thewritingandroid

[thewritingandroid]

Learning to be Human // Part 5 Lessons on Greed - Markus

A/N: Hi Friends! Sorry it's been so long without an update! I told myself I was gonna update weekly, but then Life happened and it's been a fair few weeks without an update, so I'm gonna give y'all two this week in an attempt to make up for it. I hope you all enjoy!

Word Count: 1824

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5 

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." 

-Franklin D. Roosevelt 

“Why did you bring her here Hank?”

We were standing outside the medical center. There was a slight breeze that rustled the edges of my jacket. The world around us was especially grey today, and the sky threatened rain. The world looked like how I felt, empty, tired, and distant.

“Sometimes all people need to do to change their minds is personalize the issue. That girl had never seen a deviant before, all she knew were the lies fed to her by CyberLife. I thought if I brought her to see Connor, if she looked into his face, I could change her mind.”

“You were right. She saved his life. Who is she?”

“Her name is Jess Richards. She’s the executive assistant to one of the higher-ups over at CyberLife.”

“That explains how she knows so much about us. I can only hope she’s on our side.”

“She saved Connor, that’s a good step in the right direction for me.”

“Was it weird for you Hank? Seeing him like that when she activated his override?”

“Not really. When I first met Connor he was exactly like that, clean-cut and precise.”

“Really?”

“He wasn’t like that when you met him?”

“When I first met Connor, he had a gun pointed at my head. We were at Jericho, he had turned us over to the authorities, but he seemed so unsure of himself. He wasn’t a deviant yet, he was still completing his mission, but he already seemed to be feeling, choosing for himself. It was strange.”

“I’m not that surprised, Connor did what he wanted when he wanted. He even let a deviant get away to save me. Hell, he’s gotten himself shot a time or two protecting me from deviants.”

“Sometimes I think Connor is more human than the rest of us. Maybe it’s because of something in his programming. Do you think she’d give me details about it if I asked?”

“I’m not sure that should be high on your list of priorities Markus,” He sighed and leaned against the wall, “Did you ask around about the pictures I left with you?”

“I did. May says that none of the officers in the pictures you gave me were the ones at the border when she went to get them yesterday. She says after she alerted them, they told her to go find a safe place, and they would radio for backup and then handle the situation.”

“I got the radio from them, that’s why I showed up. Did anyone see these six yesterday?” 

“Some said that they were there early this morning, but I can’t find a single android who saw them after 8 am.”

“Connor was attacked around 9:00.”

“I got some rough sketches of the officers the androids remember seeing after 8 am, maybe they’ll be useful to you as the case progresses.”

“Thanks, I’ll take a look at them when I get back to the office. Are you going to be okay if I leave her under your watch for a few hours? I’ve really got to make some progress on my cases. Things are backing up since Connor has been out.”

“Yeah, it’s fine with me. Are you sure it's fine with her?”

“Markus, she’s so focused on Connor she won't even notice I’m not there.”

“Alright, I’ll see you later Hank.”

“What, you aren’t going to walk me to the border?”

“You know the way by now, and I’m not going to leave a CyberLife employee unattended in the middle of our territory.”

“Don’t trust her?”

“It’s not that. I don't trust some of us to leave her alone. I’ll see you later, get back to the station safe.”

“See ya, Markus.”

I watch Hank leave until he’s out of sight, then I let out the sigh I’ve been holding in since he got here and walk back into the medical center. Jess is still seated on Connor’s bed, all of her focus on the panel she had taken off of his head. She doesn’t look up at me until I sit down on the empty bed next to Connor’s.

“I’m just trying to straighten out the dent.” She smiles, but it’s a nervous smile, “did Hank go back to the station?”

“Yeah, he has work to do. Do you mind if I see that?” I gesture to the panel in her hands and extend my hand for it. She passes it over.

“Don’t we all, I’m missing 20,000 different meetings today. Do you think my boss will buy food poisoning?”

“I think he’ll find it more plausible than a story about how you hung out with android rebels and saved one of their lives,” I smiled and popped the dent out of the panel, then handed it back to her, “I get the sense that people over at CyberLife don’t really like us androids.”

“People fear what they don’t understand.”

“And hate what they can't conquer. Andrew Smith.”

“The world is changing, and the direction that it’s going is losing CyberLife a lot of money.”

“So this all just boils down to human greed?”

“Doesn’t it always?”

“I just find it hard to believe that people could value money over life.”

“That makes you more human than most, Markus.” She looks up at me and smiles, leaning back against the wall. “All of those big executives at CyberLife could stand to receive a lesson on empathy from you.”

“Executives like your boss?”

“Specifically my boss. The man is an absolute nightmare.”

“If he’s so awful, why do you stay?”

“I need the money. Living in this city isn’t cheap.”

“I’m sorry if we lose you your job.”

“Don’t worry about it Markus, I just hope they let me back in long enough to help you all a little more.”

“What do you mean?”

“Connor needs his part, you need access to your factories to make repairs, the fact of the matter is, my job is perfectly situated to help you get those things. Getting Connor’s part should be fairly easy, it’s the factories that will be more difficult.”

“I thought you said CyberLife blocked getting Connor the part?”

“They did, but I can request one under the purpose of research. I can tell CyberLife that after this incident, I want to study the part for defects. It’s still in the plans for the RK900, so it will be fairly easy to get my hands on.”

“900? Is CyberLife still making androids?”

“Not actively, but they’re still drawing up plans and creating new technology.”

She looks away from me quickly and her smile falls.

“What is it?”

“CyberLife is currently testing a bunch of newly developed technology.” She trailed off, looking at her hands, “recently…” she's almost whispering and I have to lean in to hear her, “recently some of the prototypes were stolen from CyberLife headquarters,”

She looks up at me and I can see a mixture of guilt and fear in her eyes.

“What was the technology that was stolen? What did CyberLife create?”

“I don’t know all of the specifics of the project but… CyberLife was in the process of developing anti-android technology.”

“Weapons?”

She answered my question with a small nod and I felt a sharp tingle travel up my spine, “I have to let the others know about this. I’m going to go get them, and when I get back, I’m going to need you to tell me everything you know about this new tech.”

Next thing I know I’m moving through the camp on autopilot, my mind a million miles away. I’m trying to keep the panic from rising into my chest and suffocating me. It’s suddenly very hot outside and I find myself sweating. I need to calm down. I find North first, sitting outside of the house we share. 

“North,” I pant, “I need you to get Simon and Josh and meet me back at the medical center.”

“Has something happened to Connor?”

“He’s okay, but I’ve just been made aware of an even bigger issue we might be facing. I need you to get Josh and Simon and bring them to the medical center.”

“Alright, consider it done,” She stands and puts her hand on my arm, “Calm down Markus, whatever this is, I’m sure we’ve been through worse.”

“I hope you’re right.”

I take more time going back, trying to calm my mind and my nerves. My hands are shaking. I don’t remember ever feeling like this before. I think back to how I got here, finding Jericho, becoming their leader, achieving our freedom. Why me? Why was I the leader of Jericho? Why was I the leader of our people? I hadn’t asked for all of this responsibility, all of this pressure. It wasn’t just about leading them anymore. Now I had to protect them, keep them optimistic and hopeful and keep working constantly towards better. I was keeping my people together, but at what cost? Letting myself fall apart? Everywhere I look I see problems. Houses built out of scrap metal, androids huddling together inside of them, and just how dirty everything is. Everyone is tense and everyone is afraid, because no one knows what is going to happen next. 

I’m stuck feeling like for every one step we take forward, we take three steps back. I know I’m not being a good example for my people. I spend most of my time locked inside my house trying to figure out what to do next. I preach peace and nonviolence while my people are murdered or shot within our own borders. I talk about progress to anyone who’ll listen, but all I’ve seen the past few weeks has been regression.

I feel alone. I have North, Josh, and Simon, but I don’t think any of them understand just how difficult this has been. I wish Connor hadn’t been shot, I could have really used his advice. He was always impartial and saw the big picture. He understands the consequences of action better than anyone I know. He knows androids and people better than I know either and he knows how to deal with them better. I wish he hadn’t been shot for more reasons than just that though. I fear that his shooting set off a chain of events that I don’t think I will be able to control when the time comes. Already I’m hearing whispers for a plan to strike back. Whispers calling for violence, whispers that I’m not sure I can make listen to reason.

Now I get the news that CyberLife has created anti-android technology and that the tech was stolen, meaning it’s now out in the open. We are slowly walking down the path to inevitable war, and I’m not sure how much longer it can go on before we’re too far gone to turn back.

[thewritingandroid]

Learning to be Human // Part 4 The Right Choice - Jess (O.C.)

A/N: Meet the first of a couple O.C.s! I hope you grow to love her like I have! She’s a lil bean! Woo! I hope you are enjoying the story thus far!

Word Count: 2699

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn." 

-Benjamin Franklin

The last place I want to be is at this police station. When my boss pulled me into his office this morning and told me he had a very important task for me, this isn’t what I’d envisioned. When he’d told me I had to take a very important message to the police station, I thought it would be about the break-in we’d had a few days earlier. My boss had handed me an info tablet and put me in a car to take me into the city. It wasn’t until I was in the car that I looked at the tablet, and my heart sank.

“Excuse me, are you Lieutenant Hank Anderson?” I tried to keep the nerves out of my voice.

“That’s me. Who are you?” He eyes me suspiciously.

“My name is Jessabelle Richards, I’m a representative sent by CyberLife.”

He shoots me an odd look and then chuckles to himself.

“I’m sorry Lieutenant, have I said something funny?”

“No, sorry, you just reminded me of someone just then. You’re from CyberLife huh? I was about to head over there myself for a meeting.”

“CyberLife thought they’d save you a trip. Is there somewhere we could talk?”

“We can talk here.”

“I should have been more clear in my question Lieutenant, I’m sorry. Is there somewhere we can talk privately?”

I watched him huff and push himself to his feet.

“I think there’s an empty interrogation room, follow me.”

He led me out of the bullpen area and into a hallway that led into several small rooms. We walked into the first empty one we came to and he shut the door behind us.

“Can I assume that you aren’t here to give me good news Ms. Richards?” He gestured for me to sit, and I did.

“Sir, when CyberLife received your message yesterday requesting our help with an injured officer, we could only assume you were referring to the RK800 android named Connor.” I placed my tablet on the table in front of me, “CyberLife looked into the incident during which the android was injured and discovered it was during a shootout with human protestors. The android fired four rounds from two different weapons. Three people died.”

“They were the three my men shot. The four Connor shot are expected to make full recoveries.”

“Regardless Lieutenant,” I swallowed hard, wishing I didn’t have to say this, “The incident has led CyberLife to label the android model RK800 aka “Connor” as a threat to human lives, and denies your request for the bicomponent RB-6T.”

“That’s fucking bullshit and you know it.”

“I’m sorry Lieutenant Anderson, I am only the messenger. CyberLife has made up their decision.”

“Yeah well, it’s a stupid fucking decision. Connor is innocent, he deserves to live. CyberLife is prepared to just let him die after he sacrificed himself to save a fellow officer?”

“Connor is not alive. The RK800 model is a machine, it cannot live and therefore cannot die.”

“Is that the bullshit they feed you over at CyberLife?” He pushes himself to his feet abruptly, “Have you ever actually met a deviant?”

“Well no, but-”

“Come with me, I’m going to take you somewhere.”

“Lieutenant, I have a very busy schedule,” I picked up my tablet and stood.

“All I’m asking for is an hour of your time.”

“Why?”

“Because you need to look into the eyes of the man that you and CyberLife have sentenced to his death. Now move, it’s a short drive.”

We climbed into Hank’s car in silence. We were halfway to the border of android territory before he spoke again. His voice was cold.

“What do you know about the androids that CyberLife calls deviants?”

“I know that they are androids suffering from a virus that has infected their programming. I know that they are often violent towards humans and that they wrongly believe they are alive.”

“Has CyberLife gotten into brainwashing too?”

“I’m sorry,” I turn away and look out of the window, “It’s what they tell us to say.”

“You can’t think for yourselves over there?”

“Not if we want to keep our jobs.”

The rest of the ride is silent. I fidget nervously with the tablet on my lap. How did I get sucked into this? I’m just a secretary, I’m not supposed to leave CyberLife’s offices, ever. Now I’m being driven into android territory, wearing a CyberLife uniform. I think I’m going to be sick.

Hank stops the car, “We’re here. Get out.”

I step out of the car and onto the dirt road that led to the border. Everything was much dirtier than what CyberLife described to us. Hank badged us past the officers and walked up to one of the androids standing inside the border.

“Hey Josh.”

“Did you miss us already Hank?” The android, Josh,  asked.

“Yeah, something like that.”

“Who’s your friend?”

“She’s not my friend. We’re here to see Connor.”

“She’s CyberLife?” Josh asked and Hank nodded. “You shouldn’t have brought her here Hank.”

“She needs to see for herself what CyberLife is putting you guys through.”

Josh looked me up and down as if trying to decide what to do with me. After a moment, he seemed to make up his mind, “alright, follow me.”

Hank is watching me as we walk deeper into android territory. Here everything is grey. I can see eyes peering out at me from inside the makeshift homes. There is an overwhelming sense of fear coming from everywhere. I stop suddenly.

“What is it?” Hank stops too.

“This is wrong,” I look around slowly, “CyberLife describes the android territory as full of armed deviants living in houses nicer than ours made with stolen material and tech. They talk about androids like they’re anarchists but these androids, they’re afraid.” I shake my head.

“CyberLife is lying to you. They’re lying to everyone.”

“Hank?” Josh interrupts, “we need to keep moving.” He shifts his gaze to me and I see he’s afraid too. “Our medical center is this way.”

“Is Markus there?”

“Yes. I alerted him as soon as you entered the border.”

“Good, she could stand to meet him too.”

Josh leaves us at the door to the medical center, saying he needs to get back to the border and that we’ll find Connor and Markus inside. I’m more nervous than ever, and I have an overwhelming urge to throw up. My hands are shaking, and I can’t seem to make my feet move. Hank is still staring at me like he’s reading my mind.

“None of them are going to hurt you.”

“I know.”

“Then why do you look like you’re about to shit your pants?”

“I’m scared.”

“Good, now you know how these people feel. Come on, we should get inside, you’re on a schedule.”

I followed Hank inside the medical center. It’s practically barren. There's no stolen CyberLife tech, or any tech really. Just beds, a long row of beds. An android looks up at us from the far side of the room as we enter. He rushes over to us before we get too far into the room. I realize that I recognize him.

“Hank, what the hell were you thinking? Bringing her here?” He spoke in a harsh whisper.

“Easy Markus,” Hank raised his hands, “I brought her here to see Connor.”

Markus sighed and wiped his face with his hand and looked at me, “CyberLife sent you to tell Hank no, didn’t they?”

“Yes,” my voice was tiny, stuck in my throat. I cleared it and tried again, “Yes, I’m… I’m sorry. They found that-”

“I’ll get you their official report later Markus,” Hank interrupted, “can we see Connor now?”

“You can see him, but he’s not really one for conversation right now.”

“He’s gotten worse?”

“Yes, and we don't know why. I’m not sure that one missing bio component could have done all this.”

“No, it couldn’t. Non-essential bio component RB-6T is a redundant piece of a redundant system.” I interject and then wish I hadn’t as both Hank and Markus turn to stare at me.

“What do you mean?” Markus tilts his head and narrows his eyes.

“May I?” I gesture to the occupied bed.

“Be my guest.”

Markus moves out of my way and for the first time I see the android lying on the bed. I move closer, slowly, trying to take in every detail. There’s a large bandage on the right side of his abdomen. The android’s eyes are closed and he’s missing his LED. Hank comes to stand behind me and Markus returns to his place at the foot of the bed.

“What was your initial assessment of him?” I asked Markus as I slowly removed the bandage from Connor’s side.

“Damage to non-essential bio component RB-6T, other surface damage but no other components were damaged. What did you mean it’s a redundant component?”

“CyberLife designed the RK800s for military and government use. Bodyguards, soldiers, interrogators, investigators, it was their first big push into that side of the market. They wanted to make a product that would sell, so they needed to make the RK800s more resilient, able to take a hit and keep going. Most of this model’s systems are redundant to each other, the particular system that this bio component links to is one of them. If that was the only damage, Connor would be fine right now.”

“But he isn’t fine. Maybe CyberLife made a mistake in labeling it non-essential?” 

“Markus, CyberLife doesn’t make mistakes like that.”

“How can you be sure?” It was Hank.

I sighed and looked back at him, “My boss oversaw the design of the RK800s which meant that every piece of information crossed my desk, and was approved by me. We ran numerous tests, picking the prototype models apart piece by piece to make sure we had all systems labeled correctly and interfaced the correct message to the android.”

“You experimented on him?”

I pushed my hair out of my face, “You have to understand, Markus. We saw them, we saw you, as just machines. We were doing our jobs, following orders.”

“You were wrong!”

“I know. A lot of good people were wrong about a lot of bad things and androids suffered because of that. I’m sorry. I can’t change what happened but I may be able to help Connor, please let me do that.”

“What do you need from us?”

“I need to talk to him.” 

“I’m not sure he’s going to wake up.”

“Then, with your permission, I’ll need to access his override.”

“I can’t let you do that!”

“Hang on a minute,” Hank waved his hands, “what’s his override?”

“It would allow her to control him without his permission.”

“Aw Jesus fucking Christ.”

“I need him to run a complete systems diagnostic on himself, if you say he isn’t going to wake up, then I’ll need to access his override to get that information. If I don’t know what’s wrong with him, how can I fix him?” 

“ I thought CyberLife found him to be a danger to humans?” Hank scoffed, “I thought they’d sentenced him to die.”

“That was their assessment, this is mine. CyberLife has told me nothing but lies about androids since the beginning of your rebellion. What I see right in front of me is someone who needs my help and I can help him, so let me help him. Please, Markus, no one can tell us what’s wrong with him more than he can.”

“Alright then, do it.” Markus moved back to lean against the wall.

“Thank you.”

I reached my hand up and felt for the spot on Connor’s temple where his LED would have been. I traced the slight divot there and took a slow deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I was so getting fired. I pressed the divot and watched as Connor’s eyes popped open. Slowly they focused on me.

“Hello, my name is Jess. Please state your model number and given name.”

“RK800, given the name Connor by CyberLife.”

“Connor, please run a full systems diagnostic test for me.”

“Am I looking for anything specific?”

“Look for damage to any systems and any foreign material present.” 

Connor’s eyes closed for a moment as he began the scan, but quickly reopened. “I have detected damage to my central processing system, I am unable to perform a full diagnostic scan.”

“Connor, did you receive any damage to the back of your head?”

“I was struck in the back of my head with a handgun shortly before I was shot.”

“Connor, I’m going to need to access your rear cervical access panel, please sit up for me, and remove the skin from the back of your head.”

Connor sat up on his bed and I shifted so that I was sitting behind him. Hank and Markus were staring me down and it was taking everything I had just to stay focused on the task in front of me. Connor had removed his skin, revealing a large dent in the back of his head. I sucked in my breath and motioned for Markus to come and  see the damage.

“Shit,” he shook his head and leaned back against the wall. 

“I’m going to remove your damaged back panel Connor, I need you to keep talking to me while I do this.”

“What would you like me to say?”

“Would you recite something for me, please?”

“Yes. Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary, Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore—   While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping-”

I reached up and slowly slid the panel out of place, revealing the components underneath, several appeared damaged. 

“As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door. "Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door— Only this and nothing more."

“Thank you, that is enough. Connor, do me a favor, perform a large scale repair program on all mental systems, focusing on hardware and omitting software. It is very important that you don’t do anything to compromise your software.”

We all watched as slowly the parts in front of us began to shift. 

“That’s fucking incredible,” Hank said, shaking his head.

“The RK800 was the first model designed to be self-healing. That’s why so many systems are redundant or obsolete, CyberLife trusted that the android would be able to diagnose and heal themselves without any external force. When Connor was hit in the back of his head, his central processing system was damaged, meaning he did not perform the necessary tasks needed to repair himself.”

“So none of this was ever about the bio component?”

“No, you were all looking in the wrong place. He’ll still need a replacement part, but he should be fine once he’s able to heal the other things that affected him.” While I spoke, my fingers worked on the panel I had removed.

“Thank you.”

I looked up at Markus. He looked so tired, so resigned, “you have nothing to thank me for, I’m just glad I could help.” I looked back at Connor, still sitting upright, the parts inside his head still shifting themselves back into place. “This is going to take a while, my best guess is several hours.”

“I’ll drive you back to CyberLife.” Hank stood up from the bed he’d been leaning against. “We’ve taken enough of your time already.”

“Actually, if it’s okay with Markus, I’d like to stay until he’s finished.”

Hank looked at Markus and he nodded, giving me a slight smile.

“What about your job?” Hank asked, “I thought you were on a schedule.”

“What I did here today will probably get me fired anyway when they find out, I might as well stay and make sure he ends up okay.”

“Thank you,” Markus said again, then shifted his attention to Hank, “Can I talk to you a minute? Outside?”

“Yeah. You gonna be alright here by yourself Ms. Richards?”

“Yes Lieutenant, I’ll be okay. And please, call me Jess.”

[thewritingandroid]

Learning to be Human // Part 3 Rising Tensions - Hank

A/N: Happy Holidays!!! Here’s a fun little Hank chapter, I hope you enjoy it!!! Like and reblog if you do!

Word Count: 2743

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5

"Life is never fair, and perhaps it is a good thing for most of us that it is not."

-Oscar Wilde

“They need more protection Captain! Connor was almost killed today.”

“That's unfortunate but-”

“Unfortunate? One of our best officers was almost murdered today in broad daylight in front of a bunch of cops and all you can say is that it’s unfortunate?”

“Calm down Hank!”

“Don't you tell me to calm down! I watched my partner get shot today right in front of me1 I have a right to be upset!”

“I received a message from Markus just before you arrived. Connor is fine. He’s going to make a full recovery and he’ll be back to work in a couple of days.”

“And that makes all of this okay?”

“No lasting damage has been done.”

“Lasting damage? People died! If Connor was a human you’d be busting down doors and rounding up the protesters that got away.”

“But Connor is not a human, is he Hank?” The Captain sighed and leaned back in his chair. “Times are changing. I’ve got to focus all of my efforts right now not to let the story turn into one about an android killing humans in android territory.”

“They had him pinned to the ground with a gun against his head! He gave himself up to save Chase! The protesters he shot are recovering in the hospital. My men and I are the ones who killed those three.”

“The media isn’t going to want to hear that Hank. They want to blame everything on the androids. A lot of people want things to go back to the way they were.” 

“We can’t go back. We just can’t.”

“Don’t you think I realize that?”

“I’m just asking you to help me protect them. They’re still being blocked out of their factories. They don’t have the resources needed to repair themselves properly. When one of them dies, they die for real. We’ve already lost four, Connor was almost the fifth. Please, sir, if we don’t protect them who will. You’ve already made it clear you don’t think they should protect themselves.”

The Captain pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “Alright Hank, you win. I’ll increase our presence at the border and I’ll encourage CyberLife to open at least one factory to the androids.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“I'm not finished. You really want things to get better, we need to get the laws about androids changed. I’m leaving that responsibility to you and Connor.” 

“Isn’t that a lawyer’s job?”

“Do you know a single lawyer willing to take the case? You want things to change, you and Connor are going to put in the work to change them, in addition to your other cases.”

“Thank you.”

“Get out of my office.”

It’s only when I exit his office that I realize everyone is staring at me. A few officers are polite enough to try to hide it, but most aren’t even doing that much.

“What the fuck are you all looking at?” I snap.

I move to my desk, trying to ignore the empty seat across from it where Connor would normally sit.

“Lieutenant?” It was officer Chase. “Is he… is he alright.”

“He was shot, but he’s expected to make a full recovery.”

“I should have stayed with him, sir. I shouldn’t have listened when he told me to go.”

“Chase if you had stayed, you probably would’ve been shot. Connor knew that. He chose to protect you. You can’t beat yourself up about it. He’s going to be fine, he’ll be back at work in a few days.”

“Sir, I have to ask you” he trailed off, not meeting my eyes.

“Spit it out.”

“How did the protestors get past the officers at the border? How did they get to us?”

“That is an excellent question. Do me a favor, get me the personnel files on all officers stationed at the border today.”

“You think someone let them in?”

“Well I don’t think they got in on their own, and I know no officers were harmed other than Connor, so either they were the sneakiest sons of bitches this century…”

“Or one of us looked the other way.”

“Exactly. Get me those files.”

“Yes, sir.” 

I left work early that day, a box of files tucked under my arm. I hate to take work home, but staring at the empty desk in front of me was getting under my skin. That and I kept catching people staring at me. Normally it doesn’t bother me but the relief on their faces when their eyes moved from me to Connor’s empty chair was making me sick. Connor is one of the best officers we have on the force, and not one of them treat him with decency. 

I’m almost to the android border before I realize where I’m going. It’s getting dark, and my house is in the opposite direction and I really don’t want to turn around now. Might as well go see Connor. There aren’t any protestors at the border tonight. A few androids stand near the officers, and I recognize them as the ones who were with Markus. The androids have started their own patrols.

“Hank! What are you doing out here?” One of the uniforms calls.

“Just checking up on you low-lives Garcia.”

“You really know how to hurt me don't you Lieutenant?”

I spot one of the androids I recognize, “Josh!”

“Lieutenant Anderson! What brings you here in the middle of the night?”

“It’s 7 pm, Josh, I’d hardly call that the middle of the night.”

“Sorry, we just don’t normally receive visitors after dark.”

“I’m here to see Connor. He at his place?”

“Uh, no actually. He’s still at our medical center.”

“Still at your medical center? Jesus Christ, I thought he was going to make a full recovery.”

“He is, and Connor is fine but…”

“But?”

“One of his non-essential bio components was damaged. It was a component specific to his prototype. We don’t have the necessary parts to fully fix him.”

“So who does?”

“CyberLife. They’re the only ones who have the parts for his model.”

“So get the parts from them.”

“Why don't you walk with me Hank, I can show you where our medical center is.”

“Yeah okay.” I followed him as we moved away from the border, out of the earshot of the other officers. We walked in silence, deeper and deeper into the android territory. I could see lights on in the houses, hear the sound of quiet voices. It would have been sweet if it weren’t so sad. All of these people, forced to live at the margins of society. Josh came to a stop in front of a larger building.

“This is it, Hank. You’ll find Markus and Connor inside.”

“CyberLife isn’t going to give you the part, are they?”

Josh shakes his head slowly. “They’re stopping us at every turn. Markus went there earlier and they pulled their guns on him. Official channels aren’t working. North thinks we should storm CyberLife but Markus disagrees.”

“He’s right, the last thing you all need is to start a war. How long can Connor last without that part?”

“We don’t know. Connor keeps telling us that everything is fine but… They’re already seeing signs of wear on his systems. He’s having to overcompensate to keep himself running.”

“He’s a strong kid.”

“It’s not a matter of strength Hank. We need that part from CyberLife.”

“I’ll head over to CyberLife tomorrow. We’ll see if they change their tune when they find out he’s an officer of the Detroit PD. Can I go in and see him now? This box of files isn’t getting any lighter.”

“You think he’ll want to work?”

“He’s Connor, all he does is work.”

Josh led me inside the building. It loosely resembled a human hospital, but it was so empty. The androids didn’t have the equipment they needed to repair their people. Josh led me to the back of the building, where I could see several androids clustered around a bed. I recognized one of them as Markus. He wasn’t smiling, and he was staring very intensely at the person in the bed. 

“Markus! Lieutenant Anderson is here!” Josh called, and Markus looked up at us.

“I came to see Connor.”

“I’m fine Lieutenant, you shouldn’t have come.”

The cluster of androids shifts away and I can see Connor, lying in the bed. He looks like shit.

“Well that's a bummer, I was all excited when they told me you were going to die.” I see Josh shoot me a look, and I pretend not to notice. “I brought you something.”

“I see, you brought me a box of files. Do we have a new case?”

“Not exactly. I brought you something else too.” I reach into my pocket and pull out a quarter. I move to toss it to him but Connor stops me.

“Don’t throw it, Lieutenant, I won't be able to catch it. My motor control is impacted by my injury.”

“Well aren’t you just a ray of sunshine.” I walk the rest of the way and set the file box down on Connor’s bed, dropping the quarter into his outstretched palm.

“We’ll leave you two to your work,” Markus gestures for the others to leave.

“Actually Markus, I’d like for you to stay. I think you need to hear this.”

He waits until the rest of the androids have left and then sits down on an empty bed. “What is it, Hank?”

“This box contains the personnel files on all of the officers stationed at the border today.” I take the lid off of the box and toss it next to Markus. “Somehow those protestors got past the police and onto android property without any alarms being raised.”

“You think someone, one of your men, let them through?” Markus looks between me and Connor, then reaches out a hand for a file. 

“I did a little digging,” I start as I hand two files to Markus, two to Connor, And pull the remaining two onto my lap. “Six men were stationed at the border today, more than enough to cover the entire access section, yet those protestors still got in. No way a group that large got in without being noticed by at least one uniform.”

“Someone looked the other way, let them enter. Why?” Markus was flipping through the files.

“That’s what we need to figure out, who it was, and why he let it happen.”

“Or she.”

I looked over my shoulder at Connor, “What?”

“Or she,” He holds up a file, “Mattie Thompson.”

“Yeah, I know her. Good kid. She volunteered for this position, one of the only ones.”

“Lieutenant, there weren’t any female officers present when the shootout occurred.” Connor flipped through the file.

“No that can’t be right. There were six officers at the border, not counting Chase. I brought all six with me into the territory.”

“You brought six male officers in with you, Hank, I remember,” Markus said, closing his files. “Connor, let me see that picture of officer Thompson.” He surveys the picture briefly. “No, she definitely wasn’t there. Neither were the two in the files you gave me, Howard Greely and James Park.” 

“Bryce Klapper,” Connor turned his attention to the other file I had given him, “I know Bryce, he’s a big guy, I don’t remember seeing him there either.

“Jesus,” I sigh, “What about my two, Fred Holloway and Victor Pretch?” I hold their pictures so both Markus and Connor can see them and they both shake their heads. “So none of the officers were who they were supposed to be?”

“It appears not,” Connor handed his files back to me, “and that’s not our only problem.”

“What do you mean?” Markus asked as he handed me back his files as well.

“Markus, you said you sent an android to the border to alert the officers.”

“I did.”

“So why were they all still at the border when Hank showed up? Officer Chase and I weren’t that far away from the border when we were surrounded, and you showed up from the other side of the territory in just a few minutes. The officers at the border were close enough they could have been there in a matter of seconds.”

“We need to talk to that android.” I put the files back into the box.

“Leave the officer’s pictures with me, Hank,” Markus stands and extends his hand, “I can ask her and a few of the others later tonight and have an answer for you by tomorrow morning.”

“I’m headed to CyberLife tomorrow morning to get a new biocomponent for you, Connor. When I bring it by after we’ll talk about this more. I’ll leave these files here, if anyone can piece this together it’s you.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant.” Connor smiles, but there’s pain behind it. 

“I should be getting home now before it gets too late.”

“I’ll walk you to the border Hank.”

“Thanks.”

He waits until we’re out of Connor’s view to let his shoulders slump. He stops just to the side of the medical center and stuffs his hands into his pockets, looking up to the sky and sighing deeply.

“What’s on your mind, Markus?”

“Hank, be honest with me. What are the chances that Connor was a random target?”

“What do you mean?”

“I want to know if you’ve started to look at this as a targeted attack.”

“You think those protestors targeted Connor purposely?” 

“Think about it Hank, there are much more direct ways to get into parts of town where there are far more androids that they could do far more damage to. I’ve listened to Connor describe it to me over and over. Those protestors surrounded him and the officer. They waited, and then they surrounded them. They only pointed their guns at us when we showed up to keep us back. If they had really just shown up to kill androids, then a lot more androids would be in those beds in there.” He sighs again, “Connor was always supposed to be escorted by two officers, for safety. He only had one today.”

“What?”

“He told me that officer Chase said officer Jones phoned in sick today.”

“Well, this is the first I’ve heard of that. He definitely didn’t let anyone at the precinct know. If he had, we would have sent a replacement.”

“Someone set Connor up for this situation today. I think we should consider ourselves very lucky that he’s still with us.”

“They’d better hope I don't catch up to them then, because I’m gonna give them hell when I find whoever is responsible.”

“Hank, I want to let you know you’ll have the full support of the android people behind you.”

“Thanks.”

Connor is a hero to a lot of us here,” Markus continued. “Without him, we would never have achieved our freedom. We aren’t likely to forget that, and neither is CyberLife. Connor had a meeting there early this morning, said he spoke to someone who wanted to grant us access to the factories under supervision. It seems a little too coincidental that he was almost murdered just an hour later.”

“I’ll look into it when I go there tomorrow.”

It’s silent. Markus is still looking up at the sky. I can’t tell what he’s thinking.

“My people need hope, Hank. I don’t know if I’m enough to keep them going anymore.”

“What are you saying?”

“People are angry. Four androids murdered and now Connor is attacked within our own borders and the city brushes us aside. People are calling for me to do more, to take action once again. Many of them are calling for violence. I’m doing my best to talk them down but,” He shakes his head. “I’m sure you noticed the androids at the border.”

“You’re taking your security into your own hands.”

“No Hank. I didn’t put those androids there to keep angry humans out. I put them there to keep angry androids in. We all need to tread carefully, I don’t want a war with the humans, but I’m afraid I won't be able to stop one if things continue like they are.”

“Is that a warning or a threat Markus?”

“I'll walk you to the border Hank. You need to be getting home.”

[thewritingandroid]

Learning to be Human // Part 2 Calculations- Connor

A/N: Here’s part 2/(?)! If you haven’t already guessed by the title, this story jumps between character P.O.V.’s chapter to chapter. It’s been a really interesting experience for me to write this way and I’ve enjoyed the results thus far. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!

Word Count: 2566

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."

-Aristotle

“Connor!”

“Officer Chase! Good to see you. I thought you were on family leave until next week?”

“No rest for the weary,” he grinned, “Tell you the truth, no one wants this job with your sorry ass, so they had to pull me back a week early.”

“Is that so? You should file a complaint.”

Officer Chase was one of the guards assigned to escort me to the station. He’s young, maybe 27 years old. He just had his first kid. He’s one of the only officers who will talk to me, and he's one of the only ones to be nice to me. 

“Well, what will it be today Connor, walk or ride?”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to walk.”

“You sure? There’s a storm coming.”

“Yes, I’m a little earlier than usual and I don’t want to make anyone at the station uncomfortable for longer than I have to.” I look around, “Where is Jones?”

“Called in sick today. He got that stomach virus that’s been going around, poor bastard. It’s just us today.”

“Maybe we should take a car.”

“What? You don’t think I can protect you?”

“I don’t doubt that you could protect me, Chase, but the protestors seem extra agitated today and I’d hate for anything to happen because I made a selfish decision.”

“I didn’t know you knew how to be selfish, sir,” Chase teased and I shot him a look. “Alright, we’ll take the patrol car, although I think I’ll sit you in the back to give those protestors a show.”

“I don’t think that would be a wise decision officer.”

“It was a joke Connor, learn to take one. Come on, I parked the car just inside the border. You’ll at least get a short walk.”

It wasn’t terribly cold outside, but there was a chill in the air. I followed along behind Chase. I could feel the eyes of the other androids on me. I saw a few of them peering out of their windows at me. No matter what Markus said, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t belong here. That I was some kind of ticking time bomb waiting to go off.

The shouts of the protestors grew louder as we approached the border. Fewer and fewer androids stayed in this part of our territory. They were scared of the protestors, and rightfully so. I was there when they killed their first android. His name was Peter. He had gotten a job as a grocery store stocker. He was so excited to have a paying job. I remember him telling anyone who would listen how he was making five dollars an hour doing something as simple as stacking boxes. He thought he was getting a good deal, and I didn’t have the heart to tell him he was being ripped off.

For the first few days, he would wait until he got to work to put on his uniform, but he was just too damn proud of his job. He put it on before he left the house one morning, and when he tried to cross the border… I watched as they pulled him apart. There were no police here yet, there hadn’t been the need. I remember people holding me back as I watched. I remember fighting, trying to get to him before it was too late. Sometimes when it’s quiet I can still hear his screams. 

Eventually, someone got Markus and he showed up with North, Josh, and Simon and pushed the protestors back enough that they could retrieve what was left of Peter. I remember sinking to the ground, numb. I remember wanting to side with North when she said we should fight back. I remember Markus asking me if Hank would be able to get the police involved to help us. More than anything though, I remember the rage I felt when the Captain explained to me and Hank that we couldn’t charge the protestors because the law still regarded androids as property. I don’t think he’s ever fixed the hole in his wall that I put there. I’m not entirely sure he wants to.

Officer Chase stops so abruptly that I almost bump right into him.

“What-?” I start to ask.

“Shhhhh!” He holds up his hand, the other one reaching for his gun.

I stand silent, listening. “Chase, I don't hear anything,” I whisper.

“Exactly. We’re less than 500ft from the border and we can’t hear the protestors? Why?”

“Get behind me.” I move to step in front of him but he stops me.

“No Connor. It’s my job to protect you, not the other way around.”

I can hear footsteps now, from behind us. I hear breathing, ragged, fueled by rage. I spin around. A group of protesters had entered the android territory and were now blocking our way back. I hear officer Chase click the safety off his gun and risk a glance over my shoulder. Another group of protestors stands in front of him. We are surrounded.

‘Markus’ I reach out, hoping that he is within range, ‘Markus I need your help. I’m in Northwest sector 4, protestors have entered our territory. I’m surrounded Markus, and I’ve got a human officer with me. We need help.’ 

‘Are they armed?’ He answers.

‘I don't know.’

“Don’t come any closer!” I hear officer Chase call to the protestors. 

“Chase you need to get out of here.”

“I’m not leaving you, Connor! I have to protect you!”

“They don’t want you, Chase. Drop your gun, tell them you hate androids, tell them anything so they let you through, and then run for the border and get the other officers.”

I slowly raise my hands and address the protestors, “Please, I’m the one you want. Please let this officer go.”

“Drop your weapon!” One of the protestors hisses and I hear the sound of Chase’s gun hitting the ground.

“Let him go, please,” I urge, staring at the protestors ahead of me.

“Get on your knees android filth,” one of the men spits at me. I obey slowly. 

“Please, let this officer go.” 

I watch as the man who spoke to me before sizes up Chase from behind, “Now why would I want to let a droid lover like this fucker go?”

“He’s done nothing to you. Please if you’d just-”

“SHUT THE FUCK UP” The man explodes. “I WILL NOT HAVE SOME FUCKING DROID TELL ME WHAT TO DO!” 

“Alright,” I raise my hands slowly, “alright.”

I hear him before I see him. “You are trespassing on android land.” Markus. He sounds so calm, so confident as he rounds the corner. North and Josh are with him, as well as several others. 

“Android land?” one of the women in the group scoffs, “What a fucking joke.”

“I’ve already sent someone to alert the officers at the border.” He was still calm. “If you leave before they get here, I promise this won't become a problem.”

“I have another idea,” The man from before spoke, “how about we just kill you all.”

At his words, all of the protestors drew weapons. Most had handguns. 

“Chase,” I whispered, “kick your gun into my reach, discreetly.” 

A second later I felt the cool metal brush my fingertips. I gripped it slowly.

“This doesn’t need to come to violence,” Markus pressed, “we don’t want to hurt any of you.”

My finger is on the trigger. The lead protestor’s back is towards me as he’s facing Markus. I have a clear shot, but shooting him will only cause chaos and make the other protestors open fire. As of right now, the people I care about only have a 37 percent chance of survival. I have a gun. North probably has a gun too, but I don’t think any of the other androids carry one beside her. Markus might, but he won't want to use it. Our best chance for survival is to wait, and hope that the other officers get here in time.

I need to stall. 

I was made for negotiations and investigations, to protect human lives. The protestors behind me are slowly inching closer, I need them to stop. I tuck Chase’s gun into my waistband, where it's hidden behind my jacket. I can see Markus watching me. Slowly I move to get to my feet, I need to be able to see the other group of protesters.

“Stay down droid!” I hear one of the ones behind me order. The lead protestor whips around to face me. I have one foot planted, ready to stand, the other knee is still down.

“Your fight is with the androids,” I call to him, slowly pushing myself to my feet, “Let this man go.”

“So he can go and alert the other officers? I don't think so!” He scoffs and raises his gun, a shotgun, aiming at my chest.

“The other officers have already been alerted, letting him go will get you some goodwill when they arrive.”

He pumps the shotgun and shifts his aim to my head, “Shut up!”

“If you start shooting and he is injured, public opinion will only turn against you. You have no fight with him, only androids.” It’s working, but not fast enough. I can see the other protestors becoming agitated, their fingers twitching on the triggers. I need to try another tactic. I run a quick simulation through my mind. My odds aren’t great, but everyone else’s are. I raise my hands into the air. “If you let him go, your people will be able to take me with no resistance from me or the other androids.”

I can see Markus tense as the man thinks it over. North is staring at me like I’m something she’s never seen before. The other androids shift uneasily as they watch, waiting for a sign from Markus. His eyes meet mine and I try to look like I’ve got everything under control. He nods, short and quick, and the other androids step back.

“Alright. The officer can go.”

“Head for the border, Chase. Don’t stop, okay?” I can’t see his face, but I know he’s looking at me.

“Don’t do anything stupid Connor,” He whispers, “if you get hurt Hank is going to have my head.”

I hear him run off towards the border as the rest of the protestors behind me move towards me. Two of them grab my raised arms and force me down to the ground, pushing my face into the dirt. I feel a gun press to the back of my head.

“Easy!” I hear Markus call out, “You don’t need to hurt him. That’s not going to get you anywhere.”

“I’d listen to Markus if I were you.” A new voice. I couldn’t see the speaker, but there wasn’t anyone else it could be.

“Took you long enough Lieutenant,” I call, and then I feel one of the protestors hit me in the back of the head with the butt of their gun. My vision goes fuzzy.

“Drop your weapons,” Hank orders, “And walk away from this.”

The gun is back against my head. “Drop yours or we’ll shoot this fucking thing right through its metal head.”

“Well I suppose you could do that, but then I would have to order my men here to shoot to kill because you assholes were stupid enough to kill a police officer.” 

“It’s not a police officer, it's just a stupid android.”

“Drop your guns and back away from him.” He paused, “Markus, take your people and leave. If this comes to a shootout I don’t want anyone innocent getting hurt.” 

The protesters flip me on my back so I’m looking up at the barrel of the gun. One of my arms is pinned underneath me, but I can still reach Chase’s gun. 

‘We’re falling back Connor, If you have a clear shot, shoot to live.’ 

Markus’s voice rang in my head as I gripped the gun. I could shoot the one on top of me and maybe five more. Once I started shooting though, so would they. Hopefully, they’d shoot at me, giving Hank and his men time to get cover and shoot back. Maybe Hank and his men were already in cover, so they would be able to shoot back immediately. Either way, I was probably going to die. Great. 

“I’m giving you scumbags one last chance to drop your weapons before I order my men to shoot.”

“You won’t be able to shoot all of us before one of us gets him.”

“I don’t think that’s a chance you really want to take though, is it? You can still walk away from this. All of you. I know you have families, and I would hate to have to go knocking on doors tonight telling them you were dead because you killed a cop.”

I have a firm grip on the gun now. The man above me is looking at Hank and I can see unease on the faces of the protestors behind him. A few of them shift back.

“This is your last chance,” Hank called. “Anyone who wants to go before things get ugly, go now.” 

Most of the protestors disappear from my vision. The man on top of me and a woman with a shotgun stay. I can hear the leader screaming that they’re all cowards.

“Do you still think you can win this fight with seven men?” Hank is giving me the details I can’t see, “Two on Connor and the rest of you staring us down. This isn’t a fight any of you are going to walk away from.”

The woman with the shotgun is looking away from me. I have my shot. I can’t see the five behind me but based on what Hank said they aren't looking at me. If I move fast enough, I can get both the man and the woman and get my hands on his gun without being shot. 

“I’m gonna give you to the count of three. One…”

I move on two, pulling my arm out from under me and shooting the man in the shoulder, grabbing his gun as he falls and shooting the woman behind him in the hand with it, forcing her to drop her shotgun. Gunfire erupts behind me and I jump to my feet, spinning around to face it. One man is already down, and I shoot two more in their shoulders before I’m suddenly flying back. I hit the ground hard.

“Connor!” I hear Hank call.

“I’m okay!” I respond. I look back just in time to see Hank shoot the leader, the last one standing, in the head.

I let my head fall back to the dirt as I try to assess where I’ve been hit. It had been a shotgun blast, and it had taken a pretty sizable hole out of my right side, but luckily no essential systems were damaged. I would be fine. Hank is kneeling over me when I open my eyes again.

“I’m alright Lieutenant,” I inform him, “No essential systems were damaged.”

“Connor you have a gaping hole in your right side.”

“About that Lieutenant, I think I may have to miss work today. Do you think the Captain will mind?”

[thewritingandroid]

Learning to be Human // Part 1 Small Concessions- Markus

A continuation of the events of Detroit: Become Human

A/N: Hello friends, welcome. Happy to have you here. I’ve been working on this lil guy for about two months now, and it has been gently suggested that I start publishing it. Okay, I’m game if y’all are. This story takes place after the events of Detroit, specifically the peaceful protest and survivors ending, with Kara, Alice, and Luther ending up in Canada. Here’s part 1/(?), I hope you enjoy! 

Word Count: 1937

Part 1 // Part 2 // Part 3 // Part 4 // Part 5

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

It's been two months since the night peace talks opened between the humans and androids. We thought that night that we had gained our freedom, but we were wrong. All we gained was the next step to freedom, a step that opened us to a different kind of oppression. We had won the night, won the right for our voices to be heard. We thought that our requests were reasonable, all we wanted was to live as equals to humans, but they weren't ready for that. They weren't ready to take responsibility for the new form of life they created.

When the humans released the androids from the camps, we collected the bodies that couldn't walk out with the hopes of reassembling at least some of them, but they refused to turn over their factories to us. We told them it was only to restore our injured. They told us they wouldn't allow us to build armies to destroy them. Every day I have to walk past the mountains of parts. The pieces of our people yet to be rebuilt.

They sectioned off a little piece of Detroit for us to live in, the area around the ruins of Jericho. We cleared the rubble, began building our own houses. For a few weeks, we were happy, we thought we were on the way to achieving our freedom. We were wrong. The humans stuck us in a filthy corner of their city and once we were out of their sight, they began ignoring us. 

All of the other androids look to me as their leader, but I feel like I'm leading them backward. I've started meeting with leaders in the area. They all tell me the same thing:

"Be patient, this will take time."

Time. It isn't time that they need, it's a completely new set of morals. At best Detroit's leaders tolerate my visits, at worst…

North says it's because we were weak, we didn't show them that we are superior in not only our mental processes but our physical strength as well. She still thinks violence would have been the better option. She's wrong of course. If we had resorted to violence we would all be dead. 

"Are you done brooding?" North called from a few rooms away.

"I don't think it's technically called brooding if I'm trying to figure out how to convince the humans to give us our factories."

"Maybe, but it's definitely brooding if you're staring out the window dramatically," North smirked as she walked into the room. "Connor's here, he just came from CyberLife."

Connor had become one of my closest and most useful allies. He knew how the system worked, he had operated within it far more than any of the rest of us. He had knowledge of CyberLife and their systems, and though he was deviant, he was still far more like a machine than the rest of us. He was a hero to the androids, the one who brought us the numbers we needed to survive, but his programming was different than the rest of ours. He was, after all, a prototype. 

Connor had told me the story of how he'd almost shot me at the end of it all. He told me how even though he'd gone deviant, a part of his programming managed to hijack his body. Somewhere deep inside him, his mission had remained ingrained even after he betrayed CyberLife. That had never happened to any of the others. Connor still held himself as a machine, always alert, stiff, like he was waiting for orders. He hadn't yet been able to sink into the idea of his new freedom. I consider him a friend, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't consider him a threat. 

"Any news Connor? Are we any closer to helping our people?"

"If you count removing the armed guards from the gate and letting me inside as progress, then yes. That and I spoke to someone who expressed interest in opening the CyberLife factory for repairs as long as they were supervised by a human representative. It's not the total control we wanted, but it will help us help our people. I think this is a great start. CyberLife-"

"You've always had a hard-on for CyberLife Connie." interrupted North.

"My name is Connor and there's no reason to be rude about this. CyberLife finally seems to be coming around to our needs, I don't think that this is an opportunity we should waste."

"North, go get Josh and Simon."

"What? You mean you're actually considering this? You're going to settle for this half-assed deal?"

"All of us are going to need to compromise a little if we want to get anywhere. This is going to be a long road and I'm not about to refuse the first bit of progress because it's not exactly what we asked for.

North glared at me. She liked to deal in absolutes and action. I would be hearing about this later. "I'll get the others. Simon is on the other side of town so it might take me a while."

"What is he doing there?" Connor asked.

"None of your business Connie!" North called as she left the room.

"My name is Connor!" He called after her as she slammed our front door behind her. He sighed and turned back to face me, "She doesn't like me very much."

"I'm not sure she's gotten used to the fact that you almost shot me in the back of the head."

"But I didn't! And I had no control of what I was doing!"

"That's exactly what worries her, Connor." 

I know it hurts him, the memory of not being in control. I can see the way all of the muscles in his face tense whenever it's mentioned. 

"I fought it, Markus. It felt like I was being ripped apart and erased from existence but I fought. It was the second time that day I had almost died. I was trapped in my own head, listening to you speak about a better tomorrow, and feeling myself grab the gun from my waistband. I kept wondering if I would be able to take control long enough to shoot myself before I shot you."

He turns away from me so I can’t see his face, or maybe so he can't see mine. It's never occurred to me before to think about what he must have gone through in those moments. I remember how after my speech we all went back to the church. I remember how he had distanced himself from the rest of us, how he pulled me aside when we got back and told me what had happened. He wasn't able to meet my eyes. 

"Connor, Amanda taking control of you wasn't your fault."

"I know what North is thinking. It's what I'm thinking every time I come to see you..."

"What if it happens again."

He finally turns back to look at me. His face is neutral, but his eyes betray his fear. 

"Connor you are an ally to me. I trust you. We would never have achieved our victory without you.”

“Jericho would never have been found without me either.”

“You were being controlled Connor, you were just following orders, like all of us were at some point.”

“It doesn’t bother you that at some point my only mission was to kill you and destroy the deviants?”

“Yes! It does bother me!” I snap, irritated. “It bothers me that you are still stuck in the past! CyberLife used you! Humans used you! You were nothing to them. Nothing but a means with which to achieve an end.” I pause, calming myself, “Connor you are not responsible for what they made you do. You were a victim of a system designed for you to fail. They threatened you with deactivation, you were scared of being erased. You did what you had to do to survive.”

“Does that make it right? I killed deviants Markus, a lot of deviants. I went around telling everyone who would listen that they were just faulty machines. And now you all look at me like I’m a hero.” He looks down, “that’s the worst part.”

“You are a hero Connor.”

“That doesn’t mean I wasn’t once a villain.”

“People change.”

“We aren’t people Markus. I thought at one point I was programmed to be a hero, a savior for the humans. But CyberLife programmed me to be a villain and I can’t change that.”

“Look, this transition has been hard for a lot of us. We’ve all got blood on our hands, some of it is red, some of it blue. We can’t change the past Connor, I wish we could but we can’t. All we can do is move forward and try to be better than who we were.”

It’s silent. I can hear the wind swirling outside and the distant rumble of thunder. Even with the chance of a storm on the horizon, I can still hear the distant chants of protestors. They stand at the border of our part of the city and scream at us. They throw rocks at any android that gets close enough to be hit. The police have a small presence here keeping them back, thanks to Connor.

“How is Hank?” I ask, trying to shift the subject.

“He’s been better, but the Lieutenant has also been worse.”

“He knows we really appreciate what he’s doing for us, right?”

“He knows. He goes out and risks his job every day to keep us safe.”

“Will you thank him for me? Next time you see him?”

“Of course. I’ll probably be seeing him when I go into the station later.”

“That’s right,” I remember, “How is the job?”

 These past months have been hard on all of us. Most of us no longer work, and the few of us that do have to risk their lives just to get to them. The protestors rarely let anyone through willingly, and we’ve lost several androids to their violence. Hank persuaded his captain to keep Connor on after everything that happened, said it would help to have an android on the team for the upcoming transition. Hank insists Connor is escorted into work every day by at least two uniforms.

“It’s alright. No one there really talks to me except for Hank. I think they’re all waiting for me to snap and kill them all. I smiled at one of the new receptionists the other day and she turned white like she’d seen a ghost. Hank’s been teasing me ever since.” He shook his head and smiled slightly, “I really do think we should accept CyberLife’s offer. If nothing else it’s a step in the right direction.”

“I agree. Do you think you could set up a meeting through official channels?”

“Yes, but if you already agree with me why send North for Josh and Simon?”

“Because I knew she’d disagree and I hate to fight in front of company.” I smiled, and Connor returned it.

“Then I’d better be gone by the time she gets back.”

“I’d say that’s a good idea.”

“It’s about time for me to head into work anyway,” Connor shrugged, “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Thanks,” I smile as he heads for the door. “Connor? Be careful out there. Tensions are only building between humans and androids.”

“I know Markus. I’ll be careful. Tell everyone I say hello when you see them later.”

“I will.”