[IC] Original Story: The Blue Iris { Angel & Fabricant }

[Fabricant451]

Rain crashed down overhead, the droplets echoing above like bullets from on high. Rain was nothing new at this time of year, Chicago was damn near famous for it - six months of rain before a brief period of comfortable weather leading into winter. Normally, Sophie Clarke was quite fond of the rain when it wasn't overbearing; rain made for wonderful ambiance for those long days in the lab that turned into long nights. It wasn't out of the box to say that rain was as integral to AVA's creation as Sophie's own desire to prove stuffy grant givers and supposed scientists wrong. And yet for all the love Sophie had for the natural weather phenomenon, at the moment she was cursing how unprepared she was to get caught in a rainshower with no umbrella.

It was hard to prepare when the authorities were at the door saying they had to take AVA in for murder; no matter how loud Sophie shouted about innocence there was no convincing them. A body was found with internal damage that suggested someone - or something - with strength far beyond a human and that made an advanced lifeform such as AVA a prime suspect. AVA shouldn't have existed if society was to believe - it was why Sophie hadn't gone fully public yet, but her mistake was showing AVA off at a conference behind closed doors. She should have expected a blurry leaked photo. But she didn't expect the body AVA was being framed for being one of the people who initially laughed at Sophie for her ideas. Doctor Robert Martin, a wealthy inventor whose advancements in cybernetics paved the way for androids being created en masse.

When the police came it wasn't Sophie who realized that they weren't there to hear tales of innocence. No matter how Sophie pleaded, they were set in their ways, unflinchingly determined to bring AVA in. But it was Sophie who made the situation worse by shoving one of the 'cops' which resulted in the man tripping over and falling through a glass coffee table. What came next was running and the sound of sirens being louder than her breathing. One body turned to potentially more in the escape.

And now Sophie had taken AVA to an alley beneath the tracks of the L Train. She was out of breath and panicked. A dead scientist with AVA being framed, an injured and potentially lacerated uniformed officer, and nothing but questions that needed answers. Sophie was sitting on the cold, soggy ground as rain cascaded off the elevated train tracks, her head spinning and her heart rate increased drastically. And even still, there was one thing that was at the front of her mind as she turned towards the one she had fled with. "AVA...how are you...holding up?"

[AngelBites15]

Four years. Four years, was how long she has been active. At first, there was a cascade of waves, and then there cane a vision; a dream. The time where she “came to life” was the moment she awakened from her sleep, and happened to see a face; she was sure it wasn’t a dream. One of her blue irises had scanned that face, having to commit it into her memory, and remember it for the rest of her life. At first, emotions weren’t a part of her, but then, after a few months, the information was being absorbed from one scenario, to the next.

AVA wasn’t sure whether if the whole time she was dreaming, and yet, it felt so real. The name, the hair, the facials; she remembered them. Her enhanced senses and extreme intelligence came from one experiment to the other, and she acted upon request after request, although there were times where she would question Sophie, if something became confusing. She was becoming a lot closer to becoming the “perfect specimen”, as her creator Dr. Clarke had called her. Sometimes AVA wondered what she meant, but then, she was there to please Sophie in reaching her desired goal. She could remember that “traits of loyalty” was a phrase written in one of her journals.

But then, there came something else, ever since they began the test of feeling sensations; to make sure that her nervous system was intact, and responding in the right way. From feeling pain, to feelings of pleasure; every little thing regarding the sense of touch was to be noted. The test for her capability to return the favor, came the spark of something else. If there was ever a time that she was capable in expressing feelings of love, there came a moment where it was real. From time to time, having to awaken in a bed with the human woman by her side, AVA registered that it has happened, although she has yet to believe that it was real.

Now, they were on the run. For a crime her creator knew she did not commit. According to her own conscience, AVA was sure that she had been in her creator’s area of vision, at the time. The only method they had for escape, was the inconspicuous act of AVA detonating a few smoke bombs, before they both jumped out of the window with registered firearms for protection. Having to run into the alleyway, the Android looked out into the streets, in order to spot any of police cars that were following them. “I’m fine, though still confused”, she said, having to look over the gun in her hand. “I have done nothing against the law. I was with you the whole time”, she gave a sigh, having to look back at her creator, who was exhausted from their escape.

[Fabricant451]

If there was one trait Sophie was envious of AVA having - and there were a fair few of them - it was how AVA could remain calm in the face of what had transpired. Of course, she couldn't know if it was calm, exactly, or if AVA was just seeing this as just another sort of lesson. Sophie never considered herself much of a teacher, though when it came to explaining concepts to AVA she liked to think she did alright - though she wasn't alone in doing so, her 'lab assistant' was indispensable. If AVA was calm but confused that was fine; confusion was high in the alley - and Sophie could be nervous and frightened enough for the both of them.

"I know you were, and I know you're innocent, AVA. I wish I had answers for you, but all I know is we probably shouldn't stay at the house tonight." It was then that Sophie looked over towards her creation and spotted the gun gleaming in AVA's grasp. Doctor Clarke's eyes went wide at the sight and if her body wasn't already going into overdrive from the adrenaline surge of excitement that came with the fleeing, she likely would have been having some kind of attack. "AVA, did you take that from one of the police officers?"

They definitely shouldn't be holding onto that. They would have to ditch it somewhere...but that might just put a trail on them. Sophie always liked to think she had the answers...but right now everything was on fire in her mind and nothing was making any sense at all. "Okay, well, that might be seen as illegal. But...don't worry...I know you didn't do anything wrong. I don't know what's going on...but I'm not going to let all of our work be in vain. We should get out of the rain.."

[AngelBites15]

AVA’s face hasn’t changed from her original gaze, although there were a few slight cracks upon certain places that would leak some emotions that she seemed to try and hide. By going through the memory database in her processor of a brain, she tried to find anything of significance that would help in their current situation. Looking from her creator, to the gun in her hand, she flashbacks rock the moment where she found a lone object on the ground during the struggle between them and the police. There was, no doubt, a mess back at the house, so the android couldn’t seem to remember whether if the gun was owned by law enforcement or not.

“Forgive me, Doctor, as I wasn’t entirely sure”, she responded in her usual cold and detached but eloquent voice, as she looked back at the weapon in her hand. “I found it underneath our bed pillows. As the third law states, I believed it to be one of the arms I was registered to have for protection”, she did remember using it during one of their usual exercises. Like the results suggest, it took AVA only a few months to adjust in using them. The memory came and disappeared, when the android to find herself looking up at the sky, and feel the water drop upon her dense, synthetic face. Internally, she wondered what was on the minds of the humans that led up to this peculiar scenario. Sophie’s last words made the taller woman look back to her, before proceeding to walk in her direction.

The blonde woman’s hair was obviously damp by the downpour, and the next thing that the slender dark-haired woman did, was take off her long, foot-lengthed coat, and place it over her creator’s shoulders. As stubborn as she was, AVA didn’t let the rain bother her, considering her metallic piece were covered by synthetic skin. They had to lay low; perhaps find a place that had a cover, and wouldn’t require witnesses.

[Fabricant451]

In light of everything that had transpired over the past moments, Sophie was willing to give AVA the benefit of the doubt on that. Were the situations swapped and Sophie was the one with a firearm she likely wouldn't have been able to identify where she took it from; she herself didn't carry such things despite understanding why self defense was so often a necessity. Considering she had someone like AVA with her most times, Sophie's need for self defense was considerably lessened. Of course, Sophie would have preferred if AVA never have to resort to even threats but the world rarely worked how one wanted it to.

"Regardless, I don't want you carrying something like that. If you're seen holding a weapon, it won't be pretty for either of us." Sophie was going to have to carry that burden, the weight of the responsibility showing through in her slightly shaken tone of voice. While she wasn't quite as skilled at remaining calm like AVA, it was brave of the doctor to at least put on a face to suggest that she wasn't phased by the events even if her body language betrayed that bravado.

"Thank you, AVA." Her still soft spoken words of thanks as AVA sheltered Sophie, even if only slightly, with an additional layer. It wasn't going to keep the rain from her eyes, but if nothing else it would keep her warm enough to continue onwards. "I promise you, I'm going to fix this, AVA. I don't know how...but I will. Trust me." Already Sophie was thinking of possibilities as to who or why things had to happen this way - even if her concern should have been where to go next...her head was spinning and not just because she was continually shaking her head in constant disbelief. "First, let me hold onto that..." Sophie gestured to the weapon and extended her palm.

[AngelBites15]

AVA looked back down at the gun in her hand, as she listened to her creator explain on the reason she shouldn't hold onto such an object. As much as she found it logical, as much as she had wanted to agree, the android wasn't quite sure if the decision to get rid of it would help their case. As far as she knew, they were bound to be hunted and tracked down, so they had to at least protect themselves with a weapon. But then, AVA looked back at all of the times that she found herself to be capable -- by just using her physical attributes alone. She thought this over the whole time of looking at the gun in her hand....perhaps Sophie was right.

The only time she had ever broke eye contact with the item, was the moment of giving Sophie that much-needed coverage. "My pleasure", the android replied back to her in her usual neutral but eloquent voice, before looking to the ground, once more, until she heard her human guardian reassure, seemingly promising, AVA that they will find a safe passage that would get them out of this, alive. "I know that I am innocent, and yet I know that the answers we seek are hidden from certain eyes. The question is, where do we begin to find those things?", the question replayed itself within her own mind, and by going through her own memory, there wasn't really a lead; not to her, at least.

What broke her out of her concentration, was the fact that Sophie gestured to the armed gun, once more. AVA looked back up, to see the other woman's face, and then, her hand. Her blue eyes looked down once more to her own hand, she reluctantly lifted it, and carefully handed it over to her. The physical sensation of having to brush her synthetic skin with organic was quite confusing sometimes, and AVA wondered what it would like to possess such biology. The humans confused her sometimes, but that was why Sophie was there. She was her first contact with such a species; in a way, to blend in with them, her creator and "lab assistant" became the teachers, her friends, her guardians...and her family. So far, with them being around, AVA remained stable and informed.

For probably the umpteenth time, the android once again scanned Sophie's face, having to map every corner, and commit the image to memory. It was really a strange feeling whenever she was near the human woman. Even AVA herself found this rather confusing.

[Fabricant451]

There was a moment of relief when AVA turned over the gun and that was the first time since the grand escape from the confusion where Sophie felt like something was going right. It was a small moment for sure, but small moments made all the difference. Of course, AVA didn't have to do that, Sophie was adamant in her work and belief that with proper initial oversight that beings, even created ones, could be trusted to make their own decisions - and AVA was the first step in that radical thought process. Sophie didn't order AVA to comply, it was a choice and it showed a great deal of trust in the doctor that AVA parted with it. It might not have been the right time to crack a smile, but her mood was still lifted all the same.

"Well, the obvious option would be to start at the scene of the crime, but they've most likely got it under security right now. Knowing the cause of death or anything at all would be a boon, but I don't fancy our chances against law enforcement even with your abilities, AVA." Sophie was doing what she did best: Thinking. She had to balance what they did know, namely that AVA was innocent, with what they didn't know which was...a considerable amount. Innocent until proven guilty didn't apply to someone that many people didn't even see as a person.

"I think out first option should be to get to a more secure location...like a safehouse. I think I know where to go...she's probably the only ally we'll have." Sophie was being somewhat vague but doing so with a confidence of self - no doubt she was trying to sound in control and brave for the benefit of AVA and whether or not it was working for AVA it seemed to be working for Sophie and that was arguably the more important thing. "Here, take my hand. Until we get there, if anyone asks, let me do the talking, okay? We'll walk it, we can't risk public transportation."

[AngelBites15]

The look on the human’s face told AVA that she might have probably committed herself to following orders, as she had been doing for the past four years, and yet, she didn’t act on the chance to act out on deciding for herself, as well as express her own feelings by doing such deeds that apply to them. In addition, the android showed the trust that she had in her creator to hold onto such a weapon. “Doctor, we should hold onto it. Apart from law enforcement, I don’t know who or what we may become to the other people, but we should, at least, protect ourselves from those who may express a hatred for us. For me, in particular”, she suggested, having to share her opinion about the gun she just turned over to Sophie.

There was a huge chance that society might come to find AVA the one to blame for the death of one of their kind. In this case, a very important one. As calm as she was, the dark-haired woman can come into tolerating the discontent being aimed towards her, but she didn’t want it to be aimed towards her creator. As much as she wanted to please the blonde on her quest to create the “perfect specimen”, AVA would do what was best for her to stay alive and happy. If sacrifice was needed, the android would put her life on the line for her. The taller woman’s dark hair was now damp from the rain, as she looked upon Sophie, once the human started to sort out their chances to clean up the mess.

“If it’s our only chance to find the truth, I am confident to use my skills, in order to reach it. Please, I don’t want you to worry, creator. Isn’t that what we call trust?”, the android asked, having to think about the lesson on reliability between human and robot. Having to detect the sound of anxiety within Sophie’s voice, the android understood that the human was expressing some level of fear. Knowing that it would be a more appropriate reaction towards the human, AVA wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulder, before taking one of her hands with her free one. “If we are taking the gun, I’d suggest on hiding it”.