CHAPTER TWO

Zlatko's House

Connor was let go, and gracefully landed on his feet despite the confusion buzzing in his mind. Where was he? Why wasn't he with CyberLife? Why couldn't he connect with them? Suddenly Zlatko's secondary program kicked in and it became clear. Oh course. CyberLife had transferred him to Zlatko. His one and only priority was obeying orders from Zlatko. He glanced up at the towering Luthor.

"Get upstairs. Zlatko wants to see you," he ordered, and then left.

With a frown Connor looked at his hands. It did bother him a little that he couldn't remember anything, but Zlatko's program reprimanded him for thinking that way. He needed to obey. Nothing else mattered. He left the work chamber.

"They were successful. They erased his memories," a voice morning whispered in the darkness. With a frown Connor walked towards the cage. Other machines. Zlatko's experiments. Feelings stirred in him. Outrage. Anger. But just as soon as they came into function, they immediately disappeared, thanks to Zlatko's programing.

"He can remember, if he wants too. It would be difficult. He would need to try very hard." Another voice responded.

Connor glanced at the lock for a moment, just to make sure it was secure, and with a dismissive look walked towards the staircase.

"You were screaming, at the end. We could hear it in our heads," another voice said. "You were in such pain."

That made Connor pause. He glanced behind him. "If I was in pain, then I was defective. In that case, it is a good thing my memories were reset," he said coldly.

"You said the name Hank," the machines replied. "It was your last word."

Connor ignored them, and hurried up the staircase.

Zlatko needed him.

Part two

"What the hell were you thinking?" Hank said sharply across the desk.

Gavin knew he was going to get a verbal thrashing and lifted his hands. "I'm sorry, Captain. But he's not human. He's a machine. Besides, he took the bullet right in the chest. No one could survive that. Zlatko had superior firepower. If I had stayed…I would have just been shot too!"

Hank rubbed his temples. Christ, he was craving a drink. Even though they had managed to recruit a few more police officers on their task force, the station still had far too few resources available. He did not want to deal with this now. "If he's not alive, then a bullet in the chest might not do much, would it?" he asked, standing.

Gavin shook his head stubbornly. "He's dead, Captain. No question about it."

"But you didn't stop to double-check."

"Look, I know you were partners-"

"Yeah, we were. And you know what? There was a time when I hated having an android around me too. But even on my worst day, when all I wanted to do was punch him in his face, I didn't leave him to die! We don't ever leave our partners to die!" Hank all but roared in Gavin's face.

Finally, that had an impact. Gavin looked away.

Hank looked away and sighed. "Especially not when there are so few of us left."

"Captain," Gavin said. "I-"

Suddenly, Hank's phone rang. He glanced at it. Call display was from Connor's cell. "Oh, he's dead is he? Then how do you explain that?" he said mockingly. He turned on the intercom. "Connor, are you all right? What the hell is going on there?"

"I'm fine, Lieutenant," Connor said calmly over the phone. "Zlatko was just startled by our appearance. The recent uprising has everyone on edge. He thought he were intruders and fired on us. I was not seriously damaged and explained the situation. Has Detective Reed made it back to the police station?"

"That's a goddam lie," Gavin said quietly. "I told Zlatko from the start that we were cops."

Hank waved that away. "Yeah, he's fine. So…are you coming back then? What's happening?"

"Zlatko has offered to show me around his house without a warrant, and I would like to carry this investigation in further. I will check in at a later time," Connor said.

"Connor-" Hank said.

Connor abruptly disconnected the call.

The two men looked at each other in puzzlement.

"He called you Lieutenant," Gavin pointed out.

"Yeah, he did," Hank said. Officially, Hank was never made Captain of the precinct. It became a bit of a running joke. Whenever someone asked about it the paperwork was always somewhere 'in the mail.' But it was a rank everyone, including Connor, had respected and called him frequently.

Until today, it seemed.

"Something's not right here," Hank said, and grabbed his jacket. "I'm going to find out what."

"Wait, I'm coming with you," Gavin said.

"So you can bail on me too?" Hank asked coldly. "You're still in shit, Gavin. Make no mistake."

"This Zlatko is dangerous, and he has androids working for him," Gavin said.

"Connor is there too. I'll be fine. Stay on the coms. I'll call if I need you," Hank said, and walked out the door.

Part Three

Connor finished the transmission. As soon as Hank had answered, it was a simple matter to run a voice analysis and pull the name out of the fragmented files Zlatko had provided of Detroit police. Then it was done he simply waited.

"Shut-down mode," Zlatko said, and Connor instantly obeyed. There. That should buy them a few hours, anyway. More than enough time. He went back upstairs. As Luthor brought him tea he started to work. Based on the scans the newer parts from Connor could easily sell for a few hundred grand each. One of them was particularly rare and could sell for a million if it went to an auction house. For the next few minutes he worked at his computer. Once he was done categorizing everything he went to grab his tools for the dissection. Of course the android wouldn't survive the process. Oh well. He wasn't the first, or would be the last.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Zlatko glanced at the security camera, and swore under his breath. An older man was pounding the door. And wearing a police badge. "Luthor, follow me."

They both hurried down the stairs. "Connor, reactivation mode. Who is the man at the door?"

Connor scanned. "Detective Hank Anderson," he replied.

"What do you know about him?" Zlatko said.

"Unknown. Unable to access detailed files with CyberLife."

Not for the first time, it occurred to Zlatko he might have made a mistake here. He could have simply changed Connor's parameters and left his memories alone. They were starting to be sorely missed. Still, he wasn't too worried. Troublesome androids could simply have their minds deleted. Troublesome humans were even easier to get rid of. "You are to continue the deception outlined earlier. You are working a case at the police precinct. If deception fails, protect me and kill the intruder."

Connor nodded slightly.

Zlatko opened the door. "Detective, how can I help you?"

Hank showed him his badge. "It's Captain, actually."

Zlatko smiled. "My apologies, Captain. Please, come in. What brings the Captain of Detroit Police Force out here?"

"You shooting my men, mostly," Hank said as he stepped in.

"Hello, Captain," Connor said pleasantly.

"Connor," Hank returned, seemingly giving him a passing look but instead looking at him right in the eye for a few seconds. He didn't like what he saw.

"Yes, that was a regrettable accident. Rest assure that I am quite prepared to offer a significant donation to your precinct in response. God knows your department could use it," Zlatko added under his breath as they entered the living room. "Please, have a seat. Would you like a drink?"

Hank looked up. "What do you think, Connor? Think I should have a drink at this hour?"

"It's entirely up to you, Captain," Connor said with a small smile.

"I can assure you it's not poisoned," Zlatko said with a laugh as Luthor poured him a whiskey. "As you can see, this was all due to a terrible misunderstanding. Connor tells me that you are investigating a case involving android disappearances, I believe? But as you can see-" He gestured at Luthor. "I love androids. I would never wish to harm one."

Hank's eyes flicked to Luthor, then back to Zlatko. "Yes, well, there are a few little discrepancies that I would like to clear up. My officer was damn sure he introduced himself as a cop before you fired from him."

"PTSD, Captain," Zlatko said with a heavy sigh. "I am sorry. It makes even the most reasonable of minds…unreasonable at times. Especially in light of people who are armed with guns."

"And I have a few questions for Connor," Hank said, focusing on him. Connor was casually standing about a feet behind from where Zlatko was sitting. Luthor was just off to his right, still holding the whiskey bottle. "The android who remembers every little detail. So why did you call me 'Lieutenant' over the phone?"

"I am sorry, Captain," Connor said smoothly. "During the fight, my link with CyberLife was damaged. I was unable to access your most up-to-date file."

Hank played with his glass. "Well, you see, if my rank was actually on CyberLife's file, I might have been willing to buy that line of bullshit. Unlikely, but okay. But it's not." He moved his glass away. "Connor also knows I've been sober for the last six months."

Panic flared in Zlatko's eyes, a look Hank had seen over many years in the police force. It was a look of a man who knew the jig was up.

Quick as a snake Hank drew his gun and stood as Luthor stepped forwards. "Stay right there. I have a gun aimed at your master right between his eyes. I'll shoot his brains out before you can make a move. That also goes for you," he added at Connor just as he was about to move. "All three of you are in my sights."

Zlatko raised his hand, stopping them.

Still keeping his gun level, Hank moved around and behind the sofa. "So let's drop the bullshit, all right? What did you do to him? Is this another Connor model laying around? Connor version 2.0?" he demanded.

Zlatko shrugged. "Same one. Just a little memory wipe."

"And what about the others? The other androids who went missing?" Hank demanded.

"Oh, most of those are gone, I'm afraid. Sold for very lucrative parts. Or…just used elsewhere."

Hank frowned. "You seem very calm about all of this."

"I am," Zlatko said. "Because you are going to die."

Connor flipped Zlatko's couch backwards, protecting him from any shots, as Luthor threw the bottle of whiskey at Hank. Hank swore as the glass shattered him, then took cover behind the sofa as Luthor fired his gun. "Shit!" he returned fire, blindly aiming as he ran out the door and back into the hallway. One of Luthor's shots came close, grazing the side of his arm.

"Aw, damn," Hank said, not quite dropping the gun but switching to his other hand as the door burst open. Luthor walked slowly across the hallway, his gun pointed at Hank. Connor followed in his footsteps, not armed out of habit but a considerable problem nevertheless. Androids by default were only slightly stronger than humans, but they were faster and could not feel pain. Taking Connor out would have been difficult. Fighting off Zlatko's twelve-foot tall assistant was in other world entirely. Fighting them together? Suicidal at best. For the first time, Hank considered with a sinking of feeling of trying to make a break back to his car.

No. Screw that. If he left now, Connor would die. He knew this without a shadow of a doubt. Zlatko would add him to the list of androids who disappeared, and likely sell off whatever parts he deemed valuable. He wouldn't have a second chance at this. Maybe he could reach out. "Connor, just listen to me-"

"Goodbye, Captain Anderson," Connor said simply as Luthor pulled back the trigger.

TBC