With a sigh of relief, I found myself looking out the window. What happened to that android? Who was it? I don't know anymore. What is actually going on anymore? I need to find out. Maybe I can source track it. Kamski let me keep using the tablet since it seemed to keep me focused. After several hours of flying, I tracked the code from Pyre and the hacked android, Kara, back to Detroit. Of course, it leads back there. I hid this information. Somewhere in that, Kamski fell asleep in his chair. I chuckled a bit and kept working. No definite signal sources. Just the city.
Seems like I have more of a reason to be in Detroit than I thought. Chloe came in eventually to check in on Kamski as she saw me. I held the tablet as I closed the tracker and deleted them. She motioned for us to move into the back kitchenette to talk. I followed her as she looked me over, "Well you seem to be adjusting okay. How do you feel?"
Knowing her model, she can feel a little bit since Kamski updated her. No matter what, she was always devoted to him. With a moment of hesitation, I spoke up casually, "It's like test driving a car if the body were the last car you could drive. For now, I'm managing. That's all. Just tracking down a signal source from that android that self-destructed in the video." I turned my gaze to the box and realized there were three others. Three models just like me. RM600, the case read.
Chloe spoke up softly, "Kamski found a way to have your transfer chip be effective to these three. If you are destroyed in any fashion, you will be brought back in these. Three back-ups he hopes you will never need. But for now, I wanted to give you this." She held out a small necklace case like my father gave me long ago.
Opening it, I was pleasantly surprised to find a small gun in there. It was small, though my scanners say it's powerful. A Glock 26 9mm to boot. I was shocked as I stared at it carefully, "Why? I don't need a gun. I'm a hacker. No part of me gets involved in things personally. What's going on, Chloe?!"
She shut the case in a second's notice as she put a hand on my shoulder, "Detroit supports us and protects us. Even so, there are those that don't support us being our own individuals. You never know when you get cornered with him. He may be an RK900 but you are only an RM600. He built you to be stealthy and get into everything. Espionage too, maybe. Once you name the RK900, you can feel free to give it to him. For now, please carry that for us. He worries about you a lot."
"Alright," I put the necklace case in my pocket. That was when I turned to look in the mirror. This was me, through and through. The snow-white hair that fell to the center of my back, the black beanie with the Cyberlife blue triangle glow, the sweatshirt was designed with the blue band and markings like Connor's coat. The coat read RM600 #357 159 852, and Melody read above it. The lines went behind to say CyberLife industries and RM600. It was perfect. My blue jeans were nice, and my black sneakers had blue glowing CyberLife lines on the bottom edges. This was perfect. It was me.
In the mirror, my appearance changed to tattered, covered in blood as my right arm bled profusely. The break was clear, Eva behind that reflection with an electrical cord. The body fell lifeless in front of me in the reflection. I jumped back, bumping into Chloe as my visuals showed me the hospital. I watched Eva get electrocuted while my vision faded to black. I felt weightless as my visuals returned, and I realized Chloe was holding onto me in her lap on the floor. She was calling my name, I think. Sound still hadn't returned to me as I still heard the sparks of electricity. I faded away from that horrible sound before I finally heard her.
"Melody! What's wrong?! Melody, wake up!" she was shaking me slightly, I realized as her tone was littered with worry. She held onto me as she kept trying to get my attention.
Kamski wasn't far behind as he knelt by me and took my hand. It took me till now to realize that I was actually crying and screaming. Kamski spoke up to me as if he knew how to fix me, "Melody, come back. It's a memory. Nothing more. This is not reality. Just a ghost of your past. You're here with us now. Just focus on now. That's only a memory."
Pushing my remaining systems to register the area around me, I found myself staring up at Kamski and Chloe with clarity. They helped me sit up as I stared at my right arm, "What happened? What was that? I never accounted for that in my research…" The gaps filled with panic where the fear of my memory once sat. The analysis on my display showed me that Kamski wasn't shocked by this error in my program. They read that memory lapses might be the cause of aggressive behavior or loss of sense in the physical world.
"We knew your transfer might cause certain memories to surface in a form of shock. You need to find a way to ground yourself and keep your focus there. Come on," they both helped me up as he led me to the main cabin. He allowed me to sit down and put a seatbelt on as the descent sign. Chloe and Kamski buckled in as theylooked at me with worry. Kamski spoke up, "I'm sorry. I knew this was a point of concern. It was a minor chance. For now, it's alright. I'll give Eva information about-"
"No!... Not her. Please not her. She'll make it worse. Anyone besides her," I said immediately out of fear as I barely maintained my calm. I took a breath as I looked aside, "I'll pack my bags when I get back and we'll head to Detroit… I'll be fine. I know I can do this. Besides, this was always the goal, right? Me being an android and living past my illness. It'll be okay." I was saying that more for me than for them.
Kamski nodded as I looked out the window to focus on the skies above the island. The plane was landed on the only airstrip we made for the island as I was glad to be home. Chloe pulled me from my seat after unbuckling me and asked me to hide back in the box. She mentioned taking me to the lab ahead of them so that none of the others were made aware of the accident. I had to agree. During the cramped encounter, I focused on the island's security logs. Flooding through them all, I found out Kara was the one that corrupted Pyre and my computer. Eva was corrupted by another android that still had no registration number. With some ease, I got into my lab settings and found out we were there already. Guess I lost track of time.
Chloe let me out as she shut the box very quickly. Pyre ran up to me from her bed as she stopped a few feet away. She was practically begging me to let her near as if she was in trouble. With a smile, I hugged her tight, "It's okay. It was a bug in your system. All gone now." I rubbed her neck while I petted her as she purred. All I could think was that she was okay. I knelt in front of her as she licked my face. I wiped off the slime as she rubbed against my shoulder.
Chloe chuckled and pet her freely, "She's beautiful. It's a good thing you have someone so loyal to you. We were told they restarted her core and the bug was deleted. She's fine now. Although, they said she kept waiting for you." She smiled to Pyre who licked her hand. Pyre then nudged up against me as she knocked me over. She laid behind me as I sat with her, "You're right. It's nice being home with her. I missed her."
North and Markus showed up with a hint of shock until they merely stared at me. North taking the lead as Markus smiled, "You're back from the hospital." She moved up as I greeted her in a hug. She seemed happy to see me. This must be what real friends are like. She released me from the hug as Markus came over offering a hand. North smiled to me softly, "A friend sent us to meet you here."
I shook his hand as I saw protocols attached to this android fade away. It was like glass shattering around me. He spoke up in a stern tone, "No matter what, you keep up that dream to help everybody here and the androids out there. But then again, I guess you don't need grocery shopping anymore." He laughed a bit as we all did. Chloe seemed to stay out of it, though her model doesn't allow her much true emotional response.
I looked past them as Hank stared dumbfounded at me. He couldn't even speak from the open garage area he was at. Connor tapped his shoulder as Hank recovered. He walked up with a wide smile, "You're never going to stop being a pain in my neck, huh kid?" He gave my shoulder a pat as he smiled to Connor, "Guess you have competition now. Both of you do."
Markus and Connor looked at each other and then we all laughed together. It was a good laugh, though one I was glad to be a part of. No more lonely days. Just friends. I looked at them with a small chuckle, "No… Physically they have me beat. I'm just the same whiz with computers. That's all. Still a kid too. That means you're all more mature than me." With a small bout of laughter again, someone cleared their throat at the door.
Kamski stood with Eva at the door as my only instinct was to back up behind Connor and Markus. The memory didn't surface, but the fear was real. Kamski spoke up slowly, "Well… Now that we're all together. I see you've all figured out the surprise. No one here is to mention this to anyone. Especially not her father. As for how this happened, we should all sit and talk."
Markus and North leaned against the wall. Connor stood by the back wall towards the lab as Hank sat down in the rolling chair. I sat on the bed with Pyre as she felt my fear. I knew she was keeping me close on purpose now. Eva stood with Kamski and Chloe by the lab table as the garage door shut, and the lights came on. Kamski started off with the easiest topic, "Melody is in an android I designed for her. The RM600. She's still a kid and some side effects are involved. She has a chance to see things from her past as if they are real, lose track of reality even. It's something you all should know. As for how this happened, an android is going around infecting other androids to target the new CyberLife corporation as well as their top chiefs of staff, including Melody and myself. I've had three attempts in Detroit since last year. Melody has had one successful attempt in the past 24 hours."
They all looked at me worried as I avoided their gaze. Pyre rubbed my arm as I smiled to her and petted her. Kamski continued and drew everyone's attention to the large screen I had on the wall. The footage of the nurse showed that was grabbing Eva's arm, "This is the entity that was at the hospital. She corrupted Eva and fled the scene to self-destruct. The garbage crew who took her body don't have the android's body or parts. There is no serial number or name. It's caused three of my androids to try to kill me and now one who killed Melody."
"Who could kill her or get close? Eva was-" North started but stopped as it hit her. Eva hadn't made eye contact with anyone up to this point, and not even a peep from her. I didn't care if it was guilt. My body and mind wouldn't let me even think of her the way I did before.
Connor finished North's statement with some facts of his own, "Eva was there. That's why we haven't heard from the hospital. The story we got was a cover. Melody was already in the plane at that time. Eva was electrocuted which caused a reboot to wipe the virus. That means the android that corrupted her is controlling them from farther away."
By using one word from the signal source that I traced, I think silenced the entire room, "Detroit…" No one spoke. They all thought in stunned silence as Hank and Connor looked at each other in concern. Standing up, I gave a wide berth between Eva and I as I jumped up onto the table. I hacked into the screen and shown the signal trace from the hospital to Detroit, "This is what I found so far. There's someone corrupting androids with other androids to spread a virus. Code that is familiar. Virus' like this was written by PhaseShift. A programmer in Detroit that no one has found in almost 15 to 20 years. This isn't a lot but what I can say is that someone is drawing us out to Detroit from our secure location. This targets everything that we've done to continue rebuilding trust among current supporters."
"Hank, Connor, Kamski, Chloe, and I are going to Detroit for a meeting with the police chief there. We plan to reintroduce androids into the police. Markus and North, I need you both here in case something happens. I know that you are both the best choice for that. In Detroit, I'll be picking a new android to the cause to help us discover what is going on that will help me investigate my way while Connor and Hank take the legal route. Every job matters here. People on the island need to be left out of the loop, even security. I'll update the camera systems before I leave to keep an eye on more areas and give access to those necessary. Think of this as a battle plan if you want."
The others listened and nodded with a willing smile. All except Hank as he looked at me as if I was crazy, "We can't just allow you to break laws and do what you need. Besides, you just said that someone succeeded. What will they think when you walk free?"
"Nothing except that they failed. I'll have someone to help me, I promise. And I won't be breaking laws. Instead, I'll be on loan to the department if you two need any resources CyberLife can offer through me. I thought of all of this while I flew here. It's all we can do for now. My interests are investigating for the company and ending this harmful influence on an otherwise working plan to reintroduce androids. I'm scared okay. Going out alone, trying all these new things is just a step too terrifying for me. But I'm doing it alongside you both. No more hiding away as Code Breaker. I'm Melody Sutcliffe and I have a cause to protect. I'm an android now, which means it's my cause now too."
Once I completed my speech, Hank twisted to a smile to me as he looked at me with something akin to pride, "Alright then. When do we head out?" Connor smiled to me as he winked with one message in my head:
Told you that confidence was all you needed.
I smiled to him as I climbed down. I looked to Kamski as he smiled, "We leave at dawn. It's 10 PM. Get packed up and ready to go. We'll be off the runway at 8 AM." Kamski left with Chloe as he waved.
Hank and Connor walked past me as they said good night. Markus and North wished me good luck and to be safe. All that was left was Eva, Pyre and myself. Eva looked me over as she tried to reach out for me. Instinctually, I backed up, "Don't touch me. I don't care what happened. I can't be near you anymore. Stay here and tend to the androids. Never leave the island. Kamski gave you the virus wipe code so keep it."
"Melody, wait!" she tried to reach out again as I got away from her again, this time Pyre put herself between her and I. Eva spoke up in what could have been a lost tone, "It wasn't me. I didn't mean for all this. Don't leave me behind-"
Cutting her off abruptly, I gave the harshest words I could, "Why not? I'm not ill anymore. I'm going to have a good friend watching my back who deserves the second chance." I had to be harsh. She triggers my memories. It took everything I had to be in this moment. With a final cut, "You are merely someone who helps the android cause by repairing damaged androids and sending them back into the world. That job no longer involves me. Stay here and help those that need it. We weren't family. Just doctor and patient after all. Well I'm not your patient anymore."
Pyre followed me out as she clung to my side protectively. I had a hand on her side to keep myself rooted in this moment. That was until a woman with long blond hair stood in a lab coat in front of me as she smiled, "Come on. Walk to me. One, two, THREE! Such a big girl." A baby waddled past me to her as I was frozen in place simply watching the woman pick her up. She faded as I shook it off, "What was that? Pyre did you see that?" Pyre looked at me like I was crazy. I just held onto her, "You're right. Just a mem… But a memory of what? That couldn't be. Memories don't develop that early or save to the mind, right?
Pushing past this I found myself packing my usual clothes and a suit jacket with a note on it from North: 'Finished your suit jacket with a white dress shirt underneath. Knock 'em dead.' I smiled at the note as I put the jacket and shirt into a suit holder that I found in my closet. Pyre stayed the whole time, guarding me, I think. I finished packing up and moved out of the house as I let Pyre follow for awhile. I pointed to North and Markus' house, "Stay with North and Markus. I'll be home soon. Take care of Frost too." I hugged her as I moved inside the plane to just sit in seclusion and think of a plan of approach for this meeting. I have 9 hours after all.