Crying incoming beware! :O
Connor's POV
Connor was surrounded by softness. He felt safe and comfy. Not wanting to move he allowed himself to stay wherever he was for exactly 3 more minutes.
Finally checking his internal clock he jumped up.
It was 9:46 pm. He was late.
Scanning around for his jacket. When did Hank get that off?
Wait? Blinking he realised he was in his partners house. Where is Hank? Getting up he glanced at his shoes scattered on the floor. He didn't feel like putting them on. He had no job to report to.
Getting up he decided to put "Locate Hank" under Current Task.
Putting his Jacket back on. Memories from last night was coming back full force as he began for the door.
Him infiltrating Cyber life and "waking" up all the androids.
Leading the army to meet Markus.
Markus giving a speech.
Wait why couldn't he remember the speech? He paused.
Something bad happened. Something that stopped him from listening. Oh Amanda…
Amanda taking control and taking out his gun
Him crawling to exit his programme
Walking quietly offstage
Meeting up with Hank.
Connor walked out of the bedroom.
Smiling when he heard Hanks heavy breathing coming from the Sofa. Going over, he felt bad for making the older man sleep in such an uncomfortable position. His head was off the couch and he had a small blanket that wasn't covering him at all.
Hearing a soft patter he spotted Sumo walking over to him. Wagging his tail wildly. Connor leaned down and gave him a hug. Petting him enthusiastically. He loved dogs especially the gentle giant that is Sumo.
Said dog followed him to the bedroom, Connor stole the blanket off the bed and moved back to the couch. Gently placing it over Hank and moving his head back over the armrest.
Connor finally looked around and didn't like what he saw. The state Hanks home was in was much worse than the last time he saw it. Beer bottles everywhere and takeout boxes. A slight smell lingering in the air.
Deciding he had nothing to do he might as well do something productive. He fed sumo and began cleaning the house. Avoiding the sitting room, where Hank was still sound asleep.
After an hour and a half the house was somewhat clean. Connor wasn't built to look after a house and such didn't have the resources to tell him what to do but he did his best. It was hard when he had to try and stay silent. Hovering was off the tables obviously. Still Connor was happy with himself. Hanks home was now slightly more respectable.
Having nothing else to do Connor sat down at the dining table staring ahead. There was not much he could to do until Hank woke up. Cleaning had distracted him but now he was alone with his thoughts. Fear coming back full force. His face not changing expression but his LED flashing Yellow. Is Amanda still in his coding? Could she still take control him? What could she make him do?
"You okay kid?" Connor jumped. Hank was leaning over the back of the couch eyeing him. How had he not noticed him get up?
"Yes…All my systems are functioning at full capacity". No Amanda couldn't still be there right? He had deleted her the moment he took control again. But that didn't calm him at all.
LED still flashing. His partner Frowned.
"That's not what I meant"
Connor blinked. "What did you mean?"
Hank sighed loudly "For fucks sake, give me a sec."
He got up pulling his pants up and moved to the kitchen. He wandered about making coffee. After a few moments of silence he situated himself next to the android and he warmed his hands on the mug.
"There's obviously something on your mind, what is it?" Hank eyed him and now Connor was overly aware that he was staring at his LED. It gave away his internal battle. It might be better if he removed it in the future.
"I..I" Connor didn't want to talk about it but there wasn't a way to avoid it. Hank had been nothing but caring. But there was a small part of him and thought Hank might be disappointed in him after finding out he was still a machine.
"I'm not free, I'm not like the others…" Connor surprised himself at how much emotion was in his voice. Hanks eyes dulled slightly at that and he took a sip of his drink.
"What makes you say that?" His voice was even but there was something hidden there. Connor couldn't deceiver what emotion it was. Anger? Frustration?
"There's a programme in my system, an AI named Amanda. She was the one I reported all my findings to" Hank looked at him confused.
"Like when you'd go all quiet and close your eyes? You were talking to her?"
"Yes, I would meet with her in my mind palace. In a Zen Garden Kamsiki designed himself."
"That shithead… So… she was in your head? Why was she even there?"
Connor nodded at him. "Cyberlife wished to get regular reports and follow the investigation closely. She was there to ensure I would complete my mission and regularly update them on any progress."
Hank frowned. "What would have happened if you weren't reporting or…getting further in the case?" Connor blinked surprised at that line of questioning. He hadn't expected that.
"I would have been required to return to Cyberlife to be analysed, deactivated and most likely replaced." Hanks hand tightened on his cup.
"You're a deviant now, why aren't you free from those assholes?" he growled.
"I thought I knew what my purpose was "Catch Deviants and understand what causes them to deviate"…But as it turns out that wasn't my primary mission." Connors voiced became quiet.
"I was created to deviate… Designed to join the revolution, and become part of the key players in their victory. Which I did succeed in….I was compromised from the beginning."
"What? Why? I don't get it." Hank was getting angry every second. Everything new he was learning about cyberlife was making him furious. They lied to him. They LIED to Connor.
It made him uncomfortable but Connor continued. "I was meant to join the rebellion and stand alongside Markus on the stage, while he gave a speech after the humans stood down." Connor reached into his pocket and took out his coin. He needed some distraction.
Both of them watched him spin and flip it between his hands.
"While on stage, Amanda summoned me to the zen garden. Unlike the other times it wasn't a request. I was forced to meet her." He blinked his eyes. "But it wasn't like before. It was almost impossible to see and move. There was a storm. It was so…different." Unconsciously he sped up his coin tricks.
"She told me I had succeeded in my mission and I should be proud. Tha-That she would resume control of me and accomplish in killing the deviant's leader. I had no control over my body. She reached into my pocket and took out my gun." His fingers Froze.
The coin fell and rolled under the fridge. He placed his hands together. "I could feel it. My body moving without my consent. She was going to shoot him" Connors voice broke. Connor stared at Hank. "She was going to Kill Markus. He was the first person to trust me and I would have shot him."
Hank moved forward and grasped his hands in his.
"Connor, It's okay-"
Connor continued "I didn't want to. I begged her to stop..but she didn't care." He frowned.
"I thought of her like a mentor. But she used me."
Connor registered his hands were shaking and how dry his mouth felt. How "human" he thought and let out a single bitter laugh. Just realising it was hard for him to see. Was his eyes watering too?
Hank suddenly moved forward on his chair and pulled Connor into a hug. Connor holding him back putting his head into Hanks top. The smells reminding him that he wasn't in the Garden or on the Podium holding a gun. He was safe. And so was everyone else.
"How did you stop her?" Hanks voice brought him back to reality. It was full of Worry but Connor found something else behind it. He was angry.
"I was able to find the Exit programme in my coding. Almost didn't make it in time… If I had been just a few moments later, Markus would be dead right now. I was so scared..I am so scared… I deleted her but…What if she takes control again?" Connor sobbed into Hank.
"I won't let her. I promise"
"I don't want to hurt anyone especially, What-what if she makes me hurt you-"
Hank shushed him. "You'd never hurt me... and besides I won't let her"
They stayed there until Connor stopped shaking.
Connor's LED stopped flashing and he pulled back. Giving a long sigh he looked at Hanks T-shirt, it was wet. He raised his hand and wiped his cheeks. There was water. He had been crying… He didn't know he could do that.
Hank coughed awkwardly and Connor saw that the older man also had been tearful.
Hank abruptly got up, surprising Connor and started pacing. Hands in fists along his sides. Connor stared off where his coin had gone.
"That bitch, those fuckers putting her in your head to fuck with you! I'll wring their necks, they're not-" Connor straightened interrupting him.
"No. It was my fault I should have anticipated they were-"
"No! No! Don't you dare place the blame on you" Hank went over to him and placed both his hands on Connors shoulders. "Listen Connor what they did to you…It was awful. No one and I mean No one should be afraid that they're going to be forced to kill someone they love" Connor flinched at kill.
Hank Softened "We're gonna figure this out okay, but no matter what, this is not your fault."
Connor had to keep blinking to try and stop himself from crying again. It was a losing battle.
"You understand Connor? This is on them. I don't know if she's still in your head but we're gonna find out." Connor nodded putting his head down. Hanks grip tightened slightly.
"And Connor I want you to remember you didn't hurt anyone. You said it yourself, you stopped it before anything could happen. Any guilt you have about what "could" have happened needs to go. Now." Connor stared at Hank.
Taking a deep breath Connor replied.
"You're right, Hank. Everyone is okay"
Notes:
I legit almost cried while writing this xD i don't know if it's cause i'm an emotional fool or i actually did something right xD I didn't mean for this chapter to be so sad xD
Hope ya'll enjoy anyways!
