Chapter 4 here we go! 2 chapters in one day!

You woke up around nine the next morning, but not because of an alarm sounding off or birds chirping. No, you woke to a gentle pat on your cheek and someone calling your name. You groaned having been up far too late the previous night to be up now, but still opened your eyes.

"It's me Connor," the android stared down at you, a line of blue blood running from under the bandage onto its chin. You groaned rolling over, facing the other side of the bed. You heard footsteps and a warm hand gently shook your shoulder. "I'm sorry to wake you, but the closest Cyberlife store opens in less than an hour and I am still leaking thirium." you grabbed one of your pillows and smack it in the chest as hard as you could. Connor brushed the pillow to the side as if it was hardly there. "I would have gone myself but you instructed me not to leave the apartment. I agree with your decision to keep me here, but unless I stop these leaks soon I will start to shut down biocomponents."

You shoved yourself up onto your elbows, shooting daggers at it. Connor was still loosing blue blood as he had said. Down its face and clothes were fresh stains of blue and who knows how much was on the couch. "Are you feeling alright?" you swing your legs over to the side of the bed, stretching upward.

"I performed several diagnostics this morning and all of my biocomponents are operating at seventy six percent on average. Nothing has been seriously damaged, but without proper repairs in a timely manner, I will have to shut down some of my less critical systems," Connor informed you.

You stood up, attempting to side step around Connor and nearly losing your balance in the process. You wobbled for a moment before it caught you around the waist. "T-thanks."

"No problem."

You moved past him and picked out several of what you considered less conspicuous cloths. A grey sweater and dark pants and a jacket to match. "Let me take a shower and I'll head there, okay robo-boy?" Out of the corner of your eye, you saw it tilt its head slightly to the side, processing what you had said.

Your shower was a quick but much needed relief after the previous night. Breaking out a discontinued android, being responsible for the deaths of coworkers, and now keeping said android in your home felt like it hadn't happened to you. It was as if it were like a dream. You dried your hair and pulled your clothes on, shaking the last remnants of sleep from your body.

You grabbed your purse, walking past Connor without a second glance.

"I would suggest eating something before you leave," the android piped up from the couch.

"I'll grab something on the way, don't concern yourself," you replied before closing the door behind you.

The taxi ride to the CyberLife store was nothing short of dull. You gazed out the window watching the rain race across the glass, your cheek resting on one hand, the other drumming the leather next to you. You counted yourself lucky that CyberLife hadn't sent some hitman to your apartment in search of the RK800, but maybe you had somehow gotten away with your hastily thrown together caper. Maybe Connor had been way more discreet than you had assumed. Or maybe CyberLife was just toying with you and was going to demolish you the next time set foot in the building.

You were lost in thought when the taxi slowed to a halt in front of the outdoor mall. Hopping out into the drizzle, you ran as fast as you could to the nearest ATM and withdraw two hundred in cash. You shivered and stuffed the money into your purse. You were about to head to the CyberLife store but as you passed a coffee stand you paused.

You really should eat something. You hadn't had anything since yesterday around three and you had promised Connor. Groaning, you entered the shop.

Once you had a breakfast sandwich and coffee in hand you resumed you mission. For a Saturday, you were surprised that the mall was rather slow. Must be the weather. None the less you were thankful for less faces. The CyberLife store was one of the busier places with about ten or so customers perusing the androids.

You snatched up four bottles of Thirium 310 and two cans of Patchwork Sealant. Keeping your head directed away from the camera, you paid the service bot, wishing you could use your employee discount but also not wanting to have this traced back to you more than it already was. With one last stop and a men's clothing shop, you were on got way back home.

You half expected that hit man from your thoughts earlier to be holding Connor up at gunpoint when you arrived home. Instead it sat on your couch where you had left it, its eyes closed in a peaceful sleep mode. Androids were designed to be beautiful, but when Connor was resting, he seemed younger. You weren't sure how to describe it but it made you smile a bit to see him so comfortable in your home.

Gently running your thumb over its cheek, it roused it from its sleep mode. "I got the thirium and a few other things."

Connor resumed its posture of sitting up so straight that it looked uncomfortable, "Did you get something to eat?"

You snorted, dropping the shopping bags onto the coffee table. "Is the deviant-hunting android seriously concerned for my well being?" you plopped onto the couch next to it.

"Of course, as the human who stopped my decommissioning, I would find it regrettable if something happened to you," it explained.

You snatched one of the cans of sealant out of the bags and gave it a good shake. It wouldn't fix any internal damage but it would at least stop the leak. "How much Thirium have you lost now?" you asked, wiping the blue streak off its face.

"About thirty percent," it replied, "I have stopped any unnecessary movement and replaced the bandages to try and prevent any further loss."

You nodded, "Wanna get patched up?" you lifted its shirt and gave the can one last shake before removing the stained blue bandage. "Can you remove your skin for me?" around the holes, the flesh color retreated to be replaced with the pale white and grey. Against the white, the wound stood out even more. Using another piece of gauze you dabbed away the excess blue blood before spraying it with the sealant. Spritzing in short bursts, you covered the holes and gently blew on the aerosol plastic to get it to set.

Without proper repairs at a shop, the skin sealant would never match perfectly and the skin would appear a bit raised, but it was better than perpetually leaking. Moving onto its back you asked, "Your purpose is to hunt deviants, but now that you are not with CyberLife won't that be difficult?"

Connor rested its head in its hands as you worked. "Once I feel that we have successfully gotten away from CyberLife I plan to continue my mission."

You grunted in agreement and rolled him onto his back. You knelt at the side of the couch, fixing up his hip. "How did you get out of there anyway?"

"After I was processed to be destroyed, I waited until most the employees left the building and went out an emergency exit. Your key card was quite helpful," Connor's eyes followed your movements, watching closely. "I can do that if you want."

You began blowing in the plastic, "It's my fault this happened to you. If I'd just let things be you'd-"

"Have been recycled?"

You started up into those chocolate eyes. "Yeah. That." you moved up to his forehead, repeating the process. "When I asked you if you were deviant, you didn't give me an answer."

Connor became very quiet, the LED at its temple flickering from spinning yellow to red. "I'm not a deviant."

"Then how did you... if you're not a deviant how could you express any desires outside of your base programming?" you questioned.

"Self preservation is part of my programing. If my production line was destroyed, I would not be carried over into another model," it reasoned, the LED returning to a spinning blue.

You scrunched your face, doubting its logic but dropped the issue. "Well that should do it." you stood up, handing Connor one of the bottles of Thirium. "If you need more I'll go back tomorrow."

Its addams apple bobbed as it swallowed the blue liquid down. "This should be plenty, thank you."

"When you're done you should take a shower or something. Get all that blood off." Connor nodded in response as you went to work on the blood that it had tracked in last night. Using hydrogen peroxide and an old rag, you scrubbed at the stains. The Thirium had evaporated, leaving dark brown spots in place of the purple from last night.

Who had this belonged to? Stacey from marketing? Or maybe Raoul who was in the office next to you. Or one of those other employees who you had never known their names whose life had been snuffed out because of your irrational actions.

"Thank you for putting your life on the line for me," Connor spoke from behind you, making you jump. You suddenly noticed a few tears forming up. Crying again. Wiping them away, you stood up. "I haven't said that yet and I apologize for inconveniencing you."

You shook your head, "Stop thanking me, I didn't do it to help you... just...go get cleaned up. There's some clothes over there that should work better."

Connor looked like it wanted to say something, mouth slightly agape, brows knitted together, instead it nodded and left you alone. You flopped onto the couch and flipped through the television, welcoming the moment to turn off your brain.