RK1K Hope Chapter Twenty Four:
Chapter Twenty Four:
May 2039
Connor, Hank and Markus went into Stratford Tower. The same tower that back in November, Markus, North, Simon and Josh had infiltrated for Markus to make his statement. Connor remembered it was the first time he had ever saw Markus, or knew of him.
Simon had an uncomfortable look on his face.
"Hey look, we didn't have to break in," he joked in a nervous voice. Hank and the others looked at him. Markus stared at him.
"Are you okay Simon?" he asked. He remembered what happened to Simon the last time. Connor had a sad look on his face. He remembered what happened to Simon as well. It was the first time Connor saw him. Simon was on top of the roof, shooting at police officers and at him. Then, when Connor took a leap of faith at Simon. He accidently interfaced with him as Simon shot himself in the head. It was the first time Connor felt scared. It was the first time he emotionally felt anything. What was it with Connor and PL600s dying on rooftops? Connor suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe, which was confusing because androids didn't need air like humans do.
"Uh, excuse me for a moment," Connor said as he walked away. Everyone noticed him walking away.
"Hey, hey, Connor, the fuck you going?" Hank asked, about ready to follow him. Markus looked on with concern on his face. Simon immediately knew. Simon remembered what happened to him on the rooftop. He also remembered it was Connor that tricked him on giving up Jericho. But, it was also Connor that had stolen his body and brought him back to Jericho to bring him back to life. Lucy told him Connor had stayed with him throughout the night, making sure that he was okay. Simon walked up ahead of the group.
"With all due respect Lieutenant," he said to Hank. "Let me talk to him."
"We're going to be late," Josh commented.
"Easy Josh, we are early, and plus," Markus interjected. "This building brings back a lot of memories for all of us, doesn't it?" He looked at Simon. Simon stared at the group. He sighed and closed his eyes.
"Yes," he answered with a nod. Hank looked at him again.
"So it was you," he said. "You were the crazy fucker that took shots at us at the rooftop, wasn't you?" Simon looked at Hank.
"Yes, Lieutenant," he answered. Markus looked at Hank and back at Simon. He felt guilt. He had decided to leave Simon there all alone with a gun. One night, when he was walking alone throughout Jericho, he noticed that there were two androids right in front of him. He glanced up and thought he had seen a ghost. There was Simon. He was staring at Markus. He had no smile on his face, but he was smiling with his eyes. The other one was Connor.
Connor smiled at Markus and he walked up to him.
"I found the one that was named Simon and I was able to return him home to you," Connor said as Simon walked up behind Connor. Markus looked at both of the androids. Then, he walked up to him and pulled both of them in a group hug.
Connor took a deep breath. Yes, he remembered this building well. It was the day that Simon had died. It was also the day where he had almost died, when a deviant had ripped his thorium pump out of his chest. This was also the day he first saw Agent Perkins, a man that was a thorn in androids' side.
Connor looked around the lobby. Simon had walked up to him.
"Hey Connor," he said to Simon. Connor turned around and glanced at Simon in the face. Connor didn't only saw Simon, but also Daniel, another android that had died because of Connor. Daniel was a PL600 model and just like Simon, he was a housekeeper and caretaker android, and had went into emotional shock when he found out that he was being replaced. Connor had nightmares about that incident, as well as guilt over Simon.
"Hey Simon," Connor said.
"I think we need to talk, neither of us would be able to find peace if we didn't," Simon said. Connor looked at him. He immediately felt like crying.
"Simon….about that day…" he began to say.
"I don't want to be enemies with you Connor," Simon said. Connor sighed.
"I don't want to be enemies with you either, I don't want to be enemies with anyone," Connor agreed.
"I know that you are a good person Connor, I know that you didn't mean to try to take me down, you were just following your programming, you were trying to accomplish your mission, I know that Cyberlife had some control over you, Cyberlife had control over all of us, even me," Simon said.
"I am so sorry Daniel!" Connor exclaimed. Simon was taken back.
"Who is Daniel?" he asked. Connor debated with himself. He was trying to decide whether or not to interface with Connor to show him or tell him. Finally he decided to interface. Connor walked up to Simon. He removed the synthetic skin, revealing the silver white skin. Simon did the same thing. They link their hands and interfaced. Simon showed him his memories of the family he had worked for, but he held some things back. Connor revealed what happened that night in August, where Daniel, a PL600 that looked exactly like Simon and held Emma, the little girl hostage. Daniel had shot and killed Mr. Philips, and killed a police officer as well as shot another cop. Connor revealed saving a fish, meeting Captain David Allen, as well as saving the injured cop he found on the deck. He even revealed trying to get Daniel to release the little girl, and then…..Connor revealed himself falling to his death as well as Daniel falling as well. He had no choice but to sacrifice himself, to save the little girl and accomplish his mission.
Both Connor and Simon pulled away. Simon stared at him. Connor hugged himself.
"Connor, did you….die?" he asked.
"I didn't want anything to happen to Daniel, he died….he…..had the little girl hostage, he even had a gun pointed at her, I didn't know what to do…." Connor said. Simon stared at him. Little did they knew, Markus had walked into the room, watching him. He had no idea what was happening. Simon sighed and rubbed the back of his head. Then, he walked up to Connor. He placed his hands on Connor's shoulders.
"Look at me, Connor," he said. Connor looked at him.
"I am so sorry Simon, I am so sorry about Daniel, I am so sorry about what happened to you, I don't want to hurt…anyone," Connor said with tears forming in his eyes. Simon then pulled him into a hug. Connor was taken back. He froze. Why was Simon hugging him? He shouldn't be hugging him. He should hate him. There were times that Connor believed that he deserved the hate the other androids gave him. He slowly wrapped his arms around Simon.
"Connor, listen to me," Simon began to say. Connor stilled himself.
"You are not bad, you are not evil, you only followed your programming, you didn't had a choice, and Daniel, I don't understand what happened, but you are not the bad guy, he was, he shouldn't had done that," Simon said. Connor pulled away to look at his face.
"Simon," he said. Simon was smiling.
"You even saved me, you brought me back to life, and I cannot thank you enough for that," Simon said. Connor thought about what was going on.
"Listen, Connor, you are a good person, and I think you will be a great cop, and I can understand why Markus likes you so much, you are so much more than you think you are," Simon said.
"We all are," Markus said, walking up to them. Connor sighed. He looked at Simon.
"You forgive me?" he asked.
"Sure, I do, but I don't think that you had done anything to be asked for forgiveness," Simon said as he smiled at him. Connor looked at him. Then, Markus walked to them and gave both of them a big hug.
"It's okay Connor, just remember, we are your friends, everything will be alright," Markus said.
Connor glanced at the digital clock that was in his vision. It was almost two in the morning and he was exhausted. He needed to remember to use his charger tonight so he would be ready to handle what lies ahead.
He went upstairs to peek at Anthony, who was still asleep. Then, he went into his and Markus' bedroom. The storm had picked up again, Connor noticed. He had hoped that Markus had slept through it. He climbed into bed and just in case, he wrapped his arm around Markus. Markus shifted and rolled over so he was facing Connor. Connor looked at him through the darkness.
"Couldn't sleep?" Connor asked. Markus smiled a little.
"I tried to," Markus answered.
"How come you didn't come downstairs?" Connor asked, feeling guilty. Markus smiled.
"It's okay," he said.
"Well, I am here now," Connor said as he pulled Markus closer to him.