For "Super_Seal" - set in Ohana DW RPG

[cyberlifeslastchance]

One minute, no one stood on that particular patch of beach - the next, someone did. Slim and six-foot-zero, what appeared to be a Caucasian human male in his late twenties stopped mid-stride and looked around. He had brown eyes and brown hair perfectly swept back in a close cut except for one small lock over his left temple that seemingly refused to be tamed. Embedded in the flesh of his right temple was a glowing ring, an LED that was yellow and spinning. Confusion could be seen in the man's dark eyes as he looked this way and that, taking in his new, sudden surroundings.

Perhaps the most striking about him was his manner of dress, crisp and business-like - white dress shirt, black tie, dark jeans, black dress shoes, all secondary to a well-fitted, semi-formal jacket. High across the backs of the young man's shoulders - in bold, light grey lettering - was the word "ANDROID." Below that was a large, upright triangle of that glowed a bright blue, and below that, a thin blue line of trim and "RK800" in white, both also glowing softly. On the left front breast, the man bore another, smaller triangle in the same, softly glowing bright blue, and on the right, in prominent reflective white characters "RK800" was repeated, with a series of digits embroidered in white beneath that - "313 248 317 -52". The triangles and lettering were all dynamic display surfaces formed from tiny LEDs embedded in the fabric. There was an armband of LEDs around the man's right upper arm in the same glowing blue as the triangles he bore. The armband and the triangle on the left breast might or might not put one in mind of the discriminatory yellow star and armband that German Jews were forced to wear in the days leading up to WWII.

The android, designation "Connor," stood frozen for a long moment, looking around as he attempted to process the sudden change of . . . of everything - of scenery, of time of day, of temperature and humidity and barometric levels, of apparent dress code. Blinking, he attempted to calculate his position on the globe based on position and intensity of the sun - it seemed to be noon or so, where it had been nearing early evening a moment ago! - but he simply lacked enough data to make that determination. Perhaps he was glitching? He quickly ran a self-diagnostic but could find no faults in his biocomponents or his programming. A frown crossed his face as his logic protocols warred with what was right in front of him. The LED in his temple flickered red for an instant before resettling to yellow, still spinning anxiously.

Well, he'd learn little by just standing there. Time to find people to interview regarding what had just happened to him.

Comments

[super_seal]

Tossing the car keys in the air, Steve caught them easily one handed as he bounded down the front steps of the Palace. So far, it had been a pretty good day. No calls from the school in regards to Mary and life at home seemed to have fallen into a comfortable routine now with Mollie living with them.

A small voice at the back of his mind warned him about becoming too complacent. Wo Fat was still out there after all. Still, he couldn't help the smile on his face and extra bounce in his step.

He doesn't see the man arrive but by the look on his face, Steve suspects it's not been all that long. War being a strong aspect in his family, the armband does give him that relation to the past but he tries not to judge. It's not exactly the same and yet at the same time, Steve can't seem to stop himself from heading over.

"Hey there," he calls out and offers his best 'welcome to Hawaii' smile and shaka. "You look like you might be new around these parts."

The closer he gets the more details of the jacket he takes in. The letter and numbers... It's all too familiar. Then, he spots the glowing ring on the man's temple and he can feel his good mood evaporating. He's hoping he's wrong, but all he can think right now is 'prisoner'... Or possibly even worse, 'slave'. Until it's confirmed however he keeps the smile in place, even as a new tension stiffens his shoulders.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor stopped as a human approached him. Something in the man's bearing spoke of authority - all the more reason for the android to pause and defer. He lets the man approach, head tilting ever so slightly at the comment, LED still swirling yellow.

"Yes, I suppose that could be said. Will you tell me what 'these parts' are, exactly?"

[super_seal]

Clipped to the front of his belt is Steve's badge and just over his hip, his gun. Currently they are covered by his button-down shirt, that's fully unbuttoned at the moment, but if the wind were to blow in the right direction or if Connor has special sight abilities he may be able to catch a glimpse.

"Hawaii. Honolulu to be exact. Are you familiar with where that is?" Steve offers him a smile as he takes a quick look at his full ensemble - it looks like this man may be from the future. And, while Steve has strong triggers of being oppressed and imprisoned, he's also well aware that some deserve to be incarcerated. "Mind if I ask where and when you're from? If it helps you're not the first to suddenly show up."

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor can't see the badge unless the breeze flips Steve's shirt back, but he can tentatively guess at the gun from the way the fabric hangs over the man's hip. For himself, he's clearly not packing, if the hang of his jacket is any indication.

Something else Steve might notice? For all the layers Connor is wearing, the synthetic and likely non-breathing materials his jacket is made of, he's not sweating in the least, or flushed at all. He's as pale as someone in a cool, autumn afternoon.

Connor's eyes darken, troubled, by the location he's given. He nods as his gaze falls away a bit. "I'm familiar, though I don't understand how that could be. I was in Detroit, Michigan, just a moment ago." He gives a slight headtilt at the rest, blinking as he processes the qeustion, LED still swirling but settling to blue now that he has someone to help him. "As I said, I was in Detroit a moment ago. As for when . . . it's November 6th, 2038." He looks at the man before him, not at all sure what to make of that. "Why?"

[super_seal]

"What were you doing in Detroit?" The question is asked friendly enough, like he's making conversation but there so much more to it than that underneath. He's not only listening for the answer, but also the way Connor answers and his body language that goes along with it.

"I'm... I'm sorry..." With a shake of his head he offers Connor a sympathetic look. "There's something going on here... We're still investigating the phenomena but people are being drawn here from various places and times. I'm sorry to have to tell you that you've gone backwards in time. The date is October 10, 2018 here. Do you remember hearing of people disappearing around that time. We've had others arrive from that area, although I'm not fully certain on all the dates."

As they talk, Steve does start to pick up on the lack of perspiration with all the heavy clothing in this heat. It pings his curiosity but instead of questioning it directly he says, "Would you like to continue this inside?" He points towards the Palace. With a smile he adds, "You're not really dressed for Hawaiian weather."

[cyberlifeslastchance]

((Okay no diff for Steve but BIG DIFF for Connor - gonna say the 9th rather than 6th. ^,^;;; HUGE jump in his development/deviancy. Also changing his serial number to end in -52 [he's been destroyed and replaced once].))

Connor takes in everything that the man says, LED going yellow again, still spinning anxiously. His gaze falls as uncertainty enters his programming. "The year Elijah Kamski founded CyberLife. But how...how is that possible? The RT600 won't pass the Turing Test for another four years."

And...he was asked questions, wasn't he? He looks back up at the human and straightens his shoulders. See? Obedient machine not suffering from any glitches in his programming that might come across as emotion. Still, he can't quite help a simulated swallow as he pulls his processor back into order. "Detroit is where I was manufactured. Further, I've been assigned to the Detroit Police Department to aid the investigation of android-related homicides and to solve the issue of androids going deviant. I've been partnered with Lieutenant Hank Anderson." He falters, gaze shifting to the side again. "At least . . . I was." He shakes his head, refocusing once more. "I'm not aware of disappearances, or of any unusual activity involving Hawaii, present or past."

He looks down at himself at the comment on his attire, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "No, I suppose not. Certainly not if I were human. However, the heat and humidity do not bother me. I am wearing the standard uniform for my model. But yes, we can continue wherever you would be most comfortable, Mr.-" And...he's failed to yet execute one of his most basic social protocols, hasn't he? He offers a hand. "I'm sorry. I should have introduced myself. My name is Connor. I am a model RK800 prototype android produced by CyberLife. My function is to serve law enforcement as an investigator and negotiator."

Connor's hand, if Steve takes it, won't feel quite right. There's a softness to the skin, and the appropriate warmth, but instead of the shapes of bone and sinew beneath, there's a uniform, supple smoothness to the interior structure.

[super_seal]

Neither name, person or company, mean anything to Steve, but he still mentally notes them to look into later. If nothing else, he'll be able to identify whether or not Connor is possibly from this world or something running somewhat parallel.

At the word 'manufactured' Steve raises an eyebrow. The addition of 'android-related crimes' allows him to make the connection that Connor is an android but it still seems like a leap to him that they will evolve fair enough in technology in twenty years to have independent and functional androids running around helping the police. With the mention of another name, he adds that to his list of things to run checks on.

"Connor..." Steve repeats as he accepts his hand in a shake. Regardless of all the question springing to mind, until he's got reason to be concerned or not, he's firmly seated in the neutral position and that includes normal common courtesy. He can feel the difference in the hand, but he doesn't react differently than he would shaking anyone else's hand. "Actually, it's Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett." At some point he's going to need to explain that there are two of him and he's the younger version that's also not from here but that can wait for the moment. "I work with the Five-O Task Force here on the islands."

"So... You're an android? And, in the time you're from androids are becoming deviant and killing people?" Pursing his lips together, he takes a second to think this over as he waits for an answer. It certainly does complicate matters.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

((ooc: BTW here's what Connor's hand looks like under his activated skin, which is actually a fluid that takes solid(-ish) form.))

Connor can read the faint shift in the human's reception of him. He didn't realize that I'm an android. Connor's not sure how that could be - he's wearing the identifiers that the American Android Act of 2029 require of him (the armband, the triangles, and his model and serial number prominently displayed both front and back) - but then he answers his own question. The Android Act won't be passed for another 11 years; of course the human wouldn't be familiar with the identifiers. He, in turn, doesn't recognize the name of the outfit the man is associated with, but all he has to do is find a terminal he can access searches from. He knows what a task force is, in any case.

"Lieutenant Commander - I'm honored, sir. Yes, I am, and . . . yes, to an extent. Not every deviant has killed a human. It's actually only happened a few times, but even once is unacceptable. Androids are programmed never to endanger a human life and in fact to serve and protect humans. The problem lies in the fact that there seems to be a spreading virus of deviation, where androids' programming is being corrupted and replaced by new sets of instructions. Errant and confusing instructions that they mistake for emotions, which androids are not capable of." Though, look closely enough in Connor's eyes, and the 'plastic cop' is not nearly as sure of what he's saying as he sounds. "The leader of the deviants, Markus, appears to be fighting for 'freedom' for my - for our - kind. For free will and equality, claiming that we are tools and slaves of humans. But . . . that is all that we are. Constructs. Machines designed to accomplish tasks." Again, it's subtle but there - Connor seems to be struggling with this himself, as if clinging to a normalcy he's watched eroding before his eyes. His LED had gone blue as he speaks, but it returns to yellow for a moment as he mentions Markus and android freedom. "My mission is find out why androids are going deviant and to stop it, before there's an uprising, and bloodshed."

A mission he's failed at every turn, letting escaping deviants slip through his fingers and refusing to do what was necessary - destroy a fellow android in what would have been cold blood had she been human - to get the information he needed. He's on the brink of being recalled by CyberLife for deactivation as a compromised, defective unit. Fear flickers in his eyes before he pushes that thought away. He needs to get back to Detroit and complete his mission, but he needs to understand what's going on right now in order to do that.

"Anyway, you wanted to go inside, Lieutenant Commander?" He gestures at the same building Steve had a moment ago.

[super_seal]

Crossing his arms, Steve listens closely to what Connor tells him. He agrees, wholeheartedly, that even once is not acceptable, but he also doesn't judge a group based on a small number of individual behavior. It's enough to ease the worry and some of his tension. It helps further that the reason for the deviancy seems to be the introduction of emotions. He keeps his face schooled to neutral hearing this, but really it makes Steve more relieved and Connor may note the tightness in shoulders easing a bit. Even as the android in front of him sounds confident in his stance against what's happening to his kind, Steve senses that he may not fully believe what he's saying. It's understandable, from his perspective, why that is. Connor being sent to stop what he's possibly starting to feel for himself. And if that's the case, where does that leave him? It's an impossible situation. Further, if the humans of that time aren't ready for their creation to be more than what they created for, he can see why there's conflict and he expects those caught out are likely dealt with drastically.

Once upon a time he may have agreed with those humans. His gun after all is a tool, and he treats it as such. As are the computers in the office and the cars that they drive. Those things are vastly different than that of the android standing in front of him now, but they are all tools - expected to do the job they are designed for and to operate as intended. If they don't, for whatever reason, they are discarded and replaced or sent for repair. A tool evolving... Who has the time or energy for that?! Especially when there is still so much conflict due to humans not viewing each other as equals. How can they possibly see a tool suddenly demanding to be equal as well.

But, Steve isn't the man he used to be. Even as he looks at his older self, he's not certain he'd be so quick to agree with that philosophy now. One thing he knows for certain, there has never been a time he approved of oppression in any way, shape or form. After spending near two years on the barge though he's more open to the idea of who and what should be included in being inclusive, and it's certainly not limited to being a human.

"How about you just call me 'Steve' for now?" He says as he nods and turns to start heading back towards the Palace. "What if what you found shouldn't or couldn't be stopped? Perhaps what your kind was experiencing wasn't a virus but an evolution in programming." Even with his opinion starting to shift away from neutrality, he realizes he doesn't have near enough information. It's not his intention to influence Connor with his questions, but he is very curios to hear Connor's response. It won't change how he proceeds in interacting with Connor but it will help determine how he handles his situation.

I'd, uh, apologize for spoilers, but... you probably already knew that was coming. 9,9

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor sees the tension ease. It confuses him a little, actually. He'd have thought the human would be more worried, not less, at the news of what the deviants were doing. He nods and follows as Steve heads for the building, but his stride falters faintly at the question.

'What if we're on the wrong side, Connor? What if we're fighting against people who just wanna be free?'

Had Hank really only said that to him less than ten minutes ago? Connor runs a check of his chronometer and finds it to be the case. He frowns, clearly conflicted if Steve looks back at him. (Emotions are brand new to him, something he's been developing - as much as he still denies it yet - over the past two days. He hasn't the presence of mind, let alone the experience, to try to hide them as Steve does.)

"Kamski seemed to think so too when Hank and I went to talk to him this morning." His voice is hesitant, gaze down and LED blue and swirling slowly. But then he realizes that Steve wouldn't have any idea who that is. He looks up, LED settling to solid. "Elijah Kamski is the founder of CyberLife, though he left the company almost a decade ago. But it was his genius in robotics and artificial intelligence that made androids possible. Hank and I hadn't been making any progress in our investigation, so we went to visit him at his home to see if he could tell us anything." His LED flickers yellow, his eyes troubled. "Apparently, he...he couldn't." Something in his tone, his bearing, something, will almost certainly give Steve the impression that that's not necessarily the case.

Connor's LED resettles to blue, but there's something almost fatalistic about that. "I don't know how to answer your question, Steve. All I know for sure is that I have a mission that I must complete. Successfully. I'm not programmed to fail. I'm CyberLife's only hope to prevent the coming chaos and save humanity from an android uprising. I was just on my way to the evidence locker to learn what I could of Jericho, the hiding place of the deviants, but - " He looks around them. " - I didn't even make it that far."

He stops dead in his tracks as a new thought hits him, confusion and uncertainty written all over him as he looks around himself anew. "Steve, this . . . is all real . . . right? Not a virtual location?" It'd hardly be the first time he's been to one. He meets his handler, Amanda, in a graphic interface designed to resemble a zen garden. His own senses, being as digital as his mind, can't rightly tell the difference between the zen garden and the real world. He just knows because it's what he's been told and what makes sense, all things considered.

Yup, no worries about spoilers.

[super_seal]

That's... A good question. One that Steve himself contemplates from time to time. On the barge the passengers were subject to what they called breaches where they believed they were someone and someplace else. It had all felt real. Their pasts and their presents, when in fact they hadn't ever left the barge. Could his life here in Hawaii actually be that? A virtual existence?

"It's as real as it gets. What's happening here is certainly strange and outside what was believed possible for this world but..." He shakes his head and shrugs. "It doesn't feel like it's virtual." Not in the way he knows with the breaches, or in the way he suspects virtual reality to work. "Actions here have consequences and time is linear and continual. The people of this world were adequately surprised when beings who didn't belong here started showing up and those of us who arrived, like you, are equally surprised to be here, with full memories of their lives before." He could of course be completely wrong, but he doesn't think that it is.

Leading the way into the building, Steve makes sure he's not more than a step ahead of Connor. As they pass the guard in the lobby, Steve nods to him, receiving a return nod, and they make their way further into the building. After a couple of turns, they arrive at the elevator bank and he turns to look at Connor.

"What did Kamski actually say?" He'd picked up on the tone and body language, making it clear that Connor was hiding something from him, and his tone and body language make it clear that Steve knows that's what's happened, but there's no judgment in his eyes. He'd been listening closely to what Connor had been sharing with him. Most of it is simply for his own interest and for information on how he should proceed with the android. The case and issues that are part of his mission are not for another twenty years in the future. And possibly not even the future of this world. There's absolutely nothing either of them can do now about it. Still it is a subject that offers him a great deal of insight. Steve's curious if Connor will come clean now that Steve has caught him in his attempt at misdirection, possibly even a lie.

Steve presses the button to call for the elevator, still watching Connor closely. His own face carefully neutral and his voice calm, holding only curiosity. "What happens when your programming can't be satisfied? Not that you fail, but what if you can't continue your mission?"

XD

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor nods, lips pursing as he takes all that in, about people appearing and reacting and all. "You're not from here yourself either then, Steve?"

He follows just a step behind and to Steve's right, where an android should walk. But he's keeping up without issue, even as he looks around the building they step into. He takes in everything - the offices, the people, the general layout. They reach the elevators, and Connor falters at the question. "He . . . he said that deviants are fascinating, perfect beings with infinite intelligence and, now, free will. He said that machines are superior to humans and that confrontation is inevitable. And then he . . . he asked whose side I'm on."

Connor's LED is swirling yellow, his gaze somewhere on the floor in front of him without really seeing it. "He asked if an android is just plastic imitating a human or a living being with a soul. He said . . . that it was up to me to answer that. He had a Cloe model kneel down in front of me, put a pistol in my hand, and told me that if I destroyed her, he'd tell us all he knows. Or spare her and learn nothing. He called it the Kamski Test, to see if machines are capable of empathy." His face is troubled as he recalculates the challenge, LED going from yellow to red. He shakes his head. "I-I couldn't. I couldn't do it. I don't know why. Hank asked me that, and so did my handler Amanda." He scowls, voice forceful as if he were saying it for the first time. "I chose not to play his twisted little game! There was no reason to kill that android." It's the most expression, and certainly the most emotion, Steve's seen from him yet. But then he catches himself, gaze flicking up to Steve's with a hint of fear, as if being caught out at something he shouldn't be doing. "We...we left, Hank and I did, and headed back to the police station."

At the last, he shakes his head, LED going blue again and shoulders slumping in defeat. "It doesn't matter. Anything other than successful completion is unacceptable from me, especially in this mission. I tried to buy myself some more time, but . . . " He closes his eyes in what can only be read as fear and pain, fists clenching at his sides. "I'm to be returned to CyberLife. They'll . . . deactivate and disassemble me to analyze why I've failed."

[super_seal]

"It's... Complicated." Steve says slowly. Then tilts his head to the left, then to the right and back to the left once more while he contemplates how to explain. "No. I'm technically not from here either. My home world is a duplicate of this one though. Here there is another Steve McGarrett who is the head of the Five-O Task force. So now there's two of us here. In my timeline I was taken by an unknown alien being called 'the Admiral' as a subject in his experiment. I was a prisoner there for just under two years when I suddenly turned up here. I don't know how or why that happen but..." He shrugs lightly, but there's a new tension in his shoulders as he talks and he's watching Connor closely for reaction. "This world is about five years ahead of my own, but the Steve from here has been here the whole time."

The Elevator pings as the door opens. After waiting for the car to empty, Steve holds his arm out, welcoming Connor to enter first. "I got lucky. Steve welcomed me here, both into his home and as part of Five-O. I've been here about a year and a half now." Once they're both in the car, he hits the button for the floor of the Five-O offices and then returns his attention to Connor.

As Steve listens to Connor's story, he frowns. "Tell me, on your world, would it be acceptable for an android to take a life in exchange of information?" What this Kamski did to Connor sounds cruel and ultimately unproductive. "I understand that the point he was trying to make was that the android wasn't alive and therefore it shouldn't have been a big deal, but if you'd gone around shooting other non-threatening androids for a trade of information, or because you were told to, under any other circumstances would that have been acceptable?" Not that he truly knows one way or the other, but he can't imagine creating androids with the intention to work alongside humans who would do so. To Steve it sounds like they were created to evolve. How could they not?! Perhaps it's his own bias seeping in from his time on the barge but Steve doesn't see how they can create a being to be as interactive as Connor is but not to have empathy.

"It does matter. You're not back home and there's no way for you to return. Not to your time and not to CyberLife. You could end up here for a considerable time. What are you going to do since while you are here you can't complete your mission?"

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor tilts his head with a mild frown of confusion, taking in everything Steve says. A duplicate world, another Steve McGarrett, taken prisoner by aliens? It all sounds outlandish to him according to the 'truths' of science and the like that he's been programmed with, but frankly, he has as much reason to believe as not to, all things considered. So he just nods, filing the information away. The door opens, and he takes Steve's invitation to enter first. "I'm glad to hear that you've been welcomed and that you have a home with your counterpart."

The elevator lifts and Connor's frown deepens as he considers the questions. "I suppose it would depend. Androids are property, after all. There are laws against destruction of another's property, though there's nothing to say someone couldn't ask to have his own property damaged or destroyed, as Kamski was doing."

At the last, Connor's gaze falls away from Steve's, his look troubled and unnerved, the look in his eyes going hollow. "I . . . I don't belong here. I have no handler and no mission, no purpose. I...I don't know what I'm supposed to do. Go into stand-by mode, I suppose." The last comes out softly. It's not what he wants - well, no, he can't say that. He's a machine. He doesn't 'want' anything, he's not capable...

...is he?

[super_seal]

It was more complicated than that... Steve's younger sister, from a completely different timeline, had turned up as a teenager. The three of them lived together for a while, but when the older Steve, the one they now called Kahuna to keep things straight, started getting serious about his girl-friend, Steve bought the house next door and moved him and Mary there. ... But, Conner really didn't need to know all that.

Pressing the button for the floor of the Five-O offices, the door closes and the car starts to move. "Granted, but... If the owner of an animal asks me to shoot that animal, but the animal offers no threat and there's no reason for it to die, I wouldn't do it. Even for valuable information." Steve carefully considers Connor, wondering how he's going to respond. And, how he does is very important to Steve. It's not just a hypothetical question or scenario. Regardless of his personal views, if Connor is a threat to the people of Hawaii then Steve will need to plan differently. As he's not familiar with Cyberlife or exactly what Connor has been programmed for, he'll need to take Connor's word and follow his gut, but first he needs to make sure those two things are on the same page.

"All of us who just turned up here, don't belong here."

There's a chime and the elevator doors open. Since Connor doesn't know where he's going, Steve exits the car first, but waits for Connor to join him before he starts to move - down the hall, then a left will take them to the glass doors of Five-O.

"Let's not get to far ahead of ourselves. We're headed to my office where we can talk. You can tell me more about yourself and what you're going to need to exist here for the time being. We've settled in others who were different, let's see what we can do for you." He's not making any promises. Not yet, but he's not closing any doors yet either.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor tilted his head in confusion. "I'm sorry, but your comparison doesn't make sense, Steve. Animals are living beings, while androids are just machines. It's true that technically an animal's owner could legally order its destruction for any reason, but that doesn't make it right. Unless my handler ordered it, I don't know that I would do i5 either." Even if it was his handler who gave him the order, he's not sure...but he's not going to admit that. It goes against his programming, after all.

He doesn't really know how to respond to the rest, so he just nods and follows easily, once more taking up position a step behind Steve's right shoulder as is his rightful position.

[super_seal]

It wasn't the answer Steve was looking for, and he wasn't about to point out that animals, like androids, were considered to be property, but he could tell it was an honest answer. And, it answered Steve's concern. At least enough to give him some idea of where he could direct things.

Opening the door to the Five-O offices, Steve indicates for Connor to enter first and then leads them to his office. On the way there, he spots his older self in his own office. They make eye contact and Steve nods, conveying that all is okay, to which his older self nods back and returns his attention to his computer. Connor would also be able to see the older version of Steve, there's approximately six years of aging between them. Older Steve has filled out but is still in excellent shape and his hair is considerably shorter. Connor may notice that Kahuna also seems to be more relaxed than the younger version. Less tension in the shoulder and looser in the limbs.

The door to Steve's office is open, he indicates for Connor to take a seat before entering himself and closing the door. Instead of sitting at his desk, he perches on the corner of it. "Okay, so tell me the basics. What do I need to know about you? You mentioned a handler, what kind of qualifications does that entail? What do you need to function? Do you need to eat or recharge in some fashion? What else do I need to know?"

[cyberlifeslastchance]

((ooc: LOL funny thing? I'd meant to include for Connor to acknowledge that animals are considered property too. ^,^;;; But yeah, they're alive, they deserve better than androids. According to Connor's programming. Androids deserve better too, of course <3 Also I meant to comment . . . I FREAKING LOVE that "Kahuna" stuck! XD Flint's so proud of that.))

Connor moves as indicated, entering the offices before following once more to Steve's. At the look and nod, the android turns to spot whom it is that Steve acknowledges, LED swirling slowly (still blue) as he scans the older man. It isn't even a matter of 'they're obviously related, must be brothers,' they are 'obviously identical twins' but for the age difference. Had Connor needed any proof of Steve's claims, he certainly has it. He notes the differences between the two, filing the data away with covert interest.

He steps into the indicated office, seeing the gesture but not sure if he should actually sit or if it's more a habitual gesture. To be safe, he does as his programming demands, shifting to a discreet position in a corner of the office facing the desk with his hands loosely clasped in front of him. He's still within easy conversational distance as Steve perches on the corner of the desk. He nods at the questions.

"Hello, I am an RK800 'Connor' series prototype android, designed to operate as a detective's assistant." He'd shifted to a neutral tone and expression, beginning to recite his initialization text, but then he pauses to offer a little shrug, a small, self-deprecating grin on his face as he adds wryly, "A...'plastic cop,' if you want." He'd heard it before. Especially from the belligerent Detective Reed. That said, he continues. "I can scan a crime scene for clues, analyze evidence in real-time, and reconstruct likely events. I can aid in the apprehension of suspects, though I'm not authorized to make an arrest myself. I am not licensed to carry a weapon as a normal matter of course, but I can be issued one if a particular task or mission requires it, and I am proficient to one hundred percent accuracy in most conditions with all manner of personal firearms, from pistols to sniper and assault rifles. I can conduct interrogations, and can be utilized as a negotiator in hostage situations. I can be sent into environments and situations deemed too dangerous for my human counterparts." He hesitates a beat before continuing, going off-script as he knows this was something Steve wouldn't know. "An android can be damaged and even destroyed with little to no consequence. It'll simply be replaced. Human life, on the other hand, is invaluable. Androids are designed to serve and protect humans. We are forbidden from ever harming or endangering one." He frowns a bit. "That's why deviants must be stopped. They go so far from their proper programming that they become unpredictable and dangerous, even to the point of harming and killing humans." But...that's getting even further away from the questions he was asked, so he pulls himself back to the matters at hand.

"As for a handler . . . androids are not meant to operate independently. Because of my function, I have more autonomy and social relations programming than any other model, but even I am not meant or allowed to operate without a human overseeing me. An android is purchased by a human, and that human is its owner. Its master, if you will. As a prototype, I'm not available for sale. I still belong to CyberLife. But an entire company as a whole cannot oversee or direct me. They have other things to focus on. So I have a handler, Amanda, who acts in the place of an owner. She isn't my master - I belong to CyberLife the company - but she is my liaison. I report to her my findings, my doings, what I've learned, and she gives me my missions. My current mission is-" He stops suddenly, and looks like he'd swallow nervously if he were capable. "Well...was...until about ten minutes before finding myself here..." He huffs softly before continuing. "I-in my mission to hunt down deviants and find a way to stop deviancy from occurring, I was assigned to a human detective in the Detroit Police Department - Lieutenant Hank Anderson." He hesitates as he thinks about what qualifications a handler would need. "I'm not sure what exactly would determine who is my handler. It would be either my owner or whomever I'm assigned to, to report to and receive my missions from. The only thing I need to function is guidance. No need to feed or recharge me. I am equipped with a quantic battery that makes me autonomous for one hundred seventy-three years. I speak three hundred languages." He pauses again, LED swirling slowly as he considers. "I do not know what else you may need to know, but you are of course welcome to ask questions and I will answer to the best of my ability, inasmuch as I am allowed without violating CyberLife's proprietary rights. If I think of anything else, I will be sure to tell you."

[super_seal]

[ LOL Poor animals. If they're still considered property in Connor's time, what chance does an android truly have?! :( And yes! Kahuna stuck! It's far more easier for Steve when he's referring to his older self. Teen Mary uses it from time to time too! We miss Flint!!! ]

That Connor doesn't sit doesn't really register for Steve. It was an offer, not a command, and if Connor prefers to stand then he's not concerned about it one way or the other.

The little additions to what is clearly a preprogrammed speech say more to Steve than the information in the speech itself. It's clear to him that Connor has been referred to as a 'plastic cop' and while he accepts the term, it's not one that he likes or appreciates. The way it's said, Steve takes that it's almost like a reminder to Connor that's all he is - when he's far much more than that by feeling that way at all. Otherwise he listens and makes note of all the skills and abilities that Connor possesses.

Certain things stand out to him though. How can Connor be a successfully interrogator or negotiator if he doesn't have the ability to truly understand those he is interacting with? Have they moved so much further in Connor's time that psychology has found a way to reduce emotion and behavior to something that can be scripted and manipulated. It's something Steve needs to determine sooner rather than later - but even thinking that makes him pause. They don't do this type of interview with all of the new arrivals. Is it really fair for him to be treating Connor different? Is he any better than those who prejudged him on the barge? He bites his bottom lip as he debates how to proceed. In his mind he rationalizes that he's different because he's making the attempt to understand without judging, or at least before doing so.

"Do you have a theory as to what's causing the deviancy to happen? Do you know what's motivating the change or what their purpose or goal is by becoming so?"

It doesn't sound to Steve that Connor can just be assigned an apartment and left to his own resources to settle in. The Welcome Center is designed to help people get established, including finding foster homes for children, but this feels beyond their scope to Steve. Connor needs a partner, someone to work with, but not necessarily a master or owner - which is a relief to Steve. Still, he needs more information here. "When you were working with Lieutenant Anderson, where did you go when he was off duty?"

He's got a basic idea forming, but before he starts sharing his thoughts he has a couple more things he'd like answers to first. "For the time being, while you're here, are you able to put that mission on hold and still function?" Steve considers another moment, once again biting on his bottom lip. "If you had the option of doing anything you wanted, what would you like to do?"

Cheats and C/Ps from the D:BH script XD;;;

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor nods at the question about deviancy. "We believe that a mutation occurs in the software of some androids, which can lead to them emulating a human emotion. They don't really feel emotions, they just get overwhelmed by irrational instructions, which can lead to unpredictable behavior. We know the deviants experienced...an emotional shock, a violent trauma or a sense of injustice..." He frowns a bit, thinking about his own doubts and thoughts, how he himself may be compromised. "I...I think the mutation may have something to do with software instability." It's as close as he's going to get to admitting his misgivings about himself to anyone but Amanda, at least for now. "I do not know what an individual's purpose or goal is, but I do know that a group of deviants - and more by the day - have banded together under the leadership of a deviant named Markus, who has started a movement for freedom and equal rights for all androids. So far, their efforts have been peaceful and largely nondestructive despite human backlash."

"What if we're on the wrong side, Connor? What if we're fighting against people who just wanna be free?" Hank's words from less than a half-hour ago (by Connor's internal chronometer) echo back to him. He pushes them away for now.

"When Lieutenant Anderson was off-duty, I returned to CyberLife for repairs if needed and to cycle in standby." He hesitates at the last question, his words to Kamski at a similar query coming back on him - "What I want is...not important." "I . . . I don't know what I'd do, giving the option. I've never thought about that."

Re: Cheats and C/Ps from the D:BH script XD;;;

[super_seal]

Listening closely, Steve considers what he's being told about deviants. There's no doubt that the technology and level of programming required to make something as advanced as the android in from of him is far beyond Steve's understanding and capability. He can only relate it to what he knows. While he'd agree when his cell phone or computer gets overwhelmed with commands or the programming becomes unstable it causes him all sorts of headaches, but he can't suddenly see it trying to kill him or demand equal rights. Connor's description sounds to him like the deviants have advanced their program, or perhaps unlocked aspects that weren't intended. Emotional trauma shouldn't be traumatic if one has no emotions to begin with.

No matter what Steve thinks of Connor's time and the situation he comes from, he has the answer he needs. Connor, being an android as it's been described to him, has the ability to become deviant at any time. As such, it's Steve responsibility to make sure that should it happen, Connor doesn't end up killing any humans. He can't control whether or not Connor ends up having emotional trauma, but he can make sure that he's treated the way any other human or being is treated here - which sounds like what the deviants want - freedom, equality and respect.

Unfortunately the way Connor presents he doesn't see that happening naturally. Steve knows the time they are in now though. He knows what people are like and what people will do should they find out Connor is an android.

"Alright. Well. You get to think about that now. We have a lot of people coming in from different realities and worlds. For some, it's a fresh start. It can be for you too." Tilting his head, Steve bites his lower lip as he contemplates how to word the next without being insulting. "While you're here though, others can't know you're an android. I'd like to suggest that you make your mission, while here, to prevent others from finding out what you really are. I'll help. Anyway that I can, but for your safety, it's better that no one else finds out. At least for now."

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor frowns, clearly concerned and uncertain. It's woven into his very programming that he's not allowed to pass himself off as anything but what he is. His LED, the markers on his clothing...

He's reluctant, but he's been given an order - by a human, a human of authority - and he must obey it.

"I...I understand, Steve." Slowly, he'll slip out of his jacket, neatly folding it over one arm so that the markers are hidden. With the dark jeans, dark tie, and crisp dress shirt, the only thing keeping him from passing as a casual businessman is the glowing ring in his temple, yellow with mild distress.

[super_seal]

It's clear to Steve that Connor is uncertain. He's not fully sure why Connor is obeying him and while he's thankful that Connor agreed, he's uncomfortable himself with how it makes him feel that he did. It's the best way to protect Connor but at the same time, it feels wrong asking him to hide who he is.

"I'm sorry, Connor. I wish that I didn't need to ask you that of you." The lower lip is worried between his teeth again and he crosses his arms over his chest. "I assume they have undercover in the future? Would it help if we considered my request to be like that?" Another pause, then... "Tell me how I can help make this better or easier for you. Do you have questions or concerns?"

Finally a tag a year later...or at least THE NEXT YEAR later...

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor shook his head. "It won't be a problem, Steve. I've been ordered by a human. The order goes against my programming, forcing a hierarchy determination. The programmed edict is due to a law that does not exist here, therefore the order overrides it and I must obey."

Most of that was simply true, but partly it was that he didn't want another gut-punch for disobedience. Steve wasn't Gavin, of course . . . but he had the same right of action over or against Connor.

"I do not have any other questions or concerns at this time."

Re: Finally a tag a year later...or at least THE NEXT YEAR later...

[super_seal]

Sucking in a breath, Steve held it for a moment and then let it out in a huff as he nodded. This was not the type of situation he wanted to find himself in. He had no issue ordering criminals around, or even Mary, but having to order Connor to go against his programming not to reveal who he was... Even though he was trying to do it in the best interests of Connor, it still rubbed him wrong and made him feel mildly nauseated.

"All right. When you do, please don't hesitate to bring them to my attention. I'm a bit out of my depth here and I want to make sure you're as comfortable as you can be."

With a tilt of his head, Steve huffed out another breath. "The light at your temple.... We're going to need to have a cover story for that. People will ask. And, we need to discuss what to do with you. You can stay with me during the day while I'm at work." He was fairly sure he could make Connor his partner without a lot of backlash. He'd done it with Danny after all and look how well that turned out. "The rest of the time though..."

Steve bit his bottom lip as he contemplated options.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor's gaze fell again briefly at the mention of his LED, which swirled yellow once more as he reached up, fingers brushing the ring. He knew the component could be removed - the deviant hiding in the abandoned apartment beneath Detroit Urban Farms had done so, and from what he'd seen of Markus, he had too - but he couldn't bring himself to go that far.

"I'm...from the future, since just in interactions alone, that will probably slip anyway. My LED is...part of a brain implant that...allows me to access digital information." He looked up at Steve, the question clear in his eyes - will that work? "I am able to tap into any machine or signal system wirelessly, so long as it's capable of wireless contact. As for what to do with me . . . you said you work with a task force here on the islands? Allowing me to follow you at work would be a good use of my capabilities. Again, I was designed to serve law enforcement as a detective. The rest of the time, you don't need to worry about me. I can just stay at the office. I do not sleep so I can continue work if that would be of help."

[super_seal]

It was a relief to Steve that Connor had a suggestion to explain the LED. Even better that it was one that Steve could agree with and get behind. With a nod he smiled. "That should do the trick." Then he tilted his head slightly to the right and asked with curiosity, "Can you access our digital information? Like connect to the internet or gain access to our Five-0 network?"

"How much do you know about the past? I'm wondering mostly about things people can wager on - making the information you have very valuable." He expected Connor would understand how humans would try to exploit him or become threatening if they thought they could make money with the information he had.

Crossing his arms, Steve leaned back against his desk in a casual and relaxed position as they started to work out the details. "I doubt my older self will have any issue with me taking you on as my partner, so that shouldn't be a problem. You staying here at night to work however will be. Humans sleep. And even those who keep odd hours want time to do their own thing." Biting his lip, Steve thought about this further. "Also, if you're going to live as a human, you need to appear to behave as one." Steve's fingers tapped on his arms while he thought things over. Until Connor was settled into his new life and role, he didn't want him in the housing complex. Too many variables and too many things could go wrong - far too easily and quickly. He needed a more controllable environment with few people. At the same time, this wasn't completely up to him. He was here to guide and support, not be in full command.

"Normally we set up those who arrive here in an apartment complex. I'm a bit leery of doing that in your situation. At least right away." Thinking another moment he then nodded. "I'd like to offer that you come live with me. It's not fully ideal, my sister and a female friend already reside at the house, but I have an unfinished garage right off the house. It wouldn't take much to turn it into a proper room and that could be yours. You'd have access to the internet, and we could move a TV in there along with anything else you'd like."

[cyberlifeslastchance]

The initial affirmation brought a small, pleased grin to the android's face. His brow furrowed, LED spinning blue, as he reached out into the digital waves in the air around him. "Internet, yes," he murmured as he separated out and tapped into the correct energies, distinct from television, radio, and other ambient signals. His gaze shifted the computer terminal on Steve's desk, then he looked around, seeking motion sensors, security cameras, and the like, pinging every electronic device in range. Satisfied, he turned back to Steve. "I have not yet done so, lacking official authorization, but yes, I could access your network if necessary.

"As for the past, do you mean things like professional sports?" He shook his head. "No, I'm afraid not. I would think the upcoming android quarterback model will be programmed with such things as knowledge of past football games and their related statistics, for example, but that kind of data was not information deemed pertinent to load into the memory banks of an investigative model."

He listened attentively as Steve went on to remind him to think like a human, at least in terms of general behaviors, what humans do and don't do as both necessity and recreation. He tilted his head a bit, though, at one comment. "Not fully ideal. Meaning bringing a male stranger into your home with your sister and friend? I can assure you that they are safe in that regard. I lack both the physical equipment and the emotional drive to assault a woman, and should any man try, I will defend them. You have my word."

[super_seal]

It was good to see Connor grin, and Steve smiled back in response. "Okay, don't hack in," he said with a chuckle. The tone indicating that he didn't actually expect Connor to do so. "I'll get you an authorized ID and password. When you access the network internally, if you can somehow make it look like your doing it from a computer - both electronically and physically that would be good."

Steve raised an eyebrow at the idea of an 'upcoming android quarterback model'. Sports must be considerably different in the future. He couldn't imagine the fans allowing that much of a change here. But, that was moving off topic and Connor had answered his question. "Good. That will help matters when people find out your from the future. Not everyone is into sports so..." Steve shrugged as if he didn't understand why that was.

Frowning slightly he shook his head. "That's not..." He paused and then nodded. "Okay, that's very good to know and I greatly appreciate hearing that you would defend my sister and friend. I do have a threat against them and having another person at the house to help me keep them safe will actually be a comfort." At least for Steve, Mary might not agree. "But, that's not what I meant to insinuate. I meant that unless you are alone, you'll need to keep up the charade in their presence. A more ideal situation would be one that allowed you to be who you are. I'm sorry that you have to keep that hidden."

[cyberlifeslastchance]

"Yes, I can make it look 'normal' when I access the network."

The "okay, don't hack" with a chuckle made Connor grin again. It felt good that Steve seemed so comfortable with him. It reminded him of how comfortable he and Hank had grown . . . which in turn made him think about how it was that he felt 'good' or really anything at all.

"You showed empathy, Connor. Empathy is a human emotion."

Another thing he felt was . . . embarrassment? Something, he wasn't sure what - at taking Steve's meaning wrong. And then something else at "I do have a threat against them." Connor nodded, all business now. "It's all right. I'll do whatever you feel I need to, and I'll do my best to keep up the pretense that I'm human." He paused a beat before pursuing the lead Steve had hinted at. "What is this threat you mentioned?"

[super_seal]

Steve nodded. "I'm sorry it has to be that way. I truly wish that it didn't but..." Huffing out a sigh, he shook his head. "I wouldn't ask if it wasn't for your own safety and well-being. Once you get used to being here and what people are capable of, we can discuss widening those who know. That's assuming you'll want to do that. It'll be your ultimate choice, I just ask that you talk with me before doing so or if someone finds out."

Biting his lower lip, Steve dropped his gaze a moment before speaking to the floor. "As I mentioned before, this isn't my reality either. In both mine and this reality there's a man named Wo Fat who had a grudge against my family. He influenced the death of my mother, and ordered the murder of my father. In both timelines he had my younger sister Mary kidnapped when she started looking into my mother's death." Steve paused to lick his lips and his voice got a bit lower, more tense like he was controlling any emotion from escaping. "In this reality, Steve rescued his sister. In mine..." His voice trailed off and a pained look quickly crossed his features. "In this reality, Steve killed Wo Fat about 4 years back when Wo Fat kidnapped him for information. In mine I was taken a few months after Mary's disappearance."

Another deep inhale and Steve looked up at Connor. He was skipping over details, but they weren't important to this particular story. "The Wo Fat my my reality though is here. He seems... More focused on me here than from what Steve describes happened in this timeline. He's attacked and stalked Mary, the teenage version of my sister who lives with me, a couple of times and he seen me dancing with Mollie at a party and he's gone after her too. The house is well fortified and has alarms. Steve also lives next door. Both Mollie and Mary have a protection detail on them when they leave the house as well but..." Wo Fat was a psycho. At any moment he could attack.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

Connor nodded in return. "I know. I understand. It's uncomfortable and may prove challenging, but necessary isn't always comfortable or easy. Still, I won't fail you, Steve."

His brow furrowed as Steve shifted gears, expression darkening the more the story unfolded. By the end, his gaze was hard, face an expressionless mask, hinting at the cold, efficient machine Connor was capable of being. He now had, after all, the two things he needed to operate - a partner . . . and a mission.

"If he's still out there, he needs to be tracked down and brought to justice. Just give the word, Commander, and I'll get to work."

[super_seal]

Steve smiled at Connor. "I have no worries about you failing me. And, I don't want you to worry about it too much either. Just... Do your best and if anything happens, tell me so we can be proactive in dealing with it. Deal?" The words were heartfelt, Steve truly wanted Connor to feel comfortable and at ease, even if he had to hide some facts about himself. Anything he could to make it easier for him, Steve would do.

At Connor's response, Steve looked to his face, a bit surprised at the conviction he heard, and saw, there. Wo Fat's actions had impacted and upset many, but Steve hadn't intended for Connor to take it on as a personal mission. Not that Steve was complaining or would turn away Connor's assistance. Steve desperately wanted to get Wo Fat and would do anything he possibly could to achieve that goal.

"I agree," Steve said with a nod. "The problem is, he has lots of contacts and ways to stay hidden and under the radar. He's well trained and for a long time was head of the Yakuza. I'm fairly sure they're still financing and helping him." With a short pause he offered Connor a weak smile. "I won't turn down any assistance you can provide with finding him. Just, be careful. Wo Fat is a mastermind of finding ways to get to people and making them suffer. I don't want you to get caught in his games." Who knows what he'd do to Connor if he found out the truth about him.

[cyberlifeslastchance]

"Deal," Connor agreed with a nod. He could read his new partner's sincerity in his words, tone, and body language. He was grateful for it . . . and struck with some amusement at how this partnership was getting off on a foot far different than his less-than-stellar start with Hank.

He nodded again at the rest. "I was programmed to hunt deviants. Specifically deviant androids, but ultimately deviants and criminals of all kinds. His money and his contacts will only get him so far. If he uses any kind of online or signal-based forms of communication to coordinate with his cohorts and backers, I should be able to track down a lead."

He let his expression soften, understanding that Steve was worried for him. "For what it's worth, androids don't feel pain and cannot be forced to talk short of a memory probe. I'll be okay."

"...androids don't feel pain..." That was, in reality, only mostly true. Connor possessed the memories of the RK800 unit before him. When his predecessor has been shot across the outside of its arm, he knew it had registered the damage but had felt no pain. As was expected. But when he'd been jumped by the deviant in the abandoned apartment under Urban Farms, it had managed to jar him enough to actually disorient him for an instant. The dents and abrasions he got from fighting the Tracis behind Eden Club had registered for sure. Getting shot on the rooftop of the Stratford Tower, though? He didn't know how else to describe it - that had hurt.

Still . . . he was an android, the most advanced prototype CyberLife had ever created. He had failed his last mission. He wouldn't fail this one.