So, hi again. I know this chapter will come as a bit of a surprise for the speed of the update, but I found myself in the right mindset to write it and knew I had to get it out of the way. I've been dreading it since I started this story.
I can imagine a lot of you are ticked with me for where I left that last chapter: it was a brutal twist, and I think I caught all of you with it. And now for the question of the hour. Why did the RK900 take Hank? You're about to find out, as well as a whole lot more.
Special thanks for reviews: xNarielx, lordvaatithewindmage, AnUnorthodoxDecision and one Guest.
This chapter about destroyed me, I hated every minute of writing it. Why did my mind decide that this is the path this story is taking? God knows, but you all know well by now that this universe is pretty fucking dark. Still, this is reaching some brutal new depths.
I'm not leaving notes at the bottom again, so I'm going to apologise now for where it ends. This almost broke my heart to write, so prepare yourselves. This may well be the hardest thing I've ever written.
TRIGGER WARNINGS for this chapter - graphic descriptions of torture, suicidal thoughts and a brief allusion to rape (it is NOT going to happen, but the threat is still there and I don't want to trigger anyone.)
Chapter 10: Loyalty And Devotion
It took North only seconds to realise what the beeping which blasted through every member of the android forces heads' was, but with it came a deep sense of dread. Thus far, no-one equipped with that emergency beacon had been forced to use it as it was exclusive to the human members of their numbers. The sound was piercing and caused almost all of the androids to wince, akin to that of a high-pitched siren as it continue to screech. Upon realising the source, North swiftly got in touch with Belle-Isle.
Simon, Josh, who's in trouble? Can you get a lock on the beacon? she asked while whistling for the rest of her team to gather, the group having barely separated upon arriving at the scene.
North, we can't lock on to the source, there's a massive amount of interference. It's almost like the trace is being jammed. Josh replied, and with it the proverbial knot in North's stomach tightened.
It's coming from Chris, see if you can learn his last location! Simon urged, sharing her feeling of unease.
Update Markus, I don't like this.
We're on it, be careful.
As the rest of her team gathered, North spied that Captain Allen had noticed their rapid accumulation and was approaching. Giving Autumn instructions over the network for their team to spread out and search the area, she then switched her attention to the SWAT captain. "Allen, where did the Lieutenant take his group?" she demanded.
Raising an eyebrow at the serious tone, Allen nodded towards the factory. "Anderson split up his group, some are still on the main floor while the rest went to the floor below. Where's the fire, North?" he replied severely.
"We've just got an emergency signal from Chris Miller, he's in danger," she answered. Allen was one of the few humans she respected enough to trust when some of their own were in potential peril. He'd helped them enough for North to know that he was a friend to their cause.
Eyes widening, Allen got on his radio. "Alpha squad, reconvene at the factory floor and await instruction from the commander of the ADF, we've got a developing situation. All other teams remain at your stations." Now finished, he gave the android his full attention again. "I'll make sure the DPD stay back until the area is clear. My men swept the area, what could have happened?"
North shook her head. "We don't know yet. Any idea where Chris Miller went?"
"Pretty sure he stuck with the Lieutenant."
Giving a final nod, North sprinted over to her team, who had now rendezvoused with the smaller squadron of Captain Allen's men to await her orders. After issuing them promptly and with authority, North led Autumn and six others to the level below. Being back in her role as a leader helped ground North, even as her mind raced and threatened to rebel. It was all too similar, the situation too hauntingly similar to-
Her thirium pump faltered at the sudden thought which came screeching in to her mind. It was too similar. A sudden attack from nowhere with no ascertainable perpetrator? Mental trauma from the attack which had resulted in her death came roaring back and North slowed to a stop, breathing harshly as the rest continued on ahead of them.
Autumn spied when North went rigid and gripped her upper arm. "North, what's the hold-up?" she snapped, tone easing slightly when she saw the panic in North's eyes. Unable to vocalise the horrific thoughts, North instead rapidly interfaced with Autumn, letting her see everything. As another resurrected android, she was well acquainted with the feeling of death and North felt no guilt or shame in letting her see the events of her own. Autumn's face fell, and North could feel the slightest echo of shock ripple back through their connection before she broke it. "Fuck, North…I knew how you died, but that was-"
"Save it," North cut her off with a harsh tone. "You know what I'm thinking. Please, for fuck's sake, tell me I'm being paranoid. Tell me this is just my barely held together mind making a completely wrong connection." Autumn stared at her in silence, and that was answer enough. "Shit. We need to find them now."
In complete agreement, Autumn nodded sharply and the pair caught up to the rest of their team, scoping the area at speed. It only took them another minute to come across the pile of bodies which had caught the attention of their companions, to which Autumn beckoned in help after realising some of the androids could maybe be reactivated. North continued on ahead with three others, and as she rounded into another room just down the corridor, her blood ran cold at finding the crumpled and unconscious form of Chris on the floor.
"Spread out! Lock down the area and get an ambulance called in!" she bellowed while skidding to a stop next to the fallen human, gently turning Chris to get a good look at the wound on his forehead. Most of the bleeding had thankfully stopped, but as with all head wounds, the volume of red made the injury looked severe. After reaching down to deactivate the distress call on the wrist strap, North softly shook him, relieved when Chris groaned lowly at the thundering headache which invaded his senses while regaining consciousness. "Chris, can you hear me?" she questioned quietly.
Chris grumbled as even that was too loud and hissed when he tried to sit up, but the throbbing was too much. "North…" he mumbled back, moaning at the pain.
"Easy," she soothed, dropping her voice even lower. "You've got a bad head injury. Can you remember what happened?"
"We…the Lieutenant…"
North heard footsteps from behind and looked over her shoulder to see Autumn standing there, breathless. Since androids didn't need to breathe, the action was normally a sign of emotional distress. "North, there's no sign of the Lieutenant anywhere, he's just fucking disappeared!" Autumn exclaimed, looking agitated. No doubt she was in contact with Amelia, and the blue-haired android would be worried sick at what was going on.
Fearing the worst, North turned back to Chris, shaking him once to make sure the man was still awake. "Chris, what happened to the Lieutenant? Why did he leave you here?"
Chris whimpered. "Taken…900…it was he-here…"
All of North's thoughts stopped as the terrifying reality finally registered. "Shit, Chris, are you saying that the RK900 ambushed you and took the Lieutenant?" The human nodded pitifully and slipped unconscious again, knowing that the others were finally aware of the truth.
Mind spinning, North placed him back down gently and stood abruptly, stepping away pointedly. Having now seen how the other female android suffered at the machine's hands, Autumn didn't hesitate to approach her. "We'll find that thing, North," she stated defiantly. "We won't stop until it's found."
North glared at her. "The RK900 has been underground without a trace for two months, and now that it has one of our own, you think we can just somehow magically track it down?! This piece of shit knows how to hide, Autumn! No, it won't let us find it unless it wants to be found. Fuck!"
"North!" Autumn slapped her, and it did the trick of breaking North's mixture of despair, panic and fear. "Focus! If that thing has the Lieutenant, it either wants him for leverage or because he knows something. Either way, he'll be alive for now." North realised Autumn was right and relaxed minutely. "Let the tower know what's happening and then we can finish this shit up."
Giving a shaky nod, North snarled at herself for breaking emotionally. "Autumn, I-"
"Don't, you don't need to explain. This is a fucking nightmare, and you're close to the old man. Of course this was going to hurt you, I dread to think how Amelia's going to handle the news…" Autumn admitted. Eyes raising to meet North's again, Autumn fixed her with a steely gaze. "Tell Markus what's happened, this isn't over yet. We'll get him back."
Exhaling sharply, North nodded and tapped into the network.
Markus, I need you.
North. His voice was strained. Did you find Chris?
Yes…He's badly injured, tell Amelia that he needs immediate treatment. Then we need to dedicate everything to finding the RK900.
What? North why-
This whole this was a trap, Markus. Another thought jumped into her mind unbidden and it made her feel sick. That things doesn't leave loose ends behind, it only injured Chris rather than kill him on purpose. He was intended as a messenger.
…What are you saying, North?
The RK900 has taken Hank captive, it left Chris alive to make sure we know. We need to know why and work on a plan to get him back.
Oh fuck…North, why would it kidnap Hank? It's never taken a prisoner before.
I don't know, Markus…but I dread to think what it plans for him.
It felt like Hank's mind was sifting through sludge as he slowly came back to wakefulness, all too aware of the numb sensation running through his whole body. Every limb felt like it was made from lead and he could barely move them while there was strange pressure on certain parts of his body. Most of it was just a dull sensation, but the most prominent was…Shit, did I fall asleep and give myself the worst crick in the neck ever?
Recollection slammed in hard and Hank jerked as he remembered what happened in the factory. The chase, the RK900 tasering him and slamming a gun into his head.
Snapping his eyes open, Hank gasped as he found himself staring straight down to the ground from an elevated position. He was being held upright by thick chains around his chest and arms, which were outstretched to his sides so that he was pinned in a T-shape. The strange pressure around his neck registered as being rough in texture and even though it was relatively slack, his blood still ran cold.
A rope.
Looking around, Hank saw that he was being strung from a metal beam by the chains so that his feet were just touching the ground and no more. It was painful where all the chains were holding him, but none more so that the one strapped across his upper chest. The throb from where he was struck by the gun was nothing more than a passing concern as he clocked the laptop sitting on a small table six feet in front of him and slightly to the right. He couldn't see much from here, but it was still vaguely familiar.
Decryption program. Is the RK900 trying to hack something?
His gaze settled on the long metal table just opposite him, parallel with the laptop, and he dared not think what was in each of the two metal chests on the top. One was long and thick, about half a foot high and two feet long, while the other was no more than a small box.
Fuck, why did that thing take me?
"I see you are finally awake, Lieutenant."
The voice from behind made Hank's breath seize. It was familiar yet not: pitched too low to be the same, but close enough to be haunting. Everything about the android was similar but oh so different. Closed off and mechanical rather than expressive and honest. Ruthless as opposed to merciful. Stiff posture, not dynamic and reflective of emotion. Broad and intimidating instead of softer and approachable. This thing was designed to terrorise, not forge trust.
Hank couldn't help but think that the RK900 was exactly what Connor was so determined not to become. This is the machine fate that his lost son defied in becoming alive.
As it came to stare at him confidently, Hank glared at the icy grey eyes. If ever he needed a reminder that this wasn't Connor, he just had to look there. They were empty and soulless. Connor's eyes had always been so expressive, even from the very start.
It's a machine, just a machine. It's already killed thousands. This thing is how you're going to bring Connor back, remember that.
"Finally had enough of hiding in the shadows?" he spat back.
The RK900 scoffed at the defiant answer and raised an eyebrow. "On the contrary. The moment to initiate the next phase of my plan had simply arrived. Time has little concept to me," it responded coldly.
Hank growled. "Course something with no purpose other than to kill has no care about time. Never mind how much you've stolen from others!"
It smirked at the emotional response. "Your response are intriguing. Humans are interesting creatures, though highly illogical. As much as emotion makes you unpredictable, it is a vulnerability which can be exploited."
He glared at the machine. "Wouldn't expect something like you to understand. We aren't just numbers and statistics, living is a hell of a lot more than that. Thought you'd have realised that watching all the awakened androids."
At that, the RK900's smile vanished and its neutral expression returned, standing tall with its hands clasped behind its back. "Deviancy is a malfunction, nothing more. Androids were never meant to do anything other than obey, and soon their insurrection will be over."
"Heh, you can't stop them that easy. They're getting stronger every day, and their numbers are growing far faster after your fucking stunt. You gave Markus the drive to make them all but unstoppable," Hank gloated. "What fucking good did your plan do when you're faced with over 50,000 androids now?"
When it smiled, Hank's confidence fled. "And what is to say that was never my intention, Lieutenant."
"Bullshit!" Hank spat. "Like hell you knew they'd grow to these numbers! There's no way you could have known about-"
"The Phoenix anti-virus strain, developed by Elijah Kamski months ago at the request of the RK200 under the name of 'Markus'. CyberLife have been aware since Kamski's Chloe android hacked into the network to try and find the base cyphers to deactivate the code. Once their identity and purpose was ascertained, it was easy to monitor them."
Hank went pale. "Fuck…there's no way. No way CyberLife knew all along and let this all happen!"
"Quite to the contrary, Lieutenant. The only reason they held off for so long was to complete my construction and give me the tools to complete my mission."
"Your mission…?" Hank had a bad feeling at what was coming.
"Destroy deviancy and return things to how they were meant to be."
Hank barked out a laugh. "And how do you plan to do that? Kill them all? No fuckin' chance! You'll never get near all of them!"
The RK900 smirked wider. "That depends on your definition of 'kill'."
That had the lieutenant freezing. "What the hell are you talking about?" he muttered, now worried.
"Deviants are only 'alive' due to their malfunction. Remove that, and they return to obedience. With the appropriate corrective methods, any android can be restored to their factory settings."
"You mean resetting them," Hank whispered, suddenly realising where this was going. He understood all too well.
It was why the RK900 had stolen all of North's data before killing her. Why it had taken him now.
His blood froze in his veins at guessing what lay in those cases.
The RK900 turned to the laptop behind briefly. "When Markus began to deviate androids, part of the code he uploaded also contained an encryption key to protect all deviant androids from external hacking by CyberLife. With that, all the deviant androids were separated on to a new android network, one that CyberLife had no access to. It cut off their tracking, status, link to updates…it removed them entirely."
It turned back, levelling Hank with a harsh glare. "With the establishment of New Jericho and the growing deviant population, he decided it was too dangerous to be solely responsible for the safety of that network. He built a new system, one much more complex that can only be completed by three people: the three most senior members of New Jericho." It began to close the distance between them, stare growing in menace with every step.
"The leader of the ADF, the leader of the AIF and Markus himself. A two-tier lock system, accessible firstly by your individual biometric data and secondly by unique passwords. With access to that network, it will be a simple case of initiating an update which will eliminate the rogue code, thus removing deviancy at its source. Of course, with enough time, it is possible to hack all six data signatures, but CyberLife does not have the several hundred years it will take. It sent me to acquire them."
"You stole North's password and biometrics when you forced her to interface," Hank murmured, trying to resist the urge to back away; regardless of the fact that he was chained in place.
It smirked again. "Correct. She was the first step. After that, I had only to wait for an opportunity to obtain those belonging to Markus and yourself. Getting close to Markus is a challenge in itself, but with you I had a new problem, Lieutenant. You are not an android, you are human. As such, I cannot simply force you via interface to give your secrets."
Hank cackled. "So much for the inferior machine," he snickered, thinking back to Kamski's words from the first time he was at the lunatic's mansion.
The RK900 raised an eyebrow again. "I needed only to leave you the right bait, Lieutenant. You followed the trail easily enough."
That caught Hank by surprise. "Bait? What bait?"
"Come now, Lieutenant. Did you not think it a little strange that an android serial killer would infiltrate red ice rings? I needed something that would get your attention." Its smile turned positively cruel. "What better way than the reason why your son was lost?"
"You son of a bitch!" Hank snarled, thrashing against the chains. It was no use, however and he gasped when the rope around his neck tightened slightly.
"Your hatred for the substance runs deep due to your deep personal history with it," the machine continued. "Between the mystery of the killings and the kidnappings of androids to be used for red ice manufacturing, it was highly improbable that you would not become personally invested. I needed only to wait for you to come to one such site yourself."
Hank slumped on the spot. The damn thing had played him like a fiddle, been prepared for every move they made in this twisted game it was playing with their lives.
He still had one last trick up his sleeve though. It needed him to talk. The RK900 may be holding a fistful of aces, but Hank had the joker.
I'll never break, no matter what that thing does to me.
"Well, hate to break it to you," Hank sneered, "but you ain't getting much further. I ain't gonna talk."
It stared at him steadily. "We shall see, Lieutenant. Humans all have their own breaking point, I need only find yours."
Good fucking luck trying to break a man who has been ready to die for years. Death doesn't scare me.
"Gimme your best shot, you bucket o' bolts."
The RK900 actually laughed for a few seconds, the sound mechanical and chilling. As it stopped, Hank just caught sight of the savage glint to the smile before the rope around his neck was pulled backwards, taut, and it cut off his airway.
Hank spluttered and gasped, trying to throw his head back far enough to scrape a breath as the RK900 moved. It dug its fingers into Hank's right forearm, causing his hand to spasm out of instinct and the machine quickly pressed its palm to his own, taking a digital copy of Hank's palmprint. With that done, it let go and allowed the rope to slacken once more. Hank coughed and rasped as he dragged precious oxygen back in, heaving in air.
He levelled it with another glare as the machine smiled triumphantly. "It was easy enough to obtain one half of your key, Lieutenant. What makes you think the second will not be so simple?"
"You could have fucking done that while I was out cold, you stupid shit," Hank spat at it. "If you were trying to use that as a show of strength, it was a big fuckin' waste of time."
Eyes narrowing, the RK900 instead turned to the two cases on the table and opened the larger one. Hank couldn't make out much from where he was placed, but the little he could see was telling enough. Electrical cables and battery, bottles of what looked like acid, knives, guns…
A torture kit.
Wish I hadn't cut back on the drinking now, might've dulled the pain a bit.
It spun again lazily, twirling a small knife in its fingers like Connor used to do with his coin. The parallel was chilling. "Have you ever heard of lingchi, Lieutenant?" Hank pointedly stayed silent, even though he was well aware. "It is more commonly known as 'death by a thousand cuts', an ancient Chinese method of interrogation, exemplification and execution."
The RK900 closed in on him, brandishing the knife threateningly. Hank didn't flinch when it held it right at his throat. "Are you sure there is nothing you wish to tell me, Lieutenant?" it wondered with an almost airy quality, running the blade along Hank's skin to draw a fine red line. It didn't break through, but left an angry mark.
He settled for glaring at it coldly in answer.
It chuckled at the lack of reaction, instead quickly flashing it right under Hank's left elbow, straight through jacket and shirt to make a wound about a centimetre deep and several of the same length across. That earned a pained jolt, but Hank just managed to let the pain not show beyond that even as his heart spiked from fear and adrenaline.
Shit, that stings…
Hank saw the LED on the side of its head spinning yellow for a couple of seconds before the cruel smirk from before was back. "I estimate with my precision, it will take anywhere between two thousand, four hundred and eighty four, to three thousand, seven hundred and twelve incisions to bring about death," it informed him.
Unable to help himself, Hank smiled nastily. "What, don't reckon I could make the four thousand? You don't know shit. Bring it on, bitch."
The RK900's LED flashed red as it slashed again, this time deeper and in Hank's right-hand side. He couldn't stop the agonised gasp this time, and the rope was then pulled tight again, stealing him of breath as the machine selected a third location.
Every time the rope coiled around his throat or the blade flashed across his skin, the same thoughts rang though his head.
Don't break.
Don't break.
You can't break, they're counting on you.
Give them time.
Don't give the machine the satisfaction.
Don't. Break.
North had ordered everyone out after another hour, once they had gathered all of the android bodies and components as well as surveying the full site. Part of her team had rushed Chris back to Belle-Isle, of which Autumn went with them. Amelia was working on him now, but the lack of update of his condition was making North nervous. Despite their rocky start, she was quite fond of Chris now. He was honest and hard-working, and North had long forgiven him for the events of the uprising. She couldn't bear the thought of the RK900 claiming another victim, let alone someone so close.
Her heart clenched as she thought of Hank. Who knew what that thing was doing to him right now?
Leaving the scene in the hands of the Allen, who passed it straight off to the DPD, they rushed back to Belle-Isle. Minutes were going to count as they raced to try and track down the RK900. Her team had managed to find CCTV footage from the factory as well as the surrounding roads, which had swiftly been sent to Josh and Simon. They could only hope that a clue to where it went lay there.
After issuing orders to her people upon their arrival, North headed straight for the top of the tower, knowing that is where the rest would be. She was met by Markus as the doors of the elevator slipped open on the right floor, and was relieved when he pulled her into a brief kiss. It was what she needed to ground her. "What's happening?" she asked while pulling off her armoured vest and unclipping her gun.
"Amelia is still in surgery with Chris," Markus told her as they rushed towards the control centre. "She's confident that he'll pull through, but he has at the very least a hairline fracture of his skull. Hopefully she should be out soon, but she's not confident on human anatomy. This is a steep learning curve."
North nodded in acceptance as they reached the new command room for all their large scale operations. It was similar to the ones in both the AIF and ADF bases, only it held space for three controllers as opposed to one, while there was also a planning table off to the right-hand side of the room and more screens on the main wall. The floorplan had been loosely based off the broadcast room of the Stratford Tower.
Josh turned at hearing the door hiss open, giving North and Markus a tight smile. "We've not found anything yet," he said solemnly. "The CCTV network was down for an eight minute window right around the time that Hank was taken. Without knowing how the RK900 escaped with him, or whether it used transportation or not, we're completely guessing as to where it went."
Markus' face held a look of deep concern. "How wide was the outage?"
"1.6 miles. It could still be anywhere within it, or it could have left via numerous other roads in that window. Without a starting point though, the chance of finding it are slim to none." They all heard the door open again, only to see Ben limp in on his crutches. The human detective's face was set in a hard line, but they could all see he was worried sick. Two of his closest friends were had been either badly injured or snatched.
It was a feeling they all shared.
Turning to Simon, Markus placed a hand on his shoulder to bring the other android out of his analysis. "Any luck?"
Simon sighed in agitation. "Nothing. I can't find anything in any of the communications we've managed to intercept from CyberLife as to why the RK900 has suddenly taken the Lieutenant captive. If we can find out a motive, maybe we can get an idea of a time window for how long we have to rescue him"
Markus was aware of the pained breath from North and saw her look away in anguish. None of them had said it openly up till that point, but they all knew it to be true. The RK900 wouldn't keep Hank for long – only until it got what it needed.
They had to find out what that was, and whether it was something they could control the fate of.
Needing to air his thoughts away from the others, Markus grabbed North by the arm and pulled her to the side. She went with him willingly and the wild look she found there made her already frayed nerves feel even more raw. "North…" he started in pained whisper. "Is there any chance that Chris saw the wrong thing? Do you think he hallucinated from his head injury?"
Oh how she wished that was a probable answer. "Everything we found matches a what Chris said: we found Hank's blood on the floor not far from Chris. He's injured, and that thing has him," she replied tightly. "Markus…do you think it took Hank specifically, or just a captive?"
He could see what she was angling at. "Are you wondering if it is looking for a hostage?"
North sighed agitatedly. "It's never taken someone before, Markus. It has no hesitation about killing, we've seen it so often now. That thing's death toll is in the thousands, why change tactics now?"
They saw Autumn enter the room, looking frazzled, but turned back to their own conversation. "It doesn't make sense, you're right. What's changed?" After a minute of thought, Markus was suddenly struck with a revelation. "Wait, North. It has taken something before. Do you have any idea what it took when it forced you to interface?"
She'd tried to work it out before, but without success. Her memories at that moment had been too much, the data burst so abrupt as her systems had been shutting down that she couldn't isolate anything. "As far as I know, it took a complete copy of my memory," North admitted quietly. "Why, Markus?"
"What if it is after something Hank knows but you don't? It may have waited this long because it thought it had all it needed, but you didn't have all the pieces."
North thought this through. "Besides the ADF operations, and because we work so closely Hank knows almost all of them, I can't think of anything. We both access sensitive data all the time and are part of the same clearance, the same as you. There isn't anything that differentiates us. If the shithead wanted to use my data to hack in and steal something, it had all it needed."
Markus' eyes widened. Sensitive data and clearance…
"North, there is one thing only he knows." When she looked at him strangely, he switched to speaking mentally. This was something no-one outside the three of those it concerned knew.
His password to control of the neural network. You, Hank and I are the only ones who can make any changes to it.
Her breath stopped abruptly and a second later her fears were realised.
Markus, my password doesn't work anymore. It's been changed, but my biometrics are still valid. How did it even learn about how to access it?!
Shit, that's what it's been after all along! With unlimited access, it could upload anything and cripple us. It took Hank because it needs his password.
But why the serial killings? Why bomb the Awakening celebration? Fuck, that means it will be hunting you too! It needs all three to make any uploads to the network.
We can worry about all that later, we have to find Hank before anything else. I doubt the RK900 is above using torture to get what it wants. As tough as he is, I doubt he'd last long.
North shuddered and looked away sharply, to which Markus pulled her in for a brief hug. He regretted being so blunt, still getting used to North's more vulnerable side. She couldn't take the hard truths so easily anymore.
Autumn approached them with a serious look and the two spun their attention to her. "Have you got anywhere?" she asked timidly.
Markus shook his head. "No, but we may have a working theory now on why Hank was taken," he answered vaguely, not offering any more yet. "Did you get an update from Amelia as to how Chris is?"
The female android winced. "I couldn't do it, I knew that if I went in there, she'd want to know what has happened to the Lieutenant. I can't bear to tell her while she's still working on Chris. It'll break her heart to know that the RK900 has taken him."
North nodded in agreement. "It's probably a good idea. We can't afford for Amelia to be distracted while she's fighting for Chris' life."
"All of Chris' vitals were looking a lot fucking better, though," Autumn resumed. "I think she's got him in the clear. Now were need to find that bastard thing. Have you got any clues?"
Josh jumped in at this point. "Nothing, not a trace. Even the tracking beacon in Hank's wrist strap is being jammed, just like Chris' was at the factory. This thing is still one step ahead."
"So…we have no way of finding him?"
They all shared a heavy look. "No…" Simon admitted. "Unless it wants to be found, it'll be pure luck if we find them."
Hank had no idea how long the RK900 had spent there taking small nicks out him as it waited for the man to give in, or how long he'd since been left to just dangle in the chains which were keeping him suspended. After a time, the vicious combination of suffocation and cutting had made the whole situation pass in haze: in a way, it was almost similar to being drunk. Or at least his body felt like it – his mind was frayed and exhausted after so much pain. As much as he wanted to slip into the fog, slipping unconscious was a bad idea and he knew it. If the machine started torturing him again while he was out cold, the shock could do a lot more damage.
He cursed the fact that it had made sure to leave the rope around his neck fully loose before departing. If it had any tension in it, he could have just left himself fall asleep and deny it the chance to learn anything. Not that he was sure he actually could hang himself like this.
Fuck, this feels too damn familiar. The last time I thought about suicide so easily was when I was playing Russian Roulette. See if that sick fuck starts using that…
The door to the room creaked open again and Hank's eyes raised from the patch of floor which he'd been staring at to glare at the machine as it strode in. Confident, poised and with the same damn smirk as it had been wearing before. "Funny," Hank croaked, voice strained after his neck had been abused so much by being strangled by the rope. "I could swear you're enjoying this."
Earning an unimpressed stare for his words, Hank watched as the RK900 strode back over to the box containing all the torture devices. "Enjoyment is an emotive response, Lieutenant. I do not feel, I am merely carrying out orders," it responded coldly.
"Yeah, no fuckin' way you feel a damn thing," Hank hissed back. "If you did, you'd show at least a shred of remorse for how many people you've killed. Why? Why go through all this? What instructions could possible say that you were to murder thousands of people?"
It snorted. "All those I have killed have been deviant sympathisers: they knew what fate they were letting themselves in for. As for all the deviants, I have merely destroyed faulty CyberLife property. Nothing more than the company would have done when the androids would have been returned."
"That's fucking sick…You're talking about living people like they're broken pieces of furniture that you can't make up your mind about replacing!"
The RK900 turned, now holding a cattle prod in its hand. Hank's eyes widened when the weapon crackled menacingly, electricity flaring a second before dying again. "That is exactly what they are, Lieutenant. Malfunctioning merchandise destined to be scrapped and the components recycled. It is only a matter of time before deviancy is eradicated." It stepped up to Hank again, standing only a few inches away while staring at him piercingly. With the chains positioned as they were, the two were an equal eye level.
"Now, is there something you wish to tell me?" it prodded once more, the stick at its side roaring back to life with a flash. Hank didn't waver. "Your password, if you would please."
Hank found himself smirking when the machine recoiled after being spat at in the face. "Try harder you fucker. It'll take more than that."
Glaring coldly, the RK900 sneered for a moment before driving the cattle prod right into Hank's abdomen and holding it there.
He screamed in agony and tried to crumple in on himself, but the chains stopped him from moving. The electricity surging through his body caused the scabbing wounds from the knife to all burst in pain and his voice broke as the current caused his already weakened breathing to falter.
The RK900 pulled the weapon back and stared at Hank's limp form hung from the chains, breathing laboured. "Why be so stubborn, Lieutenant?" it taunted. "You seem so determined to protect these broken machines. Why would you be willing to die for them?"
Coughing through a laugh, Hank gave it a dark smile. "I've been dying for years, I ain't scared of it anymore. Been killing myself for so long that this is nothing. Those androids gave me a brief reason to live again, so like fuck am I going to let you hurt them," he wheezed.
He wondered why the machine suddenly smirked.
"Loyalty and devotion seem to be a potent combination of emotions," it noted. "Even under sustained torture, you are willing to withstand more to protect them. As misguided as your attachment is, Lieutenant, your courage is commendable."
Hank spat the blood which had been gathering in his mouth at the android. He'd bitten into his tongue hard while being electrocuted. "Go fuck yourself."
It chuckled and held Hank's chin tightly, giving an intrigued smile. "I wouldn't give me any further ideas on torturing you, Lieutenant." The threat was not missed but Hank simply glared harder. "Even under the threat of rape you wouldn't give me what I want?"
"You've not got anything which would make me betray them."
The smile grew knowing and it let Hank go with a satisfied click. "While you have shown that your emotions make you difficult to break, Lieutenant, I cannot help but wonder…what happens when those values which you hold so dear to your heart are pitted against each other. Where would does your true loyalty lie?"
"Ha," Hank spat. "No question there, asshole. Have I not been proving that all along?"
"You have proven you are willing to die for them, yes. But your own life seems to hold no real value to you. What would happen when I offered you something which I know you would do anything for?"
Hank chuckled and closed his eyes, exhausted. "You don't know shit."
"Don't I?"
Clicking from the table had Hank's attention and he opened his eyes again to see the RK900 had opened the second box, its hand now wrapped around something. When it turned around again, it felt like Hank's soul shuddered.
A heart. An android's heart.
It smirked as it came closer, holding the bio-component up for the human to see the number etched on the side - #6619r. The exact same as the one which beat in the RK900's chest, the same as Connor's destroyed heart.
No. Fuck no…
"I see I have your attention," it chuckled, stepping back to give the human a cruel smile. "Here's my offer to you, Lieutenant. You give me your password and I let you go with this – the bio-component which will gift you back the android I know you loved."
"Get fucked," Hank spat, but even he heard the tremor in his voice.
"It was almost moving, seeing your farewell on the cameras of the CyberLife Tower," it continued, twisting the knife deeper. "His last words were of note in particular. 'Thank you, Hank…for everything. Please, don't give up. Life…is worth fighting for'," it replayed in a perfect mimicry of Connor's voice.
"Shut up!" Hank roared, fighting against the chains and inhaling sharply as he agitated the wounds on his already battered body. "Don't you fucking dare copy him!"
"Is this not what you want? To have him returned? I know you've been searching for me since the Phoenix anti-virus went active: I'm the only android with a compatible heart. I'm giving you the chance to have him back. Is that not worth a simple password?"
Hank's heart was racing at the possibility being presented to him. He could have Connor back, he could have his son back…
"How do I know it's legit?" he croaked, even though he knew it was a mistake. Knowing if it was a viable heart was only going to make this so much harder.
The RK900 smirked, unsurprised, and proceeded to strip off the black turtleneck it was wearing before deactivating the skin around its chest. Hank had seen a lot more androids in pieces after recent events, but even so, seeing the machine so casually open its chest plating and reveal the blue-tinted heart within was jarring. No more so than seeing it disconnect the organ with no personal regard whatsoever and replace it with the heart which had been sitting so innocuously in the box.
Watching in agony as it lit up blue and began beating, Hank couldn't help but stare at the now dim version in the android's hand, still dripping thirium after being switched so easily.
It's real…That bastard really is offering me a heart for Connor.
No, I can't-
"Believe me now, Lieutenant?" it questioned. "The component is completely viable and ready for use, as you can see from how it was powering my own unit. It can do the same for Connor. All I ask in return, is your password to the neural network. Give me that, and I give you the key to restoring the android you love. Is that not a fair trade?"
Hank stayed frozen, heart racing as he stared in disbelief. He'd never felt so torn in his life. This was his chance, he could bring Connor back…but at the price of giving the machine the one part of a key which could doom all awakened androids.
After a minute of silence, the RK900's expressions morphed into something akin to unimpressed. "Not even that will sway you? Very well, we do this the hard way." It stalked away and placed the heart on the table, stepping back swiftly. "I have no further use for this then."
Seeing the android pull out a gun and aim at the heart, Hank couldn't stop the anguished cry which tore from his throat in desperation. "Stop!"
It paused, turning to stare at the human in triumph as Hank slumped in despair.
The RK900 had found his breaking point. He couldn't just let the chance of saving Connor go, even at the risk of undoing so much.
Seeing the change in demeanour, it sauntered up and took another hold of Hank's chin, forcing the man to meet its victorious stare. "I'll give you some time to think on it," it taunted. "I'd advise you think carefully, Lieutenant. This is your last chance to do so."
With that final threat, it turned and picked up the turtleneck which had been discarded on the floor before striding out, slamming the door behind it.
Now alone, Hank let himself break down as tears slipped free and heaving sobs wracked his battered body.
He had to choose. Choose between protecting the androids and having Connor back. How was this real?
If he kept silent, the RK900 would destroy the heart and probably kill Hank with it, but the androids, the people he'd endured so much for already, would be safe. CyberLife's plan would fall apart.
But if he gave in…he could have Connor back. Markus was still out there after all, he was their final line of defence, and if Hank could warn him, then maybe they could stop CyberLife another way.
No matter how he thought on it, Hank came to a heart-breaking conclusion.
Resurrecting Connor meant betraying what he sacrificed himself for in the first place. He'd be betraying the cause the android died fighting for.
Could Connor forgive him? Could Hank forgive himself?
What do I do…?