The Disquieted Desires for an Artificial Heart (-Hideki-)

March 20, 2019

K l a u s ◦ G i l b e r t ◦ E i c h e l b a u m

Alternate Nicknames: "Gil"

Birthday: September 7th

Age: 33

Sex: Male

Blood Type: B+

Height: 5'10" / 178 cm

Weight: 140 lbs / 64 kg

Sexual Orientation: Homosexual

Personality: Klaus is a fairly reserved individual, not often wishing to share his woes and struggles with those around him, nor trusting others enough to feel comfortable to. He's a fairly kind and selfless person, wishing the best for most of those he comes across and is willing to help them even at his own expense. However, not usually wishing to be dishonest or beat around the bush either, Klaus can be quite blunt and outright with his opinions and judgments--though he still attempts to be considerate with the recipient's emotions and psyche at the same time. However, that isn't to say that Klaus is always honest and open about everything, especially when it comes to matters pertaining to his personal life and his own mental dilemmas.

Klaus is also a very analytical sort of person, making it difficult to slip things past his attention or notice, and he has excellent memory. He loves mental stimulation and always gets excited with the hope of a challenge. And although the young man tries to steer away from deep interactions with his peers and wishes to appear as stoic and covert as possible, he unfortunately can be quite excitable and has a horrible habit of wearing his heart on his sleeve--usually when he's intending to the least. When deep in thought or particularly intrigued, Klaus has a horrible habit of rambling and can go off on a tangent if he's flustered enough.

History: To Be Discovered

Grey-blue hues shifted on a sea of white as Klaus's attention seemed to snag on every brick and cornerstone that constructed the buildings he strolled by. The lampposts that lined the streets offered soft, warm hues of light in the darkening of night, and the wheels of cars crunched the gravel of the streets as each one drove to their destination for the night. Many people were heading home at this hour, and Klaus was no exception.

The young man took a few turns on the light pavement of the sidewalks, cutting across to move through some of the quieter streets and back roads, where the noises of the city were slightly more muted and it was easier to think and dwell on his usual routine. It was a usual day at work, dealing with the usual sort of people, and having the usual sort of conversations with his coworker and friend. The usual path home, and the usual number of steps.

However, every once in a blue moon, something out of the ordinary happened, and this moment was one such instance.

Klaus nearly tripped as two feral cats sprung from the trash cans fixed outside one of the buildings and rolled underfoot. Hissing and batting one-another with claws, it happened so quickly that the young man barely had enough time to catch his balance and avoid trampling them before one dashed into an alleyway to his right and the other darted after it, screeches echoing on the stone walls. His aquamarine eyes trailed over to where they'd fled to, and a slumped over silhouette stole his gaze.

"Hey," Klaus spoke up, stepping toward the figure that appeared to be sitting against the wall in the dark alleyway. "Are you alright-?" He moved quickly, kneeling down before the seemingly unconscious man and placed his hands on each shoulder, shaking gently to get his attention. Klaus reasoned that they could have been merely a homeless man getting some rest, but his slumped posture and unresponsiveness to not only the cats but Klaus as well caused the fawn-haired man to grow alarmed. And, when the other remained idle, it only caused Klaus's heart rate to quicken.

Quickly, Klaus checked for a pulse, his fingers moving skillfully to the other's neck, but there seemed to be no sign of life. The young man's breath faltered for a moment as he tensed, a sudden flood of unsettlement and sadness sank to the pit of his stomach. But, just before his hand could twitch to grab his phone to get some help--to call for and report to the police to at least handle the discovery, something else came to his attention. The collapsed man's skin was cold to the touch, but there was no smell of death and no signs of decay or recent loss of life. And, as his fingers dwelled there for a moment at the base of the man's jaw, the sensation of the other's skin felt... off, somehow. It was almost unnoticeable but, as the young man's eyes wandered over the body of the fallen individual, it slowly came to his attention that this was... in fact... no human at all.

----

Klaus awkwardly shuffled inside his apartment, keys jangling as he clumsily wrenched them from the door and kicked it closed behind him, one hand still holding onto and supporting the lifeless form as he dragged his discovery with him, slumped over his back like a drunken man. Of course, paranoia whispered that someone might think he'd committed a murder, but Klaus tried to reason that he could have been helping a drunken friend get home. Yeah. Either way it was wrong, but he knew how bad it looked.

Still, his sudden jubilation was enough to cast those anxieties aside momentarily, and Klaus propped the body up against his kitchen table. Tossing his keys aside, he used his now free hands to grab the robot--android? Artificial human? Whatever it was--up and fully onto the table. If there were any restricting clothing on the being, Klaus was quick to remove them so that he had easier access to it's form and could begin taking a closer look at everything that lay beneath. Whatever it was, it looked terribly advanced, and quite damaged as well. Something that caused a light behind the young male's eyes to ignite, and excitement to rise in his chest.

Of course, any of his co-workers would easily dismiss the robot-thing, saying it was too complex-looking and not something they were capable of fixing. They'd probably try to find a superior technician to inspect it, if they didn't scrap the thing and use it for spare parts, that was. Klaus, on the other hand, believed that this had to have been a gift from above, his ancestors blessing him or a god answering his prayers, whatever the cause, this felt like a breakthrough. A sudden gift of excitement and intrigue in his otherwise stale life. This was far more advanced than what he was used to working with every day, and as he inspected the technology of the android it was clear to see the complexity of it all. But that, alone, completely enthralled him. It was something fascinating--unknown, challenging, and foreign to the usual hard drives and memory chips he dealt with when helping customers with their computers or broken tablets. This wasn't just some simple laptop fan that needed to be replaced--this was a project, and one that quite probably only Klaus would be so eager to engage in.

He rushed over to his work desk in a different room, grabbing at tools and equipment and hauling them back to the kitchen, where he carefully set them around the space before he began to work on the artificial man. Whatever damaged parts he could find, he was quick to repair and replace--rerouting wires and fixing any pieces that might have slipped out of place. He checked the status of the internal cooling systems, voice modulators, and casings, among other things.

Excitement tugging at the corners of his lips, the young man worked with a hand as steady as a surgeon's, utilizing small tools for delicate repairs and procedures, and with the devotion of an ant or honeybee, Klaus worked into the early hours of the morning on this new... project. Running into problems and other hindrances which screamed at him to give up, it had, perhaps, taken much longer than he would have liked. But, with dark circles shadowing each eye and unkempt hair that had had sore fingers run through it perhaps a hundred times too many, it seemed that, finally, it was complete. Repaired and restored to what, Klaus could only assume based on his learning experience through the whole process, it had originally been. And, after fixing the last piece in place and repairing any synthetic skin that had been damaged, Klaus took in a deep breath and, with the nervousness that he'd missed another step or forgotten another detail, activated it's power source and waited with baited breath in hopes that he'd done it correctly this time.

His steel-blue eyes bounced back and forth between the closed eyes of the android, waiting and hoping that they'd flicker open and meet his gaze, but, as it seemed to be powering up, something caught his attention. Something Klaus hadn't quite noticed--foolishly enough--all this time amidst his dedication to the repairs. A small mark by the artificial man's neck.

March 20, 2019

Инферно-1

Height: 1,85m

Hair colour: blond

Eye colour: blue

Sexual orientation: unknown

Nationality: Russian

Occupation: military android

Biography:

As the war between the Eastern alliance and the West rages on a military scientist named Vassili Kalinin establishes the ‘Inferno’ project which is supposed to create the ultimate killing machines, an Army of android super soldiers which aren’t only supposed to assure victory in battle but shall also be used to mass infiltrate Western societies, work as spies and spread their governments influence globally.

Kalinin’s projects gets founded and approved by their autocratic leader personally and thus he creates the first prototype, Inferno-1, a male military android who is a destructive weapon and a spy at once.

Inferno one is a high-tech system, a grand example of artificial intelligence in a way the world hasn’t seen before and the system is able to adapt and learn as quickly as no human is capable of.

But not only the programming and weaponry are a masterpiece, the design is too. In order to act as a spy and to infiltrate the enemies’ societies the prototype got created in order to resemble a human man perfectly. Not only that, Inferno-1 can even feel when his skin is touched through artificial receptors that interact with his system.

As soon as his creation had been completed his training started and beside Vassili Kalinin, who calls himself his father, he gets introduced to General Sergej Smirnov who is in command and in charge of his training and the experiments that shall prove his worth and whether he is ready to serve his purpose. The testing and the training take half a year until he is assigned his first mission by the General: he is supposed to be sent to London to infiltrate Downing Street and inform his government and military about London’s plans.

But the plan gets thwarted and the prototype never sets foot on English ground but ends up where he wasn’t supposed to.

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A rush of zeros and ones.

Streams of data.

Restoring of information.

Like a flood.

A seemingly eternal flood.

A flood that finally ended with artificial eyelids opening,

a rotating blue iris adjusting itself

and the system operating again.

Inferno-1 had just been reinstalled and rebooted when the analysis of his environment began. GPS said he was in Berlin; Germany. Berlin. How did he get there? What was he doing there? The system searched through its data that operated like a person’s memory just a lot more precise, faster and reliable. Usually that was. Or it was supposed to. There was data missing. The android knew that the General had given him his first mission. He also knew that his mission had been to get to London and to infiltrate Downing Street. An important mission, surely, but Dr. Kalinin had said that he was ready for it. That all the tests had shown that he was. Berlin however was not London. Germany was not England. He was not supposed to be in Germany, he was supposed to infiltrate Downing Street. So how the hell did he get onto the wrong enemy territory? How did he end up where he had not been send?

The system was running. Searching. But the only picture that had been saved, that popped up, was that of his burning transportation drone on a wide field, his co-pilot’s corps dangling out of the drone in an obscure position, a grilled sheep lying in front of his feet and the others of the herd running around aimlessly while his flickering vision showed the words Gussow; Brandenburg; Germany. And that was it. No data as to how he had gotten from that field in the middle of nowhere to Berlin. What had happened afterwards or of the flight in the drone actually. All his system could was analysing the situation with the pieces of information it had.

He and the human co-pilot had been in a drone that had been equipped with disguise technology that should have made it unable to be tracked by the enemy and should have gone unnoticed on its way to England but they never made it there because the drone had crashed onto a field. And it had not crashed onto that field on its own; it had crashed onto that field because it had been shot down. Shot down by the German military apparently. What meant that the Germans had the technology to track down their drone.

Germany. Aside from the information uploaded into his system General Smirnov had given him lessons explaining each enemy nation to him and this one had been a little peculiar. The nation, according to Smirnov, had once become a harmless, liberal, softcore joke with a disastrous military that wouldn’t even have been able to defend itself against micro-nations like Luxembourg or Lichtenstein. However at one point there had been a switch in politics and mindset triggered by a catastrophic, uncontrolled and unrestrained immigration policy that had gradually changed the views and priorities of the people and thus the nations politics. And with the change in political power a new era for Germany had come with completely new priorities set.

The military and the police, as well as weapon technology had been boosted like nothing else. 3 years military service had become compulsory for males; females had to do civil services like being nurses. It had been a radical and impressive switch. One that had actually alarmed the nation’s own western allies! This had been something that had made no logical sense to the android but the General had explained that long ago, before the nation had become inoffensive and harmless, it had not merely had a well-founded military but had also been aggressive and strived for world domination and it had consumed Europe almost entirely, despite the small size of the nation. It had taken the help of two superpowers at the same time to stop them.

General Smirnov had explained to him that this had influenced the nation in the decades afterwards but that the New Right government had put a halt to any culture of remembrance. The official declaration of the chancellor was that WW2 and National Socialism was an insignificant, irrelevant little stain compared to the nation’s rich and glorious history that needed no attention. And the population who had been annoyed by constantly being bothered and exhorted and guilt-tripped, by the focus on the dark side of their history before had welcomed and gladly accepted the change in policy and that part of history to be almost eradicated out of the books and the monuments reminding of it having been replaced by patriotic, heroic ones remembering and praising the shining moments of their history instead.

However when Germany’s new government also found that the voluntary declaration to not run its own nuclear program and to not produce weapons of mass destruction as a consequence learned from the past had been declared obsolete the US had criticised the nations extreme military build-up and nuclear armament what had been answered by a really self-satisfied German foreign secretary who had smiled into the camera and reminded as to how the former president of the US had been nagging them to increase their military spending for eight years in the past and that all of the sudden they had an issue with them doing just that and investing plenty in their military and the NATO, suggesting that the US shall make up its mind.

It had been disrespectful and had shown another part of the new government’s policy that wanted to tame down the influence of the US on their nation and had led to a reject of anglocentric tendencies within German society. When General Smirnov had taught him about this incident he had laughed. It had been the first time that the android had scanned his face in that state. The strict, stoic General with his raven black, slick back hair, his hard features, strong jawline, the deep scars on his cheek and the cold unyielding grey gaze from his right eye while he had lost the left one that had been replaced by a robotic eye had smiled and laughed. Smirnov had expressed how he had found that hilarious and how he, when he had heard the German foreign secretary announce that, had wished that the Germans were their ally instead. Inferno-1 had not understood. He had not understood why Smirnov had thought this way about one of their enemies in this moment nor had he captured what hilarious meant. When he had asked Smirnov though the General had simply told him that this was nothing he needed to concern himself with that it was irrelevant and he shall forget what he had said.

The android who realised that he was laying on a table was getting up, the blue eyes scanning the room precisely. It was a private apartment that much was certain. During his training Inferno-1 had left the military facilities and had been shown how people lived, where they lived and how to navigate through a city like a normal citizen. On his first strolls through Moscow he had been accompanied by both Dr. Kalinin and General Smirnov and later he had been given made up tasks for training that he had to accomplish before he returned back to the General.

This particular place however looked chaotic. There were electronic goods and parts of technology as well as tools flying around the table and all across the floor. As though someone had recently worked on something there and in a matter of seconds he found the root of the chaos in the room. A man. A slim man with fawn hair and dark circles underlining his grey eyes. Immediately the android reached out his arm, his hand forming a fist, his antebrachial opening to reveal the barrel of a fire arm pointing directly between the man’s eyes. “Identify yourself!” the artificial male demanded, his baritone voice sounding like that of a real man and although monotonous not mechanical.

He scanned the man’s facial features, his body and his vital functions. There was no match in the database. This guy was not a high-ranking military official or a part of the enemy’s government, it was a civilian, more importantly, an unarmed civilian. His eyes still laying on him he took down his arm and the weapon disappeared in it again. When he looked at the man and then at his own arm he suddenly got aware of the fact that he was naked. He had not been naked before. The General had clearly said that being naked wasn’t appropriate in most social situations and in this social situation it certainly was not. But this man had undressed him! Why had he undressed him and taken away his clothing? “Why did you strip me naked? Where are my clothes?” he wanted to know from the German civilian.

The machine however didn’t wait for the other to answer. He was looking around in the room searching for his clothing but his gaze got stuck at a mirror instead. It wasn’t the first time that he saw his reflection. It had been something that Dr. Kalinin had made sure he had seen before and that he understood but it was still something that his system struggled with. A sense of self. He knew it was him. The package of his system. His body. The android studied himself for a moment. Apparently he was a medium height male, with thick blond hair, a stubbly beard and pale white skin that despite being artificial still looked livelier than General Smirnov’s. His body was athletic, wiry but toned looking. The artificial construction of his form was making the impression of muscles shining through. They had even cared to create body and pubic hair that went from his cock up to his navel like a golden flame.

Something was off though and it only took a comparison with the last saved state of his condition when he had been on that field to figure it out. The artificial skin had been ripped and burned partially before and some parts had been lose but his skin had been fixed, there was no metal breaking through from underneath anymore and as far as he could tell, as the check-up showed, non of his parts were about to fall off. He was intact. Meaning he had been repaired. Now the puzzle pieces were fitting together. The chaos around the table, why he was naked, that civilian. He turned back around to the German man. “You repaired me.” It was not a question but an observation. “Why?” followed the question.

March 21, 2019

Panic arose in Klaus's body, rapidly sending his heartbeat into a frenzy and causing his muscles to tense almost immediately as the android sat upright from his previously declined position. He seemed to look around, taking in his surroundings and for a split moment, Klaus hoped that it--er, he?--had his memory completely wiped clean during whatever event had caused such damage to him. If he was a blank slate with no programming, then, surely, even if he had been manufactured in an enemy nation, perhaps there was hope that it wouldn't blow up the building and start wreaking havoc in the streets--

The android seemed to catch notice of the one who'd repaired him, and when the other quickly moved his arm out--his hand curled into a fist, Klaus immediately ducked his head behind a raised arm--attempting to shield himself from the assumed attack, and catching a glance at the gun that appeared from within the other man's forearm, another bout of panic exploded in his mind. The other loudly commanding him to give his identification didn't help ease his nerves, either, and Klaus quickly stammered out, "K-Klaus Gilbert Eichelbaum! Please--please don't hurt me!" He knew, of course, that it didn't matter. He could probably beg and scream for help all he wanted, but if this android was programmed to take his life, there would be no stopping him.

However, it seemed that the blond man's thoughts were distracted momentarily, and he retracted the weapon back to where it had been safely hidden in his arm. Klaus mentally cursed himself for not having deactivated or uninstalled the weapon previously. And, quickly enough, the stranger began to, understandably, go off about another manner--quickly snapping at the German man for his lack of clothing. "W-well I--I, I--had to--to eh--" it didn't really matter what words he managed to wheeze out amidst his near-panic attack, the other male had moved on, his attention snagging on the nearby mirror, and his prosthetic eyes lingered on what was reflected to him for a moment. Klaus took the opportunity to awkwardly fumble over to where he'd tossed the man's clothes upon their initial removal, scooping them up in his arms and cautiously took a single step toward him. He hesitated, unsure and scared of what to do. He hadn't been killed yet, so this man didn't seem hostile necessarily, but considering where he'd originated from, Klaus was certain that would change in any given moment.

"Here are--here are your things, I--I'm sorry I did--didn't mean you any harm," he said timidly, placing the clothes on the floor between them and taking a few steps back, wanting to put distance between he and the project he'd--apparently--repaired successfully. He watched the other as the artificial body was looked over, inspected, and judged by it's programmed owner, and Klaus slowly placed a hand on his chest and took in deep breaths, trying to calm the palpitations erupting from within his rib cage. Things seemed to calm, momentarily, and the android turned his attention back to the young technician, this time appearing much more collected. The sudden flood of alarm seeming to dissipate--for the stranger, at least. And, if the walking weapon could relax even that slight bit more, it was enough to relieve at least a little bit of anxiety for the other.

"W-why?" Klaus repeated, his eyes meeting the other's suddenly and staying there for a brief moment. "I, well, I," he quickly broke the contact, his gaze fleeting and unable to focus on any one thing in particular. The counter over there, the corner of the floor, a paper tacked into the wall. "Well--I, I thought it would... be... fun... to..." Suddenly his attention snapped back to the other. "Are you going to kill me? I don't know what you're meant to do, or if you're capable of reasoning for yourself but I--truly I didn't have ill intentions. You haven't yet, so I hope you can understand and--and be merciful, but..." He had no idea what was going to happen next. For all he knew, his answer had just warranted his swift and--hopefully--painless execution. This android certainly was equipped to kill, and if Klaus had to guess, it had been programmed to do exactly that. To recognize an enemy or opponent and to swiftly annihilate them.

"What were... you doing here before I found you?" Klaus spoke so quietly it might not have been heard. But if he'd been so heavily damaged as he had... Klaus didn't understand. If allied forces had destroyed him like he'd been, surely they would have brought the remaining body back to officials? Or completely obliterated it beyond hope of repair? They wouldn't have let him just wander off only to shut down in the middle of an alleyway, would they? That didn't seem right at all. What was going on? Klaus had wanted something exciting to come from his discovery but--this was just too much.

March 21, 2019

“I asked YOU that question Klaus Gilbert Eichelbaum. Answer it!” It came from the android when the man repeated his question understanding that as though the fawn-haired guy was asking him ‘why’ now. Inferno-1 was expecting an answer as he was looking at the man with his blank, mimic less face and the robotic eyes that didn’t blink and were kept open constantly. This guy was behaving oddly. His vital data had drastically changed showing him that he was nervous, anxious even. He behaved like a deer in the eyes of the hunter and when the foreigner finally did speak he stammered and stuttered around in a way that made it ridiculously difficult for his system to recognise the words he spoke.

“Are you capable of speaking properly? Or no?” he wanted to know whether this human was somehow damaged. Some humans were damaged and didn’t work properly as they should. Just like machines with defects, humans could have defects too just that some of those defects couldn’t be fixed as easily or at all. And maybe this one was defective and that was why he spoke weirdly, acted weirdly, was weird. Dr. Kalinin and the General, the people he had spent most of his short time of experience with had been a lot different than this person. He had never heard either of them speak in such a way or act that insecure. At least the data that scanned the body language of the man said that he was insecure and anxious and it also defined what insecurity meant for him, not that he could actually understand it, what was important for the android was to know how insecure people behaved, to calculate their moves and not to understand them.

The answer he was given then, in a stammering manner still, was dissatisfying in the sense that he didn’t get the intentions in the slightest. “For fun? What is ‘fun’ supposed to be and what advantage were you trying to gain from that ‘fun’?” the artificial man wanted to know as he stepped forward at the same time to get to his clothing. Standing right before the other man now in his naked glory he was distracted from dressing himself by a sudden switch of subjects, by a question that apparently concerned this man ever since the moment he had pressed the power button on his body, a question to which the answer in the eyes of the android was obvious. Klaus wanted to know whether Inferno-1 would eliminate him.

“No.” came the answer clear and monotonous. “You are no target of mine. If you were you’d be dead now.”the machine explained honestly. This man was unimportant. An unimportant, insignificant civilian who didn’t need to die as long as he’d not interfere with the android’s programmed tasks and goals. The Russian military robot had not only searched through his database, he too had searched the internet for the name and face of Klaus Gilbert Eichelbaum and had hacked himself into the index of persons of Berlin to gain further information about him and this man definitely didn’t meet the criteria of a target. Not for elimination and definitely not for capturing him. He was a nobody, without any power and without any influence.

With that off the table he was bending down to grab his clothing the other man had placed onto the ground. What too made no sense! Why would he put it down and not just hand it over to him? The blond man was standing after all. It was illogical to gather his clothing only to lie them back down again. Then again what did it matter? His hand closed around the fabric and it was obvious that his military fatigues were not only dirty and full of soot but that it also was ripped and destroyed in certain places. The civilian clothing that had been in the drone for when he’d have reached England must have been completely burned when the drone had been shot down though.

Hence this was all he’d got in terms of clothing. Putting on the sooty rags he heard the voice of the other male again, this time it wasn’t stuttering that made it difficult for his system to recognise the words but the extremely quiet tone, the words that came out as a whisper. The android had to adjust to this to be able to understand it. Why couldn’t this man talk normally in an average tone of voice? Was it that difficult? Apparently for this dude it was. “I don’t know.” He answered the question when he had enhanced the volume and repeated the recorded speech to himself again in order to be able to understand. “There is data missing.” He added closing his pants.

It was the truth. Inferno-1 had no idea how he had gotten there. What he was able to conclude was that he must have managed to flee from that field before the foreign military had gotten there. But regardless of that they definitely knew that he was there. They must have found the drone and his dead co-pilot and thus they knew that one pilot was missing. They might not know that he was an android; they might assume he was a human soldier but they were definitely aware that an enemy was on their territory and in consequence were certainly searching for him. Not only them though. Moscow would definitely know that something had happened too and they’d probably search for him as well. Thing was, if the German military found him first they’d discover the technology and he’d probably be scrutinised and then destroyed. And he was programmed to prevent his discovery and destruction at all costs. This meant that he needed to prevent the German military and government from getting their hands on him before General Smirnov could take measures to have someone bring him back to Russia or he’d have to find a way to get out of enemy land himself.

When he had put on the shirt he realised something as he was looking down on himself. It was covered by soot hence not recognisable at the moment but that would change if the soot was brushed or washed off. The double-headed eagle of Russia was stitched onto the chest of the attire he was wearing and so was their national flag. If he wanted to hide or get somewhere he had to get rid of this first. Without further ado he was laying hand on the armorial and flag stitched to the combat dress and ripped both of them off, leaving some strands of sewing cotton back on it and revealing two perfectly clean spots of fabric on the dirty rag of clothing. The android was holding the ripped off pieces in his hand, stretched out his fingers and opened some kind of douse in his palm that immediately spew blue flames of fire like a dragon in some fantasy movie, the flames nearly reaching the ceiling. There was nothing left of the armorial or the flag. Maybe to a human soldier this would have meant something; burning the own flag might have made a human feel a sting in his patriotic heart, maybe he’d feel guilt or at least some form of irritation or a whim of sentimentality but to the blond this meant nothing. It was a piece of fabric, a piece of fabric that had to go because it would have disclosed his origins. The android wasn’t patriotic either. He’d not even understand such a concept. He was programmed to do certain things and he would do them. There was no attachment of any sorts to the Russian nation and no political opinions he held.

March 22, 2019

Klaus snapped to attention when the android shouted at him, sending a spark of fear down his spine. This man seemed quick-tempered, raising his voice and getting frustrated when his answers weren't provided immediately when he'd demanded them, in the manner that he wished to received them. And, if it weren't for the fact that he'd just shoved a gun in Klaus's face, it wouldn't have been much different from dealing with an angry and frustrated customer at the store. However, knowing that he was from an enemy nation--and armed--certainly changed the atmosphere of the interaction entirely.

However, the young man was caught slightly off guard by the android's blunt and--almost rude--followup question. Was he capable of speaking properly? Although in reality, the artificial man probably hadn't intended for it to sound as crass as it was, Klaus had to consciously keep his expression blank even though every part of his being wanted to look at him incredulously. "Yes, perhaps when I'm slightly less petrified," he returned, hoping that in turn he didn't get five bullets buried in his forehead. Oddly enough, the android's question had almost struck a chord of confidence into the smaller male, for some reason that even Klaus couldn't comprehend.

And, for a moment, it almost seemed... human. Inconsiderate of how he sounded, not caring whether he had offended the other or not, and appearing to be bothered or annoyed by the German's nervous tick. They weren't positive traits, but, perhaps it was for those reasons that Klaus was able to momentarily suspend the gravity of the situation. However, those beautiful blue, mechanical eyes that seemed to be analyzing his every move quickly pulled Klaus back into reality. The android sounded human enough--not knowing how to tone his voice, however. He was able to move fluidly, naturally, and could conjure up questions in a completely normal way. If it wasn't for the fact that Klaus had just spent the past several hours repairing him, he could have almost forgotten that this man was a deadly machine.

"Fun?" Klaus repeated, unsure exactly why he wouldn't understand what that meant. A sudden reality check nearly slapped the German in the face. Just another reminder of what this guy was. If he was military-grade, and was designed with weapons and the like, he probably wasn't programmed to know about casual things like "fun" and "hobbies" and "I'm a big nerd who likes technology". Not only would he likely never need those words in his personal dictionary, not only because there was no need for such vocabulary amidst a war, but he was a machine. They couldn't feel things like a human could. There was no soul hidden in that mechanical heart, and something like "fun", or "fear", or "love" were probably incomprehensible to this being. Klaus wasn't even sure what the point of trying to explain it would be. Would it even matter? Still, he didn't feel like he was in the position to refuse. "Fun is... a feeling. When you do something, usually some sort of activity, that brings enjoyment. Frivolous pleasure. Not out of necessity, but just out of a whim. For yourself... it makes people happy."

When the android stepped toward the clothing that Klaus had set on the floor, the German man was sure to stay clear and give the naked man some space. It was difficult not to stare at him--if not for the fact that Klaus still saw him as a danger and a threat, then certainly due to how beautiful he was. Of course, Klaus had gotten quite familiar with the other's body while repairing him, but it was different seeing him move around. Before, he was just a broken machine, but now... it was so apparent how life-like and human he seemed. Now only was Klaus enthralled by the complexity and attention to detail that his creators had put into him, but how well programmed he was. Suddenly, though, Klaus felt conflicted with staring at him as he got dressed. Sure, he was just an android, and it wasn't as if Klaus wasn't already well aware of what he looked like, but since he was now seeming so humanistic, it felt... morally... wrong? To be staring at him? Almost? So, trying to turn his attention elsewhere--settling somewhere on the kitchen sink--while still keeping the other in his peripheral view, Klaus crossed his arms and waited for the other to finish getting dressed. However, when the android answered his question that determined Klaus's immediate fate... the German man visibly relaxed, breathing out quietly as his posture changed from a less stiff and rigid one to something... slightly more relaxed.

This guy was still a military-grade killing machine from an enemy country, after all. But at least Klaus wasn't anyone important enough to be killed...

He'd never felt so glad to be insignificant before in his life.

Though, certainly, he was probably going to have to do something about this... android guy. Did it have a name? Or, well... he?

Turning slightly after giving the android a minute to get dressed, Klaus's steel grey eyes scanned the other's form. His clothing was torn and dirtied, which Klaus supposed was better than having no clothing at all... "Oh, I see," he returned softly. So he didn't have any memory of what happened before--that was how Klaus interpreted it, anyway. Data was missing and he couldn't "recall". Though, he supposed that perhaps he could have been hiding the truth. If he really was a dangerous robot, he probably was programmed to keep special information hidden. Although Klaus hadn't intended to figure out what mission or purpose he'd been sent to here for by asking, he realized that even if he had, it would have been foolish. Curiously, Klaus watched as the man then ripped off the insignia on his shirt, holding it in his palm before--

A string of curses and surprise flooded from Klaus's mouth as he suddenly rushed backward, a flame shooting up from the other man's hand to cremate the patch he'd held there. The surprise and sudden panic of a live fire being in his kitchen caused the German man to fumble backwards, nearly knocking over the pots and pans that hung from the wall. He instinctively wanted to rush to the fire extinguisher, but... well, he was panicked for nothing. It wasn't like it wasn't controlled--even if it was an unnecessarily big flame--and it seemed to be over with quickly enough. "Please don't... do that in my home, you'll burn the place down or something," he muttered, eyes now locked on the other. Why did he even...? All just to get rid of the patch? Why? To get rid of his national identity maybe? It wasn't like his clothing made him exactly blend in. "I do hope you're not actually planning to go out in that, are you...?"

He didn't know why it should matter, though. If this guy was a threat to his country, Klaus should let him. He should let him go outside, looking like he'd just walked away from a plane crash, and let some police officer find and handle him before he could do any serious harm or damage. But, at the same time... Would it be possible that the android could be traced back to him? After all, he had repaired the android. If anyone was hurt or killed by it, Klaus would be to blame and, frankly, deserve to be held responsible for it. He essentially brought a walking, talking, Russian weapon into his neighborhood. And even if Klaus didn't get arrested or killed for assisting Russian forces--if that's what even would happen to him, Klaus felt it had to be something bad like that--if they did catch and destroy or tear apart the android... Well, it just felt like a terrible waste. He was so beautifully created that it'd be a shame if he was deconstructed or recycled or whatever they'd end up doing with him. Was it... traitorous that Klaus wanted to just keep the android around for his own personal fascination?

Maybe deactivate him, wipe his memory chip, and this time uninstall his weapons, so that he was a perfectly clean slate and the whole fiasco and fear of death from before didn't happen again, but... After all, even if he was behaving civilly now, and Klaus was much more calmed than he had initially been, that didn't change the massive potential of danger that the other possessed.

"You can just call me Klaus, by the way. Do you have any, um..." He tried to think in android-brain terms. "Form of identification? I assume you're going to try getting back to... where you're from?" This android knew that Klaus knew he was from enemy territory, right? Did he? If Klaus pretended not to know where he'd come from, would he be safer that way? Would knowing and pointing out that he knew this machine was from Russia just be a death sentence? He didn't know, and he wasn't sure if he should risk it. Klaus was not a brave man. Many things, but not brave. And he did not want to try finding out. Sure, the android said he wasn't going to assassinate him because he wasn't important, but if he got in the android's way, or upset him, or something else he'd probably still get killed anyway, right? Klaus didn't know. Too many variables were unknown and until he grew more familiar with the android and the situation at hand, he would continue to be cautious and fearful.

March 22, 2019

Again the man repeated what he had asked him about and again the system interpreted it as a question being returned to him. “I asked YOU what that meant!” he stated another time, emphasising the same word again, examining the strange male closely now. Maybe Dr. Kalinin and General Smirnov had adjusted their interaction with the android to an extent because of being aware of the fact that he was operating on a programmed system what would explain the incredible difference in behaviour between those two humans and this one. Not only that but also the answers he got to his questions. This German was only confusing him more. Enjoyment, pleasure, whim and happy, Inferno-1 had no idea what those meant and implied either hence it didn’t further his understanding nor explained to him why this man had repaired him. “I don’t understand.” He told him and turned away to the window where the morning dawn was gradually revealing the grey city.

It might be that Klaus didn’t want him to know his intentions and was deliberately answering in a way that made no sense, that was like a riddle that had no answer for his system or he indeed wasn’t thinking about whom or rather what he was interacting with and how to explain things in a way his system could analyse and understand. It didn’t matter though. What mattered was that he had been repaired and was running smoothly again as if nothing had happened aside from the missing data that was. Whatever intention the man had the robot would just make sure that he couldn’t use him in any way that’d go against his tasks and missions. As long as he’d guarantee himself that there was no use in wasting his time trying to get an answer that was actually usable and understandable.

How the fawn-haired had turned away his gaze from him when he had gotten dressed hadn’t gone unnoticed. The military machine had registered that the home owner had averted his eyes from him completely, that he had not been able to look at him anymore, that his eyes had focussed onto a random corner of the room. He had learned that humans lied or tried to hide something when they weren’t able to look at their counterparts anymore. And he didn’t think that this guy had lied. He hadn’t said much anyway but the man was definitely hiding something. The question was what was he hiding? Considering how unimportant of a man he was, just some guy working in a computer store – that was what he had figured out – whatever he was hiding probably wasn’t a threat to Russian national security. Then again it didn’t seem to be a small thing that he was trying to keep from him either. “You’re hiding something.” he pointed out. Another observation and not a question but this time no question followed as he was getting busy with ripping off the flag and armorial from his clothing.

Apparently his host was not appreciating how he had decided to handle getting rid of those patches he had ripped off of his shirt because he asked him to not do that in his home again. What was a request! Inferno-1 could grant it or deny it but what followed was more of an accusation as this man seemed to worry that he’d burn down his apartment. “I won’t.” the android assured him and he definitely wouldn’t he could control the weapons installed into his body, all of them. If he didn’t want to burn the house down he’d not burn it down and he had no intention of burning it down. Actually this place was rather practical for now.

Klaus however seemed to have something else to criticise and this time it were the sooty rags he was wearing as a bad excuse for clothing. Well, maybe he could pass as a hobo that had to be possible somehow. The other man wanted to know whether he was planning on going outside in what he was wearing and while he was not planning on going outside right now in this moment he’d sure have to leave this building sooner or later. The android pointed his finger at the other man and this time it really was just his finger and no weapon showing up as he mimicked General Smirnov’s voice and facial expression. “Being naked is considered indecent and inappropriate in most social situations.” The machine reiterated what he had been taught. “And that’s all the clothing I’ve got.” He added and then his blue eyes scanned the man in his thirties again or rather what he was wearing. The guy was definitely shorter than him. Shorter by 7cm exactly. And he was slimmer. His shoulders less wide. Chances that the robot would fit in his clothing were low. Then again maybe he had other clothing somewhere, larger clothing. “Give me your clothes.” He ordered. “Not those though. Wider clothing.” The machine added.

With that he went through the room and past the table and towards the sofa where he was placing himself onto, sitting in tailor fashion with a blank expression, staring at the man who was with him. It was completely silent, silent enough to hear some pigeons outside on the roof. Then the voice of the German was cutting through the silence as he was told that he could just call him Klaus. “Good.” He noticed. “Klaus.” He did as he had been told. He laid his head a little to the side when the other formulated half a sentence again and then broke off in the middle only to then add what was missing. Odd. The guy was odd. Or at least that was a term the system categorise this man under. “Yes.” He answered when asked whether he had a form of identification. He had a label for the type of android he was and a product number. His product number was one. He was the first of his type. The prototype. He was important. Something special. Although he himself didn’t understand what special was supposed to be, Dr. Kalinin and General Smirnov did.

That guy asked a lot of questions. Now he wanted to know whether the blond was trying to get back to where he had come from. It was a peculiar way to word it. This guy had repaired him. Had seen his military fatigues, he knew that he was Russian technology. “Not in this moment.” He answered the question. “I need to deliberate.” The android said artificial blue peering into grey as he sat there on the sofa, his dirty clothing staining the fabric of the upholstery. “Do you know this city and this region well?” he asked him because in the index of persons he had read that this man had been born in Bremerhaven and not Berlin. Sure it had been a while since he had changed residence but that didn’t mean he had the same knowledge and concept of this city than a human who had been born there would have had. “Why did you come here? To Berlin?” he wanted to know as that piece of information obviously had not been found in the index nor on Klaus’s social media that he had searched through and which’s information he had saved immediately the moment he had scanned the man.

April 4, 2019

Klaus watched the artificial man carefully, and it took a moment after the German man's explanation before the other spoke up, declaring his ignorance. A sigh escaped the young man's lips and he ran his fingers through his hair, almost methodically in an attempt to release at least some element of stress. “Of course you don't,” he mumbled quietly. “It's a human thing, you wouldn't get it…” He could explain it as well as his own intelligence could allow, but the artificial intelligence would never be able to understand. Not truly. Things like happiness, entertainment, pleasure, and what would be considered fun… Klaus could explain it 'till the end of his days, but it'd accomplish nothing. So he didn't even bother to try further elaborating. It didn't really matter…

However, the machine uttered a sentence that caused Klaus's heart to stop for a moment of time. Hiding something? He could almost feel his blood run cold--or at least a sudden chill swept over his body and he wanted to run, instinctively. What was he hiding? Did it look like he was hiding, or guilty of something? Had the android somehow figured out that he was gay? No, no that couldn't be it--there was no way to possibly know that… right? But it was the only thing Klaus could think of that he'd be hiding. Well, aside from a newly-discovered killing machine from Russia, anyway… “What? No way… I'm not hiding anything, at all… it's just…” One hand moved to the base of his neck, rubbing the skin there gently as the other rested on his hip. He continued to try averting his gaze even still as the other finished dressing. “Just it's weird to be staring at someone when they're getting dressed, is all. Or while they're naked, for that matter… I didn't want to seem…” like he was checking him out. Even if he was incredibly handsome, Klaus would rather die than have it be found out he'd been attracted to him. Or to be mistaken for staring him down inappropriately… Of course, he was already very accustomed to the other's anatomy, having worked on his form the entirety of the night, previously. But it felt different now. Too real. Too alive. Too human… Not like staring at a book with a drawing of a human's body, but a living, thinking human in front of him, standing in all his living glory. Not human. He wasn't human. But it felt that way. It was easy to feel wrongly about the situation that had been otherwise comfortable just minutes before. “I just didn't want to seem weird.” That was one way of putting it. “I don't really have anything to hide, so… You were wrong.” Yes. Absolutely. The artificial life form has simply just misinterpreted Klaus's actions and awkwardness, that was all…

Klaus gave a small sigh of relief and nodded slightly in acknowledgement at the other's statement. He seemed confident enough that he wouldn't burn the place down… though Klaus didn't feel that his worries had been out of place, either. There were certainly better ways to handle discarding something than creating such a big flame. And inside, too. And accidents could still happen anyway, so… still. It was n the past for now. Klaus could move on. Though if he saw another flame again, he might have to scold the other. Or explain calmly that fire wasn't allowed in the house. Klaus was sure he'd make the wrong choice when the opportunity next came…

And, of course, Klaus knew that the robot didn't have any spare clothes, though he'd still wondered whether or not the other was going to stumble out into society and cause trouble, bringing all the more attention from his appearance. Surely he knew that he'd look completely out of place, right? Did he want to blend in? Was he even going to stay or did he plan to rush off immediately? Klaus sighed. He didn't know what to do… perhaps if he could trick the other into staying, he could find some way to disable him, or turn him off again, and… well, Klaus wasn't sure what he'd do after that. This was bad. All of it was bad. He'd have to figure something out. There had to be some sort of solution to all of this craziness, didn't there…?

The android pointed at the German and made a statement, though it sounded like he was… was he mimicking someone else…? It sounded like it. And the idea that he was mocking someone else's words, was kind of… well, if the situation wasn't as crazy and frightening, hectic--even, as it was, Klaus might have laughed. “Yes, that would be correct…” he affirmed. It was not socially acceptable to be naked under most circumstances.

“My clothes…?” He repeated, despite knowing that the robot was probably going to yell at him again and confirm what he'd just asked. Klaus couldn't help his echoing. It was a habit. “But they're… they'd be too small…” he trailed off slightly as his eyes watched the other move over to the living room, plopping himself down on the couch. “Wait don't--” he cut himself off. Too late. His dirty clothing was probably going to leave some sort of mark on the couch's fabric. He just hoped it wouldn't stain and he could wash it out… As disorganized as his home could be at times, he kept it clean. Things would be everywhere and out of place, cluttered and almost always a mess, but never grimy or dirty. Klaus exhaled through his nose and closes his eyes for a moment as he regained his composure. Quietly walking over to the android, he stood a couple of feet away, in front of the other. “You could probably fit into my pyjamas since those are loose and comfortable on me…” he mulled the thoughts over verbally. “But you probably shouldn't go outside in them… Which means I'll probably have to buy you new clothes, but then you'd just run off as soon as you get them, and besides, I wouldn't want to leave you alone in my home, anyway….” He groaned and turned on his heel. “Stay there, I'll be right back,” he ordered, walking off to his room.

He shuffled through the contents of his dresser and pulled out one of his bigger, looser T-shirts. It could probably fit on the other guy well enough. He grabbed some pants as well, the fabric was soft to the touch, and it was baggy--quite oversized for him, but the elastic in the waistband allow him to wear them without the pants falling down. Though he knew his denim or dress pants would most likely not fit the other male. Sleep clothes was probably the safest bet for now.

Returning to the living room, he handed the new clothing over to the android. “These will probably fit. The bathroom is right over there--” he gestured with his hand-- “You can get dressed in there, so you don't have to change in the living room… I'll wait here.”

He'd allow the other the opportunity to get dressed in the bathroom. Though, of course, if he didn't do that, and instead decided to change in front of Klaus, the German man would probably try to bite back and flustered expressions and avert his gaze again. Hopefully the other would not put Klaus in that situation again… Not that there was anything wrong with the android, or anything…

And, as he waited, Klaus mused over the answers he'd received from his previous questions. It would seem that when Klaus had meant to swap names, the android had misunderstood. He didn't want to just know if the android had a form of identification, he wanted to know what that identification was. And inviting the other to call him by “Klaus” wasn't a command to utter his name on the spot. He sighed. He was going to have to be a lot more… clear than he had been. He was already putting effort into being better understood, but it still wasn't quite enough, the human was learning, and he would have to continue to adjust.

While he waited, Klaus swiped away at the door on the couch that had been brushed off by the Russian's clothing. It didn't smear too much, thankfully, and he was able to get most of it out of the material. That was the best he could do for now, later he'd get a washcloth and do a more through job, but…

Turning slightly to look back at the other when he finished dressing, Klaus would take a couple of steps away from the couch again. “Good, they seem to fit pretty well…” they were certainly a lot baggier on Klaus's with form, but they didn't look tight or uncomfortable on the other, either, even despite how he filled the clothes better than Klaus ever could. “If you don't mind… I want to know what I should address you as. What should I call you? You have a form of identification, so I would like to know what it is so that I could perhaps call you by that name…” Though, he knew it was quite probable he'd been manufactured and labeled with a title involving numbers or something like that, opposed to something that actually sounded like a name… But Klaus knew some people named their creations after human names, so he wasn't going to assume… “If you would prefer, though, I could give you a name to go by instead…? You do understand what a name is, yes?” He might have to clarify. “And if you need to deliberate here, then… How long do you think that will take before you have to return to where you're from…?”

Klaus sighed and moved back over to the couch, sitting down on one side and bowing his head into his hands, running his fingers through his hair methodically as he tried to relieve some stress. Not that the android was acting particularly hostile or anything. Klaus was quickly getting accustomed to the other's… behavior. But the situation was still stressful even without the other acting violently. “Yes I know the area quite well… But if you're hoping for me to help you map everywhere out so you can infiltrate it, then bomb the city later, I won't do it.” When asked why he came to Berlin, however, Klaus cast a glance the stranger's way, looking up from the floor to do so. “I don't understand what you mean by that. Why does it matter what my motives were for moving here…?” Then he realized and he snapped to attention. “And what do you mean by that, anyway?! How do you even know I'm not from here? You surely can't read my mind and I'm not a politician or leader where a military-grade machine like you would need to know anything about me--so how did you even…?” It surely wasn't just a lucky guess.

April 5, 2019

“Now you’re lying.” Came the next dry observation that completely lacked the usual accusatory tone and any kind of taken offence that usually occurred when people figured out that someone was lying to them. However it was plain obvious that the man was not telling the truth and had now gone over to lying to deny the fact that he was hiding something. The sudden rash of nervousness, the stammering, the hectic way in which he spoke, the vehemence with which he reacted to Inferno-1’s observation which had not even been a question and not called for an answer in the first place. This man wasn’t only lying; he was incredibly bad at it too. The explanation that followed might have had some truth to it, for people at least, the android didn’t find it weird to see naked people nor did he care at all if people looked at his housing, it made no difference for him personally if he had clothing on or not, he didn’t feel naked, didn’t feel bared or ashamed, in fact he felt nothing at all, but there was something else that actually caught his attention. Klaus began one sentence, broke it off again and then didn’t continue. And the android was certain that this was connected to what this man was hiding. “You didn’t want to seem what, Klaus?” the machine asked, not making the impression of being one in that moment in the slightest.

The androids pupils were rotating and focussing on the other man’s face zooming it in more closely:”Weird?” he asked, not repeating but clearly doubting that this had been what he had wanted to originally say. “You do seem weird though.” the blond then stated with the brutal honesty of a robot. And if the android hadn’t been an android but a person he would have been amused by the following pathetic attempt to claim that his observation hadn’t been correct, instead he responded to what he was given plain and simple. “No.” he disagreed. “I was correct. You are hiding something. If anything your reaction has proven that my analysis was accurate and you’re not only hiding something but are also hiding that you are hiding something, which is the logical consequence but means that you’re actually hiding two things.” The artificial Russian man pointed out. General Smirnov would have said the android had hit a nerve but this had always confused the prototype and he hadn’t understood it. Since just as right now, the machine had not done anything to the others nervous system. Much less hit one nerve. Could one even actually hit a nerve? It made no sense. Human communication oftentimes just made no sense.

After they had established that the General was right when it came to being naked in most social situations and Inferno-1 demanded clean clothing the fawn haired fellow apparently wanted a confirmation. “Yes, that’s what I just said.” He answered and then had to listen to the other disclosing to him that the clothes would be too small as if he had not already taken that into account. Still there probably was something he’d fit into even if it was a little tight. Apparently the other also seemed to not be happy about him taking a seat on the sofa; even he knew that this was considered impolite. The guy was pretty inhospitable. Looking at the man examining him he then got met with a bunch of ideas. He learned that he probably would fit into his pyjamas that for whatever reason he shouldn’t go out in them though, that he needed to buy him clothes but that he didn’t want him to stay alone in his home but didn’t want him to run off either. Gosh, this man. He was contradicting himself. Checking what a pyjama was he could see why he shouldn’t go outside in them but all that other stuff. “Why wouldn’t you want me to be alone in your home? And wouldn’t me leaving not be the perfect outcome for you if you didn’t want me in your home?” he wanted to know from him because his system could not make anything of those contradicting statements but the fawn haired man had already disappeared telling the android to stay where he was. What was odd! Because just moments ago he had not appeared to be happy about him sitting on the sofa!

When the German returned he had pants and a shirt in hand that he gave the android who stood from his seat and took them with a nod and a “Thanks.”, feeling and scanning the fabric. It was unlike the fabrics he had ever worn. But the signals of the receptors in his artificial skin were sending to his system were actually quite comfortable and thus wouldn’t do damage. The receptors he had to be able to realise when something was damaging or having negative impact on his box or how one would probably more likely call it body. It served as a regulatory and alarm system, that was its purpose but the side effect was that it made something else too, something that the android lacked the means to explain for but that made him favour to touch some things over others. The human in the room demanded his attention though when he told him where the bathroom was located and that he could go there. “I don’t need to use bathrooms. They are for people.” The machine said, putting the clean clothes onto the coffee table while he began to undress where he was. He knew what a bathroom was. Dr. Kalinin and General Smirnov had even showen them to him but they too had said that this room in every apartment or house was a waste for him because he unlike people didn’t have to use it. He hadn’t understood that at all at first and had asked why he didn’t need it but humans did and Smirnov had just grumbled:”Because you’re not real. You’re a fake. People are supposed to believe you are real but you’re not.” And it only had confused him more and solved absolutely nothing. Dr. Kalinin had then explained to him that he lacked the body functions that caused the need for a bathroom in humans. He had understood that, although he had not gotten what it meant in the sense of being aware of its implications.

Had he undressed and was standing there completely naked again he got distracted from immediately putting back on the fresh clothing by Klaus’s doings. The guy was running around, returning, and doing something weird with the sofa. Rubbing it! Why the hell was he rubbing the sofa? When he then saw that the soot was coming off, at least to a degree, it only interested him even more and he stepped a little closer, holding the fresh pants in hand while still being in the nudes, standing behind the other man looking over his shoulder. At least when the Klaus got back to the topic of his identification the Russian military machine was finally putting the pants on while he was listening. “Yes, I know what a name is.” he then started to answer the man’s questions. He obviously did know. Otherwise he’d not have understood what to make out of Klaus’s name when he had asked him to identify himself. “I don’t have a name though.” Inferno-1 told him because the man had expressed that he wanted to know his name to be able to call him by something. Kalinin and General Smirnov had referred to him by ‘one’ which was not a name but a number. “I don’t care what you call me. I just have to know that you are referring to me if you want me to respond to it.” The robot let him know when the other had asked if he preferred he’d give him a name. The android would put on any name there was. He’d have put on a name while infiltrating Downing Street as well. To the robot a name served a purpose. The purpose of identification, which ‘Inferno-1’ did too and the purpose to make communication easier and more efficient and ‘Inferno-1’ wasn’t working well in human conversations, because no man was given a type, a category in addition to a number instead of a name in interactions if one didn’t want to strip him off of his humanity. Not that the android understood what any of that meant. He already struggled with the definition of ‘humanity’.

“I will stay as long as I need to figure out a way to get out of here.” The artificial man told him when asked how much time he had to get back to Moscow. It was a question he couldn’t answer. He didn’t know how long he had to get out before they’d capture him and it seemed like he couldn’t expect any information or assistance from this man considering the way the other man reacted when he had asked him if he knew the area well. The man immediately jumped to the conclusion that he wanted him to map certain locations out to then later bomb the city which couldn’t have been further off the actual intention he had. “I wouldn’t need you to map out a city. I have access to accurate maps and pictures of all the cities I need. “ the machine informed him. He could even make a virtual walk through Berlin using the maps installed or online. “And did I have the intention to bomb the place, it would have been bombed by now.” he added. “However I have no such order. I have no task to accomplish in this city. The only mission left right now is to prevent my destruction at all costs.” The blond clarified and had he thought that the human would react calmed by it, it had been a miscalculation.

Klaus was acting all bitchy. “You know what I meant as you repeat the question right there. How about you answer it instead of asking me another question! And then I answer yours if you answer mine.” He suggested but oh boy, it didn’t help. The guy snapped. Snapped when he realised that the android had information about him he shouldn’t have according to the German. It wasn’t the nervousness or the anxiety from before, this was clear anger. The man showed aggression. When met with aggression the android had been programmed to a) de-escalate the subject or b) eliminate the subject if 1. De-escalation had failed and the level of aggression rose or 2. The person had been an immediate threat to begin with. This aggression wasn’t at a destructive level or a threat at this point so Inferno-1 would try to de-escalate the situation, crossing his arms in front of his chest that was bare because he still hadn’t put on the shirt, looking into those grey eyes firmly. “I told you that you aren’t on my target list already. Your information wasn’t stored in the database before.” He reminded him. “I asked you to identify yourself. I did a background check. I got the information from the index of persons of Berlin and the additional things from what you voluntarily placed at disposal using social media. Thus, I know a lot about you, because you gave me the information. I can see and use everything that’s on the internet.” The Russian robot explained. “As for why your motivation matters: The motivations behind people’s actions always matter in the sense that they grant me to better estimate what intentions and goals you might have and how you might act. Knowing the motives will prevent miscalculations. Such as you did when you assumed I wanted to bomb the city.” And with this said he grabbed the shirt from the coffee table.

As if something just wanted to keep him from getting dressed he turned his head towards the door when he heard it knocking loudly, three times in a row. “Yo, Klaus!” a male voice sounded and then one could hear the clicking of a key in the door – they had exchanged key to each other’s places originally for emergencies - while the man continued to speak, loudly, because he wasn’t even in yet. “I have awesome news. Do you remember when I applied for a place in the German team for the European gaming championship? I totally got chosen man. This means we’re both going to the convention. And we’re going to meet the actors from the ‘Eagle-man’ universe.” It was Klaus’s best friend Nikolas B?ring whom had been his roommate back at college times and now worked together with him and took the liberty to show up nearly every morning to go to their workplace together. Niko had been born and grown up in Erfurt, Th?ringen and had decided to move to Berlin to go to college when he had met his first ever girlfriend, who had been from Berlin, online. Their relationship however didn’t last longer than three-quarters of a year because his girlfriend was constantly pissed at the man for spending most of his time playing video games and watching stupid cartoon shows, not paying her enough attention and fondling his computer more than her which resulted in her breaking up with him calling him a lazy, careless, egotistical nerd while B?ring himself accused her of having been an insufferable, nagging, exhausting, hysterical, histrionic, overreacting cunt and somewhere between both of their claims lay the truth.

Ever since then Nikolas had been single, not because he had not tried to find a new girlfriend but because his attempts had been in vain. At least he didn’t have to see his ex anymore since Klaus had broken up with that one ex-girlfriend who had been and still was friends with his ex. Niko had tried every possible means to get himself a girlfriend again or to set his friend up as well. He had gone out, had thrown himself in there, had tried every online dating site available but it had never worked out for him and never resulted in a committed relationship. Nowadays the man in his early thirties had almost given up on it. It didn’t work for him, so he had gone over to trolling women online, searching google for random dick-pics of whomever sending them to them or to ridicule everyone and everything while glorifying characters of Japanese hentai porn books as his ideal women and being addicted to pornography as a whole which the New Right government had generally illegalised because they deemed porn to corrupt the mind and lead to degeneracy, which didn’t bother him at all because he had quite the illegally purchased collection regardless of the law. The man was generally rather immune to and unimpressed by the social conservatism and the strict sexual morale of their government, finding a good balance between allowing himself enjoyment and pleasure while at the same time not being reckless enough to be caught, having a chill, almost stoic calm about this whole issue.

The door went open and B?ring just stomped in without looking right or left, the excitement about the whole gaming championship to see on his face. He was a tall man, standing at 1,91m, somewhat chubby although far from fat, his skin was pale and sprinkled with freckles, his hair was incredibly short and reddish-blond and his eyes had a clear green colour. In his hand he was holding his phone with the case that showed the image of a cartoon girl with giant tits and short blue hair, while he was dressed casually in jeans and an ‘Eagel-man’ – the main superhero from the patriotic superhero universe the government had wanted some artists to create about a decade ago because they had found that the population was consuming too much anglocentric media and that they needed to further their own artistic output, have their own iconic characters etc. Had he been blabbering in excitement and aimed for the sofa, he suddenly came to a halt in the middle of the room, the green eyes looking straight into the face of the half naked stranger who was standing in front of the coffee table, a shirt in hand.

Niko’s gaze went from the man to Klaus, then back at the man and then to Klaus again. “Who is the half naked dude in your apartment? Why is there a half-naked dude in your apartment to begin with?” he wanted to know, looking confused. “Am I interrupting something…. private…. ?” he concluded not knowing how exactly he found that idea. Klaus with a man! It was absurd. Klaus was into chicks, he was clearly straight after all. “I can leave again, if you two… Should I excuse you at work?” he wanted to know, as he still found himself confronted with the situation as farfetched as it seemed and he was definitely a little confused and taken off guard by all of this.

April 24, 2019

Klaus stared at the other, slightly in shock, a bit embarrassed, and a tad flustered as well. "I do seem weird?? How??" he inquired, slightly on edge. It wasn't like he'd done anything particularly peculiar, had he? Was this android suspicious of him? No, there was no way. Klaus hadn't done anything to give himself away, so there was no way that anything could have been suspected. Perhaps the android had meant something else. That's what Klaus hoped for, anyway. Though, of course, Klaus wanted to come off as fairly normal anyway, if, at least, he was being viewed as "weird" for other reasons, then it wouldn't be so bad... Yeah. Surely, it had to be something else.

Still, the artificial intelligence seemed adamant about his accusation. Klaus certainly was hiding something. And, at this point, the German man was beginning to come to realization that there wouldn't be anything he could do to deter the robot's suspicions, anyway. "Fine. You're right," he admitted, gently rubbing one arm. "But everyone hides things. Everyone's got secrets. Just forget about it, just because I don't want to be open with you about everything doesn't mean I'm hiding anything malicious. So don't worry about it." Not that the android had seemed worried, but Klaus just hoped that perhaps he'd drop the subject. It wasn't like the robot had hit any nerves, but that didn't mean the German man was comfortable, either.

"No, it wouldn't be the perfect situation if you were to just leave," Klaus stated before elaborating, "because if you did anything bad--or even if you didn't do anything malicious, but you were seen as suspicious and then captured, I would be held responsible. Because I was the one who found and repaired you, anything you do--good or bad--I'm directly to blame for it. And because you're from an enemy nation, even just having you around is enough to get me in serious trouble." He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, looking at the ground frustratedly. "But, likewise, I don't just want you around my home unsupervised because a home is a very personal, private place and I--well, you can learn a lot about a person from their home, and maybe I don't feel comfortable with the possibility of you snooping." Not that there was anything particularly bad that he was hiding, or anything that he didn't necessarily not want someone else to see... it was just... this android--person, thing--was a stranger, and if he could avoid the other learning private information about him, that would be better. It would feel weird for the other to know so much about him...

Klaus sighed, however, when the android refused to get dressed in the bathroom. He supposed it didn't really matter if he changed in the middle of the living room, albeit a bit strange and awkward for the human--but it wasn't like the German couldn't turn around... Still, he quietly muttered, "I didn't say you had to use the bathroom, just that you could get dressed in there..." He was otherwise quiet, focusing mainly on removing the stain in the couch. He was somewhat successful. And although he could hear the other shifting in the background, in the moment, Klaus paid him little mind due to hid preoccupation. It was only when the other continued on the subject of names that the German felt any need for input or reply.

So he knew what a name was--logically, it would make sense for him to... But he didn't have one. No form of identification? Really? "Hmm..." Klaus hummed pensively as he lightly brushed the spot on the couch where the stains had been. They'd been mostly removed, but there were still traces of their existence. It was the best he could do for now. "How about... Anton. Can I call you Anton?" Considering the android didn't seem to care, he figured it would be alright. Besides, the name could be translated into Russian as well. "Yeah... I think I'll call you that... Since Artjom is Russian, but it sounds so similar to Anton..." That way he could have a name that still stuck to his origins, but had a Germanic cover for the sake of secrecy, since it would be better if others didn't know where he was from... Klaus glanced at the other, startled when he realized how close he was, and he instinctively moved away. Taking a few steps away from his couch, the fawn-haired man crossed his arms and shrugged, tensed slightly. "I suppose that's true," he said in response to the android's statements that he could have already bombed the city if that'd been his intentions. He was perfectly right. Klaus was just experiencing a bout of paranoia... and reasonably so. Considering his company. "I guess I just don't know why you would otherwise need to know whether or not I know the area. I don't see why my knowledge would matter to you." He didn't. But he supposed it didn't matter, either.

It seemed that, although an enemy creation, the walking weapon didn't have any ill intent. Of course, he could have been lying, but considering he hadn't acted out violently as of yet, and hadn't yet done anything malicious... it wasn't too difficult to believe that the android hadn't been given any orders to do anything bad. Reason was starting to settle in the corners of Klaus's mind... however... That did still leave the question as to what he'd been doing in Germany to begin with. If not to commit an act of violence, a terrorist attack, or some other sort of warfare, then why? What was he doing here? Klaus figured he wouldn't answer even if he asked, but he'd keep the question in the back of his head for now. It certainly was very important.

And, thankfully enough, after the android had explained how he knew so much about the German man, Klaus visibly calmed down. Albeit he was still tense, he was considerably more docile. "Oh. I see," he said simply, turning his back on the android. "I was just... concerned. That's all. I'm not a military official or political leader, or anything important like that, so of course it was unnerving that you knew such personal information when I'm nobody of any importance," he elaborated. "But... I suppose that makes sense." He frowned, slightly. "Though you shouldn't look into peoples' private lives like that. It's seen as invasive, and rude, and kind of creepy." Of course, he realized it hadn't been the android's intent to come off as creepy. The android probably didn't intend for anything. Considering he wasn't even... a real person... or anything. But still, Klaus figured there'd be no harm trying to explain that social rule. "Or at least if you do, don't openly talk about it to the person. If they didn't share that information with you, it's extremely suspicious for you to have knowledge of it." Extremely.

Klaus turned back to glance at the android. Anton. Right... "And if you must know my motivations, I moved here to attend a university. College. Higher education. Those reasons. After that, I just ended up staying. That's all. It's pretty simple." Nothing complex, personal, or important. Klaus dwelled on the thought for a moment before his attention snapped to the sudden commotion at the door, and his heart began to race as he was thrown into a panic. Oh god--no! Nikolas--this is the worst timing ever! Fuck! How could I forget?! His eyes wide, he realized he was a deer in the headlights. What should he do?! Anton was absolutely suspicious in every way--and a friend would certainly know enough about Klaus not to confuse the android with a brother or neighbor. But Klaus was not about to explain the situation to anybody--even if he was friends with Nikolas, it wasn't like they were that close to begin with. At least, Klaus never considered him to be so.

And he certainly didn't have enough time to try hiding the android, or teaching him how to properly act like a normal human being--since the android clearly did not understand a lot about humanity. Whipping around to look at Anton desperately, he said in a strained whisper, "Just go with whatever I say--even if it's a lie." He had to add the last part, since there was no way he was going to tell the truth of the situation to Nikolas, and he sure as hell didn't want the android to ruin everything by feeling the urge to correct Klaus's statements for being false. "Just act normal and try to pretend you're a human--okay--?"

Before the android would even have the proper time to respond, the newcomer had fully entered Klaus's abode. Klaus hadn't registered anything his friend had been going on about before, too panicked to try listening, and when the other froze upon entering, Klaus could swear his heart stopped beating. "No," he said quickly when Nikolas began jumping to conclusions, asking if he'd been interrupting something private and attempting to imply something indecent had been going on. Klaus quickly approached his friend and pointed at him as he answered, "No, no, no, no, no. You know I'm straight, don't even joke like that, man..." He shook his head quickly, trying to take steady breaths and seem as calm as he normally was. Quickly brushing off the accusation and trying to move the subject away from his sexuality, Klaus swiftly explained, "This is Anton--he's an old friend of mine who was visiting the area. I haven't seen him in years so it's nice to finally see him again and catch up. I'm letting him stay at my place while he's here, that's all. Don't say weird shit." He'd nearly forgotten work. He really didn't want to take a day off, since it would ruin his near-perfect record of reliability, but considering he hadn't slept at all and... there was a military-grade weapon in his home...

Klaus didn't want to leave Anton unattended. Not that he was afraid (anymore) that the android would destroy the building, but he still didn't want the other around his house unsupervised... But he certainly wasn't... normal-seeming enough to be trusted to interact with other people for an extended period of time. At least, from his brief conversation with the android, Klaus didn't feel that he was ready for that. So it wasn't like he could bring him to work, either.

The German man sighed, running his fingers through his hair again. This was bad. Everything about this situation was bad.

Although he didn't like it, Klaus figured it would probably be best if he just left Anton in the apartment while he went to work. He was exhausted, but he could still function... And the android staying at the apartment was certainly a lot better than letting him interact with other people and blow their cover. Anton being found-out for what he was, was the worst-case scenario in Klaus's mind. Much worse than an android finding out that Klaus was a scatter-brained, sentimental dork who kept notes and objects scattered around his house completely out of place.

"Yeah I... I can go to work," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "Just give me a moment to change my clothes. Please don't say anything weird to Anton," he added the last part before moving quickly to his room to dress into fresher clothes.

May 1, 2019

He listened when the other man attempted to clear up the contradictions that the artificial intelligence didn’t understand and what it came back to was that this man apparently could get into trouble for having repaired him and by that he had tied himself to him. The question was why someone would do something they knew would have such negative consequences for them. “Why did you repair me then? If you knew that it’d put you into that position?” he wanted to know because he didn’t understand. “Is that ‘fun’ worth it?” the being tried to grasp it. And that wasn’t the only thing he didn’t quite get, Inferno-1 certainly didn’t get what the fawn haired male said in regards to his apartment either. “You are still not on my target list. I don’t have the task to spy on you.” He told him not understanding why the other thought he’d snoop around in his apartment if it wasn’t part of his mission. “But maybe I should search this place if the idea of it makes you this uncomfortable. Maybe you are hiding information relevant to the war after all. Why else would you be that against the idea?” Was the conclusion the machine made from that, translating ‘private’ as ‘top secret’ because he had no understanding of what privacy was supposed to mean and what it was good for.

The android was most fascinated by the man rubbing the dirt out of the couch. He didn’t know what he did that for but there was something about the gradual progress, the dark spot becoming lighter and cleaner with every rub over the fabric that captured his attention. If the man rubbed him with this stuff, would he become lighter and shiny too? Or was he made out of the wrong material and it only worked upholstery? There wasn’t much time to dwell on this more because Klaus had apparently come up with a solution for the lack of an actual name and asked him if he could call him Anton. “Since you appear to know how to say that name you obviously can call me that.” the blond machine noted not quite understanding why the other asked him if he was capable of calling him Anton when he most certainly was. Apparently though the human whom he was nearly touching that close did he stand by now was giving this name question a lot of thought. Saying how there was a similar name in the Russian language that he could name him while calling him Anton in public. To him it didn’t matter. Despite being a Russian product whether he was getting a Russian, a German or an English name or a number, it didn’t matter to him. Unlike a human soldier he didn’t feel connected to his nation; there was no pride, no patriotism. He was programmed to serve and he got his tasks from the Russian military and so he did serve. He didn’t kill or fight the enemy because he believed in the cause of the war or desired victory; he did because he was told to, because it was his mission, simple as that.

“Why is it important how you name me? And why would you consider that I was made in Russia?” he asked. If this peculiar little German man had done anything so far then it was being confusing and by being so stretched the artificial intelligence to its limits that appeared to the android who had just gotten named Artjom by the other as gaps in his systems that had to be closed or in more human terms, made him curious and wanting to understand.

When the man turned around to him he looked startled for a moment and immediately brought distance between their shells leaving the blond staring at him. Maybe it was because he was artificially created that the other behaved like this but it almost appeared to him that this bloke terrified of the mere idea of his skin touching his and was stoically avoiding to look at a human body. Or in Artjom’s case a human looking body! When he had gotten too close to the General and the man had turned around to him he had not flinched, not moved but gruntingly uttered:”You’re too close. Again.” Before taking him by the shoulders and shoving the android away instead of changing his own position to adjust to the robot.

At least Klaus agreed to the notion that if he had wanted to bomb the city it’d already have been bombed only to express what had confused him about the android’s question. “There is a difference between calculating a way from a map and really knowing a place with its oddities, atmosphere, patterns and details. Hence knowledge about the area might help me to get out of the city somehow.” He explained but it immediately led the system to notice that even if he got out of Berlin, how would he make it from there? Even if he crossed the border to Poland he’s still be on enemy territory. Only if he reached Belarus he’d be safe and could fly back to Moscow no problem. So his chances were miniscule. He couldn’t even steal an aeroplane to get home because that’d be shot down the moment it’d take off. He was caught in a trap, in the heart of enemy territory.

Good for the German that he calmed down after the android had explained to him why and where he had the knowledge he had about him from. Although he wasn’t as aggressive anymore he still disagreed with what the blond had done. And there was that word again. ’Private’, explaining to him how it was rude and invasive and creepy to download all the data he could get from a person he met. “I was told to always perform a background check on everyone I meet.” Artjom who didn’t understand where Klaus was coming from just stated. “And what if not state secrets are this ‘private’ thing you keep talking about? And what is creepy? Or how would you even know what is supposedly rude?” the robot wanted to know, at least he knew what an invasion was well enough.

Now he even got an answer to his question as to why the man had moved and with a nod the machine noted that the other had moved to Berlin for his higher education, saving the man’s answer, storing it in the file with all the other information about him. “What kind of degree do you have?” he tried to gather further information but it was in that moment that the door distracted both of them and the android with the shirt in hand focussed on sceptically, trying to make any sense out of what the man on the other side of the door was blabbering about. His host however was panicking again. Panicking seemed to be a pretty common thing for this man to do which was new because although Dr.Kalinin and General Smirnov had been polar opposites in many way, both of them had been calm headed men who weren’t easy to throw off track and he had never seen being dramatic or overreacting. This chap however was… more intense in his reactions to things.

It seemed like somehow the German fellow considered this to be an undercover mission now the way he behaved and he actually gave the military android an order. The order to comply and stick to whatever the other man said even if it was a lie. “Yes, Sir!” the machine responded, slamming his heels together, standing straight. What first seemed like another order then confused him though as it was worded as a question….. asking him if the order was okay to him …. Was this the man’s first time giving orders? Or didn’t he consider those orders? He wouldn’t figure that out because in the next moment a red headed tall guy with freckles all over his face was standing in the middle of the room, looking at them dumbfounded saying a lot of stuff that made absolutely no sense to Artjom whatsoever. He even seemed to make less sense than his host.

What happened then was beyond weird. Klaus’s reaction to the ginger was strong. It wasn’t even a simple negation; he was repeating the word ‘No’ like hunter prey at the sight of the predator’s fangs and claws, gesticulating with emphasised shakes of his head. And apparently the newcomer in the room found this approach rather off too as he stared at the other blankly. “O-kay.” The man said his green eyes looking at the other man as if he wanted to ask him whether his coffee had been too strong or why he reacted that weirdly and suspiciously to this.

Then the lie followed and Artjom caught onto it right away, determined to fulfil the order the other had given him previously. The situation the man had made up was that he was an old friend of his who was in the city and stayed at his place after not having seen each other in a long period of time. The blond searched through data on the internet and the first thing he found was a video of a famous girl on a video networking site titled ‘My childhood besty comes to visit’ and the android was gathering the information and the behaviour from that as it was according to the fake situation the other had created.

Thus he mimicked the facial expressions, the voice pattern and the way of talking when he stepped forward, nearly jumping Klaus from behind like one of those girls had done in the video, his arms were wrapping around the man’s hips, laying his head onto his shoulder. “Yes, we have been inseparable back then, almost like twins, we’d have slumber parties all the time and talk about everything and I, like totally missed my besty and I’m so excited to finally see him again, sooooo excited! This will be sooo great, soooo great! We already bought a bunch of candy and we’ll watch our favourite movie together and it’ll just be the two of us. We have a lot to catch up on in our lives, a lot happened and changed after all. This will be sooooo much fun!” the machine acted his speaking device having trouble to keep up with the fast pace of speaking he was trying to mimic from the video. The androids face was beaming, incredibly full of expression and he was smiling to widely that he showed all of his perfectly manufactured shiny white teeth, not letting the man out of his cuddling attack that he performed precisely the way he had seen in the video.

The freckled red head however was staring with wide eyes, his jaw had dropped to the floor and he mustered both Klaus and Artjom as though they’d be an alien species. There was definitely something incredibly wrong with this… guy…. the ‘Eagle-Man’ fan found as he saw this man acting in a way that was just wrong and unfitting. The android saw the man blinking his green eyes apparently searching to find his speech back. Then he heard a cough and a hand was reached out hesitantly as if the artificial man would have some contentious disease or at least as if his behaviour was infectious. “I’m Nikolas Bering. Nice meeting you.” He introduced himself and the android shook the other man’s hand in a way that surprised Niko who had not thought that this person would have such a decent handshake.

There was only a nod from his best friend when Klaus disappeared to change clothing and the ginger eyed the android sceptically as he proceeded further into the room and sat down on the sofa to wait, examining Artjom who was picking up the shirt he had flung somewhere. When the android was dressed he heard the red head speak. “So…. You grew up together or something?” he inquired and the robot nodded, still smiling that wide shiny smile he had seen in the video. “Yes. We met in the church choir back in primary school. He had the best voice and was such a sweetheart and we became really close.” The man used the story of those girls and Bering was rather surprised once more and taken aback by this guy calling Klaus a sweetheart. “I didn’t know Klaus was in a church choir. Or that he could sing.” He remarked. “Oh yes he can.” The android said, sitting next to Niko on the sofa, facing the other, laying his arm onto the backrest, smiling sweetly at the man. “Buddy,” Bering addressed him, “I’m not into,like, dudes, alright.” He said because the machine was sitting way too close. Who did this? Who didn’t leave at least one seat space between another man on the sofa? “I like chicks. Busty chicks! Like this one.” He said pointing at his phone. “I see. What’s the difference between liking dudes and chicks?” the android wanted to know quitting the mimicking of the voice pattern, the way of talking, his face looking like a mask again and at this point Bering didn’t understand anything anymore and was glad that his friend returned and he could get up from the sofa.

“We’ll be heading off now. It was … interesting. Maybe we’ll meet again.” Bering said secretly hoping that he’d not run into this guy ever again. When he had walked up next to Klaus he slammed his hand onto the smaller man’s shoulder and leaned over to whisper into his hear. “There is something incredibly wrong with this bloke! I don’t know how you feel about him or what your relations are but the dude is definitely a fairy. Whether you like it or not I think he’s after your arse!” Niko said and slapped Klaus’s arse jokingly.

May 28, 2019

"Because I didn't realize what you were at the time," Klaus mumbled in response. "If I'd known you were a military-grade android from an enemy nation I'd never have fixed you up. I wasn't thinking straight. I don't know what I was doing. I was being stupid." He'd leave it at that. Hopefully the android would be able to understand. Klaus hadn't intended for this to happen. It'd been a mistake. A huge mistake. He'd only fixed up the android because he thought it'd be fun to do so, and clearly after a long day of work he hadn't been in his right mind. That was the only logical answer the German man could provide for now...

However, when the android suggested that perhaps he should look around the apartment, in case Klaus was actually hiding any information of confidential status, the German's eyes lit up with horror. "No--no, no, not--it's not like you'd be able to find anything, anyway. I mean, I certainly don't have any information regarding the war--so don't even bother... What I meant was, like... Say, for instance, you went through my closet and found a bunch of dresses and womens' clothes. That information would tell you that I'm probably into drag, or like cross-dressing, which would be information that I'd be embarrassed to have someone else know about--but that doesn't mean I'm hiding any malicious or top-secret information, you know?" Of course, he wasn't a cross-dresser and had no interest in the hobby. And he couldn't think of anything in particular that he'd kept around his house that could, perhaps, give away his sexual orientation. But, still... There were other details around, other bits of information that could be gathered. Even if small and insignificant, the idea made Klaus uncomfortable. Sleeping pills for his insomnia, books that gave away his interests, even the way his apartment was simultaneously disorganized but clean to the touch, the contents in his kitchen would give away that he wasn't much of a cook... Klaus just didn't feel comfortable with the idea of anyone reading him like an open book, or knowing all about him before he'd given them the opportunity to learn. Artjom wasn't a close friend, he hadn't known him for more than an hour, and it felt unnatural and weird for someone to know so much when you'd only just met. Even if he probably couldn't learn anything harmful about Klaus--it wasn't like the German had much to hide--that didn't mean he wanted to be so... open. Perhaps he was just having a bout of paranoia for no good reason...

However, hopefully his answer would suffice and the android would leave his house be and not rummage through everything. And when the artificial intelligence took his question literally once again, the German sighed. How was this android meant to be a spy? He hardly understood anything about social contexts and how to hold a natural conversation... "I was asking for your permission to call you that, not asking if I were physically capable of saying the name... I wanted to make sure you'd be alright with being called by that name..." However, the other's confusion for Klaus's inclusion of a name with Russian origin caused the German man to cock his head to the side slightly. "Well, many people hold significance to their names. What their names mean, where the name originated from... how it sounds... Many people care about those things. I just... thought that perhaps you would feel the same way." A slight smirk graced his lips and his eyes were downcast on the floor, almost sadly as he revised his thoughts. "Then again, I suppose you're not a person, so such silly trifles probably don't matter to you at all."

"Okay, and, well, I guess," Klaus muttered after Artjom tried to defend his actions of looking through all of Klaus's information on the internet. Records, files, etc. "As an android that's probably fine and a normal thing to do, but for humans, it's weird, and it's creepy. And creepy is just another word for something that's unsettling or kind of scary. It makes someone feel uncomfortable if they're creeped out. And I know what's rude because unlike you, apparently, I have enough social skills to know what sorts of things are offensive, or out of the ordinary. Someone you just met knowing everything about you is creepy, and someone going into all of your private and personal information without your permission is rude--it's not normal among people, and it's not polite to do that. And there's more ways for something to be private than just being top-secret information relating to the government. If it's not something I'm super open about and tell everyone, then it's private. Say, hypothetically, that I had a had a sister who died in a car accident three years ago--it's not confidential information to the government, but maybe it's not something I want to talk about because it was traumatic for me, and so because I don't talk about it a lot and share that information with everyone, it's private information." Of course, he didn't have a sister. He'd been an only child. But it was just an example. "And then, say, hypothetically, for you--a stranger to me--to just start bringing up my dead sister, talking about her and how you know all about it... That's scary to me because I never told you about it--so how would you know unless you'd been stalking me or something? And it's rude to bring it up because it's sensitive information that is very private to my life. So when I say I don't want you snooping around my house, or looking up information about me because you might discover private information, I'm just talking about personal things that I might not want you, a stranger, to know about. Not because I'm a military official, but because I'm a human and humans like to have privacy about certain things."

However, before the German could give an answer to Artjom's final question, the door handle had been jiggling and Niko had entered the residency. And then things only down spiraled afterward. When Klaus had ordered Artjom to just go along with whatever story he came up with, he certainly hadn't expected the other to play along to the extent that he did. It probably would have been better if Artjom just stayed quiet... Klaus didn't know what he'd been expecting. The android obviously didn't know how to behave in social situations--he had absolutely no social skills so it shouldn't have been a surprise that he acted so uncannily. However, the sensation of someone wrapping their arms around Klaus's hips had been completely unanticipated, and the German let out a small gasp of surprise when he felt the android embrace him so familiarly. Of course, it wasn't wrong for him to act so warm and friendly--touching so casually did make it seem like they were closer than they actually were, but the other male's rambles took away from any credibility they would have had. Then again, even if casual touch was more common among friends, to have his arms around Klaus's waist like this was a bit more...

Would somebody just kill me already, Klaus groaned internally. Everything was going horribly, horribly wrong. He didn't know what to say. There was probably no way to recover after all Artjom was doing and saying. It really did seem like he was gay. A homosexual in a romantic relationship with a lovesick, crazy, childish lunatic. If he survived the end of the day, he was going to have to teach Artjom proper behavior before he'd ever let the android interact with another human being ever again. And with Niko's wild imagination...

Klaus wriggled his way out of Artjom's grip when the android extended one hand to shake the hand of his best friend. He's making me out to be a five-year-old little girl in the past! Where the hell is he even coming up with these bizzare stories?! He huffed, running his fingers through his hair, stressed. He quickly left the room to retreat into his bedroom, though the stress only continued to pile higher and higher.

He'd never changed into new clothes quicker in his entire life, impressive considering his exhaustion. Every second, he knew, that he left those two alone together was another second for Artjom to spew even more crazy stories, and for Nikolas's overactive imagination to take them to run wild with them.

When he came out back into the living room, much to his horror, Artjom was sitting next to Nikolas on the couch--a bit too close and leering a bit too much. Nikolas seemed uncomfortable--and Klaus could hardly blame him--and quickly got up from the couch to make his way over to Klaus's side. Whispering frantically his speculations, Klaus quietly hissed in turn, "He's not a fairy--cut it out." However, when his friend jokingly smacked his ass and made accusations about Artjom being after Klaus, the German quickly shook his head, flustered over the mere thought. "Knock it off, man," he mumbled, moving over to the front door. He turned and glanced at the android and said, "Antom, just stay here and don't go anywhere. Don't touch anything you're not supposed to, and don't break anything. If you get hungry you're welcome to the fridge--" could an android even eat? Could he even get hungry? Klaus doubted it. But at least it made Artjom seem more... human by saying so-- "but otherwise just... don't break anything, okay? C'mon Niko, let's go..." He sighed and left the apartment and closed the door once his friend joined his side outside.

"Look, don't talk with him right in front of you like that," he mumbled after he locked the door and headed down the stairs. "I know he seems like an idiot, but he's got exceptional hearing..." At least, Klaus figured he would. It would make sense that he'd be able to pick up on what they were saying, even if only hushed whispers. After all, they'd only been a few feet away and--frankly, the android should be able to hear what normal humans couldn't... "And he's just... um... special. You know. Special needs. He's always been like that, really. He wasn't ever able to develop social skills like you and I, and his behavior is erratic--sometimes childish, sometimes serious... It's good he and I came across each-other, anyone else would probably have put him in a psyche ward..." Or turned him in to the authorities. Which would only cause more trouble... "Maybe it was fate, eh? Ugh. Anyway..." He shook his head before giving Nikolas a desperate glance, his eyes almost seeming to plead. "Please don't bring this up with anyone else, okay?" He forced a laugh and gave a half-grin. "I mean, you know how hard it'll be to get a date if people know I'm taking care of a man-child?" A joke, but hopefully it would sound valid enough for Nikolas to stay quiet about the matter...

...Now Klaus just had to get through another day of work and hope that his apartment hadn't been destroyed by the time he got back home. He had enough faith that the android wouldn't ruin anything. He hadn't so far, and he seemed to be programmed in a way where he was capable of careful and meticulous movement. Still, Klaus felt unnerved leaving the guy there alone... Anything could go wrong. Everything could go wrong... He just had to hope and pray to whatever gods there were that things wouldn't go from bad to worse... somehow...

June 4, 2019

To Nikolas Bering it was more than certain that Klaus was just closing his eyes from the obvious. Deliberately denying the fact that this man was into him! And he couldn’t really blame him. It wasn’t an appealing thought was it? To think that one’s very male friend was very much after one’s arse? The red head obviously wouldn’t like that either. But he also wasn’t the type to lie to himself to not have to admit the obvious. The fawn haired man probably was aware of his childhood friend being sexually anormal and this was why he had never mentioned him to Niko or anyone else. It was the only reason he could think about because they normally chattered about mostly everything. Or at least Bering thought so.

What the ginger then witnessed was obscure once more. His friend spoke to the blond obviously queer man as if he was a little child. “Are you his mummy?” he asked whisperingly when he was dragged along and out of the apartment. As soon as the door had fallen shut behind the two men he then was reprimanded for having whispered those remarks. Niko raised an eyebrow his green eyes peering at Klaus who commented about the guy seeming like an idiot but having exceptional hearing. “Huh.” Bering made, musing. “He didn’t seem like an idiot to me. He seemed...girly to me... and very much like a fairy.” The IT guy scratched his chin. His friend and colleague however apparently knew it better and explained to him how the guy was special needs. “Are you telling me he’s a retard?” he wanted to make certain he had understood that correctly. To him the guy hadn’t seemed retarded, mentally retarded people were different than this man from his experience but on the other hand this was Klaus’s childhood friend and he ought to know better than him from the short interaction they’ve had.

Upon being ask to not mention the man to anyone else followed by a joke about how it’d be hard to get a date if people knew he was taking care of a man-child Niko left out a snorting laugh. He didn’t play nanny to a retarded man and he still had issues getting a serious date and when he got one they turned out to be lunatic bitches as he called them and he actually thought taking care of a mentally challenged bloke might actually do the opposite to what Klaus feared. “If you think so, how about you lend him to me man? I can show the chicks how selfless and empathetic and sensitive I am. This will boost my chances. Chicks are into sentimental shit like that and their panties will drop like leaves in autumn.” he jested but when he thought about it like that, maybe he should try, he had already had stupider and much bolder ideas. They were leaving the apartment building and were heading to their working place that wasn’t far from Klaus’s place. Close enough for them to walk there and while they were on their way Niko brought back up the Gaming championship and having been chosen for the German Gaming national team and how excited he was to go there, nearly having forgotten about the man introduced as Anton to him again already.

As they arrived at the computer and electronics store they worked in Jannik Siebert, their superior was already there and had opened the shop and as always he was the only one that early in the morning. Sometimes Bering asked himself why they even had to open that crazy early in the morning, when costumers visiting the shop during the first two hours was incredibly rare to start with. It smelled like coffee in the store and Jannik, who was about their age, had short brown hair and a neat full beard, was 1,83m tall and muscular, and was looking more as though he’d be a fitness coach at a gym than some technology nerd was leaning over the counter, a mug of coffee in hand looking at the TV that was constantly running in the store where the nationalised television news channel controlled by the nationalist government was running. Jannik was yawning tiredly giving off the vibe of a lion dozing around looking over his kingdom in the savannah with his perfect, strong, square jaw and the warm, amber eyes.

When the man noticed the two of them entering the store he turned away from the TV, placed the mug onto the counter and one side of his mouth shot up a fair bit. “Jannik!” Bering bawled and they smacked their hands into each other and pulled each other closer, their shoulders touching, clapping onto the each other’s backs with the other hand as they always did. The two of them got along perfectly. Jannik also got along fine with Klaus but the faun haired man was a little suspect, peculiar to him and he oftentimes got the feeling as though he wanted to keep him and everyone else at a distance. He also didn’t tell them much about himself what Bering, who was the man’s best friend apparently didn’t catch up on but the brunette certainly did.

The superior shook Klaus’s hand, looking at him, he seemed exhausted and on guard, even more so than usually and he just wanted to ask him what the matter was when Nikolas was already talking. What Klaus talked too less, Niko talked too much. “Yo, guess who’s going to the Game Championship and Convention as a member of the national team?” he asked pressing his thumb against his chest to point at himself, grinning widely and proudly. “That’s awesome man!” Jannik found giving the other an appreciative punch against the shoulder. “I’ll be going too. Not as a member of any team but as a visitor with my kids. We’ll cheer you on buddy.” He assured the other, making Niko grin even wider and he commented further on how awesome it’d be and maybe he’d even meet the actors from eagle man and if he was lucky the pretty actress who played eagl man’s love interest would take a picture with him when the national television station caught their attention and Jannik jumped over to turn up the volume.

A picture was shown next to the woman with the blond braids who was wearing a folkloric dress and was always reading their news. A field was to see. Dead, fried sheep. Other sheep running around aimlessly. And something that looked like a transportation drone. A dead human body was hanging over it like a limp, roasted puppet someone had negligently thrown there. “Gussow, Brandenburg: After the crash of a Russian transportation drone has come to the public’s attention due to farmer Paul Schimanski posting the pictures of the wreck online with the headlines:’The Russian’s are invading again!’ before the authorities arrived at his field, concerned and panicked citizens from all over the nation have consulted the police and the government. The military assured that the Russians are not invading and that the drone was on its way to its destination in London, UK, when they shot it down. Stay tuned for more details.”

The picture changed and they could see a visibly upset and worried ancient farmer who was probably already eighty years old, a microphone was held into the man’s face who was shoving the marine blue flat cap around on his fairly bald head, his translucent old eyes jumping around behind the thick glasses. “I was in the stable feeding the pigs, as I always do at 5am, when I suddenly heard that ungodly noise. I thought now we’re at that point, we’re bombed and the military failed to prevent the attack from happening. I was worried about my family who other than my sons were sleeping inside the house. So I went outside and then I saw this on the field. A Russian transportation drone that had killed my sheep and ruined my field! The sheep that survived are traumatised. They haven’t calmed down since. They are confused. Doing strange things and I can’t calm the sheep down.” The farmer started to blabber and the reporter needed to guide the old man back to what was actually relevant to be shown on television and Paul Schimanski looked at him a little confused when he was asked about the other man he had claimed to have seen. Then he remembered. “Yes, yes, there was a second person transported in the drone. He was average height, blond and some of his limbs were hanging loose, it was weird. I didn’t even think this was possible. But he was there. He was even plodding through the dead sheep and their intestines. It’s unsavoury, no respect for the dead.” The old man told the reporter what he had seen with his eyes that weren’t the best anymore and had only been able to see the shape and outlines of the escaping man but not the details. Had he been able to he would have seen that it had not been a human who had fled from his field.

The scene switched again and a bemedalled military man was standing in front of the camera, his blue eyes looking straight into the camera, his expression was blank and stoic as his name and rank was displayed on screen. “The German citizens have nothing to fear. Everything is under control. The Russian’s are not invading. The transportation drone was on its way to London. We shot it down before it could get close to its destination. It transported people. No bombs have been found in the drone. It’s likely that the people on board were supposed to spy on and infiltrate the English. We have informed and are cooperating with our allies.” But the reporter seemed to have another question but of course the question had been approved off by the military and the government first. It wasn’t allowed for a journalist to ask whatever question they wanted or to investigate freely. “Hasn’t one of the pilots escaped and is alive though? Running free in our country?” he asked. “There have been two pilots one’s death is confirmed, the other we have not found yet. It is likely that he died trying to flee. Be assured that we are searching for the man in the whole Brandenburg/Berlin area and beyond and he’ll soon be detected and neutralised.”

After that the scene switched to an interview with the British prime minister but Jannik and Nikolas weren’t listening at that point. Siebert had pulled out his phone hastily and typing as if someone was threatening him with a gun to type faster. “What are you doing?” Niko wanted to know. “Telling my wife to not send the kids to school and stay at home. To not leave the house. Not until they have found that crazy Russian who’s running free. Imagine they’d run into that monster’s hands. He might violate my wife and kill my kids.” The man was concerned but Bering didn’t seem convinced and he looked at the other questioningly. “The chances that they’d run into him would be incredibly low. And if so, do you really think he’d to that? Draw attention towards himself? Kill kids? I don’t know man, doesn’t sound likely to me.” Niko found and Jannik crossed his arms in front of his chest. “He’s Russian. Do you know just how violent and brutal they are? Who assures me that he won’t do that? Do you know the crud way those people think in?” the man who was worried for his family’s safety expressed and Niko sighed and shrugged. “Well, I think it’s only a matter of hours and they’ll have him. I mean, how difficult can it be?” he said when the interview with the British prime minister ended and a countdown to 8am was starting.

Then a voice said:” It’s 8am. Please rise up for the national anthem!”

The nationalist government that had followed the ‘New Right’ movement that had taken over had changed back the nation’s national anthem to its full length. They had stated that the censorship of the national anthem had been unjustified to begin with. That the anthem was much older than the Nazis and the Third Reich and that there was nothing bad about this wonderfully patriotic work and that it was pretty much like any other nation’s national anthem too, prideful and that the German people should no longer been denied pride anymore, that they’d give it back to them. And hence, the anthem started with “Deutschland, Deutschland ?ber alles!” again. Jannik actually placed himself right in front of the TV, as if he was thinking that the thing had eyes and was watching him and was demonstratively singing the anthem, not well, not with a decent singing voice but loud and clear so that everyone could here he was doing what the TV – and if one was precise also every computer and phone in the country - had told him to do while Nikolas Bering was stepping behind the counter toward the coffeepot pouring himself and Klaus a coffee, completely unaffected by the TV saying he shall now sing the anthem.

Nikolas generally didn’t really care about their national conservative’s government’s rules and regulations and what they told him to do and not to do. He was ignoring most of the rituals if he could, wasn’t really participating in the blossoming of social conservatism that had shown its first new shoots even before he had been born. Hence when Jannik was through with the anthem Bering, who had just handed the second coffee mug to Klaus was looking at him. “You actually sing the anthem every time? Don’t they want that seven times a day or something?” Bering asked and Siebert showed him three fingers. “Three. In the morning, at midday and before dinner in the evening.” He explained. “And you do that?” he asked again. “You never know what the government has infiltrated. Where they have installed cameras and how they spy on their people’s everyday life, check if you do as they demand. I have a wife and three kids Niko, I can’t risk anything.” He whispered as he always did when he was saying something unflattering about the government. “And if I gotta sing, I sing. It’s not a big deal.” The brunette found. Niko snorted. “Not a big deal.” He repeated making it clear that he saw it differently. And then he remembered something else. “Fuck, I already hated that singing back in school. I can’t sing. It sounds like a plastic box getting into a lawnmower. So I cheated and only moved my lips. But the teacher realised and she was slapping that stick onto my hands telling me to sing properly, so I did, and my classmates were mad at me for ruining their singing and the teacher was never satisfied either.” He told the superior who chuckled at that.

“Klaus here obviously wouldn’t have had that issue as I have learned today; he apparently sung in a church choir and has an angelic voice. He just never told me.” Nikolas spoke without thinking much of it. Jannik seemed surprised and his amber eyes studied Klaus curiously. He didn’t seem like the type to be religious, or like the type to sing in a choir and to be a great singing talent. Or the type to stand in front of a crowd and talk, much less sing actually. “Really? You need to sing for me and my wife at our 5th anniversary then. We’re celebrating.” He decided and then asked:” How did you figure that out about him?” he wanted to know from Niko, rather amused and now Bering realised that he had talked too much...again and he shot Klaus an apologetic smile that said “Upps!”

Artjom’s artificial eyes were staring at the door that was falling shut behind Klaus and the man who had introduced himself as Nikolas Bering. Somehow he had caught onto the fact that he seemingly hadn’t done a good job. The way he had followed the order had apparently not been satisfactory. But he had analysed everything from that video that had been about the same situation and had acted exactly how those girls in the video. There must have been an error in the equation that he apparently missed but he couldn’t tell what it was. This guy, Nikolas, had called him a fairy. The android had no idea what a fairy was and hence looked out for the information online and found that a fairy was a mythical being from European, especially Celtic, Germanic and Slavic folklore that was said to have magical and supernatural powers and after he was done uploading the information into his system he could definitely say that he was not a fairy. Even the pictures he found of a fairy definitely didn’t resemble him.

Apparently that Nikolas fellow wasn’t the brightest candle on the cake was he?

The android had given up thinking about what he had done wrong. He had tried. He had tried to figure out as to how to play along with the other man’s lie and to obey the order decently by looking up such a situation and mimicking it. This, all of this, the interaction with Klaus, being in the man’s home, he was not prepared for. For his task in England, how to appear like a normal guy working in that position, how to do the talk including small-talk, they had installed a lot of information and programs onto him and he had been well equipped for it. Not only that, his co-pilot would have been somewhere in the city and could have given him further information or install further programs and now he was here and had to figure out how to handle, not a job, not professional life but something that needed skills he didn’t have, he wasn’t made for.

Hence he distracted himself with the fairies. Learning more about them. Gathering every piece of information about them. Trying to gasp it. Letting thousands, upon thousands of fairy pictures run through his system, trying to understand what seemed completely illogical and impossible to him, or rather how something, that obviously couldn’t exist was still a thing, on people’s mind and had been a thing on people’s minds for eons. But the more he looked at the fairies the more he wanted to keep looking at them. They were nicely drawn. A way that he learned was called beautiful or handsome - he had not understood the difference. What did it mean to be beautiful or handsome though? To find something or someone beautiful or handsome? To be able to look at something or someone for a long time without getting tired of it or them? Was he beautiful or handsome? Would someone like to look at him too? Those fairy pictures obviously weren’t natural either and they still were appealing to the eye. Then he could also appeal to the eye or couldn’t he?

Artjom’s system was confusing itself with concepts it couldn’t understand nor solve. It was driving itself to the edge of its capacity and he was stuck again, not getting any further, deciding to let it be. He stopped looking at fantasy pictures and instead he connected himself with the electronic devices Klaus owned. The android could now communicate and interact with the man’s computer and had access to all its date but he too could interact with his fridge, the lights and the washing machine too. Artjom was turning on the stereo and then off again just to check, not moving a finger, before he turned on the TV, searching for a program that might give him information he could use.

At first it seemed as though there was nothing to his interest going on. The German foreign minister who had been urged by partnered nations to participate in a humanitarian action or provide international aid was refusing vigorously. Stating that Germany would only invest where it had an interest in, that it was Germany first, that they refused to pay for third world shitholes that’d just waste their money and won’t get anywhere anyway! He too refused to let another single third world immigrant cross their borders and turn their nation into one of the shitholes they came out of. He then announced that the nation was proud to have corrected its historic mistake from many decades ago completely at that point and that all illegal Muslims and their offspring had been taken back to where they had come from as they had had no business in their nations to begin with and that they only welcomed immigrants who were a mutual benefit to them. That the German people had taken their country back! And that they weren’t giving it away ever again. The next statement was from Germany’s National Conservative Business Secretary who, from a position of renewed power stated that he didn’t give a rats ass about what the US thought about their trading partners and that they’d trade with whomever they wanted and the US could either trade with them too or leave it, that they weren’t US American marionette’s anymore. All of this was most certainly something that General Smirnov would have celebrated Artjom concluded. The General would have laughed and deemed it hilarious. But then he saw the report about the drone and himself and he was on alert, no time for anecdotes of the General.

This was not good. Now he knew for sure that they were searching for him, searching for him in a huge radius. The android rose from his seat and went over to the window to watch whether there was something suspicious to see but there was nothing. Hence he ordered the electronic window shades of the complete apartment to close. It was dark. Pitch black and Artjom’s pupils were glowing in the dark, seeing everything despite the lack of light. In the darkness he was sitting and he had to come up with something. If he didn’t do anything he was stuck in this apartment and would never get out again as they searched for him. And after a while of thinking he found a solution. Not a solution to get back to Russia but a solution to walk the streets of Germany without an issue if he was to get stopped and controlled. The machine hacked itself into the database of the Berlin index of persons again and he was now not getting anyone’s data but he was making himself a citizen of the city, born and raised in Berlin. He was giving himself a finger print that he had to give the office and he was faking the normal interaction with the office throughout lifetime as well. It looked like a legitimate record of a Berlin citizen in his thirties. Content with his work he disconnected from the site and made plans to go to the office the other day and tell them he had lost his ID and he needed a new one. This way, if the military and the police would check on him, Anton Kramer, what was how he had called himself, wouldn’t be the least bit suspicious or seem Russian in any way.

With that done there wasn’t much anything to do for him and after a while he stood from the sofa and went on to check out the apartment’s rooms in the dark that didn’t make a difference for the machine. The kitchen was boring. There wasn’t much in it. The fridge was huge but there wasn’t more in it than the cooled drinks and lunch packets of Dr. Kalinin in the tiny fridge in the laboratory so he checked the bathroom, looked what kind of bottles there were and smelled the shower gel and shampoo. It was just like with the touch, he had smelling sensors to detect danger but still smelling some things was just... nice. He liked to smell them more. When he had smelled enough stuff that his nose couldn’t even tell the smells apart anymore he went over into the bedroom and there he remembered what the other had told him about privacy. And frankly he had not understood about anything of it. Why would he care whether the man wore women’s clothing if he figured that out? What was that supposed to tell him other than that he did? And why, if the other did something like that, would it be embarrassing that someone knew? He had totally failed to see the point of this privacy thing but he still didn’t peek into his closet which was mostly due to the fact that the bed was much more interesting.

It was a bed for two people. But there were no two people living in the apartment. Had there been two people living here before? Was one dead? All of that didn’t seem to matter when he touched the fabric of it and sat down. It was really comfortable. He liked it. It was feeling nice. Hence the android who had never lain in a bed was throwing himself onto it and rolling around there, enjoying its comfort and softness. That he did for quite a while until he had enough of it and went back to the living room and onto the sofa again where he decided to go into sleep and security mode because he had no idea what else he could do.

The robot stayed in sleep mode until the door opening triggered the alarm in his head and he immediately was booted up. The android jumped up from the seat, his eyes were still glowing in the pitch black darkness and both of his arms had transformed into weapons again, the left one into a rocket launcher and the right arm into a machine gun, pointing directly at who had entered the apartment. Just when he had scanned the person and realised it was Klaus he lowered the weapons and turned them back into arms again, turning on the light without moving from where he stood. “It’s you.” He observed and while he looked at the man some questions he had asked himself popped up on his system again.

“Do you find me beautiful or handsome?” he asked the man.

And then.

“Is the person who owned the other side of the bed dead?”

June 15, 2019

Klaus ignored the "mummy" comment from Nikolas. "No, it's not that he's an idiot," the German man retorted, before feeling the need to add, "per se..." He'd shake his head. "And it's not that he's retarted, either--you do know there's more mental deficiencies than just retardation and down syndrome, right? He just... doesn't get social cues and doesn't really understand the natural flow of conversation all that well, and he doesn't really grasp a lot of social rules, either... And I suppose he can be a bit childish at times..." Klaus didn't really see Artjom as being childish. Not when the man was built the way he was. Perhaps ignorant when it came to many... human things. But he wasn't childish. And he wasn't an idiot, either. Klaus could recognize that. It was just that he had been... built and programmed for something else. He couldn't help it. But, of course, he wasn't about to explain that to Nikolas. Not after the display that the android had produced... It was much easier to play it off as if something were wrong with him, instead of explaining how well-manufactured he'd been.

When Nikolas suggested using Artjom as a way to get sympathy points from women, the fawn-haired man merely let out a laugh. "Nah man, I think you've got enough charm in you to woo any girl you need," he joked. He knew Nikolas was in a bit of a slump as of late. Going so far as to almost swear off real, human women at this point. But he didn't think that using Artjom in that way would be beneficial to his friend. "I'm not going to just let you use him as an empathy magnet," he said with a slight grin afteward. Subtly, he was trying to deter the idea of Nikolas having any further contact with the android. Or, at least, not so soon. Minimal interaction was preferable, especially at this point...

The rest of the walk getting from Klaus's apartment to the workplace was enjoyable enough. Although his muscles felt stiff and sore, the cool morning breeze helped release some of the tension building. It didn't change things. It certainly didn't solve things. And, when he got there, the blatant reality of the situation only made itself more and more strikingly clear.

The day had gone by fairly normally. In his tired state, Klaus didn't pay much mind to the casual talk of the other two at first. It wasn't that he wasn't happy for Nikolas's accomplishment, he was just too tired to show any expression of it, and too out of it to want to think about it. He had other, more serious matters on his mind at the moment. That was, until certain mention of a fallen enemy aircraft made it onto the news.

The fawn-haired man's attention was drawn to the screen, eyes a bit wide as he watched over the report.

There was no mistaking it. That was Artjom's ship. For a moment, his heart began to race, but the man forced himself to calm down. This would be shocking news for anyone. He had to play it off as if he weren't involved. It was do or die. He'd have to be convincing. Not too unrealistically distressed, but not calmed about the matter, either.

Jannik was, reasonably, disturbed by the situation. It was frightening news for anyone to hear--even if only one escapee didn't sound too threatening in of itself, the mere thought of Russians invading and sending out spies, of itself, was scary enough. "Hey man, calm down," Klaus spoke up, looking at Jannik and trying to calm the other male down. "The guy who escaped was clearly maimed--did you see that shot of him? Looked like he was missing an arm, or something. He probably already bled out, and even if not, there's no way he'd go by unnoticed with a limb dangling from him like that. I'm sure your wife's not in any danger, and neither are your kids." After all, it was just one person. They didn't have any reason to specifically target out Jannik's family, and the chances of it happening from bad luck were... practically none. Not by the random drone escapee, anyway.

Before he could try anything else to calm the other man, however, the national anthem sounded and Klaus stood to attention. It wasn't his favorite part of the day, and in the back of his mind he always thought it was an odd part of German culture. He felt national pride and patriotism could be expressed in better, more genuine ways, but essentially he'd never found an issue with the custom.

Then, the day seemed to carry on back to normal. Almost as if the news had never even shown up on the television. Nikolas brought up his new discovery about the fawn-haired man, and Klaus offered a slight, awkward grin at the exchange. "Oh, congrats on your anniversairy," Klaus mentioned after Jannik casually brought it up. "But I'll have to politely decline. That was years ago, and I'm not very good at all anymore. A machine that's never given proper maitinence and check-ups will wear out eventually, right?" He wanted the day to be over with already. It wasn't that he particularly minded Jannik's company, and being around Nikolas was usually enjoyable. But not right now. The situation with his new living arrangement, the news, and everything else was too stressful and causing Klaus's skin to crawl. He didn't want to talk about his childhood. He didn't want to talk about his involvement with choir, or church, or anything of that nature.

It was in the past, and that's where he'd liked to have left it.

It was a different stage of his life. He was young, then, and a different person than he was now. He didn't want to associate with his past involvements at all.

Klaus would move the attention away from the matter at hand when a customer came in--even despite the early hour. But the fawn-haired German didn't mind the distraction at all and immediately took action.

___

The day hadn't gone by quickly enough, but yet it'd been a daze, still. A tired, long, daze. When Klaus made it home, he closed and locked the door behind him and the only thing he wanted to do was crash--anywhere. Bed, couch, floor, it barely mattered to him at this point.

But, instead, he was immediately met by Artjom's barrage of questions.

Well, two questions. But it seemed sudden, and almost overwhelming. The German stood there, for a moment, looking over the features of the other man as he tried to process what information was being demanded of him. "Well... of course I find you handsome. I mean, you're clearly attractive and I'm straight, not blind," he said, simply. The man shrugged and brushed past the android, wandering to his bedroom and sluggishly began to unbutton his shirt. "And both sides of the bed belong to me. It's my bed. I don't co-own it with anyone. I live alone, and not because anyone dear to me died. Just... it never worked out. That's all." He yawned and changed into more comfortable clothes--a plain t-shirt and some pyjama pants. He was too tired to even care if the other male was watching at this point, and once he was dressed in his sleep clothes the German flopped side-ways onto his bed with full intention to fall asleep.

June 16, 2019

Klaus would wake up to his alarm--which wasn't particularly loud to begin with, but despite how exhausted he'd been, the German was a fairly light sleeper. He turned it off and got up, stretching and heading out of his bedroom. Right. Artjom. The android. He was being hunted... Everything seemed to flood back to him after having gotten a proper night's rest.

He ran his fingers through his hair as he made his way over to the kitchen. He'd want to get some coffee to get the right amount of energy to fully commit to a conversation, but he was willing to give it a start now that he was officially awake. "Hey... Artjom. You and I have a little problem," he said, pouring the water into the coffee machine. He sighed and leaned against the counter as he waited, hands at either of his sides. "On the news. I don't know if you're already aware, but, obviously... all of Germany knows about you. Not you specifically, but they have blurred images of a man escaping from the fallen aircraft--I'm assuming it was yours. I think there's enough evidence to suggest that it wasn't you, since in the imagery you had nearly lost an arm and now you seem perfectly fine--which would eliminate you of suspicion if you were a normal person, but... I'm still scared. There's still some things about you--and me, but especially the both of us coincidentally--that can seem suspicious, so... While all of this hype is going around, and such... I think it'd be safest if you and I... just laid low. Didn't do anything weird to draw attention to ourselves, you know?"

June 18, 2019

His questions were only acknowledged with a brief answer that brought more questions up to the machine than it actually solved while the German male was scuffing into the bedroom like a zombie. Artjom didn’t even get the opportunity to ask further because as soon as the man had undressed he went down like ninepins and as soon as he had hit the mattress he was already falling asleep. The blond robot stood there and stared at the human man who was laying there across the bed with his eyes closed.

Great. What had he meant by ‘being straight not blind’? Although he at least knew that he was appealing to the other man’s eyes. And what had he meant by ‘It had never worked out’? What had never worked out? The android who had been in sleep mode since hours was walking around the bed, climbing onto it, sitting down next to the fawn haired sleeping male in tailor’s fashion, searching the internet for an answer to what being ‘straight’ meant. And apparently straight was a term for a man who was sleeping with a woman and for a woman who was sleeping with a man. But why on Earth was sleeping next to the other gender considered being straight? Why did it even matter who one slept next to? Was that important? And what did that have to do with Artjom being handsome or beautiful. He didn’t get it and decided that he had to ask the other about it again when he wasn’t asleep anymore.

This led to the android turning his head to the side, his eyes zooming onto the sleeping man. Humans were weird. They made weird sounds when they were asleep. And Artjom could see the man’s chest rising and sinking. His face, his face looked a little different too. The android laid his head to the side and reached out his arm, cautiously laying his hand onto the man’s flat chest and he couldn’t only feel his lungs filling themselves with air but his heart beat too. Taking his hand back he placed it onto his own chest. Nothing! Artjom didn’t make sounds when he was in sleeping mode nor did anything move either. Looking at the other’s face again for a while he couldn’t resist any longer and he poked the man’s cheek with his finger, feeling the skin. He felt stubble since the other hadn’t shaved in the morning, warmth, softness and he realised that it wasn’t feeling so much different than his own. What meant that Artjom couldn’t feel that weird or bad to the man! So why was he so scared of body contact with him? Was it the mere idea of him being an artificial man?

After a while of just observing the other man sleeping and realising that he too was appealing to look at, that he was handsome and beautiful, he stood up from the bed and aimlessly ran through the apartment until he realised the fruits basket, found some vegetables in the fridge and soon sat on the kitchen table building a house, like a card house, just with vegetables and fruits. When he heard the sounds of Klaus’s steps on the floor the other man soon entered the kitchen and at first didn’t even seem to take notice of Artjom who had by now long finished the fruit house and taken all the other food stuff out of their packages building different kind of constructions, an entire city it seemed, on the kitchen table, staying focussed on that even when the other man, who had walked straight towards the coffee machine, addressed him.

The android listened to what the other man had to say. Apparently he had seen the news, just like the android and of course, what seemed like a typical reaction for this man, he was scared now. Scared. Fear. Angst. This Klaus guy was anxious, easily scared. “Fear is the greatest enemy of men. It is a battle every man has to fight, to overcome all his fears. To face them and laugh at them. Until there is no fear left, for then he has become the man he is supposed to be.” Artjom quoted General Smirnov again, imitating the military man once more as he was cutting a plastic box into half with a laser that was shooting out of his index finger. That the General had said to him, looking him into his artificial blue eyes, before he had grabbed him by the shoulders and had said:”You don’t have to. You know no fear to begin with. You are the perfect man. The perfect soldier.” But that part was irrelevant to Klaus because this man was obviously very much afraid of …. a lot of things! General Smirnov would not be a fan of this man. Was the General a better man than this one? Artjom didn’t really know.

“That is, what the General said.” The android informed him. “But it doesn’t matter. You got nothing to be scared about to begin with. I have everything under control.” The blond assured the man still busy with his construction. “I hacked myself into Berlin’s index of persons. I made myself a citizen. Anton Kramer. Born and raised in Berlin. Ordinary. I even got myself new fingerprints. Different from those on the drone. I can change their pattern.” He informed him. “I will get an ID tomorrow. Then I’ll just have to get a job and live an ordinary life and no one will suspect me or you until I finally find a way to get back to Moscow.” He informed the fawn haired man.

Then, for the first time since Klaus had entered the room, Artjom stopped focussing on what he was building but turned around and looked into those grey eyes of the man. “There are urgent matters to discuss though.” he said pointing at him. “Why is a man sleeping next to a woman considered straight and in which way is it important to the question whether I am handsome or beautiful to you or not? Why did you mention it?” he wanted to know. “Does it even matter whom you sleep next to? Why would you only want to sleep next to someone who has a different gender?” the robot wanted to understand. “I sat next to you on the bed while you were sleeping. Does that mean you’re not straight anymore now and neither am I?” he found the concept really weird and confusing.

“And what do you mean by ‘it never worked out for you’ in regards to you owning both sides of the bed? What didn’t work out for you?” he asked further and he hoped he’d get answers that were less vague. That the man would actually answer his questions sufficiently. “And why do you avoid to get into contact with my housing? It seems like you’re almost scared of that too.” The android wanted to know. And then, after he had gotten those questions away he remembered something else. “Have you bought me clothing as you wanted to? I’ll need clothing.” He reminded Klaus.

June 26, 2019

Klaus watched the other man as he recited a quote from his general. It wasn't necessarily a bad saying, it had a good message. Invoking courage and bravery. But Klaus... had always been a bit sheepish by nature. He wouldn't have considered himself paranoid by any means (though with all the recent activity of enemy androids he could probably seem that way), but he'd learned from a young age that some things were... better kept to one's self. That the disappointment and disapproval of others was almost worse than burying his true feelings, and, not to mention, unlike the military-grade android who was standing in his kitchen... Klaus had a very real fear for his life. He valued it, and he wasn't built for war. Violence scared him. He certainly never wanted to be on the receiving end of it, since he knew he wasn't exactly the strongest male alive... so he didn't think his fears weren't justified.

However, what the android said next would cause Klaus some bit of relief. He felt his shoulders relaxing and nodded a little. "Good... that's... good," he said in a soft tone. Although there was still that lingering thought of--what if? What if things still went wrong? What if he was still discovered, even despite his best efforts? Artjom's course of action had mostly ceased Klaus's panic, and the main problem at hand had seemed to wash away within just moments. "Though, I'm not sure how well you'd do in the workforce. Your people skills are... shaky at best."

What if he had to work in customer service and had to deal with an angry--heaven forbid, even threatening--customer? Artjom would probably either respond in a way that would piss the client off more, or possibly even put some bullets in their head to eliminate any potential threats. Perhaps it was an extreme thought, but Klaus wouldn't put it past him. And, not to mention... the android would definitely have to interact with people. If not customers or clients, certainly co-workers and bosses. And he just... didn't understand societal norms yet, it seemed. He could mimic behavior perfectly, but that meant nothing if he didn't properly understand it. Klaus wasn't exactly confident in Artjom's ability to seamlessly blend in to normal society when there was so much he just... needed to learn first.

Klaus looked over to Artjom, only just now noticing the fruits he'd gathered together to construct buildings and--the German laughed. He couldn't help it, and he carefully placed his cup of coffee down on the counter so as to not spill it. It was humorous to see Artjom participating in an activity that... just looking at it, seemed so... frivolous and care-free. Klaus was sure that the android had a legitimate reason for every one of his actions, but still it seemed so--so out of character. At least, it didn't match the image Klaus had constructed in his mind so far. He nodded, though, and listened to the android's concerns, which the other quickly listed off.

Mostly about sexuality.

Klaus felt the blood drain from his face. "Ah... right, um... well, those are just slang terms... 'Sleeping' can mean two things. What you witnessed last night was just... normal sleeping. I closed my eyes, and I rested. Sleeping. But, another definition of 'sleeping', er, that is, the slang term for it... means... to be having sexual intercourse with someone. Which you most certainly did not do with me last night." He would most definitely have woken up if that'd been the case, even if he was a heavy sleeper. "Being 'straight' is a slang term for heterosexual people. People who have sex with or 'sleep with' people of the opposite sex, meanwhile being homosexual, or 'gay', would be... well... someone with sexual interest in the same sex... So... when I said I'm straight not blind, earlier, I was just trying to say that... yeah... you're attractive. I'm not blind. My eyes work just fine and I can tell that you are very pleasing to look at," Handsome, beautiful, even. "But just because you're nice to look at doesn't mean I'm sexually attracted to you or that I want to do sexual things with you. Because I'm straight. Heterosexual. That's all I'd meant with my comment, earlier..." Not necessarily the whole truth, but it didn't matter. So what if Artjom was built to be the perfect man? Not just because he could shoot stuff up and probably win any fight, but also because he was so... beautifully crafted.

Didn't mean anything...

Nope.

Klaus shook his head, ridding the thought from his mind. "No, er, well, um, no. I'm not scared of your body. Or of you. I mean--sure you're intimidating, but, I feel safe enough now that I'm okay with your presence, but... Casual touch is... er, especially for men... it's not something you really do with someone you're not used to. I can hug Nik because he and I are friends. I can high-five him, and lean on him when I'm drunk or vice versa, because we're friends. We're comfortable with each other, we're close, and we have that kind of relationship. For humans, certain kinds of touch mean different things, and some things are okay to do with some people, and not others. You and I aren't close, we're not friends, and... so... I feel a little awkward and don't really want to touch you." Though, the more he thought about it, it wasn't necessarily an unpleasant thought. Artjom was an attractive man, after all. And his synthetic skin was good to the touch--Klaus could recall how real it'd felt when he'd been repairing the android... And though the German man didn't want to admit it, he had felt a bit touch-starved since his last break up, and even then it wasn't like he'd ever truly felt satisfied with any of the women he'd been with, but...

But that was different. Artjom was a stranger. Not even that. He was pretty much a soldier. There was no way Klaus could ever want to have that kind of a relationship with him.

Or that kind of relationship at all. He was straight. Straight, straight, straight.

He shrugged. "And the relationships I'd been in. I don't know. They just never worked out. Having romantic or sexual partners. I guess I just wasn't ever really able to connect with any of the women I've been with yet--" he had to add the yet, he needed to clarify there was still potential-- "so the relationships always broke apart, and I find myself alone again. Which is why I'm the only owner of the bed. Just me, because, at the moment, I don't have a girlfriend, so... yeah..." He nodded.

However, when the android brought up clothing again, Klaus's eyes widened. "Oh fuck--" he quickly moved to leave the kitchen. "I must've been so tired yesterday I completely forgot. I'm so sorry--I'll get dressed and go get you some right now--er, I should probably make sure I've got your measurements though so I know what sizes to get you. Do you know your shoulder and waist sizes?" He paused and turned to look back at the android. He wasn't going to have to measure him, was he? Just the thought of having to put a tape measure around the other male's waist, across his broad shoulders, and... just the thought was already starting to leave him flustered.

July 1, 2019

“People skills?” the android asked not quite sure what this was supposed to be, checking if he had a program that was titled ‘people skills’ but he didn’t. Other than Klaus Artjom couldn’t see what could possibly go wrong if he was to work. He was built to work after all. He wasn’t a plaything constructed for shits and giggles in people’s free time. He was built to work…. for the military! He also had a program installed that granted him just the skills to work as a secretary at Downing Street in order to infiltrate it and to get his hands on certain documents. Hence, whatever those ‘people skills’ were this man apparently overestimated their importance and underestimated Artjom’s abilities.

His blue orbs were rotating and staring at Klaus when the man laughed apparently at his construction and he really couldn’t understand why he laughed even though he scanned Klaus and then the construction, Klaus again and the construction another time. Was it because it was made of fruits and packages? The blond brushed that off in order to ask the questions which he actually wanted an answer to.

Once more he had to witness that human communication worked in strange ways and that the term ‘sleeping’ could have a variety of different meanings as it seemed and what the fawn haired man had meant had apparently been ‘sexual intercourse’. The robot didn’t really have a concrete idea what ‘sexual intercourse’ was supposed to be so while Klaus was explaining to him he checked the internet and there he saw what sexual intercourse apparently was. It was weird! It was naked people who had entangled their bodies in weird positions, men who had shoved their erect penises into some weird looking holes of women.

Was that what the General and Doctor Kalinin had talked about that one time? The reason the doctor had installed that weird function that Artjom had as off now found completely useless and hadn’t been able to think about what it had been for? The machines cock could rise up like a rod of steel. He could control that function himself but someone else could manually activate it too by pressing onto a spot under his balls. Dr. Kalinin had grinned when he had pressed that spot to demonstrate the General that sharp feature he had built into the android apparently finding it to be funny and cool at the same time while the conservative General’s ghostly pale face had turned red as hell from outrage and embarrassment alike. “What the hell did you do that for? It’s obscene.” What had amused the scientist all the more! “There is nothing obscene about erections. You could get them too a long time ago, did you think they were obscene? My work is artistically crafted and I do realism. Besides it might come in handy, you never know. Look, you can even pull back the foreskin.” The Doc had said and demonstrated that by grabbing the androids dick doing just that leading General Smirnov to yell at the man:”Quit that you idiot! Do you want him to file a complaint? And I still get it up just fine. Not for my wife, but that’s her fault not mine, she’s become an ugly old wench! I don’t need pills when I’m with …nevermind…” What had made the other man laugh, hard, and when he had managed to get a grip on himself again he had said. “He won’t file a complaint. He’s a machine; he doesn’t care if you grab him by his junk, he doesn’t even see it that way. He sees it as the demonstration of his gadgets that it is.”

Artjom looked down at his crotch. To him that sexual intercourse thing seemed to be rather bizarre and he didn’t get why Klaus wanted to do that, well, if he didn’t want to father offspring that was as apparently this was there to create offspring. But if it was for reproduction how were there, according to Klaus, people who had sexual intercourse with the same sex? How did that even work? Not only that, why had the other man felt the need to tell him that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with women only while he had not asked that, not wanted to know that but had just wanted to know if he was nice to look at.

“I looked it up. Sexual intercourse, that is.” he told the other man peering into the grey eyes directly. “But what I don’t understand is, why would humans do that with someone who was built the same way, they can’t reproduce that way and how do they even do that? Hypothetically speaking, if you wanted to have sexual intercourse with me, how would we? It’s not like you have this fleshy, slippery weird kind of hole between your legs.” Artjom inquired interestedly, wanting to solve that mystery.

“And why would you feel the need to let me know that you want to put your penis into women. I didn’t ask you if you’d potentially like to have sexual intercourse with me. I wanted to know if I’m appealing to look at. I wouldn’t have assumed you’d want sex with me and be what you call homosexual if you had just said yes.” He told him, then another thought popped up on his mind as his system was working and analysing through all that it got. “Do you think it’s bad or less than if someone’s a homosexual and thus want to distance yourself from them? Would it bother you if I would have asked you or wanted to do that sex thing with you? Was that why this red headed chubby guy acted that weird? Because he thought I was a homosexual?” the android scratched his beard with his hand and in that moment he looked a lot like an actual person.

As he listened to the man explain that he was not scared or disgusted by his body he learned that apparently humans avoided skin contact with other humans if they weren’t close, that different types of body contact were appropriated for people who stood in different kinds of relations. And apparently they were at a level where their bodies only doing so much as to brush against each other was unwanted. “What type of body contact is appropriate for what kind of relations?” he wanted to know. “I learned that you shall shake the hand of people you’re meeting and introducing yourself to as it’s polite. General Smirnov taught me and I practiced with him. But if you say strangers don’t want you to touch them, how am I supposed to shake their hand without touching them?” the equation just didn’t work.

Then he realised something else. “And you wanted me to play your friend who visited, not a stranger. And I did that. But you weren’t satisfied with my work. Why? What did I do wrong! I did exactly like those girls in that video did.” He wanted to know. “Were you displeased because I wrapped my arms around your waist and pressed my body against yours? Because we aren’t actually friends but I was just playing your friend?”

Artjom learned that by ‘it never worked out’ the other meant that he had lived with and had done sex stuff with women but had not been able to connect with them. That all his relationships with women had failed. And since the android was operating on a system that was processing the information to find solutions and to come up with a plan to action he looked into the German’s face and said:”Maybe all your relationships with women have failed and you weren’t able to connect with them because you’re not straight after all.” He concluded dryly, examining and studying the other’s expression, before he randomly and without context said: “I like to look at your face. I think you’re beautiful too. Like the fairy pictures I’ve seen, just different, because you certainly don’t look like a fairy but handsome nonetheless.”

After he had mentioned the clothing Klaus soon ran out of the kitchen and the machine followed him as he apologised for having forgotten it followed by the question whether he knew his measurements or not. “I had an instruction booklet installed but it got deleted.” He answered. The android sure could ask the status and condition of his body what would be like a complete check-up at the physician’s office for an artificial intelligence like him but it would take a while and it would cost unnecessary energy only to figure out measurements. Unfortunately he couldn’t just scan himself like he could do with Klaus by looking at him. He could have told the man his own measurements right away. Thinking about it the quickest way was for Klaus to just scan his body. Yes, that would be the best option.

Deciding to go with that he pulled the shirt over his head and quickly dropped his pants, standing in front of the other man butt naked again, exposing his athletic physique, the body hair that was in all the right places, his nice white skin and his gorgeously crafted cock, sprawling out his arms to the right, standing with his legs apart as though he was at the security scan at the airport just that he was stripped to the bone. “You can just scan my body’s measurements though. Then you’ll know everything exactly.” He explained, looking into the grey eyes of the other man.

July 7, 2019

"Yeah! People skills!" Klaus repeated, nodding. "You're very bad at them! Like you look human, sound human, and know how to move with natural fluidity, but you don't come off as human! You don't behave like a normal person--your social skills completely give you away! At best, people would think there's something wrong with you after sharing a few conversations with you, and at worst, they'll figure out that you're an android! You don't understand the weird nuances of how people behave, what's normal behavior, why people feel the way they do, act the way they do, you don't understand and it shows that you're not one of us. You ask questions about things that most people would already know the answer to--you needing to have so many things explained is just... more proof of how you wouldn't socially blend in as a normal person..."

Klaus didn't mind teaching Artjom. He didn't mind speaking to him, or explaining things, but... the things Artjom didn't know... it just made him seem inhuman. Because, well, he wasn't. He wasn't raised with humans. He hadn't been exposed to thousands of social situations and interactions for years and years. He was recently created. Programmed to behave a certain way. He could learn, Klaus was realizing, but that didn't mean he was there yet. At least from Klaus's perspective... Artjom just didn't know how to behave human. How to blend in or seem human. He could mimic it, but it wasn't genuine, and he could pick apart countless flaws in his performance.

And if those flaws were exposed.

If people realized Artjom wasn't human. It was dangerous. That was bad. Bad for both of them. So Klaus had good reason to feel as strongly as he did.

However, when the android questioned about homosexual sex, Klaus blushed slightly and crossed his arms. "Well sex isn't always just with a penis and vagina," he mumbled, awkwardly. He was not expecting to be giving the sex talk to a robot this morning. "I mean, a mouth and penis could work too and men have mouths as well, so..." He was not about to go into detail what anal sex was. As well as all the other forms there were of intercourse. "But, just--there's lots of different ways to have sex than just penis and vagina. Even heterosexuals can have sex in different ways." Blowjobs. Handjobs. There was... all kinds of ways to stimulate another person. Same sex or otherwise.

Klaus sighed when Artjom attacked his need to clarify his sexuality. "Well, some people would assume that me saying 'you're attractive' would mean 'you're sexually appealing to me', so I did feel the need to clarify my sexuality to you. Again, you'd get that if you had better human social skills, but like I said before, it's just not something you'd understand since you weren't raised... well, human. Of course you wouldn't understand the social stigma behind one man saying he finds another man attractive." He huffed and ran his fingers through his hair, growing more frustrated at the situation. "And no, I don't think that if you're homosexual you're a bad person, or you're less of a person--it's just--well, it's not normal! Normal people are heterosexual. And yeah, being gay can be dangerous, and yeah, a lot of people see homosexuals as bad, or weird, like they're freaks or less than human and--" he groaned. It wasn't like the android would understand Klaus's desire to fit in with what was culturally acceptable. "Yeah... Nikolas did think you were gay. 'Fairy' is another term for a homosexual. Of course he was weirded out by you--and yes, that's exactly my point Artjom! Whatever video you researched--it was of little girls! We're two grown men! Little girls and men behave differently! So for a grown man to behave like a little girl--it's strange, it's weird, it definitely wasn't normal, and it just goes to show you again how you've not been properly trained to handle social behaviors! There's just--so much you don't understand. And, I mean..."

Klaus awkwardly walked away and placed his hands on the counter, frowning. "I mean. If you're supposed to be my friend, according to the story I came up with... You're right. We should be more comfortable with each other physically. Not--not like how you saw in that video, but... casual contact would be normal between friends. I'm not comfortable with touching you so much because we're not actually friends, but you're right. If I want to make our lie more believable, I've got to play the part, too... And everyone's different, Artjom. Some strangers are okay with a little bit of contact, certain kinds of touches. Other kinds of touch, not so much. Hand shakes--that's normal for strangers. High-fives and side-hugs, that's normal for friends. Kissing on the lips is seen as romantic to some. But, everyone is different so I guess some things, for some people, are okay, while other things wouldn't be. It's better to just ask, if you don't know. 'Can I kiss you? Can I hold your hand? Do you want a hug?' When you get to know someone better you won't have to ask, because you'll already know how comfortable they are with you, what kind of touch is okay with them, and under which circumstances, but... yeah... touch is a very... er, serious thing for humans. For you it probably doesn't mean anything, but for people, just a certain kind of touch can pretty much change everything--for better or for worse, so... there's a lot to it. It's complicated."

He turned his head slightly to look back at the android, face reddening slightly when Artjom made the accusation that he wasn't actually straight. "No--just, I just haven't met the right girl yet. That's all." Though, when Artjom gave a compliment in turn... Klaus couldn't help but to feel a bit flustered. Embarrassed, and... flattered. "Oh, er, well," he mumbled awkwardly, turning his head away slightly and avoided eye contact. "T-thanks."

However, he quickly grew panicked again when the android quickly stripped off his clothes. "Holy shit dude--!" Klaus exclaimed. "Don't just strip--I can take your measurements with your clothes still on--oh my god--" he moved out of the room, face bright red and embarrassed once again at seeing the other male naked. "I'm going to find my measuring tape, just stay there and please for the love of god at least put your pants back on."

He wasn't sure how much more he would be able to handle this guy randomly stripping in front of him. It wasn't that he was unattractive or anything--but not only did it catch him off guard, and forced him to recognize his sexual attraction, and it was embarrassing because they were still essentially strangers and Klaus was a fairly modest person, but--well, Artjom just needed to keep his clothes on!

July 9, 2019

And there he stood the humanoid machine and listened and looked at the other with his blank robotic face that didn’t show any motion as Klaus’s words were raining down on him. It apparently all came down to Artjom’s supposedly missing people skills in this man’s frustrated analysis. The android’s questions, his perception seemed to irk the German out, seemed to annoy him because the blond had not been raised by his society and according to the social norms and conventions this man had and that he ,so it appeared to the android, made himself a slave to. The machine had not been raised at all. He had been constructed, programmed and trained but in that moment it seemed to him that it was this man who had been programmed and trained to think and to behave in a certain way rather than him.

The fear that someone could think that the android wasn’t normal enough, the statement that he didn’t think that being homosexual was bad but that it was not normal and hence many people thought it was and that of course Nikolas would be weirded out by him if he thought he was a homosexual, all of that taught him more about Klaus than it did about himself. This man was mimicking something he was not too. He was putting on an act. All the time. To appear ‘normal’. He was obsessed with ‘normal’. Scrutinising everything to see if it matched what was ‘normal’. And he didn’t use that term as the neutral one it actually was. A term that described the average, the majority in something and according to which most if not every human had something that fell out of the norm. Be that their eye sight or the size of their feet. No, this man used the term normal differently. In a way that was illogical to the android.

It was… he looked up a term… pitiful. Yes, this man was pitiful. “I understand. You’re playing normal and you want me to play along with it since everything that slightly differs from what you have been taught as the societal norm scares and threatens you because it could make people question your perfectly, meticulously constructed appearance, your act of normal and they might figure out that you are not… normal that way. If they think I am a homosexual because I took that video of the college girls as reference material, they might find out that you are a homosexual although you don’t want to be, because they aren’t normal and many people don’t like them and find them weird, because they differ from the majority.” He concluded. “I will do my research and strive for absolute averageness if that’s the task you want to give me.” He assured him in his emotionless voice.

He followed the other man’s explanation about touch until the point where he told him that he shall ask people those kind of questions before he touched them and while there was probably nothing wrong with that per se he had never witnessed people doing that. It was certainly not normal for people to ask each other this before initiating body contact. Artjom had been amongst them with the General and the Doctor enough to know that. Not to mention what he had witnessed in the laboratory between Doctor Kalinin and one of his subordinates. And they had most definitely not been close or known each other well or for long. Still as they had been talking there had come a weird moment and in that weird moment where they had weirdly stared each other into their eyes Kalinin had grabbed and kissed her and she had more than happily complied to it and there had been absolutely no talking about the kissing or him touching her arse for that matter. People, for what Artjom had observed, got physically close to each other non-verbally and they also had ways of turning it down, shoving a hand away, not returning a kiss, non-verbally. Plus, Klaus’s advice went totally to the contrary of what General Smirnov had told a shy laboratory worker who had wanted to make a move on the same woman who Kalinin had kissed – what neither that worker nor Smirnov had known – and the General had said this:”Just go for it son. You’ll see what happens when you kiss her. Just don’t give up right away. If she doesn’t kiss you back the first time. Try it again. She might just have been surprised. Still not, try it another time. If she then still doesn’t kiss you back, well, she probably really doesn’t want you at that point and isn’t just playing hard to get either.” That he had said with three hard slaps to the laboratory worker’s back whom those had nearly thrown out of his shoes and who had rubbed his bony shoulder.

Judging from his own observations and analysis Artjom thought that neither Klaus’s nor General Smirnov’s advise were good and that both would make you come off as, well, different things, one awkward and one pushy, but both would not have the result of averageness, of absolute normality that Klaus strived for. “Are you sure that your own so called “people skills” are particularly good?” he asked. “Because I never heard anyone asking someone those kind of questions when I observed people. Dr. Kalinin sure didn’t ask his subordinate before he kissed her.” The android told the other.

Klaus denying that he was a homosexual, his statement that those just hadn’t been the right women for him didn’t surprise, nor impress or fool him at this point anymore. It was actually fitting. Another fitting piece to the puzzle! Maybe Artjom was miscalculating, overlooking something but he doubted it. His first conclusion about this man, that he was hiding something, had been accurate. This man was hiding himself. And he was either just bad at it or humans usually didn’t see through it. Didn’t connect the pieces the same way he did, let themselves be fooled by platitudes, didn’t question what was seeimgly adhering to the social conventions. “You will never find the right woman to live and do sex stuff with.” The android told him. “If you actually want to do that with men.” He said clearly. “You aren’t straight but you’re blind! Because you’re closing your eyes to not see yourself!” he told him but he wasn’t finished yet. “You can’t teach me to understand people. I have to go out there and observe them to understand them because you don’t even understand people. You don’t even understand yourself.” The robot pointed out his observation in the same fashion people observed something like ‘It’s raining outside’.

He had to honestly say though that he hadn’t seen it coming when the fawn haired man freaked again after Artjom had dropped his clothing for the other to get his accurate measurements. “But the clothing will distort the results.” He pointed out looking at the man whose face was glowing bright red because blood had shot up into it. “Measuring tape? What do you need this for?” he wanted to know because he had thought the other’d just scan him but the guy just left him standing there telling him to put his pants back on.

“Why?” he wanted to hear, picked up the pants and followed the other man out of the room with his pants in hand. His behaviour was totally off again. Yes, he knew that it was not appropriate to be naked in most social situations because the General had told him but this man had stripped him himself before. He had worked on his body. He had seen it more than once now. General Smirnov and Dr. Kalinin had never blinked an eye when he had been undressed for whatever purpose he had to. So he really didn’t understand what the fuss was all about. But as he stood behind the man who was searching for the measuring tape, looking at him, trying to work the information and that behaviour into the picture he had already made himself something came to his mind. “Does it embarrass and fluster you to see me without clothing because you do find my body sexually appealing? Because you’d wish us to do the stuff like putting our penises into each other’s mouths like you had explained to me before?” he wanted to know, figuring this was the only explanation that made sense.

July 14, 2019

Klaus froze slightly when the android declared his understanding of the situation. Playing normal. That Klaus--too--was just playing a role, pretending. Acting as though he were something that he weren't, and the android was a bit too perceptive. Or, perhaps Klaus had just been lowering his guard unintentionally due to the heightened stress of his new predicament. Either way. Artjom had figured it out. "I..." he said quietly, eyes cast on the box of supplies in his hands, the measuring tape set atop the cluster of mess. "I'm not afraid of being questioned." It was something that Artjom didn't understand yet. Couldn't understand yet. It wasn't just having brown eyes or curly hair or freckles. This wasn't just some difference that was insignificant.

It was a big deal.

And it wasn't just being questioned or seen as odd or at worst weird. Even Nikolas, being the nerd that he was, sometimes was seen as a bit odd--but it wasn't like he was treated terribly for it. On occasion while the two had been getting to know one-another a few years back, the red-headded male would on occasion be on the receiving end of some taunts or verbal bullying.

But it wasn't like he was seen like a complete freak. Perhaps a bit odd, with his quirks, and lived a lifestyle that some disapproved of, but it wasn't the same.

He wasn't in danger for being a nerd who liked big-breasted anime women. He didn't have to worry about being assaulted or possibly even killed just because of who he loved. Most people wouldn't see him as a freak of nature, as if there was something deeply, horribly wrong with him. Most wouldn't assume that he'd had something happen to him that "messed him up" to become that way. He didn't have to worry about doctors suggesting conversion therapy, or being raped in attempt to "fix" him. Most groups of people wouldn't look at Nikolas and think that he was an evil person at heart who wanted to destroy everything.

Being gay wasn't just an "anomaly" or a little odd. Klaus was an odd person. He knew that. But that wasn't what terrified him so much. Yeah, there was still that desire to appear normal, but... when it came to his sexual orientation--it was different.

"Yes, the more average you can make yourself appear, the better. Don't try to mimic college girls, or homosexual men, or whatever you see when you look things up on the internet. When you're around other people, it'd be best if you try your best to behave as would be considered normal for someone like you--a man, preferably heterosexual, and probably monogamous. Stable, common interests, and things like that, I suppose," Klaus spoke quietly. It felt wrong, telling Artjom who to be. That he had to fit into a certain type of box, behave a certain way, have certain interests, talk in a certain way... Though, in some aspect, Klaus supposed he was just helping program the android. That's all it was. Programming. Because he wasn't a real person--so what did it matter if he was bossed around his whole life?

Still, it was too easy to forget that he was an android. And it didn't feel right telling him what to do, and forcing him to appear a certain way--living the same lies Klaus forced himself to.

"When you're around me, I don't really care if you seem normal or not. I know you're an android so you don't have to put on an act, but when we're around other people... yeah... it'd probably just be best," the German man finished his thought.

When the android mentioned touch, however, and pointed out that Klaus probably had worse people skills than he did, the fawn-haired man looked at the blond in a bit of shock. He relayed memories--or rather, observations--of his own, and Klaus shook his head. "I don't mean you have to ask all the time. Certain relationships usually warrant certain types of touch. So if you've established certain kinds of relationships with somebody, you usually don't have to ask. I don't have to ask Nikolas to throw my arm around him in a hug, but that's not exactly something I would usually do to a stranger. But--usually you wouldn't just walk up to a stranger and start making out with them since that interaction for that kind of a relationship would be considered inappropriate," he explained. Of course, one-night-stands and hooking up with strangers was definitely a thing. Klaus understood that. But, usually you'd still only walk up to a stranger and perhaps try kissing them after flirtatious conversation beforehand, in a looser setting like a club or bar. Nor just a random stranger walking on the streets. "But if you really wanted to do something, and you're unsure if the situation is appropriate for that relationship or moment, you could always ask. Sometimes it's just safer to ask. I've had friends when they're really upset, they don't like to be touched, and in the past I've had girlfriends who liked to be hugged or touched when they were distressed. Personally, I'd rather ask if it's okay for certain kinds of touches than going for it and making the situation worse. But I don't think you need to ask permission for all touches."

He shrugged as he thought on it more, his attention seeming to drift while he still kept his gaze on the box in his hands. "Sometimes you can ask non-verbally too, though. You don't just grab a stranger's hand when you greet them--you offer your own hand, as if to silently request a handshake. If they oblige, their hand will meet yours. You can hold out your arms to suggest giving someone a hug, and if they nod and come to you, that means it's okay to embrace them. If you're dancing with somebody and your hands wander, all they have to do is take your hand and move it back to its original place and that's their way of telling you to stop. If you want to kiss you can lean forward but not all the way--and if they wanted to kiss you they'd close the distance. There's lots of ways you can ask without verbally asking, and even then I'm sure there's ways that you could ask that wouldn't be awkward," Klaus elaborated. He didn't know how to ask without making it awkward--he was an awkward sort of person--but he was sure a more charismatic person could figure it out.

And it wasn't necessarily that Klaus was against physical contact with others without asking for permission. There were plenty of times he interacted with other individuals without asking for permission for every little thing. It'd be ridiculous, in his eyes, to have to request every action. But considering this was Artjom he was working with... he had no idea where the android would take things. Since he wasn't sure how well Artjom could read social situations, he figured it'd be better to play it safe. It'd be better to ask than for him to do something mortifying and embarrass himself possibly in front of everyone.

Like taking off his pants.

And not putting them back on even when requested.

Klaus glared, slightly. He didn't seem enraged, but still he felt the need to defend himself as the android bluntly pointed out all of his discoveries--that Klaus was, undeniably and very obviously, gay. "I know what I am!" he snapped in response. "I'm acutely aware--regardless if I accept it or not I'm not an idiot, Artjom! And you're welcome to observe other people all you want--that's fine with me, but I don't think it's wise for you to rush out to society when you're so new to all of this. As of right now, you don't have all the observations in the world, you don't know how to properly blend in, and observing others is fine, but assimilating with them and trying to act like one of them--I'm not entirely convinced you're ready for that just yet! Observing other peoples' behavior and believable, seamless acting are two different things!"

Sure, Artjom could mimic other peoples' behavior, but without understanding context, he'd still appear awkward and out of place. And it would especially be seen as strange for him to immediately be copying the actions and habits of those around him. And although Klaus didn't mind answering most of his questions--if Artjom wanted to ask every person he interacted with all of these kinds of questions, well, at that point he may as well just be holding a sign that reads, "I'm not human!"

"And with the clothes on--it won't distort the measurements by too much, the fabric isn't particularly thick, it's just my sleep shirt and pants for goodness sake. At worst it'll distort the measurements by a few centimeters, but I'd still be able to get your right size when I buy you some clothes of your own," Klaus explained. "And--no, it's--it's not because of that. I mean--" there wasn't any point in trying to lie or hide it anymore. Whether he liked it or not, Artjom had already figured it out. "Yes--I do find you sexually appealing, but that doesn't mean anything and I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable doing anything sexual with you. I'm flustered because--well it's inappropriate for you to be naked like this in this situation and yes it makes me feel uncomfortable when you strip for unnecessary reasons. So please just put your pants back on before you give me an aneurysm. I need to take your measurements and I'd very much like you to have your pants on."

Having Artjom point out his discomfort hadn't helped the situation at all. Though Klaus tried to convince himself that even if he were genuinely straight, he would have wanted Artjom to keep his pants on. And even if he was the way he was--Klaus wasn't the type to just take advantage of every opportunity he got to live a sexual fantasy. He was quite the opposite, actually. And, a bit more of a romantic at heart, he certainly wasn't going to be doing anything with Artjom's crotch--hopefully ever. And hopefully if the android would stop teasing, it'd make the situation easier for the poor German.

July 27, 2019

A nod came from the android when Klaus told him how he wanted him to operate. What he was supposed to characterise. “Understood.” The machine said. The German wanted him to be acting heterosexual and monogamous. And while he already knew what straight was now, he looked up monogamous. And apparently monogamy was loving only one person romantically and sexually at the same time. That was all fine and dandy. He could say that he wanted to do sex stuff with women and he also could say he only always wanted one woman at a time, that was fairly simple, however both definitions, heterosexual and monogamous didn’t include any type of specific behaviour or attitude aside from only having feelings and sex with one person at a time. Heck, this definition wouldn’t even exclude the behaviour he had copied from those college girls but it was obvious that Klaus had something particular in mind, when he said hetero and monogamous.

Thus he started a program that would collect data and information about what was normally seen as straight and monogamous, which associations the internet would present him and out of that information he’d constellate the persona he’d portrait, that Klaus wanted him to be, that would according to the German help their task and mission.

“Most civilians or most human soldiers for that matter are no threat to me, so I think we’ve got nothing to fear about, I won’t get overthrown or eliminated even if I make a mistake.” He told Klaus when the other said that it was safer to ask if one wasn’t sure what kind of touch was wanted. It continued with the other man giving him a speech about how to non-verbally ask instead of verbally asking and the android listened. “I know how handshakes and introductions work. I have a program installed that would enable me to work in an office.” He stated, not mentioning Downing Street. There was something he had noticed during the other’s speech though and it made him wonder. “It is difficult to understand what is my task when Dr. Kalinin told me to behave a certain way, General Smirnov has yet a completely other opinion on the same subject and you are telling something different again as well. It makes me wonder if you people even have a universal agreement on what is the correct behaviour in certain situations or not because you all seem to think something different is appropriate.” The blond pointed out, looking into the grey eyes.

Apparently it was really pissing the man off when he had asked why he was supposed to put his pants back on instead of complying and just putting them back on. Klaus snapped and the robot studied the angry fawn haired man totally forgetting that he still held the pants in his hand because this was a lot more interesting for him to focus on than the fact that he held pants in his hand and was naked. For him it was still completely irrelevant whether he was wearing something or not. He didn’t feel naked or exposed or anything.

Well, maybe the guy wasn’t just pissed because of his displayed nakedness. It seemed like the fact that he had figured him out angered him a lot more even. That it bugged him that he observed him. When he was told that he didn’t have all the observations in the world and that he didn’t have what it took to be out there the robot stood there as unimpressed as a table that was yelled at because the owner had hit his toes on it. “To observe everything in the world is impossible. Nothing and no one can observe and understand everything that exists.” He pointed out. “You can’t know how I navigate your society or whether I am capable of it because you have not seen me doing it. Until I will manage to get back, you, as the one who repaired me are my superior and my base. I will accomplish the missions you give me if they won’t collide with my original tasks and I will report to you. But I also will ask you questions and require your instructions. That however doesn’t mean that I will ask any questions of that kind or require any instructions from anyone else I interact with.” He explained. “Unless you name him my instructor too that is.”

The other man’s little rant wasn’t over yet because while it might not have been the only issue, the fact that he was naked was indeed still a problem for him. And now the man said something that didn’t add up, that made his system declare an error every time he tried to make sense out of it. Klaus said that he was indeed sexually attracted to him but that he wouldn’t feel comfortable doing anything sexual with him regardless. “Why is that?”the android asked. “It doesn’t make much sense, to find me to your liking sexually and to be attracted to me but to not be comfortable with the idea and to not want to do anything of that kind with me? Doesn’t liking someone that way means that one would like to do those things with them?” he wanted to know because that was how he had understood it. “Would you feel uncomfortable because I am not a naturally grown being but manufactured?” he guessed. “Or because I am a man and you hate that you’d even want to do the sex stuff with me because you don’t want to be a homosexual?” he made another guess.

Having gotten distracted he remembered the pants. “Oh, the pants. Right. You are uncomfortable with my housing after all.” He expressed and put back on the pants and a few second later the programme he had running through the internet had come up with a collection of “typically straight” stuff, as well as data of typical behaviour he had found on the internet. “My persona is ready!” he announced to Klaus thinking that this was good news to him.

His face showed a lopsided cocky grin and he reached out his hand with a broad swing from the side. “Yo, I’m Anton Kramer, I have a degree in engineering, football is my life, I was a badass striker back when I was younger, I sometimes still play for fun. I’ve also got a membership of Hertha BSC football club, I frequently go to the stadium and hang with my bros and after the game we go home and play some video-games. I love the outdoors, camping, fishing and hiking, having some beers by the lake, always accompanied by my Rottweiler Arktos – by the way we need to buy a membership card and a season ticket for the stadium and a Rottweiler named Arktos. I’m a protestant Christian and as such member of the German Evangelical Church, I attend one or the other Sunday a month, then I’ll always meet my parents for coffee and after that I love to work on my car, cars have always been a passion of mine and I am really proud to own an Audi R8 – we also have to buy that Audi. If I am not working on the car I’ll do some carpentry or I’ll be repairing stuff. I’m totally into beautiful blond women, but she gotta be classy and modest and make a good mother for our future children and not be some cheap slutty bitch. She should have a nice smooth body too and definitely not weigh as much as my Audi or have a dead rat under her armpits and a squirrel between her legs. I really enjoy my job, I like spending my vacation on Mallorca and Ibiza. Action and war movies are the best. I listen to rock, metal and country music and I play the guitar – we have to buy that too.” He introduced himself to Klaus and then waited as to what the other had to say and if that was what the other had imagined as the role he should play.

Artjom then made the printer print out some images of the clothing that the other needed to buy as well as the dog, the car and the guitar. There was some Hertha BSC fan tricot, a few suits, casual and comfy clothing, boxer shorts, sports attire etc. etc. The robot went over to the other man and pressed the sheets into his hand. “That’s all the straight things we need for the perfectly normal character.” He told him not noticing that the car he had picked was about 170000 bucks, giving Klaus a punch to his shoulder:” Thanks bro!”

July 28, 2019

"Perhaps you won't be overthrown or killed or anything, but it's still embarrassing," Klaus mumbled. "I mean, everyone makes mistakes so it's bound to happen, but... I'm just trying to help you make the least amount of mistakes possible... Everyone's different, which is why everyone's told you different things. That's why I think it's best to just ask--since you can't always know what someone else is thinking, and what they'd want you to do and I--well I don't want to upset anyone so I would rather ask if I'm unsure, and, yeah, it's a little awkward but it's better than doing the wrong thing..." He was just trying to help, based on his own experiences, and, perhaps, preferences. Though, when the android mentioned that he had programs that would allow him to work in an office, it did catch Klaus's attention.

Maybe... maybe he could actually get a job and successfully work. If he truly did have the proper programming that would allow him to. Sure, he'd have to steer clear from social interactions if he could, or at least play a quieter, more socially aloof character. That way he could be believable while not risking such awkward social interactions that could possibly give away the fact that he wasn't human.

As Artjom continued to speak, bringing up the point that Klaus couldn't know how he would fare in the outside world, the German man pursed his lips a little. He had a good point. And, as he went on to further elaborate on the situation, explaining how he wouldn't ask anyone else but Klaus the questions he had, Klaus thought on it some more. There was a slight tugging in his heart when Artjom said that he was serving as his "base". Silly as it was, being considered Artjom's base made Klaus feel... well... important. Like he was serving a very unique role and was... of value. It was a foolish thing to feel flattered by.

"Well... if I was the only person you ask all those questions to, and you are programmed to be able to carry out a desk job, and you don't socialize a whole ton with other people... maybe it would be okay, then," he reasoned quietly.

Though, when Artjom continued to ask questions and pry into Klaus's sexuality and preferences, it only caused the German to grow more flustered and frustrated. Why did he have to explain these things!? "Well--yes, and--ugh!" Artjom had absolutely no filter. Throwing it in Klaus's face again and again how he was struggling with his sexuality, and constantly pointing out how much at war Klaus was with the whole thing. How, yes, Klaus didn't make sense, because he contradicted his actions with his feelings. How, yes, he was a homosexual even though he didn't want to admit it. And rather than just letting the fact die, he was constantly bringing it up. "Well--I mean, yes, part of it is because you're an android. I love--I mean, I want to--" he gave an exasperated sigh, not even wanting say it. "I like human people. You're just a fancy robot--you're not able to think on your own, or feel anything, you have no unique personality, you're just programmed to be able to say certain things and mimic different behaviors. And yes I don't--I wish I weren't what I am. I'd rather just stay quiet about it and not act on my impulses because then at least maybe I could trick myself into believing I'm normal and--so--I'm not going to act on anything. I don't care if you're sexually appealing. I'd only want to do sexual things with someone I lov--" he stopped himself, frowning.

Well. Not loved. He'd slept with a handful of women, and although he had tried to love them, and a part of him felt like he could have loved them... it wasn't the same. Not real love. There hadn't ever been that connection or bond. It was care. Just like he cared for a lot of people. But it was different from love.

So, maybe he wasn't as "pure" as he thought he was. He didn't sleep with people because he wanted to, or because he loved them, but because it was what was expected of him. What the others had wanted.

"I'd only want to do sexual things with someone if I'm in a relationship with them," Klaus corrected. "And you and I aren't dating nor are we ever going to. So it doesn't matter if I find you sexually appealing, that doesn't mean I'm going to act on it or do anything about it." I'd much rather suffer in silence, he mentally added.

However, despite everything else, Klaus was slightly relieved when Artjom finally put the pyjama pants back on. It certainly made Klaus feel less awkward about the entire situation. Especially since Artjom was more or less forcing the German to come to terms with his sexuality. When the android announced that he'd come to a conclusion with a new persona, Klaus nodded a little. With the measuring tape in hand, he looked at the man cautiously, a bit curious and weary of what sort of "persona" he was going to come up with.

The man listed off various behaviors, interests, preferences, and posessions and Klaus was actually... pretty impressed. Although, some of the things the android said were a bit funny to Klaus--throwing around the word "yo", how he referred to body hair, and the mention of country music while also liking rock. The German laughed a little. "Yeah, that... that's pretty good. Though I'm not going to permit you playing country music under my roof, so perhaps just stick to rock music. And, the car--um, there's no way I could afford to get you an Audi R8, and taking in an animal right now would not be ideal." His smile faded. "Aside from that, you were perfect. So you'll just have to settle for my car, no animals, and maybe a desk job instead... But all of your hobbies, preferences, and other interests... sounded pretty spot-on to me. So, good job."

He watched as the android moved over to his printer, hacking it somehow to print out a list of everything he would need before handing it over to the German. Playfully punching him in the shoulder, Klaus nodded and looked it over. "I can cover all of your clothing, but if you want something expensive like the guitar or car, you'll have to earn the money for those things, yourself," he said slowly. "Until then I guess you'll just have to settle for my piano."

Though, piano was probably a "gay" instrument in comparison to the stereo typically masculine guitar.

Dammit...

Klaus shook his head, folding up the paper and sticking it into his pants pocket. "Anyway. Clothes. I need your measurements," Klaus stated simply, wanting to get back to the point. He took the tape measurer and got closer to Artjom. "Stand still, this'll only take a moment." Without much hesitation, the German wrapped the tape measurer around Artjom's waist, then stretched it across his chest to get his shoulder measurements as well. He nodded quietly to himself and put the tape measurer away on a shelf, grabbing a pen that was lying around and writing the measurements down on his forearm just in case his memory decided to fail him today. "Alright, I'll be back. Don't burn the house down while I'm gone." Sort of a joke, sort of not.

July 29, 2019

Artjom listened closely to the other when he was trying to explain to him why he wouldn’t want to have sex with him although he was attracted to him. And while Klaus didn’t seem angered anymore and had visibly calmed down he was stammering around, struggling with the entire topic. The Russian military machine however calmly and patiently observed and took in what he said. There was nothing to see on his face, no motion, when the other told him that it partially was due to the fact that he was an android, that the other liked humans, telling the android that he had no personality, practically painting him like a fairly advanced doll.

It seemed that not only had the android scored a goal guessing that this was because he was artificial but the other reason was true at the same time and it got clearer and clearer to the blond that this man pretty much hated himself and wanted to be someone he was not and that he had been correct when he had said that he was blind. He was blind because he blinded himself, because he put on blindfolds to not see, although he technically knew what he was.

What the other said got interesting again though when he mentioned that he would only want to have sex in a relationship, not to forgot to mention that he and Artjom weren’t in a relationship and would never be. “Because I am only a fancy robot.” He stated the reason and waited until the other had explained everything he had to but it was a little confusing. “Why do you only want to have sex with someone you’re in a relationship with? Are all humans like that? That they only like human people and no androids and need to establish a relationship to engage in sex?” he wanted to know. Asking himself whether there were human people who liked androids or if it was not possible! But if it wasn’t possible, why would Kalinin add this function then?

It was the first time he saw Klaus laugh when he had told him what he had come up with for the persona the other had requested him to play and the artificial blue orbs zoomed in on the other man’s face. “You look really appealing and handsome when you laugh. Even more so than when you’re asleep. I like your face like this.” he stated dryly as an observation and nodded when he got praised before the other did find some things about it that he had objections to. The country music for instance that the other didn’t want him to play. “Why not? Is country music too gay?” the android seriously asked. He also had to apparently find a way to replace the car and the dog as the other told him that he couldn’t afford the one and the other wasn’t ideal to take in before he then revealed that he got a car and they’d have to stick to this one. “Is your car straight though? It has to be a straight car! If it’s a homosexual car it will be very suspicious and I can’t guarantee the success of the mission you have given me.” The machine explained. “Do you even have a season ticket and membership for the football stadium? If not you need to get one for yourself as well! It’s an important aspect!” the robot urged the other.

After he had handed the printed out shopping list to the other he learned that the guitar was off the table for now as well and that he had to earn the money for that first and that he had to make Anton Kramer be a piano player instead because Klaus already got that instrument. “No, that’s very gay. I think we should get rid of the gay piano it doesn’t help our straight mission. Do you have a drum-set if not a guitar? That’d do just fine.” He suggested.

While Klaus took his measurements Artjom stood still like a tin-soldier or a mannequin in a shop window. Although he did feel something on his artificial skin from time to time whenever the other’s hands and the measurement tape brushed it and he wondered if it was the same for humans or how it’d feel if the other man deliberately touched him. It was pointless to think about though because it didn’t happen and Klaus was finished taking his measurements pretty quickly and then got on his way to the store with a weird kind of farewell. “Why would I burn the house down?” the robot asked confused, not getting why he had said that or why he’d do something like that.

When the fawn haired male was gone the android was continuing with his mission, working on it. First he turned on the right music and since country wasn’t approved of he went with metal and the first thing that he could find and thus he made the stereo play a classic, Slayer’s ‘Raining Blood’, first. Next he turned on the sports channel on TV, ordered some stuff on the internet to “straighten-up” Klaus’s apartment, then he applied for a job at Klaus’s working place as it would fit perfectly. Anton Kramer had an engineering degree after all, so was technically over-qualified and if he got to work with Klaus he could always report back to him or ask him in case of an emergency.

And when he sat there and was thinking for a moment he realised that the most important part, that would be the most convincing was definitely missing. A woman! If he was a heterosexual he needed that woman. That woman was at least as important as the car wasn’t she? Well, maybe the car was a little more important after all but there was not much he could do about the Audi R8 right now, so it seemed the woman was easier to get by. Hence Artjom researched how straight human people got their women counterparts and shortly after he signed up on a dating app.

The data for the profile was easily filled in, except for the age, where he struggled because he had just been manufactured. He wasn’t an old product at all. But age for humans, that developed and changed, was something different so Artjom went with the same age Klaus was and typed in thirty-three. The artificial man quickly took a photo and then filled out the profile further putting in what he searched for. >> – An beautiful lady – Classy – Feminine –Monogamous – Ideally blond – Ideally Christian – No fat chicks – No Chewbacca – No grannies –No sluts – No bossy bitches – No crazy cat ladies

Having registered he thought that he had done a good job there, having put up a really efficient profile that clearly said what he was looking for and separated out what he didn’t want. However the women on the app didn’t seem to appreciate his great work. Some of those who read his profile even went out of their way to call him rude and tactless and lots of other names and the android really didn’t understand it. Then he got messages where folks would just send him their genitals, what he couldn’t make any sense of either, even less actually, no matter how much his system tried to get behind the reason or how long he stared at the genitals to decode a secret message that wasn’t there after all.

Thus when Klaus returned home he was raided by the android immediately. Artjom took the man’s arm and pulled him to the computer-screen where he made his dating account appear and then he said. “I am working on the mission. I am trying to get a woman for the purpose now. I registered on this side as it said that this is how one can get one. And I made a really efficient profile but it seems it isn’t perceived well. The women don’t like it and send me upset insults, especially those who aren’t pleasing to the eye or the obese ones but also those my profile actually targets. And aside from that I get genital pictures. What is the meaning of those? Is that a thing with humans? A common mating strategy? Do I have to send photos of my genitals to people too? Do I have to send one back?” he wanted to know finding the whole dating app really confusing.

August 11, 2019

"Yes, because you're only a fancy robot," Klaus said with a nod of confirmation. Artjom then proceeded to inquire of many related things, and the German man sighed. "Well, no. Many people are alright with engaging in sexual activities with people they consider strangers," he explained. Hooking up and one-night-stands were... certainly thing. "And some humans would be completely fine with having sex with a robot. It's just--for me, personally... I don't know. I'd rather do it with someone I'm in a relationship with, because usually there's a sense of understanding and trust, and it's a sign of intimacy that I wouldn't want to share with just anybody. And I personally would only want to have a relationship with a human because--well, I can relate more to humans because they can... feel. Androids can't feel anything. Humans can think on their own, androids are just... programmed. I'd prefer something that's... genuine. Not just a program designed to make me feel nice, but another person--with a unique personality, their own thoughts, feelings and... things like that. Robots just... can't really do that."

Not as far as he knew, anyway. Artjom was just... a machine. At the end of the day, he was just an artificial intelligence. He didn't have feelings, he didn't think like a person, he was designed to do espionage and to be able to kill. He was programmed to be able to infiltrate and learn, to mimic what he saw but... he couldn't think for himself. Not really. He could follow orders, but he couldn't act with a truly free will.

However, when Artjom expressed his admiration for Klaus's laugh, it threw the German for a loop. He stood there, flustered and awkward at the comment--opening his mouth to say something but unsure what. He's just programmed to respond to certain actions certain ways--or something, Klaus tried to reason to himself, though he wasn't exactly convinced. How could an android find someone appealing?! He couldn't have preferences or anything like that--unless he'd been programmed to? Was he really that advanced? "Please don't say things like that," he mumbled, still flustered at the comment. "You're just making things more difficult for me." He did not need the handsome robot to be flirting with him. Klaus knew his heart would give in too easily.

"Er, and, no, it's not that country music is too gay, it's just that country and rock don't usually mix," he explained. "And that country music isn't very good, so between country and rock, I'd prefer you stick to rock." Rock and Roll wasn't really Klaus's style or preference either, but it certainly was better that country music. Artjom continued, though, inquiring about other matters. Was Klaus's car gay? The way the android went on about it really put things into perspective, and when he put it so blatantly like he did it made Klaus realize just how ridiculous it all was. He chuckled a bit and curled one hand into a gentle fist, covering his smile with it. "Er, no. My car isn't a homosexual car, no worries, it'll be fine..." The smile faded slightly, though, when Artjom suggested that he got season tickets and a membership for the footbal stadium. "I'm not really interested in football, though," he explained. Was it an important aspect? Sure, it was a big part of that culture... but... Klaus didn't really enjoy sports all that much (though the swim team in the Olympics was always enjoyable to watch). But just because he had other interests didn't mean he was inherently a homosexual! Plenty of the more nerdy guys weren't huge fans of sports, so he still fit in... enough... "I don't really want to get a membership."

His expression dropped again when Artjom then began to verbally attack his piano. "What? No way," he said, turning his head to look sadly at the instrument. "My oma gave me that piano... and, besides, I like classical music..." Sure, he hadn't played it in a couple of years, but... he still enjoyed everything about the instrument. It was close to his heart because of its origins, he liked the sound of it, it was fun to play, and... "B-besides, most of the most renowned pianists were all heterosexual men. I'm not getting rid of it. It may not have a stereotypically heterosexual association but that doesn't... that doesn't mean anything..." He sighed and made his way toward the door, slipping on his shoes. "It's just an expression meaning, 'don't do anything crazy and reckless while I'm away'. Though I certainly wouldn't want you to burn the place down, either, I didn't think you were going to," he explained. Well. Earlier he thought it might be a possibility, but he trusted Artjom enough now that he wasn't worried about it. Of course when they'd first met things were hectic and crazy, but Artjom proved he was stable enough that Klaus could rely on him to not destroy everything while he was away. "Anyway if you want to get a guitar or a set of drums, that's fine. But, again, you'll have to rely on your own income for that. And we're not getting rid of my piano."

While he was at the store, Klaus managed to find everything with relative ease. Having Artjom's measurements was certainly helpful, and he was able to get articles of clothing in the proper sizes. He picked out the things that the android had requested, and got them in colors and with designs that he thought would suit his build and features.

He would only be away for about an hour before he returned to the apartment, but he was immediately whisked away by Artjom, which took Klaus a bit by surprise when he was guided by the arm to the computer. Artjom began rambling on about everything he'd been doing, and it took Klaus a moment to process everything. "...What?" He mumbled, turning away from the screen to look at Artjom. "Pictures of genitalia?? Oh, um, that... that's how some people try flirting." He blushed a little at the thought of it and averted his gaze, awkwardly looking away. "It's not really classy. But, um... since your sexual organs are usually private, um, sending pictures of yourself like that can... sometimes be seen as sexy, or turn someone on, and put thoughts in their head and... stuff. Um--it's not--not really the best way to flirt with someone, but it's definitely one tactic. And, no, you certainly don't have to send one back or respond if you don't want to." It was probably one reason why being around Artjom when he was naked had... flustered Klaus so much. He returned his attention to the screen. "Er, but, um, why are you trying to get a girlfriend, anyway? You don't even know anything about relationships..." He scrolled through the profile that Artjom had written out. "Oh. Yeah. Your profile is... um... could definitely be seen as rude and tactless. I could help you make it seem more... welcoming? If you'd like? This doesn't seem like the best idea, though... I mean..."

August 16, 2019

Artjom learned that humans apparently were different when it came to whom they slept with and what level of closeness they required for it to happen. He also learned that some people would probably be fine with an android too and the artificial intelligence didn’t have to inquire to gather the data onto why Klaus wouldn’t want to do that because he was already explaining it to him. While the first thing was pretty logical to him, it made sense that one could relate more to who was like oneself, the second one he already struggled with. Humans could feel but he couldn’t, that was the claim.

Upon looking up the definition of ‘to feel’ just in case he got it wrong, he pinched the artificial skin on his lower-arm and the tighter he pinched the more it ‘hurt’ him as the alarm that something might cause damage to him was getting activated and he had to let go, not able to continue that behaviour. “You are wrong. I can feel.” He said. To feel meant to experience something physically or emotionally and Artjom fulfilled that requirement, well, at least the first one.

The next reason would confuse him even more. And he lacked the terminology to describe what was not adding up about it, what was contradictory about it what made him search for the correct language to categorise and describe what Klaus was doing there. The term as it seemed was ‘ironic’. Followed by ‘cognitive dissonance’. Klaus wanted someone genuine who was his unique and own personality. But he lacked both of those qualities. “But you are programmed to fulfil people’s expectations, their desires as to how you shall be too or you wouldn’t deny yourself. How can you expect something genuine when you are disingenuous? It’s ironic!” the android expressed. “I just learned what that means.”

Apparently he shouldn’t have told the man that his face looked pretty when he laughed. He didn’t know why. He had just wanted him to know that he found his features nice. Like those fairy pictures. “Why shouldn’t I say that? Is it rude?” he asked. “Or gay?” that was another possibility since Artjom had observed that if the other didn’t like something it was because it was either considered too gay or too rude.

When he got explained the reasoning behind the other man’s disapproval of some of the things he had mentioned for his persona Klaus made a statement that was factually false when he said that country music and rock music wouldn’t mix. “That is incorrect.” The android stated. “Country and rock do mix. There is an entire genre originated in the late 1960’s called Country-Rock, mixing elements of rock and country music together. The next generation of Country-Rock is Southern-Rock. There are also other genres of music that mix folkloric elements with Rock and Metal namely Folk-Rock and Folk-Metal. So it does actually mix and relate.” He told the other man the facts, whether Country music was good or if it was not though was nothing objectively observable and hence not for the android to decide.

It through him into a loop when Klaus declined getting a membership card for the football stadium as that was the core element, the most straight of straight things, he had to be interested in football according to the societal norm that Klaus had been so keen on to have the android follow, that he wanted him and himself to fit that badly. “That’s really gay of you. You should be interested in football; it is important, even more important than the car. You will sabotage your own mission if you won’t get the membership card or are at least interested in football.” The android explained but the next thing that caused an error was to follow when the man insisted that he didn’t want to get a membership card.

“Don’t want to. Want. What you want doesn’t matter when it’s for the success of the mission though. Does it even matter at all what you want to? Does it matter what I want to? How would I even know whether I want something or not?” he asked Klaus his system running on high-speed trying to figure out the solution, the answer to this dilemma.

It appeared that to Klaus at least it did matter greatly because he was vigorously defending that homosexual piano of his refusing to get rid of that even more clearly than the membership card for the stadium, trying to justify it by pointing out how the most renowned players had been straight. But did that even matter? It certainly didn’t matter according to societal connotations and associations and that had been what Klaus had been so concerned about. And while the other man was out of the door telling him that ‘Don’t burn the house down’ was just an expression it struck him as ironic and a form of cognitive dissonance once more that Klaus, who would apply those societal standards and measure others by it, who wanted Artjom to match them to fit in and who found it embarrassing when he had done something that went completely against it, to actually hate getting measured by those standards, to resent them, to feel insulted by them while at the same time wishing to fit them and trying to twist things around to make it seem as though he did. What a peculiar fellow he was, that Klaus.

When the fawn haired had come back from his shopping tour and Artjom had pulled him towards the computer screen to look at his profile, bombarding him with a ton of questions he learned that sending genital pictures was a tactic, that some people found it sexy, that it “turned them on” but that it wasn’t the best way to flirt and that he didn’t have to send back a picture of his dick if he didn’t want to. There it was again. Want! He had no idea if he wanted to or not. It probably wouldn’t affect him at all if he did that. “Would it help the mission of getting a girlfriend if I was sending the women pictures of my penis?” he asked. “And how do I know if I’d want to do that or not?” he directly asked finding it all really complicated. “And how do I know what turns me on? What is being turned on like?” he had more questions.

Being asked why he was even trying to get a girlfriend he couldn’t understand why the other had to ask this. “For our mission of course.” He told him. “Having a woman is the third most important item when you are straight. Right after the membership card to the football stadium and the car!” he explained matter of factly. “I need to convince the people that I want to do sex stuff with women and the best way to convince them is to actually do it. Then it won’t be questioned. I will get a woman and will regularly insert my penis into her fleshy hole because that’ll be really heterosexual of me. That’s the plan.” Artjom explained.

At least Klaus was offering him his help to improve his profile although he added that he didn’t think it was a good idea. “That’s wrong. It’s a really efficient idea that will work if you help me with the execution.” He found and the android deleted the information in his profile without touching the mouse or the keyboard, only sitting in front of the screen for Klaus to be able to see it too also, looking at the other to tell him what to write to get a woman to take the bait. This online dating thing was kinda like fishing. And Artjom knew all about fishing, because Anton Kramer loved to do it.

The Disquieted Desires for an Artificial Heart (-Hideki-)

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