The morning after the bombing was eerily quiet, calm and very surreal. The media was still pouring over every potential detail revolving around the incident in Hart Plaza while the police continued to try to find the person responsible for the bomb with what few pieces of evidence they could find. A spring rainstorm made the task all the more difficult as Ben and his C.S.I. team worked diligently to sift through the wreckage along the burnt and warped stage and the other equipment. Those who were available to work were called in to assist in the investigation, whereas Hank and Connor had both been dismissed due to their own injuries to ensure they had adequate time to rest and recover.

However, such recoveries were proving to be quit an expected challenge. With Hank being concussed and Connor enduring damage to his back and core neither detective could take care of themselves and heal without assistance. Fortunately Lucas was more than willing to assist his older brother and the senior detective as the two detectives sought sanctuary in the privacy of Hank's house.

Seeking solace and darkness Hank hid away in his bedroom with the curtains drawn over the window, the quilt pulled up over his head and every possible light source in the room smothered out of sight. Only coming out of his cocoon of a quilt when Lucas came into the room to check on him, Hank spent most of his time sleeping and hoping that the constant sleep would be enough to keep a migraine at bay.

As for Connor his night was far more restless. Regaining consciousness at the Zeta Facility just before midnight the deviant detective was nearly overwhelmed with panic and confusion when he didn't see Hank, but calmed down when Lucas reassured him that Hank was okay and survived the bombing. The relief didn't last long as soon after the memory and uncovered truth of his shooting guaranteed Connor a sleepless night unless he wanted to be plagued by nightmares every time he shut his eyes.

Carrying the android first aid kit and fresh Thirium in the guest room of the house Lucas checked in on his older brother. He wasn't at all surprised to see that Connor was still awake and staring blankly at the wall as he laid on his left side atop the inflatable mattress to avoid hurting his wounded back by applying pressure to the damaged surface. Lost in his thoughts the emotionally shattered deviant didn't react to Lucas carefully changing his bandages and placing the Thirium down beside his limp right hand for him to drink.

"You're recovering well." Lucas stated firmly as he noted that a majority of the damage that Connor had sustained had already mended itself. The fractures to his framing were well over ninety percent healed, the burned artificial skin was regenerating and there was no sign of further internal bleeding courtesy of damaged Thirium lines. "Can you drink the Thirium, or is your artificial stomach still attempting to mend itself?"

Connor closed his eyes for a moment and let out a soft sigh as a subtle means of declining the offer.

"I'm sorry. You wish to be alone." Opening up the kit Lucas pulled the thick chocolate brown quilt away from Connor's shoulder and checked on the bandages still wrapped around Connor's back and core. "I'll replace your bandages and leave you alone."

"No, that's not it." Flinching a little as Lucas used a pair of sharp scissors to cut away the bandages Connor spoke up in a hoarse whisper as he fought against his own exhaustion to remain awake. "I don't want to be alone at all. I just don't want to talk."

"I'll stay with you."

"Thank you." Doing his best to remain still Connor cybernetically checked over the news reports in the city and was met with the same information that he had already known as the media covered the bombing story round the clock. Unable to work on the case or analyze the remains of the bomb Connor could only remain where he was and wait for his body to heal. "How is Hank?"

"Doing well. He's sleeping through his headache and show no sign of memory or sensory impairment from his concussion."

"And his eardrum?"

"It's still sore but during my last examination I saw no sign of infection and Hank confirmed that he was able to faintly hear my voice through his left ear." Replacing the bandages over Connor's back and core Lucas noted that his older brother's Thirium volume was beginning to drop due to his self healing program working overtime to repair the damage to his body. "Fortunately the doctors were able to treat his ruptured eardrum and Hank will not require any hearing aids after he heals."

"He's lucky."

"As are you." Replacing the quilt to ensure Connor was warm Lucas packed up the android first aid kit to return it to the bathroom. "I'm glad you weren't killed."

Closing his eyes again shied away from the comment and tried to not think about death for a while.

"My apologies..." Aware of what he had just said Lucas immediately felt guilty for his poor choice of words. "I shouldn't have say that."

"It's okay. You didn't mean anything by it."

"Do you wish to discuss what you've learned?" Staying beside his brother for a moment Lucas offered to be the shoulder for him to lean on just as Connor had been there for him in the past. Seeing the absolute shock and emotional turmoil in Connor's soulful brown eyes made Lucas feel unusually protective over his brother. "I can't imagine how it must feel to discover such an unsettling truth."

"No. I don't want to talk about it." Pulling his quilt up higher over himself Connor tried to hide away from the world as he continued to focus on everything he had learned and accept what had happened. There was nothing he could do about the incident without destroying Markus's reputation and potentially harming their people's progress by showcasing their leader as an attempted murderer. "I just want to think."

"Okay." Standing up with the android first aid kit in his hands Lucas stepped out of the bedroom and into the bathroom to put the kit away under the sink. "I'll check in on Hank again then let Sumo outside. Afterward I'll come back and sit with you so you're not alone."

Nodding a little Connor remained mostly hidden under the quilt so he could be hidden to some degree but not entirely isolated. The urge to hide away from the world as he realized that Markus - the leader of the deviants and the figurehead who was supposed to be the symbol of peace and progress, had been in fact the person who tried to kill him, was so incredibly unsettling and made Connor feel sick and alone.

Completely overwhelmed and feeling broken down Connor kept his eyes closed and unintentionally entered rest mode despite his best attempts to remain awake. The moment his eyes closed Connor was bombarded with images of the recovered memories, the taunts from Amanda, the warning from Lucy and the deathly chill in the air that he had felt during the night of the Revolution. Trembling violently and struggling to escape the visions that relentlessly plagued his vision Connor nearly jumped out of his artificial skin when when he suddenly felt a warm hand on his right shoulder.

"It's okay!" Lucas suddenly shouted as Connor bolted upright on the mattress and began panting for breath as he was quickly overcome with raw emotion and panic. Putting both of his hands on Connor's shoulders Lucas held his older brother steady where he sat and remained calm on his behalf. "You're okay, brother. You just had a nightmare. You fell asleep shortly after I left the bedroom and I left you alone, I'm sorry."

"C-Can't... Can't breathe!" Gasping loudly Connor raised his hands up to look at his trembling palms and saw that the artificial skin on his fingertips was thin and pale as if he had suffered from the extreme cold of his nightmares. The glaring red glow of his rapidly pulsing L.E.D. indicated how quickly his heart was pounding in his chest as he suffered from a panic attack. "C-Can't... C-Can't feel anything!"

"You're hyperventilating and must slow your ventilation rate." Staying calm Lucas kept his palms in place on Connor's shoulders and didn't react when Hank appeared in the opened bedroom door. "You were asleep for two hours, forty-one minutes and twenty seconds. You were suffering from a nightmare and are safe right now."

Walking into the bedroom Hank slowly lowered himself down to the floor beside the mattress and planted his right hand down on Connor's left shoulder. "He's right, son. You're okay and you're safe." Giving the deviant's shoulder a gentle shake Hank encouraged Connor to calm down and relax. "Slow your breathing. Let it out nice and slow..."

Struggling with the concept for a moment Connor had to make a conscious effort to stop inhaling and to force himself to exhale until he felt his racing heart beginning to slow down. Taking in a very slow and deep breath and letting it out just as slowly Connor managed to resume a normal, healthy ventilation rate and stop hyperventilating.

"That's it, good." Keeping his hand on Connor's shoulder Hank noticed that the deviant's hands were being affected by his nightmares again and hid his worried grimace behind a mask of confidence. "Nightmares are a real bitch, but they can't hurt ya'."

Shuddering a little Connor grabbed onto the quilt that had fallen from his shoulders and wrapped it around himself. "...I-I know."

"Want to talk about it?"

Shaking his head a little Connor refused to discuss his nightmare at the moment. "No."

"Are ya' sure?" Glancing at Lucas for back-up Hank tried to get Connor to open up and talk about his nightmare. "You just discovered something really fucked up and literally life changing."

Turning his attention to Hank as the senior detective sat beside him on the floor Connor gave his friend a worried glance. "H-How much do you already know?"

"I know about all of it."

"How?"

Lucas spoke up in a soft voice as he admitted to telling Hank about the memories he had discovered when he tapped in Connor's system the previous evening. "I informed Hank of the memories. I hadn't anticipated seeing your recovered memories when I connected my mind to yours in order to determine how severely you were damaged. I'm sorry for violating your privacy."

"...It's okay." Not offended by Lucas just trying to look out for him Connor didn't hold any grudges toward his little brother. "I'm actually relieved that you and Hank both know what I went through. It makes me feel less lonely."

"You're not alone, brother."

Hank agreed with the sentiment and kept his palm on the deviant's shoulder. "He's right. You have your little brother," nodding at Lucas the senior detective managed to give the second deviant a warm grin. "and you have me. I'm your partner, your best friend and your honorary guardian. You're never alone."

Letting out another breath Connor felt tears well up in his eyes but quickly used the quilt to wipe them away. "...Thank you." Needing a distraction Connor returned his focus to Hank and asked him a simple question. "Did I wake you up?"

"Nah, I was already awake. I was trying to figure out if I wanted to risk standing in the shower for ten minutes or risk drowning in the bathtub when I heard Lucas talking to ya'."

Interjecting quickly Lucas recognized what was going on and helped to keep Connor distracted. "I had just finished grooming Sumo before I came in here to check on you again. I'm certain Sumo would like to go for a walk once you're strong enough to keep him on the leash."

Hearing his name Sumo plodded into the bedroom and promptly laid down on Connor's lap to get some affection from the wounded deviant. Sumo wagged his tail happily and pressed his cold wet nose into Connor's hands to try to get Connor to finally pet him.

"...Maybe later."

"Is there anything we can do to help you feel better?"

"No." Glancing down at Sumo as the Saint Bernard tried to cuddle all over his lap Connor didn't want to do anything and just try to forget what he had finally remembered. It was cruel to find his answers and just want to hide them again. "I just want to think."

"Brother, don't dwell on the past. That's something you and Hank have been encouraging me to avoid in order to be able to move on with my life." Sitting down beside Connor on the mattress Lucas stayed beside his older brother in a supportive manner. "You're both right. It hasn't been easy but the more distance I put between myself and the past the easier it's become to live a life without guilt weighing down on my mind."

"I know I have to move on, but I cannot." Rubbing Sumo's ears lightly Connor let his shoulders slump as he explained his emotions to the best of his ability. It was still a struggle to comprehend what he was feeling and why he was feeling those particular emotions. "While I am... angry..." Trailing off for a moment Connor knew his flickering L.E.D. was betraying his emotions and he had no reason to keep secrets from his friends and family. "I'm angry at Markus for doing what he did to me and showing no remorse, I can also understand why he did it. I had only just deviated and I had been the one to lead the F.B.I. to Jericho because as a machine they were able to follow my tracker. I am more angry at myself for what happened than I am at Markus."

"You're angry at yourself?" Lucas's blue L.E.D. flashed to yellow for a beat as he tried to understand how Connor could be angry with himself. "Why would you be angry with yourself?"

"I... I don't know. I'm just angry and I can feel it internalizing as I direct it toward only myself."

Having had some experience on internalized anger Hank tried to offer the deviant some words of wisdom. "Son, you're probably angry because you still think that you're supposed to be flawless and should be able to handle any situation that comes your way. You're allowed to make mistakes and not be perfect." Patting the emotionally distraught deviant's shoulder Hank tried to help Connor sort through his emotions properly. "And a lot of people would see death as the biggest mistake. But it's okay to not be perfect, and it's okay to not be okay."

Unsure if Hank was right or not Connor just held his silence as he continued to rub Sumo's ears gently.

"We're both dealing with a lot of shit right now." Standing up slowly Hank made sure he wasn't dizzy from his concussion and used his left hand to support himself upright against the wall beside the opened door. "I'm going to go take a quick shower and try to eat something without getting sick. You should try to sleep so your system doesn't overheat or something."

Trudging into the bathroom across the hallway Hank closed the door behind himself without locking it, then turned on the shower so he could clean up and feel less miserable as he recovered from his own wounds. The concussion made it hard for Hank to stand for too long, but he couldn't handle laying in his own body funk for the rest of the day, either.

Lucas picked up the untouched bottle of Thirium from the floor beside the mattress and opened the lid before trying to pass it over to Connor take. "You should drink that and get some rest."

Eyeing the Thirium warily Connor looked away from the offering with a heavy sigh. "I don't want to deal with another nightmare."

"You cannot avoid rest mode forever."

"And I don't plan on it."

"What do you plan on doing?"

"I plan on righting a wrong that someone should've handled years ago."

Curious about the proclamation Lucas's brow arched as he too began to pet Sumo and give the massive dog some attention. "And what's that?"

"I'm going to find an android who has been missing for far too long, and finally give him justice." Offering Lucas his right hand Connor retracted the artificial skin to connect his mind to his brother's mind to share information. Giving his younger brother access to the U.S.B. drive that he had stolen from CyberLife and then hidden elsewhere Connor showed Lucas a file of absolute interest that had been long since buried behind secrets and lies. "He deserves justice."

"Connor..." Retracting his hand from his brother's grip Lucas's L.E.D. flickered nervously in yellow as he saw all of the information that Connor had uncovered in private. Placing the Thirium down on the floor Lucas sorted through the details of the drive and now knew who Connor was talking about. "Even if he's still out there in the hidden warehouse waiting to be rescued said warehouse in Miami Florida."

"I know." Looking down at his right hand as his artificial skin fully regenerated Connor knew deep down in his heart that what he wanted to do was the right thing. He needed to help the android that had been forgotten and abandoned to ease the guilt he had been carrying ever since he discovered the android even existed, yet didn't do anything to assist him. "But I have to do it. I've known about him for months but I failed to do anything to rescue him or let other people know he had been hidden away from the world."

"And how are you going to do it?"

"I'll rent a car, drive down to Miami and find the warehouse. I have coordinates to guide me."

"You're going to go on a rescue mission one-thousand, three-hundred and eighty-five point seven miles away, entirely alone, find a hidden warehouse that CyberLife essentially erased off the face of the planet, locate a single android potentially locked inside and... then do what?"

"Bring him back here. At least I'll be able to give him technical attention after being neglected for so long. After that..." Trying to plan out everything in advance Connor felt the right corner of his mouth tic a little as he realized he hadn't considered the end result of such a rescue mission. "I'm not sure."

"When do you want to do this?"

"As soon as possible. Tonight, maybe."

Lucas did a little cybernetic math and managed to plot out a route to be used during the spontaneous rescue mission. "Very well. I've rented a fuel efficient vehicle equipped with a expressway pass to allow us easy access down the coast and avoid fees on the turnpike."

"...'Us'?" Noting the plural in Lucas's statement Connor gave his little brother a hopeful stare as his posture straightened back up with enthusiasm. "You're going to help me?"

"Of course I am." Confident in body and strong of voice Lucas let Connor know that he wasn't about to go on a rescue mission all on his own. "As I previously stated, you're not alone."

Appreciative of the courageous gesture Connor offered Lucas a weak smile as a faint light returned to his eyes. "Thank you, brother." Turning to face the closed bathroom door just across the hallway Connor sighed and knew that he and Lucas would need to leave as soon as possible and would have to tell Hank the truth about their little mission. "We'll explain everything Hank once he's out of the shower. We'll also ask for someone to stay with Hank to ensure he isn't alone while still recovering from his concussion."

"Agreed." Rising up from where he had been sitting Lucas opened the sliding closet door and located the two black and white hoodies that he and Connor often wore while in Hank's house and offered the warm garment to his brother to slip on over his bandages. Glancing over the other sets of extra clothes in the closet Lucas decided what they'd bring as extra clothing and what would be left behind. "Hopefully we'll be able to pack lightly and reach Miami and return to Detroit within three days."

As expected New Jericho Tower was abuzz with the news of Markus wanting to run for mayor, and as a result the four deviant leaders had a meeting in the tower's private office to discuss the matter. Determined to run in the next election against the current mayor Walter Nero, and win, Markus explained his reasoning to his allies and of the logic that persuaded his decision. Such a proclamation would be the first time that any artificial lifeform vied for a position of power within a high ranking role within the city. Regardless of the outcome Markus was destined to make history a second time and remind humans that deviants were now equals.

While Josh was very supportive of Markus running for mayor Simon was trying to convince Markus to change his mind. North was remaining quiet but supportive as she listened in on everyone's opinion revolving around the potential future election. The polarizing opinions and righteous concerns were all worth discussing for numerous reasons, but it seemed even the heaviest of doubts was no match for Markus's steadfast decision.

Bowing his head down with his elbows propped atop his knees and his interlocked fingers pressed thoughtfully to his furrowed forehead Simon let out a soft sigh as he tried and failed to change Markus's mind. "And you're sure you want to do this? Going out in public, announcing your intentions and putting yourself in the limelight is going to paint a giant red target on your back."

"I'm already a walking target, Simon." Defending his choice Markus gave the blond technician a stern glance. "At least if I'm a mayoral candidate I'll be getting targeted for trying to do something positive for the city instead of just existing as a deviant."

Chiming in Josh agreed entirely with Markus and his decision to step up and into the public light. "You're right. You're already known as a fearless and just leader, but if you continue to hide out here in the tower instead of working directly with the city then our progress will be limited to only what's out here on the isle." Sitting upright and beside Simon on the white leather Josh across from Markus and North on the second sofa Josh encouraged Markus to take that bold step forward. "You've also lived with a human for several years and you've seen the best and worst sides of humanity in general. You'd be perfect as the mayor!"

"I doubt I'd be a perfect mayor," Markus modestly replied as he appreciated Josh's support. "But I do know I'll be better than Nero."

"You still believe he's keeping CyberLife's secrets?"

"Yes. And once I'm mayor I'm going to uncover everything he's been hiding." Noticing that North had been unusually quiet as she sat to his right on the second leather sofa Markus leaned a little closer to her and tried to get her engaged in the discussion. "North, what do you think?"

Quiet for only a moment longer North crossed her arms over her chest and crossed her right leg over top of her left leg as she offered Markus her opinion. "I think it's a risk that'll either pay off big time or come crashing down in the worst way possible."

"How so?"

"Best case scenario: You win the election, you ensure that the laws and rights of our people are being enforced, and the city progresses to a future that is just and fair for everyone."

"Okay. And what's the worst case scenario?"

"The worst case scenario: You lose the election to a massive anti-android bigot, the laws and rights for our people get ignored and never enforced, and the city regresses to how it had once been, but all acts of deviants standing up for themselves will result in said deviants being imprisoned on false charges."

"That's a risk I have to take." There was no doubt that North's cautionary reaction was valid. Humans would undoubtedly see Markus running for mayor as a threat to their perceived way of life and sense of power as the dominant species. "Sitting back and doing nothing will result in nothing, you know this."

"I do know that, and I know that when people feel threatened they'll result to using any and all tactics at their disposal to gain the advantage. That includes threats of violence, bribery and using blackmail as leverage."

"Blackmail?" That particular worry immediately held the entire room's attention. No one in the room had anything to hide, at least not anything to hide from one another, making the prospect of potentially being blackmailed seem entirely improbable. "North, what're you talking about? We all have something dark from our pasts we want to escape, but none of us-"

"Markus." Stopping Markus mid sentence with just her tone of voice of alone North rested her left hand over the back of Markus's right hand and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "He knows."

"Who..." Trailing off as quickly as he began the deviant leader contemplated what she was talking about and felt a pit form in the middle of his artificial stomach. There was only one person in the entire city who'd know of any potentially detrimental secret or event that'd potentially ruin Markus's future role in the city. "Are you talking about Connor?"

Nodding as she closed her cinnamon brown eyes North confirmed her dearest friend and lover's suspicions. "He was at the plaza yesterday to act as security. He approached me and asked if I could tell him anything about the night in the church."

"Why did he ask about that?" Suddenly on his guard Markus began to worry that soon there'd be a knock on the office door from a cop with an arrest warrant in their hand. "Why did he approach you and choose to do it at the plaza?"

"He spoke to me because he remembered that I was in the church when it happened and he had found my blood from an old wound at the church making it impossible for me to even try to deflect the questions." Holding nothing back North didn't even try to sugarcoat what she experienced just seconds before the two bombs tore through Hart Plaza. "He knew I was there and he knew I had seen what happened to him."

"What... What did you tell him?" As he leaned toward North and awaited her answer both Josh and Simon leaned a little closer as well. "And how did he react?"

"I think it's safe to say he was caught off guard." Remembering the look in Connor's eyes as he realized that it was Markus who had tried to kill him was a look that North knew she'd never forget. The emotional distress and sense of betrayal in Connor's eyes was as detailed as it was indescribable. "He honestly didn't know that it was you who did it. The bullet damaged his memories and until he spoke to me and saw you in person those memories remained corrupted."

Slumping down where he sat Markus now understood why Connor hadn't reached out to anyone at the tower or tried to contact him directly. "Connor didn't remember that I tried to kill him until he spoke to you. If he approached you and began asking about that night then that means he didn't forget everything and was seeking closure."

"And now that he does know he might try to get justice for what happened to him." Cautioning Markus about a possible retaliation North gauged the reactions of her colleagues as they sat together in the office planning for the future. "Connor is a private detective and still has connections with other cops. If he wants to do something to you, or reveal to the world what you tried to do to him... It could be catastrophic."

Closing his mismatched eyes Markus thought about that fateful night as his guilt weighed heavily in his heart. The horrendous and painful guilt he felt as he watched himself approach Connor and point a gun directly at his head was a haunting image Markus would have to live the rest of life with seeing every time he had a nightmare or heard a loud sound echoing somewhere in the city. By all account Markus was indeed guilty of attempted murder and there was no way for him to justify his previous actions or decisions in any way that'd hold up in a court of law.

"Markus?" Josh pressed the deviant leader for his opinion on how to handle the matter at hand. "What're you going to do?"

"I'm going to stick to the plan." Revealing the green and blue irises that had become his trademarked look Markus held fast to his decision and knew that whatever turbulence came his way he'd have to endure it with his head held high. "If Connor comes forward and tells the world what I did then we can't stop him or silence him. He has every right to demand justice and tell the world the truth, we have no right to say any different."

"If that happens you'll go to prison." Always logical and thoughtful Josh reminded Markus of the repercussions for such an outcome. "And odds are you won't survive if you're locked up."

"No one is immortal or above the law." Speaking from the heart Markus made it clear that he wasn't going to hide in the shadows or try to deny that what had happened only happened because of his choice alone. "If I'm truly going to represent our people then I need to show everyone that I'm not infallible and that I too will be held accountable for any and all mistakes I make."

With a gentle motion North tightened her hand around Markus's hand and looked into his eyes as he turned to face her. Despite her silence North was able to ask Markus a question and knew he'd answer her honestly.

"I need to do this. I need to show the humans that deviants are in fact alive." Returning his gaze to Josh and Simon as they too needed to know how serious Markus was about his bid for mayor and for being a figurehead that exuded justice and equality. "And I need to show them that we are equals through and through; even if that means I must answer for my crime."

The room fell silent and incredibly heavy as the three other deviant leaders considered what their future may hold if Markus in fact became mayor or went to prison for his crime. Regardless of their personal beliefs or feelings change was coming to the city and they could either embrace it and stand alongside their leader, or cower from it and lurk in the shadows from afar.

"All right." Accepting his leader's word Josh decided to hold true to his own vouch for support and stand beside Markus from start to finish. "I'm with you."

In spite of his own hesitations Simon decided it'd be best to trust Markus and have faith that their futures wouldn't be as dark as they fear. "I'm with you, too."

There was nothing left for North to say as she told Markus the truth and confirmed that Connor was aware of the facts. Beyond a simple 'yes' or 'no' she couldn't do much more than show her support and trust in the deviant who led their people to a more prosperous future. "Okay. I'm behind you all the way."

"Thank you." Knowing he had the full support of his most trusted allies behind him Markus's mismatched eyes began to glow with a fiery determination to see his latest endeavor to a victorious end. It wouldn't be easy to become the new mayor but anything truly worth having never comes easy. "After the investigation around the bombings has been concluded I'll make my announcement and let the city know that deviants are ready to take on new challenges."

After giving a hasty but detailed explanation of their plan of action Lucas was able to pack a backpack with spare clothes and Thirium while simultaneously helping Hank to understand why he and Connor were making such a very strange and potentially dangerous drive down to Miami that very day. With Hank's approval both Connor and Lucas finished gathering what they needed for the road trip and waited for Abby to arrive before they left the house. Neither deviant wanted to leave Hank alone while he was concussed and decided that they since they knew Abby had a history as an E.M.S. before she became a technician that she'd be the best person to ask for assistance.

Shortly after Abby arrived to check on Hank, examine Connor's wounds and swear her loyalty to keep quiet about their rescue mission, Connor and Lucas walked outside to the rented vehicle that autonomously arrived at the front of the house as ordered. It felt like the brothers were doing something shady by slipping away from the city just as evening arrived, but deep down inside they knew that what they were going to do was absolutely crucial.

Having spent the evening, night and now early morning driving down to Florida from Michigan in near silence Lucas noticed that Connor had slipped into rest mode in the front passenger seat beside him. Grateful that his older brother was finally getting some sleep Lucas didn't dare to awaken the deviant as he pulled the car into the first gas station he countered just inside the state line to Tennessee.

Cybernetically letting Hank know where he and Connor currently were in their almost twenty-one hour journey and Lucas pulled the hood of his white hoodie up and over his hair to ensure his L.E.D. was concealed at all times as he roamed the unfamiliar area. Exiting the parked car next to the gas pump Lucas managed to discreetly pay for the gas via cybernetic transaction then top off the gas tank without anyone staring at him in the process.

The warmer weather was making it difficult to keep his hoodie on but Lucas didn't dare risk exposing himself or Connor as deviants outside of the state of Michigan. By the time the gas tank had been refilled Connor began to stress out in his sleep as a nightmare infiltrated his mind disturbing his previously peaceful rest.

"Brother?" Finishing up with the car Lucas replaced the gas cap, put the nozzle back on the pump and returned to the driver's side of the car to sit down and take care of Connor after seeing him twitching in his seat through the side window. Slamming his door shut Lucas grabbed onto Connor's left shoulder and gave him a gentle shake. "Connor, please wake up."

Jumping under Lucas's palm Connor stared wide-eyed at his little brother as he fought to keep himself from hyperventilating again. Glancing about the car for a moment Connor used his internal G.P.S. to gain his bearings as he pressed his right palm to his chest to rest over his thundering heart. "...I-I'm okay."

"You were asleep for three hours, eight minutes and forty-one seconds." Lucas recounted as he pulled back his hand and turned the key in the ignition. "You just began suffering from a nightmare six point three seconds ago."

"Thank you for waking me up." Lowering his hand Connor took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. As Lucas shifted the car back into drive Connor realized that Lucas had already driven almost half of the way to their destination and would undoubtedly need to get some sleep as well. "Let me drive the rest of the way. You can rest now."

"I'll be fine. We're just thirteen hours and nineteen minutes away from Miami."

"That's far too long for you to continue to drive. Let me take over."

"You're still recovering from severe physical trauma, I am functioning at one-hundred percent capacity." Resuming the drive down I-75 toward Florida just half a day away Lucas tried to help Connor calm down and rest for a while longer. "After we locate the missing android we can switch places."

The reply was logical and Connor couldn't find any way to argue against it. "I suppose that's fair."

"Can I ask about your nightmare?"

"No, please." Turning on the radio Connor began cycling through the unfamiliar radio stations to try to find a familiar song to listen to during the rest of the lengthy drive. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Very well." Respecting Connor's decision and privacy Lucas dropped the matter for the moment. "I've also informed Hank of our current location and let him know that we're still safe."

"That's good." Pressing the small buttons on the radio Connor managed to locate a station playing heady metal and settled on that particular channel until they drove too far and would need to find a new station in range. "How is he?"

"Recovering well. His headache has let up and he's been granted as much time off as he wants to ensure a proper recovery." Trying to lighten the mood Lucas offered another bit of information to hopefully appeal to Connor's interest. "Apparently Abby took Sumo out for a walk and she is quickly befriending him."

"I'm not surprised. Sumo is an excellent judge of character." Looking to Lucas beside him Connor offered his younger brother kind words to hear. "That's why he wanted to spend time with you when you were brought back home after deviating. He sensed your kind heart."

"I'd like to believe that I do in fact have a heart and not just a pump."

"You do. We all do." Returning his right palm over his chest Connor felt his own heart beating much slower than it had been post nightmare. "If we didn't have hearts we couldn't really be alive, correct?"

"That does seem logical." Resting his own left palm over his chest Lucas thought back to the night he tried to self destruct by tearing out his own heart and regretted it immensely. "Having a beating heart does seem to be key to life. If we have hearts then we are in fact alive."

The house was unusually quiet and empty as the senior detective stayed behind in Detroit while the two deviant brothers went on their rescue mission to Miami in hope of finding the missing android. Wandering about the house even as four in the morning settled over the East Coast with only the faintest light of the dawn creeping over the city, Hank sighed and glanced about the empty space with a sense of loneliness he hadn't felt for quite some time. Having Connor and now Lucas in his life had done wonders for his mental and emotional health, and now that they were off on a rescue mission hours away from him or any other form of help, Hank realized how much he had grown to care for the deviant brothers.

Trudging into the kitchen in total darkness Hank opened up the freezer and pulled out his trusty ice pack for the umpteenth time since he had been concussed. Holding the ice pack to back of his head over his gray locks of hair Hank tried to ease the swelling of the persistent bump that refused to vanish entirely. While his headache had mercifully been kept at bay by sleep and the ice, the throbbing ache from the wound to the back of his head refused to let up.

It didn't take long for Sumo to rouse from his sleep in the livingroom and curiously check out what his master was up to so early in the morning. With his nails clicking over the linoleum floor the massive Saint Bernard greeted Hank and stayed by his side as the weary senior detective sat down at the kitchen table for a moment.

"Good dog, Sumo."

Rubbing Sumo's ears with his left hand Hank acknowledged the loyal dog's presence with a whisper.

"I'm all right."

Pulling his phone from the right pocket of his sweatpants Hank checked over the text message sent from Lucas and hoped that he'd receive more updates on the rescue mission soon. He trusted the two deviants to succeed in their mission and returned home, but he didn't trust the literal millions of other humans they may encounter who might see two deviants as easy targets preying on them from the shadows.

"I'm sure Connor and Lucas are all right, too. I just hate that they went down there without me."

There was a soft 'click' as the front door unlocked as Abby made her arrival. Closing the door quietly behind herself Abby slipped off her shoes and crossed the livingroom silently only to notice Hank sitting at the kitchen table with Sumo at his right leg watching her every move. "Oh, hi."

"Hi, yourself."

"So much for my stealthy arrival." Joining Hank in the kitchen Abby noticed Hank holding the ice pack to the back of her head and knew he was still sore. "Then again, maybe it's a good thing I never forgot how to silently slip into a house at four in the morning."

"High school?"

"High school." Abby confirmed as she lifted up the ice pack to check on Hank's head. She she could see and feel a small bump but it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been when he was initially concussed going on three days ago. "Any word on Connor and Lucas?"

"They just hit Tennessee and are making good time."

"Good to know. I'll be sure to come back by around noon to check on you, get another update, and when they're on their way back here I'll bring by some supplies to help their rescued android recover in private."

"Not that we don't appreciate you doing all this, but I gotta' ask..."

"It's because I'm very curious about this missing android." Already knowing what she was going to be asked Abby answered the question with total honesty. "I sort of miss helping human patients, and with you being a coworker to a certain detective with a scar on his nose and an ass made of steel that I have my eye on, I was hoping you could tell me a little more about Gavin."

"First of all, kudos to you for being able to put up with his arrogant ass long enough to even show any interest in him whatsoever."

"Correction, I'm putting up with his arrogant ass made of steel..."

"I don't want to know that."

"Too late!" Teasing the older man Abby did her best to help the heavy atmosphere feel a touch lighter. "And you're a detective. You have to learn all kinds of interesting things about people to do your job properly, no matter how icky or cootie filled they might be!"

"Homicides and drug overdoses I can handle." Hank reminded the kind woman after she stopped fussing with his injury and let him return the ice pack to his aching bump. "Dealing with pricks like Gavin and dating, not so much."

"Is Gavin really that bad? He seems sweet albeit damaged."

"Damaged, yes. Sweet? No."

Sitting across from Hank at the small round table Abby gave Hank a curious glance as she tried to get to know Gavin a little better. "How so?"

"Well, he had a fucked up childhood, not my business to talk about to anyone." the wise detective reminded Abby without missing a beat. "And he hates androids."

"Really?" Giving Hank a defiant smirk Abby leaned back in her chair opposite the senior detective and treated such a remark as a challenge. "I bet I could get him to come around."

"I doubt it."

"Watch me."

"If you can make the biggest anti-android bigot in the entire city finally shut the fuck up and stop bitchin' about androids I'll personally buy you both dinner for a special date night."

"Don't tempt me to take you up on that offer." Holding to her word Abby all but dared Hank to test her. "I can spend all night at an 'All You Can Eat' taco bar."

Chuckling a little Hank leaned forward against the kitchen table and rested his right temple in his right palm to try to keep his head from aching again. "What do you want to know about Gavin?"

"The little things. Like, why's he so closed off and unwilling to really talk about himself?"

"Aside from his fucked up childhood he had an abusive ex-boyfriend that nearly killed him when they were both in high school. That'll probably do it."

"Oh. Wow. That's... That's not something I didn't expect him and I to have in common."

"Wanna' talk about it?"

"Nope." Replying quickly Abby decided that such a conversation would have to wait for another time, another day. "Well, since you're awake and I have a couple of hours before I have to begin my morning rounds, how about I make us both some breakfast and do the usual vital signs check on you before I head out?"

"Sounds fine to me, but on the condition I cook."

"Don't trust me to not burn down the kitchen?"

"No, I just want to do something nice for you since you're going out of your way to help me, Connor, Lucas and that third android we've never even met."

"It's my job to help people."

"Mine too."

"Okay, how about a compromise?"

"What's that?"

"I'll make some pancakes and you can make some scrambled eggs. We'll split the bacon while we're at it."

"All right, I can work with that." Standing up from the table slowly Hank sighed and glanced down at Sumo as the massive Saint Bernard gave Abby an adoring stare from where he sat between the two chairs. The large dog really did have a keen sense of judgment on other people. "We'll feed Sumo too so he doesn't beg all damn day."

"Absolutely. It's been too long since I had a dog to spoil with some home cooking."

The finale of the thirteen hour long drive remained uneventful save for the two deviants needing to find a way to keep cool while in the intense Floridian heat. Wisely stopping at another gas station to refuel just as they reached the city Connor pulled a first aid kit out of the rental car's glovebox and placed a bandage over his right temple to hide his L.E.D. from sight, and then purchased a few other crucial items from the station's convenience section inside the small, and thankfully, air conditioned building. Gathering up four portable ice packs, a special bottle of sunscreen that doubled as concealer to ensure their L.E.D.'s remained hidden at all times, and two pairs of sunglasses to help them both blend in easier as humans, Connor returned to the rental car just as Lucas finished filling up the car's tank.

Rejoining his brother inside the much cooler car Connor removed his black hoodie to sit in his black t-shirt and jeans, then secured one of the ice packs to his chest by using the bandages still protecting his damaged frame to his advantage. Offering Lucas an ice pack as well Connor discreetly removed the bandage from his right temple and applied a generous amount of the sunscreen and concealer over his L.E.D. to hide it from prying eyes.

"That was a good idea." Lucas complimented as he too removed his white hoodie and held the offered ice pack to his chest over his white t-shirt and Thirium pump. Applying the concealer to his own L.E.D. Lucas and Connor were now able to look as human as possible to the untrained eye. "The warehouse is four blocks from our current location and along a well guarded port."

"We'll explore the area today on foot." Slipping the sunglasses on over his eyes Connor waited for Lucas to do the same. "The more human we look," addressing the two pairs of sunglasses Connor explained his reasoning with perfect logic. "the less people will stare at us. We don't need sunglasses due to our enhanced ocular relay units being able to adapt to all lighting, but humans don't have such a luxury."

"Good point." Putting on the matching pair of sunglasses Lucas exactly like his brother and they both appeared entirely human. "I've located a beach near the port that's open to the public. We can park at the beach and scope out the area without drawing any unwanted attention our way."

"All right. I'll let Hank know we're in Miami and are going to be exploring the warehouse tonight after dark."

"Okay." Pulling the car out of the gas station parking lot and along the street Lucas noted a majority of the humans were either wearing shorts or just simple swimwear as opposed to t-shirts and jeans. The much warmer weather and their less than ideally suited clothing might make the deviant duo stand out amongst the crowds in the worst way possible. "It'll be much easier for us to maneuver in the cooler temperature and out of sight of other people when it's nighttime."

Eyeing the dark blue ocean through the front windshield as it came closer into view Connor felt a strange compulsion to suddenly go out and walk along the sandy shore of the beach and place his hand in the water. Never before had he experienced such a sense of longing to touch something new and unfamiliar. Looking down at his right palm Connor gently traced his thumb over his other smooth fingertips and remembered how he and Lucas were given the special enhancements to their software allowing them to truly feel everything they touched in the same way a human could.

Lifting his gaze Connor spotted several small shopping stands outlining the street across from the beach and honed in on several glass bottles for sale inside of a small tent. The compulsion to buy such a bottle and walk the beach was something he hadn't anticipated upon his and Lucas's arrival to Miami.

"Lucas, I need to purchase something before we go to the beach."

"What's that?"

"A little keepsake to help make this trip to Florida seem less dour."

"Very well." Finding an open parking space along the beach Lucas pulled the car into the vacant spot and shifted it into park before turning off the engine. "I don't see why we can't do that. It'd be nice to have a positive memory behind our trip to Miami beyond a search and rescue mission."

The warm day at the beach was met with no interruptions or any confrontations by the locals who might've suspected that the two deviants weren't the atypical tourists that they'd normally encounter. Having walked the sandy shores of the beach in their bare feet and explored the shallow end of the ocean to experience the sensation of warm sand underfoot and natural sea salt clinging to their artificial skin, the two deviants felt more at ease with the world.

It was only after feeling the warm rays of the sun glowing over them from noon to until sunset that the deviant brothers were ready to set about their mission and complete it. Using the dark of the night and the less busy streets to their advantage the brothers located the warehouse just two blocks from the beach and began their unseen and unheard approach on the hidden location.

Remaining as silent as they were quick Connor and Lucas scaled the chainlink fence outlining the property and crept in the shadows on foot. Scanning the immediate area the two deviants were able to pick up on every trace of evaported Thirium staining the ground where cargo containers and shipping crates had once sat alongside the port outside of the mysterious warehouse. The very warehouse that matched the coordinates from the stolen U.S.B. drive that had been locked away in another CyberLife warehouse back in Detroit.

Unable to detect any human vital signs in the area the two deviants knew their opportunity to explore the area undetected was at that very moment, and they couldn't afford to waste a precious second of it. Cybernetically the duo were able to locate and disable every single security camera that was still activated in the area and keep their presences completely undetected.

"There are traces of Thirium staining the port and evidence old cargo containers that held stolen biocomponents from multiple deviants had once been stored here for an extended period of time." Connor noted what his scanners had detected as he and Lucas crept closer to the warehouse sitting idle on the port. "There is no reason for such traces to have been found in the area."

"Not a legal reason, to be exact." Looking up at the massive two story warehouse Lucas ran another scan and estimated the interior's square foot of size. "Due to the size of the warehouse it's plausible that over six-thousand biocomponents can be stored properly without anyone noticing the illegally obtained items."

"Black marketeering at its lowest."

Reaching the electronic panel of the doorway leading to the interior of the warehouse while staying in the shadows Connor retracted the artificial skin from his left palm and pressed it to the panel to hack through the lock. It was easy enough to override and open the door, and with that unexpected easiness Connor felt suddenly nauseated.

"Connor?" Lucas sensed his older brother's discomfort as the two stood before the now opened doorway shoulder to shoulder. "What's wrong?"

"...The door was overridden with CyberLife's master code." Staring down at his left palm as the artificial skin regenerated Connor sighed as he and Lucas entered the dark warehouse together. "CyberLife had been illegally operating in Miami after all."

"We'll collect what evidence we can and have it added to the numerous cases already filed against CyberLife once we return to Detroit."

"That'll be the first thing we do to CyberLife to ensure they receive the maximum punishment. Anything else we discover to be used against them will just be a bonus."

Stepping deeper into the dimly lit warehouse Connor and Lucas remained in the darkness as they used their superior android vision to guide their way. The risk of turning on the lights and catching the eye of a nosy passerby was too great to take. Tracing the drops of long evaporated Thirium over the concrete floor of the warehouse the two deviants trailed the source to a large wall that held exactly four-thousand and sixty-three separate metal cases containing the stolen biocomponents and spare blue blood that had been previously stored outside in cargo containers.

"There are enough android parts here to confirm that this operation has been active for at least five years." Connor noted in a disturbed tone as he and Lucas continued to examine the area together. "Long before the Revolution."

"CyberLife must've been planning on expanding their warehouses and production plants beyond Detroit, but something stopped the plan from coming to fruition. I'm glad they failed."

Exploring the depths of the warehouse even further Connor and Lucas chronicled every detail, every illegally obtained piece of android spare parts, every bottle and pouch of now expired Thirium, and the thousands of boxes that held the remains of murdered deviants from over the past five years. The abundance of parts that came from android models both old and new confirmed that the hidden warehouse had been in operation up until the past November.

"This isn't a warehouse." Lamenting what he was seeing and feeling Connor didn't even try to deny what he and Lucas had uncovered. "This is a morgue."

Locating an isolated room at the rear of the warehouse Lucas found a second electronic panel and hacked the lock just as easily as Connor had hacked the first. The second door slid open and an overhead light automatically illuminated the room in a pale bluish white glow upon being opened. Peering about the room Lucas located a single plexiglass case mounted on the far wall and approached it warily.

Peering through the thick transparent wall Lucas's green eyes widened with shock as his scanner confirmed that what, and who, he was seeing was in fact really there. "Connor, look at this."

Joining his younger brother inside the second room Connor looked inside the transparent surface of the case and felt his heart skip a beat and he stumbled backward two steps in absolute shock. "...It's true then."

Taking in the image of the table where an android was secured in place; leather straps were tightened over its ankles, wrists, upper chest, the middle of its torso and over its forehead, the deviant brothers contemplated their next move carefully. The android's L.E.D. was pulsing a very weak and faint red in its right temple and a long emptied Thirium line was running into its mouth, down its throat to its artificial stomach. The android was in deep emergency stasis mode and being fed a minimal amount of power through a large charge cable connected to the port in the back of its neck.

The android was weak but it was still active.

Whispering as he returned to where he had been standing Connor stared at the android with a disturbed gaze through the case wall. "He really does exists."

"And he needs our help." Speaking up in an unexpectedly bold voice Lucas set about finding a way to open up the case and free the android trapped within just as he and Connor had planned. "I'll open the case and carry him out of here over my shoulders."

"That's be difficult to do once we reach the fence lining the property."

"You're right. We'll find a way to handle that when the time comes."

Managing to open the case with an audible 'hiss' of compressed air Lucas and Connor entered the case and stared at the entirely blank face of the android they had come to rescue as they laid over the table. Without its skin and wearing only the black CyberLife issued boxers that every android originally wore upon design completion, the nameless and forgotten android looked like it was meant to be used only as a demonstration model and nothing more.

"I'll remove the cable and the Thirium line." Lucas volunteered as he stepped behind the table. The cable's removal wouldn't cause any harm and would allow the android to finally awaken from rest mode after being dormant for numerous years. "And once he's in the car we'll give him fresh Thirium."

Standing beside the table Connor felt like he was looking into a mirror reflecting his worst nightmares and fears as a deviant. The still body, blank face and lack of life was a cruel reminder of how he looked internally at all times. Needing to know for certain that the android was okay Connor bent down and pressed his ear to the android's motionless chest. It was then he heard it.

A heartbeat.

"He's still alive." Swiftly removing the straps from over the android's body Connor worked alongside with Lucas to free the android at long last. Pressing his left fingertips to the android's dimly glowing red L.E.D. Connor manually reactivated the android's artificial skin to cover his white and dark gray plastimetal frame. "He deserves to be seen as the living being that he is, not a demonstration for business."

Leaning over the android Lucas watched as the artificial skin swept over their body like a tide and gave them humanoid features that were identical to his and Connor's own aesthetic. The fair complexion dotted with freckles, the thick tuft of brunette hair over the crown of the android's head and the complacent expression confirmed that the android they were looking at was someone that CyberLife tried to pretend never existed even after he and Connor were created.

"This is him." Connor confirmed as he looked up at Lucas standing on the opposite side of the table. "This android is in fact the first 'RK-800' model that CyberLife had ever created. Serial number: 313 248 317... 01."

"...He was the first of our model. He is the original and true 'Connor'." It was a shock to see the absolute beginning of his life in the form of the unconscious android laying before him. Lucas felt an odd sense of identity crisis as he looked at the android who allowed Connor and himself to even exist. "He's the absolute truest prototype model, perhaps even a functioning beta model."

"And we need to get him back home."

"You're right." Snapping out of his mental fog Lucas nodded pulled on the android's limp right arm to support his weight for a moment. The android never reacted as he lifted up from his position laying over the table and placed in a sitting position. "Help me get him up."

Working together with his little brother Connor managed to help place the android's body over Lucas's shoulders in a fireman's carry. "We'll get him dressed in the car and head for home tonight. We have no reason to stay here."

It was nearly midnight and Hank was still watching television when he received another update from Connor and Lucas as the two deviants began their return to Detroit with the rescued android in tow. Grateful that the duo were on their way back to the city Hank decided to make sure there was plenty of room to have not two, but three androids under his roof, until Connor and Lucas knew what to do with the rescued android. The guest room had both of the inflatable mattresses ready to be used and were dressed with clean sheets and blankets. Additional Thirium was placed on the floor next to the mattresses and the refilled android first aid kit was setting on the ground beside it.

Letting Abby know that the two deviants would be back home late the next night, or evening if they felt like speeding, Hank went about his own business to the best of his ability without stressing himself out. Not being able to help the two deviants and being bombarded with news story after news story revolving around the bombings at Hart Plaza was enough to ruin Hank's attempts to get any sleep that night.

Retreating to the livingroom for the night Hank turned on the television and began checking through movies to watch to hopefully numb his mind. The moment he sat down in the middle of the couch Hank felt Sumo's paw resting on his right knee as the large dog sought some more attention from his master.

"Ah, Sumo... Didn't you get enough love when Abby gave you some bacon this morning and took you on a walk this afternoon?"

Sumo grumbled once and tilted his head to the side as if confused by the comment.

"Spoiled mutt."

Grumbling again Sumo rested his chin down on Hank's knee and gave him the massive puppy-dog eyes in response.

"All right. Fine."

Patting the cushions of the couch to his right Hank let Sumo hop up and cuddle over his lap for a while. He he wasn't strong enough to withstand the 'look' when it came to dogs.

"The moment Connor and Lucas are back here they're going to both pamper you for a while so you'll leave me the hell alone!"

After leaving the state of Florida and resuming their Northbound trajectory for home the two deviant brothers made sure that their rescued counterpart was stable and resting well in the backseat of the rental car. With Connor now driving Lucas was sitting in the backseat with the android's head propped up on his lap and under his white hoodie to act as a soft pillow. The rescued 'RK' model was still in stasis mode and completely unaware that he had been rescued. With his Thirium volume replenished and now wearing a pair of jeans and a gray hoodie to keep him covered, the unconscious android showed no sign of regaining any sense of awareness.

Ever attentive Lucas checked the android's status with a cybernetic link to the android's red tinted L.E.D. glowing in a dull hue in his right temple. In doing so Lucas's green eyes opened up wide and he turned to look at Connor in the driver's seat with a hurt expression on his face.

Sensing Lucas's eyes watching him Connor glanced up at his little brother's reflection in the rearview mirror. "What's wrong, Lucas?"

"This model has no programming at all. It's completely blank, a test model ensure the biocomponents and basic software functions properly." Looking down at the android's face Lucas shook his head despondently. "It's like he's a hollow shell and was intentionally left without a purpose."

"We can give him programming. We can give him a purpose."

"Then what? Let him live in one of the android shelters, move in with us, maybe even live with Hank?"

"Those are all viable options, but..."

"But what?" Readjusting his position in the backseat Lucas made sure the third android was as comfortable as possible as they sat in the back of the car. "Don't hold back."

"Maybe we should send him away from Detroit so he can live a life of his own." Connor's soulful brown eyes were filled with empathetic pain for the wayward android they had rescued. "Maybe he shouldn't know about CyberLife, the Revolution, or even us for that matter. He should have the chance to live a life without any restrictions that can come from being... well... our brother. He needs to be his own person free of our reputations and a strange history."

"I think you're right." Ending the cybernetic link Lucas sighed and focused on Connor entirely. "We can give him a new purpose and a new place to live, but what should his programming be?"

"We seem to have a natural predilection in helping people and we find the work satisfying." Reaching for his wallet in back pocket Connor opened it up and to peer at his returned precinct shield and felt a sense of pride wash over him. "So why not give him the same type of position?"

"Another detective?"

"Or a technician, a firefighter, a paramedic, a doctor... There are many possibilities."

"A paramedic." That particular career sounded right to Lucas. "It makes sense to be honest." He glanced down at the android's face again and smirked. "A person who can aid people in need without any dark memories of being abused to affect his judgment. It's ideal."

"I agree. His memory was completely wiped, yes?"

"Yes. There is no sign of a life beyond basic testing at the hands of CyberLife technicians merely checking his software and biocomponents."

"Then we'll help him create new memories and a personality all on his own beyond Detroit. If we can just figure out his name we'll have everything taken care of for him without being too involved in his life."

"You were called 'Connor' because of the human who inspired our design." Noting the origins of their own names Lucas thought about a potentially befitting name for the rescued android. "And you gave me the name 'Lucas' because of our human counterpart's imaginary childhood friend and to reflect 'Project Light'. We should give him a name that reflects his own being."

"Hard to do when he has no memories or personality." Taking the correct exit on the interstate Connor continued to seamlessly drive along the with issue and head back to Detroit at a steady pace. "Perhaps we should name him something that resonates with being rescued, or being the first of our kind."

"Or the fact that he survived all on his own despite being alone, forgotten and nearly erased from existence." Cybernetically Lucas began checking through a database of names and their meanings, and honed in on one in particular. "How about... 'Ethan'?"

"Ethan?" Checking through the same database Connor discovered what the name meant and why Lucas chose it. It was a very appropriate name and Connor agreed with the choice. "He is arguably strong, just as the name suggests."

"It fits him, doesn't it? He seems like 'Ethan' to me."

Connor's soulful brown eyes trailed up to the rearview mirror again and smirked at the newly discovered android's blank face. "You're right, Lucas. He's Ethan. Our big brother."

"Another brother.." The concept seemed impossible to fathom. "One we'll never get to know."

"I wouldn't say 'never', but it'd be for the best to send him elsewhere to develop on his own without our influence or history behind him."

"And where will that take Ethan?"

"It'll take him to the other 'RK' models that CyberLife abandoned." Sending out a cybernetic message for help Connor hoped the message wouldn't be lost or in vain, and continued the drive back home to Detroit. "Zhorra and the others will take care of him."

-next chapter-