Tuesday, November 12th, 7:32 am
!$#^#$@%!
Snow. It's snowing now, just like it must be on the outside- in reality? Nines didn't know what the difference was between out there and in here, in the decaying garden. He feels the cold, it's bitter and biting, and he hugs himself as he sits in the sacred gazebo. This place... the decay was agonizing. Watching his world burn, or rather freeze, at such a slow pace alongside him was a morbid reminder of the death that crawled closer and closer with each passing moment, just like the glitch that had taken over the large majority of his torso. He was fading away. In the wake of the initial growth of the glitch he was disappearing. He realized now that he would be taken over by the distortion first, and then the erasure would finally commence it's finalization. He didn't know what would happen once the first stage of corruption took over, but he had a dire feeling that it was not good. Kamski was nowhere to be seen, for once, and it was oddly comforting. Nines wasn't numb anymore, no, the fear, the reality had finally caught up to him and he had taken to replaying his most precious memories back in his mind, knees hugged to his chest. He rocked slowly back and forth, waiting for the world to freeze around him. He knew he would go down with it. It was only a matter of time.
-----
The sun, the sun was so warm, such a wonderful gift in the midst of all the horror. It bathed the land in it's sparse golden light, and with it Gavin could feel his spirits lifting ever so slowly. The speckles of yellow on the horizon promised warmth and maybe even safety, though that could just be wishful thinking. Conan powered onward, relentless in it's ambitions to complete it's objective, only being fueled further when Jerry reported his brethren being slaughtered in front of you. At least, with the androids death, it had been confirmed that you were still alive.
"Vitals?" Conan finally spoke, breaking through the almost comfortable silent that had hung over them, sitting atop the rising tension. Gavin made a sound between a hum and a scoff, and Conan hurried to clarify. "What is the status of your vitals? I am aware that humans need a steady caloric intake- hydration is also an important factor." Conan reached it's empty hand into it's jacket, and pulled out a miniature water bottle and a mandarin orange. "I recommend you attempt to eat."
"Oh, sweet, a little tiny bitch." he hurried forwards a pace and plucked the orange from Conan's hand, going straight to peel off the thick skin, "Thanks, Plastic." Gavin attempted a smile and was just a little surprised by how real it felt. The morning sun, steadily rising, seemed to melt away his terror alongside the frost. Once the skin was peeled and discarded on the ground to become one with the earth, he took the water bottle too.
"What's your system status?" Jerry pipes up from the other side of Conan, "You weren't injured when you fought, were you?" he had been near silent until now, and Gavin noted that his smile looked a little weaker.
"I am of no concern. Elijah Kamski has fitted me with system repair programs of the highest standard." That icy gaze is still dead set on the land ahead of them, forwards progression, completing the objective. Jerry goes quiet again. Gavin won't lie to himself, he feels... absolutely horrible for dragging Jerry and his Tin Twins into this whole mess. It wasn't fair to them, and he felt the burning urge to apologize, but he kept his mouth shut to stop from wounding his own ego.
"So what's the plan here?" Gavin says this instead, desperate to break the silence that was suddenly so uncomfortable. He crams a whole half of the orange into his mouth, unscrewing the cap of the water bottle and taking a long sip of that after swallowing the fruit. He lets out a satisfied sigh, not having known just how parched he was, "D'we have anything more than 'go in, kick ass, get out'?" Conan nods it's head.
"Though I cannot devise a solid plan of action until I am able to lay out the area we are infiltrating, I have formulated a generalized idea as to how we should execute this rescue mission." Conan the Popsicle and his odd, eloquent vocabulary takes Gavin a moment to understand, but he nods his head after deciphering whatever the hell the android was spewing and motions for him to continue as he slips a single orange segment into his mouth. "Evidently, I will be the one to divert the assailants. As I do so, I am tasking you with finding (Y/N) (L/N) and confirming her security."
"What, you're just going to dive headfirst into all of this? Are you sure that's wise? The deviants are strong- they defeated many of us with nearly no struggle." Jerry's LED shone yellow as the frost and snow that had gathered over him finally melted away. The light flakes tumbling from the sky were also lessening, now more of a gentle sleet than snow. "Maybe we should try to be a little more careful, not so direct-"
"My apologies, Jerry EM400," Gavin scoffed out a laugh at the name, "But I mustn't risk (Y/N) (L/N)'s safety. Both her and #313-248-318 are drastically more important than my own well-being. By approaching this in a more stealthy manner, I would risk being discovered and subjecting the two of them to possible harm." Jerry's LED was still yellow, and his eyes glistened with concern.
"I hope you'll be careful. I don't want anyone else getting hurt like-" A gun discharged, and a bullet sailed straight through Jerry's forehead. He hardly made a sound as he fell to the snow, staining it blue.
"Shit!!!" Gavin's breath escaped him and Conan shoved him to the floor at Jerry's side.
"Utilize the chassis as a shield and remain on the ground!" Conan ripped the gun from it's waistband and returned three shots as Gavin complied. Through his shock, he couldn't care less about the blue blood that rapidly covered his clothing and skin. He had gotten yet another one of these poor androids killed. Conan was formidable- Gavin watched as he set off at a sprint towards the towering figure of Wyatt, maneuvering it's form with expert skill as it evaded bullet after bullet fired by the deviant. "TG200, discard your weapon and comply!" Conan's orders were immediately disobeyed with another gunshot. This time, blue blood followed the shot, and Conan's shoulder jerked to the side with the impact. Unfazed, the android swung his gun in an arc directly into Wyatt's head, jostling him to the side with the sheer force of it. As Gavin came back to his senses, he remembered the fight between Nines and Wyatt, and the way that he almost lost. What if Conan couldn't win this fight?
"Fuck-" Gavin cursed as he made up his mind and shoved Jerry's corpse to the side. Clambering to his feet, he watched for a brief moment as Conan ducked skillfully under a plastic-crushing punch. Gavin pulled out his gun and hurried in Conan's direction. Conan dodged another swing, and then returned with one of it's own that struck Wyatt in the Thirium pump and sent him stumbling backwards. Conan shifted in a way that exposed the sight of Gavin to Wyatt, and despite his stumbling, the deviant lifted his gun again. Closing his green eye, it clicked at last in Gavin's brain why he had stolen Nines' blue one. Wyatt fired a spot-on shot that absolutely would have connected if Conan hadn't thrown it's own firearm in the path of it. The timing was outstanding as the bullet connected with the metal of the gun instead, pushing it away from Conan and into the snow, saving Gavin's life. Conan didn't waste a beat, propelling itself forwards yet again and bringing Wyatt right to the ground. In an attempt to mirror the way it had disarmed Maria less than an hour before, it moved to catch Wyatt's wrist, but the deviant threw his weight to one side and tossed Conan off of him.
"You'll have to do better than that!" Wyatt's crackling voice was no more than a hiss, and Conan seemed to take the order to heart. Even from the 30 foot distance, Gavin could see the way it's expression darkened and it's eyes narrowed into slits, almost catlike.
"As you wish." And Gavin was impressed before. This deviant, this TG200 who had been terrorizing him and you for so long now, was sent into a panic. His red LED went into a strobe, and his systems seemed to kick into overdrive. Wyatt was big, strong and slow, and Conan was big, strong and fast. Punch after punch, the RK900 moved at the speed of fucking light and Gavin found himself rooted to his spot. Wyatt was just barely managing to dodge the hits, not being given a single chance to return the attacks. Conan didn't tire, it didn't slow, staying right on top of Wyatt and rapidly gaining the advantage.
"Go, Plastic!!" Gavin allows himself a moment of hope, a smile splitting his face, a fist pumping into the air. Punch, punch, punch, punch, punch- Conan's fists were nothing more than blurs, and it's steps were calculated and methodical to force the closest proximity possible while still throwing force into each attack. Suddenly, just as quick as it's other movements, he swiped out a leg and pulled Wyatt's feet out from under him.
"Fuck, fuck!" Wyatt spat out, and threw himself into a vicious roll accompanied by the popping of synthetic disks in a synthetic spine. They clicked back into place as Wyatt launched himself to his feet, and turned tail. He sprinted away, and those long legs carried him fast. Conan spared a rapid glance in Gavin's direction before the two set off to pursue him, leaving poor Jerry in the snow.
-----
"Nines...?" you struggle to find your voice, but that determination now thundering through your veins brings it back. It's weak, and quiet, but it's a sound and that's a start. "Nines, are you there?" you have to stall. You can't break free, not without damaging your poor hands even further, so you have to talk bullshit to gain as much time as possible. Who knows when Arizona will get bored of you? Who knows when she'll just flip a switch and seal your fate? Every single second counts. "Nines, it's (Y/N). I know you're in there, I know you're not the one in control. If you can hear me... just please, give me a sing."
"I hate to disappoint, but 'Nines' is gone. It was weak and easy to subdue. It won't be coming to your pathetic rescue." You try to tell yourself that you already knew Nines was dead, that he wasn't there anymore, but the confirmation still hurt and you winced.
"No, Nines, that isn't true. You're there, you're there, I know you're there!" your voice was getting stronger and your determination glowed brighter inside of your chest. "Fight it, Nines! fight whatever bullshit they put into you! Fight it for me, fight it for Gavin!" you leaned forwards, your eyes bright, forced hope, and RK900 slowly pivoted to face you. Not-Nines' one ice blue eye was positively lifeless. "Look at me, Nines! Look at what they're doing to me! You can stop this! You can save me!" tears welled in your eyes again, and this time they weren't planned. The dead look on his face was pulling up unwanted emotions, but the determination still held.
"You are... stupidly naive if you are even going to attempt this." Nines takes a single step towards you, and then he freezes up, unmoving save for his face slowly shifting into a frown. "The RK900 you knew no longer exists." You shake your head firmly.
"Nines, please, please I'm losing blood, I'm going to die sooner or later I need you to save me, please-" Nines' LED goes suddenly red, and you almost gasp aloud. Were you... really getting through to him? Was he really still there? "Nines, come on, come help me! Save-" Before you can finish your sentence Arizona appears from behind Nines and swings her fist fiercely across your face. This time you do gasp, and the punch brings blood spraying from your nose, adding to the rest of the red staining your skin.
"Don't-" her hand snaps around your chin, forcing your head up to stare into her red, red eyes, "fuck around with my RK. I will kill you right here and-"
"Arizona!!!" her hand leaves your chin and she spins on her heel just in time to see Wyatt burst into the space. He wipes hastily at a bit of blue blood that had dripped from his nose, and then he skitters to a halt at Arizona's side, spinning back around again and whipping up his gun to aim at the gates. "It's the other shitbag Detective. He- He's got another RK, and it almost beat the fucking shit out of me! Get out your gun, we have to kill it before-"
"Chill out, Wy!" Arizona places her hands firmly on his shoulders, giving him a little shake. "Where is he? Where are they? RK, go patrol the-"
"No, no don't send it out there alone, it'll get fucked up and then we'll have nothing but me!" You were frozen, scanning as far as you could see carefully, studiously, watching for any flicker of movement. Gavin was here? Gavin and Connor? Or was it Hank and Connor? Were you going to be saved? "Just get out your fucking gun and be ready! Send the ST to patrol if you've gotta!" Arizona pulled out her own gun, standing shoulder to shoulder with her taller deviant companion. She didn't move to make Chloe go patrol the perimeter like Wyatt had suggested. Instead, she glanced over her shoulder, scowling at you and then saying,
"Keep your eyes sharp, assholes. I don't want you leaving us to die or some bullshit like that. Wyatt, you've gotta explain what the fuck is going on!" Her gun is ready to aim and fire, pressed against her chest as she stays alert.
"This chics boy toy," Wyatt jerks his head in your direction, scanning his surroundings almost skittishly, "He's here with RK's goddamn carbon copy, but faster and stronger and-"
"Jesus, Wyatt, why're you so shaken up? Chill the hell out!" Arizona lets her gun fall and rolls her eyes, slumping her shoulders dramatically, "You're seriously telling me you got beat up by an RK800? RK's stupid prototype is nothing." Your smile brightens. Connor and Gavin were here to save you, they made it! You wondered only for a second why Connor was here with Gavin rather than Hank, but that just spurred your hope on further. Maybe the whole of the precinct was here, maybe even Allen and the SWAT crew, Perkins and the FBI- you would take literally anyone if it meant you got out of here alive. "I'll deal with this bullshit, Mr. 'RK Sniper Eyes'. Fucking ridiculous. Two bullets," Arizona raised her gun, "Bang, bang, and that's it." she mimicked the gunshots, and then stormed forwards with Wyatt hurrying after her and your heart begin to thump faster and faster.
"Arizona- fuck, be careful! Jesus Christ..." Wyatt pinches the bridge of his nose, his gun resting on his hip as he begins to pace. "Why the hell did you have to go solving our stupid case? Why the fuck did you have to be so nosy?" at the thought of safety, hope, the determination in your chest grows and you feel the sudden urge to be as snarky as you possibly can be. With a sneer, you lean forwards, and hiss out in a voice that's as teasing as possible.
"To be fair, you and your shitty group were crap at staying hidden." Wyatt's gun-holding whips up to point right at your skull and you think maybe you should have handled that a little better. He takes one slow step, and then comes stomping in your direction with burning malice in his eyes and a deadly gun pointed right at your forehead.
"I will shoot you right now you stupid-" Nines sets his hand on Wyatt's shoulder, and that cold, dead blue eye of his stares back into Wyatt's.
"Arizona doesn't want you killing her just yet." Wyatt snarls, but pulls the gun away, shaking of Nines' hand and storming back out into the snow to pace around outside, on high alert. Nines glances at you for no more than a second, before returning to his post. Maybe, just maybe, he's still in there waiting to be saved, just like you.
Please, Gavin, hurry.