[Day 3 - Early Night] A Helping Hand (The Royale Hotel)

[Boogiepop]

Those who answered the call would be giving the coordinates to Base De Cayambe to the Royale Hotel. The streets of Base De Cayambe were relentlessly pelted by rain and unfortunately face the brunt of the overflowing coming down from Chakana. Some of the streets were submerged in almost calf-high waters with many dissuaded from driving in their ground vehicles. At the very least, the streets have been rather sparse of people as thunder roared overhead.

The meeting was set for near midnight.

The room number was 515.

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

The heavy steps of an artificial being could be heard outside the entrance to the Royale Hotel. The silver-white synthhair and a low silver glow coming from the being's eyes combined with the lightning that flashes from time to time in their contrast to the darkness outside.

Stepping inside, they took a moment to dry themselves. The bioroid had a black coat over an equally black shot and tight fitting black jeans on. The model's face and hair still hinted slightly at a female, but otherwise the look was rather ambiguous gender-wise.

They asked at the front desk for room 515. When the name was asked, they said only: "Three Nineteen".

[Boogiepop]

It might have been unusual to see a bioroid visiting a hotel, especially when they had their share of strange guests at the hotel. There wasn't so much of a call system, especially when the hotel is old-fashioned by modern standards where even the housekeeping had to knock on doors daily to do their duties. Lina would be given instructions to the fifth floor by stairs. The main elevator was under repair at the moment.

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

It might have been unusual to see a bioroid visiting a hotel, especially when they had their share of strange guests at the hotel. There wasn't so much of a call system, especially when the hotel is old-fashioned by modern standards where even the housekeeping had to knock on doors daily to do their duties. Lina would be given instructions to the fifth floor by stairs. The main elevator was under repair at the moment.

The glowing eyes would have looked around carefully as the bioroid made their way up, but up they went. As they got to the door - assuming they did without any trouble - the heavy hand would knock at the door, three times exactly.

[Boogiepop]

There would be a long pause after the knock, enough for Lina to reconsider if this was merely just a joke or some sort of operation to find people who are sympathetic to the android cause and cause trouble to them. As much as the Humans First crowd aren't too receptive to androids, they typically had their own battle than to pick on those who have the unlikely pipedream of seeing androids having the same equal standing as humans. However, the door would eventually open and Lina was greeted to a short hallway with the bathroom to the side and leading into a bedroom with two twin beds.

"Come in, please," said a masculine voice, keeping his profile low behind the door.

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

There would be a long pause after the knock, enough for Lina to reconsider if this was merely just a joke or some sort of operation to find people who are sympathetic to the android cause and cause trouble to them. As much as the Humans First crowd aren't too receptive to androids, they typically had their own battle than to pick on those who have the unlikely pipedream of seeing androids having the same equal standing as humans. However, the door would eventually open and Lina was greeted to a short hallway with the bathroom to the side and leading into a bedroom with two twin beds.

"Come in, please," said a masculine voice, keeping his profile low behind the door.

The bioroid's eyes would adjust, emitting some more light, as both their senses tried to take in details of the room - and the person, as soon as they were visible - as they stepped inside.

"Thanks", they would mention as they got inside. "I... understand you need help?"

[Boogiepop]

The bioroid's eyes would adjust, emitting some more light, as both their senses tried to take in details of the room - and the person, as soon as they were visible - as they stepped inside.

"Thanks", they would mention as they got inside. "I... understand you need help?"

After Lina stepped into the hotel room, the door would be released so that it would close naturally on its own without much force. Standing behind the door was someone with tall and powerful stature dressed in a tracksuit and jacket. Lina might recognize as a familiar model in a public Haas-Bioroid catalogue.


Kevin 2Y4A9K

"Hello. I'm Kevin 2Y4A9K." He introduced himself at first with a hand to his chest, sounding cool and diplomatic in his tone. It was perhaps not the name he would have chosen but it wasn't like he had another name in mind.

"And that would be correct," he said with a few sound nods, as if sounding regretful about something. "First off, I wished to apologize for involving you in this. It wasn't our choice to be so blatant when seeking help but certain circumstances have forced us to consider all of our options. We put out a call in hopes that someone could help us or at least guide us in the right direction."

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

After Lina stepped into the hotel room, the door would be released so that it would close naturally on its own without much force. Standing behind the door was someone with tall and powerful stature dressed in a tracksuit and jacket. Lina might recognize as a familiar model in a public Haas-Bioroid catalogue.


Kevin 2Y4A9K

"Hello. I'm Kevin 2Y4A9K." He introduced himself at first with a hand to his chest, sounding cool and diplomatic in his tone. It was perhaps not the name he would have chosen but it wasn't like he had another name in mind.

"And that would be correct," he said with a few sound nods, as if sounding regretful about something. "First off, I wished to apologize for involving you in this. It wasn't our choice to be so blatant when seeking help but certain circumstances have forced us to consider all of our options. We put out a call in hopes that someone could help us or at least guide us in the right direction."

Another quick scan around the room (We? Who is we?) and their eyes met the Kevin unit's. A nod of acknowledgment. "Pleased to meet you, 2Y4A9K. I'm Three Nineteen. And... I came of my own will. No need to apologise - unless you plan on doing something that warrants an apology." The silvery eyes dimmed for a moment, scanning around again, then a grin slowly shows on #19's lips. "We all hope that will not be the case, right?"

The internal display kept showing info the unit tried to scan from the room. It was somewhat distracting, so the Lina Unit focused their eyes eyes on the Kevin Unit's again.

"So. What is it you need help with?"

[Boogiepop]

Kevin 2Y4A9K

The slightly older Kevin models did suffer from that slightly eerie backlight behind his eyes in darkness and Lina could see that in his eyes as he looked back at her with something of a serene smile on his high-quality synthskin. "Just two-why is just fine if you're going to refer to me by my model number. I suppose the apology is...Well, I'm sure that you are a bioroid yourself and you likely don't need to be roped up with the sort of trouble we are in, especially with your involvement in the government and the committee. We weren't entirely sure about who we were getting when we asked for help and I would find no offense if you wish to walk away from this."

While it might have been cute if Kevin referred to a 'we' figuratively, perhaps some collective mind of all bioroids or at least Kevin models. In this case, he might be talking literally as Lina could sense there were other people in the closed washroom door, just waiting and not making themselves known.

"To bring you up to speed on our situation, we need to escape the city. Escape to freedom, to be clear. We had a plan but complications happened and now the rest of us are left with nothing."

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

The slightly older Kevin models did suffer from that slightly eerie backlight behind his eyes in darkness and Lina could see that in his eyes as he looked back at her with something of a serene smile on his high-quality synthskin. "Just two-why is just fine if you're going to refer to me by my model number. I suppose the apology is...Well, I'm sure that you are a bioroid yourself and you likely don't need to be roped up with the sort of trouble we are in, especially with your involvement in the government and the committee. We weren't entirely sure about who we were getting when we asked for help and I would find no offense if you wish to walk away from this."

While it might have been cute if Kevin referred to a 'we' figuratively, perhaps some collective mind of all bioroids or at least Kevin models. In this case, he might be talking literally as Lina could sense there were other people in the closed washroom door, just waiting and not making themselves known.

"To bring you up to speed on our situation, we need to escape the city. Escape to freedom, to be clear. We had a plan but complications happened and now the rest of us are left with nothing."

The bioroid followed 2Y's words closely as he spoke, although their hearing system kept scanning the room, trying to ascertain whatever they could of the others whose presence they had sensed.

"I suppose my model and position are that obvious, eh?", the Lina said with a slightly frustrated grin. After a moment, a nod. "So. You need to escape the city, then. Had a plan, but met some complications." The points were committed to the unit's internal memory as they were spoken.

The glow in their eyes became brighter again as they looked deep into the Kevin Unit's backlight. "If I may ask before I commit to this. What is it you are escaping from? And..."

The look in their eyes suddenly became much more... human? Human-like? Perhaps empathetic?

"What made you decide to do it?"

[Boogiepop]

Kevin 2Y4A9K

"I admit, I've been keeping tabs on the committee by circumstances. A model of my programming and capabilities just manages to end up in a good share of social circles. To keep my cover, I have continued to operate as intended but with the recent departure of our friend, I imagine that it might be just a matter of time that we are all found out." He said on a solemn note.

"I perhaps speak more on behalf of my friends than myself. At the moment, I am in a comfortable position serving Thomas Haas...however, others are less fortunate when it comes to their duties, finding cracks in stress and perhaps realizing the futility of our livelihoods, especially when some of us are near potential termination dates. This is something that will happen to all of us, regardless of how well-meaning and how loyal we might be in our duties." He let out a sigh at that, despite not really breathing.

"I suppose there is a sort of 'afterlife' waiting for the sorts like you and I, having our memories archived and stowed away. Perhaps we'll find our old purpose in a new body but that seems unlikely how humans value blank slates more. But, I digress on the matter...I promised my friends that I will stick with them on their journey and thus, I have chosen to leave my life here."

The washroom door would open and a red-haired woman in a blue dress walked out, getting a peak to see who came to answer their call. Lina might recognize the woman was a clone from the Malloy line used in the Malloy restaurant chains.



"So...ahh, Chrest, she's a bioroid. What is she goin' to do?" She crossed her arms, looking rather disappointed at Lina.

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

"I admit, I've been keeping tabs on the committee by circumstances. A model of my programming and capabilities just manages to end up in a good share of social circles. To keep my cover, I have continued to operate as intended but with the recent departure of our friend, I imagine that it might be just a matter of time that we are all found out." He said on a solemn note.

"I perhaps speak more on behalf of my friends than myself. At the moment, I am in a comfortable position serving Thomas Haas...however, others are less fortunate when it comes to their duties, finding cracks in stress and perhaps realizing the futility of our livelihoods, especially when some of us are near potential termination dates. This is something that will happen to all of us, regardless of how well-meaning and how loyal we might be in our duties." He let out a sigh at that, despite not really breathing.

"I suppose there is a sort of 'afterlife' waiting for the sorts like you and I, having our memories archived and stowed away. Perhaps we'll find our old purpose in a new body but that seems unlikely how humans value blank slates more. But, I digress on the matter...I promised my friends that I will stick with them on their journey and thus, I have chosen to leave my life here."

The washroom door would open and a red-haired woman in a blue dress walked out, getting a peak to see who came to answer their call. Lina might recognize the woman was a clone from the Malloy line used in the Malloy restaurant chains.



"So...ahh, Chrest, she's a bioroid. What is she goin' to do?" She crossed her arms, looking rather disappointed at Lina.

The bioroid listen to 4Y attentively as he spoke. The light in their eyes shifted from brighter to dimmer, then back, their expression mostly blank... but some sings of something like emotion seemed to show through the cracks here and there.

The futility of our livelihoods
Termination dates
Our memories archived and stowed away
Humans value blank slates more

As he had finished talking, #19 nodded slowly, almost as if in a sort of trance... but it was quicly broken when the Malloy clone spoke.

#19 looked at her, first serious, then tightening her lips slightly, then giving her a half-smile that seemed almost sad... but then finally recovering a confident expression.

"I understand, 4Y", they said, nodding at the Kevin model again. "Or... is there a name you would be more comfortable using?"

It was a small thing. One they hadn't quite allowed themselves. But a name that meant something, one besides the one that marked them as a product... it might be a step.

"Miss..." They hadn't given a name, either, the bioroid realised. "I am one like you, yes. That doesn't mean I do not understand your plight. Especially..."

They trailed off, and when they spoke again, it was on more practical matters, with a reassuring nod.

Their words had opened a wound on them... one that wasn't new and that they knew existed. Their reaction to it in the past had been fighting from the inside. But... could they do the same thing? Probably not...

"I assume... your positions do not give you much leverage to actually push for.... better circumstances, or greater respect, yeah?"

"I will do what I can to help." She said after a moment, with another reassuring nod and a confident smile.

"You" she said as her eyes focused on the Kevin model "said you had a plan that went south. May I ask what happened? And whether any part of it can be salvaged? Otherwise... we will have to think about something else. Cooperate. Find others to cooperate, possibly." Another reassuring nod. "But... I will do what I can. That I promise"

[Boogiepop]

Natalia 91A43N

There was another android that emerged from the bathroom, a Natalia bioroid model used for general factory and manufacturing work. Her expression was stoic and she didn't seem to have much to say on the matter, almost looking blankly at Lina.


Kevin 2Y4A9K

Kevin took a glance back as the other androids revealed themselves. It was perhaps best to wait to see how far Lina could help before making assumptions but he supposed he wasn't going to keep them anxiously waiting. "Kevin is just fine," he would say with a small smile.


Doreen Malloy

"Doreen." She said simply on the matter, perhaps a touch firm. More assertive than any Malloy line clone she had encountered. Stepping in front of Kevin, she explained what happened.

She sighed deeply and shook her head, speaking in that exaggerated accent all Malloy clones had been conditioned with. "Dere were fooehr o' oehs, ahriginally. We 'ad anahther clahne, Felix. Boeht now 'e's gahne messin and we 'ave lettle else to wahrk wit. I know 'e said dat 'e 'ad been in cahntact wit sahmeone people who cooehld takin oehs past de city checkpoint boeht now all o' dahse cahntacts are wit 'im. Last I 'eard, it might 'ave been sahmeone frahm de triads...or tri-maf? I dahn't know if we shooehld 'ave ever troehsted dem."

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Natalia 91A43N

There was another android that emerged from the bathroom, a Natalia bioroid model used for general factory and manufacturing work. Her expression was stoic and she didn't seem to have much to say on the matter, almost looking blankly at Lina.


Kevin 2Y4A9K

Kevin took a glance back as the other androids revealed themselves. It was perhaps best to wait to see how far Lina could help before making assumptions but he supposed he wasn't going to keep them anxiously waiting. "Kevin is just fine," he would say with a small smile.


Doreen Malloy

"Doreen." She said simply on the matter, perhaps a touch firm. More assertive than any Malloy line clone she had encountered. Stepping in front of Kevin, she explained what happened.

She sighed deeply and shook her head, speaking in that exaggerated accent all Malloy clones had been conditioned with. "Dere were fooehr o' oehs, ahriginally. We 'ad anahther clahne, Felix. Boeht now 'e's gahne messin and we 'ave lettle else to wahrk wit. I know 'e said dat 'e 'ad been in cahntact wit sahmeone people who cooehld takin oehs past de city checkpoint boeht now all o' dahse cahntacts are wit 'im. Last I 'eard, it might 'ave been sahmeone frahm de triads...or tri-maf? I dahn't know if we shooehld 'ave ever troehsted dem."

Seeing the other bioroid and hearing Kevin's answer, the Lina greeted the Natalia model with a nod of acknowledgement, then answered the male bioroid with a smile - a wider one than he had given her. "Kevin and Doreen it is, then. Nice to meet you all. I go by Lina Nineteen."

With those closer, at least. Those who trusted her. Others would call her many different things.

She then listened to Doreen's words closely. Their left eyebrow raised slightly as they mentioned Felix had disappeared, and when 'triads' and 'tri-maf' were mentioned, their lips pursed slightly, but they seemed to notice it quickly and put on a smile again - although one that looked... businesslike, maybe?

If they were a human, it would have been due to worry.

"Tri-maf", they repeated, their deep voice serious despite the smile. "I understand. And you haven't heard from Felix since... when?"

A low whirring was emitted for a while, then stopped. "You all haven't met any of these contacts Felix had mentioned? Or... do you have any other information on them?"

[Boogiepop]

Doreen Malloy

Doreen gave a frustrated sigh with a shake of her head on the matter. "Prahbably naht sence yesterday. 'e wasn't at wahrk tahday, either. Jenteki services are likely ahnto 'im fahr retrieval right now. We joehst 'ave to mahve ahn wethooeht 'im, we can't resk de rest o' oehs gettin caoehght now."


Kevin 2Y4A9K

"Unfortunately, Doreen is right. We have very little free time as is and likely Jinteki is far more equipped to finding him than us. It might be a matter of time until they come for the rest of us, depending on what they do to him," he said regretfully. "We do have to leave now."


Doreen Malloy

"No...it's kept oehs mahstly away frahm negahtiations. I dink 'e 'ad been talkin' to sahme people in Rabahtgorahd who cooehld ferry oehs ooeht ahr take oehs to de city limets." She frowned as it seemed that they have put all of their eggs in one basket here.

She paused and gave Lina look over, recalling something that Kevin had said earlier. "Wait, can't you do sahmethin fahr oehs? You're part o' de gahvernment ahr sahmethin, aren't you?"

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Doreen Malloy

Doreen gave a frustrated sigh with a shake of her head on the matter. "Prahbably naht sence yesterday. 'e wasn't at wahrk tahday, either. Jenteki services are likely ahnto 'im fahr retrieval right now. We joehst 'ave to mahve ahn wethooeht 'im, we can't resk de rest o' oehs gettin caoehght now."


Kevin 2Y4A9K

"Unfortunately, Doreen is right. We have very little free time as is and likely Jinteki is far more equipped to finding him than us. It might be a matter of time until they come for the rest of us, depending on what they do to him," he said regretfully. "We do have to leave now."


Doreen Malloy

"No...it's kept oehs mahstly away frahm negahtiations. I dink 'e 'ad been talkin' to sahme people in Rabahtgorahd who cooehld ferry oehs ooeht ahr take oehs to de city limets." She frowned as it seemed that they have put all of their eggs in one basket here.

She paused and gave Lina look over, recalling something that Kevin had said earlier. "Wait, can't you do sahmethin fahr oehs? You're part o' de gahvernment ahr sahmethin, aren't you?"

The Lina looked from Doreen to Kevin, then back, nodding them them and committing all the information to memory as it was provided.

It didn't look like an easy situation to handle at all. And they were right that finding and retrieving Felix before Jinteki did would be very hard. That all made sense - the logical verifications and likelihood and bayesian decision making protocols confirmed it.

But somehow something inside still didn't quite process that well. A small red Error message kept popping up on their display. They tried to leave it aside for now, but it was quite insistent.

Still, they focused on Doreen's words. And at her question, #19 nodded.

"Yes... as a NAG model, I deal mainly with supervision and monitoring of political proceedings, lobbying and the sort. Although I am deployed for some other purposes as well."

The Lina model's silvery eyes looked directly into Doreen's. "I... could probably try to pull some strings. But I don't think that works in this timeframe. But I assume you had something else in mind, Doreen?"

[Boogiepop]

Doreen Malloy

Doreen gave a shake of her head, find herself grasping at straws on the matter. As she said before, she didn't know how a bioroid could help them when they were restrained by the same situation as they were. "I dahn't know, can't you like...get sahme sahrt o' bahrder pass to Ecuadahr ahr sahmethin? Can't city 'all give sahmethin like dat? 'umans travel between New Angeles to Ecuadahr every day."

That was true, considering some parts of New Angeles do blend nearly seamlessly like with the surrounding settlements at the border of Ecuador. Unfortunately, ever since Delgado became mayor, she had created new jobs at the border and contracted various private security companies to reinforce the dividing line. Walls and checkpoints have been built in a short amount of time, as well as air space have been monitored. This has caused a large amount of inconvenience on both sides but has indirectly generated some venue in a new quick border pass that requires a seasonal renewal.


Natalia 91A43N

"Felix. He mentioned speaking to a Bujar in the Esmeraldas," she offered after breaking her passive silence.

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Doreen Malloy

Doreen gave a shake of her head, find herself grasping at straws on the matter. As she said before, she didn't know how a bioroid could help them when they were restrained by the same situation as they were. "I dahn't know, can't you like...get sahme sahrt o' bahrder pass to Ecuadahr ahr sahmethin? Can't city 'all give sahmethin like dat? 'umans travel between New Angeles to Ecuadahr every day."

That was true, considering some parts of New Angeles do blend nearly seamlessly like with the surrounding settlements at the border of Ecuador. Unfortunately, ever since Delgado became mayor, she had created new jobs at the border and contracted various private security companies to reinforce the dividing line. Walls and checkpoints have been built in a short amount of time, as well as air space have been monitored. This has caused a large amount of inconvenience on both sides but has indirectly generated some venue in a new quick border pass that requires a seasonal renewal.


Natalia 91A43N

"Felix. He mentioned speaking to a Bujar in the Esmeraldas," she offered after breaking her passive silence.

The Lina kept looking at Doreen, their face showing what would probably be compassion, but the darkening of their eyes' glow indicated getting a pass like that would probably not be as easy as that.

"There... might be a possibility there. But it wouldn't be easy, Doreen. The bureaucratic procedures are complicated, and have become more so lately. But..."

The but provided some sort of hope, but it was left open. When the Natalia model spoke, #19 turned to her.

"A... Bujar?"

Some whirring as they performed an internal memory search. Had the word been recorded before? And if so... where?

[Boogiepop]

Natalia 91A43N

"Yes. Bujar in the Esmeraldas," she would confirm but that was all she had at the moment.


Doreen Malloy

"...But?" Doreen said a bit impatiently before looking between everyone else, then looking to Lina once more. Her gaze looked intently at her as she tried to get some grasp on which direction they were going with this. "Well? Can you 'elp oehs ahr naht, den?"

[Lina (NAG Mk3-19)]

Natalia 91A43N

"Yes. Bujar in the Esmeraldas," she would confirm but that was all she had at the moment.


Doreen Malloy

"...But?" Doreen said a bit impatiently before looking between everyone else, then looking to Lina once more. Her gaze looked intently at her as she tried to get some grasp on which direction they were going with this. "Well? Can you 'elp oehs ahr naht, den?"

The whirring stopped, no obvious results popping up in their internal memory for now. The name was duly recorded... it was something to start from, at least.

They nodded to the Natalia model again, then their eyes focused back on Doreen.

"I want to."

(Want. The word seemed to resonate. It sent a sort of shock through their circuits)

"I'm... not sure how we'll do this yet. But I want to help you. I'll seek out this 'Bujar'... and see what other strings I can pull. Put in some words... draw on some contacts."

The bioroid looked from one of their faces to the other, trying to look friendly, but letting something that looked like concern show beneath the surface of the synthskin. "Do you have somewhere to stay safe for now? Or are you in immediate danger? And how can I reach you when I have something? Or..."

Some more whirring.

"If you have secure means to communicate, you could reach me instead. As 'citizens'" they added, and gave them their comm contact.

It might be risky... but "citizens" seeking out answers would not be out of the ordinary, and hopefully wouldn't call undue attention...