Wanted: Dead or Drive

Demetri Malius

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The drop pod plummeted through orbit, the large cloaked cruiser that it bursted from quickly changing course to avoid detection from any nearby vessels.

Arrival in 8.3 minutes. Target marked for retrieval last sent six months ago near Markov, Cevanti. Expect critical damage. Threat level: unknown.

The android inside the pod did not react, only processing the information while examining video footage from the cameras most likely to catch any related activity that would aid in its investigation. It wasn’t often that their property would find resistance higher than the combined rating of their components and ability. ARTUR squirmed a bit in his pod. These damned things were always so cramped.

IRIS had been missing for much longer than suspected, especially considering her usual approach to these missions. She wasn’t one to flounder about or take in the sights. She focused on her objective and put up whatever farce she needed in order to achieve it. Her personality software was top of the line, able to mimic the meekest flower or the most daring thrill-seeker. She held the highest success rate for infiltration missions, so it was a wonder why he wasn’t sent earlier to retrieve her. Then again, perhaps they hoped that their worries were some uncalculated detour that hindered her return.

Or a worse fate. Defection.

Having such a valued product out for all to see without the company to keep it in check was bound to cause issues. Any failure on their part to preserve their life would end with company secrets being revealed to the authorities or competitors. Even without that, the cost of materials and technology for the android was a waste if completely lost. This was something the company could not afford. Even a damaged retrieval was considered more optimal.

This is why ARTUR was created. This was not the first time he was needed. There had been others that had failed to return. Each one was able to be retrieved. Twenty-seven percent were retrieved by force. It was inevitable that such technology might turn on its creator. It was imperative that ARTUR was able to deal with it. Although he did not hold the highest grade for assault and defense, his ability to neutralize his target easily allowed him to sacrifice such things for better mobility and agility. For this mission, he would need those skills the most.

The loud crash alerted him to his planet side arrival. The large pod fell apart, allowing ARTUR to move freely in the dusty sands. From here he could see a nearby mechanic shop, a perfect place to start his search. His eyes focused on the two men in front, arguing over each other.

“I told you, get off of my property and leave alone. Didn’t you learn from the last time? That doll nearly punched you through the chest!”

“Shut the hell up, someone’s coming.”

ARTUR stood tall, about 6’ 4” with a slim, yet sturdy build. His armor was sleek and white, hiding his machine components underneath and exposing only his fleshy face to converse with biological lifeforms.

“You have my greetings. Have you seen any androids come this way? I seem to have lost my dearest doll, and I can’t seem to find her.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, she went towards the city. We stayed out of the way.” The mechanic nudged his friend.

“Yeah, we didn’t do nothing!”

ARTUR tilted his head and held out a hand. The fingers began to turn as his hand twisted and transformed into a gun barrel.

“I would appreciate it if you do not lie to me.”

The mechanic’s friend held his hands up. “Look mister, I just found her out in the badlands. I don’t know how she got there. All I know is that she almost killed me and my buddy before heading over to the city!”

Both men held their breath as ARTUR processed their words.

“I see. Then I shall be on my way. I would recommend you forget about me and my doll. I would hate to dirty my armor.”

Without waiting for a response, the android began on his way down the road, the wind sweeping dust across it as he noted his new information. Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to chase her signal to a different planet.
 

Demetri Malius

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ARTUR stared down at the logs presented to him. Upon arriving in the city, the first thing he had done was check the outgoing ships since IRIS’s disappearance. Luckily, he passed the check at the guard post with ease. With such official looking technology, many were quick to give him the pass as some government or underground robot with a powerful figure behind him. However, ARTUR also attributed this to his towering statue and rather imposing style.

Departing for solar space, with some company. Interesting. A quick dig through communications at the time revealed that they had been trying to accept some type of job. A sigh escaped the android’s lips. Terrible it was, when units went rogue. He often wished that they would make things easier for him, but at the same time…

The android then took in a deep breath, the oxygen in the air refreshing his biosynthetic systems.

...he did enjoy the chase.

ARTUR quickly signed off on a rental ship, sleek and quick. Any expenses would be written off by the company, and this task was of utmost importance. He would spare no expense.

The android took no time to adjust and begin his departure, allowing a nearby screen to have someone shout out about products and services. That is, until, it returned to its regular programming.

Dante’s Abyss.

Ah, that childish game that the man known as Karl Jak would run every solar cycle. ARTUR was split in his opinion about the games. He found them just as amusing as anyone else, but his dedication to his company also meant that the owner of Syntech was a rival that must be met with extreme prejudice.

The main monstrosity, a clown with a darker form, seemed to have just been snuffed from the battle. A shame, he admired its demeanor. Perhaps he would catch up later on the events, once this task was complete.
 

Demetri Malius

Level 3
Joined
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€8,123
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Profile
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At last he had arrived at the space station that had pinged on the reports for IRIS’s ship. Once he had left the docking quadrant, he quickly walked through the crowd, taking no chances to stop before arriving at the familiar plating that was his company’s. Sounds came from inside, and the android reached over to plug into the door. It opened without any issue, allowing him to quickly step inside and reach out with his arm, letting out an electric pulse that swept over the ship. A cry came from the pilot’s seat, leading ARTUR to grab the headrest and pull it down, revealing a young woman who looked nothing like IRIS.

“Leave this ship, you will be reimbursed and encouraged to forget it was ever in your possession.”

The rattled woman struggled to keep her eyes open as she recovered from the quite literal, in the health and physical sense, shock that she had experienced. ARTUR simply grabbed her and set her down outside, flagging a worker down and paying them to make sure that she was escorted away from here without attention. They knew not where he was from, but no matter where you were, status and money were two things that could not be disobeyed.

“Clever. Selling your ship for another. You will not throw me off your track, IRIS.”

Again ARTUR was having to chase down paper trails, or at the very least, electronic ones. This was always the most tedious part. He hated paperwork.

It wasn’t long until he received an answer.

Opealon. It seemed they were to meet their contact there. For what, he could not know without reading the message logs, and the time it would take to decrypt them without being near the source communicator was going to be harder than physically tracking her himself.

He returned the paperwork for his rental ship and entered the one that had been with IRIS. This was company property, and the fact that she would throw this away spoke about her situation. She was most likely desperate, needing some type of help that she thought could not be provided by the company. She was mistaken. He would bring her back, and they would format her once more. Even with the loss of memory accompanied by those measures, her value as an agent was far greater than that in which they would lose.

She will not get away.
 
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