Author's Note: Thank you so much for the lovely reviews! They made my day! Part one is not quite over, but I promise there is a part two and a part three! I haven't decided if there is going to be a part four yet. There are 28 chapters in part one, so we have a few more to go. Thanks so much for reading! I really do appreciate it. ^_^

21 Detroit 9.9.2038

Clara

The story publishes on the front page the next morning. My name is right there under the byline, and it is the proudest moment of my life. Tony and I worked tirelessly to put the article together, and we got coverage of Bryony Downs's arrest too. I got to see the look on her face when she was assaulted by press outside the precinct. Her lawyers and the police escorts tried to shove them off, but I made sure she got a good look at my face. I saw the look in her eyes when she realized I'm the reason she's been arrested for her husband's death. I only wished Laura could still be there to gain her freedom. I don't know where she would have gone, but I might have let her stay with me—not as a servant or a slave but a roommate of sorts. No idea how that would have gone down, but now I'll never know.

The one part I don't take any pleasure in is Lucy Downs. I hadn't seen her since I'd left the house, but I caught sight of her holding the hand of what looked like a grandmother as her mother was marched into the precinct. Tears streamed down her face, and the guilt I felt was heavy. I'd never meant for this to hurt Lucy, but I'm not the one who murdered my husband. Bryony was selfish in many ways, but not thinking of her daughter was the most selfish of all. I thought about trying to talk to Lucy, but I didn't think she'd react well after everything that happened. I just have to trust her grandparents will be better people to her than her parents.

To my surprise, Horowitz runs my article about playing the part of an android the day after the first article publishes. He hadn't mentioned it since I handed it over, but the article holds more of a punch now. If it had published before, no one would have paid attention but after Bryony Downs is arrested…it gets nearly as much attention as the first. I didn't mention any real names because what I'd done probably wasn't completely legal and after the murder, I needed to play it safe. Horowitz's connection in the DPD made sure I was not a suspect and that any fingerprints that might have belonged to me disappeared. Considering I helped solve the case, it isn't a big ask.

A week after the article publishes, I find myself wondering if Connor got a chance to read it. I'm trying to picture him at the CyberLife headquarters waiting for his next mission. I get this image of him standing still, eyes open but unseeing. How boring that must be, but perhaps it's just routine for him. I have to keep reminding myself that he's different than me. But I miss him. It takes me by surprise, but I'll never forget the thrill of investigating with him. After years of hiding in a tiny closet of an office writing human-interest stories, I finally got my dream of being an investigative reporter. He helped make that possible and maybe I'd started to see him as a friend. Could androids and humans be friends? I'd seen it before in the way Lucy had treated me when I was playing the part of an android. It had to be possible. I just wouldn't get the chance to find out with Connor.

"Lighten up, kid, you'll get your next story soon enough." I'm sitting in Horowitz's office, Tony beside me. He thinks I'm upset because I don't have another story yet. That's not the reason, but I smile and let him think it is. "I want something edgy, something new. You're on that one, Weber," he tells me, pointing his pen aggressively in my direction. "I want your pitch by noon. Lazaro, you get the Lazarus Benjamin case."

The police had gone to the docks the night David Downs was going to reveal his project. They'd caught a couple of men, but Benjamin himself had not come nor had the police been able to form a connection between the men they caught and him. Tony had been looking further into it, and I couldn't help but feel frustration at not having busted a drug ring and brought a murderer to justice. All in good time, I supposed.

"Something's wrong," Tony says as we leave Horowitz's office. He knows me too well, and I know there isn't any use in lying. He'll just bother me until I open up.

"It was kind of fun working with Connor," I tell him.

"Who? You mean the android?" I can tell he disapproves but is trying to be nice about it.

"Yes, the android. He made a good partner," I defend him. "He can do all kinds of cool stuff like analyze blood and hack security systems." Maybe I shouldn't be telling Tony about Connor's functions. I might be bringing CyberLife down on my head, but Tony doesn't seem to be listening anyway.

"He's a machine, Clara, not a person. It's better you don't get attached."

"Why are you so testy about androids?"

Tony sighs, running a hand through his thick hair. I can practically see one of the female interns swoon and thicken my scowl. "Does it matter?"

"I don't think you're being fair."

"Look, when androids first got really popular, my dad lost his job. Boss decided androids were more productive and they worked for free. Dad couldn't find work anywhere else, so he started drinking. He drank himself into an early grave. I had to drop out of college to support my mom and younger sister. Worked three crap jobs to pay the bills. I guess I blame androids just a little for that."

"I'm sorry about your dad," I say, "but people created androids. Your dad's boss decided to let them work instead of humans. It's not their fault."

He sighs again, deflating. "Yeah, I know. Sometimes it's just easier to blame them."

"Look, I know how it is to want to put that blame somewhere else. After Dad's accident…it was hard not to start throwing blame. But blaming one group of beings for everyone's problems is a hell of a lot like some of the darker parts of history. We just can't go down that path again."

"Shit. You just schooled me," Tony says with a smile. I snort. "But seriously, you're right, Clara. I guess I haven't really been seeing things clearly, but that was years ago. It's time to get over it."

I give him a smile. It's encouraging to know that some people are willing to change their minds, but I know not everyone out there is like Tony. Most people are perfectly content blaming androids for their problems.

"Hey, I'm sorry you don't get to work with Connor again," Tony adds, nudging my shoulder. "You sweet on him or something?"

"Sweet on him? What is this, the fourth grade? God, Tony. No." I roll my eyes. "He had that same curiosity for finding out the truth that I have. I felt connected to him; that's all."

Tony nods, accessing. "Well, then maybe you will get to work together again. You did crack the case. My name shouldn't have even been on that article."

His words take me by surprise. "But you helped write it!"

"Helped write it. I didn't do any of the legwork."

"You got me information."

"Clara." He holds up a hand to stem my excuses. "It's okay. You owned this article, this investigation. You should be proud of that. And your article on android/human relations—that was all you."

I give him a toothy grin. "Thanks, Tony. It does feel good."

"Well, ride that cloud a little longer and then get your head out of it and work on your proposal. Horowitz wasn't kidding about the noon deadline."

"On it."

I head to my desk, grabbing my favorite coffee mug and refilling it with the acid that passes for coffee here before seating myself. I round my fingers, poised above the keyboard, but my mind is distracted, and no ideas flow forth. I've always had a fair amount of free rein, but not on as big a scale as this. The article I wrote on posing as an android was well received and, much as I enjoyed writing up the article on David Downs's murder with Tony, I feel like I had a stronger connection to the humanity piece. Horowitz has already okayed an article featuring Laura though he's not letting me choose a side. I'm reporting the facts, nothing more.

Horowitz wants something edgy. I actually Google 'edgy' and scan through pictures of people who look nothing like me doing stuff I would never do. My idea of a Friday night is changing into pajamas the moment I get home and settling in under my favorite blanket to the tune of streaming television. I might throw some popcorn into the mix. I wonder if he's testing me to make sure the first article wasn't a fluke. I can do edgy though. I know I can. Right?

…

I slap my proposal down on Horowitz's desk several hours later. I must have spent most of those hours staring at my keyboard before getting a single idea, but I think this is a good one. I hope so. It could also be a very bad idea, but I think it will make a good article anyway. He scans it, grunting and scowling. He lifts his brows.

"Can you handle this?" he asks. I should be insulted, but he has a really good point. But still, if I want to make it in the cutthroat world of journalism, I need to do this. I can't rely on the Downs's case to keep my career going. It's more than that though. This started out about furthering my career, but it's turned into something more. Something personal. I know I'm not supposed to get connected, but I have. I can't shake the image of Laura bashing her head into the wall, blue blood decorating the white bricks. I want justice for Laura. I know it isn't possible. No one cares that she didn't kill David of her own volition; no one even remembers Laura at this point. If I can't bring her justice, then perhaps I can continue to tell stories of androids and how humans treat them.

I hold my head up and answer. "I can."

Horowitz folds his hands together, leaning forward. "I don't know if the world is ready for this. People don't see this as a problem. They're not ready to change."

"Then maybe someone needs to open their eyes." I sound righteous, but do I have a right to pursue this? Just because I played the part of an android for a few weeks doesn't mean I understand their plight. "There have been instances of androids deviating all over the city. It's been kept hushed up, but it's been going on for a while now. Rumors have been stirring about the Cyber Control app, but no one has been able to prove anything. I want to look into it. Even if it's not what's causing deviations, it's giving people like Bryony Downs the power to make their androids take the blame for their owners' choices."

"Cyber Control has refused any contact with the press. Especially after David Downs's death. You really think you can get an article out of them?" Horowitz is more serious than I've ever seen him.

I pull a small, round object out of my pocket and set it on the edge of the desk. The LED glows blue, and Horowitz begins to laugh, a deep rumbling sound that shakes his body. He leans back in his chair, eyes glinting.

"You've got guts, kid," he tells me. "But if you get caught…"

"I won't. I didn't before." Perhaps not completely the truth, but I got my article.

"Not until the deviant hunter caught you," Horowitz has to remind me. He leans forward again. "Any chance you could get some inside information on CyberLife through him?"

I shake my head. "I don't know how to contact him, and he won't compromise CyberLife. Besides, they sent him to investigate deviants. I don't think they know why androids are deviating either."

"You get caught, you could compromise Detroit Today," Horowitz warns.

"Are you saying 'no,' then?"

He gives me a toothy smile like a wolf about to go in for the kill. "Just don't get caught."

"I won't. I'm going to get a uniform. I'll fit right in." I've already researched what kind of androids work at the Cyber Control headquarters and what uniforms they wear. It's a standard uniform that most secretarial androids wear. I can pick one up at an android supply store.

I'm already regretting this whole thing as I leave Horowitz's office. I scoot past Tony's desk, but he stops me, snatching the tail end of my sweater.

"Hey, where are you off to?" he asks. "Did he like your proposal?" His keen eyes take in the guilty look on my face. "What was your proposal?"

"Just, you know, following up on some stuff," I skirt around the topic. It's not like Tony can stop me, but he can insist he come along. He's overprotective of me, has been ever since I was the scared rookie, fresh out of university, and this is a risky move. I know Horowitz wouldn't let me do anything that would seriously put me at risk, but I'm still new at this.

"Clara." His brown eyes are serious, lips turned down in a frown. He reminds me of my older brother when he's upset with me. "I know that look in your eyes. You get it right before you do something stupid."

"I-" I sigh. There's no way out of this. "I'm investigating Cyber Control, okay?" I cock a brow at him, daring.

Tony runs a hand through his hair. "Just be careful," he says.

"You're not going to try to stop me?"

Tony sighs. "I don't want to get in the way of you finding yourself, of you getting stories. I just don't want you to reach too far too fast."

"I know." I deflate a little. Maybe I am stretching too far. Maybe I should start smaller.

"But if anyone can find out the truth about Cyber Control, it's you. Just...don't get yourself into trouble. I'm a call or a text away. I've got your back, kid."

"Thanks. That does make me feel better." I shoot him a smile. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck, kid. Go get your story."

I didn't tell him how I was going to get it. The LED is smooth and cold in my hand, and I feel a stab of guilt. I'm not going to get the story by asking. I have to take it.