Summary: Just within the city limits of Kirkwall, After/Image remains at the forefront of android technology. Despite the occasional reports of faulty codes leading to deviancy, most residents continue to benefit from their use of A/I products throughout the majority of their daily lives.
Content Warnings: graphic depictions of violence, implied/referenced child abuse, implied sexual abuse, death and near death experiences. (I'll do my best to tag each chapter appropriately)
Author's note: This is a crossover fic (my first), and @artisticallyamber is my co-author. One of many WIPs that I finally decided to do something with. 😅
A big thank you to @gerundsandcoffee for giving me feedback and encouragement.
The satchel fell from her limp fingers and her throat tightened, tomatoes tumbling into the damp grass around her feet.
“I’m sorry.” A slender man dressed in a stained flannel and well-worn jeans lifted both hands, showing that they were empty. His dark gaze fell to the rolling fruit before rising to her face again. “I didn’t mean to frighten you. I didn’t think anyone would be up this early. I—I have a friend who needs some help.”
Lissa looked around as calmly as she could, checking down both ends of the long, empty road. When her heart slowed, she bent to scoop up the tomatoes. “Have you checked the forecast?”
“I, um, yes. They’re calling for clear skies all weekend.” He shifted one hand toward his baseball cap, lifting it just a little to reveal a circle of blue light. “Sorry again for startling you. I was going to wait ‘til morning.”
She nodded and then forced a smile. At least she was wide awake now. “Well, you can never be too careful these days. Is your friend close by?”
His expression fell. “Yes. I had to leave him near the wood-line. I’m not really made for heavy lifting, and I think he’s close to shutting down.”
“Then we need to act quickly.” She set her bag against the greenhouse door and looked across the yard. Then, without pause, she lifted a tarp and began pulling a wheelbarrow out from between two stacks of pallets. “What sort of malfunction? Do you think you could help me get him into this?” The light of dawn was beginning to brighten the horizon. They would need to be fast.
“Yes.” Tugging the cap back down, he took two quick steps back, gesturing to the barely noticeable path he had left in the dew-covered field. “He’s . . . been hurt really badly.”
Lissa simply nodded and began to follow. The hems of her jeans and her shoes were soaked through by the time they arrived. “Oh, Maker,” she breathed, dropping the wheelbarrow. Her gaze swept over the wounded android, immediately categorizing the damage. He had been so badly injured that his projected likeness had disappeared completely, revealing large, damaged patches of plastine covered in blue blood.
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