Heart of Ice

Tearing Apart

"Find someone to love and never let them go. Die when they'll die. That way everything will be just fine." Conan heard an unfamiliar voice. He turned around but no one was there, only Gavin snoring softly.

But the Amanda AI isn't in my system. Who is this? I don't understand...

Temporary shut down in five minutes. Set waking time to 6:30AM.

Conan stared into the distance for a while before all went black. His vision returned seemingly seconds later, when the Sun was already filtering through the curtains.

Another day...

Message alert!
From LK800 #123 427 004
Opening...
"Hello, Conan! I got your case information! We're having another parasite case today. I've calculated that there are about 55 parasites in Detroit, 23 of them either eliminated or destroyed for some reasons we haven't figured out yet. See you at 9:45AM!"
New destination uploaded!

Conan walked up to Gavin's bed and shook his shoulder.
"Detective!" He spoke in a regular-pitched voice. "Wake up!" Conan continued louder, seeing that the man just groaned and rolled over.
"Detective Reed!" His voice turned from gentle to firm.
"I had such a wonderful dream... let me sleep some more." Gavin mumbled as he hid his face in the thick bed covers.
"You can tell me all about it when we get to the DPD. Now, please get up." The RK900 easily pulled the covers off Reed.
"Fine, fine, you don't have to be so aggressive, geez." Gavin complained and stood up.

Conan carefully observed him stand up and move to his closet.
"You gonna gimme some privacy or not?" Gavin asked, this time without much annoyance in his voice. The android didn't answer. "Look, I won't go back to bed or run away through the window, kay?" Satisfied, Conan nodded and walked out of the room.

I thought he'd be able to do all of that without my reminder. Sure, I'm his android, but not his AX400.
AX400... No, forget it.

He blinked a few times as the thought of the obsessed android returned.

If he'd get used to this, he soon wouldn't be able to take care of himself alone... not that he probably ever did. Perhaps...we can work on some things.

Gavin came out of his room, not too early, but also not that late.
"Can't you like, sit down or something? You don't have to stare me down every time I leave a room."
"Very well." Conan agreed and approached the detective's couch, cats already scattering around both the android's and man's legs. They all teleported to Reed as soon as he made it to the kitchen.

"Alright, alright!" Gavin chuckled and took out cat food.
"I recommend taking your cats to the vet. More cats would mean more work and, with all respect, I don't think you have enough time, detective." Conan stated, watching the five cats.
"It's my decision what I'll do and won't do with my cats." He growled.
"Detective," the android began.
"I don't have the heart, okay?" Gavin sounded desperate, as if afraid that Conan would be willing to do anything without his consent.

Software instability ^

"Detective..." Conan was searching his word bank for something to say, but in his knowledge of over two million words he couldn't find one that was suitable. It disturbed him. "Never mind..." He turned around. The android could literally hear Gavin exhaling.

It wouldn't hurt the cats, but he most likely knows. I'm not sure what he's so bothered about. I'm also not sure why did his answer was somehow enough.

"Are you ready, detective?"
"You sure you wanna go to that investigation today?"
"I don't see why not." Gavin poked his own temple. Conan wasn't as good at hiding his condition as he thought he was.
"I have to."
"Suit yourself... I guess." The detective rolled his eyes.

Time was going so fast. Too fast. He wanted it to stop. Conan has been fiddling with a cable for some time already.

"Hey, tin can. Y'know why my phone has been at 8:01AM for the last ten minutes?" Gavin asked, too fixated on his phone's screen to notice Conan's skinless hand on his charging cable. He let it go and it fell against Reed's desk with a quiet clank. "Don't bother. It's back to normal."

8:15
8:21
8:45
8:58
8:59
9:00

I don't want to go... but I have to. This case is about me!

9:09

It doesn't matter if it's about me or not. It's important all the same.

9:18

No! Give me more time! I can't go yet!

9:21
Wait!
9:23
No!
9:25
Yes!
9:27
Please... stop.
9:28
I can't... I can't go!
9:29
She'll be here, she'll come here.
9:29:31
I don't want to go.
9:29:45
I won't go!
9:29:48
I have to go! I don't have a choice!
9:29:54
No! No! No!
9:29:55
9:29:56
9:29:57

"Hello Conan! I hope you're having a great day so far. Let's get going right away!"