E=mc2?

[Xander]

It seemed odd to him, the way humans interacted. The facial movements were hard to mimic, and harder to understand. A human expression could be faked easily, as he had come to realize. They could feel one way, and act completely opposite. It was puzzling, especially to an AI who was meant for infiltration and brute force. To spare spies their lives in the more dangerous games. It didn't bother him at all. This was what he was made for. Understanding human behavior came second, if at all. At the moment it seemed to him to be a wasted effort.

These people were much too confusing. So he might as well concentrate on the other half of his mission. Which was really what was supposed to be the priority. Taking down the crime lord who had dared kill a Grey rookie a few weeks ago. They would be surprised to find that this one was not nearly so easily killed. He stood fluidly from where he was seated, people's eyes following him. He could hear their murmurs of 'oh how rare...an albino.' He didn't know what this meant, but he was sure it was something that made him stand out more.

It would be hours later before he came back to this little square, sparking and heavily damaged. His right arm had been torn free, and he was holding it in his left. His mission had been a success...but he had lost a limb, and would need maintenance. Which meant shutting him off...which scared him, or at least that's what he thought he felt. The tightness in his artificial lungs, in his throat. The burning chilled feeling in his guts. He had researched it, and the word was called fear. Perhaps he could fix himself. Not mention it to the callous scientists that worked on him...perhaps.

[Reeve]

"Being a rookie is dangerous. Being a full agent even more so. We all know that, and we all still sign up," Reeve muttered to himself, crossing his arms over his chest. "It was bad luck that got 'im killed. And on his first mission too, man." He had come with the AI, more to observe than anything else... although his secondary duty was to pick up the pieces, should something happen. He had waited for Xander, observing from a secluded place, the better to keep his own rookie hide intact. But when the AI came toward him, one arm held in the other, he shuddered just a little.

It wasn't that he was uncomfortable with the 'bot... it was just a little weird being reminded that one of the agents he worked with wasn't a flesh and blood human being. Xander was human-looking enough, if a bit out of the ordinary. But when something like this happened, he couldn't help being a little freaked out. He moved closer to the pale man, a little sheepish. Sparks jumped toward him as he extended his hand. "Need a...assistance?" Cripes, he'd almost asked "Need a hand??

[Xander]

The AI had known there was a rookie watching him, it hadn't bothered him in the least. It was part of his duties really, to allow the young agents to watch him complete his tasks. Speaking of the rookie agent. His red eyes glanced up and focused on the young agent, tilting his head to one side slightly. "Not at the moment, negative." Assistance. He was a robot, he felt pain sure, but...it was his job to be torn up like this. He was built to be able to return mostly unharmed. Mostly being the keyword.

Of course now there was no denying a trip to the scientists, who would undoubtedly shut him down to repair the damages. He had tried his best to return unharmed, but luck had not been on his side. "We will return now." He said simply, in his monotone way. Back to the base and to that table...it was not an appealing prospect.

[Reeve]

"Right, of course." Reeve nodded, following Xander without hesitation. His hand rested on the butt of the Glock that he wore on his left hip, holding it almost. "The faster we get back there, the faster you can be repaired." He felt like a moron for voicing that thought, but it was the truth. Xander wouldn't have months of healing and rehabilitation. A little time and he'd be put back together safely. One of the perks of having AI agents, he supposed. "How did the mission go? You're... well, still walking, so I assume it was fairly smooth."

[Xander]

Truly he wondered if anyone realized his gut-wrenching fear of being put under, asleep...in the dark. They could change him too, at these times. Modify parts of him...Even take his memory away if they so wished. He was sure he was not the only AI with these thoughts. "The mission went 95.2% as planned." Only that much because a bomb had gone of, thus tearing his arm off, and damaging many of the sensors on the left side of his body. But besides that there had been no real problems. Nothing to truly be worried about. The place had been destroyed and there was no one going to exact revenge on them at least.

[Reeve]

"Ninety-five percent? That's pretty incredible, Xander." With a shrug, Reeve matched his pace to the AI's as best he could. He stood a solid six or seven inches taller, and even though he knew that Xander could probably take out anything that was a threat, even injured, that same injury made him a little more cautious and wary. To protect Xander? A weird notion, even to him. But he couldn't help it. "And there's no chance that they'll come after us, huh... nicely done."

[Xander]

"Thank you?" He sounded very confused, but this man was...complimenting him he thought. His red eyes swiveled to look at him, curious in his own sense. Ninety five point two wasn't a very good number for an AI, though it was much higher than a single agent could do. A little less effective than a teams of agents...but the death rate was way different. Agents would have been killed in that assault. So it was good data to bring back to the embassy regardless. The scientists would be more than pleased with the ratio's at the very least.

[Reeve]

"Are you sure you're going to be all right if we hoof it back?" Reeve asked quietly, then shook his head slightly. "Sorry, Xander. Even with... this," he motioned at his arm, "I still forget you're not... like me. You know?" He laughed a little, tucking his hands in his pockets against the cold air.

**short ~shot~ x.x**

[Xander]

"I will be fine, yes..." Thewalk back would only become difficult if his legs gave out. Which wasn't a problem at the moment, he was more than certain that he'd make it back with no problem. His eye turned to his broken arm. That was right too...he was not human no matter what he looked like, so he was being treated like one. "I understand."

[Reeve]

"I'm a moron," Reeve chuckled. He kept walking, feeling his feet hitting the pavement in a clunky rhythm, heavy boots on his feet making a decent amount of noise. He still watched the smaller man, observing him even now. Returning to the embassy would be a good idea, and the higher-ups would be fairly pleased with how the mission had turned out. He was still fairly stunned at the idea of a 95%-to-plan mission... hell, the best team of human agents rarely reached above an 80 or so.

[Xander]

Xander was unaware that the other was still watching him, his mind running over every tiny mistake he'd made while on the mission. Nothing too big, most of it dealt with the bomb going off, and losing his arm. He didn't seem to realize that his mission was so nearly perfect. Or that the rookie beside him was awed by it. To his mind it was unnecessary to have anything below 100%. Then the others words hit him and he looked contemplative. "Why?"

[Reeve]

"Why?" Reeve blinked, not having realized he'd spoken out loud. He looked at Xander, mildly confused, then replayed the moment in his head. "Oh... you wonder why I call myself a moron, huh." He laughed, hunching his shoulders a bit. "I just feel kinda silly. But I keep catchin' myself wanting to protect you, even though I'm just a rook, you know?" He rolled his eyes. "Sorry, Xan."

[Xander]

"Protect me?" That was a startling thing to hear all of a sudden. His eyes went to him, showing the confusion therein full force. It was odd because...this was what he was built for...to be destroyed in place of an agent. The AI watched him, and then looked away. "Even though you are a rookie...you are much more experienced than I am. I was created to be a tool." His gaze went to his arm. "Created to protect your lives...It is...odd...to hear you say that."

[Reeve]

"It's odd to say it," Reeve shrugged, hands still shoved deep in his pockets. "But it's how I feel." He considered for a long moment, moving his hands only long enough to pull a cigarette from his pack, light it, and stuff both smokes and lighter back into his jacket pocket. He drew on it with a practiced motion, blowing smoke through his nose. "Probably seems pretty illogical to ya, hm?"

[Xander]

"It does." The AI responded truthfully, eyes on the other. "But that is because I am a robot...I was not made to understand the human mind." He wished he did though...to understand these people he had to live with, and work with. It would be nice to have more of a connection to them. If only just a little more. Perhaps he would suggest this to the scientists...