Thirium 310

Chapter 6

November 6, 2038
9:56 am

AX400, the suspect. That's what the report says. Has taken the victims child. She kidnapped the child? Victim's friend indicated there were signs of struggle. I read the report again as I head towards the address written. Hmm. . . Something doesn't sit right. Why would she take the kid? Androids don't care about humans; unless she was saving her from the other human.

I'm in front of the house. It's closed off. Being investigated. I didn't make it on time, not like I did with Epizon. I can't do anything now, I have to wait and watch. See if they find anything, or the android. Then I can help her. The AX400. No one questions my being here. People still walk up and down the sidewalk, drive through the street, and some spectators stand around me too. Finally, a few officers get out of the house. I haven't seen the RK800. He should be here, right?

"I don't know, but the guy's dead in there. Android and the kid are long gone," I hear an officer say.
"Shot right?" another one asks.
"Yup. Right in the chest. The weapon wasn't there though." She has the gun with her. Smart.

Then I see him. Tall, poised, proper; Connor. Walking out of the house, following the man with grey hair, Hank. "They could be anywhere," Hank says. 
"They took the bus," Connor says.
"How do you know that?"
"The bus came a minute after the murder. They ran out the front door and got on the bus."
"So let's check all its stops."

Discreetly, I follow them. They're in a car but I use the roofs of buildings as my path, it's faster. They've sent search parties around the perimeter of each spot, but they had one stop in mind; the end of the line. Connor's smart. No. He's programmed too well. He knows what happened. He's confident in his analysis. 

The two get out of the car. Hank talks to another detective, one I recognize. Ben Collins. Small world. Connor walks up to them. "It didn't have a plan. It's actions was caused by fear. It made it to the end of the line. . .maybe it didn't go far." No kidding. I have to find her before Connor does, but where can she be?

I scan the area. A convenience store. A laundry mat. A motel. . .where would she get the money to stay? An abandoned house. Bingo. It won't take long until he figures it out either.

A fence that leads inside an abandoned parking lot and connects to the house, that's my ticket in. When no ones looking, I sneak in. There was a lock here, but it's gone now. It rests on the ground, broken. More proof the android and child came through here. I slowly and quietly close the fence gate and take in the surroundings. Not much other than an abandoned car. I scan the area. Traces of blue blood; they're here, definitely. The wires are already cut so I lift it up and crawl through.

"Hello, is anyone home?" I hear someone call from the other side of the house. Shoot. I have to be quick. I look for a back door but find nothing. The entrance is at the other side of the house, but Connor's there. I can't risk myself either.

I look up. Windows. An open window on the second floor. I can get up there. I climb the fence and stand at the top. I'm perfectly capable of exceptional balance. Now I just have to jump high enough to reach the window.

[CALCULTAING ANGLE OF JUMP]

[PROBABILITY OF SUCCESS 99.47%]

Good enough. I bend down, get momentum swinging my arms and jump. . .

I grasp onto the window ledge and hoist myself up, getting inside. I hear voices coming from the main floor. "An AX400 was spotted around the area. . .have you seen the deviant?" Connor's voice echoes through the hall. Someone else is here.
"N-no. Ralph doesn't know anything," another voice says. "Ralph hasn't seen anyone else. Ralph lives alone." Why does he refer to himself in third person?