I could still feel the sensation of knives piercing through my body in the awkward silence. This time, I didn't dare break eye contact with the Overseer, but I was unable to read the man's expression. It was just as emotionless as a droid's.
                          
However, if I had a heart in the next moment, it probably would've almost collapsed completely. The Overseer looked to the other guards and growled, "Check their story. Report back to me on your findings. LIV, find the Doctor just in case."
                          
I had only just realized that the female droid was still present. She gazed coolly into my eyes from the corner she stood in. After a moment she spoke, "It would not be wise for me to leave you alone with a known fugitive. It could be a facade, and I am programmed to guard you at all costs."
                          
"That wasn't a suggestion. Go find the Doctor, and tell her to be on stand-by. That's an order."
                          
Unable to argue against a direct command, LIV bowed her head respectfully before leaving the tent after the other guards. I remember her stare continuing to burn into me before finally leaving her sight.  
                          
It was just me and the Overseer standing in the tense silence. I didn't say a word as he lowered himself into a chair and reclined backward. He never turned his back on me. His stare bored into me even through the haze of cigar smoke. 
                          
"Let's say for a moment that this isn't just some well-spun tale you've been spewing," the Overseer began with a slight groan. "How in God's green earth did you end up in a synthetic?"
                          
"I... I don't know," I replied truthfully. "I just... woke up like this. Whoever did it left a note, and I—"
                          
The Overseer straightened up. "Note? What note? Give it here. I want to read this for myself."
                          
I nearly flinched at the severity in his voice, and he had extended his hand expectantly. Yet I hesitated, remembering the contents. 
                          
Keep your head down and stay out of sight of the overseers. 
                          
I patted my pockets before pausing. "I'm sorry. I must've lost it when the hunters found me. I still remember what it said."
                          
The man raised an eyebrow with suspicion. "Well, then what was the tone of the droid? What did it want with a human body, and where would he have gone now that he has one? Did it brag about its plan?"
                          
"The... the tone? Plan?"
                          
I paused, thinking back to the note before answering, "He seemed... regretful. Like this was his only shot at whatever he had to do. He never gave away what his plan was. I don't know why he needed a human body or what he'd accomplish by inhabiting it. I don't know why he chose me specifically either. I'm not a high-level engineer, so he would gain nothing from stealing my... my life."
                          
It was like reality had smacked me in the head twice over. The idea of someone else walking around in my own body made me nearly feel something I can only compare to nausea. 
                          
I swallowed before trying to think of a better explanation to give. "The only thing I can see him wanting a body for is to hide. I mean, I've been in this body for a day, and these barcodes don't exactly make traveling easy."
                          
I vaguely remember taking note of the Overseer's face at that moment, and his eyes seemed to reflect that sentiment. 
                          
The next word he uttered I would never forget, drilled into me like a screw. Darkness shrouded his expression as he whispered with meaning, "Autolycus."
                          
At that moment, I didn't understand the importance of the name. "Sir?" 
                          
He ignored me as he bolted on his feet. He took hold of the communicator on the desk and ordered urgently, "LIV, I want two men in the base tent on the double. Have communications on stand by."
                          
The radio crackled a little. "Of course, sir. Is everything adequate?"
                          
I remember flinching at the harsh crack of the communicator being slammed back down on the desk surface. The Overseer turned back to me, hostility radiating from his body. I still shiver at the memory.
                          
"On behalf of the entire Synthetic Watch Force, I'm deeply sorry that you got dragged into this... demonstration," the Overseer began darkly. "It's a terrible shame that it chose a civilian above anyone else. However, I'm afraid this won't be an easy situation to fix-- let alone a cheap one." 
                          
Another pair of armed guards had entered the tent, followed closely by the same female droid from earlier. Her cold expression had become as sharp as an ice pick.
                          
"Confine him to the Tinker Room," the Overseer ordered the guards. "Have one of the engineers examine him for anything out of the ordinary. LIV, have Lieutenant Su report back as soon as he's confirmed his findings. I want everyone else looking for any TROY employee within the slums."
                          
The same warning was beating inside my head like a heartbeat. 
                          
Do not be dismantled, do not be shut down.
                          
It was one thing to worry about the thief's body, but what about mine? 
                          
"Wait, what are you going to do to me?" I demanded as two of the guards grabbed my arms, and the female droid bowed her head respectfully. "What about my body— my human one?"
                          
But all the reassurance I got was a gruff, "You settle down, and nobody will get hurt. Let the professionals handle this. I'm not about to let either one of you run amuck."
                          
The Overseer had turned his back toward me as I was pulled away. The last thing I saw as I was yanked out of that tent was the empty, soulless eyes of LIV— observing me like a rouge animal in a zoo.