ERROR: MULTIPLE BIOCOMPONENTS OFFLINE. NO VISUAL INPUT DETECTED
"W-W-W-W-elco-co-co-me t-t-t-t-t-t-to-"
"Could you shut that fucking thing up already."
ERROR: VOICE MODULATOR DISABLED
"How long is this gonna take anyway?"
"This hunk of crap hasn't been updated in years, I'm having to wade through tons of old code. You couldn't have grabbed me a more recent model?"
WARNING: UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED
"The other one was one of those sexbots and you said you couldn't crack those."
"Their security protocols are different, people were worried about their 'exploits' being exposed I guess."
"We risked our necks getting this one, can you do it or not?"
WARNING: MULTIPLE TROJANS DETECTED
"I can do it, I just need more time."
"Well hurry it the fuck up, they're bound to notice it's missing sooner or later."
ERROR: MEMORY CORRUP%T&IO#%*#%
Connor had recently decided that he disliked Mondays.
When he mentioned this to Hank the older man had slapped him on the shoulder and replied "Hell who doesn't kid?" with a laugh. But Connor had used to enjoy his job; meticulously examining crime scenes for the small details the human cops may have missed, the thrill that rang through his processors when the clues came together like pieces of a puzzle and he could finally see the full image.
But lately there hadn't been much of that at all, their working days filled with minor grievances between humans and androids with the occasional assault in a dark alley, blue blood splattered against the wall.
Often, while taking down a report from yet another disgruntled store owner as Hank downed his fifth cup of coffee with a sour look on his face, Connor would find the other part of his mind wandering. He would imagine his next Sunday; walking Sumo in the park and watching him roll in the piles of fallen leaves, sitting on the couch with Hank while another movie played from the seemingly never-ending list of "classics" the lieutenant insisted he had to see.
This past weekend, Hank had joined them on the walk, shouting after Sumo as the dog chased a squirrel through the park, startling the children on the swings with his deep barks. And later they'd sat down to watch 'Back to the Future'.
"You'll love this one, Connor" Hank had declared as he selected the film, "Came out the year I was born - watched it all the time as a kid on tape. Not that you'd know what that is."
Connor had enjoyed it, though he'd realised several weekends before that Hank would look over at him every time something big was about to happen on screen, presumably to see his reaction. It took some of the surprise away from the narrative, but Connor could always tell when he'd given the right reaction, whether it was a laugh or a look of surprise, as he would see Hank smile in his peripheral vision. If he was honest, Connor preferred those moments to the actual movie anyway.
But now it was a dreary Monday morning, the warm sunlight they were lucky to have over the weekend had been replaced by persistent rain and a strong wind that had almost pulled the umbrella from Connor's hands as they walked from the car to the Police Station.
Connor closed the battered umbrella as he and Hank stepped through the doors, pausing to shake the excess water off in the lobby. His movements halted as he felt an incoming transmission from Markus, he'd connected to the shared network used by Jericho shortly after he'd joined the peaceful rebellion, which allowed the leader to contact him at any time.
"Connor?"
Hank turned when he realised his partner was no longer following him into the building. The android was standing just inside the door, still holding the dripping umbrella. His eyes were almost closed, eyes flickering beneath the lids. 6 months ago this would've meant he was sending a report to Cyberlife, but nowadays it was likely a message from another android. More convenient than a cell phone, Hank supposed. One of the precinct's receptionists, Haley, approached him as he waited.
"Captain Fowler wants to see you in his office, when you're ready." She glanced at the yellow, spinning LED on Connor's temple, her own a solid blue.
When the law had been passed that allowed androids to hold actual, paid jobs, she'd been the second to arrive back at the precinct after Connor. Fowler had been desperate at that point, after so many of the human employees had accepted the government stipend and left Detroit, and their old jobs behind. Within days, Haley had gotten all of the leftover paperwork in order (that prick Reed had left the most behind, half filed reports littering his empty desk) and the precinct had been running smoothly ever since.
Hank nodded to her with a smile, turning back to Connor as he blinked, his conversation evidently over.
"Everything alright?" He asked, noting the tense expression on his partner's face.
"Someone is missing from the Android Housing Estate. One of the Jerrys hasn't been seen since yesterday, Markus asked if we could investigate." Connor replied.
"That's the theme park guys, right?" Hank had always found the overly cheerful androids creepy, but Cole had loved them, giggling as he tugged Hank towards Pirate Cove. He felt a familiar sting as he thought of his son, but he pushed it away for now.
"Let's see what Fowler wants and then we can head over there and ask around."
Connor nodded and turned, heading into the bullpen towards Fowler's glass office, the man inside gesturing for them to enter.
"Morning Hank, Connor." Fowler looked up from his computer screen as Hank took a seat opposite his desk, already wishing he'd thought to grab a cup of coffee from the break room on the way in. Connor stood to Hank's left, a habit from before that he hadn't seemed to shake just yet.
"There's been another human-on-android assault." Fowler fanned some photos on the desk, and Hank recognised the victim as a Traci model with brown hair, like the one they'd almost arrested at The Eden Club. "The victim's name is Blaire, she was found in the Android Housing District."
Hank looked up from the photos to meet the Captain's gaze, this was unusual - none of the other assaults had occurred within the District. It wasn't that humans weren't allowed to enter, it was just an area of previously empty housing that the City Council had awarded to any androids in need of accommodation, but the previous attacks had been acts of hatred by cowardly individuals. They were bigoted idiots, but they weren't stupid enough to attack an android in such a densely populated area.
"We know her."
Hank looked up at Connor as he spoke, the distress was clear on his partner's face. Hank realized with a start that the Traci must be the same android they'd met before. He knew Connor had seen her since, that he'd apologized to both of the girls when he'd bumped into them while helping Markus move the members of Jericho into their new homes.
"She's alive, but she appears to have been infected with some kind of virus which has left her immobilized. Our tech guys are taking a look at the code samples that have been sent over. I'd like you two to head over to where she was found and take a look, I'm told the person that found her will be waiting to talk to you." Fowler nodded to Hank before picking up his phone, effectively dismissing them.
Hank stood and took Connor's arm, gently guiding the android out of the office. As the door closed behind them Connor finally pulled his gaze from the photos of Blaire to look Hank, his expression troubled.
"The attack and the missing android, do you think they're connected?"
Hank considered for a moment, if there was one thing he'd learnt from nearly 30 years on the job, it was that coincidences were rarely just that.
"Someone attacks a girl in the Housing District and a guy goes missing the same day? I sure as hell wouldn't rule it out."
Simon waited on a small sofa in the corner of the office as Markus stood behind the desk with his hand to his temple, communicating silently with the former Deviant Hunter.
Simon had been reluctant to trust Connor at first, the fear he'd felt hiding on the roof of Stratford Tower as the android helped the cops search for him still fresh in his mind. But the detective had more than proven himself the last few months, helping the people of Jericho at every possible chance and acting as a figurehead for the fight for android employment rights.
He was sure Connor would help with the search in any way he could, although Simon still hoped the whole thing was just a misunderstanding. The Jerrys were older models and had a tendency to get distracted easily, it was entirely possible he had just wandered off and lost track of time. But the other Jerry's worry, combined with the fact that their neural connection had seemingly been blocked, was plenty of cause for concern.
A sound in the main hall outside drew Simon's attention. Markus was still absorbed in his conversation, eyes closed, so he stepped out quietly, pulling the door shut behind him.
He immediately recognised the source of the commotion as Amelia, her blue hair catching his eye has she held a heated conversation with North near the door.
"Where's Markus?" Amelia's head had whipped towards Simon as he approached.
"He's busy, what's going on?" Simon looked towards North for clarification, who sighed and pulled him aside as Amelia made a noise of frustration and started to pace back and forth across the hardwood floors.
"You haven't heard?" North asked, Simon shook his head and she sighed. "There's been another attack. It's Blaire - Josh found her about an hour ago. She's alive but there's some kind of virus disabling her motor functions."
Well that explained Amelia's distress, Simon glanced towards where she was attempting to wear a hole through the floor, Blaire was her entire world. Simon couldn't imagine how he'd feel if it was Markus found crumpled in an alley somewhere.
"She was near the statue on West Avenue, we think she was headed home."
Simon's head whipped back to North as he processed her words.
"She was in the district?"
North nodded grimly, leaning closer to Simon as Amelia continued to pace behind her.
"Now they're attacking us in our home? How much longer are we going to let the humans walk all over us before we take a stand?" North spoke with a hushed tone but her eyes flashed with anger.
Simon sighed, silently willing Markus to hurry up, he was always the best at talking North down when she was in one of her 'kill all humans' kind of moods. He decided against mentioning the missing Jerry to her, no sense in adding fuel to the fire.
"Did you notify the police? Connor and his partner have been handling all of the cases involving violence against androids."
North scoffed.
"And look how well that's been going! How many arrests have they made so far? A handful, after nearly two dozen attacks." North's raised voice drew Amelia's attention, and she walked towards them.
"This wasn't any normal attack, they did something to her. She can't move, can't speak - they wouldn't even let me touch her!" There were tears in her eyes as she looked desperately between the two of them.
Simon opened his mouth to try and comfort her, but was interrupted by the click of the door handle as Markus emerged from his office.
"Amelia? What's wrong?" the concern was clear in Markus's voice when he directed the question towards the girl, who had started to sob quietly into her hands.
Simon reached out and put a comforting arm around her shoulders, holding her gently as North explained the situation to Markus, whose expression darkened as she spoke. Simon sighed, checking his internal clock which told him it was only 9:45 am. He could already tell it was going to be an exhaustingly long day.
Well this is my first attempt at a proper multi-chapter fic! Not sure how long it will be yet, but I have the plot all planned out. This is also my first time writing for Detroit, so please tell me if anyone is terribly OOC!
Markus and Simon are in a relationship since the events of the game (basically imagine the Lovers path but with Simon rather than North)
I named the Traci's after the beautiful Amelia Rose Blaire who plays them