~Three Weeks Earlier~

Connor pulled on his DPD police jacket, straightened his tie, and headed out the door of his apartment. A few days prior, he had sat down with the task force that had been assigned the android narcotics case, and went over everything that they had found, including the information he had submitted prior to his temporary department transfer. So far, they knew there were only three different types currently in circulation: Blue Rib, Blue X, and Blue Lady. BR was the most prevalent and thus their main concern at the moment.

"It just doesn't make any sense." Officer Neil sighed, his face buried in a case file. He slapped it down onto the table with a huff. "Why the hell would anyone make narcotics for androids in the first place?"

"Well, we are just like humans. We each crave our own kind of excitements. Perhaps, to some, that excitement comes from the ability to experience the effects of said narcotics." Connor replied as his LED spun yellow while he read through the whole case again and again. "I know a great number of androids were enthusiastic when CyberLife invented the drinks for androids that induce a sort of intoxication similar to alcohol in humans."

"Maybe…we're looking for an android or group of androids?" Detective Fletcher spoke up and Detective Noble nodded and chimed in.

"Yeah. If androids were so excited about the drinks, maybe they decided to expand their options for intoxication."

"That may be true." Connor leaned forward, resting his chin on interlocked fingers. "If that is the case, which seems likely that it is, this person or group would need to cooperate with someone who knows android coding and programming. They would have to be someone extremely skilled in that area."

"Like an ex-CyberLife employee?" Sergeant Kerry furrowed his brows.

"Exactly. Many of the Blue Clinics around the city employ ex-CyberLife employees as their programmers, coders, and mechanics. I suggest we start there and at various bars that we know serve the android drinks."

"Good idea. Kerry, you and Neil start researching which bars carry the drinks. Start in Synthville."

"Yes, sir." The Sergeant and the Rookie stood and left.

"Fletcher, Noble. You two start pulling up the database for all CyberLife employees that left during and after the Emancipation and see where they're at now."

"On it." They left as well.

"And us, Lieutenant?" Connor cocked his head up at the blond man.

"We'll be working with the lab for right now until the others get back with more information."

"The lab? We have samples?"

"Yes." Lieutenant Monroe grinned and took long, excited strides out of the conference room, Connor shortly behind. They turned the corner, down the hall and towards the very back wing of the precinct. Monroe knocked on the door they had arrived at before entering. "Billy!"

"Hey, Ian." A tired-sounding voice answered back, and a younger man slowly stood up from his place at a microscope. He looked less than enthused to see the Lieutenant. "What?"

"Aw, don't be so cold, Billy! I just came to see if you got those samples I sent you?"

"Yes, Ian. I got the samples. I'm waiting for the diagnostics team to get here." Billy sighed and sat on his stool, spinning it about. "You didn't tell me they were the android narcotics. I can't see coding in a microscope, Ian. The only thing that I can tell you about it is that it's a Thirium 310 base."

"You acquired samples of all three?" Connor approached the containers on the table in front of Billy.

"Who's this?"

"Billy, this is Detective Connor. He's on the task force on this narcotics case and my current partner. And yes, we managed to get the three samples from Vega."

"Vega?" He looked up briefly from the jars.

"Ah, he's been my CI for a few weeks now. Said he got them from a guy who got them from a guy and so on. Has no clue on where they came from yet."

"Interesting." Turning his attention back to the jars he picked them up one by one and scanned them. Thirium 310 and slight traces of something else. He couldn't tell with just a visual scan. He would need to ingest it to find a more detailed report. Staring at it, Connor seriously contemplated doing just that. He shook his head and put it back down, turning to Billy. "There is something else in these besides the Thirium. Some sort of mineral component that is not usually found in standard Thirium 310. I would run the samples myself, but I do not want to risk being compromised by the malicious coding."

"Huh." Billy eyed Connor for a long moment before nodding and standing back up. He went to the back counter where various lab equipment sat and poked around a bit. A centrifuge began spinning and Billy looked down at a tablet in his hands. "Bismuth Oxychloride. How did you know…?"

"I have the ability to analyze with my optical components." He stated nonchalantly and looked off, LED cycling yellow. "Bismuth Oxychloride, or Biron MTU Powder. An ingredient commonly used in mineral based cosmetics."

"So…our manufacture also makes makeup?" Ian's eyebrow cocked up in speculation.

"Possibly. Or has set up their manufacturing in a place that also processes cosmetics. Or perhaps even in one of the many run-down factories in Detroit and the surrounding areas."

"That's a lead if I ever heard one. Billy, send me the intro from the diagnostics team. Connor, lets go see how everyone else is getting along." Ian hopped back to his feet and strode back to the narcotics department. Kerry and Neil awaited them in the conference room.

"Lieutenant, we've compiled a list of the bars that serve the android drinks and cross referenced where most of the reports for BR have been filed." Neil shoved a data pad over, almost tripping over his own feet and words.

"Good job, rookie. Calm down." Ian chuckled and took the file and scanned through it before handing it over to Connor. "Thoughts?"

"Seems most accounts are clustered around these couple of establishments and are staring to spread out towards the others. If we are quick, we may just stop the spread in its tracks." Connor handed the file back. "Any word back from Fletcher and Noble?"

"Mm, not yet. A lot of people left CyberLife around the time of the Emancipation. It's probably going to take them some time. How about we go to out for a drink?"

"This is not exactly an appropriate time to do so, Lieutenant Monroe." Ian just smirked up at the android man and waited for a moment. "…Oh."

"Now you're gettin it." He let out a chuckle and motioned for Connor to follow him again. They left the department and the precinct, getting into Ian's car. "We'll go scope out these bars, get some info from the regulars and the bartenders for now. The Detectives will call when they've finished."

"It will be nice to get back into field work." Connor gave a very slight smile before turning his attention to the passing scenery.