//OPEN RP POST

[instabilitatem]

Comments

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Hell, no. Wouldn’t they just threaten to kill you?

[And if CyberLife did command Connor to turn himself in for termination... would what Hank say matter at all? Because of the whole “factory reset” thing.

Hank starts the car. Lets it warm up.]

Why are you even listening to me at all? Because I’m human?

[instabilitatem]

There is a piece of programming left behind indicating I am assigned to you.

[Why he didn’t mention this earlier? Because it wasn’t relavent at the time.]

It seems that the reset did not remove this piece

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

That’s something, at least. Not gonna go listening to whatever any weird old fuck says to you, right?

[They’re still partners. Somethings’s left.

And that’s a good sign, isn’t it?]

I’m not taking you to CyberLife. And Fowler... [He might complain, but he wouldn’t make Hank do that either, would he?

Or maybe he’d think it was easier. Simpler. Just get a whole ass new Connor even though this one is fine.

Hank sighs, drumming his fingers along the steering wheel.

No one to trust with this little predicament of theirs.]

[instabilitatem]

There is the father of androids, Elijah Kamski, but his location is hidden.

[Connor looks over at the lieutenant, rain dripping down the sides of his face.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Of course he’s gotta be all hidden.

[Hank purses his lips.]

You are looking like a wet dog right now, Connor. [If he had a towel, he’d offer it. There’s just... garbage. He should clean out his car eventually, but today is not that day.]

And you wouldn’t happen to have that oh-so secret location filed away, would you?

[instabilitatem]

I will dry as soon as I can.

[Connor files away the information as ‘Notes on Appearance.]

I do, but the information is encrypted.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Not telling you to hurry up and dry off, just...

[Do androids even feel the cold? It’s not like Connor will get sick, not in the human sense. But what if he got some water in that neck port of his?]

Okay, and how do we get past that encryption? Don’t you dare say we need Kamski’s help for that bullshit.

[instabilitatem]

[Androids can, but Connor isn't quite at that threshold. If the rain were to turn to snow, that would be a different story. His neck port is only mostly closed and, if Hank were to look, there's the occasional flash of light as the damaged neckplates shudder against each other.]

Elijah Kamski or Amanda, the head of CyberLife.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Of course we need to talk to Kamski to find out where the fucker is.

[Hank groans. Squeezes the steering wheel. He would start driving, but where?]

This Amanda — she more accessible?

[instabilitatem]

She is in the CyberLife building most often. I do not know her personal address.

[More rain drips down from Connors hair, easing down his cheek before falling from his jaw.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[UGH. Of course.]

So I figure me just strolling on up to CyberLife HQ and being all, “hey, how the fuck do I decrypt my Connor?” isn’t going to cut it with her.

Swear to god, Connor. [Hank shrugs out of his coat. Hands it over.] Wipe yourself off. You’re getting my car all wet.

[Not that he actually cares about that.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor frowns at the lieutenant, doubly so when his jacket is thrown in Connor's face. Of course, Connor obeys and wipes himself off as best he can. It's not the best, but he's not dripping. Still, Connor goes quiet for a moment or two after he finishes, looking out at the torrential rain.]

Malfunctioning androids are meant to be serviced at CyberLife or a CyberLife store.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

I’m not taking you to CyberLife if they’re just gonna kill you, Connor. You’re gonna have to walk your ass there if that’s what you want.

[And Hank isn’t going to let that happen. It’s needless. If they can just get at his memories, it’ll be fine — or so Hank tells himself.]

If we take you to a store, would they alert HQ?

[instabilitatem]

I'm not sure. I am aware that some work 'under the table.'

[Connor isn't sure what that means in his current state.]

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Under the table. All right.

[Hank can work with that.]

And how do we find these establishments? Figure they aren’t putting this shit on blast. Some kinda code word?

[It’s a lead, at least. Hank starts driving, heading toward the nearest CyberLife store — or the nearest one he can think of, anyway.]

[instabilitatem]

I'm not entirely sure. Do you have any informants you might lean on?

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Thinking. Thinking.]

Would make all this a lot easier if we did have informants, huh?

[But someone has to know something. And Hank just needs to not fuck up figuring that out, because who wouldn’t tell him to just drop Connor off at CyberLife and be done with him?]

I can make some calls. [Although he’s dreading it. But maybe he can bullshit his way through this long enough till they’ve got Connor’s memories back.] If all else fails, “ra9” seems to mean something, yeah?

[instabilitatem]

ra9. [Connor considers the word, trying to pull up any memories or mentions of it.]

Not at this point in time, no.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank tosses Connor a concerned look. It makes sense that he forgot all that, but... fuck if it isn’t inconvenient.]

We’ve seen some deviants fixated on “ra9.“ Don’t know what it means — it’s just something that connects them. Maybe not all of them, but it’s been at least a few now.

Figured if someone at CyberLife is playing for the other side, they might soften up if we said that.

[Or maybe they’ll call HQ and have Connor carted off, anyway.]

[instabilitatem]

[Connor nods as he continues to watch the lieutenant. ra9 is not something he recalls, but the lieutenant knows better at this moment. Connor's eyes grow distant for a moment as he searches through the vast emptiness that is his memory bank.

Nothing. There's nothing.

It's disheartening, but Connor will have to make do until they find Elijah Kamski.]

That may be the key to finding those who would assist.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Yeah. Maybe.

[Hank hopes it’ll help. Because if not — what then?]

Can you... [He’s about to pull his phone out of his coat pocket when he remembers he gave it to Connor.] Can you get the GPS on my phone going? To that CyberLife store on Fairmont?

[instabilitatem]

[CyberLife Store on Fairmont. Connor mentally finds the location and turns to Hank.]

Take the next right.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

Oh. Well, shit. Okay.

[Hank almost tells Connor that he doesn’t have to do all that — his phone works fine, mostly — but it is convenient.

After taking the next right, things are starting to look a little more familiar.]

What were you thinking about — [he glances at Connor in the rearview mirror] — just a second ago? Looked kinda deep in thought.

[instabilitatem]

Go straight through the next two lights and take another right at the third.

[Connor is an excellent GPS and he doesn't need no phone!

When asked about his thoughts, Connor pauses before answering.]

I was wondering what would happen if we can't find Mr. Kamski.

[bootyshortsforoldmen]

[Hank nods in thanks, keeping his eyes on the road.]

We’re gonna find that fucker. Don’t you worry about that.

[Even though Hank is worrying. Everyone back at the station would call him stupid — he knows that. But it just seems so pointlessly cruel.

And it’s selfish on Hank’s part. He knows that, too.]

What d’you... what do you want? And spare me the whole “androids don’t want” shit and just answer the question.