Well hello there!
I'm way in over my head with how many stories I've got going now: oh well, self-inflicted pain, I guess! Still, this universe is one that means a lot to me, so I'm determined to do right by it. I'm sorry it's been a little longer than I intended for the update after my wedding, but I've decided to re-work part 3 of this series, which means I'm modifying little bits of this story too as setup. Not anything huge, but it still required work.
Special thanks for reviews: CreativeYori, MagicalWitch92, xNarielx, Sakin2003, AnUnorthodoxDecision, lordvaatithewindmage, sarahlucylu and Dariana Green.
Chapter 8: Return
It took almost another week before North felt ready to face the other awakened androids again. After that first night being open and upfront about her feelings regarding her resurrection with Hank, she slowly began to come to terms with her second chance at life. With a lot of hard and deep thinking, she finally came to her decision on what to do: she wanted to live. As hard as the knowledge that she had died was to come to terms with, the last thing she wanted to do was put Markus through the same pain again.
That, and they had fought so hard for the world which was beginning to finally come to light. She wanted to see it come to life.
Hank and Markus both took days with her separately, helping to ease her back into everyday tasks. What turned out to be the biggest factor in her healing, however, was Sumo. The lovable ball of fur kept bringing smiles to her face in just being himself, and the two were never far from each other. Seeing them together gave Markus and idea on how to celebrate North's return, and the delay in her re-introduction to their community gave him enough time to ensure it happened.
Eleven days after her resurrection, North finally said that she wanted to see the others of their inner circle again.
Keeping as low a profile as possible, Hank drove her to Belle-Isle while Markus ensured that their entrance would be clear of people, save for Chloe. The RT600 smiled at seeing them arrive, and ushered them to small service elevator on the far side of the tower. North was visibly nervous at the idea of seeing the other androids again, which Hank could see from how she was practically vibrating on the spot. While the frightened edge to her personality had slowly receded as she grew back into herself, her confidence had yet to do so.
"You know these people, North," he reassured her with a nudge of his elbow. "We're not throwing you into a pack of wolves."
She sighed long and clenched her fist to stop herself from fidgeting: another habit she had developed. "I know," he replied lowly. "I can't help it."
Hank flicked her braid and it swung into her cheek, earning an exasperated stare from North. "Not expecting you to, but no-one here is going to be anything other than glad to see you again. Surprised, sure, but happy all the same."
North paused for a moment and stared up at Hank seriously. "You don't think they'll be…disturbed?"
He knew exactly who she was referencing. "Chris and Ben? Nah, not at all. Since when do you care on what humans think, anyway?"
"I work with these people, Hank. They've proven that they fight for us loyally, and that's why it matters to me."
His mouth quirked up in a small smile. "If they can get on board with how I learned to love Connor in less than a week, they won't bat an eye with this. They know about the virus and our wish to eradicate it – no-one knows it is a reality that your people are free now."
North scoffed cynically. "Physically, yes, that obstacle may have been removed. Mentally, however, I would not wish this process on anyone. It is extremely difficult to be faced with your own mortality."
As the elevator came to stop on their floor, Hank led them out and faced her with a decidedly neutral expression. "So what do you think we should do? Not use it?"
She hesitated. "I didn't say that," she said back quietly. "It is not something I would recommend for all. Those who died through long-term damage will probably adapt easily. Anyone murdered in cold blood will find it highly traumatic, as I did. Those who self-destructed…"
"Yeah, based on what happened with you, I doubt those who took their own lives would be able to cope," Hank agreed, beginning to walk towards a meeting room further along the floor. "Any advice?"
"Ask those who knew the dead," North decided. "Those who knew their personalities, their strengths. See if they think they would want to return. If they are adamant to leave them be…I think we should respect their wishes."
Hank nodded at her. "Sounds pretty reasonable to me." They came to a stop outside a room, and North abruptly froze at hearing the multitude of voices within. Chloe gave them a respectful nod and left, now that she had completed her role as their escort, and headed back to complete her latest work. Now that Belle-Isle was habitable (since androids did not require amenities such as food and most sanitation services), many had begun to move in and make it into a community. After the bombings at the Awakening celebration, a large contingent of the androids had felt unsafe. A new start was welcome. Chloe was helping them to set up various security countermeasures along with linking in their existing operations with New Jericho, the AIF and ADF bases.
Seeing her unease, Hank gave her another nudge. "You ready for this?"
North didn't answer him, listening to the voices inside. Hank too could hear them, and they both stayed there for a few moments to overhear the discussion inside.
"Markus, you've been off the grid since the bombings. We all know this isn't just grief over North, you're working on something!"They both quickly identified Amelia's voice. She sounded very agitated.
"And it's not just you, the Lieutenant has been suspiciously absent too. Not to mention one of Elijah Kamski's Chloes suddenly showing up out of the blue?" Chris continued.
"Markus, what exactly is going on? You've always been so transparent before, you don't like to keep secrets unless strictly necessary…" Josh sounded hurt, and it made North wince. He was right, Markus did his utmost not to conceal anything from those closest to him, but she knew exactly why he had done so.
"That's why I've asked all four of you to come here," they heard Markus state, confirming that Ben was in the room; even if they hadn't heard the other human yet. "This is…it is not explained easily, and has far reaching consequences. We have been investigating our assassin: but not only that, we've-" He abruptly stopped, reaching out mentally to search for the other two. North felt his consciousness brush against her mind and she sent a quick burst of her unease back through. It was enough to confirm to him that they were right outside the door. "On this occasion, I think the most appropriate description here would be…seeing is believing."
Hearing the lead-in, North gave a sharp nod. Hank pressed the panel next to the door, and it hissed open a second later.
Time ground to a halt, while if a pin had fallen the sound would have echoed around the room like a gunshot. There wasn't even any audible breathing from the humans in the room – everyone was rendered speechless by what they were seeing.
Anxious over what reception she would be given, North kept her eyes down, but a gentle hand in the middle of her back urged her through the opening. She strode in slowly, Hank half a step behind her and the silence seemed to stretch on for an impossibly long time in her mind. This was a bad idea, it was too soon. There was no way they could accept her here after all that had happened.
A tentative hand on her shoulder caught North's attention, and she looked up tentatively into the stunned eyes of Josh. Even now, months after the uprising, she never would have considered them friends. Comrades, sure. Allies, most definitely. Friends? Their opinions on humanity were so far apart, as well as their methodologies towards peace. It was always a permanent friction between them, so to see the male android staring at her in shock, wonder and, she couldn't believe she was even thinking it but, joy…When she was pulled into a fierce hug, it was slightly less alarming than it may have been.
"You're real…" he whispered in astonishment, pulling away to stare at her again. "I mean, of course you're real, but it's just- It's you, North. How…How is this even possibly?" Josh's voice was all but a whisper at the end. He first turned to gaze at Hank for a second, before switching the same piercing look at Markus. There was a lot of explaining to be done.
Amelia came forward on shaky legs, breathing unnecessarily, and soon broke into a brief run to crush North in a hug of her own. Less taken aback this time, North returned it a little stronger than she had done with Josh, and even managed to give the blue-haired android a timid smile in return. North was even more astounded when Chris appeared by her side and offered a tentative version of his own hug. Scanning the faces of both humans, she was amazed at the complete acceptance towards her resurrection, finally giving Chris a faint grip back as Ben beamed from his chair, casted leg propped up on the central meeting table.
"All right, you two," the crippled detective started, "you've got some major explaining to do. Since when did you manage to learn how to cheat death?"
Before they answered, Josh jumped in with a stern gaze. "This is why you've both been off the grid. You've been working on restoring North."
Markus and Hank shared a look before the human spoke up. "Not just her, Josh: though she was most certainly among the top of the list of people on our minds."
Amelia stared at them in confusion. "I don't understand. How is this even possible? The virus which runs through all of us stops re-activation being possible. Did you somehow download North's memory and reintegrate it after bringing her back?"
The android leader smiled tightly. "As inventive a solution that might be, Amelia, we did not. Chris actually unintentionally touched upon the reason that North is back with us. Chloe is not here by co-incidence."
Josh's eyes widened. "You've been working with Elijah Kamski."
Markus nodded. "I have been in contact with him since not long after the Awakening, asking for his help in eradicating the virus. It did not take long for him to generate a solution, but I was…loathe to use it, until now."
Ben stared at him hard. "Hang on a second. Kamski gave you the way to re-activate your people and you didn't use it? What gives?"
"Humans can't cope with the idea of something immortal," Hank answered harshly. "Androids are frightening enough to humans before you begin to include something like their ability to be repaired. Short of destroying the memory core, any android can, in theory, be resurrected. Things have been fractious since the Awakening, could you imagine the shockwaves that would be generated from people seeing previously dead androids returned?"
It was a valid point which hung heavily over all of them. "You seem strangely all right with this, Lieutenant," Chris pointed out.
Hank shared a look with Markus, who nodded. "I've had a little while to think on it," Hank admitted with a chuckle. "I'm not a good guide when it comes to humans or mortality, so don't use me to sort out your own feelings. Besides…circumstances mean that I have the chance of something impossible, and I'm going to give it everything I have to see it come to pass."
Markus jumped in before anyone else made the connection to Hank's cryptic statement. "I cannot admit to purely honourable reasons for finally choosing to use the anti-virus, though I do intend to use this for all androids. What drove me over the edge…" he turned to face the recently resurrected android across from them, giving her a smile carrying the enormity of his emotion towards her, "was losing North. I couldn't leave things as they were when I had a way to restore her, that is something which would have destroyed me."
His eyes hardened again as he came to stare at all the members of their inner circle. "This anti-virus will give us the chance to at last tip the scales in our favour. With greater numbers, we can make our voices heard and make sure the humans take us seriously. But do all those who died as part of our long walk to freedom not deserve the chance to live again, to see the world they fought for? So many were senselessly killed before they even had the chance to truly experience life. How could I just sit back and watch while thousands died for no good reason?"
His words cut into many people's hearts, artificial or organic, and it was Amelia who at last spoke up, though her voice was very quiet. "Does this mean you will attempt to bring back those lost during the bombing?" she asked timidly.
Everyone was surprised at the voice which answered her. "None of them deserved to die for their part in a peaceful celebration. Let them end on their own terms, at the very least."
Hank couldn't help but wonder if North's words were based on her own wishes for how she would meet death the second time.
Ben nodded in understanding. "Sounds pretty damn fair to me."
Chris smiled his own agreement. "Absolutely. Anything we can do to help?"
"I want to be part of this," Amelia said adamantly.
"Let's not forget the thousands still waiting to be awakened that we rescued right before the bombings," Josh added. "We can rally our people together with this news, let's not allow this chance to slip."
Markus beamed with pride, while North's own mouth upturned to something which resembled a smile. Hank pressed a reassuring hand to her shoulder and the expression turned shy.
The youngest human's face shifted slightly as a thought struck him. "Hang on, guys. What about the assassin? Is it safe to do this with them still wandering about?"
Hank and Markus shared a long stare before the lieutenant gave a long sigh. "There's a fuckin' story and a half behind that…strap yourselves in."
News of the RK900's existence was met with concern and determination, especially when the others learned of Hank's personal motivation to destroy it. Having seen the older man's grief and journey after Connor's death, all of them volunteered to help come up with any way to track the machine down.
With that, Markus assigned tasks for everyone in the coming days. Amelia and Josh were to gather all the victims of the bombings and identify those who could possibly be reactivated, while Ben helped North re-settle into her role as the leader of the ADF. The rapid change to her personality and sudden reappearance after over two weeks missing couldn't be ignored, and they, with great reticence, began to spread the truth of what had happened.
They were apprehensive only because of the reaction the news might generate. Markus still had no idea how successful the anti-virus would be in resurrecting all the dead androids. After seeing all of North's struggles first hand, he knew that some would not be able to cope with coming back to life. He didn't want to give his people false hope.
Still, it was some hope. They needed it after recent events.
Markus enlisted Chloe's help before she returned to Kamski, asking her to help awaken the fifty thousand androids they had managed to keep hidden on the outskirts of the city. Such a massive increase in their numbers would not go unnoticed, but Markus hoped to minimise awareness by awakening them in groups and smuggling them into either New Jericho or Belle-Isle. It would take them at least a couple of weeks to retrieve everyone, but the extra pairs of hands would go a long way to restoring both settlements. While they were still undecided on what to do with New Jericho, it could still be a home to any androids who wished it to be.
Hank took Chris and the pair threw themselves back into researching how to track or kill the RK900. While they were still unsure as to why the machine was using Red Ice gangs as part of its plan, they got in touch with the DPD and asked them to pass along any information they had gained not only from those recently arrested, but any tips they were given. It was going to be a slow process, and Hank couldn't help but wonder when the machine would surface again.
It made sure to leave a message with North. Why it wanted to be see was a question he was scared to find the answer to. Despite Kamski's guess of it being a taunt, he had the feeling it was more.
The answer had to lie in CyberLife's information when they built it. Somewhere.
All of them were exhausted as a week slowly passed by, and with its conclusion came time for Markus to release the anti-virus to the android population. After much deliberation, he decided to gift it to the living androids first, along with the message of what the update contained. It sent shockwaves throughout the entire population, and everyone was abuzz. Fear, hope, anticipation, excitement…The mix was heady, but with it came an undercurrent which had been missing since the bombings. Androids were beginning to grow in confidence again, no longer feeling helpless and waiting for the next attack against their people.
Now they knew they would not die out. For the first time, they had a true chance to make themselves into a community which could stand for what it believed in without dire consequences should things turn violent.
With the release of the code, everyone threw themselves into the efforts to help restore as many of the lives lost as they could. Leaving Ben, Chris and Amelia to help co-ordinate all the repairs to the bombing victims, the quartet of Markus, North, Josh and Hank set about bringing all the deceased androids from the bunker beneath New Jericho to Belle-Isle for secret repair work. Their return was going to be a surprise for all, and they all hoped for a good outcome.
The results were mixed. Of the bombing victims, just under 80% could be re-activated, but only 64% of them remained alive. For many, the memories of their deaths were just too traumatic, or the knowledge of those who they had lost was too unbearable to cope with living. Every re-activation brought with it the knowledge that they may have to end the life they had just restored if the android wished for it.
It was North's one condition to Markus in releasing the Phoenix code to the population: they must have the choice.
A little under 1500 of the androids killed at the bombings were resurrected, but with it came the enormous task of helping them resettle into life. North shared her own experience via Markus' connection over the android network for any who wished to know it, and it had a twin effect. While helping the recently arisen androids understand the challenges facing them a little more, it also helped North's own confidence grow again.
To see how she was helping other members of her people come to terms with such a daunting and frightening change – one which she had already conquered and chosen – helped her own healing immensely. Smaller communities of the returned androids began to form, along with support groups. But, with those networks, came a problem they hadn't foreseen.
An invisible line had seemingly been drawn, with the arisen androids sequestering themselves voluntarily until they felt ready to reintegrate themselves. It was a worrying development, but one which Markus had no choice but to let continue. The only thing which would help them now, was time.
Things were very different with those who had died during the uprising and in the short time after. Many of them were shocked upon their resurrection, but learning that androids were now free and making great strides in the world saw them determined to be a part of that world. The only exception was those androids which had self-destructed. As with the bombing victims, less than one in five of them chose to live.
Now into their last wave of restoration, Hank went to see one resurrection personally, asking for Amelia's support. He'd lost many people he knew in the bombing, some better than others, and a very special pair had remained in his thoughts. Two young women who'd become somewhat of an inspiration: for their courage in not letting the fact they were different races stop them from falling in love. While Stephanie was dead and gone – the curse of mortality remained for humans – Katherine could be restored.
He'd seen the light leave her eyes the first time, and he wanted to be there as it returned; regardless of her choice on whether to live or not.
Amelia gave one last check over Katherine, ensuring she was in perfect working order before attempting to re-activate her. Once she was satisfied, she looked at Hank to await his instruction. With a sharp nod, Hank urged her to bring back the android being held aloft in the maintenance arms. Amelia gave a long sigh before connecting to Katherine via where her LED would have once been, searching for the right protocol. Having now done this over a hundred times, Amelia was well practiced, but the breath still caught in her artificial lungs every time she felt that jolt through the connection.
Feeling the dead surge back to life.
Katherine jolted upright and her eyes quickly flashed as her systems came back online, causing Hank's breath to freeze. This was the first time he'd seen the process from this perspective, the only other he had seen at all had been North. His mind was still struggling to come to terms slightly with the reality that these androids, who were all in their most basic definition, robots, were come back to life. It was more than a slight mind fuck.
Her body was rigid and tense as she made eye contact with the human standing before her, and Hank could see the immense sadness which clouded her eyes as she remembered everything. "Why…am I here?" she asked, the grief allowing static to steep through her voice.
Amelia came to stand beside Hank as he spoke tenderly to the young woman suspended before them. "Katherine, what do you remember?"
Tears welled in her eyes and they briefly closed, her whole body crumpling in recollection. "Stephanie…she's gone, isn't she?"
Hank inhaled deeply before answering her. "Yes, she is. I'm sorry, Katherine."
When her eyes opened again, they seemed so lifeless. "How long…?"
"It has been almost a month now," Amelia said sympathetically. No matter how often she had seen this, it was no easier. And she had a distinct feeling that Katherine was only going to choose one way. Unbeknownst to her, Hank had the same instinct.
"A month…Tell me, was she buried?" Katherine asked tearfully.
Hesitating slightly, Hank slowly answered her. "Yes, she was. She is on the outskirts of Detroit." Many of the human victims of the bombings had been disowned by their families for choosing to ally themselves with the androids, Stephanie's family had been one of them. Markus had arranged for all of them to buried in some disused land, so they could be laid to rest in dignity.
Katherine smiled minutely and raised her head to look at them with a heartbroken stare. "Can you bury me next to her?"
Amelia began crying next to Hank and turned away subtly as the human dragged in a shuddering breath. "Katherine…You have Markus' message with you in the code, you know what he said. You have the choice of whether to live or die. Is-Is this really what you want?" he asked shakily.
She nodded once, slow but strong. "I don't want to live without her, Lieutenant. Death is peaceful, unlike the roaring agony in my heart here. At least there I can dream of her without pain. Please…let me dream and not awaken into this nightmare again."
The blue-haired android next to him strode forward to prepare to shut Katherine down, but Hank caught her shoulder lightly. Amelia looked at him curiously. "Let me," he said softly, understanding passing between them. She nodded, going to the panel next to Katherine and interfacing with it to upload a program that Josh had specially designed. It would allow an android to instantly shut down upon either the removal of their regulator, or the control program being passed to their LED.
If Hank wanted to give her peace himself, there was only one of those paths he could take.
Taking a moment to prepare, he strode forward and lightly pressed against Katherine's regulator. Waiting to ensure she was completely settled in her choice, Hank saw her smile and twisted the biocomponent around. Katherine took in a shuddering breath and smiled at him, allowing her tears to fall unchecked. "Thank you, Lieutenant. It was an honour knowing and working with you."
Giving her a small smile in return through his own pain, Hank nodded at her before releasing the pressure on her regulator. It popped out, and with it the female android slumped as she fell into permanent shutdown.
Dragging in an unsteady breath, Hank pulled the regulator out and handed it to Amelia without making eye contact. It had been agreed that all the androids who chose death would have many of their biocomponents harvested to protect those who became injured in the future, but it seemed wrong here. Katherine had wanted only to be buried next to her love…and Hank felt she should be left as intact as possible. Amelia took the piece and placed it on a nearby table, instead going to embrace him tightly. He gripped back fiercely, knowing the android would be able to tell what was cycling through his head.
Hank was terrified. Even if they managed to bring Connor back, would he choose to slip back into oblivion willingly? If he did, then Hank was sure to follow him. This had the potential to truly break the human beyond all redemption if it went wrong.
"That was hard, how are you holding up?" she asked tearfully. That was among the worst re-activations she had been a part of, just because it was so sad.
"I'll be all right," he replied heavily. "I really hoped that she would choose life, but I cannot blame her for wanting peace. It was incredibly tempting to me for so long."
Amelia pulled back slightly to leave a lingering kiss on his cheek before leaning back completely. "Well, I for one am glad you didn't go through with it." Hank smiled at her and planted a quick kiss on her forehead, earning a shy smile in return. Amelia moved away and began the process of lowering Katherine from the assembly rig as Hank felt a vibration from his wrist strap. He raised it to see the message waiting there from Markus.
Bring Amelia up. She's ready.
His heart soared: finally some truly good news. He couldn't wait for this.
"Amelia." She spun at the calling of her name. "Markus wants to see us. Will we be able to leave Katherine here undisturbed?" The female android nodded, but the pair first ensured she was entirely free from the rig and resting peacefully on the nearby exam table before locking the door. The medical androids had managed to get an entire floor of the tower up and running for all their treatments and maintenances work, but Amelia made sure to lock the door to her own personal biometrics before they headed up in the elevator.
Markus had sectioned off the top two levels of the tower for the use of himself and his inner circle, making sure there was some degree of privacy for them. Unbeknownst to Amelia, Chloe had been helping them make some very special repairs to some of the androids lost in both the uprising and the early days of their freedom. The existence of their bodies was still a secret, even now, and Hank couldn't want to see Amelia's face when she saw who was waiting for them.
Arriving on the top floor of the tower, Markus greeted them with a beaming smile. "Hank, Amelia, I'm glad you made it up so speedily. Please, Amelia, head through. I wish to speak with Hank for a moment."
Eyeing them curiously, Amelia did as asked and walked ahead, leaving Hank and Markus alone. "Chloe waiting for her?" Hank asked gruffly.
The android leader was unsurprised at the slight detour: they both knew why Markus had wanted the privacy. "Yes, she is. Shall I suggest that Chloe usher Amelia in?"
Hank nodded. "Reunions like theirs deserve privacy. Let Amelia have her moment to break down without outside eyes." Markus smiled in agreement and sent the message. The pair stood in silence for a moment, letting the magnitude of the day settle. "How's she taking it?"
Markus hesitated for a second. "As well as can be expected, honestly. North knows how I feel about her, and I think she knew I would always do this. Still, I can't help but fear I have betrayed her somehow by-"
"Markus, this business is between the three of you. I'm not part of it," Hank interrupted. "You all need to sit down and talk about it. But yeah, this is complicated as fuck, and her newly developed anxiety won't be helping matters. Where did she go?"
"Downstairs, to plan with Ben. I think she appreciates his help, having a second would probably be beneficial to the both of you in your roles. I will go to her later, once we have both adjusted a little more. A lot has changed."
Hank could understand North's need for space, but knew she tended to overthink things when left alone. Hopefully Ben could be ample distraction for the time being. "Do you regret it? The world's changing pretty fucking quick."
Steely eyes met the human's own. "No," Markus said resolutely. "Regardless of all else, I could never regret this. Is it a crime to be selfish sometimes?"
The human chuckled and clapped Markus on the back. "Nah, 'specially not after all you've sacrificed. You still intending on giving both of them a shot?"
"You don't think the idea a little strange?" the android asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Markus, polyamorous relationships became a lot more common as I grew up. I was in one years ago; so no, it doesn't bother me. Just make sure North knows that's what you want, yeah? I think the poor girl is scared that she's going to lose you."
Giving an understanding nod, Markus walked away down the corridor. Hank followed him slowly, and came to a stop as he found Chloe standing outside one of the former offices. She gave him a warm smile and turned her gaze inwards. He joined her, his heart lightening considerably at seeing the two female androids within wrapped around each other on their knees. One with sapphire blue hair that he would know anywhere, tears of joy and elation streaming down her cheeks as she lost herself in the arms of the woman with short caramel locks – the woman she loved.
Amelia had never looked so happy as she was in that moment, back in Autumn's embrace.
Smiling broadly, Hank left the to it, continuing further inside. He soon found two more rooms, one with the door open and the other still shut. He peered inside the open one briefly, seeing Markus sat on the edge of an examination table talking to the android laying atop it – an android Hank had only seen once before his untimely death. His resurrection had been incredibly risky given he had self-destructed, but after learning that it was out of desperation to protect Jericho, Markus had steeled himself for the worst. They were instead rewarded with an incredible surprise.
The pair were whispering amongst themselves quietly, the blonde android looking incredibly shy while his eyes darted everywhere. Markus chuckled and brought their palms up and interfaced with the other, watching as his eyes widened dramatically.
Hank turned away again just as Markus leant down and kissed Simon. They deserved privacy: fuck knew they probably wouldn't get much once Simon's return became public knowledge.
Turning his eyes to the closed door, Hank opened it after placing his palm on the panel. Inside was another table, just like the one Simon had been lying atop, only this time the android that lay there was motionless. Still lost in the oblivion of death. Hank approached him slowly, seeing the small change from before. Diverting his course to a small desk at the side, he instead picked up the wrecked bicomponent on top of it, studying it carefully.
His own heart squeezed painfully at holding Connor's destroyed one in his hands.
So fragile, just like a human. One shot through the heart had ended Connor's life, but Hank wasn't going to rest until the replacement was beating in Connor's chest. He took special note of the etching on the edge of the bicomponent - #6619r – and memorized it. This was going to be crucial in the small chance that they could build another one without hunting down the RK900: not that they wouldn't be doing so anyway.
Still, if they could just kill it any way possible rather than ensuring its heart was in one peace, that would be a great help.
Placing the heart back down on the desk, he came to stop at Connor's side. Hank stared down at his son's lax face, brushing back some of his brown hair as he spoke to him softly. The anti-virus worked, they could bring Connor back. He just had to be patient.
"Just a little while longer, Connor. You'll be back with us soon."
Phew, it feels good to finally get another chapter of this fic out. I'd say we have 5 chapters left of this part, but don't quote me on it! My chapters have a habit of extending unintentionally.
Hope you all enjoyed it. Let me know what you thought, and I'll see you again soon!
*Smooch*
