IX

He could almost feel the plastic on his body melting. Connor had difficulties opening his eyes and his head felt heavy. There were burn marks everywhere on his body and a few deep cuts that wouldn't stop bleeding. Everything hurt so much, but he knew he couldn't show it.

It had been three days now, and he knew that soon we wouldn't be able to not move. He was slowly losing control and Rachelle was happier every day. Tears fell from his tired eyes as they cut into his body. Blue blood was covering his eyes as it fell from his forehead.

Connor missed Sumo and Hank. It had been a week since he had seen them. He missed the warmth of the Saint-Bernard's fur. He had found a few hours prior that if he could bring his mind to think of good memories, the pain was less intense.

"Alright, bring it back. We're done for now," Charbonnet said with a cold look in her eyes.

Connor was brought back to the office that was soon becoming a prison cell. He sat in the corner and let the warm tears roll down his burning face. The room was slowly getting bluer and bluer as each day came. This was a living nightmare.

XXX

Connor couldn't keep going like this, he didn't want to die tortured by CyberLife. The deviant knew he shouldn't do anything and let himself shut down, but he couldn't. He wanted to live so badly. He was only born a few months prior he couldn't die now. It was time to fight. It was time for CyberLife to be stopped.

Charbonnet wasn't in the room but Connor could still feel her presence. He didn't care. The android opened his eyes as John walked toward him with a knife. Connor focused on his right leg and kicked. Surprisingly, he was able to break the link holding him in place. John backed up slowly. He fought to free his second leg. Connor saw the man run to the computer and pressed something. Suddenly he saw his skin being reactivated and frowned as he freed his arms.

Connor jumped down as two guards arrived in the room. His mind was clouded by anger and fear. He couldn't let them torture him again. He needed to stop them for good.

The guards raised their guns, but Connor was faster. He jumped forward and disarmed the guard. The deviant looked straight into the man's eyes before pulling the trigger. Anger was boiling inside him as the other guard tried to stop him. Connor turned and pointed the gun at him. He couldn't stop himself. They had hurt him so badly, he couldn't let him the guard live. Clenching his teeth, Connor shot him. He heard the door closed and realized that John had left. The room fell silent after Connor dropped the gun.

He looked around him for a moment before realizing what he had done. Feeling guilty, Connor looked at the camera with sad eyes. CyberLife had won…

XXX

Reed drank his coffee slowly as he talked with another cop in the breakroom. The police station was quiet since Anderson and Connor was gone. If you asked the other officers, they would tell you that even Gavin was quieter and more thoughtful. He seemed stuck in his mind most of the time. One officer opened the television and upped the volume to try and get a reaction out of the detective.

"You can see by this footage that even the most advanced android CyberLife ever created, the RK800, is now showing aggressive behavior. CyberLife has not installed any battle function is any of our android, which explains that this behavior is happening because of deviancy. We are asking you, people of Detroit, to help us save our world. Deviants need to be terminated. There has been an error and CyberLife learned from their mistake. Once the deviants gone, everything will be back to normal, but for this to happen, you need to help us. The people who want to join the cause can call CyberLife and ask for me, Rachelle Charbonnet. Thank you," the lady said coldly.

Gavin Reed turned his head to look at the screen and frowned. Connor was there… killing two humans. Gavin searched quickly for any marks on the android's skin but found none. There was nothing explaining why Connor was now killing.

"Well fuck, Reed you were right, Connor did start killing humans…" an officer said as they leaned against the wall.

Gavin looked at his coffee without saying anything. They must have hurt him in some ways. Even with all the shit Gavin gave him, he knew Connor wouldn't just kill for no reason. Looking back at the screen, the detective wondered when he started to think of Connor has he instead of it.

"Gavin?" somebody called him after a moment of silence.

He opened his mouth to answer, but before he could say anything his phone started vibrating. He looked at the small screen and frowned. He had never thought of seeing this name again on his phone… ever again.

One new message from: E. Kamski

I know you hate me, but I need your help. Meet me at my place when you can.

Gavin waited almost a minute before a new text appeared below the other one.

Please.

The detective put his phone back in his pocket and sighed. He didn't need to help the android. It wasn't his battle. He had nothing to do with androids, and if they deactivated Connor for what he did, good for him, right? Gavin should be happy that he wouldn't have the tin can around anymore… right? So why was he feeling like shit?

"Gavin, you alright?"

CyberLife was definitely behind all this. They had to. Connor wouldn't kill unless completely necessary… the android wasn't evil. He was just a… deviant trying to be alive. A realization hit Gavin straight in the face as he took out his phone again. The only one that could understand what was happening and maybe stop it was Kamski, and the man had asked for his help… Reed stood up and looked at the screen of his phone.

As much as he hated the man, he needed to know what was going on. It was finally time they meet again. Gavin was not looking forward to it.

XXX

They threw him back in the cell and Connor didn't even try to fight. He had given Charbonnet's her victory. He had betrayed his people, his friends… his family.

"Connor," Casey's small voice whispered to him. "Can I ask you something?"

Connor crawled to the side and pressed his head to the wall.

"Yes…"

"I heard that Rachelle was going to send a message to the people, with you attacking the guards as proof of her words, do you think they have the footage of torturing you?" Casey asked.

"They probably do…" Connor replied weakly. He just wanted all of this to end.

"Where do you think it could be?" the teen asked.

"In her office?"

"Yeah, I thought so too. So, if I could get out and reach her office to take the footage, I could show the world what she did to you. They would understand who's the bad ones here," Casey explained.

"How do you think you could get out? I don't want to fight anymore… I just want… Casey, I'm scared," Connor whispered. "I don't want to die, but I fear that it's the only solution."

"No, dying is never an option, Connor. You can help me," Casey told him with a new determination in her voice. "I have a plan. When the guards are going to come to feed me, you'll need to hit the walls and make noise. When they turn around, I can stop them then run."

"Are you sure this is going to work?"

"Probably, but it's the best option we have."

"Alright, I think I can do that," Connor said.

"Thanks, and don't worry. I'll get you out of here."