My original name is N0-a

The same silent eeriness envelops the outside of Milli and Deci's apartment building. I approach the entrance but one of the uniformed security androids standing guard steps forward in what seems to be an attempt to halt me. The other guard however grabs them by the shoulder before nodding to me, letting me enter.

The friendly one is damaged, the other not at all. As I walk down the corridor towards the elevator I recall our previous interaction, brief as it may be. Security androids like us tend not to have much of a standout personality, and we're often visual clones of one another, but that doesn't mean we're all the same. I met the friendly one the last time I was here. The other guard just now is new. Most likely during the riots, the previous guard...

While going through my memory files, I find myself standing at the room door. I send a message to Deci through my phone and they open the door within seconds.

"Noa, come in."

Sunlight through the glass windows brighten the place. It's as tidy as always, but the lack of Milli's energy leaves the place lacking. Deci sits down on the crescent sofa with their palms on their elbows, their discomfort and anxiety apparent.

"So what did you mean by being able to find Milli?"

"...It might be easier to show you. Type something on your phone."

I turn away from them.

Connecting to Device CQKD194385...

I see a phone in front of me, Deci's fingers tapping on the screen as words are written. I recite them aloud.

"What is this about, Noa?"

There is a pause before Deci types again.

"You can read this? How? Salopettes. Ragamuffin. Passion without measure, aiMet- Please take this seriously."

I turn back around. Deci's eyes are moving around, trying to piece it together.

"...You were remotely hacking my phone?"

"Not your phone, your eyes."

"What?"

"It's not a traditional form of hacking either."

I take a seat near the end of the crescent sofa so that we are somewhat facing one another.

"Before meeting Gin, I was an android test subject in an underground research facility. There's a device called 'ARC', an acronym for Augmented Reality Communicator. What it does is it exploits a security flaw in ARTec's AR-enabling technology by creating a wireless connection between it and the AR-enabler."

"But doesn't ARTec have a monopoly on AR technology? Commercial or otherwise? I mean we even have them by default."

"Exactly. If it has a camera, it most likely has ARTec. The exceptions being really old models or custom devices. I have a miniature version of the ARC built in me. I can detect, differentiate, and connect to most devices within range."

"Noa, that's... quite frankly insane. You can hack into anything around you?"

"Like I said, it's not the same as traditional hacking. I don't pass through the device's system or security, only to the AR-enabler. I gain access to whatever the AR-enabler has full permission to use, mainly the camera, mic, speaker, and display."

"...Then why did you hack my eyes and not my phone's display?"

"That's..."

I look away, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Accessing the mic and camera is easy since it's no different from our eyes and ears. The speaker is similar to our voice box but that still took time to use properly. Reading a device's screen from within the device is... challenging to me."

I look at Deci straight in the eye.

"My original name is N0-a. I'm a prototype android using a security android's specifications template."

Deci looks unperturbed. Instead they looks down again, their pupils moving about in deep thought.

"...How far can you detect other devices?"

"If I were at the very center of a district, I would have coverage of the entire district."

".....I can't say I approve of this plan, Noa. You want to search for Milli by going into the gang district yourself, don't you? And you want me to lend you the bike."

"It's the fastest way we can rescue Milli."

"What about the police? Can't you work with them?"

"The police are under the corpo's thumb. The situation with District 17 is between the gangsters and districts trying to take it over. I doubt the safety of the captured androids would be a top priority, they can't be trusted. Not to mention what they would do to me once they find out about my experimental technology."

Deci shakes their head.

"Noa, going there alone is suicide."

"I am aware."

"Noa!"

".....There's something else bothering you, isn't there."

Deci's eyes widen, taken aback.

"I won't pry, if you don't want me to, but know that this isn't just about Milli. Gin will blame himself if anything more happens to her, and I don't want that. But I'm not simply rushing in just to get beaten up again. I came here to improve my chances of success. It's not just the bike. I want you to lend me a charging cable and Micro."

"Micro? Why?"

"I can access Micro's camera and mic. An extra pair of eyes and ears actively working with me helps immensely. I'll also need some time to charge myself up so I don't run out of energy midway. And if you happen to have more of those PalettePills, I could make use of them too."

Deci gives me a deliberating stare. After a few seconds they give me a smirk.

"That bike, and the clothes we had you wear, they were supposed to be a gift to Centi. You two are very alike in a lot of ways. Had I told her what happened to Milli, she'd be the one in front of me right now, planning how to get her out of this mess."

Deci stands up and approaches the front door. They grab something from the key rack and walk back to me. They hand me they the thin flash drive, the key to the motorcycle.

"I... I'd rather not she find out and try to find Milli herself. And I don't want anything to happen to my little sister. If keeping them safe means risking you..."

"It's alright. I understand."

I take the key from their palm. Their lips settle in a complicated smile, one with relief and guilt crudely mixed together.

"Are you sure you don't want to borrow me too?"

"Can you fight?"

"As much as an average person can."

"Then no. I'd rather not bring a liability."

"Ouch. Are you at least bringing someone else with you?"

"No. I intend to do this as covertly as possible."

"Ah, the PalettePill."

"Like I said, I'd rather not call any more attention to myself than needed."