Author's Note:
Yooo, guys! Sorry for not updating in, like, half a month, I think.
I got a real eye-opening surgery. It really changed my view of the world. Everything is now so eye-catching. Eye can tell you're bored with these cornea jokes but, hey, eyeronically, it ex-eye-tes me.
Okay, yeah, so, moral of the story is: Eye surgery is... not fun.
Strangers: Become Lovers
Act III
W31SS
FRIDAY
12:35
"Why's she not picking up?!" screamed the old android.
"Give… give it time, Uncle Qrow," said Ruby, her voice straining to sound calm.
Weiss bit her lip, looking away from her reflection. After buying clothing and energy bars - for Ruby - they rushed to the restroom to change their appearances.
Ruby and her uncle were already done, waiting outside, waiting for her.
Little did they know she hadn't changed this whole time, too busy listening to their conversation, too stressed about the whole deal that had happened not even an hour ago.
"Dammit! We could be too late at this point!"
"C'mon, he… he won't do anything too bad, won't he?"
She knew all too well who the human meant by 'he'.
Her LED flashed red, only for a brief second.
The mere thought of the man she once called 'Father' sickened her, sending a wave of nausea through her artificial insides.
A weary sigh. "You don't know these kinds of people, Ruby… To them, nothing is 'too bad'."
As much as she hated to admit it, Qrow was right.
"Either way," answered Ruby, "Yang can take care of herself. She's smart."
"... Fine." He sounded like he didn't believe her and just wanted to stop arguing. "Why's your friend taking so long?"
"I'll go check on her."
"Don't waste time, alright? We… we don't have a lot of that as is."
There was a small pause. "Are… are you going to be okay, Uncle Qrow? You… never seemed to like Ozpin that much…"
"I'm okay, Squirt."
She knew he was lying. Even without the LED in his head.
Qrow was far from 'okay'; he hadn't been 'okay' for a pretty long time. She'd analyzed him. His body was…
She had no idea how an android could still be functioning to even a remotely normal level at this point.
With how old he was, with all the damages his body held that weren't easy to fix… he didn't have a lot of time. At this rate, in mere months they'd have run out of compatible parts to replace for him. There'd be only one solution to keep him moving. A year after that, there'd be more duct tape than him if he was going to continue on as he was.
He needed to be fixed.
It was just a shame that no one would want to fix him - anyone who had the ability to do so would arrest him the moment they saw him.
Ruby knocked on the door and slowly opened it, timid.
She looked as nervous as the deviant felt.
"Hey, Weiss… You… haven't changed your clothes…"
"S-sorry, Ruby, it's just…"
[EXPLAIN]
[BLAME SELF]
Weiss chose her option with a sigh.
"This is all my fault."
Ruby looked mildly surprised. But then she shook her head and took one step towards her, a soft kind of determination filling her face.
She cupped the android's cheek, smiling as she did so. The android instinctively leaned into the touch, always understanding that human had always had warmth coursing through their body, but only now appreciating how good that warmth felt against her cold skin.
"Weiss… You know I've always wanted to go to Beacon. I guess this is the perfect chance to do just that, even if the circumstances aren't that great."
She narrowed her eyes. "Ruby. You'll be abandoning your home, your friends; the life you've built here," she stressed. "All for me…" She then blinked, just as her LED waned to yellow. "No, you didn't choose to abandon them. I made that choice. I made you leave your life behind."
Guilt, of course, consumed her, like a snake slithering around her body, making itself comfortable, making every part of her body feel heavier than it had any right to be.
But then Ruby chuckled and rubbed her neck in that Ruby-esque way, refusing to look at baby blue eyes.
"Weiss…" she said a little bashfully. "What makes you think I like it here?" That was when silver met blue. And the deviant was shocked to see just how much sadness was conveyed in those eyes. "The people here… they don't treat you guys nicely, and I don't like that." She opened her mouth again, but then closed it, shaking her head and looking to her side. Bad memories, she supposed. "Uncle Qrow has to hide… We have to be careful around security and stuff, and…"
Ruby trailed off, visibly distraught. The deviant felt it was appropriate to gently squeezed the warm hand that cupped her cheek, making sure her touch was not too hard and not too soft, like how one would touch a delicate flower, because that was how she was supposed to touch Ruby, that was how everyone was supposed to touch her.
"Still…" It didn't change the fact that the deviant had turned everything in her life upside down, removed that sense of stability everyone should have.
The human didn't look as bothered as she should. Or maybe the realization hadn't dawned on her yet. Or maybe it had, and she was just good at hiding her true feelings.
"If it makes you feel any better, I heard Beacon's a nice place. Like, huge castle-like buildings. And dorm rooms. And a gym, if you're into that stuff," she chuckled again, leaning forward, resting her forehead against the deviant's own. It brought a sense of relief to her - as if everything would be okay. She naturally closed her eyes as the human said, "Weiss. I wanted to leave. I wanted to go to Beacon - and I still do. You've known this."
The deviant's brows furrowed, if only slightly.
[ASK]
[DON'T ASK]
The only reason she chose the former option was that it had been eating her away all this time.
"May I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
Weiss opened her eyes only to see Ruby's own were still closed. She looked comfortable simply standing where she was. It warmed her artificial heart.
She smiled a little. But that smile vanished slowly as she asked, "What… actually happened to you and your sister all those years ago?"
Classified operation. Ozpin's first test of an android's functionality, living amongst humans, living as human's servants. Volunteer named Taiyang Xiao Long and now Summer Rose. Said android becoming rogue. Keeping the news hidden from the public, in fears of them not wanting to have anything to do with androids, thus decreasing the chances of success.
But that was looking through the lens of her home - or at least, what used to be her home.
And the deviant knew very well that place was full of lies.
Which was why she needed to know. She wanted some semblance of knowledge so that she could form her own opinion on the matter.
She'd been able to hear the human's heartbeat all this time, and she noticed how its tempo changed into a faster, more erratic beats.
Ruby's eyes were furrowed and she was biting her lip. She looked troubled.
Yet she opened her mouth nonetheless, intending to give the deviant the answer she'd always yearned… just in time for Qrow to shout "YANG!" for everyone to hear.
Silver eyes snapped wide open, and already, their topic was forgotten. The human bolted out of the changing room, and the deviant simply stood there, flabbergasted.
"Uncle Qrow?!" she heard Ruby ask, panic written in her voice.
"W-who are you?" the voice from the other line said, the voice that sounded vaguely familiar.
The deviant ran an analysis on that sampled voice immediately.
"What did you do to her?"
"I- I didn't do anything! But they did! They just came and attacked her! A-and who are you?!"
That voice belonged to an android; a BL4K3 model.
"Where the hell is she?!"
"I- I'm bringing her to my house! It's not safe for her to be anywhere else!" That was correct. It would indeed be a foolish choice for Yang Xiao Long to be stationed out in the open, or worse, in her home. "And who are you?!"
"I'm her damn uncle, that's who I am," Qrow growled. "I'm coming to pick her up."
"I… I don't think she should go anywhere yet…"
"Why the hell not?! Argh, you know what, fine! Where the hell's your house?!"
The deviant felt as though this was the perfect time to make herself present.
She looked at Ruby and felt her eyes go wide.
RUBY: Distant
Ruby…
Ruby had only ever been distant once…
And even from that relatively short experience, she concluded she didn't like a distant Ruby.
Qrow pocketed his phone, rubbing his temples. "I swear to god, if this is a trap…"
It took her one second to realize he needed her input, and two more seconds for her to come up with an input.
"If it was a trap, then they wouldn't be sending in an android like BL4K3 to handle the call."
They all looked at each other, uncertain and unknowing of what was to come.
Yet they pressed on anyway.
Author's Notes:
Imagine my complete surprise when trying to transfer this chapter fro to here, I found Feugo's own take on how the chapter should go. And, honestly...
It's pretty rad. It's different from how I envisioned the event going, but it's still rad AF. One of the many reasons you should check him out~
I mean, c'mon! Read this!
Alternative Take
By FeugoFox42
"May I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
Weiss opened her eyes only to see Ruby's own were still closed. She looked comfortable simply standing where she was. It warmed her artificial heart.
She smiled a little. But that smile vanished slowly as she asked, "What… actually happened to you and your sister all those years ago?"
"If you must know…" Weiss nodded slowly. She didn't want to push Ruby, but knowing would help her understand. "Uncle Qrow is only aware of this because Ozpin had people that worked at Cyberlife still loyal to him when this happened. Search 'Fly The Nest' and it should come up. It should be dated February 2028, maybe March."
"...Ruby, there are very high level restrictions in place here."
"Use Override Code: MuNh U9-1nN."
Sure enough, the code granted her access to it. There was only a single file in there, but… "The file is heavily encrypted…" she scanned the entirety of the Cyberlife system for her prize, but sadly came back empty handed. "And there are no records anywhere of a code to gain access."
"It's I-I_rAFNf73-i5tuðR."
[PRAISE]
[QUESTION]
Ruby's knowledge of this system, right down to the perfect Override and Encryption code to allow access, was indeed worthy of praise; but how she retrieved it was certainly warranted questioning.
Knowing they were on a bit of a time limit, however, Weiss ignored the prompts and accessed the file.
-CONNECTING-
B74NW3N INTEGRATION, "FLY THE NEST" - Failure
This report is property of Cyberlife exclusively, and should never be seen by external eyes. This document, everything related to it and all knowledge of it are strictly classified; if you are reading this - you're fired.
Report: 02/02/2023
Report by: Dr. James D. Fawlbladder
REPORT START
Dr. Ozpin Head, James Ironwood, myself and Opzin's personal G00DW1TCH model android wished to conduct an experiment; a plan to try and integrate Androids wholly into society as everyday servants.
Two volunteers in Taiyang "Tai" Xiao Long and his then-girlfriend Raven Llŷr were selected, and were to have the first domesticated android for wide scale distribution. (Side note: Ozpin already had taken complete ownership of the G00DW1TCH model from work, treating it as human.)
Tai and Raven received a mid-range B74NW3N model with a custom visual design that was to be monitored for its entire 10 year optimal lifetime. This B74NW3N android was modelled after Raven - jet black hair, pale skin, crimson red eyes - and had its LED disc removed immediately after activation. This was so that people would not question when someone new arrived at their house, guessing them as relatives. Raven was from southern Wales, so an unexpected relative would receive little to no question in the community. To an outsider, they were twins.
The B74NW3N, whom Tai referred to as Qrow - and shall be called that for the remainder of this report, aided through the couple's split 1 year after its arrival, and certainly help Tai reintegrate into society, especially with the child of himself and Raven to look after. It functioned as intended, but the program was licensed with two adults around at all times, so the 'Return to Nest' Protocol was nearly initiated.
Fortunately for the investors and us, one Summer Rose started seeing Tai, and they moved in together, voiding clearance for use of the 'ReToN' Protocol.
Summer also had a child with Tai, and Qrow looked after them with the children's parents. The experiment was deemed successful and kickstarted the launch of commercial androids instead of just ones working in purely industrial settings. However, Qrow was to remain a secret from all except those working on the project. REASONS UNDISCLOSABLE.
Summer Rose died when her child, Ruby Rose, was over four years old during the 2028 New Year's Revolt, killed by a Rogue Android. Tai grew progressively less mentally stable, and Qrow was close to being 'ReToN'ed for his own and the children's safety.
Qrow turned Deviant though, thus removing any chance for him to be 'ReToN'ed; recounts from Tai claim that Qrow fled one the night, stealing Ruby and Yang Xiao Long, Tai and Raven's daughter, from him. (Note, the recount is heavily biased, though as the only recount, it can't be proven false unless another comes forward to counter this claim.)
Qrow removed his tracking device and disappeared off the system and the grid completely. Attempts have been fruitless wastes of time, effort and money to locate him and the two children. A missing persons report has been filed for Yang and Ruby.
All knowledge of B74NW3N INTEGRATION is to be wiped from the mainframe. This report must remain, along with three other documents on this case. If exposed, this failure could destroy Cyberlife.
END REPORT
Addendum: 18/04/2030
Addendum by: Dr. James D. Fawlbladder
B74NW3N model designation 'Qrow', has now been active for 10 years. Onset deterioration shall now begin, as its optimal life has expired. Locating shall become easier with the body slowly breaking down, but by this point, it's chasing a dead end.
-DISCONNECTING-
Weiss wanted to see this as cold, hard facts. But she knew these were words spouted by someone from the place she used to call 'home'.
And that place was full to the brim with lies.
Again, this is all FeugoFox's doing, not mine. My mind was blown by this. How the hell did you come up with this, Fox?! This is way better than what I'd imagined happening!