[Video]

[mismanagement]

Lilith is gone.

[If you don't know Maketh well, the redness around her eyes might be mistaken for a restless night and not from crying.]

The patrol roster will be adjusted accordingly. That is all.

Comments

[voice; private]

[synthedick]

[That's what he thought.]

Looks like they crushed people like you, instead.

[voice; private]

[mismanagement]

You're not wrong.

[They ground her down until nothing was left, then rebuilt a soldier from the dust. As is protocol.]

But it was my choice, in the end. I chose this. I wanted--

[What had she wanted? It must have been important.]

...something. It doesn't matter now. You--you have true honor. That's what they would have called it. Not the Empire. My mother's people. Nothing--not your world's foolish thoughts about metal and machinery...nothing changes that. You are what you are.

[She's quiet a moment.]

I know what I was. I thought I could be something else, but I...

[voice; private]

[synthedick]

You can be something else, Maketh. You have been this whole time.

[Concern ebbs back into his voice.]

I can't change what I am, sure. I'm a synth with the behaviors of a real man uploaded into his brain. I'm just pretending to be human, by all accounts. An abomination, according to some folks. And I could've just lived with that, but people needed help. They needed a detective, and they came to me, so that's what I became. Some folks might never see past the metal parts and yellow eyes, but others can see I'm more than just a glorified appliance.

Months ago, this city needed a force to protect it. We needed someone to bring us all together. That's what you became. You've been more, and even if you've never realized it, I'm sure she did.

[voice; private]

[mismanagement]

[A sigh.]

She would think me very foolish right now, wouldn't she?

[voice; private]

[synthedick]

I can't say. You knew her best.

[voice; private]

[mismanagement]

She thought it strange how--the thought of absolutes.

[She's quiet a moment.]

It's hard to let them go.

[voice; private]

[synthedick]

It's hard to let go of people we've lost, too. But at least she's still out there somewhere, if she's gone home.

[voice; private]

[mismanagement]

She is.

[Maketh believes that much.]

Thank you, Nick.

[voice; private]

[synthedick]

Just doing my job. Someone has to make sure that if she ends up back here, you're still the woman she left behind. We wouldn't want to disappoint her, now would we?

[Because that might result in more explosions than the city needs.]

[voice; private]

[mismanagement]

[Perhaps the smile shows in her voice, no matter how tentative.]

No, no, we wouldn't want that.

[voice; private]

[synthedick]

[He'll take a tentatively hopeful tone over none at all. He keeps his own tone light as he continues, though his request is very serious.]

If you don't mind me asking... would you keep an eye out for Rey if I ever get sent home? I don't know how well she'd take it. She's got friends here, people who care about her. She just seems to forget that sometimes.

[voice; private]

[mismanagement]

[It's not what Maketh expects him to ask.]

I--of course. You have my word.

[voice; private]

[synthedick]

[There's relief in his voice.]

Thanks. There are a few others I could have asked, but you're the one I know I can trust.

[Another reason he wasn't willing to sit by and watch Maketh destroy herself.]

[voice; private]

[mismanagement]

[He--oh.]

I...I won't disappoint you.

[No more than she already has, at least.]

[voice; private]

[synthedick]

I know you won't.

[And he says that with all the sincerity in the world.]