Chapter 3

It had been a few days after Mariah's return to the precinct, and sunny skies had given way to a cold rain that seemed to permeate to her bones as she waited for the bus. It was getting to be evening at this point, clouds darkening and neon lights becoming more prominent around her. She absently flexed her fingers, glancing down to her side.

"It'll take time, Mariah."

Jerome was one of those people who seemed unflappable, like their emotions operated on a higher frequency than the general public. He had an air of patient comfort that seemed to fill the room every time she visited. Probably good qualities for a therapist.

"Your body probably won't ever forget what happened. And that can be a good thing. Keeps you alert, helps you avoid danger. But hyperfixation… no matter the subject, it can be dangerous to your health."

Mariah sighed, hands clasped together in front of her. Her fingers tapped agitatedly against each other.

"I can't help it. It's literally right in front of me every day. Everytime I look in the mirror, it's just… reminding me, showing me that I'm not… not normal." The last word comes out with a bitter edge.

Normal. What did that even mean?

The bus pulled up to the curb, shaking her from her thoughts by the squeal of brakes. With a rueful shake of her head, she pulled her headphones up and pressed play on her Hamilton playlist. A little retro, maybe, but soon she was accompanied by Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton's rendition of American history on the bus ride to her precinct.

Inside, she quickly started to make her way to her desk, nodding to Officer Jones as she passed him.

"Hey, Mariah! You heard the news?"

She paused, glancing over with a quizzical eyebrow raised. "News?"

He grinned and pointed to the wall. "Yeah, we got a new android here. Prototype and everything."

"Proto-" She followed his finger and almost choked on the word as she saw the new… android? Wavy brown hair, angular face… Yes, now she could see the LED on his temple pulsing a gentle blue, and the letters on his jacket indicating his model. RK800. She'd never seen that model before. He was just standing there, arms at his sides like he was waiting for something.

"...Huh. Well, then. He doesn't… look like a police droid." She murmurs dryly.

"No, that's the best part." Officer Jones sounded almost gleeful as he sat back in his chair. "It's a detective android."

"It's… wait, what?" She unabashedly stared, mouth agape. "I didn't… know those existed."

"They'll take your job next… see how you like it." Came the unbidden memory, and she rolled her eyes as she shook her head to erase the thought. Stupid protesters.

"Yeah, Cyberlife sent it over. Apparently there's an invest-"

"Detective Withers!" Captain Fowler stood outside his glass cubicle, cutting Jones off. "Inside my office."

She gave Jones a half smile, stepping away. "Duty calls. Thanks for the update."

Inside, Fowler wasted no time in getting to the point. "Lieutenant Anderson was assigned a homicide case an hour ago. I need you to accompany him to the crime scene. You'll be working as a team together."

"Lieuten- wait, Hank? You want me to… um." She scratched her head. "I don't… know if I'm qualified to do that…" She couldn't help the twinge of nervousness at the thought of working with the grizzled lieutenant. "I do cyber crimes. Technology stuff. He's not even here."

Fowler sighed. "The homicide… involved a Cyberlife android. They sent over a specialized model to assist. Given Hank's history…"

Mariah sat a moment before understanding flashed across her expression. "You want me to babysit him? Captain, Hank's a good detective. He won't let his personal views get in the way of a case."

"Maybe." Fowler seemed unconvinced. "But you're the one that said you wanted to work more cases. This is your chance to do that."

She frowned, glancing out the window to the RK800, still patiently waiting by the wall. A few moments passed with her deliberating in her mind. She didn't mind admitting that Hank intimidated her. A lot. The few times she had tried to strike up a conversation with him had mostly resulted in one word answers and scowls. Still, he was a good detective. Highly decorated, after his big Red Ice bust. Maybe she could learn something from working with him.

She belatedly realized Fowler was still staring at her, waiting for her response. "Sorry. I… sure." She sighed. "You have the case file?"

Fowler nodded, with a - was that a look of relief on his expression? He must really be worried about Hank and this case. "I'll send it over. Good luck."

"Thanks, Captain." She muttered dryly before standing and reaching for the door handle. Outside, she inhaled deeply before walking over to the detective android.

"Hi. I'm Detective Mariah Withers." She held out a hand to shake.

The android glanced down at her hand, then reached out to take it with a professional gesture.

"Detective Withers. My name is Connor. I'm the android sent by Cyberlife."

She blinked. "Connor. Good to meet you. I guess we're working together on this case."

"Is Lieutenant Anderson at the precinct as well? My instructions stipulate I am to accompany both of you to the crime scene."

There were some androids that seemed almost more… real, more human, than others. Like you could take their LED off and they would simply start breathing and pumping red blood. Then there were others that you saw, and instinctively saw them as something different - thirium and biocomponents with a computer for a brain. No emotion.

Connor fell into the second category. The way he looked around the precinct was almost like a security camera scanning faces, and the way his sentences were clipped and devoid of unique rhythm reminded her of those clicking typewriters you saw in old movies. Everything about him from his features to his tone of voice practically screamed calculating machine.

"Erm… no. He's probably having a drink somewhere nearby, if I'm being honest." Mariah grimaces, sympathy coloring her voice. "From what I've heard… he's had it rough."

"Which bar?" Came the only response.

Mariah eyed him a moment. "I… don't know. I don't usually drink."

Connor just nodded before turning and starting for the exit. Mariah hesitated behind him before hurriedly following, jogging to catch up with him. "Where are you going?"

"To find Lieutenant Anderson." He said, long strides matching every two of Mariah's considerably shorter steps. "If he is in a bar nearby, judging on the number of drinking locations in our approximate radius, it should only take us approximately thirty minutes to locate him."

"Thirty-" She followed him out the doors and down to the curb. "I need to change out of my uniform, then. And I don't have a car, so we'll have to take a taxi."

"Forty minutes." Was his answer before stepping out onto the sidewalk to find the nearest taxicab.

Half an hour later, Mariah sighed as she got out of the taxi and waited for Connor. She was beginning to wonder just how many bars there were in Detroit. Calling and texting Hank had gotten no response thus far, nor had the last four bars they had searched, but that didn't seem to deter Connor in the slightest.

Then again, why would it? She frowned to herself. How many bars would it take for this android to give up?

Connor walked up beside her, straightening his tie. Despite the rain, he still looked immaculate from his hair to his shoes. Mariah inwardly cursed the fates for giving her her naturally curly hair. This rainfall was wreaking havoc on her ponytail, errant strands sticking every which way and causing a halo of frizz around her scalp. Though her orange-and-black plaid shirt offered more warmth than her short sleeved uniform polo, she shivered and tugged her coat closer around her before looking to the android.

"Ready to go in?"

Connor absently flicked a coin in the air, playing with it between his fingers a moment before putting it in his pocket and stepping forward to the door. Mariah eyed the mannerism in interest before following. At the door, however, she paused as she read the signs posted. Jimmy's bar. No Androids. No dogs.

"You can probably just wait outside on this one, Connor. I'll go look for-"

And he was opening the door and striding in like he owned the place.

"Connor-" She yelped and pushed in behind him, hissing under her breath. "Connor, you can't be in here. They have rules."

The android seemed particularly adept at ignoring her as he stepped through the bar, emotionlessly looking from face to face. There were no shortage of expressions turned in their direction, patrons murmuring to each other as they saw the RK unit. She heard a mumbled "Sh–, I thought androids weren't allowed in here." as they passed a table, and hostile glares from others.

This is worse than the time I forgot to remove my clown makeup in theater and went to Grandma Mendoza's funeral. She inwardly griped, waving awkwardly to the disgruntled people they passed. Connor, impervious as always, zeroed in on his target fairly quickly as he saw Lieutenant Anderson sitting at the bar.

"Lieutenant Anderson, my name is Connor. I'm the android sent by Cyberlife. Detective Withers and I looked for you at the station, but she said you were probably having a drink nearby. We were lucky to find you at the fifth bar."

Mariah's cheeks bloomed scarlet in embarrassment, and she cleared her throat behind Connor. "Captain assigned us." She mutters, trying to deflect some of the blame.

Lieutenant Anderson didn't look up. "What do you want." He stated flatly.

"You and the detective were assigned a case earlier this evening. A homicide, involving a Cyberlife android. In accordance with procedure, the company has allocated a specialized model to assist investigators."

"Well I don't need any assistance, especially not from a plastic a–hole like you." He grinned sardonically. "So just be a good lil' robot and get the f— out of here."

Mariah stepped in, looking to Connor before speaking in a low tone. "Lieutenant, we've both been assigned to this case. It would make life easier for all of us if this went smoothly." Inwardly she prayed he didn't take her words as offensive, though he just nodded as if in agreement before raising his glass again.

"I'm sorry Lieutenant, but I must insist." Connor pressured. "My instructions stipulate that I have to accompany the both of you."

Hank shook his head with a wry chuckle, nursing his drink. "You know where you can stick your instructions?"

Connor was oblivious. "No. Where?"

This time both Hank and Mariah looked askance at the android. Is he really…? Mariah shook her head as Hank scowled and went back to his drink. She bit her lip, trying to discreetly catch Connor's attention. At this point, she was ready to cut her losses and head out. She was cold and wet from the rain outside, this poor detective android had no clue how to handle this situation, and she just wanted to go home, relax, and-

"You know what? I'll buy you one for the road. What do you say?"

She spluttered. That was definitely not expected. Connor didn't wait for a response before waving to Jimmy.

"Bartender. The same again, please." He said coolly, placing down some cash on the bar.

Mariah raised an eyebrow. Can he do that?

Apparently he could. Jimmy turned and poured Hank a glass, taking the money.

"See that, Jim? Wonders of technology. Make it a double." Hank didn't sound too displeased about this new development. He raised it to Jimmy before tilting it back and draining the whole glass in one go. After putting it down, exhaling in satisfaction, he leaned back and glanced to Mariah and Connor, still standing there. Mariah knew it was impossible, but she could swear there was the tiniest smirk on Connor's expression.

"Did you say homicide?"