Deviant Heart

Chapter 13: The Crossroads

November 9th, 2038 9:34 pm

Connor and Clara stepped off the train at Ferndale Station. They had changed into other clothes that Clara had gotten ahold of to disguise themselves as deviants. Connor traded in his android uniform for a black beanie to cover his LED, a dark long sleeved turtleneck shirt, a thick leather jacket, dark jeans and brown boots. Clara traded in her work clothes for a black beanie, a black turtleneck sweater, a form fitting dark leather jacket, jean shorts, black leggings and shin-high black boots.

Connor looked down at his hand to check the graffiti symbol he had acquired. He glanced at his partner, who was adjusting the gun tucked inside her jacket. She looked up at him, they nodded at each other, and set off.

The duo entered the main hold of Jericho. Storage containers were stacked in random parts of the hold, and there were small areas against the walls of the hold where damaged androids were being treated. Deviants were milling around the area, both on the bottom and on the scaffolding above: some sitting on the storage containers, some gathered around barrels lit with fire, some manning smaller screens around the hold. In the middle of the large room was a screen playing the news, and tons of androids were gathered underneath it to watch.

"I've never seen so many androids in one place..." Clara whispered.

"We must find the deviant leader, Markus," Connor whispered back. Clara nodded in response.

They split up to search the main floor of the hold. Connor walked around casually, trying not to draw anyone's attention. In one corner, he noticed a large dark skinned android with a little girl, and for a moment wondered if the girl was human or android. He shook his head to focus back on the mission. He looked around and noticed Clara was climbing a set of stairs to the scaffolding above, so he followed after her. Just as he reached the stairs, someone gently grabbed his shoulder, lightly startling him and causing him to turn around.

A dark skinned female android stood behind him, studying him. It was severely damaged, its eyes nothing more than pools of silver. Its skin rippled, its white build underneath occasionally coming to light. The whole back of its head was taken clean off, a bunch of wires falling down its back like hair.

"You're lost," it told him. "You're looking for something... You're looking for yourself..." the strange android looked up at the top of the stairs at Clara, who was leaning against the railing with her arms crossed, discreetly listening to and watching the exchange. Connor looked up at her as well, before both androids turned to one another again. "That woman will be tantamount in your search." With that, it walked away.

He climbed the stairs and Clara moved to his side, an unsure look on his face to meet her concerned one. "Are you alright?" She asked as she grabbed his hand. "What was that about?"

"It... It was nothing," he stuttered. He squeezed her hand and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm alright. Let's go find Markus."

A slim android with a caramel colored hair braid dressed in black walked out of the captain's hold, the second android to walk out and not notice Connor and Clara hiding in the shadows. Connor closed his eyes.

In the Zen Garden, still covered in snow, he faced Amanda. "Well done, Connor. You succeeded in locating Jericho and finding their leader. Now deal with Markus. We need it alive."

He opened his eyes and was standing next to Clara again. He peered over at her and saw she had her gun drawn and ready. "You good to go?" She mouthed at him. He nodded back. "Go. I'll keep watch unless you need me," she mouthed again.

Connor paused. He inexplicably had the desire to say to her, "I'll always need you" but stopped himself from doing so. Instead, he nodded. He turned and entered the hold, pointing the gun at Markus' back.