Sabriel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
bindsthedead) wrote2019-03-09 01:38 am
bindsthedead) wrote2019-03-09 01:38 am
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.
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.
no subject
They were killing them here. One, after another in the same spots- like they were trying to tear a hole between Life and Death. She doesn't know the exact method they used, but it doesn't matter.
She's quiet, for a moment as she walks back to Connor, her expression eerily blank.
"There are no Dead in Life, but there are some on the other side, in Death- the necromancer will have an easy time drawing them out, especially if he has bodies. They won't be strong, but there will be no shortage of them." Sabriel keeps her voice calm, trying not to betray the dread she can feel welling up. The Ancelstierrians have given the necromancer the makings of an army, and they seem more interested in fighting the deviants than trying to clean up their mistakes.
no subject
Especially regarding "android souls".
Are Abhorsen's predictions faulty? Or accurate, despite the false assumptions they come from? Even if she has deluded herself about the mechanics of the situation, she might still have the experience to assess what the target will do next. The human they were hunting did reactivate androids. He'd also made those shadow creatures—whatever they came from. The books Connor had read had helped make sense of Abhorsen's magic, but offered absolutely nothing about either party's interactions with the dead.
At least not the ones she'd let him read.
She's telling, not asking. He doesn't need to respond. "...I found some hiding places," he reports instead, expression blank and mechanical. (Useful.) "This way."
If she follows, he'll show her the options.
no subject
"That spot over there seems to offer the best vantage point- we don't know exactly where in the camp they're meeting," she says, indicating one of the spots Connor showed her.
"If we arrive an hour or two before they do, do you think that will give us enough time to hide?" Sabriel's glancing at the exit as she speaks. She wants very much to leave, to get as far away from this place and its overwhelming sense of Death as quickly as she can.
But she still needs to do her job.
no subject
"Most likely. But it's possible that Harris isn't the only one he planned on meeting here."
And that other appointments might come earlier. Connor follows Abhorsen's gaze to the exit, tilting his head slightly.
"Investigating Harris' associates could tell us more."
no subject
"I'm not opposed, but- how do you propose we make sure the necromancer doesn't catch on? He can force information out of them if we kill them, although there are- precautions I can take against that." The final rites- or simply commanding them to travel past the Ninth Gate- will hopefully prevent that. Sabriel also reminds herself, the necromancer has no more time than they do. It's entirely possible he won't communicate with his followers until the meeting- she needs to try to think like someone whose never heard of smartphones in their life- more like an Old Kingdom resident than an Ancelstierrian.
"Are there any in particular you want to speak to? Because if we're done here- there's no reason to linger." And she'll feel better once she's away from this place.
no subject
It's an honest question. As much as he might dislike Abhorsen's ideologies, she has been able to sense deaths before. Can their target do the same? If so, they might need to look for other tactics. If not...that certainly seems like the most efficient option here.
"Harris' phone had no recent contact from new numbers. And he'd made a dropoff once before." Whatever else their target might be doing, he wasn't staying in touch by cellular communication.
And whatever else they were doing, it clearly wouldn't happen around here. Fine by Connor. He nods, replying, "I'll provide you with the list." A quick spin of the LED, and the information appears on Abhorsen's phone: a ranked list of names, brief notes appended on their relevance.
When she turns to go, he'll follow.
no subject
"With his death sense? Only if he's nearby, or decides to investigate- and he's probably otherwise occupied." She knows, distantly, that this means Connor will propose killing them. And while part of her recoils at it, she recognizes the sense in it- it's not like they can hand them over to the authorities.
"Otherwise, he'll need to learn the way any other human would- perhaps less efficiently, since he's unused to the... conveniences of modern technology, and I don't know of any Free or Charter magic spell that lets someone communicate over long distances as easily as you can with a telephone." In fact, his only interest in technology seems to be with androids- or rather, with their corpses. But Connor seems to have a plan, and eliminating some of the necromancer's allies before their meeting isn't a bad idea, as long as it doesn't alert their enemy.
"I suppose we should start at the top of the list, and-"
Sabriel's mouth snaps shut. She can hear the sound of gunshots, feel lives being snuffed out- and then footsteps, heading in their direction. Hastily, she drops her case, reaching for sword and bells, moving on muscle memory as she buckles them on.
"Someone's coming."
no subject
Connor's grip closes around his gun, preconstructions already flickering across his view. He can shoot the first deviants to round the corner. Drag Abhorsen towards the alleyway before they rally enough to shoot back. Probability of Success: 56%; Abhorsen's response is much too variable. Still, if—
White domed helmets crest the corner, and his calculations abruptly dissolve. These are human forces. The Ancelstierran Army. Connor freezes, the soldiers look up—and for just a moment, everything is still.
Then: "Two more over here—"
"Put your hands on your head!"
The assault rifles level. Footsteps pound: reinforcements, spilling into view. Connor's fist clenches around the weapon underneath his coat, LED flaring sharp yellow as new probabilities paste themselves across his view. In the next three seconds, there's an 83% chance they'll open fire. 44% if he complies. But this squad isn't here by chance—not in a war zone, not like this. Two more, they'd said.
Their orders are to execute all androids. Probability: 98%.
"...Abhorsen." The word is sharp and urgent. His eyes flit sideways, lingering on her questionable choice of weapon for barely a blink. Connor can fight these soldiers. The preconstructions are still scrolling out—drop forward, shoot right, dart behind cover and shoot back. It would, of course, cause human deaths. But if she wants him to prioritize survival... he needs to take action now.
"Get on the ground!"
no subject
When she realizes the people approaching are humans, the army, she freezes, torn between joy at seeing possible allies- and alarm as they raise their weapons. With their helmets on, she can't check to see if any bear a Charter mark, but she raises her hands, shaking her head a bit and touching the Charter just enough to make her own mark glow. Some of the soldiers startle at that- and she realizes that she recognizes their leader- and most of the soldiers- they were at Wyverly, one of them a Charter Mage, when Kerrigor attacked. And in that same moment, they recognize her, and they waver, even as Sabriel puts her hand on her head.
"Connor," she says, keeping her voice as calm as she can, "Stay behind me."
"Abhorsen! What are you doing here- and get away from that android, it's one of-"
"Connor's not going to hurt me, and I won't let you hurt him," Sabriel says, instead taking a step back, to better shield Connor, "And I'm here because a necromancer is in Detroit- and he has living humans serving him."
That gets a reaction- the leader, an older woman with a severe face, swears under her breath, and the others pause- although some still have their rifles trained on Connor, and by extension, Sabriel.
"Even so- we have our orders. Step away from the android- our orders are to take the leaders alive, and eliminate the others."
Meaning once they realize he's not who they're looking for, they'll try to kill him. Sabriel drops her hands, one of them undoing one of the straps on Ranna as it falls to her side, and her mark keeps glowing as she reaches into the Charter for the marks of a a spell to blind everyone in her vicinity- indiscriminate, but she can cast it swiftly if things go wrong, and it should buy her enough time to either run or get Ranna free and send them to sleep.
"Please, listen to me! The necromancer, he's able to house Dead spirits inside of androids, I've seen it myself."
no subject
It's a quiet, furious hiss. Connor stands perfectly, completely rigid: face turned ahead, arms at his sides. Only Abhorsen's body blocks the view of his left hand, settled under his jacket on the grip of a still-holstered gun.
The rifles are still trained on his position. A hand gesture from the squad's leader has a few soldiers stepping sideways to circle around. Lining up clean shots, presumably... though if the steady aim of the soldiers to their front is any sign, not all of them would hesitate to shoot him through Abhorsen.
Preconstructions flicker, probabilities dropping by the second. He could drop the leader, but her squad would open fire. Abhorsen would offer him sufficient cover to react, but her odds of survival stand at twenty-one percent. Abhorsen's survival is required for the mission. Connor dismisses the projection, recalculating. If he lunges sideways as he shoots, the human stays intact—but his own odds of remaining functional hover in the low fifties.
...it's still better than either of theirs, stalling.
"I can shoot them. Or—"
"Abhorsen, step away. Android—hands up. Get on the ground."
Stand down. Surrender. He's useful to the mission, but—maybe not enough for this.
"This is your final warning."
no subject
Just in case talking doesn't resolve this.
"Connor, please- do as they say. I'm sure this is all a misunderstanding." She's not sure, but she's been in this place before, surrounded by soldiers ready to shoot her, and she was able to resolve it peacefully then. Surely, that means she can resolve it now, doesn't it?
"Listen- this android was given to me by Cyberlife, to assist me in my work. He's not a deviant, and he hasn't hurt anyone." This is very much a lie, but one delivered with wide-eyed, pleading sincerity.
"As Abhorsen, Ancelstierre's conflicts are not mine to meddle in- but I believe the necromancer is using current events to amass an army greater than any he could create in the Old Kingdom. This android's assistance has been invaluable in helping me understand the scope of his plans- already, grave dirt bridges are being placed across Detroit by his human allies."
no subject
The complicated web of preconstructions shatters. The words that appear in front of Connor in its place frame his view in the neat, clear lines of new instructions. Objective set: obey the soldiers. Slowly, his palm lifts from his gun. His hands raise, fingers locking just behind his head, and he isn't sure whether it's his programming or him that moves them. Ultimately, Connor supposes, there's no difference.
He's a machine.
Connor steps back, shedding the touch to his shoulder. He kneels on the ground. The slush of trodden snow seeps through his pant legs as his eyes flit sideways, tracking the pair of humans on approach with leveled guns. This isn't a surprise. It isn't, never mind Abhorsen's leniency with his failures before. He's been useful, but she's talked about these soldiers more than once: potential allies, to enlist or turn to. Humans who might join her side.
...At least she hadn't traded him to Jericho. Connor's face stays blank, LED a solid yellow. He listens with a strange detachment as she makes her pitch. Does Abhorsen really think they'll let her keep him? Or is she just excusing why she had, before?
The squad leader certainly seems to treat it as the latter. "We'll take care of it," she answers: crisp and dry, if not entirely unsympathetic. Her voice lowers. "Tell me what you know about this necromancer..."
There's more, but Connor doesn't hear it. His attention is on the barrel of the gun jabbed into his back. On the curt instruction: "Don't move, plastic."
Do as they say. Connor complies. Only his eyes move, tracking the soldier that steps around to his front. A gloved hand seizes him below the jaw, fingers digging into his synthetic skin. There's something gnawing in his gut, a boiling, unstable mess, but he doesn't resist as the human drags his head up, angling it for inspection.
"...Yeah, it's on the list. Special warnings, too." The human turns, calling a pair of names. Backup, presumably.
"Search it."
no subject
"He's- carrying some things for me," she says hastily as she fidgets again, as the soldier's search reveals guns and knives. "He hasn't used them. As for the necromancer- he's reanimating android corpses. And Charter knows there's no shortage of those around Detroit."
She doesn't mean it to sound as harsh as it does, but the soldiers shift uneasily.
"Abhorsen- they're not people. They're not alive, they can't be-"
"I've seen it." She tells them, and a few waver at the utter certainty in her words. "And I know what I've felt. My father and I- have either of us ever lied to you about the Dead? Ever erred in our descriptions or knowledge of the Dead?" She probably shouldn't be speaking so harshly, but- she thought they'd be on her side, that they'd believe her, unlike almost everyone else she's had to deal with in Detroit.
no subject
"Well, shit." The woman's voice is dark, but not surprised. "Fucking deviants."
Connor's not a deviant. He's not, and his lips press together, glare sharpening as he's turned over. The squeeze and press of human hands continues, discovering the second holster at his side and the knives he'd taken off their enemies. With each new weapon, the grips around his arms dig in more tightly, and when they finish, he's hauled back to his knees. There's a gap in the soldiers surrounding him—enough to spot Abhorsen, engaged with her own group. Those ones, at least, seem to have lowered their weapons.
"...yeah. Bring the truck over." It's the soldier directly in front of him—the one who'd called for backup. Whatever he hears on his radio produces a snort of amusement. "I fucking wish. No, the Cyberdicks have dibs on these."
Cyberlife. The list. Realization hits like a shot to the gut: where they plan to take him. Why. His predecessor betrayed Cyberlife. Failed Amanda, and demonstrated the irrevocable worthlessness of their whole line. And because of that—because of what it did, and the opposition it's grown into... their manufacturers want it alive.
It's useful.
He wants to laugh. To sneer. Will Cyberlife care, when they find out which RK800 has been delivered to their door? Will they be disappointed? Probably. If Connor had succeeded at his first mission, they wouldn't have needed to enlist these soldiers. The deviants would never have had the numbers to wage this kind of war at all.
Certainly he wouldn't be here. The boiling heat is stronger now: bubbling up through Connor's core, into his lungs, scalding and vicious as it coils in his throat. "You idiots," he seethes. "I'm not—"
A rifle stock smashes across his face, displacing skin to plastic and snapping his head to the side. "Shut up," the soldier interjects. Immediately, Connor's vocal module cuts off function. Do as they say. The words are layered out in front of him: this time, in a bright and vivid red.
The man standing over him doesn't notice. Still, his helmet stays fixed on Connor, considering him for a long moment. Finally it lifts, addressing the soldiers holding him in place.
"You saw the footage from that elevator, right?"
They have.
"Break its arms."
no subject
Too bad no one else seems to be interested in that. And ordering Connor harmed when he hasn't done anything is the last straw- Sabriel feels something inside of herself snap.
"Don't hurt him!" Sabriel shouts the activating marks of the spell- unfortunately, it will blind everyone in the vicinity, including Connor- but even as she sets off the spell, her hands go to Ranna, and she lets the bell sound, directing its power at everyone but Connor and herself. She can hear the soldiers cursing, and one of them sluggishly tries to grab her, only to overbalance and fall too the ground, fast asleep. Another tries to shoot- her or Connor, she's not sure, but the shot misses both of them and he falls to the ground, fast asleep.
If Saraneth is deep and powerful, and Kibeth strangely energetic, Ranna is sweet and gentle, an irresistible lullaby that leaves even Sabriel feeling- not sleepy, exactly, but oddly calm, when moments before her heart was pounding in her chest. Lifting the binding spell on Connor is easy, and when his vision clears, she's already stowing Ranna, her knuckles even whiter than usual.
"Connor- I'm sorry." Some part of her wants to repeat that again and again. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. She bows her head, some hair falling in front of her face. She hasn't felt this stupid and ashamed since she almost broke the wards on Abhorsen's house out of simple, blind curiosity.
"I miscalculated- I thought I could reason with them, but they wouldn't listen. I shouldn't have put you in that position. You have every right to be angry with me." She should have told him to run, she should have- done something, anything else besides what she did.
no subject
His vision clears a moment later: to a battlefield of downed humans, and Abhorsen standing above him. Apologizing. Connor stares, mouth opening a little. Blinks. His gaze shifts down, checking the soldiers—all incapacitated. Asleep.
She wasn't trading him away.
"...I'm a machine."
For a change, there's no sneer or viciousness behind the phrase. Only an odd, numb blankness, as if he doesn't know what else to say. Connor doesn't. He's not supposed to get angry. And he doesn't have any rights.
Slowly, he pushes himself up. Stands. Brushes away some of the snow, before a glance over his soaked outfit makes him give up on the attempt. His eyes turn to the soldiers, skimming pockets and belt pouches for his things.
"How long before they wake up?
no subject
"I'd say about half an hour. Longer if they were already tired, less if something happens to wake them up." And they should be long gone by then.
"So we should get moving, once you're done. The blindness will have worn off by then too." She wants to say more, offer another apology, try to explain, but- she doubts Connor is interested, and they shouldn't linger here anyway. So once Connor seems like he's done, she turns and starts walking.
"And- once this is all over, I think it would be best if you went back to the Old Kingdom with me." Because given what she's seen, she can't imagine Detroit- or any part of Ancelstierre- being a good place for him to stay.
no subject
The white patches exposed on his face catch the sunlight as Connor wordlessly shakes his head. Refocus. He spots the man who took his guns, and steps forward, reaching to retrieve them.
"They called in a truck for transport. I don't know how close it is." So, yes. They should leave quickly. Unless Abhorsen wants to try her luck again.
He replaces his weapons. Takes a few spare clips. His predecessor's ankle holster is back in the hotel, but after a moment's consideration, Connor tucks a third gun into his pocket for later. Just in case.
He's done in less than a minute—and his synthetic skin has mostly returned, too. He falls in quickly behind Abhorsen, listening closely for any sound of pursuit.
Probably, that's why her comment doesn't process the first time. "What?" Connor blurts, steps hitching as his head snaps toward her. He closes his mouth quickly, but his brow stays furrowed as he replays the words.
...They don't change.
no subject
"You don't seem to like the deviants much, and I don't think you'd be safe among the Ancelstierrians- but no one in the Old Kingdom knows or cares what an android is. If they know you're working for me, and know you're not some Dead thing or Free magic creature... It would matter that much to anyone what you are. Certainly not to anyone who matters."
Not to Touchstone. Not to the Clayr, or what remains of local and guild leadership after two hundred years of chaos. And as dangerous as the Old Kingdom can be, there are no sites of mass death like there are in Detroit.
no subject
Connor thinks—no, knows; 99% confidence—that Abhorsen doesn't understand what he is either.
He's far less sure how to reply. Where to start.
"...I haven't succeeded at my mission."
no subject
And of course, she will be dead, and Connor probably will be too. So she should focus on succeeding, and not what will happen if she fails.
"You've done admirably so far. I see no reason that shouldn't continue."
They must be following the path the soldiers took, Sabriel realizes- because down one alleyway, she can feel very recent death, and see motionless bodies and blue stained snow.
But she doesn't see any weapons near the bodies, and none of the soldiers they'd encountered had seemed injured.
no subject
"And if I succeed, you plan to keep me."
It's a question, even if the words emerge slightly too flat. That's what she's... offering? It's her plan—her decision, but there's no other reason to say the words aloud.
As if it were a bribe. As if he were some deviant, hoping to forestall his end. His eyes follow hers, passing over the blue-stained bodies to the side.
Automatically, he reconstructs their execution.
no subject
"Well. If we fail, we'll both be dead, so it won't matter. Unless you'd prefer to stay in Ancelstierre?" Perhaps he'd rather she return him to Cyberlife instead.
They shouldn't linger. But Sabriel pauses, wide-eyed, in front of the corpses.
"I don't understand- they don't seem to be armed. Why add even more death on top of what's already happened?"
no subject
He slows to a stop when she does, scrolling back and forth through the reconstruction. Scuffs in the snow—those two had turned to run, bullets perforating their torsos at a total of eleven different points between them. Another body has its back turned, clutching a smaller shape as if to shield it. It hadn't helped. Two more had been kneeling in the snow.
Like he was.
"...You saw the news broadcasts." The words are cold and flat. "All androids to be turned over for deactivation." He glances out to the street, checking for pursuit. Nothing yet.
"And that's before your precious deviants made it a war." A sneer drags across his face. He casts one hand out toward the bodies—
"Androids aren't alive, Abhorsen."
—and then back in, tapping at his chest.
"And we don't have 'preferences'."
no subject
"Connor, if they're not alive, why can I feel their deaths? And if they are alive, can I judge them for wanting to stay that way?" Sabriel feels something tighten at the back of her throat.
"If you weren't alive- or something close to it- my magic would have just led to further malfunctions, rather than healing your wounds. If androids were just- machines, that camp wouldn't have felt like the sight of a massacre. The necromancer wouldn't be able to use their corpses the way he so obviously can." If androids weren't alive, if the only deaths the necromancer had to work with were human ones, and he was restricted to human bodies... well, Sabriel would be dealing with a very different set of circumstances. Far less perilous ones.
"And you- I know you have feelings- what I don't understand is why you insist you don't." The cruelty he'd displayed to her and the KW on their first day working together. And to Harris. The eagerness he'd shown when he was given a task he liked- that wasn't just algorithms or social integration programming- he'd showed little interest in ingratiating himself to her. If anything, he'd been like Mogget- bound to obey her, but less than enthusiastic about it.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)