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[socrowdedinhere]

*Connor has a mission, he is to find Lieutenant Anderson. He’s been to four bars already and is heading to the fifth when the world around them lurches. He’ll lose sight of everthing around him and when he can see again the city streets are gone and the darkness of the forest is all that is around him.* 

Comments

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *blinks, looking up at Terris, then the seeds in his hand, but he just does as told. After a moment...if Terris is looking, he'll see something soften in Connor's eyes, a warmth that seems fleeting and possibly even alien to him*

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: *will have to draw that later. He’s got a small, warm smile of his own and will just sit still by Connor until the robins leave again. He gives Connor’s shoulder a squeeze.* I’ve a few things to see to, then we’ll head to town, all right?

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *nods* Please don't hurry on my account. Is there anything I can help with?

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: Sure. I have some ways you could help. *Terris will milk and feed the goat, but will show Connor how to gather the eggs from the hens and how to feed them as well. With that done Terris will get himself some breakfast and pack a small lunch for himself, plus a few other things, and will lead the way out. They’ll travel through forest for a good hour before emerging onto a dirt road. From there, Connor can see a small town well in the distance.* What is travel like in your world, Connor?

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *is attentive, and will perform the tasks flawlessly (or...as much so as the hens allow). Once packed, he'll offer to carry things for Terris, though he won't argue if Terris retains his pack. He frowns faintly at the state of the road - it's not paved. At all. Not even an effort at it. At the question, his frown deepens, if still very mild, and he'll do his best to describe the cars and trains of his world. He's...not even going to go into ships and planes.*

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: *genuinely interrested and will truly try to understand. He’ll admit he likely doesn’t have a clear idea, but perhaps it’s near enough to be mostly understood. He’s amazed as people being able to travel so fast. Also...Connor may note that there is a third moon in the sky this morning, bigger than the other two and a pinkish red in color. When they draw nearer to town, Terris will stop to pull out a hooded cloak. He’ll offer it to Connor.* Put this on.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *notes the moon, but...not sure if he should say anything, so he doesn't for now - looks at it even as he accepts it on reflex* Why?

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: So we can reach the general without making a scene or endangering either of us.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *LED goes yellow* But . . . I am forbidden from doing anything that would even remotely pass me off as a human. If CyberLife ever found out, I'd be deactivated.

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: *gently grips Connor’s shoulders and will duck a bit to get the android to look at him.* If you do not this once, you may not make it back to CyberLife at all for that to be an issue. You have a choice to make, Connor.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *gazes back at Terris, a hint...at the very least uncertainty, maybe even fear...in his eyes. "CONFLICTING ORDERS - SELECTING PRIORITY" flickers across his internal processes. Terris hasn't outright ordered him to put on the cloak and hide his markings, and he knows that the law adamantly /requires/ him to display them at all times . . . but this isn't his world, do the laws still apply? And Terris mentioned that not doing so would endanger him. Connor's not permitted to endanger a human life. He doesn't know if that extends to other forms of intelligent life. Finally, he...nods, slightly shakily even, looking like he might have even swallowed if he were human. He's a bit awkward as he puts the cloak on, having never actually seen one before, just vaguely has an idea of how they work*

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: *will help Connor get it on and in place. He’ll softly touch Connor’s face, then tugs the android into a hug.* Everything will be all right.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *faint intake of breath, stiffening uncertainly as his LED swirls yellow...awkward* I will do what is required to protect you, Terris.

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: *won’t hold long, it’s quick and he lets go. He wants to say this is for Connor’s safety too, but he knows the android is likely to insist his safety doesn’t matter much, so Terris just nods.* Keep your hood up and stay close to me to matter what. Come on. *and they’ll head into town. It’s... very primitive compared to what Connor came from. Nothing over three stories and most buildings only on or two. Shops of all sorts selling food, clothing, shoes, there’s even a blacksmith... and an area selling those elf people, some amin, and even some humans. Terris is heading them towards the far eastern edge, on the other side of town.*

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *taking it all in as they go* Terris . . . they have people for sale over there. As if they were androids. Why?

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: ...It’s called slavery. When a person owns another intelligent being, it is called slavery. It is a sick, but unfortunately legal practice in this kingdom. Some are there to be sold as punishment for a crime, some for debts they cannot pay, and most simply because they are what they are.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: .............. *just...nods, not sure how to respond to that, though he can't help but keep looking back at the market until it can't be seen anymore, though he makes sure to keep up with Terris and not slow him down*

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: ...Does it bother you? Seeing the slave markets?

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: It is . . . not something I would have ever expected to see. *he can't admit to being "bothered"...but there's a soft uncertainty in his voice*

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: *takes that as the “yes” Connor can’t bring himself to say. He’ll head up to a guard post and smiles, greeting the armed and armored man there.* Captain Tekel.
Tekel: Terris! Good to see you. What brings you?
Terris: I need to speak with General Ius.
Tekel: *opens the door and motions Terris in.* He’s up on the wall.
Terris: Thank you. Come on, Connor. *normally he’d make introductions, but not out here. He even carefull shifts Connor with an arm around his shoulders to ensure the distinguished android tells remain hidded. He’ll lead Connor up the stairs.*

[cyberlifeslastchance]

((...the distinguishing** android tells remain hidden**))

Connor: *easily allows himself to be led as Terris chooses, still scanning and noting everything and everyone around him*

[socrowdedinhere]

Zerik: *is a distinguished man, dark hair with a little salt at his temples and a scar along his left jaw. He turns and gives Terris a smile, stepping up to meet the amin with a quick hug, hands clasped between them.* Terris. What can I do for you?
Terris: Zerik. Someplace private to start with.
Zerik: Of course. *he’ll take them down the wall a ways an into one of the towers. What is it?
Terris: *motions at Connor and will pull the hood back on Connor’s cloak.* This is Connor. He’s an android.
Zerik: *takes Connor in quickly, and frowns in confusion at the styled hair...and how could anyone miss the glowing ring?!* What?

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *will hang back when Terris greets his friend, staying out of the way, then follows easily as the general leads the way into a room, taking in everything as they go* An android. A machine built by humans to accomplish specific tasks. I am a Connor series model RK800 manufactured by CyberLife, serial number 313 248 317. *opens the cloak enough to show off the credentials embroidered on the right breast of his jacket*

[socrowdedinhere]

Terris: *will catch his very confused friend and step away, lowering his voice and telling Zerik a quick summary of last night and this morning, his summary of what he learned from Connor and what he needs from Zerik.*
Zerik: *finally turns back to Connor, studying him.* So... you need a human handler? Or at least orders from a human? How do you determine which human you’re to take orders from?

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *hangs back, taking in the surroundings as he listens to the two converse, or as much as he can hear without getting closer. At the questions* Correct. I am not designed to function completely autonomously. I require a human handler for guidance and to ensure my compliance. *the last question gives him pause, and he looks faintly...lost...* I...I do not have instructions to answer that question. Technically, I have been assigned to Lieutenant Hank Anderson of the Detroit Police Department. However, if I understand my current situation correctly, it is not possible for me to reach him at this time. Therefore, I suppose . . . that my instructions would dictate that I default to the most senior authority in law enforcement, had I any instructions at all on the subject.