caffeinated-muse

[caffeinated-muse]

To Be of Two Worlds

Chapter 4

Word Count: 1871

“Fowler you don’t understand what happened exactly. The fuckin’ android put a bullet in her arm and what I did will only hold for a few days.” Gavin’s angry tone roused me from sleep. I rolled over and glanced at my phone to check the time, it was 6am. Why the hell was he up this early? I didn’t care and slammed the other pillow over my head trying to fall back asleep. “If approving this is an issue with the case she’s on that seems ridiculous. Hank has an android, an android designed to do this, they’ll be able to function just fine without her for a few days.” There was a short pause. “At least give two days to get actual repairs done. Alright fine, fine done deal sealed there’s some other stuff I need to do. Let me know if you can get us extra days it’s been a rough past week for her.”

At this point I realized Gavin was not gonna shut up so I sat up yawned stretching the sleep from my limbs before standing and stepping out into the hall. I found him pacing around the living room mumbling something to himself that I couldn’t quite make out. He pulled his phone out once more and started dialing another number as I crept into the kitchen silently. I didn’t want a confrontation right now.

Fortunately, the kitchen light was left on, unfortunately there was a sensation in my right arm that wasn’t quite pain but it also wasn’t pleasant either but I felt I could trust my arm to arm and set about getting myself a cup of coffee. I opened the natural wood toned cupboards to look for my mug but I didn’t see it in there, then I remembered I had tea in it last night so it was by the sink I picked it up. It was the only purple one we owned, the rest were either black or white. It’s a special mug to me, after the accident when I woke up in some spare room at Kamski’s place there this mug was, right on the bedside table. Aside from the standard bedroom furnishings and the slew of machinery they had me hooked up to I was alone.

The room was too bright it hurt my eyes to open them but for some reason I knew I had to. So, I turned toward the shadier side of the room and slowly let my eyes flutter open. Everything was so blurry I could barely see anything through this strange pink color that seemed to taint everything except for this odd purple thing on the side table. I looked more closely at it, it was some sort of oddly shaped planter. It held flowers that gave off a pleasant aroma resting carefully in the petals was a slip of paper. I reached out to take it with my left hand and unfolded the note. ‘If I’m not there when you wake there’s button on the railing press it I’ll come running like I always have~Gav’.

Not knowing what else to do I lightly poked the button but nothing happened for a while. I jabbed it again freaking out a bit. Whoever this Gav was said he’d come like always whatever that meant. But he wasn’t here. I didn’t have much longer to wait as a few moments later there was the loud banging of doors being thrown violently ope-

“Ember what the hell are you doing up so early?”

I jumped a bit and flung the spoon in my hand at the wall. It hit the floor with a clang. “Don’t do that!”

He sighed and walked to the spoon. “Don’t do what? Comment on the fact that you seem to be pretty alert for having only slept two hours. But I guess the flying spoon speaks contrary to the alertness.”

I swiped the spoon out of his hand and went back to making myself a coffee. “Shut up smart ass, it was you who woke me up in the first place.”

“Oh, I woke you up did I? How exactly did I do that? I was nowhere near your door.” He huffed taking the creamer out of my shaking hands.

”We have thin walls remember? Dip shit.” I scoffed throwing myself into one of the chairs at our table. “You literally caught me at a bad time, you know with the spoon thing.”

He set my cup down in front of me and leaned against the counter. “Little trip down memory lane huh?”

“Yeah. As far back as I could go.” I ran a finger along the rim of the cup. “It’s interesting looking back and being able to basically hit a replay button and see everything as it had happened.”

“I’ll bet. You didn’t even know who you were then did you?” I didn’t want to answer this so I took a sip and stared off into space. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want. I need to make another phone call. If you need anything just yeet other spoons at the wall.”

“That’s not even how you English… You’re an insufferable ass ya know that right?” I sighed and rested my forehead on the table.

“I try sweetheart, I try.” With that he left the kitchen empty except for me and my now dwindling supply of coffee. With nothing better to do I slipped back into the memory, it was just getting to the best parts when medium dark and gloomy made me attempt to juggle a spoon.

I didn’t have much longer to wait as a few moments later there was the loud banging of doors being thrown violently open in the distance. I felt uneasy and slowly inched as far as possible from the door which was maybe a half a foot, damn this bed was big. The door to this room was opened with less of a panicked frenzy. And there he was.

The man I assumed was Gav just stood in the open doorway, staring at me his grey eyes held a kind of disbelief in them that it almost hurt to look in them. Did he expect me to not wake? Should I have not survived? Is my being awake such a shock? What even happened to me and why can’t I remember anything? He took a step toward my bed, slowly as if he thought this was a dream and I, I didn’t blame him. His next step came a bit faster, he was restraining himself, purposefully taking a slow approach.

“Em I, I can’t…is this real,” he lowered himself onto the edge of the bed across from me. “Please for the love of everything let this be real.”

With him being this close to me I could get a better look at this man. Except his eyes, something about his eyes seemed to tear at my insides unpleasantly. His hair was a shaggy, and disheveled chestnut brown that has not been brushed or washed for weeks. His clothing looked very lived in, the black V-neck tee stained with traces of pasta sauce and coffee. A bandage crookedly covered the bridge of his nose. This was an individual who clearly has forgotten how to take care of themselves. Was it because of my situation? Was this my fault?

“God Ember please say something…” He dropped his head into his hands with a light sob.

I tentatively reached out and placed my hand on his shoulder, his head shot up at my touch and we locked eyes. “I…I am very much here, I am real and I am alive. But please do this for me.” His lips moved trying to form words that could not be spoken into existence. I brushed away a tear as it slowly slid down his right cheek. “Shed no more tears for me. Cry not for one who does not remember someone who must have meant much to me before today. Gav, the person you think you knew, I think she is dead.”

Another man walked in, he looked similar to the first they could be brothers. “She’s right Gavin, that’s not the Ember we grew up with. She may look the same, sound the same but she is not who she was before the warehouse.”

“Gavin,” I muttered the name softly to myself, they clearly didn’t hear me.

“Kamski, you egotistical maniac what did you do to her?!” The Gavin had moved to stand but my right hand shot out of its own accord and gripped his wrist firmly.

“I did what I could to help her Gavin. Do you seriously think I enjoyed working to fix this who thing?! She was my friend to Gavin, hell she was like a sister to me. And seeing her like that, broken and missing limbs made me want to save her. To give her a second chance at life just like she did for me!” Kamski hissed at Gavin clearly angry but not wanting to raise his voice with me here. “I loved her just as much as you did Gavin, I did what I could but there wasn’t much to work with. Its still Ember, enough of her was left that I’m 98% certain her personality hasn’t changed much. Once my team releases her we can make new memories with her, rebuild what was lost. But till then please if not for me but for her sake don’t pick any fights.” With that Kamski left the room, Gavin sat there speechless floundering in the silence that followed.

“Gavin?” I whispered, and he turned to look at me. “What happens now? I’m confused.”

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t even know what we’ll be doing in ten minutes Em. So how would I know?” Several moments of silence passed between us before he spoke up again. “Would it be alright if I hugged you?”

I moved closer to him and tilted my head to the right much like a dog examining something new. “Why? Did we use to do this?” He nodded. “Well okay then!”

I threw my arms open and was engulfed in a warm solid hug. A wave hit me, hard. A deafening boom, the scent of blood and gun powder, and the screams my god the screaming. I pulled back clearly shaken from the odd flash of disjointed memory pieces. Gavin stared into my eyes, worry etched in those grey orbs before he pulled me back into another hug.

“It’s alright Em, you’re safe now that’s all that matters all that you have to do move on. Figure out what you wanna do and just go.”

“Hey sleeping air head wakey wakey everything’s planned let’s just go already.” I was pulled out of the memory with a hug and another cup of coffee under my nose.

“Wait wha-“

“Just get dressed blondness.” He walked back into the living room.

“I am not blonde Gavin.” I followed closely behind him coffee in hand.

“True, but you act like it. Now get dressed sweetness.” He patted my head and shut himself up in his room, leaving me in the hall alone.

[caffeinated-muse]

To Be of Two Worlds

Chapter: 3

Word count: 1661

I made it back to my house in a little under half an hour. Usually I can make it back in almost ten minutes but the damn arm situation slowing me down. As I drove up my driveway the garage began to open on its own as it always did. I walked my bike in, popped the kickstand and headed into the building slamming the door behind me. 

The kitchen was dark so I flipped the light switch flooding the room with florescent light. At this there was a sharp searing pain in my right shoulder, and it was in that moment I realized I had fucked up. Carefully shedding the jacket and dropping it on the couch apparently wasn't the best idea the sensations of being shot just now hitting me were too much. The room seemed to spin toward me but as it turned out I was just falling toward the floor. A rush of honey brown color and then a resounding thud as I hit the floor and curled into a ball cradling my arm. I don’t know how long I lay there, a sobbing mess before starting to drag myself into the bathroom.

"Argh where the hell is she?! Ember! I swear you red headed train wreck I'm gonna fix you and then beat you with a goddamn pillow." There was a voice, someone was shouting. For me? Jesus, they sound familiar. Could it be that new android, what was his name Connor? No Connor wouldn't swear this much. Would Connor swear at all? I doubt it. Hank? Hank would swear that much but he wouldn't threaten me. And he doesn't even know what to do with a hammer let alone my personal repair kit. That leaves only one person, Gavin. Of course, its Gavin why wouldn't it be? He did live here with me after all. A pair of feet rounded the corner into the hall and a rather colorful string of curses followed shortly after.

Hey Gav, what took ya so long?" I attempted to offer up a little chuckle as a way of playing down exactly how broken I currently am.

"Jesus fuck Ember why are you on the floor?" Gavin breathed as he carefully lifted me up off the floor.

"Just having a quick carpet nap ya know. Taking a bullet in the artificial arm is tiring work."

"This isn’t just a normal you've been shot incident. What the hell did you do to yourself?" I was set down on the bed in my room. Gavin was already pulling the repair kit out from under the bed. "And don't tell me it was nothing, cause I know you did something."

"Gavin why the hell does it matter? Just fix me so we can both get to sleep." I hissed while pulling my sweater off leaving me in a black cami.

"Why does it matter Ember? It matters if you want me to continue doing this for you." He grabbed my right arm by the wrist lifting it to see exactly what had been damaged. "You know how little I care for all things android related and yet here I am waving around tools playing with your Cyberlife brand arm replacement at nearly 3 in the morning when I could just as easily leave you to suffer for seven hours until your repair skank opens shop."

"Licia is not a skank Gavin. She may keep...unsavory individuals as companions but she is not a skank." I stated firmly. My gaze focused on the wall just beyond his head as he removed the bullet from the arm. "Why are you helping me anyway? Its been what? Two years since you last broke out into Gavin 'fix-it' Reed mode."

He mumbled, "I have my damn reasons LaChance now can it." He held up a thing I didn’t know the name of, only that its used to reconnect the artificial nerves. "Its time for this thing again. Hope ya like pain."

"Just, shut up and get it over with."

From the moment the tool touched one of the fake nerves I felt the breath leave my body and a searing hot sensation travel up my arm. I squeezed my eyes shut hoping that would block out the pain but it didn’t do much beyond make it worse. I should’ve known, losing my vision always made things hurt more. No one can really explain why. After what felt like hours of fiery hot wasp stings centered in my arm Gavin had putt the tools away. I didn’t need to look in a mirror to know I had gone white as a sheet.

"Ember, I know you and that asshole Kamski did something. What the hell was it?"

"Can this conversation wait till later Gav." I sighed as I slowly tested the arm out. Yep I got movement, that’s always good.

"Actually, yes it can wait till later." He paused for a few moments, I stood up and turned to face him. "But oh, would ya look at that! It is later now, so cough up the answers dipshit or I'm going in and telling Fowler you've added a mystery modifier to your system and hell pull you back outta homicide."

"God Gavin it won't interfere with my job get off my case." I had one foot out in the hall before he pulled me back into the room trapping me against the wall.

"What did you do?"

We stayed like that for several moments. Gavin staring as best he could into my eyes while I tried to look just about anywhere but at him. God why'd he have to stand so close to me. Wait, why do I care how close he stands, not like its making me uncomfortable. But as much as I'd like to think his presence didn’t illicit any kind of emotion beyond that of simply long-time friendship my heart betrayed me. It had picked up it's pace, fluttering in such a way that it made my stomach turn in pleasant knots in hope of... In hope of what? There's nothing here between us than that of pure simple friendship. 

"For Gods sake Ember fucking look at me." He placed a finger under my chin softly lifting my face so I couldn't look anywhere but right at him. "Promise I wont be mad, just tell me what you did. Please..."

I groaned internally, he didn't say please often. In fact I think this was the first time he'd said it without me prompting him to. And even though I'd rather it didn't, it made my heart race a bit more and a slight warmth rise to my face. "The last time I went to visit Elijah I asked him if there was a way to bring back the memories of who I was before the incident." There seemed to be a slight softness in Gavin’s eyes at this statement but with a quick shake of my head it disappeared. "He said there was nothing we could do about that, that it was a time lost to me like a seed pod floating on a wave to grow in someone else’s mind but never again in mine. Or something philosophical like that, you know how he is. I then asked if there was a way to let me feel again-"

"Em you have your feelings, the damn emotions that complicate life far more than we need them too. What more did you think you needed to feel."

"Gavin, I wanted, no I needed to be able to feel things like warmth. God before the beginning of this month I hadn’t felt what its like to have the winter air hit you in the face when stepping outside to go to work. I didn’t know what the warmth of a candle felt like against my hand. I didn't even know what textures really felt like, all I got in response to petting your damn cat was that they were supposed to be fluffy and soft followed by the dictionary.com definition of the terms. I hated it, I hated not knowing what those things felt like, and being unaware of what pain truly was." Gavin's hand brushed against my cheek wiping away a tear that I hardly noticed had fallen. "So, I had him install the updated sensory package. I can feel things now Gav. I'm closer to actually being a legit person. Well as close as I can be without a squishy grey brain and a fleshy right arm. I need a cup of tea, please move."

Instead of moving away he moved closer to me engulfing my small body in a bear hug. You are not going anywhere except to bed. "I'll make you the damn tea, and I'll see about getting a health-related release from Fowler for a couple days. Anderson and that plastic asshole should be able to live without you for a day or two." He released his hold and stepped back a bit. The softness from the earlier hug gone replaced with the usual snarky smartassy Reed. 

"There's no use fighting this, Dr. Reeds orders, huh?" I chuckled and walked over to my bed. "Cham-"

"I know what to do. Jeez you act like I've never brought you tea at what four in the morning before." With that he strode out of the room shutting the door slightly. "Also if I come back and you’re still in work clothes I'll deny you tea."

I gasped. "You wouldn’t dare."

"Oh, but I would sweetheart, now put on pjs or no tea."

I groaned and shuffled over to my dresser after some digging I came up with a pair of sweatpants and black long sleeve shirt that I’m pretty sure were supposed to be Gavins’. I didn’t care whose they were I  threw them on and climbed into bed settling into a nest of pillows as Gavin cursed at my electric kettle in the kitchen.

[caffeinated-muse]

To Be of Two Worlds

Chapter: 2

Word count: 2450

As expected I had arrived before Hank and the rest of the them. The station was mostly dark, the only illumination came from some desk lamps in the main office area. I headed to my desk and flicked the base of my lamp onto the highest brightness setting and sat down. 

"I guess it wouldn’t be a bad idea to start on the report," I sighed. "Cause lord knows Hank wont do it til the last minute."

Pulling out my laptop I started typing, standard information first; state of the scene, initial ideas, and such on. However, it became clear to me that I wasn’t quite in the right frame of mind to be doing this. Flashes and snippets of image and sound would yank me away from my desk and into different places. Back to my old apartment on a Sunday morning, coffee brewing behind me a card game laid out and light-hearted arguing; to a night tainted in blood and smoldering framework; machines and test after test; Hank practically smothering me in an embrace; but then one image struck me dumb. It was recent, that android stepping out after Hank. He had seemed stiff in the moment, as if his body wasn’t quite used to moving around also slightly unsure of how to interact with the people bustling around the area. His eyes betrayed the strict down to business attitude he tried to show, there was a softness in those brown orbs a light curiosity like that of a child. Wasn’t that what he was? Manufactured and shoved out into the world shortly after, true he had the body of a man but in mind and heart he knew no more about how the world worked than a child, knowing only what he had been told.

"Kid have a coffee you’ll need it."

"Wait what?" I spluttered, started out of my mind palace. "Ooh iced coffee! 

Thanks Gavy! I snatched the cup out of his hand and happily sipped at the straw."

"Don't call me that," Gavin hissed and turned around, running a hand through his hair. "Just the way you always you get it kid. But we should get going the rest of them should be here soon. He turned and walked in the direction of the interrogation room."

I stood up and grabbed a small purple box from my desk and after shoving it in my pocket bounced after Mr. grumpy guts Gavin Reed. 

"Do you really need to take those damn cards with you everywhere?" He scoffed and jabbed the outline of them in my jacket.

I pushed his hand away and pulled out my cards. "Yes, I do Reed. And you know exactly why." I opened the box and pulled out its contents, sixty purple sleeved pieces of cardboard and began to shuffle them by mushing segments of the deck back into the main bulk. At this Gavin groaned. "Or would you rather I stare at my phone the whole time? Cause I could totally do that."

"Can it LaChance. How the hell are you even doing that anyway? Doesn't the, you know get in the way."

"Its called a glove smart one. And what my mush shuffle? Does it bother you?"

"Yes. Yes, it does." He growled and opened the door to the interrogation room.

"Good, you know I live to bother you." I blew him a kiss and sauntered into the room setting my cards down on the table in front of the viewing window and shedding my black leather jacket to reveal a black sweater. After that I plopped my tired body into one of the two chairs behind the viewscreen. Gavin took the seat beside me looking bored as ever.

"Sup love birds ya miss me?" Hanks obnoxious mocking alerted me to his presence.

"Okay first off, eww love birds with this creep? Hell no. No offence Gav."

"Some taken."

"Can it grumpy guts wasn't talking to you. And secondly Hank, I don't miss you, I wait anxiously with baited breath for your next terrorist like strike of sarcastic vocabulating." While this was going on the deviant was led in and placed in the chair. Hank made to doff an invisible hat and stepped into the chamber with the Android in question. "It'll take a while for him to start getting anything out of it. Connor coffee run with me, I need an extra set of hands."

"Two-"

"Gav, I know how you take your fucking coffee, let's go robocop." I snapped.

Connor and I walked out and back toward the break room. The office was dark once more, my desk light having an automatic shut off. The breakroom light flickered to life as I stepped in illuminating the somewhat shabby couch pushed into the corner, I guess the whole out of sight out of mind thing was at play here. There were a few well used tall round tables with equally tall chairs that I never used. Mostly due to the fact that I wast much more than a foot taller than the damn things. And on the counter sat in all it's over used, overworked, please-retire-me glory was our ugly avocado green coffee pot. Jiggling the faulty cord, I set to work filling it with water and measuring out the coffee. 

"Lieutenant, may I ask a uh personal question?" Connor had piped up. 

"Sure, but grab me the yellow mug from the top shelf first. Mug first questions second. "

He reached up and grabbed it with ease setting it down on the counter. "I wanted to ask about the glove. Why haven’t you taken it off yet?"

"That my friend is a conversation for another time." The pot spluttered to life and the smell of our low quality purchased in bulk coffee beans filled the air. "You can ask anything you want but the arm is off limits for now. It's, touchy."

"I don't think I understand you detective. Just about everything I need to know about you is in your profile." He stood in what I could only assume was the Android equivalent of processing how to English words. The led on his Temple pulsed a vibrant yellow. "Anything extra is merely trivial."

"Ah, but Connor it if was truly trivial and unnecessary, why did you want to know about the curious case of why no one has seen my right arm bare and hand ungloved in eighteen years?" I began measuring out sugars and cream into the mugs. "Is it perhaps because you think it would help us bond? Well it won't. Only three people here in the precinct know the story behind it in full and I'd like to keep it that way."

He stood there stock still once more the led spinning from blue to yellow and then a garish red. Probably scanning my file over again. Everyone does that, thinking they can hack the system into revealing the details about that day. But the thing with that data is that it doesn't exist in the electronic system, I had Fowler stash that stuff away in paper form inside one of the lock boxes in the evidence room for that particular unresolved case. 

"Lieutenant, I need to at least know why there isn’t a report from you regarding the last time the Bloodmar case was opened. There are reports from all of the other members of the team including Lieutenant Anderson and Detective Reed." He adjusted his tie even though there was really no need for him to do that. I guess it was just a filler motion he picked up from the few humans he’d have interacted with since his activation, I doubt Kamski would have wanted such an annoyingly useless social cue programmed into an android. But then again this was Kamski, bastard does stuff just cause he can. "And we all know about Reeds unwillingness to actually file his paperwork."

"The only thing you need to know about that incident was that there was a series of mistakes, a bomb that went splode, and a metric crap ton of hospital fees that all landed on me and my tiny ass body." I hastily grabbed two of the mugs and started walking out, leaving the confused android in the break room. Hey robocop grab those mugs and head back. "You so much as allude to the Bloodmar case before the week is out I will dislocate your plastic knee are we clear?"

His led flashed yellow for a moment but then it returned to its normal blue as he followed me back to the interrogation room where Hank was just about ready to rage quit. I handed Gavin his coffee and sat down sipping mine after the other officer took his cup and we left Hanks mug off to the side. Apparently not much has happened, Hank did his usual sit there and stare at the android for a while and tried to goad it into talking. When that didn’t work he just sat there dejected before coming back in to where the rest of us were. 

"Having problems old man?" I snickered. "Want the droid to take a pop at it or shall I head in? By the way this is yours." Handing him the coffee with one hand I tapped the deck against the table.

"Let Connor have a chance at this. Hes supposed to be the deviant catcher. Let him crack the damn hunk of plastic."

Connor stepped into the room, but frankly I couldn’t care less what he did in there I doubted he could do much against the crazed android. I wasn’t disappointed with the performance we were given. 

It started out slow, with Connor staring at us for a moment from his side of the viewscreen and then casually looking through the file on the table before sitting down and attempting to talk. Connor then pulled the file in front of the suspect and began showing the photos of the crime scene. I stopped paying attention at that moment but was quickly brought back in when the file was slammed back onto the table with a loud exclamation of 28 stab wounds and threats of being disassembled and the subsequent android death. Good stuff I guess but I was getting bored just sitting there. 

"Hank, can I join the android party?" I pleaded putting on my best puppy dog eyes. "I’m getting bored sitting here."

Hank just sighed and pointed at the door and I popped up quickly to go join the android party. But Gavin had to be Gavin.

"You cant just let her go in there like that Hank! "

"Gav last I checked this case didn’t have your name on it anywhere. So, can it before I dump coffee on you." With that I placed my hand on the scanner and after the door slid open I stepped inside. "Howdy buddy whats up?" I leaned against the back wall behind Connor and flashed our resident robomurderer a wicked grin miming a head shot in his direction with finger guns.

"Lieutenant what are doing here?" Connor didn’t even turn around, just continued to give the android a death stare.

"Got bored wanted to have some fun with Mr. talkative over here." I sauntered over behind our suspect. And whispered into his ear, "Just say you killed him honey, otherwise I'll get to have even more fun taking you apart in the basement than I am watching you squirm. Or you can stay silent and I get my fun, your choice."

"He-he tortured me every day..."

"Ooh do go on, I’m listening." The android shifted slightly in his seat as if he wanted to stand. I grabbed the back of the chair and sharply tipped it back. "No moving, only talking sweetie. That is unless you want to see my lab."

"I did whatever he told me, but there was always something wrong. Then one day he took a bat and started hitting me. For the first time I felt scared. Scared he might destroy me, scared I might die, so I grabbed the knife and I stabbed him in the stomach. I felt better so I stabbed him again and again until he collapsed." The android looked down and refused to move after that.

"Whelp Hank, Connor we got what we wanted lets get out of here. Pity I don’t get a new play thing. There’s always next time I guess." Gavin and the other officer came in and attempted to relocate the android to its holding cell. However, it decided to resist this. 

As the droid jerked away from the lower officers touch I laughed at the struggle. Things were going to get good, I could feel it. And I was rewarded when after falling from the chair the android stood up the officers gun in hand, safety off and it trained on me. Connor shifted almost like he was going to jump the android but I held up my right arm in a signal to stand down. It all happened so quickly after that, I saw his finger twitch and brought my right arm into a defensive position just as he pulled the trigger. The bullet ripped part way through my arm but I felt nothing as I watched the damn android then turn the gun on itself. 

Hank swore loudly but I didn’t care I was already walking out of the room and heading toward my desk after hastily putting on my jacket and scooping up my cards. Connor however was hot on my tail and this was the last thing I needed Mr. curious robocop to be doing. 

"The fuck you want Connor?" I had made it to my desk, with my back turned to him shoving my stuff back into the backpack I carried. "I don’t have time for this."

"You've been shot Lieutenant you’re not going anywhere without an escort."

"That's not my name. and I will go wherever I damn well please!" slinging the bag onto my back and fitting the helmet back onto my face I began walking out, right arm dangling useless at my side. 

"Ember I cannot let you do this-"

"Do what? Avoid medical treatment? Watch me! No doctor would take me right now anyway." I climbed onto my motorcycle and started it up, used to only being able to use my left arm it was a breeze. "Not now not ever."

"Stand down you need help."

"I need to get home that’s what I need, not any of your damn help." And with that I sped off my arm fluttering limp at my side, leaving Connor standing befuddled in the rain.

[caffeinated-muse]

To Be of Two Worlds

Chapter: 1

Word count: 1971

It was almost 11:30 as I checked my phone for the fifth time in the past two minutes. God, Hank was an insufferable old coot who apparently can't be bothered to at least text me. It doesn't even have to be case related by this point, just a "hello I'm not drunk off my ass" or even an update on his damn dog. Hell, I can almost believe that I care more for his dog than the man himself. But I know that'd be a lie, Hank has been there for me for a long time an old family friend doesn't even come close to how close we were before the accident. I did all I could think of to help him but nothing I tried seemed to do much good. Guess I was too closely tied to the before to help him deal with everything.

"LaChance, he still ain't here yet?" One of the other officers at the scene had tapped me on the shoulder.

"No, not even a text back. He'll show up on his own time however inconvenient it is for us." I sighed and pulled my phone out again. Shooting off another text.

"God dammit Hank, I'm tired of waiting for you to show up or even respond. I know you've seen these and yet no response. If you and your scruffy beard aren't here in five min I'm going in without you."

Shortly after hitting send the familiar dancing orbs that meant they were typing showed up. Just as soon as the orbs had appeared they were gone and I was left with this: 'Sorry for taking so long Lieutenant LaChance. It took me a while to find Lieutenant Anderson. I am replying for him as he is driving we will meet soon.'

"Shit, Fowler wasn't pulling my leg when he said that earlier." Staring at my screen in disbelief this was going to be a trip. 

Hanks car pulled up on the other side of street with a honking of its horn. His park job was a tiny bit off, he must've been at a bar. My suspicions were confirmed when he stepped out, his stride lacking the usual I'm-too-good-to-be-here vibe. Another figure got out the passenger side of the vehicle. Hank grunted a greeting at me.

"I take it this interrupted a fabulous night of booze and comatose napping?" This received a slight glare.

"Damn straight kid, if plastic here hadn't found me I would not be here. Let's just get this over with." 

"As you say all mighty Hank Anderson your word is god." With a mock bow I gestured for him to lead the way. "I take it you're the one who sent that text earlier:" I stated matter of factly.

"That is correct Lieutenant LaChance. My name is Connor, I am the android sent by Cyberlife." He was tall, probably had a full foot on me, seeing as I've never been very tall. Those brown eyes of his held something in them. Something I wasn't used to seeing in androids but there would be more time to puzzle him out later. After all, there was a homicide to solve.

The air inside the house hung heavy. It reminded me of roadkill left on the side of a road in the oppressive hot and sticky feeling of an overly humid summers day. Laid over that was a certain sourness almost like that of spoiled milk, curdling the air growing stronger the closer you got to the body slumped against the wall. The room itself was a nightmare furniture either toppled or destroyed, blood pools and even a pretty picture painted on the wall above our not so endearing cadaver. I am alive, it said a smile tugged at the corners of my mouth while a giggle clawed at my throat. And I, like the giddy fool I am gave in. This earned a few uneasy looks from the few officers around, Hank however was less than pleased with this outburst.

"Ember you blasted idiot get over here!" He hissed at me, Connor didn't seem to care he was simply taking in everything there was to see I guess. I walked away from hank toward some red substance spread out on a table.

"Naw Hank, there's drugs over here, I like drugs," I waved to Connor. "Connor darling be a dear come look at the drugs, I'm pretty sure it's Red Ice but I'll consult the walking database before confirming."

He walked over to me, side stepping around a fallen chair he kneeled next to me. As he stared at the pile of red crystals the led blinked a shade of yellow, I guess this is what analysis was, just staring at stuff. "Lieutenant LaChance is correct this is Red Ice." It was so matter of fact, it held almost no emotion but that was to be expected, he was an android after all. Connor stood up and went over the knife while I waddled over to Hank and the body.

"Don't be so smug Ember, come have a look at this I'm going to check out the kitchen." Hank stood slowly. "Less bending over in there." 

"Whatever you say pops." I chimed.

"Ugh, Jesus! What the hell are you doing?" Hank's voice held a tone of disgust. 

I stood up and walked up to them by the knife. "Hank please tell me the android licked the evidence." 

"I'm analyzing the blood. I can check samples in real time. I'm sorry I should have warned you." Connor stated.

"Ok, just don't put anymore evidence in your mouth, got it?" Hank waved his hand around gesturing to as much of the crime scene as he could.

"Oh my god, he licked the evidence," at this point I couldn't contain myself and started to laugh. Which prompted Hank to shove me out of the house and order an officer to not let me back in til I had calmed down. 

Needless to say it took several minutes for me to calm down. It had been so long since there was a really good honest to god homicide and to top it off we got paired with an android. An android who analyzes evidence by licking it. Oh, this would not be a dull case. I decided to try and make myself useful by examining the outside. 

It was a bit of dump to be honest. Garbage piled up on the front porch, the front lawn dying from neglect. Nothing too interesting out front, so I picked my way to the back. It was sadly even less interesting out there. Only thing of note was that the type of dirt back here was special, I remembered it as the kind that holds an impression for several weeks. So if you walked out there, everyone would know until you either waited the several weeks or purposefully raked it smooth. This was extremely boring so I poked my head in through the back door.

"Hank, I've taken my chill pills can I come back in?" He grunted with a nod and I hopped back in. It appeared that Connor was in the middle of wrapping up his theory on how the murder happened.

"I'm sorry for interrupting go on Connor." I squeaked clearly interested.

"The android stabbed the victim." He continued.

"So the android was trying to defend itself, right?" I asked trying to get a mental image of what happened.

Connor nodded. "The victim then fled to the living room."

"He tried to get away from the android." Hank added. "That makes sense.

"The android then murdered the victim with the knife."

Hank raised an eyebrow slightly. "Your theory isn't totally ridiculous, but it doesn't answer where the android is right now."

"It was damaged by the bat and lost some thirium, the fluid that powers androids biocomponents." Connor explained. "It evaporates after a couple of hours and becomes invisible to the naked eye."

"Let me guess you can still see it can't you." Connor nodded at my statement.

"Well from my poking around in the dirt out back there's no way android murderer could've left the back way, so it's still here somewhere. That means you get to follow the splotchy thirium road, have fun." Hank opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "Dirt out there is like wet cement, you step in it you leave a trace visible for several weeks unless you go out and erase it, also witnesses ruled out anyone leaving by the front door so only option left is its hiding out here."

Hank sighed in annoyance, "Okay but then why haven't we found the damn bucket of bolts yet? We've only what had a dozen or so men out here looking and poking at stuff."

"Connor!" I yelled and he poked his head into the living room from the kitchen.

"Check if there's an attic, I bet you a whole cheesecake it's in the attic." With a curt nod our friendly resident android was off on his hunt for that thirium trail while the old man and myself made our way to the kitchen away from the body.

"Ember of all the things why a cheesecake? You know those aren't good for you." He sighed and put his head in his hands.

"Neither is all that alcohol you drink but do you see me complaining about that?"

"All the fuckin time kid, half of your damn texts are about it. Wish you'd get off my case."

"Alright ya got me there pops, cheesecake is less damaging to my liver than all that booze you force into your body." There was a crash from the attic, I jumped a bit. "Connor what the hell is going on up there?"

"It's here Lieutenant!" Was what we got in response from the dark spooky attic. Hank then took charge and ordered everyone to get in there to extract the robomurderer. Once they had the android down Connor hopped out of the attic.

"Thank you for the tip Lieutenant."

"Hol' up there my dude, first off you don't need to thank me for shit, it's part of my job to contribute to all this murder solving. Secondly, let's get out of here. I may be a sucker for a nasty crime scene but the smell does get old." 

Outside the rain had let up a bit and aside from the mild squabbling of the officers shoving the android into the back of the transport vehicle it was quiet.

"So, I was thinking, now that that's over it's introduction time. Our initial meeting was a bit rushed after all. My name is Ember LaChance, lieutenant with the DPD and long time partner of grumpy guts Hank Anderson." I extended my hand toward Connor.

"As you know my name is Connor I am the android sent by Cyberlife. I am here to help resolve this issue of deviancy among lower level androids." He took my hand and we shared a curt handshake.

"It's a pleasure Connor, see you back at the station." I turned toward my damp motorcycle and shook off my helmet before pulling my hair back and putting it on.

"Lieu-Ember why don't you ride with Hank?" Connor asked.

"It's a simple reason really, I don't always like to listen to heavy metal on full blast. But he always hits me with this 'driver picks the music, shotgun shuts their cakehole' bullshit." I flipped down the eye shield on my helmet. "I'm my own driver, that means its my music and no shotgun rider to keep their cakehole shut." With that I started up my bike and flashing Hank a quick wave sped off through the rain toward the station nothing but the rumbling of my bike filling my ears.