Chapter Eight: A Warning
Sundays were the only day that Hank and Connor had off. Thus, when Sunday rolled around, Connor took it upon himself to visit Jericho Tower.
He hadn't spoken to Markus since a few days after the revolution. Seeing as how the cartel had begun targeting androids and humans alike, however, Connor thought it would be best to warn the people at Jericho Tower himself.
As he stepped out of the automated vehicle onto the pavement in front of what used to be Cyberlife Tower, Connor felt what may have been a shudder pass through him. Perhaps the main reason he hadn't visited Jericho Tower was because he was highly reluctant to come back to where - as Hank liked to put it - CyberHell used to be.
The automated doors opened as Connor approached them. The harsh steel interior had been replaced with white linoleum, and the tinted windows of the previous inhabitants of the building had been replaced with clear glass, allowing the sunlight to stream into open entryway. Along the white walls were lined various paintings that depicted various stages of the revolution. The android march through the streets of Detroit. The destruction of Cyberlife stores. A pair of android hands with the artificial skin retracted, showing the smooth, white, plastimetal frame beneath. Connor leading an army of thousands from the depths of the building in which he stood now.
The final image along the entryway depicted Markus, North, and himself standing upon a shipping container as Markus spoke to the thousands of androids before him. In the bottom of the painting was a single line: "WE ARE ALIVE".
Connor recognized that these paintings were done by Markus. After Carl had died last year, he seemed to pick up the paint brush exactly where Carl had left off.
A voice pulled him out of his reverie.
"Connor!"
He turned to face the doors at the end of the entryway as Markus entered. His face was a mixture of surprise and delight.
"Why didn't you tell us you were coming?" He asked as he shook Connor's hand firmly.
Connor shrugged. "It was a spur of the moment decision, I suppose." He smiled.
Markus nodded. "Regardless, I'm glad you're here. It's been too long."
He and Connor walked through the doorway through which Markus had entered, then into one of the side offices that served as a conference room for delegations. Connor was surprised to see North lying on the surface of the table, as well as Josh seated on a chair near her left arm. Both looked to the door when it opened, and had similar reactions to Markus'.
"What brings you here?" Josh asked.
"Isn't it obvious, Josh?" North chided, fixing Connor with a sly expression. "He misses us."
Connor allowed a smile to cross his features before he shook his head. "Unfortunately, I'm here on business."
Markus tilted his head slightly as he cybernetically contacted Simon before sitting in one of the chairs at the conference table, . He motioned for Connor to do the same. Once Simon had arrived, Markus turned to face Connor.
"What is it?"
"Have any of you been acquainted with the Red River Cartel?"
The other four androids shook their heads slightly.
"Neither had we, until two weeks ago. We had a...well, a brief run-in with one of their members. Turns out they've been behind the android attacks involving electrocution prior to death."
Markus grimaced.
"How many have died?" He asked.
"Three androids have perished at the hands of the cartel." He didn't mention that he had almost been part of the statistic.
"A few nights ago, though, there was another attack. It was a human this time. We found a note with the victim that simply said, 'Maybe it isn't blue, but blood is blood. Come and get us.'"
The androids sat in silence for a moment.
"I hadn't heard about the human attack," Simon said quietly.
"We've been keeping it low profile until we know more. There's little benefit in causing a panic over a drug cartel on a killing spree with both androids and humans."
He leaned back in his chair before glancing at Markus.
"Has anyone unfamiliar approached Jericho Tower within the last few weeks, asking for sanctuary?"
Markus shook his head. "More of our people come to Jericho Tower seeking asylum every day. It's impossible to know who is and isn't familiar until they've been with us for quite some time."
Connor nodded.
"If anyone approaches you with information, you'll contact me immediately, correct?"
"Of course."
Connor stood from his seat and straightened his already immaculate tie. "I appreciate it."
Markus stood as well. "Must you leave so soon?"
"I have some other business to attend to, unfortunately," he paused. "I'll have to return sometime when it has nothing to do with more android deaths."
Markus stood with Connor outside of Jericho Tower as they waited for the automated vehicle to arrive. Though he'd never been the conversational type, Connor was particularly quiet as he fidgeted with the coin he always kept in his pocket.
"What's on your mind, Connor?"
He stopped rolling the coin across his fingers to look at Markus.
"What do you mean?"
"You're distracted, my friend. What's troubling you?" Markus asked.
Connor's thoughts had drifted to the case, and - subsequently - to Natalie. He had been troubled by Hank's revelation a few days prior. He never would have suspected Natalie to come from such a troubled past.
Instead, he said, "I'm untroubled, Markus."
Markus sighed, raising an eyebrow. I suppose we're doing this the hard way, he thought as he grabbed Connor's arm.
Images of a young woman with bright blue eyes and a kind smile appeared in his processors. He heard her light laughter, watched as she mixed drinks with a deft precision -
Connor pulled his arm away, breaking the connection. He remained silent, though his face was flushed a slight blue. Markus smirked, once again looking straight ahead.
"What's her name?"
Connor hesitated.
"Natalie."
Markus nodded.
The two stood together in an awkward silence for a few more minutes before the automated vehicle approached.