22 Detroit 9.9.2038

1:00 pm

Connor

My next mission comes a week after resolving David Downs's murder. A report comes in of an android deviating at a residence, and I recognize the address. It's the home of one of the women Clara and I interviewed—Melony Clark. Her eyes are red and puffy when I enter her living room. A policeman has a hand on her arm, consoling her. She looks up when I enter the room, fear and disgust mingling on her face.

"What's that doing here?" she asks, wrinkling her nose.

"I'm the android sent by CyberLife," I tell her. Clearly she doesn't recognize me. "I'm here to investigate the deviant."

"How do I know you're not a deviant too?" she asks, taking the chance to move closer to the young officer.

"CyberLife wouldn't have sent a deviant to investigate deviants," I tell her.

"They sold an AP700 that deviated," she snaps, her voice pitched with hysteria.

"I understand it's upsetting to have your android deviate. I'm here to try to understand why that happened." I put my hands out to her as if I'm speaking to a skittish dog. I've found people react well to non-threatening behavior and a calm tone.

"Fine, but he stays," she says, nodding to the police officer.

"That's fine."

Melony sits down on the sofa, and I sit on the edge of the chair across from her.

"Can you tell me what happened?" I ask.

"I had just hosted a dinner party last night. I noticed Vanna—that's what we called it—was acting odd."

"How so?"

"It dropped a whole plate of mini cheesecakes after dinner. It was so embarrassing!" She puts her hands to her cheeks as if still mortified by the thought. "It seemed upset the rest of the night."

"Did anything happen that might have upset it?" I ask.

"Nothing. Well, we were talking about the deviants. My friend had her android destroyed just in case, and I said we were probably going to get a new one."

She speaks so callously as if Vanna had absolutely no reason to be upset. "Deviants often experience a trigger. Speaking about replacing it might have set it off."

Melony scowls at me. "If you're suggesting it's my fault my android deviated—"

"I don't mean to imply it's your fault. I merely mean that your conversation might have triggered a deviant response in Vanna. Androids don't feel emotions, but sometimes they can get an overload in their software that is very similar to fear. It causes irrational behavior. When did you notice it was gone?"

"This morning. I rang for it, and it didn't come," Melony says. "How I'm supposed to get dressed, take care of the kids, and host my book club without it, I'll never know. I don't want to order another one until I know CyberLife has solved this problem."

"Did it harm anyone?"

"No. I did notice some jewelry missing, but it didn't hurt anyone. It could have. God, the children… To think that thing has been getting them ready for school every day."

"Any signs of it?" I address the officer for this question.

"No signs," he says.

"Do you mind if I take a look around?" I ask Melony.

"Why?" she asks, narrowing her eyes. I think I've outstayed my welcome; I also don't think the android is here anymore.

"To see if I can track where the android went."

"I don't care where it went," Melony says, standing. I stand, too. "I just want CyberLife to do something about this!"

"We're working on it," I assure her.

"Well, work faster," she snaps. "I think it's time you went. I have to pick my kids up from school anyway."

I nod. "Thank you for your time."

A waste of time though I think there's a connection between traumatizing events and deviation. Daniel, the android who took the little girl hostage, was going to be replaced and reacted by deviating. Laura somehow resisted deviating despite all the trauma and injustice she experienced.

I've hardly been gone from CyberLife for an hour, so I decided to make a stop first.

Headquarters for Detroit Today is in an imposing building. Clara's office is on the top floor, and I take the elevator up, a guest pass clipped to my jacket. I read Clara's articles when they published. True to her word, she wrote nothing that compromised me or CyberLife. Her article about her time in the Downs's household was compelling. She managed to write without taking a side though I could read the compassion for androids between the lines. She also carefully skirted around naming the family she'd spent time with which was wise considering the circumstances.

When I reach the office, I quickly scan the room. I don't see Clara, but I see her coworker Tony working at his desk. There's a frantic, harried energy in the office, and no one takes any notice of me. I stop at Tony's desk, but he doesn't look up from his computer.

"I'm looking for Clara," I say. "Is she here?"

He looks up at me, eyebrows rising in surprise. "You're Connor, right?" he asks. His tone is forced friendly.

"Yes."

"Clara's out right now. She's working on her next article," he tells me. He's polite, but I can tell he has conflicting feelings about me. "Why are you looking for her if you don't mind me asking?" He's protective of her. I picked up on that when we first met.

"I read her articles. I wanted to congratulate her on them," I tell him.

"Really?" I nod as he eyes me thoughtfully. "What did you think of them?"

"I thought they were very well written," I say truthfully. "Her piece on her time as an android was particularly thought-provoking."

"You mean that." He sounds surprised.

"I do."

"I thought androids were just programmed to say and do what people want them to."

"I do have my programming, but have my own thoughts." I have to be able to analyze and process scenes, and that involves coming to my own conclusions.

"I'll let Clara know you stopped by," Tony says, and I can tell he means it.

"Thank yo—" An incoming message interrupts me, and my LED flickers yellow. I blink, opening my eyes to find myself in the Zen Garden. Amanda stands before me.

"There's been an attack at the Cyber Control headquarters," she tells me. "A deviant has taken humans hostage. I need you to talk it down. We need it alive for questioning." She frowns. "Where are you?"

"I just finished up at the Clark household," I tell Amanda, not elaborating.

She frowns but says no more on the subject. "Go, Connor. Time is of the essence."

I blink, and I'm back in the office. Tony gives me an odd look. "Sorry," I tell him. "I was receiving a report of another deviant."

"Oh? Where this time?" he asks.

"The Cyber Control headquarters. It has human hostages." Knowing the press, he'll know soon enough anyway, so I see no problem with giving him some information. I'm taken aback by his response as he stands so quickly his chair clatters to the floor.

"What?" he asks.

"I said—"

"I know what you said! Clara is there right now!" He runs a hand through his hair. "Shit. She was going there to get an interview."

"I'm going there to talk it down," I try to assure him, but suddenly my pump regulator is pumping faster.

"I'm driving," Tony says, grabbing a set of keys from his desk. "Come on."

"Wait—" But he's not listening, and I could use a ride there.

"I swear if she's gotten herself killed," Tony mutters under her breath.

"Clara is resourceful," I remind him, hurrying to keep pace with him. "She'll be okay." I have no way of knowing that, of course. It surprises me to find I care very much whether or not she's in trouble.

Police cars surround the Cyber Control headquarters when Tony pulls up. My hand is clamped to the door. I don't feel fear, but Tony's driving might be the one exception. He's terrified for Clara. "I thought she was just going to ask for an interview, get turned away, and come back in like ten minutes," he says. Knowing Clara, she'd found a way in whether she was welcome or not.

"You should stay out here," I tell Tony as he starts to get out of the car.

"To hell I will," he says, slamming the door shut.

"It will only endanger Clara more if you go in. I don't think the police would let you in anyway." Tony stops, taking a deep breath. I can tell he sees the logic in my words even if he doesn't want to. "I'm programmed to be a negotiator," I tell him, trying to infuse assurance into my voice. "I've negotiated with a deviant who had a hostage before, and I was able to save the hostage."

"Fine. But you come out with Clara unharmed," he says, giving me a piercing look.

I nod. I don't know what I'll find inside, but I intend to get Clara out. I approach the building and find a familiar face outside with the SWAT team. Captain Allen is waiting with his men, and he curses when he sees me.

"Fuck. Does CyberLife think we can't do our job?" he asks.

"I'm programmed to deal with deviants," I tell him calmly. "It's more likely to listen to another android. Can you tell me more about the situation?"

"The deviant worked as a janitor in the building. Today it took a gun from god knows where and started shooting. We've got one dead and it's taken a group of workers hostage on the fourth floor. It's threatening to execute them. If you can talk it down without it shooting anyone else, great. Otherwise my men are going in."

I nod. "Give me ten minutes," I say.

"You've got five."

I walk toward the building, past the SWAT team with their guns at the ready. The front doors push open with a rush of air-conditioned air. The hall inside is eerily silent. I take the stairs up, approaching the fourth floor with caution. There are a few frightened workers huddled in corners, and I motion for them to get out of the building. The fourth floor is behind glass doors, an open floor plan within. I see the deviant standing with a gun, it's talking to the people in the room, and I see their frightened faces wondering if they are about to die. I straighten my tie as if that could help me negotiate. It's comforting, something I can control. I move to push the doors open when I see a figure moving in the corner of the room. She holds her hands up, placating, and the deviant turns, gun trained on her. At first I think it's another android. She wears a uniform and has an LED on her temple. But then I see her face. It's Clara.