SEQUENTIAL ━ Connor // RK800 ✔️

twenty-seven ━ human perspective

• • •

Her promise followed Connor even as he readjusted himself for the walk over to the door. It haunted him while he rolled the unlocking mechanism to the side. Run away together, the words played back time and time again within his processing unit, becoming the very background activity that he knew for a fact was lighting his LED to yellow just then, making him ever the more grateful for the privacy the winter hat conferred him in these confusing times.

There was no stopping this background activity occupying from his computing capacity, so he tuned himself out from it the best he could: by opening the door and forcing himself to return to protocol. Mia was right behind him and his duties to her remained unchanged, despite his recent discoveries of livelihood and feelings. It was for that reason that, which optical components adapted to the light flooding in through the opened door, he made note of the exact series of movements needed to take his gun out, should that be required.

Connor came eye to eye with the guard they had encountered at the docks, right before boarding, thus finding himself face to face with an opportunity to finally scan the man. He hadn't bothered with profiling and scans upon their arrival, as should he find anything untrustworthy or dangerous, he'd have to fight against his better judgement to follow the lead to the end. Now, they were already at sea and no matter what he'd find, there was no way to go other than forward.

Most importantly though, Connor needed to determine if the man before him should be trusted with an explanation to this early break from their confinement supposed to keep them safe from border checks.

Emmett Sweeney, Connor let the scan run, even as he felt his LED would be shining red through it from the mere strain of his processing unit. Perhaps the cold did damage..., he stopped that thought before it could add even more pressure on his vital component. Forty-five years old, instead, he focused back on the scan. Divorced. Working on Euryalus for the past sixteen years. One previous arrest for domestic violence. Two months in jail and released on good behaviour.

The last information was all Connor needed to know in order to step to the side and block the man's view of Mia. He knew then he had been too optimistic hoping that they'd get lucky and not even up travelling the smuggling route on board a ship filled to the brim with criminals — the first crew member to scan was a bad omen to what he will find there.

"Alive and well, I see," Sweeney was first to speak, leaning to the side to try and get a glimpse at Mia as well, movement that made Connor's left hand hold a little tighter to the edge of the door.

"We should have had another two hours before reaching international waters," Connor pointed out, not bothering with even a simple attempt at small talk, though the man would have clearly preferred that approach to this cold one he had chosen.

"We're ahead on schedule," he replied, his tone already drying up in reaction to the abrasive greeting he received. "Shouldn't you be glad you're getting out of that shithole sooner?"

Though every metric his scanners returned told Connor that Sweeney was a single breath away from turning his back on them and just leaving this apparent ungratefulness to claim its due, for a reason that perplexed Connor more than he would have liked at a time when his processing unit needed a break, the man seemed to barely consider that option which fit with his profile viable.

There must be something in it for him, if he's willing to sacrifice ego, Connor ended up concluding.

"Anyway," Sweeney sighed, having to look away to resist punching his frustration away into that neutral expression of the 'cargo'. "Captain's waiting for you two in the cafeteria. Said there's plans to discuss."