Extraordinary Mistakes II - Blood Ties

What are you so afraid of?

September is almost over. Another week has gone by and following Joshua Roberts hasn't provided any new information.

For a few days now, except on Fridays, Rachel has a company working out early in the morning, while everyone else slept.

"Oh, I can come back later, it's okay..." Abigail says on the first day.

"There's enough room." Rachel smiles and waves her hand around.

Abigail's tongue clicks and she ventures inside. Seeing the weights organized on a shelf, a few rugs stacked on a corner, a treadmill and something that catches her eyes. It's a robot with a humanoid figure.

"Sorry, how does... this... work?" She points to it.

Rachel puts down her weights and comes closer to them.

"Ánh built it. You define your profile, so it will know that it's fighting you and not me, for example. It learns from each interaction."

"Fun," Abigail raises her eyebrow, "can you show it to me?"

Rachel nods and puts her hand on the robot's head. It turns on and says Rachel Moore, it begins with a countdown from three and Rachel starts mostly avoiding its punches and kicks. It moves surprisingly fast and with a final sweep kicks Rachel's ankle and makes her trip to the mat.

"Done," Rachel says, and it shuts down.

Abigail gives her a hand and helps her get up.

"You two have quite the relationship, uh?" Abigail's green eyes glow.

"That's one way to put it." Rachel chuckles, "just place your hand there."

"Where?" Abigail comes closer to her and the robot.

"Here," Rachel grabs Abigail's right hand and places it in the robot's chest.

"New profile. Name."

"Abigail Parker."

"Abigail Parker. Ready?"

"Done," Rachel says.

The robot's lights dim.

"You'll win initially, but it will adapt for the next round. Don't underestimate it, trust me."

Rachel turns around and goes to the treadmill.

***

The group meets in the basement. Everyone is there, except for Emily.

"Nothing, Rachel," Diego reports. He followed Joshua Roberts just the day before.

"The boy leads an uninteresting life. Works at his mother's office and then spends the evenings drinking with some equally boring people," Alex continues.

"Movements online and on his cards are normal," Ánh adds.

"How is that possible? When I followed him, he was shooting bodies from deviants that were clearly taken and experimented on the secret lab you're searching for." Abigail pushes her hair back.

"Well, that sounds wonderful, dear, but we haven't seen anything like it," Alex shows a half smile.

"It's useless to keep following him. It's a dead point," Diego says.

"End... dead end... well, Megan. You've seen already some of the buildings. Anything popped out?" Rachel asks.

"No," only you killing yourself with drugs.

"Ánh... Marianne Olsen."

"Nothing on the cameras in her house, nothing on the cards. She doesn't exist."