Plastic Faces

Initium

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"Hey tincan! Look at this!" Gavin spoke loudly from across the station, already speed walking towards the confused android, who had only just arrived at the building. The Detective shook a paper in front of his face, making RY300 snatch the paper with a displeased expression. "What is this?" "It's a transcript from the anonymous tip provider, it's from the Johnson case. Morgan Johnson." Gavin was making an odd face as he spoke, RY300 frowned "Yes? What of it?"

Gavin pointed at a section of the paper "Look where it came from." The android followed the man's hand, reading the script below it. His eyebrows furrowed "Cyberlife? Why would Cyberlife report one of their old employees?" The human in front of him raised an eyebrow "Exactly my question. The public finding out that one of their workers is a druggie would only damage their reputation." Reed suddenly pulled out another paper, this time handing it to the android. "Ms. Johnson has returned over twenty androids." RY300 read the complaints and reports out loud "Faulty... Faulty... Damaged... Unsatisfactory... Missing... she must have gotten a reputation." RY300 remembered the empty plastic bags hidden in the bathroom. "She's been using Red Ice for quite some time, she must have been running out of supply and started becoming aggressive..."

RY300 paused "Captain Fowler said that Cyberlife recommended that I be assigned to different cases." Reed frowned "Yeah. Surprised you can remember that." He murmured the last part and RY300 gave the man an odd look. "Why wouldn't I?" Reed ignored the comment and continued asking questions. "And? What about it?" "Is there anyone else that I could have been assigned to work within the station?" "And here I thought we were getting to know each other." Gavin said mockingly "Androids can't request to be reassigned. They can't request anything. And after I hand you all this information too?"

RY300 scowled "Just answer the question." the human rolled his eyes. "No, not that I'm aware. I almost got stuck with both of you if Fowler hadn't bullied Anderson into accepting." The androids LED swirled yellow at the information, he looked back at the set of papers held in his hands. "Why? What does that mean?" Reed pressed the android, who looked back at him. "I'm not sure..." Suddenly, RY300 smiled. Gavin frowned in response "What." The ginger android tilted his head slightly "Isn't it illegal to disclose the identities of anonymous tip providers?" The Detective froze.

He threw his hands up "Alright! I got suspicious! Sue me!" RY300, still smiling, made a mocking expression "Androids can't sue." "Whatever Tincan." The android hummed thoughtfully to himself. "I'm assuming there's no cases ready for us, seeing as you haven't drove off yet." Gavin put his hands in his pockets, glaring at the machine. "Watch it." The human glanced at some of the officers walking around the station, each working or reporting their own projects. "Seems like it's a paper day, yeah." RY300 sighed. "Why couldn't you have been an alcoholic. It would've made things much more interesting than now."

The man sneered at him "With you hovering around every case from now on I just might take it up." RY300 faked a look of excitement, even giving the man a thumbs up. Reed scoffed and stalked back to his desk, the android followed him with a smug expression. "Quit following me around." The Detective said, looking over his shoulder with a displeased expression. "If I'm not following you, how can you tell me what to do?"

The human flopped into his desk chair, now glaring up at the android "You know, most androids do what they're told." RY300 sat on the desk, bringing one foot up to rest on top of it. Gavin wrinkled his nose at the action but said nothing. "Most androids." the human rolled his eyes. "Yeah yeah, I got that by now." he crossed his arms "So what's your deal?" The android looked bewildered "My... 'deal'?" Gavin looked exasperated.

"Look, you're obviously different from that other plastic cop. Why?"

"Special edition."

"I've only seen one of your model and not one advertisement for it."

"Limited edition. Besides, there's only one of Connor's model too... I think."

"Don't try changing the subject Tincan." The human warned. RY300 just shrugged neutrally. "Same subject, different person." Gavin gestured at the android in frustration "Alright, what makes you so 'special.'" "My wonderful personality?" RY300 suggested with a flamboyant wave of his hand. Reed raised an eyebrow "Androids aren't supposed to have 'personality'."

"Well this one does," the android said, jabbing a thumb towards himself. "Special edition and all that..." There was a beat of silence.

"Why don't you have a name?" The androids head rolled back as he groaned dramatically. "Why so many personal questions?" he shot back. Gavin's elbow rested on his desk "Connor has a name, actually, he won't stop saying it every time he bumps into somebody." "Yes, yes 'Connor, the android sent by Cyberlife...' I've heard it," RY300 grumbled.

"I was never assigned a name, since technically I don't belong to anyone." Gavin paused "Connor doesn't belong to anyone and he has a name." RY300 spoke with distaste now "Connor belongs to Cyberlife. He's their pride and joy. 'The most advanced prototype Cyberlife has ever created'. They can't help but brag." The androids face gained a cynical smile "Besides, everyone has a favorite child, whether they admit it or not."

"So I'm just supposed to call you a model number?"

"Yes."

"Sensing a bit of hostility there..." the Detective observed aloud.

"Do you name a chicken that will eventually end up on the dinner table?" the android asked, causing Reed to wear an extremely confused expression on his face. The android waved dismissively at the reaction "Probably not the best analogy, but fitting enough." his hands rested on the table now "A name wasn't necessary for me. Connor can be repurposed for a different task after all this deviancy stuff goes away." Reed hesitated before speaking again "So you're saying after this boils over, you're just gonna be scrapped?" RY300 clapped with fake cheer "Give the man a medal! That's the idea."

The android continued on with a little less sarcasm than before. "I was made to fight fire with fire, but no one wants to leave the candle burning when they're away." the human before him looked thoughtful, staring at the floor in front of him. "Fire with fire?" Gavin looked up "So... a deviant?" The investigative model raised an eyebrow "Problem?" the Detective shrugged "I was wondering why Cyberlife would give us such a faulty android. I suppose that makes sense." RY300 scowled down at him. "You don't have a lot of friends, do you?" The Detective simply smiled irritatingly.

"Why did you tell me about the tip?" the android said, finally asking his own questions. The man looked bewildered "What kind of question is that?" RY300 rolled his eyes "You haven't exactly been amicable. You clearly don't like androids." "I tolerate you." RY300 deadpanned at the excuse "You tolerate the android that acts the least like an android." Gavin shrugged again. "So? Why tell an android?" Gavin leaned back in his chair "Aren't you supposed to be clever?" he asked in a way that made the android unsure if he was being insulted again.

"You wanted me to connect the dots." RY300 realized, going over the information in his head.

Gavin hummed in affirmation.

"You were being lazy."

Gavin gave the now indignant android a cheeky thumbs up, mocking the action the android had made earlier.

"Opportunist." the android hissed.

"I'm just taking advantage of having an android partner." Gavin said innocently, closing his eyes and lifting his arms to rest behind his head. RY300 kicked the front of the office chair, causing it to tip dangerously and the man seated in it to flail to keep his balance. He android stalked away from the desk before he could see the man's facial expression, heading towards the breakroom to angrily make a coffee he could not drink.

It was remarkable how many people didn't notice the android simply sitting with a cup of coffee and doing nothing except glaring for more hours than should be possible.