1. Belongs: The univers and characters of Detroit Become Human belong to Quantic Dreams and David Cage.
2. Rating: "T" in general, but might be "M" for cursed words, graphics contents such as violence, injuries or sexual scenes.
3. Other: Hi everyone ! So this is my first DBH fanfic ! This one already exist in french (La Mécanique du Coeur) that you also can find on my FF account. So that's the first time too that I translate my fictions so I'm very sorry for my poor english, and don't hesitate to tell me if something sound wrong xD I hope you'll enjoy it anyway !
CHAPTER 1
"Doppelganger"
It was a bad joke. A big bad joke. Gavin had been working solo for years, he had always done very well, and now they were sticking a teammate to him? They really didn't care about him. Gavin sighed loudly, sitting on the chair in Captain Fowler's office, arms crossed over his chest.
"I'm sorry Gavin, but this is an order from the Board of Directors. I didn't choose to assign someone to you," said Fowler annoyed by the detective's disapproving behavior.
"You know I hate working with novices! They are useless! They slow me down and get on my nerves! So no, I don't work with anybody !"
"Very good," said Fowler, slapping his hands on his desk as he stood up. "Give me your badge and your gun."
Gavin opened his eyes and juggled his gaze between Fowler's furious eyes and his hand stretched toward him. Wasn't he serious? The detective laughed nervously, but Fowler raised his voice.
"Do I seem to be joking?"
The captain was starting to get impatient. He had other plans for his day, and dealing with Gavin wasn't funny at all. He was fine if he avoided any kind of interaction with the detective, but he was his boss and had no choice. Even if they didn't get along, they had to live with it. Gavin may have been stubborn, but he was nevertheless a very good element at the precinct. This rounds the angles a little too sharp for Fowler's taste.
"Okay!" Reed said, falling backwards on the back of his chair nonchalantly. "Who am I going to have to get upset with? Please, not a rookie from the police academy, I clearly don't have the patience to support a noob in the field. "
"No," Fowler said more calmly as he sat back down. "He comes from Cyberlife. "
Gavin looked at him for a moment, probing him with the look as if he was trying to read his captain's thoughts but he ended up laughing. Fowler sighed long, losing patience, and wait a few seconds before the detective could catch his breath. This last one started to have tears in the eyes so this discussion became more and more laughable.
"Ok, I really thought you were serious and that another android with a fucking plastic ass would come here to play detective like that asshole of Connor. "
"Except that I couldn't be more serious, Gavin. Cyberlife is sending us a new detective android, like Connor, to help us increase our workforce, which has declined since the Revolution. "
"I can't believe it, fuck ..."
"Many police officers lost their lives, wanted to resign, or preferred to be transferred elsewhere to avoid being confronted with the reality, that androids are now free and equal to humans. "
"So why would Cyberlife still send androids if they are supposedly free eh?" And why do they still exist ? "
"It's complicated. During the Revolution, many androids that were not yet marketed or even only in the testing phase became deviants. Cyberlife had no right to destroy them because it's a crime against cybernetic life. Deviants are part of our society now and are trying to find a place among us. And if Cyberlife is still in activity, it's because the currently deviant androids have works and money to spend in thirium 310, biocomponents, and need the accesses to data allowing them to draw their knowledge which evolves all the time. Because as Terminator would say, they are learning machines, and they must be in contact with humans for that, and must therefore have access to a lot of data to be able to appear alive. Then, besides that, there is always a clientele for androids unfortunately. That's why they created a new generation of androids without any problem of deviancy. With that, everyone is pleased. "
"Blabla everyone is pleased, I don't care. Androids, slaves or partners aware of their little person, no thanks it's not for me. I don't want an android as a partner Fowler. Collaborate with PC200 or PM700, ok! Support this Connor dipshit, yes, let's be crazy! But not work with me ..! "
"Reed. "
And there Gavin stopped complaining. Fowler was screaming a lot, he was warm blood just like him, and Anderson too, but Gavin knew that when the captain was suddenly a calm and using firm tone, it was that he had gone too far. So he fell silent, and understood that studying a negotiation was not possible. He'll be forced to work with an android, whether he likes it or not. Given the facts and the situations brought by the Revolution, the future could not be otherwise than beside the androids. Either he cooperated, or he had to consider leaving Detroit to go he didn't know where. Except that Gavin had never left town, and his job was the only thing that gave him a purpose in life, being a single man, without children, without brother or sister, and without parents for a few years now.
He sighed a longly, closing his eyes to calm down. It didn't enchant him at all, but he had no choice. He looked at Fowler again.
"Ok, you won. But don't expect it to be love at first sight between him and me like between these two morons of Anderson and Connor. "
"I'm just asking you to do your job, not to be buddy buddy, Reed."
"Yeah, well, I can do that." He said, getting up, grimacing a little feeling his muscles rolling painfully from the tension of the conversation, and from this awfully uncomfortable chair. "So ? Where's Terminator? "
Fowler stood up and invited Reed to come out of his office with him. Gavin then followed him through the open space, dreading what was to follow. They arrived near the meeting room, and the detective could see through the glazed but blurred walls a seated figure. Fowler was the first to enter, and waved at Reed to do the same. When Gavin's eyes fell on the individual in front of him, his heart skipped a beat.
A male android was seating on a chair, and his metallic blue gaze immediately fell on Gavin when he entered. He was brown short haired, pulled back, skin almost as white as porcelain, and a stoic look stuck to his face. But that was not what bothered Gavin the most at this very moment, it was that this android was, with a few details like the eyes and certainly his size, identical to this asshole of Connor.
"It's a fucking joke ..! Another Connor? "
"Gavin, calm down, it's not exactly an R-" Fowler was suddenly interrupted by the detective's angry outburst.
" No, no, no, no ! I was ready to accept an android as a stooge, but not another Connor! We have enough of one! "
The android seemed disturbed by the sudden excess of anger in the detective and he wanted to intervene to at least introduce himself but Fowler preceded him, leaving him no room to speak.
"It's not a RK800 Gavin, but an RK900. He is Connor's successor. He is more efficient in many ways, and he is for the moment the only existing model. He is a jewel of technology and it's you who will benefit from him, you should be delighted to have him as a teammate ..! "
"But he has the same face as Connor! And he seems like he has a broom stuck in his ass because off that collar! You got a stiff neck or what ? "
"And so what ? He could have had your head and your shitty mood, so consider yourself happy! I'm sure he will do his job very well! "
Gavin suppressed the wave of anger that suddenly took him by storm. He crossed his arms and bit his lip nervously while glancing at the RK900, still seated, his steel blue eyes juggling between him and the captain.
"Fuck. "
He turned on his heel and left the meeting room, slamming the door violently, shaking the glass walls in the process. Fowler sighed loudly and massaged his temples for a moment. He looked up at the android, who was still there, seating, the LED turning yellow.
" I'm sorry. He's not really fond of androids in general, so the fact that you have the same appearance as Connor, an android with us that Reed doesn't like very much, doesn't really help your integration." He shook his head before taking a deep breath and opening the door again. "Go and get this stubborn prick." "
The RK900 said nothing but nodded before getting up, and left the meeting room to find the detective. The android scanned the precinct's open space, but didn't see Detective Reed anywhere. He decided to explore the area, navigating between the desks while reading the names on the plaques on it.
Officer Person…
Agent Collins ...
Lieutenant Anderson…
Detective Connor…
He stopped his eyes on Connor's name and scanned the desk for nothing interesting other than a small frame with a Saint Bernard in a picture, a cobalt blue cotton scarf folded neatly next to the terminal, and a long black woolen coat placed on the back of the chair. It was a mid-season coat, and it was February. The RK900 deduces then that the person was either silly for having taken a coat holding so little warm, or little chilly. But as it was on average between 2 ° C and -6 ° C, no human being would endure winter with such a coat, even if it isn't very chilly. And the lack of fingerprints on the desk and the keyboard quickly made it clear to the RK900 that Connor wasn't human, but an android.
He understood whom Fowler and Reed were talking about. They were speaking of a certain Connor as an RK800. He quickly searched his database to verify his theories. Connor was his predecessor. The famous RK800 deviant hunter who tracked down the leader of the Revolution, Markus. He had never yet been confronted with his predecessor, since he had been activated during December 2038. Only, he had never left Cyberlife until today, and he had a certain impatience to meet the RK800 in person. A strange feeling came from his pump. As if he was about to discover a part of him that he didn't know yet.
He was suddenly brought back to reality when someone accidentely pushed him. He then turned to see who it was, but he found only a young asian woman. He scanned her quickly.
"Oh sorry, Con '! I didn't recognize you with that white jacket and ... "She stopped and frowned. "You're not Connor. "
The android straightened and turned to face her better. He was rather intimidating in this posture even if he didn't want to look hostile in any case. The young woman was barely 162 cm tall, and he easily was 188 cm tall, which accentuated the threatening effect.
"No, actually," he finally spoke for the first time since arriving at the preceinct. "I'm not Connor, I'm an RK900. I'm here to assist Detective Reed in his work. "
She looked at him for a moment with large brown eyes, then laughed suddenly. She immediately apologized of fear of offending the android in front of her, whom she didn't know very well. She especially didn't want to make an android like him angry.
"Sorry," she laughed softly. "The simple idea that an android can work with Gavin makes me laugh actually. It's not against you, but it's just so ironic. Gavin hates androids and there you are. I warn you, this man is a real plague. But who knows, maybe you can get him to change his mind on the matter. Oh sorry, "she said, shaking her head then extending her hand to the RK900. " I am- "
"Tina Chen," he said, smiling subtly, grabbing her hand to greet her. "I scanned you from the moment I saw you. It's an automatic program that starts when I meet new faces. Nice to meet you. "
"Wow, you have an iron fist ..!" She laughed nervously then let go of his hand. "Did you arrive today? Where were you before? Do you have a name other than your ID ? "
"Well," the android smiled nervously when he noticed that the young woman was very curious and also really talkative. "I did arrive today, but I haven't even had the chance to talk to Detective Reed yet. He immediately fled when he saw me. I think I remind him of the RK800 at this desk." He put his hand briefly on Connor's desk to show his words. "I was at Cyberlife before. It's my first time in the real world. And ... "He took a short break before continuing. "No, I don't have a name yet. "
"Oh ..." she said with a little pout of sadness. "Well, since you're assigned to Gavin, he's the one who'll have to find you a name. But in the meantime, I'm just going to call you 900. What do you think? It's less long and pompous than R K Nine Hundred, hm? Oh and hum ... "she said a little nervously. "Are you by chance ... a ...?" "
"A deviant?" She nodded. " Yes. I've been since my activation. I have no particular goal at the moment, so I wanted to try to explore this life offered to me. I've been designed to be in the police force, I thought that it made sense to start with something in which I am good at. Well, I think I am.. ? "
Tina looked at him with a big smile and a look of admiration in her eyes. She put her hand friendly on the android's elbow to give him courage.
"Welcome to the DPD, 900 ..! And good luck with Gavin. Oh, and you should meet Connor, I'm sure you two will get along very well ..! "
She winked and waved before going back to her business. The android then watched her go, and felt his programs simulate a strange feeling in his chest, which would be closer to disappointment and envy. He would have liked to be welcomed like that by his partner. Or that Officer Chen would have been his partner. But things were different, and he had to deal with it. He glanced one last time at Connor's desk and turned to see, by chance, Detective Reed's plaque on the opposite desk.
He approached it slowly, and scanned the place to learn more about the detective.
A box of opened donuts sat enthroned between the terminal and a pile of files. These dishes were not very nutritious, but the Android suspected the detective's consumption of this kind of food for its high sugar composition. Next to it, a mug with the effigy of The Grumpy Cat which had been all famous between 2012 and 2018 on the internet, was half filled with coffee and lukewarm. It was a sign that the detective had used it shortly before being summoned to the Captain's office. In the mug area, several coffee circles created a unique pattern on the desk. The detective was therefore a heavy drinker of coffee ... and sugar. A man who therefore needs a lot of energy to last during his working days. And finally, cat hair was strewn across the seat and back of his chair.
A maine coon ginger and white… Probably tabby…
"What the hell is that again?"
The RK900 turned his head towards this male voice which he didn't know yet and saw a man in his fifties, semi-long gray hair, vaguely reminding him of a bear whose honey had just been stolen.
It was indeed Lieutenant Hank Anderson returning from the break room, and his eyes were on him, filled with confusion and surprise.
"Hello Lieutenant Anderson," said the RK900, turning to him, his hand extended. "I'm Detective Reed's partner, the RK900. "
Except that Hank wasn't so delighted to meet him and he slapped the outstretched hand of the android. The RK900 didn't understand the human's hostile reaction, and stepped back, troubled.
He was about to articulate something when a hand landed on the lieutenant's shoulder, pulling him back slightly.
"Lieutenant, calm down. What's going on ? "
And there was the shock.
The RK900 had set his eyes on the RK800 which had just shifted from the wide silhouette of the lieutenant, and who now looked at him too.
"Oh ..." was the only word that crossed Connor's lips at the sight of the RK900. An unpleasant impression seized him then. He was his successor, a more resilient, a more efficient version of him, simply better. For a moment, Connor felt his pump skip a beat and his stress level increased by 10%. "You ... why are you here ..? "
"I'm assigned to Detective Reed. "
The RK900 was disturbed to find himself facing his twin. He had never seen him, not even through databases, and he was surprised by the resemblance, although Connor had brown eyes, was slightly shorter than him, and had a more relaxed look on his face. It was like seeing his doppelgänger.
He then saw Connor sigh with relief, although this action was purely useless for his functioning, but which seemed all the same effective in bringing the RK800's stress level down to something more reassuring.
Connor looked at him then with a more comely expression and smiled at him.
"I thought you were there to replace me." Admitted Connor a little embarrassed. "I lived with this constant threat of being replaced because of my failures so much that I thought you were there for that."
"Sorry. It wasn't my intention. I'm here to work with Reed, but he's been missing for a good ten minutes. "
"You should try going outside," Hank said more relaxed, knowing now that the RK900 was no threat to his Connor. "Gavin smokes, and when he is stressed, he smoke a lot. And the only nearest place is in front of the precinct. I think you'll find him over there. "
"Thank you lieutenant." Replied the RK900 with a subtle smile. "It is a pleasure to meet the two of you. "
"It's a pleasure for us too," replied Connor with a smile. "You're kind of like part of the family, don't you?"
The android looked at his predecessor confused but smiled slightly. A family.. ?
The RK900 liked the idea.