I AM ALIVE (ROBOT X HUMAN)

The Hidden Culprit 2

Novel Name: I AM ALIVE (or HUMAN X ROBOT)
Episode 2
Title: The Hidden Culprit

June 13, 2048, 8:01 AM

Connor stood in front of the towering NCI (National Crime Investigation) office, his sleek design catching the morning light. His synthetic face showed no emotion as he handed his ID to the guard and entered the building. He had been assigned to report to Lieutenant Kara, a well-known detective notorious for her temper and disdain for androids.

After being directed to Hall 2, the fifth desk, Connor moved purposefully through the bustling office. When he arrived, he saw a woman sitting at the desk, her back to him, her dark hair tied loosely.

"Hello, Lieutenant Kara. My name is Connor. I am the android sent by MacLife, and I'm here to assist you," he announced.

The woman spun around abruptly, hurling a file directly at Connor, the papers scattering across the floor. "Help me? Hah! An android is here to help me? That's rich!" she sneered, rising from her chair. Standing face-to-face with Connor, she glared into his synthetic eyes. "I hate androids. And now I have to work with one? This just keeps getting better!"

Connor, unaffected by her hostility, bent down to gather the papers. "I apologize for your inconvenience, Lieutenant, but you'll have to work with me. It's my directive."

Kara folded her arms, watching as Connor neatly organized the file and moved to the desk directly across from hers. Without a word, he began analyzing the scattered reports.

The case involved three rogue androids: RX 200, RA 500, and AD 9060. As Connor scanned the details, his processors worked rapidly to assess the situation.

"Lieutenant Kara, we should start investigating RX 200," Connor said, glancing up.

Kara, however, was wearing headphones, seemingly lost in music. "Lieutenant... Lieutenant Kara," Connor repeated, his synthetic patience unwavering.

When she didn't respond, Connor walked over and gently removed her headphones.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Kara snapped, standing up abruptly. "If you want to work, then go work! Just don't disturb me!"

Before Connor could respond, her phone rang. Kara shot him an annoyed glance before answering. "Hello?"

"There's been a murder at OL Street, House No. 4. Likely android involvement. Get there immediately," barked the voice on the other end before abruptly hanging up.

"Mad dog," Kara muttered under her breath, referring to her boss. She grabbed her jacket and motioned for Connor to follow.

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They arrived at OL Street, House No. 4, where police barriers cordoned off the scene. Inside, the forensic team was already at work. The common room was a mess-broken furniture, blood splatters, and signs of a violent struggle.

Connor's investigation began with a scan of the common room. He found traces of psychedelics, a drug commonly known to impair judgment, indicating the victim was under its influence. The broken chair and desk suggested a fierce struggle had occurred.

In the kitchen, Connor found something more telling: droplets of "Redice," the synthetic blood of androids. This confirmed the involvement of a robot. He also noticed an empty knife case on the counter. Scanning for fingerprints, he discovered that the victim's prints were on the case, suggesting the victim had initiated the attack.

The kitchen table was covered in neatly sliced vegetables, indicating the android had been cooking. The meticulous details painted a clear picture in Connor's processors.

System Instability +++
Data processed: Defensive android behavior triggered by external threat.

Connor reconstructed the sequence of events using his advanced Insight ability. His internal systems built a virtual model of the scene:

"The victim, under the influence of psychedelics, entered the kitchen and grabbed a knife. He attacked the android, who was cooking. In self-defense, the android retaliated, breaking through its system safeguards. During the struggle, they moved into the common room, where the android finally overpowered the victim and stabbed him 46 times. The victim succumbed to his injuries."

Kara crossed her arms. "Well, that's a neat story. But where's the android now?"

Connor's gaze swept the room. "There's no sign of escape. The android is still here."

"Still here?!" Kara exclaimed, her voice laced with disbelief. She pulled out her walkie-talkie. "All units, be on high alert. The suspect is likely still inside the premises."

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Connor resumed his investigation, following faint droplets of Redice through the hallway. His scanners led him to the bathroom, where a large mirror hung on the wall. Something about the mirror seemed off. He examined it closely, running his hands along the edges until he found a small gap in one corner.

"It's a hidden compartment," Connor stated.

Kara stepped closer, watching as Connor carefully pried the mirror open. Behind it was a narrow, dark space. Inside, crouched and motionless, was the android-its optics flickering dimly as it tried to conserve power.

Kara instinctively reached for her weapon, but Connor raised a hand. "No sudden movements. It's unstable."

System Instability +++
Data processed: Android hiding behavior suggests self-preservation instinct.

The scene was tense as Connor moved forward, his systems calculating every possible outcome.

"Stand down. You are compromised. Come with us peacefully, and we can fix this," Connor said, his voice calm yet commanding.

The rogue android hesitated, its optics locking onto Connor. Kara stood ready, her weapon drawn, as Connor took another step forward.

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