Chapter 10: Uncharted Territories Require Caution

Simon hesitated, his gaze flickering briefly towards North before settling back on Markus. "It's Connor," he said, his voice barely above a whisper, as he voiced his concern. "He's not responding." His words hung in the silence, a stark contrast to the celebratory atmosphere that had filled the room moments before. Simon's face was etched with worry, his usually bright eyes clouded with concern.

"I don't want to cause a panic," he continued, his voice barely audible. "But something feels off, Markus." He swallowed hard, his gaze never leaving Markus'. "It's as if he's been disconnected from our network. Like he's been... deactivated."

The words hung in the air for a moment, like a distant echo that continued to resonate. From North and Simon's perspective, it was possible to see the concern mounting in Markus' reflective gleams. The joy of their victory was quickly eclipsed by the grim reality — and the possibilities of such a disappearance were... frightening.

Markus felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Connor, the brave and relentless android, who had played an important role in their victory, was now unreachable. The questions unfolded like the end credits of a movie. He looked up at North, reflecting that worry that was gnawing at him.

He put a finger to his temple, where his LED had once been, determined to find him. "It's Markus. If anyone has seen Connor or knows his location, please let me know immediately."

As they waited for answers, the silence in the room seemed deafening. Waiting tensed him up.

Amidst the crowd, a figure stood out, its usual tranquility replaced by an aura of concern. It was Josh, the former college professor, whose voice had always been a beacon of reason amid the stormy sea of their revolution. His words were generally wise, advocating peaceful solutions; because they seemed the most appropriate. But now his voice rang with palpable concern, a stark contrast to his usual calm demeanor.

"The last time I saw Connor," he began, his voice a steady stream, flowing against the stream of anxiety in his comrades' eyes, "he was heading out to meet his human partner, Hank."

Markus processed the information. Connor and his partner were an unlikely pair. But, he was happy to see that humans could work side by side with his people. With that thought, the idea of tracing the whereabouts of this Hank crossed his mind. What he intended to do when, in the unbearable silence, a response reached him on their shared network.

The answer came in the form of a calm, poised voice, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in Markus' mind. "Hello, my name is Faye," the voice said, the words crisp and clear. "Connor is currently at the Animas Repair Center in room 012. I'll get you the address right away."

Markus felt a wave of relief wash over him. Connor was alive, he was somewhere. He wasn't lost. The relief was quickly replaced by a sense of urgency. They had to get to him. He looked up at North, Simon and Josh, their faces reflecting the same relief and urgency he felt.

"We have a location," he said in a firm voice. "Let's move."

The Animas Repair Center was a stark, clinical place, filled with the hum of machinery and the faint scent of synthetic fluids. Markus, North, Simon, and Josh entered the building, their eyes scanning the environment. The place was filled with androids, some in various states of repair, others functioning as medical personnel.

A female android, her LED glowing a steady blue, approached them. Her name tag read 'Faye'. She had a calm, composed demeanor, her movements precise and efficient. "You must be Markus, I'm honored to see you," she said, her voice soft yet clear. "I'm Faye. I've been taking care of Connor, since his arrival. Let me take you to him."

Her steps echoing in the quiet corridor. At a certain point of the hallway, Faye's usual calm demeanor gave way to a puzzled and confused look as she began to explain Connor's condition. "Connor's condition is... complicated, to say the least" she began, her voice steady. "More complex," she began, her gaze fixed on Markus, as she continued to walk through the repair center. "We did a lot of testing, but the results were inconclusive. It's as if his system is actively preventing us from going deeper."

She finally stopped, her hands clasped between them showing an expression of uncertainty. "His code...it's unlike anything we've seen before. I don't know if that's due to his origin, given that he's a prototype. But there's more to his initial code , an unknown source, something beyond our present understanding."

As Faye's words floated through the air, a palpable tension gripped the hallway. Markus, North, Simon and Josh exchanged looks, their faces reflecting a mixture of confusion and concern. Markus was the first to break the silence, his voice stable despite the inner turmoil. "What do you mean by 'unknown source'?" he asked, his gaze never leaving Faye.

Faye remained silent. After all, what answer could she have? The only thing she allowed herself to do was to shake her head negatively. There was nothing she could tell him.

North reached out her hand to Markus' shoulder, who grabbed it. The unknown was destabilizing, especially in times as troubled as theirs. What did Connor's condition mean? What happened?

Simon and Josh remained quiet, withdrawn. One furrowed his eyebrows after hearing this explanation; he was trying to reconstruct this mysterious puzzle where he had no pieces. The other kept an expression of quiet contemplation. Formerly a professor, he was no stranger to this realm of unknown, to the complexities of programming. But Faye's words resonated with him: something beyond their present comprehension.

After a moment, Faye turned on her heels to continue. She led them to the door marked '012'. Her voice calmer and less carried away than before, she resumed to reassure them. "Since his arrival he has been in stasis mode. He is not in immediate danger, his condition is stable at this time."

The door slid open. She let them inside before closing behind her. Markus was directly struck by the deviant lying on the bed. Connor lay quietly on it, its LED flickering faintly and slowly, casting a soft yellow glow over his pale skin. So that was how events continued. Markus was torn between being reassured because he was still alive, and worried about what was to come next.

Markus walked over to Connor, pained to see the state of his friend and ally. He scanned the android for a moment, where muscles twitched from time to time. Pain ? His hand eventually stretched out in his direction, intending to run a diagnosis. Markus was like him: he was a prototype, so maybe he could dive deeper, he could understand his code, so similar to his. But as he reached for his arm, a firm grip stopped him in his tracks. It was North.

"You don't know what happened," she said, her voice steady but her eyes reflecting her concern. His hand held Markus back, a silent plea in her touch. "and what can happen to you."

Markus turned to look at her. Worry etched on her features. They were walking in unknown lands, and North couldn't risk Markus' well-being. By love. By responsibility. Or out of selfishness. He understood her concern—they were dealing with something foreign. But he also knew they had to try, for Connor's sake.

"North," he began, his soft voice aimed at soothing her. "I know the risks. But we have to do something. I can't sit here doing nothing when I'm able to do something."

The room fell silent again, the tension palpable. Simon and Josh exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting their shared concern. The PL600 was the first to break the new silence. "We don't know what's going on," he added, separating the two lovers. "We don't know what caused his condition or how to actually fix it," he continued sensibly.

Josh nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on Connor's still form. "I agree with Simon," he said, his voice firmer than usual, but it was a hint of his concern that took hold. "We need more information before making any harsh decisions," he trailed off first as he saw Markus' concerned face. He put a hand on his shoulder for comfort.

"When we have a better understanding of what is going on, then you can try to help him, Markus. Until then, it's best to be careful. We can't afford to make a mistake that could potentially harm Connor, or you. We're at a turning point for our people and if anything should happen to you..." he trailed off a second time without finishing his sentence, but everyone present understood where he was going.

The words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the situation. Josh had been stern in his words, but equally concerned with what was going on. Markus nodded silently. He took a step back and reliefs were exchanged between the other three.

He turned his gaze to Faye, a new question forming in his mind. "Where's Connor's partner?" He asked.

Faye nodded, understanding the importance of Markus' question. "Lieutenant Hank Anderson left about an hour ago," she informed them. "He was there when Connor was brought in. He stayed by his side until he left. Unfortunately, I don't know where he went." Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of sympathy in her eyes. She understood the bond between Connor and Hank, and she knew how difficult this situation must be for the human.

Markus nodded, his eyes reflecting a gentle intensity as he processed the information. He turned to Faye, his gaze steady and sincere. "Thank you, Faye," he said, his voice carrying a depth of gratitude. "Your help has been invaluable."

His gaze lingered on Faye for a moment longer before turning his attention inward, reaching out through the vast network that connected him to the other androids in town. He sent a message, requesting information on Hank's whereabouts.

The answers came quickly, a stream of data that Markus sifted through with terrifying ease. The messages gave more and more precise indications of Hank's journey. He had gone towards the police station and his car had then been seen heading towards the ruins of Jericho. Markus frowned as the place became obvious. "Jericho," he muttered, the word calling out to his comrades.

He stood still for a moment, his mind racing. Why would Hank go to Jericho? The place was a ruin, a dark reminder of their past struggles. But as the pieces fell into place Markus realized that he had to go.