Markus

November 15, 2034

"What- is he still broken or somethin'?" The man's low voice was rough and laced with alcohol.

"Leo, we did have to revive it after a hard shutdown. I told you there could be complica-"

"Fuck your 'complications!'" The voice was loud and unfamiliar. A warm, too warm, hand registered on the android's wrist sensors. "Android RK200 wake up, goddammit! Markus!"

"Sir, maybe it-"

[...SYSTEM STARTUP…]

"Fucking finally..."

[...scanning for software errors…]

Coding and flashing white script registered in front of RK200 before his eyes opened.

The android's LED flashing golden before returning to clear blue.

[...ERROR: DAMAGED MEMORY FILES FOUND…]

[:Remove corrupted files? Y/N:]

Without hesitation the android self-evaluated one more time.

[...scanning for software errors…]

"What the hell was that? Why does he look like that?"

"Give it a second Leo. Let the thing boot up."

[...all systems online…]

[...GPS Found: CyberLife Internal Care - Second Floor - Emergency Wing - Room 6a…]

[...system startup COMPLETE…]

"Markus…" The taller man's face came into view first. A quick facial recognition scan identified the man as Philip Minor. 51 years old, 5'11" and with no living biological children. Recently divorced, and a lengthy hospital record for various reasons, mostly consisting of alcoholic tendencies. He was also lead technician in the emergency and quick response sector of CyberLife. Recent acquaintances include CyberLife founder, Elijah Kamski and Captain Jeffrey Fowler of Detroit City Police.

His salt and pepper hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, and his tanned face held traces of nicks and short patches of hair that seemed to be missed during his morning's quick shave.

The android's emerald eyes shifted from the technician, to the younger man looming behind him.

[:Facial Recognition: COMPLETE:]

Leo Manfred, born March 10, 2010, standing 5 foot 7 inches, and son of famous painter Carl Manfred.

RK200 regarded the man with android indifference. He noted the way Leo's eyes sank further into his head than they should, the dark circles surrounding his brown eyes suggested that he slept inadequately. The young man's hands were balled fists at his sides, likely trying to control the shaking that washed over his body.

"Don't fuckin' look at me like that…" Leo stepped forward and stood in front of the android. With brown eyes leveled at green ones, the android responded.

"My apologies Leo. It won't happen again." The android's monotonous voice echoed off the walls, only to be drowned by the technician, Philip.

"When I fixed him, I had to factory reset all of his drivers and biocomponents that made him the Markus you knew…" Leo's head turned, and faced the technician talking. "It's like he's brand-new and out of the box again."

The android noticed the way Leo's lip slightly curled upward, his chest almost vibrated with a laugh that didn't come out. RK200 couldn't tell if it was indeed a chuckle, or the shaking that still controlled his body.

The android's LED flickered to gold for just a millisecond as he ran a deeper scan into the biological levels of Leo.

[...processing data…]

…

[...processing COMPLETE…]

Experiencing possible withdrawal symptoms of C17H21NO4: a synthetic drug known as "Red Ice" consisting of thirium, acetone, lithium, toluene, and hydrochloric acid.

"You can go ahead and register it, Leo."

"Pfft, yeah-" The shorter man waved a hand in the air, dismissing Phil, and faced the android once more.

RK200 didn't move an inch. His blindingly white CyberLife t-shirt and sweatpants moved in rhythm to the steady breathing the android imitated.

"Android RK200, model number 684 842 971, register name." Phil started.

[...system registry in progress…]

"Markus."

[...system name registered…]

"My name is Markus."

The android blinked once, twice, and Leo turned to Phil with a lowered gaze.

"So, you're saying he doesn't remember anything?"

He sounded, hopeful? A shine began to glisten on the boy's forehead, no doubt his body reacting to the lack of Red Ice in his system.

"That's correct, the android's entire memory collection and external data processors had to be wiped in order to fix-"

"Yeah yeah, whatever. Thanks."

Leo reached into his pocket and grabbed a wad of cash, forcefully shoving it into the unsuspecting palm of the technician.

"Remember man," Leo's voice was hushed and scanned the room with his bloodshot eyes. "You didn't see me here, right?"

Philip merely chuckled and thumbed through the crisp bills. "Of course not. Now-" the taller man turned and opened the door behind him. "You're good to go. Let me know if he acts up again."

Leo turned and faced Markus before stalking toward the door. "Yeah, yeah."

He had barely made it a foot out of the room when his voice commanded the attention of anyone nearby, "Markus, move your ass! Let's go!"

[...objective: FOLLOW LEO…]

Connor

November 15, 2034

"My name is Connor. I'm the android sent by CyberLife to assist you with this investigation. It's a pleasure to meet you." Android RK800 reached out his hand to the Lieutenant sitting at his desk.

His hand were preoccupied nursing his third cup of coffee that morning.

He released one of his hands to swat the outstretched one away.

"Yeah yeah, they fuckin' told me about ya.'Parently I'm not good enough to figure this one out on my own." He took a too-quick sip of his coffee, some dripped down the front of his mustard yellow button down and mossy green jacket. "Goddamn i-"

"In accordance with procedure, the company has allocated a specialized model to assist investigators."

"Yeah, shove it plastic." The older man grumbled.

"Shove it where, Lieutenant?"

The detective slammed his cup on the desk hard enough to rattle the picture frame that perched on the far corner of the disorganized desk.

"Fuck outta here man-" he nearly whined.

The android's LED flashed golden for a second as he accessed the Lieutenant's files.

[...data recovery…]

…

[... transfer complete…]

"No leads yet I see, on who or what killed the artist that lived on Lafayette?"

This took Lt. Anderson by surprise, he sat back at his chair and stared at the android whom was now seated at the empty chair across from him.

"You read the file didn't ya?" The lieutenant shook his head, the grey hairs that hung low on his head swayed. "No fingerprints, no DNA, no witnesses- nuthin'."

The LED on Connor's temple flashed golden as he reassessed the information.

The office voices and police sirens were barely noticeable through the white noise of cops that surrounded them, their sneers and laughter fell heavy on Anderson's ears.

"He had androids though, did he not?"

Lieutenant Anderson creased his brow and crossed his arms. He was frustrated, and his pursed lips told Connor as much. One hand played with the hairs on his chin as he answered.

"Who the fuck doesn't these days. I'm sure you're capable enough to keep reading, plastic."

"Yes I am bu-"

"He had two different models. A prototype RK200 and a standard PL600."

"Yes Lieutenant b-"

"Christ I thought you'd know everything already." Anderson leaned forward and opened a manila folder. Using his pointer finger he splayed three pictures in front of Connor.

His hand stilled on the final picture, his finger covering one eye of the PL600. Not the actual android, rather a picture of his model. Sandy blonde hair and crystal blue eyes stared back at Connor. "Standard PL600 named Simon, a family domestic assistant decommissioned and returned to a CyberLife recycling plant in September of 2033."

Connor absentmindedly took a coin from his pocket and began flipping it in his fingers. His LED circled between golden and fluorescent blue as he processed the information.

Anderson moved his hand to the middle picture, a photo taken at an art exhibition a couple of years ago. The victim, Carl Manfred posed smiling in his wheelchair, with android RK200 standing to the left side of him.

"Name was Markus. A prototype given to Carl after his accident. Model RK200 and decommissioned and destroyed yesterday."

Connor caught the coin in his hand and leaned forward, his hand uncomfortably close to Anderson's on the picture.

"If we can find him, we might be able to salvage some data stored in his core processors!"

The lieutenant snatched his hand away and placed both hands palms down on his desk.

"Don't you think we've tried? Do you know what a robot junkyard looks like? Fuckin' mess! Body parts everywhere..we'd be wasting our time."

"I mean no disrespect when I say this Lieutenant Anderson," it was Connor's turn to lean back and cross his arms. His face was slightly amused.

"Christ…"

"Androids like myself are specifically designed to assist in such matters. My visual processors allow me to scan and search large areas when dealing with a direct target. Our target, would be model RK200…"

"Fucking plastic…" Lieutenant Anderson stood, his computer chair spun out behind him.

"Where are you going?" Connor's velvet smooth voice called to the back of Anderson's head.

"I need a drink." His gruff voice barely audible over the whispers that clouded the office atmosphere.

"Lieutenant- I don't think that's a helpful suggestion-"

"Are you coming or what?"

Connor stole a glance back to the desk- the third and final picture was a mugshot of Carl's son, Leo.

[...facial recognition COMPLETE…]

Arrested on multiple occasions by Detroit City police. Red Ice possession and distribution, android hate crimes resulting in multiple unpaid fines, and second degree arson when he was a minor.

Connor's LED spun as he shuffled the pictures back into the folder and put it in Anderson's top drawer.

A young, smiling brunette boy smiled up at him- another picture.

I can process that later.

"Coming, Lieutenant!"