P E O P L E L I K E M E (P1)
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WARNING: Small cursing in this chapter!

T H E N E X T D A Y...

Location: Unknown Road
Day: November 7th, 2044
Time: 10:10 am

Crystal brought Starling back to her apartment and introduced her to Rupert the other day, and now they were going to see Markus and North seeing if they could help keep Starling safe, just in case her owners came back and wanted to hurt her again. Everything was fine, until they ended up in a traffic jam. Crystal tapped her fingers impatiently, but then got a bright idea.
"Hey, Starling? Do you want to get to know each other some more?" Crystal suggested, turning to face the girl with a dazzling smile. Starling's LED went from blue to yellow, and after a minute, back to blue.
"Uh... ok."
"I'll go first." Crystal started asking Starling about her family and what happened at the old house, but Starling avoided the topics or brushed them off, the truth was: Crystal needed those answers to give the police a name of her abusers or something along those lines. Was it wrong? Maybe. Maybe it was wrong for Crystal to ask those personal questions to get information. But Starling couldn't tell the police herself... right?

O N E H O U R L A T E R...

The traffic had cleared, but then Crystal ended up in a car accident with this human woman who was adamant on having Crystal arrested, she was, but the police privately decided that they would only lock up Crystal for a few hours.

Location: Detroit Police Department
Time: 1:10 pm

"Ok Crystal, you're here to go." She looked up to see Connor open the door and she smiled.
"Connor, long time no see."
"Why were you with that child?"
"I... I found her on the street. She was being bullied by some human boys. I didn't force her. She wanted to come with me." Connor's LED turned yellow.
"You should have come to the police first."
"I know. I know, I'm sorry. I... I just thought I could get the info out of her first. It's a stupid idea, I know, but it was really late and... I. I don't really have excuse." Crystal explained hanging her head.
"Well that clearly backfired." The two androids turned to see Ottavia at the door frame.
"Hey. What are you doing here?" Crystal asked.
"Oh I bailed you out." Ottavia stated nonchalantly.
"You what?!"
"Yeah. One of my clients was talking to me on the phone earlier about being in a car accident with a female android with white hair. I just knew it was you."
"Ah." Crystal replied in realization.
"Congratulations on the election by the way. It's nice to see women in power." Ottavia stated, making small talk.
"Oh shoot. I forgot to vote."
"Vote? We were supposed to vote?" Connor asked in confusion, making Crystal look at him in concern, as Ottavia laughed.
"Oh man, you're all a hot mess." She muttered to herself.
"An android won the election? You all make me sick." Gavin stood at the door.
"Oh? So you didn't vote, Gavin?" Ottavia questioned while glaring at him. He claimed it wouldn't have mattered anyway.
"But, uh, Ottavia. What do you say you leave that piece of metal for me huh?" Gavin asked, coming closer to her. She smiled, and then laughed in his face.
"You're joking right," after a few moments of silence, "oh. You're not. What a pity. Sorry Gavin, it's not gonna happen. I'm not going to leave my boyfriend for you, asshole! I didn't fight in a revolution for nothing!" Ottavia explained, as Gavin growled in frustration, before being pulled away by 'Connor 2.0' (RK900) as the androids and Lexi, Kolt and Ottavia called him.
"You sure they're not a couple?" Crystal whispered to Connor, recalling the argument they had last Friday. The routine was everyone would meet at Sal's Pub every Friday to catch up.
"For the last time, no! Now stop asking me, Crystal!" Connor spat through gritted teeth, making both women raise an eyebrow and give each other a look.
"Sure!" Ottavia and Crystal stated in perfect unison, making Connor change the subject to what the police were going to do with Starling, before walking out of the jail.
"Hey, why does Gavin hit on you again?" Crystal whispered to Ottavia as they left.
"Because he wants to prove his manliness I guess. It started for when I had a few parking tickets that needed to paid at the police station and that's it." Ottavia stated vaguely as they both walked out to find a few police officers asking Starling questions, before turning to Crystal.
"I'm sorry. She's not answering anything. Until she gives us answers, we'll have to keep you in a cell."
"What what?!" Crystal asked in panic, before Starling stopped them.
"Wait!! She's my mother!" The police officers stopped.
"Is this true?"
"Uh... Yes. It's true." Crystal stated confidently. After that, they were free to go.
"Well that was odd." Ottavia commented to Connor before leaving as Crystal and Starling left to go outside.

Location: North and Markus' House
Time: 2:00 pm

North opened the door to see Crystal and a girl.
"Um who is-?"
"It's a long story." Crystal came into the house and proceeded to tell North everything in a whisper, so Starling wouldn't here.
"I just... I came here because I want her to be safe. Would it be possible to stay at Jericho?" Crystal asked hesitantly. North sighed, trying to decide what to do.
"Her birth parents might find her... she seems to have an attachment to you. Why doesn't she stay with you and Rupert im Safe Haven?"
"Rupert doesn't want kids." Crystal stated coldly.
"Oh. I'm sorry, Crystal."
"It's ok."
"What's going on here?" Markus' voice rang out, neither of the women hearing the creaking of the stairs. North then explained the situation to Markus, but North then stopped him, forgetting that Starling was still here.
"Willow, come here a moment!!" North called out to her daughter from the kitchen, who was currently hanging out (and arguing) with Carl, Farrah and Molly.
"Yeah?"
"Starling, this is my daughter Willow. Willow, this is Starling, she's... Crystal's new companion." North explained not being able to find the right words.
"Hi!" Willow stated with a smile, waving at Starling, who hid behind Crystal like a child with a mother.
"H-hi." Starling hesitated, standing next to Crystal.
"Want to hang out with us?" Willow asked, holding out her hand which Starling excepts with a smile, as she had never received so much kindness in her life. The two girls ran off, and Markus told Crystal that she should probably keep Starling, just for a day or two. Crystal weighed her options and decided that was best.
"Yes. I think that will benefit her." Crystal replied, but was unsure if Rupert would agree to it.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Willow sat on the counter, and asked Starling about herself.
"So, how did you end up with Crystal?"
"She-She saved me from some humans." Starling states vaguely, and Farrah, Carl and Molly nodded and looked sympathetic.
"Yeah. I wish my race could get along with yours." Willow stated sadly, and Starling blink.
"You're human?"
"Oh course she is, silly! She doesn't have an LED!" Molly pointed out.
"Yeah, if she did, she wouldn't have such a peppy personality after what happened."
"What's that suppose to mean, Farrah?" Carl challenged in defense of his sister.
"She doesn't know hardship, like we do. Abuse and all that." Farrah explained, but Willow licked her lips and shook her head.
"Actually... I do. You see, my people were taken from Africa and then our heritage was stripped away by this little thing we call slavery. And on top of that, by own birth parents didn't want me." Willow stated nonchalantly, making Farrah blink, and blush a light blue of embarrassment. Then, the lights went out, making everyone, except Starling groan.
"What's with the blackouts in the city today?" Molly said aloud, looking outside.
"I don't know. They've been happening since the election yesterday. I'm so happy I was able to vote!" Willow stated probably.
"There was an election?" Starling questioned and Willow nodded.
"Yes. An android won the election to become president." Willow explained.
"The lights are out again." Simon announced going through the kitchen to the living room.
"Willow, get off the counter." Josh said, following after Simon, not even looking at his niece, who looked bewildered and pouted. He had ruined the fun.
"I guess we're stuck here then?" Crystal questioned, her voice ringing out from the living room.
"I think we should call mom." Farrah muttered grabbing the nearest phone to call Yui, her and Molly's mother.
"I guess we're stuck here for the next two hours, according to a report." Carl stated, making Willow sigh. Let's hope it doesn't last as long as he says...

Author's Notes

Hey guys! I START SCHOOL TOMORROW!! AHHH!!!

*ahem* anyway, on the bright side... I made a friend at my orientation😁

I also have good news for this book:

#7 on Rupert and #8 on Detroit: Become Human!!! Also, sorry for this crappy, and lazy photo. I didn't want to take the picture twice and crop the achievements.

Hopefully, I'll publish soon!
Bye!
BatgirlGeek❤️