OOC: And after so long…the story is now complete! Sorry about the length of time. I was involved in other projects for a while, but re-reading some of my past work inspired me to finish this one.
Thanks again for reading.
Connor and Nines stood slightly apart from each other, Connor's LED flashing yellow. No doubt examining Nines' schematics. "So here we are. Brother against brother."
"I thought labels meant nothing to you," Nines pointed out.
"Think about this logically. I have a helicopter waiting just outside. Cyberlife is the only facility that can save this child. She is very sick. If you take her…what are you going to do? There are no hospitals left. There is nowhere for her to go."
Near the front door Kamski, or rather, Lucas shook his head. "Cyberlife doesn't care about this child."
Connor stared pleadingly at Nines. "Do you even know her name? I do. It's Evelyn. She likes to play sports. In my hands, she would live. In yours, she would die, and all you have is this deluded fantasy that somehow, everything will turn out okay. Nines, think!"
It sounded so much like Connor. Nines said nothing, his LED flashing rapidly. "It's a good argument bother, one I might have even considered. Except for the fact that you put a bullet in my head when I outlived my usefulness. No doubt Cyberlife will do even worse to this child."
Lying on the ground Hank coughed, the bullet still lodged in his bullet-proof vest. Nines looked down.
Which is when Connor rushed at hi and shoved him to the ground. He reached for the discarded shotgun near Hank. Nines pushed him back. Connor swung wide with the shotgun, hitting him with the butt end. For a second Nines could see stars. Expertly Connor flipped the shotgun around, about to fire on Nines.
BOOM!
Several bullets went through Connor's chest. Shocked, Connor fell to his knees.
"I'm sorry, son," Hank said, pointing his handgun at him.
Connor began to twitch, no doubt trying to upload his consciousness to Cyberlife and failing due to the interference in the building. "This isn't over. We will stop-"
Nines slammed the shotgun against Connor's head, knocking him out. "You missed several vital components, Lieutenant. If we get him back to Detroit and Jericho he might have a chance." Even as he said that, somehow he just knew that wouldn't be necessary. Something was calling to him, a force he couldn't explain.
"Yeah, I'll look after him," Hank gasped. "Nines, how the fuck are you still alive?"
"My real brother and I came up with a plan to outsmart Cyberlife. He missed my cranial processor, although just barely. Marcus gave me emergency repairs. I am sorry, Hank. I could not chance either Connor or Amanda picking up on the plan. Soon after, I followed you here."
"I am glad you are alive, Nines, but…god, what a nightmare this day has been. Never do that to me again." Hank began to tend to Connor's wounds. "Do what you have to do, son. We'll be right here."
Nines looked up and noticed that both Lucas and the Indigo child was gone. He nodded.
Outside the hanger, the snow had lessened somewhat. Near the airfield was a children's playground. Lucas held his daughter, sitting on the merry-go-round. Nines walked towards them.
"My dear, sweet Evelyn," Lucas said quietly, kissing her forehead. "Connor was right. She deserves better. She deserves the world. But destiny always wins. That's why I left her. Because I knew this moment would be too hard to bare." Tears ran down his eyes.
Despite himself, Nines felt a touch of sympathy. "Will you remember this?"
Lucas nodded. "As will you," he stated. "But…no one else." He sighed. "It's time, Detective. Close your eyes. Hear her words."
Nines did so and moved his head closer. The Indigo child whispered to him. The words were short, but the impact of what she said seemed to last an eternity.
Suddenly, a phone rang. Nines opened his eyes.
He was sitting in the police department, across from Gavin's desk. Gavin answered the phone. "Homicide. What do you want?"
Quickly, he glanced to the left. Connor and Hank were talking, arguing about what to have for lunch. Nines did a quick scan on his brother. Not a single bullet wound, or any indication that Cyberlife had modified him from before. It was really him. Outside, the weather was sunny and warm. Dozens of people were outside. Like what happened to Kamski, the world…had simply reset.
"You freeze or something, tinman?" Gavin asked.
Connor overheard and lightly scanned him. Everything all right, brother?
None of them remembered. But he did. He always would.
Nines said nothing, thinking about the impact of the secret the Indigo child had given him. Then, he smiled. A genuine smile. "Everything is going to be all right."
THE END.