While you pulled Connor aside as he ranted and berated androids as a whole, your unusual prototype remained in the kitchen. Hands in his coat pockets again, Gavin silently scanned the house, seeking further context for the sake of keeping things relatively peaceful.

[Two bedrooms; one belonging to Lieutenant Anderson, and the other...]

[SCANNING...]

_____

[INFORMATION FOUND]

_____

[NAME: DETECTIVE CONNELL ANDERSON, D.O.B. NOVEMBER 28TH, 2012.

RELATIVES: LIEUTENANT CONNOR ANDERSON, D.O.B. MAY 8TH, 2010, BROTHER.

CAPTAIN HANK ANDERSON, D.O.B. SEPTEMBER 6TH, 1985, FATHER, DECEASED IN LINE OF DUTY.

COLE ANDERSON, D.O.B. SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2029, BROTHER, DECEASED AFTER FAILED MEDICAL OPERATION.]

_____

[CONNELL REPORTED MISSING DURING ANDROID REVOLT, 2038. ONLY WITNESS DECEASED- FATHER.]

_____

[He has an intense hatred of androids due to his grief. My presence is only worsening the situation.]

Gavin's LED glowed a bright yellow, but it was unseen from the angle his head was turned. The collar around his neck had a small red light; it began to blink, soundless. What was supposed to happen was unknown to the prototype.

By the time you'd pulled your attention away from Connor, the android was gone. "Gav?" Slightly worried, for reasons you couldn't decipher, you walked out the door to find the android standing on the front porch. "Gavin, what's wrong?"

His gray eyes blinked quizzically at you. "Nothing is wrong, I don't feel anything. However, my presence is causing unnecessary stress to Lieutenant Anderson, so I will wait out here." When your eyebrows came close, he offered a slight grin. "I scanned the property and got the context I requested, padrona."

Oh, fuck. So he knows what happened...

"Hey, sugar," came Connor's melodic tone from the open doorway. His anger seemed to have vanished, at least for the time being. "If you wanna test your new computer, give Markus a call."

"Markus?" That threw you for a loop. "Why? What does he have to do with--"

"Just trust me. And good luck."

=]|[=

Seated behind the wheel, you frowned just barely, staring at the contact on your phone before you finally bit the bullet. Much to your surprise, Markus answered on the second ring. "What's the occasion?" he joked, a note of laughter in his smooth tones. "You only call me when Connor needs a DD and you're pissed at him."

"Ha, ha," you replied dryly. "Funny you should bring him up; he suggested I get a hold of you."

"... Please don't tell me he's drinking already," the human groaned. The annoyance was swift and well-versed in his words.

"Nope, he's sober. For now." Rolling your eyes, you glanced at the lieutenant's front door before your prototype filled your vision, offering that same, slightly cocky grin. "It's about an android I got. Found, technically."

"Okay, now I'm curious. What kind of android?"

"That's just it. I don't know. I already looked in his code, and there's no model number anywhere. Just his name. And he doesn't even know what his directive is, but apparently, he knows how to kill. Connor said if I wanted to test him, to give you a call. For... some damn reason."

A few seconds' worth of silence preceeded Markus's response: "Bring him over."

=]|[=

The drive was as quiet as it had been the whole morning, but as the minutes ticked by, you glanced over at Gavin once more when the realization struck: he was sitting comfortably. His posture was relaxed, not stiff like a newly-activated machine should be.

"You've looked at me seventeen times since leaving Lieutenant Anderson's home," the prototype suddenly spoke up. "Either something about my presence concerns you, or you are curious but unwilling to take your eyes off the road. Should it be the latter, I thank you for being somewhat safe."

"Were you designed to be a smartass?"

"Not that I'm aware of."

"Gotcha. So why are you sitting like that?"

This time, Gavin didn't have an immediate answer. "Context, please."

"You're sitting like you're comfortable. Relaxed, natural. You're an android, I know you're an android, but if I didn't know any better, I'd say there was a very quiet human in my passenger seat."

When he said nothing, you didn't push the subject, though you couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.

[I haven't been functioning for even 24 hours, I am only doing what I'm programmed to. Is my posture more humane than appropriate?]

^ ? % [So/t+!rE iN&TaB(Li=y] * ^ =

The light on his collar began to blink again, but as it didn't seem to affect him, Gavin didn't speak on it.

[What is happening]

By the time you were parking the car in the ample driveway, the prototype had stopped trying to decipher whatever was happening with his systems.

You greeted the android that opened the door with a gentle smile. "Good morning, Leo, Markus asked me to stop by."

The android in question gazed at you, then at your prototype, his LED flashing yellow before nodding and stepping aside. "I'll notify him of your arrival," the male replied, closing the heavy wooden doors behind you before leaving you in the entryway.

Nearby, beside an ornate small table, a wire birdcage was mounted. The mechanical birds within were silent, so you went to wind them up again. They were incredibly lifelike, hopping and chirping, preening themselves and almost fooling you into believing that they weren't made of metal and wire.

Still near the doors, Gavin stood with his hands in his pockets, scanning the large house without judgment.

He's the most lifelike android I've ever seen.

"All right, let's see this numberless an...dr...oid...." Markus called out as he came into view. His eyes were glued to Gavin, unable to mask his bewilderment.

Your prototype's LED only flashed yellow once, gathering information as he scanned your friend. Then he stepped forward, hand outstretched to be polite, since Markus was clearly not hostile like Connor was. "Mr. Manfred, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Gavin."

"Um-- y-yeah, yeah, thanks... Gavin..." Markus replied, shaking the prototype's hand and only seeming more confused. To his credit, however, he gave his head a hard shake and snapped out of it. "Just call me Markus, okay?" He then turned his piercing eyes to you. "You know, if he didn't have that collar and the LED..."

"Trust me, I know. But he's 100% a machine," you assured him, hands cupping your elbows. "... you know, I still don't understand why Connor had me get a hold of you."

The grin on the male's face seemed... sly. Entirely out of character for him, but there it was. "Why wouldn't he?" That told you nothing, and Markus let his grin slip a little. "You really don't know what it is I do?"

"Markus, you're a painter, for fuck's sake. What does that have to do with testing my prototype?"

He chuckled softly. "I can set him up in the Pit."