„So, what are we waiting for?" Nervously switching the weight from one leg to another I look around the perimeter. Somehow it feels like we're not supposed to be here. Connor unfazed by my stress calmly examines some invisible traces around the entrance.
"There is no need to be nervous. Although Hank definitely has his grumpy moments, I've estimated an above average probability that he will be delighted to see me." By his shy smile I can tell that he's been waiting for this opportunity and is most likely using any excuse, just so I won't change my mind.
"Above average, aha…" He turns around to glance at my expression and seems to be confused about my sarcastic remark.
"65,6787% to be exact." He inclines his head slightly to the right to emphasize the value of this information, just to find me utterly unfazed. Yep, just as I thought. It's incredible how easily I can read his intentions already.
"Yeah, yeah, got it, can we ring now?" But just as he was about to press the doorbell I notice out of the corner of my eye an approaching car. This in itself shouldn't be something special, but due to the fact that it's a taxi, instead of normal residential vehicle and that the visiting hour is particularly late, I feel instantly alarmed. It could also just be my guts warning me.
Unceremoniously I grab Connors arm and drag him into the bushes. He doesn't question me, there is only a short curious look and his endless patience.
Just as I was afraid of, the car stops right before the yard to Hanks house and my blood freezes on the sight who exits the vehicle. Just to be sure I glance back to my right, to reaffirm myself that the android didn't teleport himself to troll me. This time Connor seems not one bit surprised, his LED blinks slightly in a soft blue light, indicating that he's processing this incident like your everyday occasion. Sure, we knew there is a doppelganger running around, I wonder how it would be like if they met and talked.
Unaware of our presence the other Connor smoothly makes his way to the front door and without even knocking pushes it open, almost like he knew it wasn't locked in the first place. We exchange a curious look before I drag him carefully through the garden, glancing into each window we find, in hopes of not losing his sight. My worries were unfounded, because he stops after crossing straight through the living room.
Right in the kitchen sits an old man in front of the table, staring wordlessly onto a digital picture and wearing such a grim expression one might think someone just died. We've seen him briefly in the Eden Club, together with the other RK800 model. He's the guy we came here to visit.
"I came to say goodbye, Lieutenant." Hank only looks up to the other Connor without wording anything. Connor seems irritated of the lacking response, obviously searching for the best approach in this situation. One can hear the small whimper of a dog somewhere in the house. "I know I'm responsible for what happened, Lieutenant. I want you to know I'm sorry." Still no reaction.
Meanwhile I turn my attention to the Connor besides me. "What the hell is going on? Why is he here at this time? You assured me it will be completely safe!" I'm furious, but have to whisper while grabbing him on his necktie and shooting deadly glares into his beautiful eyes. For some reason the kitchen window is missing and I can't risk raising my voice.
"I'm sorry. According to my calculation there was only a slim chance we would be disturbed. Look, this way we might learn more about what was happening in those days I was absent from my mission." He tries his excusing puppy smile on me, full knowing I'm weak to it and it makes me even more angry.
"I know I've said this before, Lieutenant, but you should stop drinking. It's going to kill you." Earning himself just a desolate laugh. The atmosphere in the room screams that something horrible must have happened and his choice of words just emphasized the bitterness.
It's bizarre watching another Connor like this, saying those not quite appropriate things. They supposed to be exactly the same, but I can't completely overlap him with the one version I know, but also can't completely dismiss the thought he wouldn't phrase it similarly. Given the situation, would my Connor really say the same things?
"Y'know, every time you died and came back, it made me think of my son. I'd give anything to hold him again, but humans don't come back." This is the first time I notice a revolver on the table. Again, there should be nothing special about the fact that a police lieutenant is owning one. However, a cold shiver runs through my body and I unconsciously inch closer to the open window. Connor places a firm hand on my shoulder, in a silent warning for me not to reveal myself prematurely, or since he can he tell my level of distress, does he try to reassure me?
"I understand." That's the last thing we hear the other Connor speak, before he looks down to the floor like a beaten dog.
A moment of silence but I feel the conflict in the room worsen. "Now leave me alone. Go on complete your mission. Since that's all you care about." He still hesitates, still searches for something to say. What in gods name did he do? What could the other Connor possibly have done so wrong to deserve this kind of treatment, to have driven the old man to this state?
Hank knows no mercy and just shouts so loud through the room that not only the android, but also both of us get startled. "GET OUTTA HERE!" I don't know what I expected, but certainly not for Connor just to turn around and leave. Didn't he see the gun? Can't he tell what the old man is about to do?
Accusingly I turn around, fully knowing that it wasn't him - who just fucking left an obviously suicidal guy to his fate. But Connor seems not to notice and continues to stare through the window, his body growing tense. That's when I gasp in shock, as I see the whole event unfolding right in front of my eyes.
Hank looking at the picture in his hand, glancing to the front door and taking a deep breath as he grabs his gun. No, no, no, no! I don't know this man, I don't have a clue what his issue is, or which course of events has driven him to this point, but I'm perfectly aware what he's about to do.
Stirring out of my trance, violently shaking Connors shoulder and absurdly enough - whispering my command. It's accompanied by a high-pitched underflow of my voice, like it got stuck somewhere in the middle of my throat. Muscles clutched tightly in distress, only two words leave my mouth: "STOP HIM!"
Somewhat violently showing the full grown, super heavy android through a way too small window, he doesn't even get the chance to nod. Unbelievably enough, he rolls off the fall graciously as he lands on the other side of the window. But my ears already hear even through my thundering heartbeat, a horrible, bloodcurdling sound.
– klick, klick, klick –
In a fast, determined motion, going through the empty slots of his revolver. And then …
BANG!
A few seconds of motionless silence. I can clearly see it and still my mind has a hard time following the pictures. A dog suddenly cries a distressed call through the whole house, while everything else still seems frozen in time.
Clumsily I was about to climb through the window as well, but my hand slips on the windowsill and I tumble unceremoniously to the floor. The dog rushes into the kitchen, still howling his soul out. Poor animal, even my ears are still ringing. A real gun makes far more noise than it's usually shown in the movies, in an enclosed small space like in a house it's even worse.
Except for the dog, everything else is still silent. A few moments while everyone just stares wide eyed on each other, not really comprehending what just happened. Connor in his unstoppable mode threw himself full force against the man, not only having the chair but also them both thrown to the floor, his right wrist firmly packed in a deadly grip, the revolver pointing above both of their heads.
My heart still pulsing a fast staccato against my chest, I quickly scan Connors body, almost expecting some blue blood suddenly to soak through his clothes. Hank is just staring perturbed at his assailant, not quite following where the guy just came from. And then all three of us, in weird union dreadfully stare to the door where the other Connor just has left.
He definitely must have heard the gun shot, even if not, the dog still makes such a ruckus, that everyone on the street must be aware. He couldn't have gotten any further than just a few steps. Enthralling minutes tick by, where no one dares to move or make a sound. Connor is already scanning the room, I can already tell he's planning the escape route for us to take, as soon as the front door opens again.
But it never happens.
Wait a minute? Is he for real? Isn't he gonna come back? Isn't he gonna check on his partner? What the actual fuck?! The other two guys in the room must have come to the same conclusion, but before Hank has the chance to shout more insults in Connors face, the other already quickly covered his mouth, which only refueled their struggle.
Wobbling from all the stress, I reluctantly find the use of my legs again, as I quickly make my way over to the distressed animal. "Hi poor … dog" - "Sumo, his name is Sumo." I hear Connor voicing out the pets name.
"Alright, poor – Sumo - everything is fine, calm down." Pointing into the direction where Hank is effectively pressed down. "See, your owner is all healthy over there making out with an android." I can hear the struggling attempts intensify, but I know that against this CyberLife model there is no budging.
Thankfully the dog seems to have a very gentle and placid character, calms down quickly and promptly makes his way over to his owner to lick his face. He's fuming with rage, the face red from the exertion and now he's getting wetter by the minute, although the dog couldn't care less in his unstoppable slobbery affection.
"Hi Hank, or should I rather say hi to the almost poorly splattered brain cells?" I say kneeling right above him, amused over his deadly glares. Honestly, I wish my smile would at least maintain the friendly facade, but I just can't hide my mischievous grin about how he's pinned down by an android, while he's still being assaulted by his own dog.
"If you promise me not to shout and potentially alert unwanted visitors to our presence, we can attempt to have a friendly little talk, right?" Without any delay Hank nods his head and after being released, quickly jumps to his feet pushing the android away. Connor graciously positions himself between us, seemingly satisfied with himself.
"So, would anyone here care to explain what the actual fuck is going on here?!" Without waiting for a response, he bombards us with questions while pacing through the kitchen.
"I just saw you leave through the front door! Is CyberLife now building a teleportation feature in to their plastic, just for general welfare or what?" – Funny, that was my first thought too.
"And where the actual fuck did you drag up this chick Connor?!" Pointing at me, like I of all people would be the cause of his problems.
Let's just say I react poorly to open hostility, not that I could claim being socially skilled anyways. I promptly answer him with a sarcastic rhetorical remark, instead of easing him into the situation. "You're aware that all the androids are wearing serial numbers right on the front of their jackets?"
"Serial fucking what!?" I can't tell if either Hank doesn't have the patience after the incident, or if he's as unreasonable in general.
Connor must have read my question from my face. "Long time no see lieutenant. You're just as irritable as always."
"Now what? Did you get hit by the fucking lightning in the one second you stepped out of my door and gonna tell me all over again that your predecessor was unfortunately destroyed, yada yada!?" We exchange glances, not quite following the ramble. Lightning? What is he talking about? Did some fragment of the bullet actually damage his head?
"How many times did I die lieutenant?" Unsurprisingly Connor seems to have caught on already, while I still ponder about the implications.
"You're asking me? Are we in the wrong movie right now!" Rather in the wrong fanfiction, but I shall not go as far as to breach the fourth wall. Hank picks up the discarded chair, grabs the half empty bottle of whiskey and takes a sip for good measure.
"Hank, I …" Connor is at loss for words, while I calmly wait for the guy to explain himself. Quite curious to see his reaction - upon hearing that this Connor is the original partner he's been assigned with.
But to mine and Hanks surprise Connor doesn't start off with the monotonous introduction. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you at the highway." Hanks head shoots up in confusion and my heart jumps as I'm reminded vividly of the day when this whole nightmare began.
"You were right, I shouldn't have risked my life chasing those girls across the highway. I shouldn't have cornered them in the first place, so they wouldn't be as desperate to run through there themselves!" I've rarely heard him speaking so fast, it must have bothered him for quite a while, especially after witnessing this fiasco. Some part of me wants to gently call out his name, to tell him that's alright to make mistakes sometimes. That should he have made a different decision, I would never had met him. But exactly for this reason, this emotional, inappropriate reason - I'm rendered silent and just stand there.
"Why are you bringing back this old shoe?" Hank seems surprised, but endlessly tired.
It's interesting watching his face shifting from mild confusion, to utter disbelief as Connor flashes his coy smile. "Hello lieutenant, may I reintroduce myself? My name is Connor, I was originally send by CyberLife to assist in your investigations as the very first prototype. I got almost destroyed in the car crash at the M-8 while chasing two suspects against your clear instructions." His machine like summary is more of a joke than Hank could possibly handle at this point - perplexed looking between us, eyes searching for a clue that this is some sort of elaborate prank and a tv-crew might jump out of the closet by any minute.
"Jesus fucking Christ!" Throwing his hands in the air, as no one of us makes the attempt to laugh it off, he eventually submits to the fact, that his brain can't possibly follow the rapidly unraveling events.
"Almost lieutenant, but I wouldn't want to be as presumptuous to go this far." Damn, I love his inappropriate jokes. Too bad that Hank obviously doesn't.
"Oh, I give up alright? There I thought this whole world couldn't possibly sink into shit any deeper." Although his speech started out resigned, it quickly grows more agitated.
"And then you pop back in here, after all this time and want make me believe, that you - " He grabs Connor at his shirt and I gasp inaudibly as he throws him against the wall. Maybe he indeed went too far with the stupid joke, but nothing justifies this violent reaction!?
"YOU!" He throws a punch into Connors face. It connects so hard that his head gives in under the blow. Almost mechanically he snaps back, but there is no rage in his expression, his face is completely blank, apologetic even.
"Didn't die in the fucking car crash after all!" Before he can land a second hit, Connor expertly escapes the assault and the whole thing quickly turns into a brawl.
I know that Connor could put an end to this very quickly, but the attempt not to hurt his counterpart is way harder to execute than to simply knock him out. "You fucking prick! So, you're sorry and now what?" Connor dodges a few times, crashes against the counter but refrains from grabbing any objects lying around to use as defense or as a weapon.
"Do you even know what your countless successors did?!" Not only the just placed back chair, but all of his brothers fly through the room as Connor is thrown across the table, slides across it on his back and quickly jumps to his feet on the other end, by performing a backwards flip.
"I obviously don't, or I wouldn't have asked." He blocks a blow with his elbow, grabs Hanks arm and tries to pin it behind him, by spinning the Lieutenant around, using his own momentum against him.
"As if you would have done anything differently!" Hank is seriously pissed, I can tell he's about to use his full strength. He strikes Connors knee with his foot, aiming behind himself and simultaneously throws the poor android above his shoulder. I'm surprised the table didn't split in two as Connor lands with his whole weight on it for the second time this evening.
"I know you Connor." He huffs exhausted, looming above him, both hands placed on the table between Connors face.
"I know perfectly well what you're capable off." I exhale my breath I didn't notice I was holding. The fight seems to be over, as suddenly as it has begun. Connor doesn't dare to move, just glancing up to the man above him.
"There is no mercy. No emotion. There is only your FUCKING MISSION!" He slams his hand on the table with an audible pang, but Connor doesn't even flinch.
"and it was there from the very beginning." The old man completely drained himself, his posture is slummed, I'm afraid he will collapse any minute.
"Maybe it was." Finally, Connor decides to speak up.
"Maybe you're right." Slowly he rises up from the table, not once loosing the sight of Hanks accusing stare. It's the typical men-thing to sort out conflicts with fists. Soon enough they will drink themselves into a coma and everything will be alright and forgiven. I can tell that the old man doesn't really want to be mad at Connor, he doesn't really want to harm him or he would have smashed his head in as he lied there on the table before him.
"But it's not any longer." And with this, he clearly looks me in the eyes. My heart jolts in surprise, speeding up from zero to hundred from simple eye contact. Huh? What was that? But Connor turns his attention back to the man near him and leaves me alone with figuring out the strange feeling of sudden excitement, mixed with some sort of guilt.
"I'm sorry I couldn't fulfill your expectations. I only recently learned to understand, … everything." Wait, what does he mean?
"But now I'm finally here to inform you, that I was regrettably unable to assist you, since she corrupted my program." Hank doesn't even spare me a glance.
"Fucking android, in case you haven't noticed. Your spitting image already found all the deviants out there! I don't need any more fucking assistance." We haven't watched television since escaping my apartment. Did I miss out on the recent news? We've spend so much effort in fruitlessly locating Jericho, but now the other Connor has already found them? Does it mean they're all destroyed? Are we really too late?
"Somewhere around three times. I've lost count at some point, not that it ever mattered." We're both confused about Hanks sudden calm and collected statement, seemingly coming out of nowhere. They say deviants are unpredictable, now try five minutes in lieutenant Andersons proximity.
"Are you alright lieutenant, did I damage your head?" Earning himself promptly a hit at the back of his, almost a fatherly gesture, almost.
"That's how many times you died, to answer your question."
I finally rejoin the conversation. "Tsk, you're highly ineffective Connor. And then you ask me why I've put your safety at the top of your priority list." Although initially I regretted this decision, now I'm quite proud with myself. But three times can't be quite right, on his jacket was a clear – 55 displayed as the ongoing serial number.
"Well once I shot one of the bastards myself." Hank chuckles, rubbing his beard. Although I'm usually all in, for inappropriate, obscure, grim jokes, this one time I really don't feel like laughing.
"You shot him?!" Without much thought I'm all up and move myself between them. Fully knowing that his gun is currently safely out of reach, but you never know.
"Heh, are you protecting him now kid? Don't waste your effort." On the surface one might really assume, that he hates androids from the bottom of his heart. There is a deeply rooted pain, a dark, dangerous pain, overshadowing everything. I'm all too familiar with this bottomless pit myself and I know what it allows us to do.
"He's worth of my effort and of my whole protection. I value him above anything!" I almost hiss my reply, body tensed up. It was obviously a completely horrible idea to search here for shelter. Connor says nothing behind me, but he grips my shoulders gently and squeezes them. If I wouldn't know any better I would assume he enjoys sending my heart racing. At least it effectively soothes me down.
"Who are you anyway?" Hank still looks like he really doesn't want to know. Making also not quite the impression of a polite person, there must be another reason for asking.
"Well, my car was the one hitting him and I kind of, might have, maybe, well, kidnapped him right afterwards, sorry." Fumbling with my fingers I reluctantly admit to my crime.
"You don't say." Mildly phrased, I'm surprised that a police lieutenant is so completely disinterested in the delict. Anyone else would jump on the chance to hand me over to the authorities and earn some points with the higher ups, especially when we just voluntarily barged into his home.
"Anyways lieutenant. We're here because we hoped you could give us information about the deviants, but …" Connor seems lost and perturbed and then promptly asks the question about the elephant in the room, everyone tries to ignore. "But why did you just try shooting yourself?"
Hank doesn't answer and just looks away from us.
Connor is anything but not persistent. "What did you mean with, every time my model died, it remined you of your son?" Watching Hanks face I fear for a moment he might attack Connor once again, but instead he just wordlessly picks up the photo from the floor, calmly walks back to the living room and drops to the couch. Sumo follows him dutifully, never leaving his owners side.
"Cole." Unsure what to do, we just follow him too, to sit on the opposite site of the couch, as soon as we hear him talk.
"His name was Cole. He died in a car accident." Clutching the digital picture, he looks up at Connor and his face is filled with indescribable pain.
"It's funny how you, of all things, are the one to finally ask me that question." I already predict Connor interrupting and just gently put my hand on his knee, silencing him precautionally.
"I've known you the least amount of time compared to all the other models send by CyberFuck and it might be just my imagination, but your whole attitude just changed after your first … death." Gripping his face into his hands, he then just proceeds to sit still. Both of us feel uneasy, not fully knowing how to approach the inflammable lieutenant.
Connor is first to break the silence in an awkward attempt to apologize once again, and there I thought I was the one being human. "I understand why you were so upset. I could simply come back unscratched, while your son couldn't. I'm sorry Lieutenant." Wordlessly Hank just looks up, before looking down again.
"Not exactly unscratched, I've had to replace half of your hardware, it had cost me a fortune." I throw into the all too silent room, can we now please just finally get over the melodrama? As long as Connor is fine and kicking I couldn't care less about anything else.
"Guys I'm choking over the serious mood in here." This time it's Connors turn to squeeze my knee, as I earn a grumpy eye from Hank. Just a tiny bit more practice and he will be able to kill with his glare.
"Why did you stick with that human abomination again?" He must have read my thoughts, smart old lieutenant. I like perceptive, dark people. I kinda even like him, I would like him even more if he would stop offending me.
"That's a long story lieutenant. But she's right, it's late and we should continue this conversation tomorrow morning." His palm leaves my knee and promptly lands on my head, petting my hair as we exchange deadly stares with Hank.
"Oh! You're NOT gonna stay here for the night!" That's actually why we came here for, amongst other reasons. But since we've witnessed first hand how he was just about to end his life, we'll do shit and leave him unattended.
"Correction, we will and I also will confiscate this revolver." Connor picks up the thing from the floor and suspiciously scans the room, most likely searching for even more weapons.
"Oh no, you won't." It's too late, the android already tucked the gun away into the back of his trousers.
"Your gun privileges have been revoked Lieutenant." Smiling the awkward – sorry - apology.
"What in seven hells name did you do to him girl?" Thankfully Hank doesn't really care enough to intervene physically, but he's clearly not pleased to be treated as a child.
"Don't ask, I get headaches even thinking about it. Let's just say I'm not the best software developer out there." Connor went a long way from our first bumpy introduction, now to the quite suddenly intimate relationship. And all that in just five days. I have the feeling I know him for way longer, most likely because of the array of events I've been assaulted with.
"Ah, fuck, whatever. You both can take the bedroom. I have to think." Like his bedroom?
"No way! I'm perfectly fine with the couch and I would also suggest that you leave the bedroom door open for tonight." Too bad I can't hack humans to prevent them from doing something stupid. I'm really too exhausted to stand watch on the man, but I'm sure Connor will notice anything unordinary this way.
"For fucks sake! I'm NOT GONNA KILL MYSELF TONIGHT ALRIGHT?" Sumo barks once in confirmation, wagging his tail, as though he'll keep watch on his owner now in our stead. I'm not so much of a dogs person, but I really like that boy. "Now get your asses into the bedroom and do your funny android-owner business, just get out of my sight for five minutes!"
"We, we…" I stutter about the inappropriate accusation, is it that obvious? We just progressed in our 'relationship' to this point!
"I hold you for your word lieutenant." Connor quickly shoves me into the bedroom, before I can get any redder.
"You really think it's alright?" He seems to trust him to the point of obliviousness. I wouldn't be so quick to judge the complexity of human emotions. Although he seems fine for now, scars which go as deep as this can spring open again any minute.
"I've read his physical parameters. It's highly unlikely that he will do anything again tonight." He's completely relaxed, walking slowly through the room and taking in the small objects on the shelves. Give him five minutes of time and he's all up to scanning any random stuff he can find.
"I really hope so." I sigh, discarding the worst of my clothes and quickly jumping into the bed before he turns around and sees me in my underwear. I really shouldn't be shy now, we're definitely past this point.
There is a large wall closet, but he's not as disrespectful to open it and rummage through. Inspecting intently the two paintings on the walls and the 'Century magazine' containing an article about depression, I've already had the chance to read myself once. He lingers on the next story though – 'Tainted love' – covered in big white letters I can spot from here, about android intimate partners, how most people prefer robots instead of human relationships. It's quite popular, so of course I've researched it quite a bit. His eyes travel up from the electronic device and straight back to me. This fucking old man, why does he have a magazine about this topic in his bedroom?
My face heats up as I avoid his thoughtful gaze. "Oh, ahm…" We haven't talked about it yet and I really don't want to. Most likely it was just a one-time thing for him, his vivid curiosity must have gotten out of hand. It's not like I expect him to service me from now on, just because he gave in once into my needs. The silence just stretches, when I search for the right words.
While I struggle with my thoughts, he just places himself on the far corner of the bed and awkwardly folds his hands into his lap. Closing his eyes, with the indication that he's just about to start his standby mode.
"Connor, don't be ridiculous. I know you need to do your maintenance and it's horribly awkward if you sit on the corner of the bed like that." I spoke before thinking.
"I can also stand if you like." I vividly remember him looming above at night once. No, I definitely don't need a repetition of that night. The image of him staring me down in the darkness - I would be doing anything, but falling asleep.
"For fucks sake. Just lie down, I promise not to bite – I'm too exhausted to do so." I append the joke to the end of my sentence to lighten the strange nervousness in the air.
"Is there any position you would prefer?" He didn't just say that, did he?
"Just, just turn your back to me." I gulp as he quickly discards his tie, neatly folds the jacket onto the chair and is just about to open the countless buttons of his blouse. It's reasonable not to stain the bed with wet clothes. I quickly turn around, way too flustered to watch him strip so casually. Damn what in seven hells name is wrong with me? Why do I voluntarily pass on the chance to look?
Clutching the sheets, I just listen to the rustle of clothes, like a virgin on her first night of marriage. As soon as his warm back hits mine, our skin completely exposed to each other, I almost let out a careless gasp slip from my mouth. God, who knew it could feel so nice to have someone else's warmth spreading against your body.
"Connor?" Guilt.
"Yes?"
"If you really don't like it, you can also stand or sit back down, you can take the armchair over there. It's not an order you know." Maybe he should have stayed with Hank after all.
"I like it." He really has to phrase those things better. My poor heart.