From Your Wires to Your Core

The Mission

"What did we even come back here for, Toaster? You really think there's evidence left behind after a whole phcking week?" Reed asked with a sigh of boredom and frustration, kicking the dirt with the tip of his shoe. It was dim, almost nightfall. The Eden Club had opened just an hour ago, and the music was bouncing even in the alley across the street. They couldn't see anyone close by, but that didn't mean no one was watching. They'd agreed to put on a bit of a show, just in case.

"There is a fifteen percent chance of my superior sensors picking up evidence left behind by the human forensics team," Nines confirmed as he looked around the alley floor. He crouched and made a show of examining the ground. It was dirty cement. Nothing special. No evidence. No obvious signs for him to read. That didn't stop him from running his fingers over the uneven cement. He could identify the multiple rock types that made up the cracked surface.

"Are you phcking kidding me? I can't believe I let your plastic ass drag me down here for a fifteen percent chance!" Reed shoved his hands in his pockets with a scoff and looked up at the deep blueish grey of the sky. He'd be able to see stars if not for the lights from the surrounding area. Shifting his gaze, he noticed a discreet security camera belonging to one of the small businesses on the main street. It was probably for watching the bins to stop littering, but also covered the fire door a little way off.

"The chance is slim, but worth pursuing with what little we have to go on," Nines replied in a uniform tone as he continued his examination, following a thin crack with his fingertips. He looked up with an expression of mild annoyance as Reed shifted from foot to foot. His anti-android persona had certainly come back easily enough. It was easy to think he meant it as he looked down at him as if he were an inconvenience. Like he'd been dragged there and forced to watch him like a baby.

"How phcking long?" Reed was restless. Itching to get this over with. The sooner they parted, the sooner it would be over and they could go home. Together.

"An hour, perhaps longer...It is my intention to be thorough," Nines replied indifferently as he got to his feet and moved to a new spot. He tried not to focus on Reed too much. His current task, within their narrative, was to examine the area for evidence. He heard Reed click his tongue in annoyance and noticed the telltale glow of his mobile phone. He made a show of scrolling through a page or two before letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Do you really need me here? Surely there's something else I could be doing! I'm not a phcking babysitter!" If he didn't know it was all an act, Nines would have been annoyed by his obnoxious tone. He spared him a glance as he raised his fingers. "Oh no, don't you phcking dare you...That's disgusting!" Reed groaned as he watched Nines' tongue dart out to lick slowly over the tips of his fingers. In reality, they both knew he was having a very different reaction to the show. He averted his eyes for a whole new reason as he realised Nines was scanning him.

"Perhaps you would like to scour the Eden Club for witnesses." This was it. The moment they'd been building up to. It was time for Reed to leave the alleyway. He froze for a moment. Part of him desperately wanted to refuse the offer and remain where he was. He watched as Nines stood and moved to yet another spot, continuing his role and scanning the ground again. Shit, we signed up for this crap...Time to go.

"Sure...Anything's better that standing here watching you...do whatever it is you're doing. Hit me up if you find anything." He turned to leave, waving a hand over his shoulder in farewell as he pulled a small notebook and pen from his inside pocket. He may as well actually do the job he was pretending to do. Getting a witness certainly wouldn't hurt, but after a week, he knew they were unlikely to turn up anything. He heard Hank's gruff words of praise and assurance in his small ear piece. They were monitoring Nines' signal now. Reed showed his badge and stepped into the club unchallenged. It wasn't unusual for police to come around like this, though usually they were clients looking to skip the queue. The club allowed it because the special treatment made them more likely to turn a blind eye to any illegal activities going on inside.