Richard nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t know…”
“I don’t know, either. Why don’t you shadow him for a little bit, make sure he’s okay. Just keep your distance. That man can sniff you out before you even know what’s happening.”
Richard smirked. “Trust me, I know. I’ll keep you apprised.”
“Thanks, Rich.”
Richard O’Connor yawned and checked his watch. It was nearly six o’clock. His stomach grumbled at the news. He ignored its complaints. He was bound and determined to find out what was going on with Max Kincaid.
He had acted off color at the precinct. The odd behavior had continued and only gotten worse over the past few hours. At this point, Richard was convinced he was either trying to hide something, or avoid someone.
The most troubling sign for him was where Max had not gone today: Sam’s Diner. He knew as well as anyone at the precinct that he stopped there regularly. Richard was pretty sure there was a bit of a spark between him and Sam. Yet he watched Max go past the diner twice today without ever stopping.
The detective had stopped by his place for about an hour. Richard took the opportunity to tag Max’s Aero. He had a feeling that Max was catching on to him. He followed Max using the tracking device from that point forward.
Whenever Max would stop, Richard would stop a couple of blocks away. Richard would patch into the city’s CCTV system to see what Max was up to. Thus far, he would simply sit in his car for a measure of time before driving around aimlessly again.
That was the position Richard now found himself in. He was currently parked about a block and a half from Max’s current location. They were in the “bad” part of town. He felt naked without the unspoken protection of his usual patrol car.
Like the last few times, Max appeared to be sitting quietly in his Aero. Occasionally he would fidget with the radio or look out the window, shielding his eyes from the glare of the setting sun. Otherwise, he’d just sit staring forward.
Richard snapped out of his stupor. Max was talking to someone on his smart phone. It was a small change in his behavior, but a change no less. He wished with all his heart that he could listen in on the conversation.
Something was definitely up. The driver’s door of the Aero swung open. Max climbed out and shut it, looking around him. Richard switched to a different camera and watched Max cross the street to a rundown office building.
Max crossed the front of the building and disappeared down a side alley. Richard switched cameras again and just caught him entering the building through a side entrance. Now what did he do?
As he was considering his next move, two more men entered the building through the same entrance. A meeting. Richard squinted and reversed the video. At least one of the men had turquoise eyes.
Richard pulled out his own smart phone and dialed Chief Hanlon. A third man, also clearly Synthetic, entered the building as the phone rang. Finally, “Hanlon.”
“It’s Rich, chief. I finally got some action on Max down here in the slums.”
“The slums! What in the hell is he doing there?”
“I’m not sure, yet. He just went into an old office building, followed shortly after by three other guys. At least two of them are Synthetics, boss.”
“Holy shit, Rich. Is there any way you can get over there and see what’s going on?”
Richard reversed the video feed again, to when the last Synthetic entered. A small window was visible in the opened door. “Looks like the door has a window in it. I can walk by and drop off a wheelie…”
He was speaking of a half-dollar sized camera bot with two wheels capable of clinging to walls. People on the force affectionately referred to them as “wheelies”. They allowed officers to gain a visual on a dangerous situation without drawing immediate attention to themselves.
“Sounds good Rich, but be careful! I’m calling in backup for you, but it might be a few minutes before it gets there.”
“Do you really think that’s necessary, chief?”
A momentary silence played out on the other end of the line. “I’d like to think not, Rich, but something just doesn’t feel right about this. I don’t want to leave you hanging if things go south. Watch your back.”
“Ten-four. I’ll call you back.” Richard clicked off his phone and shoved it back in his pocket.
He opened his car door and slipped quietly out. He closed the door again, but didn’t shut it. He walked to the trunk and pushed the latch button. He cringed at the loud crack the release made as the trunk popped open.
Richard pushed aside a jumble of police gear, looking for a small yellow box. Bingo. He opened it up and pulled out the small wheelie bot. He took the bot and the box with him and shut the trunk as gently as he could.
He turned on the screen mounted in the lid of the box. The little wheelie briefly came to life and flashed a blue light. He put the box on his driver seat and casually walked towards the office building.
It was now that Richard was most vulnerable. If there were any civilian security cameras watching him, or if anyone decided to leave, he’d be found out. His heart pounded in his ears as he closed the gap between himself and the alley.
He came as close to the door as he possibly could. He stretched his arm out and lightly touched the wheelie to the metal door. He pulled his hand away. The wheelie stuck fast. Richard beat a hasty retreat back to his car.
Comforted by the relative safety of his car, he placed the control box on his lap and manned the controls for the wheelie. He zoomed the little bot up to the edge of the narrow window set in the door. He cautiously pushed it up past the lip of the window and peered in.
The interior of the building slowly came into focus. He could see the three men that had entered after Max. All three were definitely Synthetics. One was clearly taller than the other two. He was bald, and appeared to be damaged. One hand was gloved, and there were tears in the synthetic skin of his face.
Next was Max, leaning against some sort of metal desk. Just past him was a fourth Synthetic missing a hand. Richard looked up and out the windshield as realization came crashing down on him. That was Jax’s perp!
There was one more person in the room. It was hard to make out the form at first. He was sitting slumped against the wall on the floor. One wrist was cuffed to a pipe running from the wall to a radiator.
The figure looked up briefly. A thick layer of scruff obscured his face, but he was certain. It was Daryl Marston. That sold it, he needed to call back Hanlon.
It only took two rings before he got through this time. “Chief, how far away is that backup?”
A moment of silence followed. “You mean they’re not there yet?”
“No, and I really wish they’d hurry up, boss. There’s a hell of a party going on in there. I count four Synthetics, one of which is Jax’s perp.”
“Now I know you’re shitting me! Why would Kincaid have anything to do with the guy that tried to knock him off?”
“Exactly! But I’ll do you one better. Hunched on the floor is Daryl Marston, looking a little worse for wear.”
“My god… Do not engage them, O’Connor! Sit tight while I try to find out what the hell happened to your backup. See if you can pick up any audio. Call me if anything changes.”
“Roger that.” Richard clicked off his phone and fumbled it back into his pocket. He maneuvered the wheelie until it was just making contact with the window and thumbed an audio button.
At first their voices were muffled and distant. He played with the audio controls until he could make out words. He boosted the volume and strained to listen.
Max was talking. “Look, I told you. I’m doing everything that I can. You’ve got me working somewhat in the dark here, but I’m doing what I can.”
The scarred Synthetic scowled. “Police Chief Hanlon seems unconvinced that finding Marston is hopeless, or that SomniCorp is not worth investigating. I do not see the point of your continued existence if you cannot convince him otherwise.”
Max
held up a staying hand. “You have to give it time. I can return to talk to him tomorrow… Maybe I can talk to our counterparts in District A…”
Richard’s brow furrowed. District A was the Wall Street of New Wave City. All the major companies in town did business there. That included SomniCorp, Synthetics International, and the mobs’ front companies.
The scarred Synthetic shook his head. “I will tell you where to go, and what to do! As for Daryl Marston, I will see to it myself that finding him is impossible.” He nodded to one of the other Synthetics.
The other Synthetic nodded and produced a small syringe. He calmly walked over to Daryl. Max protested. “Is that really necessary? He could still be useful.” The Synthetic paused and looked to Scar.
Scar spoke to Syringe but stared at Max. “Terminate the subject.” Syringe nodded and knelt down next to Daryl. If Daryl knew what was going on, he was at peace with his fate. He slumped over a few moments after the Synthetic injected him with the syringe.
Syringe pulled out a small knife. His other hand rubbed at Daryl’s neck, seeking just the right spot. Max was now standing, moving restlessly, seemingly fighting the instinct to run over and smack the knife out of Syringe’s hand.
The Synthetic found what he was looking for and replaced his finger with the tip of the blade. He pressed Daryl’s head against his knee and plunged the knife in to the hilt in one liquid movement. Daryl twitched twice, then went limp in the Synthetic’s hands.
Richard slumped back in his car seat, eyes wide, unbelieving. Synthetics are bots. Bots can’t kill. And Max… He just stood there and watched. Daryl was dead… Where in the hell was that backup!
Scar turned to Max on Richard’s screen. “Take care of him. I’ll give you a little more time to deal with Hanlon, but not much. Do not disappoint me.”
Max numbly nodded. “Yes. Of course.”
Scar nodded. “Let’s go, gentlemen.” He exited the office building, closely followed by the other Synthetics. Richard quietly cursed his missing backup and slunk down in his car seat. He could just hear the quiet whine of a pair of cars driving away from the scene of the crime.
Richard dragged himself back up and checked the screen. Max was lingering by the door to the alley, staring back at Daryl’s slumped body. Richard steeled himself and flung his door open.
He reluctantly pulled out his police-issue plasma pistol and set it to stun. He pointed it to the ground and quietly approached the alley beside the office building. Richard stopped at the entrance of the alley and waited.
Max pressed open the door a minute later. His eyes went wide as he caught sight of the dark figure standing at the end of the alley. He moved for his own plasma pistol.
“Don’t do it, Max!” Max froze mid-reach. “Don’t do it.” He slowly moved his hands palm-out and to either side. “Get your hands up Max… Good. We need to talk, Max.”
Max nodded. “Hi, Richard. Yes, I imagine we need to talk. But please, lower your gun first. I know it’s a terrible cliché, but this isn’t what it looks like.”
Richard pointed the firearm at the ground, but kept his grip. “You’re right, that is a terrible cliché. I hope you have a better excuse.”
“I do. This whole thing, it’s a lot bigger than we thought, Richard. Things aren’t what they seem.”
Richard shook his head. “They better not be what they seem, for your sake. I just watched you stand by while those… things… killed an innocent man. That isn’t even supposed to be possible!” Richard started shaking.
“Easy, Richard. I told you, it’s not what it seems. That Synthetic didn’t break any of the laws. That wasn’t really Daryl. That was a replicant.”
Richard mouthed the word. “I thought those were only government-issued. That doesn’t make sense.”
“Think about it. How else would a Synthetic had been able to kill him?” Max chuckled. “Hell, he wasn’t even killing him, just permanently disabling him. A robot…”
“Okay, fine… Let’s say just for the moment that the body in there is a replicant. Why are you helping these guys? Why are you trying to suppress your own cases? I thought you were on our side…”
Max sighed. He slowly nodded. “I am on your side, but… They’ve got Sam, Richard. They took her and said if I alerted anyone on the force, that she was as good as dead.”
Richard’s eyes grew wide with dawning realization. Max hadn’t stopped at the diner because Sam wasn’t there. His odd behavior, the eagerness to get out of the precinct, it all made sense now.
“Jesus, Max.” Richard let his gun fall to his side. “Well… I guess the force is officially alerted. If what you’re saying is true…”
Max looked at Richard with watery eyes. “It is true, Richard.”
“You know we’re all going to do our level best to get Sam back safe and sound. You know that.” Max nodded. “Listen, I have backup on the way. Hanlon knows I’m here. I need to take a look at Daryl… the replicant… to confirm your story. Alright?”
“Yeah! Go ahead. I know all this is hard to swallow.”
Richard shook his head. “Friend, you have no idea.” Still clutching his gun, he cautiously slipped past Max and walked over to the door. He reached for the handle.
“Hold it right there!” Richard froze with his hand on the handle of the door. He turned his head to look further down the alley. He could just make out the face of… Max.
Richard whipped his head back the other way. Max was standing where he had passed him, except now he had his pistol out. It was pointing at the ground like his own had been a couple minutes ago.
He turned back. The other Max was still there. “Drop the weapon, Synthetic! You are in violation of the law.”
Richard’s Max looked at him and nodded at the other Max. “Another replicant. They probably sent him to make sure the Marston case dies.” The other Max took a few steps forward. Richard’s Max raised his weapon. “That’s far enough, replicant!”
“Fancy you calling him a replicant.” A dark-haired woman with turquoise eyes emerged out of the shadows beside the other Max.
Richard’s Max raised an eyebrow. “And just who are you?”
“A friend of the Resistance. And you are?”
“Detective Max Kincaid.”
“The hell you are!” The other Max shouted, raising his own weapon.
“Alright, alright! That’s enough!” Richard shouted. “Is there anyone else in the shadows we should know about?”
Daryl Marston walked up to the other Max’s right side. “Hi, officer O’Connor.” He waved weakly.”
Richard stared wide-eyed from Daryl back to his Max. “What in the hell…”
Richard’s Max lit up. “You see? That’s the real Daryl! The one in there is the replicant! What more proof do you need?”
Richard looked helplessly from one Max to the other. The other Max spoke up. “Why don’t we make this simple? Let’s both pop down to Mercy hospital and get our brains scanned? Winner takes all.”
“An MRI would effectively kill a Synthetic, that’s why!”
The other Max smirked. “Well, if you’re the real Max Kincaid, then you have nothing to fear.”
Richard’s Max glowered. “Right.” Richard sidled away from him as the detective started to tremble. “Absolutely right.” Richard’s Max turned and bolted.
Richard brought up his pistol and fired twice. A pair of bright yellow streaks of light screamed through the air and punched into the counterfeit Max’s back. The Synthetic dropped to the ground with a sickening thud.
Richard turned back to the others. “Hi, Max.”
Max smiled. “Hiya, Richie.”
The female synthetic cleared her throat. “A wonderful moment, but we must move quickly.”
“Of course.” The three walked over to Richard. “This here is Serena. She’s on our side, as far as I can tell.” Serena gave Max a look.
Richard smirked. “Just Serena? No last name?”
Serena replied. “I
t doesn’t work that way for Synthetics. It’s one of the many things we’re working to change.” She looked at Max, then back to Richard. “The closest I have to a last name, legally, is S5-F24-141A.”
“Rolls right off the tongue. I think I’ll stick with Serena for now.”
“Acceptable.” Serena nodded, smiling slightly.
“So what’s the plan? Shit! I need to call Hanlon, too.”
“Who is Hanlon?”
Max interjected. “That’s the chief of our precinct. Richie, you help me get my two-bit knockoff into my car. Then we can…”
“No!” Serena interrupted. “I guarantee you that the Enlightened are tracking your vehicle. It must be cleaned before you can consider using it again.”
“Son of a bitch. Alright…” He turned to Serena. “Should we put it in your car, then?” There was that look again. “The damned thing tried to steal my life! I’m calling it an it!”
Serena shook her head. “There’s too great a risk that they might be able to track my car by tracking him.”
Richard held up a hand. “Whoa, hold on, you two. There’s supposed to be backup coming, and I still want to update Hanlon, so if I could just take a moment…”
Max smirked and looked at Serena. “That backup probably isn’t coming anytime soon.”
Richard’s brow lowered. “Max… What did you do?”
“I’ll tell you all about it in the car. Now let’s get metalhead here in the back of your car.”
“My car? Now wait just a minute…” A deafening boom made all four of them jump. Richard turned back to the counterfeit Max. What remained of the Synthetic’s head was smoking and sparking.
Max pointed upward. “The roof!” He pointed his pistol at a shadowy figure up above and fired. The shots went high and right. Richard fired his own pistol. One of his shots caught the fleeing shadow in the arm.
The man up above cried out in rage and pain. There was the sound of something clunking onto the roof. The shadow man disappeared into the night.
“Protect Daryl, Max! Get him out of here!” Serena grabbed Daryl by the arm and half-flung him at Max.
Max caught Daryl and turned to Richard. “Let’s go, pal!” Richard nodded and started running back toward his car.
Preservation Protocol Page 10