"Oh god, they're sending another android. He can't feel. He's just like you were, Connor."
In which another android is sent to help Hank Anderson and Connor with a case that they are unknowingly connected to. Very strongly connected to.
(Post-Revolu...
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"Who was the very first victim?" Markus asked, approaching Hank's desk. Connor and Charlie watched from their own desks as Hank looked through his terminal, pulling up the image of a teenage boy.
"The very first murder committed by the Ripper happened in 2033. There was a break between, but the murders have started up again. The victim's name was Charlie Holmes, I know his mom." Hank's tone became solemn, and he wasn't done talking.
"His body was never found. But due to traces of him and a note left behind, that explained how they tore him apart in exact detail, we know it was them. Same fashion as all the other murders, then the next ones were all androids."
The idea of being told how someone was torn apart made Charlie shudder, shaking his head. Once he regained his composure, he spoke up.
"Can we talk to his mother? We might be able to find valuable information about the case."
~~~
Charlie stared out the window, gazing at the thick snow covering the ground and the heavy snowfall from the white, cloudy sky. It had just transitioned to December, and Christmas lights and decorations were already up. Christmas music was playing everywhere, and it had already begun to snow.
Hank pulled into the driveway of a nice house; a stark contrast to Todd's more dreary home. There was a white picket fence surrounding it, and the exterior was a baby blue. There was something about this home...it was almost familiar to Charlie. He couldn't quite define it.
Hank knocked on the door, but not like how he would during most investigations. It was softer and tentative.
A woman who appeared to be in her mid-to-late forties answered the door. Her dark brown hair was streaked with grey and she was much thinner than what was healthy.
Her eyes lit up when she saw Hank, unwavering as she glanced at Charlie. But it soon dimmed when her gaze flickered to his LED, but not for the reason suspected.
"We'd like to ask about your son," Hank said slowly, knowing it was a delicate subject. The woman gave him a watery smile, and opened the door wider so everyone could come in.
Charlie ran a quick scan on the woman, discovering that her name was Jodie Holmes.
The house was indeed cozy and nice, but there was definitely an air of sadness in the house. Like someone was missing. And someone was.
Charlie stood in the living room while everyone else sat down, looking around. A photo caught his eye. It was of a little boy, no older than five. He was on a jungle gym, hugging a little girl around his age.
"The little girl was our neighbour. They were best friends until Charlie disappeared." Charlie jumped slightly and turned around, seeing Jodie watching him from her seat in an armchair. He nodded before he seemed to tense up.
"His name was Charlie?" He seemed to squeak out of the words and he watched as Hank's face turned solemn. Hank must've named him after the original Charlie; but why?
"How old was he when he disappeared, Ms. Holmes?"
"Just call me Jodie," she waved it off. "He was fifteen at the time. He was so sweet..." Hank, Markus and Connor watched the interaction, interested to see how Charlie would continue with this.
"Was there an argument prior to his disappearance? Something that may have caused him to storm out of the house?" Charlie's tone became much more gentle when he realized how much this affected Jodie. The woman in question shook her head.
"No. We never really argued, we were close and communicated whenever we were upset. He hadn't left the house the night of his disappearance...he had gone up to bed as usual. I went to check on him before I went to bed," her voice broke as she recalled the incident.
"He was gone. There was blood and his room was a mess, like he had struggled. But he wasn't there. I should have heard something, I don't know why I couldn't." She buried her face in her hands, small, choked sobs escaping her lips.
Charlie frowned, his LED flickering red as he...felt something.
Sympathy.
He imagined what it would be like to be her right now. Painful memories of your child's disappearance and death resurfacing because of a conversation.
Receiving a note describing in exact detail how someone you care was being torn apart and tortured and killed, and you could do nothing.
Software Instability ^^
It created a sinking feeling in his chest, soon followed by sorrow and anger.
Vivid, unbridled and terrifying rage. It was new yet familiar and it frightened him.
He walked over to Jodie and patted her shoulder lightly.
"We'll give you some space. If you remember or find anything, give us a call." He did his best to keep his voice level and calm for her sake, before walking out of the house.
His friends were quick to follow. They had noticed his shaking fists and the change in how he carried himself.
His fists were clenched so tight that his skin was being replaced by the porcelain white beneath, the knuckles and joints glowing blue as electricity crackled faintly due to the grip.
"Kid, what's wrong?" Hank asked cautiously once they were outside, wrapping his arms tighter around himself to deflect the cold. The three of them were startled as Charlie whirled around, eyes ablaze.
"We have to find him! He's put too many people in pain. Somewhere out there, families and loved ones are mourning the loss of the people they cared about; human or not. Somewhere out there, there is another parent crying over their child." He spoke as though he was trying not to shout, his entire body shaking with that same anger.
"This cannot go on any longer. I won't let it." He was only an inch or so taller than his friends, but that tiny difference was still intimidating when he was angry. He seemed to tower over them.
Markus reached out and placed his hands on Charlie's shoulders, staring him straight in the eyes.
"It's going to be alright. We're going to find the Ripper, I promise. This won't go on forever." He reassured, removing a hand from Charlie's shoulder to unclench his hands so he wouldn't cause any damage to himself.
For some reason unknown to him, Markus' hands on his shoulders and his own hands, as well as his eyes burning into his own caused him to feel strange. He could feel Thirium rushing to his face, and if he had a human heart, it would have skipped a beat.
Running a quick diagnostics scan on himself, the results showed that there was nothing wrong with his biocomponents.
