Ace. That's his new name. That's what Irene and Anna said. His name is Ace and he's their son now. He doesn't understand very well, not yet, but they've assured him he will, with time.
There are not many rules he has to follow. Tell them when he needs something, and ask questions when he doesn't know something. Stay inside the house whenever possible. Never leave alone. Never leave unannounced. Don't go to the lower districts. People might want to do things to him because he's not like anything they've ever seen. Ace has always been very good at following rules.
Breaking half of those was not part of the plan.
He thinks his tracking and geopositioning software failed. He doesn't know where he is and can't seem to orient himself. There are a lot of people in the cramped streets, all busy and running around, running into him and spitting insults when they look him in the eyes. He doesn't understand, but asking questions isn't very appreciated here.
Ace knows, because he tried asking questions, and he ended up grabbed and shoved against a wall, yelled at, hit, and left there. The hit didn't do much damage, but it did enough for him to have to reboot. It was... unpleasant to do it outside of the house, slumped against a wall. He is still discovering what he finds unpleasant.
Hopping off the ramshackle of a cart, Murdock starts his scavenging before the sun starts setting. Most of the discarded parts he could sell for a decent handful of credits were swept up from higher districts civil services, and second rate parts were dropped off here. Through the alleyways and run over by street cars by the time he got there. Despite the sun blazing down through the open city skyline, he still dresses in a heavy overcoat and thick gloves.
Serendipity. Blocking out the entrance to the alley with a water barrel, Murdock kneels down beside the android. Completely intact from the outside, beautifully glossy and nearly human. There’s not a moment of hesitation as he unclips his tools from the inside of his coat. If it even had half of the parts, it would make a fortune.
Sliding his gloves off, his flesh and blood hand reaches to poke at the android. Nothing moves, perfectly still. Plying out the screwdriver from his coat, Murdock begins poking at the outer shell. “Come on, fucking unlock..”
