Saturday November 6 2:30 P.M.
11:00 A.M.
Hey finished here in the Ravendale : Me
District. We're heading back to the precinct to write the report. Meet us there? We'll fill you in.
Read 12:30 P.M.
1:45 P.M
Hey finished the report. Wondering :Me
if you plan on coming back today?
Just let me know. :)
Read 2:15 P.M.
I glared at my phone irritated with Hank. "Is he seriously ghosting me?" I huffed under my breath. Flipping my phone over I ignore it trying to find peace with in my mind. Connor somehow sensing my irritation made sure to keep quiet and hardly bother me.
"Fucking A..." I mumbled.
"Did you say something Detective?" Connor asked.
CHARLOTTE (NEUTRAL)
"Just talking to myself, Connor." I answer not looking at him focusing on my computer screen.
"I see. By the way its seems Detective Reed is coming over."
I groaned praying to God he wasn't coming to see me. Gavin twice in one day is more than I could handle, but today was just not my day. Smug as he could Gavin's voice boomed through the office making sure everyone could hear.
"No android in custody. Man that's got to suck on the first day of the case, Nashville. But we all screw up here and there." He leaned on my desk blocking Connor from view as he smirked.
"Don't you have something productive to do?" I asked, emphasizing the annoyance in my voice. Gavin still smirking playfully he crossed his arms. I huffed again in annoyance turning back to my computer hoping my ignoring him would eventually turn him away.
"He's not worth it." I thought repeatedly.
"Nah I finished filing my reports with my partner." He said leaning a bit closer. "By the way where is Hank? I haven't seen him in awhile." He feigned ignorance, but he knew that Hank had basically went off radar. Gavin wasn't worth it, but ohhhhhhh it was about to be.
"He went out to lunch." I said clenching my teeth.
"Oh out to lunch. I see. Well let's hope he doesn't reek of booze when he comes back." Gavin laughed, snapping my patience in two but before I could get up to knock the daylights out of him Connor spoke up.
"Perhaps you might have a more professional attitude towards your superiors when he comes back."
The look on Gavin's face was priceless. He looked over his shoulder shock clear as day. While Connor's expression remained fairly neutral it had a slight smug undertone. Gavin as usual wasn't amused.
"Listen here you little-"
"You know speaking of lunch. I haven't taken mine yet." I said looking at the time. "Connor, want to come with just incase we get a report while were out?"
"Of course." Connor stood as I put my coat grabbing my keys, wallet, and phone.
"See yah later Gavin." I call out with Connor in tow leaving the jerk alone to fume. Once were outside the building I broke into a fit of giggling.
"Oh my god! You should've seen his face! It was so priceless!" I'm clutching my stomach as tears develop from the corner of my eyes.
"I just spoke the truth, Detective. But I am glad you found some humor in it to lighten your mood."
Once I finally calm down I stand up to wipe the tears from my eyes, man how long had it been since I had laughed like that?
"I just can't believe that came out of your mouth. I mean it's definitely something I would say, but you were just...so quick with it. Oh man I wish I got a picture pf his face." Once again I giggle more as Connor began to smile as he observed me.
"You have a nice laugh. Has anyone told you that?" He asked
I stop raising my eyebrows at him. It was something I had heard before, but never from an android. Especially from someone like Connor who's sole mission was the cause of deviancy, not compliment on lady's laugh nor smile at his colleague like that. But perhaps it was part of his program.
"A few people, but thanks for the compliment Connor." He smiled I look back at my phone and still no messages from Hank, not even a call. Even though I hadn't spoken on the matter Connor knew what I was checking on my phone. Then again it didn't take a rocket scientist to know why I was so glued to the small device. It had been four years since he'd lost his son and ever since then I constantly worry about him.
"If I may make a suggestion. I wouldn't text or call Lieutenant Anderson."
"I know I just... I worry about him sometimes y'know? Hank and only a few other people are very precious to me. I don't know what I would do if something were to happen to him."
The machine looked at me perplexed, unsure how to respond. Looking at his LED I see its swirling yellow; processing this new information.
"You really...care about him. Lieutenant Anderson." He sounds thoughtful when he says it, but the way he said it sounded more of a thought rather than adding to the conversation.
"What a strange guy." I think. A few moments pass and silence falls between us with Connor still looking at me thoughtfully. Rather than immediately ending the conversation by heading towards my car I call out Connor's name. He 'awakens' from whatever spell he was on, but still continued to smile at me
"Yes, Detective Lawrence?"
I look at him trying to think of what to say, however my stomach does that for me. We both laugh at the small interruption. Me out of embarrassment and Connor I supposed trying to keep me comfortable.
"You should probably eat something to stay healthy."
"Yeah, can't argue with you there. Come on I know exactly where I want to go."
Saturday November 6, 2038 3:02 P.M.
I pulled into Chicken Feed, but my good mood suddenly turns sour the moment I notice Hank pulling up to the food spot as well.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" I said irritated.
"What is it?" Connor asked.
"Look!" I pointed at Hank crossing the street trying not to get hit by an oncoming car.
"Asshole didn't go eat! Fucker probably went out drinking somewhere then decided to eat!" I parked the car quickly before slamming the door making Connor jump a little.
"Detective Lawrence I think you-." He said as he was getting out of the car.
"Not now Connor!"
Now to be honest I did not have any dialogue planned. Nothing whatsoever. All I knew was my bottled up frustration had one target in mind and it was Hank Anderson.
Of course I still a reputation to keep up especially when I saw Pedro, Detroit's top scammer of the century, talking to Hank; probably about some hot gambling tip. I figured out quickly it would not a good idea to scream at Hank like a banshee in front of civilians, especially in front of Gary's store.
But that didn't stop me from being clever.
"Heya boys fancy seeing you here." I greeted eyeing Pedro, who immediately took a step back.
"Detective Lawrence! Always great to see you to. I was talking to Hank about well you know..." Pedro was never good at being quick about these things especially when he got nervous talking to me especially. My uncle Danny told me once it was because I could intimidating, even if I was the kindest person in the room. 'Like some smiling angel disguised as an ogre' if I can remember the exact words he used, but even I couldn't recall the exact words. I remembered how much he regretted telling them to me. Ever since then I've taken advantage of the ability to seem intimidating at any moment I get...just like now.
"That's great Pedro. Unfortunately Hank owes me lunch today. Maybe next time Hank can go all in. Now I'd hit the road."
Immediately Pedro left before Hank could lose more money. Hank becoming more moody by the minute glared at me.
"I wasn't gonna..." He began but I cut him off.
"Hey Gary add a Cheeseburger hold the Mayo and a water." I said to patting Hank shoulder. "Hank's buying for me."
"Got it Charlie!" I heard the cook shout as he flipped another burger onto the grill.
Hank's continuous glare worsened at me as I crossed my arms glaring right back at him. If their was thing I gained from my uncle Danny when he took me under his wing, it was his stubbornness and Hank knew it. They were partners after all.
"I should ask where the hell you've been, but you'll just lie to me. You can't just ignore me like that Hank. I was getting worried something happened."
"Look I went out and got a beer okay!" He exclaimed. "I don't need you breathing down my neck every time I go off somewhere. I'm a fucking adult for Christ's sake!"
"I don't give a damn if you leave for a few hours. I ain't your mama, but I do expect you to at least call or text me back letting me know your okay. I could've seriously used your help this morning." Hank narrowed his eyebrows at that comment as he uncrossed his arms.
"Well how did this morning go?" He asked.
I didn't say anything as Connor walked up with a simulated greeting smile.
"Good afternoon Lieutenant." He greeted.
"Hank your part of the order is up!" Gary called out.
"Ask Connor while I wait."
Connor
We stood underneath the umbrella at a table waiting for Detective Lawrence to receive her meal. Lieutenant Anderson of course wasn't too thrilled to have me with him and the silence between us wasn't pleasant. But what could I say?
"I'm sorry for my behavior back at the police station. I didn't mean to be unpleasant."
The Lieutenant stared at me for a moment before chuckling to himself.
"Oh wow... you even got a brown nosing apology program. Guys at Cyberlife thought of everything huh?"
HANK ^
He didn't seem upset so perhaps I was making progress so I kept the conversation going.
"I don't want to alarm you Lieutenant. But I think your friend is engaged in illegal activities."
"Everybody does what have to get by. As long as there not hurting anybody I don't bother them."
HANK ^
"So how did this morning go?" Hank asked. "Charlie didn't seem to thrilled to talk about it."
"Of course she wasn't." I thought, recalling her anger towards me and her obvious disappointment of how the case went.
"We found the deviant in question, but it got away." I decided to keep the highway incident out but Hank wasn't fooled. He set his burger down leaning against the table as he narrowed his eyes at me.
"Come on there's more to it than that. I've known Charlie for a long time and she wouldn't let something like that bother her too much." I was slightly impressed with him for figuring it out. So much so I immediately told him what happened.
"When the deviant ran off. It decided to cross the highway with a little girl. Detective Lawrence ordered me not to go after them."
"But you disobeyed that order right?" He guessed correctly.
"Yes but she..." I looked over at the Detective who was conversing with Gary, food already in hand. "Chased after me. She risked her life to save me."
"Yeah that sounds like Charlie alright." He said, taking a sip of his drink.
"She has always been the type to jump in head first without thinking it through." He chuckles a minute looking at her. "I remember her first few months at the precinct. That kid pulled a lot of stupid stunts in the beginning. Pretty sure one of those stunts was similar to yours. But let me ask you this were you in danger?"
I think about it. Replaying the memory. The probability of my survival was significantly low. I was most likely going to be destroyed if Detective Lawrence hadn't intervened. I remember her clutching me close and her heart beating rapidly as the cars zipped past us.
I remember yelling at her and our argument. It was stupid of her to risk her life, but through her efforts did prevent me from getting destroyed. "I was." I answered. "But if I were to be destroyed. I can be replaced. Detective Lawrence can't. She only has one life."
"True, but if your roles had been in reverse. Would you have gone after her to save her?"
I think about it doing the numbers of all the scenarios, but they don't help me come to a conclusion. I look at her again as she leaves the stand to join us. Her eyes meet mine and I can feel something strike within me. Something I don't recognize, an anomaly if I could give it a proper name.
"I...I would." I say keeping my focus on her as she smiles at me.
HANK (Warm)
"Well if I remember right, she's saved you twice now. Technically you owe her." Hank says taking another bite of his meal.
Detective Lawrence joins us as I scan her meal.
Water (large)
Small Cheeseburger
420 Cal.
12g Total Fat (18% DV)Total Fat (18% Daily Value)
33g Total Carbs (11% DV)Total Carbs (11% Daily Value)
15g Protein
It wasn't nearly as bad as the Lieutenants but surely they both understand how terrible this was for them. If not I had to be sure to inform them.
"Your meals contain 1.4 times the recommended daily intake of calories and twice the cholesterol level. You shouldn't eat that."
"Everybody's gotta die of something." Hank answers taking another bite as Detective Lawrence chuckles eating as well not making a comment.
HANK ^
CHARLOTTE ^
I look at the two of them thinking of what else I could ask them, but I then a thought ran across my mind.
"Would you...like to know anything about me?" I asked.
"Hell no!" The male answers immediately earning a smack on the arm from the Detective. Lieutenant Anderson glares at her before asking.
"Why did they make you look so goofy and give you that weird voice?" He asks.
"Hank!" She smacks his arm again.
"Ow cut that out!" He shouts looking at Detective Lawrence who at this point his glaring at the old man.
"Then stop being so rude!"
I found the interaction funny in a way. It was clear these two definitely cared for one another otherwise I don't think friends would interact in such a way, but what Detective Lawrence had said puzzled me. What about Hank's constructive criticism was rude? If anything Cyberlife would use that information to make sure the true manufactured model will be perfect...but instead of easing her worry that I wasn't and couldn't be offended, I answered Hank's question.
"Cyberlife androids are designed to work harmoniously with humans. Both my appearance and voice were specifically designed to facilitate my integration." I answered.
"Well they fucked up..."
Detective Lawrence immediately looked at him clearly unamused. She shakes her head before adding to the conversation.
"Well I guess we'll agree to disagree. I think you are a very handsome android Connor. Don't listen to this asshole." She winks as the Lieutenant rolls his eyes.
"Get that crap outta here." He grumbles as he lightly shoves Detective Lawrence away from the table earning a chuckle from her.
"What I call it how I see it." She says shoving the man back.
"Your appearance is also very pleasant as well Detective Lawrence." I said making the two look at me. Both of their expressions became odd. I didn't understand why though. I was just returning her complement.
"Well thank you Connor."
CHARLOTTE ^
With how well the conversation was going I wasn't sure if I should ask Hank a question that had been weighing in the back of my mind for the past few hours. Ultimately my curiosity got the best of me. "Can I ask you a personal question Lieutenant?" The man in question nods his head as Detective Lawrence continues her meal. "Why do hate Androids so much?"
Detective Lawrence looks at him waiting for an irritable reaction.
"I have my reasons." Is all he says before eating. The Detective eyes shift to me. "Good response." She mouths before she continues to finish her meal. At least I didn't piss him off. It's quiet again for a few moments save for the rain and the oncoming cars that pass by on the streets. It isn't as unpleasant as before, but still had a slight awkwardness to it. Looking between the two I break the silence once more.
"Maybe I should tell you both what we know about deviants." I said.
"You read my mind. Proceed." Hank agrees while the Detective nods her head.
"We believe that a mutation occurs in the software of some androids. Which can lead them to emulating emotions."
"In English, please." The Lieutenant interrupts.
"Basically Connor's saying they don't actually feel emotions. They just get overwhelmed by orders that don't make sense." Detective Lawrence translated before I could even explain further, which in a way impressed me. I had already concluded, based on her age and her cybernetic prosthetics , she would understand more than the basics of Androids, but I didn't expect her to come to the same conclusion as I had in under a few hours. But rather than seem surprised I quickly added to the conversation.
"Which can make their behavior unpredictable." Lieutenant Anderson looked between the two of us thinking on the information. "Emotions screw everything up. Maybe androids aren't as different from us as we thought." He said.
"Maybe...but you're right about feelings. Lord what I would give to not have emotions some days." Detective chuckles staring down her prosthetic hand, still covered by her gloves. Obviously thinking about her past. What could've happened to cause such an accident? Before I could ask the Lieutenant ask me another question.
"You ever dealt with deviants before?"
Immediately my mind went to Daniel and Emma. I had shot the android before it could jump off the roof with the little girl. It was the most logical decision I could up come with to save her, but what their was another option? Was their something else I could've done? "A few months back...A deviant was threatening to jump off the roof with a little girl...I managed to save her."
"Wait...that was you?" Detective Lawrence asked her eyes wide with wonder and admiration. If I were human I think I would've been sheepish, but instead I nodded confirming her question. She leans away from the table nodding her head looking impressed as she speaks her thoughts. "Makes sense. Your model wasn't specified at the time, but that's insane. Having technically your first assignment to be a hostage situation. Jesus I don't know if could've handled that on my first day on the force."
Immediately, I wanted to voice my disagreement with her. She was a fully capable police officer. If anyone would have handled that situation I definitely believed Detective Lawrence could. For example the way she handled the WR 600 at the abandoned house and the android from last night. She couldn't see it but their stress levels either remained the same or lowered when she spoke to them. She was careful to keep them calm and spoke to them as she probably would've to any human. Captain Fowler was right. She was so far, save for a few hiccups, proving to be the perfect candidate for this investigation. Lieutenant Anderson however still had my doubts.
"So, I guess you've down all your homework right?" The Lieutenant asked drawing my attention away from Detective Lawrence. "Know all there is to know about me and Charlie?"
I decide to tell the truth.
"I know you both graduated top of your classes and made names for yourselves in several cases. You became the youngest Lieutenant in Detroit." I looked at Hank. "I also know you've received many disciplinary warnings over the recent years and spend a lot of time in bars. And despite your juvenile record you became one of the youngest Detectives in Detroit has had in years." Then to Charlotte.
"So what's your conclusion?" He asked.
I chose my next words carefully but I meant them to be sincere.
"I think working with two officers with personal issues is an added challenge, but adapting to human unpredictability is one of my features." I wink at them making Charlotte's eyes widen. She clearly wasn't expecting that.
HANK ^
CHARLOTTE ^
Charlotte
He winked. He seriously winked at us. I didn't think he was capable of doing such a thing without making it seem completely unnatural. But it was too natural...If it weren't for the LED on his temple I would've taken that as a genuine human gesture, but then he went back to being robotic once more as his eyes and face twitched unexpectantly. For minute I thought something was wrong with him, but then his face returned to normal as he spoke.
"I just received a report of a suspected Deviant a few blocks away. We should go have a look." He said looking towards the direction of where the case would be. "I'll let you both finish your meals." He then turns to me. "I'll be in your car, Detective. If you need me." With that said he walked back towards my car leaving me and Hank to dwell the strangeness that was our new partner.
"That was weird." I said before scarfing down the rest of my burger. "I didn't think he was capable of doing that."
"I see you started calling Connor a he." Hank points out, finishing the rest of his soda. I don't say anything to his comment neither confirming nor denying it. Sure I was calling Connor a he...but it wasn't like their was any shame to it. He looked like a man and sounded like one too. Unless Connor had said anything to me about it I figured it was fine. Hank had noticed my silence, so when I switched the conversation he was wearing his typical scowl of disagreement.
"You coming with?" I ask after I finished up my water throwing it into the garbage.
"Yeah I'm coming. After all you can't do this without me right?" He says finishing the last of his burger.
"Damn straight. I'll pay you back for the meal."
"Nah don't worry about it. I owe you that for all the bullshit you went through this morning." He throws his trash away coming to my side. I smile not addressing it but then I think about this afternoon.
"You'll never guess what Connor said to Gavin before we left for lunch."
"Oh this outta be good."