Stunned and beyond confused Connor could only stare down at the man's face, his face, and try to understand what was happening. The head nurse had left Connor alone for a moment while she tended to other patients, and hoped to find Dr. Ross along her way. Connor's shaking hand lightly reached out and rested against the man's cool cheek and kept it there for a moment. It was the first time Connor had actually seen his own face, not just a reflection or a photograph, it was surreal and arguably should be impossible.

"...He's me." Connor whispered as he looked down at his own face. The human under his touch never responded. "But... how?"

"Connor." A woman with her blonde hair pulled up into a tight bun stared at him as she entered the room. She had a brown document envelope tucked under her arm and a focused gaze in her gray/green eyes. "I'm Dr. Alexandra Ross." She introduced herself as she approached the bed and checked the man's vitals on the cardiac monitor. "I'm glad you're finally here."

"I don't understand. How do you know my name, who is this person and why do we share the same features?"

"Connor, we know you because this man is you."

"...I still don't understand."

"Well, first of all I want you to sit down. I know a few things about androids and I know you're very stressed out and exhausted."

Connor was unable to look away from the man laying in the bed but allowed Dr. Ross to guide him to a nearby chair to sit down.

"Let me tell you what happened." She lowered voice for the sake of privacy and spoke in a very compassionate manner. "On May 22nd, 2037 there was a horrible car accident just outside of the city. A semi truck caused an accident and fled the scene. You," she motioned toward the comatose man with a somber tone to her voice. "had been in the accident as well. You helped my cousin escape his burning vehicle before you collapsed and nearly succumbed to your injuries resulting from the accidents."

"...Your cousin?"

"Elijah Kamksi."

"Kamksi..." Connor gazed at Dr. Ross's face and saw she had the same hair and eye color as the arrogant human who had told him where to go. "He... I, saved Kamski after an auto accident. He knew I was here and he..." The deviant's brow furrowed slightly as he tried to understand Kamski's reasoning. "Why did he use my likeness for the RK-800's known as the 'Connor model' series?"

"Elijah was grateful that you saved his life, and felt terrible when he was told how severely you had been injured. When he learned that you weren't going to wake up and that you had no family to watch over you, he took it upon himself to tend to all of these medical bills that accumulated for the past two years and chose to have your likeness used in a highly advanced prototype to ensure that a piece of you still lived on. It was his way to keep you around."

"...Who was I before the accident?"

"We don't really know. You kept your past very secretive, but from what we gathered you were on your way to the city to look for apartments and apply for a job at local fire department."

"Fire department?"

"You were a licensed paramedic and had just completed your training."

Connor smirked a little and shook his head as if amused. "...Was there anything significant found on my person? A phone, perhaps?"

"Well, there was very little that was retrieved from the wreckage of your vehicle. Aside from the registration confirming that it was in fact your car the only other item that the police located were a few old C.D.'s and the keys to the ignition."

"I had nothing else?"

"Your wallet and a few items were found in your pockets, but nothing significant." Dr. Ross handed Connor the envelope she had carried into the room. "And these are still yours all the same."

Connor took the envelope, slipped open the flap, and allowed the small items to tumble into his opened palm. A dark green, plastic guitar pick, his scorched and heavily damaged driver's license that only held his first name of 'Connor' and the photo showing his blank face, and a fifty-cent piece coin dated from 1954 were the only items remaining from his broken past. Running his thumb over the cool surface of the coin Connor felt an odd sense of familiarity.

Dr. Ross could see that the deviant was upset and wanted to comfort him. "Are you going to be okay?"

"My injuries." Connor suddenly stated as he ran a scan over his human body and saw the long healed wounds, some as recent as two years ago, and some as old as twenty years old. "Do you recall the full extent of the injuries I had sustained?"

"Four fractures to your skull; two in the frontal lobes, one over your left eye and the other near the center of your forehead, and two to your occipitale bone at the back of your skull. You had also suffered from two broken ribs, your eighth and ninth costal ribs on the right side of your ribcage to be exact, and some mild smoke inhalation from being so closed to the burning vehicles."

"...What of my right arm? It has been surgically repaired twenty years prior."

"That's call a spiral fracture from physical abuse resulting in someone grabbing your arm and twisting it violently."

"Yes, I'm aware. I have unfortunately investigated cases of physical abuse resulting in breaks in the forearm and wrist. I'm referring to the break in my right humerus above it."

"From what we've been able to determine that was the result of another severe break when you were three or four years old. It required surgery to stabilize the break, but it was delayed. It likely required physical therapy to regain full range of motion and strength in your right arm once it was finally repaired." Dr. Ross sighed and shook her head sympathetically. "We also found numerous healed hairline fractures throughout your hands, arms, legs and a few alongside your face. We realized you had been a victim of physical child abuse and realized you were emancipated as a result. We legally couldn't search for family members as a result."

"...I was physically abused as child." Connor looked absolutely stunned by the revelation, but chose to remain focused. Running another scan over his human counterpart's skull he saw the four healed fractures and the very minimal, almost non-existent, brain activity. "I suffered skull trauma. How significant was the injury?"

"The accident resulted in you suffering a severe blow to the head causing massive intracranial swelling." Dr. Ross explained as calmly as she could to the deviant, wanting to deliver the news as gently as possible. "We did everything we could to reduce the swelling, but the swelling had become so severe that it resulted in massive brain damage, and eventually brain death."

"...I'm... brain dead?" Connor shook his head in disbelief. "Why keep me on life support if I'm never going to wake up?"

"Connor," she knelt down beside the chair and took the deviant's hand to hold in a comforting grip. "you didn't have any family or friends listed as an emergency contact or medical proxy. You've been a ward of the state since you were fourteen years old. Without any consent to remove your from life support, no one with any legal standing cared to weigh in on the situation since it had nothing to do with grants or politics, you've been on life-support for almost two years now. No one gave us the clearance to let you go."

"...Two years." Connor's heart rate increased and his breathing became more rapid. "I've been here for two years?"

"Connor, calm yourself. Take a deep breath." Dr. Ross encouraged as she kept tabs on the deviant's reactions. "Listen to me. We wanted to find you when Elijah told us that your model was active, but with the tensions in Detroit and with how shady CyberLife was behaving we didn't want to risk that corporation trying to impose their will over you. Elijah told us to not risk it, that's why he left the company to begin with. He knew they were trying to manipulate the system in their favor over a decade ago, and you are completely defenseless right now. The only way to protect you was to keep you a secret."

"...What's going to happen to me now?"

"It's difficult to sort out on a legal scale, but by all account you are now your own medical proxy."

"Me?" Connor's soulful brown eyes were searching Dr. Ross's face desperately as he looked at her. "How so? I am not him, I am merely a copy of him."

"Connor, what brought you here?"

"I am searching for my origins." He glanced over at his human counterpart and stared despondently. "I have apparently succeeded."

"But why? Why after all this time did you go searching for your beginning?"

"I... I had an enigmatic file become activated by a hacker. This file is connected to the date of the accident, but I do not know why it's there."

Dr. Ross was silent for only a moment before she replied honestly. "Elijah put it there."

"But... why?"

"He wanted to keep a part of you," Dr. Ross nodded at the comatose human with a kind smile on her face." the human you, alive. I'm not a technician so I can't really explain this very well, but from what Elijah told me he used a controversial and rarely used method of taking a piece of your physical mind from your human brain and converting it into data. He called it 'memory transcendence'."

"Memory transcendence?" The astute deviant's brow arched inquisitively. "He transferred a piece of my human consciousness into my intracranial processor, and then locked it in the file. Once the file had been tampered with those memories began resurfacing in the form of vague nightmares and indescribable emotional responses and mental stimuli."

"Do you understand what Elijah did to you?"

"...Yes. It makes sense." Tightening his hand into a fist around the items in his hand beneath Dr. Ross's touch, he closed his eyes and shook his head with sorrow. "Everything makes sense now."

"Connor, I know this may sound strange but you have a choice to make now."

"A choice?"

"You, the original you, has been lingering here alone for two years. Do you want to keep your former self alive on life support, or do you want us to turn off the machine and allow your body to finally expire?"

"...I have to make this decision?"

"You're the only who can."

The right to choose now seemed so cruel to the deviant. "Can I have a moment to think?"

"Of course." Patting Connor's hand lightly Dr. Ross stood up again and took her leave of the room. "Take all the time you need."

Connor only nodded as he looked at his human face and lightly pressed his hand to the healed fracture in right arm. Despite no outward scarring being visible the deviant could still detect the scar on the bone from where the bone had healed after being broken. It was oddly familiar and it made Connor feel suddenly sick to his stomach.

"...I don't want to die." Connor whispered to himself as he looked at his own face despondently. "And neither do you."

Waking up without an alarm or an alert on his phone Hank sat up in his bed and rubbed his hand over Sumo's ears. The massive dog enjoyed the attention for a moment before jumping down onto the floor and made his way out of the bedroom, and directly into the kitchen. Hank ran his hand through his gray locks of hair and proceeded to climb into the wheelchair and followed after Sumo down the hallway.

"Looks like Connor is still out looking for answers." The detective sighed as he opened up the backdoor and let the dog outside, before he filled up Sumo's food and water bowls. Wheeling over to the kitchen counter Hank turned on the coffee maker and waited for the pot to brew. "He must be onto something promising to be out for so long."

Retreating to his bedroom just long enough to grab his phone Hank wheeled himself back into the kitchen and sent another message to Connor. As he did a message popped up from Markus and it made Hank feel a little relieved after reading the text.

'I got word that Connor found a promising lead to his search. He left the city but will be heading back soon.'

Replying with a 'Thanks' for the update Hank breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good." Hank sent a quick text to Connor himself and pressed 'send' letting the deviant know he was waiting for him to come home. "At least he didn't get into any trouble."

Remaining beside the bed Connor cybernetically filed every legal document required now that he made his decision, and proceeded to make the necessary preparations. As he finished the paperwork Dr. Ross returned to the room and put her hand on the deviant's shoulder in a supportive manner. She could see he was lost in deep thought, but was eager to know what he had decided to do.

"Connor? Are you ready?"

"Yes." The deviant confirmed as he looked up at Dr. Ross with a somber, yet determined gaze. "I'm taking him, me, back to Detroit."

"I understand. We'll bring you the proper paperwork to cease life support."

"No, you misunderstand. I'm not taking him off life support, I'm taking him back to Detroit to reverse the memory transcendence."

"You're what?" Dr. Ross didn't know what the deviant was talking about. "Your going to give back your memory?"

"Not exactly. I am..." Trailing off Connor decided it'd be best to keep the details scarce for the time being. "I think I know what to do. But I need time to make certain. Until then," he nodded at his human counterpart sadly. "I want to be home. And I want him to be there as well."

"Oh, I see. Well, we can arrange to have an ambulance take him to Detroit as soon as we locate a hospital in the area to take him into their care."

"I have it already arranged. I'm merely waiting for a colleague to arrive."

"Another doctor?" She asked curiously with an optimistic lilt.

"She is a technician, but had previously been an E.M.S. in Chicago. She can keep him stable during transport back to the city."

"And you're sure you want to do this?"

"Yes." Connor didn't want to leave the comatose person behind. He didn't want any piece of his being unprotected with CyberLife still lurking in the shadows. "I can keep him safe until I make my final choice."

"Okay. I'll make sure the receptionist knows and to-"

"I've already taken care of the necessary paperwork cybernetically."

"Oh." Dr. Ross smiled and patted Connor's shoulder lightly. "How productive of you."

Connor watched as Dr. Ross took her leave of the room then watched as his human counterpart remained completely unresponsive and near death in the bed. The respirator forcing breath into his lungs made his thin, emaciated chest rise and fall slowly and the cardiac monitor confirmed the slow but still detectable still beating heart in his chest. The deviant stared with an intense gaze as if he were having an out-of-body experience, only to remind himself that was he was observing himself through artificial eyes.

It wasn't an illusion, it was reality.

Hank was exhausted after he finished his physical therapy session, but fortunately he was granted freedom from his wheelchair and that made him feel a lot better. As he walked through the backdoor of the house he was greeted by Sumo as well as a text message on his phone. Checking the message Hank was disappointed to see it was Captain Fowler reminding him of a mandatory meeting the following morning, and not a response from Connor.

"Shit. That kid is too stubborn for his own good."

Sending a new message to Connor the gruff, but kindhearted, detective reminded the deviant that he could come home at any time, and that he'd stop pushing him to talk if he didn't want to. He also asked for the deviant to respond in any form just to reassure him that Connor was okay, and didn't need any help.

After pressing 'send' Hank opened up the fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. As he unscrewed the cap he sighed and looked over to Sumo who was laying on the kitchen floor watching him.

"I need a beer. Too bad the kid already got all the booze out of the house." Greedily Hank drank some of the water as he checked his inactive phone and walked into the livingroom to relax with a good book. After choosing his book he settled into the recliner and had Sumo join him shortly thereafter. "...Never thought I'd miss having a roommate."

Sumo curled up on the floor beside the recliner and rested his chin down over top his massive paws.

"Yeah, boy. I miss him, too."

Remaining quiet at the bedside of his human counterpart Connor received the text message from Hank and decided to finally answer. Replying with a very indifferent "Don't worry about me.", the deviant continued to wait patiently for Abby to arrive and prepare to escort the comatose human back to Detroit. Everything had been handled and Connor had been officially allowed to act as his own medical proxy, thanks to some deviant contacts pushing the request through and using their power to stop government interference.

"...Oh my god." Abby's voice sounded off from the doorway in a whisper of incredulity. She slowly walked into the room and peered over Connor's shoulder at the comatose man he was sitting beside and keeping vigil. "It's true. I couldn't believe it when you told me what was going on, and even when Dr. Ross confirmed everything I still couldn't believe it. But, it's actually true!"

"Thank you for coming."

"Are you sure you want to move him... you... over to Detroit?"

"Yes. I must try to save him."

"How?"

"Reverse transcendence."

"What?!" Connor, that's just a theory!"

"It's possible, Abby. I know it is."

"How? There has to be a piece of your consciousness and his to-"

"Because I have memories of my time when I was... him."

"...What? What do you mean exactly?" Abby was completely dumbfounded and wanted to know what Connor was talking about. Standing before the deviant she locked onto his soulful brown eyes and waited for him to reply. "What memories?"

"Abby, when I first met Hank I had attempted to give us common ground to make our partnership more manageable. I told him that I liked dogs and heavy metal music. The very first dog I encountered was Sumo, who was on guard after I let myself into Hank's house. I instinctively knew how to handle him to keep him from attacking me, and then I knew how to pet him. It was very natural as if I had been surrounded by dogs my whole life. I've also discovered that I truly do enjoy heavy metal music." Reaching into his pocket he showed Abby the burnt up and heavily damaged driver's license that had once belonged to him. "And the night I had to drive Hank's car to a crime scene because he was unwell I knew how to drive. I had been instructed to solely use autonomous cabs CyberLife, with no need to drive. And yet, I know exactly how to drive a vehicle and did so properly."

Abby took the license and saw the burnt, but still visible photograph on the I.D. that showed Connor's face. It was him, without question, but there was something sad about his eyes. It looked like Connor had never smiled in his entire life.

"Connor, you do realize if we try this and it fails then..." she turned to look at the comatose human with a grimace on her face. "he'll die."

"He's already brain dead. The worst that can happen is he finally succumbs to his lethal injuries, while the better alternative is he... I, wake up."

As much as she hated the idea she knew that Connor was right. It was an all or nothing deal and she wasn't about to let the deviant go through it alone.

"Okay, Connor." She handed the deviant back his old license and gave him a reassuring grin. "We'll get him loaded into the ambulance and return to Detroit. Do you know where he's going to go?"

"...Yes. He'll be safe." Connor glanced down at his own face and his mouthed twitched a little. "We'll be safe."

The ride back to the city inside of an ambulance was unusual, but efficient. Connor sat with Abby in the back of the ambulance next to his comatose human counterpart, who was still completely unconscious and oblivious, on the gurney between them. A portable respirator had been provided for the transport and made it easier to tend to the comatose human.

"How're you holding up, Connor?" Abby could see that the deviant was looking emotionally distraught and anxious. "You look upset."

"I'm merely... conflicted."

"About the procedure?"

"No. It's because the only person who can help me is the person I trust the least."

"Who?"

The ambulance came to a gentle stop and the android ambulance driver pulled open the rear doors of the emergency transport vehicle. Connor and Abby worked with the driver to lower the gurney from the back and onto the drive, only to be greeted by Chloe who was giving the newly arrived duo a false smile. The blonde deviant escorted the gurney to the front doors of Kamski's private residence and unlocked the door on their behalf.

"Connor," Abby didn't understand why they weren't at a hospital, or at the very least not at a facility. She kept close to her friend out of nervousness and a need to protect her unexpected patient. "where are we?"

"This is the residence of Elijah Kamski."

"Wait, the guy who invented androids and biocomponents?"

"Correct."

Chloe led the gurney to a secondary room to the opposite of Kamski's study. It appeared to be some type of personal health facility; complete with a padded examination table, numerous medical monitors, assorted gym equipment and a large 'sensory deprivation' chamber at the far wall. Kamski himself was standing in the middle of the room and seemed greatly amused by the group's arrival.

"Welcome."

As the gurney was wheeled into the room a spray of disinfecting and sterilization compound rained down and drenched the group in the form of a transparent liquid.

"Hey!" Abby complained as she put up her hands to shield her eyes. "What gives?"

"Sterilization." Came the blunt reply from within the room. "It's crucial."

Kamski was wearing a white lab coat and he had a pair of dark blue latex gloves over his hands. Next to him was a metal table with various surgical tools and a bottle of saline solution and rubbing alcohol. He was ready to begin his rather macabre task as if he had been waiting to finally take part in this procedure for years.

"I see your search was a success Connor." The arrogant human watched as the gurney was placed next to the exam table, and the ambulance driver left the house. He approached the comatose human and looked down at the man's face as if he had been reunited with an old friend. "Well done."

Connor was skeptical about the procedure but was willing to try anything it took to save his human body. "You can reverse the transcendence and allow my mind to return to my human body, correct?"

Abby's eyes went wide with disbelief as Kamski answered. "Yes." It was then her eyes went wider and she put her hand on Connor's arm while Kamksi continued on. "It's an invasive, but simple procedure. I've completed the transcendence on five separate occasions with one-hundred percent success rate. It can be done."

"When do we begin?"

Abby squeezed Connor's arm in a tighter grip. "Connor, stop! You can't just stop living as an android like this."

"I can, Abby." The deviant defended his decision and looked at his human counterpart somberly. "I wasn't born an android, this body was created to replace my original person."

"It's like you're just recycling yourself from one body to another!" She protested bitterly and crossed her arms over her chest. "Just be yourself, don't worry about-"

"It's not about my identity as a being, Abby." Connor sounded almost broken as he spoke. "If I'm human again my programming can't be hijacked, and I won't be forced to hurt the people I care about. I don't want to hurt anyone, and this is the best way to do it. My friends need someone they can trust."

"We do trust you!"

"...I'm sorry. My mind is made up." Connor looked over to Kamski and gave him a nod. "Abby, I appreciate your help, but if you don't want to be apart of this then I understand. I respect your objections."

Kamksi motioned to the padded exam table with an outstretched arm before he waved in Chloe through the door who was carrying a pristine, white laptop. "It'd be best to put your human half on the table. I have the necessary equipment to maintain his vitals and keep an accurate reading."

Connor nodded as he gently placed his arms beneath the human's shoulders and under his knees. The original Connor had been in a coma for so long he lost a massive amount of weight and barely weight one-hundred and twenty pounds. As he lifted up the very thin and weak human up from the gurney he felt a strange surreal wave wash over him. He was holding himself in his arms, and it wasn't a dream.

"...Here." Abby helped Connor to place the comatose human down on the padded exam table and checked the monitors that Kamski had provided. She made sure the respirator wasn't obstructed as she placed the leads of the cardiac monitor to the human's chest in the appropriate places. "I may not like this, but you're still my friend. I'll help you."

"...Thank you."

Kamski took charge of the scene and gently tilted the comatose human's head to the side so he could see the back of his skull. As he did Chloe placed the laptop down on a nearby metal table that was equipped with the numerous surgical tools. She then approached a far metal and glass cabinet resting against the opposite wall to retrieve the rest of Kamski's tools, while the mad genius set about using his gloved hands to sift through the comatose man's dark hair to expose the back of his head.

"What're you doing?" Abby was mistrustful of Kamski and was watching his every move carefully.

"I need to gain access to the Temporal lobe of the brain."

"You're going to dig inside of his brain?!" She made a move toward Kamski but Connor put his hand on her shoulder to stop. Abby turned to face the deviant with utter disbelief. "Connor, he's not a doctor! He could do serious damage to you."

"Abby, my human body is already brain dead. And, he's done this once before on my person." Connor watched as Chloe returned to Kamski's side with a relatively large syringe containing a silvery white elixir inside of it. "Kamski took a piece of my memory and concealed it in the file that was locked away in my intracranial processor. He knows what he's doing."

"Kamski really made the file?"

"Correct." Connor released his grip from Abby's shoulder and watched as Kamski took a very fine and sharp tool from the metal table and prepared to pierce the back of the human's skull. "He has succeeded before, I have no doubt he can do it again."

Abby held her breath and closed her eyes as she heard the sickening crack of bone giving way to sharp metal tool.

Chloe handed Kamski the syringe and proceeded to roll the small portable M.R.I. over to the table. Positioning it over the human's skull Chloe turned on the device and pressed her exposed left hand to the device and held up her right hand. A holographic display of the human's brain appeared on his her palm and Kamski used it to guide the very long needle of the syringe to the correct lobe of the human's brain.

"This will only take a moment..." Moving very slowly and with great accuracy Kamski inserted the needle into the Temporal lobe of the brain and injected the contents of the syringe into the human's brain. Watching as the elixir spread over the damaged brain tissue Kamski retracted the syringe and placed the used syringe down on the table to be disposed off. "I'll disinfect the wound and place a bandage over it."

"What was that stuff?" Abby asked as she stared at the M.R.I. display in Chloe's palm.

"It's a highly conductive regenerative plasma. You know as well as I that the human brain functions through electrical impulses, and if those impulses become disrupted-"

"Then brain activity ceases." She finished his comment and sighed as she rubbed her hand over her eyes. "What is that plasma composed of?"

"It's a regenerative serum designed by CyberLife technicians specifically to repair damaged nerve endings with the intent of reversing paralysis." Kamski explained as he placed a cottonball soaked in rubbing alcohol over the small puncture wound to the back of the human's skull. "The plasma itself is composed of synthesized progenitor cells that will assimilate to the damaged brain tissue to prevent further decay, and allow the brain itself to become active once it's been properly electrically stimulated."

"...You can reverse brain death?" Abby gave Kamski a completely skeptical, if not annoyed stare. "Bullshit."

"Not quite. While the brain itself will become active again the consciousness of the afflicted being; the memories and the personality, the skills and acquired knowledge, have become blank slates. Once I place a copy of Connor's own programming into the brain there will be a transfer of one mind to the other. Everything that is Connor now," he motioned to the deviant casually with his hand. "will be transplanted into his human body. All of his memories, skills, knowledge and personality will remain in tact. He will just have an inferior, weaker, mortal body."

"And how are you going to transfer Connor's memory to his human brain?"

"I'll place an electrical probe into the back of the skull on the human body, and attach it to Connor's intracranial processor through a cable connected to my laptop. With a few keystrokes I can transfer one mind into the other, and from there Connor will wake up in his original human body."

"Wait, wait..." Abby put up her hands as if she could cause everything to stop for just a moment. "So let's say this works and Connor becomes human, what happens to his android body?"

Kamski looked past Abby and to Connor, allowing the deviant to explain the situation himself. "I will shutdown."

Abby turned around to face him, her hazel eyes wide with fear. "You're going to let him kill you?"

"Abby, this body is a shell of who I really am. I won't shutdown forever, though. If this procedure fails then I will resume my life as a deviant, and that will be the end of it. If it succeeds then I will ask New Jericho to place this body in protective custody to ensure nothing negative befalls my person."

"...You're sure?"

"Yes." Connor confirmed once more and looked to Kamski for further instruction. "I want... closure to my previous life as a human."

"Alright, Connor." As much as she hated the idea Abby knew she'd be unable to change the stubborn deviant's mind. "I'll be monitoring you both throughout the whole procedure."

"Thank you, Abby."

Hank was getting restless and worried about Connor. Despite the response text telling him to not worry Hank felt like something was very wrong. He couldn't quite place it but he knew something was happening with Connor and sent him another text needing some form of confirmation from the wayward deviant. As his thumbs frantically typed in a simple message, "Are you okay?", the detective tried to ignore his every instinct as a detective and as a father to not go search through the streets for Connor.

Pressing 'send' Hank sighed and put his phone down on the coffee table in front of him and leaned forward in the recliner. As he pressed his hands to his tired face Sumo whimpered and rest his chin down atop Hank's feet sympathetically.

"He'll be okay, boy. I just wish I knew where he was."

The highly controversial procedure was now underway. Connor had laid down on the gurney and now had an android cardiac monitor attached to his chest, and a black cable attached to his right temple. The cable was over the red blinking L.E.D. to in order to connect his processor to Kamski's laptop. Laying next to his human counterpart Connor stared blankly up at the ceiling above him as Hank's text came through.

Realizing that it would be the last time he could cybernetically communicate with Hank the deviant closed his eyes and replied as honestly as he could. 'I will be okay soon, Hank. Please take care of yourself.'

Kamski checked the readings on his laptop and confirmed that the procedure was ready to go. "After I stimulate the brain I'll be able to connect the cable to the probe and the transfer will begin."

Abby stood between the two Connor's with her hands wrapped around one of their own. She was more frightened than Connor was but she didn't dare let it show for the sake of her friend's own peace of mind.

Chloe finished setting the electrode to the back of the human's skull and nodded to Kamski. "The electrode is in place, Elijah."

"Excellent." Taking a step back from the table he motioned to Abby's hand and offered her wise words of advice. "You should let go of his hand, unless you too would like to receive forty-two Hertz of electricity."

Abby took a step back from the table as well and watched as Kamski resumed typing on his laptop. His eyes narrowed and he watched the human Connor with great interest, while Chloe's L.E.D. cycled between blue and yellow rhythmically.

"Sending the charge..."

As a key was pressed the human's body jerked slightly and a reading appeared on the display monitor of the E.E.G., the electroencephalograph, showing that the brain was responding to treatment.

Abby stared at the display with utter disbelief. "...It's working. You brought a brain back from the dead."

"Not quite. As I stated, the brain itself is active but it has been wiped clean. There is still much research that needs to be gone to fully revive a brain, but this is progress nonetheless."

Chloe's L.E.D. cycled back to blue and confirmed that both human Connor, and deviant Connor, were fully stable. "It's time."

"Of course." Kamski finished his next chain of commands and looked over the screen to Connor. "Connor, everything is ready. Enter stasis mode and upload a copy of your memory, upload all of your mind, into my laptop."

The deviant opened his eyes and nodded subtly to acknowledge Kamski. He squeezed Abby's hand just enough to get her attention and the technician leaned over him to speak. "Abby, if for whatever reason this fails please check in on Hank for me. I want him to know he doesn't have to worry about me, and that-"

"Connor, you're going to be fine."

"You don't understand. I'm worried that he will fall down a path of self-destruction if he doesn't have someone to remind him that people care about him."

"Connor, it's okay." She promised as she squeezed his hand. "I'll do everything I can to make sure Hank is okay."

"Thank you."

The deviant closed his eyes again and began the laborious, massive upload of his mind into Kamski's laptop. After the copy of everything that made Connor who he was had finished uploading to the laptop Connor entered a very deep stasis mode causing his L.E.D. to finally cycle away from red into yellow, then began pulsing into a very deep blue color.

"It's time." Kamski stated as he motioned to his laptop. Chloe stood behind Kamski and watched the screen over his shoulder while Abby continued to hold onto both Connor's hands. "The android body will begin to shutdown, but it's not permanent."

"Yeah, I got it."

With a simple nod Kamski finished entering the final command on his laptop and the transfer, the full transcendence, began within seconds. Abby held tightly onto the hands of her friends and could feel the deviant's hand becoming cooler and lax in her grip. She watched as the vital signs on the android cardiac monitor began to dwindle into weaker and less responsive territory as the mind was being transferred into the human body. It took everything in her self-control to not react as a technician and strengthen the shutting down deviant's vital signs.

"...Shit."

"It's fine." Kamski coldly reassured her as he studied the two bodies laying next to one another. "This is all normal."

Abby looked away from the monitor and saw Connor's L.E.D. pulsing slower and slower under the cable as his body became colder. Like a ripple in a pond Connor's artificial skin began fading from sight as his power drained and his body shutdown. The blank vitals on the monitor made Abby's own heart leap in her chest, but there was nothing she could to change them.

As the monitor showed no sign of life inside the deviant body Abby let out a weary sigh and closed her eyes. A gentle, very weak squeeze on her opposite hand made her turn and look down at the human body as life, after two years of lingering on death's door, began to return to his body.

"...Holy shit."

"As you can see." Kamski stated with a smug grin on his face. "It was a success. Connor, the former 'Deviant Hunter', is no more. But Connor, the man who saved my life two years ago, now has the chance to live again."

Forcing away the tears in her eyes Abby looked down at the revived Connor's face and saw his own eyes beginning to move back and forth under his closed eyelids. As Kamski detached the cable from the back of his skull and retracted the probe a pained groan escaped his throat around the tube that was forcing him to breathe.

"...Connor?"

Kamski replaced a fresh alcohol soaked cottonball to the back of Connor's skull as he gently turned his head to allow him to rest with his neck perfectly straight as laid over the table. The motion and painful stimuli was enough to cause the eyelids to weakly, barely, open.

"Connor?" Reluctantly Abby let go of the shutdown deviant's hand and placed her warm palm against his cool cheek. She could see the same soulful brown irises that she had already known looking up at her with a pained gaze. "Do you know what happened? Do you know-"

Connor's hand tightened as much as it could around her hand and a tear began to roll down his face.

"He's in pain. Do you-"

"Right over here." Kamski stepped aside as Chloe rolled a small table with various medications toward the technician. "I understand you're also a medic, so help yourself."

Remembering her training Abby took a small syringe and a vial of morphine in her hands. Measuring a very calculated dose she inserted the needle into the I.V. that had been giving Connor a steady stream of fluids since his departure from Grand Rapids, and gave him pain relief at long last. As the pain reliever took its effect Connor's eyes closed again and his pain ceased.

"...Kamski," she gave the eccentric recluse a horrified, yet impressed stare. "you brought him back from the dead."

Everything was a blur of darkness and pain. What had once been a constant ambience that was translated as white noise was now utter silence. The cybernetic communication to his friends and to his allies had been completely severed from his now very human brain. There was no system to scan, no biocomponents to recalibrate, no self-diagnostic to be run, no error messages or even updates.

There was nothing but his own thoughts and darkness.

"Connor?" A male voice called out to him through the darkness. A bright light shined in his eyes and Connor recognized the blurry facade of Elijah Kamski hovering over him. "Connor, I know you're awake."

Still in a daze Connor fought to open his eyes and fought even more to communicate.

"There you are. Now listen to me, you still have the tube in your throat so you can't speak." Kamski explained calmly to the weakened detective. "Abby has gone back to the city to bring her own vehicle and to bring Markus here. Markus will take your deviant body back to New Jericho Tower, and Abby will return to take care of you."

Connor forced his eyes open as wide as possible, but his body was so weak from two years of inactivity that every muscle in his being had atrophied and needed renewed strength. Watching the blurry face of the human as he hovered over him and checked his neurological responses, Connor became painfully aware of every nerve ending in his body and of the horrible pain in the back of his skull.

"I can tell you have one incredible headache, but don't worry. We'll fix that in time." Kamski made a motion that Connor knew was directed toward Chloe. "In order to heal as quickly as possible I'm going to give you a single dose of a protein based regeneration serum. It's just as experimental of the electrically conductive serum, but I haven't had any ill effects on my own person. This will allow your muscles to rebuild their strength quicker than normal, and once you can move about on your own you're free to go."

Abby returned to the lab with Markus at her side. She gently put her hand against Connor's cool forehead and held it there while Markus looked over the hollow shell that had been Connor's deviant body, before turning his head toward the revived human under Abby's care.

"Connor?" Markus leaned over the human and saw the same familiarity in Connor's eyes that Abby had seen. "...It's really you."

Unable to speak all Connor could do was lift his shaking hand barely two inches up from the bed and Markus grabbed on gently.

"I'm here my friend. Abby told me what happened, and I promise you that we'll keep your body safe in New Jericho. No one will know what's happened to you unless you tell them, alright?"

Weakly Connor's human hand squeezed around Markus's hand, an act that made the deviant leader grin. "Abby also told me that you'll be staying here until you regain your strength. I'll be sure to speak with Hank and-"

Connor's hand tightened, but it was so weak that Markus barely noticed.

"What's wrong?" Markus's brow furrowed as he sensed the distress in Connor's eyes. "Is it Hank?"

His hand tightened again.

"Do you want me to not tell him?"

Oh so subtly, Connor managed to nod his head.

"...Okay, Connor. I'm sure you have your reasons. I promise I won't tell Hank what happened so you can tell him yourself. What about Lucas?"

Connor shook his head a little in response.

"Okay. They're your family, you talk to them, alright?"

Another weak, subtle nod.

"Listen, I'm going to go back to New Jericho and I'll keep your body safe. As soon as you're up for talking you know where to find me."

Connor squeezed his hand one last time before Markus put his hand back down on the bed gently.

"I'll see you soon, buddy."

From the corner of his eye Connor watched everything as a massive blur as Markus stooped down and pulled his empty shell of an android body up and over his shoulder. The deviant leader carried the shutdown body out of the house with utter care to be sheltered at the tower for an indefinite period of time. Out of sight, out of mind.

Abby resumed her examination of Connor's health and tried to gauge how weak he really was. Picking up both of his hands in her own she stared at his eyes and spoke to him softly. "Connor, push down on my hands as much as you can. Use all of your strength."

Connor tried to focus on Abby's face but his vision was still blurry. He pushed down against her palms with as much force as possible, only to quickly exhaust himself within seconds.

"Okay, that's good." She changed the position of her hands so Connor could squeeze them. "Left and right hands, squeeze them both of my hands as hard as possible."

He was took weak to barely hold a grip let alone a noticeable grasp.

"I never thought I'd ever see you this weak." She smiled warmly as she put Connor's hands back down on the bed. Searching through the provided medical supplies that Kamski had accumulated she used the stethoscope to listen to his breathing and made her assessment. "We can try to extubate you so you can breathe on your own, but if your oxygen rate drops too low I'll have to put it back. Do you understand?"

Connor could only weakly lift his hand and subtly nod his head.

"Okay." Abby looked to Chloe as the blonde android watched everything unfolding with a strange curiosity. "Chloe, do you have an oxygen tank?"

"Yes. I will go and get it for you."

While the technician set about checking the tube in Connor's throat Kamski offered the revived human the injection of the protein laced serum, and gave him a small grin. Wiping off the canula to the I.V. running into Connor's hand Kamski injected the serum slowly into the line while Abby wasn't looking. Discreetly disposing of the used syringe Kamski decided to leave the room for the sake of privacy.

Chloe returned with the oxygen as requested and placed it beside the bed. "Will you require anything else?"

"No, thanks Chloe. I appreciate your help."

"You are welcome. If you require additional assistance please ask."

Abby nodded as she carefully began releasing the small plastic clips holding the tube in Connor's mouth and helped him to tilt his head back to a more appropriate angle. "When I pull on the tube I need to you cough as much as possible."

Connor's hand weakly lifted up once again then fell back down onto the bed.

"Alright, on three: One, two, three!"

As Abby pulled on the tube at a steady pace Connor weakly coughed and choked a little on the tube as it was pulled from his throat and finally allowed his human body to breathe on his own for the first time in two years. Connor fought to take in any breath as his muscles were still weak, but they were responsive.

"Easy, Connor." She used the stethoscope to listen to his breathing again and nodded in approval. "You're okay. Just tired."

Abby slipped an oxygen mask over his mouth and nose before she gently ran her hand through his hair. His real hair, not a synthetic projection. She couldn't help but smirk at how his hair was the exact same style, color and thickness as his android counterpart. Even the same rogue lock of hair hung down just above his left eye, and refused to be smoothed back.

"Just breathe." She softly whispered as Connor focused on his breathing and tried to ignore his throbbing headache. "That's good, just like that."

Kamski returned to the room and offered Abby a bottle of water, which she declined. Looking down at Connor's face he smirked as well and watched as the recovering human swallowed very weakly as he tried to rid his throat of the lingering discomfort. "That serum seems to be working just fine. How do you feel?"

Connor's eyes were glassy and he swallowed again. "...I-" his voice was hoarse and barely a whisper. The rawness of his throat and inability to talk for so long had left his vocal chords weakened and strained as well. "...My... head... hurts."

His voice, once it regained its strength, would sound exactly as his deviant counterpart had done. It was uncanny in how much of Connor's personality and traits had been successfully programmed into the android's body.

"Okay." Abby nodded as she prepared an I.V. of diluted pain killers to lessen his discomfort. "I'll give you enough to ease your headache, but not enough to cause additional drowsiness, okay?"

Connor wanted to speak but all he could do was nod.

"Kamski," Abby finished setting up the I.V. and set up Connor with a fresh line in the bend of his right arm to prevent infection. Applying the pain killers, the antibiotics and sterilized saline she ensured his condition would remain stable and comfortable. "this serum you have is almost miraculous. If you've had so much success already why not market it to the people?"

"Because if I let something like this out into the world then someone with deep enough pockets will take it away from those who really need it." Kamski explained as if it were the most natural, if not obvious answer in the world. "It's more profitable for companies to make money treating diseases for an entire lifetime, as opposed to a single treatment providing a cure. As long as the serum's still in my hands I can continue to improve on the treatment and then distribute it myself."

"Sorry if I don't believe you, but you don't seem like the charitable type."

"It has nothing to do with charity, I can assure you. I'm merely interested in the science."

"Now that I believe."

"You are welcome to stay here, I'm sure Chloe will be willing to watch over Connor while you rest."

"Thanks, but I'm fine."

"Alright. The offer stands regardless of your personal feelings toward me."

"I'll remember that."

Kamski gave Abby an amused sneer before turning his full attention to Connor. "My friend, although I'm certain you disagree with that particular term regarding me, I appreciate you saving my life two years ago. I'm glad I could repay the favor."

Connor gave Kamski a drowsy, glassy look before weakly nodding.

"Get some rest. Your physical therapy can begin as soon as you're ready."

Abby stayed beside Connor's bed as she eyed the previously brain dead man with utter awe. "...I can't believe it worked. I'm so glad you survived this, Connor. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself if something went wrong."

"...Stay?"

"Yes, I'll stay here with you. Your body still needs to heal, so rest as much as you can. In a few days I'll see if I can remove the feeding tube and give you something light to eat so you don't feel sick."

"...Eat." A ghost of grin appeared on his face only to fade away within seconds.

"That's right. You're going to have to relearn how to eat and feed yourself. Don't worry, I did a rotation as a nurse when I was training for my E.M.S. license. I don't mind a little mess."

Connor tried to give a reassuring nod of his own but his eyes fell shut and he was quickly asleep within a few seconds. Truly asleep, and not just in rest mode or stasis mode. As the revived human settled into a steady breathing rhythm Abby let out her own sigh of relief and continued to watch Connor very carefully throughout the evening and the night.

Markus made the unusual return to New Jericho Tower via autonomous taxi, and did so with Connor's android body next to him. He cybernetically told Simon to meet him in the archives of the tower to help him handle Connor. Steadfast in keeping his word Markus wanted to put Connor's temporarily shutdown android body somewhere safe, and wanted to keep it as discreet as possible.

Simon was less than thrilled with the idea of keeping such a secret, but he respected Connor's request and trusted Markus's judgment.

"He'll be safe here." The blond deviant stated as he opened an android containment vessel in the archives of the tower. Working together the duo gently placed the deactivated android down inside the case and secured the container with an electromagnetic lock. "Only one of the four leader so Jericho can open this lock, or Connor himself."

"That's a good idea." As the slid of the case slid shut concealing the blank face of his friend Markus felt like he was attending a funeral. "...I'll speak with Lucas."

"What're you going to tell him?"

"The same thing I've been telling Hank. I'll him that Connor is safe, and when the time comes Connor will come back home and explain everything that's happened himself."

"...And what exactly did happen?"

"To be honest, I'm not one-hundred percent sure, but I do know Connor is in fact alive. It's just... complicated."

"Isn't that was being a deviant is all about?"

"...And human."

It was late at night but the deviant leader was loyal to his friends, and his allies. The visit from Markus was appreciated by the detective, but he wasn't who Hank was hoping to see. The deviant leader knew he needed to tell Hank something, anything positive about Connor, but he didn't know what to say without it giving away the incredibly strange chain of events that had taken place. All he could do was ensure Hank that Connor was safe, and with a friend.

"Markus, what the fuck is going on with him?" Hank was sitting on the edge of the couch ready to make a run for the door if he had to. "He said he needed to look for answers, wouldn't talk to me and then he took off saying he wasn't going to 'bother me anymore'. Where is he?"

"...I want to tell you, I really do." The deviant leader empathized openly as he sat down in the recliner so he was eye level with Hank. "But Connor doesn't want me to say anything."

"Why? What the fuck did I do to make him so afraid of me?"

"Hank, he isn't afraid of you." Markus tried to reassure the detective without breaking his promise. "He's afraid of himself."

"Because that damn hacker messed with him?"

"Yeah. He thinks his programming being hacked makes him too dangerous to be around."

"That's bullshit and you know it!"

"I do. And I agree with you entirely."

"Where is he? I want to go talk some sense into him."

"...Hank, I gave him my word. I wanted to tell you where he is, but he asked me not to."

"Why?"

"He wants to tell you what's going on himself."

Sighing with defeat Hank leaned back against the couch cushion and crossed his arms defensively over his chest. "At least the kid's planning on comin' back at some point."

"Yeah. It might be a while though. He's got... a lot of things to work through."

"Markus, you promise me he's safe and not hurt, or missing, right?"

"Yes. He's safe."

"...Alright then. I guess that'll have to do for now."

Markus folded his hands together nervously over his lap. "Can I ask how your recovery is going?"

"I'm fine. Another week I can go back on desk duty. Two weeks after that I'll be cleared for active duty." He shook his head a little and sighed. "I sure as shit hope I have a partner watchin' my back in the field when that happens."

"He'll be back, Hank. I know it."

"Yeah... Thanks, Markus."

Throughout the night Connor suffered from sporadic nightmares, but didn't rouse from his sleep. Abby remained in the lab until she too fell asleep and was taken to the guest room to sleep properly. Chloe took it upon herself to keep vigil as Connor rested, his body slowly healing and responding well to the protein serum that Kamski had given him.

By early morning Abby had returned to the lab and was there for only a few minutes before Connor woke up. She watched as he looked about confused only to remember where he was and what had happened.

"You're okay, Connor."

"...Abby." His voice was still weak and hoarse, but audible.

"Hi."

Lifting up his hands he held them in place while Abby repeated the strength exercise from the night before. Much to her surprise Connor was already showing markedly improved strength and was able to push down against her own hands with a notable pressure.

"You're regaining your strength very quickly. This is incredible." Again she moved her hands so he could squeeze, and as before he repeated the action and found his strength increasing. "This is amazing. You might be able to perform aqua therapy exercises soon."

"...Today?"

"Uh... I don't know. Let's make sure your vitals are still stable and see if we can get something nutritional in your stomach."

"...Okay."

Throughout the week Hank tried to send messages to Connor but never received an answer. As he set about his own routine of recovering and preparing to return to the precinct he was unknowingly working through a physical therapy session while Connor was doing the same thing at Kamski's private residence. As the week wore on Hank was becoming more convinced that Connor wasn't going to come back home at all, and was readjusting to living alone.

Feeding Sumo and petting the dog's ears Hank spoke to the loyal pooch and sighed. "Looks like it's just the two of us again, boy."

Sumo's tail wagged once as he turned to look at Hank.

"Yeah, I'm thrilled about it, too."

As he stood back up he pressed his hand to his still sore ribs and let out a weak sigh.

"...I'm going to find him, though."

As the first week of Connor's physical therapy came to an end the newly awoken human was making incredible strides in his recovery. Thanks to Kamski's miraculous, but secretive serums Connor's brain was fully functional and muscle strength was returning quickly. Although he didn't have the strength to walk just yet he was able to float, and wade a little in the private swimming pool in Kamski's study.

Abby was resting on her hip on the edge of the pool next to a pair of crutches, while Connor floated on his back in the red tinted water. His eyes were closed and he was taking in all the sounds, smells and sensations of the house around him. The sound of the gentle lapping of the water was soothing, the smell of chlorine was strong but not pungent, and the cool water washing over his pale skin was soothing.

"Connor?" Abby dipped her hand into the water and beneath Connor's head and gently lifted him up from the water. "You need to get out now."

His eyes opened slowly and focused on Abby's face looking down at him as he registered what he said. "...I do?"

"Yes. It's been two hours."

"Oh." Moving slowly he shifted his weight so he was standing up and waded to the edge of the pool's short ladder. "I seem to be having trouble keep track of time now."

"That's a very human trait." She reassured him as carried the crutches over to the ladder and she took hold of his arms and gently pulled him up the ladder so he could sit down on the edge of the pool. Lightly she pressed her fingers along the back of his wet hair to check on the mostly healed wound to the back of his skull, and then checked his side where a water proof bandage been placed to protect the stitches he received after his feeding tube had been removed. "How's your sleep cycle been?"

"...Inconsistent."

"Insomnia?"

"Yes. And I frequently have disturbing dreams that prevent me from resting properly."

Abby studied his face and could see that something else was weighing on his mind and she decided to ask him about it. "What's wrong?"

"Pardon?"

"You're distracted and thinking." She stated as she took a white towel and gently began drying off Connor's skin without hurting his side in the process. "Have you been talking to Lucas?"

"No. I never told him what was happening, and I asked Markus to keep it a secret."

"Just like Hank. It sounds like you're trying to do too much at once and are thinking way too hard about everything."

"You sound like Hank."

"Have you spoken to him at all since... this?"

"...No."

"Connor, you still care about him; he's your best friend. Why don't you want to talk to him?"

"It's complicated."

"Well, I know it's not because you're worried that your programming is going to get hacked anymore. What gives?"

"I... I honestly can't explain it. It's like his presence has been tainted by a negative experience, but I can't figure out what that experience could be."

From the doorway of his private quarters Kamski replied without anyone asking his opinion on the matter, and took his seat behind his desk across from the pool. "Repressed memory."

"...My memory is still rather eidetic."

"That's because you're focusing on your android memories. You need to think back to your more human memories to figure out where this feeling has come from."

Abby shot Kamski a dirty look. "Since when're you an expert on psychology?"

"I minored in college, actually. I was the top of that class as well."

Connor lifted his moderately weak arm up and took the towel to dry off his hair. "...Do you know how I can uncover this memory more directly?"

"I have a way, yes."

"How?"

Kamski gave Connor an unsure stare, but answered truthfully all the same. "In my lab there is a sensory deprivation tank that will allow you to block out all your senses and be alone with your thoughts. If you focus entirely on that negative feeling and nothing more the repressed memory will come to the surface and you will have your answer."

Connor shifted his weight so he could kneel on the floor before pushing himself upright with his arms. As he stood on trembling legs Abby grabbed onto his arm to make sure he didn't fall on the slick floor or lose his balance.

"Connor, you can't keep doing that. You need to move more slowly and wait before standing on your own."

"Sorry."

Abby's concerns weren't unfounded. Already tall and slim in build the lack of muscle made Connor look almost lanky, and it was difficult for him to support his own weight just yet. She had managed to get him to eat enough of a bland nutritional diet to put five pounds back onto his frame, but it wasn't enough just yet. The black swim trunks he was wearing looked almost too big on his frame, and when he wore a t-shirt and jeans it looked like he accidentally bought clothes two sizes too big for himself.

"Come on." Abby gave Connor the crutches to lean on as he very slowly walked out of the study to head back to the guest room. As he walked she kept her arm wrapped around his waist to support as much of his weight as she could without hindering his recovery. "You need to rest for a while. While I respect your dedication and commitment to get better, I can't condone you pushing yourself too hard."

"...I'm sorry. I suppose I'm getting restless and want to leave this place."

"So do I."

"...Do you want to return to the city?"

"Connor, you're still my patient. I may not be your technician anymore but I'm still your friend and I'm still a licensed E.M.T., so I'm going to help you until you're able to take care of yourself."

"You're still licensed?"

"Yup. I renew it every time I get the memo about it expiring."

"I wonder if my paramedic license expired while I was in a coma?"

"Connor, you were barely twenty-two when you went into that coma, and now you're twenty-four. I'd say, yeah, your license expired in that time."

"I should try to get it renewed."

"Are you thinking about a career change?" She asked as she guided Connor over to the large bed in the guest room to sit down and rest for a moment.

"No. But it does seem like a waste of training and knowledge."

"Well, go for it. Until then," she tossed Connor a clean black t-shirt, jeans and boxers. "change into dry clothes and sleep for a while. I'll bring you something to eat so you can keep your strength up."

"Abby?"

"Yeah?" She stopped just as she passed through the doorway to the room, and looked back at him over her shoulder.

"Thank you for helping me. I know you weren't comfortable with this procedure, and I appreciate you standing by me during my recovery."

"...You're welcome. Now, get some rest. I'll be back later."

Hank sighed as he sat alone at his desk and mucked through the massive pile of paperwork that awaited him after his return to the precinct. Between reports that meant nothing to him Hank checked through facilities throughout the city in case an android matching Connor's description had been admitted, but he had no such luck. Frustrated and ready to throw a punch Hank grabbed onto his phone and decided to call Abby, since Markus was unable to give him a straight answer last week.

Pressing 'dial' Hank lowered his voice to remain more discreet while on the phone and barely waited for her to answer the line. "Abby, it's Hank."

'Hi, Hank.' She fought to keep her voice level and inconspicuous as she answered the phone call. 'Did you go back to the precinct?'

"Yeah, and it's boring as Hell. You saw Connor before he disappeared, right?"

'Yeah, he stopped by for an examination at my facility.'

"Can I ask how that went?"

'He was perfectly healthy if that's what you're worried about.'

"Kinda'. Do you know where he went when he left the city?"

'...Yeah, I do.'

"Abby," Hank pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and sighed. "I'm beggin' ya'. Tell me what you know. I'd ask Lucas but I get the feeling he's just as blank as I am about this shit."

'Connor will tell you when he's ready.'

"That's not good enough anymore." The detective had to keep himself from snapping at her. It wasn't her fault that he was kept in the dark. "The kid isn't just my partner, he's my friend and I've sworn to take care of him. He's my family. Please, just give me something, ANYTHING I can work with."

'...Okay. Connor will have to fill in the details, but I will tell you his search led him to Grand Rapids, right here in Michigan.'

"Grand Rapids?" Hank quickly made a note on his electronic pad as he pressed the phone closer to his ear. "What's in Grand Rapids?"

'His past, Hank.'

"Abby, please. No more cryptic answers."

'Hank, I'm going to level with you.' She lowered her own voice as she relented and gave him the information he so desperately wanted. 'His past isn't pretty. And I know it's only going to get worse when you start digging.'

"I can handle it. What am I looking for?"

'Look for events in Grand Rapids on the date of May 22nd, 2037. You should find it, and go from there.'

"Find it?"

'Trust me, Hank. It's too much to explain over the phone and you deserve to know the full truth for yourself. But remember, Connor wants to explain things to you in person. And I think you'll understand why.'

"Yeah, sure. Thanks for the info Abby. I appreciate it." Ending the call Hank pocketed his phone and set to his terminal to look up the information that Abby had pointed him toward. "Nice to have at least one cooperative person right now..."

As he began his search he came across a newspaper article with a familiar name in the headlines regarding a horrible car accident caused by a hit and run semi truck driver. As he read the details regarding the rescue of Elijah Kamski from the burning wreckage of his totaled car, another name stood out to him for a whole new, and far more important reason.

"...Connor?" The image of Connor, his photograph clearly a copy of the image on his old driver's license, made Hank's stomach knot with distress. As he read further he felt himself pale. "Connor Wolf, age twenty-two, was hospitalized after suffering severe injuries during the accident that... What the fuck? Connor, who are you?"

Abby hated telling Hank about Connor to some extent, but she hated the idea of lying to him even more. Pocketing her phone she knocked on the door of the private guest room and walked inside with a small tray of food. Connor was awake and using Kamski's laptop to look at information regarding news in the city, as well as other details regarding his car accident. Without a doubt it was the same news article that Hank had found. He was sitting with a slouched posture on the edge of the messy bed in the provided dry clothes, and his hair was styled to it's normal look.

"You're supposed to be asleep."

"I was asleep, but my insomnia returned."

"Well, since you're already awake you should eat." Placing the tray down on the table beside the bed she reached over and closed the laptop to distract Connor for a moment. "You can do that later."

"Sorry." Connor let her take the laptop as he looked at the tray holding a small bowl of soup, a glass of water and two slices of bread. "I can't run a scan over this anymore, but I'm certain the bread was added because of the carbs."

"Yeah, you need to put on some weight. Your immune system is going to be compromised since you were in a coma for two years."

"I also suspect being a premature baby is also a factor in having a slightly compromised immune system."

"What? You're what?"

"I had been doing some research into my past and I have uncovered some important information." The casual explanation was just as casual as his hand struggling to hold the spoon as he dipped it into the bowl. "...I never thought I'd compare a spoon to a ten pound weight."

"Well, I didn't think I'd ever have a patient go from android to human, but here we are." Opening up the laptop Abby began looking at the files that Connor had uncovered. "So did you figure out where you came from and all that interesting stuff?"

"Yes. My full name is Connor Anthony Wolf. I was born seven weeks early in Novi Michigan on March 7th, 2015. I have no biological siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins or grandparents, and my biological parents have both passed away. All of this happened before the accident."

"Anything else?"

"...It's not anything I wish to discuss."

"Rough childhood?"

"...Yes."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I knew there were dark pieces of my past that I'd have to face." He continued to clumsily stir the soup with the spoon in his hand, but had little interest in actually eating it. "In fact, I'd like to face that dark memory that managed to haunt me even as an android."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I have to know." Connor tried to straighten up, but his core was too weak to fully support his weight upright just yet. "I'm willing to use the sensory deprivation chamber to reach my memory."

"Connor, I don't think you're ready for that type of emotional turmoil."

"Emotions aren't new to me, Abby. I can handle it." Setting aside the spoon he gave her a pleading look. "Once I finally understand this memory I would like to return to the city and resume my physical therapy."

Abby wasn't convinced and didn't want to see Connor get hurt. "...You're completely, one-hundred percent certain you want to do this? I like you, but I don't like piecing you back together every time something tears you apart."

"Abby. I want to do this." Awkwardly Connor managed to lift up his hand just enough to wipe as teary, chlorine aggravated eyes and sighed. "I want to face my past so I can go back home and talk to my brother, and my... well, Hank is sort of like a father. ...I think."

"You think?"

"...I don't remember my biological parents. At all." The explanation was unexpected but logical. "I think Hank having a father type of role in my life is accurate."

Turning her head away Abby stared at the floor sadly. "I'll go and let Kamski know you want to use the chamber. Try to eat a little more."

"Okay." Nodding slowly Connor resumed fussing with the soup. "Thank you, for helping me."

"...You're welcome."

Confused more than ever Hank returned to the house with the collected information on the car accident fresh in his mind. The last thing Hank had expected to find was a tragic news story regarding someone with the same name and face as Connor being hospitalized after an accident. Using his own terminal and his authority to gain access to the police archives in Grand Rapids from those two years prior, Hank was able to trace Connor's roots back to Novi and from there he found even more heartbreak as checked the records there as well.

As much as hated himself for doing it Hank had purchased a bottle of whiskey on his way home and had proceeded to pour himself a shot as he sat down at the kitchen table. Fidgeting with the amber drink in his hand all Hank could think about was the horrible childhood that Connor had endured and survived, only to end up comatose for his efforts while trying to be a good person and do the right thing.

"Fuckin' hell. It's no wonder he's so emotionally broken." The detective stated out loud to himself as downed the shot. Sumo sensed Hank's distress and sat on the floor next to him at the kitchen table. "How in the fuck did Kamski manage to get so much of that kid's pain into a machine?"

Pouring another shot the detective couldn't help but think of all the cases of child abuse he had handled throughout his unorthodox career.

"That kid beat the odds at birth, only to be raised in Hell by Satan himself." Fussing with the drink an amused grin appeared briefly on his face. "Emancipated at fourteen years old, and he still managed to take care of himself. Definitely explains why he's so damn cautious and guarded around other people."

Sumo whimpered and pressed his chin down against Hank's knee sympathetically.

"If I found all this out in a few hours I can only imagine what he found in a week's time." Gulping down the second shot he leaned forward over the table and let out a booze filled sigh. "I can't fix his childhood, but I can give him a good home. I just need to find him, first."

The sensory deprivation chamber had been set up and Connor was ready to bring his long repressed memories to the surface. The chamber itself was bright white and a long rectangular box that was seven feet long, five feet wide and four feet deep. It was filled with heavily salted water to ensure that whomever was laying in the water would float perfectly without touching the sides, the bottom or the top of the chamber. The water was also warmed to the perfect temperature to keep the person warm, but not hot. A small, undetectable access port allowed fresh, clean air to be pumped into the chamber to prevent any form of accidental suffocation when in use.

Without his crutches to lean to support his weight Connor allowed Abby and Chloe to help him walk. For the moment it was easier to move around without the awkward crutches considering there was going to be water on the floor, and Connor didn't want to slip and hurt himself.

"Welcome to your memories, my friend." Kamski showed Connor over to the chamber with an opened arm while Abby and Chloe helped him to walk over to the place of interest. "This chamber is designed to drown out all sound and all light. The material used in the construction of the chamber absorbs any and all odors and even removes the taste and texture of the salt to keep all of your senses free of any and all stimulation. You will be able to think and remember without any distraction."

Connor nodded as he managed to get up the small plastic staircase leading up to the chamber, and awkwardly stepped inside. "Have you used this chamber to uncover your own memories?"

"I use this chamber to think and to focus my thoughts into ideas." He explained coolly as he watched Connor get gently placed down into the water by Abby and Chloe, and laid back to he could float on the surface. "It has unfortunately brought up a few memories I had hoped to forget along the way, but it wasn't anything I couldn't tolerate."

"How long will I lay in here?"

"That depends on how long you want to lay in here."

"...Three hours?"

Abby didn't like that idea and spoke up. "How about one?"

"Please," Connor was determined to uncover his memory no matter how painful it could be. "I want to do this. Three hours, that's all I want."

Kamski approved of the time frame and nodded to Chloe. "Very well. Three hours it is." As Chloe prepared to close the lid of the chamber Kamski gave Connor the final few details. "Chloe will retrieve you in three hours exactly. But I must warn you, coming out of this trance can be a little unsettling at first and you'll likely endure very intense dreams tonight when you sleep."

"That won't be the first time."

"Good answer. See you soon."

The lid of the chamber closed and Connor found himself quickly immersed in blackness. Closing his eyes he breathed slowly and allowed his mind to drift back to the memory that he sensed was trying to claw its way to the surface, and practically welcomed it to return. As a negative feeling of dread settling into the pit of his heart he focused on the feeling and let the images, sounds and feelings return to him in waves.

Abby was still not a fan of the extended period of time, and she wasn't afraid to let Kamski know about it. "Three hours is too long!"

"And how would you know that?" He refuted arrogantly as he strode out of the lab with Abby following after him.

"Look, I know he wants to find his past but maybe some things are better left forgotten."

"Since when do you have the the authority to make such a decision for someone else?"

"Knock it off!" She angrily snapped at the cold man. "I'm just looking out for my friend!"

"And yet he wants this. I think you're trying to escape your own past and you're now projecting your insecurity onto him."

"Hey, I've made peace with my screwed up childhood. My parents and my brother are gone, and I left Chicago behind. This isn't about me, it's about him."

"I know you're trying to protect your friend," Kamski actually empathized with Abby as the two left the lab behind, Chloe remaining beside the chamber as instructed. "but you can't protect someone from time. Past, present or future."

Abby didn't have a response, or even the faintest of an argument to offer.

"I understand that once he's regains his memory he wants to return to the city. Take him to this clinic." Presenting Abby with an aluminum membership card from his pocket he tried to give her a kind smile. "It's one that I own and is very private. He can remain there to complete his physical therapy at his own pace completely undisturbed. I will even take care of the bill on his behalf as a little 'thank you' for saving my life two years ago."

"I thought you already thanked him by giving him an android body to live in." Abby snipped as she took the card from Kamski's hand.

"My intent was to keep a piece of Connor alive through the 'Connor model series', but I didn't realize how much of his mind had been saved and how deviancy would essentially revive him. That was an unexpected perk, not necessarily a 'thank you'. Especially since I had to exercise my waning at CyberLife to accomplish this task."

Pocketing the card Abby slowly walked away from Kamski and retreated to the guest room as she waited for the long three hours to pass by.

Shaking his head Kamski ventured to his own study and stood before his massive window overlooking the harbor. As he watched the waves lapping against the shore he gazed out to the setting sun disappearing into the horizon just beyond the towering structure of New Jericho Tower in the distance. It was as beautiful as it was somber.

"We all have pasts we want to escape. It's a shame that our own minds tend to imprison us inside our own memories."

Connor felt a strangely familiar presence as he sifted through the darkness of his own mind. Pushing himself to focus on the horrible feeling that had undoubtedly left his heart scarred. Steadying himself with a calming breath Connor focused on the memory and felt a sudden chill creep up his spine as a voice began sounding off in his own mind.

It was an angry voice, one that Connor had learned to dread at a tragically young age. A voice that he had forgotten about for so long, only to have it return in such a horrifyingly thunderous manner.

"...Where... am I?"

Connor suddenly found himself standing on the small, decaying balcony overlooking an unkempt, overgrown backyard from the second floor of the small, neglected house. A storm was growing overhead with a frightening chill in the air that made him shudder as the cold wind struck his skin and thunder rumbled in the distance.

Alone and oddly at home Connor was scared. However, the scared man wasn't a man, he was a boy; barely fourteen years old, and scared for his life.

The sound of heavy, angry footsteps stomping up the stairs and toward the balcony where Connor was standing made his heart thunder in his chest.

"You no good piece of shit!" The man drunkenly slurred as he smashed the empty bottle of vodka on the bedroom floor. He stomped toward Connor who was too afraid to look at him, and could only tighten his own hands around the wooden banister that lined the balcony under a terrified grip. "Where do you get off taking that shirt from the neighbors?"

"...Sh-She offered it to me." Connor stammered in a shaking voice. "I was being polite."

"Shut up! You're just a filthy, lazy piece of shit!" Grabbing onto the back of Connor's shirt collar he turned the scared teenager around to face him as he pinned Connor's back up against the wooden barricade. "Are you trying to make me look bad? Huh?" He was screaming in Connor's face and his breath reeked of alcohol and 'red ice'. "Making me look like I can't afford to buy my own clothes! Trying to make me look like a loser! You get off tryin' to embarrass me?!"

"...I'm sorry! I'll-"

"I said shut up!" Reeling back his left hand he struck Connor over the face leaving a massive welt that was already swelling over his right eye. "You're worthless! I never wanted you in my life! You killed your mother and the only reason I haven't killed you is because she wanted to keep you!" He struck Connor again causing the scared teenager to cower, and try to put up his right arm to defend himself. "I knew it was a mistake and you're the proof!"

"I'm sorry!"

"I'm going to do what I should've done already!" An inhuman gleam flashed in his eyes as he made his decision. "You killed your mother! It's only fair that I kill you!"

Grabbing onto Connor's shoulders in an enraged grip he threw the terrified boy up and over the balcony to go crashing back down onto the ground below. Connor landed on his right arm and shoulder on the concrete steps leading to the backdoor and cried out in haunting pain as his humerus bone snapped and his shoulder dislocated.

Rain began to fall from the clouds in cold sheets that quickly soaked through his thin clothes as he laid on his right side on the cold grass. Forcing himself to not cry, to not even whimper, Connor listened to the sound of the man's angry footsteps as he stomped around the house in a drunken rage.

The sound of the television turning on meant that the drunk had become distracted by something else, and Connor would be left alone. At least for a while.

Pushing himself up from the grass with his left arm, pushing himself to get up from the wet grass, Connor held onto his badly broken arm and limped out of the backyard toward the front of the house, moving as quietly as possible. Limping down the sidewalk in a cold, numbing rain the injured teenager walked in the direction of the nearest hospital seeking shelter and help.

As he walked away he could hear the dangerous man's voice in the distance behind him yelling in anger as he discovered that Connor wasn't laying in the backyard anymore.

"...Please." The fourteen year old whispered to himself through his retrained tears. "I don't want him to find me."

Red and blue flashing lights illuminated the street before him like a beacon of hope cutting through the surrounding storm. Pausing where he stood Connor watched as two police officers exited their vehicle and approached him curiously.

"Son?" The older of the two men called out to Connor as he stood still on the sidewalk. He was soaked through with rain and bleeding from small cuts that marred the side of his head and his face. "Son, are you okay?"

Connor could only shake his head as the second officer threw off his jacket and gently draped it around Connor's shoulders.

"Son." The first officer address the shaken teenager in a kind, patient voice. "We're here to help. Who did this to you?"

Closing his eyes Connor bowed his head and fought through a sob to tell the officers the truth about the person who hurt him. "...My father."

From within the confines of the chamber Connor's eyes snapped open but all he saw was utter blackness around him as the chamber successfully cut off all contact with the outside world. Grabbing onto his right arm where the bone had long since healed he began to breathe rapidly as his heart rate began to swiftly climb. Scared, alone and confused Connor was beginning to panic.

The lid of the chamber began to open slowly allowing light to enter gradually as to not hurt Connor's eyes. Putting up his hand to protect his eyes Connor was met by Chloe's blurry, worried face as her L.E.D. spun in yellow in her temple. Connor turned away from the light as he continued to breathe rapidly only to lose his breath and panic more.

"I will get help." Chloe stated as she left the room to locate Abby.

Connor reached out his hand to the side of the chamber and grabbed on as tightly as he could. His shaking, weak hand could barely grip the smooth siding of the chamber and his ears were beginning to ring as he fought the urge to blackout.

"Connor?!" Abby's voice called out as she rushed over to the chamber and grabbed onto his hand. "Connor! You're okay, breathe!"

"I...I...I..." He was having trouble speaking, and he was panting for breath. "Can't... breathe!"

Abby motioned for the stethoscope on the nearby exam table as she put her hand under Connor's head to try to hold him more steady in the water to keep him as calm as possible. "You're okay."

Chloe handed Abby the requested item and she slipped the earbuds into her ears awkwardly with one hand, then ran the bell over his chest. As she listened to his racing heart and panting breaths Kamski arrived in the lab and looked down at Connor with surprisingly worried eyes.

"What's happening?"

Chloe answered as Abby tended to Connor. "I noted a sudden spike in his vitals and I decided to check on him. When I did I found him in distress, and informed Abby of the situation."

Abby removed the stethoscope and put her now free hand to Connor's cheek lightly. "Connor, you're hyperventilating. You have too much oxygen in your system and not enough carbon dioxide. You need to breathe out and slow your breaths to correct this imbalance."

Kamski took a moment to open a nearby cabinet and located a small plastic bag that was normally used to dispose of used biocomponents, and handed the bag over to Abby. "Here, have him breathe into this."

Abby took the bag from Kamski's hand and placed it over Connor's nose and mouth in a secure, but light, grip. "Connor, breathe into his bag nice and slow."

Connor's eyes were wide with panic but he breathed as Abby instructed. Slowly he was able to catch his breath and his heart rate began to drop to a much more manageable level. As he calmed Abby listened to his chest again and nodded in approval.

Kamski sighed and grabbed a large white towel that was sitting atop a stack on a nearby table. He gently helped Connor to sit upright in the water as much as possible and draped the towel around his shoulders. "It appears you uncovered that memory. I'm sorry that it was so traumatic."

Abby wanted to glare at Kamski but sensed the sincerity in his voice and decided against it. "Connor, you're going to be okay. I want you lay down and rest for the night, and I'll check in on you from time to time."

"Wh...What time... is it?" Connor managed to ask around the plastic bag over his face.

Chloe answered in an almost annoyingly chipper voice. "It is currently ten sixteen in the evening."

"H-How long... was I..."

"Two hours, six minutes."

Abby wrapped her arm around Connor's waist while Kamski hooked his own arm beneath Connor's arm to help him stand up. Connor was shaking violently with terror and was almost completely immobilized by fear.

"It's okay." Abby reassured Connor as she and Kamski guided him very slowly out of the lab and to the guest room. She lowered the bag from Connor's face as he began to calm down and breathe more normally. "You're safe."

"...I'm... I'm cold."

Abby took the towel from Connor's shoulders and used it to gently dry off his skin. "You'll be okay. Dry off and change into some warm clothes."

Kamski helped to guide Connor over to the bed before discreetly taking his leave of the room so Connor could be miserable in private. Abby set about using the towel to dry off Connor's hair, mindful of the almost fully healed wound to the back of his skull, and kept him company as he sat on the edge of the bed shaking with lingering fear.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"...No." Connor weakly fell to his side on the bed and rested his head against the pillow heavily. With a trembling hand he pulled the thick white quilt over himself to keep warm as he shivered slightly. "I just want to sleep."

"Okay." As she rose from the bed she tossed Connor his clothes once again so he could change. As the clothes landed on Connor's side he just laid there and didn't react. "Tomorrow we can head out to a private clinic to finish your physical therapy. You're already making great progress with what little there is here, so I know you'll be back on your feet in no time."

Connor remained silent as Abby crossed the room and walked over to the door, his eyes staring at the crutches beside his bed and propped up against his wall like a painful reminder of his current limitations. He hated feeling so weak, but there was nothing he could do but be patient with himself and heal.

As Abby approached the door she used her palm to easily dim the lights in the room and stepped through the door quietly. The door automatically slid shut behind her and soon Abby heard the soft crying coming from within the room as Connor finally broke down and began to weep from the depths of his heart.

"...Oh, Connor." She whispered to herself as she walked away from the door. It hurt to listen to her friend so upset, but she knew she couldn't do anything more to help him emotionally or physically unless he let her. "What happened to you?"

...next chapter...