Reed me until 900 - #4

As they drove back to the station, the tension in the car was palpable. Gavin grumbled under his breath, the silence only broken by the occasional sound of RK900 processing the video footage.

"You know, you're really good at pissing people off," Gavin muttered, not really expecting an answer.

"Thank you, Detective Reed. My primary function is to assist and provide accurate information," RK900 replied calmly, eyes fixed on the road ahead.

Gavin rolled his eyes. "That wasn't a compliment, you plastic prick."

RK900's diode remained a steady blue. "Noted, Detective."

The ride continued with Gavin's grumbles and RK900's calculated responses. As they approached the underground parking of the precinct, Gavin sighed in relief. "Finally, back to some real work," he muttered, stepping out of the car.

RK900 followed him to the elevator. As Gavin pressed the button, RK900 reached out and stopped the door from closing, causing Gavin to look at him sharply.

"What now?" Gavin snapped.

RK900 stepped closer, his face just inches from Gavin's. "There is something on your jacket, Detective," he said, his voice low and even.

For a moment, their eyes locked, and the air between them thickened. Gavin could feel the warmth of RK900's breath, a stark contrast to the cold demeanor of the android. It was unsettling, confusing, and he felt a strange pull in the pit of his stomach. He quickly stepped back when RK900 took back his hand, breaking the eye contact.

"Don't do that again," Gavin growled, his voice slightly shaky.

RK900 merely looked at him, his eyebrow rising maybe slightly, releasing the door and allowing the elevator to continue its ascent. The ride up was silent, the tension palpable. Gavin couldn't shake the feeling of unease that RK900's presence brought.

Once back at their desks, they settled into their respective tasks. Gavin started on the paperwork, his fingers tapping impatiently on the keyboard, while RK900 began analyzing the crime scenes, his LED flickering as he processed data.

"There are commonalities between the locations where the android children went missing," RK900 stated, his eyes flickering as he processed data. "Each site is near an abandoned or rarely used building."

Gavin glanced over. "So, what's the plan?"

"Tomorrow, we will revisit these locations. There may be clues we missed initially," RK900 replied.

"Fine," Gavin agreed, his voice edged with fatigue. "Let's wrap this up."

As they finished their work, Gavin prepared to leave. "I'm heading home. You should too. Or whatever it is you do."

RK900 shook his head. "I will remain at the station to recharge. I do not require a residence."

Gavin frowned but decided not to argue too tired of it already. "Suit yourself."

*

Later that evening, Gavin tried to relax at home, but his thoughts kept drifting back to RK900. He poured himself a drink and slumped onto the couch, the events of the day replaying in his mind. The android's cold, analytical demeanor was a stark contrast to Connor, and it unnerved him.

He was pouring himself a second drink when the doorbell rang. Groaning, he went to answer it.

Standing there was RK900. "Detective Reed, a new urgent report has come in. I believe it is related to our case."

Gavin sighed too tired to been get angry. "Of course it has. Alright, let's go."

*

They drove to the docks, where a report had come in about a suspicious white van dumping trash in an off-limits area near an abandoned warehouse. The scene was dark and eerie, with the distant sound of water lapping against the docks and the faint hum of city lights in the background.

Technicians were already combing through the trash. As they approached, one of the technicians suddenly backed away, vomiting.

"What the hell?" Gavin muttered, moving closer to see what had caused such a reaction. His breath caught when he saw it—a small, delicate hand of an android child, smeared with blue thirium.

Gavin's face paled. "This is..."

RK900 knelt beside the pile, his expression unchanging. "It appears to be parts from multiple android children. I will analyze further."

Gavin watched in morbid fascination as RK900 meticulously examined the parts. "Why would someone do this?"

"Possible reasons include the need for spare parts or perhaps someone is attempting to create something," RK900 responded, his tone clinical.

Even Gavin, who was used to grisly scenes, felt a wave of revulsion and anger. "We need to find whoever did this. Fast."

RK900 stood, his diode flashing briefly. "Agreed, Detective. This investigation just became our top priority."

The scene at the docks was a chaotic mix of flashing lights and hushed whispers. Police tape cordoned off the area, and officers were scattered around, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses. The dim lighting cast long shadows, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Gavin and RK900 approached the technicians, who were still recovering from the shock of their discovery. RK900 scanned the area with a precision that only an android could achieve, his LED blinking as he processed the data.

"Detective Reed," RK900 began, "there are traces of blue thirium on several other pieces of trash. It appears the suspect attempted to dispose of multiple android parts here."

Gavin's jaw tightened. "Sick bastard. Any idea where these parts might have come from?"

RK900's LED flickered as he accessed the database. "These parts are from various models of android children. It is likely that they were taken from different locations and brought here to be disposed of. All found models match the models of the android children who wen missing."

Gavin shook his head in disbelief. "What kind of monster does this?"

"The motives are unclear, but the precision of the disassembly suggests a high level of knowledge about android construction. This could indicate either a former CyberLife employee or someone with access to their resources," RK900 replied.

RK900 continued to analyze the scene, his LED blinking as he processed the information. He carefully examined each piece of evidence, cataloguing it with meticulous detail. Gavin watched, a mix of frustration and admiration bubbling within him.

"You know, you could at least pretend to be a little disturbed by this," Gavin muttered.

RK900's gaze didn't waver from his task. "Emotional responses do not enhance my ability to solve the case, Detective. My priority is to gather and analyze data to identify the perpetrator."

Gavin sighed. "Yeah, well, sometimes a little humanity wouldn't hurt."

RK900 paused, turning his head slightly towards Gavin. "I understand your concern, but my programming prioritizes efficiency and accuracy. Emotional displays are not within my operational parameters."

Gavin rolled his eyes. "Of course, they aren't. Plastic prick."

*

After gathering all possible evidence, they decided to head back to the station. The ride back was filled with a heavy silence, punctuated only by the occasional hum of the car's engine and the faint city noises outside.

Gavin couldn't help but steal glances at RK900, his mind racing with questions and frustration. He was used to Connor's attempts at humour and his growing understanding of human emotions. RK900, on the other hand, was like a cold, unfeeling machine.

"Do you ever wonder why you're like this?" Gavin asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

"Like what, Detective?" RK900 responded, his voice devoid of curiosity.

"So... robotic. Don't you ever want to be more... human?"

RK900's LED blinked. "My purpose is to assist in investigations and ensure justice is served. My current operational parameters are optimized for this purpose."

Gavin sighed. "Figures. You wouldn't understand."

Back at the station, the atmosphere was quieter, with only a few officers working late. Gavin and RK900 made their way to their desks, each lost in their thoughts.

RK900 began processing the collected evidence, his eyes flickering with data streams. Gavin, feeling the exhaustion of the day, leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples.

"There's a pattern here," RK900 said after a moment. "The locations where the android children were taken all have a common factor—proximity to abandoned or low-traffic areas."

Gavin straightened up, interest piqued. "So... change of plans... Tomorrow, we will revisit these locations."

"Yes." RK900 replied.

"Alright," Gavin agreed, stifling a yawn. "Let's call it a night. For real this time..."

Before walking out and going home again, he looked back at RK900 walking towards the android docking station. Connor never did that. Really... He thought that Connor made him angry and was weird... But this guy? Made him feel uneasy as hell. Wasn't he awakened?

He sighed annoyed and went back home.

Gavin returned home, hoping to find some solace in the quiet of his apartment. He poured himself a drink and slumped onto the couch, trying to unwind. But his thoughts kept drifting back to RK900 and the horrific scene at the docks.