The pond is frozen solid. With each interface, the Zen Garden gets colder and colder, which has never struck him odd until now. Why would a program incite a sensation of ice forming beneath his skin? How could a tool to wirelessly connect to Cyberlife's main network create such real, physical feedback? Like his body is truly there?
Vaguely, like a whisper, he wonders if this is what it's like to dream.
"What is Cyberlife's take on all this? What do they really want?"
Amanda stares at him coolly, mirroring the distinct chill in his biocomponents. "I expect you to find answers, Connor. Not ask questions."
Her tone shifts. Imploring. "Have you experienced anything unusual lately? Any doubts or conflicts?"
He has no reason to doubt his mission. Does he?
"Do you feel anything for these deviants? Or for Lieutenant Anderson?"
Maybe general frustration at Hank's inability to focus on the investigation.
"For Riley Haas?"
The corners of his lips twitch downward. He looks over at Amanda with narrowed eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He's a machine.
"I don't feel anything. You know that."
Designed only to accomplish a task.
He won't let himself get pulled away from that.
Not by bright azure stars.
And not by the black hole they belong to.
And just like that, they were done.
They're off the case.
Hank turns in his badge and storms out of the precinct.
Riley had shown up earlier that morning to hear the news.
Special Agent Perkins comes to collect all their evidence.
Connor is going to be destroyed unless he finds a way to accomplish his mission.
Riley had left her access key sitting on Hank's desk, and opening an occupied cell is enough of a distraction to slip into the evidence room.
Gavin showing up is only a minor inconvenience.
The Tracis hold the key.
Jericho.
Gavin showing up is only a minor inconvenience.
And, oh, there's something satisfying about knocking him out.
"Markus?" Riley walks up to him tentatively.
Jericho has grown immensely in number, but it was at the cost of so many lives that had marched to advocate for their own freedom.
Hidden away in one of what was once a control room for the ship, Markus holds his head in his hands. His eyes bear that of a broken man when he looks up. "Riley."
Her eyes are still stinging, still puffy, still undoubtedly red from trying to force back her tears. She had come here to ask Markus about Chris to find out exactly what happened. To figure out what the hell she was supposed to do.
But he had lost so much today. She had lost so much.
She sucks in a deep breath. It gets caught somewhere on a rib. "Is… is it true? Victoria…?"
He shakes his head, and it was in such a fallen way, all semblance of abysmal hope died.
"I'm so sorry, Riley."
Sweet, beautiful, lovely Victoria.
Humans destroyed every wonderful thing they touched. Androids were created in their image.
Did that, then, mean androids were going to learn to do the same?
Is everything meant to turn black?
Isn't it all pointless?
So, what is she supposed to do?
Fight? For which side? It's all just going to end in bloodshed!
Do nothing?
Act like a victim in all this? Hadn't she played that part enough in her life?
By doing nothing, would it be considered the same as pulling the trigger on her beliefs?
A bystander?
A worthless coward?
No. No.
'Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.'
What does acting like a saint even accomplish?The only language the world knows is that which ends in blood.
She takes another deep breath.
She locks her tears away in some dark forgotten room, never to be found. Never to be let back out.
Androids took a friend.
But humans started it all.