(no subject)

[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

[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.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zerik: Then you will follow my orders. *his tone is that of a man who expects obedience* Tell me of your skills, I want to know what you’re capable of, and how much you know of this world.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *the first comment has him straightening, squaring his shoulders as he pulls off the cloak and fully faces his new handler* I am a protoype in a testing phase. I am currently the most advanced model CyberLife has yet produced. I am designed to serve law enforcement as an investigator, interrogator, and negotiator. I can inspect crime scenes, analyze evidence in real time, reconstruct likely events based on evidence, interrogate witnesses, negotiate hostage situations, and while I cannot make formal arrests, I am permitted to detain suspects for my human partner to arrest. As needed and desired, I also have programming that covers some domestic chores for my partner such as cooking, laundry, and house cleaning. As for how much I know of this world - *can't quite keep from giving Terris an uncertain glance * - I cannot help but notice that this world's technological level is far below what I would expect, and that you have more than one species of intelligent life. I am only truly familiar with humans. Terris said that his kind, amin, are various types of animal people, and that there is a race called j'har. I can only assume them to the elf-like peoeple I've seen in the market and in Terris's drawings. Also, slavery is practiced here, and it may depend on a crime, on debt, and on mere species. *though he's not sure how much he understands any of that*

[socrowdedinhere]

Zerik: I see. While your skills in and of themselves will be useful, I can do little with that until you understand the world you are in. I am putting you under Terris. You will accompany him and learn from him all you can about this world and the peoples in it. He will teach you what is law and what is right. You are to return here with him in one month. Until I direct otherwise you will not identify yourself as an android. You will also take any measure I or Terris deem necessary to keep this confidentiality until I decide otherwise. You will follow Terris’s judgement on this as well, if he reveals you as an android, then that person is authorized to know. Are we clear? I would hear any protests now if you have them.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor: *troubled frown* How would you have me identify myself, General? I cannot say that I am human. It is strictly forbidden for me to pretend that I am or even to allow it to be believed by omission. I am required to display clear markers at all times that I am in public - my LED, my model number, the android symbol, and an arm band. *pointing to each on himself as he names them, then glances at Terris* Terris had me cover up to protect him. Apparently, my mere presence is an endangerment to him.

[socrowdedinhere]

Zerik: Tell me something, Connor. Are the humans in your world ever cruel to other humans? Because if they are then that is all the reason I need to have you in disguise. You tell them you’re something they know nothing about, *he points to indocate the people of the town* and out of their fear for their own safety they will rip you apart to make sure you never get the chance to hurt them first. Doesn’t matter if you would hurt them or if your directives from CyberLife would allow you to even defend yourself. Terris is going to talk with another friend today to see if any ideas can be found for getting you home, and if CyberLife cares about getting you back at all you’ll have to put aside orders that came from another world and follow the ones that apply here. *his tone becomes that of a general snapping orders.* Now make your choice soldier, are you going to obey me or not?!