bindsthedead

PSL

There was a time when Sabriel might have been eager to see the inside of Cyberlife Tower. Her class had been to Detroit when she was thirteen, and they'd toured an android factory- or the part of it they showed to tourists, at least- and visited museums and art galleries and all the sorts of things Young Ladies ought to see, but weren't available in the small town of Wyverley, or in Bain.

But Sabriel wasn't here for a school trip. Recent events in Ancelstierre meant that with the sudden loss of all android soldiers meant that soldiers from the entirely human garrison at the Wall had been transferred elsewhere- which meant fewer soldiers watching the border, on top of the losses from Kerrigor's attack, and a necromancer had slipped across, making his way to the largest city that was close enough to the Wall that magic still worked- one that seemed rather different than how she remembered it.

But what was occupying most of her attention was the Cyberlife representative in front of her. Sabriel listened politely as the woman spoke about malfunctioning machines and simulated emotions and how things that weren't alive couldn't die, so why would a necromancer- and from the woman's voice it was clear she didn't believe such things were real- want with deactivated androids?

Sabriel stood up and shook the woman's hand, telling her she'd been very helpful without meaning a word of it, and headed out the office before pausing.

She sensed something ominously familiar- Death, and a recent one at that. She turned another corner, following the sensation as a hound tracked a scent, half-expecting someone to spot her, to see her in her armor and bells (security had made her check her sword at the front desk) and tell her she wasn't allowed to be here.

But no one came, and no one living was in the laboratory she went into- just a dead- (deactivated?) android on a table-or its head and torso at least, with panels on its chest removed to reveal tubes and biocomponents, and Sabriel felt she'd stepped into a morgue and found an autopsied body.

Sabriel was seized by a sudden impulse. If androids weren't alive, then she'd simply waste some time, but if they were... well, she'd have a source of information she could interrogate as she would any Dead spirit. And unlike the representative she'd just spoken to, she could force it to answer honestly and completely.

Decision made, Sabriel undid the straps and drew Saraneth from the bandolier. This far from the Wall, stepping into Death took a deliberate effort, but soon Sabriel was in the First precinct and she cast around with her senses, trying to feel out the spirit of the android- if it had one, it couldn't have gone beyond the First Gate, and probably shouldn't be that far into the the First Precinct.

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For a moment, Sabriel wants to protest. Then a wave of exhaustion sweeps over her, and she realizes that perhaps Connor has a point.

"But I- All right. Just- Connor, please tell me if you get hurt again- I'll heal you as soon as I can."

Sabriel slips off her shoes, and heads over to the bed.

"An I'll see about getting you new identifiers when I wake up- we have enough problems without both sides of this fight wanting to shoot us, along with the Dead trying to rip our throats out." There's definitely a note of morbid humor in her voice.

"And quite frankly, the Dead are enough- I don't want any more enemies than them."

Connor nods to the instruction. Glances briefly at the unmarked garments on the desk. Deviant or not, all androids were to be turned over for disposal, and having their recycling camps routed has only fueled the humans' hate.

New indicators won't change that, especially near any kind of army checkpoint. But they're a legal requirement, and might help Abhorsen to persuade others of his place. Still, if she continues in this vein—with him, and with the deviants...

"I'm not sure you'll have a choice."

The mutter isn't as acerbic as it could be. But it's not quite toneless, either. The same prickle of attention that's coiled close around his spine through the repair digs in a little tighter as that registers. Unsolicited advice, at a time when he should hold still, be careful, comply with the technician to be cleared. His eyes flicker back to Abhorsen, but her back is turned, attention on the bed.

She isn't going to do anything.

...She's done with the repair. He should close himself up. Certainly, she wouldn't know how. Typically, the process would be accomplished by the rig, or a technican, but—Connor can do this. He reaches for a disconnected section of exoskeleton, half an eye on the human as he orients it in his grip.

"I'll do better next time," he promises. This time, aloud.

"I might not," Sabriel can't help the dull, unhappy feeling of resignation that rises at the thought, "But I'll be better next time. I won't overreach myself, and we'll just try to avoid the deviants. And soldiers, especially ones who weren't transferred from the Perimeter." Ones who were at the perimeter... they'll recognize Sabriel. And even if she doubts they'd be friendly to Connor, she might be able to convince them that he isn't- well, both of them are dangerous, but that he isn't a threat to them.

"The soldiers who were at the Perimeter- they know what the Dead are, they'll understand what it means that they can use android corpses as bodies. And some of them are Charter mages- self-taught and not particularly strong, but they're in a better position to fight the Dead than the deviants or the rest of the army." After all, unlike the rest of them, they understand the true nature of their enemies, and are proficient with swords and spears as well as guns. They even have proper chainmail, Sabriel thinks as she sits up in bed, her back up against the headboard.

Edited 2019-06-18 05:47 (UTC)

She won't overreach? Questionable, considering she'd nearly done so for a second time today. They'll try to avoid the deviants? Irrelevant, when the deviants had hunted them down.

It takes work to keep his utter lack of confidence from his expression. Carefully, Connor reaches back and around, slotting the first section of plating back in place and pressing down until it clicks. The information about the soldiers is interesting. But Abhorsen's speaking as if it were some kind of solution: allies she could command to take her side.

"They're not here to fight your enemies," he points out. They're here to fight deviants. To put down androids. Even if they recognize that Abhorsen's goals have worth, he's not as confident they'll put aside their own.

But, she still doesn't think this war is meaningful.

Reconnected to his body and the charge of thirium inside, the exoskeleton adopts an added level of plasticity. Connor's motions are a little smoother as he reaches for the second detached section, repeating the process. A click, a press, and his internal workings seal back out of sight.

Well, Connor has a point. At the Wall, they'd trusted her because the Dead were their enemy, and they knew she was Abhorsen. Here? She probably shouldn't be so sure. They are Ancelstierrians, even if they know more about the Old Kingdom than most of their countrymen.

"No, but they'll start making defenses against the Dead if they know what's going on. And if they know you belong to me, they might leave you alone." Hopefully. If Connor doesn't say something to set them off. She knows they'll believe her about the Dead and the necromancer at least. Convincing them that Connor is an ally will take some effort.

But these are people who've spent years on the perimeter, dealing with the dangers of the Old Kingdom that had leaked over into Ancelstierre. Surely they'll realize that the Dead are a bigger problem than deviants.

Might. What... slim hopes to rest his continued existence on. But if Abhorsen really wants to walk him up to the disposal teams, he's not in any position to argue. His lips press together, eyes flicking sideways as he reaches for his shirt and starts to pull it on. Skin crawls down from his neck and up from his waist, covering the smooth expanse of plastic.

He tucks in the shirt. Loops and knots the tie, before picking up the jacket. They aren't his clothes, and Connor fidgets with the lay once everything is settled, tugging at his sleeves with a small frown. It's more animation than the android's shown since he removed them.

Well, with that done... Sabriel should get some sleep. But before that... She and Connor need to get back on track.

"Listen, I should probably get some sleep, and eat a proper meal, but after that- Why don't we try to follow up on the leads you were talking about before the other Connor showed up? Unless you think we should do something else." Sabriel's tone makes it clear that if Connor has another idea, she wants to hear it- given what's happened, she can't help but think it might be better than hers.

Connor's fingers still, eyes coming up. "...No."

No better ideas. But, he'd been the one to suggest tracking the human accomplices in the first place—and less than twenty-four hours ago, at that. Still, the language Abhorsen's using, and the way her attention locks, checking for input... is she showing guilt over ignoring his advice before?

...74% chance, a quick analysis concurs.

Connor is a machine. These sentiments are misplaced at best. Delusional at worst. It's the same ridiculous projection that had her unwilling to harm deviants, even when the malfunctions clearly didn't share her hesitation. Connor has advised her to correct the error more than once before, but... if she won't...

"If we do find the necromancer's allies," he asks: expression bland, voice unassuming, "you should let me question them."

The way she hadn't, with his duplicate today.

Sabriel's not naive enough to miss the implication. If she lets Connor do that, those people will be hurt, possibly killed.

Sabriel thinks of the broken Charter stones, of villages wiped out by the Dead, their inhabitants killed or fleeing, of the fear and fatalism she's seen in people's faces in the Old Kingdom. Her expression hardens.

"You can do that. If anyone complains, I'll deal with the consequences."

Anyone stupid or evil enough to work with that necromancer deserves what happens to them.

Edited 2019-06-23 06:23 (UTC)

He'd expected concessions. Equivocation, hesitation—stipulations, almost certainly. He could ask, as long as he didn't threaten. He could threaten, as long as he didn't harm. Anything would be better than the catastrophe she'd presided over today, and if he had to leverage Abhorsen's pointless guilt to guarantee it... well, Connor's mission was to get results.

This response is... much more open-ended. Connor is silent for a moment, eyes flitting from the line of her mouth to the glint in her eyes. It's possible—likely, even—that she'll backtrack. Turn squeamish at the scene, interfere if he's not careful to pacify her sentiments. But here and now?

She seems to mean it.

Connor inclines his head, brows quirking up. "Get some rest, Abhorsen." When she's finished? They'll have work to do.

Sabriel tilts her head in acknowledgement. It will be good to get back to what she's supposed to be doing, assuming neither Ancelstierrian soldiers or androids interfere.

She's tired enough that Sabriel doesn't bother changing her clothes- instead she just gets under the covers, offering Connor a weary smile as she stops trying to ignore the heaviness in her limbs, how it takes a deliberate effort to keep her eyes open, and surrenders to sleep.

Abhorsen smiles. Connor doesn't. Still, as her eyes fall closed, he'll grudgingly reach for the light switch. This time, there are no glowing product labels to interrupt the darkness of the room. Only the soft blue circle of Connor's LED.

He waits, light pulsing slowly as the human's breathing regulates. She falls into REM quickly, but he adds a timer for ten minutes more, just to be sure. It passes without incident, and he steps silently into the bathroom, closing the door and flicking on the light inside.

The face in the mirror doesn't look any different. Connor inspects it regardless, tilting the head one way, then the next. A hand twitches up a scant few centimeters before freezing. The human is asleep, but—

...

But... nothing. Zen_Garden.exe hasn't been online for days.

Connor touches his face. Inspects the glint of light against brown optics, cautiously brushes his fingers over the texture of his hair. He doesn't have all of the data replicated for comparison, but he looks the way he should. Except for the clothes.

(Except for the number he knows is printed underneath that face: 313 248 317-53—)

Connor scowls, shrugging off the jacket for a second time. Every sensor in the area is nonresponsive, and picking apart the damage to 'his' shoulder occupies the better part of a half hour. Even if it mostly just confirms what he'd already guessed. [Bullet wound: 0.355 caliber]. Biocomponent 5183e replaced, and the surrounding thirium lines cauterized with a blunt tool. A hack job.

It probably wouldn't fall apart. Even if the scraping was annoying. Connor closes everything back up and prepares to wait. Human sleep cycles last just over eight hours on average, but between the atypical hours and the exhaustion Abhorsen had displayed, this could be... considerably more.

Sabriel sleeps for a long time, and when she wakes, her dreams are a jumbled, half-remembered mess- there's her father and the Dead, as usual, along with Mogget and Jacinth's rabbit- and Connor. Waking comes suddenly for Sabriel- a sudden jerk, a dream-memory of her own sword going through her abdomen, and she's suddenly awake.

I'ts a little before dawn, Sabriel realizes and she's refreshed but ravenous. So she hurries through her morning routine with urgent efficiency, getting cleaned up and packing her guitar case with her armor and weapons. By the time she steps out of a convenience store with coffee and several pastries, it's six-thirty in the morning.

"All right," she tells Connor, "Where do you want to start?"

While she slept, he'd looked into the case data. He'd also read Abhorsen's emails, skimmed through the police reports from the day before, reread most of her book collection, and tried to source the key discovered in his predecessor's pockets. Human biology is remarkably inefficient, and by the time Abhorsen has finally gotten herself up and functional, Connor is more than ready to investigate.

So ready, in fact, that he doesn't offer more than a pointed stare when she inquires after wants. He holds up his palm instead, projecting the image of a scruffy looking human man. Tattoos run down both exposed shoulders in the mugshot, showing a pair of snarling, draconic faces.

"Adrian Harris. Born December 10, 2002, currently unemployed. Four arrests on record for possessing and dealing red ice." Connor lets her examine the image for a moment before his palm curls shut, dismissing it.

"His description matches the KW's summary with 96% confidence." It would have been 100 if he'd been allowed access to its memories. Connor swallows back the bitter remark, inclining his head.

"And his cell phone is currently just east of Highland Park."

"I see. Not many men have tattoos like that." At least, not the sort of men Sabriel's seen. But recent events have shown her just how limited her experience is.

She hasn't heard of Highland Park before- but hopefully it isn't a particularly large park. Still, Harris matches the sort of person they're looking for, and even if he's armed and has allies... Connor has combat programming and Sabriel's both a powerful Charter mage and a necromancer. They'll be able to deal with any living or Dead opponents.

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with Detroit's geograhy- is that very far from here? Will we need to go past any checkpoints on the way there?" She's sure Connor will say something snide about her ignorance, but she'd rather have him be snide than be caught unprepared.

Ignorance is, at this point, a default assumption. Connor's eyes shift into the distance, LED spinning a quick yellow circle as he checks.

"It's fourteen minutes by taxi. And still under human control." Troop locations aren't publicly accessible, but if they stay away from the border, the odds of being stopped decrease significantly. "...We should be able to avoid them."

Should. He tugs at the line of his jacket, smoothing a near-invisible crease from the holster underneath.

"Then we should be on our way," Sabriel says firmly, "And I'll deal with any soldiers we encounter." As long as they're not Charter mages, that should be simple enough.

Sabriel's mostly silent during the taxi ride, but there's an air of tension about her- like a coiled spring, or a bowstring pulled taut, constantly looking out the window as though she's ready to jump out and keep moving as soon as the taxi stops.

When the taxi does, she looks around, confused. "Are you sure we're in the right place? I don't see a park here."

Connor might be an ass, but she can't see him sabotaging her like this- or making a mistake about location. So she must have misunderstood something.

If Abhorsen's plans for 'dealing' with soldiers are anything like how she'd 'dealt' with deviants the day before... Connor has doubts. He doesn't, however, see much point in sharing them, especially when they're almost underway. He keeps his attention on the road.

Two minutes to wait. Fourteen to drive. The taxi rolls to a stop, and Connor's already reaching for the door. Shoes crunch in the snow, eyes settling on a house across the street... before Abhorsen speaks, and his gaze flicks back. This time, his expression isn't quite as restrained.

"...Highland Park is a municipal district." Each word drawls out pointedly slow, as if for an audience with a particularly challenged mind. "And I said 'east of'." A pointed jerk of the head indicates the house at the address, and Connor takes a few steps forward at an angle, trying for a better view of the windows. Are the lights on inside the building?

"I see." But there's no point in apologizing for her ignorance, or asking for more information. Instead Sabriel puts on her armor and reaches for her sword and bells, squinting up at the building. She can feel something with her Death-sense- one of the Dead, and something else- possibly corpses, possibly just old deaths. Neither is a pleasant possibility.

"Is it possible they're still asleep?" It's not that early, but it wouldn't surprise Sabriel if criminals were prone to sleeping in. And it would make sneaking up on them much easier.

"There's one of the Dead inside, but I don't think anyone's died there recently- either he's not there anymore, or it's been ordered not to attack him." Those are the only two explanations for how a Dead creature could be in someone's home without attempting to eat the occupants.

"The city is in a state of shutdown, our target is unemployed, and the sun won't rise for another hour," Connor recites. "So, yes."

His expression is unmoved, but there's a hint of charge behind the android's voice. Anticipation. The lights are off. Their targets is complacent, and the dead thing waiting in the building is only confirmation that they're following a useful trail. He nods at the information, eyes lingering on the street outside: multiple cars parked nearby, when most humans have abandoned the area. Did Harris have company?

Connor doesn't mention the possibility aloud. Abhorsen is far too fretful already about inflicting harm, and the presence of potential bystanders won't help. A hand goes to his hip, checking the gun holstered just beneath his jacket.

He's ready when she is.

Sabriel pauses, checking over the straps on her bells, drawing her sword about an inch out of its scabbard so it will be easier to draw all the way if she needs it.

She nods to Connor, falling in line behind him.

"I'll deal with the Dead, while you handle Harris." It seems like a good plan, since she knows she's better at fighting the Dead than Connor is- and he's probably better at getting information out of living people.

And someone willingly working with the Dead deserves anything Connor might want to do to them.

"Of course." He logs the instructions, eyes flicking back. If Abhorsen's position is any sign, she's expecting him to take the lead. How unusual. But then, he supposes, her expertise is with the dead. She's never gone after a human criminal before—at least, not in anything approaching civilization.

Neither has Connor. He keeps this fact from his expression as he walks forward: shoulders straight, stance confident. While his model series was designed to stand in for law enforcement on a larger scale, the deviant investigation had claimed precedent. And his predecessor's failure to handle that had more or less decimated the city's rule of law. If he were operating as designed, Connor would be here alongside a human officer, whose position of authority could be leveraged to compel an interview. This is... not that.

He'll have to improvise.

The door is old and weathered. The porch, half-rotted, ancient timbers damaged by the melted snow. Connor eyes it, calculating the structural stability as he raises a hand and knocks, calling out firmly.

"Adrian Harris?"

There's a sound from inside. Several sounds, he estimates: the scuffle of movement, a graceless thud against the floor, the creak of a door further in. The probability of other humans jumps to 96%, and in the span of seconds, he's fairly sure they aren't hurrying to answer. Are they covering illicit activities? Going for weapons?

...Connor isn't here with law enforcement. Which means there's no reason to wait.

The android takes a step back, freeing one gun from its holster—and lunges back in, a precisely coordinated kick snapping the latch. The door smashes wide, and Connor darts inside, leaving the entrance clear for Abhorsen to follow.

At least one of them knows what they're doing- Sabriel has little experience dealing with hostile humans- especially those that aren't sorcerers or necromancers.

Sabriel stands behind Connor, loosening the straps on Saraneth but not drawing the bell yet. Having it out seems to make Connor nervouse, and she has no way of knowing if there are more living people besides Harris in the house, that might require magical incapacitation. And the Dead creature... isn't approaching the door. Well, she hasn't used any magic, so it doesn't know she's near, and Harris is probably trying to keep it hidden.

So instead, she draws her sword as Connor pulls out his gun, keeping one hand free for spellcasting, and as he charges forward, Sabriel lunges after him, eyes scanning her surroundings. The Dead creature is upstairs- can she go after them, or are there humans beside Harris than need to be dealt with?

A man lunging at her with a knife answers that question, and Sabriel raises her sword to parry the strike- and then slams her knee into his groin before shoving him back with her free hand, to take advantage of her longer weapon as he stumbles back and she tries to gauge how many people she and Connor are dealing with.

"Shit shit shit- it's the one he told us about! Get down here, now!"

She can feel the Dead creature start moving at the shouted command, and Sabriel's free hand goes for Saraneth, undoing the last few straps.

Stairs to the left. Living area ahead. Connor maps the threadbare couches and assorted furniture in a glance as his attention locks on three moving, active shapes. One man (unfamiliar) is emerging from the kitchen, another visible only in profile as he scrambles into a back room of some kind. Harris? Every instinct in Connor's programming urges him to chase, but the third human—

—is swinging toward his head with a crowbar.

He ducks low, snapping off a single shot. It grazes the retreating shape in the leg, drawing a sharp cry before Connor is forced to turn his focus to his current opponent. The woman with the crowbar is short but stocky, and quick to recover from her miss. She follows her momentum forward, shoulder-checking him back against the nearest wall and jamming the sharp end of the crowbar towards his gut. Connor catches the weapon by the shaft and twists, left hand snaking back up to plant his gun against her torso.

Avoid human deaths. The parameter blinks up to fill his vision, and Connor glares, dismissing the overlay even as he twitches the barrel downward and squeezes. A bullet tears through his opponent's thigh, two centimeters left of the femoral artery. The woman spasms, dropping to the ground, and Connor stomps on her weapon hand, producing a sharp crunch and a new scream.

By now, Abhorsen is engaged with her own target—who, from the sound of it, just called for reinforcements. Connor spins the crowbar in his right hand, testing the weight as he steps neatly between his owner and her current fight.

"Abhorsen." He tips the weapon back in indication.

There are steps approaching down the stairs. They're too fast to be human.

"I know." Sabriel's gaze snaps upwards, and there's something in her expression like a mongoose that's spotted a snake- tension, but also anticipation.

Sabriel gets Saraneth free just as the Dead android comes into view, and she swings the bell just as she hears a gunshot, Saraneth's booming voice not quite drowning out the sharp crack.

The Hand bends to her will easily enough, and she makes it walk towards the man with the gun as Sabriel ducks down and follows behind it, keeping a mental grip on it. The gunshots aren't a problem- they're all aimed at the chest and head- but she doesn't want it to rip the mans throat out, which is what it wants to do- it doesn't have any loyalty to these people, not with its bonds to its previous master severed.

Apparently convinced that he just hasn't shot it enough, the man keeps firing, each shot knocking the Hand back a half-step before it moves forward again, urged on by Saraneth's echoes and Sabriel's will, until the man runs out of bullets and Sabriel lunges forward, slamming the pommel of her sword into the mans hand, knocking the gun out as she kicks at his feet, trying to knock his legs out from under him as the Dead android regards them both with a hungry expression.

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aaand short timeskip

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