Chapter 7. Family

November 12th, 2038 - 6:13 AM

Connor walked eastward along the bridge downtown toward the Chicken Feed burger stand Hank frequented. It had been abandoned by its owner, per the city's evacuation mandate, so it surprised the android when Hank asked to meet him there.

They'd won. The androids were free. Connor had successfully raided CyberLife's warehouses overnight, and, along with Markus' last attempt at forging peace, the President finally acknowledged their lives. But there was still a long way to go.

Androids who had committed crimes against humans were still culpable, and CyberLife had a warrant out for Connor's arrest after murdering two guards the previous night.

He spotted Hank and approached warily. Connor wasn't sure whether or not he'd be arrested or scolded by his friend.

Hank offered him a smile, and Connor did the same. Then to the android's immense surprise, the lieutenant pulled him into a hug.

"Does this mean you won't be arresting me?"

"Don't push your luck," Hank laughed.

He studied the detective's face and noted darker circles beneath his eyes than normal.

"You didn't go to sleep last night, did you?"

"And miss the androids kicking ass? Hell no." Then he frowned. "Well, and the DPD pulled me back in and said some BS about me being 'essential personnel."

Connor's grin widened. "I'm relieved that our desperation to solve the case didn't result in you permanently losing your position."

"Yeah, yeah," Hank waved it off. "Now let's get out of here. I had to wait out here for five whole minutes before you showed up. I'm freezing my balls off."

He didn't understand the euphemism and frowned.

"NEVERMIND," Hank rolled his eyes. "Let's just get the hell out of here."

They walked a few blocks north to the lieutenant's home, but Connor paused at the edge of the sidewalk.

"There's an unidentified being at the foot of your doorstep."

Hank pulled out his gun, and the pair approached the unmoving lump. Connor crouched beside the being. It was a human girl. The face was partially obscured, but it was enough for Connor to analyze.

"Does the name Simone McKennitt mean anything to you?"

"Oh hell," Hank's face fell, and that was all the confirmation Connor needed.

"She's entering stage three hypothermia and is severely dehydrated."

Hank swore loudly. "Come on, help me get her inside."

"Let me, Lieutenant. If we're not careful, she could experience cardiac arrhythmia while being moved."

Hank swore again. "Do what you gotta do, but do it quick." He threw open the door and rushed to grab some blankets.

As delicately as he could manage, Connor lifted the girl into his arms. He wondered at the lieutenant's reaction. He had no immediate family and very few friends, but he clearly cared about the girl in his arms.

"Put her in the bedroom at the end of the hall," He shouted.

Connor obliged. The room was smaller than Hank's with a double bed and a few loose boxes. He realized it must have been Cole's room before he had passed away.

He placed her carefully on the blankets. Then he frowned. "This won't get her warm fast enough."

Hank walked in with a pile of blankets. "What do we do now? Take her shoes off? Call a hospital?"

"I have an idea, Lieutenant." Connor interrupted his friend's frantic train of thought. "I can adjust my temperature sensitivity controls for a short period of time. It will warm her body more effectively than anything you currently have in the house."

"Well, what are you waiting for! Get a move on!" Hank yelled.

"Remove her shoes. I'll take care of the rest."

Hank unlaced her boots carefully while Connor removed his own shoes and his coat. Then he climbed into the bed behind the girl and began projecting heat toward her.

"Place the blankets over us as tightly as you can manage."

"What the hell…" Hank muttered with worry.

The girl began to shiver as she absorbed Connor's heat, and the android heaved a sigh of relief. "She's reverted back to stage two hypothermia. She'll be all right, lieutenant."

"Thank God." He took a seat on a bench at the foot of the bed, and his head fell into his hands.

"I've done my best to ensure that her external limbs are receiving the most warmth," he further reassured his friend. "If we're lucky, she'll make a full recovery without losing any extremities."

"I don't understand," Hank peered at the girl. "What is she even doing here?"

Connor paused. "May I ask you a personal question, Lieutenant?"

Hank pursed his lips. "Never stopped you before…"

"If you don't mind me asking, who is this girl? Why is she so important to you?"

He exhaled wistfully. "She was my ex-wife's niece. Bright kid, great taste in music." Hank smiled to himself for a moment. "Even after the divorce she came to visit Cole on his birthdays. Always brought him presents. He loved her." Then he swallowed. "The last time I saw her was at his funeral."

"I'm sorry if my question brought up any unpleasant memories."

Hank didn't seem to hear his apology. "Why do you think she would come here?" he asked distantly. "In the middle of an android revolution of all things."

The girl twitched amidst her shivering, and Connor tilted his head to get a better look. "I think she can hear us, Hank. Try speaking to her."

Hank moved around to the side of the bed and knelt by her side. "Simone? Simone, it's… it's Hank." He hesitated for a moment. "...Uncle Hank. Listen, you'd better make it out of this, or I'm gonna give you hell, kid."

"...hnnn…"

"It's working!" Connor exclaimed. "Keep talking."

Hank nodded. "Sumo's still around. You remember Sumo?"

Simone's breathing increased, and her lips parted.

"You're all right, Simone." Connor whispered in her ear, and she leaned back into his neck. "I've got you."

He felt her hand relax into his palm, and he smiled.

"Her internal temperature is above ninety-degrees. She should be all right within a few hours."

Hank heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Connor."

"Perhaps someone close to Simone could give us a clue as to why she came here."

The lieutenant furrowed his brows the way he usually did when he was deep in thought. "What if her coming here had something to do with the androids?"

"Maybe she had an android," Connor surmised.

"Is there some kind of database you could access? Maybe she had one registered to her."

The android closed his eyes, accessing CyberLife's registry database. Then he opened his eyes in shock. "Simone had four androids - all marked as missing or terminated within the past three days."

Hank swore, despair growing on his face.

Connor propped himself up and studied Simone's face. "The remnant of dried tears run all the way down to her chin, and there's dried thirium on her forehead." Then he looked up at his former partner. "Whatever happened, it caused her a great deal of distress."

Simone exhaled a shuddered breath. "Willow…"

The android's eyes widened. "Willow was the assigned name of the AX400 registered to her. It was terminated last night just outside of Detroit."

"They were trying to run." Hank shook his head sadly. "Simone had a heart of gold. She'd have seen life in her androids even before the androids did."

"No…" Simone whispered painfully.

"Simone," Hank leaned in closer. "Simone, are you all right?"

"N-not enough," she slurred in a whisper. "It wasn't… enough."

"You did everything you could." Hank reassured.

"Hank, do you think you could recover any of the androids? If found, some of them may be able to be reactivated."

The lieutenant rose from the ground with renewed purpose. "I'll head to the station and see what I can do. Send me the last reported locations of each one."

Connor closed his eyes for five seconds. "Done."

Grabbing his coat, Hank turned to the android. "Take care of her."

He nodded. "I'll do everything in my power to ensure her physical and emotional well-being."

–

12:57 PM

Simone opened her eyes, feeling stiff but warm. She also felt a man's arm around her and vaguely remembered where she was.

"Hank?" she called out feebly.

"Your uncle is at the station," said a smooth baritone from behind. "He asked that I look after you until he comes back."

"This is looking after me?" she puzzled, trying to turn her body and face the man, but it hurt to rotate her body.

"Easy," he murmured gently. "We found you on the porch with a severe case of hypothermia, so it's probably best if you don't make any sudden movements."

She remembered climbing out of the taxi, still handcuffed. She was able to break the chain of the cuffs, but soon after Simone was too cold and too exhausted to do anything else. She'd curled up on the mat, hoping Hank would get home soon.

Simone sat up slowly and appraised the man. He was an android, possibly deviant, though he still had his LED. There was something pleasant about him. Of course all androids were made to look pleasant, but something in his eyes was intriguing and inviting.

He removed himself from the blankets and studied her face. "Do you need anything?"

She thought for a moment. "Is Hank still a cop?"

"Yes," he answered, somewhat bemused.

"Good," she lifted her hands, dislodging the broken handcuffs from beneath the sleeves of her coat. "I'm going to need some help getting these off."

The android's eyes widened. "You're full of surprises, Miss McKennitt."

She almost smiled - an echo of happiness where everything else had died. "What's your name?"

"My name is Connor," he nodded his head politely. "I was the android sent by CyberLife to work with your Uncle and the Detroit Police Department in hunting and capturing hostile deviants, until…" he didn't finish, choosing instead to stare at the ground, nervously rubbing his fingers together.

"Until you became a deviant too?" she guessed.

"Yes." He nodded. Then he looked at her strangely. "Are you certain you don't need anything? Your vitals are showing signs of dehydration and hunger."

"I'll have some water." Hours ago she hadn't cared whether she lived or died, but she had to press on. She promised Willow she would.

"I can also help you remove your handcuffs, if you like."

She couldn't help the upturn of her lips as she stared back at the android. "I'd like that."

–

4:28 PM

Hank pulled out of the Bellevue Police Station, pissed as hell. He'd seen the offending officer's body cam footage of the interaction with Simone and her android the night before, and it made him sick. At least they had the decency to find the android's body and release it to him, but only after a shouting match where the Lieutenant threatened to sue everyone in the department.

He glanced at the lifeless body of the AX400 in his back seat and shook his head. They hadn't done a damn thing wrong, but they were murdered for being different. He wished he hadn't been so stubborn, that he hadn't blamed Cole's death on androids for so long.

But he couldn't dwell on the past. Hank picked up his phone, dialing the next number on his list.

"Kalamazoo PD, how may I direct your call?"

"Yeah, this is Lieutenant Hank Anderson. I called earlier."

"Oh." Shuffling papers sounded on the other end of the line. "Yes, one moment."

Hank scowled at the hold music. He hated having to deal with all the bureaucratic BS that came with working with other departments, but he'd play nice for as long as he could. Finally someone picked up on the other end.

"Lieutenant Anderson?"

"Did you find 'em?"

"Unfortunately, no. The AP700, PL600, and VB800 in question are still missing."

Hank swore. "Listen, you gotta give me something. Anything." The two officers on scene had conveniently left their body cams off. Assholes, the lot of 'em.

"The only other information we have aside from the testimony of the two officers is the phone number of the person who called in the disturbance."

"Send it to me," Hank growled. Whoever had made that phone call had set all of this in motion.

"Sending now. The number was registered to Lilith McKennitt–"

Hank swore to himself. Simone's own mother. "That bitch," he muttered darkly after he was off the phone. Only a piece of work like her could have done something like this to their own daughter.

Turning back toward Detroit, Hank sped across the interstate. At the very least he could bring Willow back to his niece.

Driving into the heart of the city, Hank exited the vehicle carrying Willow in his arms. He wasn't sure of the exact location of their new Jericho, but based on city camera footage, he knew he was close.

"MARKUS!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. "I know you're in there."

Nothing happened for three full minutes. Then a tall android with dark skin and soft eyes emerged. "Markus is taking care of our people. My name is Josh. What do you want?"

Hank stood up straighter and stepped toward him as he held onto the android in his arms. "I need help. This android - I need to know if there's a way to bring her back."

The tall android folded his arms. "Why would you need to reactivate an android? Weren't you the police officer in charge of hunting deviants?"

"Listen, I know I was on the wrong side. I'm doing my best to make up for it now." Hank stared at him in earnestness. "My niece almost died trying to save this android. I'm not a man who says this often, but I'm begging you. Help her. Please."

Josh said nothing for several seconds. Then he slowly nodded. "Give me the girl. I'll see what I can do."

"I'll wait." Hank handed Willow to the other android and climbed back into his car. Hopefully it wouldn't be too long.

–

Josh carried the broken android past a maze of tunnels and doors until he reached the heart of their new hideout.

North greeted him indifferently. "What did the lieutenant want?"

"He asked if we could save this android."

"He's one of them. He can't be trusted," she scoffed.

Josh shook his head. "He sounded sincere. I don't think he had any ill intentions."

North threw her hands out. "You always believe the best of everyone. Sometimes people are just bad, Josh."

Markus approached calmly. "I agree with Josh. If we don't try to make peace, then what's the point of all this?"

Josh nodded. "I'm not saying we hand this android back over like property. But he said his niece almost died trying to save her. Let's try to reactivate her, and then we let her choose."

"All right," Markus agreed.

He carried her to their supply of blue blood and spare parts, replacing a component on her face, and another in her chest. He soldered the worst of her wounds, made sure everything was connected, and then initiated her reactivation.

"It's up to her now." Markus watched carefully as her eyes flickered open.

The AX400 cringed backward. "Simone!" She looked around at the trio with confusion. "Where am I? Where's Simone?"

"You're safe now," Josh smiled gently. Then he pointed to their leader. "This is Markus and North. My name is Josh."

"Markus? The deviant leader?" She slowly climbed up from the ground. "Where's Simone?"

Josh furrowed his brows. "A man brought you in. A police officer. He said his niece risked her life trying to save you."

The android frowned for a few seconds. "Was his name Anderson?"

"Lieutenant Hank Anderson of the Detroit Police Department," Markus crouched beside her. "If you don't want to go with him, you can stay with us. What's your name?"

"Willow."

North piped in from a few feet away. "Don't feel obligated to stay with someone who owned you. You can be your own person now. You can go by whatever name you want."

"I named myself. Simone didn't own any of us." The android wore a defiant expression. "She looked for the androids no one else wanted - the ones others called defective. She helped us become deviant. She helped us find our own path."

Markus' eyes widened. "She sounds like a rare human indeed."

"I have to find her and make sure she's all right."

North peered at her strangely. "Let's get you cleaned up then."

–

8:03 PM

Connor stood in front of the stove stirring a pot of canned soup. The lieutenant owned little else in terms of sustenance. Hopefully it would be enough to help his niece feel better. Where was the lieutenant anyway? He'd been away for twelve hours and forty-two minutes, and Connor was beginning to experience moderate levels of apprehension for his friend.

Simone had recovered swiftly and had been in the shower for the past twenty-seven minutes. He heard the water shut off, and he carefully brought the soup and a glass of water to the table in front of Hank's sofa.

When she walked into the living room a few minutes later, Connor observed the changes in her face now that it was free of debris, dirt, and thirium. She was quite pretty, more so than the Chloe androids, at least subjectively. She had dark hair and green eyes that seemed to magnetize him for a moment.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I feel fine," she spoke softly, making her way to the couch, but there was no smile. No happiness.

"You should eat." He scooted the bowl toward her. "There wasn't much, but you should be able to digest this chicken soup without too much difficulty."

"Thank you."

She ate in silence for a few minutes, and Connor wondered about the trauma she had been through, losing all of her companions in so short a span of time. He didn't think she would appreciate a personal question at the moment however, so the android kept it to himself.

The doorknob to the front door jiggled, and Connor stood up instantly.

"It's… probably Hank," he held out a hand to pacify Simone, but he slipped a hand toward his gun in case he was wrong.

Hank walked in, and Connor exhaled in relief as the lieutenant crossed the room toward Simone.

"Simone," he greeted his niece warily.

"Hank!" She beamed at her uncle, placing the bowl on the table and rising to give him a hug.

"You looked like you were on death's door. Look at you now," the lieutenant grinned. "So Connor took good care of you, huh?"

Simone nodded. "He was very attentive."

"Well, good." Hank patted Connor on the back and turned back to his niece. "Now why don't you come out here for a sec. I found something that you might wanna see."

Simone turned around and let out a cry. Standing at the doorway stood an AX400 with black hair, silvery blue eyes, and a long white scar down the side of her left cheek.

"Willow…" Simone nearly stumbled as raced into her friend's arms. "You're alive."

The android closed her eyes, inhaling as she held onto Simone. "Your uncle brought me to Markus. They brought me back."

Simone dry-sobbed and threw her arms around her uncle. "Thank you, Hank. Thank you so much."

"It was nothing, kid." He patted her back in a fatherly way.

They all came inside, and with Willow's help, Simone told them the sad tale of their attempted escape and the loss of their friends. There was still pain in her voice, but Willow's presence had brought life back to Simone. Their connection couldn't have been measured by any diagnostic. It was clear that the two were family.

"Those are some interesting names for androids." Hank mused. "How'd you pick 'em?"

"She didn't," Willow smiled politely. "She taught us to play each of the instruments in her studio, and then we chose our own names."

"Well those aren't exactly instruments," he argued.

Connor analyzed each name and cross referenced it with a database of instruments. "They are, Lieutenant. In a way. If I had to guess, I would say that Mara preferred maracas, Harper - the harp, and Tam - the tambourine."

"Yes." Simone beamed at him. "And Willow chose the willow flute."

"Huh," Hank nodded in appreciation.

"What instrument would you have chosen, Simone?" Connor gazed at her curiously.

To his surprise she blushed and looked down. "I'm not sure. They all speak to me in different ways."

Not wanting to pressure the girl further, Connor turned his attention to Hank. "Were you able to find any of the others?"

"No," Hank shook his head, "But I did find out who reported the androids in the first place."

Willow and Simone instantly fell silent. Across the room Sumo's breathing could be heard as he slept on the kitchen floor.

"Simone," Hank started. "You're not gonna like it."

Her hands shook as she took in her uncle's words. "My mother did it," she said in a cold whisper, "didn't she…"

"I'm sorry, kid."

"I–" Simone rose from the couch. "–I need a minute."

She walked into the spare bedroom, and Connor heard the door click into the frame.

Hank grimaced as anguished shrieking echoed down the hall. "Just give her a few minutes."

It pained Connor to hear the girl's despair. "How could a mother do that to their child?"

"Simone's mother has always been an interesting woman. We were even friends before I started seeing her sister." Hank stared out the window. "Over the years she became more twisted and possessive. My wife and I got in fights about it, and then one day, she left - every bit as messed up and warped as her sister."

"I'm sorry," Connor said, reflecting on the dysfunctional nature of the family.

Simone returned a few minutes later, quietly resuming her seat on the couch.

"I know you feel betrayed," Connor offered after a minute of awkward silence, "but we need to consider logistics." When Simone said nothing, he continued. "It would be impractical for Hank to take all three of us in. It makes more sense for Willow and I to go to Jericho and work with Markus, helping other androids. You and Willow can visit with each other, and Hank and I can covertly try to recover the remainder of your friends."

It was Willow who answered first. "I think it's a good idea."

Simone's head shot up as she processed her friend's words. "How often could you visit?"

"As of right now, she could likely visit daily." Connor carefully assessed the evacuations and government plans for the androids. "I would offer to escort her, but–"

"–But Connor took out a few CyberLife guards, and they're pissed," Hank finished.

"Took out?" Willow's mouth fell open. "You–"

"Aah, don't look at him like that," Hank cut in. "I don't know what it was like outside of Detroit, but here it was kill or be killed. It was a damn warzone."

She closed her mouth and stared at the coffee table. "I'll go to Jericho."

"We should leave tonight," Connor rose from his seat.

Hank also stood up, casting his eyes toward the girls. "We'll - uh - give you two a few minutes."

Connor began to leave the room when Simone grabbed his hand.

"Connor–" Her eyes burned into his, and he couldn't look away. "Look after her… when you can. Please."

"I'll ensure she's in good hands." He reluctantly released Simone's hand and joined Hank in the kitchen.

–

Thank you for your review, Neil! Your passionate take on the previous chapter made my day. Thanks for everyone's feedback, and thanks for reading!