Thirium 310

Chapter 13

It's kind of strange, a good strange, walking into your "home" and finding it crowded. Of course, the population is still small but it's a big step from the original eleven. I'm glad though. Androids have a place to stay, but it's still not freedom. I immediately go look for North and find her with Josh and Simon. "Hey." I walk over to them. 

"That took quite a while," North says. 
"I got side tracked."
"Oh yeah how so?" 
"Um. . ." The three wait for my answer with their arms crossed. "I ran into someone, that's all."
"Who?" Josh asks. 
"I don't think you want to know." I laugh and pace around. "How's it going here? I see the population is growing."
"It is, but more damaged androids. I mean we have parts for now, but what happens when we run out," Simon says.
"Let's worry about that when we get there," I say. 
"Hey no, you don't get to change the topic. Who did you run into?" North says. I give in. 
"Fine, it was Connor."
"Connor, Connor Connor. . .wait, the deviant hunter?" Josh exclaims. 
"Yes."
"You have to be careful with him. I heard he's tricky. He didn't follow you here, he better not have," Josh rambles and starts for the door. I grab his wrist. 
"He didn't follow me, honest. Why do you think I'm soaking wet?"
"I was going to ask you about that," Simon inputs. 
"So you stayed behind when we left?" North asks impatiently. 
"Oh, no. I ran into him on a bridge on the way here. He was with Hank." North furrows her brow. "The old man that was there that you almost killed."
"Hey I wasn't going to kill him. Maybe just hurt him a little."
"North, we don't hurt humans. That will make us as bad as they are. We need to prove we're peaceful," Josh says. 
"Oh here we go again with peace. Josh, the only language humans speak is violence," she responds. 
"Here we go again," Simon says as he comes to stand beside me. 
"Those two have more bark than bite." We watch us Josh and North go back and forth about our somewhat plan of action. It really isn't a plan, more like an idea. 
"What were you doing with the deviant hunter?" Simon asks. North and Josh both quiet down interested in the topic. 
"Yeah Celeste, what were you doing with him."
"Just talking." I shrug and sit on a crate. 
"Yeah, okay. Was there brooding battle? Did you tear him to pieces?" North asks eagerly. 
"Why is it always violence with you?"
"Peace is for cowards!"
"Uh, no. Peace is actually courageous and makes you the bigger person."
"Guys, shut up. Let Celeste tell her story," Simon interrupts. The two bickerers stop, but you can feel the tension in the air. 
"I don't actually have a story really. But I don't really think Connor is that much of a threat." North starts laughing. 
"Are you serious? He attacked us and the Traci's over there. He put a gun to us, to you."
"But he didn't shoot. And I was inches away from him."
"Well, maybe he has a plan."
"I don't think so. He seemed so lost. Like he was trying to find himself, but his program was too powerful. He really needs to will himself out of that."
"Why do you think that?" Josh asks. 
"I told you. I talked with him for a while. He did eventually report me but-"
"See! He can't be trusted!" North shouts. 
"That's because he was being watched by CyberLife. They can take his life whenever they decide. That's why he's going by the rules."
"You think that machine fears for his life?"
"Uh, language North," Simon says.
"Yeah North really?" Josh says. 
"Whatever. He is. Designed to bring his own people down."
"He does fear for his life. He said he was afraid, ever so quietly but I caught it." I look down and think about the pain behind those eyes. He really needs out. 
"Yeah okay."
"He was confused. I extended my hand for him to take. To come with me, here."
"Wait, you willingly gave him your hand?! He could have probed your memory!" Josh exclaims. 
"Josh stop worrying about everything. And he can't. This android has a mind shielded like a titanium barrier. No one can hijack me," I joke. 
"What are you? Some super soldier android?"
"Something like that, yeah." I smirk. That's the truth, but they won't believe it. It works in my favour. 
"Do you trust him?" Simon asks. 
"Well, kind of. But not entirely of course, I'm not naive." 
"Do you think he can be on our side?" 
"Ah, I don't know. I think he can, if he really wanted to." And I really do. It's hard to explain but you can see it in him. You can hear it from him. "He's actually kind of sweet. I haven't got to know him, but I've ran into him a few times. He's let things slide. Seemed confused on what he should do. He like an adorable lost puppy." I look down and smile. I think I truly believe he can be on our side actually. 
"And what? You can help him find his true self?" Josh teases. 
"What, no. I mean I can guide hi-" I look up to find the three looking at me with the same smug. expression. "What?"
"The deviant defender has a crush on the deviant hunter," North half yells. I take a step back in shock.
"Excuse me, WHAT?"
"Oh come on. You're smitten," Josh says. 
"Of course not. He's just-he can be an ally!" I retort. 
"Oh please, you want what you can't have!"
"Hey I can have him if I want!"
"See she does like him!" North replied.
"No, I don't. You guys are messing with my circuits!"
"Oh my gosh, this is too good to be true."
"I would have never thought, Celeste," Josh pipes. North and Josh start laughing and making fun of my apparent crush on Connor. I roll my eyes. Relationships are not on my priority list at all. 
"It's kind of nice to see them bonding," Simon says. 
I chuckle. "Yeah, well I guess we have to find more topics to make fun of me for." He laughs. "Do you think I have a crush on him?"
"Oh, nooo, definitely not," he replies. 
"Ugh, you're lying."
"Okay, fine. You might have some sort of affection towards him." I scoff. How do they see that? Whatever. 
"Alright, I'm confused so I'm going to go find the Traci's and see how they're doing." I walk out with the two in figurative tears of laughter.

"Oh you guys will be fine here," I tell the Traci's. "We're safe. The humans don't know we're here, they won't find us." They nod in understanding. 
"Thank you, for helping us. If it weren't for you, those two. . .who knows what would have happened," the blue hair Traci says.
"You know, Connor, the android back there, he let us go."
"What?"
"He did. He had a gun. He could have shot us. He didn't."
"Well, if you hadn't showed up, I think he would have." Would he have shot them if North and I didn't show up? If I didn't help Hank? If I didn't try to talk him out of it. 
"There's biocompnents and thirum if you need it. And if you need anything else, don't be afraid to ask."
"Thank you." I nod and leave them be. I roam the halls of Jericho thinking about Connor. If he was already doubting his program, he wouldn't have shot them. I mean, he let Rupert get away. But his focus was on me. I was the greater prize. Could he just be playing a game with me? Trying to trap me and get me cornered. I could be giving him more credit than he deserves. He just seemed so sincere. 
"Celeste," I hear someone call. I turn around. Markus. 
"Hey, where have you been?"
"In the city."
"Oh well-" he cuts me off with words I've wanted to hear for a while.
"I have a plan."