Chapter Thirty-Eight – Unacceptable Risks
The morning had come in a tangle of contented limbs. At some point in the past couple of hours Gavin had turned over and latched onto the tall android, their legs entwined beneath the covers. The difference was that this time he remembered he'd fallen asleep with Nines. He also remembered what he'd said the night before. Despite that he was slow to pry himself from Nines' gentle grasp. The android had greeted him warmly, making no move to release his hold. Gavin had pried himself away shortly after, cursing himself for being so reluctant to do so. It had been his decision to slow things down, and it was for Nines' benefit.
Nines had made breakfast while Reed washed and dressed for the day. Being in his bathroom was odd, the memory of Nines' lips and hands on his skin chasing him as he showered and brushed his teeth. He paused as he looked in the mirror, brushing his fingers across his lips as phantom touches ghosted across his skin. Realising that he was daydreaming, Reed hastily ran a hand through is fluffed locks and looked away from himself. He tried to ignore the dazed expression he'd seen on his face, and the fluttering in his stomach.
Nines was already waiting, having laid out butter and some jam alongside two slices of toast. Gavin hopped onto the stool with thanks and began sorting his breakfast while Nines poured his coffee. The android remained close as he ate, blue eyes watching almost cautiously. He would look away at the first sign of Gavin turning his head, so the human could never see him looking, but he could feel it. He also felt that the android was hovering just a little closer than usual. He shook off the feeling. It was stupid. The stools were bolted to the floor. Nines literally couldn't be sitting any closer.
They drove to the office quietly, awkwardness starting to settle between them. Reed was hyperaware of everything his partner did. Every look, every touch, every movement. He was constantly worried about how he should act himself. He needed to balance being a good partner with hiding how fucking deep he was. Too many touches or smiles would surely give him away, but if he actively measured each reaction he'd come across as cold and indifferent. The worst part was he knew that Nines was aware of his inner turmoil, even if he didn't know exactly what it was.
Things didn't go smoothly once they got to the office either. They sat across from each other in relative silence, only interacting when it was necessary. They were just catching up on a few papers, but that case was lingering. They still had plans to make. They had three offenders lined up to go to jail, but that wouldn't stop the rest of the operation. They needed to find that site and set up a sting. They wouldn't be able to do that without talking about it.
Nines wasn't the only one who noticed the tense atmosphere. Gavin had already managed to dodge Tina once that morning, but he could feel her watching any time she was in the pen. He could also see Connor and Hank glancing their way. Connor was the most worrying. His soft hazel eyes analysed him, seeing straight through him. Fucking androids. Gavin cursed as he leaned a little lower over his keyboard. His leg was bouncing again beneath the table. He felt restless. Coffee. He slid back his chair with a sigh and turned to get up, almost walking straight into Nines.
"I thought you…" The android trailed off as he held out a steaming cup. Reed mumbled out an almost timid thanks as he reached out. He wasn't sure what happened, whether he'd flinched away as his fingers brushed Nines', or he just hadn't taken the cup, or Nines had released too early, but the cup somehow slipped between them. Nines seemed equally surprised, suggesting he hadn't expected it either. They both stepped back as the cup hit the floor with a dull sound. Most of the hot liquid spilled on the greyish blue carpet, but some also went on Nines' shoes and jeans.
"Shit, I'm sorry! Go clean up." Gavin stammered, having gotten off mostly unscathed. He could feel a couple warm patches on his jeans, but it didn't hurt and it wasn't hot enough to burn. He felt skittish as he looked down at the mess, quickly leaning down to retrieve the cup, which was luckily still in one piece. He was surprised as a weathered hand raised him to his feet, looking up to find Hank and Connor there.
"Leave this to me, you go on with Connor." The older man ordered as he took the cup and placed it on Reed's desk. Gavin would have objected, but before he could open his mouth Connor was already tugging his arm. He wasn't dragged, he was simply led with firmness. He stammered out some form of objection as they went, but Connor's grip didn't loosen and his pace didn't slow as he made his way up to the roof. Once they were outside he released Gavin and shut the door with a clang.
"What happened?" Connor demanded, Gavin faltering at the straight forward question. "Over the past few weeks your interactions with Nines have shown a consistent progression, but this morning you're…you're out of sync. It's a concerning drop in progress." The android continued, which wasn't something Gavin could argue with. He also wasn't sure how much he could share. On a friend level he wouldn't mind talking to Connor about his problems and maybe have him help get Nines settled elsewhere, but on a professional level he wasn't sure. Connor would have to tell Fowler, and that could lead to all sorts of problems, including Nines being reassigned to someone else.
"Are you being Connor right now, or the Android Relations Officer?" Gavin asked cautiously, giving the RK800 the option. He felt vulnerable as he watched Connor's brown eyes process the question almost warily. He didn't answer as he weighed up his options. His lips thinned as he levelled a searching look at Gavin.
"I am required to report any untoward behaviour, however I am willing to make an exception provided there has been no violence." Connor compromised, Gavin's eyes shooting up at the suggestion.
"Fuck no, I'd never hurt Nines, Connor!" He stammered out in disbelief, almost angry at the accusation. It made sense that Connor would want to make sure, especially with Reed's history. From Connor's unsurprised expression he knew the android had only mentioned it as a formality. Gavin shivered slightly as he shoved his free hand in his pocket, the other still secured by his sling. He took a few steps across the roof, enjoying the crisp air as he looked out across the busy city.
"In that case I'm willing to make an exception." Connor confirmed, which put the pressure on Reed to speak out. Gavin felt restless as he shifted from foot to foot. It shouldn't be so awkward to say it out loud. Connor was patient, and somehow understanding. It was almost like he already knew, the way he tilted his head and stood with his hands behind his back.
"We fucked, alright?" Gavin bit out as he walked to the edge of the roof and leaned on the metal rails that had been fitted to prevent accidents. It felt wrong to say it like that. It wasn't that simple. It wasn't that crass. He heard Connor's steady steps and didn't need to look to know the android had joined him. He didn't even want to look at him. He'd just admitted to fucking his brother, something he'd sworn he'd never do. Fuck!
"I have observed you for some time now…Enough to know that if it were as simple as sex you wouldn't be bothered by it." Connor replied in a level tone, watching as Gavin leaned over just a little more to hide the way he was cringing. It was enough to know he'd hit the nail on the head. Gavin didn't consider it to be a simple physical exchange. That pleased Connor greatly. He didn't want his brother to simply be an object, especially to someone he trusted and cared for.
"Shit Connor, I really fucked up." Reed said finally, his tone sounding helpless as he raised his head, looking somewhat distressed. He wasn't exactly sad, but he was deeply unhappy. Connor waited patiently, knowing the human would continue once he'd ordered his thoughts. "We were just supposed to relax, but then we…I've been a detective for over a decade, I should know better, I should behave better. Sleeping with a fucking victim? Shit, I'm a real fucking scumbag." He bit out as he kicked the metal railing. He wanted a cigarette, but typically he'd left them in his jacket, back at his desk. Connor was analysing the human, watching his vitals spike and flow.
"Nines doesn't see himself as a victim…He made a lot of progress in his talks with Simon and Josh about his experiences." Connor interjected, watching Reed wave off his words. He knew androids were different. They had different ways of processing certain events, but he refused to believe they were so different that it only took three weeks to get over months of physical torture.
"I don't think it's as simple as three weeks of talking it out. Nines is…he's sweet, and sensitive. I don't doubt that he's coping with it day to day, but I do think his attachment to me is more than just a simple attraction. I was the one who found him. I was the first human to treat him as more than a fucking punching bag. He trusted me, and I abused that." Reed replied guiltily, watching Connor as he listened patiently. His expression already said he disagreed, but Reed didn't understand how he could. He couldn't deny the fact that Gavin had been Nines' first positive human interaction. They'd formed a bond.
"I don't deny that Nines treasures your relationship dearly, but you're certainly not abusive, and he is functioning at peak proficiency. He understands what he is doing." Connor assured, but that didn't really convince Gavin. Victims always thought they knew what they were doing, they always felt that they truly understood their feelings and they weren't being influenced by past events. How could Nines be any different just because he was an android? "How do you feel?" The android asked curiously.
"I…" Reed trailed off, not wanting to admit to anything out loud. He cared. Of course he did. He always got that stupid little skip in his chest whenever Nines looked at him with those big fucking eyes. He felt impossibly warm inside whenever they touched, even the slightest brush. The sound of his voice could either send shivers down his spine or set his heart racing. He looked at Connor and the fucker was smiling. Smiling as if he knew. As if he could read every thought as it sifted through Reed's head. "I like him more than I should as his partner." Reed admitted reluctantly.
"Do you think that you can continue to work together? Even if you're not sleeping together right now, this…development is clearly affecting your working life." Connor pointed out, watching Reed's expression change, but it wasn't a feeling he could recognise. He looked resigned, but also fiercely defiant, and somehow sad and love sick. Connor almost felt bad for bringing it up. It was clearly causing Reed some distress as he thought it over.
"I don't want to work with anyone else…I can't work with anyone else. I think I can move past this, it's just…It only happened last night. It's still raw, for both of us." Gavin replied awkwardly, hoping that he could readjust to his partner. He'd have to if he wanted to continue their partnership. He couldn't risk going out on a case with Nines like this. He couldn't risk one of them getting hurt because he wasn't paying attention. This was the whole reason lovers weren't allowed to work together in the first place.
"So it was more than just sex." Connor observed, rather enjoying the shade of pink that flushed across Reed's cheeks and neck. He didn't deny it. That pleased Connor more than anything. Nines deserved to be treated well. It also proved Gavin was a better person. "You know there is one person who will give you better advice than me…" The RK800 trailed off meaningfully, watching Gavin sigh. He'd been avoiding it all morning. He wouldn't even have to say anything. The minute she got him on his own she'd just fucking know.
Gavin sighed as he looked out over the city, thinking how convenient it would be if everything could just stop. He closed his eyes and listened to the rush of the city below, and the breeze that toyed with his short locks. He had a lot to process, and not just his current situation with Nines. He'd barely even started to unpack the fact that he had a brother, and that he finally knew who his father was even if he'd never been able to meet him. That hadn't mattered a day ago, but now that he knew it was pressing down on him. At the top of that pile was all the work he still had to do. They say shit happens in threes.
"Gavin!" Nines called as he opened the creaking door onto the roof. Both Connor and Gavin turned at the taller android's appearance, watching him falter slightly as he saw the two of them standing close together at the railing. He'd assumed Gavin to be on the roof since he wasn't out front or in the bathroom, but he hadn't considered that Connor would be with him even though he'd seen Anderson clearing up some paper towels.
"What's up Toaster?" His human asked as he walked closer, Connor following along curiously. There had to be a reason that Nines would rush up to the roof. Connor tilted his head as he noticed Nines' uncertain eyes darting between them, but he didn't mention it. Nines gave Gavin his full attention as they drew level.
"Body number eight. It was found fifteen minutes ago. Same MO, in the South-West this time." He reported, the trio hurrying back inside. Gavin forgot his awkwardness as they hurried down the stairs, the human jumping the last three. He only paused to shrug his good shoulder innocently as Fowler put his head out to yell for him to be careful like he was still in high school. He grabbed his jacket and shrugged it over his good shoulder. He was about to try and hook it over the other when a firm hand raised it for him. "Shall I drive?" Nines suggested as they walked. Gavin agreed and allowed him to fish the keys from his pocket. He technically wasn't supposed to be out, but so long as Fowler didn't call him back he was going to go with it.
Nines drove to the scene, and Gavin cursed his luck as they climbed out at the warehouse to find Tina and Ben there already. The older man was idling around by the cruiser while Tina watched the door of the warehouse. Her dark eyes lit up as she fixed her gaze on Reed, who had no choice but to get the details from her. Nines headed straight in. Forensics hadn't arrived yet, so he set about recording the scene.
"Hey T, what have we got?" Gavin asked in his usual work tone. Tina sauntered over, her thumbs hooked over her thick utility belt. She was wearing a long sleeved blue shirt today, leaving her black jacket in the cruiser. She shook a few loose strands from her eyes, odd whisps hanging down as always.
"Called it in myself. We drove by to check the area as part of our route and there it was, all crushed up and mangled. No sign of life in the area." She replied with a distasteful look. She'd never been a fan of androids, though she'd improved greatly since the training. Despite that she didn't think any of them deserved to be treated like that. She wouldn't even have done it before the revolution. There were some real sickos in the world. Not that she hadn't already been aware of that, some of the shit she'd seen…
"Ok, thanks." Reed replied, feeling a little lost since he couldn't write any of this down one handed. Instead he opted to hunt for his cigarettes. He hadn't had one on the roof earlier. Tina helped as he fished out the packet, plucking it from his hand and putting one in his mouth. She even lit it for him, getting another thank you as Reed put the packet away and took a long drag.
"You going to tell me about it? You've looked like shit all day." She prompted as she folded her arms. Reed sighed out the breath, enjoying the small sort of relief the nicotine gave him, though it was a temporary fix. He fixed Tina with a look. He had a lot to fucking unpack. More than he had time to, especially at an active crime scene. "Drinks tonight?" She offered hopefully.
"Sure, a quiet one though, yeah?" He replied, not relishing the idea of yelling over the music in a club, or the crowds that would come with it.
"Ok, sure, hit me up later. Have fun waiting for forensics." She added as she sashayed her way back to her cruiser. Reed flipped her off, huffing as he saw her do the same. He waved at Ben as the larger man pulled away, heading back to their usual route. Reed took Tina's place in the rusted doorway, leaning on the frame as he looked inside at Nines, who was crouching by the pile of scrap. He reached out and ran two fingers across one of the small shards before raising them to his mouth. Gavin watched transfixed as he put his fingertips in his out and licked them clean. Fuck, he could watch him do that all day. That's pretty fucked up…
"Our victim was a TR400, Tristan Reynolds." Nines reported as he noticed Gavin watching from the doorway. Gavin nodded that he was listening as he took another long drag of his cigarette, watching Nines' LED spin yellow as he stared. He didn't say anything, but Reed knew what he was thinking. Yeah-yeah, smoking kills, what the fuck doesn't these days? "I'm unable to begin a more thorough examination without forensics, however everything seems to match our previous cases." The android continued, which Gavin had expected.
"Eight bodies, eight places…How long ago?" Gavin checked, remembering that the last victim had been dead for only a short time.
"Nine hours." The android replied, Gavin nodding. Nine hours was quite a while, but not every patrol was scheduled to stop and check out the area. Tina was just being thorough because she knew this case was important to Reed. With eight bodies piled up this would be the biggest case of his career. He was surprised the FBI hadn't moved in yet, but since all the bodies were in the city it wasn't their jurisdiction yet. They could only take over if a victim came from outside Detroit or it overlapped with one of their active cases.
"We need to nail these fuckers…We've reached eight bodies, and after this I can't even guess where the next one will fall." Reed sighed as he finished his cigarette and tossed it away. Nines was already working on the quandary. So far they'd dropped along the points of a compass, but that could all be a coincidence. The chance that this was the work of a serial killer was relatively low. It was a large group working together, more than three members. They knew this because they already had three in custody. One question needed to be answered. Was this done more for the thirium or for the kill afterwards? Someone in the group was definitely getting a lot of pleasure from the act of destruction. Seeing as it was likely not a serial killer that ruled out the locations being part of a hidden message. There was a medium percentage chance of the next body turning up at one of the previous dumping grounds. There was also a medium chance it would turn up in the central location, however that was in the middle of the city, and would draw a lot of attention. There was also a good chance the next body would be at a new, totally unrelated, location.
"I agree. It is a difficult incident to predict with what information we have available." Nines replied as he continued to process and work on percentages. They fell silent for a while, both lost in thoughts about the case until forensics rolled up. Reed lit up a new cigarette as Nines returned to work, waiting patiently for the humans to photograph the remains before he began to analyse it piece by piece. He handed off each fragment to be stored for transport, quickly finding all of the markers he was looking for.
Once forensics finished they were able to return, Nines opting to drive again since Reed's arm meant he would be one handed. Back at the station they returned to their desk, where Nines interfaced with his terminal to send over the data he had. Reed took in the information slowly, his legs crossed as he leaned on his elbow. Tristan had a child, but no partner. Reed cursed silently as he grabbed the keys again and looked at Nines.
"Alert child services to be here when we get back." He said as he got to his feet, Nines nodding his agreement as they hurried to the car. Reed's steps seemed a little heavier as they went, likely feeling stressed at what they were about to do. Tristan had lived in a small apartment. Very small. He'd had few needs since he and his child were both androids. The child was a YK500. A little blonde girl with a short bob cut and big blue eyes. She was hesitant about opening the door, especially with Reed there, but she seemed more at ease when she noticed Nines.
"Hannah Reynolds. We need you to accompany us to the station." Nines said softly, watching the girl's expression fall as she looked between them. She went through the usual emotions. Worry, fear, sadness, denial, and then she requested to interface with Nines. Nines was reluctant, but allowed it. He showed her a few things that confirmed her father's identity and that he had been a victim in their big case, but he locked off any distressing images. Hannah crumbled anyway, allowing Nines to lift her as she wailed into his shoulder.
Reed ended up driving them back, since the girl was clearly on edge around him. Nines didn't seem to know what to do besides cradling the girl to his chest. She'd barely released him to allow them to climb into the car, breaking traffic laws by allowing her to remain on Nines' lap in the front as they drove back. Reed took care to keep to the speed limits, looking constantly for any potential accidents the whole way. When they returned they headed to one of the quiet interview rooms, where Nines sat with Hannah on his lap, sniffling against his chest. Reed brought her a thirium pack and left them alone until child services arrived.
Once they arrived they were able to take a few details. She interfaced with Nines to show him her father's routine. He would head to work at around five every morning, going to the docks where he had continued to work as a labourer lifting heavy loads. She didn't know his exact route, but he likely had co-workers who may have been able to help with that. He'd found Hannah at an internment camp during the revolution, and they'd been together ever since. He'd gotten their apartment three weeks ago, and Hannah had spent most of her time inside. As an android she wasn't forced to go to school, and she was too scared of humans to leave the house without Tristan at her side.
Nines was quiet once Hannah was taken away, looking miserable and submissive. Child services had at least been sensitive enough to send an android to pick her up. It was a KG400 teacher model, retrained to work for the government. She was sensitive and kind, gently encouraging Hannah to go with her. Reed let his partner contemplate for a few moments. It was always difficult when kids were involved. It often became personal, getting the closure they needed to move on in life.
"I have a proposition." Nines said finally, his tone somewhat grave but hesitant.
"Sure, hit me." Reed sighed as he sat back, not really having much to offer right now. They hadn't found any new leads with this new victim. They were just cycling through the same old shit. They could order patrols to circle the warehouses and the central area for signs of a new body, but not much else. I just hope we can get something out of the three fuckers we caught…
"They are taking androids, and we are aware of three likely locations. It would make sense for us to take advantage of that fact." Nines began, his partner nodding his agreement. Of course it made sense to work with what information they had. "We need to find the murder site…To do that we need to lure out the remaining gang members." The android continued, watching Reed nod his agreement again. Of course they needed to do that. He was with him so far.
"Get to the point Toaster." Gavin prompted, able to see that Nines was stalling. Whatever his idea was he knew Reed wouldn't like it.
"I'm the most advanced model produced by Cyberlife, and we already know that my hardware is difficult to destroy. My tracker, though inactive, is still fully functional. I could turn on the tracker and allow myself to be picked up in order to." The android stopped cold as Reed's hand struck the table, the impact shaking his terminal. Connor and Hank both paused their own conversation to look over, not that Reed seemed to notice as he got to his feet and dragged his jacket.
"Not a fucking chance! We're not even talking about it! It's not an option! Phck! Stay here." He added angrily as he stormed across the bullpen and headed for the roof. Nines hadn't had the chance to say anything else before he left, and was clearly taken aback by his partner's reaction to a perfectly reasonable plan. At first he thought he was just hurt by the reaction, but then he realised he wasn't just upset. He was angry. How dare his human speak like that? How dare he treat him like his ideas and opinions were invalid? How dare he snap out orders like he was just a machine? Nines' LED flashed red as he ground his teeth.
"Nines?" Connor's voice called as the blue eyed android got to his feet so fast his chair rolled back. Nines ignored his call as he traced Gavin's steps, letting this foreign heat fill his chest. It was strange. For all he'd been through, the pain and cruel treatment, he'd never been angry before. Perhaps it was a sensation that had been denied to him prior to his deviation. In any case, he reached the rooftop and threw the door open so hard it bounce off the bricks with a wooden crack.
"What the phck?" Reed jerked around, cigarette still between his lips as he leaned on the railing. He had nowhere to back away to as Nines stormed over, finding his spine pressing hard against the cold metal barrier. "Hey!" He stammered as the android took his cigarette and tossed it, unable to do more as Nines' hands closed around the railing on either side of his body. He fell silent as he looked up, green eyes wide as he met his partner's barely contained rage.
"I'm not a dog! You don't get to just tell me to stay and walk off half way through a discussion!" Nines shouted, a sound Reed had never heard, and honestly never expected to hear. He'd never imagined Nines to get angry, especially not over such a stupid idea. His partner's rage only made him feel worse. It didn't help that the android had crowded into his space, making him feel small and trapped. He used his good shoulder to ram Nines' solar plexus, something that had made Connor crumble to his knees, but Nines didn't budge an inch.
"I'm not treating you like a dog! The discussion is over!" Reed snapped, his lack of progress only making him more frustrated as he rammed the android again. Nines took the impacts as easily as he'd take the wind ruffling his hair. He was like a statue. That only made Gavin's anxious trapped feeling worsen. He could feel his chest tightening as air stuck in his throat
"You didn't even listen to my idea!" Nines retorted, grabbing Gavin's upper arms tightly to stop the increasingly annoying thuds against his chest. He was so preoccupied with his own heated feelings that he didn't immediately reflect on how fragile Gavin felt in his hands, and forgot that he'd only recently been injured. Gavin hissed as Nines' grip tightened in a bruising hold, jostling his shoulder in the process.
"God, fuck! I listened to your idea and I told you it's not fucking happening!" Reed shouted in response, unable to stop his wince as he stilled in Nines' grasp. The android hurriedly released his hold, his LED flashing red as he realised what he'd done. He looked guilty as he stepped back, unable to meet Reed's gaze as he hesitated a couple of steps away. Reed leaned back on the railing, waiting for his heart to stop pounding as he cradled his arm and bit his lip, taking deep breaths.
My plan is a good one. My tracker can easily be reactivated, and it is highly unlikely any regular human will know or even be able to turn it off. I can allow them to believe I have been incapacitated and be transported to the location. My casing is made of a durable material. It would take them time to damage me with the primitive tools they're using. Nines signed, giving them both the opportunity to calm down a little. Reed's fingers twitched nervously, itching to get another cigarette. He hated the fact that Nines was right, and that his idea was reasonable for discussion at least. He didn't have to like it. He also didn't have to approve it.
You're not expendable! You're not some thing that I'm going to use to get results! I wouldn't let a human put themselves on the line like that, so I'm not letting you go! He signed back, not trusting himself not to shout. At least when they signed they weren't calling for an audience. Nines clicked his tongue, scowling as he remained a few paces away.
You would do it! If the situation called for a human victim you'd volunteer in a heartbeat, without consulting me first! He argued, watching Reed falter. He couldn't deny it. If he could be the one then he would have brought it up the same way Nines had.
The difference is I'm competent! I have over a decade of experience, and I've done undercover for extensive periods! You're fresh out of Cyberlife! Barely trained for the force! I'm not willing to put your life on the line! He argued firmly, watching Nines' jaw tighten at the suggestion that he wasn't competent, but that's not what Reed had meant. He'd only meant that, in policing terms, he was the more experience officer. He would have made that clear if Nines hadn't stepped back into his personal space, though he hesitated to touch his partner.
"Why not? What makes my life more important than all those others?" Nines asked quietly, watching Reed swallow nervously. He knew what Nines was getting at, and maybe he was right. Maybe he was letting his personal feelings affect his decision, but fuck if he was going to admit that. Instead he sighed and took a step back.
"It's not that. I'd hesitate to put anyone in that situation, even Connor, but I'm especially reluctant to do it to such a new recruit…My first op was a bust…You see the scar I have here?" He added as he stroked a line across his waist, where Nines remembered he had a deep red gauge from a knife. "I was a dumb fucking rookie, and I almost got myself killed, and that wasn't because I was cocky. It's because I didn't have the experience to read the situation. I'm not prepared to send you into a potentially lethal situation alone without backup." Reed continued with a note of finality in his tone. Nines gave him a hard look, but didn't argue. It was pointless to argue about it.
"Then what do you suggest?" He asked finally.
"I don't know yet…Let's try our suspects again, shake them up and see what falls out." He added with a frustrated sigh. Nines could see from his vitals that he was distressed. The weight of the case was increasing, along with the body count. Nines reluctantly agreed for now, but he wasn't prepared to let the matter rest completely. They would be working the interrogations with Hank and Connor, so he decided he'd bring up this issue with one of them. Most likely Connor.
"Very well, but if we don't make any progress." He began.
"Still no! I won't risk you getting killed!" Reed cut off firmly, a gulf opening between them. Nines felt slighted and disrespected, while Reed just wanted to do that right thing and keep his partner safe. He didn't know why Nines couldn't understand that. They returned together, a cloud of discontent hanging over them. Connor picked it up immediately, from Reed's hardened expression and Nines' yellow LED. He decided not to mention it at first, but seeing the way they couldn't even look at each other throughout the interrogations wasn't promising.
Despite that they did manage to confirm a few things. The drop sites they had circled were the areas they picked up victims from. They were draining the thirium for Red Ice. They then let the more violent members of their gang dispose of the bodies. There was no real process for nabbing victims, just a wrong place at the wrong time attitude. If they were close to the site, easily lured in, or taken without notice then they were ideal victims. They used an electronic shocking device to knock out the android's mobility, making it motionless. They were then easily transported, and by the time they managed to reboot their systems they were already trapped and tubed for draining.
Colt took great pleasure in describing the way they'd struggle, gradually growing weaker and weaker as they watched the thirium draining out until their LEDs went dim. They'd still be partially active, running on electrical reserves, when they started breaking them apart. Too weak to speak, too weak to move, just a dim red circle and static gurgles signalled their distress. Connor was in the room and restraining Nines in seconds. Colt laughed as he watched the RK800 trying to drag the larger android from the room. That laughing stopped when Reed's fist connected with his jaw. Luckily Hank had switched off the cameras and recording equipment by that point.
"Reed, take a walk!" Hank scolded as he shoved the younger man back gently, giving him a firm look. "One word and I'll knock you out." The older man added in a dangerously low growl as he turned to the smug prisoner, who was holding his bruised jaw with an almost smug look. He soon got rid of that as Anderson held his gaze with a steely blue glare. Reed did as he was told and headed back to his desk, not seeing the two androids anywhere. It was near enough to the end of his shift for Reed to clock out.
Hey Tin Can, do me a favour and take Nines home with you for today. I'm heading out with Tina and I don't want him to be by himself. He typed on his phone, sending the message to Connor before clocking out. He was already in his car by the time he got a simple response.
Understood, I'll invite him to dinner. Have a good evening Detective.