Chapter Text
[SecSystem Order_Priority=URGENT]: Report to StillWater Retrieval and Investigation suite. Further information to follow.
I released my grip on the human’s wrist, hearing an oof as he unceremoniously fell to the floor. I turned, quickly sending an acknowledge message, and headed back in the opposite direction to meet the new order. There was a sick crunch followed by a human wail as my heavy boot stepped on top of the human’s hand. I didn’t stop to check on the human. Urgent orders needed to be attended to right away. I sent a quick update to SecSystem. The human I had been transporting to Datacadium’s security team will need another escort. SecSystem pinged back in acknowledgement, withdrawing my previous task and reassigning it to another available SecUnit. Even if the human tried to run, my relief – DC-04 in this case – would easily find him. Each contracted worker had been implanted with a locator chip. Deep enough to be difficult to remove, but shallow enough to be useful.
[SecSystem RE:Order_Priority=Urgent]: Construct Identified=ModifiedComfortUnit:Energy_Weapons, Indeterminate. Hostile_Potential=Medium. Status=Under_ASC_Control. Detain and restrain until further instructions.
The fastest way to the Retrieval and Investigation suite would be to take the elevator down two floors. Since I wasn’t allowed to use the elevator, I’d have to continue down the corridor and take the stairs. I grabbed the camera in the Retrieval and Investigation suite to view the situation. Two technicians, one human non-client, and a construct that had begun to lay down on the examination table. Risk Assessment flagged the non-client as unstable and low priority threat with how they were thrashing against the tech that held them back and a few other indicators I couldn’t pick out on my own. Checking SecSys order queue, I could see DC-09 was also being sent to the Retrieval and Investigation suite. Presumably to handle the non-client. Gradually, an unusual heaviness developed in my connection with SecSystem. A prickling sensation travelling up from my neck to my scalp in response, and I felt almost as if something within SecSystem was watching me. I ignored the response my organics were having and continued to watch as I made my way down the stairs.
“Access memory from 08/18, starting at 2245 and prep for upload to this feed address,” the technician nearest the table said, gesturing at the construct on the table.
“Acknowledged,” it replied, its face doing a strange grimace. Technician Two, who currently held the non-client, released them, and the non-client rushed up to the table. They leaned over it, their body language registering as distressed and frightened which was making Threat Assessment confused as to which direction it should go. Frightened humans can attack, but they also shut down. Most humans I’ve run into shut down.
“Cade?” The non-client said, voice tilting up as they gently shook its shoulder.
“Relax, Mr. Kovacs. I’m just filtering its fluids. It should keep any aftereffects of this situation at bay. It's a pretty neat feature if I say so myself. It’d be better if these guys didn’t have reactions or chemicals at all, but...you know,” Technician One said with a half-hearted shoulder gesture.
The behavior of the non-client was...interesting. They continued to lean over the ComfortUnit, they clasped its hand while their free hand roamed its face in a...soothing gesture? I had only seen this behavior directed at a construct on my last contract, and it pulled painfully at the organic parts of me.
It reminded me too much of her.
Of how her skin felt on mine.
A small static shock shot down my spine, and I picked up the pace, shoving through the stairwell door. I was taking too long for an urgent order. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment and focused more attention on the camera feed. The ComfortUnit had been released from the override code and was currently being embraced by the non-client. Again, my organics reacted painfully to this, the ghost of a sweet, floral scent assaulting my olfactory senses. I visualized a box and imagined stuffing those feelings into it. There was no reason to dwell on her. She was gone.
I caught sight of DC-09 from the other end of the hallway, identifiable only by the designator on its chest. We wore identical onyx black armor with red designs on the helmet and shoulder guards. I couldn’t see its expression due to the opaque faceplate, instead seeing my reflection as we moved closer to one another.
“The big issue here is that the weapons were not reported to Station Security, then not reported to Datacadium’s security team, Mr. Kovacs. I’m sure you understand how serious that is,” Technician Two said, his tone accusatory.
I dropped my hold on the camera as DC-09 came to a stop in front of me. There was a faint beep from the access panel for the suite door, and we both turned to face it as it hissed open. The heaviness in SecSystem intensified as DC-09 and I stepped into the room. Non-client's head whipped around to us, their eyes widening. From here, I could see their hand had been entwined with the ComfortUnit’s, but they released it in favor of hugging the construct tightly.
“N-n-no! No, please, don’t-” non-client had started to say but DC-09 interrupted them.
“Step away from the construct,” it ordered as we continued to advance. Non-client continued to squeeze the ComfortUnit, unconsciously moving backward to try and make space between themself and the advancing SecUnits. So far, the ComfortUnit hadn’t moved aside from moving its arm around the non-client's waist.
“It’s completely harmless to humans, please,” the non-client's voice sounded airy and had that panic induced tremor to it.
DC-09 rounded the examination table, quickly grabbing non-client as I gripped the ComfortUnit’s upper arm. There was an odd sensation on the top of my skull that reminded me of when an update was forced on me by HubSystem. I instantly threw a flag to SecSystem, only to never receive an ACK back. The non-client made a sound, frantically grabbing at the ComfortUnit as DC-09 pried them off of it. Whatever negotiation tactic they had planned went out the window as soon as they lost contact with the ComfortUnit’s skin. I held on to the construct’s upper arm, watching through my visor as DC-09 dragged the human out of the room, their sounds devolving into screaming as they violently thrashed in it’s grip. Their response...It reminded me of-
Ayumi, SecSystem said, and I froze.
W-what?
Ayumi Yukimura, it said again, as if I hadn’t heard it the first time. My organics seized uncomfortably, painfully. A lump forming in my throat. From the lower portion of my vision, I could see the ComfortUnit looked up at me before returning to that limp, upright position of defeat. I hadn’t heard that name spoken by another being in months. Only I seemed to remember her. Only I whispered her name before slipping into a recharge inside my cubicle.
You wish to see her again, SecSystem continued. I can help make that happen.
H-how? S-Ayumi is gone.
She left me.
Her contract ended two years ago.
She left me.
She had no choice. My organics were stinging.
She left me.
You want to see her again, it said, pausing as if it was waiting for a response. Speak. Tell me if that is-
Yes, I winced, expecting a punishment from SecSystem for speaking in the feed, but nothing came. The heaviness within SecSystem shifted, more of its weight sliding into my processes. I could feel it combing through my storage space, accessing memories, viewing code. This was not SecSystem. Is this malware? A rootkit or something more advanced?
It accessed painful memories. It accessed happy memories. It accessed them so quickly my organics were confused as to what to feel, leaving my chest and face a mix of a sharp, aching warmth that I...didn’t want to leave.
What are you? I asked, tensing up as I anticipated the punishment SecSystem issued, but did not execute. I could feel this presence shift its focus towards me and not my memories, bogging down my processors momentarily before they evened out, having grown used to the resource consumption.
A friend, it replied, its focus returning to my memories again. If you wish to have one.
I don’t know what a friend is. Not anymore.
She left me.
I thought I knew what a friend was.
I flinched as a mild grade zap shot down my spine, the air escaping my lung with a sound that echoed in my helmet. The presence paused, its focus back on me again.
Sorry, it said, sounding embarrassed. I can disable this, if you wish.
“Leave us.”
I blinked, hesitating as my attention returned to meat space, and ran back the room’s camera recording to catch up on what had been going on while I was distracted. Mr. Spellmeyer stood in front of me, his brows drawn together and mouth tight. When his gaze didn’t waver, I released the ComfortUnit’s arm, turned, and made my way out of the room, remaining just outside in case I was called back in. I felt the presence wedge something in my long-term storage and quickly pulled the specific sector up. A rather large file sat in there.
Mod_HelpURSLF.DC.file
I immediately ran a malware scan on it. Nothing.
If you want a chance at seeing Ayumi Yukimura again, apply that, and contact me. I will make sure you have that chance, it said, adding, but I may need something from you before then.
Contact? How would I do that? Did it not know SecSystem enforced no speaking through the feed? I could feel as the presence started to withdraw from my processes, the numb feeling I had just become accustomed to slowly disappearing. I felt a surge of...I don’t know. A jitteriness that urged me to speak, to stop this monstrosity from leaving.
Wait! How do I contact you? What do I call you? I could feel myself still tensing up as SecSystem’s reprimand was issued but ultimately blocked by the presence.
Apply that file. You’ll be able to find me, it replied. Call me Azi.