Capítulo 7: Chapter Seven: The Bridge
DATE
NOV 7TH, 2038
TIME
AM 01:19:06
JUST AS NATALIE THOUGHT, THE CAR RIDE was pretty stiff and the air between the three was thick with tension. Natalie knew that she had to address what Hank had seen from her but didn't know how to bring it up. So she resorted to just sitting in the back seat and keeping quiet. She could feel so many different emotions radiating off of the older man and knew that if she so much as whispered he would most likely explode.
She knows that she probably shouldn't have kept the fact that she wasn't completely human from him. Sure, they weren't partners in the sense of her being a police officer or anything. However, they were still working together and knew that what she was should have been disclosed.
Hank had driven aimlessly in silence. They left the sketchy streets and roads that the Eden Club was on and soon ended up in a more quiet area of the city. Hank had pulled up to a small children's playground that overlooked the city. He climbed out of the car with a beer in hand and slammed the door shut. Natalie cringed at it and jumped slightly. Her and Connor watched as the man stomped through the playground and towards a bench that rested near the edge of the water.
Natalie gulped and took a slow, deep breath. There was a slight internal conflict within her on whether she should make the right choice but in the end she came to a decision. She slowly climbed out of the car and hesitantly followed the route that Hank had taken. Connor watched her stiffly before following after the woman and towards his partner. A slow progression of snowflakes fell from the sky and decorated the ground, playground and the trio in a think blanket.
"Nice view, huh?..." Hank asked as the two approached him slowly as he looked across the horizon, "I used to come here a lot before…" He trailed off before shaking his head and taking a swig of his beer.
The silence between the trio was starting to become deafening. Natalie was starting to become uncomfortable as she knew there was a large topic that they needed to address. It was on the tip of her tongue but she just couldn't get it out. She hated talking to people about her… predicament. She hesitated a few times and tried to speak, but Connor beat her to it. "Can I ask you a personal question, Lieutenant?"
Hank scoffed, "do all androids ask so many personal questions or is it just you?"
"Why are you so determined to kill yourself?" Connor continued on when Hank didn't say 'no'.
"Some things, I just can't forget… Whatever I do, they're always there… Eating away at me…" Natalie could relate to that completely. "I don't have the guts to pull the trigger... So, I kill myself a little every day... That's probably difficult for you to understand, huh, Connor?" Hank turned to look at the android while taking a swig from his beer. "Nothing very rational about it…"
The group was bathed in silence once again, "it's late. Maybe you two should go home."
"I'm not tired…" Hank gruffly said before turning to the woman who stood awkwardly by Connor, "guess you aren't."
Natalie blinked at the fact that Hank had addressed her in any way, "I've got no place to be right now."
Connor paced away from the two and towards the railing of the walkway, "we're not making any progress on this investigation…" The facts of the case were being pieced together in his mind, yet nothing fit. "The deviants have nothing in common. They're all different models, produced at different times, in different places…"
The detective shrugged his shoulders, "well, there must be some link."
"All of them are obsessed with rA9…" Natalie spoke up. There was a slight buzz in the back of her head at the mention of it, but she brushed it off and chalked it up for nothing. "It's like their version of God or something…"
Connor nodded his head in agreement and started to elaborate, "like some kind of… myth. Something they invented that wasn't part of their original program…"
"Androids believing in God…" Hank's eyes widened at the thought as Connor and Natalie turned to the older man. "Fuck, what's this world coming to?"
Connor turned back to his partner and technician, "you seem preoccupied, Lieutenant... Is it something to do with what happened back at the Eden Club?"
Hank glanced over at Natalie who sheepishly bowed her head. However, he seemed to focus on something other than the elephant standing next to him bundled up in her sweater. "Those two girls... They just wanted to be together... They really seemed in love…"
"You seem troubled, Lieutenant. I didn't think machines could have such an effect on you…"
"What about you, Connor?.." Hank started as he finished off his beer before climbing off of the bench. "You look human, you sound human, but what are you really?"
Natalie waited with baited breath as anxiety pooled in her stomach. Hank was a loose cannon who acted erratically and the way that he was approaching Connor did not seem promising. Finally, Connor answered him, "I'm whatever you want me to be, Lieutenant. Your partner... Your buddy to drink with... Or just a machine... Designed to accomplish a task."
Neither the android or cyborg could tell what was running through the lieutenants mind. Hank suddenly spun around to face Natalie who visibly gulped at his narrowed eyed stare. "And what about you, girly?"
Natalie took a moment to collect her thoughts. She licked her lips in nervousness and approached the two carefully. "I don't know what I am anymore… a mistake I guess…"
"Mistake?"
Natalie bit the inside of her cheek as her own eyes started to narrow in frustration. "If anything, an experiment," she sighed out roughly, "some fucked up experiment who can't fit into society any more." She looked to stare at Hank whose face was covered in a blank expression. "I lied to you, Lieutenant, I just didn't tell you that I'm not… completely human."
"Not completely human, huh?" Hank stared at her with narrowed eyes. He was able to see the way that the topic about her humanity bothered her. Her hands shook from nerves and the cold and her bottom lip was held tightly by her teeth. She looked like she was about to burst due to frustration. Hank couldn't tell whether it was frustration due to him or herself, but he had a feeling it was a combination of the two. He turned to Connor instead, "you could've shot those two girls, but you didn't. Why didn't you shoot, Connor?" Hank gritted out and shoved Connor in the shoulder lightly. Natalie was about to jump in between the two of them, but Connor caught her eye and subtly shook his head. He didn't want her to get in the middle of whatever spat that Hank had with him. If he were to get hurt by the temperamental lieutenant then so be it, another Connor could take his place. But Natalie could be seriously hurt if Hank lashed out at her. Especially now that Hank knew she lied to him… Connor was uncertain what the outcome of Hank's emotions would be to her. "Hm? Some scruples suddenly enter into your program?"
A silence enveloped them all as tensions began to rise exponentially. Natalie was more than ready to intervene at any moment's notice if things started to get bad. "No…" Hank was surprised by Connor's answer, "I just decided not to shoot, that's all…"
Hank nodded his head before swiftly pulling out his revolver from his coat pocket and pointing it right in between Connor's eyes. Natalie gasped at that, "Hank!" She tried to put herself between the two to defuse the situation, "calm down, Hank! Put the gun away."
Hank stared at her for a moment, "you said you're not completely human, right?" His eyes bored into her own as he motioned to the android behind her. "So I'm guessing you're like him then."
Natalie looked away briefly and composed herself. Behind her Connor placed a hand on her back in support, just to make sure that she was all right. She silently thanked him for that and kept her voice calm and level. "I am part android, yes. Now put that away, Hank."
Hank disregarded the statement and flickered his eyes between the android and cyborg. "Tell me, are either of you afraid to die, Natalie? Connor?"
Connor spoke up for both of them as he didn't like the fact that Hank still had a gun pointed at him and Natalie. He just couldn't get that out of his programming; that Natalie was in possible danger. "I would certainly find it regrettable to be… interrupted… before I can finish this investigation."
"What will happen if I pull this trigger? Hm? Nothing? Oblivion? Android heaven?"
The android appeared to stare off into space for a moment as he seemed to think about it. "Nothing… There would be nothing…" Hank digested the statement. He observed the two in front of him. If he had to be honest, the way that Natalie tried to keep him and Connor seperated and how Connor seemed to want to pull her away, struck something in him. These two certainly were… different. Hank shook his head and let the arm with his gun drop.
Natalie visible relaxed now that Hank had dropped his gun though she was confused when Hank turned around and started to walk away from them. "Where are you going?"
Hank waved to them over his shoulder as he stumbled away from them. "To get drunker. I need to think." He needed to be alone to really think all of this shit over.
Soon enough, the two heard the sound of Hank's car starting up and pulling out of the small parking lot. Natalie sighed as now it was only her and Connor. She wrapped her arms around her torso as she started to feel conflicted with how Hank reacted to her confession. Granted, she hadn't told him everything but he seemed to… understand what she had said. Natalie most certainly wasn't ready to tell anyone, let alone a grumpy man she only just met a few days ago, about everything that happened to her. She knew what they would think of her. She's heard every degrading word and spiteful sentence that people had to say about her. Natalie was just grateful that Hank may have been able to bite his tongue for the time being and walk away with the information that she did give him.
Connor noticed the emotions that swallowed her face. He didn't like the upset expression that consumed her face and ultimately her body. He knew that talking about the fact that she was a hybrid upset her, so, to hopefully cheer her up, Connor said the first thought(thoughts? Can he have thoughts?) that popped into his head. "You're a fascinating piece of technology."
Natalie's eyebrows furrowed at his sudden words and looked up to Connor slowly with a confused stare. A piece of technology? She wondered, is that what he sees her as? Could he not look past the few biocomponents within her that categorizes her as part android? Though, she could understand why he would say that because he himself happened to be a 'piece of technology'. He might not be able to understand how she didn't want to be seen as just an android. But who could even rebut that statement, she was more android than human. Though, she must admit, she found it… heartwarming to hear that he found her to be fascinating. She she did her best to hide the flush of pink the crawled on her cheeks at his hidden compliment.
Connor watched with a slightly tilted head as she sighed heavily and pursed her lips lightly. Did he say something wrong? He didn't imagine this sort of reaction from the woman. He only wished to express the fact that he is intrigued by her and what she is.
"Do you, Connor?" She finally asked in a small voice, the disbelief in her voice evident, after the two seemed to just stare at each other for a few moments. Connor nodded his head in conformation and opened his mouth to elaborate on the meaning of his statement when Natalie started to chuckle lightly. "I didn't imagine an android such as yourself could muster an emotion such as fascination."
Connor allowed her words to wash over him for a second as he formulated the best response to what she said. "I wouldn't say that it is necessarily fascination-"
"Ah, but you said that I am a 'fascinating piece of technology', which I deduce as you expressing the emotion of fascination." She chuckled again and turned to face him properly as she relaxed further into her seat. With her arms crossed over her chest and a small smirk resting on her lightly painted lips, Natalie surveyed Connor in his entirety. "Though, I suppose you can pass it off as logic. I am an advancement from the human form and have the capability to perform tasks that are mainly secluded to androids, such as yourself, so logically, you are saying that you know I'm a hybrid that you find to be an improvement from a human and in turn makes me, logically, better than humans and androids and hard to understand."
Connor nodded his head as he listened to her explanation, "I suppose you are correct. I am unable to express such emotion."
"Either that," she drawled out, however, she couldn't help the curiosity from leaking into her voice as she continued, "or spending time with the deviants has," she paused as she looked for the right words. Her teasing eyes lit up, "infected your software. Have you become a deviant, Connor?"
His eyes widened at the accusation. "No, no, I can assure you, I am not a deviant. My software program his very hard to hack into and converting me to become a deviant is near impossible."
Natalie smiled. Despite the fact that he says he can not express any feelings like humans, she can see how flustered he seemed to become at her statement. "I'm only joking, Connor, but I should have expected you not to get that joke."
"Oh." Connor nodded his head in understanding. It's true, his software doesn't have the capability to understand a joke. No matter how funny a human might find it. "Why did you seem to disbelieve the fact that I find you to be better than humans and androids. Is it hard to comprehend the fact that you are better when compared to us?" Natalie became silent as she pondered his words. She hadn't realise that she sounded that way, curse her inability to control her human emotions. Connor only stared at Natalie as she seemed to become quiet after his questions. Now he knew he must have said something wrong. "I didn't mean to offend you. I only noticed when you spoke you seemed to doubt what I said. I can assure you, I am positive in my observations about you."
Natalie nodded her head as she turned away from him. "You didn't offend me, Connor. If you had, I would have made it clear to you." She paused and collected her thought on the matter, "you know my existence is a… controversial one. The fact that I am a hybrid causes many people to voice their opinions on who I really am, or, at least, who they think I am." She took a shuttered breath, "throughout the past few years I've heard most people's opinions on myself. I've been told I'm the future… I've also been told I'm a mistake." She shook her head as the voices of her own family seemed to invade her mind. Why must their voices plague her thoughts so much. God, she wishes that she could just erase those memories from her head. "I suppose you just have to decide which I am."
"I find you to be… Natalie." Connor stated firmly. He only saw her as a woman who was helping him with his investigation. She wasn't defined by what she is, to him at least. Sure, her being a cyborg gave her an advantage over most people. However, he wouldn't ever go as far as to think of her as some sort of mistake. She most certainly wasn't that to him.
Natalie smiled slightly at that and nodded her head. "Thanks, Connor. I wish more people saw me like that." She paused and stood up. Connor watched as she walked away from the bench and towards the road where she would catch a taxi. She paused her steps just before she made it too far from the bench and turned back to glance at Connor who watched her with a calculating stare. He is obviously trying to figure what was going on with her. Yet there was and underlying spark of disappointment at the fact that she had decided to leave, especially after something as intense as having a gun pointed at the two of them. He honestly seemed to want to make sure that she was okay. However, she seemed to want to go home at that moment."The world isn't kind to someone like me."
---
Natalie sluggishly crawled out of the cab that parked in front of her apartment building. She yawned loudly and looked down at her watch to see that it was nearly two in the morning. She cursed herself slightly at the fact that she had gotten home so late. Ethan must be so worried. Her brother knew that she could handle herself since she was a grown woman. However, ever since they were young, Ethan worried about everything. Every thing, no matter how large or small, was a humongous deal to Ethan. That man was known to freak out at just about everything.
She made her way into the apartment building and getting into the elevator. Natalie hummed to herself as she trotted off of the elevator and towards her apartment. She pulled out her keys from her sweater pocket and opened the front door. The sight that greeted her was not unsuspected.
Ethan was sprawled out on the couch as credits rolled on the television screen which obviously meant that a movie had ended. Going by the music, Natalie had to guess that it was an old Disney movie that Ethan had loved ever since he was a kid, Finding Nemo. She laughed lightly at the sight and lazily walked over to the couch. She moved Ethan's feet off of the ciuch to make room for herself which effectively woke up her brother.
"Natalie!" Ethan slurred in his sleepy state as he sat up quickly and nearly fell off of the couch. He yawned obnoxiously loud as Natalie grabbed a bag of chips off of the coffee table. "Oh, my God! I've been so worried about you!" He practically threw himself on to her in a tight hug. "I know you told me not to call you while you were working, and I nearly did! But I restrained myself enough to just wait for you to come home."
"Get off, worrywort!" Natalie wheezed from under him while trying to push him off of her. "I know, thanks for that. Tonight was…" Natalie paused as Ethan sat straight on the couch to look at her intently. "...Intense… yeah, that's one way to describe it."
Ethan eyed his sister in worry, "in what what way was it intense?"
Natalie sighed loudly through her nose, "well, we were called to go down to the Eden Club-"
"Eden Club!?"
Natalie continued on, "where a man had been murdered by an devient. We searched the place and found the devient in the back room along with her lover, another devient." Ethan just about gasped loudly at the story, "But we got into a fight and I ended up with a screwdriver to the shoulder-"
"Natalie!" Ethan fussed as he jumped on her again to inspect her shoulder. Just as she had told him, once he peeled back her green sweatshirt he found that her shirt had a tear in it and it was covered in blue blood. "Why did you say this earlier?"
She shrugged her shoulders, "it doesn't hurt and it stopped bleeding a while ago. Plus, no bio components were hit. I just need to drink some blue blood is all."
"Still, Nat, you should have mentioned this to begin with!" He rushed off of the couch and towards the kitchen where he slammed open a cabinet. Inside, many bottles and packages of fresh blue blood and small biocomponents adorned the entirety of its interior. He hastily grabbed one of the bottles and rushed back over to Natalie. He handed her the bottle and urged her to drink it.
Natalie couldn't help herself but chuckle at Ethan's frantic nature. She took the bottle from him and took one generous gulp in order to calm some of her brother's nerves. "Happy?"
"Somewhat."
"Anyway, when I was injured Hank saw the blue blood-"
Ethan cut in again with a gasp, "and now he knows you're a cyborg!"
She sighed again and nodded her head, "yeah, he does."
"How did he react?" Ethan reluctantly asked. From the cringe that consumed Natalie's face, Ethan could guess that it didn't go well. "That bad?"
"He didn't really say anything for a while, I think he was trying to process it. Then…" She trailed off as the memory of Hank pointing a gun at herself and Connor. Natalie had a strong feeling that mentioning that part of her night would upset Ethan completely. Protective little brother mode would activate and Natalie would have to stop him from marching out of their apartment on a suicide mission to hunt the lieutenant. She cleared her throat, "we got into… I guess an argument? He questioned me about it anyway, then he just left."
Ethan nodded his head in understanding, "he needed to process it further." Natalie yawned, "we should probably go to bed, it's really late, or really early."
Natalie chuckled under her breath and stretched, "yeah, good idea."
The siblings both stood up from the couch and started to make their way towards their bedrooms after cleaning up Ethan's mess a little bit. Though the both of them were kind of out of it due to being too sleepy. They both bid each other a good night and went into their bedrooms.
Natalie tore off her sweatshirt and started to change into pajamas. She crawled into her bed and allowed herself to be swallowed in her blankets. She stared up at the ceiling in silence. The brunette allowed the situation she was in earlier to play again in her head like a movie. Hank certainly was a loose cannon! He pulled a gun on Connor and herself when she stepped in the way. Was he really willing to shoot either her or Connor? If he was, she's going to have to be careful around him now. Who knows what he may do if he loses his cool again…
Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder