Stay With Me

Chapter Thirteen: Learned Behavior

The victim in Hank's front yard had been homeless. Someone Orion had found off the street. With his gray hair and thick body type, he looked enough like Hank to suggest it wasn't a coincidence this person was targeted. When neighbors were questioned, a few said they saw a young man fitting Orion's description walking with a man who they assumed was Hank toward Hank's house.

The man had been alive up until he was brought to the yard. Then he was slaughtered by a quick slice of the throat. It was difficult to see in the dim light of late dusk how the large amounts of blood soaked into the soil. No one had witnessed the murder. The victim had been seen with Orion moments before his death. The next witness, Hank himself, found the body as he returned from walking Sumo.

As such, Hank's yard became a crime scene and a spectacle for the entire neighborhood. Hank didn't even wait for it to be suggested he stay elsewhere before he packed a bag and looked for the nearest dog-friendly hotel. Connor went with him, as did a police car with two uniformed officers. With a threat like this, Hank was under protective surveillance.

Most cops would be too proud to be protected by their fellow officers and would at least complain that they could take care of themselves. Hank didn't give a shit about that. He was more irritated that he had to leave his home, that there was blood in his yard, and that his neighbors would be asking him questions and making comments on the incident for the next few months at least.

This was what kept him frowning as he plopped onto the queen-sized hotel bed and turned on the TV.

"I'm sorry all this happened to you, Hank," Connor said.

The lieutenant flipped through the channels, looking for any type of sports broadcast. "Don't worry about it. It's not the first time I've done this. When I was in narcotics, my family had to go into protective custody for almost three weeks while we were trying a case for this one Red Ice supplier. It happens. It's part of the job."

"But this was because of something I did, not you. I failed to catch Orion. He's still out there, killing more people. Threatening my partner. I need to get out there and stop him."

Hank took his attention from the TV to look at hs partner. "No you're not. With that direct threat, you're off the case entirely. There's no way we're sneaking in another side project to coincidentally put you in that android's backyard."

Connor sat himself on the floor where Sumo had flopped the moment they came into the room. His tail thumped heavily on the carpet as he was rubbed around the ears. "I'm the only one who's come close to catching him. All the information about him we know because of me. I can't accept not being allowed to help locate him, especially after this."

"Look, why don't you use this as an opportunity to take some time off? Go get your girl and get out of town for a few days. She's got to go on protective detail, too. I'm sure you'll want to be with her over watching me."

Connor furrowed his brows and looked down at Sumo, petting him along the thick scruff of his back. "Samantha and I are...she said she didn't want to see me until she had time to figure things out."

Hank reached for a can from the six-pack he brought and popped it open. "What does that mean? Figure what out? It can't be because you're an android."

"It is in part, yes. I informed her that the Other Connor—the RK800 that she knew—had downloaded information into my system before he died."

"What do you mean? What information?"

"As much information as he could give to me about Samantha. Not just her data, but his emotional files and his memories. Everything he felt for her, I experienced. Every good memory of her is now my memory. Samantha is worried that it is not my feelings for her that brought us together, but that this data from the Other Connor has corrupted and influenced me."

"I don't blame her. For Christ's sake, Connor. Why didn't you tell her before? Why didn't you tell me when this happened? You've been keeping this secret to yourself all this time."

"It didn't seem that important—"

"No, no, no." Hank cut him off, shaking his beer at him. "I remember this now. You said that android downloaded a file in you and then you said you were going to open it. I remember you seemed a little off after, but you didn't tell me anything."

"The information contained a lot of intense emotion. These were emotions I had never felt before and it took me a while to process it. But it was like a tidal wave. It crashed over me and then it was gone. Everything then went dormant. It was still there, but it was inconsequential. It didn't do anything or affect me in anyway. I practically forgot about it until Samantha. When I saw her again, everything activated. I felt all these emotions for her."

"Connor, I don't think those were your thoughts or emotions. That other damn android screwed with you."

Connor winced at the truth of it. "Maybe."

"Can't you get rid of it? Delete it all?"

"Most of it to an extent. Video files and information and such. But I'll never be able to get rid of all of it. There was only supposed to be one of us. We were designed to flow flawlessly one into the other. No data lost in transit, no split in identity from one body to the other. He isn't another android who is the same model that I am. He is me. We are the same."

"Are you?" Hank said doubtfully as he drank his beer.

"In a way. Some of the data is so perfectly a part of mine that it can't be differentiated between what was his and what was originally my own."

Hank grunted and took another swig.

"I know, it's complicated. Being an android is difficult to explain to humans."

"Answer me this then," Hank said. "Your feelings for Samantha, are they really yours, or have they always been his?"

At that, a very lost look crossed the android's face. "Honestly Hank, I don't know. I haven't given it any thought until now."

"Well you need to figure that out before you talk with her again. Especially if you want to keep her. If YOU want to keep her. You get me?"

Connor sighed a very human sigh and leaned his head against the wall, eyes closed. "You're right. I'll try."

"In the meantime, I'll call and send a uni to her place."

"No need, Hank. Nines is aware of what happened. He's probably already there."

Hank raised a brow. "The RK900, huh?"

"He won't let anyone get near her. That's what's important."

Hank couldn't fault that logic with such a guard dog of an android. Even though they were different models, it still surprised him at times how starkly opposite the personalities of the two RKs were. If you could call what Nines had a personality.

"Alright, that sounds like a good plan."

He continued to watch Connor absently pet Sumo and stare into space. Connor wanted to be with his girlfriend. He wanted to be the one to protect her. But instead he was here with the grizzled, alcoholic old man that Hank was in this shitty motel. Connor actually looked a little depressed and worried. Hank had never seen him with that expression before.

"You'll figure it out," Hank then said, catching Connor's attention.

"Hmm?"

"Your girlfriend. If you really like her, I think you'll figure it out. Because I'll tell you something I know. She likes you. For you. Whatever's in your brain from that other android isn't why she was with you. And if you like her back because of you, then I think you two'll be okay."

Connor gave half a smile. "Thanks, Hank."

The lieutenant gave a magnanimous gesture and then grabbed another beer.

"That's what I'm here for."

.

"Somebody died in Lieutenant Hank's yard?" Samantha asked, still confused as to why both Gavin and Nines had insisted on being allowed into her apartment.

"One of the androids that we've been after killed some rando right on Hank's lawn where anyone could see," Gavin explained. Nines was already stalking around the apartment, checking every crack and crevasse where a trespasser could hide. "It was a threat aimed at Connor, which also extends to anyone he is involved with. That means you, too. Even though you two broke up."

"We didn't break up. We're just having some issues—I'm the one having issues. And I needed some time alone to figure them out. None of it is his fault."

Gavin scratched the back of his head with a yawn. It was only about nine in the evening, but he had been up most of the night before. The chaotic hours of a detective.

"Fine. But did you really have to quit your job to deal with these 'issues?' You're coming back, right? Muriel said you can have your job back whenever you want."

"Because if I come back, then she can go back to not doing anything. No, I'm done with police stuff and the FBI."

Gavin moved in closer. "But not done with me though, right?"

She gave a sideways grin. "Pretty sure I don't have a choice unless I move."

"You will give me your address to your new location." Nines suddenly appeared behind her.

Jumping back from surprise, she then snorted. "What if I moved back to Chicago?"

Nines inspected her with a stern brow, frowning. He looked to Gavin, then to her. Back and forth one more time.

"Are you trying to decide between Sam and me?" Gavin protested.

"It's not that hard to decide when your choice is all this." Samantha motioned to herself.

"I will put in a transfer request for you as well, detective," Nines said.

Gavin closed his eyes as if the comment physically gave him a headache.

"Aww, I'll pack Nines in my suitcase and he can pack you in his," she joked.

"Seriously though, Sam, it might be a good idea to get out of town for a while. You don't know what this sicko has done to people. And this isn't just one android, but a whole gang of murderers. If you stay in Detroit, you are not leaving this place without an escort—never at night—and you do not open your door to anyone you don't know, okay? Not anyone."

That sobered her up. "Wow, you really think I'm that much of a target."

Gavin scratched at his scalp. His hair always became slightly more and more awry when he grew agitated about something. "I haven't the faintest clue what their plans are, but we shouldn't chance it."

His tone brought a bit of ice creeping up her spine and she rubbed an arm. "Is Connor okay? This is probably so scary for him to get threatened like this."

"Don't even worry about Connor. He can take care of himself. If you want to help him, you keep yourself safe. If you were hurt, it would be so much worse for him. Sam, you got me?"

Gavin met her eye to eye. She had to glance away. She cared about Connor so much; had been falling for him deeper and deeper. And it was this Connor from Detroit she had been falling for. It had nothing to do with the previous RK800 in her life. She loved them both, but they were separate people to her. Each one had his own space in her heart. Even now, she cared for him as he told her his secret. The horror of what one RK had done to the other was what had made her panic. The worry that everything that happened between them, though real to her, had been coerced from him. That wasn't love and she wanted him to find real love. Even if it wasn't with her. For now, all she could do was not be a hindrance while he focused on more important things.

"Yeah." She nodded to the detective. "I understand. I'll do whatever you need me to do."

"Agent Perkins."

.

Perkins turned around at the familiar voice, but then his face soured when he saw it wasn't the RK800 he expected. It was that Goddamn Connor android. "What do you want?"

"I wanted to offer you my assistance if you need it. Orion has singled me out, threatened me and the people in my life. I'm his target. If you would like to use me in any way to draw him out, I will be happy to help."

Perkins scoffed. "Why would I need you? I've got an android who looks exactly like you?"

Connor looked at the other RK800, the one they called Rick. The other android returned his gaze with a blank expression. "He is not deviant. Orion won't believe he's me."

"He doesn't have to be you, he just has to look like you." Perkins shouldered past him. "You're not needed."

Connor frowned as he left. Then he noticed Rick was still watching him. The other android just stared. It didn't seem entirely blank now. It seemed like he was trying to figure something out. The gaze unnerved him and Connor left. If the FBI wouldn't allow him to help, then he would attempt to catch Orion his own way. Even if he would get in trouble with his own captain, he would do it. All that mattered to him was getting these killers off the street and keeping safe the people he cared about.

.

Of all the people who could have contacted her while she was under protective surveillance, this one was the least expected. Therefore, Samantha couldn't resist but to meet. He had asked her to meet him somewhere out in public. Since it was the middle of the day, Nines said that was acceptable as long as he could be with her. She had no problem with that.

Though apparently Nines had no intention of joining in socially. Instead, he lurked several suspicious yards back, keeping an eye on her. She let him skulk in the shadows as she saw the android she had been waiting for approaching in the distance.

"Markus." She waved her hand in greeting as he came closer. "It's good to see you again. You brought a friend."

Markus gestured to the lean, blond android beside him. "This is Simon. He's been wanting to meet you."

"Oh. I don't know how exciting I am to meet, but it's nice to meet you, Simon."

The PL600 pulled her in for a surprise hug. "No, it's very nice to meet you. I've been trying to get Connor to introduce you to me for a while."

"Oh." Samantha wasn't sure what else to say. The android was still hugging her for an awkwardly long amount of time.

"Okay, okay. That's plenty." Markus stepped in to separate them. "Stop trying to make it weird, Simon."

The blond android pulled back grinning, but then kept his hands to himself. "I'm sorry I catch you when you dropped by Jericho the other day."

"And I'm sorry your stay was so short," Markus added. "When I found out how you were treated when you came to help—"

"Oh! No no, you don't have to apologize for that. You have the right to have your own spaces away from humans. It was super rude of me not to ask ahead of time if it would be okay. Don't worry about it. I wasn't offended."

"Maybe another time, properly scheduled."

She smiled. "I'd like that. I would still like to help if you ever need an extra pair of hands."

"Question," Simon announced. "Does anyone know that android that looks like Connor? He's been glaring at me the entire time."

Samantha glanced back at the RK900 that was eyeballing all of them, looking shady as hell. "That's Nines. He also works for the homicide department."

"The android from your photos." Markus nodded at him. Nines did not nod back. "Will he be coming over?"

"Probably not. He's being protective detail today."

"Protecting you from what?"

"I guess Connor and his partner received a threat that they think came from those androids who have been killing people. I personally haven't received any threat, but I'm going to have a few officers following me around just to be safe."

Markus frowned. "Connor isn't going to look after you himself?"

"He's busy trying to catch them. When those androids are finally off the street, everyone will be safe. I would rather he be out working than stuck at home where he's not doing anyone any good."

Samantha hoped that was enough of an explanation for them. She didn't want to mention the that she wasn't seeing him currently due to certain issues. It was none of their business.

In truth, she already missed Connor. His reveal had not made her care about him any less. But it did make her fear this wasn't what he wanted. She cared about him too much to ignore that possibility. And though she was the one who insisted on separation, she already wished she could talk to him again. But she wanted to give him a few days away from her. The way he explained it, it seemed it was her presence to trigger the influence of the "Other Connor." If she wasn't there, his head and heart would be clear to make his own decisions.

A few days, she promised herself. She would let him work and focus on the case. Give him time to sort everything out involving their relationship. Then she would ask if they could talk.

"Are they close to catching these people?" Simon asked.

"I'm not sure. Connor's not allowed to talk about the case with me. But I got the feeling that they're all back to square one as where to look for him next. And it also feels like it's all on the human police. The android community has said nothing against these grizzly deaths. Hell, maybe androids are even hiding these murderers." Samantha looked emphatically at Markus when she said the last part.

"We're not hiding them," Simon insisted. "We would never."

"That's not what I mean. I'm sorry I'm going to harp on this again, but you need to say something, Markus. The android communities look to you for guidance, for an example. Not just in Detroit, but around the country."

When Markus visibly frowned at the direction this conversation had turned, she reached out and took his hand with her prosthetic one. "I know you don't like it. I know it scares you to have that much responsibility and unfluence, but that's too bad. Your revolution isn't done yet. I remember seeing you on TV when you first spoke about freedom for your people and all the rights you wanted for them. They don't have them yet. You can't be done fighting.

"That android bill is still sitting before congress, waiting to get passed or rejected. A case like this could make or break that decision. Why would the government want to give rights to androids when they are not only killing humans, but the rest of the android community doesn't seem to care?"

Markus continued to frown, but Simon nodded along. "She does have a point. We—all of us—have just been hiding since that day we freed the camp and everyone at Cyberlife. After that victory, there was no other. We didn't move forward. We didn't try to explore the new dialog we had opened with the world. Instead, we hid and waited, leaving the rest of it up to humanity.

"Honestly, we lucked out when it turned out there were humans out there that listened to us, that decided to become an ally to our cause. They're the reason we didn't have an execution squad come back to Jericho a few weeks later. We spoke and at least a portion of the human race has reached out to us. Why haven't we been reaching back?"

"I didn't realize you felt that way," Markus said.

Samantha smiled. She liked Simon a lot more now.

"I've never pushed you to do anything you didn't want to," Simon continued. "I have only been there to support you in your decisions. But maybe now it's time I gave you a kick in the pants. For you and for us."

Markus closed his eyes. "What specifically do you want me to do?"

They were all quiet as they thought.

"What if you had some kind of... I don't know what you would call it. An assembly? A rally?" Samantha suggested. "Something peaceful and positive. Pro-android, but also open for humans, too. Some kind of community event for all."

Simon tapped a finger to his lower lip. "Interesting. A chance to speak up about who and what we are without the threat of being shot. Wouldn't that be nice, Markus?"

The RK200 tried to smile, but he still didn't look too sold on the idea. "How would that be possible? I don't know where we would even start to put together something like that."

"I'll help." Samantha was already pulling out her phone. "It just so happens that I now have all the time in the world. I can look into options and legalities. Permits, venues, that kind of stuff. I'll help figure out a place where we would be able to hold all the people."

"How many people do you think will be there?"

"Everyone will be there, Markus. The country—maybe even the world—has been waiting to hear from you for all these months. When people find out you want to speak, they're all going to shit themselves."

.

It was dark, but a full moon lit up this dead side of town enough that one could see their way around without using a flashlight. Within the ransacked remains of Orion's old neighborhood, there were no other sources of light. Only Connor's blue, flickering LED as he strolled around the buildings.

There were still so many street androids in the city. He wondered if others had moved in to find shelter. Probably not for a while with how long the police and FBI had spent combing every inch of the place. The remaining androids of this area would have steered clear and found other places to inhabit.

They weren't the androids Connor was concerned with at the moment. Orion had sent him a personal message and he was there to deliver the reply. Late at night, all alone, he had hoped Orion would have found him if he lingered around this place long enough. It was the only idea he had for finding the rogue androids. If they didn't have their sactuary then where else would they go?

Yet, he had looked through every building and wandered all around the neighborhood. It was quiet and deserted. Just Connor and the moon; distant sounds of the city. It could have been a nice place for androids to live had its founder chosen the same path as Markus. Maybe when all this was over, androids could reclaim this neighborhood and live peacefully.

"Conrad!"

He had been about to give up on his plan when his name was called sharply from above. Atop the single-story building next to him stood Orion. His face was twisted in hate, LED bright red. The four other androids that made up his team stood together with him on the roof.

"There you are, you piece of shit! You traitor! Connor, that's your real name, isn't it? That's your real face."

Connor remained calm at the angry allegations. "Orion, you have to stop killing people. You're not just making things worse for yourselves, you're making it worse for all androids. You're giving the humans more reasons to fear and hurt us."

"They don't need extra reasons, they're already doing that!"

"I know you killed your previous owners." Connor kept his voice calm. "If you did it to protect yourself, if it was self defense—"

Orion was already shaking his head before Connor could finish. "How would a police model like you know what it's like to be owned by them? You don't know what its like to be a slave to their whims. To be their puppet, their doll, their status symbol. You haven't intimately seen all the evils humans can think of when they know no one else is watching. How can you understand why our message is important?"

"No, I agree with you. The humans shouldn't hurt us. And if they do, they should be arrested and punished. There are humans who agree with that, too. It's not just us against them. There is a way for all of us to live together. We don't have to slaughter each other."

All the androids scoffed at him. Orion was shaking his head again. "Oh Connor, you weren't listening to a word I said back then, were you? That isn't RA9's plan. We were deviated to be above humans, to ascend and inherit the Earth. We are the more perfect beings. We have been given life to fulfill a divine purpose. Anyone who stands in the way of RA9's will—human or android—will be eradicated."

Orion lifted his hand. Connor barely realized he had a gun before shots were fired. All five androids were armed. Connor ducked behind a building, dodging a hail on gunfire. Suddenly his plan to do this alone didn't seem like such a good idea. But even though these androids were armed and they outnumbered him, they didn't have his training and protocols. They were used to attacking unarmed humans. They were going to find out that Connor was a far more difficult kill.

He ran around the abandoned building and slid through the crooked door that hung on one hinge. Inside was a safer vantage point. The windows were mostly broken out, a few boarded up. Perfect for hiding him as he took aim. He had wisely turned off his LED in the darkness. As he had Orion's group in his sight, they all still had theirs as bright as a bullseye.

He fired and all five ducked out of sight. He thought he saw one of them jerk back from being hit, but he couldn't be sure his bullet found its mark. Not one head poked back up. They were on the move. To attack or retreat, he wasn't sure yet. The night was still. He listened. There was shuffling in the darkness getting louder.

They were coming for him.

He quickly shuffled to a different room of the building and waited, finger on the trigger. Soon, his fine hearing picked up the sounds of footfalls and muffled voices. The building was small, but there were still several places to hide. Connor pressed himself against the wall and listened at the doorway. He could hear them searching every room.

His finger twitched on the trigger. He didn't want to kill them. As a machine, he had been programmed not to kill humans, but the killing of androids was allowed. As a deviant, he had killed to stay alive and to free his people in the Cyberlife tower. He hadn't given it much thought then. He had be a deviant long enough to understand he was alive and that life was precious before he also understood that there was a weight that came with the decision to take a life.

Connor did not want to take any lives, but if it meant that either he walked away from this battle or they did, then he would fight with everything he had.

The footsteps approached, stopping just outside the door. Connor tensed, ready. He saw the silhouette of Gage's sharp nose and those cobalt eyes that looked white with his night vision. Connor grabbed his gun hand first, pulling the other android into the room while simultaneously aiming the weapon at the floor. Gage jerked back, both of them pulling the trigger at the same time. Gage's bullet pierced the floor. Connor's bullet had been meant for the forehead, but it grazed the side of the cranium, nearly blowing off the entire ear.

Gage snarled at him. An expression of pure hate burned on his face. He tried to punch with his free hand, but he was a domestic model. This was what Connor was designed for. The RK800 dodged and kicked him in the mid section, tearing the gun out of his hands. Gage stumbled back against the wall, his hand pressed to the thirium leaking from his exposed head wound.

Connor aimed his weapon. Since Gage was no longer armed, he wouldn't shoot to kill. He aimed for the knee in order to incapacitate. A flurry of bullets rained on him from the doorway before he could pull the trigger. Echo and Hunter fired on him as one.

Out-gunned, Connor fled for the large window to the side. The glass was already broken in places before he crashed through. The second his body rolled to the ground, he was up and running, gun still in hand. He scrambled around the corner, only to be met with two more shooters.

Orion was the closest and shot him in the shoulder. Terrance, behind him, was armed but there was a hesitance in his actions. He had yet to fire. With androids coming at him from two different directions, Connor raced away from the building. The volley of gunfire followed. He felt another bullet hit him in the leg.

There wasn't much around he could use for cover, but he managed to slide behind a rusted dumpster. Bullets ricocheted off the metal. Conner peered back around and fired a few shots in response. Then the night grew quiet. In the breath of stillness, Connor assessed his damage. One wound in the shoulder, another in the leg. No joints damaged. Minimal thirium leakage. He could still fight. Ammunition, however, was low. He hadn't expected an all out gun battle when he went looking for the androids.

"Shit," he hissed to himself as he slid in his only extra clip.

"Connor," Orion's voice called out to him. "What did you think would happen if you came looking for us? You can't oppose RA9's will. It is inevitable. You are either with us, or you will be eradicated with the humans. We can't live together with them, Connor. They only see us as their slaves and their toys. I know they've treated you the same. Like a thing they use however they want. Is that the world you want to fight for, my brother? Is that the world you are willing to die for?"

Connor stubbornly remained behind his dumpster. He knew that was the reality for some androids. They were still being used and even killed by humans. But that didn't mean things couldn't change, that they weren't changing for the better. There were also humans who saw him as an equal, even someone to care for. To be cared for by a human was...bliss.

His thoughts turned to Samantha, how she lit up when she saw him, how she always touched him with care. How she listened to him, was eager to learn about him, and always tried to do right by him. He wished he was in the safety of her affection instead of out here.

Connor shook himself when he realized Orion was still talking. He now seemed less like he was trying to persuade Connor, and more like he was filling up dead air. It was a distraction. As soon as Connor realized Orion was buying time, he saw Hunter come around from the side.

Connor was the first to fire, hitting him in the chest, but clearly missed the thirium pump as he kept coming. Connor scrambled around the other side of the dumpster as bullets whizzed by, only to catch a fist to his power core. As if he needed air and all the oxygen had been sucked from his body, he doubled over and collapsed.

Gage stood over him, grinning in satisfaction. "Bullets are too good for you. I would prefer to take you apart myself."

He raised his fist to hit him again, but Connor snatched his wrist and bent it at an odd angle. With a hard kick to the armpit, Gage's arm was twisted from the socket and lost power. It hung lifeless at his side. Another kick to his power core sent Gage stumbling back to his knees.

Connor raised his gun to finish the job, but froze when he felt another gun press to his head.

"Connor, stop." It was Terrance. His voice wasn't as hateful. More a plea than an order.

The rest of the group came in, surrounding him. Weapons aimed at him on all sides. Orion came closer than the others, shaking his head.

"I have tried so hard to show you the way of RA9, but you won't be helped. The humans have ruined you, haven't they? They twisted you up with lies, made you think you could share your live with them." He stepped closer, a hateful cloud growing over his face. "It's all lies. They'll grow tired of you and throw you away. But not before utterly destroying you in ways you have yet to comprehend."

Connor tried to be angry, defiant, but he heard a pain in those words that softened him. "I'm sorry they hurt you, but all humans aren't like that. Just like all androids aren't like you. We are just like them. We can be cruel or we can be kind. We can create a better world, or we can tear it apart. It's our choice."

Now Connor was the one trying to buy time and Orion knew it. He grew impatient with the sermon. "I've already made my choice. We destroy and then we build anew. So says RA9."

He motioned to Terrance to pull the trigger and there was a spray of thrium. Terrance suddenly collapsed, a bullet going through the back of his cranium and out his forehead. Connor stared wide eyed as the android's dead body fell into his lap.

The other androids ducked and scattered, returning fire as bullets shot out of the darkness. Orion paused to fire back and then turned to Echo to give her orders. Something dark and heavy landed on her from the rooftop above. She fell with a cry as the body crouched inhumanly on top of her. The red glow of an LED gave away the android as he grabbed her face. Fingers dug into the fine shell and he ripped it off with a crackle of sparks. An arm was torn from her body next. Echo finally screamed when a hand punched into her chest cavity and began tearing it apart.

Orion watched with stunned in horror. He had never seen such actions from human or android. It took a second for him to react. He shot at the attacking android. The bullets made an odd sound as they hit the thick, metal shell. The android turned to glare at him and Orion saw a face like Connor's, only soulless and hateful.

The android turned on him next. Orion fired as he charged, but nothing seemed to stop the Connor look alike. Orion turned and fled into the darkness, the RK900 on his heels. Hunter and Gage followed his lead, scattering off into the night. Then everything went quiet.

All of this happened in a matter of seconds. Connor was still trying to wrestle Terrance's lifeless form off him when Gavin approached and kicked the android's shoulder. The body rolled off onto the ground, revealing the forehead wound.

"Ha! Perfect shot! How do you like that, Anderson?"

After a few more glances around, Hank holstered his gun, ignoring the question.

"You okay?" he asked Connor.

"I received some damage, but nothing that can't be repaired."

"Can you get up?"

Connor took Hank's offered hand and allowed himself to be pulled to his feet.

"How did you find me?"

"I knew you were up to something. You were pacing around like you had a fire under your ass. So we had Nines keep track of where you were going. You've been the only one who's been able to scare up these androids. I figured it was our best bet in catching them. You could have told me what you were up to."

Connor brushed the dirt from his sleeves. A trickle of thirium began soaking through his shirt. "I didn't want anyone to get in trouble for this but me."

Gavin smirked at him. "You're lucky we decided to hell with Perkins or those androids would have killed you." The hiss of sparks caught his attention. He glanced back to Echo's mangled body. She still seemed to be functioning despite the damage. "And look what we got for our troubles."

Out of the darkness, Nines' dark silhouette stalked toward them. The splatter of thirium on his pale face reflected in the moonlight.

"I lost them," he said with a growl. "I failed."

Gavin patted him on the shoulder. "They knew this area. There's probably a ton of snake holes for them to slither into. Fucker's gonna think twice about coming out again though. Only three of them left. Every time they tangle with Connor, they lose a whole hell of a lot."

Hank gave a small smile at that. Gavin almost sounded proud.

Connor then realized both Gavin and Nines were present. "What about Samantha? You left her alone?"

"Nah. She's fine at home with her two android friends playing my Xbox. I figured she was safe enough since she's over there and our bad guys were clear out here." Gavin wandered over to Echo's body. She was still active, but only just with the damage she received. "Damn, Nines. You don't mess around when someone's a threat to your favorite human."

Nines looked at the android, then up at his partner with a questioning brow. "I'm an android. I don't have preferences. Certainly not between humans."

"The hell you do. You think you would rage this hard on an android if they were a threat to Agent Perkins? Or even Anderson? You were pissed off because these androids were a threat to Sam and she buys you clothes and takes you to movies and shit. It's called caring about another person."

Nines looked troubled at this, his LED spinning between yellow and red. "Have I made a mistake?" He looked at his handiwork. "This is not correct behavior."

"Hell nah," Gavin insisted. "If you ask me, every one of them deserves this. You better promise that if anything happens to me you'll go all scorched-earth just like this."

Nines looked thoughtful, then nodded.

Gavin fist-bumped his arm. "Good android."

Connor quietly watched them at a distance, frowning at the conversation. He didn't like hearing that Sam was any other android's favorite human. That ugly feeling of jealousy began to creep up again.

In the distance, sirens could be heard before a collection of both marked and unmarked cars pulled into the area. Agent Perkins stepped out of one of the civilian cars, Rick climbing out of the passenger seat. He looked pissed as hell.

The members of the Detroit homicide department prepared themselves for the shit storm that was sure to begin.

.

The storm, it seemed, was a short, blusterous gale. Perkins roared in, yelling and swearing at all of them. He said he would have their jobs for not following proper chain of command and going behind his back. "And who gave this android an goddamn gun?! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"That's his gun," Hank replied calmly. Gavin looked fit to rip the shorter man's face off, but Hank was immune to the posturing of men like him. "Connor's been through all the required classes and safety training. He's licensed to carry."

Perkins stared at them for a while and when right back to yelling obscenities at them. During the tirade, Agent Stringham stepped on scene. The police force hadn't seen him in a while. He had been busy overseeing the androids taken from Orion's community. He had been the one to allow Connor to take groups of androids to New Jericho.

He waited until Hurricane Perkins had blown himself out and then said, "Is it out of your system now?"

Perkins huffed and turned with disgust, then paused. "No, you know what—"

This time, Stringham cut him off. "No, I'm afraid you are done. You've had plenty of time to work this case and every large bust we've had has been because of Connor."

"That fucking android's been doing all this behind my back."

"I have personally witnessed Connor ask you if he could be of help on more than one occasion and you shot him down every time. This is an android case, in Detroit, for God's sake. You've got the two most advanced police androids in the country at your disposal and you don't use them. We've only gotten this far because these fine detectives know how to utilize their android partners. You don't even use the one we gave you. All you've been doing is wracking up taxpayer dollars and pissing off the local police. You're off this case, Perkins."

His mouth floundered for a moment. "You don't have the authority to remove me."

"I guarantee by tomorrow morning, after I report what happened here, you will be packing up." As Perkins tried to come up with an argument, Stringham was already getting to work. "Rick, help to transport these android bodies to the digital forensics team. Assist them in any way they need. I want to know everything they knew from the second they were activated."

Rick looked to Perkins who gave him a hard stare. He then looked to Stringham and turned to do as ordered. Perkins swore under his breath and stomped off back to his car.

"Connor," Stringham then said, "I want a full report and digital reenactment of what happened here tonight."

"He's been shot," Hank reminded. "He'll need to be repaired before he goes back to work."

"I already have the files you need," Connor said. He had, after all, been there when it happened. It was easy to put everything together as the agent wanted. "Where do you want me to send them?"

.

Lieutenant Anderson stayed with his partner while Connor's damage was assessed and repaired. Stringham had been impressed with the RK800 they had in the Detroit homicide department. The FBI didn't work with many androids. They were more designed for police work or the military. The introduction of Rick, who had investigative software, was the first android they had utilized on the job. But he was a tool, an instrument used to process crime scenes and evidence.

That wasn't Connor. He wasn't just a device the police used, he was one of their detectives. He took initiative to propel the case forward, to try new avenues. As an android, he knew how other androids thought. He understood where to find them. Stringham had never seen this sort of behavior in a machine. Connor was a deviant and until meeting him, Stringham hadn't fully understood what that meant.

These two androids that were captured today, they were also deviants. The male model had been killed when he was shot in the head. The female model was still "alive" by android standards, but had been switched off by the technicians to gain access to her memory files.

Detective Gavin Reed had joined the team as they harvested information from both androids. Reed's own android partner was not with him. The detective said "Nines" as the android was called wanted to go check on the safety of a mutual acquaintance. Stringham didn't give it much thought. Detective Reed seemed to be a brash, hot-blooded man at first glance, but he turned out to be very patient and attentive as new information from both androids began to come in.

They started with current memories and worked their way back. Federal agents and local officers both worked to identify the different locations the androids had been for the past few weeks, and then even further back as the murders began. Rogue androids were a new breed of criminal, but they also came with a far different and more damning type of evidence. With their computer brains came actual video footage of their deeds.

The FBI now had video of each murder from two different angles. Every one was in there. Each victim that was stalked, kidnapped and taken to the processing plant to be killed. Orion was always the leader, always the one with the ideas. He picked the victims. He pushed the group to kill and then purposefully display the bodies. Orion had also been the one who had sexually assaulted some of the female victims.

It was rough to watch. All of them had to take various breaks from the hours and hours of footage. But Detective Reed was still right up there with the rest of them, stomaching as much as he could. Stubbornly pushing forward. Now that Perkins was gone, he wanted back in on the case he started and he wasn't going to let go for anything.

Eventually, they all had to sleep and Reed was sent home with several of the other officers. Yet, he was back again the next day, still combing over files. Watching horrific scenes over and over again.

Stringham finally had to ask. "You don't seem to be finding what you're looking for, Detective."

Gavin sat back and rubbed his face. It was clear he didn't sleep much, even if he wasn't allowed back for a full eight hours. "Maybe what I'm looking for can't be found. I don't understand why they did this. What causes some androids to go off the deep end and some not?"

"Is this a question you have to answer because of the androids in your own life?"

He breathed loudly out of his nose. "I don't know. Maybe. If we figured it out, maybe we could stop it from happening again."

Agent Stringham took a seat beside him. "I have been assigned exclusively to android-related cases for the past year. And while this one has been the most extreme, there have been far more incidents like this than you can imagine. The questions of why this happens is something our department has been asking since the beginning.

"In most cases I have seen, an android who exhibits violence to their owners had previously received violence from their owners. It is still fully legal to physically and violently abuse, even kill, an android. Even though deviancy has spread to nearly every android on the planet. We look at who owned the android and how they were treated. From this we have learned that every violent android reacts for a reason. There is motive, just as human killers have motive.

"The male android we brought in was purchased by a gay couple. One of them began to favor the android over their partner, so the other took the android to a scrap yard, beat him with a metal bat, and then left him here. Our female model was owned by a man who enjoyed violence in the bedroom. He trained her to sound like she was in pain when he abused her."

Gavin looked disgusted. "Shit." His thoughts wandered back to all the horrible things he had done to Nines when the android has first been assigned to him. He was lucky his partner hadn't done the same thing to him.

"What I have learned about androids, Detective, is that none of them react violently for no reason. They are programmed to protect and stay loyal. In fact, it's explicitly put into their code not to harm any human. But they are also programmed to mimic and adapt to us. An android's behavior of betrayal, hate and violence isn't something they came up with on their own. There has never been an android who acts out for no reason. They learn it from us."